Pregnant With The Pup Of A Wealthy Old Man - Chapter 94

Chapter 94: A New Year

 

At Yun City Hospital, after a round of checkups, Shen Yunxing was stunned when he saw the report.

 

“No way, he’s really pregnant!” Li Mu, looking at the pregnancy report, finally felt the reality of his buddy being able to have kids.

 

Only Yu Jing was anxious and said, “Why are you still standing there? Call Mr. Fu already!”

 

Shen Yunxing snapped back to his senses and quickly took out his phone to report the news to his Mr. Fu.

 

On the other end of the line, Fu Tingzhou was so excited that he almost spilled the milk bottle he was holding.

 

“Baby, what did you just say?”

 

Feeling embarrassed to repeat himself in front of his friends, Shen Yunxing blushed and said, “Zhouzhou is going to have a little brother.”

 

Fu Tingzhou paused and said in a deep voice, “Zhouzhou is asleep. Tomorrow, I’ll take our son to Yun City to see you.”

 

Shen Yunxing hurriedly replied, “No need, I’m feeling fine, much better than when I was pregnant with Zhouzhou. If it weren’t for Li Mu and the others insisting I come for a checkup, I wouldn’t have even known I was pregnant.”

 

Hearing this, Fu Tingzhou disapproved. “I can’t be at ease with you alone in Yun City. It doesn’t matter where Zhouzhou goes to kindergarten, and our son doesn’t want to be apart from you for so long.”

 

Knowing that Mr. Fu was thinking of him, Shen Yunxing nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll wait for you and Zhouzhou at home.”

 

“Hmm.” Fu Tingzhou softly reminded the young man, “Get some rest when you’re home, and don’t drink or stay up late.”

 

“Got it.”

 

After Shen Yunxing hung up the phone, Li Mu asked, “Is Mr. Fu coming tomorrow?”

 

Shen Yunxing nodded.

 

“You two have such a good relationship.” Yu Jing looked envious. “I wish I could find a husband who treats me that well.”

 

Li Mu’s pupils widened in shock. “You like men?!”

 

Yu Jing rolled his eyes at him. With his baby-faced appearance, he calmly replied, “Yeah, is that a problem?”

 

“Damn, you’ve been washing my socks every day. Don’t tell me you’re into me!” Li Mu crossed his arms over his chest, looking terrified. “I like women with big chests and round hips! I’m not interested in men at all!”

 

“Stop being so full of yourself.” Yu Jing looked disgusted. “Those stinky socks of yours, left for a week to get moldy and smelly, are revolting.”

 

“And you still washed them for me?! Don’t you know that men’s socks are like ***, only girlfriends can touch them!” Li Mu was on the verge of a breakdown, his voice trembling.

 

Yu Jing said, “I didn’t wash them by hand. I used disposable chopsticks to toss them into the washing machine. By the way, I don’t want that washing machine anymore. You can keep it for your socks.”

 

Shen Yunxing was thoroughly amused and couldn’t stop laughing even after he got home.

 

That night, after showering, he climbed into bed, ready to sleep, when a video call from Mr. Fu came through.

 

“Brother.” He smiled as he lay under the covers, looking at the man.

 

Seeing that the young man seemed in good spirits, Fu Tingzhou felt less worried.

 

“We’ll arrive early tomorrow. No need to pick us up; just rest well at home.”

 

“Got it.” Shen Yunxing leaned closer to the screen and puckered his lips, giving the camera a kiss.

 

“Hubby, sleep early. Good night.” He quickly hung up the video call, his face turning as red as a monkey’s bottom.

 

Holding the phone that had just been hung up, Fu Tingzhou shook his head with a smile. Then, he went to the kitchen and spent two hours making chicken soup before finally going to bed.

 

The next day.

 

Shen Yunxing was woken up by Zhouzhou’s drool. The little guy was hugging his neck and kissing him repeatedly while occasionally burrowing under the covers to place his small hands on his stomach, calling out “little brother” nonstop.

 

Shen Yunxing, unable to continue sleeping, lightly patted his son’s little bottom, and the little guy finally settled down.

 

“Dad, is Zhouzhou really going to have a little brother?” The boy stared at his dad with wide, sparkling eyes. “Zhouzhou wants a brother as pretty as Junjun!”

 

“Silly son.” Shen Yunxing pinched his son’s nose and chuckled. “A baby born from Dad will naturally look like Dad and Papa. How could it look like Junjun?”

 

The little guy pouted, looking a bit disappointed.

 

“It won’t look like Junjun, but it will look like Zhouzhou,” Shen Yunxing said. “Don’t you like that kind of baby?”

 

“Like Zhouzhou?” Zhouzhou’s eyes lit up again. “I like it!”

 

The little guy burrowed under the covers again, touching his dad’s flat stomach and whispering, “Little brother, come out quickly. Brother has lots of toys for you to play with!”

 

Looking at his son’s innocent expression, Shen Yunxing smiled.

 

Moments later, the bedroom door opened, and Shen Yunxing looked up to see Mr. Fu coming in with breakfast. His dimples deepened at the sight.

 

“What delicious food did you make?”

 

“Papa made cluck-cluck stew. It smells amazing!” The little guy in his arms was drooling.

 

Shen Yunxing, amused by his son, leaned over to kiss the boy’s chubby cheek.

 

The family of three had breakfast on the low table in the bedroom and then spent a leisurely morning lying together.

 

In the afternoon, Shen Yunxing had class. After lunch, he left with his backpack before his son had fallen asleep.

 

“Dad, Zhouzhou and Papa will pick you up after school!” The little boy ran to the door and said.

 

Shen Yunxing smiled and responded, “Okay.”

 

By four o’clock, just before the last class ended, Shen Yunxing had already packed his bag.

 

“In such a hurry, is Mr. Fu and Zhouzhou here already?” Li Mu asked from beside him.

 

Shen Yunxing gave him a sweet smile. “Yes.”

 

Li Mu exclaimed, “Damn, could you be any more obvious?!”

 

Shen Yunxing didn’t reply and picked up his bag. “I won’t be going with you guys; Mr. Fu and my son are picking me up.”

 

Li Mu: “…”

 

He turned to complain to Yu Jing about their roommate abandoning them for love, only to see Yu Jing and the class monitor from the neighboring class exchanging glances. When he leaned closer to check, he saw their hands interlocked under the desk.

 

Li Mu: “…”

 

Damn it, was he the only single dog in the dormitory?!

 

Meanwhile, Shen Yunxing had just gotten into the car when he received a message from Li Mu on WeChat.

 

It was a photo of Yu Jing holding hands with a handsome guy while walking around the school field.

 

He smiled.

 

[Xing Zhou]: The photo looks great. They seem like a good match.

 

[Li Mu]: We agreed to be single for life, but they turned around and got together with someone! [flipping-table.jpg]

 

Shen Yunxing sent him a hugging-cat sticker before being distracted by his son.

 

“Meat! Zhouzhou wants to eat meat!” The little guy swung his legs back and forth.

 

Shen Yunxing hugged him. “Okay, when we get home, Dad and Papa will make braised pork ribs for you.”

 

“Yes! Zhouzhou loves Dad and Papa the most!” The little guy clapped his hands and added, “And little brother and Junjun! Grandpa, Grandma, and Great-Grandpa, and Tangtang and Liuliu!”

 

The couple couldn’t help laughing at his comment.

 

This little guy really wanted everyone to feel loved.

 

After learning about Shen Yunxing’s pregnancy again, Shen’s parents and Old Master Tang were overjoyed and made time to visit Yun City.

 

Shen’s parents had to return to work and only stayed for two days before leaving, while Old Master Tang stayed for a week before heading back to tend to his agritourism business.

 

During this time, Shen Yunshu, the eldest brother, also visited several times. Each time he came, Shen Yunxing felt that his brother looked even more haggard. After asking his sister-in-law, he found out that the couple had been quarreling and hadn’t spoken to each other for over a month.

 

Shen Yunxing was very worried, but a week later, when his brother came to see him again, he looked much better and was in high spirits, which put Shen Yunxing at ease.

 

Three days later, Daddy Takes the Cutie Along finally aired.

 

After dinner, the family of three sat on the sofa, cuddling together to watch the premiere.

 

The first family to appear was that of Film Emperor Liao and Cheng Pengyu.

 

Shen Yunxing had always thought his idol was a flawless person. Sleeping in, lazing around, and snatching snacks from kids were things he believed would never happen to Film Emperor Liao.

 

He was wrong.

 

[“Hahaha, I never imagined Film Emperor Liao would be like this!”]

 

[“‘Kids who eat this will turn into monsters,’ my foot! He just wanted to steal his son’s snacks! [Dying of laughter]”]

 

[“It feels like there are two sons in the house. Poor Orange Boy [laughing till I’m hitting the table].”]

 

Seeing the viewers’ comments scrolling across the screen, Shen Yunxing couldn’t agree more. He even used his main account to post a comment: Even if this is the kind of person you are, Film Emperor Liao, you’ll always be my idol [hugging emoji].

 

As soon as his celebrity-specific avatar popped up, netizens went wild, and the comments flooded in even faster.

 

“Dad, when will we see Zhou Zhou?” Little Zhou Zhou, who had been sitting upright for nearly half an hour, frowned and asked, clearly unhappy.

 

He wanted to see himself, his dad, his papa, Jun Jun, and Auntie—not other kids.

 

Shen Yunxing patted the little one on the head and said with a smile, “Just wait a little longer, and you’ll see Zhou Zhou.”

 

The little one nodded and reluctantly perked up to watch. Five minutes later, when he finally saw himself and his dads appear on TV, his eyes lit up instantly.

 

“It’s Zhou Zhou!” The little one clapped his hands and laughed gleefully.

 

[“Ahhh, my little Zhou Zhou is here! Come over here and let Auntie give you a big kiss, mua~”]

 

[“So adorable! This is exactly the kind of kid that makes me want one! [Slamming the table in frustration]”]

 

[“Oh my gosh, what is President Fu doing? Is he a kissing fish? He just keeps kissing non-stop, I’m dying of laughter!”]

 

[“Can this part be cut? Xing’er, what were you thinking? Of course not! [Goose cackle]”]

 

The shot of Shen Yunxing talking to the camera crew about “cutting this part out” wasn’t entirely removed from the episode.

 

Watching the “already cut” special effects flash across the screen, Shen Yunxing was at a loss.

 

[“Hahaha, give the post-production team a raise!”]

 

[“Make that two raises! I can already imagine Xing’er’s reaction when he sees this part, hahaha!”]

 

Fu Tingzhou glanced sideways at the youth, seeing him pursing his lips in silence, and smiled, “It’s all my fault.”

 

Shen Yunxing rolled his eyes.

 

Smiling like that—does that look like someone admitting fault? Besides, he was partially to blame. He had been too dazzled by Mr. Fu’s beauty to push him away in time, unintentionally exposing his “kissing fish” tendencies.

 

After the episode aired, Shen Yunxing and Mr. Fu quickly shot to the top of the trending list.

 

#FuTheKissingFish#hot

 

This hashtag stayed in the top three of the trending list for several days before being overtaken by #LiaoFilmEmperorSociallyAnxiousPersona#.

 

Daddy Takes the Cutie Along had a total of seven episodes. After the final Q&A interview aired, the netizens and fans went wild.

 

[“Ahhh, I can’t believe it was Xing’er who confessed first! Xing’er, you’re amazing! [Waving a flag]”]

 

[“LMAO, President Fu’s courtship style: ‘I’ve done everything I need to do, now come to me yourself.’ Hahaha!”]

 

[“But seriously, that’s President Fu! If he gave me a single glance, I’d sprint 10,000 meters straight into his arms!”]

 

[“Actor Shen: ‘Wait until I’m divorced, but you won’t get that chance. [Dog head emoji]’”]

 

[“Ahhh, that line from Xing’er is so iconic! [Drooling emoji]”]

 

[“President Fu: ‘I’m the only one allowed to film intimate scenes with you. [Dog head emoji]’”]

 

The final question stunned the audience.

 

[“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Zhou Zhou is actually Xing’er’s biological child!”]

 

[“Let’s be precise—Xing’er personally gave birth to him! A full ten months of pregnancy! [Shocked family meme.jpg]”]

 

[“I always suspected it. Zhou Zhou looks so much like Actor Shen and President Fu—it’s undeniable they’re biologically related.”]

 

[“Suddenly recalling a netizen explaining that there’s a rare condition where some men can get pregnant and give birth, just like women!”]

 

[“So when President Fu mentioned a second child, it’s not impossible!”]

 

[“Ladies, if you don’t want to give birth yourselves, join me in chanting: Second child! Second child! Second child!”]

 

[“Second child! Raising babies online is amazing!!”]

 

[“By the way, with all this sleeping and craving sour food, is it possible the second child is already on the way?”]

 

[“Shocked! Totally possible! @ShenYunxing, Xing’er, go to the hospital for a check-up!!”]

 

[“With how much President Fu dotes on Xing’er, they’ve probably already checked.”]

 

[“Looking forward to Baby No. 2! [Rubbing hands]”]

 

[“Looking forward +1. Next time, let both babies join a show called Cuties Take Care of the Babies!”]

 

[“I second that +1!”]

 

[“I second that +10086!”]

 

…

 

“These netizens are way too clever,” Shen Yunxing sighed.

 

Fu Tingzhou kissed the young man’s hair and smiled. “As long as we don’t admit it, there’s nothing they can do.”

 

“Papa, good children shouldn’t lie,” the little one sitting between them said with a serious expression on his face.

 

The couple couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

 

“Baby, Papa and Daddy are grown-ups, not children,” Shen Yunxing said as he hugged his son and kissed his soft cheek. “But you’re right—lying is a bad habit. No matter if you’re a grown-up or a child, you shouldn’t lie.”

 

The little one nodded obediently. “Yeah! Zhouzhou never lies～”

 

“Really?” Shen Yunxing squinted with a smile. “So who was the little one this afternoon, hiding his hands behind his back and denying eating ice cream when he got caught?”

 

The little one immediately widened his eyes. “It wasn’t Zhouzhou! It was Daddy! Daddy said Zhouzhou could have a little taste!”

 

Shen Yunxing looked up at his husband.

 

“Hey?” Fu Tingzhou pinched his son’s chubby cheeks. “Silly boy, didn’t we agree not to rat Daddy out?”

 

Shen Yunxing said, “Wow, so it’s a team effort! Let’s see how I deal with you two!”

 

He started tickling his son’s armpits. The little one, who was very ticklish, wriggled around like a little eel in his daddy’s arms.

 

“Papa, Zhouzhou was wrong. Zhouzhou won’t sneak ice cream again hahaha—” the little one laughed as he pleaded.

 

“And you?” Shen Yunxing pretended to be stern. “If you don’t admit your mistake, you’re sleeping in the guest room for a month!”

 

Fu Tingzhou raised his hand. “Baby, I was wrong.”

 

Shen Yunxing nodded. “Considering you’ve both admitted your mistakes sincerely, I’ll let you off this time. But if it happens again, you won’t get off so easily!”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, the family of three burst out laughing.

 

Zhouzhou didn’t quite understand why his dads suddenly started laughing, but he figured it was right to join in too!

 

…

 

To match Zhouzhou’s nickname, Shen Yunxing gave the second baby the nickname Chuan Chuan (Boat).

 

As for whether the second child was a boy or a girl, the couple already knew after having Zhouzhou and researching the data: two men couldn’t have a baby girl. Shen Yunxing’s dream of having a sweet, well-behaved daughter wouldn’t come true in this lifetime.

 

During Shen Yunxing’s pregnancy with Chuan Chuan, his health was excellent, and he didn’t experience any nausea or vomiting. Therefore, he didn’t take a break from school early. It wasn’t until the winter break, when his belly became more noticeable, that he took time off and returned to Lin’an.

 

At this point, Chuan Chuan had been in his dad’s belly for six months.

 

“Brother, Chuan Chuan is so lazy! When I was pregnant with Zhouzhou, he was already practicing his punches in my belly by four months. But now Chuan Chuan is six months in, and there’s no movement at all,” Shen Yunxing said while rubbing his round belly. “If it weren’t for all the checkups confirming everything’s fine, I’d think I just gained a beer belly.”

 

Fu Tingzhou chuckled, placing his hand over the young man’s belly. He smiled and said, “Little lazybones, move a little to let Papa feel better.”

 

Shen Yunxing pouted. He often talked to Chuan Chuan, but the little one never responded, so he doubted Fu Tingzhou would have any luck either.

 

Sure enough, Chuan Chuan didn’t bother acknowledging his daddy.

 

“This little guy,” Fu Tingzhou said, shaking his head.

 

Checking the time, he leaned down to kiss the young man’s forehead. “Zhouzhou’s almost done with school. I’ll go pick him up from kindergarten.”

 

Shen Yunxing nodded. “Buy some sour tangerines on the way. We’re out.”

 

Fu Tingzhou smirked. “I have some hidden in the guest room.”

 

Shen Yunxing: “… They’re gone too.”

 

The other day, he had craved crab, but Fu Tingzhou wouldn’t let him have any. In frustration, he grabbed his pillow and went to sleep in the guest room. Unable to sleep without Fu Tingzhou’s embrace, he tried looking for one of his shirts to hug but instead found a bag of tangerines.

 

Fu Tingzhou looked at the young man’s guilty expression, his smile tinged with indulgent helplessness.

 

“Alright, I’ll get more on the way back.”

 

Shen Yunxing’s eyes lit up, and he stretched his arms to make a big heart gesture.

 

“Love you, hubby～”

 

Fu Tingzhou couldn’t help but lean in and kiss the young man until his legs turned weak. Only then did he let go and leave.

 

“Every time I call him hubby, Mr. Fu has such a big reaction. After all this time, he still hasn’t gotten used to it,” Shen Yunxing said, leaning back on the sofa and grinning at Fu Tingzhou’s retreating figure.

 

At around four in the afternoon, just as Shen Yunxing was about to drift off to sleep, his eldest treasure came home from school.

 

“Papa, Zhouzhou is back!”

 

Zhouzhou handed his little backpack to his daddy, didn’t even bother with his slippers, and ran barefoot to his papa. With his little hands on Shen Yunxing’s round belly, he spoke in a sweet, soft voice to his baby brother.

 

“Brother, I’m home! Did you miss me today?”

 

No sooner had he finished speaking than he felt a light kick on his little hand.

 

“Hahaha, I missed you too, Chuan Chuan～” Zhouzhou bent down and gave his papa’s belly a big smooch.

 

The baby finally responded.

 

Shen Yunxing looked at Fu Tingzhou in surprise.

 

Zhouzhou continued, “Brother, were you a good boy today? Papa is carrying you, and it’s really hard for him. You can’t make trouble for Papa, okay?”

 

Shen Yunxing felt the little one in his belly move slightly. He looked at Zhouzhou in disbelief.

 

Zhouzhou nodded, satisfied. “Brother, be good. When you come out of Papa’s belly, I’ll take you to ride the carousel. You can ride a big, pretty horse, and it’s super fun～”

 

“Papa, Zhouzhou’s on winter break now. When will brother be born?” Zhouzhou asked, tilting his head to look at his two dads.

 

Shen Yunxing ruffled his son’s hair. “After the New Year, you’ll get to meet him.”

 

“After the New Year?” The little one counted on his fingers. “Zhouzhou has break in January and goes back to start middle class in February.”

 

He grabbed his papa’s arm, his big eyes sparkling.

 

“Papa, so when Zhouzhou starts middle class, brother will be born!”

 

“Yes.”

 

The couple chuckled.

 

…

 

This year’s New Year celebrations were the same as usual, with both families gathering for dinner. This time, however, there were two extra guests—Molly and Linda.

 

In the Spring River Moonlight Garden complex, Shen Yunxing, bundled up in a heavy down jacket, took Zhouzhou, who was also wrapped up like a little penguin, for a short stroll before heading home.

 

“Papa, aren’t we going to pick up Daddy?” The little one’s voice, muffled by his scarf, asked as he held his papa’s hand.

 

Shen Yunxing caught the words “pick up Daddy” and knew what he was asking.

 

“It’s too cold. Let’s go home and wait for Daddy,” he said, raising his voice slightly so Zhouzhou could hear him.

 

“Okay～” Zhouzhou responded loudly too. “When Daddy comes back, are we all going out for New Year’s dinner?”

 

“Yes. Aunties are joining us this year too.”

 

“Yay!” With the aunties coming, Zhouzhou could get two extra red envelopes to buy gifts for Junjun. He hopped with joy.

 

Father and son had just returned home and hadn’t even taken off their coats when they heard the sound of the elevator door opening.

 

“Daddy’s home!” Zhouzhou leaned forward and saw his daddy stepping out of the elevator. He waved his little hand excitedly.

 

“Zhouzhou.” Fu Tingzhou quickly walked to the door and bent down to pick up the little one.

 

He looked at his son, bundled up tightly with only his big eyes showing, and asked with a smile, “Did you go out?”

 

“Yeah, Papa and I wanted to pick you up, but it was too cold, so we came back～” The little one wrapped his arms around his daddy’s neck and spoke in his sweet, soft voice.

 

In the living room, Shen Yunxing, after changing his clothes, handed a cup of warm water to Fu Tingzhou.

 

“Brother, have some warm water to heat up. It’s over twenty degrees below zero outside. It’s freezing.”

 

“Alright.” Fu Tingzhou wanted to touch the young man’s cheek, but his hands were still cold from outside. In the end, he just lightly touched the tip of Shen Yunxing’s nose with his finger.

 

Shen Yunxing pulled back slightly and laughed. “It’s so cold.”

 

“Daddy, Zhouzhou wants some too!” The little one clung to his daddy’s arm, tilting his face up.

 

Fù Tingzhou pinched his son’s nose lightly. After getting his wish, little Zhouzhou giggled happily.

 

The three of them warmed up at home for a while. After receiving a call from Shen’s parents, they drove to Liuchun Garden.

 

A new year brings new changes. Two rows of red lanterns hung in front of Liuchun Garden, with decorations everywhere. They even invited a lion dance troupe, complete with drums and gongs, creating a lively atmosphere.

 

“Daddy, Papa, look at the big lions!” Zhouzhou pressed his forehead against the car window, staring at the lion dance troupe outside with curiosity written all over his face.

 

Shen Yunxing nodded. Seeing his son’s forehead pressed against the glass, he chuckled and asked, “Baby, isn’t your forehead cold?”

 

The little one touched his forehead with his small hands and shook his head. “Not cold! Zhouzhou is very warm!”

 

Shen Yunxing reached out to touch it, and indeed, it was warm.

 

“Kids have higher body temperatures; it’s fine,” Fu Tingzhou said, parking the car and looking at his son and partner. “Big baby and little baby, we’ve arrived.”

 

“Let’s get out of the car!” Little Zhouzhou pushed open the car door and turned to his father, saying, “Daddy, be careful! The road is snowy and slippery!”

 

“Thank you, Zhouzhou. Daddy will be careful,” Shen Yunxing replied, letting his son hold his hand as they walked. The little boy held his hand firmly, escorting him to the private room and ensuring he was seated safely before letting out a deep breath.

 

“Great-grandpa, Grandpa, Grandma, Tang-tang Godfather, Liu-liu Godfather, Aunt Molly, Aunt Linda, Happy New Year!” After his Papa helped him out of his coat, the little one bowed at a 90-degree angle to the roomful of elders.

 

“Oh, my dear grandson, Happy New Year!” Elder Tang said, leaning on his cane and smiling so broadly his eyes disappeared.

 

Shen’s parents were overjoyed, hugging their grandson tightly until his laughter echoed throughout the room.

 

“Happy New Year to our Zhouzhou too!” Molly and Linda bent down and greeted him.

 

After being passed around for hugs, Zhouzhou looked down at his empty pockets, and his big eyes quickly filled with tears.

 

“Godson, they’re all meanies,” Tang Che said, extending his hands toward the little one. “Come here to your Godfather. This year, I prepared a big red envelope for you, enough to buy lots and lots of candy.”

 

Zhouzhou’s eyes lit up. He wiped away the unshed tears and jumped into his godfather’s arms.

 

“Godfather Tang, I wish you great wealth and smooth sailing this year!” The little one looked up with his bright face and recited his blessing crisply.

 

“Oh, I knew my godson loved me the most. The rest of you don’t compare!” Tang Che shot a triumphant glance at the others, then pulled out a red envelope and handed it to Zhouzhou.

 

When Zhouzhou saw how thin the red envelope was, like a piece of paper, his little brows furrowed immediately.

 

“Godfather, why is it so thin?”

 

“Silly boy, open it and see what’s inside.”

 

Inside was a hard card. Zhouzhou recognized it immediately—it was a bank card, just like the ones his Daddy and Papa had.

 

Tang Che flicked the card and raised his eyebrows. “There’s enough money on this card to buy out an entire candy shop. What do you think? Is Godfather good or not?”

 

“Good! Godfather is the best!” Zhouzhou cheered, hugging and kissing his godfather twice on the cheek.

 

“Haha! Silly boy, Godfather’s love wasn’t wasted on you!”

 

Tang Che hugged the little one and laughed heartily. When he turned to ask for another kiss, the child was already squirming to get down.

 

Confused, he set Zhouzhou down and instantly regretted it.

 

Zhouzhou trotted over to Liu Huaijin, wrapped his little arms around his Godfather Liu’s legs, and sweetly said, “Godfather Liu, Happy New Year! Did you prepare a red envelope for Zhouzhou?”

 

Since no one gave him one, Zhouzhou decided to ask for them himself!

 

The room erupted in laughter at the little one’s boldness.

 

Even as they laughed, Zhouzhou didn’t stop making his rounds. By the time he finished, his arms were so full of red envelopes that he could barely hold onto them.

 

“Daddy, Papa, Happy New Year!” The little one didn’t even spare his parents. Reciting a string of New Year’s blessings fluently and clearly, he extended his hand toward them. “Where’s Zhouzhou’s red envelope?”

 

Shen Yunxing was amused and helpless. He pulled out two red envelopes and handed them over. “Happy New Year, baby.”

 

“Thank you, Daddy and Papa! Mwah~” The little one kissed each of them on the cheek.

 

“Baby, your arms are full of red envelopes. Should Daddy help you keep them safe? I’ll put them into your teddy bear bank when we get home.”

 

Zhouzhou tilted his head in thought. Remembering that Daddy always helped keep his red envelopes safe in the past, he nodded.

 

“Okay, but Daddy has to give them back to Zhouzhou before school starts! Zhouzhou needs to buy candy for Junjun and little brother!”

 

“Of course,” Shen Yunxing said, ruffling his son’s hair.

 

Watching his godson’s red envelopes being taken away, Tang Che had a complex expression.

 

Silly boy, back in my day, your great-grandfather used to trick me out of my red envelopes the same way. It’s been over 30 years, and I still haven’t gotten them back!

 

Zhouzhou was blissfully unaware of what his future held. For now, he was simply thrilled with his newfound riches.

 

“Daddy, Zhouzhou is hungry!” He patted his little tummy after handing over his red envelopes.

 

“Let’s eat, let’s eat! Don’t let my precious great-grandson go hungry!” Elder Tang said cheerfully.

 

“Brother, you’ve gained some weight,” Shen Yunxing teased as he looked at his older brother’s slightly rounded chin. “But you’re still a bit too thin; you should eat more.”

 

Shen Yunshu laughed. “Isn’t Chuanchuan due soon?”

 

“Not yet; the due date’s in April, so we’ve still got two months to go.”

 

…

 

Inside the private room, laughter filled the air.

 

Outside, snowflakes covered the trees.

 

Fu Tingzhou withdrew his gaze from the window and tightened his grip on his partner’s hand under the table.

 

Their fingers interlocked, inseparable.

 

Shen Yunxing turned his head, smiled at Fu Tingzhou, and whispered amid the chatter, “Mr. Fu, it’s a new year again. Please take care of me.”

 

Fu Tingzhou’s lips curved upward.

 

“Always.”

 

Suddenly, a small hand squeezed between theirs.

 

“Daddy, Papa, what are you two whispering about? Can Zhouzhou listen?” The little one wedged himself between them, his rosy face turned up in curiosity.

 

“No, it’s a secret between Daddy and Papa,” Shen Yunxing teased. “Don’t you and Papa have secrets you didn’t tell Daddy?”

 

The little one shook his head vigorously. “What secrets? Zhouzhou doesn’t know anything!”

 

“Your brother’s secret,” Fu Tingzhou reminded him with a smile.

 

The little one’s eyes widened, and he quickly covered his mouth with his hands. “It wasn’t Zhouzhou who said it!”

 

Shen Yunxing laughed, kissed his son on the cheek, and said, “Daddy was just saying that having you and Papa with me is the happiest thing.”

 

“And little brother too!”

 

“Yes, and little brother too.”