MSFLC Ch27.1

On one side of the room, Song Qinian, who was tidying up pajamas, couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

He turned to Lu Ting’an, who had just come out of the bathroom, and said with a smile, “This little chubby jar really has talent for acting. In the future he can go act with his geges.”

Lu Ting’an replied, “More like talent for being mischievous.”

Lu Zhishi scooted his little bottom and turned his chubby back toward them.

“Will… will they come back?”

Chi Chen said, “We’ll come home earlier next month.” Then, remembering that a child wouldn’t understand long stretches of time, he added, “After you sleep a few more times, your brothers will be back.”

Lu Zhishi nodded hard. “Okay~”

They chatted for a long time before finally hanging up.

Lu Ting’an took the phone and set it aside. “Come here, let’s put on your nice-smelling cream.”

Lu Zhishi happily crawled over and lay on his back beside him.

Lu Ting’an took out baby cream from the cabinet, dabbed a little onto the chubby face, and spread it evenly—giving him a little facial massage while he was at it.

Lu Zhishi half-closed his eyes, enjoying his papa’s massage.

When Lu Ting’an’s hands slid down to his neck, the little chubby dumpling would scrunch up his neck with his eyes closed and giggle. It was adorable.

Probably because he’d played too long that day, the little guy fell asleep with his round belly sticking out before the massage was even finished.

Just in time—Song Qinian took out the plush toys he’d won earlier to wash and disinfect them.

Once cleaned, they would have to wait until Lu Zhiyu and Chi Chen came back before being given away.

This year’s summer vacation… was indeed a bit boring.

As the weather grew hotter and hotter, Lu Zhishi didn’t want to go out. Every day he sprawled on the sofa, a round little lump.

Because of the heat, even Zhao Xing stopped coming over to play. Last week he went south with his dad to visit his grandparents and escape the summer heat.

Now it was even more boring.

Too lazy to go out in the heat, Lu Zhishi left the vegetables and flowers in the yard entirely to Song Qinian.

“Lu Zhishi, your big vegetables are about to wilt.”

“Papa go~”

Song Qinian laughed in exasperation and dutifully watered the garden. “If I water your vegetables, I’m going to eat them all. Tonight we’re having vegetable meatball soup and stewed tofu with greens.”

After some rustling, a messy-haired round head popped up from behind the sofa.

Lu Zhishi clung to the backrest and said, “Leave… leave some for geges~”

If you’re going to eat them, at least leave some. He worked hard growing those vegetables.

“Fine, we’ll leave them one vegetable.”

After finishing watering and washing his hands, Song Qinian called from the doorway, “Want to play with water in the yard?”

A head popped up from the sofa. “Yes!”

Upstairs in the study, Lu Ting’an frowned, adjusted his glasses, and walked out to the balcony to look down at the noisy father and son.

“Song Qinian, you’re letting him play with water again.”

The splashing stopped instantly. Two identical peach-blossom eyes looked up at him pitifully.

Lu Ting’an remained unmoved, quietly standing on the balcony watching them.

Song Qinian wrapped an arm around his little cub. The two of them crouched there, big and small. “It’s hot. Just let him play for a bit.”

Lu Zhishi nodded sincerely. “Mm!”

Lu Ting’an met their gaze. After a moment, he said, “Only half an hour. Then straight to a bath.”

An hour of water time became half an hour. But neither father nor son dared complain. Being allowed to play at all was good enough.

The small pool was filled with lukewarm water. Song Qinian tested the temperature before letting the eager little cub in.

“This time, do you want the swim ring?”

Before Lu Zhishi could answer, two coughs came from upstairs. Song Qinian immediately changed his words. “Of course we need the swim ring. When you’re older, then you can practice swimming.”

“Okay~”

If little papa had spoken, of course they had to listen. Otherwise tonight there’d be no good fruit to eat—only bad fruit.

He was happily floating when time was up and he was promptly scooped out again.

Song Qinian wrapped him in a big towel and carried him upstairs. “Quick bath. Don’t catch a cold.”

Like washing a radish, Lu Zhishi was lifted, rubbed, and scrubbed in record time. Soon he was dressed and freshly creamed.

“Alright, little fragrant jar. Go find little papa, let him rest his eyes and come downstairs to eat fruit.”

After two light pats on his bottom, Lu Zhishi ran excitedly to the study door and knocked politely.

From inside came Lu Ting’an’s cool voice: “Come in.”

Lu Zhishi reached out but couldn’t reach the handle.

Soon the door opened. Lu Ting’an bent down and picked him up.

“Bath finished?” He tidied the little messy curls.

“Mm!” Lu Zhishi held his shoulder. “Papa, go eat fruit.”

“Okay, papa will go soon. Want to stay with me?”

“Yes~” Lu Zhishi tilted his head and pressed his little face against Lu Ting’an’s neck.

Lu Ting’an kissed his forehead and carried him back to the study to continue working.

Though Lu Zhishi loved to play and chatter, when his papas were working, he would sit quietly beside them.

The computer screen was filled with dense documents. The desk was stacked high with files. Lu Zhishi glanced at them and quickly looked away—headache-inducing.

Sensing his movement, Lu Ting’an didn’t look up. He took a marshmallow from the drawer, unwrapped it, and held it to Lu Zhishi’s mouth.

Lu Zhishi instinctively opened his mouth and bit into the sweet, soft treat. “Thank you~”

Lu Ting’an patted his head and continued working.

Downstairs, after searching for a while, Song Qinian came back up.

“Chubby Zhishi, didn’t I tell you to call little papa down for fruit?”

Little traitor. He was supposed to call Lu Ting’an down to rest, but instead ended up hiding in the study eating marshmallows.

With two marshmallows stuffed in his cheeks, Lu Zhishi felt guilty and slowly turned his head.

He tugged Lu Ting’an’s sleeve.

Lu Ting’an met Song Qinian’s eyes. Two seconds later, he put down his pen, tidied the files, and picked up Chubby Zhishi.

“We’re coming down.”

Song Qinian followed behind them, personally making sure they sat on the sofa and started eating fruit before heading into the kitchen to cook.

Before leaving, he casually grabbed the banana Lu Zhishi was holding.

Lu Zhishi: “……”

His big round eyes filled with tears. “Papa!”

Lu Ting’an: “……”

“Song Qinian, give him back the banana!”

As head of the family, once he spoke, Song Qinian obeyed. He circled the sofa and stuffed the remaining half-banana back into the little crybaby’s hands.

Lu Zhishi looked at the half-eaten banana and pouted tearfully at Lu Ting’an.

Half angry, half amused, Lu Ting’an pulled the crying jar onto his lap and rubbed his cheek.

“Don’t cry.”

For a whole week after that, Song Qinian slept in the guest room.

Every night after bathing, wearing his little sheep pajamas, Lu Zhishi would hug his cloud pillow and slowly wander past the guest room—once, twice—circling in front of Song Qinian before dragging his pillow back to the master bedroom to hear bedtime stories.

Song Qinian found it very funny.

No matter how leisurely he wandered, if Song Qinian called out, “Chubby Zhishi, sleep with me tonight,” he’d run faster than a rabbit.

By the end of August, the temperature dropped slightly.

Lu Zhiyu and Chi Chen’s study tour ended and they returned home.

“Chubby baby, brother’s back!”

The bright shout echoed straight into the villa.

Lu Zhishi, who had been dozing in the corner of the sofa, jolted upright.

It was his stinky brother!

He rolled off the sofa, ran to the door, and struggled to push it open.

Lu Zhiyu had grown taller and stronger, a little tanner, peach-blossom eyes sparkling with laughter.

Bending down, he teased, “What, don’t recognize brother anymore?”

Lu Zhishi’s eyes grew wet. He launched himself and clung to his brother’s leg. “Just… just came back…”

Lu Zhiyu lifted him up and rubbed his soft back. “Already very fast. Brother brought you gifts.”

“I… also…”

He had prepared gifts too.

Lu Zhiyu laughed. “The teddy bear, right? Chubby Zhishi?”

Lu Zhishi pinched his cheek with his soft little hand. “Yes… stinky brother…”

Lu Zhiyu burst out laughing and kissed his chubby face.

Time passed. Seasons changed.

Another year slipped by.

Early one morning, a childish little voice rang through the Lu family courtyard:

“The little bird says early early early~ I’m carrying my little schoolbag~”

Chi Yueheng, heading to work, smiled. “Little alarm clock, you like school that much?”

“Uncle~ good morning~”

Lu Zhishi spun around to show off his new sheep backpack.

“And this cup… also pretty!”

It was the little lamb water bottle Chi Yueheng had given him.

Chi Yueheng’s heart melted. He leaned over the fence, coaxing, “Good baby, want to come to uncle’s company to play? There are fun toys and tasty cakes.”

Lu Zhishi took a cautious step back. “No no~”

Going to workaholic Uncle’s company meant no punctual lunch.

“Bye-bye~”

Time flowed gently on.

One more year passed.

And Chubby Zhishi kept growing.