After breakfast, Gwendolyn and Cedrick again went their separate ways as the kindergarten and
laboratory were in different directions.
The former drove Zendaya to the kindergarten, while the latter brought Benedict to the laboratory for an
IV infusion.
On the way to the laboratory, Benedict gazed out the car window at the scenery that flashed past
incessantly. His ebony eyes glimmered with wit and intelligence.
“Are you really going to keep me company throughout my IV infusion today, Daddy?” he ventured.
Cedrick, who was driving in front, did not bother answering that. He merely lifted his eyes and glanced
at his son in the car seat at the back through the rearview mirror.
Benedict resembled his childhood self greatly, appearing incredibly docile before his elders yet actually
having many tricks up his sleeve.
Sure enough, upon receiving no response from his father, Benedict thoughtfully lamented, “Apart from
the work matters at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Daddy, you still have to handle things at
Jenson Group. I know you’re exceedingly busy, and it distresses me—”
Without waiting for the little boy to prattle at length, Benedict cut him off. “If your plan is to trick me and
do something bad, you don’t need to bother wasting your efforts.”
Benedict promptly paled and giggled. “Of course not. I merely don’t want you to neglect your work
because of my matters, Daddy. I’ll feel very guilty.”
Cedrick’s expression remained calm and unruffled. His ebony eyes were fixed right ahead as he
concentrated on driving.
“I was also once your age, Benny. I know more or less what you’re thinking. But I’m not going to give
you a chance. If you want to do something wicked to sabotage someone, you should tell me in advance
instead. Who knows, I might support you.”
Pursing his lips, Benedict lowered his eyes and went silent for a moment.
The word “might” indicated the high possibility of being turned down and lectured.
After all, Benedict was not blind to how his father usually minded Zendaya. Thus, he was determined to
conceal his mischief so it would never come to light.
If it were an incident like yesterday whereby Eugene was exposed, he would take the initiative to seek
Cedrick out for punishment, knowing that pulling a pitiful act by saying nothing would appease the
latter’s fury faster.
Having mulled the matter over inwardly, Benedict beamed so widely that his eyes became mere slits. “I
naturally have no objections if you really want to keep me company, Daddy. I’m glad to enjoy your
care.”
Every so often, Cedrick cast a look at him via the rearview mirror, noting all his subtle expressions.
“Charles has been relegated to cleaning the toilets at the lab lately. Have you thought of some other
way to torture him? If you want to teach him a lesson, you can tell me. I’ll agree to it.”
Surprisingly, Benedict shook his head. “There has to be an order in things. He’s currently cleaning the
toilet after losing the bet, so let him work quietly for a month lest he keeps visiting me at the sick bay. I
don’t want to see him.”
“I remember he gifted you a massive oceanarium for your one-year-old birthday. Because you’ve never
gone for a visit, he hired someone to manage it for you. It has never been opened to the public, with
you and Zendy being the only ones allowed in these past few years. It has been operating at a loss for
four years,” Cedrick commented.
At that, Benedict snorted coldly and arrogantly before turning his face away to stare at the scenery
outside the car window.
“I didn’t ask him for the oceanarium, and he only has himself to blame for running up losses.”
In a leisurely voice, Cedrick added, “The oceanarium he gifted you is presently the biggest of its kind in
Chanaea, housing all sorts of unique marine life. The operational and management costs each month
are an astronomical sum.”
Crossing his arms, Benedict stared at his father with a frown, “What do you mean by that, Daddy? You
want me to feel sorry that Charles is spending so much?”
Cedrick chuckled at Benedict’s question. “The Newton family is a family that comes from old money,
having been established in Chanaea for more than a century. An oceanarium won’t break him. I mean,
that oceanarium belongs to you, Benny. You’ve been cooped up in the sick bay ever since you were
young, so you’ve never seen many adorable and rare animals, right? After your IV infusion tonight, I’ll
bring you there to have fun. How about that?”
Benedict jerked his chin up in disdain.
“Only Zendaya likes such childish things. I don’t like to see animals, jellyfish, and the like.”
Following that, Cedrick feigned regret. “It’s too bad, then. I initially planned to pick Zendy, you, and your
mommy up in the evening after work today to visit the oceanarium. I even bought a small SLR camera
for each of you so you can snap pictures of any animals you like. If you don’t want to go, I can only go
with Zendy and your mommy.”
At once, Benedict’s expression stiffened.
He suddenly wavered in his initial plan to remain firm in his stance that the oceanarium was childish.
The entire family is going… but I’m going to be left all alone?
Cedrick continued, “If you’re not going, I’ll drive you back to Harrick Villa beforehand, and you can have
the leftovers at home after heating them up at that time. What do you think?”
Benedict pouted, dejection swamping him.
So, Daddy and Mommy are bringing Zendaya out for some delicious food? Isn’t it too pathetic for me to
eat cold leftovers?
Noticing Benedict’s conflicted expression, Cedrick pressed his advantage. “That oceanarium belongs to
you, so it’s all thanks to you that your mommy, Zendy, and I can visit the place for some fun. It’s a pity
that you’ve never even seen marine life before despite being the oceanarium’s owner. I heard that
Zendy’s dolphin is already playing ball with her.”
Noticing Benedict’s conflicted expression, Cedrick pressed his advantage. “That oceanarium belongs to
you, so it’s all thanks to you that your mommy, Zendy, and I can visit the place for some fun. It’s a pity
that you’ve never even seen marine life before despite being the oceanarium’s owner. I heard that
Zendy’s dolphin is already playing ball with her.”
Zendaya and her dolphin are playing ball?
Tempted, Benedict lowered his head and pondered upon it without saying anything further.
Cedrick then proposed, “Actually, I think you should seize the opportunity to have Charles spend more
since he’s managing the oceanarium for you. Isn’t it far better to import some expensive animals you
like and turn the place into your personal marine park? This is all for free, so it’ll be a waste not to seize
the opportunity!”
Hmm… that makes sense. The oceanarium is mine now. I can do whatever I want to it and even raise
any fish I like. I’ve never visited the place all these years, so Charles had gotten to use it to ingratiate
himself with Zendaya instead!
Having seen the light, Benedict cleared his throat. His juvenile voice was beyond solemn.
“I’ve decided, Daddy. I want to go to the oceanarium, too. That’s my territory, and I want to revamp it!”
Anyway, I’ll be using Charles’ money, so there’s absolutely nothing to feel bad about!
He made up his mind and sharpened his knife, contemplating the kinds of peculiar animals he wanted
to add.
I think I want to build a glacier in the shark area and have penguins and polar bears there. With those
three kinds of animals living in a confined space, they’d definitely fight each other to the death. That’d
certainly be intriguing!
While Benedict was plotting in silence, Cedrick observed him through the rearview mirror. When
Cedrick ascertained that his son’s thoughts had been riveted by the oceanarium for real, his lips
inexorably turned up.
It’ll be good for him to look at animals more. It can cultivate love and cheer him up so he’s not as lonely
and he won’t concoct his little evil schemes in secret.
“Daddy!” Benedict leaned forward excitedly, his ebony eyes sparkling brightly. Tugging at the back of
his father’s seat, he asked curiously, “Is there a blue whale in my oceanarium?”
Suppressing his laughter, Cedrick shook his head. “I don’t think so. The blue whale is too big to be
exhibited in an oceanarium.”
“Uh…” Benedict plunged into silent contemplation briefly. “But I just want to have a gigantic blue whale.
What should I do about it?”
“In that case, tell Charles and have him figure out a way to get you a blue whale.”
The father and son chatted happily, both targeting Charles at the same time.
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