On the back of the door, there was a small wooden handle specially made for the child’s height and size. At that moment, Su Youli was gripping the handle, tilting his body, his large eyes staring intently at the uncle at the door.
“Little friend, is your daddy at home?” a voice sounded.
Assistant Zhang could no longer control his trembling heart. So similar. Too similar. Like the Eldest Young Master, and also like the Chairman. He nervously swallowed, beamed a big smile, and squatted down to be eye-level with the child, softening his voice. Youyou tilted his head, not letting the person in. Kun Kun had said not to let strangers into their house. But this uncle wore glasses, looked quite nice, and didn’t seem like a bad person.
“I have two daddies. Which one are you asking about?”
The little boy held up two small fingers, feeling a bit proud. Other kids only had one daddy, but he had two! Assistant Zhang thought to himself, if you really are the young master, you’ll have one more daddy soon—that makes three!
“Qin Kun. I’m looking for Qin Kun,” Assistant Zhang said.
Youyou’s eyes noticeably lit up. This uncle knew Kun Kun’s name. Was he Kun Kun’s friend?
“Youyou.” Su Siwen, hearing the voices, wheeled his chair over.
The little boy, hearing the sound of the wheelchair, immediately forgot everything else and ran to help push his daddy’s chair. Without the homeowner’s permission, Assistant Zhang did not enter. The yard had a lawn with a wooden plank path down the middle. The little boy’s strength wasn’t much, but his participation was wholehearted. The electric wheelchair moved smoothly. Sitting in it was a young man with delicate features, a gentle temperament, and a somewhat slender build.
“Daddy, uncle.” The little boy pointed at the door.
Su Siwen hummed in acknowledgment. The fingers gripping the wheelchair turned slightly white. Qin Kun had told him that someone had contacted them a couple of days ago, suspecting Youyou might be their child. They said they would come to see him in the next few days. The man at the door was well-dressed, around thirty years old, wearing glasses, and looking very refined. Following his daddy’s signal, the little boy pulled the door open and looked up at the uncle standing there.
Zhang Shun adjusted his glasses, grinned at him, and bowed slightly towards Su Siwen in greeting. “Hello, my name is Zhang Shun.”
Su Siwen smiled, though the warmth didn’t reach his eyes. “Hello.”
It was their first meeting. Both sides were silently guessing and sizing each other up. Zhang Shun had traveled to the south many times for work, but he had never been to this small, out-of-the-way county town of Yunshui. In Yunshui, it was customary to serve tea to guests. Su Siwen made tea and pushed a cup towards him, not planning to initiate conversation.
The man smiled and accepted the tea, drinking it absentmindedly, his attention entirely focused on the little toddler watching cartoons in the rattan chair in the living room. Su Siwen straightened the thin blanket on his lap and looked up, squinting slightly at the surveillance camera. By the time Su Siwen was pouring Zhang Shun tea for the third time, Zhang Shun couldn’t help but speak.
“Mr. Su, there’s no need to be so polite.”
“Did you drive here, Mr. Zhang?” The silent Su Siwen suddenly started a conversation.
Zhang Shun took a sip of tea. It was cooler inside the house than outside. The ceiling fan was whirring overhead. Yet Zhang Shun felt even more agitated than he had been outside earlier. This man named Su Siwen was testing him. Indeed, from the moment he entered, everything he saw made it clear how happy the child was in this home.
Miniature furniture was everywhere. Small handles for the child’s convenience were installed on doors of all sizes. Even the clothes, pants, and shoes the child wore showed signs of being handmade. This family was far from wealthy, and there was no comparison with the Shen family. But many things could not be measured by money.
The child was three years old. In this not-so-wealthy home, he had been raised to be both well-behaved and adorable. In contrast, their family’s Second Young Master Shen had always had the best of everything since childhood, yet he was raised into a genuine little devil. If Chairman Shen found out the Second Young Master had skipped school and followed him to Nan City to look for someone, there would surely be chaos again.
“Yes, we flew and then drove. Mr. Qin probably told you, we’re from Beicheng.”
Su Siwen “mm-hmmed” in acknowledgment. After a few exchanges, he could already judge that the other party’s family background and upbringing seemed quite good.
“What’s the child’s name?” Zhang Shun asked, looking at the little one watching cartoons.
“My name is Su Youli!”
The little toddler watching cartoons turned around, holding onto the back of the chair, blinking his big eyes. This uncle was so strange. Little Daddy seemed not to know him; otherwise, why would he need to be introduced to his name?
Zhang Shun’s heart melted at the little milky voice. “Your name is really nice.”
Su Youli’s eyes brightened. He jumped down from the rattan chair, ran over with pattering steps, hid behind Su Siwen, and peeked out with one eye. “Thank you. Uncle, what’s your name?”
“Youyou,” Su Siwen called him.
With his daddy present, Su Youli wasn’t afraid of the stranger at all. His eyes curved as he gave Zhang Shun a sweet smile.
“Just call me Uncle Zhang,” Zhang Shun said.
“Uncle Zhang,” Su Youli said with a smile, then sat on his raised little stool and started playing with building blocks on the table.
Some things couldn’t be discussed in front of the child. Zhang Shun wasn’t in a hurry either, which gave Su Siwen a slightly better impression of him. This person seemed considerate. He had been very afraid before that the other party might just snatch the child away upon arrival. How would he have stopped that? Half an hour later, Yuanzi, who had been sleeping in the yard, raised his body, wagged his white tail frantically, darted to the door, and started barking.
Su Youli’s reaction was similar to Yuanzi’s. He immediately dropped the building blocks in his hand and scurried over. “Kun Kun!”
The milky voice was loud and clear. All of Qin Kun’s fatigue from the day instantly vanished. Zhang Shun looked over and saw a tall man in a black T-shirt hanging a bag on Yuanzi’s neck, opening his arms to scoop up the little toddler, bouncing him up and down a couple of times. Su Siwen also wheeled his chair to the door, meeting Qin Kun’s gaze. His thin lips pressed together slightly, his eyes somewhat dim. Qin Kun didn’t come in. He carried Youyou to the Yang family next door. Grandma Yang happened to be at home, supervising Yang Yang with his homework.
“Kun Kun, are we going to play with Brother Yang Yang?” Youyou asked, holding onto Qin Kun’s neck.
“Mmm, Daddy bought ice cream. You eat it with Brother Yang Yang. Daddy will come pick you up later.”
Qin Kun called out to Auntie Yang at the door. Getting a response, he carried the little one inside. Grandma Yang, wearing an apron, came forward to take the child when she saw them enter.
“Auntie Yang, could I trouble you to watch Youyou for a bit? We have guests at home.”
Grandma Yang held the soft little boy, unable to put him down. “What trouble? Youyou is so well-behaved, I don’t need to worry at all. Hurry back.”
Without waiting for his reply, she hummed a tune, turned around, and carried Youyou into the house. Just as Qin Kun reached his own doorway, he heard the bright laughter of children coming from the Yang house.
“Hello, I’m Qin Kun.”
Qin Kun entered the living room, took the bag from Yuanzi’s neck, and placed it on the table, addressing Zhang Shun.
Sorry for the delay<3. School just resumed and I had to sort it out.
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