Chapter 35

Chapter 35

After resting at home for a few days, Wei Ran finally felt fully rested.

However, his appetite still hadn’t returned. Despite Wang Shuqin’s efforts to prepare various dishes for him and Lin Luochen’s frequent suggestions to dine out, Wei Ran still showed little interest and ate very little.

As a result, after a few days of rest, Wei Ran didn't gain any weight but actually lost some.

Losing weight wasn’t a big deal, but the real issue was the loss of muscle. Realizing that his body was becoming soft and weak, Wei Ran decided he couldn't just stay home any longer.

He brought Dudu along and headed to the gym.

When Wei Ran worked out, he was completely focused—never watching movies or doing anything else while exercising, except occasionally listening to upbeat music with headphones on.

The private gym was extremely quiet. The slender Wei Ran was working his back on the pull-up machine, while on the other side, Wei Dudu, dressed in a child’s onesie gym outfit, was lying flat on the seated rowing machine.

The seat of the rowing machine was just about his size, perfect for the little one to lie on comfortably.

Dudu lay on his back, idly swinging his little legs and occasionally playing with his small wristwatch.

It wasn’t that Dudu wanted to be lazy—it was just that none of the equipment was suitable for a child.

Forget using the machines; it was already an achievement for Dudu not to fall through the cracks.

Eep!

As for the heavy dumbbells, Dudu could barely pick them up.

But Daddy was worried that he might accidentally drop them on his tiny feet, so he didn’t allow Dudu to touch them.

To avoid worrying Daddy, Dudu wouldn’t try anyway!

Of course, Dudu wasn’t entirely bored in the gym.

He soon received a treat from a friendly staff member at the gym.

The fitness studio sold various diet meals, and members with personal trainers could eat for free. Since Wei Ran was also close friends with the gym’s owner, Li Xuan, the assistant staff member kindly brought Dudu a fruit and veggie smoothie.

Tailored to a child’s taste, the smoothie had more fruit than veggies and contained no added powders or additives. The deep purple hue came mainly from the anthocyanins in mulberries and black goji berries. It was specially prepared for Dudu.

"Thanks, miss!"

Dudu politely took the cup and started drinking.

The little toddler, holding a huge cup almost as big as himself while seriously puffing his cheeks, was impossibly cute.

If photography weren’t prohibited here, she'd have loved to capture this moment.

Dudu had eaten something with Daddy before coming, so after drinking about half of it, he couldn’t finish the rest.

But that was okay—he would save the rest for Daddy.

Daddy needed to get those vitamins!

Remembering this, Dudu suddenly lifted his little foot and looked up at the lady with bright eyes. "Oh, miss, what’s tasty tonight?"

"Are you and Daddy planning to eat here tonight?"

The lady stealthily sneaked a glance in Wei Ran’s direction. Wearing a gray-blue baseball cap and a simple white T-shirt, Wei Ran still looked really good-looking even though he had become very thin. Many staff members at the gym were fans of his.

But the more famous someone was, the more protective of their privacy they were.

If Wei Ran hadn’t brought Dudu along today, the receptionist wouldn’t have dared to come in and watch him work out.

Now, using the little one as cover, she took the chance to get a better look at the celebrity before reaching out to Dudu. "There’s plenty of food. How about I show you? It’s just outside. Want to go, Dudu?"

"Okay."

Dudu nodded obediently and then skillfully managed himself to the ground—first putting down the large smoothie cup, then sliding off the exercise equipment, and finally picking up the cup again.

The little human toddler went through the motions meticulously, even smoothing out his little watermelon cut before standing up with the large cup in his arms. He blinked at the lady.

Dudu said, "But Dudu needs to tell Daddy first."

"Wow."

The lady was amazed that a four-year-old could be so considerate, but she didn’t stop Dudu. Instead, she crouched down and took Dudu’s hand. "You’re so well-behaved, Dudu. Are you worried about making Daddy worry?"

"Yeah."

To Dudu, telling Daddy was the most natural thing to do. In the "original story" he remembered, a bad grandpa had talked Dudu into leaving, and even though he was eventually found, Daddy had cried worriedly multiple times.

Dudu didn’t want Daddy to cry, so no matter what, he would never run off!

After finishing a set of exercises, Wei Dudu, still holding the smoothie cup, hurried over to his daddy. He offered Daddy the water and mentioned that he wanted to take a little look around with the lady.

Since the driver and assistant were waiting outside, Wei Ran wasn’t worried about Dudu getting lost, so he nodded okay.

Instead, it was Wei Dudu who reminded his daddy about a lot of things—drink more water, train well, but don’t overexert himself, and so on.

The little human toddler’s voice was small and sweet, and his words were full of concern.

Wei Ran’s eyes, hidden under the shadow of his cap, curved into a smile, and his lips, still slightly pale after the workout, lifted into a gentle arc.

He crouched down and hugged Dudu, saying very softly, "Okay, Daddy understands."

The lady beside them almost squealed—

If Wei Ran’s fans online saw this scene, who knows how many would go crazy.

People often said celebrities had carefully crafted images, but Wei Ran seemed even better in person than how he was portrayed online. How could such a fresh and clean young man be like what was said on the internet?

Just as the lady was about to take Dudu’s hand, the gym door was swiped open from the outside.

A tall figure appeared at the entrance.

"Dudu, where are you going?"

The assistant staff member instinctively looked up and was immediately startled—Wow, this guy must be at least 190 cm tall! And he dressed so formally!

What’s more, he was quite handsome.

Most importantly, he seemed to know Dudu?

This gym was a private VIP room, accessible only by swiping a card. Since Mr. Wei was already inside, theoretically, no one else should be able to enter...

Remembering the importance of protecting the celebrity’s privacy, the assistant quickly stepped forward.

"This gentleman..."

"It's alright, we're together." Worried the trainer's assistant might cause trouble, Wei Ran spoke up first.

Though he had no idea how Lin Luochen had managed to swipe his card to get in.

But Lin Luochen was a sharp guy. With just one look from Wei Ran, he understood without even being asked and explained directly, "You can enter this room by prepaying for 500 sessions."

Wei Ran: "..."

Trainer's Assistant: "...???"

So, were they really together?...

Wait, five hundred sessions? Wasn't it two hundred? When did they change that rule?

Besides, no one had ever signed up for two hundred sessions—that was just a sales pitch... When selling packages, they'd tell potential clients, "Normally, it takes two hundred sessions to use the VIP training room, but now you can get access with just fifty!"...

Just then, Li Xuan—the gym owner—hurried in from outside, saying as he walked, "Mr. Lin, there's another private training room next door, how about..."

"I'm fine here." Lin Luochen’s gaze fixed directly on Wei Ran’s back. From his workout, Wei Ran’s clothes were already sweat-soaked.

The damp fabric clung to Wei Ran’s slender shoulders and back, outlining a lean and upright silhouette.

He said, "We're together."

—After all, Wei Ran had said it himself just moments ago, so Lin Luochen repeated it with confidence.

Li Xuan immediately shot a surprised glance at Wei Ran.

He hadn't expected that this loaded boss, who insisted on buying five hundred sessions just to access the VIP room, was actually a friend of Wei Ran’s.

Or, given Wei Ran’s current popularity and influence, it wouldn't be unusual for him to have a few sasaeng fans. What surprised him was that Wei Ran would actually acknowledge being together with this tall, rich, handsome guy.

...It didn't align with his understanding of Wei Ran. If they were really friends, he could've just brought him in directly—why bother spending hundreds of thousands? And if they weren't friends, why would Wei Ran admit it? Wei Ran probably wouldn't even give the guy a second glance.

Wei Ran: "..."

He really hadn't thought that much about it.

Lin Luochen hadn't contacted him before coming, and he had no idea how much the other had spent... Well, if he spent it, he spent it—might as well consider it helping Li Xuan boost his KPI.

Rubbing his forehead, Wei Ran couldn't be bothered with the situation over there and turned back to focus on his workout.

Before resuming his workout, Wei Ran wondered—

How did Lin Luochen find him and Dudu? Wasn't he supposed to be out of town for a meeting?... He left last night, saying he'd be gone for two or three days. Wei Ran hadn't paid close attention at the time.

But he was pretty sure the other definitely hadn't said he'd be back today.

Curious, Wei Ran instinctively glanced in Lin Luochen’s direction again.

...And as if the other had been watching him the whole time, the moment Wei Ran’s gaze swept over, it directly met Lin Luochen’s.

The other’s deep, intense gaze instantly softened into affectionate, puppy-dog eyes.

...

Wei Ran’s heart fluttered involuntarily. He looked away instinctively, not daring to look anymore.

...

When the two new adults appeared, Dudu was very well-behaved and polite as he greeted them: "Uncle Xuan, Daddy Lin~"

Lin Luochen wasn't surprised that Dudu knew the owner here.

After confirming that Dudu only addressed him as "uncle," his wariness toward this gym owner immediately lessened quite a bit.

Lin Luochen crouched down and called out to Dudu: "Sweetie, come here."

But Dudu seemed unusually hesitant for once.

The little boy looked up at the pretty sister beside him, but ultimately chose Daddy Lin between Daddy Lin and the pretty sister, trotting over to Daddy Lin.

As for being taken for a stroll by the pretty sister, that could wait for a little while.

"Daddy Lin, why are you here~" Dudu looked up, which was basically the question his dad would have asked.

Lin Luochen's eyes held a gentle smile: "Daddy's done with work, so he came to find Dudu's dad and Dudu."

"Ah, mm."

Dudu was picked up by Daddy Lin, automatically wrapping his arms around the other's neck, and said honestly: "Then Dudu wants to go with sister to see yummy food. Daddy Lin comin'?"

Lin Luochen wanted to say yes, but he instinctively glanced at Wei Ran in the distance and saw that the gym owner had already gone over to talk to Wei Ran.

...Even though the owner here isn't Dudu's godfather, judging by Wei Ran's demeanor, the two seemed quite close.

So, changing tack, he hugged Dudu tightly and said decisively: "Let's not eat here. Later, Daddy Lin will take you and your dad to eat something delicious."

"Yummy food?"

"A new food hall." Lin Luochen tempted him, straight-faced: "Didn't Dudu like the seafood wide noodles last time? Daddy will take you to another place."

"New food hall?"

Dudu didn't quite remember the seafood wide noodles—aside from disliking vegetables, Dudu generally isn't picky and likes everything.

But President Dudu's eyes lit up at the mention of "food hall." Immediately clapping his little hands, he said: "Okay, Dudu wants to go, food hall~"

And so, the pretty assistant lost her chance to take little Dudu for a stroll—after this tall man in a suit appeared, he automatically became Dudu's personal chauffeur, and she thought it best not to bother them anymore, so she retreated back to work.

"Dressed like that, he doesn't look like he's here to work out." Returning to the front desk, the pretty sister gossiped with her colleague.

"But he did sign up for five hundred sessions." The colleague didn't want to speak ill of the big spender—after all, with this one card, their gym wouldn't have to worry for the next few months.

"...If you ask me, it's all thanks to Teacher Wei. These are all clients Teacher Wei brought to our Brother Xuan!"

"That's true. We're also lucky because of Brother Xuan that we get to see a big celebrity. With Teacher Wei's status, he could work out anywhere, you know? But for so many years, he's always come here..."

Inside the VIP room, Wei Ran was still focused on using the equipment, with Li Xuan personally assisting nearby.

Watching from the side, Lin Luochen felt a pang of jealousy again—Wei Ran likes working out, and he could accompany and teach him too.

Holding Dudu, he moved to a corner and tried to find out: "Does Dudu know that uncle?"

"Uncle Xuan?" Nibbling on the new cheese stick Daddy Lin had just unwrapped, Wei Dudu shared everything he knew: "Yes, he's Daddy's friend."

"What kind of friend?"

"They're super good friends, pal!" With his chubby cheeks puffing in and out, Dudu was really into his cheese stick and loved chatting with Daddy Lin: "Dad and Uncle Xuan have known each other for many years."

"Oh? Then why hasn’t Dudu asked him to be my godfather?" Lin Luochen raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Because Uncle Xuan is one centimeter shorter than Dad."

"..."

Huh. Come to think of it, that’s true.

Wei Ran likes tall people.

So, the owner here couldn’t possibly be involved with Wei Ran—they’re just friends.

...

But Lin Luochen still had his doubts. Thinking carefully, something didn’t quite add up—after all, when he was dating Wei Ran before, he never noticed Wei Ran having any particular height requirements for a partner... at least, not as strict as the ones Dudu enforces.

He decided to continue asking Dudu: "Is it because your dad doesn’t like short people, so Dudu doesn’t consider letting someone who isn't as tall as your dad become a dad?"

"Huh?" The question was a bit complicated, so Dudu shook his head—this required careful thought before answering!

Half a minute later, Dudu concluded: "Nope, Dad doesn’t dislike short people."

Lin Luochen: "..."

After answering, Dudu happily went back to sucking on his cheese stick—it’s just that in the "storyline," Dudu’s other dad, who would have a messy drama with Dad Ran and might accidentally end badly whether they got back together or not, is taller than Ran. That’s why Dudu only considers tall people as godfathers.

But it never said that Dad Ran dislikes short people.

On the contrary, Dudu remembered that Dad Ran had even told him—even though Dudu is a bit shorter compared to other kids his age, no matter what, Dudu is still Dad’s favorite, the cutest, and the best-behaved baby!

So Dudu confidently concluded again: "My dad super~ likes short people!"

Lin Luochen: "…………"

???

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Author’s Note: Du Bao: In short, Dad loves his baby the most [tongue-in-cheek][tongue-in-cheek][tongue-in-cheek]