Chapter 23: I’m Sure I’m the Male Lead

He Ziqing was feeling around Erbao, who tilted his little head and stared at her, his expression completely calm.

If it had been Dabao, he probably would’ve started giggling already.

But when she finally reached Erbao’s tiny feet and gave the sole a gentle scratch—

His caterpillar-like eyebrows furrowed together, and after a moment, Erbao let out a burst of gurgling laughter.

It was the first time Qiu Yinuo had ever heard Erbao laugh so boldly. “So that’s where our Erbao is ticklish—right on his feet!” she said, reaching out to tickle him again.

Though he had just stopped laughing, Erbao couldn’t help but burst into laughter once more.

He laughed so hard that his gums were fully on display, like a toothless little old man.

Shao Xingchen, who rarely saw his younger brother laugh so wildly, turned to look at him with a faintly amused expression, as if thinking, “Yup, still just a kid.”

Qiu Yinuo then reached over to tickle Dabao’s underarm. Before he could show off his composure as the older brother, his mother’s fingers had him laughing uncontrollably.

“This is too fun! So both Dabao and Erbao are ticklish!” she said, thoroughly entertained.

Shao Xingchen could only let out a faint chuckle. “What a naughty mom… totally not acting like one.”

The twins eventually tired themselves out laughing. One after another, they started yawning, their eyes tearing up from exhaustion.

“Alright, that’s enough teasing. Qingqing, go make a bowl of formula for each of them. After all that fussing, they must be hungry.”

There were no baby bottles like in the modern world, so the two of them spoon-fed the twins one bite at a time.

Once their bellies were full, the twins quickly fell asleep with their eyes shut tight.

He Ziqing noticed this and whispered, “Sister Yinuo, while they’re asleep, you should take a nap too.”

“Mm.”

Qiu Yinuo nodded. “Alright, close the door on your way out.”

The wind howled, blowing against the plastic covering the window, blocking much of the sunlight, making the room dim and giving the illusion that it was time to sleep.

After playing with the kids all morning, she was already exhausted.

Taking care of kids was indeed physically demanding.

Half asleep, half awake, Qiu Yinuo reached out instinctively to check if one of the little ones had wet the bed—only to suddenly realize that one of the twins was gone.

She jolted awake in an instant, heart pounding. Scanning the room quickly and finding no sign of Dabao, a sudden thought hit her—that little rascal must’ve gone into the space again!

Without hesitation, Qiu Yinuo slipped into the space, and sure enough, she found Dabao at the spring, his tiny butt sticking out as he drank water.

Qiu Yinuo grabbed the little guy by the back of his clothes. “You little rascal! Why do you keep disappearing on me?”

Shao Xingchen, who was still groggy with sleep, was instantly startled when his mom suddenly hoisted him up. His chubby face turned pale with fright.

[What the heck, how did my cheap mom get in here?]

Qiu Yinuo’s eyes widened in shock. She stared at Dabao, equally stunned.

She was sure he hadn’t spoken, but just a moment ago, she clearly heard the voice of a young boy.

[I’m doomed. My secret’s out.]

Qiu Yinuo took a deep breath, eyes locked on Dabao’s still-shut mouth. Was she hearing things?

She instinctively scanned the space—vast, empty, nothing but the two of them.

Her gaze finally landed back on Dabao’s face, full of confusion and disbelief.

[Why is my cheap mom staring at me? Does she know this space is mine?]

Qiu Yinuo blurted out in shock, “The space is yours?”

Dabao let out a few babyish sounds, but then shook his head and covered his mouth with his tiny hand—completely giving himself away.

Qiu Yinuo blinked and was now completely certain that the voice she had heard earlier was definitely from Dabao.

Thinking something must be wrong with how she entered the space, she quickly stepped back out with Dabao in her arms. Outside the space, mother and son stared at each other, wide-eyed.

But this time, she didn’t hear the voice again.

Dabao’s mind was racing—Why could cheap mom hear my thoughts? Is this some kind of bonus feature of the space? But why can’t I hear her thoughts?

Just then, the scene shifted again—and before they could react, the two of them were back inside the space.

 [What the heck, cheap mom, why again…]

Dabao’s terrified gaze locked onto Qiu Yinuo. How is she still hearing me?!

“That voice… was it you?” she asked.

Dabao opened his mouth but only managed a few incoherent baby noises. Then he gave up speaking entirely—and simply responded in his mind.

 [Yes, it’s me.]

“So, who are you? Are you my Dabao?”

[I’m your son, but I still have the memories of my previous life. To put it simply, I’m someone who crossed over.]

Qiu Yinuo raised an eyebrow. Crossed over, huh?

Looks like he’s from the same place.

[The space is so absurd, if you can accept it, you can definitely accept that I crossed over.]

“Go on!”

Afraid she wouldn’t believe him, and even more afraid she might reject him out of fear, Shao Xingchen desperately explained. [Actually, I’m from China, several decades in the future. I had a car accident and crossed over here. As soon as I arrived, you gave birth to me. So, strictly speaking, I am your son, just with the memories of my past life.]

“You came from a car accident?”

[Yes, the driver was speeding, and before I could warn him, we collided with two other cars.]

Qiu Yinuo pursed her lips. She still remembered that day very clearly.

She had been afraid of causing harm to innocent people, so after the car started, she drove on less crowded roads.

Her plan had been to drive up the newly constructed overpass and, using the momentum, crash into the river below and quietly die there.

But just as she was about to execute the plan, a black sedan suddenly came speeding from the opposite direction. Their cars ended up side by side, scraping each other, which greatly slowed her vehicle. However, the direction didn’t change, and her car ended up crashing into a white minivan traveling on the newly paved road.

Three vehicles collided. Her last memory was of a few nearby cars that had paused not far away. Seeing her vehicle catch fire, they quickly drove off.

Then came the sound of gasoline leaking… followed by an explosion.

“What kind of car were you in?”

“A white minivan.”

Qiu Yinuo looked at Dabao again, her eyes full of guilt. She reached out and gently touched his little head.

“I’m sorry.”

[Why are you apologizing?]

“I dragged you into this.”

[What do you mean?]

“We didn’t cross over; we’re in a book.”

Dabao stared at her in shock, unable to process the information fast enough. His mouth opened but only let out babbling sounds. Eventually, he simply shut his mouth. [So, you crossed over too?]

[You’re the one who hit my car?]

[No, there was another car. What kind of car did you drive?]

But soon, he stopped worrying about it.

That world was dirty and miserable. Anyway, he was an orphan, so dying was fine. It saved him from being exploited by one person or another.

Being in the entertainment industry, Shao Xingchen, of course, knew what “crossing into a book” meant.

Now, he was more concerned with what role he played in this book.

[I’m definitely the male lead, right?]