With his short little arms and legs, he couldn’t completely block Yuanyuan by himself.
But his brave and fearless demeanor was truly touching.
Who knew how Xia Mingyu had raised them, managing to bring up such sensible children.
Si Konghuai rubbed his temples, unsure how to interact with them next.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m really not a bad guy. I won’t hurt you. If you don’t believe me, you can ask your mother.”
Si Konghuai didn’t mind the brothers each slapping him once. The children didn’t have much strength anyway, and they hadn’t used their full force.
The priority now was to calm them down.
“It was my fault before. Due to some special circumstances, I didn’t know you existed, which is why your mother had to suffer here with you.”
“From now on, if you need anything, you can come to me. I’ll do my best to make it up to you.”
Si Konghuai gazed at them intently, explaining seriously without treating them like ignorant children to be fooled.
Even while kneeling on one knee, Si Konghuai was much taller than the two children. His robust build made his shoulders twice as broad as Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan’s combined.
In Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan’s eyes, he was as towering as a giant.
If such a giant were to protect them, their lives would surely be much better than now. But if the giant came to harm them—that was simply unimaginable!
Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan clenched their small fists tightly, glaring at Si Konghuai as if weighing the truth in his words.
His statement was equivalent to admitting his identity.
Yuanyuan finally caught on. After a moment’s thought, he asked cautiously in a small voice,
“Are you our real dad?”
“Yes.”
Si Konghuai nodded decisively.
He hadn’t revealed his identity voluntarily—the children had guessed it and forced him to admit it. That didn’t count as breaking the agreement.
“Do you want to take us away?”
“I won’t be separated from my mom and my brother!”
Yuanyuan’s eyes instantly reddened. He tearfully emphasized his point, gripping Tuantuan tightly.
“I won’t let you be separated.”
“If your mother is willing, she can bring you to live with me in Jing Shi. If she isn’t willing, you can continue living here as before.”
“I promise I won’t take any of you away from each other. I won’t let the three of you be separated.”
Si Konghuai stressed again, his handsome face serious, his deep eyes dark and sharp. Even facing children, he maintained his utmost sincerity.
“Hmph! How do we know you’re not a liar!”
“Grandma Wang says all men are liars!”
Yuanyuan snorted coldly, muttering under his breath, his cheeks puffed up in anger.
No wonder they looked so much like him—he really was their biological father!
“You’ll grow up to be a man too. Will you be a liar then?”
Si Konghuai asked with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
His long arms reached out and pulled both brothers into his embrace. Regardless of whether they liked it or not, he enthusiastically planted a kiss on each of their soft, chubby cheeks, as if stamping his claim.
“Give me a chance, okay? Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan, I’m confident I can be a good dad.”
“Mmph! Don’t kiss me! You’re a bad dad too!”
“Don’t touch me and Yuanyuan!”
Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan both resisted fiercely, but their small arms were no match for his strength. They remained trapped in Si Konghuai’s embrace, receiving several more kisses.
Si Konghuai’s stern expression had vanished. He seemed to be deliberately teasing the two children, the corners of his lips slightly upturned with a mischievous grin.
He was indeed handsome and charming—if one ignored the two small palm prints on his face.
“Let go of me! We’re not done talking!”
“If you keep this up, I’ll tell Mom! I’m going to tell my mother!”
Tuantuan and Yuanyuan pushed against Si Konghuai in a huff. Seeing their little tantrum had no effect, Tuantuan brought up Xia Mingyu, threatening to tattle.
Si Konghuai stiffened and promptly released them.
He stared seriously at Tuantuan and Yuanyuan. “Are you real men? This is a matter between us men—no tattling allowed.”
“Besides, tattling will only worry your mother more. She’s afraid you won’t accept it, which is why she made me agree to three rules, forbidding me from revealing my identity to you.”
“I never expected you two to be so clever, figuring it out on your own and even daring to confront me.”
“Of course we’re real men!” Tuantuan and Yuanyuan declared in unison, their voices childish yet firm.
“Good, then we’ll settle this like men!”
“You say you want to treat us well? Then stop wasting time—show us the money first!”
“Granny Wang said, where the money is, there the love is. Without money, you’re nothing!”
“Besides, you haven’t spent a dime raising us all these years. We won’t acknowledge you as our father!”
Tuantuan planted one hand on his hip and thrust the other out toward Si Konghuai, demanding money with an air of importance. Whether the man was sincere or not, getting the money came first. With money, Mom wouldn’t have to work so hard.
“Right! No money, no acknowledgment!” Yuanyuan echoed, also hands on hips, glaring fiercely at Si Konghuai with puffed cheeks and wide, round eyes.
Tuantuan couldn’t help glancing at his younger brother. Silly kid—he never said taking the money meant acknowledging him as their father!
“Little devils with big ideas—knowing the importance of money is good.” Si Konghuai raised an eyebrow, smiling as he asked, “So, how much do you want?”
This was perfect. If he gave money directly to Xia Mingyu, she might refuse. But if he gave it to the children first, and they passed it to her, she might accept.
How much? That stumped the brothers. They exchanged a look, then turned their backs to Sikong Huai in perfect tacit understanding, and began to discuss quietly.
But before they could reach a conclusion, Xia Mingyu returned with their clothes.
“Tuantuan?” Xia Mingyu stood at Team Leader Zhao Jianguo’s doorway, peering toward the tree.
She had already spotted Si Konghuai.
Quickening her pace, she shot him a warning glare, fierce and forbidding. Don’t you dare spout nonsense to the children!
Seeing this, it was clear that while Tuantuan and Yuanyuan didn’t resemble Xia Mingyu in looks, their little expressions and mannerisms were all hers. Truly, like mother, like children—utterly adorable.
Si Konghuai raised his hands in innocent surrender. “I didn’t say anything.” It was the kids who forced him to admit it.
She didn’t believe him—sneaking around never led to anything good! But with the children present, Xia Mingyu didn’t want to argue. She simply took Tuantuan and Yuanyuan by the hand and led them away.
“Tuan Bao, time for your bath.”
“Yuan Bao, will you keep your brother company?” she coaxed gently.
She treated the Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan brothers completely differently from how she treated Si Konghuai.
To one, she was a gentle and loving mother; to the other, she was as ruthless as the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.
The contrast was truly stark.
Si Konghuai watched regretfully as the mother and her two sons walked away, wondering when he would have the chance to join them.
After Xia Mingyu led Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan back to the courtyard, her expression darkened. She looked sternly at the two boys and began to lecture them.
“Tuan Bao, Yuan Bao, what were you two doing just now? Don’t hide it from me—tell me the truth.”
“Why were there such tiny slap marks on Uncle’s face? Did you hit him?”
“Hitting people is wrong. Haven’t I taught you that before?”
Xia Mingyu had noticed the slap marks on Si Konghuai’s face. She didn’t want her children to learn to hit others, and besides, no matter what, Si Konghuai was still their father.
If others found out, it would surely reflect poorly on Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan.