Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Bao Yiming was too impatient to wait for Albert to tell his father. He called Bao Tingyuan directly, clearly expressing his thoughts—and even repeating everything in French to sound more formal.

Wen Cishu silently sipped his tea, relieved the boy hadn’t tried sweet-talking him instead. Otherwise, he would’ve agreed right away.

While adults should maintain control over their choices, there were moments when it was wiser to simply give that control up.

However, Bao Tingyuan’s voice came through the phone: “Yi Ming, I respect your Papa’s opinion. Why don’t you ask him?”

Wen Cishu’s hand trembled slightly, his heart sinking.

Bao Yiming looked at him with eager, shining eyes. “Papa, Daddy says he respects your choice!”

Wen Cishu’s gaze softened as he looked at the little monkey before him. “Then I’ll go with Yi Ming.”

“Yay! Awesome!” Bao Yiming cheered triumphantly, immediately speaking into his watch. “Daddy, did you hear that?”

He sounded downright cocky.

Bao Tingyuan replied, “Hmm. We'll go when I'm back.”

Wen Cishu pondered the weight in his voice.

Was he… upset about this?

After hanging up, Bao Yiming was overjoyed, like he’d scored a major victory in their dad-versus-son game. “I’m gonna tell Grandpa Xu and Grandma Zhong!”

He zoomed off in a flash.

Just as Wen Cishu was about to sigh, his phone lit up.

It was from Bao Tingyuan.

With growing dread, he opened the chat.

Bao Tingyuan: *“That decisive, huh?”*

Wen Cishu almost burst out laughing—taken out of context, this line could easily be mistaken for a heartbreaking breakup message.

He quickly proposed a compromise: *“I'll go with Yi Ming there, and ride back with you.”*

Bao Tingyuan: *“Mhmm.”*

Wen Cishu hated that lone *“Mhmm”*: [*Don’t just say “Mhmm”—it sounds so cold!*]

Bao Tingyuan: *“How should I reply then?”*

Wen Cishu thought for a moment before typing: *“Mhmm mhmm.”*

The mental image of Bao Tingyuan actually saying “mhmm mhmm” twice in a row was so ridiculous it made him grin.

Yet seconds later, what popped up wasn’t those words—but a screenshot.

The screenshot captured Wen Cishu's avatar next to his *“Mhmm mhmm.”*

Wen Cishu: *…You’re impossible.*

-

When Bao Tingyuan got home, it wasn’t late yet, but Uncle Xu had whipped up a light dinner anyway.

At the dining table, Wen Cishu, already seated, looked up at him, remembering their morning intimacy before coming back to the present and reaching for the utensils. "Come have something to eat."

Behind his glasses, Bao Tingyuan’s green eyes scanned Wen Cishu’s face as usual. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, took it off, and handed it to Uncle Xu.

It wasn’t quite mealtime yet—this meal was mainly meant to let the family of three grab a quick bite.

Bao Yiming, still growing, never did anything “just a little” when it came to food.

Bao Tingyuan warned him, “Yi Ming, don’t eat too much.”

“Oh~” Bao Yiming rubbed his stomach. “Then I won’t eat anymore.”

Just then, Wen Cishu got a call from Zhu Wei.

Since he was nearly done eating anyway, he stood up to take it.

Bao Yiming happily watched his little dad walk away, completely oblivious to his big dad’s intense gaze.

Bao Tingyuan also finished his meal, wiping his lips with a napkin. “Yi Ming, I’d like to talk to you about the travel plans.”

Pouting, Bao Yiming kept his eyes fixed outside where his little dad was, refusing to turn around. “No! Little Dad already made his choice, and Big Dad agreed. No changing your mind! That wouldn’t be very proper, you know.”

Bao Tingyuan adjusted his glasses, surprised his son could say something like that.

He, too, looked at Wen Cishu’s tall figure. “Fine. Then I’ll have two doctors fly with you.”

“Doctors?” Bao Yiming slowly turned his head, blinking his wide, innocent eyes before finally realizing what his big dad meant.

If something happened to his little dad on the plane, he probably wouldn’t be able to take care of it properly.

In fact, he might just make things worse in a panic.

His happily swinging legs came to an abrupt stop.

Bao Tingyuan said no more.

When Wen Cishu hurried back, he was surprised by the tense atmosphere at the table. Walking over to the little monkey’s chair, he ran his fingers through his hair and asked gently, “What’s wrong, Yi Ming?” Then he gave Bao Tingyuan a questioning look.

In that moment, Bao Yiming’s heart warmed.

Because his little dad had noticed his little mood first. He stretched out his arms to hug his little dad’s waist, burying his face in his chest and looking up slowly and clearly. “Little Dad, I can’t fly with you anymore. You should go with Big Dad instead.”

The boy’s voice carried obvious unhappiness.

Wen Cishu looked at Bao Tingyuan in surprise. “Huh? What did you say to Yi Ming?”

Bao Yiming answered dutifully, “Big Dad didn’t ask me to. It was my own decision.”

Letting go of his little dad’s hand, he tried to sound grown-up. “Little Dad, I’m the future heir of the Bao family, after all. I need to get used to flying alone—just like when Big Dad travels for work.”

Wen Cishu bent down to hug the suddenly grown-up little rascal, his eyes even getting misty. Pinching the boy’s cheek, he chuckled, “Understood, my responsible heir.”

But when the couple was alone later, Wen Cishu glared at Bao Tingyuan. “You definitely said something to Yi Ming. Why else would he suddenly say that?”

Bao Tingyuan explained truthfully, “I only mentioned the arrangement with the two doctors to Yi Ming.”

Wen Cishu immediately understood. He was even more moved.

—How did he deserve such a reasonable child?

Bao Tingyuan embraced the quiet man, gently stroking his back. "He'll remember you chose him—it's just that the circumstances didn't permit it."

Wen Cishu promptly jabbed Bao Tingyuan in the side and muttered, "It's not him remembering—it's you remembering!"

As if he didn’t know!

Crafty grown-up!

Wen Cishu pushed his arm away and took a step back, glaring fiercely. "On the way to the airport, I’m riding with Yi Ming." He pointed at him sharply. "And you, dear Mr. Bo, can enjoy the luxury of having a whole car to yourself."

With that, he scurried off to find the little monkey.

Bao Tingyuan gave a quiet chuckle and adjusted his glasses.

-

The show's official accounts had been posting previews for Season 4 over the past two days—silhouettes of four three-person families against the backdrop of a coastal city.

Yi Ming and his two dads were instantly recognizable due to their unmistakable height.

"Seriously, are you three filming a movie poster? Those long legs and tall frames! I'm so jealous!"

Gulp~ The height difference, body type difference, waistline difference, handspan difference between big dad and little dad—it’ll keep me up tonight! Damn production team, always leaving me desperate!

"I’ve already rewatched the Q&A segment from Season 3 with big dad and little dad—ohhh, here I go~~~"

"Hehehe, suddenly getting excited (I know this is a family show, not a dating or marriage show—I know my limits, don’t scold me!)"

"Finally, it’s about to air. This past week, I’ve practically memorized all of little dad’s photos and videos. First time ever hoping someone would join the entertainment industry."

An admin on the show’s official account replied to one comment: "Don’t worry, Yi Ming and his two dads are already on their way to the filming location."

"? Don’t tease us! How about a livestream so we can see our long-missed little dad?"

Countless supportive comments flooded beneath.

-

At the airport,

The two groups boarded their respective planes simultaneously.

Wen Cishu deliberately brought Bao Tingyuan along to see the little monkey off onto his plane, fussing over him for a while.

"Alright, I’ll be perfectly fine on my own!"

Yi Ming nudged his little dad. "Big dad, hurry up and take little dad away—I’m about to start playing games."

Wen Cishu: "..."

Little brat. And here he was, still feeling touched.

Soon after, the husbands boarded another plane.

The two private jets took off on schedule.

Wen Cishu gazed out the window at the twilight hues of blue and gold.

Unaware that the soft light highlighted his profile, every nuance noticed by the watchful eyes and heart of the man beside him.

"Look, that cloud is so plump."

Wen Cishu turned to speak to him, only to find his face just inches away.

Their noses nearly touched.

They were so close that Wen Cishu almost thought the frameless glasses were his own.

Just then, Aunt Zhong entered carrying sliced fruit but suddenly spun around.

Wen Cishu went rigid with embarrassment.

But Bao Tingyuan said casually, like nothing was wrong: "Aunt Zhong, the fruit."

Aunt Zhong had to turn back and serve the fruit.

The two had already resumed their usual composure.

Wen Cishu picked up a piece of fruit to eat. After Aunt Zhong left, he blurted, "I always feel like you're still hiding something from me."

Bao Tingyuan raised one eyebrow and looked at him in silence.

Wen Cishu had only been trying to fill the silence, making idle conversation. But faced with this reaction, he fell quiet too, dread creeping in. “There really is something else, isn’t there? What is it? Why can’t you just tell me everything at once?”

Bao Tingyuan let out a slow breath. “Hmm,” he said, gazing at Wen Cishu and slowly parting his lips. “I didn’t tell you. When Yi Ming was born, I had a vasectomy.”

…

The piece of pineapple Wen Cishu had just speared slipped off his fork and hit the plate with a clink.