🍒Chapter 44: Getting Used to Xie Chenzhou’s Cooking

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When the baby turned three, it was time to start kindergarten.

Shen Shuyi chose an ordinary community kindergarten for him. With Xie Chenzhou’s wealth, he could have enrolled the baby in a prestigious private school, but Shen Shuyi had already decided that once he finished his studies, he would take the baby back home.

After all, Xie Cheng’s main business was still in their home country. Xie Chenzhou had been increasingly busy over the past two years, constantly shuttling between home and abroad. Each flight took more than ten hours, and the jet lag was exhausting. Even though Xie Chenzhou never complained, Shen Shuyi still felt for him.

Their roots were there, and eventually they needed to return. Shen Shuyi calculated that by the time everything was arranged, the baby would be ready for primary school. Choosing a good public school for nine years of compulsory education would be best.

Western-style “happy” education or elite private schooling was good, but for the baby, compulsory education would help him adapt to the domestic environment and integrate into society faster. For now, it was more important for him to enjoy kindergarten and have fun.

The baby’s full name had been decided by Xie Chenzhou: Guiyi, meaning he hoped Shen Shuyi would come home early every day. He also insisted the baby carry Shen Shuyi’s surname. Shen Shuyi was touched by the thought behind the name, but he didn’t mind whose surname the baby had, he even thought having Xie Chenzhou’s surname was better.

With so many members in the Shen family, his relationship with his father was distant. Giving the baby the Shen surname wouldn’t make his father or stepmother care for him any more. At least with Xie Chenzhou’s surname, the family would be reminded that this child belonged to Xie Chenzhou and shouldn’t be mistreated.

Another consideration was that the baby had not yet differentiated. Many children didn’t differentiate until their teens, and Shen Shuyi worried about the uncertainty. If the baby turned out to be Enigma, the Shen family likely wouldn’t care for him. It was better for him to be part of the “Xie family.” Regardless of his surname, he would always be Shen Shuyi’s child.

Thus, his full name was set as Xie Guiyi, and his nickname as Shen Yuechu. The baby now had two names. As he grew older, Shen Shuyi stopped using baby talk. Normally, he called him “Chuchu.” When misbehaving, he used “Shen Yuechu,” and only on serious occasions did he use the full name, Xie Guiyi.

Xie Chenzhou always called the baby “Yuechu.” Compared to Shen Shuyi, Xie Chenzhou rarely got angry. He had few demands and only intervened when Shen Shuyi was particularly strict, giving the baby a look to signal obedience. Naturally, the baby preferred spending time with Xie Chenzhou.

Both fathers were busy. Shen Shuyi was a doctor, Xie Chenzhou a CEO. Their work often required days away. At home, the nanny took care of the baby.

Today was Shen Yuechu’s third birthday and his first day of kindergarten. In the morning, the nanny gently woke him. Rubbing his eyes, he let her dress him in his new school uniform, slid down from his small bed, and went to his own little bathroom.

After washing up, he felt like a fully charged battery. “Beep beep!” A wonderful day had begun.

He ran like a little cannonball, thumping to his fathers’ bedroom doors. “Dad! Big Dad! Get up!”

Yesterday they had promised he would be taken to kindergarten together. Shen Shuyi’s studies were intense, sometimes even busier than Xie Chenzhou’s. Xie Chenzhou, when available, could take Yuechu out to play. Shen Shuyi, meanwhile, often disappeared during the day and had hospital duties for clinical practice and residency training.

Fortunately, the house Xie Chenzhou bought was close to Shen Shuyi’s school and the hospital, just ten minutes by car. Shen Shuyi had recently gotten his driver’s license, and Xie Chenzhou had bought him a car for convenience.

Today, both fathers would take him to school together and pick him up after class to celebrate his birthday. That meant several hours together, and no night shifts to interrupt.

Yuechu had been anticipating this since bedtime last night. He pounded on the door, but there was no response. Pressing his small cheek to the door, he tried to listen. He smelled Big Dad’s pheromones.

Oddly, whenever Dad slept at home instead of working, Big Dad’s scent seemed stronger, especially around the bedrooms. But Yuechu’s own scent didn’t mix much with Big Dad’s. When he was younger, he liked Big Dad’s smell, but now he preferred fruity scents. Still, he wanted some of Dad’s scent.

Dad explained that pheromones were personal. Yuechu could not let others’ pheromones linger on him, and in the future, he must not give them to others either. Big Dad could, but Yuechu should avoid contact with too much of his pheromones, just as Big Dad should avoid too much of Yuechu’s in return.

Yuechu didn’t fully understand, but he grasped the basics: Dad and Big Dad shared everything, and together with him, they were a family of three.

He heard footsteps. He stepped back, waited at the door, and Big Dad opened it. A strong floral scent wafted out. Yuechu was about to greet him but Big Dad gently covered his mouth and nose.

It was pheromone dispersing spray. At home, only Yuechu could smell Big Dad’s scent directly. Whenever Dad was home, both fathers used the spray around him.

Yuechu frowned. “Big Dad, wake up…?” He couldn’t speak with his mouth covered. Big Dad closed the door and sprayed around him.

Though small, Yuechu sensed a hint of detachment in Big Dad’s expression. Big Dad was usually warm and kind, always letting him climb on his shoulders or wiping his food messes. Even if Yuechu wasn’t central in Big Dad’s mind, he was important to him in Yuechu’s heart.

“Has your morning routine finished?” Big Dad asked, bending to hold him.

“Yes! I’m all clean!” Yuechu whispered, careful not to wake Dad.

“Then let’s go downstairs and eat.” Big Dad carried him.

“Big Dad, what’s for breakfast?”

“Cheese egg sandwiches.”

“Is the chef making them?” The chef usually cooked when Dad was away.

“No, today I’ll make them myself,” Big Dad said.

“Yay!” Yuechu cheered. “Big Dad’s sandwiches are the best! I want fried chicken legs tonight!”

“Let’s ask Dad what he wants first,” Big Dad replied. Yuechu was fine with that. He would still get the dishes he wanted.

Big Dad considered nutrition. Shen Shuyi had a Chinese palate, Yuechu had a Western one, favoring burgers, fries, and fried chicken. Big Dad would occasionally make simple Western dishes but mainly prepared meals carefully for Shen Shuyi. His cooking skills had improved, even rivaling the part-time chef. Shen Shuyi preferred his cooking.

In this way, Xie Chenzhou’s cooking became another tool to bind Shen Shuyi to him, keeping him close.

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*Translator note: *

GUYS!!!!!!!!!!! One more chapter left 😖 what should i do? I am not ready to say goodbye yet. I seriously got attached to everyone 😩

Little Chuchu… this translator is going to miss you so much 😭😭😭 (No, no, I’m not crying!)