TNIBFT -Chapter 119 The Eldest Sleeps with Me at Night

“Really?”

Xiao Jiang’s little face lit up with joy. He cheered out loud, hardly able to believe it as he looked at Ye Tian.

Ye Tian nodded.

Hearing Ye Tian’s confirmation, Xiao Jiang pouted, almost on the verge of tears. He sniffled and, in a muffled voice, said, “It doesn’t matter whether Dad finds a stepmother or not. My brother, sister, and I are all fine, as long as Dad doesn’t abandon us.”

“We only have Dad as our family.”

Xiao Jiang’s pleading tone was like that of a little animal always afraid of being left behind. As he spoke, he hiccupped softly, rubbing his eyes with both hands.

Ye Tian looked at him with affection. “Silly kid!”

Then he raised his hand and used his thumb to wipe the tiny tears from Xiao Jiang’s face, turning to look at Ye Yunting. “Having you all is enough for me. Our little family of four is already very happy. As long as you’re happy, whatever Dad does is worth it.”

“And as for finding a stepmother… I don’t want anyone telling me what to do anyway.”

Seeing Ye Tian’s casual, mischievous expression, Xiao Jiang and Ye Yunting exchanged a glance. Xiao Jiang immediately laughed: “Hehe…”

The little guy rubbed his eyes while chuckling foolishly.

“Why didn’t Mom want us?” Ye Yunting, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. His voice was calm and steady, like that of an outsider observing the world.

This…

Looking into Ye Yunting’s indifferent eyes, Ye Tian recalled the book: the main antagonist Ye Yunting—cold-blooded and ruthless, seeing common people as nothing, skilled in torture, ruling with fear. Believed abandoned by his biological mother and abused by his father, his unhappy childhood twisted his mind. Later sold to a slave market, constantly trampled by others, given a sliver of warmth by Jiang Yunxi only to be fully exploited… it’s no wonder someone with that life would turn dark.

In this life, Ye Tian had to change the eldest’s mindset first.

“It’s not like that.”

Ye Tian picked up Ye Yunting, whose face immediately turned red. He avoided Ye Tian’s gaze and struggled, wanting to get down.

Ye Tian then lifted Xiao Jiang in the other arm. Left and right, he carried both children.

The father and his two sons sat by the fire. The flames made Ye Yunting’s small face glow red. Ye Tian let Ye Yunting and Xiao Jiang sit on his lap, eyes fixed on the fire as if reminiscing. “Then tonight… let’s talk about your mother.”

Xiao Jiang and Ye Yunting both looked up at Ye Tian.

Ye Tian’s expression was unusually serious.

This was also the first time they had heard him mention their mother.

Ye Tian spoke slowly: “No one has ever not wanted you. Your mother… she really loved you.”

“Really?”

Ye Yunting frowned, clearly skeptical.

If Mom really loved them, why would she leave after giving birth? How could she bear to let them suffer under Ye Tian’s care all these years? How could she not appear through countless nights as they cried themselves dry, longing for her?

How could she vanish without a trace?

“Your mother was the most beautiful and gentle woman in this world. She risked her life carrying you for ten months—how could she not love you?”

“When she gave birth to you, she was only seventeen or eighteen—a young girl, beautiful and graceful. It was her first time as a mother. She summoned all her courage to adapt to this new role, facing a changing body. She was brave, selfless, willing to give up everything for you. How could she not love you?”

“They say giving birth is like passing through the gates of death. But think about it—you were triplets. Your mother went through those gates three times in one birth. Who could ever doubt her love for you?”

Ye Yunting lowered his head in contemplation.

Xiao Jiang’s tears streamed down as he looked at Ye Tian.

“I know, you’re probably wondering… where’s your mother?”

As soon as Ye Tian said this, Xiao Jiang eagerly nodded.

Ye Yunting frowned as he looked at Ye Tian.

At that moment, Ye Tian’s mind was racing. He couldn’t say she was dead, and he couldn’t ruin the shining image of the children’s mother. In the previous life, he could have said she went abroad to work—but how could he come up with a story now?

“Your mother… she doesn’t not love you, and she doesn’t not want to be with you. There are just… too many unavoidable circumstances,” Ye Tian said with a painful expression and a low voice. “It’s because of the war. Yes, the war. Your mother isn’t from Daliang. If she had stayed, we would have all died.”

“So… mother did it to protect us?” Xiao Jiang sobbed uncontrollably, clutching Ye Tian’s arm. “Big brother, we’ve all wronged mother.”

“Mother is so pitiful… she’s all alone. Who takes care of her… alone… sob sob sob…”

Xiao Jiang cried with heart-wrenching despair.

Seeing that his youngest son was already convinced, Ye Tian said, “She has never forgotten us. It’s just that your father was useless… I didn’t have the ability to bring your mother back.”

Watching Ye Tian so distressed, Ye Yunting clenched his fists. No wonder Ye Tian had never allowed them to mention their mother—every time they asked, he would react with blows and kicks.

Actually, the one who suffered the most must have been Ye Tian, right?

After all, their mother was so good. Ye Tian must have loved her deeply, and experiencing their separation must have been even more painful for him than for themselves.

Ye Yunting gently patted Ye Tian on the back to comfort him. “Don’t worry. One day, I’ll rescue mother!”

“No…” Ye Tian was speechless. He didn’t know how to explain. Seeing the determination in his eldest son’s eyes, he swallowed the words in his mouth. Perhaps it was better this way—let him have a goal in his heart. It was better than despair and regret. And he hadn’t said which country, so the kids certainly wouldn’t be able to find her.

In a few years, when they grew up, he would explain everything clearly.

“By the way, what did Master say today?”

Ye Tian asked. After thinking for a moment, Ye Yunting replied, “Master said I should participate in the Sifang City junior official selection tomorrow. I was going to tell you before going to sleep.”

“What selection?”

Ye Tian thought he must have misheard. Ye Yunting was only five years old—was Tao Lichun serious?

Seeing Ye Tian stunned, as if ready to jump from his chair, Ye Yunting slid off his lap and said seriously, “I’ve already agreed.”

“I’ll go cook.”

With that, Ye Yunting gave Ye Tian no chance to speak and turned around to start working behind him. Watching the little figure of his eldest son, Ye Tian frowned helplessly. Could this child be… naturally inclined toward strategy and intrigue?

Ye Tian sighed. He only wanted his children to have a simple childhood, to grow up normal, and not become villains everyone despises.

About half an hour passed.

The sun had completely set, the meal was ready, and Sun Wuji and the daughter entered the house one after another.

“Second sister, I want to tell you…” As soon as Ye Shuangxue entered, Xiao Jiang happily ran over, grabbing her clothes. The siblings whispered secretly in the corner, their happiness evident. Ye Shuangxue listened while sneaking glances at Ye Tian, unable to hide her joy.

“Really?”

Ye Shuangxue asked. Xiao Jiang nodded eagerly like a little chick pecking at rice. “Yes.”

“I’ll practice even harder from now on. Sister will protect you!” Ye Shuangxue boldly wrapped her arms around Xiao Jiang’s neck, and the siblings laughed together.

After dinner, Sun Wuji slipped away on his own.

After the three children washed up and got ready for bed, Ye Tian spoke very little that night, worried that his eldest would be attacked or talked about.

He had no power or influence, and couldn’t protect his children.

“Eldest will sleep with me tonight!”