On a certain platform’s live broadcast channel, the celebrity actors’ section was bustling. Huang Licheng sat comfortably between the sofa and the coffee table, having already chatted casually with fans for about half an hour.
“I’ve got an actor friend visiting today,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice, “But he’s never been on a live stream before, so he’s still doing a little… psychological preparation.”
The tablet next to him flashed repeatedly with messages from fans in the live chat.
“Who is it? Who is it?”
“Are there still any actors who’ve never done a live stream? I don’t believe it!”
“Psychological preparation? Shouldn’t actors already have solid mental strength?”
Huang Licheng looked up and glanced toward the dining table nearby, his expression full of playful delight. “He asked for a banana to ease his nerves.”
Holding the banana peel in his hand, Pei Jingyuan froze for a moment, speechless.
He quickly estimated the distance between them and how many steps it would take to reach the front door, then made a motion to pick up his phone and get up.
“Hey!” Huang Licheng laughed, rising to intercept him. He was a bit taller, sturdier, and immediately wrapped his arms around Pei Jingyuan, pulling him over effortlessly. “Don’t run! You promised me, remember?”
The live chat exploded.
“What kind of play is this?”
“Huang, you’re so domineering! Who is he, who is he? I’m dying of curiosity!”
“Wow, such a slim little guy~ what a waist~ Huang, are you going to make an official announcement tonight?”
Pei Jingyuan hastily pushed him away and sat properly, turning to the camera. “Hello… hi, everyone.”
The live stream had a beauty filter on, which distorted his features strangely, but even so, his long, narrow eyes and finely chiseled face were still visible, undeniably handsome.
“What… is going on? Snake spirit?”
“Are those eyes real? Trying for phoenix eyes isn’t like this!”
Pei Jingyuan caught sight of his own face and jumped slightly, glancing at Huang Licheng.
Huang exclaimed, “Oh no, I forgot you can’t have a beauty filter on! Today I went all out, let’s turn it off.”
While fiddling with the settings, he added, “My phone isn’t great, so even turning off the filter probably won’t do justice to Pei Jingyuan’s natural beauty.”
Once the filter was off, the screen filled with fans’ animated comments and gifts.
“So handsome!”
“Ahhh, it’s the handsome guy featured in yesterday’s official character spotlight for ‘Against the Wind’! Heaven, this face deserves its own feature post!”
Pei Jingyuan noticed cute cat-ear effects appearing over his head and tilted slightly, playing along. Then, he caught sight of one particular comment in the scrolling chat:
“Hubby is so cute ahhh!”
“New Omega, ahhh, wifey!!”
“Special effect is 1000% on point, sending all my gifts, big handsome guy, catch them!”
Huang Licheng laughed, patting his own thigh, and pointed at Pei Jingyuan’s ear. “Look! He’s blushing.”
Pei Jingyuan: …I said I’m only here as a human display model! He pretended to reach for the rug on the floor, slightly avoiding the camera, raising his hand to fan his face with his palm, almost combusting on the spot.
Huang Licheng read the chat aloud, “Xiaoyuan, one of my fans is asking why you eat a banana to relieve nervousness. Any particular reason?”
Pei Jingyuan fixed his expression and replied seriously, “I eat yellow bananas, not green ones.”
Huang Licheng threw his head back. “Oh my god, I’m freezing to death from the cold joke!”
Though Pei Jingyuan usually bantered easily with him, right now his mind was a mess, and he couldn’t even bear to look at the camera.
“Such an old-school pun! Don’t do this, handsome guy!”
“Hehe, that’s the adorable contrast I love.”
“Wow… really blushing! Look at his neck, so pink and fair.”
Pei Jingyuan: …Where is the circuit breaker? I need to shut off the electricity with my bare hands.
In Room 1102, Yuanbao was sprawled on the sofa-bed, little feet kicking in the air as he wiggled back and forth. A large panda plush leaned against a tablet. On the screen was his dad, looking impossibly handsome and radiant.
Earlier, Yuanbao had asked “When is Dad coming home?” no fewer than eight hundred times. Finally, he had learned from his other parents that his dad would be streaming at a friend’s house that evening.
On the nearby sofa, Nie Shenyuan also had a tablet, the screen showing Pei Jingyuan as well.
When Huang Licheng had been interacting with fans on his solo camera, Yuanbao had been confused. “Where’s Dad?” he wondered. He had only just seen him, so why was he gone again?
Nie Shenyuan said calmly, “Your dad is right there. Don’t worry.”
Yuanbao slowly looked toward the other parent. “Oh…”
“Have you ever watched your dad stream before?”
Nie Shenyuan assumed that if Pei Jingyuan were to participate in such an activity, he would make sure that Yuanbao could watch safely in the future.
Yuanbao shook his head, eyes wide, still not spotting his dad until he suddenly appeared on screen. “Wow~” such a soft, overflowing surprised face, almost touching the screen.
Nie Shenyuan reminded him gently, “Step back a little, don’t get too close.”
Yuanbao pouted, afraid the tablet might be taken away by his parents and shuffled back like a little fuzzy bug.
Watching how the little one reacted, Nie Shenyuan guessed that Pei Jingyuan probably didn’t enjoy live streaming much. Yesterday, he had rarely seen Pei Jingyuan so shy and flustered, like a child stepping on stage for the first time, hands and feet awkward, eyes clear and wandering, glancing at his friend beside him, revealing an unmistakable, gleaming reliance.
For the first time, Nie Shenyuan took a formal, careful look at Huang Licheng. A young man of almost the same age, also brimming with youthful vitality.
At that moment, Huang Licheng draped an arm over Pei Jingyuan’s shoulder, drawing him back into the camera’s view. Nie Shenyuan’s thick brows furrowed.
“Yuanbao.”
“Huh?”
“What is it now?”
Yuanbao puffed up his little fists on the sofa. “Don’t speak, Dad! Don’t disturb me watching Dad!”
Nie Shenyuan asked, “The young man next to your dad, do you know him?”
Yuanbao shook his head, studying the unfamiliar face on the screen intently. After a few seconds, he smiled.
“Hmm?”
“That guy is very handsome too~”
“….”
Nie Shenyuan pulled back the little one with a quiet frown. “I mean, have you seen him before?”
Yuanbao shook his head again.
Nie Shenyuan asked gently, “Did your dad ever mention this friend?”
Yuanbao thought hard for half a minute. “Mmm, Dad said he has a very good friend… but Yuanbao hasn’t met him yet.”
Nie Shenyuan nodded. For now, he didn’t know enough about their relationship to make any assumptions.
When Chen Xu knocked on the door and stepped inside, he saw the familiar “one big, one small” setup, the child and the parent each holding their own position on the sofa, almost like two separate little camps. Chen Xu had never seen Mr. Nie have the leisure to watch a celebrity live stream, but with so many strange and inexplicable events happening recently, he was fast approaching a point where nothing surprised him anymore.
“Sir,” he greeted.
Walking over to the sofa, Chen Xu lowered his voice and handed over a medical report. “This is Mr. Pei’s grandmother’s health check report.”
Earlier, Nie Shenyuan had specifically asked Yuanbao about the elders on both fathers’ sides. The matriarch of the Nie family, his grandmother, was still alive, though Yuanbao rarely saw her. She usually lived with Nie Shenyuan’s second uncle, seldom venturing into the Nie family mansion.
Pei Jingyuan’s grandmother, however, had already passed away. Yuanbao vaguely remembered one occasion when both fathers had taken him far away to pay respects at her grave. “We even flew on a plane!” Yuanbao had proudly declared.
After confirming through Pei Jingyuan’s information that his grandmother was still alive, Nie Shenyuan had arranged for her to undergo a full physical examination in a distant city.
The documents Chen Xu now held were that very report and the accompanying expert consultation report.
Chen Xu explained, “The elderly lady is staying with her son, Pei Jingyuan’s uncle. She may have been somewhat neglected in her care, and there are a few chronic illnesses common in older age that haven’t received timely treatment.”
Nie Shenyuan flipped through the pages of the report. “Find a suitable reason to arrange some initial treatments for her,” he instructed, then glanced at Yuanbao.
Coincidentally, the little one was blinking at him, completely focused. Though he couldn’t hear the adult conversation, anything involving his dad automatically drew his attention.
Nie Shenyuan placed the report carefully on the coffee table and told Chen Xu, “Proceed with this plan for now.” He thought to himself that after Pei Jingyuan’s scenes wrapped up in the coming days, he would need to find an appropriate moment to speak openly with him and seek his opinion.
Chen Xu nodded, understanding. Before leaving, he bent slightly and nodded toward the adorable little boy.
“See you tomorrow, young master.”
Yuanbao reached out a tiny hand and waved, like a little kitten bidding farewell.
Once the door closed, the live stream featuring Pei Jingyuan also ended. Yuanbao’s excitement bubbled over. “Is Dad coming home now?”
“Yes, he should be here soon,” Nie Shenyuan replied, lifting him onto his lap.
Yuanbao’s little feet hooked around his dad’s long legs, wiggling upward as he leaned back and let out a delighted, giggling baby laugh.
Nie Shenyuan’s broad hands rested loosely on his waist, ready to steady him at any moment. It was a new little game they had invented together, a fun ritual of father and son.
Meanwhile, Pei Jingyuan was riding a shared bike, speeding back from Huang Licheng’s place. All along the ride, his thoughts were consumed with wonder, had little Yuanbao gone to sleep yet?
Most likely, he wouldn’t see him tonight, and his heart ached at the thought. Perhaps distracted by daydreams of cuddling the little one, he almost rode straight through the entrance to the residential compound without realizing it.
“Hey! Hey, hey!”
A security guard with a shiny bald head stretched out an arm, pointing at him while shouting, “Sir, this bike can’t enter!”
“Sorry about that.”
Pei Jingyuan turned and rode back out. He mused silently, he probably wouldn’t leave the film studio for the rest of the year. Maybe he should just buy a bike for himself. As he rode into the elevator, he stared at the floor numbers, thinking:
No need for a brand new one; a second-hand bike from an online platform would do. It just had to serve its purpose. Grandma was getting older, there would be more expenses in the future, so it was better to save wherever possible.
The thought of his grandmother tugged at his heart even more. With his scenes scheduled to wrap next week, maybe he should take a trip back home to visit her.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.
“Brother!!”
A crisp, sweet baby voice rang out, like a soft light shining directly in front of Pei Jingyuan. His heart leapt, and he looked over, beaming.
Yuanbao had risen from his little stool outside 1101 and practically flew toward the elevator door, aiming straight for his dad. Leaning against the wall, Nie Shenyuan straightened up and glanced toward him. “Yuanbao, were you waiting for your brother?”
Pei Jingyuan’s excitement was beyond control. He bent down and scooped the little one up high, almost feeling like composing a poem on the spot, the modern-day version of Li Bai presenting a gift to Wang Lun, only now it was Jingyuan thanking Yuanbao.
Yuanbao wriggled happily, hugging his dad’s neck tightly. They exchanged soft, intimate “woo woo” sounds, childish yet innocent and rare in their purity.
Pei Jingyuan explained that he had been visiting a friend tonight, so he’d be arriving home later than usual.
Nie Shenyuan relayed this to Yuanbao, “I saw Mr. Pei’s live stream tonight, and so did Yuanbao.”
“Mm. hmm~” Yuanbao nodded. Worrying about how tired his dad must be after filming, he kicked his little feet to help himself stand. “Brother’s blushing~”
“Ah, this…” Pei Jingyuan squatted slightly, poking the little one’s chubby cheeks gently, speaking in a coaxing tone. “No teasing brother, alright?”
Yuanbao seemed to remember something and softly grasped Pei Jingyuan’s fingers, tugging him toward 1102.
“Huh?” Pei Jingyuan thought he was being led to play.
In the living room, the display cabinet that had held only a single elegant flower yesterday now neatly showcased two or three dozen transparent acrylic boxes. Inside were all sorts of sleek, cool racing car models.
“Wow!” Pei Jingyuan bent forward, hands on his knees, amazed. He looked at the little boy’s proud face. “Yuanbao, are these all your new toys? So cool!”
Yuanbao leaned against his dad’s long legs, eyes wide with anticipation. “Brother, do you like them?”
“Yes,” Pei Jingyuan nodded. In his previous plans, he had imagined growing up in a wealthy family with endless luxurious clothes and a garage full of supercars. Life had not granted him that fortune, he had to settle for shared bikes.
Yuanbao patted the outside of the boxes. “These are all gifts from Yuanbao to brother~”
“Ah?” Pei Jingyuan froze, surprised.
Before he could respond, Yuanbao grabbed two black boxes from the side. “These are gifts from Yuanbao too~”
Nie Shenyuan didn’t have time to stop him. Yuanbao eagerly opened one of the lids, revealing the contents inside.
They had planned to give the cars later, so the timing would be better, but Yuanbao, in his excitement, had forgotten everything else. Anything in his hands had to be given immediately to his dad.
“Car… keys?”
Pei Jingyuan recognized the logo, Aston Martin? During winter, he hadn’t even allowed himself to buy a pair of Martin boots. Seeing the little one about to press them into his hands, he could only send a silent, desperate “help me” signal to Mr. Nie.
Nie Shenyuan, however, thought to himself that the little boy was finally looking at him properly. He stepped forward and picked up the child. “Yuanbao, don’t be in such a rush.”
Yuanbao let out a soft “mm?” and looked up at his dad, puzzled.
Nie Shenyuan explained, “Yuanbao thinks you might like racing car models, so he’s giving these to Mr. Pei.”
Pei Jingyuan exhaled, relieved, and laughed as he pinched Yuanbao’s soft little cheeks. “You scared brother!”
Yuanbao didn’t understand why his dad would say that.
“I do really like models,” Pei Jingyuan added, “but…” Receiving gifts out of nowhere always made him a little anxious. He looked at the little one in Mr. Nie’s arms.
“Yuanbao, how about this? When your brother has a free day, I’ll come over and we can open the models together. How about that? Thank you for thinking of me.”
Yuanbao nodded enthusiastically at the promise.
Nie Shenyuan glanced at his watch; it was getting late. “Yuanbao, let brother go rest for tonight.”
“Ah?” Yuanbao hesitated, just having seen his dad.
“Brother has filming tomorrow and needs enough rest,” Nie Shenyuan explained.
“Mm.” Pei Jingyuan indeed needed to wash up and memorize lines for two scenes the next day.
Nie Shenyuan noticed the reluctant gleam in his eyes. “We’ll exchange contact info so that when you have time, you can arrange to play with Yuanbao. We’ll be home for a while, not going out often.”
Pei Jingyuan thought, as expected from a father, there was a sense of calm authority, ensuring everything was arranged properly.
“Alright.” Nie Shenyuan pulled out his phone and added him on WeChat.
Yuanbao really didn’t want to part from his dad. His mind whirred wildly, but finally, he hung his little head. Okay, his dad needed rest after filming. He had always obediently stayed by his dad’s side, listening as he rehearsed lines.
Pei Jingyuan thought Yuanbao might be disappointed about “not receiving gifts,” so he quickly picked up a black-and-red model. “Yuanbao, brother will take this one home to play today. I really like your gifts.”
He had only meant to tease the child, but little arms swiftly wrapped around his neck. Then Yuanbao planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
Pei Jingyuan’s long eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the little boy before him. Nie Shenyuan saw the smile blooming in his eyes, brilliant as a galaxy.
On the way home, Pei Jingyuan felt light and heavy at the same time, completely intoxicated by the soft, milky scent of the little one’s kiss.
After father and son saw him inside, the room fell silent. Eyes wide, staring at each other. Yuanbao’s tiny fists tapped Nie Shenyuan’s shoulder. “It’s all Dad’s fault! Dad didn’t take the car keys from brother.”
Nie Shenyuan tried reasoning with his forty-month-old. “I said this afternoon, your dad isn’t taking gifts right now. We’ll wait until next week.”
Yuanbao let out a small “huh,” challenging him with childlike insistence. “Who doesn’t like receiving gifts?”
“Your dad isn’t a child.”
The words hung in the air, and Nie Shenyuan paused. Yuanbao argued, reasoning carefully, “If Dad gives gifts to you, would you refuse?”
Nie Shenyuan remained silent
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
Their journey continues. Their coffee cup, however, does not.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · YaunBao in wrong Time lineChapter 2 · Finding Big DaddyChapter 3 · DNA ProofChapter 4 · Hospital visitChapter 5 · New RoleChapter 6 · Meeting Daddy SoonChapter 7 · New NeighbourChapter 8 · Moving inChapter 9 · Meeting Little Daddy again!Chapter 10 · WhiteChapter 11 · Car for Little DaddyChapter 12 · Live StreamChapter 13 · KittyChapter 14 · Bonding Time~Chapter 15 · White CatChapter 16 · Yuanbao, your dad is terrifying!Chapter 17 · Will Dad blow up the kitchen?Chapter 18 Part 1 · Little Dad, let’s get New Big Dad!Chapter 18 Part 2 · Little Dad, let’s get new Big Dad!Chapter 19 · Yuanbao doesn’t have a loving big dadChapter 20 Part 1 · Dad never holds back Yuanbao~ No, no~Chapter 20 Part 2 · Dad never holds back Yuanbao~ No, no~Chapter 21 · Little Dad’s friendChapter 22 · Our Child from future!Chapter 23 · Little Daddy Knows!Chapter 24 · How did the two fathers meet?Chapter 25 · They really treat him like a gold ingot!Chapter 26 · Big Daddy really likes little daddyChapter 27 · Hehe, Yuanbao’s dad is such a humorous personChapter 28 · This name sounds like some kind of unspoken codeChapter 29 · Don’t you dare steal Yuanbao’s little dad!Chapter 30 · You’re so smart, it’s only natural that our child is clever too.Chapter 31 · That’s definitely a hickey!Chapter 32 · We simply can’t compete!Chapter 33 · Big Dad, you’re not allowed to bully Little DadChapter 34 · Amusement ParkChapter 35 · Big Dad, you have to protect Little DadChapter 36 · Go eat friesChapter 37 · These fries are so deliciousChapter 38 · Yuanbao imitated his dad’s tone: “No, no~”Chapter 39 · Did you hurt Daddy’s hand?Chapter 40 · Were the father and son plotting something behind my back?Chapter 41 · They really went a little too far in the future.Chapter 42 · Sudden feeling of being “needed”Chapter 43 · The little guy tells his dad everythingChapter 44 · Why was Dad secretly observing him?Chapter 45 · I’ll introduce you to these two adorable peopleChapter 46 · According to family hierarchyChapter 47 · Yuanbao is mine and Jingyuan’s childChapter 48 · Little Yuanbao, you sound just like your dad talking right now!Chapter 49 · Are you happy today?Chapter 50 · Waaah, how could Daddy say such bad things about Yuanbao to Little Daddy?!Chapter 51 · Dad, will Yuanbao have a younger brother or sister?Chapter 52 · Let him handle the whole “conquering” thing!Chapter 53 · Dad, do you miss dad?Chapter 54 · Yuanbao’s Dad, how about we start dating?Chapter 55 · Did the two fathers talk for two days before telling Yuanbao?Chapter 56 · I’d like a different birthday presentChapter 57 · I love playing like this with my two dadsChapter 58 · Dad, come home soonChapter 59 · Jingyuan, let me hold you for a whileChapter 60 · Big Dad and Little Dad are just like Yuanbao’s left and right feetChapter 61 · Yuanbao, how about letting your father sleep in the middle?Chapter 62 · Waiting for your goodnight kissChapter 63 · Philodendron, McDowellChapter 64 · Little Dad is so badChapter 65 · Yuanbao wants to stay home and play every dayChapter 66 · Where’s my little Yuanbao?Chapter 67 · He’s my childChapter 68 · Two fathers?Chapter 69 · Does French Fries taste the same?Chapter 70 · Teacher AnnieChapter 71 · You’re bullying meChapter 72 · Big Dad asked Little Dad to kiss you for himChapter 73 · I think what’s missing is a formal confessionChapter 74 · If the ingot is an inward square, thenChapter 75 · Little Potato Ball and Daddy PotatoChapter 76 · That must be some other silly kidChapter 77 · In the future, how about I help you pluck out your white hairs?Chapter 78 · Little Dad already tried his best to help you!Chapter 79 · You can only blame the prize for being too temptingChapter 80 · Little Dad will hold a personal art exhibition just for youChapter 81 · Shall I make it up to you?Chapter 82 · Little Dad, kiss kiss~ Help Yuanbao give Big Dad a kiss tooChapter 83 · You’ll just say he’s a relative’s childChapter 84 · #PeiJingyuanMalePregnancy#Chapter 85 · Family GatheringChapter 86 · Yuanbao will work hard and make lots of money!Chapter 86 · Extra 1Chapter 87 · Who’s he messaging?Chapter 87 · Extra 2Chapter 88 · Why are you blushing?Chapter 88 · Extra 3Chapter 89 · Let’s get marriedChapter 89 · Extra 4Chapter 90 · Hair CutChapter 90 · Extra 5Chapter 91 · They’re willing to accept you as part of the familyChapter 92 · A Family DinnerChapter 93 · This is Yuanbao’s… very, very tall Big Dad, Nie ShenyuanChapter 94 · The wedding