The next day arrived.
Pei Jingyuan received a call from Huang Licheng and was immediately subjected to a long round of scolding from his good friend.
Huang Licheng’s voice crackled through the speaker like an outraged beast. “Xiao Yuanzi, do you even realize that I am now your one and only CP in the entire entertainment industry?”
With that explosive tone, Pei Jingyuan could practically visualize a gigantic oversized husky bristling its fur in agitation.
He patiently explained the entire chain of events, then lowered his voice a little and added, “My neighbor’s little kid and his dad take good care of me. Don’t overthink it, just focus on filming.”
Inwardly he thought, although he did not say it aloud, that Mr. Nie had personally come over early this morning to help him squeeze toothpaste and change out his ointment.
But he was too embarrassed to mention this part to his friend.
He answered the phone while standing on the balcony and secretly peeked toward the kitchen.
By the refrigerator.
Nie Shenyuan, sleeves of his dress shirt neatly rolled up, was checking the miscellaneous items stored in the fridge’s fresh-keeping compartment.
He systematically pulled out jars and bottles from the very back of the shelves and carefully examined their expiration dates and usage status one by one.
Little Yuanbao stood obediently by his dad’s long leg.
The child held out both tiny hands, earnestly receiving every small plastic bottle his dad passed over. He mimicked his father’s expression with scrunched brows, observed something very seriously for a moment, then nodded before bending down to place the item gently into the garbage bag.
It all looked very strict and methodical, yet in truth, the little cub had absolutely no idea what any of the dense printed labels meant.
He did not even know exactly which part his dad was paying attention to. He was simply enjoying the colorful and flashy packaging with an “immersive” sense of admiration.
But that did not matter. Everything Yuanbao did was always filled with sincerity.
The sight of that adorable little figure was enough to melt anyone completely.
Pei Jingyuan crouched beside the washing machine on the balcony, unable to stop the smile stretching across his whole face.
“Hello, hello, is anyone listening over there?”
The phone blasted with Huang Licheng’s high tenor voice. “Hello?”
“Uh…”
Pei Jingyuan snapped out of his trance. “What did you say?”
Huang Licheng snorted. “I said I will come over to see you this afternoon.”
The two lived fairly close to each other, so Pei Jingyuan had no reason to refuse.
After ending the call, he remained crouched by the balcony, continuing to admire the irresistibly cute little cub.
A brand new era of little home assistant children.
Adorable to the point he wanted to scoop him up and shower the little one’s soft chubby cheeks with loud exaggerated kisses.
Just when he was drifting into that “not entirely normal” state of mind, his gaze collided with Mr. Nie’s deep and penetrating eyes.
He immediately felt guilty, as if he were some villain secretly coveting the precious little cub someone else raised.
In that moment, he suddenly understood every antagonist in certain storylines on a whole new level.
For example, the classic Snake Spirit Lady from the animated show Calabash Brothers.
Considering that the morally upright protagonist Mr. Nie was far too powerful, Pei Jingyuan forcefully suppressed the insane impulse of “snatching away little Yuanbao” and pretended to be composed as he stepped forward with his phone.
Yuanbao spotted him and let out a delighted “Wa” while toddling forward with small eager steps.
He made it halfway before a large hand lifted him cleanly off the ground, leaving his little legs dangling and kicking in the air.
“Hmm?”
What was happening?
Nie Shenyuan placed him back down. “Do not run over. Your brother’s hand is still injured.”
Understanding dawned on Yuanbao’s small face. He puffed up his cheeks and promised earnestly, “Yuanbao will walk slowly.”
Nie Shenyuan released him and automatically straightened the little boy’s clothes.
Pei Jingyuan hurried over. “Brother can just come over and hug Yuanbao.”
He bent down and gathered the cub into one arm. Glancing at the garbage bag in front of him, he exaggerated dramatically, “Wow, Yuanbao cleaned out the whole fridge so well. There were so many expired things. You did an amazing job.”
Being praised, Yuanbao cupped his cheeks shyly, burying his face into his little dad’s arms and wiggling his soft little bottom.
He did not forget his big dad either and poked Nie Shenyuan’s long leg. “Big dad helped too.”
Pei Jingyuan looked up and smiled at Mr. Nie. “Thank you, Mr. Nie.”
Nie Shenyuan lowered his gaze, silently observing the upward curve at the corner of Pei Jingyuan’s eye.
After Pei Jingyuan appeared in Huang Licheng’s livestream last time, fans had jokingly given him the title of “Fox Spirit Beauty.”
Someone even made an edited video pairing his onscreen characters with his real self, naming it “Captivating the King.”
Nie Shenyuan could not help thinking that the real Pei Jingyuan was a thousand times more radiant than any edited video.
“It was nothing. Just a small effort.”
Pei Jingyuan glanced at the now perfectly organized fridge.
Mr. Nie was not only kind and helpful, but also remarkably humble.
Something worth learning from indeed.
Nie Shenyuan handed over two tiny bananas to the little cub. “Yuanbao, peel these for your brother.”
“Little chubby chubby bananas~”
Yuanbao had not even taken a bite yet, but his eyebrows were already curved in delight.
Pei Jingyuan helped hold them steady so the child could peel them.
He muttered teasingly, “So Yuanbao can peel them. Last time you made your brother do it for you. Is that right?”
He reached out and gently poked the cub’s little bottom.
Soft. Very soft.
He poked again.
He could not nibble the soft tummy chub, but he could at least poke the little bottom.
Yuanbao thought little dad was playing with him and wriggled around on purpose. When he finished peeling, he proudly presented the chubby banana to Pei Jingyuan’s mouth.
Pei Jingyuan leaned forward and took a big dramatic bite.
“Yuanbao peeled it. It is so sweet.”
The delighted little cub bounced happily in his little dad’s arms.
By lunchtime.
After eating, Pei Jingyuan stayed home playing with Yuanbao while Nie Shenyuan went to study in 1102 to handle work.
Chen Xu gave a brief summary of the new information he had gathered on Hongtian Asset Management.
He had received a call from Mr. Nie the previous night and handled two tasks.
First, he contacted the production crew of Red Beauty to negotiate shifting the filming schedule by one day so that Mr. Pei could have a day of rest.
Second, he looked deeper into the parent company behind Hongtian Asset Management, namely Hongtian Group, and its investments in the entertainment industry.
From his deductions, Chen Xu guessed that Mr. Nie might be aiming to obtain indirect ownership of Pei Jingyuan’s company by gaining controlling interest in Hongtian.
If Mr. Nie personally approached Boss Jia of Hongtian Group, he would likely secure cooperation in the shortest amount of time.
“Mr. Nie, should I look into Boss Jia’s recent movements?” Chen Xu asked.
Nie Shenyuan lifted his eyes and handed another document over. “This is Hongtian’s financial report from last year. It was delivered this morning.”
Chen Xu accepted it.
Several important sections had already been marked with blue pens.
A quick scan was enough to reveal the problem. “Based on what I know, this report is not entirely accurate, is it?”
Theoretically, a public company’s financial report should never contain discrepancies.
Yet exceptions always existed.
Nie leaned back slightly. “Boss Jia has approached me several times. Most likely he is trying to raise funds.”
Chen Xu nodded, finally connecting the dots.
“If you approach him right now, it would put you in a weaker position.”
Hongtian Group might be listed, but with only two or three decades of corporate history, it was nowhere near the scale of the Nie family’s empire.
If not for Mr. Pei’s involvement, Mr. Nie would probably never have paid special attention to Hongtian.
He held back from asking any further and waited for instructions.
“Find a media company with good potential in the current market,” said Nie Shenyuan. “Its size is not important. What matters is a professional team.”
“Understood.”
After a moment of thought, Chen Xu added, “Mr. Nie, several invitation letters for private banquets arrived. All will be held within the next half month.”
Normally, he could already predict Mr. Nie’s answer without asking.
But this time something felt different.
Nie looked at him calmly. “Anything special about them?”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Chen Xu’s lips. “One of the banquets is to raise funds for the international film festival held at the end of the year. Several highly respected figures in the art and film industry will attend.”
Nie Shenyuan did not respond immediately. His gaze remained sharp and profound.
Chen Xu wondered if he had misread the situation entirely.
Tentatively, he asked, “Should I follow the usual procedure and decline?”
What he did not know was that Nie Shenyuan’s thoughts had drifted to something the three year old cub said last night.
Yuanbao had mentioned that in the future he did not meet many people.
Chen Xu was among those he had never met.
Nie reviewed his memories.
He must admit that Chen Xu was bright and efficient. Working with someone sharp indeed saved a great deal of trouble.
But Nie also noticed that Chen Xu had the habit of guessing his intentions.
He did not know why his future self would end their working relationship.
But at this moment, he felt he needed to make a slight correction.
“Chen Xu.”
“Yes sir.” Chen Xu immediately straightened when he sensed the shift in tone.
Nie Shenyuan met his eyes directly. “We have worked together for many years. You understand me very well.”
A very clear and unmistakable statement.
It struck Chen Xu’s mind like a wooden mallet hitting a temple bell.
He could neither deny it nor affirm it.
With someone like Chen Xu, a light warning was enough.
Nie returned to the previous matter. “Arrange for me to attend that banquet.”
Chen Xu, now fully awake mentally, immediately understood the meaning behind the words.
If Mr. Nie sounded calm after giving such a warning, it meant he was not truly angry.
“Yes.”
In apartment 1101.
Huang Licheng arrived with a mountain of fruits and snacks to visit his friend and finally laid eyes on the super soft and incredibly well behaved little cub.
“So you are little Yuanbao? Your Jingyuan ge has told me all about you.”
It was Yuanbao’s first time meeting his little dad’s friend. He immediately pressed himself into the narrow gap between Pei Jingyuan and the sofa.
One tiny hand clung to his little dad’s shoulder, and only one large crystal-like eye peeked out cautiously to observe the unfamiliar gege.
Pei Jingyuan held his small body in a protective arm. “Yuanbao, are you feeling shy?”
The cub pressed his cheek against his little dad’s back and nodded.
Huang Licheng lifted his phone, wanting to take a picture, but Pei Jingyuan quickly stopped him. “Do not take pictures. You will scare him.”
At that moment, Pei Jingyuan felt a tug on his ear.
“Hmm?”
Yuanbao stretched his little neck and brought his mouth close to his little dad’s ear, whispering, “Little dad, is this gege the gege who talked with you? The one Yuanbao saw at home.”
Pei Jingyuan realized he meant the livestream.
“Yes.”
He explained everything to Huang Licheng.
Huang Licheng was stunned. “He even watched our livestream? How did his dad let him watch that? I say all sorts of unfiltered nonsense.”
“Are you aware of that too?” Pei Jingyuan rolled his shiny eyes.
“Yuanbao only watched the part where I appeared. Stop worrying.”
“Hmph.”
Huang Licheng desperately wanted to hug the tiny fluffball, but the cub refused to come out from behind Pei Jingyuan.
“Yuanbao, besides bananas, what else do you like to eat? This gege can buy it for you. Anything you want.”
He waved his phone enthusiastically. “Just tell gege and I will order it immediately. It will be delivered right to the door.”
“Hey, you cannot attempt to bribe the child.”
Pei Jingyuan pulled the cub onto his lap.
Yuanbao leaned softly against his little dad, glanced at the new gege with blinking eyes, then shook his head.
He snuggled closer and whispered, “Yuanbao does not eat things from a stranger gege.”
Huang Licheng was horrified. “I am not a stranger gege. I did the livestream with your Jingyuan gege, right? Yuanbao, we are friends now, do you understand? Friends.”
Yuanbao giggled into his little dad’s chest.
Pei Jingyuan hugged the warm little bundle. “Alright, Mr. Huang Licheng, please do not frighten our four year old little Yuanbao.”
Yuanbao whispered matter of factly, “Yuanbao is forty months old.”
Huang Licheng clutched his chest dramatically. “I cannot take this anymore. I also want to have a child to play with.”
He squeezed himself onto the sofa beside Pei Jingyuan and leaned close, lowering his face to tease the cub. “Yuanbao, can you look at gege just once?”
“Zzzzzz” Yuanbao wiggled around.
Huang Licheng scrambled for ideas. “How about this? I can take you to the amusement park. There is a merry go round, and a Ferris wheel. How does that sound?”
“Hmm?” Yuanbao slowly lifted his little face, looked at the new gege, then at his little dad.
His big watery eyes sparkled faintly with interest.
Pei Jingyuan asked, “Yuanbao wants to go?”
It was not late yet, and going out to play for a bit would be fine.
Just as he thought of Mr Nie, a faint hesitation rose in his heart. He turned to Huang Licheng and said softly, “We need to get Yuanbao’s father’s permission first.”
At that moment, Nie Shenyuan stepped into unit 1101.
The door had been left unlatched on Pei Jingyuan’s instruction, making it easy for everyone to move back and forth between the two apartments.
Nie Shenyuan’s gaze swept across the living room. With a single glance he spotted the two young men seated shoulder to shoulder on the sofa, along with the tiny soft bundle nestled securely in Pei Jingyuan’s arms.
Huang Licheng’s arm was naturally slung over Pei Jingyuan’s shoulder. Nie Shenyuan’s brows tightened by an almost imperceptible fraction before smoothing out again just as quickly.
He reminded himself that this was Pei Jingyuan’s closest friend at the moment.
It was normal for good friends to sit close, even drape an arm over each other. Nothing unusual about that at all.
Huang Licheng had only heard a simple description of Mr Nie from Pei Jingyuan earlier, but seeing him in person was a completely different experience. The contrast between the cold, sharply refined aura of the father and the soft, irresistibly cute little child was so strong it almost shocked him into silence.
He shook Pei Jingyuan’s shoulder vigorously, whispering, “This is Yuanbao’s dad?”
A sweet and tender little dumpling paired with such a distant and elite looking father. What kind of wonderfully mismatched duo was this?
Yuanbao heard the question and immediately twisted his tiny body around. He raised his little hands excitedly and called out, “Big dad!”
Nie Shenyuan gave the child a calm look, then walked toward the sofa. At the same time he addressed Pei Jingyuan, “Mr Pei, this is your friend?”
“Yes.” Pei Jingyuan hurried to introduce the two.
After exchanging brief greetings, Huang Licheng quickly said, “Mr Nie, we were just talking about taking Yuanbao to the amusement park. I wanted to ask if that is alright with you.”
His words were spoken neatly, but in truth he was not very confident. He had no idea what kind of father this cold faced elite man was, nor how protective he might be.
Nie Shenyuan gathered the small child into his arms, held him securely, then looked down and asked, “Yuanbao, do you want to go to the amusement park? Go with these two older brothers?”
The little one puffed up his cheeks and nodded firmly, as if declaring something extremely serious.
Pei Jingyuan knew very well that Mr. Nie would not feel comfortable letting Yuanbao go out with only the two of them. He opened his mouth, preparing to suggest something.
But before he could speak, Yuanbao suddenly grabbed his big dad’s sleeve, tugged insistently, then pointed his chubby little finger at the brother sitting beside his small dad.
In a clear soft voice he declared, “I do not want that brother to go. I want my big dad to go.”
Pei Jingyuan was stunned on the spot.
Huang Licheng was struck straight in the heart. His entire expression said: completely defeated.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
Statistically speaking, coffee would be appreciated.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
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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 · Extra 1Chapter 86 · Yuanbao will work hard and make lots of money!Chapter 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