"Daddy, don't be like that. That's not what I mean."
Zion panicked a little and gently pulled Nathaniel's hand and the worried look on his face was enough to make one's heart ache.
"Come, let's go to the study."
Nathaniel picked Zion up and left.
Zion was slightly stunned and he didn't remember the last time Nathaniel hugged him. Now that he felt Nathaniel's warmth, he couldn't help but smile. He reached out his small arms to wrap around Nathaniel's neck and rested his body on Nathaniel's shoulder.
"Daddy."
Zion's voice was very low and soft, which filled Nathaniel's heart with warmth.
"Don't you have a conscience? You're calling me daddy now, but didn't you want to be Carlson's son just now?"
Nathaniel still felt aggrieved.
The two of them entered the study.
Nathaniel didn't let Zion go and he sat on the chair while the young boy sat on his lap.
Zion wanted to get down, but Nathaniel stopped him.
"Let me hug you. Why are you running away?"
"I feel uncomfortable."
Zion whispered, but he didn't struggle anymore.
"Tell me, why do you want to go with him?"
Nathaniel felt a sense of tightness in his chest.
Zion said in a low voice, "Daddy, I know why Uncle Carl came to our house. Our family is in the limelight now and we're connected to the Hans family. Your business status and the connections you have with the people around you are enough to support the economic lifeline of half of the country. The Hans and Xiao family are both involved in the military, and most of the soldiers are indebted to them. Other people will inevitably feel uncomfortable because of our power, especially those higher-ups."
Nathaniel couldn't help but pause when he heard Zion's words.
"Did you think of all these yourself? Or did Carlson tell you this?"
"I thought of some of them myself, and Uncle Carl told me a little as well."
Zion didn't hide anything.
Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Since you know this, then why did you still willingly spend time with him?"
"Because they'll feel that we're fearless if I do that. I am your son, and I also show my talent one day. The higher- ups will feel uneasy if I stay in Ye family, but I can keep everything under control if I live with the Mo family. Even the Ye family, the Hans family, and the Xiao family will feel restrained. Perhaps our family will not be targeted if I follow Uncle Carl to the capital and I can deal with Lucas' matters as well."
Nathaniel felt very upset when he heard his son's words.
"Adults are full of deception. You don't need to think so much because you're just a child, and you don't need to do anything too. Zion, you are my son, and you're loved by your mother and me. No matter how many children we have, we love each of you unconditionally. I feel very happy that you have these thoughts, but I don't agree. I will protect you and handle these things well. Just stay at home and happily live your life."
"But I'm not happy..."
Zion's words stunned Nathaniel again.
"What?"
Zion pondered for a moment, then he looked into Nathaniel's eyes and said, "Daddy, I'm not happy.
Both you and Mommy hope that we can enjoy our childhood like normal kids with our friends, but we're different from the moment we're born. I feel like it's a waste of my time to attend classes with them every day. I can attend all of those classes, but I have to sit in a boring classroom to pass the time. I know you and Mommy hope that we can be a little more ordinary, but I'm born to be different. I feel like I'm suppressing my talent and I might really become an ordinary person in a few years if I continue being like this, but I don't want to become like that."
This was the first time Nathaniel had heard Zion speak such heartfelt words.
He suddenly realized that Zion had his own thoughts and even had his own goals in life.
"What do you want to do?"
"I've always dreamt of joining the army."
Zion said one word at a time, "Mommy was worried because of those dangerous matters in the past. She was afraid that I wanted to join the army was on a whim, but I know very well what I want in life. Uncle Carl said that he'd provide me with the best education I could have if I go back with him, and I was truly tempted. Furthermore, I can also help the family. Why wouldn't I want to do that?"
Nathaniel didn't feel good when he looked at the seriousness in his son's eyes.
"I can also give you the best education available."
"I know, and I also believe that. But daddy, maybe I can find out something we don't have access to if I go back with Uncle Carl."
This was the reason why Zion wanted to go!
"No! From now on, you're not allowed to be involved in adult matters! Do you know where that place is? You have to know that their defence system is very advanced, so don't think that you can do whatever you want just because you have some skills. There is always someone better than you. We're talking about the national system! How can you enter it so casually? If you have such thoughts, then we have nothing left to discuss."
Nathaniel put down Zion and said in a low voice, "Go back and think about it."
Zion still wanted to say something, but he stopped and turned to leave the study when he saw Nathaniel's expression.
Nathaniel pinched his nose and felt a little annoyed.
Zion actually wanted to go to the country's headquarters to investigate. He was simply too daring.
No matter what, he wouldn't let Zion follow
Carlson to Santell Capital!
Nathaniel stayed in the study for a while before returning to his bedroom. When he saw Mango sitting there and looking at her phone thoughtfully, he couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
"My cousin called me."
Mango's words made Nathaniel slightly stunned.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)