Yu Xiaogang

"So you have to take responsibility."

"Take... take responsibility?" Deng Tianxin's voice went up an octave. "How am I supposed to do that? I'm telling you, I'm only six years old. I can't—"

"What are you thinking?" Bibi Dong smacked him on the bottom. It wasn't hard, just enough to vent her frustration. "I mean, I want to take you as my disciple."

"...Huh?"

Deng Tianxin blinked. For a moment, his brain couldn't keep up.

Take him as her disciple? What kind of twist was that? Weren't they just settling accounts? How had she suddenly jumped to taking him as her disciple?

"What's with that look?" Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow at Deng Tianxin's expression, which clearly said, Are you messing with me? "What, you think I'm not qualified to be your teacher?"

Deng Tianxin nodded instinctively, then hurriedly shook his head.

"You already nodded. What's the point of shaking your head now?" Bibi Dong folded her arms and watched him with interest. "Come on, why do you think I'm not qualified?"

Deng Tianxin was about to answer when a gentle male voice came from nearby.

"Dong'er, what are you doing here?"

Deng Tianxin looked toward the voice and saw a young man walking over.

He had short black hair parted three-seven, and an ordinary face.

No, calling it ordinary was being generous. His mouth was a little large, his lips were overly thick, and the muscles in his face seemed stiff. When he smiled, his whole face looked unnatural.

Deng Tianxin narrowed his eyes slightly.

As someone who had transmigrated, he didn't remember all the details of Douluo Continent's plot, but he did recall the appearances of certain key characters.

Short black hair, an ordinary face, a big mouth, thick lips, stiff facial muscles.

Wasn't this damn Yu Xiaogang?

Before Deng Tianxin could finish thinking, Bibi Dong beside him had already rushed over like a gust of wind.

"Xiaogang!" Bibi Dong's voice was full of delight, her smile blooming like a flower.

Bibi Dong practically took three steps in two as she reached Yu Xiaogang and grabbed his arm. "What brought you over here? Didn't you say you were organizing your research materials these next few days?"

Yu Xiaogang smiled. His stiff face softened a little with the smile. "I've nearly finished organizing them. I happened to be passing by, and I thought I might run into you, so I decided to try my luck."

"You came to see me?" Bibi Dong's eyes lit up. Two blushes appeared on her cheeks, and she looked as if she were soaking in a jar of honey.

Deng Tianxin stood behind them, watching without expression.

Well, well. Just a moment ago, she'd been solemnly reflecting on how her first love had amounted to nothing more than a bowl of plain noodles. Now that Yu Xiaogang was right in front of her, she'd changed completely.

Her face was as red as a monkey's backside, her voice so gentle it could drip water, and her eyes were brighter than when she saw a Soul Bone.

Was this the same Bibi Dong who'd just said she might only have liked the feeling of being cared about?

Was this the Spirit Hall Saintess who'd admitted it was just novelty and a moment of impulse?

"Hopeless romantic," Deng Tianxin muttered. His voice wasn't loud, but Bibi Dong heard him.

Bibi Dong's body visibly stiffened.

Yu Xiaogang didn't notice the subtle change. He'd spotted Deng Tianxin standing not far away, and his expression flickered with surprise.

A little boy with dragon horns growing from his head, very short, and about six or seven years old. He was looking at them with an expression that was hard to place—somewhere between disdain and helplessness.

"Dong'er, who is this child...?" Yu Xiaogang looked at Bibi Dong, his eyes questioning.

"Oh, he's..." Bibi Dong turned to Deng Tianxin. Some of the blush had faded from her face, but her voice was still gentle.

She was about to introduce him when she met Deng Tianxin's wide eyes, which seemed to say, See? See? I was right, wasn't I?

The look clearly asked, Who was the one just now telling me I was right?

Who admitted just now that her feelings for Yu Xiaogang were only a passing novelty?

How had she forgotten everything the moment he showed up?

Bibi Dong's expression froze. Suddenly, her face felt hot.

This time, it wasn't embarrassment from shyness. It was the awkwardness of having her thoughts exposed.

She'd just been so solemnly insisting that she understood her own heart. Then Yu Xiaogang showed up, and she immediately tossed those words to the winds, practically itching to throw herself at him.

That was... a little humiliating.

Bibi Dong cleared her throat, trying to make her expression look natural. Just as she was about to continue the introduction, Deng Tianxin suddenly moved.

With his short little legs pattering, Deng Tianxin ran over to Bibi Dong and flung his arms around her thigh.

Bibi Dong went rigid.

What was going on? From the moment they'd met until now, this little brat had called her "auntie" or insulted her as a pervert. When had he ever hugged her of his own accord?

Then Deng Tianxin tipped his head up and looked at Bibi Dong with his round eyes, calling out in a childish voice:

"Mommy."

The air froze.

Bibi Dong's brain completely crashed in that instant.

Her eyes widened, her mouth fell slightly open, and she stood stock-still, as if she'd been hit by a freezing Soul Skill.

He... what had he called her?

Mommy?!

Yu Xiaogang's smile froze on his face, too.

He looked at Deng Tianxin, then at Bibi Dong. The warmth in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by disbelief.

"Dong'er," Yu Xiaogang said, his voice dry. The muscles in his face seemed even stiffer than usual. "He... what did he call you?"

"No! Xiaogang, listen to me..." Bibi Dong snapped back to her senses. "He isn't my son! I only met him today..."

"Mommy," Deng Tianxin called again, hugging her even tighter. His little face was full of grievance. "Are you abandoning me? You said you'd never leave me behind..."

Bibi Dong nearly spat up blood.

What nonsense was this little brat saying?! When had she ever told him she wouldn't abandon him?!

"Dong'er," Yu Xiaogang took a step back. His expression looked like he was trying to stay calm, but his slightly trembling lips gave him away. "How old is this child?"

"Six!" Bibi Dong hurriedly said. "He's six this year, and I'm only nineteen. How could I possibly be his mother?"

"It's not impossible to have a child at twelve," Deng Tianxin added quietly from the side.

His voice wasn't too loud or too soft—just enough for both of them to hear.

Bibi Dong turned and glared at Deng Tianxin, her eyes looking ready to execute him on the spot.

Deng Tianxin shrank his neck under her glare, but he didn't loosen his grip on her leg at all.

"Little friend," Yu Xiaogang crouched down, doing his best to keep his voice gentle. "You say she's your mother. Then who's your father?"

Deng Tianxin tilted his head and looked at Yu Xiaogang with an innocent expression.

Here it came. This was the question he'd been waiting for.

Bibi Dong, you shouldn't have smacked my bottom just now.