Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Drunken

Lu Xiao had never thought of it that way. Even though she knew full well that Admiral Clan had personally arranged for Ares’s deployment to the battlefield, she was certain his intentions were good.

Besides, Ares had been consulted about it, and she was in on it too. If they hadn’t been willing, they could have refused.

So how could she possibly blame Admiral Clan for it?

She waved the lollipop in her hand. “I know you did this for our own good, Father. How could I blame you? By the way, did you come over today just to keep me company?”

Hearing this, the weight on Admiral Clan’s chest lifted, and his expression relaxed considerably. “Yes. I was worried that with Ares suddenly gone, you wouldn’t be able to adjust and would be afraid.”

Lu Xiao was a little surprised by Admiral Clan’s directness. In her memory, the Admiral had always been reserved, a man of action rather than words.

This was the first time he had ever expressed his feelings so openly, but it made Lu Xiao quite happy.

’That’s how it should be, right? Why can’t people just say what they mean?’

“Well, in that case, I’ll whip up a few side dishes. How about we have a little drink together tonight, Father? Would you like that?”

“Of course.” Faced with Lu Xiao’s suggestion and invitation, Admiral Clan didn’t refuse, nor did he want to.

“Then you rest for a bit, Father. I’ll go get things ready. It won’t take long.” Ares’s sudden departure had left Lu Xiao with no appetite, but now that Admiral Clan was here to keep her company, it was just the thing to lift her spirits and ease the worry in her heart.

Admiral Clan watched as Lu Xiao regained her energy, a smile touching his eyes. He sent a message to Ares: “Don’t worry, Xiao Xiao is fine.”

Ares’s reply came back quickly: “Okay, thank you.”

Admiral Clan: “No need to thank me. I wish you all the best.”

In fact, when he received Ares’s message earlier today asking him to check on Lu Xiao in the evening, he had already been planning to do so.

Suddenly sending Ares to the front lines… although it was for Lu Xiao’s future benefit and an arrangement that had to be made, he still felt a pang of guilt.

After all, this arrangement of his had directly shattered the peaceful life Lu Xiao and Ares had built.

It had introduced hardship into their otherwise harmonious lives.

He was still quite worried that Lu Xiao would resent him for meddling.

But thankfully, his little female cub understood his intentions.

Lu Xiao deftly prepared two side dishes to go with their drinks—cold-dressed beef and peanuts. She paired them with the dumplings she had made fresh today and brought everything out to the small table in the courtyard. After the two of them, father and daughter, sat down, they could sip their drinks, chat about life, and enjoy the night view. It was all very pleasant.

Admiral Clan had never experienced this kind of life before, but it seemed that whenever he was with Lu Xiao, everything was so natural and peaceful.

It made it easy for his tense nerves to relax.

Even the fine wine tonight seemed to have become exceptionally sweet and delicious.

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll arrange for some people to escort you to and from work. But don’t worry, unless it’s necessary, they won’t appear and disturb your life.” After finishing another glass of wine, Clan told Lu Xiao of his arrangements.

Hearing this, Lu Xiao waved her hand. “Father, you don’t have to do that. I drive myself to and from work now. Nothing will happen. I’ve been doing this for a long time, even when Ares was home. Don’t you worry.”

Admiral Clan saw that she truly didn’t know, and couldn’t help but feel pleased with Ares. “That’s because you never noticed. Whenever you went to or from work, Ares would secretly follow behind. He would only leave after you arrived safely.”

Hearing this so suddenly, Lu Xiao’s eyes widened involuntarily. “What? How… how would you know that, Father?”

“Of course, he told me when he left. He specifically warned me not to let my guard down, that the people from the Black Tower still haven’t been caught and there’s no telling where they might be lurking. Even me coming over tonight was because Ares contacted me in advance. He is truly putting his heart into protecting you.”

Lu Xiao had never imagined that Ares had been silently doing so much for her behind the scenes.

’But on second thought, that does sound exactly like something Ares would do.’

Suddenly, she smiled, her eyes growing moist. ’What am I going to do? Ares just left, and I already miss him.’

Seeing Lu Xiao’s sadness, Admiral Clan let out a soft sigh. “It’s my fault. I’m the one who forcibly separated you two. If you want to blame someone, blame me.”

Lu Xiao shook her head. “Don’t say that, Father. Ares has actually been working hard for a promotion this whole time. Even if you hadn’t offered this opportunity, he would have fought for it. It’s my fault for inadvertently putting so much pressure on him.”

But in truth, she didn’t care at all whether Ares’s status was high or low. The one she loved was him, the person.

But she understood very well that to maintain harmony in a family, both partners needed to grow together. If one person developed too quickly, it could cause the other’s mindset to become imbalanced, which in turn would lead to many domestic conflicts.

Ares might not have understood this principle, but his own character was one that sought self-improvement. He would never allow himself to hold Lu Xiao back or become a stumbling block on her path to success.

He certainly wouldn’t allow himself to be unworthy of Lu Xiao, to become a stain on her name.

She understood all of this. That’s why when Ares suggested going to the battlefield, she agreed, even though she knew full well how dangerous it was.

Because she didn’t want to be a stumbling block on his path forward, either. They were both doing their best for each other’s sake, to help the other succeed.

They both knew it.

Watching Lu Xiao, who was reluctant to see Ares leave yet preferred to suffer her sadness in silence, Admiral Clan truly understood the bond between them for the first time.

He had never experienced it himself, nor had he ever seen anything like it among the males of the past.

So now, seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn’t remain calm inside.

’So this is what true, committed love looks like. It’s so moving.’

“You and Ares will only get better and better, Xiao Xiao.” Admiral Clan downed a glass of wine and silently vowed that he too would protect such a sincere love.

Lu Xiao wiped away a tear, raised her glass to clink with Admiral Clan’s, and said with a smile, “Father, you can’t tell Ares what happened tonight. I don’t want him to worry, and I especially don’t want him to know I cried so miserably after he left. It’s too embarrassing! I have to maintain my image in his eyes!”

“Alright, I won’t say a word. Tonight is our little secret. Are you still okay? Maybe you should stop drinking.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Father!” Lu Xiao laughed and drank the wine in her glass, suppressing the longing and reluctance to part with Ares that filled her heart.

’The male I’m raising will definitely spread his wings and fly, higher and farther than ever before.’

’I will love him forever, bless him, and be his rock!’

As they drank on, the food disappeared, and Lu Xiao eventually ended up slumped on the table, letting out soft snores. It looked as though the little female cub had deliberately tried to drink herself into a stupor.

Admiral Clan sighed. He still felt a measure of self-reproach. ’Truthfully, there was no need to be in such a rush to send Ares to the battlefield. Waiting a little longer would have been fine.’

He had underestimated the depth of Lu Xiao’s love for Ares.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep