Don't Call Me Mom

When Niu Tian and Tai Tan heard Wang Dong'er's words, they instinctively covered their faces.

It was embarrassing, utterly mortifying.

If Tang San found out about this, the two of them and Jiang Wu were dead for sure.

When Tang San heard Wang Dong'er's words, his face turned completely dark.

She was throwing herself into someone's arms at such a young age. He had no idea who she had learned it from.

Seeing the smug look on his daughter's face, Tang San wanted nothing more than to punch Jiang Wu a few times.

At the thought that his daughter might be rooted up by this brat in the future, he felt inexplicably sick at heart.

In the end, Jiang Wu couldn't win against Wang Dong'er.

The two went to the bathhouse for a bath, then climbed under the covers together.

"Xiao Wu, can you hold me?"

"?"

Jiang Wu stared at Wang Dong'er in bewilderment, unable to figure out what she wanted.

Wang Dong'er said a little shyly, "As far back as I can remember, someone would hold me when I went to bed and hum softly to lull me to sleep."

Jiang Wu: "..."

Wait, are you treating me like your mom?

Just because I have Xiao Wu's template doesn't mean I'm your mom.

Jiang Wu looked at Wang Dong'er's big, fluttering eyes and fell silent for three seconds.

"No."

"Why not?" Wang Dong'er moved a step closer and tilted her head up to look at him, her tone full of righteous certainty. "I gave you half the bed."

"That's my bed," Jiang Wu corrected her.

"Now it's our bed," Wang Dong'er corrected him right back.

Jiang Wu took a deep breath and decided to try another angle. "You're a girl. It's not appropriate for you to squeeze into the same bed with a guy."

Wang Dong'er tilted her head, seemingly giving the question serious thought.

A moment later, Wang Dong'er clapped her hands. "It's okay, I don't mind you."

"...Gee, thanks."

"You're welcome." Wang Dong'er smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, and reached out to tug and shake Jiang Wu's sleeve. "Xiao Wu, just hold me for a bit, please? Just once. I promise I won't bother you once I'm asleep."

Jiang Wu looked at her face.

To be honest, Wang Dong'er really was beautiful.

She had pink-and-blue hair and delicate features. When she smiled, her eyes curved into crescents, giving her an indescribably lively charm.

With her acting so coquettishly on top of that, anyone else would probably have agreed already.

But right now, Jiang Wu had only one thought in his head.

If Tang San finds out, won't he run me straight through with the Sea God Trident?

"Doesn't your family keep an eye on you?" Jiang Wu made one last attempt to resist.

Wang Dong'er blinked, looking utterly innocent. "They're not here."

"They're watching from the shadows."

"Then let them watch." Wang Dong'er waved a hand dismissively. "It's not like they dare come out anyway."

Jiang Wu: "?"

He glanced out the window instinctively. The night was deep, and he couldn't see a thing, but he had a persistent feeling that two pairs of eyes were staring at him from the shadows.

In fact, Niu Tian and Tai Tan were already on the verge of going mad in the shadows.

"Big brother, I can't take it anymore." Tai Tan's clenched fists cracked, and his face was flushed red. "If that brat dares lay a finger on Dong'er, I'll-"

"Calm down." Niu Tian held his shoulder, though his own expression wasn't much better. "Dong'er is the one taking the initiative. If you rush out, you'll only make her unhappy."

"But-"

"Besides..." Niu Tian paused, his expression turning a little peculiar. "Don't you think Dong'er is too close to that brat? They've only known each other for a day."

Tai Tan froze, then frowned. "Big brother, you mean..."

Niu Tian said nothing, merely gazing deeply in the direction of the dormitory.

Meanwhile, at the Divine Realm Core.

Tang San's face was so dark it could have dripped ink.

He watched his daughter tugging Jiang Wu's sleeve and acting coquettishly in the image, his fingers tightening involuntarily until he squeezed a crack into the stone platform of the Divine Realm Core.

"Dong'er..." Tang San squeezed the name out through his teeth.

He admitted it: he was jealous.

In all the years Dong'er had been growing up, she had never acted so coquettishly toward him, her own father.

Why did this brat deserve it?

Tang San took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He told himself that Dong'er was still young and merely found the brat familiar and comforting. It was nothing serious.

But the next second, Wang Dong'er's voice came from the image. "Xiao Wu, please hold me~"

Tang San's hand tightened again.

In the image, Jiang Wu finally gave in.

"All right, all right, just for a bit." He sat down on the edge of the bed helplessly and opened his arms. "Come on."

Wang Dong'er's eyes lit up. She burrowed into his arms like a little rabbit, rested her head directly against his chest, and even nuzzled him.

Jiang Wu's whole body went stiff.

Wang Dong'er, however, sighed contentedly, closed her eyes, and murmured, "Xiao Wu, you're so warm."

"...Don't talk. Go to sleep."

"Mm." Wang Dong'er stayed quiet for a while, then spoke again. "Can you hum a song?"

"I can't."

"Just hum anything."

"I really can't."

Wang Dong'er raised her head and looked at him expectantly.

Jiang Wu met her gaze, and a thought suddenly popped into his head.

Why is this girl just like my sister?

He sighed, resigned himself to it, and began humming an off-key melody.

It was a tune Su Yuehua used to hum to lull him and his sister to sleep when he was little. He couldn't remember all of it, so he could only hum it in fits and starts.

Wang Dong'er listened attentively, though, closing her eyes as her breathing gradually grew steady.

As Jiang Wu hummed, he grew sleepy himself.

Leaning against the headboard with Wang Dong'er in his arms, he drifted off to sleep.

In the shadows, Niu Tian and Tai Tan looked at each other.

"...Big brother, what was that brat humming?"

"I don't know." Niu Tian shook his head, but a flicker of puzzlement crossed his eyes. "But why did that tune sound a little familiar?"

Tai Tan scratched his head and didn't press the question.

Early the next morning.

Jiang Wu woke up because something was weighing him down.

He opened his eyes and found Wang Dong'er sprawled on top of him, her head buried in the crook of his neck, her pink-and-blue hair tickling his chin.

One arm lay across his chest, and one leg was thrown over his. Her sleeping posture was extraordinarily overbearing.

Jiang Wu tried to move, but couldn't get free.

"Wang Dong'er," he called.

No response.

"Wang Dong'er, time to get up."

Wang Dong'er gave a muffled hum and snuggled deeper into his arms, mumbling something.

Jiang Wu leaned closer, trying to hear what she was saying.

"Mom... let me sleep a little longer..."

Jiang Wu froze all over.

He looked down at Wang Dong'er in his arms, his mind going completely blank.

Wang Dong'er nuzzled him again, her voice unbelievably soft and sweet. "Mom... hold me..."

Jiang Wu: "..."

He fell silent for a long time, then slowly turned his head to look out the window.

Outside, Niu Tian and Tai Tan had been utterly petrified in the shadows.

Tai Tan's mouth hung open wide enough to fit a fist, while Niu Tian's expression had frozen on his face. The two exchanged a glance, each seeing the same emotion in the other's eyes.

We're done for.

Meanwhile, at the Divine Realm Core.

Tang San watched the image of Wang Dong'er holding Jiang Wu and calling him Mom, his face expressionless and his knuckles white.

He was silent for a very, very long time.

Then Tang San got up, headed outside, and flew swiftly toward the Sea God Hall.

"Xiao Wu." Tang San returned to the Sea God Hall and found Xiao Wu. "I have something to ask you."

Xiao Wu, who was watering flowers, turned around. Seeing Tang San's gloomy face, he froze for a moment. "What's wrong, Third Brother?"

Tang San took a deep breath. "Have you ever... lost a child?"

Xiao Wu: "?"

Jiang Wu, who was outside the image, naturally had no idea what had happened in the Divine Realm.