After Yuanbao voiced his little wish, Nie Shenyuan immediately noticed that Pei Jingyuan looked a bit embarrassed.
He lowered his head to the small cub in his arms and said, “Your little dad has something to take care of today. How about we go another day?”
“Huh?” Yuanbao, not even four years old yet, naturally preferred the kind of promise that was “said and immediately fulfilled.”
Pei Jingyuan’s expression eased slightly.
Nie Shenyuan gave him a brief look of acknowledgement, then carried the little cub toward the balcony.
Leaning close to those tiny ears, he explained in a soft voice, “That older brother came here especially to visit your little dad. If we go to the amusement park now, it would be rude.”
Yuanbao peeked back at his little dad sitting in the living room. “Oh.”
Nie Shenyuan gently pinched the child’s thin little wrist. “Your little dad’s hand hasn’t healed yet. If we go out, he might bump into it by accident and it will hurt.”
Yuanbao withdrew his gaze and stared carefully at the wrist caught in Big Dad’s hand.
He hurriedly lifted his face and responded obediently, “Big Dad, then let’s not go play~”
Nie Shenyuan brushed his fingers through the child’s soft hair. “In a few days, when your little dad is feeling better, we’ll all go to the amusement park together.”
He spoke each word slowly and firmly, a promise.
Yuanbao listened very carefully and nodded hard. “Mm~ Yuanbao will remember.”
In the living room,
After that initial sting of guilt, Huang Licheng could easily understand the little cub’s feelings.
After all, who would want to go out to play with a stranger they were meeting for the very first time?
But watching father and son seemingly discussing serious “business negotiations,” he casually wrapped an arm around Pei Jingyuan and dragged him to the kitchen to, very obviously, pretend to wash fruit.
“This Mr. Nie… why does he give off the feeling of someone super rich?”
“Right?” Pei Jingyuan looked baffled. “Didn’t I already tell you what he wears and how he carries himself?”
Huang Licheng scratched his head. “Sure, you said it but hearing is one thing and seeing is another! The man’s presence is seriously big-boss level.”
He nodded toward the entrance. “The moment he walked in, I thought he had come to the wrong apartment.”
Pei Jingyuan nodded in agreement. “Honestly? This tiny apartment feels unworthy of such a Buddha.”
Failing to find any chance to pinch Yuanbao’s baby chubby cheeks, Huang Licheng lightning-fast went for Pei Jingyuan instead, grabbed his face in one squeeze, then hopped back like a thief.
“Hey?!”
Pei Jingyuan stared at him speechlessly. “What kind of madness is that?”
Huang Licheng teased, “I’m just saying, you don’t suit this tiny apartment either. With that face, that build, those long legs…”
“Mr. Pei?”
A deep, resonant voice cut him off mid-sentence.
Both Huang Licheng and Pei Jingyuan turned around.
“Yes, Mr. Nie?” Pei Jingyuan stepped forward immediately.
Huang Licheng silently grabbed a mango from the counter and began washing it.
Nie Shenyuan said, “I’d like to invite Mr. Huang to stay for dinner. Would that be acceptable to you?”
Huang Licheng brightened, then immediately wondered: Why does he sound like the master of the house?
Pei Jingyuan nodded. “Sure.”
He smiled at Huang Licheng. “Mr. Nie has chefs at home. Their cooking is excellent.”
Huang Licheng expressed his thanks.
Standing on the floor, Yuanbao tugged at Big Dad’s suit pants. “Big Dad, Big Dad, let Chef Uncle add two yummy dishes~”
Huang Licheng overheard that and instantly raised the grape bowl like a banner. “Yuanbao! Do you like your brother this much? You’re even asking the chef to add dishes for me?!”
Yuanbao blinked and was about to speak, but Big Dad’s large hand landed on his head.
“Mm?”
He slowly tilted his little face up and read something in Big Dad’s expression, Big Dad didn’t want him to say anything.
Alright then~
Yuanbao obediently shut his mouth.
Nie Shenyuan left the child to play while he went to instruct the chef about the extra dishes.
Pei Jingyuan took Yuanbao to the living room and whispered, “Little Yuanbao, what were you trying to say just now?”
He had definitely noticed the father and son silent eye exchange.
Yuanbao first guided his little dad’s right hand onto the sofa armrest, then climbed onto his lap, finally sitting properly before whispering, “It wasn’t for Brother.”
“Hm?” Pei Jingyuan blinked. “Then why did you say that?”
Was a four year old’s mind supposed to be THIS complicated?!
Yuanbao poked his little dad’s stomach. “Brother is here, so he’ll eat a lot of dishes. Need to add more for Little Dad.”
Pei Jingyuan was instantly moved, hugging the small child and rubbing his back. “Wuuuwuuu~~ Little Yuanbao is so sweet~~”
Seeing Huang Licheng returning with the grapes, he quickly reminded him, “Don’t tell Brother about this, okay?”
He wasn’t angry at the child, of course but he would definitely get a little “sad.”
“Mm!”
Yuanbao agreed just as firmly as he had earlier promised Big Dad about not going to the amusement park.
Pei Jingyuan suddenly had a deep respect for Mr. Nie, he had perfectly predicted what the kid was going to say.
What an amazing level of tacit understanding. He wanted that too!
At dinner,
Yuanbao sat in his baby chair, acting like a tiny host and inviting Brother to taste each dish.
Pei Jingyuan sipped his soup in tiny spoonfuls while his imagination ran wild:
When a child acts unusually nice… something is definitely going on. Was Yuanbao hoping Huang Licheng would eat and leave quickly?
Yuanbao quietly turned his head toward him. Their eyes met and the little cub grinned mischievously: “Hee~”
Pei Jingyuan felt his thoughts exposed. (ΩДΩ)
Could Little Yuanbao read minds?!
After finishing a bowl of pork-rib soup, Huang Licheng said, “Yuanbao, Brother can cook too. Pretty well, actually. What do you like eating? Next time Brother will make it for you.”
“Mm?” For once, Yuanbao looked at him seriously. Without thinking at all, he blurted out, “French fries.”
Pei Jingyuan nodded. “Yuanbao’s just like me, loves bananas and fries.”
“Mm! mm~”
Yuanbao bit on his little spoon and held onto the table with both hands, twisting his body in pure happiness.
“I’ll fry them for you then!” Huang Licheng said proudly. “Brother fries them really well!”
Instantly, three pairs of eyes looked at him.
Little Yuanbao: Huh? Brother can fry fries?
Pei Jingyuan: Huh?! Why have I never eaten them?
Nie Shenyuan: Hmm. The future world seems to have lost Huang Licheng for a reason.
Realizing the stares, Huang Licheng blinked and glared at Pei Jingyuan. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Pei Jingyuan made a face. “When you stole the fries I bought, you never once said you could fry your own.”
“You never said you loved eating them. I always thought you just liked junk food.”
“That’s not junk,” Pei Jingyuan muttered.
Then he remembered he was at Mr. Nie’s home and restrained himself from bickering further.
Yuanbao looked left, looked right, utterly confused.
He took a bite of egg custard. Forget it. He’ll just wait until Big Dad learns to make fries.
Nie Shenyuan reached out to pick up the bowl in front of Pei Jingyuan. “Have another bowl of soup.”
Then he turned to the other young man. “Mr. Huang, don’t hold back. Eat more.”
After thanking him, Huang Licheng lifted his gaze and froze.
Why did the three of them look like a family?
He thought he was imagining it but when he looked again,
No, he definitely wasn’t imagining it.
There was a quiet, warm atmosphere around them.
Over the rest of the meal, he subtly observed while eating and gradually realized:
Mr. Nie was always proper and well-mannered, never saying anything suggestive but the moment he looked at Pei Jingyuan, the coldness in his eyebrows softened, so obviously, undeniably softened.
And as for Yuanbao…
Anyone with eyes could see how attached the little cub was to Pei Jingyuan, practically glued to him all the time.
Sherlock mode activated, Huang Licheng lowered his head dramatically, staring at the dishes with shining eyes:
There must be some special story behind this.
Later when Pei Jingyuan walked him out and clearly explained that Mr. Nie was simply a kind person,
“Kind?!”
Huang Licheng almost shouted. “Your observation skills are usually better than mine! How can you NOT see the difference in how he talks to you versus how he talks to me?!”
Pei Jingyuan blinked. “Well, he’s just met you today.”
They were walking along the familiar residential path.
As soon as he said that, Pei Jingyuan suddenly recalled: The first time he met Mr. Nie was also right on this same path.
And yes, Mr. Nie had indeed been very gentle back then.
So his judgment wasn’t wrong.
Huang Licheng couldn’t find a counterargument.
“I’ll record it for you next time. Then you’ll see how the three of you look exactly like a family.”
Pei Jingyuan instantly objected. “Hey! Don’t talk nonsense! That’s rude.”
Huang Licheng stopped there and didn’t continue.
After sending his friend off, Pei Jingyuan turned back toward the apartments. As he approached the entrance, he saw a tall figure.
“Mr. Nie?”
He glanced behind the man, no small cub in sight. “Huh? Where’s Yuanbao?”
Nie Shenyuan walked forward with firm, steady steps. “He’s playing inside. I came out to take a phone call.”
Pei Jingyuan nodded.
Before he could ask anything, Nie Shenyuan added, “I’m done already. Come on, let’s go back.”
The two walked back slowly together.
Pei Jingyuan said sincerely, “Thank you for everything today, Mr. Nie. I already freeloaded dinner and I still brought a friend…”
Hearing him being so overly polite made Nie Shenyuan feel an inexplicable irritation.
He steadied his mood. “I offered. You don’t need to thank me.”
After a pause, he added, “Your friend is quite lively. Young, like you.”
“We’re the same age.”
When Pei Jingyuan mentioned Huang Licheng, his reserved manner loosened slightly. “He always jokes that the two of us are ‘five-same.’”
He added with a small laugh, “We used to run around film crews together as extras.”
For Nie Shenyuan, relying on the current trajectory to deduce why these two would eventually cut ties was almost impossible. So he simply held his silence.
Pei Jingyuan continued, “Right, I have something I wanted to ask you.”
Nie Shenyuan stopped walking and turned to him. “Go ahead.”
Pei Jingyuan halted as well. He tilted his head up a little to look at the taller man. “You must’ve heard it a lot already… Yuanbao calling me ‘Little Dad.’ Right?”
“Yes.” Nie Shenyuan had already anticipated he would bring this up sooner or later.
Pei Jingyuan frowned. Why was Nie Shenyuan not offering any further explanation?
The moon was like a faint golden stroke brushed onto the deep blue night sky.
He couldn’t quite make out Nie Shenyuan’s eyes, dark and deep, like an ocean beneath the moon, an ocean full of unfathomable undercurrents.
What surprised him was that, for some reason, he didn’t feel afraid of being swallowed by that darkness.
So he tried again. “Is it inconvenient for you to say? Is there some kind of secret? If that’s the case… forget it. Just pretend I never asked. I really don’t want to pry into you or Yuanbao’s personal matters.”
Seeing that Pei Jingyuan looked ready to walk again, Nie Shenyuan finally said, “There are some special circumstances. I originally planned to tell you after you finished shooting this drama.”
“Huh?”
Pei Jingyuan blinked.
The small gesture, unexpectedly, resembled Yuanbao’s so closely, father and son both with bright, expressive eyes.
Nie Shenyuan made a subtle motion forward. “Let’s go. We can talk once you’re not so busy.”
“What?” Pei Jingyuan grew anxious, losing his sense of propriety as he suddenly grabbed Nie Shenyuan’s wrist. “You can’t stop halfway! How am I supposed to sleep tonight like this?”
Nie Shenyuan lowered his eyes to the hand clutching his wrist. The touch of soft skin wrapped around the slender joints was delicate and warm.
His stare was so direct that Pei Jingyuan immediately realized his breach of manners and jerked his hand back.
“Sorry, I… that was rude.”
For the first time, Nie Shenyuan felt a faint, unfamiliar restlessness, like the flicker of a tiny flame licking at his nerves, brought on by Pei Jingyuan’s excessive politeness.
He held steady and tried to follow his original plan. “We’ll talk when filming is over.”
But Pei Jingyuan’s earlier panic vanished. His gaze, suddenly, was unwavering. “No!”
He had already noticed from Nie Shenyuan’s tone and demeanor that whatever this matter was, it carried tremendous weight.
Afraid the man would reject him again, he insisted, “If this has anything to do with me, then I have the right to know now.”
It was the first time he had ever shown such firm resolve.
Nie Shenyuan recalled Yuanbao’s habit, whenever the child grew anxious, he would tug on the collar of his shirt, wearing that same stubborn expression.
Even so, Nie Shenyuan still wanted to delay this talk, at least until a more appropriate moment.
“You still have filming tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve memorized all my lines like the back of my hand.”
Pei Jingyuan’s tone brooked no argument. “Nothing will interfere with my work. That’s the professionalism I should have. Please don’t worry about it.”
Nie Shenyuan looked into his bright black eyes. “I know but… ”
“No ‘but.’” Pei Jingyuan grew more perplexed by the other man’s hesitation. “I need to know today. Otherwise, ”
He lifted his chin toward the eleventh floor of Building No. 7. “I’ll move out tomorrow.”
To make it sound more convincing, he added, “This isn’t my place anyway. The agency is renting it. I don’t pay rent. I can leave whenever I want.”
Now Nie Shenyuan understood why Yuanbao said that his two dads “will fight.”
After issuing his “threat,” Pei Jingyuan watched Nie Shenyuan’s expression closely.
But the man’s composure was absolute, so calm it unsettled him. The lack of reaction made Pei Jingyuan’s heart thump uncomfortably.
What was going on?
Why was Nie Shenyuan utterly unflappable?
Half a minute later, Nie Shenyuan finally spoke. “Yuanbao didn’t lie to you. He is your child.”
Pei Jingyuan’s eyes widened. “Are you joking with me? Yuanbao is still little; he doesn’t understand things clearly but you, ”
Nie Shenyuan had already expected this disbelief.
“Yuanbao came here from the future. He was born when you were 26.”
Pei Jingyuan’s mind scrambled. “Me? At 26!?”
His life was chaotic enough as it was; he had never imagined anything to do with the future.
“No! wait! then why does Yuanbao call you Dad?”
Nie Shenyuan caught the shift. The “you” that had previously been a polite and distant “sir” had become direct, informal yet surprisingly natural.
“I’m his other father. Yuanbao and I already did a DNA test. It confirmed we’re biologically related.”
Pei Jingyuan’s pupils contracted violently, as though a train had slammed into him at full speed.
He paused, words forming with difficulty. “You’re telling me… that the two of us, in the future, gave birth to Yuanbao?”
Seeing his dazed expression, Nie Shenyuan felt a flicker of concern.
“That is the truth.”
Pei Jingyuan blurted, horrified, “Impossible! You’re not even my type!”
This reaction, honestly, was something Nie Shenyuan had not expected.
For a moment, the world around them was swallowed whole by silence.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
A little coffee for the person who made these words happen? (｡•́‿•̀｡)
☕ 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 · 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