Chapter 16
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Bai Qingyu wanted to maintain the grand, all-capable image of the Tea God father in front of Chabao and said, “Money can always be earned again…”
“Is this just being tough at home?”
He Renyuan let go of her hand and, as if standing up for his intellectually challenged wife, walked straight to the center of the venue to negotiate with the acrobat troupe’s boss.
Bai Qingyu, fearing they might quarrel, moved a bit farther away and sat by the flowerbed, covering Bai Xiaochai’s ears—grown-ups quarreling, the little one shouldn’t listen.
He himself stretched his neck and pricked up his ears. He Renyuan was always straightforward with him; he had never seen him argue with anyone else.
The acrobat troupe boss noticed the quiet, meek father and son sitting there pitifully. Puffing out his chest, he said, “Who are you? That was a tip, the child gave it voluntarily, and even the biological father said nothing, you—”
He Renyuan immediately twisted the facts: “Look carefully, that’s my son, and I’m the real father.”
The boss took a closer look. Uh-oh, that poor guy really was this lawyer’s son—they looked like father and son.
The real dad looked tough, unlike that fake one over there, who seemed easy to bully.
He Renyuan chuckled lightly, a single sentence shattering the boss’s assumptions, simpler than expected, making things easier to handle next.
“First, there was no prior notice before the performance, so the hundred yuan cannot be classified as a tip. My son could not foresee that the money would be taken by the parrot.
Second, I’m a lawyer, recently unemployed, with plenty of time.”
The acrobat troupe boss, having traveled far and wide, was a sensible man. When someone got serious, he compromised. Lawyers could argue black into white, especially those unemployed ones who looked proper but fussed over every detail.
Soon, He Renyuan returned holding the cash.
Out went one hundred, back came ninety; each side gave a little ground. Ten yuan was the tip for the parrot’s snacks.
He Renyuan’s voice was low during the negotiation, so Bai Qingyu couldn’t hear, curious enough to almost want to use some magic.
Just that simple—two sentences to get the money back?
The Tea God fell into thought. He Renyuan was somewhat capable, it seemed. Within the He family, he had only gained the upper hand briefly while He Renyuan was unprepared. Luckily, he was quick to escape; longer acquaintance would surely be disadvantageous.
He Renyuan handed the change to the little one: “The bird’s food is paid for, here’s the leftover money.”
“Thank you, Uncle Boss.” Bai Xiaochai clutched the money tightly, feeling it was a lot. Uncle Boss was amazing; he wanted to give him a strand of hair—
Bai Qingyu silently pulled the child’s hand away from his head, forbidding him from gifting tea leaves on the spot.
Chabao, you really are confused—didn’t I teach you not to dramatically change the tea leaves?
With only three people present, Bai Qingyu gained the intellectual upper hand again.
He Renyuan felt somewhat elated, the worries of the past two days dissolving. It was rare for a top lawyer to argue over a hundred yuan here. Thinking of this, he suppressed the corner of his mouth.
“Where are you working now?” He Renyuan stared at Bai Qingyu.
Not wanting to be looked down upon by his former employer, Bai Qingyu cleverly replied, “In management.”
A small-scale farming facility manager, with three employees under him.
He Renyuan: “Which company?”
When filling out the kindergarten form, Bai Qingyu was sincere; facing his former employer, he was not: “A private company.”
He Renyuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He didn’t care where Bai Qingyu worked but felt sorry for the child: “I’ll just have Uncle Qi put in a good word for you.”
Bai Qingyu: “What does Uncle Qi say?”
He Renyuan: “The kindergarten under Shuhe Group offers low-cost enrollment benefits for employees’ children. Uncle Qi registered you before; you’ve already been accepted.”
“Better than the kindergarten you found.”
The family kindergarten was near the Shuhe Group building. Qi Yun wouldn’t dare sneak around near He Renyuan; his reach didn’t extend that far.
He Renyuan said this calmly.
To get employee benefits, it was best to work with him.
If you worked in the Shuhe building, you could pick up and drop off the child easily.
If you lived at his place, you could hitch a ride with him commuting—wouldn’t Bai Qingyu be the most economical then?
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If unwilling to return to work, at least the child could still attend the kindergarten.
Bai Qingyu: “But I’ve already resigned.”
He Renyuan grew irritated: “Once the spot is allocated, it’s allocated. If employees resign, do you want me to kick the children out on the spot?”
Bai Qingyu was a bit tempted and asked about the kindergarten’s address.
He Renyuan gave an address; Bai Qingyu checked and found it was a bit far, with frequent traffic jams on the way.
“No, thanks for Uncle Qi’s kindness, but I’ve signed a contract with this kindergarten. I can walk to pick up and drop off Chabao.”
He Renyuan’s carefully arranged proposal was ignored; Bai Qingyu insisted on the narrow path.
He took a deep breath. “I’ve said my piece. Whether you go or not is up to you.”
Bai Qingyu: “Thank you.”
He Renyuan wanted to turn and leave but held back, recalling the video of Chabao eating that he saw on the housekeeper’s phone—the whole family had seen it except him. The dark feeling in his heart was like a mushroom cloud left after an explosion of regret.
Having eaten so much of his food, why shouldn’t he see it too?
“Fine, since you’ve resigned, I’ll treat you to a farewell meal.”
Bai Qingyu was surprised. Even after a lowly resignation, the boss treated him to a farewell meal?
He Renyuan asked Chabao: “Do you want to eat?”
Bai Xiaochai’s eyes brightened slightly: “Uncle, is it free?”
He Renyuan’s heart ached a bit at this cautious question: “Yes, everything uncle gives you is free.”
Bai Xiaochai looked up, staring at his father’s chin: “Dad?”
Bai Qingyu: “Alright then, thank you, young master.”
He Renyuan asked Chabao: “What do you like to eat?”
According to his intelligence, Chabao could eat anything. His dad’s terrible cooking was always solved by Chabao, so it was reasonable to treat him.
Chabao: “Anything is fine, Uncle!”
He Renyuan: “Let’s go, my car is over there.”
Bai Qingyu stood up holding the child. He Renyuan moved his fingers, as if wanting to take the child from him, but hesitated, having never held a child before.
He walked beside Bai Qingyu, watching him for a minute with peripheral vision, then, noticing Bai Qingyu’s lack of skill, he scooped up Bai Xiaochai under the armpits and took him from Bai Qingyu’s arms.
“You’re walking too slowly; Chabao’s hungry.”
Bai Qingyu: “Huh?”
He was stunned, only able to see He Renyuan’s fast-moving back carrying the child, as if snatching him away.
After a five-meter gap, He Renyuan stopped as if he had eyes in the back of his head: “What are you standing there for?”
Bai Qingyu followed in disbelief. He rarely, or rather never, let others hold his child, except for Uncle Deng.
Bai Xiaochai was like a small tea tree growing from his roots; he sheltered him from wind and rain. Although slow-growing, he was growing. How did he shrink so much in He Renyuan’s arms?
Bai Xiaochai lay on He Renyuan’s shoulder, their two black-haired heads close together. When He Renyuan opened the car door, he caught his own reflection in the glass and smiled slightly.
He Renyuan tugged the corner of his mouth and gave the child back to Bai Qingyu: “Hold the child and sit in the back.”
Bai Xiaochai: “Uncle Boss, did you change cars?”
He hadn’t seen this car before.
He Renyuan: “Yes, work needs.”
Bai Qingyu sat upright in the back holding Bai Xiaochai. He was a car novice, but instinctively felt this car was more expensive than the two previously parked in the villa garage.
The young master’s business was growing bigger and bigger.
This was the second time he rode in an expensive four-wheeled vehicle, after the last time in Xu Zhao’s Mercedes.
He Renyuan drove calmly, unlike his usual temperamental self—no running red lights, smooth starts, comfortable ride.
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Bai Qingyu, who usually only took buses, secretly compared the two drivers in his heart, thinking He Renyuan’s skills were better.
The car stopped in the garage of a high-end mall. By the time Bai Qingyu figured out the hidden car door opener, He Renyuan was leisurely standing outside. Upon opening the door, Bai Qingyu could only hand Bai Xiaochai to He Renyuan for easier exit.
The seventeenth floor was entirely restaurants. He Renyuan let Bai Xiaochai choose.
A flamboyantly decorated buffet restaurant immediately caught Bai Xiaochai’s attention.
Leaning against Uncle’s arms, Bai Xiaochai had a great view. Through the restaurant’s bright glass, he saw the colorful array of fruits, candies, drinks, cakes, seafood on the counters.
Bai Xiaochai was shocked like a young wolf dropped into a sheepfold, pointing at the dazzling spread: “Uncle, what kind of place is this?!”
He Renyuan obligingly walked in: “A place to eat whatever you want.”
Bai Qingyu noticed the poster and winced at the price.
Charged per person, did Bai Xiaochai count as a person? Hopefully not, or he might as well not be human himself and spend some time in the restroom as a tea tree.
He Renyuan easily carried the child with one arm and pulled the daydreaming Bai Qingyu to a seat.
By the time Bai Qingyu snapped back, He Renyuan was already carrying a large plate with Bai Xiaochai to get food.
The buffet offered a variety of items. Bai Xiaochai curiously asked about anything unfamiliar: “Uncle, what’s this?”
Unconsciously, he dropped the “boss” from “Uncle Boss,” which He Renyuan found slightly easier on the ears.
“That’s dog paw snail.”
“Okay.”
“Uncle, what’s this?”
He Renyuan glanced at the label below, pretending to be an encyclopedia: “That’s a milk fruit.”
“Okay.”
In a short time, they returned with their plates, the food in front of Bai Xiaochai enough to cover his little face.
Bai Qingyu: “You can’t just let him take whatever he wants. That’s too much; he can’t finish it.”
He Renyuan casually: “I didn’t take anything? Whatever he can’t finish, I’ll eat.”
He even encouraged Bai Xiaochai to take more because it wasn’t enough for him.
Bai Qingyu kindly reminded: “You don’t have to eat Chabao’s leftovers.”
He Renyuan snorted coldly: “I’m happy to.”
Ten minutes later, He Renyuan somewhat regretted it because Bai Xiaochai had taken a big bowl, mixing all the food—including shelled sea snails, lobster, nuts, noodles, grapes, dragon fruit—into one bowl and was devouring it heartily.
This bowl was incredibly nutritious. Bai Xiaochai ate with his eyes closed, just scooping with a spoon.
He Renyuan’s slight regret dissolved under Bai Xiaochai’s enthusiastic eating.
How could such a little fellow eat so hard? Was he usually hungry?
Half an hour later, Bai Xiaochai wiped his mouth, his tea-colored eyes glancing at Dad and Uncle with a bit of guilt: “Dad, baby can’t finish it.”
Bai Qingyu: “This time Uncle He helped you eat it, but don’t take so much next time.”
“Okay, Dad, thank you, Uncle.” Bai Xiaochai pushed the bowl over, looking at He Renyuan expectantly, “Uncle, it’s delicious.”
He Renyuan: “…”
He stared at the colorful, dragon-fruit-stained mishmash in the bowl, choking before even eating.
This bowl looked familiar somehow. He Renyuan felt he had eaten like this before.
No way. Even dogs would be disgusted.