Chapter 17

After saying that, he clearly saw a tiny glint flash across Bo Tingyuan's lenses.

He was certain Bo Tingyuan knew where the wedding ring was.

His slightly upturned phoenix eyes waited expectantly for him to speak.

"No."

Bo Tingyuan straightened the covers as usual, his expression calm. "I'm going to bed. Good night."

Wen Cishu: So you can be selectively mute, too?!

But as that tall figure headed toward the screen and into the bedroom that seemed like forbidden territory, he somehow blurted out, "I wasn't complaining about you smelling of alcohol just now."

His voice was light and soft as down.

Like a cloud casting a round little shadow on a lake.

"Mm."

Bo Tingyuan paused, about to savor the softness and loveliness of that cloud, when he heard a little noise outside the main door.

"Knock-knock~ knock-knock~"

A light, rhythmic knocking.

Who it came from went without saying.

Bo Tingyuan went to open the door instead. "Yiming?"

"Big Daddy!" Bo Yiming carefully held up a tray bearing a porcelain bowl of hot medicinal soup and a small cup of osmanthus honey water.

He slowly walked into the room.

Auntie Zhong followed him in the hallway outside. She explained, "Young Master, this is the calming soup Doctor Lin told us to brew before leaving. It's meant to be taken before bed."

"Mm," Bo Tingyuan acknowledged.

Wen Cishu sat up. "Thank you, sweetheart Mingming, but why aren't you asleep yet?"

Bo Yiming safely set the tray on the bedside table, then flung himself affectionately onto Little Daddy's legs, leaning against him through the covers.

"Little Daddy, I'm so happy. We're going on the show again in a few days, and I can't sleep. I wish Saturday would hurry up."

Wen Cishu thought with a smile that this child probably enjoyed a lively atmosphere, too.

Remembering the show in a few days, Bo Tingyuan's already subdued expression darkened a little, but the smile on Wen Cishu's face softened it again in an instant.

Bo Yiming rose onto his knees and carefully held up Little Daddy's hair while he drank the medicine. "Little Daddy, quick, have some honey water."

Actually, the Chinese medicine brought to Wen Cishu had never been particularly bitter.

Thinking about it now, someone must have instructed Doctor Lin long ago to add a few compatible herbs to every prescription, specifically to tone down the intense bitterness.

Wen Cishu thought he must have been blinded by lard before, not to have figured it out.

In that case, he couldn't be too harsh on Bo Tingyuan for keeping things from him.

He took a sip of osmanthus honey water, holding it on his tongue for a few seconds before swallowing.

Catching sight of Bo Tingyuan still in the room out of the corner of his eye, Wen Cishu told the little monkey, "Daddy's medicine isn't that bitter. With the honey water, it's even sweeter, so don't worry."

The ends of Bo Tingyuan's eyebrows lifted slightly.

"Mm." Bo Yiming leaned against Little Daddy's legs, fingering his silky black hair. "Little Daddy, can I sleep with you again tonight, like on the show?"

He was only nine, after all, and was adorable when he wheedled.

He stole a glance at Big Daddy, then, before Big Daddy could speak, rolled over and hugged Little Daddy's waist, rocking him back and forth. "Little Daddy, pleeease?"

The long hair behind Wen Cishu's shoulders spilled down in sections, gleaming lustrously in the light.

"All right~"

Bo Tingyuan said nothing else, only reminding him, "Yiming, don't crowd your Little Daddy."

"Okay!"

Bo Yiming happily nestled in Little Daddy's arms, acting as spoiled as he could. He brought up planting potatoes and was especially eager for them to sprout. "I wish I could see sprouts when I wake up tomorrow! Little Daddy, have you ever seen a sprouted potato?"

"Mm..." Wen Cishu considered it seriously. "I don't think so. But Daddy knows you can't eat sprouted potatoes. They contain toxins."

"Wow, Little Daddy, you're amazing."

After closing the screen, Bo Tingyuan unconsciously stood still instead of leaving right away.

The father and son's soft laughter and conversation were warm and bright.

Wen Cishu glanced at the screen, seeming to glimpse a shadow beneath it.

It suddenly occurred to him that perhaps sleeping in separate rooms wasn't about shutting him out, but about Bo Tingyuan shutting himself inside that "forbidden territory."

But today, he had spoken a little more.

That was a good sign, at least.

Wen Cishu put an arm around the little one's shoulders. "All right, Daddy's going to wash up, and then we'll go to sleep."

Bo Yiming sat up as Daddy rose. "Little Daddy, can I tell you a fairy tale? In French."

"Sure. Your grandma used to love telling Daddy French fairy tales. They really put you to sleep."

Wen Cishu entered the bathroom, laughter in his voice.

Remembering something else, he stood in the doorway and looked back at his son.

"Oh, Yiming, did you tell Big Daddy about your grandpa's birthday?"

"Yes."

Bo Yiming hugged the soft pillow and nodded obediently. "Big Daddy said he's already prepared a present for me to take over. Big Daddy isn't going. Little Daddy, will you go?"

For as long as he could remember, he had gone to Grandpa's birthday alone every year.

Although he could shoulder the responsibility of being the family's little representative, he still hoped to have a daddy with him.

"I see."

Wen Cishu glanced at the screen.

Things between Bo Tingyuan and his father were a tangled mess, too.

More precisely, there was a great deal of history Wen Cishu knew nothing about.

-Maybe I can learn more about Bo Tingyuan through Yiming's grandpa?

He agreed. "Then Daddy will go with you."

"Yay!" Bo Yiming bounced happily. "Grandpa will be extra happy to see Little Daddy. He'll play the piano and dance again."

Whenever Grandpa got excited during holidays, he played the piano and pulled him into a twirling dance. He was nothing like the reserved Chinese people he knew, and much more like an enthusiastic, free-spirited Frenchman.

After washing up, Wen Cishu thought on his way back to bed, I'd better let Bo Tingyuan know tomorrow about going to the birthday banquet. I wonder how he'll react.

He lay down and told his son, "Come on, let Daddy hear your French fairy tale."

Bo Yiming carefully tucked the covers into place. The comforting fragrance made him feel warm and peaceful.

He sat propped up in all seriousness, tilting his head as he began recalling the French versions of fairy tales stored in his mind. "Um..."

Three minutes later: "Um..."

It wasn't that he had suddenly forgotten how to speak French. Mainly, he didn't know how to tell a story.

With his eyes closed, Wen Cishu couldn't help smiling.

Bo Yiming said, "Little Daddy, maybe we should just go to sleep. Otherwise, Big Daddy will definitely say I'm being naughty and carry me out."

Laughing, Wen Cishu curled up and hugged the adorable big baby.

"All right, let's sleep, you little silly Mingming."

Bo Yiming turned off the light and hugged Little Daddy's arm, mumbling, "Little Daddy, could you not call me that when other people are around?"

Wen Cishu thought, You really care about saving face, kid. You definitely got that from your Big Daddy.

"Got it. When other people are around, you're Daddy's little sweetheart Mingming."

Tonight, Bo Yiming was practically bubbling over with happiness.

In the bedroom on the other side of the screen.

Bo Tingyuan leaned against the bed, his gaze deep as he looked at "Come home early" on his phone screen.

He lifted his fingers slightly and touched the pendant of his necklace through his pajamas.

Chapter 17

The next morning.

Wen Cishu practiced with the tai chi instructor in the little garden, listening to the breathing instructions as he slowly moved with his eyes closed.

Seeing that he was getting the hang of it and looked much more energetic than on the previous visit, the instructor felt reassured.

When coaching the wealthy, the greatest concerns were uncooperative clients or excessive demands. But Mr. Wen lived up to his name: gentle and refined, he had never made things difficult.

Forty minutes later, the lesson ended. Wen Cishu said goodbye to the instructor and asked the auntie to fetch some pastries from the house for him to take home.

Auntie Zhong handed him a hot towel to wipe his hands. "Tired?"

Wen Cishu shook his head.

He had slept well last night, so standing and practicing for a few dozen minutes hadn't tired him out.

"Where's my phone?"

Before practicing tai chi, he had sent Bo Tingyuan a WeChat message asking about Yiming's grandpa's birthday.

Auntie Zhong took it out of her pocket and handed it to him.

There was a reply from Bo Tingyuan.

[I'll come home this afternoon and pick you and Yiming up to go over.]

Wen Cishu was surprised. Had he been planning to go all along?

Seeing him stop in the middle of walking, Auntie Zhong asked, "Something urgent?"

"No." Wen Cishu joked, "What urgent business would anyone come to me for? Wouldn't they be frantic by the time I dealt with it?"

Auntie Zhong smiled.

As they spoke, an incoming call appeared on his phone screen.

It was the production team of Little Ones Are Supermen.

Surprised, Wen Cishu sighed softly. "Someone really is looking for me?"

He answered the call. "Hello, this is Yiming's dad."

"Hello, hello!" The staff member sounded inexplicably excited, though somewhat restrained. "Yiming's dad, I'm calling today to discuss the show with you."

As it turned out, the first episode's livestream had attracted considerable attention and generated a lot of discussion.

Some viewers had left comments on the show's official platform, hoping they would consider planning an episode themed around a "family of three" appearing together.

After explaining the background, the staff member asked in a friendly, consultative tone, "We're calling today to sound you out. Do you think Yiming's other dad might possibly accept our invitation?"

Wen Cishu thought it seemed nothing had been finalized yet, and they were still consulting the guests.

"Since Yiming's Big Daddy is quite busy with work..."

He stopped as soon as he said it, immediately remembering that Bo Tingyuan had spent the entire time in the parking area within the production team's sight a couple of days ago.

Wasn't that a downright barefaced lie?

He embarrassed himself into silence.

Fortunately, the staff member didn't dwell on it, instead saying, "Yes, yes, we understand. That's why this family-of-three theme would probably be scheduled for the fourth episode, or a bonus episode. Could we trouble you to discuss it with him for us, Yiming's dad? Personally, I believe Mingzai would really love to have both his dads appear on the show together."