Chapter 13 - 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.
Kiddo, Your Biological Dad Returned You!
After being struck by lightning, Tan Qing lost all the abilities he had as a great ancestor and had no way to predict just how cunning some humans could be.
When Rong Sheng finished his work and left the company, it took him almost twenty minutes to find Tan Qing, who was sitting in an old snack shop deep in an alley, munching away, grease dripping from his mouth.
The snack shop was run by an elderly couple, and from the look of the place, it had been around for quite a few years. Even the wooden tables and chairs in the dining area were layered with years of grime.
Though Rong Sheng had accompanied a few of his less well-off lovers to street-side food stalls before, he had never set foot in a place like this, which looked as if it wouldn't pass a health inspection… more like an illicit eatery.
Tan Qing waved from a wooden table in the back, "You're here! Sit, sit, sit."
Rong Sheng: "…"
Burdened with mixed feelings, Rong Sheng sat down across from Tan Qing.
Tan Qing looked up at him and then glanced at the chair Rong Sheng was sitting on, his gaze filled with a mix of complexity and admiration. "Huh, you didn't wipe it down with a napkin first? It's covered in a thick layer of grease."
Rong Sheng: "…"
The suit he was wearing had been custom-made by a famous designer and had just arrived from France a couple of days ago. He had planned to wear it to next month's film festival.
And now…
Rong Sheng wasn't sure what possessed him this morning. When he saw Tan Qing sleepily fumbling about, he impulsively pulled out this suit to wear.
In hindsight, it felt utterly ridiculous, like a high schooler trying to impress a crush.
Resigned to his folly, Rong Sheng gave up on being careful. He rested his arms on the greasy table and pulled a pair of disposable chopsticks from the nearby holder, poking at the two large bowls in front of Tan Qing. "Didn't I tell you to wait outside? Why didn't you eat at the company cafeteria? Why come here?"
Tan Qing protectively pulled his bowl back, fishing out a braised pig's trotter.
He took a few bites, smacking his lips, "Your assistant said that, given our current… relationship, the cafeteria wasn't appropriate."
After saying that, Tan Qing glanced at Rong Sheng curiously. "What relationship do we have anyway? Is it a failed covert affair?"
Rong Sheng chuckled, pulling a couple of napkins from the box and wiping the grease from the corners of Tan Qing's mouth. "What kind of relationship do you want?"
Tan Qing chewed on the pig's trotter thoughtfully for a moment before shaking his head regretfully. "Never mind. You're not a rich sugar mommy. Doesn't suit me."
Rong Sheng: "…"
Feeling his status as president of Shengjing Entertainment was being belittled, Rong Sheng straightened Tan Qing's thinking. "There aren't many sugar mommies in J City richer than me."
Tan Qing sighed dramatically, "Nope, I don't want to cause any more accidents."
Raising one little brat was already hard enough.
Thankfully, that responsibility had been passed on to He Mingyu.
Rong Sheng seemed even less reliable than He Mingyu. If another kid popped up, wouldn't he just be digging his own grave?
This was not a deal worth making.
Tan Qing finished the pig's trotter and began working on the braised ox head meat in his bowl.
Halfway through eating, an idea sparked. He paused and looked at Rong Sheng with sincere, wide eyes. "But hey, do you think you could help me find out if any of those richer sugar mommies are looking for a boyfriend? You know, the kind who used to be a celebrity."
Rong Sheng: "…"
Assuming Tan Qing was just joking, Rong Sheng smiled kindly and pointed to the large porcelain bowl on the table. "No need. Just eat and stop dreaming."
Tan Qing pouted, but quickly polished off the rest of the braised beef.
Rong Sheng, who never let his companions pay for meals, saw the pitiful look on Tan Qing's face that seemed to scream, "I'm super broke," and naturally covered the bill.
The two of them walked out of the dimly lit snack shop side by side.
Rong Sheng took off his jacket and inspected it. What was once a clean elbow and cuff were now stained with a dark layer of grease.
Without hesitation, he tossed the jacket into a nearby trash bin, then opened the car door for Tan Qing. "Where do you want to go?"
Now that Tan Qing had 5,000 yuan in his account, he was in an exceptionally good mood.
He licked the tip of his fingers and gracefully shook his head at Rong Sheng. "Thanks for the meal, but you don't need to worry about me. Lin Yu will come pick me up later."
"Lin Yu?"
Rong Sheng was surprised. "Isn't that He Mingyu's assistant? Why is he picking you up?"
Tan Qing, full and a bit sleepy, blinked his lashes a few times before casually replying, "I'm going to see He Mingyu and the little brat. We're having dinner together."
Although it was still early for dinner, and Tan Qing wasn't sure when Lin Yu would come to get him.
He looked around blankly, finding no chairs to take a nap on. So he changed his mind. "Can I come back to the office with you for a bit? I'll secretly call Lin Yu and have him pick me up there."
Rong Sheng's hand paused slightly on the car door. "The little brat?"
Tan Qing nodded obediently. "Yeah, He Mingyu's kid."
Rong Sheng's smile faltered.
After a few seconds of silence, he feigned a playful tone and asked, "Are you sure? Whose kid is it?"
Hearing the legitimacy of the child being questioned again, Tan Qing wasn't happy. He pursed his lips. "Of course it's ours. I told you last time. You just won't believe me."
Rong Sheng's smile faded completely. "So He Mingyu has accepted it?"
Tan Qing yawned and slipped into the car through the open door. "Of course! I gave him a son. If he doesn't accept it, wouldn't that make him a jerk?"
Rong Sheng: "…"
After a brief silence, Rong Sheng closed Tan Qing's door, along with the fleeting thoughts he'd been entertaining.
No wonder He Mingyu had called that morning to arrange an investment.
Maybe it wasn't hush money after all—perhaps it was a welcoming gift.
Rong Sheng and He Mingyu had been close since childhood, standing in corners as punishment together, pulling pranks, and tugging at girls' ponytails.
Although Rong Sheng had never had the best morals and was known for his wild lifestyle, he'd never intended to mess around with a brother's lover.
With a sigh, he returned to the driver's seat, addressing Tan Qing, "I'll take you back to the office first. Lin Yu should be there before the end of the workday. Just be patient and wait."
Now full and content, Tan Qing became a little lazy, shifting around in the passenger seat several times as he tried to resist the urge to stretch out his tail for some comfort.
Sigh.
How wonderful it would be to hold his tail like a pillow and have a good nap.
Pretending to be human was truly exhausting.
Reluctantly, Tan Qing followed Rong Sheng out of the car and was led into the company's break room by the assistant. He then pulled out his phone and expertly opened his favorite card game.
The break room was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and at this time of day, Tan Qing was the only one lounging on the wide sofa.
It was nearing the end of the workday, and the thin rays of sunlight angled through the windows by the outer wall, casting a soft glow on Tan Qing's profile—his ears and cheeks kissed by the light.
He was still wearing the blue-gray coat Rong Sheng had handed him in the morning. Bathed in the golden light, his pale skin seemed even more delicate, almost fragile.
Rong Sheng had intended to walk away, but his steps faltered just outside the room, his gaze drawn irresistibly to Tan Qing.
The assistant, noticing the delay, reminded him dutifully, "Mr. Rong?"
Rong Sheng turned around. "Yes, let's go."
Shengjing Entertainment had been flourishing over the years. Though the old chairman had not formally retired, much of the company's day-to-day management had already been passed on to Rong Sheng.
After the originally hired manager resigned, Rong Sheng had selected a new office, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the main road leading to the office building.
From there, you could clearly see any vehicle choosing to park temporarily outside rather than entering the underground parking lot.
When the assistant knocked on Rong Sheng's office door with a response from the production company, Rong Sheng had just pulled his gaze away from the window. "What is it?"
The assistant instinctively wanted to glance outside but refrained with Rong Sheng present. "Mr. Rong, Tan Qing just went downstairs. He said someone's picking him up."
Rong Sheng sat back down in his chair and smiled. "I know. Don't worry about him. Anything else?"
The assistant hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to mention the next part.
She had worked at Shengjing Entertainment for almost three years. Though Rong Sheng had a reputation for being a playboy, he rarely flirted with others when he was already dating someone.
But at that moment, the smile lingering on his lips was suggestive, nothing like his usual behavior when in a relationship.
Seeing no immediate response, Rong Sheng reached into his desk and pulled out a beautifully packaged box of dark chocolate, handing it to her. "What's the matter? Is my brilliant, capable assistant having an off day?"
He really knew how to charm women.
The assistant snapped back to attention. "About the film you asked about this morning, Director Cheng Ye's new project—the production team just got back to me. The second male lead hasn't been finalized yet. They wanted to know if you had any recommendations."
Rong Sheng leaned back in his chair, distracted, and made a sarcastic comment. "Hasn't been finalized yet? I thought Ji Yanxiu would be helping one of his close friends into that role again."
The assistant: "..."
After recalling some gossip, she ventured, "Actually, over the phone, it did sound like Ji Yanxiu had originally recommended someone for the role. But the production team said if you had someone in mind, your candidate would definitely be prioritized."
"Ha."
Rong Sheng let out a derisive laugh, tapping his fingers on the desk. "Let's be clear: they're not prioritizing my candidate—they're prioritizing money."
"…So, should I recommend Tan Qing for the role?"
Rong Sheng paused at that question, thinking for a moment before replying, "Yes. Push him for the second male lead. Shengjing Entertainment will add another ten million to the investment, specifically for this drama."
The assistant: "..."
Considering how Rong Sheng seemed to have regained his predatory edge, she had assumed he wouldn't want to invest in Tan Qing anymore. After a moment of surprise, she said, "Understood."
After thinking for a moment, she asked uncertainly, "But Mr. Rong, given the previous rumors about Tan Qing and Mr. He, should we inform Director He about this investment…?"
Rong Sheng shook his head. "Forget it. Consider it an early gift to mourn his single life."
The assistant: "..."
Suddenly, she felt as though she might have understood something.
...
The distance between Shengjing Entertainment and He Mingyu's house seemed quite far; they had been driving for a long time without reaching it.
Tan Qing had originally tried to strike up a chat with Lin Yu, the driver, cracking a few jokes, but after several attempts without any response, he slumped in frustration. "Why does He Mingyu live so far away? Is he training in the mountains?"
Lin Yu turned the steering wheel. "The boss doesn't usually live there. Last night, he wanted to take Tan Jiji to his green villa in the suburbs, where he's preparing a nursery."
Tan Qing's eyes lit up, and he sincerely praised, "That's wonderful."
It was indeed much better for Tan Jiji to stay with his biological father rather than in their run-down neighborhood.
However, Lin Yu cast a sidelong glance at Tan Qing and let out a cold, sarcastic chuckle. "Yeah, the boss treats both you and your son so well. Why are you lying to him?"
Tan Qing: "???"
He asked, "When did I lie to him?"
Lin Yu hit the brakes and stopped the car in front of the villa. Opening the door, his voice stiff with anger, he replied, "Mr. Tan, the boss rushed me out last night to buy the best baby products. Even the car has been outfitted with a baby seat. He's worried about the pollution in J City and plans to commute between the suburbs and the city every day from now on."
"Frankly, what you're doing is truly unfair."
"…???"
Tan Qing was completely baffled by Lin Yu's words. After a while, he blinked and asked, "So, what exactly did I lie about?"
Lin Yu dragged him through the garden and into the villa. "Ask the boss yourself."
Tan Qing: "..."
The villa's interior was elegantly furnished in a traditional Chinese style—reserved but with the finest materials.
At the entrance stood a large screen made of yellow rosewood, with ebony columns.
Tan Qing moved closer to inspect it.
The screen was intricately carved with a phoenix, wings spread in flight.
The phoenix, a mythical bird.
Its song was as clear as jade, the king of all birds.
But of course, there were no more phoenixes in this world.
And yet here he was, a nine-tailed fox, alive and thriving—still having fun with handsome men and beautiful women.
Feeling quite pleased with himself, Tan Qing put his hands on his hips for a moment before poking his head out from behind the screen.
And then—
He immediately spotted He Mingyu sitting in the living room.
It wasn't that Tan Qing was uninterested in the rest of the villa's decor—it was just that He Mingyu's presence commanded too much attention.
Especially now, as his handsome face was dark and brooding, like the calm before a storm.
Rubbing his hands together, Tan Qing stepped out from behind the screen, waved, and greeted, "Good evening, Mr. He."
He Mingyu was still in a formal suit, clearly having come straight from work.
Lin Yu, after closing the villa door, followed Tan Qing inside. Instead of lingering, he went directly upstairs, returning a moment later with Tan Jiji in his arms, placing him on a soft chair in the living room.
Lin Yu pushed the chair next to the table where He Mingyu sat and added, "Boss, according to the nanny, it's almost time for him to drink his milk."
He Mingyu's gaze briefly flickered over Tan Jiji before he told Lin Yu, "I got it. You can leave now."
The chair, though soft and cozy, restricted Tan Jiji's movement. He wriggled around for quite some time, unable to find a comfortable position. His little mouth began to quiver, and he looked pitifully first at Tan Qing, then at He Mingyu.
After a moment's pause, Tan Jiji cleverly chose to seek help from He Mingyu. "Pa! Pa!"
He Mingyu froze.
He hesitated for a long time, then finally stood up and walked over, gently picking Tan Jiji up.
Tan Jiji, unaware of any adult concerns, happily snuggled against He Mingyu and then turned his head, trying to please Tan Qing too. "Pa! Pa! Pa!"
Tan Qing made a funny face at Tan Jiji.
Instantly, Tan Jiji giggled, his small mouth stretching into a wide, silly grin.
After playfully entertaining Tan Jiji, Tan Qing shifted his gaze back to He Mingyu and asked, "Just now, Lin Yu said I lied to you. I've been thinking about it for a while and still don't get it. He told me to ask you directly. Mr. He, care to explain?"
Tan Jiji, nestled in He Mingyu's arms, was reaching out his chubby little hands to grab at He Mingyu's cufflinks. His big eyes, identical to Tan Qing's, were fixated on the two large diamonds set into the cufflinks, unwilling to let go.
He Mingyu gently removed the cufflinks from his sleeves. "You can't put these in your mouth, understand?"
Tan Jiji, imitating Tan Qing, made a funny face at He Mingyu.
Most children this age still have wrinkled little faces, looking like tiny old men. It was rare to see a child as beautiful as Tan Jiji, as if he had inherited the very best traits from both parents.
Fearing that his heart would soften again, He Mingyu forced himself to look away from Tan Jiji and tossed a document from the table to Tan Qing.
"Take a look."
Direct and concise, typical of President He.
Tan Qing grabbed the document and opened it to the first page.
"Based on DNA testing and medical analysis, it is confirmed that no biological relationship exists between Mr. He Mingyu and Tan Jiji."
Tan Qing: "???"
Not exactly a scientist, Tan Qing was outraged. He slammed the document down on the table, fuming. "Are you kidding me? What, did I self-pollinate and produce a kid on my own?!"
He Mingyu frowned, clearly disapproving. "Tan Qing, regardless of who Jiji's father is, you, as his parent, need to set an example. You can't be this irresponsible."
Tan Qing: "..."
Slamming his hand on the table, Tan Qing retorted, "And you're his real dad! Why aren't you taking responsibility?!"
Suppressing the disappointment in his heart, He Mingyu tried to remain calm. "But the facts show that I am not."
Tan Qing was so enraged that he could hardly contain his fury. Grinding his sharp teeth, he snapped, "Are you sure you can trust the hospital you went to?"
He Mingyu gently patted Tan Jiji, who was startled by the outburst. Softening his tone, he said, "Ji family's private hospital has a long-standing partnership with He Corporation. They wouldn't risk offending me over something like this."
By now, it seemed that no matter the truth, the situation had reached a point of no return.
Tan Qing walked around the table, looking at both Tan Jiji in He Mingyu's arms and He Mingyu himself. "To be honest, I don't believe the results you got."
He Mingyu took a step back. "We can always have another test done—"
But Tan Qing cut him off with a dismissive wave. "No matter. If you, as his biological father, don't want him, then I'll just find him a new dad."
He Mingyu: "..."
His voice dropped. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Tan Qing swiftly pulled Tan Jiji from He Mingyu's arms, casually holding the little one by the scruff of his neck like a kitten. "Goodbye, Mr. He."
For the first time in a day, little Tan Jiji had experienced the joy of being pampered like the king of the house. But before he could fully enjoy it, he was back to being carried around like a toy by Tan Qing. Tears welled up in his big eyes, spilling over as his clear, pitiful cries echoed throughout the grand hall. "Pa... Pa... waaah... Pa..."
He Mingyu's heart practically shattered. He stood up, grabbed his car keys, and gently took Tan Jiji from Tan Qing, his face cold. "There's no car here. I'll drive you back."
Tan Qing shot back sarcastically, "Oh no, we couldn't trouble you, Mr. He. We'll just walk to the bus stop."
He Mingyu's face darkened in anger. "Tan Qing!"
Tan Qing tilted his head, looking all innocent.
He Mingyu took a deep breath. "There's a bag on the table with the goat and cow milk formula I bought for Jiji, along with some baby supplies. Take them with you. And if things ever get too difficult... you can come to me."
Quick as lightning, Tan Qing snatched up everything on the table, not forgetting to mock He Mingyu along the way. "Oh, I wouldn't dare. You're a busy man. Last time I tried to find you, your bodyguards almost threw me out."
He Mingyu: "..."
Once again, he reminded himself to stay calm. He carefully placed Tan Jiji into the car seat in the back, then turned to Tan Qing. "Tan Jiji is very smart, and especially at his age, it's crucial to make sure he attends school regularly."
Tan Qing: "..."
Why does this jerk have so much to say?
Not interested in hearing another word, Tan Qing pulled out his phone, scrolling through Weibo with a bored look on his face. Due to the hotel photos that had leaked of him and He Mingyu together, he'd been bombarded with scandal after scandal. Having only just debuted as a popular idol, Tan Qing's career had taken hit after hit, making it hard to survive the relentless attacks.
His Weibo account, once verified with an orange checkmark, had been left frozen since the day the scandal broke. The comment count had already surpassed a million, and the top comment was one demanding he leave the entertainment industry.
Feeling mischievous, Tan Qing couldn't resist liking the comment.
Then, acting as though nothing had happened, he nonchalantly locked his phone and slipped it back into his pocket.
When they reached the street near Tan Qing's old neighborhood, He Mingyu had to park by the side of the road, as the alleyways were too narrow for his car. He turned to glance at Tan Qing's profile, strikingly beautiful against the backdrop of the streetlights.
But no matter how stunning this person looked, Tan Qing had deceived him twice now.
He Mingyu turned on the headlights, got out of the car, and lifted Tan Jiji from the back seat, handing him over to Tan Qing. "One more thing."
Tan Qing, cradling the baby, turned half-heartedly to listen.
"I signed you up for a basic parenting class, where new parents learn the ropes. The fee's already paid. I'll send you the details later."
Tan Qing: "..."
Fine. He couldn't kill anyone. Even though humans were stupid... murder was still illegal.
It was also illegal to kill the father of his child.
So Tan Qing stomped down hard on He Mingyu's polished leather shoe and stormed off in fury.
After carrying Tan Jiji back into the dimly lit alleys of his neighborhood, Tan Qing realized that the room in the shantytown was completely dark.
Not just his place—the whole building was plunged into darkness.
People who had already come home were gathered in small groups downstairs, discussing. The consensus seemed to be that there would be a power outage all night.
With a frown, Tan Qing sighed, then reached out to pinch Tan Jiji's soft, chubby cheeks before heading inside.
Home was just as cold and lifeless as ever.
Tan Qing tossed the milk powder and baby supplies he'd seized from He Mingyu into the kitchen. Then he walked over to the small wooden bed, where Tan Jiji sat, facing him.
The crib was near the window, where a faint moonlight filtered in, making this little corner of the room brighter than the rest.
Tan Qing sighed dramatically, "Kiddo, your biological dad rejected you, you know that?"
Tan Jiji looked up at him, confused, and stretched out his little arms, asking for a hug.
Feigning the motion to scoop him up, Tan Qing extended his arms halfway—then pulled them back.
Tan Jiji, left hanging, let out two small sobs, his pitiful eyes fixed on his unreliable dad.
Tan Qing chuckled mischievously and crouched down, ready to tease Tan Jiji a bit more.
But then he noticed something odd. The little one kept rubbing one of his arms against his bottom, as if something was bothering him.
Tan Qing froze for a moment, then stood up and picked up the little guy.
He tugged down the waistband of the child's split pants.
In the soft glow of the moonlight, nestled between the two round, chubby cheeks—
A delicate white tail, just like Tan Jiji, was swaying back and forth, forlornly.
Author's note: Mini-theater:
Tan Qing: Oh no, oh no, the kid's grown a tail! I can't pass the blame now! I'll get caught!
Tan Qing: Damn it! I need to start earning money to raise this kid!
Ji Yanxiu: Darling, I'll give you money. As much as you need.
He Mingyu: Don't stop me. I'm going to kill the guy in the comment upstairs.
Rong Sheng: No, no, brother, calm down… (Or how about you guys settle it with a double knockout?)
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