Chapter 4 - The Supporting Villain Is Raising a Cub Online

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

A Wealthy Benefactor Falling for a D-list Cannon Fodder?

 

Frequent urination and urgency? Absolutely not. That's never going to happen in this lifetime. How else could one enjoy life to the fullest?

 

Tan Qing, the cat, stretched his neck out sneakily from behind a marble pillar in the hotel, watching He Mingyu lead a group of people into the innermost private room.

 

Just as he was about to follow them, his phone, tucked in his pocket, buzzed twice.

 

It was a message from Zhao Cong:

 

[If you don't want to die, get back here immediately.]

 

Humans, such bold words, you've got quite the attitude, huh?

 

Tan Qing slipped his phone back into his pocket and tiptoed forward.

 

However, just as he reached the door of the private room, two burly bodyguards blocked his way from both sides.

 

"Who are you looking for?" they asked.

 

Tan Qing looked left and right, and the more he compared them, the more he realized how good-looking the little brat's dad actually was.

 

So, he pointed towards the room. "I'm looking for He Mingyu."

 

The two bodyguards exchanged glances. "Mr. He is inside discussing matters with guests. He doesn't meet with strangers."

 

With genuine innocence, and even a bit of hurt, Tan Qing said, "But I know He Mingyu! Didn't our bedroom scandal make it to the headlines? How can you call me a stranger?"

 

The two bodyguards fell into a long, synchronized silence. Finally, one of them stiffly replied:

 

"Sorry, without Mr. He's permission, you can't go in."

 

Tan Qing shrugged. "Oh well, alright."

 

Then, in a swift motion, he reached out and pulled down the door lock of the private room.

 

The door opened.

 

The two bodyguards: "..."

 

When Tan Qing had snuck over earlier, he overheard a passing waiter say that this was the most luxurious suite in the hotel.

 

And sure enough.

 

As soon as he opened the door, the interior was decorated in dazzling gold, exuding the tantalizing aroma of wealth.

 

From the framed paintings to the ebony tables and chairs, everything made poor Tan Qing's eyes gleam with desire.

 

For a moment, he even forgot that his main focus should have been Mr. He.

 

It wasn't until He Mingyu, sitting at the head of the table, cast a frosty glance at the two awkward bodyguards by the door, coldly saying, "Did I hire you to be decorations?" that Tan Qing wiped the drool from his mouth and shifted his gaze back to He Mingyu.

 

"It's not their fault," Tan Qing explained. "I barged in—oh, Ran Anluo, good evening!"

 

Wasn't that his former good teammate, now the protagonist shou?

 

What an honor.

 

Tan Qing cheerfully waved at Ran Anluo, "You're here for dinner too?"

 

Ran Anluo, flustered, instinctively glanced at his manager, then at He Mingyu, before awkwardly responding, "Good evening, Xiao Qing*…"

 

[T/N: "Xiao" is a term of endearment, that translates literally to "Little Qing"]

 

Tan Qing and Ran Anluo had debuted as trainees in the same group, but after Tan Qing's scandal a few months ago, the company had reassigned Ran Anluo a new manager, and the group naturally disbanded.

 

Now, upon meeting again, one was broke and down on his luck, caught up in unclear relationships with two older men.

 

The other, clearly, was here to dine with producers and investors under the guidance of his manager.

 

Everyone has their own fate.

 

Tan Qing glanced at their table full of dishes with envy and longing.

 

The food looked so good.

 

And there was so much meat.

 

Not just chicken, but also duck, goose...

 

Oh, and roast lamb chops.

 

None of it had been touched yet.

 

Sniffing the delightful aroma wafting from the food, Tan Qing pitifully asked He Mingyu, "Can I sit down and eat with you guys? I promise I'll just eat. I won't interrupt or tell anyone what you were discussing. You won't even notice I'm here."

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

He Mingyu raised his chin indifferently and told the bodyguards, "Escort him out."

 

The two bodyguards, having already made one mistake, quickly rushed over, grabbing Tan Qing by the arms from both sides, ready to pull him out.

 

However, they soon realized the person they were pulling didn't budge an inch.

 

The Bodyguards: "???"

 

The arms in their grip were so thin, almost devoid of muscle.

 

Even his entire frame seemed delicate and frail.

 

One of the bodyguards briefly questioned his life choices before using more force to try again.

 

But Tan Qing's eyes immediately welled up with two bright tears, hanging from the corners of his eyes as he shouted dramatically, "He Mingyu, you scumbag! You sleep with me and then refuse to acknowledge it, not even treating me to a meal!"

 

"Tan Qing—!"

 

He Mingyu's voice shook with rage as he glared at Tan Qing for a long moment before breaking into a bitter laugh. "Fine, it's just a meal. I, He Mingyu, can afford it."

 

Ran Anluo's face shifted colors upon hearing this, and when he glanced back at Tan Qing, there was a forced smile tugging at his lips.

 

He hurried over to pull out a chair for Tan Qing and nudged him gently on the shoulder, "Xiao Qing, don't mess around with Director He. Please, have a seat."

 

The two bodyguards, still trying to figure out how Tan Qing had slipped from their grasp, looked up to see him already seated at the table.

 

And, in an instant, Tan Qing had raised his chopsticks, assuring everyone, "Don't worry, talk amongst yourselves. I won't say a word. I'm very trustworthy."

 

Lin Yu, who had been He Mingyu's secretary for eight stormy years, swore he had never experienced such an awkward dinner in his life.

 

Aside from the producer's polite but painfully awkward attempts to keep the conversation flowing, the most eye-catching person at the table was Tan Qing, seated in the outermost chair.

 

And Tan Qing really kept his promise.

 

He just ate without speaking.

 

Quickly.

 

Nimbly.

 

Even the sounds of his chopsticks and chewing were soft.

 

And yet...

 

Lin Yu found himself despairing as he realized, though he knew rationally that Tan Qing wasn't a good person, he still thought the way Tan Qing ate was incredibly appealing...

 

His fair, delicate face flushed pink as he ate.

 

His cheeks puffed up like a little animal storing food for winter.

 

Lin Yu, ashamed, bowed his head, convinced he was somehow broken inside.

 

Slurp, a whole plate of pearl goose meat was gone.

 

Gulp, another plate of sticky rice chicken vanished.

 

Sluuurp…

 

He Mingyu, frowning, raised a hand to interrupt the producer mid-conversation, then hesitated before addressing Tan Qing, "Slow down. No one's fighting you for it."

 

Tan Qing, pulling his head up from a gilded platter twice the size of his own, wiped the grease from the corners of his mouth and, in an elegant tone, replied, "Don't mind me, you all just continue your discussion."

 

The food was just too good.

 

So good that he had to suppress the urge to wag his tail in joy.

 

Shifting in his seat, Tan Qing tucked away his eager, twitching tail.

 

With expert precision, he peeled the meat from a pigeon leg and, beaming, asked He Mingyu, "Mr. He, can I order another of these?"

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

After a glance from He Mingyu, Lin Yu called for the waiter and ordered another plate of red wine braised pigeon.

 

Tan Qing was moved to tears.

 

And so, the speed at which plates emptied picked up even further.

 

In the end, every dish meant to be served as a sophisticated touch to the evening's atmosphere ended up in Tan Qing's stomach.

 

Standing up, Tan Qing patted his now slightly protruding belly and marveled, "Wow... It's the same size as it was at three months."

 

Once again, the room fell into a strange silence.

 

After a long pause, He Mingyu let out a cold laugh, "Oh? You seem quite knowledgeable."

 

Tan Qing, stifling a dainty burp, shot He Mingyu a glance and, deciding to be magnanimous now that his stomach was full, said, "I also know how big it gets at six months, or nine."

 

Apparently at the end of his rope, He Mingyu, no longer able to tolerate Tan Qing's shamelessness, stood abruptly and stormed towards the door.

 

Lin Yu quickly followed but was intercepted by the cautious producer, "Assistant Lin, the deal isn't settled yet... Could we...?"

 

Lin Yu looked at He Mingyu's unwavering pace and sighed, "You've seen the boss's attitude yourself. Do you think it's appropriate to continue?"

 

The producer, reluctant, pushed a little further, "But it's such a rare opportunity, and Xiao Ran, he..."

 

Lin Yu gently pulled the producer's hand away, "For a new talent, it's just as dangerous to push too hard... Wait! Mr. Tan!"

 

Before Lin Yu could catch up, Tan Qing, still wiping his greasy mouth, had already scampered after He Mingyu.

 

He Mingyu's impeccably polished leather shoes clicked on the gleaming hotel floor. He walked a long way without hearing Lin Yu making itinerary arrangements behind him, so he glanced back casually.

 

Turning slightly, he was greeted by the sight of Tan Qing, head tilted, smiling as he raised a hand in a playful wave, much like a beckoning cat.

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

The lobby's bright lights made Tan Qing's face glow with a vibrant, alluring liveliness—an innocent yet provocative temptation.

 

For some reason, He Mingyu's gaze drifted downward, landing on Tan Qing's slightly rounded stomach.

 

Despite it being deep winter, the man before him was still only wearing a light trench coat. The sweater underneath, fraying at the edges, had clearly seen better days.

 

He Mingyu, suppressing his irritation, asked flatly, "I fed you. Why are you still following me?"

 

Tan Qing, now feeling slightly sheepish after all the food he had eaten, showed a rare moment of bashfulness.

 

Sliding a few steps closer on the gleaming tiles, he whispered, "I'm out of money for a cab... Can you give me a lift?"

 

He Mingyu snapped, "And why should I?"

 

Tan Qing, trying to be persuasive, said, "Just a short ride! Find some dark and deserted alley and toss me in, that'll be fine!"

 

He Mingyu: "???"

 

What does he mean, 'toss you in'?

 

Is this a murder-and-dump situation?

 

The hotel lobby was bustling with people, and before long, He Mingyu noticed someone in the shadows discreetly lifting a camera.

 

If they ended up in the tabloids again, who knows what scandalous narrative would emerge this time?

 

An unresolved past?

 

A rekindled flame?

 

A wealthy benefactor falling for a washed-up, D-list cannon fodder?

 

Grinding his teeth, He Mingyu shot Tan Qing a venomous look, "Get in the car."

 

Tan Qing: "Coming, coming!"

 

He Mingyu's car gleamed like it had just rolled off the showroom floor. Tan Qing ducked into car, sitting obediently beside He Mingyu, and sincerely praised, "This black Santana is pretty nice. You're such a great boss to treat your employees so well."

 

One of the bodyguards, who was also the driver, chimed in from the front, "Mr. Tan, this isn't a Santana. It's a fully-equipped imported Phaeton."

 

"Oh..."

 

Noticing He Mingyu's expression, Tan Qing quickly corrected himself, "Of course, Mr. He, representing the company, must drive the best. It's only fitting, absolutely."

 

He Mingyu, face still cold, said, "Stop chatting and ask him where he lives. Let's get this over with."

 

The bodyguard quickly picked up on the command, "Mr. Tan, where are you living now?"

 

Tan Qing lived in a run-down shantytown that didn't even have a proper name. After thinking for a while and failing to recall the exact name, he finally pulled out his phone, opened the map, and marked a spot for the driver.

 

The shantytown was quite far from the city center.

 

Tan Qing inwardly cursed the car for being too slow, and sincerely hoped He Mingyu would drop him off somewhere quiet: "Mr. He, you can just let me off at the alley up ahead. I'll take the bus home from there."

 

He Mingyu gave him a look as if Tan Qing were an idiot. "At this hour, the buses have long stopped running. If I leave you out there and something happens to you, won't the media come after me again?"

 

Tan Qing raised his head earnestly. "If you give me a million yuan, I swear I'll never bother you again."

 

He Mingyu's lips curled into a smirk. "Keep dreaming."

 

Sigh.

 

Negotiations had failed.

 

Annoyed, Tan Qing turned his head and rested it on his arm, which he propped against the window. He stared at the swiftly passing scenery, pretending to be deep in thought.

 

From He Mingyu's angle, he could clearly see Tan Qing's profile.

 

A high, straight nose, slightly upturned lips, and long, curved eyes. It was undeniably the kind of face the public would love.

 

But in the very next second, the serenity was shattered by the face's owner.

 

"Ahhh! Stop, stop, stop at that convenience store! I need to buy discounted milk for the little one at home!"

 

He Mingyu was stunned for a moment and instinctively asked, "Do you really have a kid at home?"

 

Author's Note: Mini-theater:

He Mingyu: "Sweetheart, I heard that when you get excited, your tail pops out uncontrollably?"

Tan Qing: "…Get lost, not tonight."

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