Growing Fond of You, Mr Nian

“Yes, yes. There are plenty of parasites in them, indeed. So you better not have any later,” Luosang quickly interrupted him and turned around to leave.

Nian Junting’s mouth was still agape; he had not even finished whatever he wanted to say.

“Uncle, I was the one who asked to eat lobsters. Don’t be angry with Sister Sangsang,” Yan Jin tugged at his pants and explained in a small voice.

Nian Junting rubbed his brows gently. “I wasn’t aware of your identity before, but thinking about it now, it’ll indeed be more appropriate for you to address me as Older Brother. I’m Sister Sangsang’s husband after all.”

Yan Jin widened his eyes in a deliberate display of confusion and bafflement. “But you just said that in terms of age, it’ll be more appropriate for me to call you Uncle! I’m so confused now.”

Nian Junting crouched down and was about to explain himself further when Little Apple suddenly came over. He held Yan Jin’s hand domineeringly and said in his kiddy voice, “Call Uncle, you… my little brother…”

Although he was still young, he understood that if his father was Yan Jin’s older brother, Yan Jin would be ahead of him in terms of generational hierarchy, and he would not be able to be his little brother any longer.

Little Apple enjoyed playing the role of an older brother.

Nian Junting’s eyes drifted over to his son, and he had the sudden urge to fling him out of the window.

…

Dinner commenced when it was close to 7 p.m., and the spread was especially sumptuous.

There were braised chicken wings, baked spareribs, sliced fish in spicy sauce, and a huge pot of lobsters.

Yan Jin’s eyes lit up when he saw the dishes, and he asked, “Sister Sangsang, did you cook all these?”

“Yeah! Eat up!” Luosang replied as she removed the shell of a huge lobster for him.

Yan Jin could not stop complimenting the food. Although Sister Sangsang’s culinary skills were not as good as Mo Liuxi’s, it was still much better than his parents’. She was indeed Mo Liuxi’s older sister; they were both so gifted with food.

“Mama… I want…” Little Apple pushed his tiny bowl over urgently.

Luosang washed the gravy from the lobster before feeding it to him, but it was still too spicy. Little Apple began to cry, but between his tears, he kept insisting that the lobster was tasty and that he still wanted more.

Just looking at him from the side was enough to make Nian Junting feel embarrassed to admit that this was his son.

Sister Lan and Steward Wu ate quietly in a corner too. The lobsters during this season were plump and fleshy.

Nian Junting shook his head in exasperation. He could not understand why everyone found these creatures tasty, but they did indeed look appetizing. He began to salivate and wanted a taste of them too.

However, just as he reached his chopsticks out, Luosang stopped him.

With a distressed gaze, she said to him in a concerned tone, “Don’t eat this, Hubby. They aren’t clean! They’re so dirty and filled with parasites, especially this one. They have an exceptionally high mercury content, and it’s not good for the body.”

As she rambled on, she peeled one shellfish for herself and popped it into her mouth.

Nian Junting did not utter another word.

How were they supposed to have a happy marriage when she behaved this way?

“That’s fine. As your husband, I’m supposed to go through thick and thin with you.” He reached his chopsticks out persistently, only to have Luosang stop him again stubbornly.

“Hubby, even if my life depends on it, I’ll never allow your precious body to come in contact with these lobsters. They’ll contaminate you!”

“I’m not afraid of getting contaminated…” Nian Junting said through his gritted teeth.

Little Apple looked at his father and then back at the lobster in his bowl. There was not much left. He quickly placed the lobster at the side of the table, beyond his father’s reach.

Nian Junting fell silent, suddenly feeling emotionally drained.

“Hubby, have some vegetables,” Luosang said affectionately. Served him right for always being so straight-laced.

Nian Junting decided to ignore them right then and lowered his head to finish his food silently.

He was beginning to feel superfluous in his own home.