Great Beauty Pei seemed to be struck by a beam of white light. In a split second, he dropped the quilt, smoothed his rolled-up cuffs, took off the dust mask, and strolled to the door of the toy room.
“Knock, knock, knock.” Pei Rong kicked the cardboard box with his foot.
The cardboard box was the packaging for Aunt Zhang’s new oven. She said she wanted to use it to bake for Pei Dundun, as Aunt Zhang and Uncle Yu usually cook meals, preferring various stir-fries, but they usually didn’t make cakes or pastries.
Taking advantage of his ‘injury,’ Pei Dundun evoked great sympathy from Aunt Zhang, who also felt a twinge of guilt. In response, she promptly promised to make him a mango cake.
He had already eaten the mango cake, but he was reluctant to remove the ‘protective talisman’ from his forehead, relying on it to avoid punishment while tricking others into giving him food and drinks.
“Come out.”
The corrugated box was silent for two seconds. Pei Dundun lay on the ground, quietly lifted a seam, propped the box ridge on his head, revealing a small face: “Dad.”
With his ‘talisman’, Dad couldn’t spank his butt.
Pei Rong tucked his hands into his pockets and said, “Dad is going for a drive. Is there any kid here who wants to come along?”
Pei Ge immediately flipped the cardboard box, ran to the door to get the outdoor hat, picked up the milk bottle. “Dad, I’m ready.”
Pei Rong looked at the newly changed clothes of the child, which had now turned into a floor-cleaning rag. He closed his eyes and comforted himself: ‘It’s okay, soon it won’t be his turn to wash.’
He instructed Aunt Zhang to clean up after Orange finished running after the rats, rewarding it with a small fish.
Then he took the car keys, put Pei Dundun in the child safety seat, and set off.
Pei Rong often took his son out for drives like this. The little kid, engrossed in watching the passing traffic and scenery, would usually stay quiet. That was until one day when Pei Ge spotted another dad from a neighboring family riding a small electric scooter with his child. The kid was standing on the footboard, enjoying the wind blowing on their face, looking very comfortable.
Just back to the country, Pei Rong woke up and saw a brand new electric scooter in the yard. Upon asking, it was ordered by Pei Ge online.
He immediately remembered that during the day, the little guy asked him “what’s that kind of vehicle called,” and when he answered ‘electric scooter,’ the little guy stopped asking. It turned out he was waiting to use the New Year’s money given by Jiang Yan to order it at night.
Beautifully named: Gift for Dad.
Pei Rong was very touched, took him around the villa, locked it in the garage, and refused the request to drive into the bustling city.
“Dad used to be a big star. After being recognized, he has to go to work, and maybe he won’t see you for a few days.”
“Then, let’s ride the car.”
When Pei Ge drank his milk, he was particularly focused. At that moment, he wouldn’t spare any attention for anyone else. The earnestness with which he drank his milk was most reminiscent of his other father’s demeanor when he was deeply engrossed in his work.
Pei Rong saw it from the rearview mirror, and it immediately reminded him of how Lu Qin looked when he used to work in his film crew’s office. Very serious, very charismatic.
After finishing drinking his milk, Pei Dundun temporarily set down the milk bottle and pressed his cheek against the window glass, looking around.
The houses here were similar to their house, but back home, only their house was the most beautiful. Here, beautiful houses stood one after another.
Pei Rong drove from the countryside villa into the urban wealthy area, stopping outside Lu Qin’s residential area.
Today, he brought the little child to scout, wanting to see which route was suitable for quietly leaving Pei Dundun at the scoundrel’s doorstep without being noticed himself.
Actually, this wasn’t a sudden impulse.
If Pei Dundun was only raising a mouse... Well, okay, even though raising a mouse was not acceptable, it still wouldn’t justify sending Pei Dundun to Lu Qin’s place.
External factors accounted for ninety percent—there might be a period where he’s too busy. With responsibilities both above and below, balancing both ends was already a big challenge.
Many people opt to prioritize caring for their children, or it could be said that their energy is unevenly distributed.
But Pei Rong didn’t think like that. Aunt Zhao took care of him and Pei Dundun like a mother for two years, so he should also dedicate the same unconditional energy to taking care of her in her old age.
Pei Dundun didn’t like the hospital environment, and Pei Rong also didn’t want to bring a lively little child, who jumped around all day, to a nursing home to be a quiet and obedient good kid who didn’t disturb other elderly people’s rest.
Pei Rong believed that Pei Dundun could manage it, but he couldn’t bear to force the kid to do that.
When Pei Ge was sensible, he was really sensible, so when he caused trouble, Pei Rong was furious but never hit him.
A child who would kneel down right after causing trouble, guaranteeing not to do it again. What could he do?
Not doing it again = doing something new next time.
How could Pei Rong have expected all sorts of cognition-refreshing things and made the little guy promise not to do it in advance?
Such a child, he wouldn’t feel at ease leaving him with anyone. Firstly, he was afraid the other party couldn’t handle it, secondly, he was afraid Pei Ge would be beaten after the other party couldn’t bear it, and thirdly, he was afraid the other party couldn’t deal with Pei Ge’s various mischiefs in time, leading to Pei Dundun getting hurt.
Maybe Jiang Yan could, but he was a doctor, he was already very busy.
If there was still someone in this world who could make Pei Rong feel at ease leaving Pei Dundun with, it would be another person who broke his limits.
A man who could make a bed in the rain and be self-sufficient.
Pei Dundun was the blessing of impotence to President Lu!
When Pei Rong went abroad, he took the watch Lu Qin gave him, intending to leave it to Pei Dundun. He never denied Lu Qin’s fatherly position.
After their contact in the estate, Pei Rong admitted he was a little soft-hearted.
Sigh. Since he’s already ‘impotent’, just let him meet the little rascal.
The father and son share the same traits, mutually harming each other. It’s best for the salted fish to keep a safe distance to avoid further harm to the child and to prevent getting caught by Lu Qin. The workload was no less than that of raising a child.
Pei Rong circled the neighborhood once, confirming that it was not feasible to enter from there without a pass. Then, he drove to the Lu Building to assess the situation.
“Do you want to live here?”
Pei Ge: “Wherever dad lives, I’ll live.”
Pei Rong drove for the morning, parked the car under the shade opposite the Lu Building, and opened a bottle of mineral water. “Pei Ge, Dad has a task for you.”
Pei Dundun’s eyes lit up, and he agreed without even hearing it: “Dundun can do it!”
Pei Rong changed to a gentle tone: “Grandma Zhao is sick, and Dad needs to take care of her in the hospital.”
Pei Dundun’s nose tingled with sadness as he asked, “Is Grandma very ill?”
Pei Rong said, “Dad needs to take care of Grandma Zhao just like she took care of you when you were little. Would you be willing to share Dad’s time with Grandma?”
Pei Dundun pursed his lips, and his eyes instantly became watery, his eye sockets turning red. “I can... but how long does it have to be?”
Pei Rong: “Once Grandma Zhao gets better, Dad will have more time. Do you like Dad?”
Pei Ge nodded heavily, and a few tears rolled out inadvertently. He wiped them away and tried hard not to cry.
Pei Dundun rarely cried, and Pei Rong almost couldn’t bear it: “Do you want your other dad? While I take care of Grandma, you can get to know your other dad.”
Pei Ge was stunned, forgetting to cry: “Can there be two dads? Does he look like Dad?”
Pei Rong smiled: “Because Pei Dundun is willing to give Dad to Grandma for a while, Guanyin Bodhisattva rewards him with two dads.”
“He doesn’t look the same, but he will love you like Dad.”
Pei Dundun realized and asked, “He won’t hit me either, right?”
Pei Rong: “...”
