Chapter 407 - 406: Extra 2: Those Things About the Nanny Dad Teaching the Cub to Walk (2)

Chapter 407: Chapter 406: Extra 2: Those Things About the Nanny Dad Teaching the Cub to Walk (2)

3. Stay-at-Home Dad Ye Ming

Being a female, San San couldn’t move around in a beast form and learn to walk early at just over forty days old like the males could.

In her human form, Ye Ming began teaching her to walk when she was around three months old.

The little girl was very clever. Before learning to walk, she had already mastered all sorts of crawling. Her desire to explore was intense; she had rummaged through every nook and cranny of the house, including the trash can.

She was especially fond of Shi Lan’s wardrobe. One section was semi-open, without a door, and she would always hide there, snuggling up in her mom’s fragrant clothes.

Initially, Shi Lan used that spot for clothes waiting to be washed. But after seeing how much San San loved to crawl in and play, she filled it with many of her own soft, comfortable winter clothes so San San would have a cozier place to lie.

San San was still too little to understand much. She just contentedly flopped her little body down among the fluffy clothes as if she’d discovered a small treasure. Sometimes, when Ye Ming saw her seemingly tangled in the clothes and tried to take one away, she would stare at him unhappily with wide eyes, then bury her little head in Shi Lan’s clothes, terrified he would snatch them away.

If Ye Ming truly tried to pick her up and take her out, she would pretend to pout and start whimpering and whining. In reality, there wasn’t a single tear, but Ye Ming would surrender immediately, completely helpless against her.

She wouldn’t leave on her own until she had played to her heart’s content. A few times, she played until she was tired and fell asleep, which was the only way Ye Ming could successfully carry her away.

The process of teaching San San to walk was not so easy. Ye Ming had to be on high alert to prevent the little girl from falling.

Compared to a beast form, a human body was obviously more fragile. His daughter’s skin was fair and delicate, and she bruised and got red marks easily.

Despite this, San San still fell a few times while learning to walk. Thankfully, Ye Ming had specially arranged for thick woolen mats to be placed where she was practicing, reducing the chances of injury.

Still, Ye Ming’s heart ached every time he saw his daughter tumble, and he would immediately rush over to help her up.

San San, however, would act as if nothing had happened, giggling as she stood back up on her own, not needing her dad’s help.

To Ye Ming, this period before his daughter could talk was the cutest. Once she learned to speak, Ye Ming began her formal education and often agonized over whether he was being too harsh, to the point that his daughter thought he was mean.

San San was Shi Lan’s first daughter. As a precious female and the first girl in the family, San San was thoroughly doted on by everyone. Not to mention, the little girl was a spitting image of a younger version of her mother—soft, cute, and adorable—and her several fathers easily found their hearts melting for her, spoiling her rotten.

But as her biological father, Ye Ming couldn’t just keep indulging the little girl. After all, she would one day be the interstellar Monarch, responsible for guiding the development of the entire interstellar civilization.

As a result, among everyone in the family, Ye Ming became the person San San "disliked" the most. This dislike wasn’t a deep-seated aversion, but more of a childish tantrum that came and went quickly, usually during study time.

Children in the Beastman World were generally precocious. After they learned to talk, many noble families would begin their cubs’ education. Ye Ming was no exception; he himself had started his studies at four months old.

However, San San was his daughter, and he was still soft-hearted, unable to bear being so strict with her. Her curriculum was only a quarter of what his had been.

Even so, San San would always pull a long face when she saw the thick books. She tried to coax her father, "Daddy, Daddy, can I not study today?"

Ye Ming, of course, put on a stern face and shook his head. "San San, no. You’re going to be the Monarch one day. As Monarch, you will hold a position of great power and authority. You must have sufficient ability to earn the trust and loyalty of the people. Be good. We’ll just study 15 pages today."

Although San San was young, she had a bit of a bossy streak and was drawn to powerful things. And "Monarch" sounded very impressive.

She tried to bargain. "10 pages."

"No. 12 pages at the minimum."

Looking at his adorable daughter, at that miniature version of his wife’s face, Ye Ming found it impossible to be stone-faced and merciless. He silently reduced the number by another three pages.

San San’s eyes twinkled. She sensed room for negotiation. "Can we do 9 pages?"

At that, Ye Ming’s face turned completely stern. Forcing himself to ignore his daughter’s pitiful gaze, he said firmly, "20 pages. No more changes. That’s final."

"Ah! Why did it go up by 5 pages?"

San San wailed. Ye Ming looked away, refusing to soften again.

San San peeked at her father’s serious face and quietly shut her mouth, grumbling to herself, ’Daddy is so mean.’

It was because of these study sessions that San San grew to dislike Ye Ming a little. But she wasn’t afraid of her father. Even though she complained in her heart that he was mean, she subconsciously knew that her dad was actually a very gentle person.

However, San San held a bit of a grudge for her father’s strictness during the day. So at night, when Ye Ming told her bedtime stories, she would force her eyes to stay open, just to make her dad tell a few more. The nighttime version of her dad was very indulgent.

San San snickered to herself. ’Seeing how serious Dad is, I guess I’m not that mad anymore that he makes me study so much.’

...

When San San was born, Ye Ming had more time and could often be at home to take care of her. But around the time Liu Liu was born, his official duties became much heavier. It coincided with the development of several impoverished planets, so he had to frequently attend remote meetings to check on the construction progress and prevent anyone from cutting corners. People were also constantly coming to the palace to report on their progress.

With no other choice, he started bringing both children to the palace with him during the day. In his spare time, he would guide San San with her schoolwork and teach Liu Liu how to walk.

Liu Liu’s beast form was a tiny little black panther. He had inherited his father’s pure black fur, and his eyes were like the finest ice-type jadeite—crystal clear. When he was silent, he exuded an air of mystery and nobility.

Whenever Shi Lan saw Liu Liu in his beast form, she would sometimes say, "Oh, is our Little Prince here? Come let Mama pat your head."

Then she would also contentedly pet the fluffy little guy.

She used to be a little scared when she saw Ye Ming as a huge Black Panther, but her own son, a mini Black Panther, was cute no matter how she looked at him. He was like a little black kitten, his dark, glossy eyes showing his undisguised affection for her.

Scared? Impossible!

However, Liu Liu was not as bold as San San. The moment San San was brought to the palace, the little cub dared to run around everywhere, looking just like a leader inspecting her territory, with a group from the Guard Team trailing behind her.

The normally stern and cold members of the Guard Team would look at the little princess with eyes like melting ice, full of warmth and gentleness.

Of course, they were the same way when they saw Liu Liu.

Beastmen were endlessly patient and tolerant with cubs, to say nothing of the Monarch’s children.

After Liu Liu learned to walk in his beast form, he loved to follow right on San San’s heels. Perhaps because they shared the same father, he felt closer to San San than to his other older brothers.

San San didn’t mind her little shadow.

The sister and brother duo quickly familiarized themselves with the entire palace. If Ye Ming wasn’t paying attention for a moment, he would have no idea where the children had slipped off to. The first thing he asked his subordinates every day was, "Have you seen the little princess and the Little Prince?"

Later, they got tracking chips, which finally gave him some peace of mind.