Chapter 17 - 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.

"So You're Into Someone Like Rong Sheng?"

 

 

Tan Qing glanced in surprise at the narrow alley, then at the size of He Mingyu's car, unable to help but feel a deep admiration for the driver in the front seat.

 

One glance was all it took for He Mingyu's expression to darken even further.

 

The hem of his coat fluttered slightly in the biting night wind as he stopped in front of Tan Qing. "Get in the car."

 

Tan Qing gestured towards his dilapidated little house and said mockingly, "Oh, I wouldn't dare! After all, Mr. He, you're a diamond-studded young master from high society. If I were to get in your car and the paparazzi caught us again, I might have to go hide in the mountains."

 

He Mingyu's face remained calm. "If you stay here, do you want to end up taking the child to the police station again?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Being a demon living after the foundation of the People's Republic of China, Tan Qing immediately caved, muttering cautiously, "How do you know about that?"

 

He Mingyu was even angrier. "You knew to call Rong Sheng, but didn't think to call me? If Rong Sheng was busy with his playthings, do you think he'd have the time to deal with you?"

 

Tan Qing thought about it for a moment and nodded, agreeing. "That's true. I guess I'm pretty lucky, huh?"

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

Taking a deep breath, He Mingyu glanced at Tan Jiji, who was fast asleep, and stepped aside to make room. "It's late. Get in the car. Don't make me repeat myself a third time."

 

Tan Qing reluctantly cast a longing glance at his little home's window. "Oh…"

 

With some effort, he climbed into the car, and halfway in, he popped his head back out, poking He Mingyu in the waist.

 

He Mingyu looked down. "What is it?"

 

Tan Qing grinned mischievously and held out his palm. "Mr. He, could you spare a few hundred for the cab fare? If you throw me and the little one out again later, I'll need it to get home."

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

Frustrated, He Mingyu abandoned the idea of sitting in the back and opened the door to sit in the front passenger seat instead.

 

Startled at having the boss sit beside him, the driver fumbled a bit with the parking brake, nervously asking, "Mr. He, where to?"

 

He Mingyu's gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, where Tan Qing and Tan Jiji were reflected. His tone was cold. "The apartment near the company."

 

That apartment, close to his office, was a luxurious duplex with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows offering a 270-degree view of J City's dazzling night skyline.

 

As they took the elevator up, Tan Jiji woke from his nap and immediately spotted He Mingyu standing next to him.

 

However, whether because he still harbored a grudge about being "returned" by express shipping, or because he had just witnessed the more entertaining, shopaholic Rong Sheng, his enthusiasm for He Mingyu had rapidly cooled in just one day, dropping to an icy low.

 

The little boy pursed his plump lips, then turned in Tan Qing's arms as if flipping a pancake, burying his face and ignoring He Mingyu.

 

Throughout the ride, He Mingyu had failed to find a topic to continue the conversation with Tan Qing. Just as he was about to start by talking to Tan Jiji, he was mercilessly shut down by the child's cold indifference.

 

The private elevator ascended to their floor.

 

As the doors opened, He Mingyu finally summoned the courage to say to Tan Qing, "Let me hold him."

 

Tan Qing clutched the little boy protectively, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

 

Though this was just a temporary residence for work, He Mingyu's high-end duplex in the city's center was still enormous.

 

The indoor garden at the entrance was meticulously landscaped, and a marble pond was home to dozens of plump, vibrant koi fish.

 

Walking through the stone path into the main living area, Tan Qing glanced suspiciously at He Mingyu. "Mr. He, you're not planning to leave Tan Jiji here with you while I go home, are you?"

 

He Mingyu turned on the lights, then turned back and said coolly, "No smoking, no drinking, and no bringing other men over if you stay here."

 

His gaze lingered on Tan Qing for a few seconds. "Women are also not allowed."

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

With a complicated expression, Tan Qing cast He Mingyu a glance full of mixed emotions and tentatively asked, "No men or women allowed... He Mingyu, when you've got needs, do you go with your left hand or your right?"

 

He Mingyu gritted his teeth, calming himself before replying, "The environment you're living in now is too poor for the child's development. This is just temporary. Rong Sheng will likely find some work for you soon. Once you have a job, you can move out."

 

Tan Qing pouted. "Oh."

 

After some thought, He Mingyu added, "Even though Tan Jiji isn't my child, as his father, I expect you to take responsibility. Stop wasting your time on nonsense."

 

Disappointed, Tan Qing sighed deeply, slumping onto the sofa and muttering, "Fine... I was hoping that if you weren't a fan of using your hand, we might help each other out..."

 

He Mingyu: "???"

 

Tan Qing propped his chin up, giving He Mingyu a pitiful look. "Couldn't we just give each other a little touch in the morning? A touch a day keeps the blues away."

 

One touch, happiness all day.

 

Keep touching, keep the happiness coming.

 

Life would be grand.

 

Tan Qing's expression was earnest, almost moving.

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

What had been a decent conversation somehow took a very dangerous turn.

 

With a grim expression, He Mingyu coldly refused Tan Qing's earnest request, "I won't be staying here for the next few days. Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to complete Tan Jiji's household registration."

 

Tan Qing blinked. "Does registering the household cost money?"

 

He Mingyu's face remained blank. "No, it doesn't."

 

Delighted, Tan Qing promptly stuffed Tan Jiji into He Mingyu's arms. "Perfect! I agree to your earlier conditions, so Jiji can sleep with you tonight! Don't forget to get up at four in the morning to change his diaper!"

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

Tan Qing skipped happily around the room before turning back with a bright smile. "Can I pick any bedroom I like?"

 

That smile was so dazzling.

 

For a fleeting moment, He Mingyu realized that, despite Tan Qing's overly striking looks, there was a certain innocent and childlike quality that reminded him of Tan Jiji.

 

He reached out to gently touch the soft little face of the sleepy child in his arms.

 

Woken up, the groggy little boy blinked open his eyes, too dazed to remember how He Mingyu had rejected him earlier. In his soft, drowsy voice, he mumbled, "Pa... ya."

 

He Mingyu suddenly felt a wave of frustration.

 

If only this child were truly his, it would've been nice.

 

Even if Tan Qing wasn't the most reliable, he could still manage to take care of the both of them well.

 

But, unfortunately, he wasn't.

 

Feeling an unfamiliar pang of fondness for the child, He Mingyu grew even more displeased.

 

He pulled off Rong Sheng's jacket that had been covering Tan Jiji and tossed it onto the sofa. Glancing back at Tan Qing, he asked, "Besides me, do you have any other options?"

 

Tan Qing had already picked out a large, comfortable bedroom. Poking his head out, he asked, "Huh?"

 

He Mingyu's voice was cold. "Jiji's other father."

 

Tan Qing froze for a moment, then dramatically wiped away a tear, looking heartbroken. "Gone! His other dad ran off with a little fox spirit in the mountains. It's just us two left. Oh, what a hard life we lead!"

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

After leaving He Mingyu with this heavy emotional burden, Tan Qing cheerfully went off to sleep in the bedroom across the hall.

 

He Mingyu had originally planned to put the child to bed and then leave, but after thinking about it, he worried Tan Jiji might kick off the blankets in the middle of the night. Then, thinking even more, he became concerned that Tan Qing wouldn't change Jiji's diaper.

 

Thus.

 

The next morning—

 

Tan Qing emerged from the master bedroom looking vibrant and stunning, like a spirit who had absorbed all the vital energy of a man.

 

Meanwhile, He Mingyu appeared from the children's room with dark circles under his eyes, as if he were the unfortunate man whose energy had been drained overnight.

 

The double-door fridge in the kitchen was stocked full of fresh food.

 

Tan Qing poured himself a large glass of milk and, surprisingly, out of a rare sense of kindness, poured one for He Mingyu too. "Wow, did Jiji punch you twice last night?"

 

He Mingyu took the warm milk, his fingers accidentally brushing against Tan Qing's cold glass. "You drink it cold?"

 

Tan Qing ran his bright red tongue over his lips and grinned. "Yeah, I don't like hot drinks. Mr. He, your dark circles make you look like a panda at the zoo."

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

Leaning back slightly on the sofa, He Mingyu rubbed his temples before taking a sip of the milk. "Behave, or I'll deal with you."

 

Although Tan Qing didn't think he had caused any trouble, he obediently folded his legs under him and sat down beside He Mingyu. Pulling out his phone, he started scrolling through Weibo with intense focus.

 

The floor heating in the room was warm.

 

After finishing his milk, He Mingyu absentmindedly glanced at Tan Qing, whose face was glued to his phone, fingers tapping furiously on the screen, not even sparing him a glance.

 

He Mingyu waited for a while before asking, "What are you doing?"

 

Tan Qing looked up, thought for a moment, and then said, "Rong Sheng told me that Weibo would notify me about any new work today and tag me. But when I checked Weibo, there were too many tags..."

 

Nine out of ten tags were people cursing him out.

 

Fortunately, Tan Qing had thick skin. As he scrolled through the comments, he even read one aloud to He Mingyu: "Listen to this one—it says I'm ugly and causing trouble, and that I should get out of the entertainment industry."

 

He Mingyu's expression darkened.

 

Flipping through more comments, Tan Qing suddenly clapped his hands in approval. "Now this one's interesting! It says I must be really good in bed to hook up with you, and that I deserve to be cursed for climbing into your bed."

 

Turning his head, Tan Qing looked expectantly at He Mingyu. "Am I really that amazing in bed? Was I flexible enough? Did I make you feel good?"

 

He Mingyu's face completely darkened. He stood up, picked up the two glasses from the table, and went into the kitchen.

 

The sound of running water filled the room.

 

After washing his hands, He Mingyu returned to Tan Qing's side. "I'll arrange for someone to deal with this. Don't worry."

 

Tan Qing looked puzzled.

 

He had been about to discuss 180 different bed positions and his flexibility with He Mingyu, but somehow, the conversation had turned into a problem-solving meeting.

 

Scratching his nose, Tan Qing asked, "By the way, where's Tan Jiji?"

 

He Mingyu, frowning slightly, gestured towards the half-closed bedroom door. "I fed him formula before you woke up. He needs to sleep a bit longer, it's fine."

 

Tan Qing sighed enviously, muttering, "Ah, I wonder when I'll find a rich stepmother for the little one..."

 

He Mingyu didn't catch that. "What?"

 

Tan Qing grinned, his face innocent. "Nothing, you misheard."

 

He Mingyu let it slide, though it felt like Tan Qing was dodging something.

 

Across from him, Tan Qing was back to fiddling with his outdated knockoff phone, its glaringly bright screen constantly reminding He Mingyu of its presence.

 

Perhaps because he hadn't brought any extra clothes when he moved over last night, this morning, after his shower, Tan Qing had pulled out an oversized, still-packaged luxury brand T-shirt and shorts from the closet.

 

He Mingyu recognized the brand immediately, the colors flattering Tan Qing's complexion, though the outfit was clearly several sizes too large.

 

And now...

 

As Tan Qing leaned closer to his phone screen, the neckline of the T-shirt dipped lower and lower.

 

From He Mingyu's angle—

 

A droplet of water still clinging to Tan Qing's hair fell, slid across his cheek, and finally disappeared into that teasingly open collar.

 

He Mingyu could even faintly make out Tan Qing's delicate, slightly pink nipples.

 

The color was subtle.

 

As if they would need to be cultivated by constant caresses to suit the ethereal beauty of his face.

 

He Mingyu's throat tightened, his voice husky. "Tan Qing."

 

Still focused on scrolling through his notifications, Tan Qing didn't notice anything amiss.

 

He Mingyu lifted his cup of tea, took a sip, and tried to keep his tone calm. "You're going back to work soon... in the future, no matter what happens don't talk about bedroom matters with anyone but me. You need to be more mindful of your image."

 

Tan Qing nodded obediently. "But you don't even sleep with me. What's the point in telling you? I might as well talk to Rong Sheng about it."

 

He Mingyu: "???"

 

Furious, He Mingyu chuckled darkly. "So you're into someone like Rong Sheng?"

 

"I'm not—"

 

Sensing He Mingyu's rising anger, Tan Qing immediately shrank back, swallowing the rest of his words. "Okay, okay, I understand."

 

Such a shame.

 

Rong Sheng looked like he had plenty of experience. Maybe he could've learned a thing or two.

 

Feeling dejected, Tan Qing peeled an orange, shook He Mingyu's arm, and tried to shift his attention. "I think the kid's awake. Want to check on him?"

 

"He's probably hungry."

 

He Mingyu stood up, but not before taking the peeled orange from Tan Qing's hand. "Don't eat too much sour stuff in the morning. It's not good for your health."

 

Tan Qing: "???"

 

He looked down at his now-bare fingertips.

 

Did He Mingyu know how hard it was to peel an orange with nails like these?!

 

Frustrated, Tan Qing grabbed a big apple from the fruit basket and bit into it angrily.

 

Just as he was about to take a second bite, the doorbell rang.

 

Tan Qing hesitated for a moment, holding the apple in his mouth. He wiped his hands with a wet tissue and glanced towards the bedroom.

 

He Mingyu hadn't come out yet.

 

"Coming, coming!"

 

Tan Qing hurried to the door and opened it.

 

Standing outside was a middle-aged man, well-dressed in a high-quality coat, leaning on a huanghuali* wood cane, and wearing a felt hat typical of older gentlemen.

 

[T/N: The Chinese term huanghuali literally means "yellow flowering pear" wood. It is a member of the rosewood family and is botanically classified as Dalbergia odorifera. In premodern times the wood was know as huali or hualu.]

 

The man seemed taken aback at the sight of Tan Qing, instinctively double-checking the house number before removing his hat and politely asking, "Excuse me—"

 

A voice called out from the bedroom. "Uncle Wang, come in."

 

It seemed they knew each other.

 

Tan Qing quickly stepped aside to let him in.

 

Following the voice, Tan Qing saw He Mingyu emerging from the bedroom with the little one in his arms.

 

Uncle Wang's gaze instantly locked onto Tan Jiji.

 

After a long moment, a satisfied smile spread across his wrinkled face. "Mingyu, is this your son? Madam will be overjoyed when she finds out!"

 

He Mingyu's expression froze. "He's not—"

 

"Oh, come now, don't try to fool your Uncle Wang!"

 

Uncle Wang walked over, leaving his cane behind, and clapped He Mingyu heartily on the shoulder. "I've worked for the He family for nearly forty years, and this boy is the spitting image of you as a child!"

 

Author's note: Mini-theater:

He Mingyu: "Baby, show me those cute fox ears, will you?"

Tan Qing: "Nope, scram."

He Mingyu: "Sweetheart, how about your tail? Let me see, okay?"

Tan Qing: "Absolutely not, now get lost!"

After a long night—

Tan Qing: whimpering "Please, stop playing with my tail and ears… Can you play with something else instead? QwQ…"

He Mingyu: "Baby, be good. I'm not into those things. How about we have another kid so Tan Jiji has a sister to play with? That way, he won't bother us anymore. Sound good?"

Tan Qing: "..."

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