Chapter 4: Tolerance Is My Strength
Wang Yan: “…!”
It was as if a faint electric current had struck him.
His entire body froze for a split second, and then overwhelming joy exploded in his chest like fireworks, lighting up his whole face.
“Y-you… you’re finally willing to call me Dad!”
He blurted it out almost instantly, his voice brimming with disbelieving delight.
His eyes curved into crescents, having completely seized upon the single point he cared about most.
Tong Xingyao’s brows furrowed ever so slightly as she attempted to steer the topic back.
“Not Dad. Father. And that’s not the point.”
Her voice remained cool and clear.
But Wang Yan had already sunk entirely into his own happiness.
“Xingyao is so good! Reward kiss~”
He stood on tiptoe and swiftly planted a light peck on her expressionless cheek.
The touch was faintly cool, carrying the fresh scent unique to a young man.
“I forgive all the bad things you did today!”
He announced magnanimously.
Then, eager to show off his masterpiece, he used the Emotion Points he had just earned to exchange a few bottles of cola from the system.
This was exclusive to this world.
Two Emotion Points per bottle.
Cheap and rare.
The aluminum cans were smooth and icy, printed only with a simple cola icon and no extra text.
He stuffed one into Tong Xingyao’s cool palm, sweetness blooming in his heart like honey.
She called me Dad today!
That’s the first time!
He thought smugly.
He had taught her for so long before and she refused, and his plan had nearly been scrapped…
Sure enough, perseverance brings victory!
Making Tong Xingyao call him Dad was purely a personal hobby of his.
But at this moment, the sense of achievement felt incredibly real.
This must be a good beginning!
[+10 Dissatisfaction]
[+10 Dissatisfaction]
…
Tong Xingyao lowered her gaze to the man before her, who was immersed in his own world, delighted over who-knows-what.
Her fingers unconsciously rubbed against the icy cola can.
Such a silly person…
She let him pull her forward, his nonstop chatter ringing in her ears.
“I’m telling you, you’re the first person in this world to taste this delicacy!”
He failed to notice that on the Emotion Panel deep in his consciousness, the numbers were rapidly climbing.
Finally, when they reached a quiet corner, Tong Xingyao stopped walking.
“Hm? Xingyao, what’s wro—”
Before Wang Yan could finish, Tong Xingyao suddenly raised her hand and slapped it against the wall in front of him.
Thud.
She blocked his path.
Wang Yan froze.
Carrying an unusual sense of oppression, Tong Xingyao leaned closer.
Instinctively, Wang Yan stepped back, trying to create distance.
But he found himself forced step by step into the narrower corner.
Until his back hit the cold wall.
There was nowhere left to retreat.
Under Wang Yan’s astonished gaze, Tong Xingyao bent down, instantly closing the distance until their breaths were almost intertwined.
Those eyes of hers, usually devoid of emotion, carefully examined his delicate brows and features.
It had to be admitted—
Even without makeup, his bare face possessed a naturally captivating purity.
Especially those slightly widened eyes at this moment, so clear they could reflect her shadow.
“Father…”
Tong Xingyao’s voice was lower than usual.
“…is very beautiful.”
He was even more stunned.
Why is this child so well-behaved today?
Could it be… my previous messy training actually worked?
Which step was the right one?
If he could find the key to success…
Before he could sort out his tangled thoughts, Tong Xingyao’s right hand gently covered his left cheek.
So soft…
A delicate warmth spread beneath her fingertips.
Her thumb slowly brushed near the corner of Wang Yan’s lips, the pad of her finger occasionally grazing his soft lower lip.
Wang Yan: “…?”
He subconsciously tilted his head to the right.
But Tong Xingyao pressed the icy cola can he had just given her against his left cheek.
“Ugh~ it’s cold.”
Of course it was cold.
Cola had to be cold.
With no choice, Wang Yan leaned toward the warmer hand on the other side.
Exactly as Tong Xingyao intended.
Before he could react, she bent down and kissed him.
“Mmph—!”
Wang Yan’s eyes flew wide open, his pupils shrinking.
How could it be… so sudden?
Yet Tong Xingyao did not stop at a mere fleeting touch.
Wang Yan instinctively tried to clamp his teeth shut in resistance.
But in the next second, he realized—
Her thumb, at some unknown moment, had already slipped between his teeth, braced between his sharp canine.
When did she…?
Wang Yan’s mind went blank.
He did not dare bite down.
What if he hurt Tong Xingyao?
And so, under his reluctant indulgence…
…
After what felt like an eternity, the long and deep kiss finally ended.
Tong Xingyao slowly pulled back, her breathing slightly uneven, her eyes darker than usual.
As for Wang Yan—
There was no anger or embarrassment on his face as one might have expected.
Only a clear flush on his cheeks and a slightly unfocused daze in his eyes.
But soon, he snapped back to himself.
He did not even wipe the faint moisture at the corner of his lips.
Instead, he once again grabbed Tong Xingyao’s hand, his tone light as ever.
“Let’s go, let’s go! The fish is getting cold! Hurry and try my number-one delicacy under heaven!”
Tong Xingyao allowed herself to be pulled toward the dining table.
Why… am I… and yet you’re not surprised at all?
Not even… any special reaction?
Watching Wang Yan bustle about arranging dishes, she finally could not help but ask.
She had thought she would be met with harsh punishment.
Wang Yan had never punished her before.
Perhaps today would have been the first time…
The instant the question left her lips, she regretted it.
Wang Yan finished setting the bowls and chopsticks and turned around.
A trace of self-reproach appeared on his face.
“Well, because I’m a very, very doting and terrible father.”
He couldn’t very well say that he was originally from another world and that his common sense differed from this one.
In this female-dominant world, a man’s first kiss was extremely important.
And parents were supposed to tolerate and cherish their children.
If a child did something out of line, perhaps it was only because she needed attention and love.
[+10 Satisfaction]
[+10 Satisfaction]
The effect of that kiss was clearly extraordinary.
The cold aura that had gathered around Tong Xingyao completely dissipated.
Her once stiff body, which could not be budged no matter how he pulled earlier, softened entirely under Wang Yan’s influence.
“Come on, try it! This really is the number-one delicacy under heaven!”
If the system said so, it had to be right.
That was what Wang Yan believed.
Tong Xingyao accepted the chopsticks.
Yet her gaze still lingered on Wang Yan’s lips, glistening faintly and more flushed than usual.
She picked up a piece of fish and placed it into her mouth.
“Mm. It really is.”