After the birthday party, little Kiana seemed to take the bold declaration of "marry me" and Kael's smiling response seriously at least in her young mind, this meant Uncle Kael was "her person," someone she could be infinitely close to and monopolize.
So, she clung to Kael even tighter.
Whenever Kael appeared at the Kaslana Family home, or Cecilia encountered Kael at headquarters with Kiana, the little one would invariably dart over like a tiny magnet, arms outstretched for a hug.
Once she successfully latched on, she wouldn't let go, resting her head on Kael's shoulder, occasionally rubbing his cheek, and looking at the exasperated Theresa nearby as if to declare her ownership.
"Uncle Kael~ tell a story!"
"Uncle Kael~ feed me!"
"Uncle Kael~ lift me high!"
"Uncle Kael~ Kiana's!"
Her childish demands were endless, and Kael almost always indulged her, a doting yet helpless smile always on his face.
He genuinely liked this innocent, warm, and adorable little one, who was like a small sun; her closeness and reliance brought him a pure sense of warmth and joy.
But this was a torment for Theresa.
She had practically become a permanent, sour-bubble-emitting backdrop beside Kael and Kiana.
Watching Kael treat Kiana so gently, almost always giving in to her, Theresa felt as if an entire cart of bitter melons had overturned in her heart, making her incredibly bitter.
Yet, she couldn't genuinely argue with a toddler. Every time she wanted to lash out, seeing Kiana's innocent blue eyes and Kael's pleased expression, she could only suppress her jealousy, causing herself internal injury.
She could only follow along, puffing out her cheeks, silently protesting with resentful glances, and occasionally, when Kael wasn't looking, making fierce funny faces at Kiana, who was nestled in his arms.
Kiana, when she occasionally saw them, wasn't scared at all; instead, she would giggle and hug Kael even tighter, as if saying, "Look, Uncle is holding me, not you," making Theresa stomp her feet in frustration...
This afternoon, Kael, having a rare moment of leisure, was invited by Cecilia for afternoon tea at their home. He had barely sat down when Kiana, clutching her Haxxor Bunny doll, toddled over and skillfully climbed onto his lap.
Kael smiled, settled her comfortably on his lap, and offered her a small rabbit-shaped apple slice.
Theresa sat opposite, watching Kael meticulously wipe Kiana's mouth and patiently answer her unintelligible babbling "questions," feeling a surge of jealousy.
The bitter melon cookies in front of her seemed to have lost all taste.
She deliberately placed her cup heavily on the saucer, creating a crisp clinking sound.
Kael looked up, puzzled: "What's wrong?"
Theresa turned her head, cheeks puffed out: "Nothing! The cup slipped!"
Kael glanced at the cookies in front of her, barely touched, then at her pouting profile, and seemed to understand something.
He thought for a moment, then temporarily handed Kiana in his arms to Cecilia, who was nearby.
Then, he got up, walked over to Theresa, and sat beside her, picking up a bitter melon cookie and offering it to her mouth, his tone slightly teasing: "Here, your favorite bitter melon cookie. Try it and see how it's baked today? I heard the kitchen switched to a new bitter melon powder."
Theresa was startled, looking at Kael, who had suddenly moved closer, and the cookie offered to her mouth. Her feelings of grievance and sourness instantly dissipated by more than half.
She instinctively took a bite, chewed, and her eyes lit up slightly: "Hmm... it seems the bitterness is a bit purer..."
"Is it? Let me try."
Kael naturally broke off a small corner from the cookie she had bitten and put it in his mouth, immediately frowning at the intense bitterness. "...It is indeed very pure." He stuck out his tongue and quickly gulped down some tea.
Theresa looked at him being bitter and couldn't help but let out a giggle, her earlier unhappiness vanishing instantly.
He noticed her mood! He even fed her cookies! Although the method was a bit clumsy, but... she was so happy!
Kiana, seeing Kael suddenly go to accompany Theresa, extended her small hand somewhat unhappily: "Uncle... hug..."
Kael turned and smiled at her: "Kiana, be good, let Mommy hold you for a while. Uncle needs to talk to Big Sister Theresa."
Even though it was only brief attention, Theresa was already very satisfied.
She proudly raised her chin at Kiana, taking small bites of the cookie Kael had fed her, feeling it was the best bitter melon cookie in the world.
In the afternoon, Kael promised to accompany Theresa to the training ground. As they reached the entrance of the training ground, they encountered Cecilia walking nearby with Kiana.
"Uncle Kael!" Kiana immediately spotted Kael and ran over, arms outstretched.
Kael habitually bent down to pick her up, but Theresa, quick as a flash, grabbed his arm and said to the running Kiana: "Kiana, be good. Uncle needs to go train with Big Sister now. It's very important!"
Kiana's little face immediately fell, and her eyes began to redden.
Kael looked at the little one's aggrieved expression, then at Theresa beside him, clinging tightly to his arm as if facing a great enemy, and suddenly felt a dilemma.
He crouched down, meeting Kiana's gaze, and said gently: "Kiana, Uncle promised Big Sister Theresa to train with her first. How about this, you go play with Mommy for a bit, and when Uncle finishes training, I'll come find you and bring you some delicious pudding, okay?"
Kiana sniffled, seemingly contemplating whether the trade was worthwhile.
Kael then leaned closer to her ear and whispered in a voice only they could hear: "And, Big Sister Theresa seems a little unhappy lately. Uncle needs to coax her, otherwise, she'll cry, and that won't look good, right?"
Kiana blinked her big, still-moist eyes, looked at the pouting Theresa nearby, and nodded her little head, seemingly understanding: "Mmm... Uncle coax Big Sister... Kiana wait for pudding."
Having successfully appeased the little birthday girl, Kael breathed a sigh of relief and stood up.
Although Theresa hadn't heard what Kael said afterward, seeing that Kiana actually wasn't clinging anymore and that Kael had clearly chosen to accompany her first, her heart immediately blossomed with joy, and her grip on Kael's arm tightened, almost hanging entirely on him.
"Let's go! Kael! Today I'm going to challenge the highest difficulty simulation battle!" she declared energetically, pulling Kael towards the training ground.
Kael was dragged along, turning back to offer Cecilia and Kiana an apologetic smile, which was met with an understanding, yet teasing, look from Cecilia.
In the evening, just as Kael was about to rest, his personal terminal rang with Theresa's exclusive ringtone.
After connecting, Theresa on the screen looked a bit listless, hugging her Haxxor Bunny doll, curled up on the bed.
"Kael... are you asleep?"
"Not yet. What's wrong? You sound down."
"Nothing... I just feel like... Kiana is so cute..."
Theresa's voice was muffled, carrying a hint of imperceptible envy and sourness, "Everyone likes her... You like her so much too..."
Kael paused, then chuckled softly.
So, this guy was still sulking about that.
He thought for a moment, then his tone became serious: "Kiana is indeed very cute, like a little sun that can make people feel better."
Theresa on the other end of the screen immediately pouted, on the verge of tears.
"But," Kael's tone shifted, becoming even gentler, "Theresa is Theresa, she is unique, she is my most important comrade-in-arms and... friend, with whom I've fought side-by-side for many years, someone I can entrust my back to. No one can replace her."
He paused, seemingly a little embarrassed, but still added: "And, when you smile, your eyes are even brighter than the candies Kiana hides, very infectious. So, there's no need to compare yourself to others."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the screen, then Theresa's voice, slightly nasal but clearly cheerful, came through: "R-really? My smile... is it really that good-looking?"
"Yes, really." Kael affirmed, though saying such things was still a bit out of his comfort zone.
"Hehe... Then... then it's settled! Only I can smile like that for you to see from now on!" Theresa demanded, pushing her luck.
Kael smiled helplessly: "Alright, alright. Go to sleep now, don't overthink things."
"Mm! Goodnight, Kael! I like you the most!" Theresa, completely satisfied, hung up the call and rolled around on the bed with her doll, no longer looking listless at all.
Kael looked at the darkened screen, shook his head, but a gentle smile, one he hadn't even noticed himself, played on his lips.
This clingy and incredibly jealous little cabbage, though a bit troublesome to coax, seeing her smile light up again... it all seemed worth it.
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