The little guy was also a bit excited for the first time he could sleep with his dad.
A moment later, Huangfu Jue came back wearing his pajamas, and the little guy immediately made room for him, then pointed to one of the pillows.
"This is Daddy’s pillow, right?"
"How do you know?" he asked curiously as he pulled back the covers.
"I recognize Mommy’s scent," the little guy pointed to the pillow he was sleeping on, "This is Mommy’s, so this one must be yours."
"That’s right!" Huangfu Jue lay down on the bed, sidled up, and slept beside him, "Did you used to sleep with Mommy often?"
"When I was sick or when I was bullied, Mommy would let me sleep with her."
"Bullied?" Huangfu Jue frowned, "Why did they bully you?"
"Actually, I wasn’t really bullied!" the little guy winked at him, "Most of the time, it’s others who get beaten up."
"Fighting is really boring, but I don’t allow them to say bad things about Mommy. My mommy is not a bad woman."
The man’s brow furrowed tighter, "Someone called your mommy a bad woman?"
"Yeah, they say a woman who has a child without being married is a bad woman, and they call me a bastard without a dad..." Gan Tang hummed softly, "As long as I hear it, I’ll make sure to beat them until they cry and beg for mercy!"
The little guy spoke without a care, but Huangfu Jue, hearing this, felt a twinge of self-reproach and heartache.
Pulling the little guy’s small body to his side, his large hand gently stroked Gan Tang’s cheek.
"Daddy is sorry to you and Mommy."
"It’s not like that!" the little guy lifted his face, "Mommy told me that you didn’t even know about me back then, so it’s not your fault."
The little guy nodded, "Mommy also said you are the best dad in the world!"
"No!" He embraced him in his arms and shook his head gently, "Dad is not, Dad hasn’t done good enough."
"It’s okay." Gan Tang rested his face against the man’s solid and warm chest, "Teacher Sherry said that when you start anything, it’s always not done well, just like when I play the piano, it gets better with more practice."
The child’s naive words flowed through Huangfu Jue’s heart like a warm stream, softening his whole person and his heart.
These past few days, ever since Gan Yuan left, he had been secretly filled with regret, blaming himself.
Now, he suddenly understood that at this time, he should stop reproaching himself and should, as Gan Tang said, learn and strive to be a good husband and a good father.
Gently kissing the little guy’s forehead, his voice was tender.
"Thank you, Xiaotang, I will do my best."
The little guy then smiled and hugged his neck.
"I will also do my best with Daddy, to be a good son, and to be a good king someday..."
Xiaotang started out talking excitedly, but his voice gradually softened until, unknowing, he fell asleep on his father’s warm chest.
These past few days, he hadn’t been sleeping well because he missed his mom.
The warmth and heartbeat of his father, the solid chest, all gave him great comfort. This was the most peaceful sleep he’d had in days.
Holding him, Huangfu Jue’s hand initially caressed his back lightly, and gradually, that hand stilled, his breathing slowed, and he too entered dreamland.
In his arms, the tiny body, the sweet scent...