The sunlight streaming in from outside spilled across the double bed in the center of the room. The blanket bulged in the middle, rising and falling with steady breaths. The sun was already high in the sky, filling the room with brightness. A moment later, Chu Yifeng opened the door and walked in, only to find that the sleepers still showed no sign of waking up.
“The sun’s already shining on your butt and you’re still not getting up?”
Chu Yifeng walked to the bedside. Suddenly, a chubby little hand, white and tender as a lotus root, stretched out from under the blanket. The tiny hand wiggled a few times before going still again. He lifted one corner of the blanket, revealing the little fellow sleeping underneath with all four limbs spread wide. The child was only seven or eight months old, but his features were as exquisite as porcelain. His round, rosy cheeks were flawless, like those of a lifelike doll. Even the drool trickling from the corner of his mouth did nothing to diminish his cuteness.
Farther inside lay Wang Cheng, sleeping in exactly the same pose as the little fellow. His soft black hair fell neatly across his forehead and cheeks. Though it covered half his face, it could not conceal his handsome features. Looking at the two of them side by side, anyone could see the resemblance.
The harsh sunlight shone through the gap Chu Yifeng had opened. Wang Cheng squinted, rubbed his face vigorously with one hand, but instead of getting up, rolled over to the other side. At the same time, the little fellow beside him performed the exact same maneuver, his round little head turning neatly toward his father.
Chu Yifeng nearly laughed out loud. Although this was far from the first time he had witnessed the scene, he never grew tired of it. Watching this father-and-son pair sleep every morning had become a habit of his. Still, no matter how much he enjoyed it, he had to wake them up.
“If you don’t get up now, I’m going to enforce family discipline!”
The moment Wang Cheng heard the words “family discipline,” he had no choice but to open his eyes. As he shifted positions, he happened to see his precious son opening his eyes as well. The child’s black gemstone-like eyes rolled around once. After a couple seconds of sleepy confusion, he climbed onto Wang Cheng’s back using both hands and feet, smeared the drool from the corner of his mouth onto his father’s pajamas, then comfortably sprawled across him again. His eyes narrowed until they were almost closed. This had become his daily morning routine—waking up before Wang Cheng and claiming his father as a mattress.
Chu Yifeng picked him up, supporting his soft little bottom with one hand. “Benben, let’s go wash your face. Don’t pay attention to Little Daddy.”
Benben was the little fellow’s nickname.
Left behind alone, Wang Cheng could only watch as father and son headed toward the bathroom. He climbed out of bed while silently cursing Chu Yifeng several times over. The two of them had been fooling around until midnight in the next room, and now he was not even allowed to sleep in.
When he entered the bathroom, Chu Yifeng was using a warm washcloth to clean Benben’s face. Benben’s skin was already fair and delicate, and after being wiped with the cloth, his cheeks immediately took on a faint pink tint. The already adorable child became even more irresistible.
Unable to resist, Wang Cheng leaned over and planted a kiss on his son’s soft cheek. As expected of his son—he smelled wonderful.
Benben grabbed his nose, then pushed his face away in apparent disgust.
“Benben, how can you dislike Daddy?” Wang Cheng put on a wounded expression before leaning over and kissing him again. The more he was rejected, the more determined he became.
Benben looked at him disdainfully and decided not to play with him anymore.
Though only seven or eight months old, Benben’s development far surpassed that of ordinary babies. Most children his age could only make simple sounds, but Benben was already capable of much more and could vaguely understand what adults were saying. As for actually speaking, however, that depended entirely on his mood.
“Alright, finish washing up and come eat breakfast. If you wait any longer, it’ll get cold.” Chu Yifeng interrupted their performance. He was already accustomed to the antics of both father and son.
Back when Wang Cheng had kept postponing the whole IVF matter, he had acted as though he did not particularly like children. Yet ever since Benben was born, he had treated the child like a treasure. And because Benben displayed intelligence far beyond that of normal children, Wang Cheng especially enjoyed teasing him.
After wiping their son’s face clean, Chu Yifeng carried him downstairs to change clothes. The two of them reached the dining room five minutes before Wang Cheng.
Five minutes later, Wang Cheng appeared at the table fully dressed. Chu Yifeng was feeding Benben, who was not yet able to eat on his own. However, he was remarkably well-behaved and did not squirm around like other babies while eating. Today’s meal was rice cereal made by Chu Yifeng.
Normally, if Wang Cheng got up early enough, he would make the rice cereal himself. Naturally, his version tasted better. But sometimes he overslept, so Chu Yifeng had learned how to make it. At first Benben refused to cooperate because it tasted awful. Once Wang Cheng found out, he taught Chu Yifeng several times until the rice cereal became edible. To suit Benben’s tastes, Chu Yifeng even learned several different variations.
Besides the rice cereal, the rest of the breakfast had been bought by Chu Yifeng. Wang Cheng loved the steamed egg custard from Chen Ji, so Chu Yifeng bought three portions, two of which disappeared into Wang Cheng’s stomach.
After breakfast, Chu Yifeng set Benben on the floor and let him roam freely while he gathered the dishes and headed into the kitchen to wash them. Their family did not employ live-in servants. Only a cleaning service came by regularly, so washing the dishes after meals fell to Chu Yifeng.
Wang Cheng let out a satisfied burp and glanced at Benben, who was crawling toward the sofa. Walking over, he slipped his hands under his son’s armpits and lifted him up.
Benben had actually already learned how to walk a step or two, but for some reason he seemed to prefer crawling. Ever since the first time Wang Cheng had seen him walk, he had never witnessed it again.
Setting him upright on the fluffy carpet, Wang Cheng sat half a meter away and clapped his hands. “Benben, walk a few steps for Daddy.”
Benben silently stared at his little daddy. His body swayed slightly before he abruptly plopped onto the carpet and crawled toward Wang Cheng at lightning speed, rolling straight into his arms. He was not wearing shoes, though Chu Yifeng had put a pair of blue socks on him. His tiny feet kicked against Wang Cheng’s stomach.
Wang Cheng grabbed his little feet. Benben’s feet were so small they did not even fill half his palm, yet they were adorably chubby. With a slight tug, Benben toppled forward onto his lap, letting out a series of indignant babbling noises. Full of fighting spirit, but unfortunately too small and weak. The moment Wang Cheng released him, he launched a counterattack.
When Chu Yifeng emerged from the kitchen, he found father and son rolling around together on the carpet. Benben maintained a serious expression the entire time, while Wang Cheng laughed so hard the muscles in his face were beginning to cramp.
Walking over, Chu Yifeng lifted Benben off Wang Cheng’s stomach. “Enough fooling around. It’s almost time. We need to head out.”
Wang Cheng climbed to his feet, grabbed Benben’s shoes, and the two fathers each helped put one on. Before leaving, Wang Cheng also found a fluffy hat and placed it on his son’s head. It covered his ears completely, leaving only his rosy little face visible and making his delicate features stand out even more.
“My son is so handsome!”
“Of course he is. Don’t you think so, Benben?” Chu Yifeng lifted him with one arm and gently pinched his cheek.
Benben wrapped his arms around Chu Yifeng’s neck and affectionately rubbed his cheek against his father’s face, giggling all the while. Both Chu Yifeng and Wang Cheng regularly shaved because they worried any stubble might scratch their son’s delicate skin.
Today happened to be the Mid-Autumn Festival. In rural places such as Guan Family Village, the festival required offerings to be presented to the Moon Goddess and was considered one of the year’s most important celebrations. As a result, it was always lively and festive. In a large city like the capital, however, those traditions were less common. The one thing that never changed was mooncakes.
A few days earlier, Wang Cheng had found time to make dozens of mooncakes. They came in many different fillings and both sweet and savory varieties. Chu Yifeng preferred the savory ones.
Before leaving, Wang Cheng carried several boxes of mooncakes while he, Chu Yifeng, and their son headed to the Zhou residence.
Although Zhou Shichang now lived alone in the Zhou household, Wang Cheng’s family of three and Mother Zheng often stayed there for a day or two every month. Moreover, with descendants to carry on the family line, Zhou Shichang had not felt lonely these past few years.
By the time they arrived, Father Zheng and Mother Zheng were already there.
Before they even entered the house, Zheng Jingxue came running out to greet her little nephew. Ever since Benben was born, he had become the most beloved member of the family, even surpassing Wang Cheng.
As Wang Cheng and Chu Yifeng stepped inside, they found their relatives crowded around Benben, unwilling to let him go. Under the teasing and doting of his elders, Benben generously rewarded everyone with a bright smile, melting their hearts on the spot. Upon hearing that his great-grandson had arrived, Zhou Shichang came downstairs with the help of Butler Zhou. The old man’s wrinkled face was lit up with a radiant smile.
Mother Zheng, relying on her status as grandmother, had managed to seize Benben first. Yet even she had to yield once the old patriarch appeared. As for Benben’s actual fathers, Wang Cheng and Chu Yifeng were thoroughly ignored.
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