CHAPTER 13

Chapter 13 – Lazy Men Don't Survive Long

The morning sun stretched lazily across the rooftops of Sujin Village, casting golden rays through the Lin family's windows. Lin Yue was already up, dressed in her usual cargo shorts and bunny-printed T-shirt, her long sky-blue hair tied into a messy side ponytail.

Today was no ordinary day.

It was help mom day.

Which meant — dragging her chaotic gang of tiny mischief-makers into manual labor… again.

"Alright, soldiers!" Yue yelled from the front of her house, hands on her hips. "Form up!"

Four little girls stumbled into place. There was Meimei, the tallest with freckles; Sisi, always chewing something; Bao, the quiet one with a wicked pranking streak; and the ever-giggly Nana.

"All here!" Meimei reported with a salute.

"We're helping my mom get stuff done today," Yue declared. "That means no slacking, no whining, and absolutely no 'accidentally' pushing over the laundry basket again."

Bao tried to hide a snort.

"Let's go!"

Inside the house, Lin Yue's mom was trying to wash vegetables while balancing a phone between her shoulder and ear. She looked up, surprised to see Yue barging in with her little girl army.

"Mom!" Yue grinned. "The Yue gang is reporting for duty!"

"Oh?" Her mom raised an eyebrow. "What's the catch?"

"No catch," Yue said innocently. "We just want to help you since some people are too busy waddling around complaining about sore backs."

Her mom chuckled. "I see."

The gang got to work: Nana helped wipe the windows while humming; Sisi tried to sneak a bite of a tomato while slicing; Bao attempted to sweep without turning it into a prank. Yue herself helped her mom knead dough while occasionally sneaking peeks at her father napping on the porch.

Lazy. Like a giant belly-bearing cat.

"Your dad's asleep again?" Meimei whispered, peering out.

"Yup." Yue rolled her eyes. "He said he was 'emotionally drained' from turning over in bed last night."

"Seriously?" Sisi scoffed. "My uncle's husband is pregnant with twins and still makes full-course meals every morning."

"Right?" Nana chimed in. "My mama says lazy husbands get left faster than boiled cabbage."

"My cousin divorced hers last year," Meimei added. "He refused to massage her calves even when she worked twelve-hour shifts."

The girls gasped in unison.

"Scandalous," Bao muttered.

Yue huffed dramatically. "If my dad wasn't cute, I bet mom would've traded him in already."

"I don't get it," Nana said, "your mom lifts barrels like they're pillows. And she's super fierce. Why does she have to cook too?"

"She says she does it because she loves him." Yue shrugged. "But I think she's just used to him being spoiled."

"Men," Sisi grumbled. "Always acting like they're the prize just because they're soft and pretty."

Meimei grinned. "Hey, I like soft and pretty. I just don't want lazy and whiny."

They all nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, Bao looked up with a mischievous sparkle. "Should we… teach him a lesson?"

"Bao," Yue said slowly, "we are helping my mom today."

"Yes," Bao said sweetly, "but we could help more if your dad actually moved his butt."

"True," Sisi muttered.

"Just a harmless nudge," Bao added, already pulling out a small bottle of itching powder she'd hidden in her pocket.

"Where did you even get that?" Meimei gasped.

Bao shrugged. "I have my ways."

"Alright, alright," Yue laughed. "Let's finish chores first. Then we prank the royal sleeper."

As they scrubbed, swept, chopped, and giggled through the day, Yue noticed her mom smiling quietly in the kitchen. Watching the little girls buzz around the house with energy, even as they chattered and plotted childish justice.

Once the house sparkled and the food was almost done, Yue tiptoed over to her father, now snoring softly with a pillow tucked under his belly.

She glanced at the others.

They nodded.

Bao dusted a bit of powder onto the edge of the cushion.

Five minutes later—

"AAAAAH! WHY DOES MY BACK ITCH?!" her dad screamed overreacting, jumping up like a startled cat. "GHOSTS?! IS IT THE BABY?! IS HE TRYING TO ESCAPE?!"

Yue burst into uncontrollable laughter, falling onto the floor, while the others cackled behind the couch.

Her mom walked in with arms crossed. "What happened now?"

"Ghosts!" her dad shouted, still scratching. "It's the haunted pregnancy! It's—YUE!!"

Yue wiped her eyes. "Oops?"

Her mom smirked. "Serves you right. Now get inside and help set the table."

"Yes, ma'am," he grumbled, scratching as he waddled in.

Later that night, after dinner, Yue sat with her mom on the porch watching the stars. Her dad was curled on a pillow beside them, finally calm again.

"Thanks for helping today, sweetie," her mom said softly.

Yue leaned on her shoulder. "Anytime, Mom. You're the strongest woman I know."

"And you," her mom smiled, "will be stronger. Maybe not just with muscles—but with heart."

Yue smiled, thinking of her friends, the laughter, the teasing, and her adorable lazy dad.

"I'll take care of this family someday," she whispered. "Just you wait."