MSFLC Ch4

Many employees at his company were fans of Lu Ting’an. Every time they saw Song Qinian, their expressions would stiffen completely, after all, not only did they have to call their romantic rival “boss,” they also had to work for him.

Later, seeing that the two of them genuinely had a good relationship, and that Song Qinian behaved impeccably, handling all the housework, carrying bags when they went out, frequently visiting Lu Ting’an on set, things slowly changed. Paparazzi photos always showed Song Qinian holding a bouquet of flowers, carrying either a food container or a gift box. Lu Ting’an clearly liked it, and only then did fans gradually come to accept Song Qinian.

…Though honestly, the main reason was that Song Qinian was extremely generous to Lu Ting’an’s fans. After all, it’s hard to stay hostile when your mouth is full.

After so many years of marriage, their feelings had never changed.

“Daddy!”
Lu Zhiyu couldn’t wait any longer. As Lu Ting’an came closer, he ran over excitedly with the bouquet.

Lu Ting’an bent down, scooped him up, kissed his forehead, and carried him along toward Song Qinian.

Song Qinian watched him approach without blinking, a smile lifting his lips.
“Guess what I have behind my back?”

Lu Ting’an chuckled softly. His phoenix eyes held a faint smile, and even his usually cool features softened.

Handing over the bouquet he was holding, he said,
“I’m guessing the same as mine, red tea roses.”

Song Qinian’s smile deepened. Even though Lu Zhiyu had already spoiled the surprise, it didn’t diminish his feelings for Lu Ting’an at all.

He brought his hand out from behind his back and presented a vivid bouquet of red tea roses.
“You guessed right, gege.”

Lu Zhiyu’s bouquet was already in Lu Ting’an’s hands. Listening to them talk, Lu Zhishi realized there wasn’t even a sliver of attention left for him. He grew anxious and protested loudly.

“Ah! Ah-ah!”

Daddy, look at me!

The crisp, childish baby voice startled the two who had been wrapped up in their sweet moment.

Seeing the baby’s aggrieved wriggling, Lu Ting’an curved his lips, bent down, accepted the mini bouquet being waved at him, and kissed the baby’s forehead.

“Thank you, baby. Daddy is very happy.”

The little cub’s eyes curved into happy crescents. Leaning against Song Qinian, he kept staring at Lu Ting’an, softening Lu Ting’an’s heart completely.

He asked Song Qinian to unfasten the baby carrier, he wanted to hold the child himself.

Because of acting, Lu Ting’an worked out year-round. His physique was well-defined, his stamina excellent. Carrying two children at once was no problem at all.

Like his brother, Lu Zhishi obediently rested against Lu Ting’an’s shoulder, staying still and quiet, breathing in the familiar scent.

He felt a natural closeness and dependence on Lu Ting’an, perhaps because this was the man who had carried him.

After transferring a red envelope to Lu Ting’an’s assistant, Xiao Tao, Song Qinian told him to pick a car from the airport garage and go back to rest.

The buzz-cut young man scratched the back of his head shyly.
“Then Brother Lu, Brother Song, I’ll head back to the company first. Call me if you need anything.”

Lu Ting’an nodded.
“Drive slowly. Stay safe.”

Xiao Tao headed off toward another section of the garage. Song Qinian carried the bouquets, two large, four small, dragged the luggage, and followed behind Lu Ting’an, driving their lover and children straight home to the villa.

After Lu Ting’an returned, the atmosphere at home grew warmer, and much livelier.

“Daddy, Daddy~”
Lu Zhiyu followed him like a little tail. Lu Zhishi tugged at his clothes too, wanting to cling close.

“Ah-woo…”

Two sticky little cling-ons, just like Song Qinian.

Lu Ting’an had no choice but to carry one in each arm, standing at the kitchen doorway chatting with Song Qinian.

After dinner, Lu Ting’an prepared to bathe the two children. Having been away so long, he missed them dearly.

Lu Zhiyu shook his head shyly, hugged Lu Ting’an’s leg, buried his face against it, and whispered,
“I’m a big kid now. I can bathe by myself. Chi Chen bathes by himself too.”

Lu Ting’an rubbed his hair, his cool voice overflowing with gentleness.

“We respect your choice. But Daddy wants you to know, if you ever want to, you can always let your dads help you bathe, or help you with anything. Don’t be afraid to ask us for help. You’ll always be our baby. Home will always be your support, no matter how old you are.”

Lu Zhiyu didn’t lift his head. His ears turned red as he hugged Lu Ting’an’s leg and swayed gently in a spoiled manner.

“I will, Daddy.”

Lu Zhishi was shocked once again by words he’d never heard before. He looked up at Lu Ting’an, then turned to look at Song Qinian organizing luggage nearby, then thought quietly.

He really was lucky, these gentle, loving, upright people were his dads. His brother.

Seeing the little cub in his arms staring at him, Lu Ting’an kissed his chubby cheek too.

“You as well. Your dads and your brother all love you. Home will always be your support.”

Even though he knew a child this age couldn’t understand, he still said it seriously.

Lu Zhishi smiled, his tiny paw touching Lu Ting’an’s wrist.

After bathing himself, Lu Zhiyu came over with a towel wrapped around his head, asking Lu Ting’an to dry his hair.

The bathtub and shower temperature could be adjusted automatically, but he wasn’t allowed to use the hair dryer, he always failed to dry his hair properly and ended up catching a cold.

When he arrived, Lu Zhishi was floating around with a swim ring, playing in the water while Lu Ting’an sat beside him.

“Daddy, dry my hair.”

“Alright, Daddy will dry it.”

Lu Ting’an wiped his wet hands, picked up the dryer, gently tousled Lu Zhiyu’s small curls, then even combed them neatly afterward.

“Thank you, Daddy~”

Lu Zhiyu turned back to hug Lu Ting’an, rubbing against him. Then he walked over to Lu Zhishi, who was babbling away, dug into his pajama pocket, dropped several little yellow rubber ducks into the water, kissed the baby’s round head, and said softly,

“Big brother’s going now. See you in a bit~”

The little yellow ducks were incredibly attractive to Lu Zhishi. Once he locked onto them, he couldn’t look away.

No choice, he was still so small, not very mobile, with few things to play with. He was getting a bit bored.

And honestly, who could resist little yellow ducks during bath time? Lu Zhishi certainly couldn’t.

Lu Ting’an smiled faintly and rubbed his hair.

“If I’d known you liked them, I would’ve bought more. There are lots of styles, pink ducks, and even Peppa Pig ones.”

Lu Zhiyu hadn’t started liking rubber ducks until he was six or seven months old. Lu Ting’an hadn’t expected the chubby can to like them so early.

“Daddy will buy some tomorrow.”

“Ah-da-da… mm-ah…”

Even so, bath time couldn’t last too long. After half an hour, Lu Ting’an gathered the ducks and gently washed the soft little chubby baby.

Lu Ting’an’s skill at caring for babies was no less than Song Qinian’s, it was hard to imagine he was someone who spent most of the year filming away from home.

In truth, whenever Lu Ting’an was home, he was the one who took care of the children, rarely letting Song Qinian help. He handled everything, food, clothing, daily routines, doing his best to accompany the kids as much as possible.

Supporting the chubby baby gently, Lu Ting’an rubbed his soft arms and legs with a small towel. Lu Zhishi couldn’t help making little “grr-grr” humming sounds.

He half-closed his eyes in comfort, hearing Lu Ting’an chuckle softly.

Maybe his Best Actor daddy wasn’t as cold as people said.
Lu Zhishi thought, his daddy was actually very gentle.

After washing him clean, Lu Ting’an wrapped him in a bath towel and carried him out. A bit of baby powder, a bit of lotion, and he became a fragrant little chubby can again.

After putting on his diaper and clothes, Lu Ting’an buried his face against the baby’s chest, rubbing gently, making the little one burst into laughter.

“Ha…”

Lu Ting’an kissed his cheek, turned off the nursery lights, and walked back to the master bedroom.

Song Qinian was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, sorting through the luggage. Across from him sat Lu Zhiyu, peeking curiously into the suitcase.

Seeing him come in, Song Qinian shifted aside. Lu Ting’an sat next to him, their arms touching.

Song Qinian pointed at a pile of gifts, cookies, and local specialties beside them.

“Gege, did Aunt Rong prepare all these?”

Lu Ting’an glanced over.
“The gifts and specialties were packed by Aunt Rong. The rose pastries too, she baked them herself and said to bring them back for my mom to try. She also asked me to see if it tasted the same.”

He gestured for Song Qinian to bring the pastries over. After hesitating, he opened the jasmine pastry package, handed one to Lu Zhiyu, popped one into Song Qinian’s mouth, ate one himself, 

Leaving only Lu Zhishi, the little gas can, staring longingly and drooling.

“The jasmine pastries were made by Xiao Xi. My brother sent them over last night and told me to bring them home for the kids to try.”

“Did big brother-in-law say they were only for the kids?” Song Qinian asked.

Lu Ting’an didn’t even look up.
“No. He also said to let that little tagalong try some.”

Song Qinian: “……”

Lu Zhiyu took a few bites, cheeks puffed up like a squirrel.
“Uncle Xiao Xi’s jasmine pastries are really good.”

The scent of jasmine filled the air. Lu Zhishi drooled shamelessly.

After finishing one, Song Qinian pulled a few tissues to wipe his hands, then wiped Lu Ting’an’s and Lu Zhiyu’s fingers too.

Once he confirmed they were done eating, he wrapped the pastries up and set them aside, continuing to sort the luggage while chatting casually with Lu Ting’an.

“Gege, when are Aunt Rong and the others coming?”

In eight days, it would be Lu Zhishi’s hundred-day banquet. Aunt Rong and the others would be coming.

“I asked. Aunt Rong and Uncle Huo will arrive in a few days. My brother, Xiao Xi, and the two kids might come a bit later.”

Lu Ting’an lowered his eyes and wiped the drool from Lu Zhishi’s mouth, gently placing the chubby baby tummy-down on Song Qinian’s lap before standing up to prepare milk.

“Okay, I’ll pick them up then,” Song Qinian said, adjusting Lu Zhishi’s clothes and posture so he lay more comfortably. “I’ve already had the hundred-day banquet items sent to my parents’ place. Some things will be delivered here too.”

“Tomorrow I’ll pick you up after work. We’ll go to my parents’ place for dinner and check the banquet setup,” Lu Ting’an said, handing a glass of milk to Lu Zhiyu while holding the bottle to feed Lu Zhishi.

Song Qinian looked up.
“Gege…”

Lu Ting’an quickly glanced at the kids. His cool face flushed faintly, ears burning.

He covered Song Qinian’s mouth and shoved his fuzzy head aside.
“The kids are watching!”

Lu Zhiyu tried to hold back laughter, lifting his milk cup to hide his smiling mouth.

Lu Zhishi burst into a grin.

Since becoming a baby, his emotions came more easily, happier, sadder, less controlled than before.

So he couldn’t hold it in.

His shiny dark eyes curved into crescents, his chubby hands gripping the bottle halfheartedly, his little foot resting on Lu Ting’an’s arm kicking lightly. He grinned wide, showing pink gums, his baby voice crisp and clear.

“Ha-ah…”

Song Qinian: “……?”