Chapter 45 You You Wants to Be a Little Adventurer

Chapter 45 You You Wants to Be a Little Adventurer

"Brother~" The little one stretched out his arms, and Shen Lin, who was closest, lifted him from the car.

"What's this?" Su Youli sat on his second brother's lap, a small finger pointing at the stack of papers in Shen Minyan's hand.

"You You, are you hungry?" Shen Yan smiled, deftly changing the subject.

The little one patted his belly, seemingly not hungry, and shook his head at his eldest brother. "You You's not hungry."

Sitting on the other side, Shen Minyan's expression was grim, his gaze fixed on the documents.

After Shen Lin took You You to play, Shen Minyan placed the documents on the table, his tone still firm and unyielding: "I still disagree."

Shen Yan fell silent. He truly didn't want to argue with Shen Minyan.

Taking part in this parenting reality show wasn't about the money.

Ever since Shen Minyan and Chu Ying divorced three years ago, Shen Yan had never truly considered things from his father's perspective.

Both he and Shen Lin had sided with their mother. As for Shen Minyan—a father who worked year-round and rarely spent quality time with them—their attitude had been one of indifference, even resentment.

But since moving back recently, Shen Yan had seen a different side of his father.

He never forced You You to call him "Dad." After realizing You You was somewhat afraid of him, he maintained a respectful distance.

Shen Yan recalled one instance when Shen Minyan clearly longed to hug You You. His hands, resting at his sides, were wiped over and over, yet he never presumed to reach out and take the child into his arms.

He had arranged for You You's two adoptive fathers to go abroad for treatment, quietly handling many things behind the scenes.

Perhaps he really had changed.

He was trying to be a good father.

Shen Yan sighed, "Dad, I know you're still traumatized by what happened back then, but You You is back now, isn't he?"

Shen Minyan clenched his fist and coughed heavily into it.

His expression was complex, stiff with the embarrassment of having his innermost thoughts seen through by his son.

"Dad, I won't let anyone hurt You You or Mom again. You can rest assured."

The distant and aloof Shen Yan, so often seen on screen, now let his guard down in front of his stern yet soft-hearted father. He knelt before Shen Minyan, placing his hands on his knees.

Shen Minyan felt the warmth from his knees and stiffened all over.

The two remained at a standoff for a while. Shen Yan's legs grew numb from crouching. Seeing his father unmoved, he began to tremble, almost toppling over.

In the end, it was Shen Minyan whose heart went out to his son. He reached out and pulled Shen Yan up. "Your health is too weak. Crouching for just a bit and you're about to faint. Where's your toughness?"

After Shen Yan's calculated act of suffering to gain sympathy, Shen Minyan's hardened resolve had mostly softened.

"We can hire more bodyguards when the time comes. The show is filmed live, so there's no need to worry about malicious editing."

Shen Minyan shot him a cold look. "If You You isn't willing, then forget it."

You You was very well-behaved, but he was a bit shy with strangers. If he were wronged on the show...

Shen Minyan pressed his fingers to his temples. After what You You went through back then, if it weren't for meeting Su Siwen and Qin Kun, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

So he absolutely wouldn't allow such a thing to happen again.

Shen Yan clearly understood his father's stubbornness. Back when You You was abducted, his father had searched countless places, and his hair turned gray within a month.

But one can't live in the past forever. You can't avoid living for fear of risks.

After returning to Beicheng, You You had been restricted by Shen Minyan from leaving the gated community. The only two times he went out were to the airport.

The two left the decision to a three-year-old who had no idea what a variety show was. Su Youli looked back with wide eyes at his eldest brother, then at his dad.

"You You wants to go on an adventure, do missions!"

The little one's eyes sparkled. He wanted to be a little adventurer and complete missions!

"There will be lots of grown-ups holding cameras to film You You. Will You You be scared?"

Shen Yan patiently explained to the little one what a variety show was.

Su Youli was scared, but being a little adventurer was every child's dream.

The little one burrowed into Tang Dou's arms. "Brother come with me."

Quite clever—knowing to ask for company when scared.

Tang Dou ruffled his hair. "Which brother does You You want to go adventuring with?"

Su Youli thought carefully, mimicking cartoons by stroking his little chin, then declared loudly, "Want Yang Yang brother to come~"

Tang Dou and Shen Yan exchanged confused glances.

Shen Lin explained, "He's You You's little friend from Nancheng. A little chubby kid."

Su Youli corrected, "Yang Yang brother isn't chubby."

"Okay, okay, he isn't, he isn't, he isn't. But Yang Yang is in Nancheng. He can't be here with you."

Yang Yang brother can't; his dads are away for treatment.

Su Youli gripped Tang Dou's sleeve, tilting his little face up, begging, "Want Xiao Tang brother."

The two biological brothers were heartbroken. Losing to You You's childhood friend was one thing, but being ranked below Tang Dou?

Tang Dou smiled, quite satisfied with the little one's answer, and tapped his nose. "No matter where You You goes, I'll be by your side."

Su Youli hugged Tang Dou's arm. "Mhmm." Big Brother Tang is the best.

So the matter of doing the parenting show was settled. That same day, Shen Minyan dispatched most of the family's security detail and had people coordinate with the show's production team to ensure You You's safety.

That night, Shen Lin finally got to be the one to sleep with the little one. By 9 p.m., he followed the little one's bedtime and went to sleep with him.

In the third-floor study, pale moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a streak of light across the large black hardwood desk.

"Since we're taking You You to be on the show, let's use this opportunity to publicly announce You You's identity."

Three years ago, Shen Yan wasn't yet twenty, so Shen Minyan wouldn't have discussed such matters with him.

Now that Shen Yan had grown up, Shen Minyan decided to tell him some things.

"Back then, all the hospital's surveillance footage was destroyed. Whoever did it was very professional."

To repair the surveillance system, Shen Minyan even reached out to the police, contacting several high-ranking friends to enlist the help of the nation's top technical experts for the restoration.

The difficulty of the restoration was immense, and to this day, the child abductor has not been found.

If even his father couldn't find the person, Shen Yan dared not imagine how well-connected the perpetrator must be.

He grew restless, frequently glancing at Shen Minyan's face, which looked as stern as the King of Hell.

Shen Minyan: "Spit it out!"

"...Could it be that you, in the past, offended some big shot?"

The Shen family indeed had many competitors in the business world, but it wouldn't escalate to the point of stealing a child for revenge.

Receiving a negative answer, Shen Yan sighed.

"With me accompanying You You, you don't need to worry. Tang Dou will also be there," he added.

It was only when he heard the name of the nanny, Xiao Tang, that Shen Minyan truly felt at ease.

At worst, they could just throw more sponsorship money at the show, letting them turn a blind eye. Without Xiao Tang's help, getting the little one bathed would be a real problem.