After Yuanbao’s checkup ended, the nurse brought over some snacks and desserts. Everyone saw him sneak a small glance at his father sitting beside him.
The current Nie Shenyuan obviously didn’t have that “silent understanding between father and son.” Upholding his principle of efficient communication, he simply responded, “Hm?”
Yuanbao remembered that this was the “dummy Dad,” and three black dots seemed to pop up beside his head. He had no choice but to ask directly, “Dad, can I eat these snacks here?”
The nurse’s eyes filled with sympathy, what a pitiful little young master, even after such a long health check, he still needed permission from Mr. Nie just to eat a small treat.
Nie Shenyuan glanced faintly at the nurse and said calmly to the child, “Help yourself.”
The nurse thought: Why is Mr. Nie so strict? Doesn’t he have any fatherly gentleness?
She pushed the small snack cart closer, smiling as she let the well-behaved little boy choose for himself.
After a careful selection, Yuanbao grabbed a panda-shaped cake with both hands and looked up to plead, “Auntie, can you open this for me, please?”
“Of course,” the nurse quickly took it from his tiny hands, secretly surprised, this soft, adorable little young master looked nothing at all like Mr. Nie.
Just then, the doctor walked over carrying a thick stack of health reports. Nie Shenyuan glanced at the little cub, “You sit and eat. I’ll go talk to the doctor alone.”
“Okay,” Yuanbao replied, already busy studying his panda cake, not even lifting his head.
The doctor, hearing Mr. Nie’s words, felt puzzled. Was there anything wrong with that? Or did Mr. Nie have some other arrangement in mind? Since it might be something serious, he didn’t dare take chances.
He invited Mr. Nie into a small consultation room and, once seated, explained the little boy’s condition in detail.
After every section, he would sneak a glance at Mr. Nie, afraid the man might give some special instruction.
Finally, the doctor summed up, “The young master’s indicators are all normal. Even his teeth are very healthy. No special findings for now.”
“Mm.”
Nie Shenyuan felt momentarily relieved. The doctor noticed that his brows were still furrowed, his dark eyes cold and unreadable.
The doctor’s heart began to drum nervously, Did something go wrong? What does Mr. Nie want to ask?
He dared not interrupt and quietly closed the folder.
Trying to ease the strange tension, he reached for his thermos cup, only to find it empty. Right, this wasn’t his usual consultation room.
Just as he awkwardly retracted his hand, Nie Shenyuan finally spoke, “Has there ever been a case of a man giving birth?”
“Hm?” The doctor adjusted his thick glasses, and under Mr. Nie’s calm but chilly gaze nodded,“Yes.
There have been quite a few cases around the world.”
Sensing Mr. Nie’s expression shift slightly, he asked tentatively, “Would you like me to elaborate?”
Nie Shenyuan lifted a finger resting on the armrest, gesturing for him to go on.
The doctor proceeded to explain several cases that had already been studied from “intersex pregnancy” to “male pregnancy.”
“…Most of them are caused by genetic mutations during embryonic development,” he said.
Perhaps because of the topic’s rarity and scientific importance, the doctor’s eyes began to shine; he completely forgot he was speaking to Mr. Nie, lost in academic enthusiasm.
He even concluded passionately, “So far, our country hasn’t had any case of a purely male birth. If there ever were one, it would be an extraordinary milestone, a huge breakthrough for our medical community!”
Nie Shenyuan’s brows drew tighter and tighter. In his mind, he suddenly saw the image of that beautiful child lying on an operating table, surrounded by countless doctors, each one holding a cold surgical knife.
His gaze grew faintly shadowed and icy. The doctor immediately shut his mouth, realizing belatedly what he had just said, “Mr. Nie… may I ask why you brought this up?”
Nie Shenyuan’s fingers tapped almost imperceptibly on the armrest, “Just curious. If my son is fine, I’ll be taking him home.”
He stood and adjusted his suit jacket slightly, “Y-Yes… of course.”
The doctor could only nod, feeling that Mr. Nie seemed suddenly displeased, full of questions he dared not voice.
On the way back, Nie Shenyuan saw the little cub puffing his cheeks like a goldfish, blowing bubbles in the air. The chubby cheeks swelled and deflated again.
He asked, “Why did you ask me before eating?”
“Hm?” Yuanbao turned to look at his dad.
“Dad, you said not to eat food from strangers. If I really want to eat it, I should ask you or Daddy first.”
If not for running into the police uncle and auntie yesterday, he wouldn’t have even asked for water.
Nie Shenyuan hadn’t thought of that. “Mm.”
Yuanbao realized it was a serious moment, so he whispered in a soft, milky voice, “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll teach you everything my future Dad taught me!”
Nie Shenyuan stayed silent.
Seeing that, Yuanbao thought Dad didn’t trust him. He raised his tiny fist and said earnestly, “It’s easy! Yuanbao can do it! Dad, you have to believe in me!”
Nie Shenyuan thought: This is the child I supposedly raised in the future? That seemed impossible.
It was probably all thanks to “Daddy.”
“By the way,” Nie Shenyuan asked seriously, “Do you know how old your Daddy is?”
“Daddy’s age?” Yuanbao began counting on his fingers, mumbling, “If we celebrated Daddy’s birthday three times together…”
Nie Shenyuan prompted, “How old was he on the most recent one?”
Outside, the sky was clear and blue, clouds puffed like cotton. Yuanbao tilted his head up, recalling the fireworks in the night sky and the numbers formed by drones. Excited, he kicked his little legs, “Twenty-eight!”
Nie Shenyuan looked at the forty-month-old cub, half-believing it. He roughly calculated that, in the future, they must have started “dating” before Pei Jingyuan turned twenty-four, otherwise this kid wouldn’t have been born yet.
The word dating popped into Nie Shenyuan’s mind, sounding absurdly out of place. But the proof of that “relationship” was sitting right in front of him, alive and giggling.
That so-called “proof of love” was now twisting around in his seat, babbling childishly, “Daddy, come here~”
“Daddy, Lulu~”
Nie Shenyuan could now confirm, this kid was ninety-nine percent like Pei Jingyuan in personality.
At that moment, his phone vibrated.
Assistant: 【Mr. Nie, I’ve looked into Mr. Pei’s recent activities. He’s been working at the film studio. Today, he went to audition for a movie role, and he’s filming tonight.】
For some reason, Nie Shenyuan remembered that the other man was only twenty-two. According to previous data, he lived in a company-rented apartment, with no house or car under his name.
Nie Shenyuan: 【Check the film crew.】
After putting down the phone, he noticed the little cub staring at him intently.
Yuanbao: “You found Daddy, didn’t you?”
Nie Shenyuan thought it over, he needed to meet the man in person first.
“Not yet.”
Yuanbao: “……”
Didn’t he just say Daddy was at a film set? How could Dad not find him?!
After three seconds of silence, the little boy began to twist again.
“Daddy Lulu~”
“Dad dummy~”
Outside the audition hotel,
Pei Jingyuan hopped off a shared e-bike, quickly pulled out his phone, and ended the ride on the app.
He had arrived early, enough time to get ready.
He just hoped the audition wouldn’t delay too long, he had a night shoot at 5 p.m.
He found the casting director who had contacted him. Today, there were many supporting actors auditioning, the venue was noisy and a bit chaotic.
In the hallway, several rooms on both sides had doors open, with bits of conversation and acting sounds drifting out.
The casting director handed him a bottle of mineral water. “Wait a bit. The two male actors who’ll read with you haven’t arrived yet. Once they’re here, we’ll do the scene together.”
Pei Jingyuan nodded and stood quietly to the side. As soon as he entered the corridor, several people had already looked at him.
Someone even whispered, “With a face like that, why’s he still running auditions himself?”
A few actors who often worked around film sets recognized him and murmured, “He’s too gorgeous, limits his range. Audiences don’t take well to that kind of look.”
The male actors who looked even slightly proper had a much wider acting range, they could fit into almost any drama and at least land some supporting roles.
But those with too much allure were very hard to cast.
Some people even started chatting about “plastic surgery” and similar topics, all kinds of low, scattered whispers continued around.
Pei Jingyuan was reading the short character bio he’d written himself, preparing for the audition later.
Half an hour later, not a single male actor who was supposed to act with him had arrived. From experience, Pei Jingyuan guessed that someone must have already been chosen directly and no longer needed to audition.
But according to the motivational mantras, he’d drilled into himself over the years, he would never give up any opportunity.
He took the initiative to approach the casting director, “Brother, if no one’s here to read with me, I can just audition alone.”
The casting director looked at him, appearing somewhat troubled.
Pei Jingyuan sensed something was off.
It was possible that his small role had already been decided.
It’s fine! It’s fine!
How can one chase a career without some setbacks? A calm sea never makes a skilled sailor!
He tried again, “Then is there any other role I can try out for?”
He spoke politely, maintaining a respectful smile.
The casting director had known him for some time and knew he was dependable, not someone who would cause trouble at the last minute.
He put a hand on Pei Jingyuan’s shoulder, pulled him aside, and lowered his voice, “Actually, one male actor suddenly bailed today, can you help me fill in for him?”
Inside, Pei Jingyuan cheered: Taking initiative never fails!
Whether he got the role wasn’t important, getting his face in front of the director was what mattered.
He asked, “Does this scene have a lot of lines?”
The casting director could tell by his tone that he was on board, so he nudged him toward another room.
“Not many. Don’t worry. Just help me out this time, and I’ll make sure to let you try for another role later.”
“Alright!” Pei Jingyuan agreed readily.
When he entered the audition room, a female actress was already seated, with her manager standing beside her.
The manager looked displeased, clearly irritated that the missing male actor had delayed them.
The casting director smiled as he explained the situation. The manager glanced at Pei Jingyuan, showing some surprise, but still had to ask for formality’s sake,
“Where did you find this fill-in last minute? You know as well as I do how important scene partners are, how’s my artist supposed to perform properly like this?”
The actress glanced at the very pretty young man, her tone warm and gentle as she reassured her manager, “It’s alright, it’s all fate when actors cross paths.”
She smiled courteously at Pei Jingyuan, “Take a moment to get familiar with the role, we can talk it through together.”
Only then did Pei Jingyuan recognize her, it was Luo Minyi, a well-known “sister-type” young actress currently on the rise.
The casting director, hearing that, immediately arranged for someone else to come explain the scene to them, he had several other audition rooms to manage.
After listening, Pei Jingyuan realized he was to play the “kept face” of a noblewoman.
There weren’t many lines, the specific segment they’d record was the scene of the noblewoman humiliating him in anger.
The staff explained clearly, “Got it? The director wants the male actor to look weak but not feminine. The key is to show fear toward the noblewoman, but with anger you dare not express.”
Pei Jingyuan hesitated, then nodded, “There aren’t any explicit scenes, right? I don’t do kiss scenes.”
The staff member looked at him. “No, this character only appears in two scenes.”
Pei Jingyuan understood.
Since there was no character bio, he had to improvise, filling in the background story himself to make the character’s behavior (“dare not speak out”) make emotional sense.
Luo Minyi’s manager glanced at him twice, displeased, and muttered in the corner, “This is such a waste of time. Should’ve never brought you here.”
Luo Minyi said lazily, “Why are you more anxious than I am? We’re already here.”
She thought his looks actually fit the role perfectly and as a noblewoman, that contrast added a certain amusement to the scene.
Before they began, Pei Jingyuan said politely, “Teacher Luo, I haven’t had much time to prepare, so please forgive me.”
He knew that if he performed poorly, it could affect Luo Minyi’s impression with the director.
But that wasn’t really his fault, he was only a stand-in.
So he stayed calm.
Luo Minyi nodded. “Let’s begin.”
The manager was asked to step outside. The camera started rolling.
When the scene ended, Luo Minyi was the first to speak, smiling brightly, “You did pretty well, actually.”
Pei Jingyuan was brushing dust off his pants, he’d fallen to the floor once during the scene.
Luo Minyi didn’t say more, just added, “Let’s add each other on WeChat. I’ll be filming in the film city in a while so we can grab a meal then.”
“Huh?” Pei Jingyuan let out another soft sound, sounding a little dumbfounded. He quickly hid his surprise and took out his phone to add her private WeChat.
He smiled. “Teacher Luo, you’re so kind.”
Luo Minyi accepted the friend request and said,
“I used to go around auditioning by myself too.”
Pei Jingyuan hadn’t realised that she was actually very down-to-earth, “Alright then, it was a pleasure acting with you this time.”
She nodded and left with her manager.
In the car, the manager asked, “How was the audition just now?”
He trusted Luo Minyi’s skill and judgment, she’d worked with plenty of crews, so she knew acting better than any manager.
Luo Minyi pulled down the sunshade by the car window, “I think he’s more likely to get chosen by the director than I am.”
“Huh?” The manager was surprised and suddenly intrigued. He had, in fact, been thinking about signing another male actor lately.
Later that night.
In one of the guest rooms of the Nie family mansion.
Yuanbao wore soft, milky-white pajamas, both little hands placed neatly on the blanket, quiet and obedient, listening to his dad read a bedtime story.
He’d requested this himself, it was, after all, the essential warm bonding time a little cub should have.
Nie Shenyuan’s voice was low and steady, reciting the words in the picture book without much tone, like a robot reading aloud.
Yuanbao looked at this “robot dad,” lifted a pinky in silent exasperation, and forgave him once again.
Just then, Nie Shenyuan’s phone buzzed, a call from his assistant.
He set down the storybook and said to the little cub, “I’ll take this call.”
The little one had just pulled the big hood of his pajama top over his head, revealing a small, round, puffed-up face, like a cute little plush toy.
Nie Shenyuan freed one hand and ruffled his soft, warm hair.
Yuanbao let him rub for a while, then tilted his head, blinking, “Dad, am I cute?”
“Mm.”
Nie Shenyuan tugged the hood lower, covering the boy’s face, then turned away to answer the call.
Yuanbao giggled and patted the blanket happily.
Nie Shenyuan answered the call.
Assistant: “Mr. Nie, the film crew where Mr. Pei auditioned, sent over some of his audition material. They seem to have misunderstood and thought we were evaluating actors.”
He explained quickly, “That was my mistake! I reached out through one of the group’s investment subsidiaries.”
Nie Shenyuan didn’t scold him. He only asked,
“He…”
Then changed his words, “Find out what Mr. Pei needs, and offer reasonable help if appropriate.”
Assistant, “The crew said the director liked Mr. Pei a lot. He’s already been cast and will sign soon, he probably doesn’t need any help right now.”
Nie Shenyuan was silent.
After a few seconds, the assistant said,
“Then I’ll check through Mr. Pei’s agency, see if he needs anything in daily life.”
“Mm.”
Assistant: “And what about the audition materials, including the video clip? What should I do with them?”
Nie Shenyuan’s mind flashed to the photos from earlier that day, “Send them to me.”
Assistant: “I’ll forward them to your private email.”
When the call ended, Nie Shenyuan went back to the bed.
Yuanbao was already fast asleep under the blanket, still wearing the hood, his tiny face looked especially small, like a freshly baked little milk bun.
Nie Shenyuan tucked in the corner of the blanket, his fingers brushing against the child’s soft cheek, eyes quietly fixed on the face of his and another man’s child.
He didn’t leave right away. After adjusting the lighting, he sat down in the chair and stayed there silently for half an hour.
Later, back in his own room, Nie Shenyuan showered, put on a robe, and went to his study.
He turned on the laptop on his desk.
Inside his inbox was a document labeled “Pei Jingyuan audition” and a video file.
He opened the video and set it to full screen.
Two figures appeared on screen, a man and a woman. One standing higher, the other lower.
The young man whose ID photo had once looked bright and cheerful, now exuded fear from head to toe.
Those rare, beautiful eyes were filled with unwillingness and sorrow.
His brows furrowed slightly, full of grievance, forced to look up at the noblewoman towering above him.
Even without a single line of dialogue, you could already feel the humiliation of his situation.
When the woman reached out to pinch his chin and lift it, delivering a line dripping with contempt, Pei Jingyuan’s emotions shifted sharply from shock to fury, his face full of disbelief yet unable to hide the shame.
His chest rose and fell; his slightly parted lips seemed on the verge of protest but, for some reason, he restrained himself, leaving only his quick, stifled breaths.
Nie Shenyuan frowned and paused the video.
His gaze lingered on Pei Jingyuan’s slightly upturned profile, for a long, long time.
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Cressilia
[Translator]
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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 · Extra 3Chapter 88 · Why are you blushing?Chapter 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