Uchiha in Zenless Zone Zero

In the brilliantly lit banquet hall, seven people—Zhong Yan included—sat around the dining table… well, not quite. One was missing: Zhong Ling.

Now one year old, he had learned to walk and talk, his curiosity unending toward everything in sight.

It was the most exhausting stage of toddlerhood—anything, even the slightest movement, could capture his attention and send him stumbling over to investigate.

Because of this, Billy was on the verge of being forcibly repurposed from a combat-type robot into a domestic caregiver, just to ensure Zhong Ling didn't get into trouble.

"This whole scene really does feel like a dream…" Seated at the head of the table, Zhong Yan watched the three mothers caring for their children, a rare sense of contentment filling his heart.

At that moment, Zhong Ling, wobbling with toddler steps and trailed by Anby, tottered up to him and flopped against his leg, arms raised.

"Daddy… hungwy…"

The hunger in his belly made Zhong Ling tug insistently at Zhong Yan's pants while muttering his request in clumsy toddler speech.

Zhong Yan chuckled, lifted him into his arms, and grabbed a bottle of formula from the table, shoving it straight into Zhong Ling's mouth.

Zhong Ling had no complaints—he chugged it down eagerly, finishing the bottle in no time.

When he was done, Zhong Yan casually returned the empty bottle to the table and handed Zhong Ling back to Anby.

"All full. Here, take him."

Anby blinked, half-amused, half-exasperated, but still accepted the handoff and brought Zhong Ling over to a corner of the room, whispering something into his ear.

Moments later, the toddler stumbled back over, wobbling toward Zhong Yan once again before hugging his leg and staring up with wide, watery eyes.

"Thank you, Daddy."

Zhong Yan couldn't help but bend down and squish the child's chubby cheeks. "Alright, alright, no need to thank me. Go play with your mom. Daddy's busy."

With that, he handed Zhong Ling back to Anby again.

At no point did Zhong Yan seem annoyed—he was a father, after all. How could he be anything but patient?

Meanwhile, under Ellen's watch, Zhong Xi had pulled herself up halfway onto the table, curiously examining the spinning turntable in the center.

She reached out to touch it—only to discover that it moved.

Delighted, she gave it a spin, almost sending several formula bottles flying.

For the record, Shark Thirens were far stronger than ordinary humans. That fact was vividly embodied in Zhong Xi.

Otherwise, how could a half-year-old infant possibly spin a table centerpiece with such force?

"Stop that. If you're not careful, your dad's going to scold you," Ellen warned, extending a hand and halting the turntable's motion.

Without waiting for Zhong Xi's reaction, she lifted her off the table and set her down on the floor.

Zhong Xi had only just started learning to walk. Suddenly being dropped onto the floor, she instinctively reached out for Ellen—only to find her mother's hands withdrawn.

With nothing to hold onto, she was about to fall—until Ellen, already anticipating this, quickly caught her.

The whole sequence left Zhong Xi visibly disgruntled. She flapped her tiny tail in protest.

Ellen was unmoved. With a simple lift, she raised Zhong Xi high overhead.

The sudden lift into the air sent Zhong Xi into a panic. She kicked her little legs helplessly, desperate to find the ground again.

After a moment, Ellen, deciding not to push her luck, finally lowered her back down.

At that very moment, Zhong Ling, having escaped Anby's hold, waddled over.

He reached out and grabbed Ellen's black stockings, gazing up at her with big sparkling eyes.

"Want… want sissy…"

Ellen blinked, surprised by the tug at her feet, then, without hesitation, set Zhong Xi down face-to-face with him.

"There you go. Your big brother came to see you—have a proper talk, okay?"

If Zhong Xi could walk on her own, Ellen would've let her go without a second thought.

"Eh?" Zhong Xi blinked, confused at the similarly-sized child standing before her.

She tried to say something, but her speech hadn't developed enough. All that came out were babbling sounds and hand gestures.

"She's saying hello," Ellen translated helpfully for Zhong Ling.

Zhong Ling blinked, head tilted with visible question marks above him. "Hello?"

The whole scene made everyone burst out laughing.

Belle looked down at the swaddled Zhong Lan, still peacefully asleep in her arms, a touch of envy in her eyes. The other two were already interacting—and hers was still too small.

"Little guy… grow up fast, okay? Your big brother and sister are waiting to meet you," Belle whispered, gently stroking Zhong Lan's tummy, a strange warmth blooming in her chest.

Just then, Zhong Yan, seated at the head of the table, coughed lightly.

That sound immediately drew the attention of the three mothers—and even Zhong Ling and Zhong Xi turned toward their father.

Clearing his throat, Zhong Yan spoke slowly. "Today is Zhong Lan's one-month celebration. I invited you all here mainly so the kids could meet each other. They're siblings, after all—they'll be growing up together... and so will you three."

He paused for a moment, hesitating.

"After a few years, I plan to buy a house in the central district. When that happens, the five of us will live together. About that… do you have anything you want to say?"

The three mothers exchanged looks.

They glanced at Zhong Yan's expression, then at each other, and instantly understood what this was really about.

Then Belle, her tone half-teasing, raised an eyebrow and said, "Our opinion? Well—Monday and Tuesday, you're mine. Wednesday and Thursday, you're Anby's. Friday and Saturday, Ellen's. And Sunday... you get a day off."

Zhong Yan blinked, stunned.

And what shocked him even more—Anby and Ellen... agreed.

This might just kill him.