Lu Wanqing thought of mechs and recalled Xiao Yi's previous behavior; the little guy seemed to really like mechs. Perhaps... she could let him practice with a mech today?
Wouldn't letting a child practice with a mech count as training?
As Lu Wanqing pondered, she couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Yi, do you want to try a mech?" 138 Reading Network
Xiao Zhong Liyi's eyes clearly lit up as he looked at Lu Wanqing, "Can I?"
Lu Wanqing found it amusing. She nodded, "Of course, you can."
However, to practice with a mech, they would need a mentor. If Zhong Lifeiyu were here, she could have directly asked him to teach, but Zhong Lifeiyu wasn't home right now...
Lu Wanqing knew how to build mechs, but when it came to operating them, she was frankly not very familiar.
"We might need a mentor," Lu Wanqing said, voicing her thoughts.
"Neither of us knows much about operating a mech. If we use it recklessly, accidents could happen, which would be bad," Lu Wanqing explained.
Xiao Zhong Liyi nodded upon hearing this.
Lu Wanqing smiled and said, "How about this, Xiao Yi, you wait a few more days. Mom will discuss it with Grandpa and see if he has any ideas. We can ask Grandpa to find us a mentor to teach us how to use mechs, what do you think?"
Marshal Zhong Li was a Marshal, after all. Lu Wanqing felt that even if the Marshal was busy, arranging a mech instructor for them should be relatively easy.
She could even hire a mech instructor herself. However, having experienced two accidents, Lu Wanqing was less inclined to trust others. Especially since this person would be teaching Xiao Yi how to use a mech, this "mentor" had to be someone trustworthy. And the most reliable way to find such a person was for Xiao Yi's grandfather, Marshal Zhong Li, to arrange it.
Xiao Zhong Liyi was also taken aback for a moment, then nodded, "Okay."
If they wanted to trouble Marshal Zhong Li, they naturally couldn't contact him immediately. After all, the Marshal was quite busy, especially lately. He might be anxiously dealing with the war against the Zerg.
Lu Wanqing ruffled the little guy's hair and smiled, "Let's go to the training room and continue clearing levels today."
"Okay," Xiao Zhong Liyi agreed.
"Why do you say yes to everything?" Lu Wanqing asked with a hint of helplessness. She couldn't help but look into the little guy's eyes and say seriously, "Xiao Yi, you can't agree to everything. If you don't like something, you must know how to refuse and resist. You can't live like a puppet under someone else's command, understand?"
"Mhmm," Xiao Zhong Liyi nodded again.
Lu Wanqing: "..."
Lu Wanqing didn't know what else to say. She thought that they had been either on the star net, studying, or training, and hadn't gone out for a stroll. She then asked, "Should we go for a walk around the residential area?"
The military family area had good scenery and landscaping. Going out for a walk occasionally was a good idea.
"Okay," Xiao Zhong Liyi replied again.
Lu Wanqing felt a bit helpless, but his agreement didn't seem to be a problem.
The clothes Xiao Yi was wearing were rather formal. Lu Wanqing thought for a moment, walked to the wardrobe, and opened it.
Xiao Zhong Liyi's wardrobe now had many clothes; she had bought them all for him. There were casual, cute, and all sorts of styles.
Lu Wanqing preferred cute clothes, and Xiao Yi was still young, only five years old. Wearing cute clothes now should be fine, right?
Looking at the clothes, Lu Wanqing couldn't help but pick out a very cute little duckling set. She took out the clothes and turned to show them to Xiao Yi, "Xiao Yi, how about changing into this outfit for our walk later? Would you like to wear this one?"
She had been too busy before and hadn't had time to worry about the little guy's clothing. Now that she finally had some free time, she couldn't help but want to see the little guy in cute clothes.
Xiao Zhong Liyi visibly froze.
Lu Wanqing blinked and then asked, "You don't like it?"
Xiao Zhong Liyi had never worn clothes like this before, and besides... he found such clothes strange?
Lu Wanqing felt a little disappointed but quickly thought of something else. Xiao Yi always agreed and didn't know how to refuse. Maybe she could use this opportunity to teach the little guy to say "no"?
Lu Wanqing thought about it and insisted, "Xiao Yi, why don't you try it? It's very cute."
Saying this, Lu Wanqing walked towards the little guy with the clothes.
Xiao Zhong Liyi nervously took a step back.
Lu Wanqing chuckled inwardly, but outwardly, she pretended not to understand the child's dislike and idly held the clothes up against Xiao Yi, "Wow, Xiao Yi, you'll look so good in this outfit, so cute!"
"I..." Xiao Zhong Liyi's ears turned red. He retreated nervously, unsure how to face his mother.
Lu Wanqing beckoned to Xiao Zhong Liyi and said, "Come, Xiao Yi, Mom will help you change, okay?"
Xiao Zhong Liyi's body stiffened, but the word "no" just wouldn't come out of his throat.
Lu Wanqing walked over with the clothes.
Xiao Zhong Liyi retreated in fear.
Lu Wanqing sighed in resignation, stopped moving forward, and couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Yi, is it that difficult for you to say 'no'?"
Xiao Zhong Liyi froze upon hearing this. The tension in his body receded, replaced by confusion.
Lu Wanqing looked at the clothes, then at Xiao Yi, and couldn't help but say, "You don't like this outfit and don't want to wear it, why don't you say it?"
Xiao Yi opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
Lu Wanqing knew this would take time. Xiao Yi had lived in such an environment his whole life, never allowed to say no, always following his grandfather's and father's orders. He was used to it. The word "no" was too, too difficult for him.
"Mommy, I..." Xiao Zhong Liyi couldn't help but explain, but halfway through, he didn't know how to continue.
Lu Wanqing looked into her child's eyes and encouraged him, "It's okay, just say it. Xiao Yi, say no. You don't like this outfit, you don't want to wear it."
Xiao Zhong Liyi's ears instantly turned red again. He hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Actually, it's not that I don't like it."
"What?" Lu Wanqing was stunned. Had she misheard?
Xiao Zhong Liyi's hands, placed by his sides, felt a little lost. He struggled internally for a moment, then looked up at his mother, mustered his courage, and said, "Mommy, actually, I think this outfit is quite cute too. It's very much like a little duckling~" He was just a bit embarrassed to wear it outside, fearing other children might laugh at him.
Lu Wanqing: "???"
Lu Wanqing was startled. She looked down at the little duckling outfit in shock, then looked up at Xiao Yi, "You like it?"
Xiao Zhong Liyi, blushing, shyly nodded, "Mhmm."
Xiao Zhong Liyi was nervous. He gathered his courage and said, "Mommy, this outfit is very much like the little ducklings we keep in our little house on the star net."
Lu Wanqing suddenly understood and couldn't help but smile. She nodded, "Mhmm, it really is."