578: Chapter 573 This trip back was worth it

"Daddy, this one isn't pink," Youyou pouted slightly.

"This one is more comfortable, and cleaner. We can buy a pink balloon and tie it to it."

"Mmm... Okay!"

Youyou was quickly persuaded.

"Next up: snacks!"

Her little finger swiped across the notebook.

Shen Yan pushed the cart, weaving between the dazzling array of shelves.

Potato chips, chocolate, jelly, and all sorts of imported juices and sodas.

As long as Youyou pointed to something, Shen Yan would glance at the ingredients list, and if it wasn't junk food, he would immediately scan it into the shopping cart.

Before long, a small mountain had piled up in the cart.

After finishing the shopping, the sky had already darkened.

"Youyou, what do you want for dinner?"

"Mmm..."

Youyou bit her finger, thinking for a long time.

"I want to eat at that place we went to last time, the restaurant with the little train!"

Shen Yan remembered.

It was a very famous parent-child revolving restaurant downtown, where food was delivered to every table via miniature train tracks.

"Okay, I'll grant your wish."

He directly booked a spot on the vehicle's navigation system.

The restaurant was on the top floor of the city's landmark building, the 'Diamond of the Coast'.

When they sat down, the dazzling night view of the entire city spread out beneath their feet.

Youyou pressed against the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, her little face filled with excitement.

"Wow! Daddy, look! That building is glowing!"

"Mm, that's our company."

Shen Yan casually pointed to the tallest building in the distance, the one with the coolest lights.

"Wow!"

Countless little stars sparkled in Youyou's eyes.

Soon, accompanied by a "whoo-whoo" whistle, an exquisite model train pulling their dinner slowly stopped by the table.

Steak, pasta, and a children's set meal specially decorated with cartoon characters for Youyou.

Youyou cheered and picked up her little fork, clumsily battling a piece of broccoli.

Shen Yan cut his steak, watching his daughter's happy expression, and felt a sense of profound tranquility.

The strategic planning at the desert base, the bloody battles in the capital market—at this moment, they all seemed so distant.

What was before him was the human warmth he would fight with everything he had to protect.

"Daddy, what will tomorrow's mission be?"

Youyou asked vaguely while eating.

"I don't know."

Shen Yan placed a piece of cut steak onto her plate.

"But no matter what the mission is, we can complete it."

"We are the best partners!"

Youyou raised her little fist and shouted in a milky voice, imitating something from an animation.

Shen Yan smiled.

He extended his own fist and gently tapped her small one.

"Right."

"We are the best partners."

The next day, early morning.

Sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling onto the wood-colored floor.

Shen Yan opened his eyes.

There was no system notification sound, no urgent military intelligence report.

Only the small, even breathing sound beside him.

Youyou was curled up in his arm like a kitten, sleeping soundly.

Shen Yan gently withdrew his arm, got out of bed, and walked into the kitchen.

Half an hour later, sweet milk cereal and perfectly pan-fried soft-boiled eggs were placed on the dining table.

"Youyou, wake up, our little explorer."

His voice was very soft.

Youyou rolled over in bed, rubbed her eyes, and smelled the aroma of food.

"Daddy..."

She called out in a milky voice and climbed out of bed using her hands and feet.

A yellow kindergarten bus stopped punctually at the entrance of the villa area.

Shen Yan, carrying a fully packed picnic basket in one hand and holding Youyou's hand in the other, walked toward it.

The bus was already more than half full of children and parents.

It was noisy, lively, and full of cheerful energy.

This was a different world from the "Peregrine Falcon" he usually rode.

"Youyou! Over here, over here!"

A little girl with a ponytail waved her hand vigorously.

Youyou's eyes lit up, and she pulled Shen Yan over.

Shen Yan placed the picnic basket on the luggage rack and sat in the empty seat next to Youyou.

The space was a bit cramped.

His long legs almost touched the seat in front.

But he didn't care at all.

"Little friends, shall we sing a song?"

Teacher Wang in the front row held a small bee-shaped microphone and clapped her hands.

"Yes—!"

The children answered in unison.

"Two tigers, two tigers, running fast..."

The tender singing echoed in the carriage.

Youyou also sang loudly, her small body swaying with the rhythm.

Shen Yan turned his head, looking at his daughter's rosy cheeks and bright, shining eyes.

The scenery outside the window rapidly receded.

He felt that this trip back was worth it.

Cuifeng Mountain Forest Park.

The bus stopped at the entrance.

The children rushed out of the bus like birds leaving a cage, cheering.

The fresh air mixed with the fragrance of earth and vegetation rushed toward them.

Teacher Wang counted the headcount and then announced the rules for today's activity.

"Welcome, parents and children, to the 'Forest Adventure'!"

"We have hidden mission cards along the main routes of the park."

"Each card represents a mission and corresponding points. Everyone can explore freely and complete the missions."

"We will gather on the large lawn at three in the afternoon. The family with the highest score will receive a mysterious grand prize prepared by our kindergarten!"

The parents let out a round of good-natured laughter.

Shen Yan's gaze had already quickly scanned the park entrance map.

The locations where the mission cards might be hidden instantly constructed a three-dimensional model in his mind.

"Daddy, where should we look?"

Youyou looked up, her face full of anticipation.

"Follow me."

Shen Yan took her hand.

He didn't choose the main path crowded with people but instead headed toward a relatively secluded forest path.

By the roadside stood a massive, centuries-old tree.

On the trunk, there was an inconspicuous tree hollow.

Shen Yan stopped walking.

"Youyou, where do you think a little squirrel would hide its treasure?"

Youyou's eyes immediately lit up. She ran over, stood on her tiptoes, and carefully stuck her little hand into the tree hollow.

A moment later, she lifted a pale yellow card in surprise.

"Daddy! I found it!"

The card read Mission One: Little Environmental Guardian.

Mission Content: Pick up one bag of trash left behind by tourists. Score: 1 point.

Shen Yan took out a pair of small children's gloves and two biodegradable trash bags from his backpack.

"Come on, my little guardian, let's start patrolling."

He put the gloves on Youyou.

"Yes, Officer!"

Youyou saluted imperfectly, imitating something from an animation.

For the next half hour, the father and daughter became the most diligent 'cleaners' on that path.

Youyou was responsible for spotting targets.

"Report, Daddy! A plastic bottle detected ahead!"

"Received."

Shen Yan would step forward and use tongs to clamp the bottle into the trash bag.

While other families were still searching everywhere for their first card, they were already arriving at the recycling station, carrying a bag full of 'spoils of war'.