Chapter 22

Chapter 22

That evening, while Bao Yiming was taking a shower.

Wen Cishu called for Uncle Xu and learned the whole story, realizing it was the little troublemaker’s prank.

He said in confusion, “They were fine when they got back from the show, weren’t they?”

Bao Tingyuan had invited Chef Chen to the house to make roast goose, and the little guy even remembered to say thank you unprompted.

Even the next day at Grandpa’s birthday party, the little one had pulled both his dads to dance—but then he got left out after coming home…

But why would he get so worked up over this?

Wen Cishu looked down, lost in thought, but couldn’t figure out the reason.

Uncle Xu worried that overthinking wasn’t good for his health.

“Sir, the young master isn’t actually upset. He just had me get rid of the lemons and didn’t say anything else before heading to the study to work.”

Wen Cishu knew that earlier, after Bao Tingyuan carried him back to the room, he had said the same thing.

Uncle Xu: “You and the young master have the show again the day after tomorrow. The young master will surely accompany you and won’t be able to go to the office, so he’s especially busy these two days.”

“Oh, right,” Wen Cishu realized.

His eyelids drooped slightly as he twisted the bamboo bracelet around his wrist, unsure how to persuade Bao Tingyuan not to stay up late.

Just looking at that man’s face, it was clear he wasn’t the type to back down easily.

The sound of bouncing footsteps came from outside the door—undoubtedly the little monkey was done showering and bouncing back.

Wen Cishu sighed helplessly, “Like he’s got springs in his feet.”

Uncle Xu stifled a laugh.

That sums him up perfectly.

The bedroom door eased open a crack.

Bao Yiming’s pink little face poked in, his big amber eyes scanning the room.

Clearly, he was checking for danger.

Confirming that every corner of the room was a safe zone, Bao Yiming relaxed and pushed the door open wider.

Just then, a deep voice came from behind him.

“Looking for me?”

“Wah—ahhh!”

With a shriek, Bao Yiming froze, then bolted across the living room.

He clambered onto the bed, scrambling to Wen Cishu’s side before hiding his face like an ostrich and curling up his legs.

“Daddy, save me! Wuwu!”

Wen Cishu rubbed his back soothingly. “Shh, it’s okay. Daddy’s got you.”

He watched from a distance as the man bent down to pick up a small slipper.

—How odd. Why suddenly avoid the folding screen and go around to the bedroom door instead?

Could he be deliberately waiting for the little rascal?

Just to scare him?

This speculation felt completely out of character for Bo Tingyuan.

Wen Cishu dismissed the thought, not dwelling on it further.

Seeing this, Old Xu quickly said, "Then I'll go take inventory of the things you need to bring to the show first."

Wen Cishu nodded and turned his gaze toward the person slowly approaching the bed.

Bo Tingyuan was still wearing the dress shirt and waistcoat from when he came home, though now his sleeves were rolled up, revealing his long, strong forearms. One hand held a slipper, while the other rested casually in his pants pocket. He walked over with an easy confidence.

Wen Cishu keenly observed a rare ease in his gait and expression, as if the usual tension had somewhat dissipated after playing with their son. Gently, he asked, "Finished with work?"

"Mm-hmm, getting ready to wash up." Bo Tingyuan placed the slipper by the bed, gently moved their son aside, and leaned him against the headboard.

Bo Yiming quickly flipped open his blanket, burrowed inside, and wriggled his limbs to tuck the edges tightly around himself—turning into a perfect little burrito. He squeezed his eyes tight, pretending to be asleep.

Watching the scene unfold, Wen Cishu couldn't help but grin.

When he lifted his gaze again, he found Bo Tingyuan watching him, as if wanting to say something.

He toned down his smile slightly, silently asking with his eyes.

But Bo Tingyuan simply said quietly, "Sleep." He reached out to ruffle their son's messy bird's nest of hair. "Be good."

"Okay." Bo Yiming cracked one eye open and waited until his daddy disappeared behind the folding screen before quickly turning to bury himself in his mommy's arms, whining and clinging like a koala. "Mommy~ Daddy scared me!"

Still worried his daddy might come back unexpectedly, he cautiously glanced around before snuggling back into the blanket against Wen Cishu's chest. "Mommy~ Mommy~"

Wen Cishu was powerless against this display. He hugged him through the blanket and waited until the little one had wriggled into the perfect spot before gently pinching his cheek. "Daddy has something to ask you."

"Hmm?" Bo Yiming looked up, blinking.

Inheriting both parents' good looks along with mixed-race genes, his lashes were thick and curled, fluttering like tiny fans.

Wen Cishu mused—so adorable as a child, like a little angel. Now? A bundle of endless energy.

He pulled their son onto the pillow beside him, wrapping an arm lightly around him.

"Tell Daddy honestly, why are you suddenly butting heads with your dad? Is it because we forgot to take you with us in the car on Grandpa's birthday?"

"Nope."

Bo Yiming wriggled into the perfect spot, pressing his legs against his daddy's under the blanket, secretly comparing their lengths.

Then he turned and whispered, "Mommy, can you pat me like when I was small? Please?"

Wen Cishu's hand patted him absentmindedly. "Then be good and tell Mommy."

"Well..."

Cuddled contentedly in his mommy's arms, Bo Yiming launched into a detailed account, airing all his complaints.

"Last year, when Dad rode horses with me, we made a promise. This year, we'd find time to race, and he wouldn't go easy on me. I brought it up recently, but Dad kept making excuses to delay. Hmph!"

Wen Cishu picked up on the emphasis in his words and asked, "Excuses, huh?"

Yiming lifted his face and began counting earnestly on his fingers.

"First, he said he was too busy and didn’t have time. So I waited. Then he said after the show. But just two days ago, I found out he never planned to race with me at all! Hmph! Dad’s a liar!"

Wen Cishu gently pressed the increasingly agitated little one back down.

"Yiming, why are you so set on racing Dad on horseback? He barely goes to the stables a few times a year."

"But Dad is still really good! The instructors at the stables talk about it all the time. And—"

Yiming raised his head again, puffing up like a little rooster ready for a fight.

"Dad was already riding with world champions when he was nine. I’m nine now too!"

Hearing his confident argument, Wen Cishu could only soothe him slowly. "If you want to meet world champions too, just tell Dad. He’ll definitely help arrange it for you. But if it’s a real competition, you’re still too young—it’s dangerous. Dad’s just scared you’ll get hurt."

Yiming pouted, puffing his cheeks before burying his face against Wen Cishu’s side.

"But... but Dad never used his real skills when riding with me before. He wasn’t taking me seriously!"

Finally understanding the issue, Wen Cishu spoke leisurely. "You said it yourself—you’re the Bao family’s future heir. If you took a fall at the stables, wouldn’t Dad be frantic with worry? Papa would probably pass out from worry, right?"

Yiming peeked up with one eye, as if assessing the likelihood of Wen Cishu fainting.

Wen Cishu waited for him to process the words.

After a long pause, Yiming whispered, "Papa, I won’t get hurt, so don’t faint, okay?"

Wen Cishu chuckled and tapped his nose. "Okay~ Papa does Tai Chi every day to stay strong and healthy."

Yiming’s eyes lit up, and he immediately wrapped his arms around Wen Cishu, saying sweetly, "From tomorrow on, I’ll practice Tai Chi with Papa every day!"

Wen Cishu kissed his fluffy hair, silently chanting in his heart:

*Please let him forget this after one night!*

-

The next morning.

Without being reminded, Yiming voluntarily joined Wen Cishu for Tai Chi practice.

He stayed focused the entire time, nailing every move, earning repeated praise from the Tai Chi instructor.

Wen Cishu got a slight headache.

—*If only he’d use this memory for vocab!*

After Tai Chi, Wen Cishu asked the pastry chef for a lesson to prepare desserts for the afternoon.

Yiming stuck to Papa like glue, refusing to go anywhere else.

He insisted on making his own dessert using the same ingredients. Looking up at Wen Cishu with a smile, he said, "Papa, you get to taste mine first!"

"I can’t wait."

Wen Cishu replied gently, though he white-knuckled the mixing spoon as he whisked the cream cheese aggressively.

What's going on?

Why is he bringing up "the first one" again!

Why didn't last night's "Little Daddy pep talk" have any effect at all!

"Uh, sir?" the baker gently prompted.

"It's about time. Now add a bit of fine sugar."

"Okay."

Wen Cishu quietly let go and followed the chef's instructions.

Bao Yiming took a small spoon very seriously, but before scooping the sugar, he pointed at the distant glass window: "Little Dad, did you know? Daddy saw me yesterday, but he didn't let me in."

Wen Cishu couldn't help but interrupt: "Honey."

In front of the pastry chef and the aunties, Bao Yiming looked at his little dad shyly yet happily. "Hmm?"

Wen Cishu said, "The baker's giving us a lesson now. Let's focus and not chat, okay?"

"Oh!" Bao Yiming loved whispering to his little dad so much that he forgot the chef standing opposite could hear him too. He nodded obediently.

"Okay, I'll tell Little Dad my secrets when we go to bed tonight."

His cute little face broke into an adorable smile.

Wen Cishu's hand trembled, sending sugar scattering: Alright then, listening attentively to children is every parent's important job.

They were learning how to make Basque cheesecake.

Wen Cishu chose a slightly bitter black tea flavor, while Bao Yiming made a lemon one.

After both were done and placed in the fridge, Wen Cishu, with a dad trying to understand, asked caringly, "Yi Ming, why have you suddenly started liking sour things recently?"

Bao Yiming flashed what he thought was a slick wink at his dad: "I want Big Dad to know my determination to compete with him!"

Wen Cishu: "..."

He was worried that Bao Tingyuan might never eat lemon Madeleines again, seeing anything lemon as making him automatically think of the little monkey's pranks.

But then again, maybe Bao Tingyuan would get a kick out of that?

-

Afternoon.

In the Bao family's enterprises, the most iconic building—the soaring Shengyuan Tower, over 500 meters tall with more than 80 floors.

As the helmsman of the Bao family's business ventures, both the late Elder Bao and the current Bao Tingyuan worked on the top floor.

At this moment, Bao Tingyuan had just finished a lengthy meeting and sat back in his chair.

He took off his frameless glasses, massaged his temples, and his gaze fell on a photo frame, quietly staring at the calm, lovely face in the picture.

In the past, Wen Cishu had always been frail, his eyes always tired, not interested in much.

Even in photographs, you'd be hard-pressed to find even one or two smiles.

Lately, Wen Cishu had changed so much since going on the show with their son.

Bao Tingyuan had noticed how Wen Cishu always smiled like a spring breeze—soft and gentle—and how his gaze, like willow branches swaying in the wind, softly brushed over everyone and everything around him—including Bao himself.

*Knock knock knock.*

A knock sounded from the office door down the hall.

Bao slowly withdrew his hand from the photo frame and put his glasses back on.

*Knock knock knock.*

Usually, the assistants wouldn’t knock like that without cause.

Bao walked over and opened the door.

A lanky figure popped into view: “Big Daddy, I brought you dessert!”

“What brings you here?”

Bao was ever composed. Seeing his younger son now, he remained perfectly calm—not startled or surprised at all.

Bao Yiming shrugged while holding the box, sounding oddly grown-up: “Told you—Daddy isn’t surprised.”

After a moment of careful observation, he added, “He even looks a little disappointed.”

“I’m not disappointed.” Bao reached out to ruffle his son’s hair, but the boy giggled and stepped back.

Outside the office, Wen Cishu slowly approached, wrapping an arm around the kid’s shoulder with a gentle smile. “I came with Yiming.”

He pointed at the dessert box in the child’s hands. “Like we promised yesterday, we made snacks for your afternoon tea.”

Wen wore a white bucket hat with a wide brim, shadowing half his face, which was further hidden behind a light-colored mask.

So his eyes—especially those striking phoenix eyes—popped against the framing, as if caught in a cinematic close-up, their allure magnified.

Bao stared at his face, pausing for a beat before seeming to remember they were still at the office entrance. He quickly glanced at his son, who was standing on tiptoes, watching his dad closely.

“Come inside.”

His voice was level, his face unreadable.

Yet as they stepped in, he naturally wrapped an arm around Wen’s shoulder, leading him in.

Yiming followed, grumbling to himself.

“Papa, look—Daddy’s smiling at you!”

Wen flicked his eyes toward Bao:

Where?

Still his usual icy self.

Albert, having stealthily ushered in the two VIPs, slipped away.

After closing the door, he shot a warning glance at the assistants working nearby:

No chatter!

But honestly, not gossiping about the boss’s family right now? Impossible. So, as one, they all started hammering at their keyboards.

"Oh my god, first time! My first time ever!!! After all these years!!!!"

"Are Ming Zai and the gorgeous one from 'Zai Zai the Superman' actually Boss Bao's family? Holy crap, I actually know this secret now? Am I going to get whacked on my way home?"

"Seeing the gorgeous one up close is truly breathtaking—he’s so elegant, like that generational wealth aura of someone whose family has been rich for centuries."

"Ahem, everyone, I just ran into them at the elevator earlier. The gorgeous one even smiled at me—so gentle. But he’s also really tall, a solid six-footer."

"Standing next to Boss Bao, he looked almost dainty beside him."

"Who would’ve thought Boss Bao, who comes to work every day like a corporate hardass, could be so tender and actually pull his wife into a hug?"

After sitting down, Albert couldn’t shake the feeling that the air was thick with workplace gossip.

He shook his head helplessly and went to prepare the tea.

-

Inside the office.

Bao Yiming eagerly opened the dessert box. "Relax, Papa, I didn’t swap out the cake Dad made for you."

Wen Cishu really wanted to swat his behind—could he please just forget about that already?!

He pushed a small plate of Earl Grey Basque cheesecake toward Bao Tingyuan. "Want to try it?"

The moment Bao Yiming’s butt touched the sofa, he immediately noticed Papa glancing at him.

He looked over in surprise.

"Papa, do you need your adorable little son to disappear for a bit?"

Head tilted in exaggerated cuteness, blinking rapidly.

Wen Cishu: "..."

Bao Tingyuan gestured toward the window with his eyes, giving his mischievous yet clever son a clear directive: "Go check out the view."

"Fine, fine."

Bao Yiming hopped up and trotted over, then let out a surprised "Wow." "Can't see squat from up here."

The sun was weak today, the clouds thick, and the floor so high it felt like standing in the sky—only the rooftops of other skyscrapers were visible.

But Bao Yiming didn’t come back either, instead snapping pointless pics with his smartwatch.

On the sofa, Wen Cishu rested his chin in his palm, laughing softly. When he snapped out of it, he noticed Bao Tingyuan staring at him and reminded him, "Try it? If you don’t like it, I’ll try a different recipe next time."

Did that mean if it tasted good, there wouldn’t be a next time?

This might be the toughest call Bao Tingyuan had ever made in his life.

He picked up the little silver spoon and sampled a bite of the cake.

"How is it?" Wen Cishu edged nearer. "Do you like the taste?"

With just a slight movement, Bao Tingyuan pulled him in by the shoulder, drawing him even closer. Wen Cishu looked up to see him staying tight-lipped like usual and couldn’t help but urge softly, "Come on, quit holding out on me—just tell me. If it’s no good, we can let Yi Ming eat it."

Hearing this, Bao Tingyuan raised an eyebrow and, for once, shot back, "What, he hasn’t eaten enough at home already?"

Wen Cishu just stared.

Wen Cishu’s eyes darted, and he couldn’t help but throw him a sidelong glance.

Fine, fine. You two are truly a chip off the old block—you’re two peas in a pod.

Bao Tingyuan’s green eyes gazed quietly, slightly dazed. The lively expression in the other’s brows was a hundred, no, a thousand times more delightful than the sweet yet not cloying cake in his mouth.

Later, Bao Tingyuan paired this charming little treat with the coffee his assistant brought, enjoying the most perfect afternoon tea of his life.

By the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows of the office, Wen Cishu and Bao Yiming leaned against the inner ledge, gazing down at glimpses of the bustling city beneath the clouds.

As they were leaving, Bao Tingyuan picked up a white hat and gently placed it on Wen Cishu’s head, careful not to mess up his hair.

Wen Cishu quickly glanced at the documents on the desk. “Do you have a lot of work to do today?”

If he was going to accompany them to the show tomorrow, he’d probably have to work overtime.

Bao Tingyuan: “Mm, I’ll try to come home early.”

Wen Cishu noticed that even after speaking, the arm loosely wrapped around him didn’t let go, as if a hint of longing lingered in the eyes behind those glasses.

He pressed his soft lips together, then reached out to hug him first, whispering, “I’ll wait for you at home.”

But the moment he leaned in, Bao Tingyuan pulled him close.

Their little monkey was still there.

Wen Cishu pushed lightly at him, signaling him to let go.

Bao Tingyuan, however, seemed oblivious. He lowered his head slightly, brushing his nose against Wen Cishu’s temple as he inhaled deeply, taking in the faint scent that clung to him.

By the time Wen Cishu pulled away, still savoring the brief but intimate hug, he noticed their adorable little son standing nearby.

Bao Yiming looked up at the sky, muttering, “It’s fine. No one’s hugging me, but it’s totally fine~”

Wen Cishu laughed and moved to hug him, but Bao Tingyuan was faster, bending down to embrace their son instead.

Bao Tingyuan was so tall that Bao Yiming looked especially tiny in his arms, like a great beast nuzzling its young.

His large, strong hand gave the boy’s shoulder a squeeze as he reminded him, “If anything happens, tell me directly. Don’t go running to your other dad.”

Though Wen Cishu saw this as a tender moment,

to Bao Yiming, this wasn’t just a simple farewell hug—it was his big dad giving in to him.

“Oh~”

Bao Yiming puffed up with pride and took Wen Cishu’s hand. “I’m so well-behaved, of course I wouldn’t run to anyone~ Right, Dad?”

“Right, you’re the best.”

Wen Cishu was completely charmed by this child—where on earth did he pick up these mannerisms?

Bao Tingyuan saw them all the way to the car, only returning to the office after they got inside.

-

In the car,

Bao Yiming bubbled excitedly into the phone with Xingxing, comparing notes on their day’s adventures.

Wen Cishu reclined comfortably in his seat, idly watching the red light ahead through his sunglasses.

He figured to himself, the kid gets along great with Xingxing. Perhaps he should temporarily forget about the book's original plot and let things develop freely.

As for Bao Tingyuan...

Just then, several people suddenly appeared on the crosswalk ahead, carrying a long, oversized advertisement billboard.

The ad seemed specifically designed for stopped drivers, synced with the traffic light timing, moving as slowly as crawling ants.

Wen Cishu found it quite novel and squinted to read.

"Men's health? Visit Boai Hospital—specialized and legitimate, with expert consultations."

"Proof is in the results!"

Since the banner moved at a painfully slow pace, Wen Cishu could read every word clearly and couldn't help but think: What's the difference between this and shoving the ad in my face?

Lost in thought, he suddenly heard the little monkey next to him excitedly chattering about a cartoon plot into his smartwatch.

"I think this is a really important hint, Xingxing, you should pay attention!"

A hint?

Wen Cishu abruptly turned to look at his son, then back at the absurdly slow billboard that seemed determined to imprint its message onto his retinas.

He thought: Could this be the author's way of dropping him a hint from beyond the story?