âDabao, did you just talk to your mommy?â Nan Chen asked Dabao gently after he hung up on the call.
He regained his composure. After all, Dabao is only a kid. I canât lose my cool before him.
Dabao nodded.
âWhat did you talk about?â Nan Chen felt a little embarrassed asking this question. Itâs weird to inquire about Ning Ran from a kid.
âWe were just talking casually,â Dabao replied calmly.
âI see.â Nan Chen nodded.
âThird Uncle, Iâm going to bed now. Get some rest soon.â Dabao said, preparing to leave.
âHold on. Letâs talk for a while. Itâs still early.â Nan Chen was reluctant to let him go.
Dabao stopped in his tracks and stared at Nan Chen with his big, black eyes, âWhat do you want to talk about?â
Actually, all Nan Chen wanted to find out was Ning Ranâs location when she called Dabao just now.
âAnything,â Nan Chen replied passively.
âI guess you want to talk about mommy?â Dabao asked abruptly.
Nan Chen was taken aback. Isnât he too blunt asking that question! This kid is too smart for his own good. It isnât necessarily a good thing for adults as he can read our thoughts easily. How am I supposed to reply?
âOf course not.â Nan Chen denied immediately. It will be awkward if I admit it.
âThen what do you want to talk about?â
âLetâs talk about Daddy,â Nan Chen said, trying to change the topic.
âWhat about Daddy? Oh yeah! I havenât seen Daddy for two days. Where has he gone to?â
âHe has gone abroad for a business trip, so heâll only be back after some time.â Nan Chen lied again.
Nan Xing had actually overheard Nan Chen in the arena earlier that the children were not his. So, he had taken a flight to Europe for a vacation that same morning.
Although Nan Xing was good-natured, what happened this time was too much for him to accept. He was at a loss on how to face Ning Ran and the two kids. Thus, he had sought refuge elsewhere for the time being. This way, he could avoid the awkward situation. Ning Ran, as well as the two kids from, would also be spared any embarrassment when they found out the truth this way.
âOkay.â Dabao nodded.
âDo you like daddy?â
Dabao looked at Nan Chen, confused. What does he mean by that? Whether I like Daddy or not, he will still be my Daddy. Itâs not like I can change my Daddy if I donât like him. Thatâs something only Erbao will think about, so why is uncle asking such a question?
âI like Daddy.â Dabao answered reluctantly.
âWhat if Daddy is not actually Daddy?â Nan Chen was nervous when he said that.
How can I be so nervous when heâs just a five-year-old boy? This is so weird!
âWhat do you mean, Third Uncle?â Dabao stared at Nan Chen.
âIâm saying, what if someone else, not Nan Xing, turns out to be yours and Erbaoâs Daddy?â Nan Chen became more nervous.
âNo, I wonât like it,â Dabao replied him determinedly.
Nan Chen froze for a moment. It had never crossed his mind that Dabao would resolutely detest it.
âI donât want another person to become my Daddy,â Dabao added angrily.
Dabao furrowed his brows and stared at Nan Chen coldly. The boy didnât know that he looked exactly like a mini version of Nan Chen when he was angry. Nan Chen only thought the expression on Dabaoâs face looked familiar and was even slightly shaken by it.
Whyâs Dabao so angry and opposing the possibility so violently?
Actually, Dabao had misunderstood what Nan Chen meant. The latter only meant to ask if Dabao would mind him transforming from his uncle to his daddy.
However, Dabao had another person in mind; the man involved in a scandal with his mother, which had gone viral online.
Dabao assumed Nan Chen had seen the rumor online defaming Ning Ran and thought his uncle sought out his view about this matter.
Furthermore, Dabao thought his uncle did not believe in his mother, and his question was filled with malicious intentions. Thus, he was furious.
Dabao wouldnât allow anyone to harm his mother, not even his own uncle.
Because in his eyes, his mother was the best person in this world. She was irreplaceable. He wouldnât let anyone bully her.
Even with his intellect, Nan Chen couldnât read the childâs mind.
Their brilliant minds were thinking of two different things; their failure to communicate appropriately had led to a misunderstanding.
Nan Chen looked at the child, not knowing how to respond.
What else can I say now that Dabao has said this? It seems that I have to put off my revelation as their biological father for another time. I canât rush into this matter.
Nan Chen nodded his head awkwardly, âGo to bed now. Kids need plenty of sleep to grow properly.â
âGoodnight, Third Uncle. Mommy is a good mommy. Sheâs not a bad one,â said Dabao, baffling Nan Chen.
Nan Chen nodded in agreement, âOf course. Of course.â
Dabao was about to leave when a sudden thought crossed his mind, âThird Uncle, can I have lunch with Mommy tomorrow?â
Nan Chen remained silent as he tried to figure out the reason for Dabaoâs sudden request.
âIt isnât mommyâs idea. I just want to have lunch with Aunt Xiang and Mommy. I miss Aunt Xiang, she took good care of us last time,â Dabao said.
As much as Nan Chen was unwilling to let Dabao and Ning Ran see each other in the current situation, he thought it was inappropriate to object to the childâs request now that the boy had made his intention clear.
But no matter what, he had no reason to prevent the mother and child from seeing each other because it was cruel to do that to both Ning Ran and the boy.
Nan Chen had never hesitated in any decision making. However, he seemed to be exceptionally vigilant when it came to his children.
Because if a scar was left in a childâs heart, it might stay there for a lifetime, unable to be truly healed.
âAlright. Iâll make arrangements for it.â Nan Chen nodded.
âI donât wanna be spied on by you during my meal,â Dabao added.
Nan Chen drew in a cold breath. This kid is too sharp!
Here I thought I could perhaps book a restaurant to monitor Ning Ran and the children while they have lunch. It was a good plan, but Dabao has seen through my plan and pointed it out. Iâve got no tricks now.
âOf course not! Iâm not someone who would do stuff like this. I just want to book a nice restaurant for you, and treat you to a meal,â Nan Chen said.
âThanks, Third Uncle. I believe in Mommy, and I hope you do as well.â Dabao smiled.
âOf course. Of course.â Nan Chen answered insincerely.
âThanks, Third Uncle. Goodnight.â
âGoodnight. By the way, where was Mommy when she called you just now?â Nan Chen couldnât help but ask the one question he was dying to know the most.
He had tried his best to hold it back, but his curiosity got the better of him.
âAt home, with Aunt Xiang,â Dabao replied.
âI see. Glad that sheâs doing well. Allâs fine then.â Nan Chen heaved a deep sigh of relief.
âWhatâs going to happen to Mommy?â Dabao asked.
âItâs fine. Thereâs nothing to be worried about. Goodnight, darling.â Nan Chen looked incredibly relieved.
âGoodnight, Third Uncle.â
Dabao turned around and ruminated about what had just happened. Third Uncle is acting rather peculiar tonight. He doesnât seem like his usual self at all.
Nan Chen was abashed when he realized he had become a different person ever since Ning Ran and the children entered his life.
He couldnât articulate the changes in words; he acted differently, whether in conduct or any other aspects.
Nan Chen felt helpless because he has always tried to be ruthless, but he has now unknowingly become gentle out of the blue.
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