"I don't have time, Brother Fu," Yang Yi said, understanding Fu Jun's "predicament," but he still refused.
"What the hell, how can you not have time? You usually just run that coffee shop of yours with hardly any customers anyway. Since it's usually empty, just close it for a day or two and come out for a signing event—no big deal!" Fu Jun complained.
Yang Yi twisted open the milk bottle he had prepared, squeezed a drop onto the back of his hand, licked it, and felt the temperature was about right before handing it to Xixi, who was watching eagerly beside him. This was his daughter's "afternoon tea"!
"Brother Fu, I have to take care of a kid!" Yang Yi finally picked up the phone he had tossed aside, turned off the speaker, and chuckled. "You need to understand the helplessness of a full-time dad."
"How can you not spare even one day? What about your wife?" Fu Jun shouted. "By the way, I've never met your wife. When are you bringing her out to Yangcheng for a visit? I'll treat you both to a meal! Let our two families get to know each other!"
"Uh." The term "sister-in-law" felt a bit off, and Yang Yi didn't react immediately. After a pause, he said, "She's busier than me. Her work keeps her tied up."
"You're making millions a month, and you still let your wife work? Is she earning more than you?" Fu Jun asked, puzzled.
Yang Yi scratched his head. He really didn't know how much money Mo Fei made from commercial performances now, but if he factored in her savings from her peak days...
"It seems so... she's richer than me," Yang Yi said honestly.
Fu Jun was speechless. After a moment, he said, "So that's it. No wonder you don't care about money at all."
Though Fu Jun didn't think Yang Yi was marrying for money, he assumed Yang Yi had married a rich heiress.
There was nothing to be done about it. Yang Yi wasn't just an author; he was also a business partner. The two of them had launched the Sahara online bookstore, which had gained attention thanks to the popularity of *Soldiers Assault* and *Bright Sword*, and it had contributed significantly to the sales of those two books!
"But there's something I need to tell you!" Fu Jun's tone turned serious. "The military region received the books we printed and shipped earlier and told us that these two works have been very well received in the army. The Jiangnan Military Region even sent an invitation, asking if you'd like to visit the troops and talk to the new recruits about your creative inspiration and the spirit behind the two stories."
"..."
Hearing silence on the other end, Fu Jun sighed and said, "I know you don't like these kinds of events, but there's no way around it. When the military invites you, you have to go whether you want to or not! At least it's just the Jiangnan Military Region, right there where you are..."
Yang Yi wasn't as resistant as Fu Jun thought. The idea of giving a speech at a military base stirred an indescribable emotion in him.
Was it a longing buried deep in his memory? Or a sense of nervousness about returning to a familiar place?
In his past life as a killer, Yang Yi had no special feelings for the military. But with the memories of his current self fused in, he couldn't help but occasionally feel the lingering attachment this body once had.
Leaving the military hadn't been his choice, and that place was a "homeland" he could never return to...
Since that attachment existed, why not go? Even if it wasn't the military base "he" had once served in, Yang Yi felt that going there and resolving that lingering feeling would be better!
"Hey, Yang Yi, you really can't afford to offend the military! Even if you don't care about my face, you have to give them some respect!" Fu Jun continued his earnest persuasion.
But Yang Yi just smiled faintly and asked directly, "When?"
"What?"
"I'm asking you, when do they want me to go to the base?" Yang Yi said. "I need to arrange for Xixi to stay with her mom, or else no one will take care of her. I can't exactly bring a kid to a military base, can I?"
Xixi, who was drinking her milk nearby, perked up her ears. She turned her head, her big eyes sparkling as she looked at her dad.
"No problem, I'll get in touch with the Jiangnan Military Region right away and set a suitable time with them." Fu Jun hung up, overjoyed.
Seeing her dad put down the phone, Xixi couldn't wait to wiggle her little bottom and run over. She seemed to have grown a bit taller, her little legs climbing up onto the stool in front of the counter in a few quick steps.
"Daddy, where are you going to play? Why aren't you taking Xixi with you?" Xixi pouted and demanded.
Uh, Yang Yi had no idea how his daughter's ears were so sharp, catching the part about him going to the base alone.
"No, I'm not. If Daddy goes anywhere fun, I'll definitely take Xixi!"
"Daddy's lying! I just heard it!" The little girl put down her milk bottle and gestured. "Daddy said on the phone that he was sending Xixi to Mommy's place. Hmph, Daddy is a bad guy! He won't take Xixi to play!"
As she spoke, her eyes reddened with grievance, as if her dad had committed some terrible crime.
Yang Yi had no choice but to reach out and scoop the little one into his arms, coaxing her, "That's not what Daddy meant. If it were somewhere fun, how could I not bring Xixi?"
"Then why don't you want Xixi?" The little girl grew even more upset in her dad's arms, sniffling softly, with a few glistening teardrops clinging to her long eyelashes.
"Because Daddy has to go to the military base!" Yang Yi explained. "But the military base isn't a fun place at all! There are only people there, no TV, no cartoons, no pretty dresses, and you can't bring your big teddy bear..."
Even though he was just trying to scare Xixi, Yang Yi was telling the truth.
Xixi couldn't imagine such a terrifying place!
No TV, no cartoons, no pretty dresses, and no big teddy bear? The grievance in the little girl's eyes vanished, replaced by shock and nervousness.
"Then why is Daddy going? Xixi doesn't want Daddy to go." The more she thought about it, the more scared she became. She tightly gripped her dad's fingers and shook her head at him.
She was afraid that if her dad went, he might never come back, so her big eyes were filled with worry.
Yang Yi was both touched and amused. He gently tapped his daughter's nose and said softly, "It's okay, Daddy is only going for one day to give a speech, and then he'll come right back!"
"Then you better not lie to Xixi!" The little girl pouted.
"When has Daddy ever lied to you?" Yang Yi protested loudly.
The little girl tilted her head and thought for a moment. It seemed like he really hadn't. But she still wasn't entirely reassured. She held out her right pinky and said, "Daddy has to pinky swear with Xixi!"
"Alright, pinky swear. Daddy promises you, after the speech, I'll come back right away! I won't let Xixi worry!" Yang Yi smiled and hooked his pinky with hers, the big hand and small hand forming a stark contrast.
Only then did the little girl break into a smile, even though her little face still looked a bit tear-streaked.