Chapter 6
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling glass window, casting large patches of golden light on the floor.
A breeze drifted in through a slightly opened window, making the light-colored sheer curtains dance in the light.
Shen Tiantian stood in front of the full-length mirror in his room. His fluffy hair was standing on end from static electricity. When he reached out his small hand to smooth it down, he was zapped with a crackling sound.
Feeling wronged, he rubbed his small hand on his clothes. Shen Tiantian looked at the round, chubby little cub in the mirror and couldn’t help but press his lips together in a smile.
Wearing his new clothes, he stood on his tiptoes and spun around twice in front of the mirror. Shen Tiantian nodded in satisfaction.
“Big brother, does this outfit look good?”
Because the live broadcast had started, Shen Jinfeng, who was forced to play the part of a loving, respectful brother in front of the camera, gave a perfunctory nod.
“Looks good.” My ass.
Shen Tiantian was wearing a fluffy black-and-white panda jacket. The hood, with its two round ears, hung loosely down to his bottom, swaying with every step he took.
But Shen Tiantian seemed to have a special fondness for this style of clothing. He carefully examined himself in the mirror for a while, smoothed out a wrinkle at the hem of his clothes, and nodded his little head in satisfaction.
“Okay, big brother, can you hold me? So the camera uncle can see me.”
The little cub, holding no grudges, circled around Shen Jinfeng’s legs. Trotting on his short little legs like a busy little spinning top, he stretched out his small arms, wanting Shen Jinfeng to pick him up.
He was just too short. When he walked up to someone, he could be easily overlooked if they didn’t look down.
Shen Jinfeng reached out and pushed the approaching little thing away.
But as soon as he was pushed away, the little thing, like a sticky rice bun, bounced right back and clung to him again.
“Big brother, pick me up!”
Shen Tiantian persistently held up his little hands, tugging on Shen Jinfeng’s pant leg and blinking his big, watery, sparkling eyes.
Shen Jinfeng lowered his gaze and saw Shen Tiantian’s fair, tender little face filled with anticipation. His pupils shimmered, overflowing with excitement and joy.
He seemed very eager to appear on TV in his best image.
Not only had he changed into his favorite clothes, but he had also run to the washroom to put some fragrant cream on his face.
Shen Jinfeng had no enthusiasm for the live broadcast whatsoever and was only thinking of getting through the day perfunctorily.
But the little one was clearly different from him.
Shen Jinfeng pressed his thin lips together, a complex emotion flashing across his gentle and handsome face.
After a long moment, he finally reached out and picked up the little thing that was still bouncing by his leg.
Such a tiny little cub. If he didn’t pick him up, it would be difficult for the cameraman to even fit both brothers in the same frame.
Shen Jinfeng told himself he was just doing it for the variety show’s filming task, so holding the little thing for a while was fine.
But Shen Tiantian, having been picked up, let out a happy “whoa!”, dangling his short little legs and pointing at the door.
“Big brother, over there!”
The cameraman had been standing at the door holding up the camera since the beginning.
Without a signal from Shen Jinfeng, he didn’t dare to film Shen Jinfeng and Shen Tiantian’s faces directly, so he could only conscientiously film the hallway wall and the doorframe.
In the live stream chat, the netizens had already gone numb from staring at the famous painting hanging on the wall.
[I already know this painting is worth six figures, can we please stop filming it?!]
[Where are the people? Cameraman, can you not be such a wuss?]
There were also some openly and covertly sarcastic comments:
[Rich people, am I right? Look at this domineering attitude, not even letting them film their faces. So different from the other families.]
[Heh, you’re better off watching the top celebrity’s son next door. He’s cute and lively, and that live stream is never boring.]
Fans who were there to drag others down also appeared, comparing Shen Jinfeng and the top celebrity brother from every angle.
[Shen Jinfeng is good-looking, sure, but he has no screen presence.]
[Just go next door! My idol’s looks, figure, and screen presence are all top-notch!]
A neutral viewer saw the comments scrolling by and almost laughed.
[What are you fans pretending for? If the Shen family made a move, it’s debatable whether your idol could even survive in the entertainment industry. Stop bringing hate to your idol!]
At this, the comment section almost descended into chaos.
Fortunately, in the next second, the camera shifted slightly and focused on Shen Jinfeng and Shen Tiantian, who had just walked out.
It was Shen Tiantian’s first time on TV. He clenched his little fists tightly on the front of Shen Jinfeng’s shirt, his eyes shimmering with anticipation, and his speech unconsciously slowed down.
“Uncle, are you filming me?”
The cameraman nodded from behind. Shen Tiantian pressed his lips together, blinked his watery eyes, and raised his small hand to wave at the big, black machine.
“Every… everyone, hello. I’m Tiantian.”
The cheerfully scrolling comments froze for an instant, then a torrent of comments rolled out like cannonballs.
[Whoa, whose little cutie is this!]
[He’s so cute so cute so cute!]
[His cheeks are so rosy, and he’s smiling at me! I get it, he definitely wants to come to my house!]
[His name is Tiantian? Good, good, good, that sounds like a great name for my son!]
The audience for this show, aside from those who came to see what was so special about celebrity and wealthy families, was mostly composed of cute kid enthusiasts.
Otherwise, the production team wouldn’t have put the cubs from each family in the center position during the official announcement.
However…
[Who is this kid? Is he really Shen Jinfeng’s son?]
[That’s not right, he called Shen Jinfeng ‘big brother’, doesn’t that make him the third young master of the Shen family?!!]
A portion of the netizens who subscribed to the wealthy family conspiracy theories couldn’t help but think deeper when they saw this little young master who was only three or four years old.
[Do you think it’s possible that Shen Yuanchuan doesn’t like his two older sons, so he produced a younger one, all so that the two older ones will fight until they’re both defeated, paving the way for the youngest son?]
This segment of netizens analyzed the situation with impeccable logic, wishing they could start a separate thread to gossip about all the secret affairs of the Shen family.
However, the comments scrolled by too quickly, and these conspiracy theories were soon drowned out.
After greeting the big, black machine, Shen Tiantian couldn’t help but feel a little shy. His ears and little face flushed red, and he simply turned his face away.
Shen Jinfeng looked at the little one’s embarrassed expression, and the moment he opened his mouth, words just came pouring out:
“What are you chickening out for? Weren’t you all excited just now?”
Shen Tiantian’s little eyelids drooped. He puffed out his cheeks with an indignant hmph and rubbed his little head directly against Shen Jinfeng’s face.
The spiky hair on Shen Tiantian’s fluffy head brushed against Shen Jinfeng’s face, and the static shock made his eyes instantly fly wide open.
Autumn was a dry season. For a moment, Shen Jinfeng felt like his soul had left his body.
“F—”
Glancing up at the camera that was broadcasting live right at him, Shen Jinfeng swallowed the word on the tip of his tongue and hissed in a sharp breath.
He quickly reached out and pushed the little one’s fluffy head away. Shen Jinfeng pinched the little face that was insistently rubbing against him and laughed in exasperation.
“Biting the hand that feeds you, huh? Zapping me with your hair?”
Having been found out, Shen Tiantian tilted his little head innocently, looking at his brother with sparkling eyes, and said obediently:
“No, I didn’t. How could there be a zappy-zap?”
Shen Tiantian even feigned surprise, clapped his little hands, and said “oh” as if he’d just realized something.
“I know~ It’s because you did something bad, big brother, so Mr. Zappy came to my hair to get you!”
Shen Jinfeng: “…”
He gritted his teeth hard. With the live broadcast still on, Shen Jinfeng could only glare at this misbehaving little brat.
Meanwhile, in the live stream chat, many netizens were laughing so hard they were about to pass out.
[Hahahaha! These two brothers are quite entertaining.]
[You’ve got a sharp tongue, and what a coincidence, I’ve got a bunch of mischievous ideas too!]
[I thought Second Young Master Shen was the gentle, refined type, but it turns out he’s got a potty mouth. This is pretty fun!]
Because of this little interlude, many of the viewers who had left the live stream came back.
Shen Jinfeng gritted his teeth and pinched the little cub’s cheek in frustration.
He was about to mock this little brat again, but Shen Tiantian spoke up once more, his expression obedient and his voice as soft as a marshmallow.
“There, there, big brother, it doesn’t hurt. Let me blow on it for you~”
Shen Tiantian puffed out a breath and blew several times on the side of Shen Jinfeng’s face that had been zapped.
It was warm and carried the unique orange scent of the little one’s face cream, as if just a touch would make one smell fruity all over.
Shen Jinfeng was a little unused to it. This kind of blowing was too gentle; only a child would believe in it.
But for some inexplicable reason, the thin layer of anger in Shen Jinfeng’s eyes was also blown away.
Pressing his lips together, Shen Jinfeng lowered his eyes to hide his complex emotions and sighed softly.
“Alright, it was just a little zap. It stopped hurting a long time ago.”
Only then did Shen Tiantian close his little mouth from blowing. But he still kept his little neck craned, his large, obsidian-like eyes watching his brother without blinking.
“If it doesn’t hurt anymore, then you can’t not hold me, okay~”
The slight smile on Shen Jinfeng’s lips stiffened.
He knew it. The little one wouldn’t be so attentive for no reason.
Holding Shen Tiantian wasn’t difficult. Although Shen Tiantian looked chubby, with a round little tummy and baby fat on his cheeks, he wasn’t heavy at all.
In fact, he was very light and felt nice to hold, even softer than a pillow.
Shen Tiantian seemed afraid that his brother wouldn’t hold him. His nanny, Auntie Mu-Mu, was getting old, and Shen Tiantian didn’t want to tire her out, so he could only continue to pester Shen Jinfeng.
Stretching out his small arms, Shen Tiantian wrapped them around Shen Jinfeng’s neck. If Shen Jinfeng hadn’t stopped him, he would have even wrapped his little legs around Shen Jinfeng’s waist.
Shen Jinfeng’s neck, the lifeline of his fate, was being squeezed. He couldn’t breathe and coughed twice, reaching up to grab the little octopus cub by the back of his collar and pull him away.
“I’m holding you. Don’t wrap your arms around my neck!”
Only then did Shen Tiantian say “oh” and obediently let go with his little paws. He grabbed the front of Shen Jinfeng’s shirt and smiled sweetly at him.
“Big brother, are we going to eat?”
Shen Jinfeng, who was already mentally exhausted from the morning’s events, reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing as he nodded.
“I know, let’s go have breakfast first.”
Holding the child, Shen Jinfeng didn’t take the stairs but instead took the elevator at the corner to the first-floor dining room.
The cameraman followed them the whole way, and the viewers in the live stream chat were shouting in excitement.
[Wow! They actually have an elevator in their house?!]
[What a niche piece of equipment. Can any other siblings out there confirm? Are all wealthy families like this, with both elevators and stairs in their homes?]
[I’m so jealous, I won’t say who wuwuwu!]
Translator’s Notes
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Sticky rice bun : A type of sweet, very sticky bun made from glutinous rice flour and red bean paste, popular in northeastern China. It’s used here to describe how clingy Tiantian is.
