Chapter 28: Something Feels Strange…
“Awoo?” Dad, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Even Bai Tuanzi had noticed the change in Lin Xia.
“Daddy’s fine. I’ll be okay after a nap with my baby.” Not wanting to worry Bai Tuanzi, Lin Xia forced a smile and pretended everything was alright.
“Awoo.” Okay, An’an will sleep with Dad. Dad has to be all better after you wake up. In order to help Lin Xia get better, Bai Tuanzi obediently lay down beside him, closed his eyes, and went to sleep.
“Good boy.” Lin Xia gave Bai Tuanzi a kiss and then hugged him tightly, the only way he could feel a sense of security. He had never once regretted giving birth to and raising Bai Tuanzi, but when it came to the person he loved, he didn’t know how to bring it up.
Lin Xia watched Bai Tuanzi for a long time before finally making up his mind. He would find the right time to confess everything to Tang Yinlang. Hiding it was the wrong decision. No matter how Tang Yinlang reacted after finding out, he would accept it…
After cleaning up, Tang Yinlang didn’t go back to his own house. Instead, he sat on Lin Xia’s sofa for the entire afternoon. He knew Lin Xia was upset because he had said the wrong thing.
Tang Yinlang remembered clearly: Lin Xia’s expression had changed right after he said Bai Tuanzi was too good at snatching red envelopes. He wouldn’t look at him, and the way his gaze shifted away made it seem as if he’d done something to betray him.
But Lin Xia hadn’t done anything to betray him. On the contrary, he was the one who had overstepped by commenting on Bai Tuanzi’s upbringing, which had made Lin Xia unhappy.
Tang Yinlang assumed Lin Xia’s mood had soured because he didn’t want him meddling in matters concerning Bai Tuanzi. He blamed himself for being inconsiderate. They had only confirmed their relationship a day ago; how Lin Xia chose to raise Bai Tuanzi was his business, and he shouldn’t have interfered.
As for why Lin Xia was avoiding his gaze, Tang Yinlang still couldn’t figure it out. But he knew Lin Xia was hiding something from him. Then again, wasn’t he also hiding something from Lin Xia? Tang Yinlang didn’t dare to reveal the fact that he was Bai Tuanzi’s biological father. He was terrified that if he said it, Lin Xia would push him away—the man who had hurt him—and keep him at a distance, never to meet again.
I’ll tell him after I’ve truly earned a place in his heart, he decided.
The ever-confident and masterful strategist Tang Yinlang had lost all his confidence in matters of the heart during the period when he couldn’t find Lin Xia. He didn’t dare to take any risks. He could only feel at ease by taking things one step at a time, keeping a firm grasp on every single detail.
When Lin Xia woke up, it was already evening. He and Bai Tuanzi had unknowingly slept for the entire afternoon. Seeing that Bai Tuanzi was still asleep, Lin Xia went downstairs by himself.
The vintage-style staircase stretched down to the ground floor. For Bai Tuanzi’s sake, it was covered with a soft carpet that felt comfortable even on bare feet. Lin Xia loved the feeling of walking barefoot on the plush carpet; he enjoyed the sensation.
“Yinlang!” When he saw the figure on the sofa, Lin Xia gasped. He never expected Tang Yinlang to still be sitting there.
Tang Yinlang slowly lifted his head to look at him and offered a smile. The living room was dim without the lights on, making Tang Yinlang’s every move seem like that of a sculpture.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Xia’s heart jumped, thinking something had happened. He walked over and touched Tang Yinlang, only to find his hand was ice-cold. “How long have you been sitting here?”
“Not long.” Tang Yinlang stood up to move his limbs, which had grown stiff from sitting for so long. A faint smile touched his handsome face. “Is it time to make dinner? I’ll help you.”
“Okay.” Lin Xia smiled back, his mood relaxing considerably. He decided to push his worries aside for now. He would deal with them later!
In the kitchen.
The great CEO Tang, whose ten fingers had never touched kitchen work, volunteered to cook the rice. Under Lin Xia’s guidance, CEO Tang successfully added the right amount of water, put the pot in the cooker, and pressed the switch.
Having performed perfectly on his first try, CEO Tang earned high praise from Lin Xia. Buoyed by his lover’s compliments and eager to perform even better, he happily began washing and chopping vegetables.
“Yinlang, could you help me tie my apron?” Halfway through cooking, Lin Xia remembered he hadn’t put on his apron.
“Of course.” Tang Yinlang took the apron from the cabinet, unfolded it, and wrapped his arms around Lin Xia’s waist to tie it for him.
Lin Xia’s waist was very slender and sensitive; an accidental touch was enough to make him laugh. Tang Yinlang remembered clearly just how sensitive it was. On that passionate night two years ago, he had stroked that supple, snake-like waist countless times.
“Are you done yet?” Lin Xia, oblivious to the blood-pumping images flashing through Tang Yinlang’s mind, couldn’t help but ask when he started taking too long.
“Done.” Tang Yinlang reluctantly removed his hands, his mind filled with thoughts of when he could openly caress Lin Xia’s waist again…
The apron Lin Xia was wearing had been picked out by Bai Tuanzi. It had a kitten pattern on it. Bai Tuanzi couldn’t find a design that looked like himself, so he had to choose a kitten, which was similar. The apron also had a pocket. When Bai Tuanzi was still a tiny ball of fur, he loved to climb into the pocket while Lin Xia was cooking, poking his fluffy head out to watch his dad. If Lin Xia was making one of his favorite dishes, the pocket would often end up damp from Bai Tuanzi drooling at the fragrant aroma.
Halfway through the cooking, Bai Tuanzi woke up and padded downstairs on his own. He followed the scent all the way to the kitchen, where he found his dad and Uncle Tang.
“Awoo!” Hi, Dad! Hi, Uncle Tang! Bai Tuanzi greeted them, his big, watery eyes wide.
“Are you hungry? Want a snack?” Lin Xia quickly went over and picked him up.
“Awoo!” An’an is hungry! I want to eat the water chestnut cake Uncle Tang brought! Bai Tuanzi had tried the snacks Tang Yinlang had brought from his grandmother today and decided the water chestnut cake was his favorite.
As Bai Tuanzi was speaking, Tang Yinlang had already gone to the fridge to get the pastry—the very water chestnut cake he wanted.
“Awoo!” Water chestnut cake! Bai Tuanzi’s eyes lit up, and he reached out a paw to grab it.
“You can’t eat it yet. We have to heat it in the microwave first.” Lin Xia pulled Bai Tuanzi’s paw back and asked Tang Yinlang to put the cake in the microwave.
The cake was cold from the fridge, and eating it without warming it up would surely cause a stomachache. Bai Tuanzi understood what Lin Xia said and nodded obediently. The microwave worked quickly, and a few minutes later, Bai Tuanzi was happily eating his desired snack.
The water chestnut cake was translucent, soft, and sticky, filling his mouth with a fresh, sweet fragrance with every bite. Each piece was about the size of two fingers, and Bai Tuanzi ate them one bite at a time.
“Awoo!” Dad, Uncle Tang, you eat too! Bai Tuanzi was a child who loved to share; he never forgot about his dad and Uncle Tang when he was eating.
“Awoo!” And Xiao Cangshu gege!
Lin Xia also ate a piece. Since dinner was almost ready, Tang Yinlang had only taken out a small portion, and Lin Xia didn’t want to take too much from Bai Tuanzi.
But as he watched the cub eating so happily, a flicker of confusion crossed Lin Xia’s mind. Something felt strange, but he couldn’t immediately put his finger on it.
What is it that’s so strange? Lin Xia wondered.
“The soup is ready,” Tang Yinlang said, noticing the pot’s indicator light. His words cut through Lin Xia’s inexplicable train of thought.
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