Miracle Cutie Chapter 462: Stubbornness

A few seconds later, another message from Lester arrived.

Lester sent, "You're going to bed a little late."

Lester remembered that, for all his faults—difficult and stubborn—Benjamin had one good quality: he slept soundly.

He was usually asleep by eight o'clock. Once he was out, Lester could play games, work on puzzles, or do whatever else in peace.

Lester's two messages were pure small talk.

Benjamin held back his impatience and typed a reply.

Benjamin sent, "Get to the point. If there's no point, don't bother me. We're not close enough for sleep inquiries."

Benjamin was brimming with impatience toward Lester.

But Lester merely raised an eyebrow. This unfriendly reply from his little brother didn't bother him at all.

I took a lot worse from him when we were kids.

He hadn't been a patient kid himself. Back then, dealing with Benjamin's difficult, stubborn nature had often made him want to get tough.

But Benjamin was immune to tough love. If anything went against his wishes, he could turn everyone's world upside down. Forcing Benjamin to compromise was impossible.

Lester remembered once getting angry with Benjamin, and in response, Benjamin had refused to drink a single drop of milk.

But Lester hadn't spoiled him back then. He had figured Benjamin would drink it once he got hungry enough.

But to his surprise, Benjamin had gone a day and a half without a sip—starving himself until he passed out.

After seeing that level of stubbornness, Lester had had to pick up the bottle and compromise, coaxing him to drink.

There had been countless similar incidents. Back then, Lester couldn't just walk away, because Benjamin would only allow him to take care of him!

Recalling Benjamin's past, the faint attitude in his grown-up brother's message was nothing to Lester.

He was just wondering—should he reveal his identity in a text right now? If he did, Benjamin probably wouldn't sleep a wink tonight.

While Lester was still deciding, Benjamin's phone was snatched away by Nina.

Nina's chubby little hands were surprisingly strong. She grabbed Benjamin's phone and held on for dear life, refusing to give it back.

Benjamin was exasperated. "Play with your own phone," he told her.

Nina had tons of toys, including plenty of toy phones. Her toy phones could even play music, but she didn't like them. She loved playing with adult phones.

"Daddy, mine!" Nina declared, claiming Benjamin's phone as her own.

Seeing her cling to it, Benjamin figured he didn't need it right then and let her have it.

The screen locked automatically when it went dark. Nina couldn't unlock it. She could press the button to light it up, but she couldn't get past the lock screen.

Benjamin let her play with it and went to check the thermometer in the bedside drawer.

"Daddy, open?" Nina asked, poking at the unresponsive screen before coming to Benjamin for help.

Benjamin didn't unlock it for her. Instead, he handed her the repaired smartwatch with an upgraded location feature.

"Play with this instead," he said. "Don't call anyone else. They're all asleep."

Nina had been planning to call Lester, but before she could, she got an incoming call. It was a video call from Harry, Anthony's nephew.

When the two kids saw each other on screen, they didn't say anything at first. They just giggled for a couple of seconds.

After laughing, Harry got straight to the point. "We play tomorrow? Come my house, okay?"

Anthony's invitation, passed on by his translator, was clear enough for Nina to understand.

Nina didn't hesitate for a second before nodding vigorously.

"Okay!" she agreed happily to go play at Harry's.

Thrilled she'd accepted, Harry chatted with her about other things for a bit.

At the end, he suddenly asked, "Your daddy go home? My uncle want know."

As soon as Harry finished the question, someone could be heard covering his mouth on the other end.

"Harry, don't mention me!" It was Anthony's voice.

Anthony's reminder came too late. Benjamin had already heard.

Benjamin's handsome, expressionless face appeared on the video.

"Leaving isn't on my agenda," he replied coolly. "Why, are you that eager for me to go?"

Anthony was instantly terrified. Seeing Benjamin's face and hearing his voice, he panicked and ended the call.

After the call disconnected, Benjamin looked down at Nina.

"Nina, didn't you promise Mommy and Daddy you wouldn't run off again?" he asked.

Nina nodded. "Nina no run!" she stated firmly.

Benjamin pressed on, "Then why are you planning to visit someone tomorrow?"

Nina nodded again. "Nina play!"

Nina had been so scared when she went to find Lester that she'd ended up with a fever. Even after all that, she was still willing to go out.

Most other kids would have been too traumatized to leave the house for days.