“It’s not that far. When you grow up, you’ll become very capable. You can go wherever you want, north or south.”
Xu Yangxia listened intently to him. “I-I can become as capable as you?”
Qi Du patted his head. “Of course. You’ll be the finest heir I ever taught.”
“You don’t need to think too much right now. Life offers many choices, and you still have plenty of time to figure things out. I’m taking you away not because I expect you to become anything in particular, and I won’t put pressure on you with unrealistic expectations. I just want you to be happy and find true happiness.”
Those words really struck a chord with 0617. After spending so much time at Qi Du’s side, he finally felt that Qi Du was acting like a proper human being.
『Your level of ideological enlightenment has suddenly become so elevated that I almost thought you had been possessed.』
At that, Qi Du let out a proud little “Hmph.” “Shallow.”
Xu Yangxia really did not have much sense of security, especially as the car drove farther and farther away from the city. In the end, he could not hold it in and started crying, tears falling nonstop.
After all, he was still a child. He had just gone through such a huge upheaval in life, and his originally bright and lively personality had become much more sensitive.
Qi Du did not notice at first. He had suddenly taken on this new identity, and of course he also had to do the work that came with it.
He quickly ran through his life in his mind: how he would become a good head of the Qi family in the future, and how he would strengthen the family. All of that needed to be planned in advance.
It was 0617 who kept an eye on the little male lead’s movements and reminded Qi Du. 『Qi Du, Little Treasure is crying. Go comfort him~』
Qi Du said, “Damn it! Why is he crying again? No one bullied him, right?”
『You don’t understand. Children’s emotions are very sensitive. Ignoring him counts as bullying him. He just left home, so of course he’s not used to it. Go give him a gentle hug!』
Qi Du said, “??? Can I even be gentle?”
“0617! You’d better show up right now! Don’t tell me I still have to sleep with the kid tonight? I’m telling you, I can’t do this without you.”
0617 was speechless. 『Hurry up. Little Treasure is crying so heartbreakingly~』
『He’s only a five-year-old child, and he’s already doing very well. Don’t be so hard on him!』
Qi Du was worn down by 0617’s nagging. He was not very good at coaxing children, so he could only reach out, pick up Xu Yangxia, and gently pat Little Treasure on the back.
Maybe his embrace was warm enough and his chest broad enough. After crying for a while, Xu Yangxia actually reached out on his own and wrapped his arms around Qi Du’s neck. He looked as if he was getting clingy, and then he drifted off into a deep sleep.
Qi Du breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “0617, when will he grow up?”
『Of course he has to grow up day by day. You’ll get used to it.』
Qi Du had no way to answer that. Who made him want to be the male lead’s father? He chose this path himself, so even if he had to cry, he still had to walk it to the end.
The trip to X City went more smoothly than Qi Du had expected. Xu Yangxia seemed to have accepted his situation. Other than being a little quiet, he was still very obedient.
The Qi family was far richer than the Xu family, and its deep-rooted foundation was nothing a newly wealthy family could compare to.
As soon as they got out of the car, the little male lead was a little shocked.
No wonder. The Huajin Manor where Qi Du lived was enormous. Looking out, there was no end in sight.
The landscaping was also done extremely well. No ordinary villa district could compare.
The butler had been waiting nearby for a long time. He naturally took the little male lead’s luggage and smiled kindly. “Little young master, welcome home.”
Xu Yangxia was delighted and flattered beyond words. He blinked his pretty big eyes and looked at the butler grandfather in a cute daze, while the maids standing nearby were charmed almost to death.
Qi Du glanced at everyone’s reactions and was fairly satisfied.
He instructed the servants, “Take him to have a bath first, prepare some food, and then let him get some good sleep.”
“Yes, Mr. Qi. Don’t worry, we know what to do.”
Qi Du nodded and reached out to gently push Xu Yangxia forward a couple of steps.
“Go in and have a look. Be brave. This is your home now.”
After his parents died, all the outsiders said he no longer had a home. Suddenly hearing that word, Xu Yangxia felt a strange warmth rise in his heart.
He looked at Qi Du, the tall and handsome man, who seemed even more towering than his father had been, strong enough to shield him from wind and rain.
Under his shadow, there was no suffocating darkness, only a brief moment of peace.
The little male lead reached out and hugged his leg before following the maid through the front gate.
Bringing him back had tired Qi Du out as well. After he returned to the study and dealt with some matters, he discussed a few parenting plans with 0617. After all, every step of the male lead’s growth was important, and the two of them had to be careful.
“When are you going to show up? I handle the outside matters all day; you need to handle the inside. Otherwise, I won’t be able to keep up with this identity.”
0617 was silent for a moment. 『I’m choosing an identity. The old master of the Qi family had already planned to arrange a blind date for you. You don’t like women, and it just so happens that the next one is a man.』
『How about the young master of the Lu family?』
Qi Du quickly agreed. “Fine!”
“Anyone is fine, as long as it’s you! When do we meet?”
『Don’t you need to comfort Little Treasure first? He just got back, and now you’re already going to arrange a stepmother for him. Can this child accept that?』
Qi Du spread his hands. “Well, isn’t that your job?”
“I think it’s fine!”
『Don’t get too smug! I’m really worried about whether Little Treasure can grow up well in this kind of environment!』
『Let me make this clear: if this plan fails, then in the next world you’ll obediently be sent into the main gong’s body to reform him and make him fall in love with care and affection. Don’t try this father thing again.』
Qi Du laughed but said nothing.
He completely ignored 0617’s muttering.
He did whatever he wanted, and he was incredibly good at it.
They discussed it for a long time, and after settling some details, Qi Du, in his role as family head, chose to go through the blind date process and naturally started handling things properly.
0617 had urged him for a long time, and in the end Qi Du was persuaded. Late at night, he went to have a heart-to-heart talk with the little male lead.
He had originally thought it would be difficult for a child to accept a new parent, but Xu Yangxia was surprisingly obedient.
After climbing into bed and covering himself with a sky-blue blanket, he revealed a soft little white face and stared at Qi Du without blinking.
“Is he the mom you’re finding for me?”
Qi Du nodded. “Yes. Your dad here is too rough. If I find someone careful and gentle, they’ll be able to take care of both of us.”
“But he’s a little special. If you can’t accept that, I can have him disguise himself.”
Xu Yangxia looked a little confused. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“Your stepmother is a man.”
Xu Yangxia blinked, clearly unsure how to answer. Although this Small World setting allowed same-sex relationships, the little male lead was still far too young. Qi Du was not sure whether the meaning he conveyed would pass muster.
Fortunately, Xu Yangxia did not seem surprised. He even looked calmer than expected.
“Then… what kind of person is he?”