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Bonus chapter! Thank you for the donation! ^^
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Dundun buried his face into his father's hands.
How could this happen? He had just bought a ring as a birthday gift for his dad. Dad's fingers were supposed to look so good wearing it, wu wu...
Pei Rong felt both touched and amused, but the director didn't call "cut."
The director thought: This little one actually knows how to improvise!
And it's so good! He's crying as if he's truly mourning the loss of their privileged life! From now on, father and son would be all each other has, two souls bound by hardship.
Close-up! Give me a close-up!
Pei Rong pulled his hand back, picked up Dundun, and carried him deeper into the forest according to the script.
Dundun, tears still streaking his face, rested his chin on his father's shoulder, his eyes fixed intently on the small, low grave mound ahead.
Was Dad just digging to bury the surveillance equipment?
A gust of wind slightly ruffled the brim of his white hat for a moment, revealing his tear-stained face. Stubbornness and sorrow froze in his large, watery eyes.
In the next scene, the grown-up male lead, living under a new identity, would return to this old place with his motorcade. Passing this overgrown grave, memories of the past would flood back, his eyes would darken, but his steps would remain firm and unwavering.
Cut! That's a wrap!
Pei Rong circled around and carried the little one straight back to the car.
Lu Qin took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from both their faces.
Pei Rong picked up a makeup remover wipe and cleaned off the special effects makeup from his fingers. "Dundun, isn't it like magic?"
Dundun stared in amazement at the disappearing "wounds," holding back his sobs as a smile broke through his tears.
Pei Rong took out a nail clipper. "The dirt under the nails is hard to wash out, so we need to trim them often. Let Dad see if Dundun's nails are clean?"
Pei Dundun held out his hands. "Clean."
Lu Qin took the nail clippers. "Let me."
Pei Rong gave him his hand, enjoying the CEO's personal service.
As he looked at these palms—the very ones that had moved Dundun to tears—Lu Qin found it hard to believe his own past actions.
Had he lost his mind three years ago, running around trying to get Pei Rong acting roles?
Not every role is glamorous. There’s falling, crawling, rolling in the dirt, sweating through summer shoots and freezing in winter ones—how could he not have felt sorry for him?
Only after trimming his nails could the last traces of mud be completely washed away.
Lu Qin rubbed Pei Rong’s ring finger gently, then kissed it like it was something precious.
Pei Rong’s fingertips tingled, his ears grew warm, and the suspicion in his heart grew stronger. "I’ll go change," he said.
When he handed the costume back to the crew, the director couldn’t help asking, "Would that child’s family be open to more filming? If they’re willing, I’d like to shoot a few more scenes with him to include in the male lead’s memories."
Before Pei Rong could reply, the assistant director tugged at the director’s sleeve. "Better not."
The director pressed on, "Money isn’t an issue. If he’s willing, I’ll even put his name forward for Best Supporting Actor."
Originally, those scenes were meant to be played by the adult male lead, but Dundun was just too compelling on camera. He wanted Dundun to film them—they could just deduct the cost from the male lead’s salary anyway.
The male lead, Chen Qiming, was a popular idol actor recently promoted by Zhou Hang. He had decent looks and a loyal fanbase, but he couldn’t hold a candle to Pei Rong.
Paying Dundun the same rate as the male lead—almost as much as his own father had earned before leaving the industry—meant the money would come straight out of Chen Qiming’s paycheck.
The assistant director tried again, "Let it go. Did you see what car he arrived in?"
That car alone must have cost millions. The kid’s family had probably only agreed to let him act as a favor to Lu Qin, just to share scenes with Pei Rong.
The director glanced at the car and felt a pang of despair.
Why? Why did the world have to have so many rich people!
The two directors huddled together, rewatching the footage with great interest.
But as they watched, they fell into a shared silence.
Why… did the child look like he could actually be Pei Rong’s own son?
…
By the time they left the wooded hills, the day had turned clear and crisp—perfect for a picnic to lift the spirits.
After watching the crying scene in the car, Lu Qin canceled the restaurant reservation and instead took Pei Rong and Dundun to a golf course that was still covered in green grass for the season.
A picnic blanket over three meters long was spread out on the lawn, with exquisite cakes and fruits arranged on top.
Pei Rong, full from eating, lay down on the grass, completely unguarded, like a sweet and creamy cake.
Lu Qin sent the little one away: "There’s an ice cream machine over there. Dundun, go buy two cones—one for you and one for Dad."
A well-behaved little one deserved a reward of ice cream.
Pei Dundun’s eyes lit up: "Okay!"
Pei Rong directed Lu Qin: "You go."
Lu Qin was puzzled: "Why?"
Did he somehow know what Lu Qin was about to do?
Pei Rong explained: "Because when he goes to buy cones, the girls working there always give him an extra swirl or two."
The portion ends up being almost equivalent to two cones—more than a child should have.
At first, Pei Dundun would secretly eat the extra swirls before bringing the cones back, thinking no one would notice.
With no other choice, Lu Qin had to go buy them himself.
Exposed for his ice cream cone trick, Pei Dundun scratched his cheek. The pretty ladies were just too nice—what could Dundun do about it?
He sat down next to Pei Rong, unzipped the inner pocket of his jacket, and pulled out a handful of glittering gold rings, presenting them to his dad with both hands.
"Dad, happy birthday."
Pei Rong was taken aback: "What made you think of buying rings?"
Or, to be more accurate, it was more like a wholesale purchase of rings.
Pei Dundun explained: "I asked my master what he buys with the money he earns from operating excavators."
His master said that after finishing each project, he buys his wife a gold ring, hoping to fill all ten of her fingers with them—so her hands never have to touch harsh work.
Jiang Yan often teased Pei Rong about having "hands that never touch harsh work."
Pei Dundun remembered that phrase and suddenly realized that his dad never wore any rings.
How could Dad not have any?
So that morning, Pei Dundun had Grandma take him to the gold shop to buy rings.
He earned just over three thousand from his part-time work, enough for only two rings. So Pei Dundun took out his lucky money and bought ten rings of different sizes.
"I'll do all the housework from now on," Dundun said obediently.
Pei Rong remembered how the child had held his hands on set, crying heartbrokenly. His eyes grew warm as he picked up a ring and slid it onto his finger.
Wearing a gold ring on his thumb felt a bit too flashy, like showing off new money, so Pei Rong tucked the remaining two rings into his pocket. He said to Dundun, "How about we save these two for your other dad’s birthday? We can give them to him then."
Dundun nodded. "Sure! I can find another worksite to earn more money and buy six more for Dad too!"
Pei Rong couldn’t help but laugh. Aside from your dad’s construction site, what other place would hire a little kid like you? It’s basically recycling money from one family pocket to another.
The stunning beauty wore a hand full of glittering gold, looking every bit like the most luxurious flower in the world.
"Dad, you can’t take them off!" Dundun insisted.
As long as he kept the rings on, he wouldn’t have to do chores or dig dirt.
Pei Rong agreed for now. "Okay."
Meanwhile, Mr. Lu, who was hiding in his pocket with a ten-carat diamond ring ready to propose: "..."
What a filial son—he didn’t leave me a single finger!
