Chapter 47 - The Supporting Villain Is Raising a Cub Online
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Tan Qing Looked so Soft and Sweet.
Tan Qing's question was filled with such genuine sincerity, and his innocent gaze rendered both Ji Yanxiu and He Mingyu momentarily speechless.
Meanwhile, little Tan Jiji, who had been tucked into He Mingyu's jacket for quite some time, wriggled and finally managed to poke his small head out through the collar. His large eyes blinked as he looked toward Tan Qing, and with a teary smile, he exclaimed joyfully, "Pa!"
Tan Qing flinched backward, startled. "Whoa, no way! There's no way I'd have such a crybaby for a kid!"
He Mingyu: "..."
Tan Jiji, who had been subject to countless gentle yet stinging rebukes from Tan Qing since he was young, seemed to have mastered his little father's tones perfectly. Even though he didn't quite understand the words, he grasped the essence of the criticism. His small mouth trembled, and with his head drooping sorrowfully, he clung to He Mingyu's tie, looking pitiful as he whimpered softly, "Pa... pa... pa..."
He Mingyu, heart aching, picked Tan Jiji up, patting his little body comfortingly. "Your little dad was just teasing you, don't cry, Jiji, be good."
Tan Jiji's tiny nose was red from crying, and he cautiously glanced at Tan Qing again before retreating back into He Mingyu's coat like a small turtle. He Mingyu could feel the wet spot where Tan Jiji had sobbed onto his suit, but there was little he could do. He turned toward the person lying in bed, his voice now serious, "Tan Qing, enough with the nonsense."
Tan Qing blinked innocently, much like Tan Jiji, his large eyes flashing indignantly as he retorted, "You're the one being ridiculous! Look at you, all strict and grumpy—totally not my type! Please don't interrupt me and my boyfriend while we're bonding!"
He Mingyu: "..."
He Mingyu was so angry that even his hand holding Tan Jiji trembled slightly, his expression unreadable. "Say that again."
Tan Qing tilted his face up, speaking with complete sincerity, "I said, even though I've lost my memory, I can tell you're not my type. I really don't like serious guys like you."
He Mingyu: "..."
He Mingyu swallowed his frustration with a cold laugh. "Well, I'm sorry to inform you, but you've already had a child with me."
"Eh? Really?"
Tan Qing's eyes widened as he sized up He Mingyu again, then glanced at the little bundle in his arms. After a moment of contemplation, he suggested seriously, "Well... but I've lost my memory! How about we just call it even?"
He Mingyu: "..."
At this point, Ji Yanxiu, who had been sitting on the bed for a while, finally saw an opening to speak. He straightened up and, with a gentle tone, said, "Tan Qing, maybe I should leave the room for a bit so you can talk with Mr. He."
"No, no, no—don't!"
In a flash, Tan Qing jumped off the bed and nimbly climbed onto Ji Yanxiu's bed, grabbing his sleeve. Then, with a wary glance at He Mingyu, he clung to Ji Yanxiu and whispered, "I think he's trying to abduct me. He's definitely not a good guy."
After a brief pause, Tan Qing tugged pitifully at Ji Yanxiu's shirt and said earnestly, "But are you really not my boyfriend? I really like your type."
Ji Yanxiu: "..."
Though Ji Yanxiu wasn't eager to provoke He Mingyu, he understood the delicate balance of power between the He family and his own. The He family had always been the dominant partner in their business collaborations. The Ji family couldn't afford to lose such a valuable ally.
But—
As Tan Qing's bright and lively eyes met his, Ji Yanxiu's mind flashed back to the moment of the car accident. Just as they were about to crash through the guardrail, Tan Qing had reached out and shielded him.
Looking down now at Tan Qing's slender, delicate hand clutching the fabric of his hospital gown, Ji Yanxiu thought about the bravery required to act in that split second of danger.
If Tan Qing were to stay with He Mingyu, would he be truly happy? Would it be the right choice for him?
Despite knowing they were already living together, Ji Yanxiu couldn't help but feel a trace of hesitation, perhaps brought on by the profound shift in perspective that came after surviving such a near-death experience.
Ji Yanxiu didn't pull his hand away. Instead, he gently ruffled Tan Qing's hair, smiling softly. "Sorry, not for now."
Tan Qing's sharp instincts picked up on the deeper meaning of his words, and his eyes lit up as he asked excitedly, "Then maybe in the future?"
Ji Yanxiu: "..."
It was rare to meet someone as straightforward as Tan Qing these days. Even someone as experienced as Ji Yanxiu, who had been confessed to countless times by fans, felt a hint of warmth in his cheeks. "In the future... if that's what you want, maybe we could..."
"Ji Yanxiu!"
He Mingyu's face had darkened completely, and he spun around, his tone ice-cold. "Do you think I've disappeared?"
Ji Yanxiu shifted slightly, pulling Tan Qing, who was trembling slightly, protectively behind him as he met He Mingyu's gaze. "Mr. He, you must be joking. No one in J City could ignore your presence. However, given Tan Qing's sudden amnesia, it might not be appropriate to treat him with the same expectations as before."
Ji Yanxiu paused briefly and smiled politely. "Besides, who he chooses to be with, or not be with, should follow his wishes, don't you think?"
He Mingyu's eyes flashed with a sharp, deadly glint.
He cast a cold glance at Tan Qing, his jaw clenched tightly. His voice was chilling as he asked, "Oh, really? And how are you so sure that Tan Qing has truly lost his memory?"
Ji Yanxiu gently patted Tan Qing on the shoulder to reassure him. "If you have doubts, Mr. He, it's simple. Let's call in the attending physician."
The doctor, who had just returned to the break room, was quickly summoned back. This time, only two nurses accompanied him instead of four. Moreover, upon learning of Tan Qing and Ji Yanxiu's identities, the hospital had sent a few more specialists along.
A whole team entered the room in a grand procession.
Tan Qing, pitifully hiding behind Ji Yanxiu, peeked at the group of white coats in front of him. Unashamed, he whined, "Doctor, my head really hurts."
The doctors exchanged glances before the vice president, who specialized in neurology, personally examined Tan Qing. After a series of X-rays and CT scans, the vice president and the hospital director returned to the room. The director, his face plastered with a cautious smile, began explaining the situation to He Mingyu, whose expression was already thunderous. "Mr. He, the human brain is an extremely complex system. Even the most advanced technology today cannot fully explain how the brain functions."
The vice president chimed in, "Exactly. While Tan Qing doesn't appear to have suffered severe trauma, a car accident can certainly result in minor brain injuries."
He Mingyu's eyes darkened as he coldly asked, "So, are you saying he might never regain his memories?"
The director wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly responded, "Of course not, Mr. He. The brain is a mysterious organ. The CT scan didn't show any blood clots, so we suspect it's just a case of neurological amnesia. The chances of recovery are actually quite high."
He Mingyu's voice dropped ominously. "So, there's still a small chance he might never recover, correct?"
The director: "..."
The vice president: "..."
He Mingyu, clearly out of patience, growled, "No need to answer. Get me Tan Qing's medical file. I'll arrange his transfer tonight."
The relieved director and vice president hurried to leave.
But as they took a couple of steps toward the door, they were stopped by Tan Qing's voice from behind Ji Yanxiu. He was shaking his head vigorously like a rattle, "No, no, no, I'm not transferring! I want to stay with my fellow patient who've gone through hardships with me! I don't want to go back with He Mingyu!"
Everyone: "..."
Tan Qing peeked out from behind Ji Yanxiu's back and added stubbornly, "I just checked my phone! You have no right to restrict my personal freedom!"
The entire room fell into a quiet, awkward silence.
Every doctor and nurse present watched as He Mingyu's already stormy expression darkened even further.
Finally, He Mingyu's lips twisted into a bitter smile as he repeated in amusement, "Personal freedom?"
Tan Qing: "..."
Tan Qing nodded with a sense of justice, saying, "Yes! A good citizen in a socialist society must follow the law!"
"Is that so?"
He Mingyu seemed to find the idea entertaining. The cold smile on his lips quickly faded, replaced by an icy calm. "Your ID, household registration, and passport are all in my possession."
His eyes swept across the room indifferently before settling back on Tan Qing. "I'm going to transfer you tonight. You're welcome to ask anyone in this room if they plan to stop me."
Then, looking directly at Tan Qing, he added with a nod, "Ji Yanxiu might be bold enough to try. Why don't you let him see if he can stop me?"
Tan Qing: "..."
Despite having Tan Jiji, who was happily nibbling on his fingers, in his arms, He Mingyu's aura had shifted, becoming different from his usual stern, "by-the-book" demeanor.
Tan Qing glanced back and forth between He Mingyu and Ji Yanxiu, realizing he couldn't let his potential long-term meal ticket be extinguished so easily. He had found one opportunity today, and surely there would be more in the future.
Quickly, Tan Qing slipped behind Ji Yanxiu's arm, putting on his best "wronged and pitiful" expression. Then, just as Ji Yanxiu was about to speak, Tan Qing grabbed his hand first.
Wow! Even the hand of Sugar Daddy #1 felt great to touch.
And it was so aesthetically pleasing too.
Unable to resist, Tan Qing grabbed Ji Yanxiu's other hand as well, his eyes turning red as he gazed up at him. "Forget it, there will always be people who can't stand to see us together."
He Mingyu: "..."
Tan Qing wiped his eyes. "He looks so fierce and terrifying. I guess I'd better return to J City. You must come find me later, okay? By the way, what's your name?"
Ji Yanxiu: "..."
Whatever Ji Yanxiu had intended to say to make Tan Qing stay was cut short, as Tan Qing had already made up his mind. Ji Yanxiu could only nod and say softly, "I'm Ji Yanxiu. I'll come to J City to find you soon."
Tan Qing, looking as sweet and obedient as ever, smiled and replied, "I'll be waiting for you. Mwah!"
Tan Qing looked so soft and sweet that even Ji Yanxiu couldn't help but smile back. "Okay."
The only discordant presence in the room was He Mingyu, radiating cold fury. His face stiffened as he watched Tan Qing say his goodbyes to Ji Yanxiu, holding hands the entire time. He was so angry that his chest heaved, frightening the nurse next to him into almost fetching an oxygen tank.
Finally, once Tan Qing's performance ended, He Mingyu sneered, "Satisfied? Let's go."
Tan Qing slid off Ji Yanxiu's bed and slowly walked over to He Mingyu's side. With a long, dramatic sigh full of sentiment, he recited, "I long for you, yet I see you not. Together we sip the Yangtze's flow*... Alas…"
[T/N: The line "日日思君不见君,喝光长江水,唉……" draws from the essence of longing and unfulfilled love. It reflects the sentiment of the original poem 《卜算子》 by Li Zhiyi, where the speaker expresses a deep yearning for someone who is far away, despite being connected by the same river. The Yangtze River symbolizes both separation and an unbroken bond; while the lovers are apart, they share the same water, signifying their intertwined fates.]
He Mingyu: "..."
He slammed the door to the room shut with vengeance.
Outside, the fans and entertainment reporters were still blocking the way, staying up all night to get a glimpse. Security escorted He Mingyu and Tan Qing through the safety corridor and down the stairs.
Just as they reached the ground floor, they ran into the director and several main cast members who had rushed over from the film set.
The moment Ran Anluo saw Tan Qing, his expression went through a kaleidoscope of changes before finally settling into one of deep concern. He jogged over and asked, "QingQing, are you alright? How are you feeling?"
Tan Qing sniffled and let out a loud sneeze. "I'm fine, I'm fine—Ah-choo!"
He Mingyu pulled Tan Qing closer and shot a condescending glance at Ran Anluo. "Tan Qing's body hasn't fully recovered. He needs to avoid getting sick again."
Tan Qing rubbed his nose, waving dismissively. "It's not his fault… Anyway, I need to use the bathroom. Wait for me, okay?"
He Mingyu was about to say something more, but the film's producer and director, Cheng Ye, stepped in to hold him back.
Taking advantage of the moment, Tan Qing slipped away and hurried into the bathroom around the corner on the first floor.
The "Cleaning in Progress" sign was already hanging outside the door.
Tan Qing sneezed again and turned his head, only to see Yan Jianbai leaning casually against the sink.
Wrapped around Yan Jianbai's finger was a tiny snake.
When Yan Jianbai saw Tan Qing approach, he wiggled his finger in Tan Qing's direction. "Want it as a gift?"
Tan Qing, bored, washed his hands and replied lazily, "No thanks, it's too thin."
Yan Jianbai: "..."
Yan Jianbai flicked his finger, and the little green snake disappeared instantly. "You didn't pick Ji Yanxiu because he's… thicker, did you?"
Tan Qing tilted his head. "How would I know? I haven't tried it yet."
Yan Jianbai asked, "What about He Mingyu?"
Tan Qing shot him a glance.
Yan Jianbai's little snake peeked out again from his fingertip.
Yan Jianbai leaned in closer, flashing a grin that revealed his sharp canine teeth. He asked, with a hint of jealousy and annoyance, "Are you tired of He Mingyu? Or just trying to provoke him? But why not choose me? Ji Yanxiu is just a regular guy—what's so great about him?"
Tan Qing lifted a finger and placed it on Yan Jianbai's Adam's apple, putting some distance between them.
The scent of years of demonic cultivation filled Tan Qing's senses, and he couldn't help but lick his lips.
Then, with a sigh, he said, "First of all, his Mandarin is better than yours."
Yan Jianbai: "..."
Tan Qing, clearly troubled, pushed Yan Jianbai further away and shook his head. "With your tone-deaf Mandarin, it'd ruin the quality of our bedroom time."
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