Chapter 17

To avoid catching heat, Wen Xi re-edited: 【Mom’s photography keeps getting better.】
Calm Mom: 【Obviously.】
His parents weren’t home yet—Wen Xi spun his chair and opened City of Succubi to check whether his other “shameful” kid was making trouble.
No sprite inside—the door to the garden stood open.
Couldn’t sit still—of course.
Wen Xi followed.
The sprite wasn’t on the ground—he squatted on the doorstep, chin in hands, staring at the garden in a daze.
Not wanting to see him look defeated—Wen Xi wanted to fix it fast.
He tapped garden layout—weed task—normally games let the player clear junk then plant.
This game rebelled—what you thought was the player’s job was the sprite’s.
System: 【Player cannot remove weeds—buy a toolkit for your familiar to build hands-on skills.】
Important: 【To help succubi adapt to human life faster—all garden tasks forbid magic—watch him grow together.】
With the alert came the toolkit purchase—gift box format—68 Heart Coins.
Wen Xi checked contents.
【Hoe ×1】
【Sickle ×1】
【Long-spout watering can ×1】
【Pool cleaning kit ×1】
【Dust-proof work coveralls ×1】
【Non-slip rubber boots ×1】
System: 【Purchase?】
Wow—succubus to gardener overnight?
Interesting.
For the sprite’s garden—Wen Xi bought without hesitation.
He set hoe and sickle by the sprite’s feet—metal clinked on landing.
The sprite glanced sideways—looked up—happy: “Polin, ydu kodep?”
【Human—you’re back?】
Wen Xi stroked his face as answer.
The sprite squinted pleased—then: “Si ren…you…xi…”
Couldn’t finish—darted inside—carefully lifted a glass bottle from the coffee table.
The bottle was from Dr. Fei—after the water was gone Wen Xi liked the shape—hadn’t trashed it.
Now a round-belly jar held one unknown pink bloom—as frail as this little succubus—like one gust would wilt it.
System: 【Accept Wen Siran’s love gift?】
Wen Xi accepted.
Last time the sprite’s magic flame-rose vanished fast—wonder how long this flower would last.
Flower and jar went to inventory—the sprite beamed: “Si ren—bang bang bang… wu la la… flower.”
Wen Xi: ?
Translation: 【Siran went bang bang bang with magic—whoosh—a whole field of flowers.】
A whole field?
Really? Where were the flowers?
Wen Siran puffed his chest like a knight waiting for medals.
Wen Xi opened the recorder, suspicious.
【After bath, Wen Siran admired new clothes—posed a long time.】
【Wen Siran called for you—said he was clean.】
【No answer—Wen Siran planned to garden alone—surprise you.】
【Wen Siran wanted to turn all weeds to flowers.】
【Warning—no magic in garden tasks.】
【False alarm—his magic did nothing.】
【Wen Siran refused to quit—tried again—still nothing.】
【Wen Siran was crushed—squatted—found one pink wildflower on the step edge. (PS: Not from magic.)】
Author’s note:
Little liar—why exaggerate so much?
Clearly plucked by the door—insisted he conjured a field—wu la la everywhere.
Bragging without a script?
Call him out—he’d cry a fountain again?
Wen Xi closed the recorder—living room—Wen Siran stood center, hands behind back, chin high—waiting for praise.
The system seemed to punish lying—a clown nose sprouted on his face—then reverted.
Wen Xi smiled—couldn’t bring himself to scold a kind lie—patted his shoulder encouragingly.
Wen Siran swelled—gestured big: “Da zhe zhu, hua la la, gei ni, da shui gang.”
Translation: 【Big pearls—splash splash—fill your big pool for you.】
Wen Xi facepalmed—kid, enough—I can’t even repeat that. Pie’s too big to swallow.
No more enabling—Wen Xi swapped him into work coveralls and boots—added a yellow straw hat.
Heaven—cute!
Chibi + cozy life aesthetic = lethal.
Wen Xi screenshot without thinking.
The sprite looked at his outfit—“Yi?”
Yi what yi—system says pull weeds.
Wen Xi hauled him to the door—tapped the sickle—handed it over.
The sprite gripped the blade—big eyes blinked—waved the sickle in the air.
Danger!
Wen Xi grabbed his wrist.
System: 【Clueless Wen Siran doesn’t know sickle safety—hire a gardener to teach him?】
【Yes】【No】
Refuse—quest stuck—garden locked—door pointless.
Wen Xi had to say yes—curious how much cash the system wanted.
Page loaded—only 2000 gold.
Wen Xi realized the game had brainwashed him—2000 gold felt cheap—he almost wanted to praise the designers.
Payment cleared—a man with a toolkit knocked.
Same coveralls as the sprite—he removed his hat to his chest—bowed—said he was the human’s gardener, Witt—here to teach garden care.
The sprite returned the greeting—promised to learn.
Both took sickles to the weeds—Witt bent to demo—the sprite copied seriously.
First cut—sprite held the bundle—waved overhead: “Polin, kaiypo!”
【Human—look!】
“Si ren—yi hui!”
Index finger up—tail high.
Per Wen Xi—meant: Siran learned in one try.
System matched exactly.
Show-off.
Wonder who taught him.
Witt clapped enthusiastically—thumbs up—the sprite tipped his hat brim, eyes out, smiled thanks.
Wen Xi wanted to praise like Witt—all he could do was pinch cheeks.
Knock knock—door outside.
Wen Xi quit game—opened door—Pei Yingzi: “Dinner’s ready.”
“Mm.” Wen Xi stepped out—she strode in: “Word with Mom.”
Wen Xi: “Okay.”
Pei Yingzi: “How was stream today?”
Wen Xi: “Fine.”
She leaned close, whispered: “Your dad watched you this afternoon—worried traffic would tank after the schedule change—made a new account—sent three big cruise gifts—that’s what they’re called?”
Wen Xi laughed: “Mm—if Dad gifts me again, stop him—platform takes half—direct transfer’s better.”
Pei Yingzi swatted him: “Brat.”
After scolding: “He saw people flaming you in chat—felt awful—said maybe quit streaming—we’ll fund a small business—like Mingyu—bar or café.”
Wen Xi knew they hurt for him.
Growing up—no harsh words—patient lessons—respected every choice.
After college he dove into streaming—relatives said games were dead-end, addiction, should rein him in.
Parents stayed open—esports had worlds—could bring glory—not necessarily a dead path.
Only after Wen Xi bought his own place with stream money did relatives shut up.
They accepted almost anything—except seeing him wronged.
Wen Xi explained: “Every streamer gets haters—not just me. If I couldn’t take heat, I’d have quit long ago. More flames means more heat—I like the job—don’t worry.”
Pei Yingzi sighed—patted his shoulder: “Just a suggestion—we won’t override you. Your dad and I want you to know—we’re not short on cash—you don’t have to grind so hard—happy and healthy is enough.”
Wen Xi sometimes thought parenting philosophy was contagious.
Raising the sprite felt the same—not short on money—grades didn’t matter—happy was enough.
He couldn’t help smiling.