"Let's go!" Yang Yi waved his hand, brimming with high spirits. "Let's go!" a milky little voice echoed, trying hard to shout along.
Yang Yi was lugging big and small bags, and Xixi was too, following behind her dad with her little backpack on, grunting "Ahh, ahh" as she shuffled her tiny steps with apparent effort.
Today was moving day, and the little one insisted on helping her dad. But what could a kid not yet four years old really do?
Yang Yi couldn't talk her out of it, so he put two picture books he'd bought for her into her little backpack and let her carry it.
In truth, Yang Yi hadn't made a big fuss about this move. He barely touched the stuff in the old rental house, just packing up some simple personal clothes and a few items belonging to the original body—military uniforms, medals, and such—things that the original Yang Yi always took with him wherever he went as precious memories.
Though the current Yang Yi didn't value them as much, after some hesitation, he still decided not to throw them away.
As for the leftover furniture, bedding, and other odds and ends, Yang Yi didn't cling to any of it. He gave it all to the delighted landlady.
None of it was worth moving. Aside from the hassle, the bigger reason was that Yang Yi himself found it all shabby!
Going to the new place, it was luxuriously decorated, fully furnished with high-end pieces—supposedly bought by the old man's son. Under those circumstances, why drag in old, worn-out stuff to ruin the original vibe?
"Sit in the back, sit in the back!" Yang Yi called out helplessly after putting the stuff in the trunk, only to see Xixi stretching her little long legs, trying to clamber into the passenger seat.
Xixi had inherited the good genes from Yang Yi and Mo Fei—her arms and legs were slender and long. At not even four years old, she was already over a meter tall, no shorter than an average five- or six-year-old!
Probably in another year, she wouldn't qualify for a half-price ticket at the amusement park anymore!
"Mmm, I can't see from the back," Xixi pouted, refusing to comply.
Yang Yi chuckled. He reached out his left hand, scooped it under the little one's armpits, and lifted her straight off the ground.
"Aiyaya..." Xixi's feet dangled in the air, and she squealed with a mix of fear and excitement.
Without further ado, Yang Yi pulled open the back door, stuffed her inside, and fastened the safety seat belt.
Truth be told, Yang Yi was pretty confident in his driving skills. If it weren't for the hassle, he could skip the seatbelt and race up to Akina's speed. But things were different now—he wasn't alone. With his daughter in the car, he had to play it safe for her sake!
The car was rented, and it didn't come with a child safety seat. Yang Yi had to plead a bit before he could borrow the one the boss had prepared for his own kid.
He'd have to find time to buy his own car!
The little one was still glaring at her dad with a puffed-up face, but Dad was way too strong. Xixi couldn't fight it, so she just used her expression to show her displeasure.
"Alright, you can still see from the back!" Yang Yi ruffled the little one's head, smiling. "When you're a bit bigger, Dad will take you on a road trip, and then you can sit up front!"
"Really?" Xixi was instantly hooked by the promise Dad had dangled.
As Dad got into the driver's seat and started the car, Xixi kept asking eagerly, "Daddy, where are we going to play?"
Yang Yi drove in silence for a moment before slowly replying, "To a very beautiful place, with vast fields of flowers, clear, pure lakes, and snow-covered mountains in the distance..."
Xixi tried hard to picture the scene Dad was painting in her mind, but her experience was too limited. When she heard the word "snow," she got excited.
"Daddy, is that Sister Elsa's home?" Xixi asked hopefully.
How did Elsa come up again? Yang Yi hadn't really paid much attention to the stories he told Xixi. He never imagined kids could get so obsessed with fairy tales like that!
After a moment's hesitation, Yang Yi nodded and said, "Yeah, she used to live at the top of the highest snowy mountain."
Like with Santa Claus, he'd leave a little fantasy for the little one!
"Then Xixi wants to go! Daddy, when are we going?" Xixi pressed eagerly.
"Not yet, you have to grow up first!" Yang Yi said with a faint smile. "Otherwise, you'll get sick if you go there."
Xixi pouted sadly and slumped back in her seat. "Alright then, Xixi will obediently eat her meals so she can grow up fast."
She really did act like a little adult!
The atmosphere grew a bit heavy. Yang Yi thought for a moment and started humming a tune as he drove, just to break the awkwardness.
But what was he humming?
"I drive my car onto the Fifth Ring, I drive my car onto the Fifth Ring... Ah, ah, Fifth Ring, you're one more ring than the Fourth Ring, ah, ah, Fifth Ring, you're one less ring than the Sixth Ring..."
Strictly speaking, Yang Yi didn't like this viral song. But in the last few years of his past life, he'd lived a bit recklessly, and blasting this tune while speeding through the wilderness had its own charm!
Only, Xixi clearly didn't like it. After listening for a bit, she whined, "Xixi wants to hear Sister Elsa's song! Daddy, sing that, okay?"
"Again?" Yang Yi grimaced.
Last night, the little one had pestered him, not only to tell the story of *Frozen* again but also to sing *Let It Go* over and over.
Yang Yi wasn't a professional singer like Mo Fei. Singing that kids' song on repeat would drive him nuts!
"Mm-hmm!" The little one giggled happily and nodded vigorously.
Fine, Yang Yi had no way to refuse his daughter.
"Ahem!" He cleared his throat and began to sing.
"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen..."
Yang Yi's rendition wasn't great—it was hard to capture the feminine grace of the vocals—but his enunciation was clear, and his pitch was good, so he still managed to convey the song's original charm.
Xixi couldn't understand the first few lines of lyrics—the words were too complex—but she still blinked her big, sparkling eyes and listened intently.
The car drove onto a straight suburban road, flanked by lush green fields and整齐的桉树. The gentle spring breeze rustled the leaves. Yang Yi rolled down the window, ready to belt it out!
"Let it go..."
Xixi was waiting for that line! Her eyes lit up, and she excitedly joined her dad in singing.
"Let it go, can't hold it back anymore..."
This line, Xixi sang the best. Her childish voice, perhaps inheriting her mother's musical sense, hit every note perfectly!
Surprisingly, she sang even better than her dad!
Yang Yi smiled softly, lowering his own voice to just lead the little one.
Like a call and response, the father and daughter's voices drifted out of the car, softening the spring scenery on this little suburban road.