Chapter 97 Part 2

Fu Si Heng didn’t want to sleep with Fu Zheng, but there was no other way—just the one room left.

He felt it unreasonable to pull someone else’s kid into bed with him.

So he grudgingly made do with Fu Zheng.

The next day, Fu Si Heng got up very early.

Mother Tao was making breakfast.

What felt early to Fu Si Heng was when Father Tao and Mother Tao had already returned from buying vegetables.

Farm workers like them ate rice in the morning, took porridge and veggies to the fields at noon without coming back, and cooked again at night.

Tao Zhi followed their schedule. He finished his breakfast cleanly—no grains spilled—took his bowl to the kitchen, and wiped his mouth and washed his hands himself.

Fu Zheng was carried off to the fields by the Tao parents while still asleep.

Fu Si Heng took Tao Zhi to play.

It was his first time in a place like this, and he found it novel.

Yesterday, he had taken Tao Zhi to the county town to play. Today, it was Tao Zhi’s turn to take him into the mountains.

They went to the stream. Tao Zhi showed him chestnut trees on the mountain and even spotted a squirrel.

Fu Si Heng was pretty wild at this age too. When Tao Zhi said the wild fruit was edible, he wiped it off and popped it in his mouth, nearly dying from the sourness.

The little bundle tugged at his pant leg, looking up curiously.

Fu Si Heng scooped him up and climbed the mountain.

While wandering the mountain, they met the forest ranger and his pack of dogs. They ate lunch there and headed back around four or five in the afternoon.

Fu Zheng was relatively better behaved that day.

He realized the bodyguards had left, and now only his brother was around. If he wanted to leave… he had to beg his brother.

He was truly exhausted that day. He woke up in the fields, cried his eyes out, then was coaxed into working—which they called a fun game. He wasn’t stupid…

In the end, he unwillingly helped scatter some seeds.

Lunch was pickled veggies with porridge; Fu Zheng wanted to cry again.

In the afternoon, seeing his brother return with another kid, snacks in hand, he was furious and frustrated but powerless against his brother.

Time passed like this for seven days.

Fu Si Heng had originally been very unwilling to look after kids.

But an obedient and cute one was another story.

While Fu Zheng experienced rural life these days, Fu Si Heng had it far more leisurely.

Once he got close to Tao Zhi, the boy took him everywhere.

Fishing, gathering honey, picking wild fruit, roasting corn.

Fu Si Heng had a great time these seven days.

On the evening of the seventh day, Xu Yujia arrived.

The car pulled up at the gate. Xu Yujia saw both her eldest and youngest sons tanned dark.

But the little kid her eldest held was still fair and clean, wearing sun-protective clothes, obediently asleep against him. His little hand clutched Fu Si Heng’s clothes tightly. Fu Si Heng hadn’t shooed him away; instead, he had a dogtail grass in his mouth, casually patting the kid’s back while humming some tune…

This harmonious scene left Xu Yujia stunned, taking a moment to react.

Fu Zheng, shelling peanuts in the yard, spotted her and came charging over, wailing.

Fu Si Heng opened his eyes and looked up at Xu Yujia. Tao Zhi’s lashes fluttered; before even opening his eyes, he mumbled, “Brother…”

“Keep sleeping.” Fu Si Heng casually tossed the grass aside and stood up.

Tao Zhi murmured an “oh” and rested his cheek on Fu Si Heng’s shoulder, blankly opening his eyes.

Fu Zheng’s crying was too loud; Tao Zhi couldn’t sleep.

But even woken, he didn’t fuss—just stared off blankly.

“Seven days went by so fast?” Fu Si Heng walked toward Xu Yujia.

Xu Yujia: “…”

Xu Yujia thought her eldest might have been body-swapped.

“Why does your tone sound off? Reluctant to leave? Whose kid is this?” Xu Yujia asked.

Fu Si Heng: “This family’s. Name’s Tao Zhi.”

“Oh.” Xu Yujia got it. “The stuff you had me bring—it’s all for him?”

Fu Si Heng hummed in affirmation.

The little guy’s clothes were all worn hand-me-downs from relatives.

Fu Si Heng had wanted to buy some in the county mall but couldn’t find anything good enough.

Since Xu Yujia was coming for Fu Zheng, he asked her to bring them.

As they talked, Tao Zhi finally woke fully from his daze.

He let go of Fu Si Heng’s neck, rubbed his eyes, and turned to see Xu Yujia. He paused, then called, “Auntie.”

“Yes, sweetie.” Xu Yujia loved anything pretty.

That included human cubs.

She opened her arms to him, wanting a hug, and cooed softly, “Can Auntie hold you?”

Tao Zhi hesitated, clutching Fu Si Heng’s clothes and looking at him. Just as he considered reaching out, Fu Si Heng said flatly, “He’s a bit clingy. Doesn’t know you. Never mind.”

Xu Yujia: “…”

Hmm.

Tao Zhi heard it.

Though he wasn’t really clingy… clingy was the brother, who held him all day.

Still, Tao Zhi was sensible. Since Fu Si Heng said so, he obediently dropped his half-raised hand.

Down below, the unnoticed Fu Zheng: ???

“Mom!”

“Mom!!!”

“Yes! Yes!” Xu Yujia hurried to respond. “I’m here, I’m here.”

Xu Yujia set Fu Zheng aside for now and walked into the yard, warmly greeting the Tao parents: “Hello, I’m Fu Zheng’s mom, surname Xu. Thank you for taking care of my two sons these past days…”

…

Tao Zhi lay on Fu Si Heng’s shoulder, understanding what his mom and the pretty auntie were saying.

The brother who played with him for seven days was leaving.

After they finished talking, Fu Zheng looked thrilled to finally leave.

Fu Si Heng set Tao Zhi down and went to pack in his room.

“What, reluctant to go?” Xu Yujia teased, seeing him lean silently against the wall.

Fu Si Heng actually hummed yes.

A moment later: “Can I raise someone else’s kid?”

“What are you saying.” Xu Yujia rolled her eyes at Fu Si Heng.

They packed Fu Zheng’s things and left the stuff Fu Si Heng bought in the room.

Food, drinks, toys, clothes—everything.

Once done, mother and son headed out.

Tao Zhi stood in the yard. Seeing Fu Si Heng come out, he said goodbye: “Bye, Brother.”

His tone sounded normal.

But after days together, there was reluctance. He didn’t look up, just stared at the ground.

“I’ll come visit you,” Fu Si Heng said.

“Okay.” Tao Zhi nodded obediently.

Holding back the tears welling in his eyes, Tao Zhi finally looked up.

Fu Si Heng watched him.

They gazed at each other for a moment. Tao Zhi tilted his head. Fu Si Heng squatted down and pinched his cheeks.

The slightly puffed cheeks— one pinch, and tears fell.

He even pouted.

Fu Si Heng watched quietly, an idea popping into his head. To Xu Yujia: “How about leaving Fu Zheng here instead.”

“I’ll take this one.”

Xu Yujia: “?”

Mother Tao: Huh???

Mother Tao’s expression was shocked.