QT: Against My Will

410 7.34 – Stinky Bun Is The Sweetest When Asleep – War Of The Wickeds

As the light in the living room faded to bluish-black, both Bing Shi and Lu Kai pinched the bridge of their noses, leaning their backs against the wall, next to Ying Xiong’s bedroom. The rays of the moon and the rain beating against the window created a magical moment, so serene that they could only laugh inwardly about how it wasn’t helping them at all.

They pictured in their head as to what their son’s bedtimes would be like if it went as usual: a bath, a warm milk with a story, a sleeping Stinky Bun tucked up with a teddy, and then... freedom.

Their baby boy had other ideas though. One day had already passed, and trying to get that little guy to lie down on his mattress was like pulling an octopus off its prey. It was like they’ve had returned in time when Stinky Bun first moved in with them.

If TV, mobiles, or tablets could entertain Ying Xiong, they would have done it without a spec of guilt. Sadly, only living things could appease this little toddler.

Could anyone be so lazily active? Ying Xiong would become a baby sloth during every activity except eating and playing.

Now, he ways toying and hollering in the dark like there were no limits to his energy. With a bottle of milk in his left hand, he clenched and unclenched his fingers on his right hand as if trying to catch something in the air. He played hide and seek with mommy and daddy the moment the lights turned off.

When Ying Xiong found them, he wasn’t satisfied until his head was on his mommy’s lap and his legs entwined in his daddy’s sweater. Switching into bedtime mode when he had both of his parents by his side was very difficult for him. He didn’t want to miss out on anything, wanting to be a part of every ‘action’ at all times.

Ying Xiong’s small body became more flexible since his father put him through some exercise too. Raising up his feet to the air, he pulled off his sock from his right foot and threw it at daddy, “Daddy.” Daddy, catch.

|Should I knock him out?|

.....

Lu Kai asked Bing Shi while his left abdomen was being kicked by his son’s little feet, “...”

Ying Xiong peeked at daddy through his milk bottle, “Daddy, daddy.” Stinky Bun is checking if daddy is awake.

|”You blamed me for treating our son like a puppy, and look at you now.”|

Holding in her laughter, Bing Shi slapped the little boy’s leg to stop him from kicking his daddy, finally breaking the few hours, long silence, “My little baby monster, you know you smell the sweetest when you are asleep?”

“Mommy, mommy?” Really? Ying Xiong sucked on his milk bottle, “Mommy. Mommy.” Not now, mommy. He blabbered and shook his head nonstop as if the beverage they gave him wasn’t one that was supposed to help him to sleep but coffee, “Daddy, daddy.” Stinky Bun had to protect and keep mommy and daddy awake so the sleep monster wouldn’t get them.

“...” Their child may have given everyone the illusion that they were in charge but secretly, this little disaster was also pulling the strings. Ying Xiong wasn’t manipulating them into his bidding, it was just his parents that couldn’t bother to correct his behavior in accordance with their expectations.

Yes, one of them could leave the space, but Lu Kai decided to stay and rejoice in his son’s cheeky smiles. Feeling a bit guilty about the countless times he made his son cry with his strictness, he grabbed Ying Xiong’s sock and threw it at the little face as if agreeing to play catch.

Ying Xiong took off his other sock and threw it at mommy’s face, “Mommy, mommy.” Mommy, catch.

Before the sock could reach his mommy’s face, daddy caught it in mid-air.

“...” Bing Shi knew Lu Kai wasn’t joking. Not everyone would be able to keep a humble patience with such a baby. He went through single parenting without going insane by knocking out their son to ‘sleep’ with force a ‘few’ times, finding it as the only solution.

Lu Kai placed his hand around Bing Shi’s shoulder, leaning her body against his arm. His clasp was warm and strong; there was an energy to it, as if the matter of one powered up the other.

Should he throw a great lecture at his son about how socks should never be thrown at mommy? The frustration and annoyance weren’t as great when Bing Shi was by his side. He actually found this whole situation quite hillarous.

Bing Shi, |”I wish I could have parents like Stinky Bun’s.”|

|Be glad you don’t have them. Our standards in finding a partner would’ve been totally messed up.|

Receiving a sudden kick in his stomach, Lu Kai pressed his lips together. Usually, he would’ve tickled and played with his son while giving out some reprimanding speech, but after so many crazy shenanigans, one would have enough and eventually go numb.

Bing Shi grabbed her son’s leg without letting go, stopping him from kicking his daddy, |”Isn’t it too soon to speak about his future partner? He is a toddler.”|

Lu Kai didn’t respond to her words and went way off-topic, |We will never get rid of him this way. When worst comes to worst, we will go the old-fashioned way: Arranged Marriage.|

Bing Shi imagined the first person who would dare to step through their doorstep to ask for their son’s hand in marriage. The image was too absurd to be true. They would probably have to bribe someone.

|”We will be the best in-laws in the world.”|

Most parents wouldn’t want their children to grow up too quickly, and here, they couldn’t wait for theirs to leave the house. Their child had a disability though, and the probability of him ever recovering from it was low. So what they were saying were just little jokes about an improbable future.

Ying Xiong’s lost his fascination with the night-time world for a moment. Switching his position, he got from mommy’s lap to daddy’s. Now his drowsy eyes were back to one of his new games, trying to find out how many of his fingers he could fit in his daddy’s belly button.

Bing Shi blocked Stinky Bun’s next attack, getting in contact with her husband’s firm stomach. She lifted her head at his sweet smile. Someone was obviously beginning to enjoy the moment and was behaving like their son when she felt his hand creeping around her waist, “...”

|”What about XiaoPu? Has he ever mentioned about leaving us?”|

|No. He is more afraid of being kicked out, so he is holding back his childishness quite well.|