CHAPTER 453: CHAPTER 153: BRINE CHICKEN AND SPICY DUCK_3

Sure, here is the translation:

The lid of the insulated box was personally closed by Du Xixi, then quickly delivered by Mechanical Soldiers to the Imperial Palace. When Rob took it over and opened the box, apart from the spicy duck which was meant to be eaten cool, the salted chicken was still emanating large puffs of heat.

Chen Yin didn’t know Du Xixi had prepared such a surprise for him. When Rob entered with two insulated boxes, he was still absorbed in his official duties. But as soon as the aroma of salted chicken and spicy duck reached his nose, the familiar scent immediately made him raise his head.

"Made by Xixi?" With delicious food in front of him, it was surprising that Chen Yin still had the mind to deal with official business. After quickly finishing the not-so-important tasks in front of him, Chen Yin abruptly stood up and went to the nearby small dining table.

Because Du Xixi occasionally sends delicious food through the Mechanical Soldiers, and Chen Yin also needs to eat, a small dining table is specially placed in Chen Yin’s palace for his convenience.

Of course, the official table is also possible, but if what you’re eating has a lot of soup, it’s likely to splash around a bit. The small dining table is cleaner—for the cleanliness of official documents.

"Hmm... it’s salted chicken and spicy duck. Xixi is so considerate!" Chen Yin happily inhaled the aroma of the food, instantly immersing himself and narrowing his eyes in delight. "I thought from the first time I ate salted chicken that it was great to go with rice, and spicy duck is definitely a great dish to go with wine."

"Of course, spicy duck is also great with rice." There were no humans nearby for Chen Yin, only a few Mechanical Soldiers with whom he could share his joy. However, he had already become accustomed to this over the years, and as he picked up a piece of salted chicken and put it in his mouth, savoring the salty and spicy flavor, he excitedly shared with them.

Though Rob and the Mechanical Soldiers were very human-like, in essence, they were merely artificially designed. They could simulate human emotional changes, but it was just simulation, with an insurmountable gap from real humans.

At this moment, Rob simulated a "happy" emotion, bent down, and showed a smile to Chen Yin: "Miss is always considerate."

Chen Yin’s smile suddenly faded a bit. He seemed happy, the food tasted delicious, yet there were only non-humans around. Although he had become accustomed to it, at this moment, there was a bit of rawness spreading in his heart.

He stuffed a large piece of spicy duck into his mouth, the spicy yet not overpowering taste truly uplifted his mood, and Chen Yin felt his spirits rising.

He blinked, hiding the momentary surge of tears, and only after finishing all the salted chicken and spicy duck did he pat his belly, sit back at the official desk with a bit of comfort, and continue handling unfinished business.

The sunlight lazily cast down, but only lingered at the doorway, not reaching Chen Yin’s busy figure.

Day after day, year after year.

He was long accustomed to it.

After sending the two dishes out, Du Xixi nestled on the sofa without much movement until her two sons came over laughing and hugging her. She lazily pulled them onto her lap.

"Yiyi, Er Er, how did you sleep last night?" She tapped the little noses of her two sons, her smile warm and gentle, just like her own aura, making people feel comfortable and at ease.

"Ah! Ah ah!" Yiyi and Er Er couldn’t yet speak complete sentences. Even the sudden "Mom" from a few days ago might have just been a coincidental sound they made, so naturally couldn’t answer Du Xixi’s question now.

Ke Xing sat nearby, imitating the tone Yiyi and Er Er might use, responded childishly: "We slept really well! Even snored!"

"Pfft!" Du Xixi couldn’t help but laugh, perhaps due to Ke Xing’s mischief or the fact that Yiyi and Er Er snored while sleeping. "Looks like our Yiyi and Er Er played too much during the day. See, they were even tired enough to snore!"

It’s not as if Du Xixi hasn’t slept with her two children before. Earlier, when the children were inseparable from their mother, she had them by her side day and night, and Yiyi and Er Er didn’t snore back then.

Moreover, neither Du Xixi nor Ke Lian snore, and according to Ke Lian, even Ke Xing sleeps quietly without snoring or sleep-talking. Could it be that Yiyi and Er Er inherited it from their uncle?

Chen Yin: ...

Xixi, are you being polite?

Snoring is not really a serious matter. With the advanced medical technology in the interstellar era, there’s no reason they couldn’t cure snoring in children. Du Xixi didn’t dwell on this for too long and soon grabbed her two sons’ little hands to play excitedly with them.

Children always have an indescribable closeness with their mother. Even though Du Xixi might seldom accompany her two children due to various reasons, Yiyi and Er Er are very close to her. When Du Xixi was somewhat tired and leaned back on the sofa, both kids still held onto her hands, wanting her to play with them.

Yiyi was always playful no matter who he was with, but Er Er was quieter and less active. Yet today, like his brother, he called out to Du Xixi, indicating he truly enjoyed and cherished time with her.

Du Xixi embraced the two children, letting them nestle in her arms to rest, while gently stroking their heads. Smiling at Ke Xing, she said, "Perhaps I haven’t played with them much before, so today they’re especially clingy to me."