Things Are About to Get Lively

Zuo Yi dug an old bathtub out of the storage room in the basement.

The bathtub had quite a few years on it. It was small, the kind made for bathing children, but the materials and craftsmanship were exceptionally refined—thick and sturdy.

It brought back many wonderful memories for Zuo Yi.

Memories from his childhood.

Carrying the oak bathtub back to the third floor, Zuo Yi first rinsed it spotless in the bathroom.

Then he filled it with hot water and lathered up countless bubbles with body wash.

Just like his mother had done for him back then.

"Baby!"

Zuo Yi called out, "Come take a bath!"

"Coming!"

With a crisp reply, Bao'er came panting in, hugging Taike.

Her forehead was covered in sweat, with quite a few strands of hair stuck together. Her little flushed face looked especially adorable.

She had gone completely wild playing with A-Tai!

Zuo Yi lovingly wiped away her sweat and said, "Take a bath and get to bed early. It's already late."

It was actually not even nine o'clock yet, but even Zuo Yi, who had no experience raising children, knew that children needed to sleep early and rise early. Only enough sleep would benefit her growth and development.

"Mm."

Bao'er obediently nodded and said to Taike in her arms, "A-Tai, let's take a bath together."

As she spoke, she tried to put Taike into the bathtub.

Awoo! Woof woof woof woof!

Taike barked loudly, twisting his body desperately as he suddenly broke free from Bao'er's arms.

Quick as lightning, Zuo Yi grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, carried him to the doorway, and set him down.

Wiggling his little butt, Taike bolted away in a flash.

Bao'er was stunned. "A-Tai..."

Taike's reaction had been far too intense. Caught off guard, she had gotten a little frightened herself.

Zuo Yi said, "Ignore him. Go take your bath."

Bao'er dejectedly replied, "Okay."

She did not know that an Abyssal Cerberus was a fire-element magical beast. They naturally disliked getting near water and even bathed in lava.

Taike's reaction was actually perfectly normal.

Zuo Yi did not explain.

He helped Bao'er wash her hair and take her bath. Though his lack of experience left him somewhat flustered, he enjoyed every bit of it and worked hard to be a qualified stay-at-home dad.

After the bath, Zuo Yi wrapped the little girl in a bath towel and carried her into the bedroom to change into pajamas, then brought over a hair dryer to dry her hair.

At some point, Taike crawled out from who knew where. He squatted beside the bed and looked up at her with a fawning grin on his face.

His little tail wagged back and forth.

Bao'er glanced at him, then proudly turned her head away and refused to look at him again.

She was making it clear that she was angry.

"Whimper, whimper..."

Taike's smile vanished. He put on a pitiful expression, blinked his eyes, and let out soft whines.

Bao'er lasted only three seconds before she gave in helplessly. "I forgive you."

Taike instantly changed his expression and happily cried out as he tried to jump onto the bed.

But Zuo Yi, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, smacked him down with one hand. "Lie on the floor. Don't you dare get on the bed!"

This brat was the type to tear the roof off if he went three days without a beating, so he needed strict discipline.

Zuo Yi was not afraid that Taike would fail to understand him. High-ranking magical beasts possessed great intelligence, and many of them had the innate ability of Language Comprehension. Abyssal Cerberuses were no exception.

Though Taike was still a pup, racial talents were inborn.

In fact, once he grew to a certain stage, he would be able to speak. Back when Zuo Yi traveled through the Abyss Gate, he had often chatted with Taike's mother.

Splat!

Taike sprawled on the floor, his limbs twitching. Under the tyrannical might of the Great Demon King Zuo Yi, he trembled and did not dare move again.

This time, Bao'er did not speak up for him.

Zuo Yi snorted and continued drying Bao'er's hair.

Once it was dry, he switched off the hair dryer, pulled over the air-conditioning blanket, and tucked it around the little girl.

"Go to sleep," he said gently.

"Mm."

Bao'er nodded and opened her mouth in a yawn.

Today, she had moved into a new home with her father, met three friends—Agu, Aguai, and A-Tai—and played with A-Tai for so long. She had not even taken an afternoon nap, so she was very sleepy now.

"Good night, Daddy."

Leaning against the pillow, the little girl closed her eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Zuo Yi dimmed the bedside lamp and sat quietly beside the bed for a long time before lowering his head and kissing her forehead.

"Good night, baby."

Bao'er did not know what she was dreaming about, but a faint smile curled at the corner of her lips.

Zuo Yi quietly left her room.

The moment Zuo Yi left, Taike, who had been lying on the floor pretending to be dead, immediately pricked up his ears.

He listened for a moment. Once he confirmed that Zuo Yi was not waiting outside the door, he sneakily climbed to his feet, stretched out his paws, and quietly crawled onto the bed.

He lay down beside Bao'er.

Wriggling his round little body, he brought his dog nose close and sniffed Bao'er's face, then rested his head against the pillow and closed his eyes.

In her dream, Bao'er pursed her lips and murmured, "Daddy, don't forget to buy A-Tai some steak."

Taike suddenly opened his eyes, then slowly closed them again after a moment.

The little room was quiet and peaceful.

A-Tai!

The Zuo Family Old Residence awakened on this morning to Bao'er's cry.

Still in her pajamas, the little girl chased Taike all the way from the bedroom downstairs and ran into Zuo Yi, who was preparing breakfast.

The freshly cooked congee Zuo Yi had made was on the table. Smiling, he asked, "What's wrong?"

The rice porridge had been cooked in the rice cooker. He had put the ingredients in the cooker and set the timer last night, so it was ready first thing in the morning.

Then he had gone to Aunt Fang's Breakfast Shop in town to buy steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk.

He had originally wanted the little girl to sleep a little longer, but she had unexpectedly come downstairs on her own.

Bao'er pointed at Taike, who was hiding beneath the dining table, and accused him in grief and indignation, "A-Tai, so much drool!"

It turned out that Taike had licked her awake that morning.

Then she discovered that her little face was covered in his drool.

Taike: Whimper, whimper, whimper.

He felt wronged too. He did not think he had done anything bad.

"It's fine."

Zuo Yi smiled. "Go wash your face. Don't forget to brush your teeth first. Come down for breakfast when you're done."

In truth, Abyssal Cerberus saliva was not only harmless, but also a superior spellcraft material. In Sadea World, some specially made beauty ointments even contained Cerberus saliva.

If it had been harmful, Zuo Yi would never have tolerated Taike licking her at random, much less brought him out to be Bao'er's magical pet companion.

"I'll forgive you this time."

Bao'er had not truly intended to scold Taike. Taking the chance to let him off, she said, "Don't do it again next time. I'm going to wash my face and brush my teeth."

She already knew how to wash her face and brush her teeth. She even had her own toothpaste, toothbrush, and towel, so she did not need Zuo Yi's help.

Zuo Yi only needed to teach her how to turn on the hot water and set the water heater temperature for her.

The moment Bao'er turned to head upstairs, Taike crawled out from beneath the dining table and raced up the stairs, trotting eagerly after her with the devoted look of a loyal lackey.

Zuo Yi could not help shaking his head at the sight.

Things were about to get very lively from now on.

By the time Bao'er came downstairs again after brushing her teeth and washing her face, Zuo Yi had cooled the hot congee to just the right temperature and added a spoonful of sugar for her.

The steamed buns were still piping hot. He gave one to Bao'er and a whole pile to Taike.

That was to keep yesterday's scene from happening again.

Aunt Fang's steamed buns were made with care. The filling used fresh pork along with scallions grown in her own fields, making them both delicious and clean.

It was Bao'er's first time eating them, yet she actually finished two.

As for Taike, there was nothing more to say. If they did not limit his portions, Aunt Fang could work herself to death and still never fill this fellow up.

After breakfast, Zuo Yi took Bao'er to the city.

He still had a teaching job at Heavenly Vast Martial Arts Hall. Though he currently had only one student, he still had to live up to the job.

Besides, he could not possibly leave Bao'er home alone, so he would definitely take her with him.

"Daddy."

Bao'er was naturally willing to go with her father, but Zuo Yi planned to leave Taike behind. "Can't we bring A-Tai with us?"

Zuo Yi said, "It would be inconvenient to take him along. He'll be fine at home."

"But..."

Bao'er looked troubled as she glanced at Taike, who was squatting beside her and wagging his tail frantically in an attempt to look cute.

"I'm afraid that if he stays home by himself, he'll argue with Aguai, and Aguai will bully him."

Aguai: I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it.

Zuo Yi did not know whether to laugh or cry. "All right, all right. We'll bring A-Tai along too."

Bao'er immediately beamed. "Thank you, Daddy! A-Tai will be very good. Right, A-Tai?"

Taike nodded furiously.