By the time I returned to the restaurant, it was already six in the evening.
Jason, the dark-skinned kid, sat obediently on a chair to the right of the main entrance, not daring to move.
Judging by his terrified gaze fixed on Thor, who was lazily sprawled on the floor, the kid must have had a tough time.
Didn't JJ stop watching him already?
A few gang youths, dressed in a way that made you want to bury them, were peeking from across the street.
Seeing Alven drive back, they started to cross the road to talk to him.
But before their feet even touched the asphalt, Dom, who had stood up, scared them back with his cruel eyes.
Alven ignored them; they were just a bunch of petty thugs, and he had more important things to do.
My daughter is hungry; I need to feed her first, then I'll chat with these little punks.
Alven, holding Ginny with one arm and followed by Jessica, pushed open the restaurant door.
All the lights in the restaurant were on, and regulars from the nearby block had arrived, making the brightly lit place look like it was hosting a celebration.
As Alven entered, holding Ginny, there were several 'bang, bang, bang' sounds, and countless streamers fell from the sky.
Everyone, led by Old Kent, shouted in unison: "Welcome our Princess, the Princess of Hell's Kitchen!"
Ginny was a bit shy, burying her head in Alven's neck, not daring to meet so many people's gazes.
Alven burst out laughing and shouted: "Thank you all for coming today!
To celebrate my daughter, all beer is free today!"
Then he turned and shouted to Jessica: "No more steak today, girl, put on some music and let everyone have a good time."
Jessica, excited and laughing, rushed to an antique jukebox, turned on the machine that Alven usually didn't allow to be played.
Many of the album covers inside were unreadable, so Jessica randomly picked one and started playing it.
Alven liked old things, and this jukebox was his treasure; what was precious wasn't the machine, but the records inside, many of which were already out of print.
Jessica's random pick was a classic.
Julio Iglesias's magnetic voice emanated from the jukebox.
Hey
It's wonderful to see you once again
To see your smile and
Hear you call my name
There is so much to say
Hey
It isn't accidental that we met
Your love is something
That I can't forget
So I wander your way
Although the song didn't quite match the atmosphere, who cared? It was really good.
Alven carried Ginny to the bar, let her sit on the counter, and poured her a glass of lemonade.
Nick, the mischievous rascal, hopped on one foot to find Alven, grinning with his two missing front teeth, and loudly exclaimed: "Alven, the attic is mine from today, right?"
Alven smiled, ruffled his curly black hair, and said: "Yes, Mr. Castor, the entire attic now belongs to you.
Come on, meet our new member, my daughter, Ginny Ye."
Then Alven looked at Ginny and said: "Ginny, meet my good buddy, Nick Castor.
This is a real tough guy; you should call him big brother or Nick."
The two little ones looked at each other for a while, Ginny especially curious why Nick only had one leg.
The outgoing Nick happily said to Ginny: "You're my sister, wow~ I have a sister now!
Ginny, you're so pretty, prettier than all the girls in my class."
Ginny shyly covered her face, her fingers spread wide apart, peeking at Nick, who was standing on one leg and constantly clowning around to make her happy.
Ginny curiously asked: "Nick, leg, different?"
This innocent girl thought that everyone who was different from others was her own kind.
Nick laughed proudly and said: "Alven said that there was a great hero in China who, to master an unparalleled sword technique, cut off one of his arms and became the greatest master in the world, nicknamed 'Heavenly Cripple'.
I'm missing a leg; when I grow up, I'll master unparalleled martial arts and strive to become the second greatest in the world.
My nickname will be 'Earthly Defect'.
Hahaha, then I'll beat up everyone who bullied me and let them know how powerful 'Earthly Defect' is."
Ginny looked at this future second greatest in the world, who only had one leg, with admiration and said: "Nick, so amazing."
It was Nick's first time being praised so directly, and he said a little shyly: "Not amazing yet, but I will be very amazing in the future."
Alven was happy to see the two little ones getting along well, but as a Chinese parent from his previous life, he still asked, a bit of a killjoy: "Mr. Castor, the second greatest master in the world, have you finished your homework?"
Whether homework is done or not is always a problem for mischievous kids.
Nick clutched his head and complained miserably: "Alven, why don't you fire our math teacher?
The homework she assigns every day is just too much and too difficult.
I don't think I'll be able to finish it even tomorrow."
Alven looked at his watch, tapped the face, and said: "It's six o'clock now.
Go have some fun, eat some pizza, and go upstairs to do your homework at 7:30.
If you can finish before 9 o'clock, I reckon you can still come down and watch a good show."
Nick excitedly threw a few punches in the air and shouted: "Wow, Alven, are you going to teach those idiots outside a lesson, huh?
Are you going to beat them up badly?
Wow, I need to finish my homework quickly."
Saying that, Nick yelled to Jessica, who was being pulled into conversation by several women: "Jessie, I'm going to do my homework.
Can you send me a few slices of pizza up, please?
I'm in a hurry."
Jessica was in the middle of a lively chat and impatiently waved her hand to acknowledge.
Nick hopped and scampered upstairs, but not before reminding Alven, "Wait for me to finish my homework before you teach them a lesson, you must wait for me!"
Ginny watched Nick, who was about her age, leave, and looked at Alven with a bit of disappointment.
Alven smiled, playfully pinched her upturned little nose, and said: "Look at my little princess, what do you want to eat?
I'll make you my specialty spaghetti with my special meat sauce, okay?"
Ginny nodded expectantly, cupped her chin in her hands, and said a little shyly: "Ginny, eat a lot."
Alven bumped his head against Ginny's forehead, affectionately touched noses, and said with a smile: "Alven, will make a lot, Ginny can eat a lot."
When Ginny ravenously ate three servings of meat sauce pasta, Alven was a little surprised, gently poking Ginny's slightly bulging little belly with his finger.
Ginny giggled, ticklish, and waved her hands to fend off Alven's hand.
Alven looked at Ginny with a smile and said: "Ginny is the best, she can eat a lot, Daddy isn't as good as Ginny.
But you can't eat too much, or your tummy will hurt."
Ginny covered her belly with both hands, giggled proudly, and said: "Ginny eats, not hungry for three days, Ginny is amazing.
Daddy, delicious!"
Alven felt as if his nose had been hit by a hammer, and the intense soreness made this self-proclaimed tough guy's eyes well up with tears.
One meal lasting three days, what kind of life is this!
My fat son in my previous life ate six meals a day and was still picky.
He desperately held back his tears, and a bitter taste filled his mouth.
"Ginny, you won't be hungry anymore.
Daddy has a lot of delicious food, but if you eat too much, your little tummy will get upset."
Alven rubbed Ginny's head, "Tomorrow Daddy will make sweet and sour pork ribs and beef stew with tomatoes for Ginny to eat.
Ginny needs to save room for even more delicious food tomorrow."
Ginny looked at Alven with wide, expectant eyes, spread her arms, and said: "Daddy, hug.
Ginny, likes, Daddy."