The next morning, as soon as Pei Jingyuan opened his door, he was greeted by the sight of Mr. Nie standing outside, holding Yuanbao in his arms.
“Good morning, little Yuanbao!” he said cheerfully.
“Big brother!” The child’s eyes curved into crescent moons as he smiled but one of his tiny hands was pressed firmly against his left cheek.
Pei Jingyuan immediately crouched down, his tone full of concern. “What’s wrong? Does something hurt?”
Yuanbao shook his head hard, letting out a muffled “wu wu” sound.
Nie Shenyuan explained calmly, “A mosquito bit him this morning.”
The little one looked utterly heartbroken, as if the end of the world had arrived. He was no longer the flawless little Yuanbao he prided himself on being.
He hated that pesky mosquito so much.
Pei Jingyuan gently took the small, soft wrist in his hand. “Let Big brother take a look, okay?”
The little one’s right hand clutched tightly at Pei Jingyuan’s shirt, his voice trembling and sweet. “Big brother, you can’t not like Yuanbao anymore~”
“How could I ever not like you?” Pei Jingyuan promised immediately. “Don’t worry, Yuanbao.”
Yuanbao pouted, stuck out his pinky fingers for Big brother to see, then quickly covered his cheek again.
It was just a tiny red dot, barely the size of a sesame seed. But on his creamy fair skin, it looked painfully obvious.
Pei Jingyuan reached out and scooped the little dumpling into his arms. “Does it hurt a lot?”
Nie Shenyuan’s gaze lingered briefly on the young man’s face. The morning light fell through the window, glinting on the fine droplets that clung to Pei Jingyuan’s eyelashes. His dark eyes were clear and moist, gleaming with genuine warmth.
Yuanbao buried himself deeper into his little Daddy’s embrace, his soft voice full of grievance as he began to “complain” about the mosquito and the enormous psychological trauma it had caused him.
Pei Jingyuan coaxed him patiently and gently, walking back into apartment 1102 as he spoke.
Nie Shenyuan stood still for a moment, watching their retreating figures before glancing thoughtfully at the door of 1101.
“Daddy?” Yuanbao tilted his head, confused. Why was Daddy just standing there like a post? The ceiling wasn’t about to fall down.
“Mn.” Nie Shenyuan finally walked over.
When they sat down to eat, Yuanbao was supposed to sit in his baby chair. But the little one wrapped his arms around Pei Jingyuan’s neck and refused to let go, pouting and whining softly, “Wu wu~ Big brother~~ Yuanbao wants hugs~~”
He had fallen asleep so quickly yesterday after being picked up that he hadn’t even had time to talk to his little Daddy properly.
Pei Jingyuan, utterly helpless in the face of such cuteness, felt his heart melt completely. “Alright, alright, Big brother will hold you while we eat.”
He sat down with Yuanbao in his lap, adjusting him so that the child faced the table.
The little dumpling’s tiny hands rested on the tabletop and he looked up at Pei Jingyuan with a smile as sweet as honey.
Pei Jingyuan’s heart was a puddle of warmth. So cute. Too cute. He almost wanted to take him home and keep him forever.
Nie Shenyuan spoke up, “Yuanbao, let Daddy hold you while you eat.”
“Nooo~” Yuanbao immediately tightened his little arms around Pei Jingyuan’s arm, puffing his cheeks out in protest.
Pei Jingyuan quickly explained, “It’s alright, Mr. Nie. I’m not in a rush today.”
And so, Yuanbao was allowed to enjoy the special privilege of being fed by his little Daddy.
Each time he opened his mouth for a spoonful, he would let out a soft “ah-woo ah-woo” sound just to make his little Daddy laugh.
Nie Shenyuan had long noticed how much Yuanbao loved to act cute.
He himself had never experienced such a thing in his life, this innocent, natural act of being spoiled. It must have been inherited entirely from the little Daddy.
That same little Daddy was now sitting there, making soft playful sounds as he fed the child, their laughter blending with the gentle clatter of dishes.
The two of them, father and son, ate so slowly, stopping every few bites to hum and giggle, that Nie Shenyuan could only sit there and watch with rare amusement.
The corners of his lips softened unconsciously.
It was a scene he never could have imagined in his former life, pure, warm, almost dazzling in its sweetness.
He picked up the communal chopsticks and placed a soup dumpling in Pei Jingyuan’s bowl. “Yuanbao, let Big brother eat first.”
“Oh~” Yuanbao nodded obediently, then turned and urged, “Big brother, eat! Eat more!”
Pei Jingyuan bit into the small dumpling, tasting the rich, savory broth that burst out instantly. His eyes lit up. “This is amazing. It tastes just like the ones from my hometown breakfast shop.”
Yuanbao nodded seriously. “Auntie made it~”
The little one tried to demonstrate how the auntie wrapped the dumplings, waving his tiny hands in the air, though his movements were clumsy and chaotic.
Pei Jingyuan couldn’t help laughing softly. “Then Big brother has to eat another one. It’s too good to stop.”
Yuanbao’s head bobbed like a little chick pecking rice. “Daddy, give Big brother another one, quick!”
Nie Shenyuan, noticing his absentmindedness being observed by the child, finally moved his chopsticks. “Let him eat slowly.” He picked up two more dumplings and placed them gently in Pei Jingyuan’s bowl. “Mr. Pei, what would you like for dinner?”
“Ah?”
Pei Jingyuan blinked in surprise, glancing from Nie Shenyuan’s composed face to the smiling little dumpling. Yuanbao’s voice followed sweetly, “Big brother, what do you want to eat tonight?”
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Pei Jingyuan hesitated for a moment before answering, “The marinated cold platter from last time was really good.”
Oh no, now he sounded like someone who came just to freeload food.
He gave a small laugh and added, “Honestly, I feel bad always eating at your place. How about I treat you and Yuanbao to dinner outside one day? I can’t cook but I can at least pay for a meal.”
Nie Shenyuan was about to refuse out of habit but when the words reached his lips, he paused and instead said, “Alright.”
Yuanbao let out a delighted little cheer. “Yay~!”
Nie Shenyuan’s lips curved faintly. He had to admit, it really did sound like a good idea.
When Pei Jingyuan was leaving later, Yuanbao insisted on seeing him off.
He smiled and shook his head. “Yuanbao, Big brother knows the way. Be good and stay home, alright?”
But Nie Shenyuan picked up the child anyway. “Let’s go. We’ll walk you down.”
Pei Jingyuan’s eyes flickered with a trace of confusion.
Was Mr. Nie… truly alright? His behavior these days was unpredictable.
As if sensing the young man’s doubts, Nie Shenyuan calmly added, “We could use the walk. The air’s nice this morning.”
That made sense and Pei Jingyuan nodded in understanding.
Still, when they stepped into the elevator, the atmosphere felt strangely off.
In the mirrored walls, the reflection showed two adults standing on either side, with a small child between them holding each of their hands.
Pei Jingyuan froze, his mind going blank for a moment.
Wait…
He had never heard any mention of Yuanbao’s mother. Neither Mr. Nie nor the child had ever spoken about her.
Could it be…
Did Yuanbao somehow mistake him for a replacement for his mother?
No, that couldn’t be right. He was a man!
But then, like an echo from the past, the little boy’s innocent voice rang again in his head,
“Yuanbao came out of Little Daddy’s tummy~”
Pei Jingyuan stared at the reflection of the small child and the composed man beside him, his eyes widening in disbelief.
A chill crept slowly up the back of his neck, goosebumps rising all over his skin.
From the eleventh floor down to the first, the short descent felt far longer than it should have. Countless eerie scenes from horror films flickered through Pei Jingyuan’s mind one after another, as though some invisible projector was running a reel of jump scares behind his eyes.
Could it be… that those empty apartments, 1102 and 1103, had never been occupied at all?
Ah, no, what a thought!
Pei Jingyuan’s fingers reflexively squeezed the soft little hand in his, his throat tightening. “Yu…. Yuanbao?”
“Mmm?”
The little boy, feet pressed together, tried to tiptoe as high as he could and looked up at him. “Big brother?”
Nie Shenyuan immediately noticed how pale Pei Jingyuan’s face had gone.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Just then, the elevator gave a pleasant ding. When the doors slid open, a kind-looking old lady stood there with a market basket in her hand. She hadn’t even spoken yet but her eyes curved with a smile. “Oh my, what a lovely child! Such fair skin, too.”
Yuanbao showed no shyness at all. In a bright, milk-sweet voice, he said, “Thank you, Grandma!”
“What a polite boy.” The woman chuckled as she waited for them to exit before stepping in herself.
The imaginary peachwood sword that Pei Jingyuan had been gripping in his heart vanished instantly, leaving him both relieved and foolish.
Yuanbao tugged at his papa’s hand, his little brows scrunching together in worry. “Big Brother? Does your tummy hurt? Did you not eat enough breakfast?”
Before Pei Jingyuan could answer, the child leaned forward and pressed his ear gently to his belly, as though listening for mysterious internal sounds.
Pei Jingyuan panicked, squatting down quickly to scoop the child into his arms. “No, no. I’m fine.”
It was him who had gone crazy, not the child. How could he suspect such an innocent, soft, adorable little thing? What kind of monster did that make him? Truly a sinner through the ages!
Nie Shenyuan asked calmly, “Shall I drive you there?”
“No need!” Pei Jingyuan refused with unusual firmness, terrified that if Nie Shenyuan insisted, he really would not be able to say no.
Seeing that his color had returned to normal, Nie didn’t press the issue. He simply reminded, “I’ll be home today. If you feel unwell, call me anytime.”
Pei Jingyuan nodded while hugging the boy close. “Thank you, Mr. Nie.”
The moment he reached the film set, however, his thoughts kept circling back to Yuanbao and his father. Something about them did not add up, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what.
Just then, his friend Huang Licheng came over, frowning. “Hey, Xiao Yuanzi, what’s with you today? You look totally out of it.”
Pei Jingyuan recounted the recent days, his interactions with the father and son, the strange little details, the growing familiarity.
“Tell me,” he asked in a low voice, “would you invite your neighbor to dinner just because your kid likes them?”
“Of course I would.”
Huang Licheng looked at him as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “What’s wrong with sharing a meal? It’s called being neighborly.”
“True…” Pei Jingyuan scratched his head through the wig cap. “But what if that kid never mentions his mom? Not even once?”
“Then maybe he doesn’t have one,” Huang replied without missing a beat.
Then, realizing what he’d said, he grimaced. “Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean, I wasn’t talking about your parents, ”
“It’s fine.” Pei Jingyuan waved it off. “Actually, I have a theory. I think the kid’s attached to me because I might look like his mom.”
Huang studied his face for a moment. “You’re saying this little boy is, what, three or four? And he can’t tell the difference between men and women? Are you sure his gender cognition’s okay? Does he at least know he’s a boy?”
Pei Jingyuan blinked. “This sounds… serious.”
“Exactly. You should get him checked,” Huang said, half joking, half concerned.
Pei Jingyuan quickly defended the child. “No, no, Yuanbao’s fine! He’s perfectly healthy. He just…”
“Just likes playing with you?”
Seeing his friend still confused, Huang sighed and patted his shoulder. “Think about it from the Daddy’s perspective. You have a kid who always wants attention. Then suddenly, a friendly neighbor shows up who can play with him. Wouldn’t you be relieved?”
Pei Jingyuan hesitated but nodded slowly. “So you’re saying, all I need to do is add one more pair of chopsticks at dinner and in return, the neighbor helps keep the kid entertained?”
“Exactly!” Huang slapped his knee. “A fair trade if you ask me.”
But Pei Jingyuan could not shake the image of Nie Shenyuan’s calm, serious face. “Still… he doesn’t seem like that type of parent.”
“Who knows what goes on behind closed doors,” Huang replied with a lazy stretch. “Some families look peaceful but once the door shuts, chaos reigns.”
Pei Jingyuan fell silent. With someone like Nie Shenyuan at the head of the household, it was hard to imagine chaos of any kind occurring inside 1102.
Meanwhile, inside 1102,
Yuanbao was sitting on the sofa bed, cuddling his little kitten. He had just finished putting new clothes and socks on it. The socks, he had decided, were only for walking on the floor. Once the kitten got on the bed, it could take them off. Just like Yuanbao himself.
Delighted by his own cleverness, the boy lifted the kitten high above his head, then hugged it tightly against his chest, rubbing their cheeks together.
“Daddy, next time we go to the store, can we buy clothes for the kitty too?”
When no answer came, he turned slowly, finding his father absorbed in his phone.
Yuanbao tilted his head. Was Daddy busy again?
He gently set the kitten down, rolled off the sofa and tiptoed toward him. Then, with a sudden pounce, he leapt into Nie Shenyuan’s lap. “Boo!”
Nie Shenyuan blinked, startled, then turned off his phone and lifted the child up high. “What’s this? Missing your little daddy already?”
Dangling in the air, Yuanbao looked down at his father’s face in confusion. Missing little daddy? He hadn’t been, well, maybe now he was.
“Yuanbao,” Nie said, his voice suddenly serious, almost like he was conducting an interview, “Describe for me the fries you and little daddy love so much.”
“Ah?”
The little boy blinked, clearly lost. Sitting on his father’s long legs, he absently hooked one of his own legs around the other. He had almost forgotten about fries entirely until Daddy brought them up.
He pursed his lips, his round cheeks puffing slightly. He did want to eat them again.
He stretched out a tiny finger but it seemed too small to represent a fry. After thinking for a moment, he grabbed his father’s hand and began measuring fingers one by one.
Finally, he pinched Nie Shenyuan’s little finger and declared, “This big! Fries are this big! Crunchy, yummy, so so good!”
Nie Shenyuan, who had never cooked a thing in his life, certainly knew nothing about making fries. Still holding the boy, he walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, searching for potatoes.
None. Not a single one.
Meanwhile, Yuanbao craned his neck like a curious gosling, his little face nearly buried inside the fridge until his father gently propped up his chin.
Nie took a step back and shut the door. His mind was already shifting gears. He walked back to the sofa, picked up his phone and called Butler Jiang.
“I need a bag of potatoes,” he said.
The butler’s voice carried pure confusion. “Potatoes, sir? Did I hear that right? You mean actual potatoes?”
“Yes,” Nie replied evenly. “For making French fries.”
“Oh, yes, of course, right away.”
Though utterly shocked butler Jiang recalled hearing the young master once mention fries. He quickly agreed. “I’ll bring them over immediately.”
Yuanbao waited until his father hung up before leaning back suspiciously. “But Daddy, didn’t you say you don’t know how to make fries?”
Nie Shenyuan pinched the chubby softness of the boy’s cheek, his tone both proud and teasing. “If your future daddy can learn, why can’t I?”
Yuanbao cupped his face protectively. His expression grew grave.
Was Daddy… going to blow up the kitchen?
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
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One tiny coffee. One very happy translator. ✦
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
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