Chapter 41

Chapter 41

The Study

Several crew members from the production team suddenly felt on edge, their backs sweating.

And for good reason—the silent powerhouse sitting behind them cast an imposing presence.

Bao Tingyuan’s Chinese-French heritage gave him a chiseled, marble-like face that radiated intimidating authority. His imposing height only intensified the palpable tension that filled the spacious study.

Everyone on set walked on eggshells, terrified he might suddenly speak up and offer some “guidance.”

Wen Cishu had thought watching him and their son film would be no problem.

But even he was thrown off by Bao Tingyuan’s aura, his performance slightly unnatural.

Especially when he noticed Bao Tingyuan’s gaze lingering on his thighs—or more precisely, on the shirt garters hidden beneath his suit pants. In front of everyone, he wanted to hide.

He could still feel the tight pressure of the garters—and almost swear his skin still tingled from where Bao Tingyuan’s hand had rested.

Only Bao Yiming remained completely unaffected, utterly unfazed by his father’s presence.

When Wen Cishu noticed the nervous assistant on set visibly sweating, he grabbed the lifeline and raised his hand. “Hold on.”

The photographer lowered the camera, surprised.

Wen stood and walked toward Bao Tingyuan.

All eyes turned—including those of Bao Yiming, seated on the sofa.

They all saw Bao Tingyuan lean forward slightly, quietly asking, “What is it?”

Wen raised an eyebrow in suggestion. “Maybe… you should go take care of your own work for now?”

The production team: *Praise the Lord!*

It was then they realized—this intimidating dad everyone feared was actually gentle with his other half. The difference was night and day.

Two drop-dead gorgeous, kind-hearted parents?

In unison, they turned their envious gazes toward the young boy dressed to the nines, admiration in their eyes.

Bao Yiming: ?

What just happened?

What’s going on?

Wen escorted Bao Tingyuan to the door, explaining under his breath, “Not that I don’t want you here—it’s just that when you’re around, everyone gets jumpy. You noticed, right?”

Bao Tingyuan locked eyes with him. “Did I make *you* uncomfortable?”

Wen: …

Is this really where you choose to show off your smarts?

He tapped Bao Tingyuan’s hand without answering directly. “Go on, get back to work.”

Bao Tingyuan intercepted his hand.

Wen Cishu noticed him staring silently and, for some reason, recalled the lonely figure of Bao Tingyuan walking toward the partition earlier.

He shifted slightly closer and wrapped his arms around him, gently soothing him: "Don’t be sad, okay? Once the photos are ready, I’ll let you see them first. How about that?"

Bao Tingyuan pulled Wen Cishu tightly against his chest—the light embrace turning into something close and comforting.

Bao Tingyuan’s solemn reminder echoed in his ear: "I get to see them first."

Wen Cishu smiled to himself. "Okay~"

With that, he quickly let go and turned around, his steps lively as he walked back inside.

When he saw Bao Yiming obediently waiting, Wen Cishu nodded thoughtfully:

No wonder their little monkey liked to compete over small things—it must have been inherited from Bao Tingyuan. Definitely not from him, who had embraced the Chinese tradition of humility, like Kong Rong giving up the bigger pears.

The rest of the shoot went smoothly. The show's crew even became comfortable enough to chat freely and snack on the oversized blueberries brought by the butler.

Before leaving, everyone happily received fruit gift boxes from the mansion’s butler, filled with rare, high-end fruits seldom seen on the market.

-

That evening,

Wen Cishu sat on the sofa after dinner, digesting his meal.

The door opened, and Bao Yiming suddenly sneaked in quietly. "Little Dad!"

Afraid of being squished, Wen Cishu leaned toward the armrest. "What is it?"

Bao Yiming glanced at the door before revealing what he had overheard.

Earlier, while passing through the hallway, he had heard Uncle Albert on the phone with the show's crew, coordinating schedules.

He had assumed it was mainly about him and his little dad, but then he heard them mention "President Bao" and hid to listen in.

"Little Dad, did you know? Big Dad was actually supposed to appear tomorrow. He didn’t even tell me."

Bao Yiming pouted, clearly upset, then looked at his little dad with sad puppy eyes. "Did you already know too? Am I the only one left out?"

"Of course not," Wen Cishu pulled the adorable little monkey into a hug, handing him a round embroidered cushion.

"I had no idea. Should we ask Big Dad about it later?"

Bao Yiming remembered—his little dad had specifically told him that Big Dad wouldn’t appear until the fourth episode. He decided to trust him.

But then Wen Cishu took his wrist and made him tap the cushion. "Honey, no eavesdropping, okay?"

"...Okay."

Bao Yiming stuck out his tongue. How did his little dad notice such details? He must be listening carefully to every word he said~

He added happily, leaning against his little dad’s shoulder.

Wen Cishu hadn’t expected the kid to not only obey but also snuggle up to him with such a happy expression.

—Only nine years old and already this unpredictable. What would he be like in the future? Troublesome.

Just then, the phone screen on the coffee table lit up with a new message.

Bao Yiming reached out to grab it. "Little Dad, is that the crew sending us the photos?"

Wen Cishu remembered the promise he had made to Bo Tingyuan and immediately responded, “It definitely won't be that fast. Anyway, it's getting late; darling, go take a shower.”

Just as he was speaking, the door opened again and Bo Tingyuan walked in carrying a tray of fruit.

“Daddy!” Bo Yiming forgot about his phone and reached out excitedly, “Come here! Xiao Baba and I have an important question for you!”

Wen Cishu quietly leaned aside and opened the message.

Sure enough, it was a photo sent by the show’s production team, asking for his opinion and requesting him to choose which picture to post on Weibo.

Without even looking carefully, he forwarded all eight images to Bo Tingyuan’s WeChat.

Bo Tingyuan placed the fruit tray down, glanced at the person who was低着头 playing with his phone, then sat on the sofa and naturally pulled Wen into his lap.

“Hmm?” Wen looked up, realizing he was already sitting on Bo’s lap.

He sat there dazed, locking eyes with the little monkey.

Bo Yiming didn’t seem to notice anything odd and simply blinked rapidly at Xiao Baba, hinting for him to ask about the show.

Wen Cishu thought: *Kid, you've actually learned how to use me now?*

He blinked back subtly.

Right in front of Bo Tingyuan, father and son vividly performed a little “eye language” act.

Bo Tingyuan’s hand naturally rested on Wen Cishu’s thigh—the same spot where he’d clipped his shirt earlier—and gently massaged it.

Wen Cishu immediately gave up resisting.

—So both the little one and the big one are ganging up on him, huh?!

In a resigned manner, he dropped his head onto Bo Tingyuan’s broad shoulder, lifted his foot slightly, and playfully kicked the little monkey: “Ask already!”

“Okay.”

Bo Yiming obediently repeated everything he had overheard from the phone call earlier.

After finishing, when his gaze met Bo Tingyuan’s deep eyes, he hugged the pillow tightly in his arms, resting his chin on it as he confessed voluntarily, “Xiao Baba already told me not to do that again, and I won’t listen in next time.”

Bo Tingyuan didn’t scold further; he only said, “Mm, there’s something planned for Episode 3.”

“What kind of arrangement?”

Both voices chimed in simultaneously, filled with excitement and anticipation.

Bo Tingyuan looked at the two similarly adorable faces: “The production team requires secrecy.”

“Huh?”

They replied in unison, clearly disappointed.

Bo Yiming mumbled, “Daddy? You can’t even tell us? We’re your closest people!”

Wen Cishu imitated his son’s voice: “We’re your closest people!”

Upon hearing this, Bo Yiming slowly turned his head toward Xiao Baba: ==

Bo Tingyuan rubbed his son’s neck gently: “It’s late. Your Xiao Baba needs to get ready for bed, and you should go take a shower.”

"Hmph!"

Seeing that Big Daddy had no intention of saying anything, Bo Yi Ming could only linger as he put on his slippers, stomping as loudly as possible while running out.

Then he popped his head back around the doorframe and bargained, "How about this—Big Daddy just tells Little Daddy?"

That way, he could ask Little Daddy later.

Bo Tingyuan looked at his mischievous little son and asked in his usual tone, "Are you sleeping in your own room tonight?"

"Awooo~~~~~~" Bo Yi Ming slid dramatically toward the stairs with a sliding tackle.

Wen Ci Shu frowned. "Did you actually sign a confidentiality agreement with the production team?"

"No." Bo Tingyuan watched him play with the tiny buttons on his shirt but didn't stop him.

Seeing his reluctance to elaborate, Wen grumbled, "And here I was, sending you the photos the moment I received them, yet you won’t even tell me tomorrow’s program arrangements?"

Bo Tingyuan cupped Wen's face with one hand, his thumb brushing over the corner of his lips, tracing his jawline down to his earlobe. "Oh?"

His tone was deliberately casual, almost lazy, but the intensity in his gaze made Wen's heart suddenly tighten.

—That look again, as if he might kiss him at any moment.

Wen felt a surge of restlessness; his skin prickled as though warmed by a breath of heat. His fingers, resting on the black shirt, stilled as he stared back, utterly ensnared by the emerald vortex in those eyes, momentarily forgetting what they'd just been discussing.

Half a minute later, Bo Tingyuan picked up his phone. "Let me see the photos."

Wen reached over to unlock it with his fingerprint, and the screen immediately displayed the chat window he hadn't had time to close earlier.

Bo Tingyuan scrolled to the top, opened the images, and tapped to view them in full resolution. "You didn’t show Yi Ming?"

Wen: *Are you seriously going to verify something so trivial?!*

"No."

Leaning against him, Wen looked at the photos together—only to notice that Bo was boldly zooming in on his solo shots right in front of him, slowly panning from his face down to his body, then his legs…

And damn this HD quality—it even captured the faint outline of the shirt stays beneath his suit pants.

Wen's nerves were now engulfed in a wave of reckless heat. He snatched the phone back. "Look on your own phone. I’m going to shower."

"Mm." Bo didn’t argue, simply scooping him up bridal-style and carrying him toward the bathroom.

Yet Wen couldn't shake the memory of Bo's gaze—or rather, the unmistakable raw hunger in his eyes every time he looked at him since his awakening.

So, was Bo Tingyuan restricted to only kissing him when he slept at night?

Wen stole a glance at those thin lips, his heart burning with curiosity: *What would happen if he kissed him during the day?*

Would the original book's universe explode?