As a symbiotic being, I raise children amidst the chaos.

"Phew, finally finished cleaning up, I'm exhausted." On the snowy plains of Siberia, Cocolia lit a campfire, roasting a few fish on it, while Chenyuan leaned weakly on Cocolia's shoulder.

"Hmm, you've really worked hard." Cocolia flipped the fish over on the campfire and said to Chenyuan with a smile. "The orphanage is also on track. The renovations are finished, and we can bring the children back from the Anti-Entropy branch base in a few days."

"You make it sound so easy. I've been traveling around Siberia with you for the past two months." Chen Yuan rolled his eyes at Cocolia. How come he never noticed how clingy this woman was before?

"By the way, what do you think our orphanage should be called? Chenya Orphanage? Or perhaps Keyuan Orphanage?"

“Is that even a question? We can just use your name. Cocolia Orphanage, it’s easy to pronounce and sounds nice.” Chen Yuan yawned and continued. “Why do we have to add my name? It sounds so awkward.”

"Hmph! You're all talk!" Holding Chen Yuan in her hand, a hint of resentment appeared in her beautiful purple eyes. "Is it so hard to give you a name? After all, you deserve half the credit for building the orphanage."

"If I were those children's mother, then you would practically be their father, wouldn't you say? Isn't that wonderful?"

For some unknown reason, Cocolia chuckled to herself. It was unimaginable how much suffering Cocolia had endured to become the fearsome wolf of the Siberian plains.

"No, the title 'Dad' is too heavy for me." He only considered Xi'er and the others as his younger sisters, not his father. Besides, just thinking about them calling him "Dad" made Chen Yuan feel a little overwhelmed.

"You clueless, unromantic man!" She gave Chen Yuan a charmingly disdainful look, casually stuffed him into her pocket, and picked up a skewer of grilled fish to start eating. "Then I'll do as you say, let's call it Cocolia Orphanage."

[Ding, host Cocolia's instance has been completed. Current Cocolia's favorability: 85%, instance rating: Excellent]

[There are 5 minutes left before you exit the instance. Please allocate your time as soon as possible. Instance rewards will be distributed when you complete the main instance.]

The system's words struck Chen Yuan like a bolt from the blue. The past few months had shown Chen Yuan a different side of Cocolia. To be honest, he was really reluctant to part with her.

Chen Yuan finally understood why Cocolia acted like a silly mother in front of her children. It was because that was her true nature; her Siberian wolf form was simply a means to better protect her children.

"Chenyuan, do you think the orphanage will be so lively after we bring the children back?" Cocolia, oblivious to Chenyuan's change in mood, was still sitting by the campfire imagining the future.

“I’ll be the mom, and you’ll be the dad. We’ll play with the kids, watch TV, and tell them stories. They might even ask why their dad is so small…”

"Cocolia... I'm sorry... I might... not be able to do these things with you anymore..." Chen Yuan gently interrupted Cocolia's reverie, speaking with difficulty, though his tone grew softer and softer.

"Huh? What did you say, Chen Yuan?" Cocolia paused, the aroma of the grilled fish seemingly losing its appeal in that instant. She turned her head, a deep panic flashing in her beautiful eyes.

"I...I said, I might not be able to stay here with you any longer." Chen Yuan lowered his head, his voice trembling with a sound he himself was unwilling to admit. "The children in the orphanage will have to be cared for by you alone."

Cocolia's expression turned pale in an instant, her hand unconsciously gripping the bamboo skewer of grilled fish until her knuckles turned white. She stared into Chen Yuan's eyes, a fleeting vulnerability flashing within them.

"Chen Yuan, what...what do you mean by this?" Her voice trembled slightly, trying her best to hide her inner unease. "We've come this far together, you can't joke like this...you can't..."

Cocolia's eyes gradually reddened. She tried to keep her voice calm, but every word seemed forced out. "Tell me, this was just a joke, right? You...you won't leave me, will you?"

Seeing Cocolia's appearance, Chenyuan didn't say anything. He simply jumped out of her pocket, landed on the ground, and sat down next to her.

Everything was understood without words; Chen Yuan's silence made Cocolia realize the truth. The grilled fish in her hand fell limply to the ground.

"when are we leaving?"

"In two or three minutes."

"So soon... I wanted you to see the children." Cocolia bit her lip hard, her fingers digging deeply into her palms, and lowered her head to hide her expression from Chenyuan. "When are you coming back?"

Hearing this, Chenyuan fell silent again. From that time until Seele, a full decade or so had passed. That number was far too cruel for Cocolia.

"I see... then let me put it another way." She wiped her eyes, pulled Chen Yuan close to her, and forced a smile. "Will we ever meet again?"

"Yes, but it will take a long time, long enough that you might completely forget me."

"Really? Then let's make a bet. If I still recognize you when we meet, then you have to obey me and become the father of the children in the orphanage."

[Ding, the dungeon exit time has expired. Initiating dungeon switching!]

The system's voice rang in her mind again. Chen Yuan only had time to nod before disappearing from the spot. Cocolia looked at the place where Chen Yuan had disappeared and could no longer hold back her tears.

"If I forget... you have to remind me, you idiot!!!"

------

Like a slideshow, Chen Yuan felt a blur before his eyes and was back at the place where he and Bronya were clearing out the mercenaries.

The sudden drop caused Chen Yuan to fall directly to the ground, his chest heaving violently. Bronya, seeing this, quickly bent down and helped him up. "Brother Chen Yuan, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Gently pushing Bronya away, Chen Yuan took a few deep breaths of fresh air and, feeling a little better, turned to look at Bronya.

"Sorry, I was a little distracted just now. Where were we?"

"We were just talking about how Brother Chenyuan wanted to personally negotiate with Mother Cocolia, but to be honest, I think that choice is a bit too risky."

"Really? An adventure... It certainly is." Chen Yuan nodded, recalling Cocolia's final bet before he left. For a moment, Chen Yuan dared not see Cocolia again. It wasn't that he was afraid of Cocolia's bet, but that he was afraid that Cocolia had completely forgotten him over the past ten years.

"Damn it, what are you so afraid of, Chenyuan? Cocolia has been running the orphanage all by herself for so many years without saying a word, and now you're scared?"

After mentally slapping himself, Chen Yuan looked at Bronya. "Bronya, I remember Cocolia gave you her personal phone number, right? Contact her now! Hurry, I'm afraid I'll regret it later!"

"Eh? But..." Bronya wanted to say something, but seeing Chenyuan's death-ready expression, she didn't dare to say anything. She took out her phone from her pocket and dialed Cocolia's private number.

"Hey, Bronya. What's up with calling me so late?" The phone was answered after a few rings, and Cocolia's slightly tired voice came through.

“Cocolia’s mother, it’s like this…” Bronya was about to explain what had happened when Chen Yuan snatched the phone from her hand with his tentacles.

"Hello? Bronya? What happened on your end?" Cocolia was clearly worried upon hearing Bronya's sudden silence on the phone. "Whoever you are, let Bronya answer the phone, or else... I'll absolutely scatter your bones to dust!"

"Cocolia, um, I'm back." After taking a few deep breaths, Chen Yuan said softly into the phone. "I've come to fulfill our bet."

*Thud!* The moment Chen Yuan's voice came through, Cocolia's phone rang out, followed by the sound of it falling to the ground, then silence. Chen Yuan felt uneasy, wondering what Cocolia was feeling at that moment.

The silence that lasted for several seconds seemed to stretch on endlessly, making him almost doubt whether he should really do it.

"Cocolia?" Chen Yuan called out tentatively, his heart skipping a beat.

"If Bronya is with you, that means you're in the orphanage, right? You better stay put and wait for me, I'm coming back right now!"

“Cocolia…” Chen Yuan wanted to say something, but all that came from the other end of the phone was the sound of high heels walking on the ground. It was clear that Cocolia hadn’t even hung up the phone before she was rushing over from Anti-Entropy.

"Bronya, quick, quick, quick! Get back to the orphanage right away!" Chen Yuan hung up the phone and jumped onto Bronya's shoulder. "Cocolia's coming back soon. I wonder what she'll do if she finds out I'm not at the orphanage!"

"Understood, Brother Chenyuan." Hearing Chenyuan's words, Bronya was filled with doubt, but she still obediently followed Chenyuan's orders and rushed towards the Cocolia Orphanage as quickly as possible.

Fortunately, the mercenaries had set up their camps not too far apart so that they could meet those who had infiltrated the orphanage. Before long, Bronya brought Chenyuan over the wall of the Cocolia Orphanage.

"Let's go back to your room and wait for Cocolia. After all, it was your phone that contacted her." Chenyuan breathed a sigh of relief upon returning to Cocolia's orphanage. The two then quietly slipped through the corridor and returned to Bronya's room.