Chapter 1809: After Raising the Good Child, I Faked My Death 03

Shopping mall.

Wen Si Luo is too thin; strangers would think he's just over seven or eight years old. Jin Chen thought he just needed to pick a variety of nutritional supplements.

The shopping mall was crowded; Wen Si Luo didn't really want to be held, so Jin Chen took his hand and bought many child-rearing items.

From beginning to end, Wen Si Luo never showed much liking; when Jin Chen asked, he just nodded, and upon entering crowded stores he became even more silent, clinging to Jin Chen's hand and not letting go.

Jin Chen, however, enjoyed the shopping.

Children's growth formula milk, DHA and Omega-3, various vitamin supplements, toys and clothes—he bought them all.

It was Ling Gun Gun who, after searching online child-rearing guides, said children grow fast and clothes aren't needed in bulk, so Jin Chen reluctantly stopped.

Raising a child alone is exhausting.

Wen Si Luo looked up at Jin Chen with confusion, somewhat dejected, lowered his eyes, and tugged at his ill-fitting clothes with his small hands.

The house in this city was also newly bought; Jin Chen drove over, taking some time, and by the time they arrived home it was evening. Wen Si Luo seemed a little tired, sitting slumped in the passenger seat.

Jin Chen simply carried the child back home, but unexpectedly, as soon as they arrived, Wen Si Luo struggled to get down and strained to lift those big, heavy bags.

"Do you need my help tidying up?"

Wen Si Luo looked up and asked, his voice still childish.

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow, squatted down to speak with him, "Are you tired, Xiao Luo?"

Wen Si Luo: "Not tired."

"Who is the kid who almost fell asleep in the car earlier?"

"..."

Wen Si Luo's face flushed, and he lowered his head without speaking.

"If you're tired, take a nap; after dinner we'll tidy up together, anyway everything goes into your room."

As soon as Jin Chen finished speaking, Wen Si Luo was so surprised he couldn't help but widen his eyes, looking especially cute.

"For…?"

Jin Chen smiled and rubbed his head.

"It can't be for me; what nonsense are you talking about?"

Wen Si Luo stared, looking at the piles of bags full of toys and clothes, feeling inexplicably at a loss.

He thought there was another child in the house who owned these things, so whenever Jin Chen asked, he remained silent, deep down also faintly hoping he could have a little bit of his own.

Just a little would be enough for him to live safely.

Wen Si Luo pursed his lips, hugged Jin Chen's neck and pressed close, whispering almost inaudibly, "Thank you, brother."

His soft cheek pressed against him, Jin Chen satisfiedly pinched it.

"All right, welcome home, Xiao Luo. Go rest a bit and get ready for dinner."

What a well-behaved child, yet he could turn Wen Zhu, that damned pervert, into a major villain.

【Host, don't forget that Xiao Luo now has a Blackening Value of 80!】

【He's only ten; what bad could he do?】

Jin Chen objected.

【That makes sense!】

Ling Gun Gun agreed.

It's just so full of filters!

Wen Si Luo was indeed tired; Jin Chen took him to the bathroom, and after just washing, with his hair not yet dry, he collapsed onto Jin Chen's shoulder and fell asleep, seeming uneasy, needing to clutch something to sleep.

Jin Chen had already prepared a teddy bear, placed it in Wen Si Luo's arms, and then left the bedroom.

What he didn't know was that, in the six months at the Fuliyuan, Wen Si Luo had hardly ever slept well; even if numb, he still had things he feared.

The pool of blood in the living room was enough to soak shoes, the thick smell of blood making it hard to breathe, the piercing screams and Mother's final glance…

In his sleep, Wen Si Luo gradually struggled, tightly gripping the teddy bear and whimpering, the small face buried in the pillow furrowed with extreme unease.

After a long while, he was startled awake, trembling as he clutched the teddy bear and buried his face in it.

By dinnertime, Wen Si Luo was back to his usual self; even Jin Chen noticed nothing amiss, only feeling satisfied after holding the child and feeding him a bowl of egg custard.

Wen Si Luo also said nothing, obediently eating in Jin Chen's arms, merely a little absent-minded.

"Do you want to go to the amusement park tomorrow?" Jin Chen suddenly asked.

Wen Si Luo stared blankly for a few seconds, then hurriedly hugged Jin Chen, "No… I don't want to go."

He had heard from the Fuliyuan children that many parents who adopted but later regretted would finally take the kids to the amusement park, then send them back.

Wen Si Luo did not want to be sent back to the Fuliyuan.

Jin Chen thought likewise: first it's most important to nurture the child's body; there will be plenty of days later to go to the amusement park.

——

But the fact that he had nightmares was only discovered on the third day after Wen Si Luo arrived home.

Jin Chen found a cartoon for the child to watch; perhaps the volume was a bit high, Wen Si Luo was frightened by the scream of the evil little monster being beaten and fled, and sat frozen on the sofa like a statue, taking a long time to recover, drawing his knees up and hugging himself tightly.

That night.

Jin Chen warmed some milk, pushed the door open, and suddenly his expression changed slightly; he hurriedly quickened his pace toward the bedside.

"Xiao Luo? Luo Luo!"

Wen Si Luo, drenched in cold sweat, turned pallid, shivering uncontrollably under the blankets, muttering incessantly like a nightmare.

"No… don't hit…"

Jin Chen scooped the child into his arms, his palm pressing against the child's cold cheek to soothe him gently.

"Good Luo Luo, no one will hit you; wake up quickly."

Wen Si Luo suddenly jolted awake, his body trembling with shock, his childish voice full of fear: "Daddy! Don't… don't hit me… please!"

But when his wet black eyes opened and he saw Jin Chen's eyes full of worry and concern, Wen Si Luo became dazed and stunned again, as if frightened silly.

Jin Chen feared frightening him again, so he gently stroked the child's trembling back with utmost care, his low voice unbelievably soft.

"Guabao, this place is very safe; no one will hit you."

"Brother will protect you; don't be afraid."

Wen Si Luo suddenly choked, shrank his shoulders, clung tightly to Jin Chen's neck, and tears spilled out.

He was too scared.

Jin Chen's soothing came gentle yet fierce, just enough to catch all the fear Wen Si Luo had piled up over the past six months.

His sobbing was restrained yet extremely aggrieved, like the wail of a young beast.

Jin Chen's Adam's apple rolled, his heart aching till his liver trembled; he held the child and gently patted his back, saying, "Brother will stay with you while you sleep; drink a cup of hot milk and you won't cry, okay?"

Wen Si Luo sniffled for a while, his warm, wet cheeks pressed against Jin Chen's neck; hearing the words, he lifted his head to look at Jin Chen, his cheeks flushed red from crying.

Obediently drank the hot milk from Jin Chen's hand, Wen Si Luo then buried himself again in his embrace, murmuring softly, "Brother…"

Jin Chen: "Huh?"

Wen Si Luo bit his lip, finally shook his head, clung tightly to Jin Chen, and said, "Stay with me."

Jin Chen held Wen Si Luo and lay down again under the covers, his warm palm gently stroking the back of his neck, saying, "All right, brother will stay with you; this way you won't have nightmares."

Wen Si Luo didn't even want the familiar stuffed bear he'd had these past days; fearing abandonment, he clung tightly to Jin Chen, yet no matter what he couldn't close his eyes.

Ling Gun Gun came up with a suggestion.

【Host, try singing a lullaby; that's how kids are usually put to sleep.】

【... How about you do it?】

I can't sing that thing!

Ling Gun Gun fidgeted, '【I also can't— I've downloaded 100 lullabies for the Host— please learn them slowly!】'

Jin Chen hesitated, '【Does a ten-year-old also need to listen to this?】'

【But Xiao Luo has never heard it before; the Host should give him a complete childhood!】

Jin Chen selected a relatively simple tune, lightly patted the child's back through the blanket, and hummed softly.

Wen Si Luo in his arms looked at Jin Chen puzzledly, after a few seconds sniffled, closed his eyes, buried his face in Jin Chen's neck and fell asleep, his heart feeling a satisfied urge to cry.