Chapter 169: That Blonde Brat Again

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: That Blonde Brat Again

Caroline hadn’t expected Adrian to suddenly say something so direct and heartfelt.

She was used to Ryan openly expressing how much he missed people, but she never thought Adrian would do the same.

’Does he get his expressiveness from Adrian?’

Even though they weren’t face to face, just speaking through a phone pressed to her ear, Caroline couldn’t help but blush.

She unconsciously paced into a quieter room and murmured, "What was that for? Why say that all of a sudden?"

"Just speaking the truth," Adrian said.

Caroline leaned against the window, her fingers unconsciously twisting the tassel of the curtain.

The deep darkness of night lay outside the window, and the only sound in the room was his soft breathing coming through the phone.

She suddenly felt that hearing from him when he was away made her heart race even more than when he was right beside her.

Caroline said softly, "...Then finish your work and come back soon."

"Miss me?"

"Don’t you already know that?" Caroline shot back, mimicking his frank tone. She paused, then couldn’t resist adding in a whisper, "But even if I do miss you, it’s not like you can come back right this second."

"Mm, I heard that."

Caroline blinked, finding it funny. "Who would’ve thought? Your eyesight isn’t great, but your hearing is excellent."

"..."

Adrian smiled, pretending he hadn’t heard her last comment. "Just for that, I’ll do my best to get back sooner."

For some reason, Caroline was reminded of those movie tropes about airplanes stacked with jinxes.

You know, the plane that’s flown safely for thirty years and is making its final flight before a glorious retirement; the guy who’s been long-distance with his fiancée for a decade for work and is finally going home to marry her; the scientist who just developed a cure for cancer and will announce it after landing; the undercover agent whose five-year mission is finally over, letting him go home to his kids; the guy who always buys flight insurance but skipped it just this once; the simp who, after ten years of pining, finally got the girl to say yes...

With that in mind, Caroline quietly gave Adrian a rundown on the "death flag" trope and how it always ends.

’Even though I subconsciously believe the villain can’t die, I’m just cannon fodder and I’ve managed to live this long. So, what if? What if the opposite happens? What if the villain actually kicks the bucket?’

Adrian was silent for a long time after she finished.

Finally, he said, "Okay. Before I board, I’ll make sure none of those jinxes are stacked against me."

"..."

His deadpan tone made Caroline laugh, but after she did, she felt a little embarrassed.

’Explaining airplane death flag tropes to my boyfriend by the window in the middle of the night... It’s so cringey.’

To salvage her image, she cleared her throat. "Anyway, just be safe on your way back."

"I will."

—

Thank heavens, Adrian really did arrive safely in Kingsport.

And he was a day earlier than planned.

He got back to Kingsport on Sunday afternoon.

The surprise was so unexpected that Ryan was ecstatic.

He hurriedly packed his things to go back to Azure Heights with Caroline from the old family home.

"Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?"

Caroline chided him when she saw him.

She had already postponed her plans for the next day to go pick him up.

Adrian stroked her hair. "I wanted to surprise you and Ryan, and I didn’t want you to worry."

Seeing his beloved worrying about him, he leaned down and gave her a kiss.

Ryan hadn’t seen a scene like this in a while.

He covered his eyes with his hands.

Caroline caught a glimpse of the little guy beside them, who was covering his eyes but secretly peeking through his fingers. She gently pushed Adrian’s chest and whispered, "Ryan’s watching."

Adrian released her and glanced down at Ryan, who was pretending to cover his face but had his fingers spread wide apart. His tone returned to its usual composure. "Hands down."

Ryan obediently lowered his hands, giggled, and spread his arms wide. "Daddy, is it my turn now?"

Adrian bent down and scooped his son up.

Ryan copied his mommy and kissed his daddy’s cheek.

"You’ve gotten heavier these past few days."

"Hee hee! Grandpa said I got taller, too. I’ve been eating a lot every day. I’m going to be as tall as you when I grow up," he declared, puffing out his small chest with pride.

Having not seen his dad for a few days, Ryan clung to Adrian like a little koala, his short legs dangling as he switched into full-on chatterbox mode.

"Daddy."

"Mm."

"Daddy, can I sleep with you and Mommy tonight? I’ve been super good. I didn’t even kick my blankets off."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I said so."

Ryan pouted and turned to Caroline. "Mommy, Daddy’s bullying me."

Caroline smiled, having no intention of getting involved in this power struggle between father and son. "Don’t look at me. I can’t win against him either."

Ryan pouted. Seeing that his mommy had no intention of intervening, he decided to fend for himself.

He cupped Adrian’s face and reasoned earnestly, "Daddy, you’ve been gone for so many days. Don’t you want to spend more time with me?"

"I’ll spend time with you during the day."

"But you have to work during the day."

"Then I’ll spend time with you during dinner."

"Does dinner count?"

"It does."

This logic stumped Ryan. He tilted his head and thought for a moment. Realizing he couldn’t out-argue his dad, he switched tactics. "Then can I stay up a little later tonight? Just a little bit."

"No."

"Daddy."

"No."

Ryan heaved a long, heavy sigh, as if he’d just endured a great life tragedy. He rested his head on Adrian’s shoulder and muttered, "Bad Daddy. Mommy’s better."

Adrian’s eyebrow twitched slightly. "What did you say?"

"I said Daddy is the best!" Ryan immediately beamed.

"Alright, stop teasing your son," Caroline interrupted, asking Adrian, "Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet."

So, the family of three went out to eat with Adrian.

After they had eaten their fill, they left the private room and were heading downstairs when they unexpectedly ran into Jane Lawson.

"Caroline?" Jane Lawson’s eyes lit up as he hesitantly called out to the approaching woman in a mask and sunglasses.

Caroline stopped, wondering who could possibly have recognized her through her disguise. She turned and saw the familiar face of Jane Lawson.

Adrian, walking ahead with Ryan in his arms as usual, heard the exchange, paused, and looked back.

’It’s that blond kid again.’

Of the three of them, besides a surprised Caroline, the most curious was the little one in Adrian’s arms.

He shifted, following Adrian’s gaze. His big, round eyes blinked as he stared at the man talking to his beautiful mommy.

"Jane Lawson?" Caroline said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Jane Lawson flashed a grin. "Yeah! I’m just on my way to my part-time job."

"Is your sister doing better now?"

Jane Lawson nodded. "Much better. She’s been resting at home since being discharged a few days ago. She’s been able to go out these past two days. Thank you, Caroline."