Chapter 23

If he went to the show to keep them company tomorrow, he would probably have to work overtime.

Bo Tingyuan said, "Mm. I'll try to get home early."

When he finished speaking, Wen Cishu noticed that he still hadn't released the arm loosely around him. He seemed to glimpse a trace of attachment in the eyes behind his glasses.

He pressed his soft lips together, reached out to hug him of his own accord, and said softly, "I'll be waiting for you at home."

But the moment he moved closer, Bo Tingyuan hugged him tightly, pressing them together.

The little monkey was still here.

Wen Cishu gently pushed him, signaling for him to let go.

Bo Tingyuan seemed not to notice. He lowered his head slightly, and as the tip of his nose brushed past Wen Cishu's ear, he inhaled deeply, drawing the faint fragrance surrounding him into his lungs.

When Wen Cishu stepped back, still savoring that brief but intimate embrace, he saw their adorable little son standing to one side.

Bo Yiming gazed up at the sky and muttered, "It's okay. Nobody's hugging me, but that's totally okay."

Wen Cishu smiled and was about to hug him, but Bo Tingyuan moved faster, bending down to wrap their son in his arms.

Bo Tingyuan was extremely tall, making Bo Yiming look especially tiny, like a beast embracing its cub.

His broad, strong hand rubbed his son's shoulder as he instructed, "If anything happens, tell me directly. Don't tattle to Little Dad."

Although Wen Cishu found this moment incredibly tender.

In Bo Yiming's eyes, however, this was no simple farewell hug. Big Dad was "bowing his head" to him.

"Oh~"

Bo Yiming raised his nonexistent tail and took Little Dad's hand. "I'm so sensible, of course I wouldn't tattle~ Right, Little Dad?"

"Right. You're the best-behaved boy."

Wen Cishu really had to hand it to this child. Where had he picked up these little ways?

Bo Tingyuan escorted them all the way down and only returned to his office after the two got into the car.

In the car.

Bo Yiming excitedly called Xingxing, exchanging accounts of their day's activities.

Wen Cishu leaned comfortably against the seat, gazing lazily through his sunglasses at the red light ahead.

He thought that this child really did get along well with Xingxing. For now, he would forget the original novel's setup and let things develop freely between them.

As for Bo Tingyuan...

Just then, several people suddenly appeared on the pedestrian crossing ahead, carrying a huge, long advertising sign.

The advertisement seemed designed specifically for drivers stopped at the light. Timing the traffic signals precisely, they walked as slowly as crawling ants.

Wen Cishu found it novel and took a closer look.

"For men's health, visit Bo'ai-an accredited specialist clinic with expert physicians."

"Results are what count!"

Since the advertising banner moved so slowly, Wen Cishu read every word clearly and couldn't help thinking, How is this any different from shoving the ad right in my face?

As his thoughts wandered, he heard the little monkey beside him excitedly discussing a cartoon's plot into his watch.

"I think this is a really important hint. Xingxing, you have to pay attention!"

A hint?

Wen Cishu suddenly looked at his son, then back at the sign moving so unbelievably slowly, practically desperate to shove its advertising slogans into his eyes.

Could this be a hint the original author was sending him through some unseen force?

Chapter 23

The living room on the mansion's first floor.

Bo Yiming was packing the suitcase of gifts with Auntie Zhong.

Wen Cishu reclined on the sofa with a cushion in his arms.

He had been practicing tai chi too diligently these past few days, and with all the extra walking, his lower back had started to ache a little that afternoon. He was rubbing it intermittently.

"Yiming, you haven't missed any gifts for the other children, have you?"

It would be terribly awkward if they took them out at the filming location tomorrow and discovered they were one short.

"Nope!"

Bo Yiming had counted them one by one. "Grandma Zhong, I can do it. I'm strong."

He took the initiative to pull the zipper closed and put the suitcase away.

Uncle Xu had originally wanted to help, but Wen Cishu hadn't let him either.

The little monkey had far too much energy. Giving him something to do would burn some of it off, or he would be too excited about appearing on the show to sleep again tonight.

Bo Yiming wheeled the suitcase into place so they could simply wheel it away when they left tomorrow.

Auntie Zhong walked over to Wen Cishu and asked quietly, "Feeling any better?"

"Mm."

Wen Cishu gave a languid yawn and turned to glance outside the living room.

Auntie Zhong teased, "Has the Bo family's eldest young master suddenly forgotten the way today? Must you wait here for him?"

Wen Cishu chuckled and firmly denied it. "Nothing of the sort. I'm not waiting for him."

Auntie Zhong gave a quiet scoff, seeing right through him.

"Little Dad, I want to check on the little potatoes. Are you coming?"

Bo Yiming bounded over and blinked repeatedly at Little Dad, dropping frantic hints.

"Sure." Wen Cishu set aside the cushion and stood.

Auntie Zhong picked up a light blanket and draped it over his shoulders.

The blanket's long fringe mingled with his black hair, swaying together as Wen Cishu walked.

In the garden.

Bo Yiming bent over to examine the potatoes in the pot, then glanced back. While Grandma Zhong hadn't followed them over, he reached out to scrape away the covering soil.

"Little Dad, look! This one's got a little sprout."

The potato they had brought back from the show had been cut into four pieces. Five days later, one had developed a fairly noticeable tender shoot.

Amused by his furtive little manner, Wen Cishu urged him to cover it back up. "Don't let the little potato get cold. The others should sprout in another couple of days."

When they planted them, Auntie Zhong had said that in this weather, it would probably take seven days for all of them to sprout and break through the soil.

"Mm!" Bo Yiming pushed the soil back and clapped his hands. "Little Dad, did you know? Little Brother Xingxing put his potatoes in water when he got home. They sprouted faster than ours."

"Really?" Wen Cishu opened the blanket, put an arm around his shoulders, and drew him into his embrace, asking with interest, "How do you have so much to talk about with Little Brother Xingxing?"

Bo Yiming nestled under the blanket against Little Dad. So warm~

"It's just, I talk to him, and then I ask if we should hang up. He says let's talk about something else, and before we know it, we've been talking for ages."

"Is that so?" Wen Cishu thought that this little friendship went both ways after all. He ruffled his son's hair, happy for him.

In the living room.

The father and son had only just left, and Auntie Zhong was still straightening the cushions on the sofa when Bo Tingyuan arrived home.

Uncle Xu happened to emerge from the kitchen as well and went over to take the eldest young master's coat.

"Sir and the little young master went to the garden."

Bo Tingyuan nodded.

Auntie Zhong added at just the right moment, "The second young master specifically waited here for you to come home. He's been waiting since dinner."

Bo Tingyuan turned to look at her and nodded, indicating that he had taken her words in.

Auntie Zhong continued, "The second young master's lower back seems to be bothering him a little, though it's nothing serious."

"All right." Bo Tingyuan headed toward the garden.

Once the eldest young master was some distance away, Uncle Xu turned to look at Auntie Zhong, who was still straightening the sofa.

For the first time in his career as a wealthy family's butler, he felt such an intense sense of crisis.

In the garden.

Wen Cishu shared a blanket with his son as they walked back, smiling affectionately together. When he raised his eyes, he finally saw the figure returning late.

"Big Dad!"

Bo Yiming poked his smiling face out from under Little Dad's arm.

"Little Dad's been waiting for you to get off work, but you weren't home yet, so I brought him to see the potatoes."

"Mm."

Bo Tingyuan came forward and ruffled his son's hair, then pulled the blanket off his shoulders and wrapped it around Wen Cishu's.

Bo Yiming, suddenly feeling chilly: ???

Wen Cishu was just about to speak when Bo Tingyuan bent down with utter ease and scooped him up.

It was the same face-to-face hold as yesterday in the kitchen, making Wen Cishu's ears grow hot. Unable to push him away, he could only pull the light blanket around Bo Tingyuan's broad shoulders too and ask softly, "Have you had dinner?"

"Mm."

Feeling the warmth envelop him, Bo Tingyuan held him securely.

He turned and walked inside, reminding his son, "Yiming, we're going in."

Bo Yiming had thought Big Dad wanted to steal his blanket. It turned out he wanted to hold Little Dad.

He scampered after them.

The three walked together into the brighter light indoors.

Wen Cishu nestled in Bo Tingyuan's arms. The blanket trapped the warmth, creating a warm little

space all their own.

His cheek rested against Bo Tingyuan's shoulder, the little monkey's chatter to Big Dad filling his ears. His eyes curved unconsciously. If it could always be like this, how peaceful and happy it would be.

The next second, Wen Cishu noticed Uncle Xu and Auntie Zhong were still in the living room. He hurriedly turned his face and buried it against Bo Tingyuan's neck, murmuring in a voice only he could hear, "Just say I'm asleep."

Hearing footsteps, Uncle Xu and Auntie Zhong turned almost in unison and saw the eldest young master approaching with sir in his arms.

Of the two middle-aged people, one lowered his eyes while the other shifted her gaze to the little young master bouncing along.

Auntie Zhong asked, "Yiming, did you go poking at the potatoes again?"

Bo Yiming stuck out the tip of his tongue. "Grandma Zhong~ I only uncovered one! I didn't touch the others."

Auntie Zhong ushered him off to wash his hands.

Wen Cishu breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, Auntie Zhong hadn't asked.

Honestly, Bo Tingyuan. Wasn't the way he usually carried him perfectly fine? Why suddenly change his habits?

Once they entered the elevator.

Only then did Wen Cishu lift his face and lean back a little, looking at him as he said softly, "Put me down. I can walk."

Inside this old antique elevator hung a glass lamp made with modern craftsmanship.

The lampshade's intricate, exquisite carved patterns fell with the light, currently casting themselves over Wen Cishu's thick, dark hair.

Bo Tingyuan had never noticed before.

Now, he took a step back.

The glass lamp's patterned shadows fell perfectly across Wen Cishu's soft, porcelain-white face, forming an exquisite picture with his beautiful features.

Under the gaze of those gemlike green eyes, Wen Cishu was somewhat bewildered. He gave him a gentle push. "Did you hear me?"