Chapter 72

Chapter 72

The family took a stroll through the food street and picked up some snacks and fruits.

Back in the car, Wen Cishu opened a box of fruit slices dusted with sour plum powder. Just as he speared the first piece, an adorable "Ah—" came from the back seat.

He turned to see a hungry little monkey with his mouth wide open, practically leaning into the front row.

Wen Cishu popped the mango cube into his mouth.

Bao Yiming wriggled with delight.

Wen Cishu speared a second piece and offered it to Bao Tingyuan, who had just started the car.

Bao Tingyuan tilted his head, resting his palm over Wen Cishu’s hand as he bit into the mango, murmuring, "Thank you."

"Hey, since when do you get to be handsy while eating?!"

Here’s the improved translation incorporating all expert suggestions:

*"Ahem, is there any possibility they’re actually legally married? Hilarious."*

Upon hearing this, Bao Yiming immediately tilted his head and added, *"Thank you, Papa!"*

*"That’s my good boy~"*

Wen Cishu chuckled and hugged the fruit bowl. *"Alright, the rest is all for me then."*

After the car started,

Bao Yiming opened the itinerary map and suggested, *"Papa~ Can we go on a trip soon too?"*

Wen Cishu ate some fruit while pondering, *"How about we go skiing in winter?"*

Hearing the response from the back seat, he glanced at the person beside him. *"Will our driver be free?"*

*"Mm, just decide where you and Yi Ming want to go, and I’ll arrange it in advance."*

Bao Tingyuan quickly looked at him, lips moving slightly.

Wen Cishu leaned over to feed him another piece. Seeing juice staining his lips, he suddenly remembered how their kisses always left their mouths glistening. Flustered, he turned to look out the window and stuffed a piece into his own mouth.

Bao Tingyuan didn’t miss his gaze. As he bit into the mango, the sweet-sour juice filled his mouth.

He swallowed the fruit, his throat moving as he swallowed.

*"Hmm? Why so quiet all of a sudden? It’s perfectly normal for a couple to feed each other fruit, right?"*

-

*"These two have such perfect chemistry. Together, the spark is electric—I wouldn’t be surprised if they might start kissing any second."*

On Weibo’s fan forum,

Observant viewers had captured many clips of Ming Zai’s two dads interacting.

Many left comments while watching the live broadcast, flooding the fandom page.

*"Papa and Dad kissing must be so hot—aahhh, just imagining it is so intense!"*

*"Ming Zai’s big dad is clearly head over heels for his gorgeous partner. Except when driving, he’s always by his side, so devoted."*

*"Right! But it’s not the annoying kind of clingy—he pulls his husband close while being incredibly gentle, not off-putting at all (I’m living for this—anyone else?)"*

*"There’s this blurry clip where, when Dad reaches out to pull Papa in, Papa naturally leans into him."*

*"Their coordination and physical compatibility are top-tier. No wonder they’ve been together for ten years (rubs chin, other aspects must be too…)."*

Today happened to be the premiere of a new season of a couples’ show, with several promotional hashtags trending on Weibo.

In the show’s official Weibo comments, many netizens begged for Ming Zai’s two dads to be invited next season.

*"We beg you, get them on the show. Just standing there would melt me with sweetness."*

The production team of the couples’ show naturally noticed the hype around Ming Zai’s family.

They promptly replied on Weibo: *"Everyone, we tried contacting them before this season started, but they politely declined [sobbing][sobbing]."*

*"What?? They already tried inviting them?!"* Couples’ show team: *"The producer cried to us, saying they called the producer of *Super Kid* late at night for advice on how they got them to join. Apparently, Ming Zai’s family volunteered themselves. So that’s how it happened."*

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

"That's hilarious but also kinda sad."

"Recently, many show producers must be eyeing the popularity of the parenting show, right? It's practically a black hole for traffic. Mommy opened an account on Xiao Digua (a social platform) and only posted once or twice, yet the engagement went through the roof."

"So, after the fourth season of the parenting show ends, will it be hard to see them again? Please no..."

The show was broadcasting live when...

The family of three drove up the mountain and arrived at the second photo spot—the bay overlook.

Bao Yiming looked up at the towering banyan tree and the stone steps leading upward, asking worriedly, "Little Daddy, can you climb the mountain?"

"Doesn't look too bad - just a few steps," Wen Cishu said. "Let's do this!"

"I'll go check it out first!" Bao Yiming ran up, turned a corner, and immediately saw the crystal-blue sea. It really wasn't high, so he turned back and waved at them. "Daddy, hurry up!"

Bao Tingyuan held Wen Cishu's hand. "Easy does it."

"Yeah."

Wen Cishu stepped onto the stairs, and at the end was open sea and sky.

From the overlook, they could see a small bay, with the white coastal road beneath their feet stretching toward another windmill bay in the distance.

They had slowly traveled from the southern part of the island to the central area.

This time, their little one was taking the photo for the parents.

After choosing the angle, Bao Yiming picked up his phone and aimed it at his two dads.

Wen Cishu asked, "Should we do any poses?"

He jokingly raised his arm above his head and blinked at Bao Tingyuan. "Wanna make a heart?"

Unexpectedly, Bao Tingyuan immediately turned his face to the side, completing the other half of the heart.

"I want to take a photo like this with Little Daddy later too," Bao Yiming said, snapping several shots before standing up straight. "Okay, now it's my turn!"

"Let's get one more," Bao Tingyuan said.

"Huh?" Just as Wen Cishu was about to ask how, he saw Bao Tingyuan take a step back and form half a heart with his left hand against his own left cheek.

—Huh?

Though puzzled, Wen Cishu deliberately puffed up his left cheek to press against the "heart."

Bao Yiming exclaimed, "Wow, Little Daddy is so cute!"

He quickly took a few more pictures.

Afterward, Wen Cishu asked quietly, "Is this really a pose you'd come up with?"

It wasn't like him at all.

Bao Tingyuan took the phone from his son to check the photos and explained matter-of-factly, "You did this with someone else on the show before."

"Who?" Wen Cishu was shocked. "When? Which episode?" Bao Yiming was the first to remember. "At the teahouse, Little Daddy. Remember, Little Daddy?"

"Oh." Wen Cishu thought back and realized it really was.

That time, they'd used Rong Rong's instant camera and happily taken many photos together.

"What 'others'? That's Xiao Qi and Rong Rong! Please watch your wording, Daddy."

"The kids are the stars of the parenting show, Daddy. You're just a minor guest. Careful, or I'll report you to the show's official account!"

"Ming Zai's dad: Doesn't matter who—they're all outsiders! [Dripping with jealousy]"

"You remember such tiny details? I think you're way too obsessed!"

After taking the photos, Bao Yiming flipped through them on his phone, deleting the unflattering ones.

He wanted to print them out once they got home and display them in the new seashell photo frame they'd just bought.

The photographer caught some interesting details and slowly panned the camera over.

The shot showed two hands, their pinkies and ring fingers loosely linked.

One hand's fingertips teasingly brushed the other's palm, only to be grasped and released by long, well-defined fingers—repeating the motion.

Not wanting to overstep, the photographer quickly panned back to a full shot of the family of three.

Meanwhile.

Wen Cishu's parents, watching the livestream from home, saw this scene too.

Wen Minghui shook his head, sipped his tea, and muttered, "Cishu and Tingyuan, really..."

Zhu Qianya stayed unfazed. "What matters most is that the kids are happy. Stay out of it."

She remembered how he'd even complained last time at the Bao family estate when Bao Tingyuan carried Wen Cishu. "Might as well join the Pacific police force early—always meddling in everything."

Wen Minghui pointed at the screen. "This isn't at home—it's on a show! Just look at that viewer count!"

He squinted at the endless numbers, leaning in. "There must be millions watching!"

Zhu Qianya: "Then call them up and scold them for holding hands."

"I won't." Wen Minghui took another sip. "Blame the photographer. They had a perfect shot of Yiming, then suddenly zoomed in on Cishu and Tingyuan's hands."

Zhu Qianya just smirked, keeping quiet.

The audience didn't miss this moment either, flooding the screen with comments instantly.

"In broad daylight, on camera? Get a room—or keep going!"

"Ahhh, so risqué! Hand lovers are deceased. Give that cameraman a year's supply of chicken legs!"

As they left the viewing platform, Bao Tingyuan got a work call.

He hit the unlock button and tossed the keys to Wen Cishu. "Go ahead and get in."

He muted his mic and walked to an ancient banyan tree in the parking area to answer.

The moment they buckled in, Bao Yiming received a call request from Xingxing.

He grabbed the walkie-talkie and responded.

Wen Cishu turned on the car camera and said softly to the viewers, "Everyone, please keep an eye on Yi Ming for me. I’ll be right back—just need to use the restroom."

Bao Yiming heard him clearly and looked up.

Wen Cishu pointed outside the car. "Daddy’ll be right back. Be good."

"Okay," Bao Yiming nodded obediently, pulling his seatbelt on and buckling up.

Wen Cishu hurried into the restroom to splash some water on his face and wash his hands. When he came out, he saw Bao Tingyuan still talking on the phone farther away.

Did something come up?

Concerned, he hurried over toward the tall figure under the banyan tree.

Seeing Wen Cishu walk up, Bao Tingyuan swiftly ended the call.

Wen Cishu asked, "Done? Everything okay?"

"There’s an urgent matter that needs a decision right now," Bao Tingyuan replied succinctly, glancing at the car in the parking area.

From this distance, they had a clear view of Bao Yiming in the backseat talking into the walkie-talkie.

When Wen Cishu noticed Bao Tingyuan looking back but not making a move to return, he stepped closer. "Aren’t we going back?"

Bao Tingyuan cupped the back of Wen Cishu’s neck, tugging him closer, his fingers lightly brushing his ear.

Wen Cishu froze, meeting his gaze and thinking he was about to be kissed.

Instead, Bao Tingyuan only held him tenderly, rubbing the back of his neck.

But reason didn’t permit him to take things further in public.

The rush of desire stopped short as Bao Tingyuan guided Wen Cishu toward the car. "Let’s get in."

Wen Cishu: "..."

Still, considering they were outdoors, embracing and kissing would be highly inappropriate.

He glanced at the man beside him and whispered under his breath, "Bao Tingyuan, kiss~"

Bao Tingyuan, watching their little son waving from the car window, replied calmly, "Yeah, I heard you."

Wen Cishu: ==

That’s it? Lame!

At that moment, Bao Tingyuan turned back, meeting his slightly dissatisfied gaze with a gentle, soothing tone. "Later tonight."

"..." Wen Cishu flushed.

—Did you really have to say it like that?!