Chapter 408: Role-Playing Gone Wild
Ah, Stockholm Syndrome.
Although Sang Zhe often encountered this thing in various novels and movies in his previous life, he never imagined he would one day personally experience what it’s like to have such symptoms.
Indeed, the Little Princess’s current behavior does seem to fit the bill for Stockholm Syndrome.
After being deceived into thinking she was pregnant, she became mentally fragile, only to suddenly discover she was actually kidnapped by the Human Clan.
The two who kidnapped her are one, the infamous, ruthless Demon Cultivators’ Master of Hell, and the other, a Blood Demon from her own clan, whose bloodline is powerful and naturally suppresses her.
Just being near those two must make one break out in a sweat.
Even though the Little Princess has lived over a hundred years, her mentality is akin to that of a Human Clan girl around twelve or thirteen.
Putting himself in her shoes, if he were a twelve-year-old girl suddenly kidnapped by two vicious criminals, he’d probably be scared out of his wits and left with psychological trauma.
Thus, driven by an instinct to protect herself, the Little Princess chooses to selectively align with Sang Zhe and the others.
Becoming an accomplice to the abusers to avoid becoming the abused.
“Indeed…”
Sang Zhe scratched his head, feeling a bit of a headache: “I really didn’t expect this to happen.”
Actually, according to Sang Zhe’s original plan, Long Huan should already be crying in his parents’ arms, recounting her recent tragic experiences.
Sang Zhe never meant to truly harm this Little Princess.
His ultimate goal was still the Ksitigarbha Treasure.
Snatching the Ksitigarbha Treasure and the Ten Thousand Year Blood Demon Dan from the Demon Clan was just to avenge Little Ying and Aunt Yu, and that’s where it should have ended.
But now, with the Little Princess’s sudden rebellion and her sticking to him, it seems she actually believes he’s “daddy.”
This wasn’t in Sang Zhe’s plans at all.
What’s more important is that he doesn’t even know if he should tell her the truth.
…Actually, kissing doesn’t lead to pregnancy.
…Only further interaction does.
But on one hand, it feels like explaining all this to a child with no knowledge of such matters would be a hassle.
On the other hand, the Little Princess’s mental state is not too stable right now, as she’s completely preoccupied with her so-called child.
God knows what might happen if he tells her that she isn’t pregnant.
Will she break?
Sang Zhe isn’t evil enough to kidnap someone’s daughter only to mess with her before sending her back.
What to do… Sang Zhe sighed heavily.
“What’s wrong, Daddy?”
In his arms, Long Huan suddenly tilted her little head back, her sparkling eyes blinking at Sang Zhe: “Aren’t we going home?”
“Uh, even if we go home, shouldn’t you return to your home?”
“Eh, that’s annoying.” Long Huan suddenly blushed and shyly covered her cheeks, “Wherever Daddy is, that’s where my home is!”
…Please stop calling me Daddy.
Do you know how this looks in front of the Human Clan? I’ll get taken away by the police.
Sang Zhe twitched the corner of his mouth and laughed awkwardly: “Little Princess, weren’t you just really annoyed with me?”
“I remember you said that if you had to have kids, you’d want a handsome guy, not to have children with a kidnapper like me.”
“Well, what if—”
Sang Zhe was about to tentatively ask a question to test Long Huan’s reaction.
However, Long Huan’s words cut him off completely.
“It’s okay, I’ve already thought it through.”
Long Huan nestled against Sang Zhe like a little wifey, rubbing her little head against his chest: “Marry a chicken, follow a chicken; marry a dog, follow a dog.”
“Since I’m already carrying your child, I’m yours now.”
“Besides, thinking about it carefully, you are a big Master-level cultivator of the Human Clan, and you actually don’t look that bad. You’re kind of cute.”
“Don’t worry.” Her sparkling eyes were full of hope and dreams, “I’ll work hard to be a good mommy for our child.”
As she said this, she happily stroked her little belly.
Becoming a good mommy, huh?!
Have you even thought about your future child’s name already?
No need to jump to conclusions so fast! You’re still a kidnapped hostage, remember?!
Sang Zhe was speechless and rubbed his forehead.
To be honest, he wasn’t very good at handling such little kids.
“…Whatever.”
After a mournful sigh, Sang Zhe decided to first go eat with Shi Qingyan and think about whether to bring this little nuisance back with him.
“Since it has come to this, let’s eat first.”
“Ah, Daddy, let me cook!”
“Don’t call me Daddy! By the way, you, a princess, can cook?”
“Not right now…” Long Huan pouted sadly, speaking softly, “But if I can’t learn to cook…”
“How could that be a good mommy if I can’t even make food for my own child?”
Please stop worrying about your nonexistent child!
Sang Zhe couldn’t take it anymore, shaking her off and running out of the cave, back to Shi Qingyan’s side.
“What’s for lunch?”
“Hot pot?”
“Okay.”
…Feels nice.
Now this is what normal conversation feels like.
With Long Huan as a comparison, Sang Zhe suddenly felt that Shi Qingyan was so normal, it was touching.
——
——
In the end, they did set up a hot pot.
After all, there were plenty of ingredients, just exchange them from the system store.
It was apparently Long Huan’s first time eating something like hot pot; her eyes lit up, and she was slurping and enjoying it with some serious enthusiasm.
“Delicious! Human food really exceeds that of the Demon Clan. I’m so tired of those dry, hard meals at home.”
“The Demon Clan doesn’t cook much, huh?”
“They do cook, but it’s mostly simple stuff.” Long Huan’s cheeks were stuffed, her words somewhat muffled, “After all, for demon beasts, just filling the belly is fine; what they eat doesn’t matter.”
“Many tribes are still in the raw meat phase.”
That’s quite pitiful.
For Sang Zhe, good food is a joy. No matter if his body needs it or not, as long as he can eat delicious things, he feels great.
When he’s full, he’s also motivated to do things.
Sitting with the three of them around the hot pot now creates a warm family scene.
“Sis Shi,” Long Huan said halfway through eating, “Can you teach me how to make hot pot?”
“Sure, it’s not hard to make hot pot.” Shi Qingyan blinked, “But why do you suddenly want to know this?”
“Because.”
Long Huan’s expression suddenly softened, and her voice turned sweet and gentle:
“I want my child to eat delicious hot pot made by their mother when they’re born.”
Shi Qingyan: “…”
Sang Zhe: “…Hello, infants can’t eat hot pot.”
“Eh, really?”
Long Huan suddenly pulled out a small notebook from somewhere, her face serious as she began writing: “I need to remember this.”
Stop writing that! Are you out of your mind with this role-playing or what?!
