Bonus chapter 2/3 <3
In the little guy’s limited memory so far, only on his birthday and during New Year’s did so many of his favorite dishes appear on their dining table. Watching their son eat contentedly, Su Siwen and Qin Kun began to feel guilty again. After Su Siwen’s leg condition worsened, his income became unstable. The family of three relied entirely on Qin Kun’s work to get by.
The two dads would rather suffer themselves than let their child go without, always giving Youyou the best they could afford. The little guy was very understanding and never asked his dads for toys. This made both fathers feel deeply remorseful, knowing that if Youyou continued living with them, their circumstances would only get harder.
Thinking this, the two dads exchanged a glance. The scales in their hearts, which had been wavering, now tipped decisively. They had to send Youyou back to the Shen family, so he could have a good life.
“Is it good, Youyou?” Su Siwen reached out to wipe his face.
The little guy didn’t even lift his head, his chubby face buried in his plate.
Qin Kun reached out and gently patted the little guy’s tummy, finding it was indeed a bit flat.
“What did Youyou eat at the Taekwondo dojo for lunch?”
Youyou swallowed his rice, a single grain of white rice clinging to the corner of his mouth. “Grandma Yang gave Youyou chicken legs.”
That was right. Grandma Yang had stopped by to let them know when she went to deliver lunch. The elderly woman liked Youyou, and since she was already bringing food for her grandson and son, she simply brought a little extra.
“Did you not get enough to eat?” Su Siwen gently rubbed his head.
Youyou, gripping his spoon, thought for a moment before nodding sheepishly. Although Grandma Yang was very, very kind to him, the little guy felt it wasn’t right to always eat her food for free. The two chicken legs were probably meant for Uncle Yang and Brother Yang Yang, one each, but Grandma Yang had given the other one to him instead.
After eating half of it, the little guy had held the chicken leg out to Uncle Yang, offering it to him. At the time, Yang Shiqing thought the little guy was just full and quickly finished the remaining chicken leg in two bites. Su Youli, however, was quite happy. He ate half a bowl of rice soaked in chicken soup and then stopped.
Both fathers took turns kissing his cheek, deeply reflecting and sincerely apologizing, promising to bring him lunch next time for sure. Su Youli was a very generous little kid. He touched his dads’ faces with his small hand and said they didn’t need to say sorry.
Then came a long string of confessions like “Dad, I missed you,” and “Dad, I love you so much.”
After dinner was a warm, cozy family time. Su Youli sat in Kunkun’s lap, looking at a picture book.
When the clock hand reached seven, Su Siwen suddenly leaned close to his son’s ear and asked, “Youyou, do you want to know where your birth father and mother are?”
Su Youli had always known his family was special. Other kids had a mom and a dad, but he lived with two dads. Back when the child was a little older and could understand simple things, Su Siwen had spent a lot of time explaining what adoption meant to Su Youli. He also put in a lot of effort, showing Youyou through his actions that even though he was their adopted child, they would still love him as their own son.
Little Su Youli blinked, his attention shifting from the picture book. “Where are they?”
Su Siwen was always the one to handle special matters like this. Qin Kun’s heart clenched involuntarily, and he placed a hand on Su Siwen’s shoulder for support.
“Youyou, do you like Brother Shen Lin?”
Su Youli nodded. “Yes, I like him!”
In just two days, Shen Lin had already won the little guy over. Every time he visited, he played with him and bought Youyou lots of snacks. This gave the two fathers present a strong sense of crisis.
“Actually, Brother Shen Lin’s dad is your real dad.”
Having said this, Su Siwen stared intently into his son’s eyes, not wanting to miss a single expression on the toddler’s face. Su Youli’s eyes, which had been smiling just moments ago, suddenly flew wide open, like a small animal startled. The colorful picture book lay open on his lap.
“Real dad?”
Qin Kun hummed in acknowledgment. “Your real dad came from Beicheng. He wants to… take you back.”
He spoke the last few words very softly, as if hoping the child wouldn’t hear them. But the little toddler’s ears caught them clearly. A moment later, Yuanzi, who had been obediently lying by the door, jumped up, fur on end. The little master’s sobs could be heard from inside the room.
Although Su Youli was only three, he could already understand what was said. He didn’t know where Beicheng was. Kunkun said that fierce-looking Uncle Shen was his real dad, and he was coming to take him away.
“Waa—”
Su Youli rarely cried so sadly. Even when his dads went to the big city for medical treatment and left him at Brother Yang Yang’s house, he hadn’t felt this bad. Su Youli cried until his face was red, tears flowing like a faucet had been turned on. Qin Kun’s heart ached terribly at the sight, and he paced around the living room holding him.
Only when Su Siwen stuffed a Stitch plushie into his arms did the tearful little toddler stop crying. Sniffling, he reached out to grab Stitch’s big ears. For the next few hours, right up until bedtime, Su Youli was like a loyal guard, not allowing his two dads to leave his sight. He didn’t want to be separated from his dads.
“Dad, are you done pooping?” A small figure pressed against the glass door.
Qin Kun sat on the toilet, holding his head in agony, his voice laced with a certain embarrassment: “Youyou, go wait for Daddy on the bed, okay?”
The little toddler behind the glass door shifted, pressing both hands against it, his tone firm: “No.”
“Youyou, come help Dad for a second!”
Youyou turned his head. Little Dad was sitting in his wheelchair, struggling to spread the bedsheet onto the mattress with both hands. Clearly, Little Dad needed him more.
“Kunkun, hurry up and poop~” the little guy made sure to instruct clearly before leaving.
All evening, Su Youli was clingier than usual. The words spoken after dinner had truly filled this three-year-old toddler with deep unease.
“…The little rabbit hopped and hopped, and finally arrived at his good friend Squirrel’s house. They played games together…”
Little Dad’s voice was very gentle. This was the first time Su Youli had heard the complete story of “The Little Rabbit Finds a Friend.” Usually, he’d fall asleep by the second page. His chubby little body lay resting on Kunkun, his small hand tightly holding Su Siwen’s finger. The evening breeze rustled the treetops.
The window on the second floor of the little Su family courtyard still glowed with warm yellow light. Inside the room, Qin Kun held the little guy in his arms, gently patting his back to lull him to sleep. The little guy, eyes closed, soon opened them again. His big eyes were full of dependence on his fathers.
“Dad, I love you guys.”
The little guy’s voice was laced with sleepiness, soft and babyish, enough to make anyone’s heart melt.
“Baby, Kunkun and I love you too.”
His little chubby hand rubbed his eyes. After fighting off sleep for an hour, the little guy finally closed his eyes.
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