Chapter Thirteen: Supplementing Calcium

“Is that right?”

Old Madam Luo, sitting quietly in the corner, looked at this third daughter-in-law of the concubine as if seeing her for the first time, her heart filled with both surprise and discontent.

Yet, the illegitimate daughter-in-law had spoken one true thing: in times of crisis, it is precisely when people should unite and support each other. Internal strife only drains one’s strength and serves no purpose. Thus, the truth was irrelevant; what mattered was that she was still alive, and the fighting must not begin now!

“All right, calm down. Are you all not hungry enough already?”

Once Old Madam Luo spoke, silence fell upon everyone.

The concubines returned to their places, and Madame Song, sensing the moment was right to retreat, dared not speak further. She bowed respectfully to Old Madam Luo and turned to take her two children aside.

Though Little Madam Luo seethed with rage until she felt she might vomit blood, and Li Wenxin suppressed her resentment, neither dared to voice their anger. Yet, the bitterness was impossible to swallow.

Because of this, Li Wenxin remained restless all day, unable to show her true feelings outwardly but secretly harboring hatred as she kept a close eye on Chaochao. Observing the grass mattress beneath her, suspicion flickered in Li Wenxin’s eyes.

In the chaotic rush of imprisonment, the darkness of the cell had prevented her from noticing details. Did that foolish girl have grass beneath her? She seemed not to, or did she?

Her gaze grew heavy as she tossed and turned.

As dusk deepened and the night settled, the commotion in the cell gradually ceased. Tonight was different from last night; the coughing nearby brought an unusual tranquility. Chaochao glanced toward the third aunt, who was coughing weakly while cradling the fragile Fourth Master, and frowned, recalling the man’s two acts of aid.

Outside the skylight, the sound of the midnight drum echoed. The turmoil in the prison was finally settling. Chaochao, preparing to act again, glanced at the sleeping inmates before quietly rising.

To be cautious, she tiptoed toward the chamber pot filled with waste, scanning her surroundings as she moved.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Relieved, Chaochao grabbed Huahua and, like the night before, swiftly slipped out of the cell, agile and quick as she dashed toward the end of the corridor.

What Chaochao did not know was that the moment she disappeared, someone in the cell suddenly opened their eyes, a smile playing on their lips.

Unable to sleep from anger and frustration, Li Wenxin had been tossing and turning all night. Fortunately, fate smiled upon her. Just as she was pondering how to exact revenge on that wretched girl, the girl made a move herself.

Ha ha ha, she moved on her own!

God only knew how fast Li Wenxin’s heart pounded when the girl pretended to approach the chamber pot. She feared the girl might sneakily harm her again.

But thankfully, nothing happened. And even better, she didn’t have to wait long—the wretched girl had tried to escape the prison by herself! Ha ha ha, she actually attempted to break out!

Feeling a divine opportunity, Li Wenxin was both excited and cautious, repeatedly warning herself to hold back and not shout.

She must wait a little longer. After all, she was afraid that if she shouted now and the girl escaped for good, what would she do?

Today, she vowed to catch her in the act and finally avenge the previous insult from that cockroach!

Unaware of all this, Chaochao moved like the night before.

Upon reaching the men’s prison, she found that her foolish father was still awake, his large dark circles under his eyes betraying his restless worry. Chaochao sighed.

Well, at least he had learned from experience and was keeping watch for her.

Her clingy, forever-childish father was truly a cause for concern!

She quickly released Huahua to go on patrol and decided to comfort her father with something good to eat.

Earlier, she had gathered several large white steamed buns from the kitchen, still warm. She tore two open, stuffed them with juicy braised pork, and handed them to her father, caring little why braised pork appeared in the kitchen so early in the morning.

Remembering she hadn’t had a drop of water all day and night, and worried her father might be thirsty, she forcefully fed him the meat buns before turning her attention to her wristband app, pausing on a page that supposedly sold vintage calcium-fortified milk.

The app’s little assistant flashed a warning: “Warning! For the host’s physical and mental health, please drink more water and avoid sugary drinks.”

Chaochao put on a serious face and replied earnestly: “Not me, Dad’s thirsty and needs calcium and hydration.”

“Little one, lying isn’t a good habit,” the app responded skeptically.

“Children’s mode can’t buy starship cannons or antique big guns. Why not let the child drink milk? Just buy it!” she insisted.

Watching the young mistress order a large box of vintage AD calcium milk at lightning speed, the little assistant sighed deeply, exhausted and silently cursing the previous owner for being too lenient with the child, leaving it to worry so much that its circuits were nearly fried.

Chaochao, however, was unfazed, pleased that her little plan had succeeded.

Secretly putting away her shopping haul, she took only one bottle and, reaching over the bars, handed it to her father.

“For you, Dad.”

“Uh? What’s this?” Li Zelin, busy devouring the meat bun with grease dripping, suddenly noticed the bottle.

Seeing her father dazed, Chaochao sighed in resignation. “Forget it, if you don’t understand, I’ll help you.”

Before she could finish, the straw was decisively inserted with a “pop,” and Chaochao urged, “Here, drink up, for your calcium.”

Should or shouldn’t? Didn’t matter.

No matter how strange, it was a gift from his daughter, full of filial love. Even if it were poison, he’d drink it.

With both hands occupied, Li Zelin leaned in to suck on the straw, lips pursing.

“Hmm, you know, it’s actually quite tasty.”

Watching her father happily sip the milk, Chaochao grew more solemn.

She thought it must be the hardship of losing everything that had made him even more foolish.

Full of responsibility, Chaochao couldn’t stop caring. Like tending a three-year-old dad, she took turns drinking and feeding him. Only after he finished the entire bottle of AD calcium milk did she relent, preparing to quietly withdraw.

As she rose, Li Zelin, sensing her intention, quickly grabbed her hand and lowered his voice.

“Darling, the prison is dangerous. I’m fine. Please, don’t come again tomorrow night… cough, cough… please, okay?”

Like a monk chanting sutras, she ignored him utterly.

Chaochao narrowed her eyes, focusing on the coughing father, and recalling the scene of the women’s prison, she felt she truly understood the situation.

Having a clingy and helpless three-year-old father, she was equally helpless!

She opened her shopping app again, found the medical supplies section, and decisively purchased a nutritional tonic said to prevent and treat all colds and fevers. It cost eighty-eight interstellar credits, even more expensive than the vintage calcium milk and roast chicken—painful to her wallet.

But for her father, Chaochao was resolute.

After the purchase succeeded, she read the instructions, opened the tonic, and handed it to her father, pointing to the soft tube about one-third full.

“Drink this much, Dad, be good.”

With the AD calcium milk as a base, Li Zelin didn’t hesitate and drank straight to the mark her daughter indicated. After finishing, he wiped his mouth and looked at her with bright, shining eyes.

The look? Was he asking for praise?

Chaochao reluctantly took back the remaining tonic and patted her father’s shoulder like a mother coaxing a child to take medicine.

“Good, good, I’ll bring you something tasty next time,” she said, though without much sincerity.

Li Zelin felt something was off but couldn’t quite place what.

Seeing his obedient daughter about to leave, he hurriedly reminded her again.

Unfortunately, little Chaochao, full of ideas and stubbornness, ignored him completely. Waving her hand with carefree grace, she left without leaving so much as a cloud behind, leaving her bewildered father alone.