Chapter 10

Chapter 10

With the help of Bo Yiming and Star, Zhou Xu easily caught a fat duck.

The other chickens, ducks, and geese fled in all directions at the sight.

Zhou Xu needed to hurry and dress the duck, so he temporarily let Little Seven play with the two older boys.

Bo Yiming had never seen a duck being slaughtered before and was curious to follow along. He turned to Star and said, "Star, why don’t you take Little Seven to play for a bit?"

Seven-year-old Star lowered his gaze, while four-year-old Little Seven looked up.

Their eyes locked like flint sparking.

The next second, Little Seven threw his arms out and hugged Yiming’s waist, stopping him with an adorable, high-pitched voice: "Brother, don’t go see the duck~ Play with Little Seven~"

Bo Yiming bent down and picked up Little Seven. It was his first time holding such a big child, and he couldn’t help but remark, "Wow, Little Seven looks round, but he’s actually so light."

"Mm-hmm~ Little Seven is light~"

Though Yiming’s hold was a bit clumsy, Little Seven rested his chin on his brother’s shoulder and happily peeked at Star, his big eyes sparkling with mischief.

Star glanced at Bo Yiming’s hands, then turned away to pluck some foxtail grass outside the chicken coop fence.

"What’s going on? Are Little Seven and Star competing for their brother’s attention?"

"The vibe is a little tense. Hope the kids don’t argue."

"Probably not. Star is seven, after all—seems pretty grown-up for his age."

"Little Seven: Oh, so I’m the immature one?"

"Star: Wish I were three and a half, then Yiming would definitely carry me!"

By the lake.

The small wooden cabin was stocked with a decent set of fishing gear and bait.

Zhu Wei thought that if they managed to catch a couple of crucian carp, it’d be a nice bonus for dinner.

But she had no fishing experience and wasn’t sure how to set up the equipment.

Chu Han had fished before, but only with pre-assembled rods, so she didn’t know how to put one together either.

When Wen Cishu and Rong Rong arrived, they found the two women surrounded by fishing gear parts, poring over the instructions.

"Mind if I try?"

Chu Han handed him the manual.

Wen Cishu chuckled, "Actually, I meant—let me try assembling the fishing rod?"

"Yiming’s dad knows how to do this?"

Zhu Wei stepped aside, her expression no less shocked than if she’d just learned this gentle, scholarly man could bench-press a boulder.

"I probably fished about ten years ago. But the gear nowadays might be more advanced."

As he spoke, Wen Cishu studied the pieces, guessing that the show’s crew had likely prepared a basic fishing kit, assuming none of the guests had experience.

Chu Han smiled, "Still better than the two of us. Come on, let's help carry these outside."

Outside, Wen Cishu focused intently on assembling the fishing pole, his slender, pale fingers moving deftly, as if he were quite familiar with the task.

"Darling, you're actually... an angler?"

"For the first time, I don’t think anglers are such strange creatures. (No hate to anglers.)"

-

Inside the staff van outside the farmhouse.

Uncle Xu was just as surprised as the audience. "So Young Master Wen actually knows how to fish?"

He’d never known about this before.

"Our Second Master may not know how to cook with a spatula, but when it comes to chess, fishing, piano, calligraphy, or painting, he’s a natural at all of them."

Aunt Zhong spoke with a hint of pride before sighing slightly as she watched the figure on the screen casting the fishing line. "Only one thing—his health’s fragile."

Though grouping fishing with "music, chess, calligraphy, and painting" felt a bit odd,

Uncle Xu was still in awe.

"He’ll surely recover well. The Eldest Master has been putting in so much effort all these years."

*A thought flashed quickly through Aunt Zhong’s mind.*

*If the Eldest Master truly cared, he shouldn’t have let Second Master have children.*

*That close call ten years ago was life-threatening.*

*If not for Second Master’s stubborn vitality, there might not have been today.*

*But these words remained buried in her heart—she wouldn’t mention them to just anyone.*

*Though she had worked with Uncle Xu for ten years and knew his character well, in the end, he was still one of the Wen family’s people.*

-

By the lake.

Amidst the gentle breeze, Wen Cishu and Rong Rong were sharing a rod.

He hummed a soft lullaby, watching the adorable little girl, and couldn’t resist teasing her. "Rong Rong, usually when kids fish for the first time, they get something special."

"Really, Uncle?" Rong Rong craned her pale little neck to peer eagerly.

She hadn’t even touched the fishing pole yet, gripping it nervously but afraid to shake it.

"Darling, don’t jinx it—what if nothing bites? Rong Rong might be disappointed."

"Let me be the fish! I’ll bite for my wife!"

"Chat’s gone feral today. (I just want to braid my wife’s hair… I’m a kindergarten teacher!)"

Before long,

Rong Rong felt the fishing pole give a little tug. "Uncle!"

She clearly saw the thin, clear fishing line suddenly tighten.

"Shh." Wen Cishu broke into a soft smile. "We don’t want to scare it."

Rong Rong pressed her lips together, her eyes brimming with unconcealable excitement as she gazed at her uncle.

Wow, Uncle didn’t lie to her—he really caught something!

Wen Cishu guided Rong Rong’s small hands as they slowly reeled in the fishing line together, eventually pulling up a palm-sized small white fish.

After removing the hook, the little fish flapped wildly, its silvery scales glinting in the light.

Wen Cishu dropped it into a bright yellow bucket, splashing a fair amount of water.

"Uncle, the fish is still alive!" Rong Rong hugged the small bucket and moved closer.

"Wait, babe, are you for real?"

"So calm! I love this kind of elegant beauty."

"Honestly, the more I see, the more I feel like Yi Ming’s dad radiates calm confidence, as if he’s cultivated an air of effortless grace."

"Cultivated? How? Someone give me a beautiful husband like this—I’ll cultivate him too!"

"Sending prayers for a beautiful wife."

The livestream screen was instantly filled with "prayers."

Soon, Wen Cishu caught another fish, this time a larger crucian carp.

Rong Rong looked at her uncle with eyes shining like stars, her voice full of admiration: "Uncle is really amazing~"

Wen Cishu felt warm inside at her words and couldn’t help saying, "Uncle’s mom is even more amazing. She can fish, speaks many languages, and cooks all kinds of delicious food."

"Wow." Rong Rong nodded vigorously. "My mom is amazing too—she sings really beautiful songs. But…"

The little girl’s voice trailed off suddenly, becoming soft and subdued.

Wen Cishu asked gently, "What’s wrong, Rong Rong?"

Rong Rong whispered sadly, "Mom can’t wear pretty dresses or hold concerts anymore. Daddy said she can’t even sing her own songs now."

She loved her mom dearly, and as she spoke, her big eyes shimmered with sorrow.

"Rong Rong, don’t cry, don’t cry, boo hoo."

"Zhu Wei’s former agent was really heartless, but with such influence, it’s hard to fight for the rights."

"Let’s see if anyone recognizes Zhu Wei’s star power. Otherwise, it’ll be really tough…"

"I understand."

Wen Cishu didn’t know much about Zhu Wei, but he had heard of her early nationwide hits.

Who would’ve thought that, as a singer, she couldn’t even sing her own songs?

His heart went out to her, and he quickly comforted the adorable girl before him. "Don’t be sad, Rong Rong, okay?"

"Mm." Rong Rong nodded obediently. "I made a birthday wish. I hope Mom can wear a super long dress and sing on stage again. Then Daddy and I can watch her together from the audience."

Listening to the child’s heartfelt wish for her mother, Wen Cishu felt deeply touched.

"When that day comes, Uncle will go too, along with Yi Ming. We’ll all watch your mom sing her lovely songs together."

Rong Rong heard the admiration in Uncle Wen's voice when he spoke of her mom and couldn't help asking, “Wow, Uncle, have you heard Mom sing too?”

“Of course.” Wen Cishu grew more fond of this little girl’s round face—it had a warm, gentle charm that made her irresistibly likable.

He thought of his mother once saying she had hoped to have a daughter.

Unfortunately, it was him who was born instead—not the warm, doting daughter she had hoped for, and he had also come into the world with a weak constitution and congenital heart disease.

Rong Rong laughed and clapped her hands. “Great! Then Uncle and Brother can sit right next to me!”

She seemed already transported to her mom’s concert hall, eyes sparkling with joy.

Just then, the fishing rod trembled.

Rong Rong gasped, “Ah, another fish! Uncle! That’s amazing!”

This one wasn’t small either. Wen Cishu stood up to reel it in while Rong Rong bounced excitedly beside him.

When Zhu Wei approached, she found the scene incredibly heartwarming.

“If Rong Rong and the stunner get along so well, why not arrange a playful childhood betrothal?”

【Nooo! I’ve already come up with a pairing name for Ming Zai and Xingxing—'Rising Star'】

“?? Are you on a rocket or something?!”

That afternoon, Wen Cishu caught fish, and Zhou Xu caught a duck.

Dinner featured duck soup, beer-braised duck, and creamy carp soup—an unusually lavish spread.

Zhou Xu was so content, “This farmhouse is like a hidden paradise. I don’t even want to leave.”

Xiao Qi waved a duck wing around as he protested, “Nuh-uh, Mommy’s waiting at home!”

Wen Cishu glanced at his son’s watch and paused thoughtfully.

Later, when everyone returned to their rooms,

Bao Yiming exclaimed excitedly about taking a bath in the “adorable tub.”

“Daddy will get your clothes ready,” Wen Cishu said, carrying the toiletries they brought from home. He followed him inside and picked up his son’s watch from the sink counter.

As father and son disappeared from view, viewers went wild.

“I wanted to see the beauty just out of the bath—guess that’s not happening?”

“Or at least show us the cute tub!”

“This darn show is so plain in every scene, but the moment my wife appears—‘biu!’ My eyes light up!”

Bao Yiming filled the tub and splashed into the square tub. His limbs hadn’t fully grown yet, but his leg proportions were already noticeable, making it hard to sit comfortably as he shifted positions.

When he turned his head, he noticed his dad leaning against the sink, studying his watch.

“Hmm? Daddy?”

Wen Cishu glanced at the recording microphone, making sure it was off.

But he still lowered his voice and said to his son, "Let Dad borrow your watch to send a message."

"Oh." Bao Yiming sank his shoulders deeper into the water.

—Is Daddy missing Papa?

Wen Cishu opened the contacts list on the watch and saw a list of weird nicknames, immediately spotting the most ridiculous one—a ridiculously long, scrolling nickname.

"Sir Papa the Milk Pot Knight"

Wen Cishu: ?

He glanced at his son, who had clearly forgotten about the special notes on the watch.

His fingertip continued scrolling down, searching for his own nickname.

"Daddy the Pea Princess"

Wen Cishu: ??

This cheeky little brat!

Bao Yiming was making bubbles in the water when he felt someone staring and turned his head. "Huh? What's wrong, Little Dad? Do I look cute or something?" He grinned and tilted his head.

Wen Cishu took a deep breath.

Whatever—he still had to send the message.

Ignoring with effort the two bizarre nicknames, he slowly typed on the tiny pinyin keyboard: "Can you check on Zhu Wei for me? Seems like she can’t do concerts or something. I want to know more details. (Cishu)"

After clicking "Input End," a prompt popped up on the screen:

Please confirm with "The Adorable and Handsome Baby Mingming" that this message is being sent to "Sir Papa the Milk Pot Knight."

Wen Cishu: ???

He hesitated briefly before tapping "Confirm Send."

Bao Tingyuan was usually busy around this time.

After sending the message, Wen Cishu set the watch aside and got ready to brush his teeth.

But just as he picked up his toothbrush, the watch screen lit up softly.

"Sir Papa the Milk Pot Knight": "Don’t worry, I’m on it."

Wen Cishu turned around with the watch, leaning back against the sink.

What did he mean, "I’m on it"?

Did he see the livestream and get someone to check?

Did he already know Wen Cishu would ask, predicting it so accurately?

Typing was a hassle—and they’d see each other after the show tomorrow anyway—so he didn’t ask more. "Okay, got it."

"Sir Papa the Milk Pot Knight": "How come you’ve never brought up fishing?"

"Huh?" Wen Cishu let out a soft, confused "Huh?"

How did we end up talking about fishing?

"I can do lots of things."

After clicking send, Wen Cishu smirked to himself as he stared at the screen.

In the bathtub, Bo Yiming noticed that Little Dad was grinning at his smartwatch.

Did Big Dad send something that made Little Dad so happy?

But Big Dad is so serious—would he actually joke around?

Bo Yiming got lost in thought, trying to picture what Big Dad would look like telling a joke.

Half a minute later, he gave up:

"This is harder than my final English exam!"

Without waiting for Bo Tingyuan's reply, Wen Cishu sent another message.

-

"Alright, secretly messaging each other violates the show’s rules. You should rest. Goodnight."

"'The Knightly Big Dad Holding a Small Milk Pot': 'Till tomorrow.'"

Just three simple words, nothing special.

Wen Cishu zoned out staring at them.

—Shouldn't it have been "goodnight"? Hmm?