chapter 5
As I carefully took care of the twins, exhaustion weighed heavily on me. The past day had been filled with so many emotions—fear, joy, confusion—but through it all, I had done my best to care for them. Finally, as I sat down to catch my breath, the exhaustion seemed to overwhelm me. I closed my eyes for a moment, and that's when I heard the familiar ding.
Looking toward the system, I saw the glowing notification. It startled me slightly, but I quickly focused on the words appearing on the screen.
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System Alert:
Congratulations on the first day of taking good care of the twins! Would you like to name them?
Name Options:
1. Wei (伟) and Lian (莲)
Wei: meaning "great" or "mighty," symbolizing strength and leadership.
Lian: meaning "lotus," symbolizing purity and grace.
2. Xian (贤) and Mei (美)
Xian: meaning "virtuous" or "worthy," symbolizing wisdom and kindness.
Mei: meaning "beautiful," symbolizing elegance and charm.
3. Jian (剑) and Rui (瑞)
Jian: meaning "sword," symbolizing courage and protection.
Rui: meaning "auspicious" or "good omen," symbolizing fortune and blessings.
4. Long (龙) and Xing (星)
Long: meaning "dragon," symbolizing power, strength, and nobility.
Xing: meaning "star," symbolizing guidance, hope, and a bright future.
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I felt a sense of responsibility settle over me. Naming them was a huge decision, and I didn't want to make it lightly. As I read through the options, one pair of names stood out to me. Xian and Mei. The meanings behind those names resonated with me deeply—virtuous, beautiful, wise, kind. Those felt like qualities I wanted my children to embody.
Without hesitation, I chose option two.
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System Alert:
Congratulations for successfully choosing number two! Your reward: Dragon Palace unlocked.
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The words on the screen faded as I tried to process what just happened. Dragon Palace unlocked? I stared at the notification, wondering what it meant. A palace? What kind of reward was this? But before I could think too much about it, another option appeared on the screen.
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System Alert:
Dragon Palace Timeskip Available.
It will take 2 years for the Dragon Palace to finish building. You may activate the timeskip to accelerate time by 2 years. Please note, activating the timeskip will cause the world to advance by 2 years, and your children will grow accordingly.
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I looked over at the twins. They were still so small, so fragile. But I also knew they needed more than what I could provide at this moment. Two years. The thought of them growing so quickly was surreal, but I understood the gravity of the situation. I couldn't take care of them as babies forever, and I knew I'd be better prepared if they were a bit older.
Should I do it? I wondered. The temptation to speed up time was strong, but I had no idea what consequences there might be.
I glanced at the twins once again, their tiny faces so innocent and trusting. They needed me to make the right decision. And deep down, I felt that the timeskip might be my best option. They'd be two years old—old enough to interact with the world, old enough to learn, and old enough for me to care for them more effectively.
I took a deep breath and pressed the "Activate Timeskip" button. The world around me seemed to pause as time started to speed up. The screen flashed, and before I knew it, the twins had grown. They were no longer the fragile babies I had been caring for; instead, they stood on the bed—full of energy, curiosity in their eyes.
Two years had passed in an instant.
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System Alert:
Timeskip activated. The world has advanced by 2 years. The children have grown accordingly.
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I was taken aback by the transformation. Xian and Mei were now toddlers, walking around the room with small steps, babbling to each other in a language I couldn't yet understand. They looked so different, but in a way, they were still the same—those little faces, their big, innocent eyes, their laughter filling the room.
I smiled softly, my heart swelling with a mixture of pride and love. They were growing up too fast, but I could see they were strong and healthy. I had made the right choice.
As I sat down to watch them play, I glanced back at the system, still glowing with notifications.
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System Alert:
Dragon Palace Construction Progress: 0%
To begin construction, you must complete related quests and unlock new features.
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The Dragon Palace was still a mystery to me, but I knew that it would be important for the future. Perhaps it was the foundation of something bigger—something that could help me protect my children, something that could provide for them.
For now, I focused on the children. They were my priority.
As I picked them up, each one in my arms, I marveled at the beauty of this strange new world I had found myself in. The system, the Dragon Palace, the strange time skips—it was all overwhelming, but I had one thing that mattered more than anything else: my children.
I would face whatever challenges came my way, as long as they were by my side.
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The rest of the day passed in a blur of playing, feeding, and taking care of my newly grown toddlers. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I was ready for whatever came next. With the Dragon Palace unlocking, I could only hope that the future would bring more answers.
And so, with a full heart and a mind filled with questions, I stepped into the unknown, ready to build a life for Xian and Mei—my beautiful, strong children.