Traveling Through the Book and Becoming a Cub Among the Villains - Chapter 45

He put on an innocent, clueless look, “What do you mean, act or not act? What are you going to act in?”

Mu Shaowu noticed his still-damp hair and quickly picked him up, carried him out of the study to the bedside, pulled out the hair dryer, and began drying his hair.

Ye Qingxi turned to look at him, “Daddy, you still haven’t answered my question.”

Only then did Mu Shaowu remember what he had just asked and replied, “Not acting in anything. Daddy’s not acting in anything at all.”

“But aren’t you an actor? I’ve seen you act in TV dramas before.”

Mu Shaowu, “..…”

Mu Shaowu felt embarrassed, he’d told him not to watch his shows, so why did he still watch them?!

“Actors don’t act every single day,” Mu Shaowu said.

“But Daddy, you haven’t acted in a long time.”

“Daddy needs to rest, too,” Mu Shaowu replied, looking into his eyes, “And now that I have you, I want to spend more time with you.”

It’s over, Ye Qingxi thought.

In the book, Mu Shaowu wasn’t that enthusiastic about this drama to begin with, otherwise, he wouldn’t have dragged it out until just before filming started to finally agree.

Now that there was him in the picture, it’d probably be a complete no-go for real.

Ye Qingxi, “……”

Now that he was in the picture, it would probably become a definite no.

That won’t do!

Ye Qingxi quickly shook his head, turned around, and tried to persuade him, “That won’t work, Daddy. You have to go.”

“Why?” Mu Shaowu asked curiously.

“Didn’t the children’s song say so? Daddy and Mommy go to work, I go to first grade. I’m already being good and going to first grade, so why aren’t you going to work, Daddy?”

He puffed out his cheeks, “Daddy’s slacking off.”

Mu Shaowu was completely melted by his adorable little expression. He ruffled Ye Qingxi’s nearly dry hair.

“Daddy’s not slacking. Daddy is usually very busy, too. This time I’m on vacation, just like how you get summer break. When you’re on summer break, don’t you also get two months without school?”

Ye Qingxi, “……”

Ye Qingxi thought he was actually quite clever, quick on his feet.

Since that was the case, there was no need to go through all the usual steps, time to bring out the big guns. Even though he didn’t like using his nuclear option often, it was the only one that never failed, victory guaranteed.

Sorry, Dad.

Ye Qingxi looked at him, and in the next second, his eyes began to fill with tears.

He gently pressed his lips together, then quickly turned his head, “I… I’m going to brush my teeth. I forgot to brush just now.”

Mu Shaowu, “???!!!”

Seeing him like this, how could Mu Shaowu possibly let him go brush his teeth! He immediately grabbed the child in front of him, turned him around to face him directly.

But Ye Qingxi tilted his head to the side, refusing to look at him. Mu Shaowu put down the hair dryer and held his face with both hands, making him look into his eyes.

Ye Qingxi’s eyes were red, the tears in them glistening and clear.

“Why are you crying?” Mu Shaowu asked, confused, “What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly crying?”

Ye Qingxi shook his head.

Mu Shaowu pulled him into his arms and gently coaxed him, “Be good, tell Daddy. Otherwise, Daddy will worry.”

Ye Qingxi still shook his head.

“You don’t trust me?”

“No!” Ye Qingxi said quickly.

“Then why won’t you tell me?” Mu Shaowu said, pretending to suddenly realize something, “Oh~ I get it. You don’t like me? That’s why you don’t want to talk to me?”

“No!” Ye Qingxi quickly replied, looking anxious.

“I…..I……..”

He stammered out a few “I…”s, then slowly lowered his eyes, speaking in a soft, cautious voice, “Am I… getting in the way of your work?”

As he spoke, Ye Qingxi’s tears started falling, “If it weren’t for spending time with me, you wouldn’t have skipped work. The teacher said grown-ups aren’t supposed to skip work. But you’re not working now…”

“You just said it earlier, you want to spend more time with me, and it’s because of me.”

Ye Qingxi’s tears flowed even more fiercely, “I’m a burden to you.”

He choked up, the tears falling harder and faster, “It’s all to take care of me… I… I… I’m dragging you down.”

Mu Shaowu never expected him to be crying over this and quickly said, “No, no, that’s not it! I didn’t want to work in the first place.”

Mu Shaowu, “!!!!!”

Startled, he practically jumped in place and immediately reassured him, “No, no, baby, don’t think like that! How could you ever be a burden to me? You’re my little sweetheart!”

“I’ll go to work, I’ll go film, I’ll work properly, just don’t let your thoughts run wild, okay?”

Perfect execution.

Ye Qingxi thought smugly to himself, told you, this trick never fails.

It’s not about how many tricks you have, as long as they work, that’s all that matters. Hehe.

Although he was smiling inside, on the outside, he still had to keep up the act and look sad.

“Really?”

Mu Shaowu quickly nodded, “Really.”

“Then call and say you accepted the role,” Ye Qingxi pressed while the iron was hot.

Mu Shaowu, “……”

He really is sharp, Mu Shaowu thought. Clever, alert, and sensitive, too.

He picked up his phone and called his agent.

“I’ll take Clouds Part After the Rain. That’s final.”

Then he hung up.

“I made the call,” he said to Ye Qingxi.

Ye Qingxi nodded, sniffled, and said, “As long as I’m not dragging Daddy down, that’s good.”

Mu Shaowu, heart aching, pulled him into his arms, “How could you ever be a burden to Daddy? You’ll never be a burden. So don’t let your thoughts run wild, okay?”

Ye Qingxi gave a cooperative “mm” and hugged him back, “Daddy is the best.”

“Now you finally realize how great your daddy is. Since your daddy’s so great, how could you ever think you’re a burden, huh? Silly little thing.”

Ye Qingxi smiled sweetly, gazing at him with warmth.

Mu Shaowu looked at his face, bright and radiant like sunshine in March.

No wonder people say kids’ moods flip in an instant, just a moment ago he’d been crying so pitifully, and now he was smiling so adorably.

Mu Shaowu lowered his head, nuzzled his forehead, and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Next time, don’t say things like that again.”

Ye Qingxi nodded.

There won’t be a next time. From here on, Mu Shaowu’s career should go smoothly, there’d be no need for him to say things like that again.

Truthfully, Ye Qingxi didn’t like saying things like that either. He could see how much Mu Shaowu cared for him, so he worried such words might make Mu Shaowu feel hurt. But he had no choice, not saying it would mean Mu Shaowu really might give up this drama, along with all the ripple effects it would bring.

Ye Qingxi couldn’t bear that. So, as if to make it up to him, he nuzzled Mu Shaowu’s forehead, too, acting sweet and clingy.

That one little nuzzle completely melted Mu Shaowu’s heart, he felt like his son was perfect in every way.

“Come on,” Mu Shaowu said, picking him up, “Look at you, crying like a little kitten. Daddy will wash your face.”

“Okay.” Ye Qingxi leaned into his arms, resting against him gently.

The two went into the bathroom. Mu Shaowu washed his face and watched as he brushed his teeth.

When they came back out, Mu Shaowu saw two missed calls on his phone, both from his agent.

He didn’t rush to call back. Instead, he placed Ye Qingxi on the bed and coaxed him, “Time to sleep.”

“Daddy, aren’t you going to sleep?” Ye Qingxi asked.

Mu Shaowu replied gently, “Daddy still has work to do.”

Hearing that, Ye Qingxi immediately sat up, “Then I’ll stay up and keep you company.”

“No need.” Mu Shaowu tucked him back under the covers, “You sleep. Daddy will go to bed once he’s done with work.”

Hearing that, Ye Qingxi didn’t want to interrupt his work, so he closed his eyes.

He’d been running, practicing horse stance, and playing with Qin Cheng all day, his body was already worn out. Not long after closing his eyes, he slowly drifted off to sleep. Mu Shaowu looked at his peaceful sleeping face, thinking about the words he had said while crying just moments ago.

So sensible, he thought.

Back when his agent first told him about this drama, he hadn’t really taken it seriously. Later, when the producer came to him several times with sincerity, he finally asked for the script, planning to take a look.

But just as he got the script and hadn’t even opened it yet, he got a call from his father, telling him he had found him a son.

Mu Shaowu was caught off guard and naturally pushed the drama to the back of his mind.

Having a child and not having a child are two very different things, especially when the child wasn’t biologically his, and was already at an aGe where they could understand the world when they became family in name.

In this kind of situation, being present and spending time together becomes a non-negotiable, essential need.

So Mu Shaowu had his agent decline many of his other jobs. And when his agent brought up this drama again, he flat-out rejected it without hesitation.

Tonight was the same, the production was set to start filming in just two weeks. In order to wait for his decision, the drama had never been officially announced.

His agent hoped he would take the role. During some free time, Mu Shaowu had read the script and felt that it was indeed solid. The male lead was well-written, and even more rare, it was a genre he had never done before, a detective drama.

Though it was still a historical piece, the plot centered on solving cases and the character’s personal growth. The story was rich, fast-paced, and, in his and his agent’s opinion, had all the makings of a hit drama. That was why his agent had been so persistent in recommending it.

If it weren’t for Ye Qingxi, Mu Shaowu thought, he definitely would have taken the role.

But the problem was, he had Ye Qingxi now. And Ye Qingxi was just too precious. So sweet, so clever, with a little brain full of wild and whimsical ideas. Smart and mischievous like a beautiful little elf.

Mu Shaowu felt that even if he had a child of his own, he might not be able to have one as lovable as this. So he didn’t want to leave Ye Qingxi behind.

He wanted to spend more time with him.

What had he done to deserve such a little elf? Naturally, he felt his time should be spent with him. That was what he thought and that was exactly what he had done.

But clearly, Ye Qingxi didn’t see it the same way. He was a sensible and thoughtful child, so he didn’t want to be a burden. He hoped that his presence would bring joy, not become a weight on someone else’s shoulders.

Mu Shaowu lowered his head and kissed Ye Qingxi’s forehead. Just as he loved Ye Qingxi, Ye Qingxi loved him, too.

That’s why he had wanted to give up a potentially hit drama for his sake, yet Ye Qingxi wanted him to think more about himself.

They were both loving each other in their own ways.

“Such a little angel,” Mu Shaowu whispered, “How could anyone be this angelic?”

Good thing he was his.

Otherwise, he’d definitely die of jealousy.

Mu Shaowu kissed Ye Qingxi again, then finally picked up his phone and went to the study to return the call.

The moment he dialed, his agent picked up almost instantly.

“Why did you say yes, again?”

“Weren’t you the one who kept wanting me to accept it? Now that I did, isn’t that a good thing?” Mu Shaowu said lazily.

“I’m just curious, how did you change your mind in such a short time? What, you finally think this drama has hit potential, too?”

“I’ve always thought it had potential.”

“Then why didn’t you take it before?”

“Because I wanted to spend more time with my son.”

Agent, “????”

Did he hear that right? Son? Whose son?!

The agent nearly had a heart attack, “Mu Shaowu! When did you get a son?! Do you have any idea how many girlfriend fans you have?! A son! How dare you?! Are you trying to break the trending topics?!”

Author’s Note:

Mu Shaowu: I was so happy that I didn’t tell my agent that I have a son.

Agent: [Angry]

Current agent: Son? How dare you?!

The agent after: Fortunately you have such a son.

The agent after: Which direction did you pray to have such a son!