Madam Jiang was preparing to go home and pack up things, getting ready for them to move in together tomorrow. She said to Lu Qin, “Even a sensible child like Dundun will cry for Pei Rong before bedtime. I don’t know if he can sleep in a new bed.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she hugged Dundun.
After seeing off his mother, Lu Qin returned and squatted in front of Dundun on the sofa, meeting his gaze. “After we finish bathing, you can video call Daddy Pei Rong in the bedroom. I’ll go to the study afterward so I won’t disturb you guys, okay?”
Lu Qin figured Pei Rong could probably calm Dundun to sleep during the video call.
Pei Ge, who had been worried about finding alone time, brightened up and hugged Lu Qin’s neck. “I like you, Daddy Lu.”
Lu Qin: “Let’s make a deal then, drop the ‘Lu’.”
Pei Ge: “Okay, Daddy.”
Pei Dundun returned eagerly, took a quick shower, and didn’t even play with the rubber duck in the bath. After drying off and changing into pure cotton pajamas, Lu Qin tucked him into bed, and was ready to make a phone call.
Lu Qin: “Daddy is in the third study next door. If you need anything, just call Daddy and I’ll hear you.”
Pei Dundun entered the password, tapped on the first contact, and without looking up, replied, “Mm-hmm!”
Lu Qin hurriedly left, looking back three times before closing the door. Just as the door shut, he heard a faint “Dundun” mingled with an electrical noise, almost prompting him to rush back inside.
The cat named Orange had its nest by the bedside, its ears perked up attentively, watching for any movement at the door.
Heart-wrenching, truly heart-wrenching.
He hadn’t heard his wife’s voice in nearly three years.
Dundun happily exclaimed, “Dad!”
Lu Qin almost considered pretending not to hear, but he gathered his strong will and managed to step into the study to continue working, resisting the urge to go check on Pei Rong.
Restraint, patience.
If he couldn’t endure this, how would he handle it when he saw the real person in front of him? He might not be able to resist pouncing like a hungry tiger, scaring Pei Rong away again like three years ago.
The display on the phone watch wasn’t very clear, but Dundun was happy just to hear Pei Rong’s voice, proving to him that Dad was there with him.
He rambled on about today’s events, tossing and turning his head on the pillow, unable to stay still.
Pei Rong listened with a smile, occasionally encouraging him, saying, “Little special agent is really amazing!”
Pei Dundun heard what he wanted to hear and proudly lifted his mouth, saying, “Daddy, I had red wine braised beef brisket today, it was delicious. I wanted to share it with you, Daddy.”
Pei Rong smiled gently. “Dad will also have the chance to eat that.”
Pei Dundun asked again, “Can Dad sneak over to see me?”
Pei Rong thought for a moment, “If Daddy Lu takes you out to play, Dad will find a way to sneak a peek and see if Dundun has grown taller.”
Pei Dundun replied eagerly, “Yes, yes! Dundun drinks milk before sleeping to grow taller! Dad, you must come see.”
Pei Rong comforted softly, “Then will Dundun be able to sleep tonight with Daddy Lu?”
“Of course!”
“Great.”
Looking at the adorable child, he thought of Jiang Yan teaching Dundun to act like a pig to eat a tiger*, and Pei Rong furrowed his brow. (T/N: Acting weak and then showing his real strength later. In Pei Ge’s case, it’s acting obedient instead.)
That person, voluntarily arranging for Dundun to call him tonight, was behaving well. He should lend a hand.
Pei Rong advised, “Dundun, behave well at Daddy Lu’s house, just like today. Special Agent Dundun gets rewarded for completing the mission a day early.”
Behave well every day, finish a day early, and in ten days, it would be over.
Pei Dundun promised, “I will.”
On the phone, a doctor asked Pei Rong to sign some paperwork for obtaining new medical equipment. Jiang Yan was occupied working at his senior brother’s hospital. Pei Rong had to manage administrative tasks at the sanatorium in exchange for Jiang Yan’s responsibilities, as he was idle there otherwise.
Pei Dundun tucked his little feet under the warm belly of Orange, understandingly saying, “Dad, go to work. I love you, Dad.”
Pei Rong replied, “Alright, listen to Daddy Lu, and call Dad again tomorrow when you wake up.”
Ending the call early, Pei Dundun slipped off the bed and quietly opened the door. Because Daddy Lu’s door was very high end with ten levels of soundproofing, the appearance of a child and a cat at the door didn’t attract Daddy Lu’s attention.
Pei Dundun, barefoot and with silent footpads like Orange, hmm... Didn’t Daddy Lu say which room he’s in?
He walked five meters forward and saw a small staircase going down.
After finishing the call with Dad, Pei Dundun’s spirits revived. It wasn’t a direct coaxing to sleep as Daddy Lu imagined.
He became curious about the structure of Daddy Lu’s house; after all, there were no corners in the countryside villa that Pei Ge hadn’t explored.
Pei Ge turned on the lights at the door and saw a row of wine cabinets. Grandma said he had to open wine every year at the birthday party, and there were only four months left until the performance.
Hm, Dad said to behave well.
He earnestly advised Orange, “Absolutely do not break any wine bottles.”
***
In the study, Lu Qin finished reading a project proposal when his phone buzzed. Hearing about his beloved son, his friends sent messages of congratulations.
The closer ones even knew he hadn’t found a wife yet.
Lu Qin thought of Pei Rong, unable to focus on the report. He picked up his phone and replied, one by one.
“Yes, I have a son.”
To many whom he usually ignored, he replied kindly, as if each response could deepen his bond with Pei Rong.
A friend who once traveled to an island together with him and Pei Rong, Yuan Hu, first sent a big red envelope to his nephew, then gleefully shared a series of short videos with him.
The content was all “Dad with Kids,” popular on a certain short video app.
In the first video, the dad took the kid out for a walk after the rain, and the kid played in a puddle in the community, getting soaked and then scolded by his wife when they got back.
In the second video, the dad was putting the kid to sleep, and the kid’s belly was exposed as he slept, leading to the dad being scolded by his wife.
In the third video, the dad took the kid to the supermarket, bought a bunch of duplicate toys and snacks, and got scolded by his wife.
...
In the Nth video, the dad let the kid taste some wine during a feast and was beaten by his wife.
Lu Qin: “...”
He calmly replied: “Don’t spread anxiety.”
He turned off his phone and decided to go listen at the door. As he approached the bedroom, he noticed the door was open, and there was some activity coming from the wine cabinet.
Lu Qin’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly hurried down to the wine cabinet to see what Dundun was doing. Suddenly, everything went black before his eyes.
Dundun sat barefoot on the floor, using both hands and feet to open a bottle of red wine.
With his chubby little feet gripping the bottle, one hand barely able to hold on to the neck, the other hand spun the corkscrew to open the bottle.
With a focused and meticulous expression, his actions became increasingly skilled and practiced.
As the corkscrew reached the bottom, he adjusted by locking all four limbs around the bottle’s body. Orange opened its mouth and bit down, exerting incredible force to pull the cork out.
By his feet, three bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon and five bottles of Romanée-Conti were already open...
Lu Qin’s breath caught, and he instantly felt anxious. “Dundun, you didn’t drink, did you?!”
Pei Dundun raised his head and honestly said, “I didn’t drink.”
He didn’t drink. How could a child drink alcohol? He was just practicing opening bottles with some old and dirty labels.
Dad said the packaging might be contaminated with bacteria getting inside, or it might be expired, so they shouldn’t consume it casually.
“...You really didn’t drink any?”
“Mm.”
Lu Qin breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the floor full of bottles, then took out his phone and made a call.
“Yuan Hu, help organize a drinking party. Yes, to celebrate the fact that I have a son.”
“You guys drink, I won’t.”
Lu Qin proudly mentioned his son, calmly stating, “Open the three bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon that you’ve always wanted to taste.”
