Chapter 16
Inside the bubble-filled bathtub, He Zhen sat in the water, his little face flushed red from the rising steam.
Yu Chenchen really was a little clingy pest.
He had not wanted to bathe with Yu Chen in the first place, but under Yu Chen’s soft persistence and endless coaxing, he had finally agreed with great reluctance.
Young Master He had never bathed with anyone else in his life.
So now, sitting in the tub, he looked slightly awkward and uncomfortable.
No one knew where Yu Chen had found a squeaky rubber duck, but when he climbed into the bathtub with his round little bare bottom exposed, he landed with a loud splash, sending water all over He Zhen’s face.
Yu Chen did not notice at all. Happily squeezing the little rubber duck, he let out silver-bell laughter from time to time.
He Zhen was already feeling uncomfortable to begin with, so he frowned helplessly. “Yu Chenchen, your little duck is really noisy!”
Yu Chen’s clean, beautiful eyes froze for a moment, his expression clearly showing he felt scolded. Before He Zhen could say anything else, he immediately hugged the little duck obediently and shrank into the corner of the tub, becoming quiet and no longer making a sound.
The bathroom was full of misty steam.
Perhaps because He Zhen had scolded him, Yu Chen’s grape-like eyes turned damp, and the grievance in them looked ready to spill right over the edges.
He Zhen’s expression changed at once. He parted his lips as if he wanted to explain, but he did not know how to say it.
His little follower looked lively on the outside, but he was actually rather delicate.
After a long while, he asked in a small voice, “Yu Chenchen, do you really like this kind of little duck?”
Thinking he had done something wrong, Yu Chen nodded slowly. “Mm.”
With a trace of disdain in his tone, He Zhen said, “If you like playing with them, then at worst I’ll just buy you a hundred little ducks.”
Yu Chen was happy, but it still felt a little strange. So he asked carefully, “Boss, didn’t you say the duck was noisy?”
Rich and overbearing, Young Master He answered in a very serious tone, “I’ll buy you quiet ducks. One hundred little ducks, and you can switch to a new one every day.”
That finally made Yu Chen happy. With a little towel perched on his head, his short little legs paddled through the bathtub, and he quickly slid over to He Zhen’s side, rubbing his sticky little head against him.
“Boss, you’re so generous~”
He Zhen covered up his pride. “It’s all right, I guess. It’s not expensive anyway.”
But after saying that, the gratitude He Zhen had imagined did not appear. On the contrary, Yu Chen was silent for a very long time.
Puzzled, He Zhen turned his head and discovered Yu Chen staring at him curiously, his glass-like eyes full of questions.
Awkwardly, he said, “Yu Chenchen?”
Very seriously, Yu Chen lifted a finger and suddenly poked He Zhen on the butt.
From childhood until now, no one had ever poked He Zhen’s butt before.
He instantly turned red from the base of his neck to his cheeks. Covering his butt, he quickly retreated a few steps. “Yu Chenchen! What are you doing?!”
Yu Chen smiled until his eyes curved. “Boss, there’s a chocolate-colored pattern on your butt.”
He Zhen puffed up his cheeks angrily. “Yu Chenchen! That’s a birthmark!”
As if he had discovered something brand-new, Yu Chen covered his mouth in amazement. “Boss! You’re so amazing!”
After thinking for a bit, he slowly stuck out his own bottom. “Boss, look and see if I have a birthmark too.”
He Zhen was completely stunned by this whole chain of events.
He quickly turned his head away. “Yu Chenchen! Have you no shame!”
The moment he was lectured, Yu Chen pulled back his plump little bottom at once and miserably clung to the edge of the tub, not daring to look at He Zhen.
He had once read a fairy tale that said children with birthmarks had all been little angels in their previous lives.
He had only wanted Boss to check whether he had one too. He did not understand why Boss’s reaction was so strong.
Yu Chen gave a little huff and sat there amusing himself in the bathtub.
The next day, He Zhen and Yu Chen played at Old Master He’s house for another half day before Li Huan picked them up and took them back to White Rose Manor.
Before leaving, Yu Chen enthusiastically said goodbye to Old Master He and even promised to come visit him every so often. He Zhen remained as cold and aloof as ever, but after Yu Chen said they would come often, he secretly watched Old Master He’s reaction.
Sitting in his wheelchair, Old Master He nodded kindly in agreement. He kept watching until He Zhen’s car disappeared, and only then did he slowly leave.
Day by day, time passed, and soon it was almost New Year.
According to kindergarten tradition, the children would put on a performance before New Year’s Day. This year, Senior Class One was performing the fairy tale play The Little Mermaid. After telling the children the story, Teacher Lin said gently, “Children who want to perform on stage, please raise your hands. If many children want the same role, then we’ll use a fair competition system and vote for the little actors.”
While playing on the big slide, all the children chirped noisily about the roles. Yu Chen, with his little feet lifted, was laughing and chatting with He Zhen while the two of them played on the seesaw.
“Boss, do you want to perform?”
He Zhen held onto the seesaw handle. “How boring. Of course I’m not performing.”
Yu Chen pushed down slightly, and He Zhen’s side was gradually lifted higher and higher into the air. “But performers get gifts.”
“If I want gifts, I can just buy them at the mall.” He Zhen had always disliked taking part in these flashy activities. Suspended in midair, he looked down at Yu Chen. “Yu Chenchen.”
Yu Chen pressed down on the seesaw and tilted his head. “Huh?”
Unable to move, He Zhen narrowed his eyes. “Have you gotten fatter again? I can’t even beat you on the seesaw anymore.”
Knowing he was in the wrong, Yu Chen lightly lifted his bottom and let He Zhen come back down. When the two of them went to play on the slide, Yu Chen strolled leisurely along with his chubby little hands behind his back, while quietly keeping the children’s play in mind.
The gifts for the little actors were chocolates shaped like sea animals.
He really, really wanted to taste them!
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
That afternoon, Senior Class One held the selection for the little actors.
He Zhen had not signed up and did not care about it at all. From behind Yu Chen, he wrapped his arms around Yu Chen’s chubby little hands and was patiently teaching him how to play with a Rubik’s Cube.
The other children had long since grown used to this scene. Ever since He Zhen’s little brother had come to their class, He Zhen either held his hand or carried him around, as if he wanted to monopolize him every second of every day. If any of the other children wanted to pull Yu Chen away to play, they first had to get He Zhen’s permission.
“Like this, and the red side goes back into place.”
“Boss is amazing!”
Yu Chen was at the age of a middle-class kindergartener, so there were many toys in the senior class he did not know how to play with, especially programming toys, science toys, and puzzle toys. He Zhen had always been a little expert in these areas. At home, the programming and logical thinking classes arranged for him had already reached the 10+ age level, so toys like these were no challenge at all.
Yu Chen was smart and learned as soon as he was taught. Little Teacher He was therefore very gratified. The more he looked at his little follower, the more lovable he seemed, so he constantly pinched his cheeks, held him in his arms, and petted him.
“Yu Chen, you signed up to be the prince’s guard, right?”
The moment he heard his own name, Yu Chen struggled out of He Zhen’s arms at once and happily raised his little hand. “Right!”
Teacher Lin smiled. “You’re the only one who signed up for the guard role, so there’s no need to compete. You can play it directly.”
Yu Chen’s eyes curved with joy, and from the bottom of his heart, he thought his Uncle Li Huan was simply amazing.
Two days ago, when Li Huan learned that Yu Chen’s goal was just to get the little gift, he had considered every option carefully and finally helped him choose this role, which had the least competition and was also easy.
Boys would definitely want to play the prince or the king. Those roles would surely be fiercely contested. Choosing the little guard was far safer.
Holding the Rubik’s Cube, He Zhen’s light brown eyes were full of shock.
Pressing his lips together, he asked Yu Chen angrily, “You’re going to act in the fairy play?”
Yu Chen was still immersed in happiness and clapped his chubby little hands. “Yes.”
He Zhen wanted to throw a tantrum, but he felt like there was nowhere to direct it.
He felt that maybe his relationship with Yu Chen was not as close as before.
Yu Chen had not even told him he was competing for a role.
Was he still not Yu Chen’s closest boss anymore?
If he had known, then he definitely would have played the prince!
Just as He Zhen was about to educate his little follower, Teacher Lin had already called Yu Chen over to stand beside the child playing the prince.
He Zhen’s gaze followed them, and the moment he realized the little prince was actually Li Ye, he instantly turned into a little pufferfish, glaring at Li Ye in jealousy.
Noticing He Zhen’s frustration, He Zhi’an secretly came over and asked, “Boss, if you want to do it too, you still can.”
“As if I would!” This time, He Zhen was truly heartbroken. He felt as though he had been betrayed by a good friend.
He threw aside the Rubik’s Cube and swore he would never teach Yu Chenchen again.
If Yu Chenchen wanted to learn, then he could go learn from Li Ye!
“All right, the main roles have all been decided.” Teacher Lin looked at the children with relief and encouraged them, “When you go home tonight, please familiarize yourselves with your lines. Starting tomorrow afternoon, the little actors will go to the activity room to rehearse.”
All the children shouted in unison, “Okaaay!”
Amid the cheers, He Zhen folded his little arms and stared coldly at Yu Chen.
He did not say a single word to Yu Chen all the way until dismissal.
Inside the spacious car, the atmosphere was especially tense.
Li Huan coughed twice and could smell the scent of a cold war in the air, but he had no idea what the two little ones were upset about.
After getting out of the car, He Zhen ran straight into the castle with his little backpack on, without looking back even once. Meanwhile, Yu Chen stood alone in place, lowering his big eyes in grievance, stretching out his arms, and for once asking Li Huan for a hug.
Lying against Li Huan’s shoulder, Yu Chen explained the whole story from beginning to end.
Li Huan cleared his hoarse throat and smiled, telling him not to worry too much.
He did not offer advice from an adult’s perspective. After all, this was not a major matter. Conflicts between children were better left for the children themselves to resolve.
At that moment, however, Yu Chen’s attention was completely captured by Li Huan’s changed voice.
Tilting up his little head, he asked, “Uncle, are you sick?”
Now that Yu Chen’s front teeth were nearly grown back in, his speech had become much clearer.
Li Huan pinched his chubby cheek. “I’ve caught a little cold. Stay a bit farther away from Uncle, so I don’t pass it on to you.”
Yu Chen pouted. “No! I want to take care of you!”
Li Huan was blooming with joy inside. Holding Yu Chen in his arms, he gave him a little bounce, and the two of them went upstairs together.
“How about Uncle stews pork ribs for you today?”
“No! Uncle, you need to rest.”
The next day, Yu Chen sat in the back seat of the car with He Zhen, nibbling on a little bread roll.
He Zhen held his arms crossed, looking every bit like someone refusing all communication. He kept staring coolly out the window and did not say a word.
Seeing that He Zhen was still angry, Yu Chen did not dare speak first for a long time. Without his usual liveliness, he silently ate his little bread.
Chocolate milk bread was his favorite. Normally he could finish three in one go, but today he ate only one.
For the entire morning, He Zhen and Yu Chen did not speak, to the point that even little He Zhi’an, slow as he was, noticed that something felt wrong.
During naptime, Yu Chen’s little bed was right beside He Zhen’s. The moment He Zhen climbed into bed, he pulled the blanket over himself and deliberately turned his back to Yu Chen, openly declaring his coldness.
Full and sleepy, Yu Chen yawned a little. Before burrowing into his blanket, he secretly glanced at He Zhen. At just that moment, a bit of clothing fluff drifted into his nose. He hurriedly rubbed it, and his nose immediately started running.
He Zhen, whose eyes had been tightly shut, suddenly opened them.
Yu Chen was not about to cry, was he?
Should he go comfort him?
He Zhen felt both angry and distressed.
Yu Chenchen only knew how to act spoiled. Whenever he made He Zhen angry, all he knew how to do was cry!
Meanwhile, right beside him, Yu Chen had already sweetly fallen asleep and was dreaming about eating chocolate.
That afternoon, after the children had finished eating cantaloupe, game time began.
Staring at Yu Chen’s slightly sad little back, He Zhen quietly slipped into Teacher Lin’s office.
Yu Chen had probably cried all through lunch break.
He had decided to forgive Yu Chen.
“You want to act in the performance?” Hearing He Zhen’s request, Teacher Lin first felt a surge of delight, but after thinking it over, she also felt somewhat troubled.
By rights, the main actors had already been selected, and the only roles left were ones without lines. But He Zhen’s status was a little sensitive. If He Zhen wanted to play the little prince or the king, there was simply no way she could solve that unless she replaced one of the originally selected children. After all, she could not possibly let He Zhen’s family come and see him standing silently onstage without a single line, could she? The He family donated tens of millions worth of toys and equipment to the kindergarten every year. If the principal found out, he would definitely blame her.
“Little Zhen, what role do you want to play?” He Zhen had never cared about this sort of thing before, so Teacher Lin guessed that he was only joining because of Yu Chen. Even as she asked the question, she felt very nervous.
“What roles are left?” He Zhen stood there coolly with his hands behind his back, though his big eyes had already drifted toward the script.
With some hesitation, Teacher Lin handed the remaining roles list to him while continuing to observe his expression.
Sure enough, He Zhen’s little brows slowly drew together, and his face looked worse and worse.
Teacher Lin inwardly cried out that things were bad. Then, from the side, He Zhen gave a soft sigh. “Can I do this one?”
Teacher Lin looked down and immediately nodded. “Of course.”
Staring at the role he had gotten, He Zhen pressed his lips together unhappily.
It was all Yu Chenchen’s fault for not telling him earlier.
All the good roles had already been taken, so he could only choose from what was left.
That afternoon, rehearsal in the activity room began in a noisy bustle.
Wearing a handsome white-and-blue guard uniform, black boots, and a little gentleman’s helmet on his round head, Yu Chen looked incredibly spirited and adorable.
All the children kept glancing at him again and again.
“Night falls, and the prince and his guard walk down from the cruise ship,” came the childish narration.
With a sword slung over his shoulder, Yu Chen walked side by side along the beach with Li Ye, who was playing the prince, passing palm tree after palm tree.
“Your Highness, do you need to rest?”
“All right, let’s sit down and rest for a while.”
The gentle prince and his adorable little guard sat beneath a tall palm tree, looking up at the stars in the sky. The atmosphere was warm and romantic.
A gust of wind passed by, and the palm tree behind them swayed its branches, its leaves rustling softly as they brushed against the hems of their costumes.
The little guard lifted his feet and narrowed his eyes comfortably. At that moment, the little prince turned his head and smiled at his most loyal guard.
And right then—
From inside the trunk of the palm tree behind them, He Zhen slowly revealed a pair of resentful eyes, his grievance even greater than the Little Mermaid’s.
At that moment, Teacher Lin reminded him, “A bit more wind, please.”
He Zhen nodded angrily, like a merciless machine, and frantically waved the branches.
