Since I started being with Wei Yutang, it felt like I was returning to reality from a dream in a fantastical world.
"What are you thinking about?"
A deep male voice came from beside her, causing Chu Qing to quickly snap back to reality. She instinctively shook her head and denied it.
"I wasn't thinking about anything."
Wei Yutang reached out and pushed open the bedroom door, then casually turned on the light.
"Get some rest. Your toiletries are where you remember them. What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Okay, let's have wontons. Xiaxia said she wanted to eat them."
Upon hearing this, Wei Yutang frowned slightly and stepped forward, transforming his previously safe position into one that felt more aggressive and offensive. As the night deepened, the bedroom lights seemed to carry an air of ambiguity.
"What I'm asking is, what would you like to eat?"
He didn't like seeing Chu Qing always acting this way, accommodating Xia Xia's preferences and even neglecting himself.
"Noodles, please. The clear broth noodles you had last time were delicious."
Sensing his apparent displeasure, Chu Qing quickly changed her tune. Wei Yutang's eyes softened, and he lowered his head to gently kiss her forehead.
"That's a good girl, goodnight."
Perhaps in the past, Chu Qing was too busy taking care of Xia Xia alone, so he did this to save trouble.
But now that he has his own life, Wei Yutang does not want this already wrong habit to continue.
Good night, get some rest.
"Um."
When Wei Yutang walked out into the corridor, he couldn't help but silently curse himself a few times.
He is a very efficient person and hopes to get things done in one go.
When it came to Chu Qing, she was extremely careful and gentle, afraid that the slightest offense would displease him.
Even when the two of them were lying on the same bed, he only dared to lean in and give Chu Qing a light kiss before getting her consent.
After he left, Chu Qing glanced at the bedroom's furnishings, washed up, lay down on the big bed, closed her eyes, and slept soundly.
He doesn't like to say "I love you" verbally; he prefers to prove it with actions rather than words.
Compared to a passionate, dramatic love, Chu Qing yearns for a deep, enduring affection.
Wei Yutang originally only planned to have his assistant present a gift at the banquet, but now that he was taking the opportunity to announce Chu Qing's existence, he needed to be more careful.
When trying on dresses, Xiaxia looked at her father on the left and then on the right. Her happy little face turned serious after she realized that they were wearing the same dress.
Why isn't Dad wearing the same clothes as me?
The angry tone in Xiaxia's voice when she said this was no different from when she discovered that her father knew her father but didn't take her with him.
"Because you are still young."
Wei Yutang squatted down to tidy his hair; it was a difficult task to fool his clever little darling.
"I'm almost four years old, am I still a child?"
Xia Xia's eyes widened, and Wei Yutang patted his head and nodded affirmatively.
"Hmm, you're still too young. You need to grow up to be like me."
After comparing their heights in the mirror, Xiaxia was forced to accept the fact that she was still young.
He must eat well so that he can grow taller than his father when he grows up.
Chu Qing didn't expose Wei Yutang's clumsy lie. Instead, she lowered her head, ruffled Xia Xia's hair, and praised her with a smile:
"My Xiaxia is very handsome."
Xiaxia gave a soft hum, proudly raised her head, and looked down at people with her chin after being praised by her father.
Before Xiaxia could be proud for long, the housekeeper gently knocked on the door and stood by the door to remind the chef that the snacks were ready.
Xiaxia, who happened to be hungry, promptly ran over and put her hand in the butler's palm, chattering incessantly with questions.
"Snacks? Are they for me? How many are there?"
Chu Qing lowered his head to adjust his cufflinks. After a brief moment of looking down, Wei Yutang pulled him into his arms from behind and easily fixed his cufflinks.
"Now that you've praised Xiaxia, what about me?"
The warm breath she exhaled as she spoke landed on Chu Qing's earlobe and neck, making him flinch uncomfortably.
Looking at the man in the mirror, impeccable in both appearance and demeanor, dressed in a tailored suit, she whispered:
"The same to you."
Chu Qing took his hand, and their body temperatures slowly blended as they touched. Wei Yutang's broad chest made her feel very safe.
Xiaxia, carrying a small bowl of snacks, climbed the stairs and came in without knocking. Seeing her father carrying her on his back, she pouted and muttered:
"Daddy hugs Xiaxia, Xiaxia gets a snack, but Daddy doesn't."
Wei Yutang released his grip on Chu Qing, walked over to Xia Xia, squatted down, and reminded her:
"The snacks are what I asked the chef to prepare for you."
"That's mine."
Xiaxia is always good at discarding the bridge after crossing the river. Without any hesitation, she picked up a small cookie, stood on tiptoe, and held it to her father's mouth.
Wei Yutang wouldn't actually compete with Xiaxia for favor; he just wanted to tease the little ungrateful girl.
Perhaps because of his previous absence from Xiaxia's life, he developed an inexplicable sense of wariness and rejection towards himself, and used the way of vying for favor in front of Chu Qing to obtain the sense of security he needed.
This behavior was also a way of proving that he was more important than himself in Chu Qing's heart.
Wei Yutang also consulted a psychologist, who advised that for children of this age, parental support, understanding, and companionship are the best ways to heal.
He was trying his best to show Xiaxia through his actions that he wasn't a bad person trying to compete with her for Chu Qing's attention, but rather someone who loved her father alongside Chu Qing.
After Xiaxia finished feeding Chu Qing, Wei Yutang asked:
"And what about me?"
Xiaxia was a little reluctant to part with the cookies, but then she thought that her father had been good to her, so she handed a bowl of cookies to her father and asked him to hold them for her.
Then, after carefully selecting the one she thought was the ugliest, she broke it in half and handed one of the smaller pieces to Wei Yutang.
"That's all."
When Xiaxia saw it, she felt it was a bit embarrassing, so she took it back and put it in her mouth, and asked her father and father to sit down on the sofa together.
The housekeeper brought over three small bowls, and Xiaxia started dividing the cookies.
Wei Yutang and Chu Qing weren't really craving those cookies; they were just happy to spend time with Xia Xia on such childish things that served no purpose other than strengthening their relationship.
"Hmm, one for Xiaxia, one for Daddy."
"One piece for Father, one piece for Dad."
"One for Dad, one for Dad."
...
While dividing the cookies, Xiaxia muttered to herself.
After distributing the cookies, I clapped my hands and looked at the three obviously different portions of cookies, still feeling like a very fair kid.
Wei Yutang chuckled softly, his hand pressed against his lips. Xia Xia, who had been frowning upon hearing the laughter, was about to question him when Chu Qing also chuckled.
Her furrowed brows relaxed, and she sat in her father's lap to eat cookies, truly a master of face-changing in the new century.
Since his father was also happy, he didn't hold a grudge against his father for making fun of him.
At the banquet that day, Wei Yutang brought Chu Qing and Xia Xia along and didn't hesitate to introduce their identities to everyone.
Having your partner and children by your side brings a sense of accomplishment that no amount of success in your career can bring.
Chu Qing held a wine glass with her slender fingers, while Xia Xia held a glass of milk. When she felt a little tired, she went to a private room to rest.
Unable to sit still, Xiaxia ran to the balcony for a stroll. While admiring the lights, she suddenly noticed someone who looked familiar in the hotel's back garden below.
"Dad, come quick! Father is talking to someone with his back to you!"
As Xiaxia spoke, the dog crouched down furtively, afraid that her father would discover that he had seen her.
Upon hearing this, Chu Qing stood up, walked over, opened the balcony door, and waved to him.
"It's windy outside, come in first."
"Dad, aren't you going to watch?"
Xiaxia rubbed her hands, which were indeed a little cold, and obediently went inside. Being angry with her father was not as important as her father's little darling's health.
Chu Qing gently warmed his small hands in her own palms, whispering a reminder:
"Xiaxia, we should trust your father more."
If they don't even have this much trust between them, then this relationship will be exhausting for either of them.
They are all adults, and Chu Qing can clearly distinguish between appropriate private space and freedom.
"If Father betrays our trust, Dad will kick him out!"
Wei Yutang had just finished his work downstairs and wanted to come up to see how the father and son were doing. As soon as he opened the door, he heard these words.
"Who will you kick out?"
Author's Note:
Xiaxia: The kid probably doesn't know what "social death" means, right? qaq
Starting tomorrow, the update time will be 9 PM. I will ask for leave in special circumstances, but I will guarantee at least two updates and three updates a day. I, the one who used to procrastinate, am back on my feet!!
Goodnight~
Chapter 30
Wei Yutang had drunk a little alcohol downstairs. One of the reasons he didn't like coming to these kinds of occasions was because there were some drinks he couldn't refuse.