Was he seeing someone?

He had nearly thought Boss Fan was already married. Wouldn't that make him like an emperor who died before his great undertaking was even halfway done?

Defeated before he had even started pursuing him.

Still, the little girl in front of him really was adorable, and he quite liked children. Shan Ye propped his chin in his hand and watched her happily enjoying her dessert.

After Zhang Nan left, the little girl asked Shan Ye if he wanted to try her milk tea. Shan Ye shook his head. "No, you drink it."

A little while later, when Fan Jin still hadn't come out, he asked the little girl, "What's your name?"

"Yaoyao."

"Then, Yaoyao, can you tell me why you call Fan Jin Dad?"

Yaoyao tilted her little head. "Because Daddy Fan is really nice to me. He gives me desserts all the time. My dad told me to call him Dad."

Shan Ye nodded blankly, only half understanding. He wondered what sort of man this little girl's actual father was, letting his daughter call someone else Dad.

But then another possibility suddenly sprang into his mind. Could her actual dad be gay and dating Fan Jin? Was that why he'd told her to call him Dad?

He jerked his head up and stared at the little girl in shock. No matter how many thoughts were racing through his mind, he couldn't ask. As a teacher, he couldn't exactly discuss homosexuality with a three- or four-year-old girl, could he?

That would violate professional standards! And ethics!

When Fan Jin came out, he looked around for Yaoyao's little figure and found her sitting beside Shan Ye.

He washed his hands and went over to see what they were doing.

Both of them looked up at once. Yaoyao smiled and spoke first. "Dad, this big brother is teaching me to draw. I brought my sketchbook today!" Her voice was sweet. Then she lowered her head again to finish her masterpiece.

Shan Ye slowly stood up and looked at Fan Jin. "Boss Fan, you're finished."

Fan Jin nodded, then gestured toward Yaoyao. "She hasn't been giving you any trouble, has she?"

Shan Ye hurriedly waved his hands. "No, she's been very good."

When Yaoyao finished drawing, she wrote her name beside the picture and held it up for the two adults to see. "I'm done!"

Shan Ye took it. Looking at the two grown-ups holding a little person's hands, he asked, "Who did you draw?"

Yaoyao carefully pointed them out to him. "The one on the left is my dad, the one on the right is Daddy Fan, and the one in the middle is me."

Shan Ye's mouth hung open. He didn't know what to say.

"That's a lovely drawing." He glanced at the name she'd written, Xu Mengyao. "Oh, so that's the character for the 'yao' in your name." He patted her head.

He had also learned that the little girl's surname was Xu.

"It's already noon. Want to have lunch together?" Shan Ye asked him.

Fan Jin was silent for a moment. "No, someone needs to watch the shop."

Zhang Nan overheard. "Boss, go have lunch. I'll be here."

Shan Ye shot him a grateful look, then pressed his lips together and gazed hopefully at Fan Jin.

Fan Jin looked down at the little girl and asked, "What do you want to eat?"

"Fried chicken!"

Then Fan Jin reconsidered. Shan Ye didn't look like someone who would eat fried chicken. He looked at him. "She wants fried chicken, so I'll take her. You..."

Before he could finish, Shan Ye jumped in. "I will. I want fried chicken too."

Although he still hadn't confirmed whether Fan Jin was seeing someone, he didn't want to miss any chance to spend time with him.

The three of them, two adults and one child, walked out of the café with Yaoyao between them. The fried chicken place was at the intersection ahead, just a short walk away.

"Boss Fan, you've never told me anything about yourself," Shan Ye suddenly said as they walked.

Fan Jin glanced at him. "What do you want to know?"

The question stumped him. He wanted to know everything, especially what kind of person Fan Jin liked.

But he still didn't dare ask that, so he picked something at random. "Like, how old are you?"

Fan Jin said, "My age?"

"...What else?" Shan Ye faltered. "What else could I mean?" He walked with his head lowered.

"Thirty-two."

Thirty-two. Four years older than him.

"That's nice."

Fan Jin gave him an impassive glance, unsure what he meant.

They soon reached the fried chicken place. Shan Ye picked up a menu and asked Yaoyao what she wanted.

Yaoyao chose a kids' meal. Holding the menu, Shan Ye asked Fan Jin, "What would you like?"

"I'll order for myself."

They offered meal sets with rice here, and Fan Jin chose the signature set.

He looked at Shan Ye. "Rice?"

Shan Ye nodded. "The same as yours."

Fan Jin marked down two of the same rice sets and started to get up to pay.

Shan Ye caught his wrist. "Let me."

Fan Jin's gaze instantly shifted to the hand around his wrist, his eyes signaling for Shan Ye to let go.

Realizing what he'd done, Shan Ye immediately released him. The brief contact with Fan Jin's skin had felt like being singed by fire. His skin seemed a little warmer than most people's.

Did he dislike being touched? Even his expression changed just now.

Their food arrived soon afterward. Yaoyao's kids' meal came with a burger, chicken nuggets, and ice cream. She dug in happily, remembering to ask Shan Ye between bites, "Big brother, will you come to the café and play with me again?"

Shan Ye glanced at Fan Jin, who was eating with his head lowered, not saying a word. For some reason, Fan Jin always had an indescribable air about him. Even while eating, he sat ramrod straight, like someone who had been in the military.

"I will. Next time you come, I'll draw with you again." Shan Ye looked down at the little girl with a gentle smile.

"You're so nice, big brother." She glanced at the person beside her and laid on the flattery. "Just as nice as Daddy Fan."

Fan Jin finally reacted. He looked down at Yaoyao. "Eat up. No talking during meals."

The little girl immediately made a shushing gesture and went back to eating her chicken nuggets.

The three of them remained silent for the rest of the meal. Since Fan Jin didn't speak, Shan Ye didn't feel comfortable saying anything either. But he did look up at Fan Jin from time to time.

After lunch, the three of them left the fast-food restaurant. Shan Ye followed behind them, heading back to the café to pick up his laptop.

But he still hadn't achieved what he'd set out to do over lunch.

He suddenly called out to the two ahead of him. The man turned and glanced back. "What is it?"

Shan Ye licked his lips and went for it. "Um, could we add each other on WeChat?"

"That way, you can let me know when my car's fixed."

Fan Jin said coolly, "I don't use WeChat much."

Don't use it much? Then whose QR code is that in your café?

"Then what do you usually use? You use your phone number, don't you?" Shan Ye persisted.

This time, Fan Jin had no reason to refuse. Holding his hand, Yaoyao blinked her big eyes up at him. "Dad, don't you have WeChat?"

Shan Ye looked at the little girl, the corners of his lips lifting.

In the end, he still didn't get his wish. He hadn't added Fan Jin on WeChat, but he had managed to get his phone number.

Everyone knew you could look up a WeChat account by phone number. He could just search for it when he got back.

Thoroughly satisfied, Shan Ye followed them into the café, picked up his laptop, and said goodbye to Fan Jin. "Boss Fan, I'm heading out. See you tomorrow."

Fan Jin gave a slight nod.

At the doorway, Shan Ye suddenly bumped into a man and instinctively said, "Sorry."

The other man smiled gently. "It's fine."

Shan Ye stepped aside to leave, then heard Yaoyao's little voice call from inside, "Dad!"

She called so loudly that there was no way he could miss it.

Shan Ye turned back and saw the man he'd just bumped into lifting Yaoyao into his arms, the same way Fan Jin had held her.

Fan Jin stood behind the counter washing coffee cups. He looked at the heartwarming scene and smiled.