Three police officers had just completed a mission, and a colleague dropped off Officer Lai, who was wearing a trench coat, at the hospital for a blood test. As they were about to leave, Officer Lai notified them of a suspected human trafficking gang operating at the hospital entrance.
The three suspects were apprehended on the spot.
On the way to the police car, Lu Qin tried to wake up Pei Dundun. “Dundun, wake up and explain to the police officers.”
However, Pei Dundun had cried his heart out ten minutes earlier, which exhausted him more than jumping around would have. His cries pierced through the ceiling, making Dr. Jiang on the third floor afraid to show his face.
Except for Pei Rong, no one should attempt to get involved in the kid’s vaccination. Holding a grudge, he couldn’t be soothed. Let him cry to vent his energy, sleep it off, and wake up as a good boy again.
Lu Qin tried gently to wake him up, fearing that a loud noise would scare him awake. Since he had cried himself to sleep, waking him up might lead to more crying, leaving Lu Qin with no solution.
Reasoning and rewards were useless because Pei Dundun had the attitude of “I understand everything, but crying isn’t illegal.”
Officer Lai observed Lu Qin’s hypocritical attempt to wake the child and said, “Afraid to wake him?”
Moreover, what was with calling him “Dundun”? The kid didn’t even have that nickname.
Lu Qin replied, “Can’t wake him.”
“Can’t wake him? Did you give him medicine?” The officer frowned, wondering how he could go from crying one second to sleeping so deeply the next.
“No.”
Lu Qin sat in the back of the police car holding his son, pondering how to explain. Unless necessary, he couldn’t reveal Pei Rong’s childbirth; it was too unbelievable. Pei Rong had once been a public figure, and probing into his past was like a sharp knife that could cut deep when extremely pointed.
Should he bring up his identity as the president of the Lu Corporation to prove he was wealthy enough not to need to kidnap someone’s child?
Lu Qin glanced at Pei Dundun and thought of some melodramatic custody battle scenes from wealthy families... Hmm, responsible police officers would eventually call Pei Rong to confirm.
He couldn’t get out of this without informing Pei Rong.
Since that was the case, he decided to skip revealing his identity and contact Pei Rong directly to save some face, avoiding headlines like “Lu Qin detained at hospital, where is the Lu Corporation headed?” that could affect stock prices.
Lu Qin dialed Pei Rong’s number to make a video call.
***
Pei Rong was sitting on a bed in a nursing home, using a small table to enjoy a sumptuous breakfast provided by the canteen. Life was peaceful and affluent; he had no worries about food or clothing and could stay there until retirement, continuing his stay afterward.
The phone screen on the small table lit up, and the red dot of the video call invitation flashed.
Pei Rong took a bite of the shumai, propped his chin up, and looked at his phone.
One bite, two bites...
To be honest, he really didn’t want to bail them out.
If those two ended up in jail together, with their communication devices confiscated, how peaceful would the world be?
Prison would be great: regular routines, police officers helping to watch the kid, and he could visit regularly, like sending the child to kindergarten. Pei Dundun would probably even perform a prison break act.
Pei Rong finished one shumai, slowly wiped his hands, and adjusted his collar.
He still had to bail them out; otherwise, his stock would hit the limit down.
A stunningly beautiful person appeared on the screen, creating a breathtaking moment, as if he had just answered a long-awaited call.
Lu Qin’s heart skipped two beats. During his one video call with Pei Rong, the moment Pei Rong’s face appeared on the screen was so breathtaking.
“I misspoke and said I was Dundun’s real dad. The police suspect I abducted Dundun. Can you explain it to them?”
Pei Rong just needed to make up an excuse, saying that the child was temporarily staying with him, and the police wouldn’t dig deeper.
He turned the phone screen towards Officer Lai.
On the screen, Pei Rong fastened the last button of his shirt, looking dignified and speaking gratefully, “I’m Pei Rong. Thank you, Officer Lai, for remembering Dundun. I want to clarify that Mr. Lu did not abduct the child.”
The police officer sighed with relief. Not abducting was the best outcome; he just couldn’t understand why Mr. Lu insisted he was the child’s real father.
Was there some kind of mental disorder? The child cried, and he covered him with a suit. Pei Ge was smart and lively, with such a good personality. If he were misled...
He wanted to suggest to Pei Rong not to let Mr. Lu take care of Pei Ge, at least without another parent watching.
Pei Rong curved his lips and lazily provided a reason: “Because Mr. Lu can’t get it up, so I let him have fun with Pei Ge.”
The air in the police car suddenly became quiet.
Police officer: “...”
The suggestion he was about to make suddenly seemed too cruel.
Immersed in his wife’s beauty, Lu Qin was taken aback: “...”
“Can’t get it up” was his line, but how could the cause and effect be put together so rashly?!
It made him sound impotent!
Wait a minute, could it be that Pei Rong really thinks that way?
Oh no, he wanted Pei Rong to think he’s “harmless” and be comfortable with their relationship, not that he’s “impotent.” Once labeled, how could he have any chance of being Pei Rong’s choice of partner?
Lu Qin was so angry that he wanted to immediately show Pei Rong... No, he must be patient and think of the bigger picture.
It’s not yet time to reveal everything, but he must find an opportunity to clarify this face-to-face as soon as possible.
Pei Rong raised an eyebrow. Lu Qin went around telling people he was impotent, so his mental fortitude must be strong, right? The excuse he came up with seemed reasonable, so it shouldn’t be an issue, right?
Pei Rong thought for a moment and demonstrated the correct way to wake up Pei Dundun from a distance.
The little rascal always slept at critical moments. Next time, he wouldn’t bother helping.
Pei Rong raised his voice: “Pei Dundun! Get up and eat your instant noodles, or they’ll get cold.”
“Officer Lai, sorry for the trouble.”
Police officer: “No problem, it was just a misunderstanding. They can go now.”
“Thank you, thank you.” After speaking, Pei Rong hung up the phone.
In Lu Qin’s arms, Pei Dundun moved his arms, touched his mouth, then rubbed his eyes vigorously, as if struggling with sleepiness. In the end, the allure of instant noodles won, and he opened his grape-like eyes, still a bit dazed: “Huh... police officer uncle?”
Did the police officer uncle decide to give him a bowl of instant noodles as compensation?
Daddy said he couldn’t eat instant noodles on his own, so if the police officer uncle gives it to him, it doesn’t count as sneaking it!
Pei Dundun suddenly sat up from Lu Qin’s embrace and found himself in a police car, taking three seconds to react.
No instant noodles, what’s going on?
Did he get taken away because he cried too loudly?
Pei Dundun sat up straight, remembering the most important instruction, and quickly said: “Police officer uncle, my last name is Lu now.”
The one in trouble is Lu Dundun. It had nothing to do with Pei Ge, so don’t go looking for my daddy!
Oh, to let Mr. Lu experience a father-son relationship, he acted so well that he even changed his last name.
The nearly two-year-old kid, who acts just like Mr. Pei, no wonder Mr. Lu chose Pei Ge.
The police officer felt complicated, growing fonder of Dundun: “Alright, uncle knows, you can go home now.”
Pei Dundun swallowed. “So we’re not going to the police station for instant noodles today?”
