The Picked-Up Little Tentacle Begs Me to Take Responsibility 41p1

Chapter 41 Part 1

While Shi Xu and Gu Sui were fighting, Sui Sui and Little Black hid upstairs. After a nap, Sui Sui, carrying Little Black, went downstairs, finding Gu Sui cleaning the messy living room, his little dad sitting on the sofa with a strange man.

Sui Sui, his short legs wobbling, toddled towards Shi Xu, his gaze fixed on Qi Yu.

“L-Little dad…” he called.

Shi Xu stroked his soft hair, introducing him to the stunned Qi Yu. “Sui Sui, my son.”

“You really have a child?” Qi Yu whispered, pointing at Gu Sui. “Did you two… you know… Who gave birth?”

Shi Xu: “…”

If Gu Sui were human, Qi Yu wouldn’t ask such a stupid question. Even Shi Xu had once thought Gu Sui could give birth.

Shi Xu: “Gu Sui found him in a garbage dump.”

“…” Qi Yu, “Are you kidding? My mom told me the same thing when I was little.”

Shi Xu: “I’m not kidding.”

Qi Yu: “…”

Shi Xu explained Sui Sui’s situation. Qi Yu looked at Sui Sui with a newfound sympathy, extending his hands, his voice unusually gentle. “Sui Sui, my name is Qi Yu, your little dad’s friend. You can call me Uncle Qi Yu.”

Sui Sui looked up at him from Shi Xu’s arms, tentatively touching Qi Yu’s finger.

The warm, soft touch was different from Little Dad’s, but equally comforting.

“Go ahead,” Shi Xu encouraged, releasing him.

Sui Sui crawled into Qi Yu’s arms, hugging his hand, his round, golden eyes staring at him intently, like a curious kitten.

Qi Yu rarely interacted with human children, let alone held one. Even knowing this child wasn’t entirely human, he was nervous, afraid of hurting him.

Sui Sui, sensing his cautiousness, smiled, revealing four tiny teeth.

Qi Yu, surprised, “Why is his mouth shaped like that when he smiles?”

Sui Sui’s smile instantly vanished, his lower lip trembling, tears welling up in his eyes.

Qi Yu panicked. “Hey, I didn’t mean you’re not cute… I’m just… I’ve never seen a heart-shaped mouth before! You’re very cute! Extremely cute!”

Sui Sui, wiping away his tears, giggled, hugging Qi Yu’s neck and kissing his cheek. “Like… Like… Uncle Qi Yu.”

Qi Yu, flustered, looked at Shi Xu for reassurance.

“S-Shi Xu, h-he said he likes me,” Qi Yu stammered.

Shi Xu chuckled. “I heard.”

Qi Yu: “Sui Sui said he likes me!”

Shi Xu: “…I heard.”

Why was he so excited?

Qi Yu hugged Sui Sui tightly. “You’re so cute! I like you too!”

Sui Sui was overwhelmed. Shi Xu’s affection was always restrained, and Gu Sui’s was solely directed at Shi Xu. This was the first time he received such unrestrained affection.

He hugged Qi Yu back, snuggling against him.

If Qi Yu stayed any longer, Sui Sui might transfer his affection from Shi Xu to him.

Shi Xu, unconcerned, picked up a book from the coffee table, opening it to the page he had been reading, ignoring the commotion, focusing on his book.

A transparent tentacle emerged from under the sofa, reaching for his ankle.

He lifted his foot slightly, then stepped down hard, pinning the tentacle’s tip.

Gu Sui: “…”

[Ah, mean Wife, I like~]

The tentacle didn’t resist, more tentacles emerging, surrounding his right foot, removing his slipper, allowing his bare foot to rest on them.

The direct contact made Gu Sui shudder.

[I like~]

Shi Xu: “…”

He couldn’t continue reading. Afraid of Qi Yu noticing, he pretended to read, his right hand discreetly severing the tentacles with the dagger hidden in his pocket, then glancing at Gu Sui with a warning look.

Gu Sui blinked innocently, mouthing the words: Mean, but I like~

Shi Xu: “…”

After cleaning the living room, Gu Sui went to the kitchen to cook. With his tentacles’ assistance, he prepared a feast in less than half an hour.

Before today, Qi Yu couldn’t imagine what Shi Xu would be like in a relationship, or how he would interact with his partner.

He imagined a formal, distant relationship, a marriage of convenience.

After meeting Gu Sui, he realized Shi Xu needed someone completely opposite from him.

Passionate, unrestrained, undeterred by Shi Xu’s coldness, and most importantly, completely devoted to him.

Such a partner was rare. Gu Sui not only met these criteria, but exceeded them.

Gu Sui’s world revolved around Shi Xu. Perhaps no human could be so devoted.

Shi Xu had found his lifelong partner. Qi Yu was finally at ease.

Shi Xu allowed Gu Sui to join them for dinner. Gu Sui, forgetting his earlier punishment, beamed under Shi Xu’s slight indulgence.

“Shrimp… has… sharp shells… I’ll… peel… for Wife… Don’t want… Wife… to get hurt…”

“I… ran… over thirty kilometers… to a farm… for this… I cleaned it… no smell… Wife… eat more…”

Shi Xu rejected the lamb kidneys Gu Sui offered. “I don’t need… supplements.”

Gu Sui blushed, nudging Shi Xu’s shoulder shyly. “Does… Wife… want me… to eat more… Wife… so thoughtful… Don’t worry… I’ll… take care… of my body… I’ll…”

Shi Xu shoved a piece of fried chicken into his mouth.

His usual composure gone, his cheeks as flushed as Gu Sui’s, he warned, “Eat your food. One more word, and you’re sleeping on the floor.”

Gu Sui mumbled incoherently, nodding obediently, focusing on his food, specifically the lamb kidneys.

The kidneys were already sliced, bite-sized, but he cut them into even smaller pieces, savoring each morsel, glancing at Shi Xu shyly before each bite, his thoughts evident on his face.

[Wife wants me to eat more. I have to be strong, to satisfy Wife~]

Shi Xu, despite his efforts to ignore Gu Sui’s suggestive gaze, couldn’t ignore Qi Yu’s amusement.

Under the table, he stepped on Gu Sui’s foot, silencing him, finally able to eat in peace.

Sui Sui, having been praised by Qi Yu, clung to him, even sitting on his lap during dinner.

He couldn’t eat human food yet, only formula, but that didn’t stop him from cuddling Qi Yu.

Since Qi Yu liked his smile, he kept smiling.

He knew he was cute, using it to his advantage, smiling at Qi Yu whenever he looked at him, showing off his heart-shaped smile, eager for more praise.

He was a child who loved compliments, adept at showcasing his cuteness without being annoying.

Qi Yu’s fondness for him grew. He didn’t want to leave.

After dinner, they returned to the living room. Qi Yu stroked Sui Sui’s soft golden hair, sighing. “I envy you.”

Shi Xu: “Envy me what?”

Qi Yu: “A partner who loves you completely, an adorable child, and a cat. You’ve already won at life.”

He had thought he would settle down before Shi Xu, but Shi Xu had reached the finish line first.

As expected of Captain Shi, always one step ahead.

Shi Xu: “Is this considered winning at life?”

Qi Yu feigned annoyance. “Don’t take it for granted! I’d love to have a life like yours. I hope I can achieve half of what you have.”

Shi Xu, after a long pause, chuckled softly. “Hearing you say that, I suddenly feel… quite happy.”

Qi Yu smiled. “Is this the normal life you wanted?”

“Yes.”

…

Qi Yu stayed until 10 pm, reluctant to leave Sui Sui, but he had work tomorrow.

Less than an hour later, Shi Xu received a call from him, his voice no longer lighthearted.

“The person who sent you the note… is your father’s housekeeper.”

“I see. I’ll ask him myself.” Shi Xu wasn’t surprised, his tone calm. He spoke to Qi Yu for a few more minutes, then hung up.

Qi Yu couldn’t see his troubled expression. The information was unsettling, his mind racing with questions, forming theories, but he needed to hear the housekeeper’s explanation first.

After the Jinzhu Bay incident, he had considered confronting Shi Yan about his sister’s boyfriend, but decided against it.

Shi Yan’s stance was clear. Even violence wouldn’t make him talk. He wouldn’t offer any answers. Confronting him would be futile, only leading to more unwanted lectures.

Unless he became Shi Yan’s puppet again, but even then, he doubted Shi Yan would tell him the truth.

The housekeeper had worked for Shi Yan for 30 years, even before Shi Xu was born. He must know some of Shi Yan’s secrets. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent the note.

Shi Xu hadn’t intended to involve the housekeeper, knowing his loyalty to Shi Yan, his unwillingness to betray him, even under duress. But he hadn’t expected the housekeeper to contact him.

Was this a trap, luring him back into Shi Yan’s control?

He didn’t usually lock his bedroom door. The door opened slightly, a golden eye peering in, staring at him intently.

Lost in thought, he hadn’t noticed Gu Sui watching him. He was startled when he finally noticed.

A silly thought crossed his mind: It was a good thing Gu Sui’s eyes weren’t red, or this would be a scene from a horror movie.

“What?” He didn’t approach the door, remaining seated on the bed, meeting the gaze from the doorway.

Gu Sui opened the door wider, just enough to show his head. He whispered, “Wife… something… bothering you?”

Shi Xu said honestly, “Yes, a few things.”

Gu Sui: “Do… you… need… a warm body… in your bed?”