Page 13

[Zhou Xu barely went out these past few years. Was he practicing his cooking at home?]

Chu Han served the children some food. "It's hard to get vegetables this fresh even at home these days. Eat more vegetables. It's fine to have less rice."

Bo Yiming nodded vigorously, his mouth full of delicious food.

Only after swallowing did he ask, "Uncle, do you make this much yummy food for little brother Xiao Qi at home every day?"

Sitting in his dad's lap, Xiao Qi shook his head and sighed like a little grown-up. "He cooks every day."

Zhou Xu ruffled his hair. "What's wrong with Daddy cooking for you?"

Xiao Qi pouted, scooped a little steamed egg into his mouth with his small spoon, then pursed his lips and acted cute for the long-haired uncle, puffing out his chubby cheeks and wriggling.

Wen Cishu's eyes curved as he smiled. "Baby Xiao Qi, be good and eat your food~"

Xiao Qi happily turned into his dad's embrace and buried his face.

Zhou Xu said, "Those chickens in the coop look pretty good. Once I'm done eating, I'll catch one and prepare it. We can have chicken soup tonight."

He raised a hand and patted Bo Yiming's shoulder. "Yiming, how about coming with Uncle to catch a chicken?"

Bo Yiming nodded, looking a little eager. "Will there be yummy chicken meat too?"

Zhou Xu laughed. "Of course. I'll figure out some different ways to cook it. How about catching two? The production team never said we couldn't."

"Okay."

Suddenly, Xiao Qi raised his little hand and protested in his babyish voice, "No! The big roosters are so cute~"

Rongrong put down her little spoon too, agreeing with Xiao Qi. "Uncle, please don't catch the big roosters, okay?"

Quick on her feet, she pointed at the steamed egg. "Otherwise, we won't have yummy eggs tomorrow."

[Rongrong is right! Clever little baby~]

[The babies are all so kind~ Auntie's heart is melting~ (Except for Mingzai, who nodded!]

[What did Mingzai do wrong? Mingzai just wanted some chicken.]

[Before Zhou Xu could say anything, Xingxing, who was picking up shredded potatoes, quietly said, "Then catch ducks. Ducks don't lay chicken eggs."]

"Huh?" Rongrong and Xiao Qi made little puzzled sounds at the same time, both looking toward big brother Xingxing.

The two little ones, whose combined ages only just matched Bo Yiming's, exchanged a glance and nodded together.

Rongrong said happily, "Okay! Then Uncle and big brother Yiming can catch ducks."

Xiao Qi felt something wasn't quite right, but since big sister said so, he immediately nodded along. "Xiao Qi wants to go too~ Xiao Qi will catch duckies~"

Still eating, Wen Cishu had to struggle hard to hold back his smile.

[Rongrong! I just called you a good baby! You little rascal!]

[So ducks don't even have the right to live? Why not!]

[Rooster: nyah nyah nyah~~~]

[Ducky: ? So it's my fault I can't lay chicken eggs? Quack-]

After the meal, Wen Cishu washed the dishes with Chu Han.

He was just about to turn on the tap as he had while washing the vegetables earlier when a pair of disposable dishwashing gloves was offered to him.

Chu Han opened her own pair and explained, "I brought these from home in case there was any work to do that I could wear them for. Your skin is even better than mine. Don't let the dish soap hurt your hands."

"Thank you, Ms. Chu," Wen Cishu said politely.

There were two large sinks, and each took one side.

Chu Han told Wen Cishu he only needed to rinse off the dish soap, while she handled the initial washing.

Wen Cishu took a firm hold of the white porcelain plate she passed him and carefully rinsed away the suds.

[Chu Han is famous for having a face made for the big screen. It's literally palm-sized. Little Dad, you're taller than her, so how is your face just as small?]

[Two gentle wives. Can't I have even one? (I want Little Dad, mainly because I've never seen this kind of gorgeous beauty before. I really want him...)]

[Little Dad and Ms. Chu are both mine. Little Dad can keep me company at home, and Ms. Chu can go out and make money filming movies...]

[You're actually picking and choosing? Come on, open wide. Here's some pesticide.]

While washing the dishes, Wen Cishu felt terribly thirsty.

Once he had helped tidy the kitchen, he poured a glass of warm water, tilted his face up slightly, and gulped it all down.

It still didn't quench his thirst.

While eating earlier, Wen Cishu had already noticed that the dishes were a little heavily seasoned for him.

He had eaten at home for so long, and his food had always been on the lighter side, so he wasn't quite used to suddenly eating rich, oily dishes with thick sauces.

He had even been mindful of it and eaten less of the dishes that smelled especially savory. He hadn't expected...

Wen Cishu pressed his still-dry lips together and poured another glass of warm water. Bracing one hand against the kitchen island, he tipped his head back and continued drinking slowly.

The clear water moistened the corners of his lips, making them look especially soft.

[Wow, wow~ Wifey's snowy-white swan neck, those sexy collarbones. Slurp, slurp. Leaving hickeys like crazy.]

[Oh my god, I can't even imagine the happiness Mingzai's Big Dad gets to enjoy.]

[What happiness? What are you thinking about? This is a parenting variety show. The youngest baby is only four. Restrain yourselves!]

[What restraint? Girl, stop pretending. Admit your mind isn't innocent either.]

Meanwhile, outside the chicken coop.

Bo Yiming was working out how to coordinate with Zhou Xu to catch a duck.

Suddenly, Bo Yiming straightened. "Wait a moment, Uncle!"

He lowered his head and fiddled with the watch on his left wrist. Spotting a new message, he opened it and skimmed it, then immediately said, "Wait for me, Uncle. I'm going to find my Little Dad."

"Go ahead." Zhou Xu wasn't in a hurry either. He was still studying which duck looked the plumpest.

He glanced at Xingxing and the others casting their fishing rods by the lakeside cabin and couldn't help muttering to himself, "Maybe I should catch two. Half of one for soup, the other half for beer duck, and roast the remaining one all night so we can have crispy roast duck for lunch tomorrow."

The little one in his arms immediately tipped his head up and watched him fiercely.

Zhou Xu covered the little one's ears with his palms. "Be good, Xiao Qi. You didn't hear anything."

The kitchen.

Wen Cishu was pouring his third glass of water when a figure rushed over, bringing the afternoon heat with him.

A hand pressed down on his arm.

"Little Dad, you can't drink too much water right after eating."

Bo Yiming looked up, his face full of concern. "Are you really thirsty?"

Wen Cishu said gently, "Daddy only just started pouring. I'll just have a tiny bit, not too much."

Bo Yiming waved the watch on his left wrist, his bright eyes full of speechlessness. "Little Dad, why are you still telling lies?"

[Someone messaged Mingzai, right? Who was it? Who was it?]

[Seriously, his wife is just thirsty. What's he so anxious about? I can't!]

[Xiao Qi said his dad was clingy. Turns out there's one in Mingzai's family too. I'm dying.]

[Last time I got a fish bone stuck in my throat, my family made me go to the hospital by myself. Meanwhile, someone here gets looked after just for drinking a couple extra mouthfuls of water. (Sob, I'm so jealous.)]

[I'm not sure what's wrong with wifey. If it's his stomach, drinking this much water after a meal really isn't a good idea.]

[Wifey, look at me. I wouldn't have Mingzai pass on messages. I'd barge straight onto the livestream set, kiss you, hug you, and lift you up.]

[?]

Wen Cishu realized that Bo Tingyuan must have asked the child to stop him.

-Had he been watching the livestream all day today?

He said in a negotiating tone, "Then I'll hold out for a bit and drink a little more in half an hour, okay?"

As though remembering something, Bo Yiming turned and ran to open the fridge, muttering to himself, "Honeydew can quench thirst, right?"

He took out the sliced honeydew and picked up two pieces. "Little Dad, eat this. No more water."

Wen Cishu picked up a piece and offered it to the little fellow.

Usually, he seemed like a noisy little monkey, but at crucial moments, he was mature and sensible.

Bo Yiming didn't refuse.

But the instant he took his first bite and felt the chill in his mouth, he snatched the piece from Little Dad's hand.

With his honeydew suddenly gone, Wen Cishu looked at him in confusion.

"Hmm?"

Bo Yiming lowered his head and mumbled, "It's cold. Little Dad, you can't eat it. If Big Dad knew, he wouldn't let you eat it either."

Wen Cishu couldn't help laughing. "So you're just going to make Daddy watch you eat?"

Bo Yiming looked at the piece of honeydew in each hand, swiftly raised them, and gnawed from left to right at lightning speed.

He held up the two melon rinds and waved them. "There. All gone."

Wen Cishu: "?"

Whose silly son was this?!

Yes, there must be something wrong with Bo Tingyuan's genes.

[What are you doing? Weren't you trying to quench your Little Dad's thirst?]

[It looks like you're looking after Little Dad's health, but you're actually looking after your own appetite, right, Mingzai?]

[Mingzai: Never mind that for now. Anyway, I can't let Little Dad eat something cold.]

Under Little Dad's teasing gaze, Bo Yiming belatedly realized that the honeydew wouldn't be so cold if he just left it out for a while.

His amber eyes quietly drooped. Expressionless, he tossed the melon rinds into the trash, then moved like a robot to open the fridge and take out another piece.

When he returned, he set it beside Little Dad's hand.

The whole time, he looked like a little monkey presenting a banana as tribute to an elder of his troop.

Wen Cishu couldn't help laughing and ruffled his hair.

After all that, he had practically forgotten he was thirsty.

Under Bo Yiming's watchful supervision, Wen Cishu waited until the honeydew wasn't so cold before picking it up and taking a bite.

Freshly picked that morning, the honeydew tasted sweet and refreshing.

Just then, a figure trotted over, hid outside the floor-to-ceiling window, and quietly peeked inside.

Bo Yiming stepped forward and bent down. "Little sister? Do you want some honeydew?"

He reached out to pick Rongrong up.

But Rongrong rarely asked people to hold her when she was out. She shyly stepped back, then ran to Uncle's side.

"Don't be scared, Rongrong. Big brother is just a little too enthusiastic."

Wen Cishu said, "Yiming, get Rongrong a piece."

Rongrong shook her head, her little braids swaying, and clutched the hem of Uncle's shirt. "Uncle, Mommy said we could all go fishing together. Will you come?"