Chapter 32

[Show PD, what are you doing? All of you should be saying that Mingzai's big dad has to deliver this ointment himself!]

[Exactly, and he has to apply it to his wife himself too.]

[Wait, I'm pretty interested in seeing him apply the ointment. Where can I watch that?]

Chapter 32

With the combined efforts of the adults and children, everyone sat down to piping-hot set meals right on time.

As Zhou Xu helped Xiao Qi with his meal, he joked, "I feel like we came here to work for the production team today."

Wen Cishu nodded slightly, sharing the sentiment.

Chu Han said, "Teacher Zhou, are your hands itching because you didn't get to cook?"

"Of course~" Zhou Xu joked. "I even worked out a new dish at home especially to surprise you, but there weren't many ingredients yesterday either. There was no room to show my skills."

Bo Yiming looked up. "Uncle Zhou, you're amazing. You practiced singing and prepared a new dish."

"Ahem!" Zhou Xu coughed hard twice. "Just eat your food."

[Mingzai: Forgot you're an idol? No worries, I'll remember for you!]

[Zhou Xu's going to wake up in the middle of the night just to curse: Seriously, that little brat Mingzai!]

Wen Cishu felt the faint coolness at the back of his neck.

The cream he had applied earlier seemed to be slowly penetrating the surface of his skin, providing some relief from the itching.

His thoughts suddenly drifted away.

-He wondered whether Bo Tingyuan had managed to get a full night's sleep last night.

"Little Dad?"

Bo Yiming asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Hm?" Wen Cishu came back to himself. "No."

Only then did he notice everyone looking at him. He smiled rather sheepishly and shifted the hand holding his chopsticks.

"Sorry, I spaced out a little. What were you saying?"

Chu Han nudged the warm water toward him. "We were talking about having hot pot. Yiming said he's never had hot pot at home."

Wen Cishu picked up his glass and took a sip, then looked at his son. "That's right. We don't really eat hot pot."

Bo Yiming eagerly asked for his agreement. "Little Dad, can we have hot pot at home?"

Naturally, Wen Cishu had no objection and nodded his agreement.

Rongrong rested both hands on the edge of the table, her chin on the backs of her hands, and said in her childish voice, "Big Brother Yiming~ You should go to a restaurant for hot pot. It's really fun."

"Really?" Bo Yiming looked at the adorable little girl who had spoken up on her own, now full of anticipation.

Zhu Wei smiled and said, "How about we arrange a time after the show ends and all get together for a lively meal? Yiming, have you never seen a split hot pot before?"

"What kind of pot?"

Hearing the term, Bo Yiming looked at her with sparkling amber eyes. "Is it tasty?"

Xingxing was stunned and hurried to explain what a split hot pot was.

Bo Yiming showered him with praise. "Xingxing, you even know about that? You're so amazing. Rongrong's amazing too, having tried hot pot when she's so little!"

His tone was so serious that Xingxing and Rongrong exchanged a bewildered look.

Four eyes, four enormous question marks.

The adults all smiled.

Holding his glass of warm water, Wen Cishu couldn't help laughing either.

[Hahaha, does eating hot pot make you amazing?! Doesn't that make those of us from Sichuan and Chongqing heaven-defyingly amazing?]

[How has this kid never had hot pot? Isn't he a mixed-race kid who grew up in China? I don't get it.]

[Different eating habits, probably. Judging by Mingzai and his dad, their meals at home are probably extremely refined and carefully prepared.]

[Poor Baby Mingming, come over to big sister's house. I have a split hot pot~ (Don't come empty-handed. Remember to bring your little dad~]

[Ming "Little Dad's solo stan" Zai: So many schemes. Saw right through you!]

After the meal, everyone helped close up the teahouse, just as they had in the previous episode.

Before they officially finished, Wen Cishu wanted to leave the children with a few more mementos, so he asked Rongrong, "Rongrong, does your little camera still have any photo paper? I'd like to take a few more pictures of you."

Whenever he came close, Rongrong couldn't help wanting to touch his thick, silky long hair. Her little hands were tucked into her pockets. After hearing his question, she hurriedly nodded. "Yes~ I'll get it~"

For the first time, she dashed off with such speed, fetching the camera and an entire box of photo paper.

She had kept admiring the photos he had taken yesterday before going to sleep last night.

Xiao Qi jogged over and hugged his little uncle's long legs, bouncing eagerly. "Xiao Qi wants to be in the pictures too~"

Remembering yesterday's little penguin Xiao Qi, Wen Cishu rubbed his hair. "Okay, let me find a place and see how we can take them."

Copying Big Sister Rongrong, Xiao Qi grabbed his little uncle's hem too and followed him.

Wen Cishu instantly gained two adorable little tails.

"Let's do it on the stairs."

He lifted Xiao Qi and Rongrong onto the steps, then beckoned the other two children over.

The four children sat on different steps in turn, fitting perfectly into the frame.

After Wen Cishu took a picture, the four children put their heads together to admire it.

"We're taking one today too." Chu Han went to pull Zhu Wei over. "Teacher Zhou, come on."

Zhu Wei then went to ask the show's PD to help take a group photo.

A staff member wearing a baseball cap appeared. Once everyone had settled along the wooden staircase, they pressed the shutter, preserving everyone's joyful expressions forever.

[I love the pictures of the little ones all huddled together. So heartwarming. Mommy really loves children~]

[I want to see the pictures wifey took~ The show's official account has to post them!]

[Is it ending already? That was way too fast! I haven't had enough of Mommy yet~]

Before ducking away, the staff member reminded them quietly, "Everyone, remember to preview the next episode."

Zhu Wei placed a hand on the back of Bo Yiming's shoulder and nudged him toward the camera. "Yiming, tell everyone what we'll be filming for episode three."

Bo Yiming approached the camera and stood straight as though he were stepping onto a stage, announcing in an extremely formal tone, "We'll be filming separately next time~ We'll be filming our homes~ Please come and watch us then, okay?"

Afterward, he repeated it in English and French, then gave a solemn bow.

The adults were amused by this older child whose train of thought was always so peculiar.

The three little ones, however, had eyes filled with admiration.

[Mingzai would be perfect as a host on an international stage. That delivery was so professional.]

[Seriously?? Are we going inside the guests' homes? Mingzai's home??]

[We get an up-close look at where Mommy lives? Aaaaaah, I'm so excited!]

[I'm so worried the guests will all rent places temporarily. You never get to see the real thing on other shows.]

[Anything works! I just want to know, why next episode?? Keeping us hanging for a whole week? I'm going to fight this stupid production team!]

Amid the audience's shock and anticipation, the second episode officially drew to a close.

As Wen Cishu left with his suitcase, he couldn't help raising a hand to rub the back of his neck through his clothes. The ointment seemed to be losing its effect.

Bo Yiming was hugging the younger children goodbye and didn't notice.

A passenger van arrived. Albert opened the door and got out, helping Uncle Xu and the bodyguard with the luggage.

Wen Cishu and Bo Yiming got into the van.

Besides the production staff, many other people were gathered around.

After the van drove away, everyone couldn't help whispering.

"Was that Mingzai's big dad? He doesn't look like that handsome guy in the mask. The people online got it wrong."

A staff member overheard and said quietly, "That's Mingzai's big dad's assistant. Don't get the wrong idea."

"Huh? You've seen Mingzai's big dad? What does he look like? Is he the one people are talking about online? Is Mingzai's surname Bo?"

The staff member covered their mouth and backed away.

"Hey, hey, hey, why are you running?!"

Inside the van.

The moment Wen Cishu got in, he spotted the man sitting upright in the back row, his expression composed.

The instant their eyes met, the noise outside and the little monkey's chatter seemed to vanish.

Through his lenses, Bo Tingyuan's eyes, deep green as a forest, instantly created a strange, secluded space for Wen Cishu.

Even with just those few steps between them, under his intent gaze, Wen Cishu distinctly felt that something was off with his heartbeat.

As he stood dazed, holding on to a seat, Bo Yiming let out a puzzled "Huh?" behind him.

Bo Tingyuan reached out in time and pulled him to his side.

The sensation of his hand being enveloped, more distinct than every previous time they had held hands, brought Wen Cishu back to himself.

Just like last time, his hand was drawn over to rest on Bo Tingyuan's thigh.

Wen Cishu saw the two rings almost touching, with only the tiniest gap between them.

Once everyone was seated, Bo Tingyuan told his son, "Yiming, I have something to discuss with your little dad. We'll switch cars up ahead."

"Huh?" Bo Yiming turned his head in surprise.

Although his big dad had already given a reason, he still asked blankly, "Why?"

Bo Tingyuan handed over the contract that had been resting on the seat on his other side. "This is the farm transfer agreement."

"The farm?"

Bo Yiming nearly jumped up. He hurriedly took it and read the words on the first page.

"It really is the farm."

Seeing the young master's adorable reaction, even Uncle Xu couldn't help smiling fondly.

While Bo Tingyuan spoke to his son, Wen Cishu quietly moved his fingers, pretending it was unintentional, trying to bring his wedding ring against the other one.

Instead, Bo Tingyuan cradled his left hand and used his other hand to turn the ring on his ring finger.

His movements were extremely practiced and natural, as though he were turning his own ring.

Wen Cishu silently glanced at his profile.

As Bo Tingyuan turned the ring, he instructed Albert to explain the contract's terms and details to Bo Yiming.

Bo Yiming finally understood and asked for confirmation, "Big Dad, do you mean I get to decide whether to invest? If the business loses money in the future or anything like that, that counts as mine too? The farm belongs to me alone?"