Part 1: The Dragon's Arrival
Li Wei was never a fan of babysitting. It wasn't that he disliked his kids — quite the opposite — but the chaos they brought was exhausting. Yet when Mei announced that she had to leave for the weekend to visit her sister, Li Wei found himself tasked with watching over Xiaoyu and Jin. "Easy enough," he thought. "I've survived years of homework battles and tantrums."
But Mei wasn't done.
"Also," she said with a mischievous grin, "you're in charge of this." She carefully placed an egg wrapped in thick blankets on the table.
Li Wei squinted at it. "That's… an egg."
Mei nodded solemnly. "A dragon egg."
Li Wei blinked. "Dragon? Like… fire-breathing, wing-flapping, 'I'll roast your socks off' kind of dragon?"
"Exactly that," Mei said, folding her arms and smiling. "Don't worry. It's a baby dragon. Just keep it safe. It won't breathe fire… much."
Li Wei's jaw dropped. "You're joking."
"I'm not," Mei said, looping an arm around his shoulder. "Think of it as a fun babysitting challenge."
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The Calm Before the Storm
For the first hour, everything seemed almost normal. The egg sat quietly in its cozy nest — a carefully constructed fortress of old sweaters, blankets, and Mei's favorite fluffy scarves.
Xiaoyu and Jin eyed the egg curiously, whispering guesses about what might hatch. "Maybe it's a giant bird!" Xiaoyu said hopefully.
"Or a dinosaur!" Jin shouted excitedly.
Li Wei watched them, secretly amused but also nervous. "Remember, no poking or prodding. Dragons can be… temperamental."
Just as he said that, a soft crack echoed from the egg. A small fissure appeared, zigzagging like lightning across the shell.
Li Wei backed away. "Okay, that's new."
The children gasped.
"Is it…?" Xiaoyu whispered.
Before anyone could say more, the egg suddenly shook violently, and with a loud crack, the shell broke open.
Out popped a tiny creature no bigger than a housecat, covered in shimmering green scales with enormous amber eyes that blinked at the world with innocent curiosity.
The baby dragon let out a tiny peep and stretched its wings, making a soft flutter sound.
Li Wei blinked, mouth open.
Xiaoyu squealed, "It's so cute!"
Jin reached out and gently stroked the dragon's scaly head.
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The Beginning of Chaos
It didn't take long for the baby dragon — whom they quickly named "Spark" — to reveal its true nature.
Within minutes, Spark was tearing through the living room like a furry tornado with wings. It pounced on cushions, scattered toys, and knocked over a stack of books that tumbled like dominoes.
Li Wei tried to catch it, but Spark was too fast.
"Spark, no! Bad dragon!" he shouted, lunging after the creature.
Spark responded with a tiny snort — and a sudden puff of smoke from its nostrils. The smell of singed hair filled the air.
Li Wei coughed. "Great, just what I needed."
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Fire-Breathing Fiascos
As the afternoon wore on, Spark's flame skills became… unpredictable.
At one point, Li Wei tried to warm a cup of tea by holding it near Spark's mouth. Instead of a gentle puff, the baby dragon released a small burst of fire that scorched the rim of the cup — and the nearby newspaper.
"Okay, maybe not too close," Li Wei muttered, waving away the smoke.
Later, Spark sneezed — and accidentally set a pile of laundry on fire.
"Spark! No fires inside the house!" Li Wei shouted, grabbing a blanket and smothering the flames.
Mei's voice popped through Li Wei's phone. "How's babysitting?"
Li Wei sighed. "If you want your house still standing, come home soon."
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Babysitting Challenges
The day quickly became a series of mishaps.
Spark knocked over a lamp, chewed through the TV cables, and used Li Wei's favorite slippers as chew toys.
Every time Li Wei tried to discipline the dragon, Spark responded with puppy-like eyes and an innocent chirp.
At one point, Li Wei found himself sitting on the floor, covered in soot, as Spark curled up in his lap purring softly — a perfect little pet… if only it didn't spontaneously combust.
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Family Video Call
That evening, Mei called for a video check-in.
Xiaoyu grabbed the phone and held it up to Spark.
Mei laughed. "Is that the dragon?"
Li Wei nodded, "Yep. And he's already declared war on my slippers."
Jin giggled, "Tell Spark to help with homework!"
Li Wei grinned. "If only."
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A Hint of Progress
By bedtime, Spark was calmer, snuggled under a blanket next to Li Wei on the couch.
Li Wei stroked its tiny head. "You might just survive this weekend after all."
Suddenly, Spark let out a small, careful puff of smoke — just enough to warm Li Wei's feet.
Li Wei smiled. "Okay, little guy. Maybe we make a good team."
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To Be Continued…