Page 5

He had a Chinese name, but Uncle Xu liked calling him that.

The words "a lot of documents" reached Bo Yiming's ears and, after a complex, precise process of translation, became-"divorce agreement," "division of assets," and "custody agreement."

The boy sprang up, giving Uncle Xu a fright.

He steadied Uncle Xu. "I'll go take a look!"

Someday, when he held a concert, his two dads absolutely had to sit side by side in the VVVVIP seats!

When Wen Cishu entered the study, he heard two voices conversing in English.

Whatever language he spoke, Bo Tingyuan's deep voice always carried an unmistakable authority, making it easy to recognize.

The other person was his assistant, Albert.

If Wen Cishu remembered correctly, Albert had worked for Bo Tingyuan back in Europe, then followed him back to China and joined the Bo family business.

The two men stopped talking when Wen Cishu appeared.

Bo Tingyuan's dark green eyes swept briefly over him from behind his glasses.

Wen Cishu's long hair, usually worn loose, was pinned into a rare bun, exposing his slender, snow-white swan's neck and making his soft, rosy lips stand out all the more.

Bo Tingyuan rose and gestured for Albert to continue their discussion by the sofa.

Only when he drew closer did he get a clear look at the hairpin tucked at an angle into Wen Cishu's hair.

He focused on the pattern to confirm it. It was indeed the Hetian green jade page turner he had chosen two years ago.

The auction house had sent a catalog at the time, and he had selected several pieces to be brought to Wen Cishu.

Back then, Wen Cishu had not seemed particularly delighted and had merely asked Aunt Zhong to put them away.

As soon as Wen Cishu sat down, Bo Tingyuan tucked a soft cushion behind his waist.

His assistant Albert also came over from the desk and placed a tablet on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

Smiling at the young man, whose frailty did nothing to conceal his innate refinement, he said, "You're looking well today, Mr. Wen."

He distinctly remembered that years had passed since he first met Wen Cishu, yet Wen Cishu was like a banished immortal kept within a secluded mansion, untouched by the mortal world, seemingly incapable of changing.

Wen Cishu smiled faintly. "Yes, I've been feeling quite energetic these past couple of days."

He turned to Bo Tingyuan. "Is this about what we discussed last night?"

"Mm." Bo Tingyuan picked up the tablet and opened the documents for him.

Wen Cishu's sharp eyes had already spotted the compiled information on several shows.

He leaned his left shoulder toward Bo Tingyuan and studied the text and images on the screen.

The tablet Bo Tingyuan had intended to hand over remained in front of him instead, his right arm reaching around to rest loosely around Wen Cishu.

He was tall and broad-framed, and the gesture seemed to enfold Wen Cishu's slender, green-bamboo-like figure completely.

Wen Cishu paid no attention to these details, merely asking with a hint of surprise, "Are there really this many shows suitable for children now?"

Albert explained, "Yes. Every television station and streaming platform keeps putting out talent competitions and variety shows to compete for ratings. I've already screened out the repetitive ones and those with mediocre production teams."

"Okay, let me see." Wen Cishu swiped past the "teen singing competitions" category.

In all honesty, he felt that sending their little monkey to sing would only torment the judges and the audience.

Some athletic competition shows for young people, on the other hand, were worth considering.

But the little monkey might not like them.

Albert said, "There are also trainee auditions held by some companies, which don't have many specific requirements. But being selected would directly affect the young master's school schedule, so I haven't included those."

"Mm, it mustn't interfere with school." Wen Cishu nodded, swiping to the "parent-child variety shows" category. "There are parent-child shows too?"

The more he looked, the more interested he became. "Parent-child travel. It looks like I could go have some fun too."

Albert was about to explain when Bo Tingyuan moved his fingers slightly.

He silently rose and left the study first.

In the hallway.

Albert ran straight into Bo Yiming, who was skulking around trying to eavesdrop.

Looking at the boy, already very handsome at such a young age, he smiled. "Young master, what's going on?"

With the house so well soundproofed, Bo Yiming naturally hadn't heard a thing.

He hesitated, unsure whether to ask Uncle Albert.

There was actually something Albert had left unsaid earlier: with the young master's mixed-race looks, he would be hot property even without knowing how to sing or dance.

He imagined that the moment the boy appeared, it would be like tossing a little piece of bread into a koi pond, with hundreds upon thousands of fish swarming over.

If the bosses of those talent agencies learned about his family background and wealth as well, they would probably want to enshrine him as their little God of Wealth.

Bo Yiming shook his head, deciding to observe the situation himself first.

"Uncle, you know my big dad pretty well. It's just..."

Looking a little conflicted, he asked, "Do you think he'll agree to let me enter the entertainment industry?"

Albert gestured toward the room with his eyes, smiling as he lowered his voice. "Don't worry. He's discussing it with your little dad right now."

"Ah!" Bo Yiming's amber eyes shone brightly. "Really?!"

Inside the room.

Wen Cishu was studying several shows and comparing their different circumstances. Only after a long while did he suddenly realize that the man beside him hadn't spoken.

He sat up straight and lifted his eyes, meeting that authoritative gaze. Unconsciously lowering his voice, he asked tentatively, "What do you think about me going on a show with Yiming?"

Under the gaze of those bright black eyes, Bo Tingyuan hesitated for a second.

"Your health won't allow that kind of exertion."

The little flame that had just ignited in Wen Cishu's black eyes was doused with a hiss by those few words.

He lowered his head to continue looking at the tablet and muttered, "I've been hearing that since I was little." He was sick of it.

Several seconds later, he finally realized-oh, this apparently wasn't about letting him go have fun. It was about vetting a show for the child.

He stole a guilty glance at Bo Tingyuan's long fingers holding the tablet.

Just then, the family's little monkey burst through the door.

"Dad!"

There was no telling which one he was calling.

Both dads looked up at the same time.

Bo Yiming excitedly vaulted over the back of the sofa and landed beside his little dad.

Before Wen Cishu could react, the man on his left had put an arm around him and moved him aside.

Bo Yiming was just about to hug his little dad's arm, but his big dad beat him to it, putting an arm around his little dad and getting up to sit on the opposite sofa.

"Little Dad, can I go on a show now? The open auditions are about to end."

Before Bo Tingyuan could speak, Wen Cishu said, "Yiming, your big dad and I are discussing switching you to a different show."

He handed over the tablet. "Look, how about this one?"

Bo Yiming quickly scrolled through the text and images on the screen. "Wow! I'd be with other celebrities? Really?"

Seeing that the little brat seemed quite easy to coax, Wen Cishu relaxed.

"Every show here has a selection process too. You can't join just by signing up. Yiming, are you confident?"

"Of course!" Bo Yiming hugged the tablet and fell back into the sofa with a grin. "Little Dad, no matter what show it is, I'll definitely get selected."

Wen Cishu was puzzled. Whom had this little fellow inherited his inexplicable confidence from?

"Then you need to ask your big dad now whether he agrees to let us go."

"Huh?" Bo Yiming had thought it was a done deal. After all that, his big dad hadn't even cast his vote?

He could only sit up properly again. Before even speaking, he had already put on a thoroughly aggrieved look as he gazed at the exceptionally stern head of the household.

"Big Dad?"

Facing the two faces that bore a slight resemblance to each other, Bo Tingyuan noticed the anticipation and longing sparkling in their eyes.

Unbidden, the image of Wen Cishu tugging his cuff last night rose before his eyes...

Seeing that he seemed to be making a decision, Wen Cishu's heart rose into his throat.

If possible, he really wanted to go out and have some fun with the little brat too.

Bo Yiming could only see "objection" written in his big dad's deep eyes, and his face fell.

"I'll have Albert sign you both up first. If the production team invites you, I'll agree."

Before Bo Tingyuan had even finished speaking, the little monkey opposite him let out an excited cry and lunged toward them.

Tightening the arm resting behind Wen Cishu's waist, he gripped his waist and lifted him onto his lap, frowning as he reminded his son, "Yiming, stop throwing yourself at your little dad."

Bo Yiming bounced wildly in front of the sofa. "Awooo!!! I'm going to tell Grandpa Xu and everyone!"

Wen Cishu teased languidly, "It's like we're raising a monkey. The apes on both banks never stop crying."

He lifted his eyes and met a lake of deep green.

It was deep and rich, as though it engulfed him from every direction, unconsciously making him hold his breath.

Only after an unknown number of seconds did Wen Cishu belatedly realize that he was entirely in Bo Tingyuan's arms, with his own arms looped around those broad shoulders.

He hurriedly pushed himself up, chattering, "I don't know what Yiming's getting so excited about. We still have to sign up and pass the screening. It's not as though he can go on the show right away."

All that commotion had loosened his bun, and strands of hair brushed the skin at the side of Bo Tingyuan's neck, stirring little ripples. "Whether or not you go on the show, you need exercise."

"Oh." Hearing his tone, Wen Cishu felt as though he were listening to an elder.

He had accidentally lost a slipper just now and lowered his head to look for it, only to find that Bo Tingyuan's hand had already picked up the soft-soled house shoe a moment ahead of him.

Standing there, he childishly raised one foot and watched Bo Tingyuan bend down to put the slipper on him.

The loose opening had originally been very comfortable, but as it slowly slid over the top of his foot now, it seemed suddenly to tighten.

When the man's knuckles brushed Wen Cishu's slender ankle through his soft house socks, he felt a faint heat behind his ears. His gaze wandered, unsure where to settle, yet he couldn't help studying the man's broad back and shoulders and his brown-black hair.

It was unlike Wen Cishu's exceptionally jet-black hair.

The ends of Bo Tingyuan's hair carried a faint dark brown-gold tint, while the roots were entirely brown-black, the strands stiff and coarse.