Chapter 46

Of course, if he wanted to quickly grow closer to Moss, using Doctor as a topic was the most suitable approach.

Sure enough, Moss lowered his head and began to ponder.

Qi Chao finished steaming the rice, 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 attire. Although Brother Shen was stunningly handsome, with his gorgeous golden scorpion braid making him look like some young master raised amidst gold and jade, Doctor did not seem particularly obsessed with dressing up. Even a random tie from the original owner was worth more than the clothes Doctor wore.

"Yes." Moss curled up on the stool and nodded in agreement. He tugged at the bow on his wrist, his dark eyes somewhat conflicted. After a few 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 expose his father's privacy, but his father had said he needed to build a good relationship with Qi Chao. His left hand picked at the bow as he hesitated. Then, beneath the bandages, his lips moved. "Father likes shiny things."

After a pause, he repeated, "He especially likes them."

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

From the time he had 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 realized Doctor had this hobby.

It had to be said, linking that hobby to Doctor really gave off an unexpectedly adorable contrast.

From the youngest to the oldest, this whole family was just unbearably adorable, Qi Chao thought silently.

When Moss saw that Qi Chao was not speaking, he thought Qi Chao did not believe him. His hoarse voice grew urgent. "It's true! Father's studio is full of shiny things. If there aren't shiny things, Father doesn't want to work."

Qi Chao: All right, even cuter now.

Qi Chao had always liked using the word adorable for little ones and rarely used it for adults, much less a man older than himself. Yet from their first online chats until now, Qi Chao had found Doctor adorable more than once.

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

Thinking that, Qi Chao opened his Light Brain and searched for a diamond that had recently sold at auction for over a million. He showed it to Moss and asked, "Is this the kind of shiny thing you mean?"

Moss nodded. "More or less."

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

Moss had just been about to say Father when, before the word could leave his mouth, Qi Chao drawled, "Other than Brother Shen."

Other than Father?

Moss stared at Qi Chao with his dark eyes.

There was nothing. Other than his father, Moss did not like anyone or anything, including his several brothers.

Qi Chao got the answer from his silence. After considering it, he tugged up the corners of his mouth and smiled. "Then little Moss really likes his father."

Moss came back to himself and nodded heavily.

Every time this child mentioned his father, his eyes lit up. Qi Chao could not resist patting Moss's head. The feel of the bandages was pretty nice.

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

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

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

"How did it go?"

Shen Yuxi watched the cartoon as he asked in a mild tone.

Moss recalled their conversation in the kitchen and said hoarsely, "We had a pleasant chat."

Shen Yuxi gave a soft hum.

Their relationship with Qi Chao did not need to be especially good, 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 though he had found the direction he needed to work toward, he nodded and said, "I will, Father."

If Shen Yuxi had known that Moss had revealed a preference he had hidden for years in order to complete his task, it was hard to say whether he would have taken back that praise.

Of course, he did not know that now.

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

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

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

The spring-mounted 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, his eyes widening slightly.

Lan Luo knew that had been Father's doing.

His eyes instantly 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 silent permission.

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 beaten him before, he could barely be considered a gentle person too.

But he had hit him.

Father would definitely avenge him.

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

Big Brother's task concerned Master. In other words, Master had some value to Father. Once Master was no longer useful, he would be able to go home.

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

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

When Qi Chao came out, he saw that Lan Luo was not watching the cartoon at all. Instead, he had his head lowered, doing who knew what.

"What's wrong, little one?"

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

Unlike Shen Yuxi's light tap, although Qi Chao was mindful of his strength, his hand was clearly heavier than Shen Yuxi's. The spring antlers on the headband could not stop wobbling.