Translator: Lynn
A bonus chapter!
Li Weidu didn’t open the refrigerator as Ji Kai had hoped. Instead, he remained seated on the sofa, his gaze lowered, an air of unease mixed with a hint of green in his expression, and a slow, gentle smile gracing his lips.
In his simple white shirt, with his hair undone, he appeared surprisingly youthful at that moment. When he suddenly smiled in the bright sunshine streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he seemed to be enveloped in a halo of white and golden light, resembling a youthful god from a Nordic mural.
In Ji Kai’s mind, he silently muttered, “Well, this is unexpected.”
It was quite the transformation from the typically arrogant and sarcastic CEO with a penchant for eye-rolling. In his home mode, clad in an apron and sporting a genuine smile, he was a completely different person.
Such a stark contrast left Ji Kai with the feeling that having one boyfriend was akin to having two. It was like gaining something for nothing.
It felt like a squandering of natural resources! How could someone like Li Weidu, who was so exemplary, be with Ye Yin?
As the saying goes, a good man often ends up with a less deserving partner. It made him think of the idea that old friends tend to be the most honest. Ji Kai contemplated the notion but decided not to let it unnerve him. After all, Zhu Ling, who was handsome, romantic, considerate, and had a great physique, was also strangely favored by him.
The only caveat was the “suspected cheating” incident.
He couldn’t help but wonder, should this matter be allowed to slide by? He felt a sudden urge to ask Mr. Li in front of him about the high likelihood of infidelity in his relationship. Would he simply turn a blind eye and let it pass?
Considering Li Weidu’s previous advice to “go back and take care of Zhu Ling” and his efforts to coax Ye Yin to return home, it seemed he had no intention of delving deeper into the matter. This left Ji Kai with a perplexing question—were all wealthy individuals these days so noble and honorable?
But when Li Weidu smiled, looking genuinely pleasant, Ji Kai didn’t want to spoil the atmosphere, so he suppressed his inner criticisms and didn’t inquire further. After all, everyone had their own principles and ways of living.
Perhaps this affluent CEO had simply fallen for a wild spirit and didn’t mind the uncharted territories. He might appreciate the diversity of relationships and wholeheartedly respect others’ choices.
However, Ji Kai knew himself too well. Matters of the heart were black and white to him. He could never accept deceit, concealment, or the gray areas of ambiguity. There was no room for compromise in his view.
He couldn’t help but wonder about the situation between Zhu Ling and Ye Yin. He resolved to get to the bottom of it when he returned home, even if he had to hold a knife to Zhu Ling’s throat. Self-deception and glossing over things like an ostrich were not in his character.
“…”
“Wow! You and my uncle totally forgot about me! Uncle Nan and the others came to pick me up yesterday afternoon! They took me to a seafood buffet, we went to Xinghui Amusement Park for some night-time fun, and I even stayed at their place last night. You two didn’t even give me a call! Are you sure I’m still your own son?”
“Both Uncle Nan and Uncle Li are seriously considering adopting me! If this keeps up, ‘Yun Yang’er’ will end up being raised by someone else!”
Ji Kai felt a pang of guilt.
The young boy before him was Zhu Yan, who was currently fifteen years old and embarking on his first year of high school.
A decade ago, Zhu Ling’s brother and sister-in-law tragically lost their lives in a car accident, leaving their only son to be cared for by his grandparents. After Ji Kai and Zhu Ling got married, taking into account that Zhu Ling’s mother was getting older and had limited energy, they decided to bring the young nephew into their home.
Over time, Zhu Yan had transitioned from addressing Zhu Ling as “uncle” to calling Ji Kai “dad.”
…
Upstairs in Ji Kai’s residence resided a harmonious couple, one being a doctor and the other a painter.
According to Lei Nanyu, fondly known as “Uncle Nan,” he reminisced, “Ji Kai, do you still recall the time you invited me over when you first moved in here? Your mahogany floors were polished to a shine, yet there were no shoe covers or slippers in the shoe cabinet.”
“You were wearing sandals and strolled around the house. You enthusiastically greeted me with ‘Come in’ and ‘Come in.’ I pondered for quite a while, not knowing how I was supposed to enter.”
“This is how you treat guests. You can imagine how well you two take care of the child.”
Ji Kai admittedly wasn’t very attentive to his son.
In reality, his natural disposition leaned towards carelessness, both in his interactions with others and in his personal life.
With Zhu Ling engrossed in his work, little Zhu Yan had essentially been adopted by the couple residing upstairs, who had grown rather fond of him.
Since they began the “co-parenting” arrangement with their upstairs neighbors, Zhu Yan’s pants were no longer wrinkled, his hair was styled more neatly, and his complexion had improved thanks to nourishing meals. After the summer camp, someone had been looking after him.
“Apologies, I’m truly sorry, Xiaoyan. I genuinely forgot!” Ji Kai expressed remorse.
The young lad, however, pouted, and his inky black eyes darted around. “Well,” he began, “then how about a fifty-yuan fine?”
…
Thanks, indeed. This child is a little angel. He never holds grudges, even after receiving pocket money.
If it were another child, someone with a more fragile heart who had experienced all the mishaps caused by Ji Kai’s well-intentioned but often forgetful nature over the past three years, they probably wouldn’t be so quick to happily call him “Dad” while a little bunny nuzzled their arms.
Like other parents, they might have been scolded by a teacher and demanded compensation: “Dad, I got reprimanded, that’s twenty yuan.”
Or perhaps they forgot to give them their allowance for living expenses: “Thirty yuan for delayed payment.”
Just like other parents who sometimes forget to remind their children to wear extra layers when it’s cold or to take an umbrella when it’s raining, leaving them returning home looking like drowned rats or snowmen: “Five yuan for emotional distress.”
Whenever holidays came around and breakfast consisted of burnt poached eggs in toast every day, they might have complained: “Dad, one-to-one compensation, let’s settle it monthly.”
All those stories on the internet about “Why dads shouldn’t be left in charge of kids” make it seem like each picture is a true reflection of Ji Kai’s life.
Yet, despite all these quirks, their father-son relationship remained strong, a true blessing from above.
…
It’s often said that children bring both bonding and excitement to a family.
“Ji Kai, my dear, today Uncle is going to cook your favorite dishes for Xiao Yan!” The blue flames on the stove crackled, and the knives clanged as they worked.
“Hey, Uncle~ I’m heading to a summer camp. Have you suddenly learned how to cook?”
Zhu Ling shook his head, removed his black apron with a flourish, his fingertips glinting brightly. “Can’t one learn on the go? Trust me, I’ll follow the recipe step by step. It’s just manual labor, how hard can it be?”
Behold, the incredible stability of “family.”
If they were just a couple – entangled with exes, fighting over little goblins, and dealing with suspicions of cheating – every mention would be a potential relationship-ending disaster.
But having a child changes everything.
Before walking through the door, Ji Kai had mentally prepared himself for a catastrophic showdown, fully aware of the despair that awaited. However, when he saw Xiao Yan and that innocent, smiling face, he had to swallow his anger and act as if nothing had happened.
In the end, the family of three sat down and enjoyed a peaceful dinner!
As a first-time cook, Zhu Ling did surprisingly well. The food wasn’t unpleasant. While it may not have been a feast for the eyes or the palate, there were a few dishes that were genuinely delicious.
…
“Brother Kai, after school starts, Xiaoyan will come home to live more often. I’ll also reduce my workload and spend more time at home with both of you.” Zhu Ling, sitting on Ji Kai’s left, naturally reached out his right hand to hold Ji Kai’s left hand, adorned with a platinum ring. Their fingers slowly intertwined, palms warm as they squeezed tightly.
Seeing the hesitation in Ji Kai’s eyes in front of the child’s pure and shining gaze, Zhu Ling leaned closer. He narrowed his peach blossom eyes and used a seductive, velvety voice near Ji Kai’s ear.
“Let’s make a deal, Brother Kai. Promise Xiaoyan and me that you’ll quit smoking, okay? I want to have a long life with you.”
“…”
“In a few years, when we’ve saved enough money, we’ll buy a beachfront cabin in the south. You’ve always loved the beach, haven’t you? Then I’ll climb the trees every day to get you fresh coconut juice, and you can just lounge on the beach, soaking up the sun. As long as we’re all healthy, that day isn’t far away.”
Yet another doggedly romantic proposal! The young man sitting across from them sighed deeply, his eyes filled with envy and a longing for a sweet love story.
Ji Kai was momentarily taken aback, and in just a few seconds, all the cigarettes in his trouser pocket had been confiscated.
He had picked up smoking in college. After meeting Zhu Ling, he had managed to quit once for him, staying smoke-free for two and a half years. However, after their marriage, during the challenging period when Zhu Ling rose to fame, he had regrettably taken up smoking again.
Until now.
“Dad~ Dad~ Did you and Uncle have a fight?” Suddenly, Zhu Yan set down his fork.
“…” Ji Kai was surprised. He thought he was acting quite cheerful, so how did Xiaoyan notice?
“You haven’t been talking much since you got home. Oh, Dad~ My brother-in-law inherited a bit of thick-headedness from his ancestors, and you only found out on the first day. If there are any problems, just let him know. He actually loves you a lot. Don’t be smarter than him by being occasionally foolish, okay?”
“Who are you calling foolish?” Zhu Ling glared, firmly holding Ji Kai’s hand and surreptitiously giving the kid under the table a gentle tap with his foot.
The child burst into even louder laughter, “It’s true, Dad! Whenever Uncle makes you unhappy again, just quietly say, ‘I chose this, I have to accept it,’ and your peace of mind will return! Who let you understand things so clearly? Is there something wrong with his mind, and you only married him because he’s handsome?”
Dangling on the kitchen door was the rainbow generator that Ji Kai had bought a few years ago. It swayed gently in the setting sun, casting warm and vibrant colors throughout the dining room. Ji Kai’s eyes suddenly welled up with emotion, and a mouthful of rice got stuck in his throat, making it hard to swallow.
On the way home and in the car, he had been determined to confront and passionately resolve their issues, unafraid of confronting any challenges.
But now…
His chest felt heavy, and Zhu Ling gently pulled him close. A warm embrace, a tender kiss brushing against his ear.
“Darling, I admit I acted foolishly, and I won’t do it again. Please forgive me this one last time, especially for Xiaoyan’s sake. Will you?” …The phone rang incessantly, one call after another – just as Zhu Ling spoke with unwavering sincerity, his eyes filled with 120% genuine emotion, and the drama of his life was reaching its climax.
The big star displayed remarkable decisiveness this time.
He frowned, refusing to answer and personally delivering an ultimatum. Fifteen seconds in one go.
“Brother Kai, from today onwards, Ye Yin will have no place in my life. He’s on my permanent blacklist, and I promise you with all my sincerity.”
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