On a lakeside bench, Yan Chi and Xie Tao sat side by side. A gentle breeze carried the mist from the lake, and the lush foliage overhead shielded them from the harsh sunlight.
Xie Tao looked at Yan Chi, who was lost in thought with his eyes downcast, and poked his cheek. "Xiao Chi, you're acting strange today."
He kept spacing out and looking at him with a strange expression.
Yan Chi's dark circles were obvious. Hearing Xie Tao's voice, he slowly came to his senses, his mind a jumble. "Huh? Dad, what did you say?"
"Dad?" Xie Tao frowned and reached out to touch Yan Chi's forehead. "You don't have a fever, so why do you look like you took the wrong medicine today?"
"I guess I didn't sleep well last night." Yan Chi dared not tell Xie Tao this uncertain guess. If it turned out to be a false alarm, Yan Chi would never be able to hold his head up in front of Xie Tao again.
Shen Mingsu went to pick up Xing Zhinan; he should be back soon.
Yan Chi stared blankly at the lake when a small, wet ball was tossed out of the water and rolled to his feet.
Yan Chi bent down to pick up the ball and looked up to see a small head emerge from the shimmering surface. Xi Chang gracefully leaped out of the water, its beautiful blue tail arcing through the air before landing back in.
Xi Chang swam to the shore, smiling at Yan Chi. "Good morning, Xiao Chi! Can you throw me the ball?"
"Good morning." Yan Chi gently tossed the ball into the water. Xi Chang hugged the ball and thanked him, then curiously looked at Xie Tao beside him.
"This is Xie Tao, my...my good friend." Yan Chi introduced Xi Chang to Xie Tao, "He's also a teacher at the school, his name is Xi Chang."
Xie Tao's gaze fell on Xi Chang's fishtail, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. He stood up and shook hands with him. Xi Chang was easily shy around strangers. He gave Xie Tao a high-quality pearl bracelet as a greeting gift, then swam away pushing his ball.
"A hidden tycoon," Xie Tao said, shaking the bracelet. The lustrous pearls shimmered in the sunlight. "I heard that mermaids' tears turn into pearls. If pearl manufacturers saw this, they could create a whole mermaid pearl industry chain. The mermaid herself could even do a live stream to make money."
Yan Chi could almost see the resentment emanating from him and reminded him, "...Calm down, Xie Tao. You don't need to work anymore."
Xie Tao sighed wearily, "But it will forever remain in my memory, a kind of adult trauma."
The mental and physical torment of working is lifelong.
Yan Chi: "..."
Luckily, the job he found wasn't so formal.
Students passed by, and Yan Chi, looking at the vibrant young group, said, "Do you remember when we were little? Every time I was bullied, you'd stand up for me."
"Yeah, of course I remember," Xie Tao said nostalgically. "Back then, you were the most meek of all the kids, and the one who got bullied the most. I used to think, 'What a useless pushover!'"
Yan Chi couldn't help but chuckle. "Then why did you still help me?"
"Someone who bullies even a pushover is even more despicable, okay?" Xie Tao ruffled his soft hair roughly. "I thought you'd grow up and become tougher, but you're still such a rabbit."
Yan Chi was a little embarrassed. "Actually, I can argue too."
It's just that he always realized someone's hostility towards him only after some time had passed, and by then it was too late, so it was difficult to start an argument.
Just as Xie Tao was about to speak, a strange face suddenly loomed close to him. He instinctively leaned back, his hand moving faster than his mind, and slapped the face. A sharp "smack" rang out.
Yan Chi's heart skipped a beat. He quickly pulled Xie Tao aside, his voice rapid, "Don't hit him! This is a parent of one of our students."
The one who had been slapped was none other than Xing Zhinan, who had just arrived. Beside him stood Shen Mingsu, who, seeing him looking over, gave him a clingy heart-shaped hand gesture.
Yan Chi pretended not to see anything, then looked at Xing Zhinan's slapped face. It was clean and white, with no trace of a slap.
Yan Chi was amazed. What thick skin!
No, that sounds a bit insulting.
Yan Chi thought for a moment, then changed his tone: This skin's defensive capabilities are truly impressive!
Xing Zhinan, despite being slapped, chuckled. He sized Xie Tao up from head to toe, looking thoughtfully into Xie Tao's eyes before waving at him. "Hi?"
Xie Tao, purely out of consideration for Xie Tao being a student's parent and not wanting to trouble Yan Chi, gave him a look. "What?"
"Haha, nothing, nothing. Just that you look like an old acquaintance." Xing Zhinan put his hands in his pockets, looking up and down. "I heard you're an orphan?"
Xie Tao: "..."
Is this guy polite?
He turned to Yan Chi. "Can we go?"
Yan Chi looked at Xing Zhinan, who gently shook his head. A weight lifted from Yan Chi's heart. He smiled at Xie Tao. "Our class is rehearsing a performance. I'll take you to see them."
"Okay, let's go."
Xie Tao just wanted to get away from this inexplicable student's parent.
Watching the two leave, Shen Mingsu walked up to Xing Zhinan. "Are you sure he's really not Yan Qingyuan?"
"Although the way he raised his hand, the angle of his strike, and the force he used were exactly the same as Yan Qingyuan's, he's not Yan Qingyuan." Based on his extensive experience, Xing Zhinan told Shen Mingsu with absolute certainty, "Although Yan Qingyuan went a bit mad later on, he was spoiled and pampered from childhood, which explains his temper."
"But this person is different. He seems like a cornered little bird, with a kind of manic madness where he'll peck at anyone he sees."
Shen Mingsu guessed, "He's probably in a work mindset."
Xing Zhinan paused for a second: "That's indeed a bit tragic."
Shen Mingsu seemed unconvinced and asked again, "Are you sure he's really not Yan Qingyuan?"
Xing Zhinan gave him the coordinates of Yan Chi's world, "If you don't believe me, go back in time and look. It was twenty-two years ago."
To ensure absolute certainty, Shen Mingsu gently waved his slender fingers, as if dispelling fog. The surrounding scenery rapidly changed, returning to that snowy day.
On New Year's Eve, the streets were deserted, covered in a layer of snow. Under the warm yellow streetlights, a tall, slender man stood in front of the orphanage gate, holding a snow-white, adorable child.
Falling snowflakes landed on Yan Qingyuan's long eyelashes. He looked at the children in the orphanage who were building blocks, his eyelashes trembled, and a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.
The little guy, only a few months old, perched on his shoulder, stared at this unfamiliar place with his big, bright amber eyes. He clenched his little fist and chewed on it with his bare gums.
"Don't bite your hand, it's dirty," Yan Qingyuan said, pulling the little guy's hand out of his mouth.
The little guy blinked, looking at his father without crying or fussing. Suddenly, he grinned, his chubby body leaping up and landing on Yan Qingyuan's face, hugging his cheek and nuzzling his chin affectionately.
Yan Qingyuan pinched his chubby little face. The little guy seemed uncomfortable; his mouth puckered, and tears welled up in his eyes. He mumbled something unintelligible to the adults.
Startled, Yan Qingyuan quickly released him, but the little boy buried his face in his chest, clutching his collar.
The father and son sat by the roadside, while Shen Mingsu and Xing Zhinan stood a short distance away, watching them.
Shen Mingsu looked at the child in Yan Qingyuan's arms, utterly adoring him. Those bright, watery eyes, those chubby little cheeks—his little teacher, Xiao Chi, was so cute as a child!
Xing Zhinan held him tightly, "Calm down! Yan Qingyuan will find out!"
If Yan Qingyuan changed his mind now, everything would change. Perhaps the Yan Chi Shen Mingsu encountered wouldn't be the Yan Chi he loved.
The two silently retreated to a dark corner.
Yan Qingyuan sat by the roadside for a long time, then, hearing the commotion coming from the orphanage, looked up.
A kind-faced middle-aged woman approached the children playing with building blocks. She stroked their heads and softly told them, "Grandpa Moon just told me it's bedtime for you all. He also said that if you all go to your rooms obediently, he'll prepare a gift for the good ones."
The children cheered, tidied up their blocks, and followed the orphanage owner into their rooms to sleep.
Yan Qingyuan watched this scene, then slowly looked at the little boy in his arms. He stood up, walked to the doorway, and gently placed little Yan Chi on the ground.
Little Yan Chi was bundled up tightly, seemingly unfazed by the cold. He looked at Yan Qingyuan without crying or fussing, stretching out his little hands for a hug, "Aiya~"
But Yan Qingyuan didn't pick him up. He looked down at little Yan Chi, the cold wind making his voice broken, "...I didn't take good care of you. I'm sorry."
He hardened his heart, refusing to look at little Yan Chi, and turned to leave.
"Waaaaah..."
The little guy's cries made him stop in his tracks. Yan Qingyuan's eyes reddened as he turned to look at the little boy.
Seeing his father finally looking at him, little Yan Chi immediately stopped crying, but he looked so wronged, constantly reaching out his little hands for a hug.
But Yan Qingyuan didn't hug him.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I wanted to be with you as you grew up... but I can't, I'm sorry." Yan Qingyuan murmured, gripping his arm tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh, dripping bright red blood onto the white snow.
As he finished speaking, a small infant slowly materialized beside little Yan Chi, bearing a five or six-point resemblance to Yan Qingyuan.
It was as if the world was comforting him, telling him that he could fulfill all his wishes.
Yan Qingyuan's eyes widened. He gritted his teeth, lunged forward, and grabbed the infant by the neck. The infant didn't cry or fuss, his face gradually turning ashen.
"Waaah..."
Little Yan Chi's cries brought Yan Qingyuan to his senses. He watched as little Yan Chi clung to the baby's arm with his tiny hands, stumbled, and fell to the ground. He looked at the two children for a long time, finally placing them together and giving half of the blanket covering little Yan Chi to the baby.
Having done all this, he turned and left.
Little Yan Chi, having not seen his father, couldn't help but sob. Hearing the noise, little Xie Tao mustered his strength, rolled over, and caught little Yan Chi.
As if sensing a familiar presence, little Yan Chi stopped crying in fear and slowly fell asleep.
Shen Mingsu walked to their side and gently lifted little Yan Chi from the ground.
Little Xie Tao pouted angrily, clenching his little fists as if to hit Shen Mingsu, but Xing Zhinan scooped him up in her arms. Xing Zhinan pinched his cheek and chuckled, scolding, "Such a temper."
Shen Mingsu looked at little Yan Chi's sleeping face, feeling a warm glow in his heart. He couldn't resist rubbing his face against the baby's soft cheek. Disturbed, little Yan Chi whimpered twice in dissatisfaction.
"So cute!"
Shen Mingsu's eyes were full of smiles as he held the little one affectionately. A short while later, a teacher from the orphanage noticed the commotion at the door during her night patrol and came over.
Shen Mingsu and Xing Zhinan had no choice but to put the two children down and step aside.
The teacher opened the door and saw two children. She quickly looked around but didn't see any adults nearby. Fearing the children would get cold in the cold snow, she called another teacher to help her carry the children back inside.
Little Yan Chi was awakened by the noise. He slowly opened his eyes and saw a strange adult waving at him. He was a cheerful child, and his round eyes crinkled into crescent moons with a smile.
The teacher looked at little Yan Chi with surprise, "This child is so well-behaved, he even smiled."
Another teacher nodded, "The elders often say that children who smile a lot have good luck; he'll definitely have a happy future."
Outside the orphanage, Shen Mingsu looked on longingly, "I only held him for a short while, I can't bear to part with him, this poor little thing, his crying broke my heart."
Xing Zhinan, however, looked in the direction Yan Qingyuan had left, remaining silent for a long time.
After confirming that Xie Tao was not Yan Qingyuan, the two returned to school. Shen Mingsu immediately sent Yan Chi a message: 【Don't worry, Xie Tao is just someone your father created to accompany you, not your father himself.】
In the auditorium, the students were rehearsing.
Yan Chi, sitting in the first row of the audience, saw the message and breathed a sigh of relief. The idea of his childhood friend becoming his biological father was too shocking; even with Yan Chi's strong adaptability, he couldn't accept it. Fortunately, it was just a misunderstanding.
Seven students were performing on stage. To Xie Tao's astonishment, their heads flew off their necks, connected by a thin tendon, and bounced in mid-air to the rhythm of the music.
Xie Tao: "...What kind of program is this?"
Yan Chi looked up, then fell silent, flipping through the program list. "It should be this, seven heads 'ch-cha-cha'."
Xie Tao: "..."
For the past half hour, Xie Tao felt like he'd watched a circus show. It certainly didn't look like a school sports meet opening ceremony performance. He said tactfully, "Your school's performance is quite unique."
"These were all chosen by the students themselves." Yan Chi knew all too well how challenging these programs were for a normal person's heart. "Our class's performance is coming up soon, it's normal, a waltz."
Xie Tao: "It's odd that your school has a normal program."
After the seven heads 'ch-cha-cha' ended, the only normal program of the sports meet opening ceremony began.
As soft music began, girls in elegant long dresses and boys in suits appeared together. Standing in the center were Shen Chang Le and Ahui, drawing almost all attention.
Others couldn't get a good look; they either tripped and stepped on their own feet, or one dance partner suddenly threw them off balance.
"The girls in your class... are quite burly," Xie Tao remarked.
Xie Tao glanced at the two groups further back. The "girls" in these groups were taller than the boys, probably over 1.8 meters. They either tripped over their skirts or their dance steps suddenly became more masculine.
Yan Chi looked embarrassed. "Actually, they..."
"Shh!" The teacher next to them made a shushing gesture. Yan Chi quickly shut up and nodded apologetically.
After watching the performance in silence, Yan Chi took Xie Tao backstage. He remembered that Xie Tao and Ning Zhu had some unresolved issues that needed to be addressed.
Backstage, the students were still dressed and in their costumes when Yan Chi appeared with Xie Tao. Ning Zhu, seeing his enemy, immediately grabbed his skirt and stormed towards him, his eyes blazing with fury.
Ning Zhu raised his chin arrogantly and asked, "What, finally remembered to apologize to me?"
Xie Tao looked at the somewhat familiar girl and asked doubtfully and uncertainly, "Do I know you?"
This question instantly ignited Ning Zhu's anger. He roared, "You've already forgotten the slap you gave me?!"
"I hit you? How could that be? I never hit girls." Xie Tao's principles were unwavering, and he was absolutely certain, "Little sister, you must have mistaken me for someone else."
"I'm not a girl!" Ning Zhu snapped, ripping off his wig. "Look carefully, I'm a man!"
Yan Chi, fearing they'd start fighting, quickly stepped between them, separating them. "Calm down, calm down, this is all a misunderstanding..."
"A man wearing a skirt and a wig?" Xie Tao's lips curled into a mocking smile as he glanced at Ning Zhu. "So you're a pervert, huh? Then it's understandable that I hit you."
Yan Chi's vision went black. Oh no, this was really going to be a fight.
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