After the tragic incident with Peppa Pig, the household remained calm for a few days.
An Wuyang began to get busy because it was nearing the end of the year, and as a student, he had to start preparing for his final exams. Whether in high school or university, studying was inevitable as long as he was still in school.
The pressure on An Wuyang was considerable, especially since he had repeated a year and forgotten much of his previous knowledge. Now, he had to work hard to study his major courses and pass his required subjects.
In the past, Huo Yunchuan occasionally helped him with his homework so they could spend more time together, but now he dared not, fearing repercussions if Little Angel actually failed a subject. His fans might not accept it, and neither would An Wuyang himself.
Studying hard wasn’t just to set a good example for Dun Dun; it was also about preserving his own dignity.
As the year-end approached, Huo Yunchuan, as the decision-maker for the entire Huo family, naturally became busy with official matters and even resumed a full work schedule. This meant there was less help available to look after Dun Dun. Aunt Zhang had to take care of the child and prepare meals, making her very busy.
After a brief discussion, they decided to hire an early education teacher for Dun Dun—mostly for playtime.
An Wuyang, not the best student, shivered deep inside upon hearing Huo Yunchuan’s proposal. “Early… education?” Was it going to be this catastrophic?
This meant that even though Dun Dun was not yet eight months old and had just learned to crawl, he was about to dive headfirst into the world of learning, likely to spend the next twenty-three years studying—conservatively speaking. If Dun Dun aimed for a PhD, it would be even longer.
However, since it was Huo Yunchuan’s decision, An Wuyang had no reason to object.
If they were hiring an early education teacher, then so be it, he thought. After all, when the time came, it would be Dun Dun controlled by studies, not himself.
Quietly sympathizing with his baby, An Wuyang mischievously opened his backpack and started studying.
As he finished about a third of his homework, he tapped his forehead with his pen, feeling that something wasn’t right.
However, finding the right early education teacher was easier said than done. Until then, Huo Yunchuan maintained a half-day work, half-day rest schedule, which was manageable for the time being.
Dun Dun’s grandmother knew that this season each year was particularly busy for Huo Yunchuan. During their video chat that night, she carefully brought up the idea, suggesting to An Wuyang, “It’s nearing the end of the year now, and both of you are usually busy. How about I take Dun Dun back for a while to help look after him? You can bring him back when you have your winter break. What do you think?”
An Wuyang was stunned for a moment. Send Dun Dun back? But then they would only see him on weekends, wouldn’t they?
Once he thought about it, An Wuyang’s demeanor changed. He hesitated before finally swallowing his refusal and said, “I have no objections, but I can’t make the final decision.”
That was true indeed. Their discussions as mother-in-law and son-in-law were often futile; ultimately, it depended on Huo Yunchuan’s decision.
“Alright, I’ll give him a call then,” Mrs. Huo said.
“Okay, then… goodbye,” An Wuyang said.
He pretended to calmly hang up the phone, but the next moment, he leaped up like a monkey, barefooted, and ran to the study, making quite a commotion.
“…” Huo Yunchuan felt a weight on his back. The familiar scent soon invaded the air he breathed. It was like opium, instantly bringing a pleasurable excitement.
“Didn’t I say come after ten thirty?” he said.
Yet An Wuyang had arrived at ten o’clock sharp.
Although Huo Yunchuan said so, he quickly lifted the little angel onto his lap. His large hand gently ran over the slender figure a few times, not in a lewd way but more like checking the carefully raised pig’s body fat.
An Wuyang was about to say something when the phone on the desk, matching his own model, rang.
Without thinking, he knew it was Dun Dun’s grandmother calling.
He was a bit anxious now and needed to quickly reconcile with Huo Yunchuan.
“Wait!” An Wuyang hurriedly took the phone first and said quickly, “Don’t send Dun Dun away. We can manage ourselves for a month. When I have my winter break, you can focus on work!”
Huo Yunchuan looked puzzled. “Who’s talking about sending Dun Dun away?”
Ignoring the incessant ringing, he wanted to clear things up first.
An Wuyang frowned, not knowing what to say, so he simply handed the phone to him. “You take the call first. You’ll know soon. Just don’t send Dun Dun away.”
Huo Yunchuan glanced at the phone screen and saw it was his mother calling. He instantly understood.
He frowned but didn’t dare to tell An Wuyang that he had been considering the same thing.
“Mom,” Huo Yunchuan answered.
She asked about the recent situation.
Glancing at An Wuyang, who looked worried on his lap, Huo Yunchuan replied, “Yes, I’m dealing with work. It’s busy at year-end…”
After exchanging pleasantries with his mother for a few moments, Mrs. Huo got straight to the point. “Bring Dun Dun back. I’ll take care of him for a while.”
Huo Yunchuan fell silent for a moment, not giving an immediate answer. “…”
“Refuse…” An Wuyang was anxious, looking expectantly at the ultimate decision-maker.
“What do you think?” Mrs. Huo asked from the other end of the line.
“I need to consider it. I’ll give you an answer later,” Huo Yunchuan said, neither refusing nor agreeing immediately.
An Wuyang was startled by this response, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.
Sure enough, after hanging up the phone, Huo Yunchuan held him seriously in his palm and said, “Yang Yang, Dun Dun does need someone to take care of him carefully, and I’ve been quite busy lately…”
An Wuyang wasn’t stupid; he knew this meant they were considering sending Dun Dun away.
This fact imprinted itself in his mind, and his eyes immediately welled up with tears. He looked at Huo Yunchuan plaintively and said, “What should we do about Dun Dun then…”
His eyes turned red directly, feeling extremely upset.
Huo Yunchuan felt uneasy seeing him like this. His earlier calculations were immediately thrown into chaos, feeling like his ability to think straight had encountered a bug.
After all, he was known for being rational and calm.
Whether in his youth or adulthood, his approach to handling things could be described as decisive, or less kindly, lacking in sentimentality.
Now, in this special period when both were busy, temporarily sending Dun Dun back to the Huo family was the most correct choice and should be executed immediately.
But Huo Yunchuan unexpectedly said, “Okay, we won’t send him away. We’ll take care of him ourselves.”
Even he was surprised by the speed of this compromise.
The thought of separating from his own biological son brought forth a deeply uncomfortable emotion.
The young dad who couldn’t help but shed tears heard this good news and, despite his disheveled appearance, his face lit up with a foolish smile. “Really? That’s great.” He sighed with relief, wiping away tears with a smile. “Thank you.” He hugged Huo Yunchuan’s neck and accidentally smeared him with tear stains.
Huo Yunchuan didn’t mind though; after all, he was the one who made An Wuyang cry and felt responsible for comforting him.
“Quiet down for a moment,” he said to An Wuyang. “I’ll make a call.”
“Mm.” An Wuyang closed his mouth and remained silent.
Huo Yunchuan made the call, succinctly explaining his decision, “Mom, Dun Dun has someone to take care of him. There’s no need to send him back.”
Mrs. Huo didn’t seem surprised, quietly asking, “Is it because Yang Yang can’t bear to…?”
“No,” Huo Yunchuan replied, “It’s because I can’t bear to.”
As he answered, his long arms held the now obedient little angel, not exactly lying.
The difference was, An Wuyang couldn’t bear to part with Dun Dun, while Huo Yunchuan couldn’t bear to part with An Wuyang.
“Alright then, it’s up to you,” Mrs. Huo said.
Then the call ended.
An Wuyang was stunned for a moment, his face flushed hot. He couldn’t help but think, can I be even more outstanding…
Since meeting Huo Yunchuan, many skills he didn’t have before now came naturally to him.
For example, throwing tantrums and acting spoiled, things he couldn’t do before?
Being cute and silly, also something he couldn’t do before?
However…
…Honestly, it’s embarrassing, but now I can do all of that.
“Um, you go ahead and work,” An Wuyang said. “I’ll go knead the dough and make you a bowl of noodles.” He jumped down from Huo Yunchuan’s knee and turned back, asking, “Do you want tomato beef or egg with vegetables?”
Mr. Huo thought about it. Weren’t these two dishes just rotated a few days ago?
“…,” Considering that the little angel’s culinary skills hadn’t reached the level where he could freely order, Huo Yunchuan was very considerate of his feelings. “Egg with vegetables.”
The little angel immediately felt a sense of mission. “Okay, no problem.”
Feeling emotionally turbulent, An Wuyang happily skipped out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.
He took down the apron with a rabbit pattern from the hook on the wall and tied it around his neck.
Ready with flour, kneading techniques, and lightly salted water…
Through repeated practice over these days, An Wuyang’s kneading skills had improved significantly.
Whenever he cooked, he felt calm inside and believed that cooking with a happy mood would make the food taste better.
“Done…” The final step, pouring the prepared sauce over, filled the air with a delicious aroma.
An Wuyang carried the large bowl with a wide mouth and walked to the living room to set it down.
“Yunchuan, the noodles are ready,” he knocked on the door. “Come out and eat, or it’ll get mushy.”
“Coming,” Huo Yunchuan responded from inside.
To be honest, he rarely ate staple foods after 8 pm, but it wouldn’t hurt to eat now; after all, he was a grown man who could handle it.
“But Dun Dun…” An Wuyang sat opposite him, looking concerned.
Although he had declined his mother-in-law’s offer to help with the child, the problem still remained unsolved.
“I see,” Huo Yunchuan said, then lowered his head to continue eating his noodles.
“…,” His straightforward manner without hesitation made An Wuyang burst into a silly grin, feeling completely infatuated.
They say that a mismatched marriage won’t bring happiness, but An Wuyang felt differently.
He felt quite content being with Huo Yunchuan most of the time.
“After my winter break, I’ll work hard to take care of Dun Dun together,” he thought to himself.
“Yeah, Dad, thank you for taking care of us during this time,” An Wuyang squeezed Huo Yunchuan’s hand resting on the table, filled with hope and motivation for the future. “Let’s do our best together.”
Huo Yunchuan, calmly eating his noodles, was a man with a rock-solid mindset, but he didn’t mind the exuberant little angel beside him at all. “Mm.”
1TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading! ❤️”
