In this story, Yuan Liang’s role was just that of a male supporting lead.
In fact, he couldn’t even be called a proper male supporting lead. At best, he was only a rather weak creature who admired An Yujun and voluntarily took on the responsibility of caring for her.
He was the one who, during the period when the snake king disappeared, meticulously looked after An Yujun and the two babies.
Then, when the rightful master returned, Yuan Liang was destroyed under the convenient excuse of being a natural enemy.
Perhaps in the eyes of others, it was even a case of a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh.
He received not a single word of thanks and was just killed off instead. Was the demon realm really this prone to violence, that they couldn’t even speak before striking?
When Ning Shu saw An Yujun finish all the meat in her bowl, she asked, “Do you want more?”
“I don’t feel like eating any more. Thank you,” An Yujun said to Ning Shu.
Since she didn’t want any more, the rest was hers. Ning Shu didn’t insist that An Yujun continue eating.
However, what An Yujun ate was clearly insufficient. Earlier, after hearing Ning Shu mention that the one who had tangled with her that night might have been a lecherous snake, she had felt stifled.
So stifled, in fact, that she could hardly eat.
Ning Shu didn’t think for a moment that her words might have caused anyone trouble. She gnawed on a bone while saying, “You can sleep on the sofa in the living room.
“It’s best if you don’t leave this place. The moment you go out, your demonic enegy will be exposed. Of course, if you insist on going, I won’t stop you.”
An Yujun nodded. “Thank you.”
“Blind Eagle, don’t you have any gentlemanly manners? How can you let my mommy, a girl, sleep in the living room? You should be the one sleeping there!” came the little girl’s voice through An Yujun’s belly.
Ning Shu pushed up her glasses. “This is my apartment. I’ve paid the rent. What’s wrong with me wanting to sleep in my own bedroom? Who made the rule that I must sleep on the sofa?”
She licked the grease off her fingers.
The gall of her to go around demanding things from others as if it was their natural right.
The little girl might sound adorable saying such things, but in truth, she was incredibly domineering.
As if other people were naturally supposed to give and serve her with endless care.
Helping someone was an act of kindness, but not helping was perfectly normal.
“You’re a man. What’s wrong with taking care of a woman? And she’s pregnant—how could you be so lacking in manners?” the little girl protested.
“Don’t bring gender into this. Men and women are both people. Give me a reason why I should wait on your mother hand and foot,” Ning Shu retorted.
Society seemed to be looking after women, yet in truth, it was stripping them of the right to compete fairly.
That was benevolent domestication under the guise of kindness.
As if women should be taken care of, spared from difficult work, and refrain from competing or fighting for benefits they deserved.
Children were so overbearing. If they knew their father was remarkable, why did they still depend on someone else for protection? Had they never learnt the basics of decency?
Fine then, they were impressive, truly extraordinary.
The little girl babbled on inside the belly, but Ning Shu couldn’t make out the words.
Ning Shu had no patience for spoilt children.
“I’m sorry. Please understand, children don’t know any better,” An Yujun said awkwardly. “I can sleep on the sofa. Thank you for giving me a place to stay.”
Ning Shu gathered up the bowls and chopsticks to wash them, but An Yujun immediately stood up. Her belly bounced twice as she moved, making Ning Shu’s eyebrows twitch violently.
What a tenacious life force. No matter what, those babies seemed unharmed.
Ordinary pregnant women were cautious with every step, yet An Yujun’s belly seemed impervious to anything.
Even after falling flat, she could still get up and run.
“I’ll wash the dishes. I’ve nothing else with which to repay your kindness—let me do the housework,” An Yujun said while taking the dishes from Ning Shu’s hands.
Ning Shu simply handed them over. There was no reason she should keep looking after An Yujun and not let her work.
While An Yujun washed dishes in the kitchen, Ning Shu opened her laptop and began working on her webcomic.
In the kitchen, An Yujun’s two babies began to speak.
“Mommy, you mustn’t like that blind eagle. Compared to Father, he’s far too weak,” said the boy.
“Right! And he’s got no gentlemanly manners at all. Father will surely come to find us,” said the little girl.
“And besides, eagles are natural enemies of snakes. Sister and I are in a dangerous position right now,” the boy added.
“Mommy, please don’t fall for our natural enemy! He might eat us!” the little girl said fearfully.
Although Ning Shu’s eyes couldn’t see, her ears were sharp. Hearing the conversation from the kitchen, she couldn’t help but curl her lips slightly.
When a strange man suddenly treated a woman well, it could only mean two things: either love, or ulterior motives.
Those two children were merely trying their best to pick out Ning Shu’s flaws, out of fear their mother might not stay loyal to their father.
Love was about sacrifice and devotion. Precisely because Yuan Liang liked An Yujun, he provided her and her children with the best food and comfort.
He even unconsciously tried to please the two children.
As for the children, they seemed to be testing whether Yuan Liang was worthy of their mother.
Yet deep down, what they truly cared about was still their father.