ASFTB 47: Then Let the General Divorce Me 1

When Alice returned home, it was already very late. She used to love coming home, but this time, she didn’t want to return for some reason—unwilling to face everything.

She quietly tiptoed to her room, but bumped into the butler waiting for her in the hallway.

The butler was dressed in a neat and well-tailored outfit, standing at the door. Upon seeing her, he spoke, “Miss, the sir is waiting for you in the study.”

Alice was startled.

She nervously leaned against the door. “I… what does Dad want with Alice?”

The butler replied, “I’m not sure either, but the sir would never harm you, Miss. You should hurry and go.”

Alice was terrified inside, but she still gently nodded.

She walked down the corridor. The angel race favored brightness and a well-lit environment. The walls of the entire house were lit with bright night pearls, very grand and magnificent. Wearing a floral dress, she knocked on the study door.

A voice came from inside, “Come in.”

Alice gently pushed open the door.

Byrne was sitting by the desk. He looked at her and said, “Alice, where did you go this afternoon?”

Alice nervously straightened her back.

“You know that if you lie, your dad will know.” Byrne looked at his daughter. The man who’s usually refined and elegant in front of others was now very stern. “Do you remember how I used to teach you?”

Alice pressed her lips together and answered with a trembling voice, “Alice went out to play with Suisui.”

Byrne frowned. “Li Suisui?”

Alice nodded.

“Bang!” The heavy bracelet slammed onto the table.

Byrne looked at her with some anger. “Didn’t I tell you to have less contact with Li Suisui and the Jian Chengxi family? They are lowly people from the Underground City, and they will lead you astray!”

Alice trembled in fear.

Byrne’s gaze was cold. “You have truly disappointed your dad.”

Alice’s eyes reddened, and she looked up at her father.

She remembered when she was young, her dad wasn’t like this.

Back then, their family wasn’t as wealthy as it is now. Since she could remember, her dad would always take her out to play. Everyday when he came home, he would bring a lot of flowers for her mom.

Her dad was always full of laughter.

She also loved her dad very much.

Later, her dad slowly changed.

Her dad became busier and busier. The time he spent at home became less and less, while his expectations of her became stricter and stricter.

Alice’s tears welled up in her eyes. Her fair and soft face showed the unhidden feeling of grievance. She said, “But Mom, isn’t she also from the Underground City? Is Mom also lowly in Dad’s eyes?”

This seemed to strike a nerve with Byrne.

Byrne suddenly stood up, looked at her, and shouted, “Alice!”

Alice stared blankly at her dad.

She had never seen her father like this before. He seemed a little anxious, a little desperate, and his voice had risen a bit, “You’ve learned to argue with your Dad now!”

Alice shook her head. “No…”

“Forget it, I knew your Mom didn’t teach you well.” Byrne sighed in relief and said, “There will be a new mother to take care of you from now on.”

Alice said urgently, “I don’t want a new mother.”

Byrne glared at her and said, “Would your Dad harm you?”

Alice’s face was covered in tears. “But Alice just wants to live with Dad and Mom, not with anyone else.”

Byrne said loudly, “The eldest lady of the Fuchs family will also be your Mom from now on.”

Alice shook her head and said, “She’s not.”

Byrne looked at her sternly. “Your Mom’s health is bad, and she will have to stay in the hospital from now on. She won’t be able to take care of you. You need to be good and not disappoint your Dad again.”

Alice, puffing up with anger, spoke, “Isn’t it Dad who put Mom in the hospital? Dad wants to marry a new wife…”

“Slap!” 

The crisp sound of a slap echoed in the study.

The butler rushed in from outside.

On the floor, the young child had fallen, and there was a clear slap mark on the child’s face.

The butler immediately walked over and helped Alice up. With some reluctance, said, “Sir, please calm down. Alice is still young, she’s just a child and doesn’t understand. You can’t be so hard on her.”

After hitting the child, Byrne himself became a bit panicked. He hadn’t intended to hit her. He wanted to help his daughter yet couldn’t bring himself to do it. He could only glance at her and say, “Alice, you shouldn’t speak so disrespectfully. Do you know you’re wrong?”

Alice sat on the floor. This was the first time she had been hit.

The sharp pain made her momentarily dazed.

The laughter and joy from before seemed to turn into bubbles and shattered shadows at this moment.

The young girl gently said, “Alice just spoke the truth.”

Her words instead enraged Byrne. He pointed at her nose and said, “Alice! Where have all the manners your Dad taught you gone? Has Li Suisui and those defectives led you astray? Who is Dad doing all of this for? Isn’t it all for your own good? You have a mother from the Underground City, and people will mock you for it your whole life!”

Alice looked at her father with a side glance.

The light and shadows in the study were so bright. Her father stood in front of her, but she could barely see him clearly.

A three-year-old child doesn’t have the capacity for such grand reasoning.

She was simply a bit dazed.

Her father was from Sky City, but he had forgotten his previous promise to her mother. He could easily turn around and break his promise, abandoning her and her mother.

Her mom was from the Underground City, but she had never done anything wrong.

Her classmates were all from Sky City, and no one helped her.

Her dad said Li Suisui was a bad seed from the Underground City, but Li Suisui helped her find her mother.

“Take her back to her room and let her reflect properly!” Byrne pointed at the young girl and said, “Let her out only when she realizes her mistake!”

The butler pulled Alice’s hand and softly said, “Miss, let’s go first.”

Alice was pulled up from the ground, her face was burning with pain. The child, who was usually quick to cry, didn’t shed a tear this time. She seemed to have suddenly grown up a lot.

She glanced at her father, but there was no longer the gentleness in his eyes from before.

The study door was opened.

Alice turned to look at her father, with her childish voice softly saying, “Dad, you’re wrong.”

Byrne turned around in surprise and looked at his three-year-old daughter.

“You’re not doing this for Alice, you’re doing it for yourself.” The blue-haired young girl’s pure eyes were untainted by any dust. “Alice is not wrong, and Mom is not wrong. It’s Dad who is wrong.”

For a moment, it was as if he had been poked in a painful spot. Byrne’s face turned red and then pale.

At that moment—

He was somewhat dazed.

Yet he soon regained his determination. Power and status were rightfully his. Sacrificing a little for it was nothing, and everything he had done was not wrong!

In the evening—

The Li family’s home was brightly lit.

Today is the day of the beginning of winter. The four seasons on this planet are still quite distinct, but due to the planet’s rotation, seasons that change every three months on Earth, take six months here.

One year is 680 days.

In other words, they will have to endure a full six months of winter.

Jian Chengxi was making dumplings today, which could be considered a festive activity for the beginning of winter.

Li Chen and Li Suisui were helping to roll the dough on the side, while Li Lingfeng was kneading the dough. The general was skilled at doing such physical work. In the Li family, no matter how impressive one was outside, they had to work when at home.

Jian Chengxi was making the dumpling filling.

First, he cooked the wild vegetables in the pot, then took them out and chopped them into small pieces. Next, he cooked the meat in water until it’s tender, took it out with chopsticks, and chopped it for the filling.

In the end, the entire bowl was filled with mushy meat paste and vegetable filling.

Li Suisui saw Jian Chengxi surprisingly take a coin out of his pocket and wash it. She curiously asked, “What is Daddy doing?”

Jian Chengxi smiled and said, “Later, we’ll put a coin in the dumplings, and whoever eats it will get rich next year!”

Li Suisui’s eyes widened. “Really?”

Jian Chengxi smiled gently at the child. “Of course it’s true. Whoever eats it will have all their wishes come true.”

Li Suisui looked especially excited. “If I eat the coin, can I make a poisoned apple next year?”

“Uh, this…”

Li Chen sat on a small stool and looked at Jian Chengxi. “If I eat the coin, can I make a powerful mech and wipe out the other hamsters’ habitats next year?”

“…”

Isn’t that a bit beyond what the coin is supposed to do?

Jian Chengxi choked up, and he secretly glared at the man next to him, Li Lingfeng.

Who would have thought, this glare wasn’t even held back. He just glared for a moment, and the man by his side glanced at him, catching his little secret move right in the act.

Jian Chengxi felt guilty. He quickly blinked and adopted the innocent look of a little wife.

Li Lingfeng covered the dough with plastic wrap and asked in a calm voice, “What’s wrong?”

The pressure from the general was overwhelming.

Jian Chengxi cleared his throat softly and quietly asked, “Do you have any wishes, General?”

It seemed like this question hit the mark.

Li Lingfeng seemed to really think about it seriously for a moment. The lines of his jaw that were sharp and harsh, became more pronounced as he lowered his face. After a moment of silence, his gaze landed on Jian Chengxi. “My wish…”

Jian Chengxi’s brain began thinking quickly.

A cold and ruthless person such as his general, what could possibly be his wish?

Wipe out Sky City?

It can’t possibly be…

Destroy the world, right!

Just as he was lost in thought, he heard Li Lingfeng’s deep and magnetic voice, his deep and dark eyes falling on him. “Want a third child?”

Jian Chengxi was stunned!

The man’s words were soft, but when they landed on him, it felt like a tingling shock, like electricity running through him!

His earlobes were so red they almost seemed to be bleeding.

Jian Chengxi was stumbling over his words, his tongue not working smoothly. He stammered, “Ah… a t–third child? Isn’t that too soon? Suisui and Xiao Chen are still so young.”

After he finished speaking, he looked up. His pale face was flushed with a layer of pink.

Yet his eyes met Li Lingfeng’s calm and steady gaze. The man’s lips seemed to curve slightly, his voice smooth, “Just teasing you.”

Jian Chengxi: “…”

Ahhhhh!

Bad guy, I will fight you!!

The whole family was busy in the kitchen, when suddenly, faint rustling sounds came from outside.

Wang Cai was barking excitedly outside and the bark had a sharp tone to it.

Jian Chengxi was stunned. He looked outside through the glass, and asked in confusion, “What’s going on?”

Everyone glanced sideways towards the outside.

Li Lingfeng’s reaction was the quickest, and the man’s expression instantly turned cold. His gaze became sharp as he narrowed his eyes. “Someone’s here.”

Jian Chengxi also became nervous, and instinctively moved the two children behind him.

Just as he finished shielding them, he heard crying coming from outside. The cry of a little girl broke the silence of the yard, “Wooh, help! There’s an ugly dog chasing me.”

?

Why does this voice sound a bit familiar?

Jian Chengxi was momentarily stunned, but it was Li Suisui who reacted first and said, “It’s Alice.”

Li Lingfeng had already walked over and opened the gate of the yard.

Wang Cai was howling and chasing the little girl behind her, seemingly playing a game to pass the time. 

Alice’s small face had reddened around the eyes. She was a perceptive angel with no offensive power. When she got desperate from being chased, she pulled out a potion from her bag but being a naturally kind child, she couldn’t bring herself to use it, so she could only keep running away.

It was quite a comical scene.

As soon as Li Lingfeng came out, Wang Cai stopped, exhausted. It only dared to bully those it thought were easy targets.

Jian Chengxi came out with the children, and asked in confusion, “Alice?”

Alice saw them come out, and with a “wooh,” she began crying aloud.

Li Suisui covered her ears and sighed softly, as if she couldn’t understand why she had to endure this kind of torment after school.

Jian Chengxi, the softest-hearted person, hurried over to help her up. He asked worriedly, “What’s wrong? What happened?”

Alice cried, struggling to catch her breath. “A–Alice went home to steal stones.”

Jian Chengxi’s heart skipped a beat. That was just a backup plan, and it hadn’t been decided whether to implement it yet. He didn’t expect Alice to be so honest about it.

“You, did you fail?” Jian Chengxi wiped away her tears with his hand, and then noticed her face was swollen. He immediately asked in surprise, “Did your Dad punish you?”

Alice shook her head and said, “I succeeded.”

Jian Chengxi: Huh?

The little girl was crying heavily. She lowered her head and said, “Dad hit Alice and sent her to her room for reflection. Alice made him so angry that he left. She took the chance to sneak into his study and steal the stone.”

She was crying while saying this, but each sentence became more and more harsh.

Jian Chengxi: “…”

That work? You truly live up to being the protagonist.

Li Lingfeng walked over, looked down at the little girl, and asked in a deep voice, “Did you come here alone?”

This was Alice’s first time meeting the legendary general who was famous throughout the empire.

His tall frame was as steady as a mountain. His cold and stern face showed no expression. His entire body exuded a strong sense of oppression, especially his eyes—sharp as an eagle’s, as if they could see through one’s soul. Someone who had been on the battlefield for years naturally exuded a different aura, and the pampered young lady was frozen in place, scared.

Li Suisui leaned over and asked, “How did Alice get out?”

Alice snapped back to her senses and said, “I climbed out the window and ran up to a tree. I learned it from Uncle Jian.”

Jian Chengxi: Huh?

Was I the one who taught you to do that?

Li Lingfeng remained very calm, “You’ve run out now, and the stone is missing. You’ll be caught soon, and even I won’t be able to protect you by then.”

Alice immediately said, “Dad won’t notice that quickly.”

Jian Chengxi immediately asked, “Why?”

The little girl seemed a bit shy and nervously said, “Actually, Alice is best at craft class. In the afternoon when I got Mom’s stone, I went back to my room and made a similar one to replace it.”

Jian Chengxi: “…”

To be honest—

You actually have a bit of a villainous talent.

At the same time, he felt a bit dazed.

Is it true that some people are born as bad people, and others as good people?

Sometimes, the protagonist and the villain might be just a thought apart.

But who is the protagonist, and who is the villain? Who defines that?

Li Suisui spoke, “What should we do if Alice is discovered sneaking out?”

Alice immediately said, “They won’t find out before tomorrow morning. It’s Alice’s bedtime now, and the butler won’t come in.”

Jian Chengxi said in confusion, “Isn’t he worried you might run away?”

Alice’s face was red. The little girl shyly said, “Alice has always been obedient and has never done anything out of line. That’s why the butler won’t come into Alice’s room at night.”

Jian Chengxi was shocked, “So, what does that mean now…?”

“Because, because of Suisui.” Alice secretly glanced at the little girl, looking like she was putting what she had learned into practice. “So Alice knows she can sneak out.”

Jian Chengxi: “…”

You are insightful.

But have you overthought it?

The problem has been temporarily solved, but it hasn’t been completely resolved.

Jian Chengxi actually doesn’t dare to take Alice in.

After all, Alice’s identity is not ordinary. Although he really wanted to be kind, he understood he couldn’t act impulsively at times like these, so he looked at Li Lingfeng.

Li Lingfeng remained very calm, and said in a low voice, “Tonight, I’ll have someone send the stone to Feiyun. As for her…”

Alice’s eyes were red, and she cried out, “Alice doesn’t want to go back.”

The child standing in the courtyard was truly pitiful.

Unfortunately, she was facing Li Lingfeng, who had no emotions, and he wouldn’t be moved in the slightest.

Alice threw herself into Li Suisui’s arms, crying. “The door is locked and it’s so dark in the room. Dad made me face the wall to reflect. I don’t want to go back.”

Li Suisui was almost knocked over by the impact.

Alice’s little face was covered in tears, and she looked full of grievance.

Li Suisui looked at her, held her arm, and said, “Alice…”

Hope appeared in Alice’s eyes. “Suisui, will you take me in?”

Li Suisui shook her head, and said with a crisp voice, “You’re so heavy.”

“…”

Jian Chengxi looked at her and felt a bit uncomfortable inside.

He glanced at Li Lingfeng and almost wanted to speak up for her, but thinking of the situation at home, he ultimately held back.

Li Lingfeng seemed to understand his meaning. The man glanced at the little girl, and said in a low voice, “You can stay, but I’ll have someone take you back before dawn.”

A delighted smile immediately appeared on Alice’s face.

Jian Chengxi also let out a sigh of relief inside, and said to the children, “It’s windy outside so go in quickly. Suisui, please get Alice a clean pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet.”

Li Suisui nodded.

The children walked in together.

The evening wind was blowing, but Jian Chengxi looked at Li Lingfeng beside him.

He wasn’t a fool. He knew that Li Lingfeng agreeing to let Alice stay was definitely not easy. In the past, he thought that although their general was high-ranking and powerful, he was always somewhat cold-blooded and heartless, but now it seemed that wasn’t entirely the case.

He had misunderstood.

Regardless, the general still took in this child.

Jian Chengxi felt a bit moved in his heart, he walked over and stood beside Li Lingfeng, and asked, “General, did you take her in because you felt sorry for her?”

Li Lingfeng gave him a sideways glance lightly. “No.”

Jian Chengxi was stunned, and asked in confusion, “Then is it because of that?”

Li Lingfeng’s frame was exceptionally tall, and the man stood with his back straight even in the cold wind. He raised an eyebrow and spoke slowly, “If Alice goes back now, and anything happens to her, wouldn’t Byrne then have leverage to hold Feiyun hostage? Now that the child is with us, Feiyun naturally doesn’t have to worry.”

The implication was that they could now go ahead and cause trouble for Byrne without holding back.

In the cold wind, the man’s cold and stern face was especially chilling, and his entire body radiated an intimidating aura.

Jian Chengxi couldn’t control his cough. With his dull brain, he never would have thought of this layer, and incredulously said, “General, you took Alice in because of this?”

Li Lingfeng turned and looked at him. He said in a low voice, “It’s not entirely just that.”

Jian Chengxi let out a sigh of relief.

He thought to himself, how could his general be completely heartless and unkind?

Yet to his surprise—

In the cold wind, Li Lingfeng spoke calmly. “Didn’t you say making dumplings was troublesome? More people means more labor.”

“…”

Even capitalists would be moved to tears by this.

In the evening, the temperature outside suddenly dropped.

This was Alice’s first time coming to Li Suisui’s house. She had known before that Li Suisui was an odd-tempered child, and her father was the empire’s most cold-blooded and violent general.

So Alice had always thought that Li Suisui’s house would definitely be cold and gloomy.

However, the reality was exactly the opposite, and it even exceeded what she had always imagined.

This was a small home that appeared to be carefully maintained. The warm yellow light in the living room spilled down, steam rose from the kitchen not far away, and the fragrance of food filled the air. The sofa in the living room was draped with a beige blanket, delicately embroidered with cute animal patterns. The floor was spotless, and there was a vase on the dining table with fresh, beautiful flowers in it. Green vines stretched along the windowsill, full of life.

Even the wooden boards next to the dining table were covered with various small stickers.

【Remember to bring the water bottle when you go out today.】

【General, don’t forget to bring breakfast in the morning. There are pre-cut biscuits in the cabinet.】

【In the afternoon, take Wang Cai to treat its leg.】

Various interesting little notes were stuck there and everywhere seemed to have traces of life. Unlike the grandeur of her own home, this house was simple in every way, yet it felt so warm and cozy.

Yes, very cozy.

Compared to their towering castle, this three-story house felt so cozy.

Not a cold house, but a warm and cozy home.

Alice was somewhat lost in thought. This was her first time encountering such a family—there were no servants and not much high-tech, yet it left her feeling somewhat out of place.

Li Suisui’s voice came from beside her. The little girl’s voice was soft as she asked, “Is it okay for Alice to wear these slippers?”

Alice turned her head and saw Li Suisui getting slippers for her.

In Li Suisui’s hand was a pair of pink slippers that looked very pretty, neat and cute, and still brand new.

Alice was a bit touched. She said,  “Suisui, thank you for sharing your new slippers with me.”

Li Suisui generously said, “If you like them, I’ll give them to you!”

Alice was shocked. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Li Suisui, and said, “Suisui… really? Y–you’re so kind.”

Suisui is truly a good person.

No friend has ever been this good to her.

She used to always argue with Suisui, and had prejudice against her.

Wuwuwu, in the future, she must be good to Suisui too.

“It’s okay.” Li Suisui’s pretty little face was filled with comfort and she patted Alice’s shoulder. She said, “Anyway, this is the pair of shoes I hate the most!”

Alice: “…”

She would really thank her.

After everyone changed their clothes, Jian Chengxi continued making dumplings.

He could no longer be of any help with this matter. The stone delivery and the follow-up matters could only be handled by Li Lingfeng, and the man had already returned to his study earlier.

Jian Chengxi was rolling out dough.

Li Suisui and Li Chen were standing to the side, pinching small dough balls and pressing them into flat cakes.

Alice stood by, staring eagerly, with a look as if she wanted to join but didn’t dare to say it, looking utterly pitiful.

Li Chen glanced at her and asked, “Do you want to give it a try?”

The handsome little boy was always quiet and reserved. Alice didn’t expect he would take the initiative to speak to her.

Alice exclaimed in surprise, “Really? Can I?”

Li Chen nodded.

Alice took small steps and walked over. He pressed her lips together and said, “Thank you…”

Although Suisui’s usual personality was a bit harsh, she didn’t expect her brother to be so good at taking care of others.

Li Chen said, “No need to thank me.”

A friendly smile appeared on Alice’s face.

Li Chen slowly withdrew his hands and said, “Anyway, I’m tired from pressing, so it’s just right for you to take over.”

“…”

Are you all devils?