Chapter 42 - The Supporting Villain Is Raising a Cub Online

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

"Unless You Let me Sleep in Your Bedroom Tonight!"

Tan Qing and the little one pressed their faces against the car window, their bright, mischievous eyes closely observing He Mingyu outside.

 

Tan Jiji, not understanding what was going on, innocently thought that his little dad was playing a game with He Mingyu. With a sweet, clueless smile, he enthusiastically supported his dad by grinning up at him.

 

He Mingyu: "…"

 

He Mingyu stood there, feeling a chill not only from the cold wind but from the situation itself. After a moment, he walked over to the car and tapped on the window.

 

Tan Qing casually wrapped the little one in a small blanket, then smugly lowered the window just a little. He stuck out his hand and declared, "This window was opened by me, this tree was planted by me. If you want to pass, leave some money for the toll!"

 

He Mingyu was so amused by Tan Qing's antics that he couldn't help but laugh.

 

Pulling out his wallet, He Mingyu waved it at Tan Qing briefly, then pointed toward the driver's seat. "Do you know how to drive?"

 

Tan Qing: "…"

 

He did not.

 

Faced with his limited skill set, Tan Qing found himself in a dilemma—should he take the money or ask for a driver?

 

Before he could make up his mind, there was a soft "beep" from the car door.

 

And then…

 

He watched as He Mingyu opened the driver's side door and settled himself in the driver's seat.

 

Adjusting the rearview mirror so that both Tan Qing and little Tan Jiji were perfectly reflected, He Mingyu calmly said, "Buckle up. We're going home."

 

Tan Qing: "…"

 

Unable to pull off his playful toll demand, Tan Qing, feeling deflated, gave the little one a frustrated squeeze. Under the confused gaze of Tan Jiji, he set him back in the child's seat and huffed, "Let's go, let's go! Giddy-up, horsey, giddy-up!"

 

He Mingyu: "…"

 

With a resigned sigh, He Mingyu dutifully started the car and drove them back.

 

Since the villa near the Third Ring Road hadn't been renovated yet, Tan Qing had been staying in He Mingyu's old apartment during his three-day break from the film set. Tomorrow, he would be returning to work.

 

Tan Qing was filled with a sense of anxious reluctance—like a student dreading the end of vacation and the return to school.

 

And this frustration found its outlet in teasing He Mingyu.

 

Before finding his long-term "meal ticket," Tan Qing and little Tan Jiji had lived in a small house with just one wooden bed, relying on each other for warmth.

 

At least, with the little one around, he could use Tan Jiji to warm his feet at night and even leave a few playful bite marks on his chubby little face.

 

Now, He Mingyu's apartment had no shortage of bedrooms, and Tan Qing could sleep in any one he liked.

 

But after spending so long sleeping alone, he found himself missing the warmth of cuddling up to his personal "Tan Jiji heater."

 

So, in the two days since they returned home, Tan Qing had been sleeping with the little one.

 

Tan Jiji, having been trained by He Mingyu into a strict sleep routine, was already dozing off by the time they were in the car.

 

By the time they got home, it was well past Tan Jiji's usual bedtime.

 

He Mingyu carried the little one into the bedroom and quickly went to the bathroom to soak a warm cotton towel to gently wipe Tan Jiji's face.

 

After putting the towel back in the bathroom, He Mingyu returned to the bedroom and found Tan Qing had already slipped into a set of pajamas, lying in bed with his pale, slender legs exposed, snuggled up with Tan Jiji.

 

Though Tan Jiji had been half-asleep earlier, he was now wide awake thanks to Tan Qing. The little one obediently sat in his dad's arms, struggling against his drowsiness while trying to keep his eyes open as Tan Qing was telling him a story.

 

Tan Qing, with an unusually serious and earnest expression, began, "Once upon a time, there was a temple, and in that temple, there was an old monk. The old monk said to the young monk, 'Once upon a time, there was a temple, and in that temple, there was an old monk…'"

 

He Mingyu: "…"

 

Since Tan Qing had started working on set, Tan Jiji hadn't heard one of his dad's stories in a long time.

 

Perhaps it was because it was such a rare occasion, but little Tan Jiji, with his sleepy, teary eyes, sat there attentively, gazing up at his dad. Even though he didn't really understand the story, he listened with all his heart.

 

His big, round eyes were filled with confusion.

 

Unable to bear watching any longer, He Mingyu closed the bathroom door and walked over to them.

 

As soon as Tan Qing looked up and saw He Mingyu, his eyes lit up, as if seeing his savior.

 

He lifted little Tan Jiji slightly and said cheerfully, "Look, your old father is here! Great! Now He Mingyu will tell us ten stories."

 

He Mingyu: "…"

 

He Mingyu gently lifted Tan Jiji from Tan Qing's arms, soothing him before tucking him back into his own little bed. After glancing at Tan Qing, he asked, "Are you still sleeping with the child tonight?"

 

Tan Qing blinked innocently, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, if you'd rather have me sleep with you, I wouldn't mind!"

 

He Mingyu frowned slightly, clearly not approving. "You have to be on set early tomorrow, and the child's already slept late. Let him sleep in tomorrow."

 

The small quilt that Tan Jiji was now bundled in had likely just been brought over by He Mingyu from his parents' house. It had an unmistakable retro 1980s style—bright and colorful, but of excellent quality.

 

Thanks to He Mingyu's careful adjustments, Tan Jiji was now snugly tucked in, with only his round little head peeking out from under the blanket.

 

Sensing both Tan Qing and He Mingyu looking at him, the little one mumbled sleepily, his small mouth opening and closing as he softly murmured, "Pa, Pa, Pa."

 

Tan Qing nudged He Mingyu, then sprawled himself out in a starfish position on the bed, urging, "Hurry, hurry, the little one wants you to tell him a story—preferably a hundred stories."

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

Suspicious, He Mingyu asked, "Are you sure?"

 

Tan Qing huffed and kicked him lightly, "Of course! Every night, whenever he wanted a story, he'd torture me like this! Now hurry up!"

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

After a moment of silence, He Mingyu said, "Wait a minute."

 

He stood up and quickly walked out of the bedroom. A few minutes later, he returned with a book in hand.

 

He Mingyu switched on the small wall lamp by the bed, opened the book, and flipped through a few pages.

 

From Tan Qing's angle, he could just make out the title of the book: Little Stories, Big Lessons.

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

After flipping for a while, He Mingyu seemed to find a story that satisfied him. He began to read aloud, "Three hundred years ago, in an Arab land, there was a wise man who..."

 

Before He Mingyu could finish the first story, Little Jiji had already fallen fast asleep.

 

Sitting on the other side of the bed, Tan Qing hadn't been the least bit sleepy at first, but by the time He Mingyu finished the story, he felt like he was being lulled to sleep as well.

 

Rubbing his eyes, Tan Qing let out a soft yawn and asked, "Hey, is this how you humans always trick kids to sleep?"

 

He Mingyu didn't catch Tan Qing's casual use of "you humans" but responded, "Children are different from adults. There's no need for them to uncover the complexities of the world too early."

 

Hugging his knees, Tan Qing rested his head on them and retorted, "Nonsense! When I was a kid, my parents always told me that I had to advance quickly, or I'd starve to death."

 

Skills for foraging, skills for survival.

 

And then, the long, lonely road of endless cultivation ahead.

 

Not to mention the lightning tribulation that struck just as success was within reach.

 

As he argued with He Mingyu, Tan Qing absentmindedly scratched his foot. "There are no gods in this world. And even if there were, they wouldn't care less about humanity."

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

Before Tan Qing could reach his foot again, He Mingyu swiftly grabbed his hand. "Don't pick at your foot in front of the child."

 

Tan Qing grumbled, feeling wronged, "The little fatty is already asleep!"

 

He Mingyu firmly shut down Tan Qing's behavior. "Even so, it's still not appropriate. What kind of adult picks at their feet?"

 

Tan Qing, utterly dejected, started mimicking the sound of a train: "Woo, woo, woooo…*"

 

[T/N: It's mimicking a childlike, exaggerated expression of disappointment.]

 

He Mingyu calmly held onto Tan Qing's fidgety hand. "I said no, and I meant it."

 

Tan Qing gave up immediately, sitting obediently. "Fine, then read me two silly little stories instead."

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

With a helpless glance at the now soundly sleeping Little Jiji, He Mingyu released Tan Qing's hand and sighed in surrender, "Let's go to your bedroom. The kid just fell asleep, and if you wake him up, he'll start crying again."

 

Tan Qing tilted his head and said, "I'm not going."

 

He Mingyu tried to negotiate, "If you go back, I'll read you an extra story. Three in total."

 

Tan Qing stubbornly shook his head.

 

He Mingyu closed the book in resignation. "Then what do you want?"

 

Tan Qing grinned mischievously and said, "Unless you let me sleep in your bedroom tonight!"

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

Before Tan Qing and Little Jiji moved in, He Mingyu had mostly lived in this flat, which was well-equipped for daily life.

 

For the sake of work efficiency, He Mingyu had connected the master bedroom to the study during renovations, meaning that entering the master bedroom gave direct access to all of the documents in his study.

 

After the two moved in, He Mingyu had replaced some of the furniture to avoid formaldehyde exposure* and rearranged Little Jiji's nursery.

 

[T/N: Formaldehyde is a chemical commonly found in building materials, adhesives, and certain types of furniture, especially those made with pressed wood or particle board, which can release it over time.]

 

At this moment, the nursery was softly lit by a gentle, warm yellow wall lamp.

 

Perhaps it was the comforting warmth of the light that made He Mingyu hesitate for a few seconds before actually relenting, "Alright, let's go."

 

Tan Qing's eyes widened in surprise, and he immediately took advantage of the situation. "Wow, does that mean you'll take me to the set tomorrow for my first day back?!"

 

He Mingyu: "..."

 

Under the soft light, Tan Qing appeared delicate and obedient, his bright eyes sparkling with an unexpected brilliance.

 

He Mingyu's Adam's apple bobbed, though his expression remained serious and composed. "You're leaving too early tomorrow. It wouldn't be appropriate to call Lin Yu in so early. I'll take you myself."

 

Beaming, Tan Qing rolled out of bed and scooted over to He Mingyu, grinning from ear to ear.

 

Then, taking it a step further, he spread his arms wide like little wings, flapping them as he eagerly looked up at He Mingyu. "Then will you carry me on your back?"

 

Author's note: Mini Theater:

He Mingyu: Are you lying down? Covered with your blanket?

Tan Qing: All set!

He Mingyu: Great, today we'll read the story of Little Red Riding Hood and Grandma Wolf.

Little Jiji (serious and dutiful): Papa, Dad, I'm already up and getting ready to go to work. I'll work hard and make lots of money!

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