---

But Chi Yao is a man; it’s impossible for him to birth a child.

Moreover, one person can’t make a child on their own. The baby must have another father.

And who could that person be?

Shen Ling didn’t believe Chi Yao’s past affection for him was fake—it had been entirely genuine.

Chi Yao couldn’t have been with someone else and then had a child.

Shen Ling took a sip of tea from the cup on the table, unable to suppress the thoughts swirling in his mind. He desperately wanted to know where the baby came from.

And how did Fu Rong and Chi Yao’s relationship improve so much? Chi Yao just mentioned that Fu Rong was pursuing him, but their dynamic didn’t resemble that of a pursuer and the pursued—they seemed more like lovers.

Shen Ling’s eyes darkened as he realized Fu Rong’s attention was almost entirely on Chi Yao. The dishes had been pre-ordered, and most of the people had arrived, except for one or two who had been delayed. Without waiting any longer, they began eating.

---

Che Child Is Mine, Born From My Body

---

Fu Rong used serving chopsticks to pick out food for Chi Yao, serving him all his favorite dishes. Chi Yao softly thanked him, though it seemed polite and distant. To the others at the table, it didn’t come off as shocking, but there was still a sense of surprise.

Xue Zhongming and Chang Feng, who knew a bit more, exchanged glances. In just a little over a month, Chi Yao had become this close with Fu Rong. They were both astonished, realizing that much had happened without their knowledge.

Midway through the meal, Fu Rong stood up and went into a side room instead of leaving the private dining room. The baby had woken up from a nap and was being held by the nanny, playing with toys by the window.

When Fu Rong entered, the baby, as if recognizing him, reached out, signaling for Fu Rong to hold him.

Fu Rong’s gaze softened immediately. He walked over, picked up the baby, and planted a gentle kiss on the soft hair. The feel of the baby’s delicate hair completely melted Fu Rong’s heart.

As he carried the baby back into the dining area, someone was about to light a cigarette. Fu Rong’s voice instantly turned cold.

“Smoke outside.”

The man hesitated, and everyone stared at him as if he had committed a serious offense. When the young man looked at Fu Rong, his hands started trembling, and he quickly put out the cigarette, apologizing profusely.

Xue Zhongming got up, opened the windows and doors to let the smoke out, and soon, the room was clear of the faint smell of smoke.

Shen Ling, watching the whole scene, was utterly dumbfounded.

The child had to be Fu Rong’s—no one else would treat a baby like this, no matter how much they cared about the baby’s parent.

Fu Rong sat down with the baby, who tried to grab at the chopsticks. Chi Yao gently pulled the baby’s hand away and lightly tapped it.

“This isn’t a toy,” Chi Yao said softly, his voice filled with warmth and tenderness.

Shen Ling had never seen this side of Chi Yao before, and for a moment, he couldn’t take his eyes off him. His heart stirred ever so slightly.

If Chi Yao had been like this from the start, Shen Ling thought, maybe he would have fallen for him.

But now, Chi Yao had moved on from Shen Ling. His attention was no longer on Shen Ling but on someone else.

Shen Ling glanced at Fu Rong. Both of these men had once pursued him, but now they seemed drawn to each other. In a way, Shen Ling had played a part in bringing them together. It was because of him that they had met.

Shen Ling’s discomfort grew, and he wasn’t sure whether he was envious or jealous.

The harmonious and warm scene in front of him was becoming harder to bear. Shen Ling no longer wanted to watch it, so he picked up his wine glass and started drinking, downing one glass after another.

Chang Feng noticed and exchanged a look with Xue Zhongming, who shook his head, signaling Chang Feng not to intervene. After all, Shen Ling had played with people’s feelings in the past, so it was only fair that he might face some consequences now.

Someone next to Shen Ling tried to stop him from drinking, but one sharp look from his eyes—once soft but now filled with a dangerous edge—was enough to silence any objections.

As Shen Ling drank, Fu Rong seemed to notice but didn’t bother to stop him. Chi Yao, having finished his meal, took the baby from Fu Rong and let him eat a bit more.

In Chi Yao’s arms, the baby played with his father’s hand, babbling away.

The meal lasted for hours, and the group eventually moved to a teahouse downstairs. Chi Yao and Fu Rong sat in a quiet corner. Chi Yao, who had only been drinking water earlier, finally took a sip of tea.

The baby, interested in everything, wanted a sip as well, but Chi Yao firmly told him no, staring into his large, curious eyes.

The baby pouted, unhappy, and Chi Yao lightly pinched his chubby, rosy cheeks.

Others at the table played cards, while a drunken Shen Ling was sent away by some friends. Fu Rong had arranged for Shen Ling to be taken to a hotel but didn’t accompany him.

Instead, Fu Rong kept his focus on Chi Yao and the baby—the people he cared about.

Later that evening, Chi Yao didn’t join the others for dinner. He had to head home, as it was the baby’s one-month celebration, and his family needed to know.

Surely, they would be overjoyed when they saw the baby.

Fu Rong accompanied Chi Yao and the baby back to the Chi family’s old residence but didn’t go inside. Chi Yao didn’t let him. According to Chi Yao, Fu Rong hadn’t won him over yet; for now, he was just a suitor, not the baby’s father.

---

Fu Rong stood by the car, watching the figures of Chi Yao and the baby disappear from view, his gaze deep and heavy.

Chi Yao hadn’t told his grandfather he was coming back today. He called the housekeeper who looked after the elderly and confirmed that his grandfather was at home before heading back.

His grandfather was in the backyard taking care of his plants, in a good mood, listening to music, and even humming along.

Holding the baby, Chi Yao was about to have the housekeeper call his grandfather when he stopped her, telling her to go inside and mind her own business.

Standing there in silence, Chi Yao didn’t speak, and his grandfather was focused on his plants, not noticing Chi Yao behind him.

After more than ten minutes, his grandfather suddenly heard the cooing sounds of a baby coming from behind him. It should have been quiet nearby, and there shouldn’t have been a newborn baby.

Initially, his grandfather thought he must have misheard, but after a while, the cooing grew louder.

Just behind him, his grandfather paused his pruning and turned to look, seeing Chi Yao and the child in his arms.

His grandfather stared at the two of them, one big and one small, both looking adorable.

They looked cute, but his grandfather knew very well Chi Yao’s personality—arrogant and willful, not listening to his family, and he was out of the closet liking men.

At first, his grandfather was extremely surprised to see Chi Yao holding a child, but after a few seconds, he came to his senses. There was no way that child could belong to Chi Yao.

He had previously recommended so many good girls to him, all of which Chi Yao had rejected. Now he suddenly brings a child, what was he trying to do?

Play with him?

His grandfather turned back, not giving Chi Yao a good face, and continued to fiddle with his plants.

Chi Yao walked over to his grandfather and teased the baby, saying, “Baby, call great-grandpa.”

The baby was still young and could only babble, unable to call “grandpa.”

The old man ignored Chi Yao.

Where did such a cute child come from?

Was it from those friends of Chi Yao?

Who could have such a cute little darling, like a snow doll?

It would be great if it really belonged to the Chi family.

Although his grandfather had his back to Chi Yao and the baby, he was listening intently to any sound coming from behind.

The baby’s voice became a little quieter as he played with Chi Yao.

That brat brought such a cute baby on purpose.

The more his grandfather thought about it, the angrier he became. He turned and took the scissors he was holding, changing direction, and pointed the tip toward himself, tapping Chi Yao with the handle.

“Where did you steal this from? Return it!” His grandfather’s eyes were stern as he reprimanded Chi Yao to return the little one to their parents.

“Grandpa, it’s not someone else’s,” Chi Yao explained with a smile.

“Not someone else’s? Could it be yours? Since when do you like women?”

Surrogacy was impossible; the oldman thought he still understood his grandson. There was no way this kid would find a stranger to be a surrogate; that would just be harming others. The Chi family wasn’t that trashy.

“It really is mine.” Chi Yao held the baby up in front of his grandfather.

His grandfather averted his gaze, not wanting to look at the baby, but he still couldn’t help it, his eyes trembled and landed on the child.

As he got closer, his grandfather could see the baby’s eyes, which were exactly like Chi Yao’s when he was a child.

His grandfather had many photos of Chi Yao as a child. Since Chi Yao had been out and not coming back often, whenever his grandfather missed his grandson, he would take out the photos to look at.

So he was very clear about what Chi Yao looked like as a child. This little one in front of him truly looked just like the young Chi Yao.

His grandfather began to waver: “Is it really yours?”

But it didn’t make sense. Where did Chi Yao find a woman?

Was it really surrogacy?

His grandfather directly slapped Chi Yao. This kid was really up to no good, learning all the bad things from that scum of a father.

His grandfather was so angry that his eyes seemed to be on fire.

Chi Yao protected the baby, afraid his grandfather would hit him.

When he got hit in the stomach, Chi Yao let out a painful cry, sounding almost like a scream.

The baby was startled and began to wail.

Both Chi Yao and his grandfather were shocked. Chi Yao quickly held the baby to comfort him.

The baby’s tears fell in big drops, and it broke the old man’s heart. He reached out and took the little baby into his arms.

It was the first time the baby met great-grandpa, but strangely enough, when the old man held him, the baby immediately stopped crying.

Chi Yao was surprised.

The three of them walked into the house. Chi Yao sat on the sofa and lifted his shirt to reveal the scar on his side; it was a clear mark from a side incision made during surgery.

His grandfather’s gaze fell on Chi Yao’s abdomen, and when he saw that scar, he had seen it before on Chi Yao’s mother. His grandfather was extremely shocked and found it hard to believe.

“Grandpa, the child is mine. He came out of my belly,” Chi Yao said with a gentle smile, a warmth in his smile that his grandfather had never seen before.

---

Don’t Reject Me, Let Me Hold Him for a While

---

His grandfather understood every word Chi Yao said, but when put together, he couldn’t comprehend at all.

What did it mean that the child was his and that he came out of his belly?

Is Chi Yao a girl?

His grandfather felt that his body was still healthy and hadn’t reached the point of old-age vision issues, especially not with Chi Yao, the only grandson of the Chi family.

His grandfather even wondered if Chi Yao had recently been stimulated by something and was having mental issues. Otherwise, how could he say that the child was born from him?

Although the baby indeed looked exactly like Chi Yao as a child, there was no way it could be Chi Yao’s. Chi Yao was a boy; how could he have the functions of a woman?

“Did you get a surrogate?” His grandfather’s expression was getting worse.

Although his grandfather wasn’t one of those youngsters, he wasn’t an old fossil either. However, surrogacy, buying a child with money, was something his grandfather would absolutely not allow.

He thought Chi Yao had gone astray, coming out, liking men; his grandfather was actually already coming to terms with that. But Chi Yao actually bought this child?