Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Outside the suite door, Wen Cishu swiped the card quietly and turned the handle, careful not to wake the kid inside.

As the door opened, the couple simultaneously spotted an ottoman out of place in the entryway.

Standing barefoot on the white leather stool was a lanky teenager, his small face dark as thunder.

His laser-focused eyes scanned back and forth between his two dads.

"You're up, baby!"

Wen Cishu’s heart sank, feeling like a teen caught sneaking back home to his parents.

Bao Yiming stomped his foot and shouted, "This is unacceptable! You left a minor alone in a strange hotel!"

"Well argued! Let’s give Ming Zai a round of applause!"

"My wife's so transparent—even looking guilty in front of a nine-year-old? I just wanna kiss him!"

Bao Tingyuan watched his youngest son putting on his "stern" act and explained, "We went out for a bit."

"To do what?!"

Bao Yiming punctuated each word with a stomp, expressing his thunderous fury.

Wen Cishu predicted that if Bao Tingyuan admitted they went to see the sunrise, it would only add fuel to the fire.

He quickly interjected, "We just took a walk by the beach."

Bao Tingyuan looked up at his tall, slender son and said earnestly, "Yi Ming, let your little dad have some warm water first? He got chilled earlier and didn’t get enough sleep."

"Huh?"

Bao Yiming pouted and stomped down, dragging his little dad toward the living room sofa. "Then why did big dad take little dad out? Big dad, go get warm water now!"

As his son stepped down, Bao Tingyuan caught him before heading to the bar counter for hot water.

Meanwhile, Wen Cishu shook out the blanket and pulled the little one close.

"Baby, were you scared when you woke up and didn’t see us?"

"...Mhm~"

Bao Yiming buried himself in the blanket, nuzzling into his little dad’s chest and whimpering pitifully. "I was so scared I thought it was a nightmare. I searched around the bed, looked in every room, but couldn’t find you… waaah...mommy..."

His soft, pleading voice was as endearing as a baby animal's.

Wen Cishu’s heart broke. He hugged him tight, kissing his hair, guilt eating him up. He couldn’t help scolding himself—how could he leave his kid to see the sunrise? It was so irresponsible.

"I’m sorry, baby. We won’t ever do this again."

Hearing his little dad’s apology, Bao Yiming was internally triumphant.

"How heartbreaking! Ming Zai, come to Auntie for a hug—Auntie's tearing up now!"

"? New here? He’s faking that voice to play mommy! You buying that?"

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

"What's all this searching around? More like taking it out on the pillows, right?"

"Three parts genuine distress, seven parts dramatic embellishment—it's not exactly lying! Ming Zai's got Mommy right where he wants him~"

Bao Tingyuan brought over the hot water and held it to Wen Cishu's lips, letting him drink a few sips.

"Need more sleep?"

"Not tired."

Just as Wen Cishu was about to say something else, a single eye popped open from the little one in his arms.

Bao Yiming stared at his Big Daddy and pushed at his long legs with his arms.

"Don't get close to Daddy! Big Daddy is dangerous!"

Bao Tingyuan ruffled his son's hair and nape before sinking into the armchair beside them.

Bao Yiming wriggled away with a "hmph!"

Wen Cishu held the little one, apologizing profusely and pouring on the sweet talk, even agreeing to spend the whole day playing with him.

Bao Yiming was trying not to laugh as he buried himself deeper into the blanket, mumbling, "What about Big Daddy? He's not getting off scot-free!"

"This kid is such a little schemer, loving how Mommy patiently and gently coaxes him, huh?"

"Mommy must've noticed Ming Zai wasn't that upset—he's probably just feeling guilty and wants to comfort him."

Beside them, Bao Tingyuan sat quietly, listening to Wen Cishu's words, gentle as a spring breeze, watching him devote all his attention to soothing their child.

Over the years, Bao Tingyuan had wondered endlessly why Wen Cishu had fought tooth and nail, even risking his life, to keep their child. But he eventually realized that some things couldn't be grasped through logic—life was about experience and feeling.

Like now, every word, every smile from Wen Cishu shone with a love so pure it seemed divine.

Bao Tingyuan had no doubt that being able to witness this, to have this person by his side, made him the luckiest man alive.

"Why is Big Daddy suddenly gazing so lovingly? What's he staring at?"

"Mute the audio, and this scene looks like Daddy gazing at Mommy through the passage of time—oh my god, goosebumps!"

"These two have perfect looks and each other's one-of-a-kind souls—I can't get enough!"

During breakfast with all the guests, Bao Yiming's clingy behavior naturally didn't go unnoticed.

Xiao Qi had initially rushed over for a warm hug from his uncle, only for Yi Ming to swoop in first and plunk him into the high chair.

Xiao Qi: ? ?

Wen Cishu could only step forward, bending down to ruffle Xiao Qi's hair. "Be good, Xiao Qi~ Uncle's got cuddles for you."

Xiao Qi puffed out his chubby cheeks happily, leaning in for affection.

Zhou Xu asked, "What's with Yi Ming? Throwing a tantrum with your daddy?"

"Nope!" Bao Yiming pulled Wen Cishu down next to him.

Originally, Bao Tingyuan had been sitting beside Wen Cishu, but Bao Yiming quietly pushed him to the other side. And so, Bao Yiming wound up sandwiched between both his daddies.

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

He looked around, not exactly overjoyed.

Tilting his chin up, he muttered, "So now you remember you have a kid? Hmph~ If you keep forgetting, the kiddo might just take off on their own."

Wen Cishu quietly leaned past the little one, sharing a secret smile with Bao Tingyuan.

"Ming Zai, your two daddies are scheming right in front of you! Catch them!"

"The more I look at Ming Zai, the cuter he gets. At first, I thought this kid was a bit too energetic and slightly unpredictable—I must have been dead wrong."

During breakfast, the program's PD brought today's daily challenge cards.

Zhu Wei held up a card and said, "Today, we need to complete an island-hopping challenge. After landing on the islands, we'll pick up task cards and complete the corresponding mini tasks."

There was also a small island route map, outlining the specific arrangements and check-in points.

Chu Han asked, "Is this a competition between families? Any requirements?"

Zhu Wei checked and replied, "No, it says 'team effort,' so we should work together to complete it."

"Perfect!" Chu Han loved this format.

Before joining the show, she had specifically asked the production team if there would be any "family competitions," worried that Xingxing might be forced into some "win-or-lose" scenarios.

Zhu Wei's husband glanced at the map and said, "But island-hopping—do we row the boats ourselves? That's quite a distance."

Zhou Xu also leaned in for a look. "Wish I had hit the gym for a week before coming."

As they went over the plans, Bao Tingyuan was messaging his assistant to arrange today's security detail.

Checking the time on his phone, he spoke up first, "We're burning daylight. Let's head out? To the first destination."

"Alright, let's go!"

Zhou Xu pushed his chair back and stood up, eyeing the 1.9-meter-tall man and joked, "Papa Bear, looks like you'll have to do the heavy lifting today."

Bao Tingyuan took the bait, "Sure, I'll do my best."

Everyone caught on and nodded with a laugh.

Before setting off, Bao Tingyuan noticed his younger son pouty.

He reached out to mess up his hair and said softly, "Yi Ming, we can go swimming later. I'll join you."

Bao Yiming perked up immediately, his eyes lighting up. "Big daddy, really?"

"Mm."

"Sweet! I'll grab my swimsuit!" Bao Yiming jumped up, his earlier sulk completely gone.

Wen Cishu smirked to himself—the little monkey cheered up so fast.

"Instantly cheered up? Ming Zai, where's your resolve?"

"No wonder he's the big daddy—read his son like a book."

No one needed to drive; instead, they piled into a beach buggy with a few photographers, cruising with the ocean wind. On the ride, Xiao Qi's mom said regretfully, "We slept through this morning. Today's sunrise must have been beautiful."

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

On this topic, everyone got into a lively discussion.

Only Wen Cishu in the last row stayed quiet, not joining in.

Until Bao Yiming in the front row slowly turned to look back.

Wen Cishu's gaze met a pair of all-knowing wise eyes: "..."

He silently lowered his head and gave a little push to the hand that Bao Tingyuan had been holding.

Bao Tingyuan placed his other hand on his son's head, turning it back: "Don't move around, it's not safe."

Bao Yiming bared his little white teeth at the blue sky and white clouds: Aow aow aow—

After a while, he suddenly turned his head and announced, "I want to see the sunrise tomorrow."

Wen Cishu was quick to respond, "Okay, we can go to bed early tonight, and the three of us will watch it together tomorrow, alright?" He pinched his son's little face, "Sweetie, how does that sound?"

Bao Yiming pouted, wanting to hug his little daddy.

He nodded vigorously, finally satisfied.

Bao Tingyuan shot him a disapproving look and said softly, "Mornings are chilly."

Wen Cishu quickly tapped his palm, then the ring on his ring finger, his fingers brushing and tickling the skin near the ring.

"Hmm." Bao Tingyuan held his fingers and said no more.

Yet this small detail was perfectly captured by the photographer on the other side of the sightseeing car.

"Mommy is being cute with daddy (≧≦)"

"Watching a parenting show, and I actually want to fall in love now, I'm doomed." "Ahhh, hugging my little cat and scratching it like crazy, I can't take it anymore!"