Chapter 281 (Second Update)

281:

Ye Qingxi was still in surprise when she heard a "waaaaaah" sound.

He turned his head, and sure enough, the cotton candy was already running towards him with its tail wagging.

As it ran, it kept squealing "nia~"

Ye Qingxi: !!

Inside the house, Mu Shaowu: !!

That sound!

Cotton Candy never calls anyone else that affectionately when she's running, except for Ye Qingxi!

Mu Shaowu took two steps to the door and opened it.

They saw Ye Qingxi squatting down at the door, playing with Cotton Candy.

Upon seeing him appear, Ye Qingxi looked up, her eyes filled with bright joy, "Daddy~"

Mu Shaowu: ...

Looking at him, who seemed no different from usual, Mu Shaowu couldn't tell whether he had heard or not, or how much of what he had heard.

"You're back." Mu Shaowu quickly put on his acting skills, as if he hadn't said anything inside the house. "Why are you back so early? Didn't you say that after dinner, Uncle Qin Yuan was going to take you to see the new animated movie?"

"Uncle Qin Yuan had something to do, so I let him go first. He said he would invite me and Brother Qin Cheng to watch it together another day."

Mu Shaowu nodded, "I see."

When Feng Que saw Mu Shaowu hurriedly open the door, he was initially confused about what had happened. It wasn't until he heard Ye Qingxi's voice that he realized Ye Qingxi was back, and what they had just been saying…

"Dad, have people come to the house?" Ye Qingxi asked Mu Shaowu. "When I was changing my shoes just now, I saw some shoes that I didn't recognize."

"It's me." Feng Que stepped forward at the right moment. "Long time no see, Xiao Xi."

Ye Qingxi immediately feigned surprise and joy, "Uncle Feng, what brings you here?"

"Your father is going to audition for a movie, and he's worried about not performing well, so he asked me to give him some pointers and check on him."

"Oh~" Ye Qingxi understood.

"How did my dad do?"

"Not bad," Feng Que said with a smile. "He's very suitable for this role."

Ye Qingxi thought to herself, "Of course. In the original book, without Feng Que's blessing, Mu Shaowu still got this role and attracted a lot of attention. It can be seen that this role is indeed very suitable for Mu Shaowu."

"Then good luck, Dad." Ye Qingxi looked at her father. "You will definitely succeed in the audition."

Looking at the innocent and naive look on his face and hearing his words, Mu Shaowu figured that he probably hadn't heard his conversation with Feng Que.

He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Hmm." He laughed.

Upon seeing this, Ye Qingxi thought to herself: It seems we've managed to keep it a secret.

He silently breathed a sigh of relief, without revealing a single flaw.

Feng Que came here specifically for Mu Shaowu's audition. Now that Ye Qingxi is back, he is not in a hurry to leave, but continues to guide Mu Shaowu.

Mu Shaowu was just worried that Ye Qingxi would hear it.

I'm worried that his performance just now was an act.

He now fully understands his son's acting skills.

If he wanted to deceive him, he wouldn't need to prepare anything; a simple glance or a lowered head would suffice.

Seeing that he was distracted, Feng Que said helplessly, "Maybe I should go back first and come back tomorrow."

Mu Shaowu nodded; he really wasn't in the mood to think about the audition footage right now.

"I'm sorry," Mu Shaowu said.

Feng Que shook his head, "It's alright, it's not like it'll happen anytime soon."

He looked at Mu Shaowu, wanting to ask him what to do if Ye Qingxi really heard it.

But I didn't ask.

What can we do?

Mu Shaowu would definitely say that they should immediately end their fake boyfriend relationship.

So, for reasons he didn't know, he swallowed the question back.

Feng Que looked at Mu Shaowu, wanting to tell him that Ye Qingxi might not have heard him, and that he might have just returned and appeared at the door.

She also wanted to tell Mu Shaowu not to be nervous, as Ye Qingxi was smart and considerate, and he would definitely understand if they explained things to him.

But in the end, he didn't say anything.

Because he is not Mu Shaowu.

He is not Ye Qingxi's father.

What he says is all just empty talk, like someone who's not in the same boat.

Feng Que politely said goodbye to Ye Qingxi and left the Mu family first.

Ye Qingxi didn't expect him to leave so quickly.

He thought he would give his father some more guidance.

So why leave in such a hurry?

Is it because his father still doesn't completely believe him?

Ye Qingxi sat on the sofa, idly stroking the cat in her arms.

Cotton Candy tilted its head and acted coquettishly towards him. Ye Qingxi scratched its chin, but his mind was not on it at all; it was on his father.

Ye Qingxi wondered whether he should continue to pretend he didn't know, or confess to his father that he already knew.

Which one is the one Mu Shaowu wants?

Which one would be better for Mu Shaowu?

"What do you want to eat tonight?" Mu Shaowu walked over and sat down next to him, pinching Cotton Candy's feet.

"Either is fine," Ye Qingxi said.

What would you like to eat?

"Let's have some pancakes," Ye Qingxi suggested. "It's been so long since I've had any."

"Okay," Mu Shaowu said.

Looking at his gentle eyes, Ye Qingxi suddenly didn't want him to keep guessing.

Although he still didn't know what was best for Mu Shaowu, if he didn't tell Mu Shaowu, Mu Shaowu would definitely keep thinking about it, becoming paranoid and wondering if he was outside the door, if he overheard, or if Mu Shaowu already knew, no matter what happened in the future.

Ye Qingxi didn't want him to be so tired.

“Dad,” Ye Qingxi said softly, “I actually heard it.”

"I heard you say you played Uncle Feng's fake boyfriend."

With a "thump," a weight was lifted from my heart.

Mu Shaowu looked at his son, and his guess was right; Ye Qingxi had indeed heard it.

He was indeed pretending not to know.

"Although I don't know why you don't want me to know, I think you must be doing it for my own good and you must have your reasons, so since you don't want me to know, I'll pretend I don't know."

Ye Qingxi's voice was soft, "But Dad, you seem very uneasy, and you really want to know if I know or not. I don't want you to keep guessing, it's tiring to guess, and I don't want you to get tired because of me, so I won't lie to you anymore. I really did hear it."

At this moment, Mu Shaowu's heart softened as easily as the fur of a white kitten in his hand.

He looked at the child in front of him, unable to express his feelings at that moment.

He was thinking about him from beginning to end.

Everyone was thinking of him.

Whether he pretends not to know or tells him the truth, it's all for his sake.

All of this was to put his mind at ease.

I am so grateful to have such a child.

But he kept it from him.

"I'm sorry," Mu Shaowu apologized to his son. "Dad shouldn't have kept it from you."

Ye Qingxi shook her head, "Everyone has their own little secrets. I have mine, and you have yours, Dad. It's normal."

Ye Qingxi just didn't understand, "But why did you play Uncle Feng's fake boyfriend?"

Mu Shaowu: ...

Mu Shaowu explained helplessly, "This is entirely to appease his parents."

"Your Uncle Feng's parents want him to go on blind dates. Blind dates are about meeting and dating people who meet certain criteria. Your Uncle Feng doesn't want to, so they asked me to pretend to be his boyfriend. That way, he'll be in a relationship and won't need to date anyone else."

Ye Qingxi understood; so that's how it is.

He then asked why his parents treated him so well and even gave him a New Year's red envelope.

And there's also Grandpa Feng.

He had previously felt that he was being too enthusiastic towards him.

Back then, Grandpa Feng always said that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude.

He also thought that since Mu Feng had once eaten alone, Old Master Feng might indeed be getting old and too lonely.

That's why he really liked children his age.

Looking back now, someone like him, how could his family lack children, and why would they have to give so much to a complete stranger like him?

And that time I went to the toilet.

Why would he suddenly ask to borrow my toilet out of the blue?

They didn't want to get to know each other back then.

He's also Feng Que's grandfather, so he can definitely use the restroom on set.

Why use the toilet in someone else's nanny van?

Ultimately, it's because he did it on purpose.

He thought his father was dating Feng Que and that he was his future great-grandson, which is why he always wanted to get close to him.

Invite him to dinner, let him play with the puppy, give him gifts, and let him call him great-grandfather.

All of this has already gone beyond the normal interaction between an elderly stranger and a child.

However, ever since he transmigrated, he has been very popular with older people, and he really didn't expect that his father would have such a relationship with Feng Que.

Only then did they believe that they were truly compatible.

They are friends.

At this moment, Ye Qingxi felt a faint but unavoidable sense of loss.

The reason for his disappointment wasn't that Old Master Feng was kind to him, but rather that he was disappointed in Feng Que.

Instead, he might soon lose this friend.

Mu Shaowu observed him quietly, but could not discern his emotions.

He could only explain himself: "Actually, Xiaoxi, you can think of this as filming a movie. The movies we acted in before were for all audiences, but now I'm playing your Uncle Feng's boyfriend, which is only for your Uncle Feng's parents, two specific audiences. Of course, your Uncle Feng's grandfather also watched a little bit, but it's all fake, it's all acting. Besides, Dad is almost done filming."

Mu Shaowu said, "Every role eventually wraps up, and the role of Dad, the fake boyfriend, is almost finished too."

Ye Qingxi was skeptical, "Really?"

"Of course," Mu Shaowu replied without hesitation.

"Your Uncle Feng's parents have all passed away and gone abroad, so there's no need for me to continue acting, and filming can naturally wrap up."

Ye Qingxi didn't believe it.

Feng Que's grandfather approached him under the pretense of going to the toilet, and then used the excuse of repaying a debt of gratitude to get closer to him. All of this happened before the New Year, when Feng Que's parents had not yet returned. According to his father, he had not even started acting at that time. But if he had not started acting, why would Grandpa Feng have done all this?

His father was just trying to put his mind at ease and not overthink it.

Ye Qingxi understood; his father was always like this, always wanting to be good to him, so naturally he would tell these white lies.

He didn't want to expose him, nor did he want to denounce his good intentions.

So Ye Qingxi nodded in agreement, pretending to believe her, and said, "Mm."

"Then when you see your Uncle Feng again, will you treat him the same as before?" Mu Shaowu said. "Don't take what you heard today seriously, and don't feel like we're any different from before. We're still director and actor, friends, just like you saw him at his house and on set before. Nothing has changed."

"Okay," Ye Qingxi replied.

Mu Shaowu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

What he feared most was that his fake boyfriend relationship with Feng Que would affect Ye Qingxi.

As long as it doesn't affect Ye Qingxi, anything goes.

Mu Shaowu patted his head, but he was still worried.

He was worried that there was something he hadn't considered.

“Although your great-grandfather Feng knows about this, his affection for you has nothing to do with it.” Mu Shaowu continued to weave a white lie for him. “He likes you because he thinks you are very cute, so he wants to eat and play with you. You see, he didn’t invite me to dinner because I’m not as cute as you. Even though he knows that I might be his future grandson’s partner, he hasn’t been very close to me.”

"Oh, right." Ye Qingxi feigned innocence.

If he really is six years old, then this might actually fool him.

Unfortunately, he wasn't six years old.

But it doesn't matter, Ye Qingxi thought. He would always follow his father's wishes. If his father wanted him to believe, then he would believe.

At least show that you believe.

"So you don't need to worry. Your relationship has nothing to do with me, your Uncle Feng, or me playing his boyfriend."

"Mm." Ye Qingxi nodded again.

He leaned against Mu Shaowu's chest and asked, "Dad, should I still call Uncle Feng 'Uncle' when I see him in the future?"

"Of course." Mu Shaowu looked at him. "What else would you like to call him?"

Ye Qingxi shook her head.

He asked him, "Dad, will I have a new dad someday?"

"Of course not." Mu Shaowu's train of thought was instantly diverted by him. "Why would you want a new father?"

Was there something he did wrong?

"Because Dad, you'll get married in the future, and then I'll have a new dad."

"No." Mu Shaowu hugged his son and assured him, "Don't worry, you will only ever have one father."

Whether it's a new dad or an old dad, it has nothing to do with his son.

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi felt there was no need for that.

After all, if Mu Shaowu didn't have him, he would most likely have found a boyfriend; he's already come out as gay.

Therefore, he didn't want Mu Shaowu to lose his love because of him.

Although Ye Qingxi hadn't experienced love herself, she had seen it, and beautiful love is still very blissful.

Ye Qingxi hopes her father can be happy.

However, he did not dwell on the topic. His intention was simply to convince Mu Shaowu that he believed what he said, not to discuss his love with Mu Shaowu.

This kind of thing has never needed to be discussed.

When you meet the right person, you'll want to be together without even discussing it.

If I don't meet the right person, even if we discuss it, I won't be with anyone.

As for Ye Qingxi, I hope he can meet her.

Sure enough, when Mu Shaowu saw that Ye Qingxi had said such things to him, he felt that Ye Qingxi must have believed what he had said before.

He didn't dwell on the topic any further.

I was afraid of making Ye Qingxi remember this incident more vividly.

If possible, Mu Shaowu hoped that this matter would be completely insignificant to Ye Qingxi, just like the fine weather today—nothing special. Ye Qingxi would know if she wanted to, but that would be all.