My Househusband Is the Eldritch Boss - Chapter 3

The next time I woke, it was to the sound of children.

Percy and Avery were home from school, and Arno was playing with them on the rug.

“Shh. Big Daddy is sleeping. We have to be quiet.”

Percy held one finger to his lips and winked at his little sister.

Avery copied him, her big, bright eyes blinking as her soft baby voice dropped to a whisper. “Okay. Avery is being super quiet~”

Smiling, I propped myself on the edge of the bed and whispered, “Okay. We’ll all be quiet.”

The moment I spoke, three beautiful faces turned toward me, each pair of eyes sparkling.

“Big Daddy.”

“Dada~”

“Gege.”

Arno reached me first. He bent down to kiss the corner of my mouth, and I pushed him away, blushing.

Percy closed his eyes with the ease of long practice, then naturally covered his sister’s eyes too.

Thinking it was a game, Avery obediently hugged her brother’s hand and began to count.

“One.”

“Two.”

“Three.”

Arno winked mischievously and leaned closer. “They can’t see us, Gege.”

I grabbed his hair and pulled him down, kissing those red, tempting lips with all my strength.

He was the one who left me dizzy and weak-kneed in the end.

His lung capacity was absurd.

After lunch and the children’s nap, I took them back to kindergarten while Arno stayed home to rest.

His nimble fingers waited until I had finished buttoning my shirt, then he muttered, “Don’t undo any buttons, Gege.”

I teased his long lashes with one finger. “What if I get hot?”

He shot me an aggrieved look. “Even if you’re hot, you can’t. Only I get to see Gege’s wonderful body.”

Avery asked innocently, “Can Little Sister see it?”

My heart melted. I scooped up both her and Percy and covered them in kisses. “Of course. You’re Daddy’s treasures.”

“Gege!” Arno protested, pretending to be upset.

I pulled him over until our foreheads touched. “You’re Gege’s treasure too.”

Arno blushed and mumbled, “Fine, then.”

“See you this afternoon, Gege.”

I waved and started the car.

Incalan was a small seaside town, and its kindergarten didn’t divide children by age.

Avery was technically too young to attend, but she was so attached to Percy that she cried and demanded to go to school with him.

I had no choice but to speak with the headmistress. Fortunately, she also adored my doll-like daughter and agreed immediately.

“Bye-bye, Daddy. See you this afternoon~”

Avery opened and closed her little starfish hand in farewell.

Percy was more solemn. “Goodbye, Daddy.” Then he bent down and quietly corrected his sister’s waving technique.

Only after watching them enter the school did I drive to the bookstore.

The shop opened whenever I felt like it. I certainly didn’t expect it to make money.

It never did.

The village elders sat in the shade of the big tree outside, chatting about recent events.

“That factory is dumping black water again. Despicable.”

“The strange thing is, the sea is still clear.”

“John the drunk swears he saw a monster by the shore a few nights ago. Red eyes as big as a mountain. Maybe the monster is responsible.”

“Good afternoon, Zhou Du.”

I smiled and returned their greetings.

I spent the afternoon organizing shelves, picked up Percy and Avery at dusk, and brought them home.

Arno had already prepared a delicious dinner and was waiting in the doorway in an apron, his long hair braided over one shoulder. Warm light spilled from the house behind him.

There were no words for that kind of happiness.

After dinner, Percy and Avery played in the yard while Arno worked in the kitchen.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something jump in the sink. Before I could ask, Arno hustled me out.

“Go play with Percy and Avery, Gege. I can handle everything here.”

He soothed me with a kiss at the corner of my mouth.

I had no choice but to join the children outside.

Our neighbor, Mrs. Ellman, watched Percy and Avery fondly. “Oh, Zhou, you have two incredibly adorable babies.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

Mrs. Ellman owned a vicious dog, but it didn’t dare make a sound around my children. Tail tucked between its legs, it let Avery tie bows all over its fur.

I sat on the swing, enjoying the evening breeze.

When Arno finished the housework, he came outside, straddled my lap, and draped himself lazily across my chest.

Then he started misbehaving.

“Gege…”

I held his waist, my face burning. “Keep it down.”

Arno nodded and grazed me with the edge of a sharp canine tooth.

Tears welled at the corners of my eyes. I clenched my jaw and swallowed every helpless sound threatening to escape.

Then static rustled inside my head.

An instant later, my system’s piercing scream exploded through my mind.

“Aaaaaah! Host! What are you doing with the aberration?!”