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Perhaps out of resentment, he didn't discard the things he stole from Lou Yu back then. This time, he rummaged through the pile of old things and took them all to the Lou Family for inspection.

He thought he would be exposed, but perhaps because they couldn't find anyone, and because his excuse was plausible, those people actually believed him.

The Lou Family not only paid off his gambling debts and gave him a good life, but also told him that as long as he could persuade Lou Yu to return to the Central Base, they would guarantee him a comfortable life for the rest of his days.

Lin Wang knew that he would be exposed once he met Lou Yu, but the Lou Family's offer was too generous, so he eventually came along anyway.

He thought Lou Yu was still the same gentle and kind young man he used to be, and that if he begged him, Lou Yu would agree to go back to the Central Base with him out of pity.

But now it seems his hopes are about to be dashed.

The two Lou Family realized from Lin Wang's reaction that Lou Yu was telling the truth; they had been tricked by Lin Wang.

Lou Yu looked at them and said sarcastically, "Goodbye and don't bother coming back. By the way, I don't have an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, so don't waste your time on this. It's embarrassing to be fooled again."

The two men's faces turned pale and then red after Lou Yu's words. Lin Wang could tell from their expressions that he was probably doomed once he stepped out of that door.

Terrified, he turned ashen-faced and, disregarding everything else, lunged at Lou Yu like a stray dog, trying to grab his leg and beg for mercy. But Lou Yu reacted faster and kicked him to the ground.

Lou Yu kicked him very hard, probably venting all the resentment he had harbored over the years in this one kick.

Lin Wang dared not approach Lou Yu again. He endured the pain, got up, and knelt down to kowtow to him.

"Lou Yu, I was wrong back then. Please, please save me! If you don't come back with me, they'll kill me. I beg you, please..."

Lin Wang's head slammed against the ground with loud thuds, and blood quickly appeared.

The two Lou Family didn't come up; they probably wanted to see if Lou Yu would soften his stance after Lin Wang's actions.

Lou Yu had long since come to loathe this person, so why would he heed his request?

After saying, "What do I care if you live or die?" he left without looking back.

Lin Wang's wails echoed behind him, but Lou Yu didn't stop even once; instead, he walked faster and faster.

There's no other reason than it's just too noisy.

The Lou Family? They came and went in a hurry, but they left behind a lot of gossip, which made Lou Yu Lou Quan butt of jokes for several days.

If Lou Yu hadn't threatened him with food, Lou Quan would have continued to be a laughingstock for even longer.

On the day Lou Yu took the wheat seeds to find Tao Qiu, he hugged Tao Qiu and pitifully told him about it.

Knowing that this whole farce was caused by his own photo, Tao Qiu was both amused and annoyed. He patted Lou Yu's head and comforted him, "They actually slandered your innocence out of thin air. It's all their fault. They should be arrested and jailed."

"That's right, that's right." Lou Yu mimicked the kids' words, burying his face in Tao Qiu's shoulder and saying in a spoiled tone, "I only love you, Qiuqiu."

Tao Qiu was still smiling, but suddenly he thought of something. He helped Lou Yu sit up, cupped his face and examined him from all sides, his eyebrows gradually furrowing.

Lou Yu, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Tao Qiu asked, "Are there many people who want to introduce you to potential partners?"

"Hmm." Lou Yu didn't hide anything from Tao Qiu, "Whether at the Central Base or after coming to the Yong'an Base, because of my identity and appearance, some wanted to marry me, and others coveted my body."

Tao Qiu then asked, "Have there been any recently?"

Lou Yu said, "Yes, but I ignored them."

As if sensing something, he smiled and kissed Tao Qiu's furrowed brow, reassuringly saying, "Don't worry, I already have you and the children. I won't go around having affairs."

Tao Qiu Lou Yu wasn't the fickle type, but since he was currently single, even if he didn't actively flirt, those who were interested in him would come to him on their own.

Tao Qiu was a little frustrated. Lou Yu was clearly his, but he couldn't make it public.

Seeing that Tao Qiu was in a bad mood, Lou Yu changed the subject to other things to divert his attention, "Lou Quan really wants to facilitate the deal, and he's already doing his best to clean up the remaining forces of several families in the base. Soon, you'll be able to take the kids to the base to play."

Tao Qiu pondered for a moment, "How many days can we play?"

Or can I only go as Lou Yu's friend?

Lou Yu, oblivious to the underlying meaning in Tao Qiu's words, replied, "If Qiuqiu wishes, she can stay a little longer."

Lou Yu never imagined that Tao Qiu would abandon her life in the wild and come back to the base with him to live permanently. In his opinion, Tao Qiu and the kids were actually safer and more comfortable living outside.

Tao Qiu initially thought so too, but after experiencing the pain of not being able to see Lou Yu for a long time, and not even being able to find out whether he was alive or dead, his mindset had changed.

If he hadn't fallen in love with Lou Yu, he would naturally have preferred to stay in the wild and be free. But now that he had someone to care about, he was bound to make a change.

He didn't see it as a sacrifice or a loss for him. It was his choice to like Lou Yu, and Lou Yu loved him too. It was just a change in their current lifestyle, and he could bear the consequences.

There are no perfect solutions in this world; with gain, there is always loss.

Tao Qiu originally intended to proceed step by step, but after hearing Lou Yu talk about his "ex-boyfriend," he decided to speed things up.

While Lou Yu chatted with the kids and told them about the base, Tao Qiu went back to the cave and wrote a letter. The recipient was Lou Quan.

When handing the letter to Lou Yu, Tao Qiu specifically instructed, "Make sure it reaches Lou Quan; don't peek at it."

Lou Yu clutched the letter, looking aggrieved. "Qiuqiu, you've never written me a letter, but you wrote to Lou Quan first, and even made me deliver it."

Tao Qiu pinched his cheek. "We've already met, what's there to write? Besides, this isn't a love letter, why are you making that face?"

"As for..." Lou Yu's eyes reddened, "I also want to receive a letter from Qiuqiu."

Lou Yu didn't suspect or ask why Tao Qiu wouldn't let him see the letter's contents; he figured Tao Qiu wouldn't harm him anyway.

Helpless, Tao Qiu wrote another letter to Lou Yu, even drawing a heart on the envelope.

Even though the two were only a few steps apart, Tao Qiu still had her three children act as carrier pigeons to deliver the message to Lou Yu, making it feel very ceremonial.

The children asked curiously, "Lou Yu's dad, what did Dad write for you? We want to see it too."

Lou Yu, who always doted on his children, refused their request to watch the show together this time, saying, "This is a private conversation between your father Tao Qiu, and I can't let you see it."

The children, disappointed, pleaded softly, trying to evoke Lou Yu's fatherly love, "Daddy, just let us see it once, just once!"

Lou Yu hardened his heart. "This time it really won't work."

"Lou Yu's dad~~~"

Tao Qiu looked at Lou Yu, who was being pestered by the children, and inwardly chuckled and scolded him as a fool.

Lou Yu originally wanted to stay and plant wheat with Tao Qiu, but if he didn't go back today, it would easily arouse suspicion from the spies at the base.

There was nothing he could do but return to the base on time.

Lou Yu hugged Tao Qiu: "You'll have to work hard, Qiuqiu."

Tao Qiu smiled, "Then give me a kiss, that'll be a reward for my hard work."

This was not only a reward for Tao Qiu, but also a gesture of Lou Yu, which he naturally desired.

Lou Yu pressed Tao Qiu against the car door, pinched his chin, and kissed him. Tao Qiu wrapped his arms around his neck and responded passionately.

The two fathers were so engrossed in their kiss that they didn't notice three little heads peeking out from the mouth of the valley.

Second Cub said with a serious face, "I know what it is. It's called kissing in TV dramas. It's something only partners can do."

The Third Cub said, "Lou Yu's father and father are partners, they can kiss."

The Eldest Cub said, "After the kiss, Daddy will definitely like Lou Yu Daddy even more."

The boys sighed in unison.

They really can't compare in this respect.

Because of the previous entanglement with his children, Lou Yu didn't have time to open the envelope and see what Tao Qiu had written to him until after he drove away.

It's often said that one's handwriting reflects their personality, and Tao Qiu's calligraphy, with its flowing and unrestrained style, certainly resembles his own character.

[Little Fish, I really wanted to write you a love letter, but while I could talk about it fluently, when I actually put it down, every word I said sounded cheesy, and I felt embarrassed just looking at it on paper. So, I'm sorry, there's no love letter, only my rambling thoughts.]

[I don't think I've told you this before, but my relationship with my parents wasn't very good. When the kids were still eggs, I was worried I wouldn't be a good father, worried about repeating the tragedy my parents and I went through. I hesitated about whether to hatch them, but they were born anyway. I witnessed them hatch and protected them as they grew. I think I should be considered a qualified father.]

[These are your and my children. I'm so grateful to you for giving me three precious children. Seeing you get along so well with them actually makes me feel a little relieved. I'm so happy that together we've given our children a complete family, so they won't suffer the same lack of parental love I did, a regret that will haunt them for life.]

I love you, my little fish, I want to say this to you for the rest of my life.

Lou Yu read the letter over and over again, his eyes gradually filling with tears. Only after folding the letter neatly and pressing it firmly to his chest did he allow the tears to fall, so as not to wet the letter and smudge the writing.

This wasn't a love letter, yet it touched Lou Yu's heart even more deeply than one.

"I love you," Lou Yu murmured softly, "Tao Qiu, Qiuqiu, I love you."

Tao Qiu expressed her gratitude to him, but he was equally grateful to Tao Qiu. It was because of Tao Qiu and the child that he had a home.

The autumn wind howled outside the car, but it couldn't cool Lou Yu's burning heart, for his heart was in the warmth of spring, a warmth that Tao Qiu brought him eternally.