Vol 10 Chapter 53 (1/2)
Chapter 53
VOLUME 10 CHAPTER 53: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS THE SECOND VISIT TO THE THATCHED COTTAGE (2)
Liu Bei POV
“I-In any case, I’ll be leaving.”
“Un, have a safe trip.” Gan Qing said as I hastily left after giving a final farewell. I could hear Mi Zhen yelling for me again from behind but I ignored her and continued on.
Ah… Gan Qing, sorry for the trouble. I will make sure to repay you one day for everything.
“…”
Un? Just then, I noticed that Yi De seemed unnaturally quiet and when I looked over, she turned away.
“Yi De, what’s the matter?”
“No, it’s nothing.” She said in a calm voice, “I just feel weird about that child calling you ‘daddy’.”
“What’s weird about that?” I said but after these words left my mouth, I realised that I was the weird one, “No, wait, I do indeed feel weird about it.”
I feel an indescribable sort of anguish on being called ‘daddy’ at such a tender age.
“No, that’s not it.” Yi De shook her head, “I can’t really describe it but hearing you being called ‘daddy’ makes me feel weird.”
What does she mean…
“Be that as it may, you will still have to be her relative.”
Well, I guess I cannot really understand how she feels–
“… Ah, I think I know why you feel that way.”
“Eh?”
“I think I know what irks you.” I nodded and gave her a wry smile, “You see, if she were to call me ‘daddy’, what will she call you?”
“Me?” Yi De said as she looked up and sank into thought, “Why won’t she call me by my name?”
“Of course she won’t,” I shook my head and pointed at her, “You’ll be ‘auntie’, won’t you?”
(Auntie.) Yi De repeated softly under her breath.
“… Wu.” She grimaced, “I don’t like it at all.”
“Hahahaha!” I burst out in laughter on seeing her grim expression that showed how much she detested being called by that yet at the same time contained some delight as well.
“What is Xuan De laughing about…”
I hurriedly shook my head, “No, no, nothing at all.”
— Ah!
Just then, I knocked into someone while being preoccupied with my enjoyment of Yi De’s plight and bamboo scrolls fell to the ground.
“Wah! Sorry!” I hurriedly apologised and reached out to help the one who fell to the ground and saw that it was Chen Gong.
“My lord, can you please get your act together?” Just as I expected, Chen Gong frowned immediately and began berating me, “If you keep being this frivolous, you will never be a good ruler.”
“Ah… I suppose.” I smiled stiffly, unsure of what to say, and merely kept my hand out, “Come, did you hurt yourself?”
“No need.” She said as she swiped my hand away and got up on her own. However, because the ground was slippery and/or her platform shoes made it difficult to get up, she could not get up at all even after trying a few times.
“Come, Chen Gong.” I said as I extended my hand to her again.
“…” Chen Gong stared at me before very unhappily turning away and reached up. After I grabbed onto her hand and helped her up, she hurriedly lowered her head and quietly picked up the bamboo scrolls lying on the ground.
“Are you hurt?” I asked as I helped to pick up the scrolls as did Yi De.
“No.” Chen Gong casually replied, al
beit in a less incendiary tone than before, “But my lord, you better watch your step next time.”
“Un un, I understand.” I said as I hurriedly nodded, feeling grateful that I was not scolded too badly.
(Though I must admit that I too wasn’t looking.)
“Eh? Chen Gong, did you say something?”
“No.”
Strange, I seem to have heard Chen Gong mumble something as she picked up her bamboo scrolls. Was it just my misconception? Oh well.
But there really are a lot of scrolls. A quick estimate puts the number at 20-30+ and when we were done, I was rather astounded by how heavy they could be.
“Give them over.”
“It’s fine, I’ll help you carry them for now.” I said as I began walking. Chen Gong did not bother arguing with me and eventually followed behind me after a moment.
*Ta* *Ta* *Ta*