Special episode: Happiness in a dream (2)

Time flows quietly in dreams, like a film being gently accelerated.

The little ones who used to have to stand on tiptoe to barely reach the doorknob are now carrying schoolbags with cartoon prints.

The blue and pink overalls were replaced with matching school uniforms that still showed careful coordination; the silver-purple hair was either tied into a neat ponytail or braided into an exquisite braid.

"Dad! Hurry up! We're going to be late!"

Shiyi's voice was still clear and crisp, but it had lost some of its childishness and gained more of the eagerness of a primary school student.

She dashed to the entrance like a cannonball, hopping on one foot as she struggled to put on her white sneakers, a half-eaten piece of bread with jam still dangling from her mouth.

"Shiyi, how many times have I told you not to eat while walking? It's uncivilized and unsafe."

Shiyu followed behind her, methodically checking the zipper of her schoolbag, and then straightening Shiyi's crooked red scarf.

Her tone of voice was more composed than before, and she was starting to resemble a "junior class monitor."

Luo Li watched the scene unfold before him with a smile on his lips. He walked over, took the two water bottles that Castorice handed him, and put them into the side pockets of his daughters' schoolbags.

"Did you bring all your stationery? Do you have art class today?"

Castorice asked softly, still holding the hair tie she had prepared for Shiyi, "Your hair is all messy, you look like a little madwoman."

"I've brought everything! Watercolor pens, fineliner pens, and super light clay!"

Shiyi quickly swallowed her bread, tilted her head back so her mother could help her re-tie her hair, and kept reporting, "I'm not a little crazy, it's Wang Xiaoming in my class who's like a madman when he runs, he even took a nasty fall yesterday!"

Shiyu shook her head helplessly and explained to Luo Li and Castorice, "Wang Xiaoming is Shiyi's deskmate, and he's a bit... lively."

Luo Li couldn't help but chuckle, ruffled Shiyu's hair, and then gently flicked Shiyi's forehead, who had just finished tying her hair up. "Alright, you two little ladies, if you don't leave now, you'll really be late. Who's on duty today?"

"It's me!" Shiyi immediately raised her hand, then her face fell. "Ugh, I have to wipe the blackboard again. Chalk dust is so annoying."

"Do it seriously, it's your responsibility," Shiyu admonished her like a little teacher.

After seeing them off downstairs, Luo Li and Castorice exchanged a smile as they watched them walk hand in hand toward the school bus stop.

Such mornings are busy and mundane, yet full of vitality.

As agreed, Luo Li arrived at the elementary school gate early when school let out in the afternoon.

Parents gathered in twos and threes to chat, while the children, like birds released from their cages, rushed out of the school gates, chirping and running towards their families.

Luo Li quickly spotted her two conspicuous little ones. Shiyu walked ahead with upright steps, talking to a little girl with pigtails beside her, seemingly discussing a math problem.

Shiyi, on the other hand, practically hopped out like a bird released from its cage. Her face was flushed, her hair was sticky with sweat, and she was waving a drawing in her hand.

"Dad!"

Upon seeing Luo Li, Shiyi's eyes lit up, and she immediately sped over, rushing into his arms like a cannonball. She proudly held up the drawing, exclaiming, "Look! I drew this! My art teacher gave me three stars!"

On the drawing paper, the sky, sun, houses, and four simple yet whimsical little figures holding hands are depicted in bold and vibrant colors.

The little figure in the very center, dressed in black, was painted with exceptional care.

"This is Dad! This is Mom! This is my sister! And I'm the prettiest one!" Shiyi excitedly pointed to the painting and introduced it.

"That's a great drawing."

Luo Li praised him sincerely, her heart melting.

At this moment, Shiyu also came over, politely said goodbye to the little girl with pigtails, and then walked to Luo Li's side, softly calling out, "Daddy."

How was school today?

Luo Li took the schoolbag from Shiyu, which looked noticeably heavier, and asked...

"That's great. You got a perfect score on the math quiz."

Shiyu spoke calmly, but a hint of pride shone in her eyes. "We learned a new ancient poem in Chinese class, and I memorized it. In PE class... I ran 50 meters."

When the topic of physical education came up, she frowned slightly, seemingly not very good at it.

"My sister runs so slowly, I overtook her!"

Shiyi added smugly from the side.

Shiyu glanced at her, didn't refute, but just whispered, "Running fast doesn't mean anything."

Luo Li smiled and put her arms around her two daughters' shoulders, "Alright, you're both great. Come on, Mom made your favorite cola chicken wings today."

"Yay! Cola chicken wings!"

Shiyi cheered.

On the way home, the setting sun cast long shadows of the three people.

Shiyi chattered on about the funny things that happened at school: who had argued with whom, and what kind of new dress the teacher was wearing today.

Shiyu would occasionally add to or correct her sister's overly exaggerated descriptions.

Luo Li listened quietly, savoring the ordinary yet bustling atmosphere.

He noticed a thick book, clearly not a textbook, tucked into the side of Shiyu's schoolbag.

"Xiao Yu, what book are you reading?"

Shiyu pulled out the book; the cover read "The Amphoreus Fairy Tale Collection," and the illustrations had an ancient and mysterious style.

"Borrowed from the library."

Shiyu said, "The stories inside are magical, the Journey of Flame-Chasing, the 12 Chrysos Heirs... My mom seems to like it too, she said some of the stories feel familiar."

Luo Li's heart stirred slightly as she looked at the collection of fairy tales.

Amphoreus... This name was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating a barely perceptible ripple in his heart, bringing a vague sense of familiarity mixed with warmth and bitterness.

But he quickly attributed the feeling to the absurdity of the dream itself.

"If you like it, that's good."

He said gently.

In the evening, after eating the delicious dinner prepared by Castorice (the sweet and sour pork ribs didn't look particularly appealing, but they tasted surprisingly good), the two little ones did their homework in the living room.

Shiyi chewed on her pencil, frowning at the math word problem. "'The swimming pool is being filled and drained at the same time'... This is so troublesome! Why can't we just fill it up completely?"

Shiyu had already quickly finished her part and was checking it. Seeing her younger sister scratching her head in frustration, she sighed, put down her pen, and went over. "I'll teach you. First, you need to find the difference in the speed of water entering and leaving the container..."

Watching her older sister patiently explain the problem to her younger sister, Castorice tidying up in the kitchen, warm yellow light filled the room, and Luo Li leaned back on the sofa, feeling her heart filled with an unprecedented Tranquility and contentment.

This was the life he had secretly fantasized about during countless nights of bloodshed and slaughter.

Even though he knew it was a dream, the real touch, the little moments of his daughters growing up, and his wife's gentle companionship made him yearn for it all.