"My name is Lin Sinian, taken from the phrase 'For ten thousand years, blessed by heaven.'"
"But everyone likes to call me by my nickname, Little Rice Cake. I'm five years old this year."
"My name was given by my great-grandfather, though I've only met him twice."
"This is all according to Grandma. She said Great-grandfather had conflicts with Dad before, so he never went out and didn't even attend Mom and Dad's wedding."
Well, because of this, Little Rice Cake doesn't really like this great-grandfather.
"But Great-grandfather was quite good to me. It's said he left me a lot of money. A man who claimed to be my uncle said the money should have his share too, and that Dad took all the money in my name! A huge sum, enough to buy anything."
"So I went to ask Dad... well... Dad later showed me the zeros in his total assets."
Hmm, though Little Rice Cake doesn't yet understand exactly how much money that is, he knows Dad has much, much more—countless times more.
"Dad, a strange uncle said this money can buy anything. I'll give it all to you, help me buy something." Little Rice Cake looked at Dad expectantly.
"What do you want to buy?" Lin Zhihua asked curiously.
"Mom! Buy Mom for me! Then Mom can sleep with me!"
Later...
Little Rice Cake rubbed his bottom, still feeling a bit sore.
In other families, Dad goes out to earn money while Mom takes care of the home. But in our family... hmm, it seems like Little Rice Cake takes care of the home, Dad goes out to earn money, and Mom goes out to contribute to the country.
When I was born, Dad was already thirty-five. Grandpa and Grandma said they were so anxious they cried before Mom finally got pregnant with me.
But I think Dad didn't want me—he often angrily says he wants to stuff me back into Mom's belly!
Hmph! I'd like to go back into Mom's belly too, so I could follow her around every day.
When I was born, they say Mom cried from the pain, and then Dad fainted from fright.
He's so embarrassing—Little Rice Cake is a bit disdainful of him. After all, even I didn't faint when getting shots.
Later, Grandpa cried while holding me and gave me the name Sinian, hoping I'd live a long life and the Lin family would prosper.
Mom agreed, and after some thought, Dad agreed too, thinking "Sinian" sounded like "missing."
Mom is always very busy and rarely home. Every time she returns, she gently holds Little Rice Cake... only for Dad to snatch him away.
That's why Little Rice Cake hates Dad!
And sometimes Dad gets to visit Mom, but Little Rice Cake has to go to kindergarten—Dad never takes him along!
Dad always sneaks off to see Mom while Little Rice Cake is at kindergarten. Little Rice Cake hates Dad!
Little Rice Cake doesn't like school either. Not because he dislikes learning—on the contrary, it's because he thinks the other kids are too dumb!
Whenever Little Rice Cake sits properly in his little suit, gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle, the teacher comes over to talk to him.
"Little Rice Cake, what are you looking at?"
Little Rice Cake frowns slightly, takes out a small handkerchief from his bag, and wipes his hands.
His face—a perfect blend of Lin Zhihua and Xue Jiao's best features—wrinkles seriously as he says, "The sky."
"Hmm?" The teacher blinks. "Are you looking at the clouds?"
Little Rice Cake's chubby face scrunches tighter as he gives the teacher a disdainful look. "On a smoggy day like this? What clouds? I'm contemplating today's air pollution index."The teacher: "..."
At times like these, the teacher would always give an awkward smile and say, "As expected of the son of the Goddess Gu, so clever!"
See? It was clearly his mom's genes that were better. He too felt he'd inherited his mom's intelligence.
But why did everyone say he resembled his dad the most?
Hmph, adults really were the best at lying!
Little Nian Gao walked with his hands behind his back, swaying slightly as he headed to the classroom.
Truth be told, he didn't actually know what pollution index meant—it was something that foreign old man who claimed to be his mom's teacher and always freeloaded meals at their house had mentioned.
Though Little Nian Gao had a rich inner monologue, his daily demeanor was identical to Lin Zhihua's cold expression—stoic and unsmiling.
After all... Little Nian Gao had been raised by his dad since childhood.
Little Nian Gao had a dad he found quite annoying, but who was supposedly the world's most promising entrepreneur.
And his most beloved, youngest and most famous scientist mom!
Many people adored his mom, everyone called her the Goddess Gu—Little Nian Gao was so proud!
But mom could get very busy too. When she was in the lab they could still visit her, but recently she'd gone to work on a national project that required total isolation.
Little Nian Gao counted on his fingers—it had been two months since he'd last seen mom.
He also had doting grandparents on both sides, and an incredibly handsome uncle who treated him very well.
But his maternal grandparents were always angrily forcing his uncle to go on blind dates. Though... Little Nian Gao would never tell them he'd seen his uncle kissing a pretty, doll-faced sister!
This was his and uncle's secret—Little Nian Gao was great at keeping secrets!
There were also Uncle Yang Zhan and Auntie Zhang Han, both scientists like mom. He liked them a lot, but his favorite was the four-month-old sister currently in Auntie Zhang Han's belly.
Uncle Chu Sheng was nice too, but like his uncle, he was an "older single"—an unwanted man.
Hmph, Little Nian Gao would never be like that. When he turned eighteen, he'd marry a woman just like his mom!
There was also Auntie Jiaxue who made amazing pastries. She and her husband had chain stores all over the country, but Little Nian Gao had her membership card—he could eat any pastry for free.
Little Nian Gao's plan if he ever ran away from home was to just take this card, so he'd have pastries to eat wherever he went!
Hmm... Little Nian Gao had another secret.
Actually, he had a godfather named Yi Tianyu, but he hadn't dared tell dad. Auntie Jiaxue had taken him out to play when they'd met.
Godfather was tall and handsome, amazing at basketball, would lift him high up, then kiss and hug him.
Little Nian Gao liked him, but godfather said dad didn't like him, so dad couldn't find out!
Hmm—Little Nian Gao suspected dad might actually already know, but just wasn't paying them any attention.
The school day passed with Little Nian Gao's wandering thoughts until dismissal, when his maternal grandparents came to pick him up.
Little Nian Gao frowned: "Where's dad?"
"Your mom is coming home today, your dad went back to cook. Come here, let grandma hug you!" Li Sitong reached out smiling.
Little Nian Gao's eyes lit up as he threw himself at her: "Grandma! Take me home quick!! I miss mom!"
"Alright alright!"
With dinner ready, Little Nian Gao and his dad sat on the sofa, eagerly watching the open front door.Two faces, one big and one small, strikingly similar, wore identical expressions of longing and anticipation.
When Xue Jiao walked through the door, this was the sight that greeted her. Her eyes reddened slightly—she had missed her husband and child too.
"Mommy—" Little Nian Gao cried as he rushed toward her.
He wasn’t usually one to cry, but he had missed his mommy too much. Today, he didn’t want to be a tough little man!
Xue Jiao scooped her five-year-old son into her arms, only to be enveloped herself by Lin Zhihua’s broad chest.
Holding both of them close, his heart felt full.
"Husband…" Xue Jiao’s eyes softened, her voice gentle. "I have a ten-day break this time."
Lin Zhihua smiled, his happiness evident.
As her research progressed, her responsibilities had only grown. Xue Jiao was no longer just a mathematician—she now dabbled in astrophysics as well. The sciences were interconnected, and at her level, she excelled in nearly every field.
Consequently, she had become busier than ever. Still, over the years, she had always made time for her family.
Though it wasn’t as much as others might have, Lin Zhihua was content.
"Mommy, sleep with Nian Gao tonight, okay?!" Little Nian Gao scrunched up his nose.
Xue Jiao instinctively wanted to nod, but when she met Lin Zhihua’s burning gaze, she hesitated.
Lin Zhihua tucked Little Nian Gao under one arm and gently pulled Xue Jiao closer with the other. "Jiao Jiao, let’s eat. Ignore this little rascal. He’s old enough to sleep on his own!"
Little Nian Gao was furious!!
His dad was way older, and he still got to sleep with Mommy!
That night, Xue Jiao wanted to wait until Little Nian Gao fell asleep before returning to their room with Lin Zhihua. But tonight, the boy was too excited and refused to sleep.
Lin Zhihua had had enough. With a stern glare at Little Nian Gao, he scooped up his wife and carried her away.
Little Nian Gao tossed and turned in bed for what felt like forever.
Finally, clutching his little pillow, he got up and tiptoed toward the master bedroom.
He was clever—the moment he stepped out of his room, he let his voice tremble with tears.
He’d say he was scared! He had to sleep with Mommy!
With this plan in mind, he crept closer to the door.
Suddenly, he heard Mommy whimpering and crying!
Dad didn’t just hit him—he hit Mommy too?!
Little Nian Gao’s anger flared. Pressing himself against the door, he shrieked with all his might—
"Daddy!! Bad Daddy, stop bullying Mommy!!!"
Something thudded inside the room. Moments later, Little Nian Gao heard his father’s furious roar—
"Lin Sinian!!!!!!!!"
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