"I'm home!" Ke Lan cheerfully ran into the house, dropped her schoolbag, and went to Lin Fan's side. "When I came back, I saw everyone busy and bonfires piled up in the village. Is there really a dance tonight?"
"Yes, there really is," Lin Fan smiled. It's a secret, I haven't told Ke Lan that all of this is prepared for her. Surprises are always best at the end; telling her beforehand would ruin it.
"Mmm, I'll go do my homework now." Ke Lan was very happy and took out her exercise book busily. The teachers in the village are quite competent. Compared to those in the big cities, there's certainly a gap, but in this small place, they're already pretty good.
Lin Fan didn't work on his blacksmithing, afraid of disturbing Ke Lan while she did her homework. He remained quiet, sitting outside and waiting, thinking about the future.
Sometimes, attachments are formed just like this. I don't want to have too deep a connection with anyone, in case it restricts my actions later, like in the last dream.
I think I did well.
Not too attached.
With the people I met, it was just a normal friendship.
Left behind the legend of light, completed the mission, and returned without any regrets.
But now…
He turned and looked at Ke Lan, who was seriously doing her homework inside the house. He already had a connection. If he encountered the Dark God in a future mission, he would have to take care of Ke Lan before leaving. Otherwise, he really wouldn't have peace of mind.
All the dreams went well.
Only I feel a little sorry for Xiao Huang. That's the only little pet that accompanied me in all the dreams. But it's been too long, too long, I miss the people in Yanhai City.
In the end, I could only apologize to Xiao Huang.
Since then, I haven't wanted to have too deep a connection with the beings in the dreams, in case I feel reluctant when I complete the mission and return.
Just as he was thinking about these things, a voice reached his ears.
"I've finished my homework." Ke Lan called out. With her excellent academic performance, she could perfectly complete the homework assigned by the teacher.
Lin Fan got up and went to the table. "Let me check it." Having taken on this role, I have to check her homework every day. Although I don't understand some things, checking for typos is still no problem.
Ke Lan stood obediently by the side. "I did it very seriously."
"Mmm, I know, you're the best." Lin Fan praised her. Ke Lan was a smart child and never worried him about her homework, but having taken on this role, he had to fulfill his duty.
Not long after, Lin Fan nodded with satisfaction and closed the exercise book. "Mmm, great, not a single typo."
Ke Lan said happily, "Of course, I've always been very serious about completing my homework."
For Lin Fan, since he had adopted her, he had to raise her well. Raising her carelessly would be very irresponsible. He had to dedicate all his energy to it.
"Let's go quickly." Ke Lan pulled Lin Fan's hand. It was already dark outside, and the village activities were about to begin. She was particularly looking forward to it.
"Wait a minute." Lin Fan said, then took a set of clothes from the cabinet. "This is a gift for you. Try it on."
Ke Lan's eyes sparkled when she saw the new and beautiful clothes. "For me?"
"Mmm, I bought it especially for you," Lin Fan said.
She held the clothes, looking particularly excited, and then said, "But I remember you don't seem to have any money. Where did you get the money to buy such beautiful clothes?"
Ke Lan had lived with Lin Fan for a year, and during her usual observations, she found that their blacksmith shop's business wasn't good at all. Occasionally, villagers would come to repair things, and the price for each repair was very low.
Such beautiful clothes must be very expensive.
"Who told you I don't have money? Our family is very rich," Lin Fan said. It's really a pity. If the money I had in Yanhai City could be used here, I could swipe my wife's bank card and buy many, many things.
"Really?"
"Of course it's true."
Lin Fan spoke confidently, but there was no way around it. He was bluffing. In order to buy clothes and a cake, he had already spent all his money.
But no matter what, he wouldn't let the child bear any burden.
Even if the family had no money, he had to say they did.
"Hurry up and change your clothes. I'll wait for you outside." Lin Fan said, then went outside, closed the door, and waited quietly.
Inside the house, Ke Lan held the new clothes, put them to her nose and smelled them. There was a fragrance, and she was very happy. Then she started to change her clothes. She had never worn such beautiful clothes before.
Not long after, the door creaked open.
Lin Fan's eyes lit up when he saw Ke Lan in her new clothes. He praised, "Wow! So beautiful, just like a little angel."
Ke Lan was already very cute, and after putting on this princess dress, she looked even more beautiful, really like a little angel from heaven.
"Is it really that pretty?" Ke Lan was shy from Lin Fan's praise. She lowered her head and clutched her skirt. This was the first time she had worn such beautiful clothes. Although it felt a little unnatural, she liked it very much.
"Mmm, very beautiful."
Lin Fan wanted to try to save some money and buy Ke Lan more beautiful new clothes in the future. He wanted Ke Lan to live the best life possible. He didn't mind suffering or tiring himself out.
Night!
In the village.
The villagers were all gathered together, everyone looking very mysterious. However, Ke Lan hadn't noticed anything strange yet. Several bonfires lit up the village, and there was a very, very large, already cut piece of meat roasting on the fire.
The villagers were all very curious.
What kind of meat was this?
It was really big.
When it was roasted on the fire, there was a fragrance wafting out, especially fragrant. If the village chief hadn't told them what was going to happen next, they would have been eager to taste this delicious meat.
If they knew that what they were roasting on the bonfire was the meat of a three-headed Golden Holy Dragon, they would probably be unable to remain calm. No, wait... they were ordinary villagers living in the village. Even if they knew it was monster meat, they wouldn't understand what the Golden Holy Dragon represented.
Anyway, as long as it was fragrant, nothing else mattered that much.
Ke Lan looked at the lively village and was very happy, thinking that there must be some activity in the village today to make it so lively. It would be great if it could be this lively every day.
Lin Fan nodded to the village chief.
The village chief had the villagers take action, and then they saw the villagers pushing a small cart. On the cart was a seven-layer cake. Ke Lan was shocked to see the seven-layer cake.
She had never seen such a big cake, or rather, she had never eaten one.
At this moment, Lin Fan held Ke Lan's hand and walked towards the cake. Arriving in front of the cake, under Ke Lan's puzzled gaze, he softly said:
"Ke Lan, happy birthday."
Then, Lin Fan gently clapped his hands.
The surrounding villagers all clapped happily.
"Happy birthday."
Seeing the scene before her, Ke Lan was shocked, then looked at Lin Fan and said, "My birthday?"
Lin Fan smiled. "Yes, it's your birthday. Last year, on this day, I adopted you. I don't know when your previous birthday was, but now, today is your birthday, and every year from now on, I will prepare a birthday dance for you."
Ke Lan covered her mouth, and tears welled up in her sparkling eyes.
"Do you like it?" Lin Fan asked.
Ke Lan wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "I like it, but why are you so good to me? You make breakfast, lunch, and dinner for me every day, and you buy me beautiful clothes. Do you treat me as your daughter?"
When she said the last part, her voice was very soft, but she held her head up, a little expectant, a little afraid...
Lin Fan stroked her head. "Hasn't it always been like this?"
Ke Lan stared blankly at Lin Fan. Perhaps for her, she had never thought about such a thing. Coming to a strange village, she not only hadn't encountered bullying, but had also met so many good people, and even met Lin Fan, who adopted her.
After a long time, Ke Lan called out,
"Father!"
"You can call me Dad. Dad and Father mean the same thing. You can call me Dad."
"Dad."
The smile on Lin Fan's face became even brighter. He pinched Ke Lan's nose. "Hurry up and make a wish and blow out the candles. Everyone is a little hungry. Without your say-so, they can only look at these good things."
"Mmm." Ke Lan went to the cake, lowered her head and made a wish, then blew out the candles.
The villagers cheered.
The village chief looked at the scene before him with satisfaction, looked up at the starry sky, and thought, Dad, I'm doing a good job as village chief, right? You said I couldn't do it. Look at the village now, how harmonious, how beautiful, everyone is so happy.
"Village Chief, Lin Fan is a really good person."
"Nonsense, who in our village isn't a good person?"
The village chief was in good spirits now, his voice full of energy, and he didn't look old at all.
The person talking to the village chief muttered to himself... The only person in the whole village who isn't a good person is you. Boasting to those old ladies all day long.
This night!
Everyone in the village was very happy. The Golden Holy Dragon's meat ended up in every villager's belly. Everyone sang and danced, ate and drank their fill. And for Ke Lan, this was her happiest day.
She would never forget this day.
This was her home, her forever home, no other place could replace it.
For Ke Lan, she now had her own family, a dad who was willing to recognize her as his daughter, and every day she was in an environment where she was cared for and loved.
When she went to bed at night, a smile appeared on the corners of her mouth. In her dreams, she dreamed beautiful dreams, living with her dad and the villagers forever.
But…
"Ah..."
Ke Lan, who was fast asleep, suddenly woke up.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Lin Fan, who was by her side, asked with concern.
"Mmm."
"It's okay, Dad is here, nothing will happen. You sleep well, don't worry about anything."
Lin Fan gently stroked Ke Lan's head, smiling and comforting her softly. His voice seemed to have a kind of magic. Ke Lan, who had been frightened, closed her eyes, breathed slowly, and went back to sleep.
His ears were very sharp.
He noticed that the people in the village were getting restless again. They worked so hard even at night, they were really diligent.
For the villagers...
What was going on?
Why were they always so energetic? It made them feel so uncomfortable.