Chapter 106

Chapter 106

After Lin Yi got up and walked out of the bedroom, he saw Huo Mianmian squatting in a corner.

At that moment, Huo Mianmian had his lips pouted and a gloomy expression on his face.

Lin Yi approached him with some confusion and asked, "Mianmian, what's wrong? Who upset you?"

Huo Mianmian raised his little head and complained to Lin Yi, "Dad, I made a little snowman here last night, but the snowman didn't want to play with me and ran away by itself."

Lin Yi was utterly charmed by this childish remark.

He paused for a moment before saying, "Is this snowman so mean?"

Huo Mianmian nodded vigorously. "Yes! It's so mean!"

This adorable little boy, even when angry, looked so cuddly, making one want to pinch his little cheeks.

Lin Yi comforted him, "Don't worry, after breakfast, let's build another snowman together, okay?"

Upon hearing this, the disappointment on Huo Mianmian's face vanished, and he became cheerful again.

During breakfast, father and son had some milk and bread, then they dressed warmly and went outside to build a snowman in the snowy field.

To stay warm, both Lin Yi and Huo Mianmian wrapped themselves in scarves and wore waterproof gloves, fully prepared for their snowman-building activity.

Another snowfall had occurred overnight, and now there was a thick layer of snow outside, reaching almost half a meter in some places.

Seeing all the white snow, Lin Yi couldn't resist lying down in a pile of fresh snow.

Seeing this, Huo Mianmian also plopped into the snow.

Father and son flapped around in the snow like two penguins, having a great time.

After playing for a while, they started building the snowman.

With Lin Yi's help, the snowman they built was both large and beautiful.

Together, they brought over a lot of snow and built a snowman about a meter tall.

Lin Yi went inside to fetch some materials, such as carrots, black charcoal, a scarf, and a hat.

He adorned the snowman with these items one by one, and finally, a standard snowman appeared.

The snowman looked lively and chubby, with a big smile, making it very cute.

Seeing the snowman, Huo Mianmian jumped up and down in excitement.

This snowman was bigger and prettier than the one he had built last night!

After finishing the snowman, Lin Yi said to Huo Mianmian, "Alright, now this snowman is your friend. You can play with it for the next few days."

"Okay~" Huo Mianmian's voice was filled with joy.

After building the snowman, father and son decided to take a walk along the path through the woods.

While walking, they unexpectedly spotted several rabbits darting through the snow.

Huo Mianmian's eyes widened. "Wow, look at those hopping little bunnies!"

Lin Yi teased him, "Shall we try catching one?"

Huo Mianmian eagerly nodded. "Sure, sure~"

Then father and son began chasing the rabbits in the woods.

However, after just a few steps, they found it difficult to move.

The snow was deep everywhere, reaching Lin Yi's knees with each step.

For Huo Mianmian, it was even more challenging; he was nearly buried in the snow like a little potato.

Huo Mianmian: "..."

QAQ!

He couldn't move!

Seeing this, Lin Yi laughed and walked over to lift Huo Mianmian out of the snow, then returned to the path and put him down.

Regaining his freedom, Huo Mianmian patted his little chest, still a bit scared. "I almost couldn't get out."

Lin Yi reassured him, "Don't worry, with me here, you won't get stuck."

Hearing his dad's promise, Huo Mianmian felt a sense of security.

It seemed impossible to catch any rabbits now.

So father and son continued walking along the path and eventually reached a local town.

The town wasn't big, but the scenery was particularly beautiful.

Not far away was a wide lake, which was now frozen over.

After walking for a while, they came across a street performance.

The performers used various instruments, some blowing, some plucking, creating a lively and melodious tune.

Lin Yi stopped with Huo Mianmian and admired the performance for a while.

Finally, the piece came to an end.

Lin Yi took out some money he had exchanged here and handed it to Huo Mianmian; "Mianmian, see that box over there? Go put the money in it."

Huo Mianmian obediently took the money and walked over with his short legs, placing it in the box.

The performers, perhaps charmed by how adorable Huo Mianmian was or impressed by Lin Yi's generosity, smiled at them and quickly began their second piece.

Lin Yi decided to listen to the second piece as well before leaving with Huo Mianmian.

At this moment, snow began to fall gently from the sky once again.

Scenes of snow always held a special beauty, with countless snowflakes drifting down.

Lin Yi stopped and looked up slightly at the falling snow.

Huo Mianmian also extended his small hands to catch the snow.

Many snowflakes landed on his tiny palms, but they didn't melt right away because he was wearing gloves.

This allowed Huo Mianmian to clearly observe the shapes of the snowflakes.

He realized for the first time that no two snowflakes were exactly alike.

Each one had its unique and perfect shape.

Huo Mianmian was amazed by this discovery. He caught more snowflakes and called Lin Yi over excitedly; "Dad, look! Every snowflake is different!"

Lin Yi smiled and said, "Yes, each snowflake is unique."

Huo Mianmian's eyes widened in wonder. "Why?"

Lin Yi, not having studied this deeply, replied, "That's the magic of nature. Even the falling snowflakes are astonishing."

After hearing Lin Yi's words, Huo Mianmian looked down at the snowflakes in his hand, feeling a sense of wonder lingering within him.

By noon, Lin Yi received a message from Huo Jihan.

Huo Jihan mentioned that he had arrived somewhere else and would return only in the evening.

Lin Yi replied and then took Huo Mianmian to have lunch alone.

They entered a very distinctive restaurant in the town.

Upon entering, they felt the warmth from the heating, which was perfect for such a cold day.

There were many people dining inside.

Everyone had steaming hot food in front of them, and occasional laughter filled the air, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.

Lin Yi led Huo Mianmian to an empty table, removed his scarf and gloves, and took off his coat.

Underneath his coat, Lin Yi wore a light blue solid-colored sweater, making him appear gentle and serene.

Huo Mianmian also wore a sweater, but his children's version was cuter, with a warm yellow color and a soft, cute cat pattern on the front.

The sweater suited him perfectly.

As soon as they sat down, a waiter brought them each a cup of specialty warm goat's milk.

Huo Mianmian picked up the glass with both hands and drank it down.

When he put the glass down, there was a ring of white milk around his lips, giving him a sweet milky scent.

Lin Yi, meanwhile, was looking through the menu to order.

He chose mostly local specialties, such as deep-sea cod, grilled mountain lamb, cheese, and roasted shrimp.

Soon, their food was served.

Lin Yi picked up his knife and fork, ready to taste the deep-sea cod.

The cod was cut into small pieces, grilled on a pan, and topped with a delicious sauce.

Lin Yi used his fork to pick up a piece of cod and fed it to himself.

The fish tasted excellent, with tender meat and a unique sauce that was truly impressive.

Huo Mianmian, on the other hand, picked up a piece of cheese and ate it bit by bit.

He always looked well-behaved when eating, sitting properly in his seat, moving his little mouth gently.

This behavior quickly caught the attention of a few children at the nearby table.

Some comments drifted over.

"He's so tiny, looks like he's only two or three years old?"

"He's so pretty. I wish he were my little brother."

"Can I give him this dessert?"

Listening to these remarks, Lin Yi glanced at his adorable and well-behaved child, feeling a surge of pride.

Isn't he cute? He's ours!

Huo Mianmian couldn’t understand what those people were saying, so he just focused on eating the cheese in his hand.

The other children exclaimed how adorable he was.

One little boy even wanted to rush over and make friends right away, but his mother stopped him, telling him not to disturb others while they were eating.

The little boy had no choice but to give up reluctantly.

After finishing their lunch, Lin Yi led Huo Mianmian out of the restaurant and then leisurely strolled back to their wooden cabin in the woods.

On such a relaxed snowy day, after a hearty meal, taking a nap was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

So Lin Yi brought Huo Mianmian into the warm bed and they both drifted off to sleep together.

They slept until evening, unaware that Huo Jihan had returned.

When Huo Jihan came back, he searched the house and eventually found the father and son in the bedroom.

He sat down at the edge of the bed and leaned over to kiss Lin Yi.

Lin Yi, still drowsy, sensed something and opened his eyes to see Huo Jihan's handsome face magnified before him.

And this person was kissing him.

Lin Yi blinked in confusion.

Seeing Lin Yi awake, Huo Jihan didn’t hold back anymore and coaxed Lin Yi to open his mouth, deepening the kiss.

Intimate breaths intertwined.

Lin Yi was kissed half-asleep and half-awake.

Only when Huo Jihan straightened up did Lin Yi react, saying, "You’re ambushing me?"

He pretended to be angry, but with his lips moist and slightly panting, he didn’t look truly upset; rather, it seemed like he was pouting.

Huo Jihan reached out to touch his cheek, asking in a low voice, "Do you want to get up?"

Lin Yi lazily replied, "I don’t want to."

It was only then that he noticed Huo Jihan’s attire today was different from usual.

At the moment, Huo Jihan was wearing a gray coat with a black scarf around his neck.

Lin Yi was used to seeing Huo Jihan in formal suits, and now seeing him in this more casual outfit gave him a different feeling, as if he was seeing another side of Huo Jihan.

Lin Yi stared at Huo Jihan without hiding his gaze.

Huo Jihan asked, "What are you looking at?"

Lin Yi smiled, "Looking at you, I’m captivated by your looks."

Huo Jihan raised an eyebrow slightly, "Really? Then keep looking."

Lin Yi laughed, "Mr. Huo, I never thought you were so narcissistic."

Huo Jihan, seeing Lin Yi’s bright smile, also curved his lips, then said, "Are you really not getting up? There are auroras outside."

"What?!"

Lin Yi sat up abruptly from the bed, "Auroras? Why didn’t you say anything earlier?!"

He had never seen the auroras in person and was very curious about them.

Huo Jihan handed him his coat, "It’s not too late to get up now. Wake up Mianmian too."

Hearing that they could see the auroras, Lin Yi quickly got ready and helped Huo Mianmian get dressed as well.

Then the family of three went out to see the auroras.

As soon as Lin Yi stepped outside, he was stunned, his eyes widening slightly.

The sky looked completely different from usual, like a special effect, with a light that appeared both blue and green, constantly moving and changing, resembling a world inside a snow globe, dazzling and colorful.

Due to the auroras, even though it should have been night, everything was bright. The blue-green lights reflected on the snow, creating a breathtaking scene.

This moment felt surreal, almost unbelievable, making one doubt its reality.

Lin Yi was deeply moved by the scenery, speechless for a long time.

Huo Mianmian also had his beautiful big eyes wide open.

But children’s thoughts are always adorable. After watching the changing auroras for a while, he asked, "Who colored the sky?"

Lin Yi couldn’t help laughing at his question.

Huo Jihan also smiled slightly.

Noticing that both his dads were laughing, Huo Mianmian tilted his head in confusion, "Eh? Did I say something wrong?"

Lin Yi immediately said, "Of course not, someone did color the sky."

Huo Mianmian then looked at Huo Jihan.

Lin Yi also looked at Huo Jihan, giving him a meaningful glance.

Huo Jihan paused for a moment, "…Yeah."

Huo Mianmian received the approval of both his dads, and his eyes immediately curved into a smile.

Sure enough, he hadn't guessed wrong.

It was as if someone had used paint to color the sky.

The family of three stood on the open ground in front of the wooden house, admiring the aurora until it was quite late before they went inside.

Soon, the ten-day trip came to an end.

Huo Jihan successfully signed the contract with the local partners and then it was time to return.

The family of three boarded a plane back home.

Upon returning, Huo Jihan threw himself back into his busy work.

Lin Yi continued to live his leisurely life.

One afternoon, he came to a café.

Actually, Lin Yi wasn't particularly fond of coffee, but this café was near the villa area, so whenever he had nothing to do, he would drop by for a sit.

Lin Yi ordered a latte and comfortably sat at a table by the window, waiting for his coffee.

At another table in the café.

"Is that Lin Yi?"

A young man asked his friend.

This young man was named Cheng Siyao, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, dressed in a light beige suit with a coat over it, looking rather handsome.

His friend replied to Cheng Siyao: "Yes, that's him."

After hearing this, Cheng Siyao looked Lin Yi up and down and then commented: "Why did Brother Jihan choose him?"

His friend actually didn't want to get involved in anything related to Huo Jihan, after all, he was someone they couldn't afford to offend, but since Cheng Siyao had asked, he could only say: "I'm not sure, but I heard their relationship is quite good. Even when Mr. Huo went abroad on business a few days ago, he took Lin Yi along."

Hearing this, Cheng Siyao's eyes showed a hint of unwillingness.

If he had known Brother Jihan could accept men, he should have seized the opportunity earlier.

Cheng Siyao's parents and Huo Jihan's parents were part of the same social circle.

When Cheng Siyao was very young, he knew there was an impressive older brother in the Huo family, but unfortunately, that older brother was too cold, making him seem unapproachable.

As he grew older, Cheng Siyao kept his admiration for Huo Jihan hidden in his heart. He didn't have the courage to directly approach Huo Jihan, nor did he have many opportunities to do so.

However, he took Huo Jihan as his role model and planned his life accordingly.

When Huo Jihan went abroad for studies, he did the same.

The slight difference was that Huo Jihan obtained his Ph.D. at the age of 25, while he only got a master's degree.

Every time he thought about this, his admiration for Huo Jihan deepened even more.

His friend noticed Cheng Siyao's expression and said in surprise: "Don't tell me you're planning to pursue Mr. Huo? Someone like him is beyond our reach."

Although they were in the same social circle, there were still levels within it, and Huo Jihan was clearly at the top of the pyramid. No one dared to entertain any thoughts about him lightly.

Cheng Siyao, however, said: "Do you think the gap between me and Lin Yi is that big?"

His friend hesitated: "Well..."

Cheng Siyao was quite self-aware: "Are you saying my looks aren't as good as Lin Yi's? I believe Brother Jihan isn't that shallow; he wouldn't be swayed just by someone's appearance."

His friend reminded him: "But they are already together."

Cheng Siyao firmly stated: "Love doesn't follow a first-come, first-served rule."

His friend exclaimed: "What?"

Is that how you use that phrase?

Cheng Siyao continued: "I've missed out on Brother Jihan for too long. This time, I don't want to miss out again."

He had deliberately returned from abroad and taken over some projects that could connect with the Huo Group, all to get closer to Huo Jihan.

He had admired Huo Jihan for over twenty years, always watching him from afar. Now, he needed to learn to fight for what he wanted.

His friend wanted to say something more, but at that moment, Cheng Siyao had already gotten up and walked towards Lin Yi.

His back conveyed a sense of determination.

It was clear that Cheng Siyao wouldn't give up easily this time.

Over here.

Lin Yi's coffee arrived.

Just as he picked it up to take a sip, someone suddenly bumped into his elbow.

The next second, the cup clattered to the ground, spilling the coffee everywhere.

The person who bumped into him apologized repeatedly: "Sorry, did I hurt you?"

Lin Yi rubbed his elbow and shook his head: "No, it's fine."

He wasn't the type to fuss over such trivial matters.

Cheng Siyao immediately said, "What kind of coffee did you order? I'll buy you another cup to make up for it."

Lin Yi thought that a cup of coffee was not a big deal, so he said, "No need to compensate. Just have the staff clean up the mess on the floor, and remember to give them some extra for their trouble."

Cheng Siyao followed through but still insisted on compensating Lin Yi with a cup of coffee.

Seeing this, Lin Yi didn't refuse any further.

Cheng Siyao took the opportunity to sit opposite Lin Yi and then said with a hint of surprise, "I feel like I've seen you before."

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow: "Is that so?"

Cheng Siyao smiled: "Yes, you look a bit like a celebrity."

Lin Yi occasionally got recognized, which wasn't unusual.

However, he didn't dwell on it since he had no intention of continuing his career in the entertainment industry.

While talking, Cheng Siyao subtly observed Lin Yi.

Up close, Lin Yi's face had an even stronger impact.

It was the first time he realized that a guy could have such beautiful eyes and long lashes.

Still, he believed that his brother Jihan wasn't someone who judged people solely by their appearance.

After all, being in Huo Jihan's position, he must have seen countless stunning men and women, some of whom had directly thrown themselves at him. Yet, Huo Jihan remained indifferent for the first thirty years of his life, never giving them a second glance.

Cheng Siyao knew that for Lin Yi to be with Huo Jihan, there must be something special about him.

But he was confident he could surpass Lin Yi and win over Huo Jihan.

With this thought, Cheng Siyao said to Lin Yi, "I heard that the entertainment industry is quite messy?"

Lin Yi had previously regarded Cheng Siyao as just a passing acquaintance, but now he finally looked at him seriously: "Hmm?"

When Lin Yi looked at someone like this, his originally delicate features somehow exuded a coldness, creating a sense of pressure.

Not wanting to admit he was intimidated by Lin Yi, Cheng Siyao sat up straighter and continued, "You're in the entertainment industry, so you should know better than me. After all, it's a big melting pot."

Even leaning casually against the chair, Lin Yi's calm demeanor stood out; "And what do you do?"

Cheng Siyao hadn't expected Lin Yi to turn the question back on him, but this was a chance to assert himself, so he proudly introduced himself: "My family owns a cosmetics group. Naturally, after returning from studying abroad, I inherited the business."

As he spoke, a hint of disdain crept into his gaze, feeling superior to Lin Yi.

But Lin Yi responded nonchalantly: "Cosmetics? There were many cases recently of people getting sick from using cosmetics. Could those products be from your group?"

Cheng Siyao frowned immediately: "How can you make such a hasty conclusion?"

Lin Yi remained silent, raising an eyebrow.

Only then did Cheng Siyao realize he had fallen into Lin Yi's trap.

If this was a hasty conclusion, what did his previous statements amount to?

At this moment, Cheng Siyao began to take Lin Yi more seriously.

He realized that Lin Yi was indeed a formidable opponent.