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Of course, if he wanted to quickly close the distance between himself and Moss, Doctor was the most suitable topic.

Sure enough, Moss lowered his head and fell into thought.

After steaming the rice, Qi Chao moved over two small stools and discussed the matter with Moss in the kitchen.

"Brother Shen probably doesn't like luxury goods."

Qi Chao recalled Doctor's clothing and appearance. Although Brother Shen was incredibly handsome, with his gorgeous golden scorpion braid making him look like a young master raised amid gold and jade, Doctor actually seemed to have no particular obsession with dressing up. Even a random tie from the original owner was more expensive than the clothes Doctor wore.

"Yes." Moss curled up on the stool and nodded in agreement. He tugged at the bow around his wrist, his dark eyes conflicted. After several seconds, Moss said hoarsely, "Father doesn't like wearing those things, but he likes looking at shiny things."

Qi Chao: ...Shiny things?

Moss did not want to reveal Father's private matters, but Father had said he needed to build a good relationship with Qi Chao. His left hand picked at the bow, and after hesitating for a while, his lips moved beneath the bandages. "Father really likes shiny things."

He paused, then repeated himself. "He especially likes them."

For silent Moss to repeat it twice was enough to prove that Doctor truly liked them.

From the time he first met Doctor until now, Qi Chao's impression of him had been that he was gentle and approachable, a little directionally challenged, and very good to his friends. He had never noticed that Doctor had this hobby.

It had to be said that pairing this hobby with Doctor really created an unexpectedly adorable contrast.

From the youngest to the oldest, this whole family was so cute it was unbearable, Qi Chao thought silently.

Seeing that Qi Chao did not speak, Moss assumed he did not believe him. His hoarse voice became a little urgent. "It's true! Father's studio is full of shiny things. If there aren't any shiny things, Father won't want to work."

Qi Chao: Okay, even cuter now.

Qi Chao had always only liked using the word cute to describe Little Ones, and rarely used it for adults, much less men older than himself. Yet from their first online chats until now, he had thought Doctor was cute more than once.

It was not strange. After all, there were not many men like Doctor.

As Qi Chao thought about it, he opened the Light Brain and searched for a diamond that had recently sold at auction for over a million. He showed it to Moss and asked, "Do you mean shiny things like this?"

Moss nodded. "More or less."

Qi Chao nodded thoughtfully. After saving the post, he looked up at Moss and took the chance to ask, "Then what do you like, Mossy?"

Moss had just been about to say Father when Qi Chao slowly added, "Other than Brother Shen."

Other than Father?

Moss stared at Qi Chao with his dark eyes.

There was nothing. Other than Father, Moss had no people or things he liked, including his several brothers.

Qi Chao learned the answer from his silence. After considering it, he tugged at the corner of his mouth and smiled. "Then it seems Mossy really likes his father."

Moss came back to himself and nodded heavily.

Every time this child mentioned his father, his eyes shone especially brightly. Qi Chao could not resist patting Moss's head. The bandages felt pretty nice.

"Alright, go watch cartoons outside. Dinner will be ready soon."

Moss felt that more than half his task had already been completed. He nodded and obediently walked out.

In the living room, Father and Lan Luo were watching the cartoon intently. Moss silently sat down beside Father.

"How did it go?"

Shen Yuxi asked in an indifferent tone as he watched the cartoon.

Recalling the conversation in the kitchen, Moss said hoarsely, "We had a pleasant conversation."

Shen Yuxi gave a quiet hum.

Their relationship with Qi Chao did not need to be especially close, but before the plan began, they needed to maintain Qi Chao's goodwill.

"Keep it up."

Those words were no different from praise. Moss's body beneath the bandages relaxed considerably. As if he had found a direction to strive toward, he nodded. "I will, Father."

If Shen Yuxi knew that Moss had revealed a preference he had hidden for years in order to complete his task, who knew whether he would take back that praise.

Of course, he did not know now.

Shen Yuxi glanced at Moss, then withdrew his gaze and continued watching the projection. However, out of the corner of his eye, he inadvertently caught sight of Lan Luo picking at the sofa with his fingers.

Whenever Lan Luo's emotions fluctuated, he liked making these little movements.

Shen Yuxi said nothing. His gaze remained on the projection screen, but he raised his right hand and lightly flicked the deer-antler headband atop Lan Luo's head with his finger.

The spring-mounted deer antlers, less than three inches long, trembled slightly. Lan Luo instinctively sat up straight, raised a hand to cover the antlers, and looked up in confusion with his eyes slightly widened.

Lan Luo knew that had been Father's doing.

His eyes immediately lit up.

Lan Luo shifted to the left, moving a little closer to Father. He secretly looked upward and noticed Father giving him a faint glance without saying anything. That represented his tacit approval.

Lan Luo immediately became even happier.

Big Brother liked Father.

So did he.

Father was the gentlest person in the world.

Lan Luo thought that if Master had not hit him before, then Master could barely count as a gentle person too.

But he had hit him.

Father would definitely avenge him.

Lan Luo counted the days carefully on his fingers, calculating how many more days he could spend with Master.

Big Brother's task was related to Master. In other words, Master was useful to Father. Once Master was no longer useful, he could go home.

In the past, Lan Luo would have been very happy.

But now, he did not seem quite as happy anymore.

When Qi Chao came out, he saw that Lan Luo was not watching the cartoon at all, but had lowered his head and was doing something unknown.

"Little One, what's wrong?"

Qi Chao reached out and patted the deer antlers on Lan Luo's head.

Unlike Shen Yuxi's light touch, Qi Chao had also watched his strength, but his hand was clearly stronger than Shen Yuxi's. The spring deer antlers on the headband could not stop shaking.