Dudu pouted, pausing now and then to wipe away his tears. He looked absolutely pitiful.

He sniffled, his little nose twitching with every sob.

Seeing this string of reactions, He Han was stunned for a moment.

He had never expected things to escalate like this. He had no idea how to comfort the chubby little boy sobbing in front of him.

He Han had no experience dealing with children—especially not ones this young.

He reached out, his long fingers gently stroking Dudu’s head, giving it a soft rub.

At that moment, He Han’s voice was gentler than ever.

“Don’t cry, Dudu.”

Dudu looked up at him with teary eyes. He didn’t resist the gesture, but he didn’t say anything either.

He Han gave a helpless smile. “Do I really look that much like a bad guy?”

Dudu thought about how he seemed to run into He Han everywhere he went, so he nodded.

But then he remembered how cool He Han looked on TV, so he shook his head.

He frowned, clearly conflicted. “Bad guys never tell people they’re bad guys.”

He Han let out a laugh, half amused, half exasperated. Just who had been teaching him that?

Because Auntie Li was always worried Dudu might get lost, she constantly reminded him to be careful when going out—so that’s why he said what he did.

He Han patiently explained to Dudu, “Did I ever say this isn’t my home?”

Dudu’s eyes went wide. “No, you didn’t.”

He Han continued, “The ‘Auntie’ you mentioned is actually my aunt. And your Sister Xiaoxiao is my cousin.”

Dudu looked completely confused. “Uncle, what are you talking about?”

He was far too young to understand how family relationships worked. He tilted his head, staring at He Han in puzzlement.

For the first time, He Han found himself at a loss. “Well… you could say this place is half my home.”

That explanation seemed to click with Dudu. His expression lit up with sudden understanding.

A second later, he unexpectedly stepped forward, his chubby little hand reaching out to gently touch He Han’s cheek.

The soft, warm touch made He Han freeze. Dudu’s gaze was fixed on him, his dark eyes as clear and pure as still water.

“Uncle, you’re so pitiful,” Dudu said solemnly. “I have my mom, Granny Li, and a whole family. But you only have half.”

Now it was Dudu who was trying to comfort He Han.

At that moment, He Han realized—he’d completely fallen for this little bundle of sweetness.

He didn’t bother to explain further. If that was how Dudu understood it, then that was perfectly fine.

As long as Dudu didn’t think he was some kind of child-snatching villain, He Han could breathe easy.

Dudu’s soft, childlike voice piped up again. “Uncle, I was wrong about you just now.”

“I want to apologize.”

He pulled his hand back, placed both hands properly over his tummy, and gave He Han a little bow—just like he’d been taught.

His eyes were full of sincerity. “I’m sorry, Uncle.”

“Mommy says if you do something wrong, you have to apologize right away. Otherwise, the other person will be upset.”

He Han smiled and gently patted Dudu’s head. It was obvious his mother had raised him well.

Just then, He Han’s phone suddenly rang.

Dudu noticed right away. He pointed to He Han’s shirt pocket. “Ai, your phone’s ringing!”

He Han pulled it out—it was a call from his agent. Something urgent had come up at the company, and they needed him to head over immediately.

He Han’s expression returned to its usual calm, his tone steady and composed.

“Alright. I’ll head to the company right away.”

After ending the call, he stood up.

“Uncle has to go now. Be good and have fun at home, okay?”

He gave Dudu’s round little head another gentle rub.

Dudu looked up at him, eyes wide.

He Han handed the gift he was holding to Auntie He, who was standing nearby. “Please give this to Xiaoxiao for me. Something’s come up at work—I have to leave.”

Auntie He reached out and took the gift from him.

He Han didn’t linger. As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and headed straight for the door, not even stepping inside the house.

Just before getting into the car, He Han glanced back.

Dudu was still standing in the same spot, staring straight at him.

He Han gave him a small wave, then got into the car.

A moment later, the car started and drove off, leaving Cheng Ping’s house behind.

After playing outside for a while, Dudu finally headed back toward the house.

Just as he reached the door, a delicious smell hit him—the scent of cookies, so strong it had drifted all the way outside.

His little feet froze mid-step. He paused, took a deep breath, and inhaled the sweet aroma.

“Cookies! Cookies!” Dudu shouted, his little feet pattering quickly as he dashed inside.

The cookies had just finished baking—fresh out of the oven and still warm.

Cheng Ping had just set the tray down on the table when she heard Dudu’s sweet, excited voice behind her.

He ran up to the table, stood on tiptoe, and leaned over the edge to peek at the cookies.

A wide grin spread across his face, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Cheng Ping laughed when she saw his expression. “Go wash your hands, Dudu. Then we can have some cookies.”

“Okay!” Dudu shouted back enthusiastically.

He ran straight to the kitchen and climbed up onto the little stool by the sink.

Auntie Li helped him wash his dirty hands clean.

As soon as he was done, Dudu raced back to the living room.

Cheng Ping handed him a cookie, and Dudu took it with the utmost care, as if he were receiving a rare treasure—his expression serious and focused.

He brought the cookie to his lips and took a small bite.

Warm, buttery sweetness melted in his mouth, soft and crisp all at once, filling his senses with joy.

Dudu beamed with satisfaction as he held the cookie in both hands, nibbling on it in tiny bites.

Cheng Ping, worried that snacks might spoil his appetite for dinner, only let him have a few pieces before gently cutting him off.

Although Dudu was a little reluctant, he patted his round, chubby belly.

He knew—more cookies probably wasn’t a good idea.

While Dudu was happily playing at Cheng Ping’s house, Ye Fan had just wrapped up a commercial shoot.

As soon as she stepped out of the studio, she headed straight for Cheng Ping’s place.

On the way, she saw a text from Auntie Li, who explained that Dudu had wanted to visit Cheng Ping’s house, so she had brought him over earlier in the day.

Now, Dudu had played to his heart’s content and fallen asleep.

Ye Fan felt grateful that there was someone else to keep Dudu company—and she knew how much he liked Yan Xiaoxiao. He spent so much time at home without other kids his age to play with.

This arrangement, she thought, was good for him.

Ye Fan took a cab to Cheng Ping’s house. Just as she walked in the door, she saw Dudu sitting sleepily on the couch, rubbing his eyes.

Cheng Ping spotted Ye Fan and smiled right away.

“You and your son must really be connected—he just woke up, and here you are.”

When Dudu saw that Ye Fan had arrived, his little body wiggled as he slid off the couch and ran toward her.

“Mommy!”

Ye Fan scooped him up and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“Thank you so much, Auntie Cheng,” she said sincerely, her tone full of gratitude.

Cheng Ping shook her head with a smile. “Oh, don’t mention it. Dudu is such a sweetheart—I really adore him.”

Hearing Ye Fan’s words, Yan Xiaoxiao suddenly panicked. She was afraid Ye Fan wouldn’t let Dudu come over again.

She quickly chimed in, “I love having Dudu here too, Miss Ye. Can he stay at our house more often?”

Xiaoxiao didn’t have many playmates, and since Dudu started visiting, she’d been noticeably happier.

Whenever Dudu didn’t come by, she would ask Cheng Ping about him over and over again, missing him every day.

If only he could stay with them all the time.

In Ye Fan’s arms, Dudu looked up and added earnestly, “I like Sister and Auntie too!”

His innocent words sent a ripple of laughter through the room.

At Cheng Ping’s invitation, Ye Fan and Dudu stayed for dinner.

It wasn’t until later that evening that Ye Fan and Auntie Li carried a sleepy Dudu home.

……

The filming of Let’s Travel was about to begin.

But just one week before departure, Li Qiong fell ill.

After discussions between the production team and Li Qiong’s management, they decided to cancel her participation for this leg of the trip. She would sit this one out, and plans for the next leg would be made later.

With one female guest out, the team considered bringing in a replacement.

But the choice of replacement was delicate. First, the new guest couldn’t be too well-known—she couldn’t overshadow rising star Tang Jin or the newly popular Ye Fan.

Second, her team had to have a clean reputation—no past scandals or diva behavior.

With Best Actor He Han already confirmed to appear, the show’s ratings were all but guaranteed. The producers didn’t want any unpredictable variables during the trip.

As soon as the news of Li Qiong’s withdrawal got out, agencies of up-and-coming actresses began scrambling to get their artists a spot on the show.

Anyone who had previously clashed with Tang Jin was immediately ruled out. Those with controversial pasts or who had relied on scandal-driven fame were also eliminated.

In the end, only one candidate remained who truly fit the bill:

Mai Ruxiang.

Mai Ruxiang was… well, not exactly stunning. But calling her unattractive wouldn’t be quite right either—she occasionally managed to deliver a striking photo or two.

Simply put, she was one of those unremarkable actresses in a sea of glamorous stars. Her looks weren’t distinctive, and her personality was equally plain.

Whether in appearance or demeanor, Mai Ruxiang failed to stand out. Compared to beauties like Gu Yachen and Ding Ruoyi, she was completely overshadowed—left in the dust, even.

So despite being in the entertainment industry for nearly six years, she had yet to rise to fame.

For Mai Ruxiang, getting the chance to appear on a reality show alongside so many top celebrities was like a dream come true—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that had fallen straight from the sky.

At last, under much anticipation, filming for the second leg of Let’s Travel officially began.

This time, thanks to prior experience, fans had caught wind of the schedule and were already gathered at the airport, hoping to catch a glimpse of the show’s cast.

When Ye Fan’s car arrived, she was met with an enthusiastic welcome from fans.

Just like during the previous shoot, Ye Fan kept her outfit simple—white T-shirt and jeans—yet she still looked effortlessly fresh and beautiful.

Since filming was about to begin, she only stopped to greet the fans briefly before heading into the airport.

Roughly fifteen minutes later, a sleek black car slowly pulled up.

The person who stepped out this time was He Han.

He was dressed in a plain black T-shirt and jeans—simple and casual, likely because of the travel theme.

But everyone knew the truth: style was all about the face.

The moment Ye Fan and He Han appeared at the same event, CP fans perked up.

They had a knack for picking up on things others would completely overlook.

Whether it was a black T-shirt or a white one, to the CP fans, it all counted as matching couple outfits!

The fact that He Han and Ye Fan arrived at the airport one after the other made fans wonder—was it just a coincidence, or was it planned?

As a result, photos of He Han and Ye Fan were quickly posted online.

Their pictures side by side were shared tens of thousands of times in a very short period.

“I haven’t gotten any ‘HanYe’ couple sweetness in two months—seeing this brought tears of joy to my eyes.”

“There wasn’t even a single word exchanged, and yet I’m still shipping them hard. This CP is too powerful!”

“You don’t get it. Aside from my idol Qi Shu, He Han doesn’t get close to anyone. So whenever he and Ye Fan appear together, it’s instant couple goals!”

This time, their destination was Santorini, Greece.

Learning from past experiences, the Let’s Travel production team decided to follow the audience’s wishes completely.

After all, ratings were king, and nowadays viewers were smarter than ever. If they’re not satisfied, the show won’t survive.

Before departure, the team held an online poll asking fans to vote on where they most wanted to see the stars visit.

The voting lasted a full week.

Santorini ranked among the top five most popular destinations.

However, as soon as the news went public, netizens immediately shifted their focus: this popular CP was heading to the Aegean Sea!

“The production team really knows how to stir things up—choosing a honeymoon destination? This is basically a romance show funded by the network!”

“My guess? Maybe they’re going to throw a make-up wedding for our beloved HanYe couple? Can’t wait!”

“LOL, someone’s deep in daydream land. Wake up, look at the time!”

“Just putting it out there, I’m just a passerby. But while I was at the airport waiting for my idol today, Ye Fan and He Han arrived almost one after the other!”

“Chill, everyone. Let’s not get too emotionally invested—it’s just a show.”

Online chatter was heating up, and the production team couldn’t be more thrilled.

It looked like this round of planning had hit the mark—He Han and Ye Fan were clearly the main draw.

Of course, they couldn’t make it too obvious. A reality show with a script that’s too heavy-handed would only turn viewers off.

This leg of the filming would be all about keeping the audience happy.

After a long flight, the group finally arrived in Greece.

They transferred in Athens, spent some time making their way around, and eventually landed in Santorini.

He Han and Ye Fan moved into the house arranged by the production team.

Just like the first time, they needed to choose one person from all the guests to be in charge of the money.

They followed the usual process and cast their votes.

Once the voting ended, the staff tallied up the results.

The new director, friendly and approachable, looked down at the results with a smile.

“Seems like everyone’s on the same page.”

“Take a guess—who do you think got the most votes?”

The guests all laughed and, almost in unison, said the same name:

“Ye Fan.”

The director folded up the slips of paper and looked around at the group. “This is the second leg of filming, and it’s going to be a little different from the first.”

“After some discussion, the production team has decided that two guests will be in charge of managing the money this time.”

Everyone paused, surprised. Why hadn’t they been told earlier? Did this mean they’d have to vote again?

But the director didn’t explain further. Instead, he turned directly to He Han.

“He Han.”

“The team believes you’re more than capable of handling this role. What do you think?”

It was clear this had already been decided behind the scenes.

Ye Fan was slightly taken aback, then turned her head to look at him.

Her gaze was calm as she looked toward He Han in the distance.

By chance, their eyes met.

Their gazes collided—steady and direct.

For a moment, the air seemed to still.

He Han’s dark eyes locked onto Ye Fan, a flicker of emotion stirring within them.

There was a subtle depth in his expression, and when he spoke, her name slipped into his words as if by accident.

“Alright. I’ll manage the money with Ye Fan.”

The guests began to disperse, returning to their rooms.

No one could say for sure whether it was a deliberate move by the production team or just pure coincidence—

Ye Fan and He Han’s rooms were right next to each other.

It was already late. Moonlight spilled across the hallway.

Ye Fan walked to her door, her hand resting lightly on it before she could push it open.

Behind her, footsteps came to a stop.

Then she heard a low, familiar voice behind her.

In the quiet stillness of the night, He Han’s voice seemed especially clear.

“Good night.”

Ye Fan paused for a moment, then turned around—only to catch a glimpse of He Han’s back.

He was already pushing open his door, disappearing into his room.

…

The night before, Ye Fan had picked out a few well-known local restaurants. After discussing with the others, the group settled on one.

The next day, they headed out. A car had already been arranged, and they could head straight to the restaurant.

Ding Ruoyi got in first, followed by Tang Jin and Gu Yachen.

Ye Fan climbed in and took the seat next to Ding Ruoyi. She was easy to get along with, and Ye Fan genuinely enjoyed her company.

He Han was the last to board.

There were still several empty seats. There was space behind both Mai Ruxiang and Ye Fan.

He Han stepped onto the vehicle, glanced around, and his eyes lingered on Ye Fan’s face for a few seconds.

Then, without a word, he walked past Mai Ruxiang’s seat without stopping.

He came to a halt behind Ye Fan—and sat down.

The car started and began moving slowly. Whether intentional or not, He Han’s gaze kept drifting toward Ye Fan.

She had a slender frame, her soft, jet-black hair falling gently over her shoulders.

The skin at the nape of her neck was pale and delicate—just barely visible.

Sometimes, Ye Fan would turn slightly to chat with Ding Ruoyi, a gentle smile playing at the corners of her lips.

He Han’s gaze would occasionally drift lightly over Ye Fan, only to move away just as quickly.

Through the camera lens, it simply looked like he was staring straight ahead, not paying her any special attention.

His expression remained cool and indifferent, no different from usual.

He turned his head and looked out the window.

When the car came to a stop, the group got out.

It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was crowded, but they still managed to find a table.

As they settled in, He Han took the seat next to Ye Fan.

Ye Fan handed out the menus and asked, “What do you all feel like eating?”

Ding Ruoyi replied, “Anything’s fine by me.”

She wasn’t picky about food.

Since the incident involving Tang Jin, she had been keeping a low profile.

Not wanting to go against Ye Fan in any way, she echoed, “Same here. I’m good with whatever.”

Only Mai Ruxiang hadn’t answered yet.

Although the question had clearly been directed at her by Ye Fan, Mai Ruxiang didn’t respond to her. Instead, she turned to He Han, her voice sweet and soft.

“He Han, you can decide for me.”

No one else seemed to find it odd, but Ye Fan, always perceptive, glanced briefly at Mai Ruxiang. She quickly looked away and said nothing.

He Han didn’t look at Mai Ruxiang. He skimmed the menu, then called over a server and named a few dishes.

They were the restaurant’s signature items.

Once the food was ordered, Gu Yachen and the others began making small talk. After the recent controversy involving Ye Fan, things had calmed down noticeably.

Gu Yachen didn’t stir up anything with Ding Ruoyi, and surprisingly, Tang Jin remained quiet as well. Since both Ye Fan and Ding Ruoyi weren’t talkative by nature, the meal passed peacefully.

Exactly the kind of harmonious atmosphere the production team had hoped for.

After they finished eating, Ye Fan stood up. “I’ll go pay.”

She walked toward the front counter.

Ye Fan took the bill and handed it to the cashier. Pulling out her wallet, she was just about to pay when the cashier said politely, “Miss, someone’s already taken care of it.”

Ye Fan froze, her movement pausing mid-action.

The cashier pointed to a nearby table behind her and said, “That guy over there paid for you.”

Ye Fan turned around and looked.

At the table sat a group of young foreign men.

One of them was watching her with a friendly, slightly amused smile.

The others nudged him teasingly, prompting him to stand up and walk over to her.

The young man introduced himself, “Hi, I’m Michael.”

His eyes sparkled with admiration as he looked at her. “Miss, may I have the pleasure of being your friend?”

Ye Fan felt a little awkward.

She hadn’t expected anyone to approach her—let alone pay for her meal.

Michael’s enthusiasm caught her off guard, and she didn’t quite know how to respond.

While Ye Fan was at the counter, Mai Ruxiang had been trying to strike up a conversation with He Han, but he remained distant and indifferent.

All the while, his gaze kept drifting—consciously or not—toward Ye Fan, quietly keeping an eye on her.

Ye Fan lingered at the cashier for quite a while, as if something had delayed her.

After a moment, one of the young foreign men walked over and began speaking to her.

He Han narrowed his eyes slightly, then suddenly rose from his seat.

With steady strides, he made his way toward Ye Fan.

He stopped beside her, casting a brief glance at the foreign man—his gaze cold and slightly sharp.

Then he lowered his eyes to look at Ye Fan, his voice low and steady.

“What’s going on?”

For some reason, Ye Fan felt a sense of relief the moment she saw him.

She turned to He Han and said, “He paid for our meal.”

Michael looked between Ye Fan and He Han, beginning to suspect they were a couple.

They certainly looked like they belonged together.

Though a little disappointed, Michael still asked, “Are you two… together?”

He Han didn’t answer Michael’s question directly. His voice was calm as he said, “We’re filming a show.”

The statement was light, almost casual—just a simple explanation that they were part of a production.

But notably, he didn’t deny Michael’s assumption either.

The nuance behind his words wasn’t something an outsider could easily grasp.

He Han then reached for the wallet in Ye Fan’s hand, his fingers brushing lightly against hers in passing.

Ye Fan froze for a moment, then lowered her eyes.

He Han took out some cash and handed it to Michael.

“There’s a rule—we have to cover our own expenses.”

“If someone else pays, it counts as breaking the show’s guidelines.”

Michael nodded in understanding and accepted the money with a smile.

“Then… would it be alright if I took a photo with this young lady?”

Ye Fan was just about to agree.

After all, it was just a photo—nothing inappropriate.

The next second, He Han spoke—calm and unhurried.

“Sorry, the show has rules. We’re not allowed to take photos with outsiders.”

His gaze locked onto Michael, his tone carrying a faint chill.

“Her contact information, photos—”

“None of that can be shared with you.”

=^_^=