Chapter 21: “Dad and Mom Are Wearing Couple Outfits.”…

Chapter 21 "Dad and Mom are wearing matching outfits..."

The call ended, and Ji Fuxi lingered on the balcony for five or six minutes before rejoining the private room.

He had a work dinner that evening, attended by higher-ups and industry titans—all familiar faces. Someone quipped, "President Ji, you must be truly busy. Even during the New Year, you're still working?"

Ji Fuxi settled into his seat, responding coolly, "It's not work."

"Not work? Then surely you, a lone bachelor, wouldn’t be..." The man seemed to catch himself, smirking suggestively, "Or was it your girlfriend checking up on you?"

Ji Fuxi gestured to the waiter behind him to pour wine, addressing the gossip with a slightly sterner tone, "No girlfriend. I don’t have one."

His direct, concise reply left everyone momentarily stunned. The man chuckled awkwardly, "See, I told you those rumors aren’t reliable."

The table resumed its desultory chatter, toasting and clinking glasses—all part of the networking ritual.

Ji Fuxi glanced at his watch, planning to depart after a brief stay.

A while later, another person inquired, "President Ji, we’ve launched a new tourism project in Sanya this year—the conditions are quite good. How about spending the New Year there? Bring your father along."

The attendees were all prominent company heads. Though framed as a "tourism project," it was essentially a new form of leisure for the wealthy.

"This winter’s been cold. Sounds like a great idea—you really know how to enjoy life, Old Wu."

"Just tired of celebrating New Year’s in the capital every year. Thought we’d try something new." The man called Old Wu turned to Ji Fuxi again. "President Ji, it would do your father good to get out. Staying cooped up in the capital all the time can’t be healthy, can it?"

Going wouldn’t be an issue, but... this year was different. He wasn’t sure about Song Chuqing’s plans—tomorrow, he’d be shopping for New Year’s goods with her, and he might have to accompany her for a meal before or after the holiday.

After a moment’s contemplation, Ji Fuxi offered a faint smile and declined, "Thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Wu, but my father has trouble getting around. A long trip might be difficult for him."

"What a shame." Mr. Wu then asked, "How about you, President Chen?"

"Me? No way. I have to accompany my wife back to her hometown for the New Year, and the kids are still young. I’m worried they might not adjust to the climate there."

Someone summarized, "Once you have kids, freedom’s gone. You can’t just go wherever you want like when you were young."

Hearing this, Ji Fuxi lifted his gaze briefly before lowering it again, a faint smile playing in his eyes.

He glanced at his watch once more, pushed back his chair, and stood up. "I have something to attend to. Please enjoy the rest of your evening."

...

Having slept in the afternoon, the mother and daughter didn’t fall asleep until past midnight, sleeping in until ten the next morning.

Ji Fuxi arrived punctually.

It was Song Chuqing’s first time celebrating Chinese New Year, and she was exceptionally thrilled, rushing into his arms the moment she saw him.

Song Tan watched from the side, feeling a slight pang of sadness. They’d only met a few times, yet Song Chuqing was already so close to him. Her little "warm jacket" was truly letting the wind in.

Without the driver, Ji Fuxi drove himself, with the mother and daughter seated in the back.

The little girl chattered excitedly the entire ride—asking what they’d buy later, listing what she wanted, then marveling at the New Year decorations outside the window.

A ten-minute drive stretched into half an hour thanks to her.

They headed to a large supermarket near the neighborhood. Before getting out, Song Tan handed him a mask.

Song Chuqing looked at them and giggled. "Mom, you and Dad are wearing matching outfits."

Both adults happened to be wearing warm-toned coats, black pants, and black shoes. Now, with masks on, they certainly looked like a couple.

Song Tan lightly tapped her head. "Silly. Where did you learn that word?"

"Li Keke told me! She said she wants to wear matching outfits with me because best friends dress the same."

"..."

Song Tan took her hand to head inside, but Song Chuqing refused. "I want Dad to carry me."

"..."

Listening to the mother-daughter’s playful banter, Ji Fuxi’s lips curved slightly as he bent down to pick up the little girl and walked ahead.

Song Tan suddenly felt a profound sense of crisis—her "warm jacket" was truly, truly leaking air!

The supermarket entrance was specially decorated for the Lunar New Year—lanterns, couplets, and all sorts of pig-themed ornaments, with merchants pulling out all the stops to capitalize on the holiday.

Song Chuqing was already overwhelmed with excitement, squirming out of Ji Fuxi’s arms and running around gleefully. Soon, she pointed at a small pig-shaped lantern. "Mom, I want this!"

The pig lantern was charmingly designed, and Song Tan thought it was nice too. She picked up two. "Sure, we’ll get them."

Less than a minute later, Song Chuqing picked up another tiny, exquisite lantern adorned with koi fish designs. "Mom, this one too!"

"Okay."

Thirty seconds later, Song Chuqing came back holding a string of red firecrackers, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Mom, I want this too!"

"Sure."

Another thirty seconds later, she pointed at a red plum blossom decoration hanging overhead—taller than she was. "Mom, this is so pretty!"

Song Tan looked up, hesitating. "Honey, this might be a bit too big..."

Song Chuqing turned her head. "Dad..."

The man, who had been quietly gathering lanterns behind them, responded, "We’ll take it. I’ll have someone deliver it home."

Song Tan: "..."

A minute later, Song Chuqing reappeared, somehow lugging a huge red pig plush stuffed with snacks. "Mom, I want this!"

It was filled with candy and chocolates. Just as Song Tan hesitated, the little girl turned again. "Dad..."

Ji Fuxi immediately tossed the giant pig into the shopping cart.

So, Song Chuqing quickly learned who to turn to. "Dad, this little pig is so cute too!"

"Get it."

"Dad, I want these cookies."

"Okay."

Song Tan watched as the cart filled up more with decorations and snacks, frowning.

While the little girl was busy picking out cookies ahead, she tugged at Ji Fuxi’s sleeve. "Don’t spoil her so much."

The man looked serious. "This isn't spoiling her."

"..."

Song Tan added, "There's no need to buy so much, and all that candy will rot her teeth."

But he wasn't listening at all. "Your place is huge—this amount of decorations won't be enough. A few candies won't hurt."

"..."

Fine, fine. Song Tan pursed her lips and huffed, "I won’t be able to carry all this later. You’ll have to manage it yourself."

Ji Fuxi didn’t miss the same pout on the woman’s face as their daughter’s. He responded belatedly, "Mm."

Up ahead, Xiao Chu found another snack she liked and called out for Daddy.

Ji Fuxi looked away and went over.

The shopping cart was already full. Song Tan grabbed another one. The supermarket was packed, and from a distance, she glanced at the father-daughter pair still picking out snacks, choosing not to join them. She went to the produce section by herself.

Before having a daughter, Song Tan could only make simple dishes like noodles or scrambled eggs with tomatoes. After Xiao Chu was born, she had to learn to prepare baby food. Once the girl could eat regular meals, Song Tan learned to cook more diverse dishes.

Plus, Xiao Chu was a picky eater—particular about ingredients and refusing anything that didn’t taste good. As a result, Song Tan’s cooking skills had skyrocketed over the years, transforming her from a novice to a near-professional chef.

Today, she needed to buy all the meat and vegetables for the New Year to avoid last-minute trips.

Starting with meat—Xiao Chu disliked lamb and fish, so Song Tan picked only beef, pork ribs, pork belly, and a large pork hock. The cured sausages hanging by the pork stall looked good too, so she grabbed about half a pound.

Next, she bought a prepared chicken from the neighboring stall, then moved on to vegetables and fruit.

When she turned with her cart, she was startled by the sudden appearance of the father-daughter duo behind her. Glancing at the man holding their child, she asked Xiao Chu, "Done shopping?"

The little girl grinned, showing all her teeth. "All done, Mommy! Let’s get vegetables together."

"Come on."

But the moment Xiao Chu saw the abundant spread of leafy greens, her smile vanished, and she looked on the verge of tears. Song Tan held back a laugh. "Alright, during New Year, you only have to eat one type of leafy green. The rest can be your favorites."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then I want sweet potatoes, corn, potatoes, and tangy tomatoes!"

"Deal. And the greens?"

Xiao Chu pouted, looking conflicted. "Mommy can choose."

"Okay."

After finishing with groceries, they moved to the household goods section.

Aunt Zhou usually kept the house stocked with essentials like toilet paper, body wash, and seasonings, so they didn't need much. After a moment’s thought, Song Tan said to Ji Fuxi, "You two can check out first."

Xiao Chu asked, "Mommy, are you getting something else?"

Ji Fuxi: "We’ll go together."

Fine, fine. Together.

Song Tan pushed the cart to the feminine hygiene aisle.

Xiao Chu had no idea what these were. Reaching for a pack of pads, she touched them curiously. "Mommy, what’s this soft thing?"

Song Tan explained simply. "Pads. You’ll use them when you’re older."

"Does Daddy use them too?"

"...No."

"Why not?"

"..."

The adults exchanged a glance. Ji Fuxi silently led Xiao Chu toward checkout. Xiao Chu tilted her head. "Hmm? Aren’t we waiting for Mommy?"

Ji Fuxi: "We’ll wait by the front."

Xiao Chu: "Okay."

Then she insisted, "Daddy, let’s get yogurt."

"Did Mommy say you could have yogurt?"

"Of course! Mommy likes yogurt too."

"Mm. Let’s go."

Xiao Chu pouted. "Hmph~ Daddy’s playing favorites!"

Ji Fuxi: "..." That's not true.

As the father-daughter pair walked away chatting, the woman behind them momentarily zoned out.

Before coming back to China, she’d never imagined this scene. Even after Ji Fuxi signed the agreement, she hadn’t held much hope that he and Xiao Chu would get along.

Yet time and again, things exceeded expectations. Xiao Chu adored him, he adapted seamlessly, and now he’d even volunteered for a supermarket trip. Fatherly instincts seemed to be awakening.

Zhao Geyun was right—Ji Fuxi deserved the credit.

Xiao Chu had been so much happier lately.

It wasn’t that Song Tan was jealous of their bond; she knew perfectly well how much her daughter loved her.

But her feelings were strangely complicated. Perhaps because things were developing beyond her control.

"Mommy, hurry up!" Xiao Chu called from ahead.

Song Tan put the pads in the cart. "Coming."

...

There were too many bags to carry, so Ji Fuxi helped deliver everything home.

Five large bags took two trips.

As he picked up the last bag, his phone rang—Zhuang Cheng calling.

Zhuang Cheng only called his personal number for serious matters. Ji Fuxi moved aside to answer. "What’s up?"

Zhuang Cheng: "Boss Ji, someone took photos of Ms. Song, you, and the young miss shopping at the supermarket. We caught it early and temporarily suppressed it. I’m here to ask for your instructions on how to proceed."

The man frowned and said directly, "Handle it."

"Understood."

After hanging up, Ji Fuxi opened WeChat, where Zhuang Cheng had already sent over the secretly taken photos.

In the bustling supermarket, the woman bent over, carefully selecting vegetables, while the man held the child beside her, a strangely harmonious scene.

He stared at it for about a minute before saving it.

When he went back inside, Song Tan was in the kitchen organizing the groceries they had bought. In the living room, Song Chuqing had already pulled out all the Lunar New Year decorations, excitedly preparing to hang them up, while Aqi, curious about everything, circled around the little girl.

As soon as Xiao Chu spotted him, she raised a small pig-shaped lantern. "Daddy, where should we hang this?"

"Where does Xiao Chu want to hang it?"

Song Chuqing looked around and pointed to a corner of the living room. "Here!"

The living room ceiling was at least three to four meters high, with nothing nearby to easily hang the lantern from. Hanging it there would be tricky.

Ji Fuxi thought for a moment before turning to ask, "Do we have a ladder at home?"

Song Tan called from the kitchen, naturally responding, "A ladder? No."

They had bought quite a few lanterns, and without a ladder, it wouldn’t work. Ji Fuxi instinctively reached for his phone but stopped halfway, remembering this wasn’t his home. Instead, he went out to borrow one from the property management.

Twenty minutes later, he returned hauling a stepladder.

Song Tan, who had just finished tidying the kitchen, turned around and was utterly surprised.

It was an odd sight—the man, now without his overcoat, wore a shirt, vest, and black dress pants, looking every inch the corporate executive. Yet here he was, carrying a ladder streaked with dried concrete.

She couldn’t help but laugh. Well, here was a man who makes millions every month, doing manual labor in her home.

But even carrying a ladder, he stood out. The muscles of his forearm strained visibly against the white shirt, and his waistline was sharply defined, his physique clearly visible.

As if posing for a photoshoot.

As Ji Fuxi set up the ladder and prepared to climb, she hurried over to steady it—she wasn't about to let him fall.

Song Chuqing was also worried, peering up with concern. "Daddy, don’t fall!"

"I won’t."

Once he was steady, Ji Fuxi first attached the adhesive hook, then reached down. "The lantern."

Her hands full, Song Tan turned to her daughter. "Xiao Chu, the lantern."

Song Chuqing immediately handed it over, and Song Tan, rising on her toes, passed it up to him.

Once it was hung, Song Chuqing clapped her hands in delight. "So pretty~ Daddy’s amazing~"

Song Tan glanced down at the beaming little girl and thought to herself, *Such a little flatterer.*

One by one, festive lanterns and red chili peppers—all of Song Chuqing’s carefully chosen picks—were hung in every corner of the house.

When they finished, the house suddenly looked much more festive. Combined with the living room table piled high with snacks, toys, and fruit, Song Tan felt herself getting emotional.

How many years had it been since she’d celebrated a proper New Year's? She couldn’t even remember.

When she was alone, she never had the heart to decorate. Even the slightest bit of red decor during the holidays had seemed too glaring.

The front door creaked open—Ji Fuxi returning after taking the ladder back.

She truly appreciated him today. Without him, she wouldn’t have bought so many things, and she and her daughter wouldn’t have been able to hang these lanterns.

So Song Tan offered a small smile. "Boss Ji, are you free tonight? Would you like to have dinner together?"

Song Chuqing also ran over. "Daddy, eat with us!"

Ji Fuxi looked at Song Tan, then at his daughter, and nodded. "Sure."

……

A modest spread of three dishes and soup—no greens—had Song Chuqing digging in with unusual gusto. She didn’t forget to ask, "Daddy, is Mommy’s cooking good?"

Ji Fuxi: "It’s good."

It really was. Simple home-cooked flavors, but he was surprised she had this skill. He’d figured actresses rarely cooked for themselves.

"Then you should come eat more often."

"...Okay."

Song Tan gave a look at the man who answered so quickly, then tapped the table to warn the four-year-old. "Eat up. You're talking too much."

"Hehe."

After dinner, Song Chuqing went upstairs to bathe. By nine, Ji Fuxi went up to tuck her in.

Already clean and tucked under the covers, Song Chuqing was too wound up to sleep. "Daddy, tonight I want a myth story!"

Ji Fuxi met her bright, eager smile and could feel a headache forming. He knew this would take at least an hour. "What myth story?"

"Sun Wukong."

"Alright." He found *Journey to the West* among the stack of picture books and opened it to read.

Before he could start, came the stern interruption: "Daddy!"

Though his storytelling had improved a lot, Song Chuqing still wanted more. She sat up and patted the blanket. "You have to come up here. Mommy always holds me when she tells stories."

Ji Fuxi hesitated, finally understanding what she wanted. "Come up?"

"Yeah!"

After waiting half a minute, Song Chuqing was getting antsy. "Hurry, Daddy!"

Ji Fuxi considered it for a moment. It wasn't such a big deal—she was just a little girl, and he’d carried her plenty of times before.

He sat at the head of the bed, pulling the blanket over his lap while his legs still dangled off the bed.

Song Chuqing wasn’t satisfied with how far away he was and wriggled closer, leaning against his side, tilting her head against his arm, then grabbing his arm to pull it around her.

"Perfect!"

Ji Fuxi hesitated for a moment before looking down at his daughter, now curled up against him.

Tender and close, it felt different from holding her in his arms. At this moment, it was as if a feather had brushed past his heart—a ticklish, oddly unsettling feeling.

Perhaps he had paused for too long, as the little girl urged again, "Daddy!"

Ji Fuxi snapped out of his thoughts and began reading the story. "Today, we'll tell the story of Sun Wukong stealing the Ginseng Fruit..."

Thirty minutes later, the soft little girl beside him was breathing evenly, nearly asleep. He gently set the book down and carefully eased himself away from her.

After getting off the bed, he tucked her in properly.

Just as he turned to leave, he heard a drowsy murmur, "Daddy... will you come again tomorrow...?"

Ji Fuxi's breath hitched for a moment before he crouched down and replied apologetically, "Daddy’s busy tomorrow. Xiao Chu will be with Mommy."

Song Chuqing, her eyes closed, mumbled, half-asleep, "Oh... okay..."