Chapter 48 - The Supporting Villain Is Raising a Cub Online

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Tan Qing, I realized I've Given You too Much Freedom.

 

 

As a fox, it's hard to find common ground with snakes.

 

If it weren't for the heavy demonic energy clinging to Ran Anluo, Tan Qing wouldn't have even bothered to check if there was some strange, intimate relationship between Ran Anluo and Yan Jianbai.

 

After pushing Yan Jianbai away, Tan Qing rubbed his nose and tilted his head. "Have you had sex with Ran Anluo?"

 

Yan Jianbai's sharp little fangs gleamed against his smiling, doll-like face. "Yeah. What, are you curious?"

 

Tan Qing glanced at him enviously. "Is it really as great as humans say?"

 

"It is," Yan Jianbai chuckled. "QingQing, though I can't tell how many years you've cultivated, have you ever left the mountain?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Seeing that Tan Qing didn't answer, Yan Jianbai continued, "I bet you haven't."

 

"If you've never left the mountain, never entered the world, and never met humans... then why show them mercy?"

 

The small snake coiled around Yan Jianbai's finger slithered down into his sleeve. He smirked, "QingQing, humans and demons walk different paths. Even if you spare them, they may never accept you."

 

He curled his lips, "Why don't you guess—if He Mingyu found out that both you and your son were demons, wouldn't he send you to a research facility? You might escape, but what about your son?"

 

Ouch, the old snake really knew how to hit where it hurts.

 

Tan Qing sighed heavily, his expression full of melancholy. "Forget it. I'm leaving. Bye."

 

Yan Jianbai: "..."

 

Yan Jianbai: "???"

 

Dumbfounded, Yan Jianbai blurted, "Wait, after everything I just said, that's your only response?"

 

"I can't hurt people anymore," Tan Qing said, walking a few steps before stopping again.

 

He turned his head, his expression indistinct under the dim bathroom light. "I really don't understand love, sorrow, or joy, nor do I get human ethics or morals. Born a demon... I can never be human."

 

Tan Qing seemed a bit helpless, but he still added, "But I promised someone before—I wouldn't hurt people again."

 

Yan Jianbai: "..."

 

Tan Qing waved his hand dismissively, "Little demon. So here's some advice: when you're still young, don't push your luck. And don't make promises you shouldn't. Anyway, that's all. I'm off."

 

With that, he scurried out of the bathroom.

 

He Mingyu was no longer in his previous spot, and the rest of the film crew had likely gone upstairs.

 

As Tan Qing stepped out, Ran Anluo spotted him and walked over, hesitating for a moment before asking, "Did you see Yan Jianbai?"

 

Tan Qing, whose mood had been ruined by Yan Jianbai, became even more irritated at the sight of Ran Anluo. "Yeah, he's in the restroom, rubbing himself on the floor."

 

Ran Anluo: "…What?"

 

Tan Qing corrected himself, "Sorry, he said he's waiting for you by the restroom on the first floor."

 

Ran Anluo still looked skeptical, casting a few more glances at Tan Qing. "So, did you just… run into him?"

 

Tan Qing, completely honest, said, "Don't worry. Yan Jianbai and I aren't on the same wavelength. We wouldn't get mixed up together."

 

Ran Anluo: "..."

 

Suddenly at a loss for words because of how straightforward Tan Qing was, Ran Anluo had to think for a while before saying, "I saw He Mingyu leave with Sister Qiao earlier, and they seemed quite close. QingQing, someone like Mr. He, with his status, will never settle down with a man for life. Don't get too caught up in it."

 

Tan Qing obediently let out a long "Oh," nodding along.

 

Ran Anluo, convinced that Tan Qing was still as foolish and naive as ever, leaned in a bit closer. "If you really need resources, I can introduce you to someone. What kind of person do you like?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

After thinking seriously for a moment, Tan Qing replied, "Um… someone big down there, good in bed, and handsome?"

 

Ran Anluo: "..."

 

It was tough enough to find an older, wealthy benefactor over fifty who was big and good down there in bed.

 

But Ran Anluo, unwilling to admit defeat, smiled and agreed, then asked where Tan Qing was headed next before rushing off to meet Yan Jianbai.

 

Tan Qing yawned lazily and swaggered out of the hospital through the emergency exit, walking in a winding "S" pattern.

 

Outside, he spotted He Mingyu sitting in a car.

 

Tan Qing obediently climbed into the back seat and was surprised to find that, unlike usual, He Mingyu hadn't been holding Tan Jiji. The little one had been left alone in the back seat.

 

Since they were out of town, the car didn't have a child seat in the back.

 

The little one, clumsily clutching his baby bottle, wobbled his arms when Tan Qing got in, clearly wanting to be held.

 

Glancing at He Mingyu sitting expressionless in the front passenger seat, Tan Qing still reached out to pick up Tan Jiji. Feigning excitement, he cooed, "Oh my, whose little baby is this? You've gotten so chubby!"

 

Tan Jiji, who hadn't been held by Tan Qing in a long time, happily sniffed his dad's familiar scent and snuggled sweetly into his arms. "Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa!"

 

He Mingyu didn't even glance at the two in the back. He simply turned to the branch manager beside him and said, "Take us to the train station."

 

The manager, feeling the oppressive air from his boss growing heavier by the second, wiped the sweat from his forehead nervously. "Yes, sir! We'll head there right away!"

 

The suffocating tension accompanied the drive to the train station, where, after watching He Mingyu and Tan Qing enter, the branch manager quickly sent a message to Lin Yu: "Category 12 blizzard warning, good luck to us all."

 

Lin Yu, already waiting at the station entrance, saw the message and thought, "…Right."

 

No matter how tough life gets, you have to keep smiling.

 

With a solemn expression, Lin Yu forced a smile at his phone as he waited in the busy arrivals area for the trio to emerge.

 

The first thing he noticed, sharply and immediately, was that it wasn't He Mingyu carrying the child—it was Tan Qing, who clearly had no idea what he was doing.

 

Although Mr. Tan had finally broken his habit of holding the child by the scruff, thanks to the boss's constant correction, the way he was carrying the kid now—like a sack of potatoes—was equally strange.

 

Lin Yu hurried over, deeply admiring how Tan Jiji could still sleep soundly despite being slung over Tan Qing's shoulder like a little sack.

 

With a sigh of admiration for the boss's superior genes, Lin Yu, eager for a raise, offered, "Mr. Tan, you must be tired. How about I hold the child for you for a bit?"

 

Before Tan Qing could answer, He Mingyu gave Lin Yu a cold glance. "Let him carry his own child."

 

Lin Yu: "…"

 

Helpless, Lin Yu shot Tan Qing an apologetic look and quickly went to open the car door for He Mingyu.

 

Since the train station was located downtown, and it was nearing rush hour, Lin Yu drove straight towards the apartment. The drive was eerily silent.

 

In the back, Tan Qing pretended to be oblivious, making silly faces at Tan Jiji, who giggled back at him, while He Mingyu remained silent in the front passenger seat.

 

Lin Yu, who had worked alongside He Mingyu for so long, had never seen such a cold and heavy expression on his boss's face.

 

Just as he was about to attempt a conversation with Tan Qing to test the waters, He Mingyu spoke abruptly, "Stop at the next store."

 

They were near a commercial street lined with shops, and Lin Yu instinctively slowed down, following He Mingyu's gaze.

 

There was a Sephora, a men's goods store, and a snack shop.

 

Lin Yu hesitated, unsure of which shop to park in front of.

 

Since the shops were close together, he decided to stop in front of the snack shop, playing it safe.

 

Hastily, he offered, "Boss, Mr. Tan, what would you like to buy? I'll get it for you!"

 

Desperate for a break from the tension, Lin Yu's eyes were filled with a silent plea for survival.

 

But He Mingyu coldly replied, "No need. Lock the car and don't let Tan Qing out."

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

As the car door slammed shut with a resounding "bang," both Lin Yu, sitting in the driver's seat, and Tan Qing, holding Tan Jiji in the back, watched curiously as He Mingyu exited the car.

 

He walked across the landscaping, ignoring a pretty woman who tried to strike up a conversation.

 

He then ignored a man with a round belly who also approached him.

 

Finally, he walked past the snack shop and into the men's goods store.

 

Lin Yu: "..."

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Lin Yu unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to Tan Qing. "Mr. Tan, what's the boss buying?"

 

Tan Qing pinched his face and put on an innocent expression. "I don't know. I have amnesia."

 

Lin Yu: "..."

 

Despite hearing about this from the branch manager, Lin Yu still found it hard to believe. "You really don't remember the boss?"

 

Tan Qing blinked. "Has your boss ever done anything particularly memorable for me?"

 

Lin Yu: "..."

 

After thinking long and hard, Lin Yu finally tried to defend He Mingyu. "Mr. Tan, even though you've lost your memory, the boss actually cares a lot about you. He's just not a romantic kind of person..."

 

Tan Qing seemed curious. "How does he care about me? Did he ever give me roses?"

 

Lin Yu: "..."

 

Tan Qing pouted. "Did he ever set off fireworks for me?"

 

Lin Yu: "..."

 

Tan Qing frowned. "Sigh! Then he probably never gave me a ring either!"

 

Feeling that he might be brainwashed if this continued, Lin Yu quickly countered, "Mr. Tan, life isn't all about those things…"

 

Tan Qing gently bit the soft cheek of little Tan Jiji. "Alright, but he hasn't even made our relationship official as sex… I mean, lovers."

 

Lin Yu: "..."

 

Lin Yu clammed up, holding onto the last bit of faith he had in his boss, trying not to be swayed.

 

The two waited in the car for a little longer.

 

Finally, He Mingyu emerged from the store with a delicate little paper bag in hand and, without expression, got back into the car. "Let's go straight home."

 

Lin Yu stole a couple of glances at the contents of the paper bag, noticing that the packaging looked unusually refined. Not only were there English labels, but also a string of German and French, giving it a very high-end feel.

 

By the time they finished navigating through rush hour traffic and reached home, night had fallen once more.

 

Lin Yu clocked out and went home.

 

Tan Qing, resigned to his fate, carried the endlessly chattering little cub as he followed He Mingyu into the house.

 

He Mingyu casually placed the small paper bag on the side table, then unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it carelessly onto the sofa.

 

Tan Qing glanced around the house and realized the usual housekeeper wasn't there today.

 

After standing around for a moment, looking left and right, He Mingyu turned back and took Tan Jiji from Tan Qing's arms. "I'll put him to bed. Wait for me here."

 

Tan Qing, feeling reluctant, mumbled, "But I'm sleepy too."

 

He Mingyu glanced at him. "You can go to your room if you like. The front door is already locked."

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

Sniffing in protest, Tan Qing kicked off his slippers and stomped back to his room.

 

The little one was always good at bedtime, often falling asleep after hearing just half a story.

 

He Mingyu tucked Tan Jiji in, closed the door, and then walked over to Tan Qing's room.

 

The door wasn't locked.

 

Tan Qing seemed to have already taken a shower and was now sitting cross-legged on the bed in his pajamas, focused on playing a game.

 

He Mingyu sat down on the bench at the foot of the bed and said, "I'm planning to send Tan Jiji to the Biological Specimen Research Institute."

 

Just one sentence.

 

Tan Qing froze on the spot. "What did you just say?!"

 

He Mingyu met Tan Qing's innocent eyes. "Didn't you understand what I said?"

 

Tan Qing's hand gripped his phone so tightly that it left an imprint on the case.

 

He threw the phone aside and jumped off the bed, rushing over to He Mingyu. "Are you out of your mind?! He's your son!"

 

He Mingyu lifted his gaze and looked at Tan Qing.

 

After a long pause, he suddenly smiled. "Aren't you supposed to have amnesia?"

 

Tan Qing: "..."

 

That was a plot twist he never saw coming.

 

The most fatal kind.

 

Tan Qing's mind raced, but he couldn't think of a clever way to recover, so he awkwardly tugged at the bedsheet, feigning ignorance. "I don't know what you're talking about."

 

He Mingyu had sorted out all his thoughts on the way home.

 

Compared to Tan Qing's obvious unease, his voice was calm and unhurried.

 

He raised his eyelids slightly, his tone cold. "Do you want me to send Tan Jiji to the specimen lab, for you to understand?"

 

Every hair on Tan Qing's body stood on end, and he snapped, "He Mingyu, I absolutely won't let you send him to that place!"

 

"Why are you so angry?"

 

He Mingyu stood up, grabbed Tan Qing's wrist, and with a swift motion, pushed him down onto the large bed.

 

"Didn't you lose your memory? Didn't you already forget about the child? Tan Qing, what else do you want to pretend?"

 

Pinned beneath He Mingyu, Tan Qing's most vulnerable areas—his belly and throat—were completely exposed.

 

For a fox, this was a position that offered no sense of security at all.

 

Tan Qing always preferred to be in control, never liking situations where he felt restrained.

 

Both his hands were held above his head by He Mingyu.

 

No matter how much Tan Qing struggled, he couldn't break free from under He Mingyu.

 

What the hell!

 

Tan Qing, who had never been treated this way by an ordinary human before, panicked and started thrashing around.

 

Not only did he fail to escape, but he also felt something hard and strange pressing against his stomach.

 

Startled, Tan Qing paused and looked up in confusion at He Mingyu, who was on top of him.

 

In the depths of those usually calm and indifferent eyes, Tan Qing saw his own small reflection.

 

And within that reflection, a fierce fire burned brighter and brighter.

 

He Mingyu lowered his head and kissed the tip of Tan Qing's nose, his voice low and husky. "Tan Qing, I've always wanted to wait. But today, I realized I've given you too much freedom."

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