My wife is a witch princess.

After making sure Tao Xiang had a small blanket, Song Che washed his face and removed his makeup before collapsing onto the bed.

Tomorrow is Monday, so...

Chapter 53 Returning Home, a Light Remains

Exams come and go quickly.

Song Che finished his exam and was walking on the road.

How much sorrow can one have? It's like a river of spring water flowing eastward.

He felt it necessary to cultivate a good relationship with the Chinese teacher so that he could at least have a more dignified end next time he was dragged to the office. As for his grades, he feared they wouldn't improve until next year.

He was carrying a shoulder bag and a bag of clothes and groceries in his hand, and he walked a little slowly.

Jiang Xiaoxiao brought the princess's costume from the drama club and also gave her the script, saying that they would rehearse every weekend and there would be a selection in three weeks.

Song Che quickly flipped through the script.

The story is about a princess and a knight.

But it's not the traditional knight-protecting-princess trope where the princess is ultimately snatched away by the prince. This time, it's the princess protecting the knight—the princess isn't necessarily the one being protected, and the knight's protection of the princess isn't for any prince's sake.

Regarding the princess's character, Song Che felt Xia Li needed to tone down her acting. Don't let Xia Li's usual blank stare and seemingly silly demeanor fool you; when she really gets going, her aura is terrifying. However, her enemies usually don't even have a chance to sense it—before they're even touched by a super-tier magic spell.

Song Che picked up the package from the Cainiao Post Station and carried it home. The package was really heavy, making him pant heavily.

As soon as he opened the door, two girls and a cat were already waiting for him.

Momoka: "Welcome home!"

Xia Li: "You're back."

Bruce: "Woof woof woof woof!"

Xia Li took the shoulder bag and coat bag from his hands, picked up the groceries, and went into the kitchen. Bruce kept rubbing against his leg, being very affectionate. Only Tao Xiang was still a little reserved, whispering, "I was very well-behaved at home this time. I didn't steal any cat food or knock anything over."

"Good girl." Song Che patted her head. "I'll cook dinner in a bit."

Momoka, who clearly has cat genes, squinted her eyes in pleasure as she was being petted.

Song Che closed the door, handed a script to Xia Li, and then took out clothes from his bag and spread them on the sofa.

The princess's dress paired with fleece-lined stockings looks expensive.

The knight's uniform was much rougher.

His armor looked like it was photoshopped on.

To be precise, it was photoshopped in.

"Xia Li, try on the clothes after you finish eating. If the size is right, Xiao Xiao won't have to change them."

"it is good."

After putting his things down, Song Che went into the kitchen to wash his hands and prepare to cook, while Xia Li rinsed the rice beside him. Seeing that she was doing a good job, Song Che turned around and went to chop vegetables.

There wasn't enough food at home. Now that there were three mouths to feed, Song Che suddenly had the illusion of being a stay-at-home dad—he had to think about what dishes to cook and how much to make. Xia Li didn't like celery, he wasn't sure what Tao Xiang liked, and Bruce was fine with cat food. He'd have to change the dishes later if they got tired of it—noodles or rice…

Song Che looked at Xia Li. The girl was intently watching the rice cooker, waiting for the rice to finish cooking. The lines of her profile were gentle and soft, and he couldn't help but think: Xia Li would be so cute if she knew how to act coquettishly.

Xia Li suddenly turned her face away: "I don't know how to act cute."

"I know," Song Che smiled. "I'm just thinking about it."

The rice was cooked, and Xia Li stood by watching Song Che stir-fry the dishes. Back in the castle, she was always engrossed in studying potions and magic, barely paying attention to what Song Che was doing. It wasn't until Song Che died that she belatedly went to his bedroom, his kitchen, and the meditation room where he studied how to negotiate with the forbidden kingdom. But by then, it was too late.

Fortunately, it's not too late.

Xia Li stayed quietly beside Song Che, watching. Tao Xiang lay by the kitchen door, peering curiously. She had always been a wanderer, without a home, and seeing the two figures in the kitchen, she suddenly felt a warm glow in her heart. Bruce also squatted nearby; a cat and a person, a princess and a knight.

A breeze picked up outside the window.

Night had completely fallen, and lights were on in every household.

It's almost midnight, and many people are still awake. Quite a few people are going out wrapped in coats—some for fun, some just to join in the fun.

Because tonight is the last day of the year.

Tomorrow is New Year's Day.

With New Year's Day over, the holidays are getting closer and closer, and the New Year is just around the corner. Some people have already secretly started preparing fireworks. No matter how strictly regulations are enforced, some things are simply impossible to control.

When I was a child, I loved Chinese New Year the most. As soon as January came, the festive atmosphere was so strong that it made me feel at ease. But in recent years, I feel that the festive atmosphere has faded, as if it has been covered with a layer of dust.

Song Che wasn't particularly interested in New Year's Eve rituals, but after dinner and washing the dishes, both girls looked at him simultaneously, and Bruce snuggled into his arms. Xia Li didn't understand what New Year's Eve was, but Tao Xiang knew very well, clamoring that there would be fireworks outside and she wanted to go out and play.

Of course we have to go out—and we'll look at the stars together.

However, there's still no sign of fireworks; they were probably stopped by the city management officers before they could even be set off. To be honest, fireworks are indeed dangerous, and accidents can easily happen if not handled properly.

For many people, it's a longing; after a year of work, they just want to come home and do something relaxing with their wife and kids.

Song Che felt that everyone had their own reasons, and since he wouldn't let go, he would just watch others do it... This was what was meant by stepping back behind the crowd and frowning.

"Taoxiang wants to go out and watch the fireworks—" Taoxiang started to whine again, like a little child, pulling Song Che's hand one moment and tugging at Xia Li's sleeve the next.

Xia Li ignored her.

She focused her attention on Song Che.

"Alright, alright, we were going out anyway." Song Che patted the unopened delivery box. "Xia Li, guess what it is?"

"A stargazing telescope. You're planning to leave soon, find an open spot, and watch the fireworks... What are fireworks?"

"I almost forgot you can read minds." Song Che gave up on teasing her. "Get dressed, let's go as a family."

Tao Xiang whispered, "The whole family is going... Song Che said, the whole family..."

She smiled, pursing her lips; Taoxiang wanted a home.

Bruce was already squatting at the door, waiting to leave. Song Che turned around and adjusted Xia Li's scarf.

Xia Li suddenly spoke up: "You think I'm stupid."

“It’s not that I’m stupid.” Song Che’s hands didn’t stop, but his voice softened. “It’s that I think you’re quite cute.”

"Cute..." Xia Li didn't really like that description; she preferred to describe herself as dignified.

“Yes, just like a real girl.” Song Che straightened his scarf and looked up at her. “Haven’t you noticed? You’ve changed a lot since you came here. You no longer speak in a commanding tone, and it sounds much nicer.”

"……Um."

Xia Li wasn't sure if it was a compliment or a joke. She felt she hadn't done a very good job—her tone was sometimes still stiff, and she sometimes didn't know how to respond. This world was completely different from the one she was familiar with; there was no magic, no subjects, no authority that had to be maintained. She was simply learning to live like a human being.

But Song Che said she was cute.

Is this... cute?

She lowered her eyes and tightened her grip on her scarf. A thought stirred within her, a feeling she couldn't quite pinpoint—whether it was confusion or something else entirely.

"Stop daydreaming, it's almost New Year's Eve, grab your binoculars and let's go."

"Can you really see the stars?"

"Hmm, the stars... are out."

Chapter 54 Fireworks Bloom Under the Stars (4k)

a little cold.

Song Che found a rooftop.

The view here is indeed expansive, but in the dead of winter, only a few people would come to look at the stars in the middle of the night.

Xia Li exhaled a puff of white breath, looked up at the sky, and then looked down at the scattered figures walking on the street.

This area is mostly made up of five- or six-story apartment buildings, interspersed with a few low-rise houses used as warehouses—Xia Li fell from the roof of one of those buildings and damaged her brain.

The stars in the night sky were sparse and difficult to see in the city. Song Che squatted down and fiddled with the telescope, setting up the tripod and leveling the base. This thing cost him a lot of money; if it weren't for the gold coins he had saved up, he wouldn't have been willing to buy it.

Tao Xiang peeked out from behind the railing, intently searching for fireworks. Bruce snuggled against Xia Li, making her a little flustered.

When Song Che finally finished setting up the equipment and walked to the railing, Xia Li was staring blankly at a spot downstairs.

"What are you looking at?"

Xia Li paused, then pointed and said, "There's a tree down there, all its leaves have fallen, and it looks like the old tree spirit in front of the castle."

Song Che didn't understand her thought process, but upon closer inspection, she did indeed resemble a tree spirit.

He was startled for a moment, then understood.

Xia Li would stop for a bare tree. But once upon a time, he was also a boy who would stop for a cloud. It's just that as he grew up, he gradually became boring and always liked to pretend to be profound.

“They will grow back next spring,” he said. “Then they will look beautiful.”

He glanced at his phone; there were still seventeen minutes until New Year's Eve. At this hour, most young people were still awake, with red envelopes flying around in QQ and WeChat groups.

Song Che casually clicked on a few.

They stole five cents.

[You're the luckiest player!]

...That's really shabby.

Song Che sighed, wishing Bruce could just make a million dollars fall from the sky.

Tao Xiang hung on the railing, her legs dangling back and forth, completely oblivious to her safety: "Why aren't the fireworks going yet? I want to see the fireworks!"

By this time of year, there should be some activity or activity.

It seems the regulations are really strict this year; not even a small firework can be seen. In a small place like Nanhui, they shouldn't be so strict; they'd probably just turn a blind eye—as for problems? They'll deal with it when they arise, since there are news reports every year of fireworks flying onto rooftops and igniting flammable materials.

Tao Xiang looked disappointed.

Song Che went over and pulled her down from the railing: "Be careful, you'll die if you fall. You can still see if you stay away."

"Peach Blossom Fragrance is meant to be enjoyed right here!"

She clung to the railing tightly, as stubborn as a calf, until Bruce strolled over, at which point she abruptly let go: "I...I'm afraid of dogs...please don't let it snort at me."

"Don't worry, Bruce is very well-behaved."