The family successfully transitioned to the RV and officially set off for Province C. The trip would take a little over three hours. With the spacious interior of the RV, it was much easier to manage a small child.

Lu Chen got in the RV and saw Ji Miandeng looking for a cartoon to play. Meanwhile, Lu Tuan sat on the sofa, staring eagerly at the screen and chanting, “JOJOJOJO.”

“Don’t rush. I’ll put on Jojo for you,” Ji Miandeng said softly. He quickly found the show and started playing it.

Lu Tuan grinned and clapped his little hands in excitement.

Lu Chen glanced at the screen. The cartoon characters appeared, their designs chubby and adorable. It was Lu Tuan’s favorite cartoon.

Over the past few days, Lu Chen had been getting off work on time each day, just in time to come home and see Ji Miandeng watching this cartoon with Lu Tuan. The two of them would watch and chat as they did so.

Lu Tuan spoke more fluently than most kids his age, and this activity had undoubtedly contributed to that.

---

[Chat comments]

• “This Jojo isn’t that Jojo! Gave me a scare there.”
• “Checking in: I’m watching cartoons on a variety show.”

---

After two episodes, both Lu Chen and Ji Miandeng’s phones rang at the same time.

Ji Miandeng was guiding Lu Tuan in speaking, so Lu Chen, sitting on the other side of the sofa, opened his phone to check.

[Assistant Director’s Message]:
“Teacher Ji, Mr. Lu, could you please open the live stream chat and interact with the viewers? You can turn it off after 30 minutes, and we’ll reopen it when you arrive in Province C.”

Lu Chen replied with a simple “Got it.”

Ji Miandeng’s phone pinged again, and he looked up after finishing his conversation with Lu Tuan. “What’s going on?” he asked.

Their social circles didn’t overlap, so the simultaneous pings could only mean the production team had said something.

Lu Chen opened the newly downloaded live stream app and explained, “The production team asked us to interact with the audience for half an hour.”

This was a standard part of live variety shows.

During mundane transitions like traveling, the live stream would either pause or rely on audience interaction.

Ji Miandeng nodded in understanding.

---

The variety show Growing Up With You was prominently displayed on the app’s homepage. Lu Chen entered their family’s live stream room, where the chat comments flew by so fast he couldn’t make out a single one. He had no choice but to temporarily turn off the comments.

Hearing the sound effects from his phone, Lu Tuan turned his little head, curious, as an episode of the cartoon ended. When he caught sight of the screen, he gasped in surprise, pointing with his tiny finger, “Lu Tuan! That’s me!”

The little boy on screen mimicked his exact action.

The camera zoomed out, capturing both of his dads sitting on either side of him.

Lu Tuan let out another excited “Wow~!” and pointed one by one: “Little Daddy, Lu Tuan, Big Daddy.”

“It’s magic!” he concluded with a confident nod.

Lu Chen’s lips curved into a subtle smile. The little rascal didn’t understand the concept of video but thought it was magic instead—his imaginative logic was simply adorable.

What Lu Tuan didn’t know was that Ji Miandeng had strict control over his screen time. Instead, he often took him to fun, offline activities and unique performances.

“It’s not magic,” Lu Chen patiently explained. “This is what Lu Tuan calls being on TV. Right now, Lu Tuan and Daddy are on TV.”

Lu Tuan tilted his head and thought for a moment, his baby-soft eyebrows scrunching in confusion. “TV is big, but Lu Tuan and Big Daddy and Little Daddy are small.”

Hearing this, Ji Miandeng switched the RV’s television to their live stream channel. He tapped his chubby son and said, “Lu Tuan, look at the TV.”

Lu Tuan turned around, his bright, clear eyes widening even further.

He didn’t say a word, his little brows furrowing in contemplation as if he were trying to figure out why he and his dads had suddenly appeared on TV.

He was deep in thought—like a serious little philosopher—about this magical moment.

【Tuanzi, look at your sister! Your sister loves you!!】

【Lu Tuan is so cute, frowning like a little grown-up.】

【Interaction! Interaction! Can we ask for a kiss from Lu Tuan? /wink】

【Can Lu Tuan perform a song? Haha, I want to see if the baby of a tone-deaf dad has any musical talent.】

【I, I, I, I want to hear Lu Dalao sing with his baby! As a five-year veteran fan (crossed out) former fan, I can confirm that Lu Dalao’s singing voice is shadow-king-certified!】

So, when Lu Chen and Ji Miandeng turned on the TV’s comments section, the screen was filled with: 【Please, please, let Lu Dalao and Lu Tuanzi sing together!】

Lu Chen: “?”

Ji Miandeng: “…”

Lu Tuan: “So many words flying around; Lu Tuan doesn’t know them~”

Ji Miandeng looked at the camera with a mock-serious expression. “I sing pretty well too!”

【”Pretty well.” LOL】

Lu Chen found it amusing. Based on Ji Miandeng’s reaction, it seemed like he hadn’t unlocked the singing skill. But what about Lu Tuan…

Lu Chen’s gaze shifted downward to the little one beside him. Lu Tuan blinked back at him with wide, curious eyes.

Ji Miandeng knew his own limitations, but his son had inherited his other dad’s talent! At just two years old, he already sang beautifully!

Ji Miandeng casually asked, “Lu Tuan, do you still remember how to sing I Come from You?”

“I’m growing up~” Lu Tuan immediately looked at his little dad and sang a line. His enunciation carried a childish charm, but his pitch was spot-on.

【Wow, not tone-deaf!】

【I believe it now. If Lu Dalao sings so well, it’s no surprise his baby has this talent. Now I’m even more excited! /sparkling eyes】

I Come from You was a children’s song. Lu Chen hadn’t expected this world to have it too. When he heard the name, he had a brief moment of nostalgia, recalling the time he used to sell pancakes. The baby store across the street would always play that song during lunchtime.

Back then, he found it annoying. Now, it felt nostalgic.

Lu Chen naturally knew the song, but when he glanced at the screen and saw the constant “Lu Dalao” comments, he hesitated. Would singing a children’s song ruin his aloof CEO persona?

Maybe. But singing a children’s song because his wife told him to and to accompany his son? Definitely not.

Ji Miandeng raised an eyebrow, his sly expression reminiscent of a little white fox. Mimicking the comments, he teased, “Lu Dalao, can you grant the audience’s wish?”

Lu Chen’s face remained cold, his gaze imperious. “Fine.”

【I’m swooning! Swooning! The love between the parents is real! Woohoo~】

【Baby looks back and forth between Big Dad and Little Dad. Baby, you’re so unnecessary here—come to your sister’s arms!】

【Ji Miandeng is so stunning /crying. He’s even more dazzling now than when he swept the three major awards! /crying】

【What did I do to deserve this? Lu Dalao is actually here! WTH, this is Lu Dalao!】

Hearing his response, Ji Miandeng froze for a second before stifling a laugh and pulling out his phone. “Let me find a backing track for you two.”

Lu Tuan understood his dads’ conversation and excitedly pounced into Lu Chen’s arms. “Big Dad is going to sing?”

“Yes.” Lu Chen’s large hand wrapped around the tiny body. “I’ll sing with you.”

The soft melody began to play. As the intro ended, Lu Chen sang the first line in a gentle voice.

Lu Tuan didn’t know how to time his entry, so he followed the rhythm of his dad’s words and sang along. His clear, innocent voice was pure and flawless. Lu Chen harmonized with him, holding him close as they finished the entire song together.

Their harmony was so seamless it felt like they’d sung together countless times before.

When the song ended, Lu Tuan clapped for himself, grinning as he looked at Ji Miandeng. “Little Dad, it’s so good!”

Ji Miandeng, still holding his phone, snapped out of his thoughts. He lowered his eyes and softly said, “It was really good.”

“Love Big Dad!” Lu Tuan, delighted from singing, happily kissed Lu Chen on the right cheek. Then, he climbed into Ji Miandeng’s arms and kissed him too. “Love Little Dad!”

【Lu Tuan remembered all the lyrics!】

【It was so good; it surpassed the original! Does anyone have a recording? I want to use it as my ringtone.】

【I’m crying. So jealous of the movie star. He must have saved the galaxy in his past life to have such an amazing husband and son!】

【Ji Miandeng must be amazing too for Lu Dalao to fall in love with him. You can tell from Lu Tuan that he grew up surrounded by love. Their whole family is so heartwarming!】

Lu Tuan snuggled into Ji Miandeng’s arms, while Lu Chen half-squinted at the comments scrolling across the screen. There was a mix of everything, including someone asking him about which stocks to buy.

Suddenly, a wave of light blue comments floated past. Most of them were directed at Ji Miandeng.

Light blue was Ji Miandeng’s favorite color, as he had once said.

When the triple-award-winning actor abruptly retired from the industry, his fans were left with unanswered questions. After issuing a statement, he vanished, only to return three years later, more radiant than ever. The past was set, but what about the future?

“Will Ji Miandeng return to acting?”

“Are you appearing on this show as a precursor to coming back?”

Lu Chen gave him a nudge, “They’re asking you.”

Ji Miandeng, who had been kissing Lu Tuan, lifted his head. After seeing the comments, he smiled faintly, a mix of helplessness and warmth. “Thank you for appreciating me as an actor. Everyone has many things they want to do in life. I just want to pursue what I truly want to do, whether it’s acting or something else.”

Lu Chen turned to glance at him.

Ji Miandeng could have easily assured his fans that he would act again in the future. Instead, he gave an answer that wasn’t really an answer at all.

It wasn’t that he disliked acting, but clearly, acting wasn’t the top priority among the “things he truly wanted to do.”

Ji Miandeng was an unusual person.

He was an award-winning actor, and any random role he picked would outperform appearing on a variety show.

If he wanted to preserve memories of his son at this age, he could hire a professional team to film something private to cherish. Yet, he deliberately chose the grand gesture of appearing on a variety show.

Lu Chen had a gut feeling that all these peculiarities stemmed from the thing Ji Miandeng truly wanted to do.

…

Half an hour wasn’t long.

When Lu Tuan started rubbing his eyes, the livestream was cut off.

Ji Miandeng held his son’s chubby little body in his arms and asked softly, “Baby, are you feeling sleepy?”

Lu Tuan nodded, letting out a small yawn.

Lu Chen said to Ji Miandeng, “Take Lu Tuan to the bed in the back to sleep.”

“Alright.” Ji Miandeng stood up. Since Lu Tuan wasn’t wearing shoes, he planned to carry him straight to the large bed in the back of the RV.

Suddenly, Lu Tuan spoke up, “Daddy should sleep too.”

Lu Chen was slightly surprised. “No need. I’m not sleepy. Be good and go to sleep.”

Maybe because of the new environment and the day’s excitement, Lu Tuan was unusually persistent. “I want Daddy and Papa to hug me while I sleep~”

Lu Chen and Ji Miandeng exchanged a glance.

Ji Miandeng looked down at the little one in his arms and tried to coax him, “Papa will stay with you. Is that okay?”

“No.” Lu Tuan puffed up his cheeks, his little face stern.

“Then how about having your Daddy accompany you?” Ji Miandeng asked again.

Lu Tuan pouted angrily, sticking out his little lips.

Ji Miandeng stopped talking. Lu Tuan had clearly stated his request from the very beginning. He sighed and said, “Alright, both Daddy and Papa will stay with you. Be good and take a nap. When you wake up, we’ll almost be there.”

Lu Tuan sulked and remained silent.

Lu Chen reached out and took Lu Tuan into his arms. “Let’s go, all of us together.”

Although their relationship was distant, with a little one in between, lying on the same bed didn’t feel awkward.

Lu Tuan had already burned through all his energy. With Ji Miandeng gently patting him, he fell asleep within moments.

Leaning against the headboard, Lu Chen lowered his voice and said to Ji Miandeng, who was lying on his side, “You can rest for a while too.”

Ji Miandeng nodded, closed his eyes, and stroked Lu Tuan’s small hand.

Feeling a bit bored, Lu Chen grabbed his phone and opened it to the livestream platform. He casually clicked into the protagonist’s livestream room.