Listening to Zheng Yan speak to Princess Kang, Shen Shixu remarked to Xiao Jinyi beside him, "This boy is quite interesting. This is the first time I've seen someone so eager to find people to beat up his own father. Still, he's a good boy. He knows to stand up for his mother."
Seeing how much he admired Zheng Yan, Xiao Jinyi rested both hands on his shoulders and asked, "Do you like children very much?"
Xiao Jinyi thought that if Shen Shixu really liked children, they could find one they liked and adopt them.
Shen Shixu caught on to what he was thinking and patted the hand resting on his shoulder. "I was just making an observation. I wouldn't like children nearly as much if I had to raise one myself. Other people's children are always better.
"In the future, the two of us can just play with other people's children every now and then. Besides, it's not as if I haven't raised a child. Doesn't Cheng Yu count?
"People say a disciple is half a son. What I've done isn't much different from raising a son.
"Or do you want to adopt a child to come between the two of us?"
Xiao Jinyi shook his head. He was fiercely possessive of Shen Shixu, but he still cared deeply about his wishes. If Shen Shixu wanted a child to brighten their home, he wouldn't refuse.
"Of course not. I was just afraid you might feel lonely."
Noticing that everyone's attention was elsewhere, Shen Shixu rose slightly onto his toes and kissed Xiao Jinyi on the cheek.
"How could I ever be lonely with you here?"
His gesture and words brought a delighted smile to Xiao Jinyi's lips.
With her parents' loving concern and her brothers backing her up, Xiao