After a five-year hiatus, he was back online.
A joy so vivid it felt like every cell in his body had awakened—tingling waves spreading from his scalp, electric and sweet.
Same familiar vibe. Same cozy feeling.
Staying in as an otaku? Pure bliss!
Ye Chang'an logged into his long-dormant premium membership account without delay.
Notably, its expiration date lay exactly one thousand years in the future—a true digital heirloom, worthy of passing down through generations.
He swiftly navigated to the anime section. New series flooded the screen, titles he’d never heard of—but not a single one dimmed his excitement.
Soon, Ye Chang'an had even mastered a string of classic otaku catchphrases:
"— I'm good."
"— I'm... uh... worked up!"
"— Ah, I'm dead!"
"— My wife!"
*Cough*... Scratch that last one. Even five years ago, "My wife!"-shouting otakus were already everywhere.
Now it had evolved into: "Wives flow like water; the otaku stands firm."
Behind him, Shi Xia watched Ye Chang'an’s bubbling enthusiasm with doting affection and gentle resignation.
*It’s not just anime characters…* she thought. *I could make Dad… "good" too.*
She subtly pressed her legs together, palm cradling her cheek.
"Silly Dad…" she murmured, her gaze softening into tender warmth.
"Shi Xia, can I download something?"
"Sure."
"Shi Xia, can I…"
"Of course."
"Shi Xia, can I…"
"Absolutely."
Another thing that made Ye Chang'an so easy to be around was his quiet respect—never a bratty phase, always the well-mannered young master.
Though Shi Xia felt he needn’t tiptoe around her. After all, everything she was, everything she had… even herself… she wished to belong to him.
That repeated "Shi Xia, can I…" pattern?
After hearing it enough, it became oddly endearing:
"— Shi Xia, can I?"
It almost made Ye Shixia blur out in reply: "Dad, I can too~"
What "can" meant exactly?
Some things are better left to the imagination~
"Shi Xia, I want to buy a phone," Chang'an said, turning suddenly.
Shi Xia nodded with solemn seriousness.
*Yes. A phone is essential. So I can reach Dad anytime.*
"Good. I’ll buy it now."
Like a domineering CEO waving off a handbag request—no hesitation, pure resolve.
She pulled out her phone, ordered the latest iPhone 12 air-freighted from the US, hoping it’d arrive by tomorrow.
Then, lost in rosy daydreams of their future life together, she kept clicking "Buy Now" until the pending orders hit a terrifying count.
Never underestimate a woman with both desire and means.
Wait—had she just ordered something… unusual?
Du… *cough*… Nope! Nothing at all!
Time slipped away quietly—one surfing the web, the other lost in a shopping spree.
Soon, bedtime arrived.
"Chang'an, time to rest."
The switch back to "Chang'an" jolted Ye Chang'an—reminding him of Shi Xia’s orphanage joke:
"— Or how about I call you 'Dad'… in bed~"
A flush crept up his neck. He cleared his throat.
"Shi Xia, maybe I should sleep on the couch…"
"Then I’ll sleep on the couch too."
"That… doesn’t seem right…"
"So Dad should sleep alone on the couch?"
"…" Before he could protest—
"— Shut up. Get in my bed. Is that so beneath you?"
Her tone turned icy in an instant—queenly, commanding.
"N-not at all…"
Chang'an shrank like a scolded little wife.
Five years had changed her. Shi Xia now knew: when it was time to be firm… she would be firm.
