Chapter 178 - 174: So Fond of the Grandchildren

"So, that’s what happened."

Nan Zishi left out the part about the Childbirth System, describing her life on the Beast World Continent as a wonderful existence where she met handsome men, mated with them, had children, and lived a blissful life surrounded by her husbands.

Nan Zhinian was stunned. "Is this for real? Beastmen? Beasts that turn into people? The mermaid in the bathtub is a real mermaid? I have a mermaid niece?!!!

Sis! You’ve completely blown my mind!"

What Nan Zishi hadn’t expected was how quickly her parents adapted.

Mr. Nan held Huo Jun in his arms. "Junjun, your name is Junjun, right? You have wings on your back? Are you really Sui Sui’s son? No wonder your grandpa felt such a connection the moment he saw you."

Nan Zishi added, "Mom, Dad, in the Beast World, the mother’s parents are called ’Grandpa’ and ’Grandma’ by the children."

Mr. Nan grew excited. "Oh, I see! Haha, ’Grandpa’ is fine, whatever he calls me is fine."

"Grandpa~" Huo Jun called out sweetly.

Mr. Nan answered, "Yes!"

Blood ties are a magical thing. Though it all still felt unbelievable, Mr. Nan, Nan’s mother, and Nan Zhinian were soon having a grand time playing with the children.

Nan Zhinian, meanwhile, was lying by the edge of the bathtub, gazing at the Little Mermaid.

Fufu flicked her tail, then offered him a beautiful pearl. "Unkie~"

"For me?"

"Mhm, Unkie~"

’How can there be such a cute and sweet baby in the world~’

"Thank you!" Nan Zhinian was utterly captivated by his niece. "Everything happened so suddenly today, so your Unkie hasn’t had time to prepare a gift for you. Unkie will go find a gift, just wait right here!"

Nan Zhinian hurried to his room, found a collectible figurine he had treasured for countless years and never let anyone touch, and gave it to Fufu.

"Fufu, take a look. Do you like it?"

Her chubby little hands took the figurine, and Fufu’s eyes curved into happy crescents. "I like Unkie~"

It was a direct hit to Nan Zhinian’s heart!

Nan’s mother asked, "Sui Sui, is it really okay for Fufu to just stay in this bathtub? I mean, don’t mermaids live in the ocean? Doesn’t she need saltwater?"

Nan Zishi said, "She does, but we can’t get any saltwater right now."

Mr. Nan immediately grew anxious. "My dear girl, why didn’t you say so sooner for something so important! How can we let my granddaughter suffer in freshwater? I’ll figure something out. Wait, I’ll ask my old friend who raises fish how to prepare saltwater!"

"Dad, you can’t tell anyone about the children!"

Mr. Nan replied, "You think I don’t know that? Don’t worry! I’ll be sure to protect the little ones."

Mr. Nan went out to the balcony to make a call.

Nan’s mother was still pressing Nan Zishi for details. "So this is all real? There are actually other worlds?"

Nan Zhinian, his face flushed as he continued to play with his niece, chimed in, "Of course there are. Look at all those scientists—aren’t they always searching for life on other planets?"

Nan’s mother was still worried. "Sui Sui, were you truly happy in that world? No one bullied you, did they? No one forced you to do anything you didn’t want to?"

A mix of sourness and warmth filled Nan Zishi’s heart. She smiled. "No, nothing like that. I was very happy. By the way, I took pictures of my Beast Husbands. I’ll show you."

Nan Zishi took out her phone and showed them the photos.

As Nan’s mother looked at the photos on the phone, her face bloomed into a wide smile. "They’re so handsome. Every single one of them is so good-looking."

"This one is handsome. Wow, and this one’s even better looking! All of my sons-in-law are so handsome."

Nan Zishi said proudly, "They’re all my husbands, and I’m the head of the household! They’re so good to me. They never dare to go against my wishes.

Besides, having children in that world isn’t as taxing as it is here. The babies are born in just two months, and the delivery isn’t that painful. So it didn’t take much effort for me to have them."

When the topic turned to childbirth, Nan’s mother looked at her daughter with heartache, her eyes growing moist. "Seven is a lot. That’s more than enough. Don’t have any more. Your mother wasn’t with you... You must have suffered so much..."

"Okay. I know. I won’t have any more. I didn’t suffer, Mom. I’m telling the truth!"

After hanging up, Mr. Nan went to his old friend’s house to get the supplies for the saltwater. He was still buzzing with excitement when he returned.

While arranging fruit and snacks for the children, Nan’s mother said, "Our family suddenly grew by more than ten people. It won’t be big enough when everyone is here in the future. Dear, we need to figure out a way to get a bigger house."

Mr. Nan’s smile vanished instantly. "Huh? But I don’t have the money."

...

Nan’s mother prepared lunch with Nan Zishi helping by her side.

After preparing the saltwater, Mr. Nan put on a gentle voice and asked his little granddaughter how it felt. He was ecstatic when Fufu’s face lit up with happiness.

Nan Zhinian and Mr. Nan looked after the children together, bustling about and having the time of their lives.

At lunchtime, the children all took out the small gifts they had prepared.

Huo Jun said, "Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, this is the gift I prepared."

Huo Jun gave the three pretty little stones he had found on the ground to his grandparents and uncle.

"Oh!" Mr. Nan, Nan’s mother, and Nan Zhinian were all delighted.

Lu Ming said, "This is what I prepared."

Lu Ming had brought flowers from the Beast World with their entire root systems intact. "Grandpa, this flower is quite nice. It can help calm the mind."

Mr. Nan was overjoyed. "I love it, I love it."

Fox Qi presented a few small Beast Teeth from his own hunts.

Fufu gave them her favorite little shells.

Wolf Envy and Wolf Admiration presented a pair of beautiful, smooth pebbles.

She Yang’er offered his favorite small Beast Skin.

As for the gifts from her Beast Husbands, Nan Zishi decided it was best not to present them just yet.

Mr. Nan and Nan’s mother were absolutely overjoyed.

Mr. Nan said, "The children all gave us gifts, so we must give them something in return. Sui Sui, can I take them to the mall this afternoon?"

All seven children looked on with eager anticipation.

"Alright," Nan Zishi said. "But..."

"No buts!" Nan’s mother cut in excitedly. "I’ll fix up a stroller for Fufu, fill it with water, and cover it with a blanket. Don’t worry, Grandma will definitely protect them."

As she spoke, Nan’s mother stood up excitedly and went to find tools to rig a push-stroller for Fufu.

"I want to go buy presents for my nephew and nieces, too!" Nan Zhinian had just started to shout when Nan Zishi pulled him back.

"You’re staying with me this afternoon."

The absolute authority of his older sister made Nan Zhinian completely abandon any thought of resistance. "Oh."

Nan Zishi said to the children, "Now, listen. When you’re out shopping with Grandpa and Grandma, you must hide your ears and tails properly. Don’t cause them any trouble."

"Okay!" the children chorused.

Then she said to her parents, "Dad, Mom, call me if you run into any trouble."

"We know, we know. It’s not like we’ve never raised kids. We raised you and Zhinian, after all."

"Okay."

Nan Zishi saw her parents and the children out the door, then pulled Nan Zhinian into his room.

"Sis, what are you doing?"

"Help me find two people."

"Huh? Who?"

"Qi Yingmei, a public school teacher at X School in X City, X Province. And Li Yun from X County, X City, X Province. Her father has cancer."

Her obedient brother, Nan Zhinian, dutifully began searching for information. A short while later, he said, "Sis, I found something. A missing person report for this Qi Yingmei was published in the newspaper. The school has her file. Do you want to call and ask?"

"Send me the school’s number."

"Okay."

Nan Zishi stepped aside to make calls about Qi Yingmei, while Nan Zhinian continued searching for information on Li Yun at his computer.

After a round of phone calls, Nan Zishi finally managed to get the phone number for Qi Yingmei’s family.

Qi Yingmei’s husband was quite old, so it was her granddaughter who answered the phone.

"Hello? Who is this? You say you know my grandmother?"

Nan Zishi replied, "Yes. I was entrusted by Qi Yingmei to tell you the story of her life and to pass on a message she has for you."

Nan Zishi had never forgotten her promise to Qi Yingmei and Hongxing, nor her promise to Li Yun.

Even though she only had three precious days back on Earth, she was determined to keep her promises and finish what she had set out to do.

"The story of her life?"

There was a commotion on the other end of the line. After a moment, the voice returned. "Give me your address. We’ll come find you now."

After Nan Zishi sent the address, the person on the other end said, "That’s not far. We’ll drive over. We’ll be there in an hour."

"Okay."