Chapter 24 - 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.

Rich Lady, Rich Lady, Can I Stick With You in the Future?

 

 

The paternity test results were printed on special paper, heavier than ordinary white sheets, embossed with the hospital's full name in watermark.

 

On such paper, folds and creases were particularly noticeable.

 

At this moment, deep indentations marked the three reports placed on the table, imprinted by tense fingers.

 

He Mingyu sat on the sofa for a while, then meticulously returned the reports to the envelope, sealed it, and stood up straight.

 

The nanny, who had been watching Tan Jiji play with his little rubber duck, was startled by He Mingyu's movement and cautiously asked, "Mr. He?"

 

He Mingyu's gaze was fixed on Tan Jiji, unmoving.

 

After a moment, he said to the nanny, "You don't need to come back tomorrow."

 

The nanny: "???"

 

Recently hired, the nanny was taken aback by the sudden dismissal and couldn't help but ask, "Mr. He, if there's something I've done wrong…"

 

"It's not your fault."

 

He Mingyu walked over from the sofa, and, to the nanny's surprise, gave her a small smile. "I just thought about it and decided I want to take care of the child myself."

 

The nanny: "…"

 

The same He Mingyu who wouldn't even smile for a finance magazine cover had now left the nanny speechless: "Well… alright. I'll go pack my things."

 

He Mingyu nodded. "My assistant will pay you the full month's salary, and additionally, he'll compensate you with a full year's salary as a breach-of-contract fee."

 

A year's salary for working just one month??

 

The nanny couldn't believe her luck as this massive opportunity fell into her lap. "That's really too much, Mr. He…"

 

"It's fine."

 

He Mingyu bent down, picked up the oblivious Tan Jiji who was playing with his little rubber duck, and said to the nanny, "Today is a good day."

 

Everything he had hoped for had come true.

 

The nanny: "…"

 

Sensing something she didn't fully understand, the nanny eagerly agreed: "Yes, yes! You're right, Mr. He! It really is a good day!"

 

He Mingyu, now with an air of regal satisfaction, held Tan Jiji in his arms and strode off to the bedroom, his steps light as if he might take flight.

 

Within five days of work, the nanny not only received a full month's salary but also earned an additional year's pay. She packed her things quickly and left, sharing the news in her housekeeping group chat:

 

"Ladies! Do you know He Mingyu, the young, handsome guy who's always on magazine covers?"

 

"I was his nanny for a few days! Turns out, he has a son now! He's so good to the boy, and he even smiled at me!"

 

"??? I'm in."

 

"If you can, then I can too."

 

"Wake up, sis. Time to feed the kids."

 

"Wasn't He Mingyu only ever rumored to have been in a scandal with that one little celebrity? Did that celebrity have his kid?"

 

"Nah, that celebrity's a guy."

 

Meanwhile, He Mingyu carried Tan Jiji from the bedroom back to the large living room window.

 

He felt his composure returning, and after some thought, he pointed out the window, asking the child in his arms, "Baby, do you see that 68-story office building over there?"

 

Tan Jiji showed no interest and instead squeezed his little rubber duck, making it squeak.

 

"Quack, quack!"

 

He Mingyu: "…"

 

He glanced down, finding the little squeaky duck increasingly annoying.

 

But the parenting course he'd recently taken had emphasized over and over that adults shouldn't take things away from children, as it would create a deep sense of insecurity.

 

Frowning, He Mingyu adjusted his hold on Tan Jiji, turning them both toward a different direction on the 180-degree balcony. "Jiji, do you prefer that 72-story building over on the left?"

 

Tan Jiji happily placed the duck on his head, smiled up at his new dad, his tiny tongue peeking out in delight, and squeezed the duck twice more.

 

He Mingyu: "…"

 

What is the most despairing thing for a man in this world?

 

It's running away from your wife half an hour ago…

 

Only to discover, thirty minutes later…

 

That the grand empire you built means less to your child than a squeaky yellow duck.

 

Amidst the quack-quack of the duck's squeaking, He Mingyu's melancholy gradually dried out in the cool breeze, transforming into a weighty gloom.

 

That breeze came from Lin Yu, who had just opened the door.

 

Fearing his year-end bonus might be docked, Lin Yu entered cautiously, only to be startled by the sight of his boss standing on the balcony, holding his child, looking as if he were in the final scene of a melodramatic farewell.

 

Alarmed, Lin Yu hurried forward. "Boss, are you alright?"

 

He Mingyu returned from the balcony and said, "Did you drop off Tan Qing?"

 

Lin Yu quickly nodded, pouring He Mingyu a glass of water. "Boss, have a seat first."

 

He Mingyu didn't sit or drink the water. After some thought, he asked, "Did he go back to his practice room, or did he head upstairs to see Rong Sheng?"

 

Lin Yu: "…"

 

Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Lin Yu replied, "Boss, I was in a hurry to pick you up, so I just dropped Mr. Tan at the parking lot before coming back here."

 

He Mingyu remained silent.

 

Lin Yu hastily added, "Don't worry, boss! Next time I'll personally escort Mr. Tan to his destination, and I'll make sure he doesn't bump into anyone he shouldn't!"

 

He Mingyu gave no clear sign of approval or disapproval but instead gestured for Lin Yu to come over.

 

Lin Yu hurriedly stepped closer.

 

He Mingyu turned around, still holding Tan Jiji, and gestured toward the two towering buildings visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

 

Then, with a hint of frustration, he asked, "So tell me, when it's time to throw a full-month banquet for the baby, should I gift the left building or the right one?"

 

Lin Yu: "…"

 

He thought for a moment.

 

This was truly a no-win question. Not just impossible, but completely off the scale.

 

Struggling to survive within the extreme confines of He Mingyu's logic, Lin Yu hovered on the verge of a mental breakdown. After some internal deliberation, he cautiously suggested, "Maybe… we could ask Mr. Tan which one he prefers?"

 

"Ask him?"

 

He Mingyu, his back to Lin Yu, still sounded indifferent, though there was a trace of tenderness in his expression. "Forget it. If he knew, he'd come up with some way to make me gift both buildings."

 

After a brief pause, He Mingyu turned to look at Lin Yu. "I can't give him everything all at once. If I do, I'll lose my hold on him."

 

Lin Yu: "…"

 

If he didn't know for a fact that He Mingyu was still single, he might have believed his boss had already been married to Tan Qing for fifty years.

 

For the sake of his precarious salary, Lin Yu wisely kept his thoughts to himself.

 

After thinking for a moment and recalling some of the information he'd gathered while dropping off Tan Qing, Lin Yu offered another suggestion: "Boss, how about we go buy some toys for the little one? Mr. Tan mentioned in the car that you promised to get him a set, too."

 

Thankfully, He Mingyu had been annoyed by the squeaky rubber duck for quite some time. At this, his attention was finally diverted.

 

He gently stroked Tan Jiji's soft cheek and nodded with satisfaction. "Alright. Let's go to the biggest and most expensive mall in East City."

 

Lin Yu: "…"

 

His boss used to be cold and distant.

 

Now he became… strange.

 

As Lin Yu sat in the front seat, nervously driving, he couldn't help but glance in the rearview mirror. He saw He Mingyu, seated in the back, skillfully coaxing Tan Jiji into giving up his beloved squeaky duck once again.

 

And Lin Yu found himself deeply reflecting on life and the future that lay ahead.

 

Meanwhile, Tan Qing sneezed six times in a row.

 

So loudly that even Rong Sheng, who had been texting a famous actress, had to pause and hand him a tissue. "What's wrong with you? We're about to start shooting soon. Should I go with you to the hospital for a check-up?"

 

"No, no!" Tan Qing sneezed again. "I think someone's badmouthing me behind my back… and they've been at it for a while."

 

Rong Sheng passed him another tissue and agreed, "That's possible. You've got at least a thousand people cursing you online every day."

 

Annoyed, Tan Qing rubbed his nose.

 

Then, undeterred, he craned his neck to peek at Rong Sheng's chat screen, his voice full of envy. "Wow, Yu the actress gave you her room number and said she'd wait for you there. Oh my God, I'm so jealous! If you're not going, can I go instead?"

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

Without a word, Rong Sheng handed him the small trash bin from the table and fished out a lollipop from the drawer to shut Tan Qing up. "We broke up six months ago."

 

Tan Qing, quick to apply a new phrase he'd recently picked up from Yu Qi, slyly remarked, "Ah, then she must be out of resources! She's trying to turn you into her sugar daddy!"

 

Rong Sheng: "…"

 

Laughing, Rong Sheng replied, "Wow, look at you. Haven't seen you in a few days, and now you know all about 'resources'? What else do you know?"

 

Tan Qing took a lick of the fragrant orange-flavored lollipop and leaned in, ready to spill the tea. "I also know some people like playing with fox tails."

 

The orange-flavored lollipop glistened with saliva as Tan Qing swirled his tongue around it.

 

As he leaned closer, Rong Sheng didn't even need to close his eyes to catch a whiff of that sugary, citrusy scent.

 

Or perhaps, it wasn't the orange aroma at all—just something he felt on his own.

 

Leaning back in his chair, Rong Sheng grabbed his tablet from the side. "If you want to live long, stay away from people like that. They're way crazier than me."

 

Tan Qing blinked innocently and asked with excitement, "So, do you play those games?"

 

Rong Sheng raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

 

Tan Qing stood up from his chair and inched closer to Rong Sheng, smiling mischievously. "If you do, could you take me along next time?"

 

Rong Sheng: "No."

 

Tan Qing pouted. "Why not? I promise I won't hold you back!"

 

Rong Sheng glanced away, chuckling softly. "Give it a rest. He Mingyu won't agree."

 

Tan Qing thumped his chest in a show of sincerity. "Don't worry about that! We've completely cut ties. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other! Can I stick with you instead?"

 

Rong Sheng: "..."

 

Rong Sheng seemed taken aback for a moment. Then, looking up, he asked incredulously, "Didn't Lin Yu see what I gave him this morning?"

 

What?

 

Tan Qing's eyes shifted as he replied, feigning innocence. "Of course he saw! But he still kicked me out!"

 

Rong Sheng's expression froze as if he wanted to say something but ultimately didn't. A small flame flickered in the depths of his eyes, gradually growing brighter.

 

Standing up, Rong Sheng grabbed his coat from the rack and turned toward Tan Qing, flashing a charming smile. "Let's go."

 

Tan Qing's eyes lit up as well, quickly following after him. "Are we going to pick up some hot guys and gals now?"

 

"Dream on."

 

Rong Sheng couldn't help but laugh, pinching the tip of Tan Qing's cute nose. "You're joining the crew tomorrow. I'm feeling generous, so I'll take you shopping for some nice clothes. Let's go to that upscale mall in East City."

 

Author's Note: Mini theater

Author: Tan Qingqing?

Tan Qingqing: Present!

Author: Do you want Dad Rong on the left? Or Dad Yan on the right? Or Dad Ji, who's last in line?

Tan Qingqing: Why not take them one at a time? When Dad No. 1 runs out of money, I can switch to Dad No. 2, then to Dad No. 3! [Looks completely honest]

Author: Apologies, I'll just knock out the official love interest and sell him off to the labor market.

He Mingyu: …

     

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