That night, Pei Jingyuan was jogging slow laps around his neighborhood, earbuds in, listening to an audio lecture from a “Film Directing and Editing” course.
Lately, he’d discovered that some of those courses, though focused on the use of light and framing, also offered surprising insight for actors.
The night wind brushed past him, and he slowed down his already leisurely pace, twisting open his bottle of water.
Occasionally, a car drove by, its windows dark and tinted, some actor probably being dropped off right at the building entrance.
Pei Jingyuan chuckled to himself. “Xiao Pei, look at you! What a good time you’re having now. You can still go for night runs.
Just wait a few years, when you’re famous and popular, you’ll be running on a treadmill behind drawn curtains at home!”
Just then, two adults and a little girl came into view ahead of him. The parents were holding the child’s hands, swinging her gently between them like a human swing.
The little girl’s laughter was bright and crisp.
Pei Jingyuan instinctively turned off the audio in his earphones and slowed down, walking quietly behind them.
The mother said gently, “Alright, that’s enough. Playing ‘air swing’ too much might hurt your hands, sweetheart.”
The father nodded. “Your mom’s right. Be good, baby.”
The girl didn’t argue. She just bounced on her little feet and asked cheerfully, “Then can I do it one more time, Mommy, Daddy, please?”
Her black pigtails bounced with every hop.
Pei Jingyuan thought softly to himself:
Of course you can.
Under the streetlights, the shadows of the small family stretched long across the pavement.
The sight made him think of his own parents, back when they were still alive.
He turned and began walking backward, gazing down at his tall, thin shadow on the ground, whispering under his breath, “Alone and solitary, accompanied only by my shadow…”
When he looked up, the moon was half hidden by thick clouds.
He shrugged, pushing away the melancholy, then started running again. This time he recited aloud with a burst of energy, “When Heaven is about to bestow great responsibility upon a man, it must first make him suffer! Strain his bones! Starve his body!”
His pace quickened with his growing fervor, his voice rising with each line until his blood felt hot in his veins.
As he reached the main gate of the community, another black sedan drove in.
Pei Jingyuan instinctively stepped aside to let it pass but the car slowed and stopped a few meters ahead.
The window rolled down, and a soft, round little face peeked out. The child’s eyes lit up as he waved his tiny hand excitedly, “Xiao gege!!!!”
That sweet, milky voice was impossible to mistake.
“Huh?” Pei Jingyuan blinked, startled that someone was calling him.
When he saw the child’s face clearly, he broke into a grin. “Wow, it’s you!”
The same adorable little cub who had snatched away his chubby, plush banana earlier!
The car door opened, and only then did Pei Jingyuan see the man he’d briefly met during the day, Mr. Nie.
Nie Shenyuan stepped out, carrying the little one in his arms.
Yuanbao immediately wriggled free and ran toward Pei Jingyuan, arms flapping like a little white goose taking off.
Pei crouched down with a laugh, catching the chubby bundle as it crashed into his arms. “Wow! You still remember me? What a clever little head you’ve got!”
“Mmm~~~”
Yuanbao clung to his neck tightly, burying his face against him and rubbing his cheek with a soft, contented hum.
Nie Shenyuan saw the child nearly knocking Pei backward and stepped forward calmly. “Yuanbao, don’t make gege fall.”
“Oh…” The little one softened immediately, like dough fresh out of the oven.
Holding the warm, squishy body in his arms, Pei felt all the gloom of earlier melt away like clouds clearing before the moon.
He smiled. “So this little sweetheart is Mr. Nie’s child, what a coincidence.”
Nie Shenyuan, who had only seen Pei’s composed, polite demeanor before, hadn’t expected this lively warmth.
“Mr. Pei still remembers me,” he said evenly. “I’m honored.”
“Of course,” Pei replied with an easy smile. “It’s hard to forget someone as distinctive as you, Mr. Nie.”
Then he teased the little one in his arms. “And with such a cute child, how could I ever forget either of you? Right, little friend?”
“Right! Right!”
Yuanbao hugged him again and rubbed his face affectionately, babbling softly, “Mmm”
Watching the two tangle together like that, Nie Shenyuan’s emotions were… difficult to read.
“Ah!”
Yuanbao suddenly gasped, leaning back dramatically and tugging at his dad’s sleeve, “Daddy! Take it out! Take it out!”
Pei blinked in confusion, thinking the child wanted to go back to his father’s arms until he saw the utterly unexpected sight.
From the pocket of his tailored suit, Nie Shenyuan produced a bright yellow, plump little banana.
Pei nearly laughed out loud. …Such an absurd, yet oddly endearing image.
Even under the dim streetlight, Nie Shenyuan clearly saw Pei’s expression, his face was too transparent to hide any thoughts.
Yuanbao, oblivious, waved the banana in front of Pei’s face with glee. “Xiao gege~ This is chubby chubby Banana! Yuanbao brought it from home~ It’s for you!”
Pei quickly smoothed away his surprise and smiled warmly. “You even remembered the banana? Thank you!”
How could someone like Mr. Nie have such a soft, precious and sweet little cub?
He wanted one too!
“So, Mr. Nie,” he asked curiously, “are you two staying here tonight?”
“Yes,” Nie replied simply. “Are you heading home now, or still running?”
“I’ll head back,” Pei said cheerfully. He hadn’t actually run much, barely even broken a sweat. Mostly, he just wanted a bit of fresh air.
Nie glanced at the small cub still clinging to Pei’s neck like a koala.
“Yuanbao, let Daddy hold you.”
But Yuanbao only hugged tighter and shook his head fiercely.
“It’s alright, I can carry him,” Pei said, still smiling.
He couldn’t believe it, this adorable cub was going to be his neighbor!
That meant… he could cuddle him whenever he wanted! No babysitting required! Perfection!
He blurted out, “Mr. Nie, how long will you be staying here?”
Yuanbao answered instantly, “For a long, long time! We’ll live with Xiao gege forever!”
Pei Jingyuan chuckled, teasing gently, “You can’t lie to Gege, okay?”
Nie Shenyuan added calmly, “We’ll see, depending on the circumstances.”
Pei Jingyuan nodded with a faint smile, his thoughts clear now.
So Brother Huang’s guess had been way off. Nie Shenyuan wasn’t keeping a secret lover, he was raising a child.
As they walked along, Yuanbao suddenly called out, “Gege!”
“Hm?”
Pei Jingyuan glanced down at the lively little boy, and his heart softened instantly.
Yuanbao puffed out his chubby cheeks and pressed his soft baby face against his “little dad’s” cheek. “Tonight Yuanbao wants to sleep with Gege, okay?”
Nie Shenyuan was just about to speak and stop this rather bold suggestion.
But Pei Jingyuan only laughed teasingly. “Aren’t you afraid that your brother might turn into a big tiger at night and eat you up in one bite?”
Yuanbao laughed even harder. “Owoo~ Gege, roar roar~~”
Pei Jingyuan joined in the fun, pretending to nibble the child’s face. “Roar!”
The two of them played and laughed, their joy overflowing.
Now Nie Shenyuan finally understood where Yuanbao’s “biting hand” game had come from.
Chen Xu and the others, who had just parked the car, didn’t rush over this time. Instead, they stood a little distance away, watching quietly.
Under the soft, silvery moonlight, the three of them walked side by side.
They talked, they laughed. The atmosphere was warm and natural.
After half a minute, Chen Xu froze in disbelief. Why did this look like a family of three?!
He didn’t know much about Mr. Pei, but he knew Mr. Nie very well.
And at this moment, the calm and composed Mr. Nie was clearly walking in a protective posture, guarding both the tall man and the little one at his side.
Chen Xu’s mind was a chaotic blur, but his instincts screamed at him to make a decision.
They should probably take the next elevator instead.
Housekeeper Jiang, who had come along from the residence, also stopped in his tracks, equally stunned by the sight before him.
A sudden “biological son,” a mysterious young man who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Everything about this scene was far too strange.
It was Yuanbao’s first time in this unfamiliar place, yet he didn’t look around curiously at all.
His big round eyes were fixed on his little dad, afraid that if he so much as blinked, the man might disappear.
Nie Shenyuan noticed this immediately, and of course, Pei Jingyuan, under such direct and fiery attention, noticed as well.
He asked softly, “Little Yuanbao, why are you staring at Gege like that?”
Yuanbao’s lips trembled a little, and he suddenly felt a sour ache in his heart, “Because Yuanbao hasn’t seen Gege for so many days.”
Since the day he was born, he had never been apart from his two dads.
It felt so, so lonely.
Pei Jingyuan blinked, not entirely sure what was going on, but he hurriedly swayed the child in his arms to comfort him, “Well, now that we’re neighbors, we can see each other every day, right?”
“Mm~”
Yuanbao rested his chin on his little dad’s shoulder, his gaze still glued to that familiar face.
He made soft, happy little cooing sounds, his tiny mouth puffing and mumbling, every bit of him overflowing with pure delight.
When they finally reached the apartment door, Pei Jingyuan really wanted to take the little cub inside to play but…
He hesitated and stole a glance at the calm faced Mr. Nie beside him. It didn’t seem appropriate to invite someone he’d just met into his home so casually.
Ah, time to give the adorable cub back to his dad.
Sensing that his little dad was about to leave, Yuanbao immediately clung to him with both arms and legs, holding on tightly.
What was going on?
Hadn’t they just agreed to sleep together tonight?
His little face showed a panicked, helpless look as he turned to his big dad for help.
Nie Shenyuan, ever perceptive, instantly understood Pei Jingyuan’s hesitation.
He spoke first, “Mr. Pei, if you’re free, would you like to come in and sit for a while?”
“Oh?” Pei Jingyuan nodded. “Then I’ll go home, take a quick shower, and come over? What time do you usually sleep?”
“Waa, Yuanbao wants to take a bath too~”
Yuanbao wriggled excitedly, but was quickly scooped up by a pair of firm arms.
He blinked down at the hand around his waist, confused. “Huh?”
The little cub looked so adorably dazed that Pei Jingyuan’s heart almost melted on the spot.
He wanted to be friends with this baby! Best friends!
Nie Shenyuan lowered his head and patiently explained the situation to the child.
Yuanbao scratched his tiny ear, thinking hard. He really wanted to pretend he didn’t understand, but…
His big black eyes darted toward his little dad, and after a moment of silent struggle, he nodded.
“Gege, go take a bath~ Yuanbao too~”
“Okay okay~”
Pei Jingyuan leaned in and poked the boy’s soft cheek, “See you in a bit.”
“Mm!” Yuanbao’s low spirits vanished instantly with that small gesture, “Gege will come back smelling nice and clean~”
He held up the small banana he’d been carrying the whole way and puffed his cheeks threateningly, “Gege must come! Or Yuanbao will eat the banana all by himself!”
“Alright, I’ll definitely come!”
Pei Jingyuan laughed and nodded politely at Nie Shenyuan before heading inside.
The moment the door closed, Yuanbao finally tore his gaze away, turning instead toward his big dad’s calm and unreadable face.
He pouted in dissatisfaction. “Big dad, what’s wrong with you? You’re nothing like before!”
This performance was terrible!
No wonder little dad didn’t want to live with them anymore.
Nie Shenyuan carried him to the next door and unlocked it with a fingerprint scan.
After stepping inside with the boy, he asked, “What was I like before?”
Yuanbao didn’t even need to think, “Of course you were smiling like this!”
He squinted his eyes exaggeratedly and stretched his lips into a huge grin.
“That’s impossible.”
Nie Shenyuan ruffled his hair lightly, “Tell the truth.”
Yuanbao muttered under his breath, “It’s true…”
Then he twisted around and looked at the unfamiliar apartment, still grumbling softly, “And big dad used to hug little dad and kiss his face too.”
Nie Shenyuan froze mid-motion as an image of Pei Jingyuan’s face flashed through his mind.
He was about to say something when he heard the elevator doors open outside.
The door was still ajar.
Chen Xu and Housekeeper Jiang entered, pushing the luggage carts.
Nie Shenyuan gave a simple order, “Housekeeper Jiang, put the luggage away.”
“Yes, sir. Then for Little Young Master’s bath tonight…”
At the old house, it had always been Aunt Zhao who took care of bathing the child, so Housekeeper Jiang felt the need to ask.
“I’ll do it.”
Nie Shenyuan carried the boy straight into the bedroom.
Housekeeper Jiang, following instructions, opened the suitcases and began arranging clothes, laying out a set of pajamas neatly on the bed.
This suite had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living area, small, but complete in every way.
Even so, the housekeeper couldn’t figure out why someone like Mr. Nie would lower himself to stay in such a modest place. What exactly was he planning?
In the master bathroom, Nie Shenyuan, now without his suit jacket, calmly rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, revealing lean, strong forearms.
He filled a brand-m new light blue baby tub with warm water, then undressed Yuanbao and carefully placed him inside.
“Is the water too cold? Are you okay?”
Yuanbao shook his head, sitting happily against the little seat. “It’s comfy~”
He lifted his plump white feet out of the water, a little disappointed that he couldn’t play with his little dad too.
Nie Shenyuan moved with slow gentleness, cautious not to hurt the child’s tender skin.
“Yuanbao.”
“Mm?” The boy looked up with a soft, round face, his big dark eyes blinking curiously.
Nie Shenyuan wiped his small arm with a child’s towel. “In the future, your original big dad and little dad, were they… close? Their relationship was good?”
Yuanbao placed his tiny hands on the edge of the tub and nodded.
After thinking for a moment, he added, “But Yuanbao also saw big dad and little dad get angry before.”
“Really?”
Nie Shenyuan frowned slightly. What on earth could he have been angry about?
He asked again, “Are you sure you didn’t see it wrong?”
Yuanbao shook his head firmly. “No, I saw it. Big dad had a mean face and scolded little dad.”
Nie Shenyuan fell silent. He couldn’t imagine himself doing something like that.
Yuanbao continued in a soft murmur, “But then they made up again.”
Nie Shenyuan paused, looking at the boy’s bright black eyes, “How did they make up?”
Yuanbao tilted his head and thought hard, “Yuanbao doesn’t know… Just saw big dad and little dad kiss again.”
He nodded seriously, “Kissing means making up.”
Nie Shenyuan’s brow furrowed once more. How could they let a child see something like that? That was completely inappropriate.
Yuanbao, however, kept studying his big dad’s expression, feeling more and more certain.
This big dad didn’t seem like the same person his little dad liked at all.
Maybe… Yuanbao should sneak over to little dad’s place and not come back to big dad anymore.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
Yes, this is the part where we shamelessly ask for coffee.
☕ 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