Chapter 88 Business Trip with Daddy

Chapter 88: Business Trip with Daddy

The little one’s reasoning was, “I was so moved and excited that I wanted to love my brother even more—I just wanted to kiss the corner of his mouth, because Daddy often kisses Dad’s mouth corner.” That evening, Shi Zai explained, “Daddy and Dad are married, so they can kiss each other’s lips—or the corners of their mouths.” Wang Wang nodded innocently, not fully grasping what “married” meant, nor did he insist on kissing his brother’s mouth. He was simply overwhelmed with emotion and joy, so much so that he didn’t know what else to do. Shi Zai didn’t elaborate further. It’s perfectly normal for lively, affectionate children to occasionally express themselves exuberantly—gentle guidance is all that’s needed. Besides, Wang Wang had never randomly kissed or hugged other children; after offering some gentle guidance, Shi Zai chose not to overcorrect him, lest the little one feel he’d done something terribly wrong.

That evening, Wang Wang and Zhaozhao each received three gifts as rewards for their outstanding performance at kindergarten. Shi Zai also revised his original business trip plans and decided to bring the two boys along. The national finals of the Ceramic Restoration Vocational Skills Competition were scheduled for the last Friday of the year in Chengwan City. In the preliminary and semi-final rounds, Shi Zai had ranked first in his province, earning him the honor of representing it in the finals.

Chengwan City lay quite far from Zhen’an. It was the first time either boy had ever flown, and both were brimming with excitement and curiosity. Wang Wang quietly danced with glee, eventually painting all ten of Daddy’s fingernails with colorful, cloud-like swirls. Zhaozhao, unusually quiet, rested his little head on Dad’s shoulder, occasionally lifting his gaze to steal soft, secret smiles. Once they’d seen enough and drifted off to sleep, Shi Zai leaned forward from the seat opposite—only for Shu Yangkuo, who’d been reading a book, to cup the back of his head and gently kiss the corner of his mouth. Shi Zai clicked his tongue in mock disapproval, thinking, *They’re asleep—and you still kiss me so perfunctorily.*

Hearing this, Shu Yangkuo turned the page of his book, pretending he hadn’t heard. A moment later, he drew the curtain on the corridor side.

It wasn’t until a small, fair foot—familiar even without looking—slipped into his pant leg, accompanied by a teasing, “Hey there, handsome—why are your legs bare? So lacking in masculine virtue,” that Shu Yangkuo briefly lifted his eyelids and scolded in a low voice, “You little troublemaker—behave yourself.” He resumed reading—until Shi Zai delivered a firm kick across the aisle. Only then did Shu Yangkuo set down his book, rub his husband’s sore foot, and concede, “Big brother will give you anything you want.”

Satisfied, Shi Zai snorted. The night before, Shu Yangkuo had insisted they couldn’t do *anything* because of today’s flight; tonight, he claimed he needed to prepare for tomorrow’s finals. Unhappy, Shi Zai demanded a proper play session after the competition—but Shu Yangkuo, fearing he might go overboard, refused outright, feigning restraint. Only after extracting the answer he wanted did Shi Zai yawn and drift off to sleep.

The grand year-end finals arrived right on schedule, with sixty participants from provinces nationwide. Shi Zai felt no nervousness at all—he recognized several competitors. Zhen’an, rich in history and culture, had drawn many contestants to his studio for exchanges. Naturally, his skills surpassed theirs. Even among those he knew less well, he remained supremely confident. He’d long set his goals—and pursued them relentlessly. Whatever the outcome, he already shone brilliantly. In the future world of ceramic restoration, his name would become widely recognized.

The finals’ theme was “All Forms Welcome the New, All Things Return Renewed”—symbolizing both fresh beginnings and renewed life, perfectly aligning with the restoration philosophy of Shi Zai’s studio: “Repair the Old as Old, Repair the New with Innovation.” It demanded meticulous restoration paired with creative innovation. All ceramics provided by the organizers related to “all forms and things”—whether flora or fauna—evoking the vibrant imagery of the coming new year.

Since none were ancient ceramics, Shi Zai held a distinct advantage—his agile mind and flair for innovation. Once, he’d repaired a client’s brush-cleaning bowl by adding a tiny ceramic book over a hole, earning widespread praise. Word-of-mouth brought him numerous requests for innovative repairs. Starting last year, he’d had to be selective—overwhelmed by demand. His income was already enough to buy two more villas.

Today, luck was on his side. The ceramic assigned to him was a lion-shaped candlestick, with a tiny dog perched atop its head. *Hehe*—it perfectly symbolized him and Shu Yangkuo. The repairs involved the lion’s raised front paw, its tail, and the broken, half-missing puppy. How fitting—both required restoration, and both were ultimately mended through each other’s love.

Whether cleaning, filling, polishing, coloring, glazing, or riveting—all processes demanding patience—Shi Zai excelled. Though naturally energetic, he could sit still for hours, treating people, objects, and every task with unwavering patience.

As he worked, he suddenly noticed—*tsk*, after clicking his tongue several times, he couldn’t help but laugh. Beneath the lion-shaped candlestick… more precisely, under the lion’s belly, there was a plump, fully erect… *ahem*. Well, he’d encountered countless candlesticks—ancient and modern—and some people indeed used them to set a romantic mood. Imagine the thrill—flickering candlelight, two people drawing close, the lion design adding playful charm… *Lion. Candlelight.* *Eureka!* Shi Zai chuckled inwardly, already planning how to celebrate after the competition.

*Hmph—how dare that old man call me improper? This is art!* Suddenly, he recalled earlier days, when Shu Yangkuo worked at the Chengzhou City Museum. Shi Zai had discovered a few pieces of “human-body art,” photographed them, and shown them to him—only to be scolded. He’d defended himself with arguments he’d heard elsewhere. To this day, he still believed: *This is fertility culture—symbolizing the continuation of life! It’s also part of human instinct and natural desire.* That’s simply how it is. Even without reproduction, the pursuit of pleasure and desire isn’t wrong.

If that old man had the guts, he shouldn’t enjoy it *with* him! Every time, he acted reserved and shy beforehand—but once things began, he went wild.

Once, Shu Yangkuo had accompanied him while he repaired ceramics in his private studio—and happened upon a similar piece. Shi Zai only realized it when he started polishing. Shu Yangkuo had been resting his chin on Shi Zai’s head, one arm wrapped around his waist, watching intently… When Shi Zai laughed and revealed the underside to him, Shu Yangkuo startled, immediately let go, ears flushing red, and tried to leave—telling him not to accept such “inappropriate pieces” in the future. Shi Zai scoffed, counted down *“3… 2… 1…”*, and made him stay to watch as he polished… *that area*.

*Hahaha!*

As he worked, he mused—good thing he hadn’t removed the pottery figurine’s pants to repair the “little bird’s tail,” or else… *Hmph—his own “thing” might not know where it’d be by now…* Ah, no—forget it. If that old man truly got angry, what would happen to his happiness?

Amid the whirring of the polisher, the man behind him shamelessly demonstrated real human-body art—he got hard. Shu Yangkuo’s ears reddened again as he tried to leave—but Shi Zai wouldn’t let him. After checking the monitor and seeing Zhaozhao engrossed in play next door, he closed the studio door and gave Shu Yangkuo a thorough, hands-on demonstration of his “work procedure.”

First, he used a small spray bottle to moisten every corner and crevice; then, a soft brush dipped in water to clean from top to bottom; next, tweezers to straighten some curly hairs… *Tsk*—couldn’t flatten them, so he gave them a tug, making the man clench his fists almost uncontrollably; followed by a warm tongue substituting for a hot glue gun, heating things up; by the time the soft sandpaper gently brushed over, the situation completely lost control.

Shi Zai protested, “It’s not done yet—I still need to spray-paint you!” But before he could finish, he was pressed against the work chair… In the end, the final step was completed by the old man—a fierce, white “spray-painting.”

Unconsciously, the day passed. All contestants ate and drank at their workstations, with escorts for bathroom breaks—strictly regulated like a formal exam, underscoring the competition’s significance. Though Shi Zai’s mind occasionally wandered while working, it didn’t affect his focus. Instead, it sharpened his brain—making it more active and excited. Sometimes, he’d ponder the background of ancient ceramics, imagining the stories of the artisans who made them. By immersing himself in their mindset, his restorations became more lifelike and dazzling. When repairing modern ceramics, he’d consider their purpose, adding subtle innovations to breathe new life into the restored pieces.

For this lion candlestick, Shi Zai meticulously restored the lion’s front paw and tail—but innovated boldly with the puppy section. First, the damage was severe, and the provided ceramic fragments lacked matching glaze colors. Second, it could serve as a visual focal point.

He shaped the puppy’s front paw into a tiny, raised torch—its harmonious red glowing warmly against the overall glaze. What did it symbolize? When darkness falls, all things can bear light. Even the weakest can radiate fervent brilliance; the most inconspicuous can command dazzling presence. Meanwhile, though the lion candlestick’s flame may burn fiercely, before it ignites—the puppy shines first.

This conveyed another meaning: *My spark lights your way; your blaze illuminates me.*

When darkness comes, all things can bear light.

My spark lights your way; your blaze illuminates me.

All things depend on and bless each other—even the small are great.

All forms coexist and interact—the weak empower the strong.

Without the puppy’s spark, the lion wouldn’t be renewed; without the lion’s blaze, the puppy wouldn’t find the warmth it seeks.

It’s mutual.

A new life. A brand-new beginning—perfectly embodying the finals’ theme.

Shi Zai had one more small innovation.

Meanwhile, throughout the day, Shu Yangkuo took the two boys to the aquarium in the morning—tiring them out so thoroughly that Wang Wang and Zhaozhao napped for over two hours at noon. In the afternoon, he had neither energy nor inclination to take them out again—and the kids weren’t interested either. Father and sons waited beneath the shady trees in front of the competition venue. For whom? Whenever someone passed, Wang Wang muttered to himself, “Daddy is waiting for his wife.”

Two detachable airplane models kept them entertained all afternoon. Shu Yangkuo alternated between watching the kids and glancing toward the venue. It had been seven or eight hours since he’d last seen him—he missed his wife terribly.

That wife who was shining brightly among the crowd.

As for tonight—what to do? He didn’t ponder it or have any specific ideas. He simply wanted to hold his wife tightly. With his arms feeling empty, Shu Yangkuo picked up the knitted puppy beside him and hugged it for comfort.

Noticing this, Wang Wang hitched up his shorts (*It’s so cold at home—but so hot here!*) and said, “Dad—didn’t Daddy tell you not to hug fake people anymore?”

“…”

“I’m here. Brother’s here. And your wife will be out soon. Do you want me and brother to hug you first?”

“…”

His wife was such a loudmouth—always exposing him.

Shu Yangkuo opened his arms. One hugged him briefly (“There—okay?”) before returning to play; the other babbled a string of nonsense words to soothe him before running off. Loudmouth or not—his wife loved him dearly.

The competition results wouldn’t be announced until Monday. The intervening Saturday and Sunday ought to have been perfectly wonderful—a good night’s sleep, then spending the day with the kids at the seaside. Sounded relaxing and comfortable—that was the plan.

But life often has other plans.

Shi Zai woke up in a foul mood. The moment he opened his eyes, he kicked the knitted puppy—which Shu Yangkuo had supposedly gifted him but secretly hugged tightly himself—onto the floor. The old man’s skills had improved; the half-height puppy was cute and lively—and actually bore a striking resemblance to him.

*Hmph—the first time he’d ever felt jealous in his life was because of “himself.”*

Well, not entirely because of that. It wasn’t about the puppy. Shi Zai picked it up and went into the bathroom to wash up. There were two bathrooms—but he deliberately chose the occupied one, then complained, “Stay away from me!”

“…”

After a stifled pause, Shu Yangkuo silently took his toothbrush (pre-pasted with toothpaste) and cup to the other bathroom.

He didn’t dare comfort him. The best he could do was ensure his wife didn’t see him like this.

Once outside, seeing the kids were awake, he helped them wash up. Afterward, he let Wang Wang and Zhaozhao watch cartoons to settle them in the new environment.

While brushing his teeth, Shu Yangkuo caught his wife’s glare in the mirror. He coughed—nearly swallowing toothpaste foam. After rinsing, he finished washing his face, hesitating to speak. The moment he turned around—his wife ran off again.

Shi Zai threw himself onto the bed like a dying fish, flailing before sighing dramatically and getting up to change.

After changing—why was that man *still* taking so long in the bathroom?! So high-maintenance—how long does it take to get ready? Oh, right—he has to shave… Shi Zai touched his own face. *Tsk.* He was twenty-six and still hadn’t grown a beard—but his body hair was sparse overall, so it wasn’t surprising.

Entering the bathroom, he found the man halfway through shaving. Shi Zai reached out…

“Brother, let me shave you.”

“…”

“Come on, hurry up!”

After yelling at him, Shi Zai snorted but spoke more gently—after all, today was supposed to be fun. He took the razor, had Shu Yangkuo sit on the stool, and as usual, sat straddling him. He gently touched the stubble that had grown overnight:

“I don’t have a beard myself, so I just like shaving you, bro.”

“…”

Shu Yangkuo didn’t respond, averting his eyes slightly to avoid being scolded again.

Shi Zai snorted once more:

“What’s on your mind, bro?”

“…Nothing.”

“Too bad I don’t have any stubble for you to return the favor.”

“…”

The bathroom was small and quiet, making the sound of him swallowing, his Adam’s apple bobbing, especially noticeable.

Shi Zai threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh. He’d known for a while that this damn man had certain thoughts. No sooner had he finished speaking than he got turned on. But this time, Shi Zai refused to say it outright. Instead, he touched Shu Yangkuo’s flushed earlobe and neck with the razor:

“You’d better sweet-talk me a little, brother. I’m really upset—you can tell, right?”

“…Yeah, okay.”

“Hmph, done shaving! Now keep your distance from me!”

A fresh wave of irritation washed over him, especially with that tempting Adam’s apple right in front of him. Shi Zai threw down the razor and marched out. He couldn’t look at Shu Yangkuo right now—just one glance and it was like lighting a fuse, impossible to extinguish.

But there was nothing they could do.

They hadn't managed to do anything last night either.

The reason, of course, was their two adorable little ones. After a long day, Shi Zai had been relieved to see both children were still happily playing after the competition—no crying, no fussing, no tantrums from being in an unfamiliar place. But once they returned to the hotel after dinner, neither would settle down to sleep. Or rather, they couldn’t sleep soundly. The moment they closed their eyes, they’d wake up and cling to them. How could they possibly sneak off to the other room with the kids like that? They had no choice but to play with them for a while and then try to put them back to sleep.

When the little ones finally seemed to be settling down, Shi Zai suggested, "Brother, set an alarm—we can try in the middle of the night." But Shu Yangkuo’s "what if" shut Shi Zai right up. Right—what if both kids woke up? What if they saw something? What if they couldn’t find their dad and started crying?

With a soft sigh, Shi Zai resigned himself to sleeping on Zhaozhao’s side. The night felt endlessly long, and all they could do was actually sleep. Frustration simmered inside him, but he had to suppress it. And that stubborn man? He slept soundly, hugging the large crocheted dog that represented him. No wonder Shi Zai was pissed.

So close, yet so far. Well, he could touch him, but what good would it do? Still couldn't do anything about it. Annoying.

Forget it. Might as well just enjoy playing with the kids on the beach. Their hotel room overlooked the sea and sand, and just steps away were all kinds of play areas. The sunlight spread warmly—it looked relaxing. So, play it was.

Tank tops, board shorts, sunglasses, sun hats… as cool and comfortable as possible, all in matching family outfits. Shi Zai took plenty of photos with the two little ones before finally, the slowpoke emerged from the bedroom.

The moment he saw him, Shi Zai’s eyebrows shot up. He told the kids to keep watching cartoons and shoved the man back into the bedroom, scolding:

“Are you insane, Shu Yangkuo? What are you wearing?!”

“…It’s not ugly, is it?”

“This isn’t about ugly or pretty! You look like some grandpa taking his son and grandson out! I bought matching family outfits—why aren’t you wearing them? Where did you dig up these frumpy clothes? Change, now!”

“…”

After a moment of silence, Shu Yangkuo picked up the matching family outfit lying on the bed—the same one his husband and son were wearing… It was just too revealing.

He didn’t want to be scolded again with "get away from me."

Shi Zai was so exasperated he almost laughed, and soon he really did laugh… Well, he had been too harsh this morning, but what could he do? If he wasn’t going to vent his anger on him, who else would he vent it on?

The bastard had probably anticipated this and secretly brought along a super old-fashioned getup—black pants, a black polo shirt, buttoned all the way to the top, as if trying to cover every inch of exposed skin. Not to mention how hot it was, for crying out loud—who dresses like this on vacation? He still looked handsome, of course, but standing next to them, he stood out like a sore thumb, like some old-timer. I can't even.

Shi Zai was sure that if he actually went out with them like this, people would definitely ask, "Helping your son look after the grandkids, huh?" Hah. Well, maybe not that exaggerated—more like, "Wow, you’ve got quite a few kids!" Hahahahaha!

Watching the man fidgeting uncomfortably, lowering his gaze and reluctantly changing into the vacation family outfit—a tank top, swim trunks… Tsk, you could even see his damn firm chest muscles when he raised his arms… It was the first time he’d exposed his legs below the thighs in broad daylight… Shi Zai swallowed hard:

“Babe, I won’t scold you anymore… Hold my hand…”

“I want to hug my husband.”

“…Hug, hug!”

Tsk. In the end, he caved to the guy's hotness. Shi Zai threw himself into the open arms—so satisfying.

This guy was afraid that dressing provocatively would tempt him, so he switched to that old man clothes instead. Heh. Well, go ahead and tempt me—they were going to be here for several days anyway. They’d find an opportunity sooner or later. Shi Zai didn’t dare let the hug last too long; he was about to lose it, and neither could the other man. Best not to stir things up.

Five minutes later, the shimmering waves gently rolled in, the cool sea breeze carried away some of that restless, heated tension. Under the sun, everyone on the beach was completely relaxed, fully enjoying the leisurely moments and the beautiful seaside life.

Two beach umbrellas stood behind them, casting a large patch of shade. Shi Zai was lounging on a beach chair, tapping their coconuts together with the man who was similarly lounging across a small table. Sweet, cool, and utterly comfortable. They chatted about Yang Yun and his partner’s pregnancy while watching the two little ones collecting shells not far away. Even without getting physical, there were other ways to feel happy and carefree.

Wang Wang wanted to catch a small crab but was too scared, yelling and carrying on. Zhaozhao watched for a while, then suddenly reached out, snatched it up in one go, and handed it to his totally amazed older brother. Wang Wang marveled for a long time, carefully placed the little crab in a small bucket, then gave him a big smooch on his brother’s head and hugged him, swaying slightly. He whispered something, and Zhaozhao smiled shyly, taking a couple of steps back.

There were plenty of seaside activities to enjoy, but there was no rush to try everything at once. At their age, everything was new and exciting—better to take things one at a time. If they couldn’t do it all this trip, they could always bring them out again—whether to the seaside, the desert, or the grasslands—they’d give them the most beautiful world to explore.

In the afternoon, Shi Zai woke from his nap to find himself alone in bed. Just as he was wondering where everyone was, the door opened. The tall man strode into the bedroom, scooped him up, planted several kisses on his face, and then set him down. Shu Yangkuo sat on the sofa, pulling his husband onto his lap, holding him tightly in his arms, and kissed the tip of his small ear. A bit awkwardly, he explained:

“The hotel has a kids’ club, kind of like a daycare. I sent them off to play for a while.”

“!!! You’re something else, Babe! I never thought you’d be the type to indulge in daytime action! You even sent the kids away!”

“…”

Shu Yangkuo stayed silent, rubbing his cheek against the person in his arms, just holding him quietly, waiting for his fate.

A moment later, Shi Zai burst out laughing, not stopping until the man’s ears turned red. Then he looped his arms around the man’s neck:

“Babe, I’ve missed you so much… Every part of me has missed you—”

“…”

They say even cats and dogs can get confused by the seasons and go in heat early. Under the bright, shining sun, it really was… a good day.

Shu Yangkuo silently carried him into the bathroom. The person in his arms squirmed and rubbed against him, his voice full of tease pressed close to his chest, calling "Babe" over and over, making his whole body tense. Unable to hold back a dirty word, Shu Yangkuo, ears red, set him down by the sink.

When Shi Zai spotted a new razor—or rather, a body groomer—he burst into uncontrollable laughter. He knew it!

“Babe, why do you like me like this?”

“…”

“Go on, I want to hear it.”

“…Cute.”

Hearing this, Shi Zai let out a long "oh," blinked, and slowly asked as the man moved:

“And then, ge—”

“…I’m hungry.”

“Hahaha—”

Mid-laugh, his entire face was covered by the man’s large hand, not letting him see this jerk's flushed face. Heh heh.

He could be so bold in bed, but got all shy just talking dirty.

Soon, his pubic hair, which was already sparse and cute, became even more adorable, pink and pert under the warm water spray, just like the wide, blinking eyes of the person in his arms, which always tugged at his heartstrings. Shu Yangkuo rinsed off the foam and the little curls, then gently brushed with his rough thumb. The man sitting there suddenly collapsed into his arms. Shu Yangkuo's lips curved into a smile and he carried him to a chair in the small bedroom.

Shi Zai lay on his back, his upper body glowing white in the sunlight, while below... He couldn’t help but glance again, letting out a long moan... In the shadow of the light-blocking curtains, the tall man knelt, tending to him carefully.

It wasn’t the first time he’d been treated like this, but this time was especially unforgettable.

It was as if he had turned into a popsicle—smooth, cool, quenching the man’s thirst while also easing some of his own restlessness.

Later, in a daze, the jerk somehow produced a string of pearls, put it on him, and pressed the back of his head:

“Look, wifey, even cuter now.”

“…”

Shameless! Shi Zai couldn’t cry out anymore, biting his finger as his eyes soon grew dazed again. Then, following the man’s even more shameless remark about "making you spew pearls," Shi Zai sobbed and cried out, "Stop, don't put it in!" He was going crazy.