Chapter 74

Chapter 74

The first floor of the café.

Bao Yiming waited obediently, clutching a glass of lemon water from the counter girl. He took two big gulps.

He even asked her to bring one for the cameraman uncle.

The cameraman glanced curiously at the staircase. "Ming Zai, what’s up with your two dads?"

Seeing the kid so quiet, he figured the boy might know something.

"They must be talking about something important," Bao Yiming said, tilting his handsome face up. "Dads always sneak off to chat, but it won’t take long."

Of course, viewers were dying to know—why the sudden private talk?

But barely had Bao Yiming finished when two figures came into view.

Bao Tingyuan apologized to the cameraman, cool as ever. "Sorry for the wait."

He took two mics, clipping one to his collar.

Wen Cishu winced at the polite act. When Bao Tingyuan moved to mic him, he looked pointedly at Yi Ming. "Yi Ming, how’s the lemon water? Let me check if it’s cold."

Bao Yiming handed it over, nudging his little dad’s arm. "Nah, she gave me water that’s not cold."

The counter girl fist-pumped in approval: Exactly! Kids shouldn’t drink chilled water!

After checking everything, Bao Tingyuan brushed Wen Cishu’s stray hairs behind his ear.

Wen Cishu grumbled, "I’ve got it."

He redid his low ponytail.

The counter staff, who’d been sneaking glances, exchanged looks—gawking at the beauty before them.

"Oho~ Things are getting spicy~ Their vibe? So shippable!"

"Hubby’s lips are *sus* red—definitely stealing kisses (Daddy promised ‘tonight’~ Liar liar pants on fire (jkjk)"

"If my wife looked like this, I’d attack those lips every three minutes (feral mode activated, rawr~)"

Bao Yiming sipped his lemon water. "Little Dad, let’s go sailing now."

Wen Cishu checked his phone. "Next time, maybe? We should hit the last task and meet the others. Time’s tight."

He glanced at Bao Tingyuan for input.

They’d been taking it easy—other families had probably finished already.

Bao Tingyuan said, "Plenty of time."

Bao Yiming nodded. "Little Dad, just play if you want~ So what if we flunk the task?"

Wen Cishu tweaked his ear. "What if we get penalized?"

Bao Yiming hopped behind him, whispering, "Let Big Dad take the heat~"

"Ha!" Wen Cishu laughed, grinning at Bao Tingyuan.

Bao Tingyuan took his hand and pulled him into his arms, looking down at their son. "Then you don’t need to go on the sailboat. Your dad and I will go."

He wrapped an arm around Wen Cishu’s shoulder and walked out.

"...No! How can you leave your adorable little son behind?"

Bao Yiming hurried after them, and when he saw his little dad secretly reaching out a hand to him, he immediately stuck his palm against it like an adorable little koala.

"Our Ming Zai is such a clever boy—yes, let Dad handle the punishment~"

"Ming Zai, you’re too cute! Can I trade places and experience being the kid of these two dads?"

Bao Tingyuan negotiated the price with the sailing team and secured a larger, more stable sailboat.

All three of them, along with the cameraman and bodyguard, boarded the boat.

The sailboat moved at a leisurely pace, focused on sightseeing.

The bodyguard had prepared a blanket in advance. Bao Tingyuan took it and draped it over Wen Cishu’s shoulders, wrapping an arm around his waist and holding his hand tightly.

Wen Cishu, wearing sunglasses, playfully traced circles on Bao Tingyuan’s palm before turning to their son with a serious tone. "Yi Ming, are you sure you’ve finished all your homework?"

Bao Yiming instantly put on a show of shock, lips trembling. "Little Dad? Why are you suddenly asking that?"

Wen Cishu chuckled. "It just crossed my mind. You’ll be starting school soon."

"But didn’t we agree we’d go to France first?"

Stuck pouting, Bao Yiming—seated across from them and strapped in by the seatbelt—managed to stretch his foot to nudge his little dad’s toes. "Little Dad, are you backing out?"

"I’m not like your dad. I keep my promises."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Wen Cishu hoped Bao Tingyuan missed that. But the man responded by squeezing his fingers firmly. "Just make sure you finish it, or you’ll jump straight into school when we’re back."

"...Okay." Bao Yiming sulked.

*Ugh! Dad must’ve tipped him off, otherwise how would Little Dad remember?* "Can’t we just look at the ocean?"

Wen Cishu laughed and leaned against Bao Tingyuan’s shoulder. "Fine, fine. You’re sick of me nagging."

Tilting his head back, he gazed at the white sails against the blue sky, relaxed and carefree. Copying his son’s whiny voice, he let out a cute little "hoo-hoo."

Bao Tingyuan tightened his embrace.

"?? Homework to France—whiplash much?"

"We’re literally still on the boat! Already planning another trip abroad? (Can I come too?)"

"What’s Dad’s hand doing under the blanket?"

"Dragging Mommy into his arms like it’s a matter of survival—just plop him on your lap!"

After the family left the dock, they booked it to the local market to complete their final task—buying ingredients specified by the show, then regrouping with the other families.

Stepping into the noisy market, Bao Yiming squinted at the list and immediately got stuck. "Buy... *blood huh*? Little Dad, help! I can’t read this!"

Wen Cishu glanced over. "It’s *blood clam*, kiddo."

He quickly asked a nearby stall owner, pointing to the four or five types of shellfish on display, "Which one is the blood clam?"

The owner gestured to a basin and asked, "Just visiting? Gonna cook these? Know how?"

Wen Cishu thought for a moment. "We’ve got a pro."

(That’d be Chef Zhou Xu.)

The owner nodded with a smile, scooped up two pounds of blood clams, and packed them in a plastic bag.

Wen Cishu and Bao Tingyuan were checking out the nearby razor clams and crabs.

Bao Yiming, curious about the name "blood clam," started chatting with the friendly stall owner.

The owner kindly let the water drain out by cutting a small hole in the bag before reweighing.

Bao Yiming gasped, "No way! That’s smart!"

"Of course—you’d pay for water weight otherwise," the owner chuckled, giving the bag a shake before weighing again.

Wen Cishu walked over. "You’re really kind, boss."

Seeing how fancy they looked, the owner could’ve ripped them off unnoticed. Still, he said, "You’re not regulars—wouldn’t want to ruin your impression."

Wen Cishu slung an arm around Bao Yiming. "Should we get everything else here too?"

"Mm!" Bao Yiming nodded, rattling off the seafood names on their card.

The owner couldn’t stop smiling.

Even for items he didn’t have, he hurried over to neighboring stalls to fetch them, adding it all up.

Thanks to his help, the three quickly finished their seafood haul.

"Wow, this guy’s great! No tourist tax here!"

"Today’s restaurants and jet skis—everything filmed had prices that were fair and upfront. (Well, except the chartered sailboat…)"

"Already noted all Ming Zai’s family spots—definitely copying their itinerary, hehe~"

As the seaside sky blushed pink-orange, each family wrapped up and headed to the show’s meeting point.

The official *Zai Zai the Superman* Weibo updated with daytime photos of each family.

But Ming Zai’s fans scrolled forever without finding the observation deck shot of Bao Tingyuan throwing up a heart.

In the posted couple pic, he just had his arm around Wen Cishu’s shoulder.

"Where’s the pic of dad doing that icy heart hands thing near mommy’s face? Why’s it missing?"

"Right! Mommy even squished his cheek against it—so cute!"

The official account replied, "Please wait—only these were uploaded."

"Uploaded? By who?!"

"Notice earlier? Ming Zai said daddy sent them in the car. So mean!"

Still live!

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Many fans were outraged at Bao Tingyuan.

"How could they bully the audience like this? I'm rushing to the beach to protest in person! And maybe give mommy a quick kiss."

"The gentle and kind mommy must be wrapped around the scheming daddy's finger. It's heartbreaking."

"Earlier in the café, mommy must have been cornered and kissed by the big bad daddy. Wahh, poor wifey had it rough."

Amid the stunning seaside sunset, the four groups of guests finally gathered at the beach camping club.

Ming Zai and his group were ten minutes late.

Bao Yiming ran up to the other children: "Xingxing! Rong Rong! Xiao Qi baby!"

"Ah! Brother Yi Ming!"

"Brother, you're finally here!"

The three children came running over, and the four kids hugged each other, jumping around excitedly.

The scene was absolutely adorable and heartwarming.

Wen Cishu stood still, quietly taking photos with his phone to capture the moment.

Bao Tingyuan straightened the light blanket draped over his shoulder.

Wen Cishu glanced at the cameraman, noticing he was also filming the kids, then quickly blew a quick kiss at Bao Tingyuan before dashing off with a laugh, running toward the children: "Don't forget about me, little ones~ Did you miss uncle?"

"Little uncle~"

"Uncle!"

The chorus of childish voices made Wen Cishu's heart swell as he bent down to ruffle each of their heads in turn.

Bao Tingyuan's eyes took in his relaxed, happy face as he slowly walked forward. The breeze that caressed their lips at that moment was both gentle and sweet.