Chapter 11: With a Helper, Xiao Juzi’s Glare Gained a Bit More Backbone

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: With a Helper, Xiao Juzi’s Glare Gained a Bit More Backbone

Aside from their size, Qin Shiwei’s and Xiao Juzi’s tails weren’t just similar—they were identical!

"Even if the Beastification traits are similar," Shu Guohua said, his face extremely stern. "I don’t see any resemblance between your features and Xiao Juzi’s!"

Shu Chao Yu nodded in agreement.

Qin Shiwei glanced over at Xiao Juzi.

As if facing a formidable enemy, Xiao Juzi immediately went on alert. He arched his small back—so small you could wrap a hand around it—and with his fur standing on end, he let out a low, warning growl.

Not a single ripple of emotion showed in Qin Shiwei’s dark green eyes.

Shu Yao gave a dry laugh, trying to smooth things over. "Haha, Xiao Juzi takes after me more."

"Only his eyes," Qin Shiwei said flatly.

"..." Shu Yao stared at him, speechless.

’Does this guy not know how to take a hint and back down?!’

Shu Yao decided to give him a hand.

"They always say boys take after their mothers and girls take after their fathers!"

"The child only has your eyes."

’He’s a lost cause!’

Qin Shiwei didn’t understand why Shu Yao was glaring at him.

’But I was just telling the truth.’

Shu Xin couldn’t help but ask, "How did you two first meet, and how did you get separated?"

’I knew there was no escaping this topic.’

Shu Yao, who was already prepared, was about to speak, but was cut off by Shu Guohua’s menacing words:

"Let this man speak for himself!"

Shu Yao shot the man beside her a helpless look.

’He can make up the rest of the story himself.’

Qin Shiwei responded calmly, "During the Battle of Ice City..."

"The Battle of Ice City!?" Shu Chao Yu’s reaction was particularly strong. Realizing he had lost his composure, he gave an awkward laugh to smooth it over. "It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Please, continue!"

Qin Shiwei continued, "Someone concealed enemy intelligence, leading to heavy casualties for our army. I was also seriously injured then, my eyes corroded by the Insect Race’s venom. It was Yaoyao who saved me. Later, the Insect Race launched a sneak attack. In the chaos, I boarded a rescue team’s Flying Machine and was forced to leave Yaoyao behind.

As soon as I regained consciousness, I went back to find her, but I couldn’t... My eyes hadn’t healed yet, so I couldn’t remember what she looked like. All I had was the memory of her scent. No matter what anyone said, I always believed she was still alive. That’s why for more than three years, I never stopped looking for her.

It wasn’t until the day before yesterday that I learned we had a child... Fate has brought us back together, and we can’t be separated again. I will spend the rest of my life doing everything in my power to love, protect, and care for her and our child."

Shu Yao didn’t know if he was making any of it up, but either way, she was a little touched.

Qin Shiwei took Shu Yao’s hand and glanced coolly at Xiao Juzi.

"Let go of my mom!"

With a roar that was more cute than ferocious, Xiao Juzi pounced, claws and teeth bared. He brandished his sharp nails, about to attack the hand taking liberties with his mom, but he was subdued in an instant.

Qin Shiwei grabbed the scruff of his neck with his other hand, lifted him up with ease, and watched impassively as he struggled in midair.

Once back on the ground, Xiao Juzi crouched low, let out a tiny "RAWR!" and launched himself at the man again, only to be caught once more.

’This guy is tough! His skills at catching me are even better than my grand-uncle’s!’

"Shu Ju, stop making a fuss!"

The moment Xiao Juzi’s feet touched the ground, he was about to attack again. But after being sternly called by his full name by Shu Yao, he immediately ran to the other side of the room to hide behind his grand-uncle. He peeked his little head out, glaring daggers at the man.

Shu Chao Yu scooped him into his arms and whispered in his ear, "Let’s just watch for now. If things go south, your grand-uncle will help you throw him out!"

With backup secured, Xiao Juzi’s glare held an extra ounce of confidence.

’But he didn’t think his grand-uncle was a match for that man. If the two of them teamed up, though, they might have a chance!’

At this thought, Xiao Juzi’s glare grew even fiercer.

Qin Shiwei then addressed the Shu Family elders:

"I understand the situation with Yaoyao. You’ve all just been reunited, and she doesn’t want to leave for the time being. I respect her wishes. But we have also been reunited after a long time apart, and I don’t want to be separated from her again. Therefore, I’ve decided to stay here with her at the Shu Family home."

"Oh, right, right!" Shu Yao added. "He said he was going to marry into the family!"

Shu Xin had been thinking about finding a son-in-law who would marry into the family anyway.

’This Ah Bao didn’t seem easy to get along with, but his words were sincere, he was deeply devoted to her daughter, and he was Xiao Juzi’s biological father...’

With so many points in his favor, first impressions didn’t seem so important anymore.

Shu Xin decided to try and accept him.

But her two brothers still seemed to have a major problem with Ah Bao.

From the moment Ah Bao had walked in, Shu Guohua had been hostile, his face a hard mask, looking like he might erupt at any second.

"Get your claws off my precious niece’s hand!" Shu Guohua bellowed.

Shu Yao pulled her hand away from Qin Shiwei’s.

It was clear he didn’t want to let go.

"You think you can just say you’ve been reunited and don’t want to be separated again, and that gives you the right to stay in the Shu Family home? Do you think I, the head of this family, don’t exist?!"

Shu Guohua’s position in the family was unshakeable.

When he flexed his authority, the entire Fourth District trembled.

"Yaoyao is young and easily deceived," Shu Chao Yu added, turning on Qin Shiwei. His tone, however, was much milder than his older brother’s. "I don’t know what tricks you used to get her to register your marriage. But if you’ll forgive my bluntness, I can’t say I see much affection from Yaoyao for her so-called husband."

Qin Shiwei looked at Shu Yao, but she was staring at the ceiling.

’My uncle has a sharp eye!’

’The only reason she’d registered her marriage with Qin Shiwei was to secure custody of Xiao Juzi and avoid future conflicts with the Imperial Family.’

’As for love and all that... she really hadn’t given it a thought.’

"Yaoyao, come over here!" her eldest uncle commanded.

"Okay!" Shu Yao obediently went and sat by him.

Qin Shiwei’s eyes followed her. After she was seated, he lowered his gaze, hiding the lonely look that flickered in his dark green eyes.

And so, a certain Commander was left to fight alone.

Shu Chao Yu said slowly, "When Yaoyao was lost, we failed to protect her. That was our mistake. But we will not make the same mistake twice. Even if you are Xiao Juzi’s biological father and Yaoyao’s legal husband, we will not grant you the privilege of coming and going from the Shu Family home as you please."

He paused, then added, "And most importantly, Xiao Juzi doesn’t like you."

Xiao Juzi, sitting on his mother’s lap with his tail curled before his little paws, shot a smug, provocative look at the isolated man across from him.

"Hee hee~"

Shu Xin, unable to bear it, tried to mediate. "Big brother, Xiao Chao, let’s not make things too difficult for him."

’How is this making things difficult?!’

"Sis!" Shu Chao Yu shot her a meaningful look.

Following his gaze to Xiao Juzi, Shu Xin immediately understood.

The little one, Zaizai, clearly didn’t like this father who had suddenly appeared.

If she were to speak up for the man now, she would be placing herself in opposition to Zaizai!

The most important thing they needed to worry about right now was getting Zaizai to accept them, not being seen as his enemy!

"Ah Bao, I’m sorry."

His mother-in-law had made her position clear.

With another ally on his side, Xiao Juzi held his head a little higher.

Qin Shiwei put a hand to his forehead.

’This family is really something else...’