The four of them were silent. Yan Qingyuan stared blankly at the child in Yan Chi's arms, leaning weakly against Xing Zhinan, murmuring, "How long have I been asleep?"
How come he woke up with a child already?
Xing Zhinan saw through his thoughts at a glance. Instead of explaining, he said, "You slept for a long time. Besides, it's normal for couples to have children."
Yan Qingyuan felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Countless cases of children running off with blond-haired men because of a lack of love flashed through his mind. Although Shen Mingsu wasn't blond-haired, he was even more so in his heart.
Seeing Yan Qingyuan's unfriendly expression, Shen Mingsu's mood was also like a rollercoaster. "Um... Dad?"
Yan Qingyuan's voice was indifferent: "Don't you have a father yourself?"
Shen Mingsu… Shen Mingsu was speechless.
Such a strong aggression; no wonder he's the man who created Xie Tao.
Like a turtle tentatively reaching out, Shen Mingsu was slashed as soon as he extended his hand, and decisively retreated into his shell, becoming completely docile.
After rebuking Shen Mingsu, Yan Qingyuan turned to look at Yan Chi. Yan Chi resembled him by about six or seven points. He had completely shed his youthful naiveté, but his amber eyes remained bright.
From the first moment he saw him, the connection of their shared blood filled Yan Qingyuan with affection.
Yan Chi felt extremely conflicted when facing Yan Qingyuan. Two extreme emotions, closeness and distance, filled his heart. He should call him "Dad," but he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Finally, Yan Qingyuan spoke first, his eyes lowered, "I'm sorry..."
Yan Chi looked up at him in surprise. The faint pink marks on Yan Qingyuan's neck and the heavy, layered wounds on his wrists made his heart sink.
Yan Chi's throat was dry, his mind a mess. He opened his mouth, "It's n-nothing."
He had already learned from Shen Mingsu and Xing Zhinan that Yan Qingyuan had sent him to the orphanage because of a mental breakdown. To say he didn't resent him wouldn't be entirely without falsity, but to say he hated him was also inappropriate.
Yan Chi didn't know how to face him for a moment, and unconsciously hugged Chu Xi in his arms even tighter.
Yan Qingyuan also looked at Chu Xi. Chu Xi was delicate and lovely, with bright, clear blue eyes, but he didn't resemble Yan Chi at all.
Could it be... Shen Mingsu's child? A glimmer of hope rose in Yan Qingyuan's heart.
"Chi Chi..." Chu Xi, nestled in Yan Chi's arms, stared blankly with wide eyes. Under Yan Qingyuan's stern gaze, he burrowed fearfully into Yan Chi's embrace, sobbing, "Waaah... Mommy."
Yan Qingyuan's vision blurred. He looked at Yan Chi, "This child... isn't he his?"
Shen Mingsu initially didn't realize "he" was referring to him, but when all three of them looked at him, he suddenly understood. "No! Look, this child is a fish! How could we possibly give birth to a fish?"
His voice was slightly louder. Chu Xi, already resentful of him, reacted as if he had suffered a great injustice, throwing himself onto Yan Chi's shoulder, "Waaah... You're mean!"
Yan Chi patted the little one's back gently, soothing him, "He's not scolding our Chu Xi, don't cry."
After Chu Xi cried, Yan Qingyuan gave Shen Mingsu a cold glance. Shen Mingsu felt uneasy under his gaze, instinctively moving closer to Yan Chi, seeking reassurance from him.
Seeing him back down, Xing Zhinan chuckled gleefully and explained, "This child isn't little Chi's, but a little mermaid hatched in the [Azure Sea]. Since there were no mermaid elders to care for him, they only brought him here to look after him for two days."
Hearing this, Yan Qingyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, it hadn't come to the point of deceiving him.
Yan Chi wasn't being misunderstood for the first time. "You think Chu Xi is my child?"
Yan Qingyuan: "...Yes, you've been very good to him."
"I just like children." Yan Chi said softly, pursing his lips. "And you? Does your injury still hurt?"
Yan Chi's sudden concern caught Yan Qingyuan off guard. He paused for a few seconds. "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Yan Chi said lightly, "Then don't hurt yourself next time."
Yan Qingyuan: "Okay."
Hearing him agree so readily, Xing Zhinan's eyes widened. Were all those hundreds of times he said those things just empty words? What was this? "One thing subdues another?"
Shen Chang Le waited a long time for Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu to return, then got up to look for them, puzzled. He found Shen Mingsu and Yan Chi standing blankly at the door, facing Xingluo's father and an unfamiliar young man.
Shen Chang Le had never seen Yan Qingyuan before, but seeing his face, he knew he was definitely related to Yan Chi by blood. Seeing the heavy atmosphere between them, Shen Chang Le's heart sank.
Could it be that his uncle had done something bad to Teacher Xiao Chi? And now Teacher Xiao Chi's family had come looking for him?
Yan Qingyuan also saw Shen Chang Le. Seeing his face, so similar to Shen Mingsu's, and the same aura emanating from him, his heart, which had just settled, jumped again. "Who is he?"
Yan Chi immediately saw that he had misunderstood again and said helplessly, "Shen Mingsu's nephew."
Shen Chang Le walked to Yan Chi's side and called out, "Teacher Xiao Chi."
Yan Chi wanted to introduce Yan Qingyuan to Shen Chang Le, but he hesitated. Finally, he took a deep breath and said to Shen Chang Le, "This is... my father."
Teacher Chi's father?!
Shen Chang Le opened his mouth. He wanted to call him uncle, but then he thought, that wasn't quite right. If they were really going by seniority, he should call Yan Qingyuan... grandfather?!
Looking at Yan Qingyuan's overly young face, he couldn't bring himself to say grandfather. Shen Chang Le blushed, finally managing to say, "Hello, Teacher Chi's father."
Yan Qingyuan: "..."
What a strange way to address him.
An awkward silence fell again. Yan Chi, unable to bear everyone standing there like statues, said, "Come in, all of you."
After entering the house, Yan Qingyuan looked around the cozy little home. From the greenery on the windowsill to the dolls in the corner, every detail revealed the homeowner's care and love.
Yan Chi asked Yan Qingyuan and Xing Zhinan to sit on the sofa and asked Shen Mingsu to help entertain them. He then placed Chu Xi in his toddler chair and turned to pour them water.
Shen Mingsu, facing Yan Qingyuan, felt an immense pressure, almost suffocating. As soon as Yan Chi left, Yan Qingyuan's expression turned cold.
"When did you two get together?" Yan Qingyuan tapped his long, slender fingers lightly on the armrest, his clear eyes sweeping over Shen Mingsu. "Don't try to hide it from me. Don't forget how you cried your eyes out when you were a kid."
Shen Mingsu had always had a bad temper and was incredibly arrogant. He believed no one in the world could rival him, and confidently challenged Yan Qingyuan, only to be soundly beaten up and become obedient.
This embarrassing past was brought up again by Yan Qingyuan, and even Shen Mingsu, with his thick skin, couldn't quite handle it. "I was too young back then, and I did some foolish things."
Yan Qingyuan: "Then why are you with Xiao Chi?"
"It's definitely because I like him." Shen Mingsu didn't even hesitate; he practically swore to the heavens, "I swear to God, when I was pursuing Xiao Chi, I had no idea he was your child. I was only with him because I liked him."
Yan Qingyuan could also tell from Xie Tao's memories that Yan Chi liked Shen Mingsu.
He already felt indebted to Yan Chi, and rashly interfering in his love life would definitely annoy Yan Chi.
Yan Qingyuan: "I'll be watching you."
Shen Mingsu ignored the threat in his words. "Alright, thank you for your hard work."
Yan Qingyuan: "..."
Xing Zhinan loved watching this kind of drama. Seeing Chu Xi staring at him and Yan Qingyuan, he casually picked him up. "Do you remember me, baby?"
Chu Xi, still confused, bit his finger. Xing Zhinan pointed at Yan Qingyuan, a gleam of interest in his eyes. "This is your grandfather. Quickly call him 'Grandpa' so I can hear you."
Xing Zhinan taught Chu Xi to call him "Grandpa." Chu Xi was about to speak when he found his mouth was glued shut. He puffed out his cheeks, sulking.
Yan Qingyuan put a finger to his lips. "Don't call me 'Grandpa,' anything else is fine."
He couldn't accept the identity of his grandfather yet.
When Yan Chi finished cutting the fruit and brought out the tea, he saw this harmonious and friendly scene. He placed the fruit platter in front of Yan Qingyuan. "Have you had dinner?"
Yan Qingyuan felt inexplicably guilty under his gaze. "Not yet."
"Then I'll make you a bowl of noodles."
"No..."
"Hmm?"
Yan Chi turned to look at him. Seeing his expressionless face, Yan Qingyuan suddenly felt guilty. He paused, then didn't refuse, ignoring Xing Zhinan's teasing gaze.
The sky outside the window gradually darkened. Yan Chi placed the noodles in front of Yan Qingyuan, sat beside him, and silently watched him finish the bowl.
Perhaps Yan Chi's oppressive aura was too strong; no one present dared to speak. Even Chu Xi nestled obediently in Xing Zhinan's arms, blinking his big eyes at Yan Chi.
A moment later, the doorbell rang again, breaking the deathly silence inside. Shen Mingsu breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at Yan Chi, and got up to open the door.
Xingluo stood at the door carrying a large bag of snacks. "Principal, is my dad here?"
Shen Mingsu stepped aside and let him in. "Yes, he is."
Xingluo trotted in and greeted Yan Chi and Shen Chang Le. "Chang Le, hello Teacher Chi! Oh? Uncle Qingyuan? You're back?"
Yan Qingyuan nodded. "Yes."
Xingluo had bought a huge pile of snacks. Ignoring the heavy atmosphere, he distributed them to everyone, even bringing cheese sticks for Chu Xi, before sitting down close to Xing Zhinan.
Yan Chi, holding a bag of candy, unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth. Suddenly, he asked, "Want to stay tonight?"
Yan Qingyuan: "No."
"You don't like me?" Yan Chi pursed his lips, looking at him. "Tell me the truth, do you really hate me?"
Yan Qingyuan looked surprised. "I don't hate you..."
"You don't talk to me, and you don't look at me."
"I..." Yan Qingyuan's eyelashes trembled. He looked at Yan Chi's expressionless face, experiencing helplessness for the first time. "I'm sorry."
He clenched his fist tightly, trying to control himself from using his power to cheer Yan Chi up. Unconsciously, blood seeped from his palm and dripped onto the floor.
Yan Chi's pupils contracted when he saw this. He quickly pried his hand open and saw his bloodied hand. His eyes reddened, and he took out a first-aid kit to apply medicine. "Why did you hurt yourself again?"
Yan Qingyuan looked like a child who had done something wrong, unable to look Yan Chi in the eye.
Yan Chi was furious, his voice rising slightly, "If you keep doing this, I really won't talk to you anymore!"
But anyone with a discerning eye could see he was bluffing.
Yan Qingyuan, however, was genuinely worried he would ignore him, and subconsciously touched his wound, "It won't happen again."
"There won't be a next time." Yan Chi lifted his sleeve, seeing the wound on his arm, then looked at his neck, his heart aching more with each glance. "When will these wounds heal?"
The scars on Yan Qingyuan's body were all fatal injuries he had inflicted himself. Yan Qingyuan guiltily touched the wound on his neck, "It'll heal soon."
Luckily, Yan Chi hadn't seen how horribly gruesome these wounds looked at first, otherwise his reaction would have been even stronger.
"So you're going back to recover?"
"I'm already healed."
Xing Zhinan chuckled, his tone sarcastic. "Yes, yes, he's completely healed."
Yan Qingyuan: "..."
Yan Chi could tell at a glance that Yan Qingyuan wasn't telling the truth. This guy never cared about his health. Looking at Yan Qingyuan's pale face, he knew that [I] could heal his injuries, and made up his mind, "I'll go back with you."
Shen Mingsu's eyes widened instantly upon hearing this. He tugged at Yan Chi's hand and pointed to himself.
—What about him?
"I'll be back during the day." Yan Chi had already planned his schedule, reassuring Shen Mingsu, "I still need to go to work. Don't worry, I'll only be back in the evening."
Working during the day and going home to be with his father at night—Shen Mingsu felt like his world was collapsing.
Yan Chi left without hesitation. He went upstairs to tidy his clothes, and Shen Mingsu followed. He hugged Yan Chi's waist reluctantly, "Can't I go with you?"
"But Chu Xi has to go to kindergarten tomorrow morning." Yan Chi hadn't forgotten the child. "I might not be able to get back in time tomorrow morning, and then you'll have to take Chu Xi to school."
That evening, Yan Chi left with Yan Qingyuan. Xing Zhinan and Xingluo also went home. Shen Chang Le glanced at Shen Mingsu, who was sitting blankly on the sofa, picked up Chu Xi, and went back to his room.
The large living room was now empty except for Shen Mingsu.
That night, lying in bed, Shen Mingsu hugged Yan Chi's pillow, staring at the ceiling. After a long while, he sighed. He felt like a helpless husband, forced to watch his wife go back to her parents' home while he stayed home with their two children.
The next day, Shen Mingsu took Chu Xi to kindergarten. It just so happened that Lu Yuanming and Qiu Yunshu were on duty in front of the school. Qiu Yunshu was still in a state of heightened anxiety around superiors, and he practically avoided Shen Mingsu.
Lu Yuanming, without any of his worries, happily walked over, looked around, and, not finding Yan Chi, asked, "Hey, where's Teacher Chi?"
Shen Mingsu's voice was weak, "He went with his father."
Lu Yuanming was surprised, "Ah? So Teacher Chi doesn't want you anymore?"
His heart felt like it had been struck. Shen Mingsu glanced at him, then, carrying Chu Xi, walked past him, leaving behind a cold and ruthless remark, "...Your salary is back to normal."
Lu Yuanming: "Huh?"
His newly increased three thousand yuan was gone again?!
Qiu Yunshu patted Lu Yuanming's shoulder, "When you see a leader, just avoid them, or talk less and do more. That's how you survive in the workplace."
Lu Yuanming felt utterly hopeless, wanting to cry but unable to.
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