QT: Against My Will-Chapter 581 - 9.03 - Stinky Bun Wants To Go On A Trip - Jelly Household
Ying Xiong clambered onto a step stool by the sink, reaching for the soap. Bing Shi stood beside him, washing their hands together.
Ying Xiong’s memories were like pictures he could edit — keeping the best ones, the ones that brought him joy, and letting the others fade.
This got on Xuan Mu’s nerves so many times. What would he do for such an amazing trait?!
"Alright, little adventurer, why don’t you go play while Mommy cooks us some lunch?" Bing Shi suggested as they dried their hands.
Ying Xiong nodded and scampered off to play on his own.
In their household, the norm was usually ordering food and simply setting it on the table. Thinking back, Bing Shi realized that the rare times they did cook were usually only when they were in a mood for cooking.
Knowing her husband’s love for meat, Bing Shi decided to prepare beef stir-fry and some barbecue pork skewers. The beef stir-fry had a savory sauce made from fish sauce, oyster sauce, and a touch of sesame oil, while the pork skewers were marinated in a mixture of honey, soy sauce, and various spices.
The delicious aroma filled the kitchen, and every few minutes, Stinky Bun would wander over, his little fingers reaching up. "Mommy, mommy?" Mommy, taste? He asked.
With a smile, Bing Shi picked up a small fork and skewered a tender piece of beef, making sure it was cool enough for him to eat. "Here you go," she said, lowering the fork to his level.
Ying Xiong’s little hand eagerly took the fork and he put the piece of meat in his mouth, handing the fork to his mommy, "Mommy, mommy."
Bing Shi carefully selected another tender piece of beef, making sure, once again, that it was an appropriate temperature before offering it to him on the fork, "This will be the last one."
The mother and son duo heard the front door open. Ru Quan and Xiao Pu had returned from their hunt.
"We’re home!" Xiao Pu announced, barely taking off his shoes before sprinting toward the bathroom inside his bedroom, "I’m gonna take a bath first!"
The moment Stinky Bun heard his brother’s voice, his eyes lit up like stars. "Pu Pu!" he cheered, his tiny legs propelling him towards the direction of the bathroom. Just as he was about to dash off, his father swooped in, effortlessly lifting him into the air.
"Whoa there, champ," Ru Quan said, planting a big kiss on Ying Xiong’s chubby cheek as he picked him up. "Are you not going to welcome your daddy?"
"Daddy, daddy," Ying Xiong kissed his daddy back.
Darting over, Bing Shi planted a quick, sweet kiss on Ru Quan’s cheek. "Welcome home," she said before leading him to the kitchen.
She almost couldn’t recognize him at all. Ru Quan consciously suppressed his aura, not wanting to intimidate his little boy.
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The family of four finally settled around the dining table, each in their own chair, plates of delicious food spread out before them.
Kuro and Baby Shiro found cozy spots on the couch, lounging around lazily.
Bing Shi noticed Xiao Pu seemed more relaxed than he had been in days, "You look like you’re feeling better. Is everything okay now?"
Xiao Pu paused for a moment, "Yeah," he played along with the family role play but still felt somewhat distant. It was more apparent after Bing Shi had returned.
Was he simply a preprogrammed machine, designed to mimic human emotions and interactions? Or did he possess something deeper, something genuine and real?
As he looked around the table at his family, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be like them.
Stinky Bun happily enjoyed his meals independently, filling the room with his cheerful presence.
Xiao Pu remained silent. It was as if he didn’t want to intrude on their moments as a family and preferred to observe rather than actively participate. He was still a "system" rather than a son, unlike Stinky Bun.
Taking Xiao Pu’s plate, Bing Shi sliced the meat into bite-sized portions, "Here, it’ll be easier to eat."
Xiao Pu was a valued member, even though he probably didn’t feel like it.
"T-thank you," Xiao Pu looked down at his plate. Maybe if he found his true family, things would be different. It was a yearning that he couldn’t ignore, a desire to discover his origins and find a place where he truly belonged.
Ru Quan and Bing Shi exchanged a knowing look. They didn’t need an extra pair of hands to work for them and were well off enough to provide for Xiao Pu as their son.
Her husband had already given Xiao Pu a human body, allowing him to grow however he liked. But it seemed like Xiao Pu felt stuck in a way that they couldn’t fully understand.
Xiao Pu couldn’t be classified as an adult, as he lacked most of the desires that defined adulthood. At the same time, he carried a level of maturity and understanding that surpassed typical childhood behaviors. He was a humanoid who often seemed more human than anything else.
After they had finished their hearty lunch, they decided to go for a leisurely walk together; a perfect opportunity to digest their food.
Bing Shi packed the leftovers into a couple of lunchboxes and gave them to Ru Quan and Xiao Pu, so they could save them inside their spaces.
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As they approached the road, Stinky Bun automatically reached out and grabbed Xiao Pu’s hand, "PuPu." Xiao Pu, let’s play catch together. He tried to pull out a ball from his shoulder bag clumsily.
"Later...?!" XiaoPu spanked the little boy’s hand, "Stop pulling out things in the middle of the road!"
Stinky Bun persisted in wanting to play until a big truck passed by then, "Pupu, Pupu?!" Did you see that?!
"Yeah," Xiao Pu nodded at every vehicle Stinky Bun pointed at.
Ru Quan reached out and tenderly held Bing Shi’s hand in his. Their undeniable magnificence was evident, but there were no onlookers or admirers to swoon over them. The citizens around them went about their daily lives, seemingly unaware of the captivating couple in their midst.
Bing Shi couldn’t help but feel like she wanted to change that situation. She grinned at Ru Quan from ear to ear and began to praise him, starting with his striking red hair.
"You know," she said, her eyes sparkling before he interrupted her with a teasing gesture, pressing his pointer against his lips.
"I know I’m handsome," he said, thinking how she hasn’t stopped praising his looks from day one, "but let’s save those praises for more private moments, shall we?"
"Oh?" Bing Shi’s eyes traveled from his face down his chest, "Don’t worry, my Dear. I have plenty of praises saved up for those private moments too."
Ru Quan flashed a sly grin, his gaze following hers. "Is that so?" he teased. "Well, I look forward to hearing them."
Despite Shina and Leon being a married couple, not many took their relationship seriously. Was it because of the personas they portrayed or because of the lack of affection they showed in public?
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · · 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
As they continued their journey, they came upon a public transportation stop.
Stinky Bun’s excitement showed up as he eyed the lineup of colorful buses. "Daddy, daddy?" Can we go on a trip, please?
"Do you have a travel card?" Ru Quan asked.
Stinky Bun reached into his shoulder bag, rummaging through it for a moment before triumphantly pulling out a transportation card.
"Very well," Ru Quan said, his eyes meeting Bing Shi’s for a brief moment before agreeing, "Let’s go then."
They boarded, Stinky Bun leading the way. He proudly handed over his card to be scanned, practically beaming as the machine beeped in approval.
He chose a window seat, his small hands pressed against the glass as his eyes took in every passing sight.
As the bus moved further from the city, Bing Shi’s eyes were drawn to a peculiar sight beyond the skyline. Amidst the fading hues of the setting sun, a dark hill stood out, it’s silhouette hitting the clouds above
"Is that humongous thing behind the city a mountain?" she asked, pointing towards the mysterious mound. "I think it just moved."
"It’s one of the Chubbies," Ru Quan followed her gaze and chuckled softly. "Most of them have willingly chosen to stay here until they give birth to a healthy chubbie baby."
"They’re like...Godzillas!" Xiao Pu shouted, momentarily forgetting himself as he jumped up from his seat. Swiveling around, his eyes followed the towering mountain, "They’re enormous! My heart almost jumped into my throat when I first saw them. Dad kept his cool, but I could see in his eyes that he was just as shocked as I was."
