Chapter 21 You You Says Goodbye to His Two Dads

Chapter 21 You You Bids Farewell to His Two Dads

Two mornings later, the sky was clear and bright.

Qin Kun carried the little one, freshly washed and dressed in clean new clothes, down the stairs.

Su Youli was feeling low, his arms wrapped tightly around his dad’s neck. "Dad, come visit You You, okay?"

The little one’s lips were pursed. He had repeated this phrase many, many times over the past two days.

Each time, Qin Kun and Su Siwen would respond earnestly. They had made "pinky swears" dozens of times already.

Three-year-old Su Youli found comfort in this ritual.

In the living room, Shen Minyan and his son were already waiting.

It wasn't like that rainy day when they had waited outside for Su Siwen to hand over the child.

After breakfast, Su Siwen double-checked You You’s luggage and gave some additional instructions before finally leading You You over.

He crouched down in front of the little one and asked with a smile, "You You, are you willing to go to Beijing with Papa Shen?"

The little one really wanted to blurt out that he didn’t want to go, but...

He lifted his face and looked into Shen Minyan’s eyes.

Papa Shen didn’t talk much and looked stern, but he was also You You’s dad.

After a long pause, under everyone’s gaze, the little one gave a small nod.

"Dad, come see You You," he said to Su Siwen.

Su Siwen gently pinched his son’s chubby cheek, feeling both proud and a pang of sadness.

His baby was truly sensible and well-behaved. If only they could stay together forever.

His eyes welled up as he reached out and hugged his son tightly, just like that deep winter three years ago when he had adopted him.

Back then, he held him tight to give him a home.

Now, he held him tight to send him to a better home.

After putting the child in the car, You You sat in the car seat, still repeating his request for his dads to remember to visit him.

Su Siwen and Qin Kun patiently reassured him each time. "If you miss Dad, just call us."

"You You, didn’t you memorize Daddy’s number?"

Su Youli sat in the child seat while Shen Lin fastened his seatbelt.

"178...90," the little one recited the number in his childish voice.

"You You is so smart," Su Siwen said, ruffling his hair and kissing his baby one last time.

Soon, the car door closed. Su Youli pressed his hands to the window, his eyes filled with tears as he looked at his two dads.

"...Dad."

Su Siwen turned his attention from his son to Shen Minyan. "You You can’t sleep by himself yet, and he’s still learning to dress himself. He can wash his face and brush his teeth on his own, and he’s a good eater. He’s been learning to use chopsticks lately..."

As he spoke, Su Siwen’s voice cracked. "You You won’t lack anything in Beijing, but the suitcase contains all the things he’s used since he was little. They’re a bit old, but I’ve cleaned them all."

By the end, he was fighting back tears.

Qin Kun, after placing the luggage in the trunk, quickly walked over and rubbed his back, continuing, "You You isn’t a mischievous child. If he does something wrong, please be understanding..."

Shen Minyan listened silently, taking mental notes of every detail.

"You You is quite wary of strangers and might have trouble adjusting to a new environment. If you have any difficulties, you can call Siwen or me."

"Alright," Shen Minyan said. "I will take good care of You You. Feel free to visit whenever you want."

At that moment, the three dads finally completed a kind of handoff.

Shen Minyan felt the weight on his shoulders grow heavier.

Su Siwen and Qin Kun were over ten years younger than him, not yet thirty, yet they had raised You You so well.

He was afraid he wouldn’t do as good a job and would disappoint them. Even more challenging was figuring out how to interact with Su Youli so the child wouldn’t be afraid of him.

The car hadn’t started yet, and the little one was restless in his car seat.

Shen Lin went ahead and unbuckled the seatbelt and held him in his arms.

While the three dads talked beside the car, Su Youli leaned out for a look. The sunlight caught his long eyelashes, making them flutter like butterfly wings. His soft, fair face looked utterly adorable.

Su Youli didn’t cry today, nor did he say he didn’t want to go to Beijing.

His good behavior made Su Siwen and Qin Kun even more reluctant to let him go.

The car had been parked at the gate for nearly an hour without moving.

Zhang Shun had to rush them—they still had a flight to catch.

"You You, remember to listen to Papa Shen and your brother in Beijing, okay?"

Qin Kun bent down and kissed the top of his head.

"Okay, You You will be good."

"Such a good boy."

The car started. Shen Minyan nodded to the two men, then opened the door and got in. Awkwardly, he placed the little one back into the car seat and fastened the seatbelt.

"You You—"

A child’s voice called from not far away. Everyone turned to see a sturdy little boy break free from his dad and run over.

"It’s Brother Yang Yang!" Su Youli exclaimed excitedly.

Yang Yang, panting, started crying before he could speak.

He looked sadly at You You in the car. "You You, are you leaving?"

Su Youli nodded and waved his little hand. "Goodbye, Brother Yang Yang."

Yang Shiqing quickly picked up his son, afraid the two children would start crying upon meeting.

"Goodbye, You You," Yang Yang said bravely, trying not to cry as he waved.

Only after the car had driven away did he finally let out a full-blown cry.

As Yang Yang cried, Su Siwen watched the car disappear at the end of the road.

It was at that moment he suddenly realized that You You was truly gone.

His legs, which had been barely holding him up, gave way, and he completely collapsed.

Fortunately, Qin Kun caught him with quick reflexes.

Su Siwen’s eyes turned red, but he remained silent, his hands clutching Qin Kun’s clothes so tightly that his nails were digging into his skin.

"Don’t be sad. Once your legs are better, we’ll go to Beijing to see You You."

Su Siwen nodded, silently vowing to heal his legs fast.

The two returned to the empty courtyard, where Yuanzi, chained up, was barking incessantly at the gate, head raised.

Qin Kun unleashed him, patted his head, and said, "You You is just going to Beijing for a while. He’ll come back eventually."

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Sitting in the living room, without the child's cheerful laughter, the two leaned against each other in silence. The surroundings were eerily quiet, and even the usually small living room felt vast and empty.

"What’s that?"

Su Siwen glanced over and noticed something in the fruit bowl on the coffee table.

Qin Kun moved the apple aside, revealing a black bank card.

They both recognized it—the same card Shen Minyan had once said contained a million yuan.

Qin Kun instinctively felt uneasy. Had Shen Minyan changed his mind? Was he giving them the money to cut ties with You You in the future?

Su Siwen’s heart raced as he quickly grabbed the bank card. His eyes then caught a piece of paper tucked in the bowl.

Unfolding it, two sharply written characters came into view: "Borrowed."