Chapter 21

When Xie Hui held the little cub’s soft and fragrant body in his arms, he could see the original host’s reaction in the system space. Watching him cry so miserably and without any dignity, Xie Hui found it difficult to feel much sympathy.

Compared to the original host, he cared far more about the little cub in his arms.

Having traveled through so many worlds, Xie Hui had a keen eye for people. When he first received this mission, he had vaguely sensed that the original host found it difficult, which was why he was so polite to the system.

In other words… the original host believed that this child’s nature was inherently bad and that raising him properly would require a great deal of time and effort.

But now, Xie Hui was using his actions to show the original host just how important a father’s role is in a child’s growth—and how vast the difference is between a responsible father and an irresponsible one.

Children born inherently wicked are exceedingly rare; it is parents and their environment that play the most crucial role in shaping who they become.

Xie Hui lowered his gaze, gently holding Xie Ze’s little hand to help him cut the cake. The first piece of cake was, of course, eagerly handed to his father by the little daddy’s boy, Xie Ze.

Xie Hui dipped his fingertip in a bit of cream and playfully dabbed it on Xie Ze’s nose. Seeing the little boy furrow his brows, Xie Hui let out a soft chuckle.

Xie Ze pouted, but when he saw how happy his father was, the almost-four-year-old decided to let it slide.

“I heard from the aunties that you don’t let people call you ‘baby’ anymore?”

Hearing this as he was eating his cake, Xie Ze’s hand paused slightly. He looked up at his father, hesitated for a moment, and then decided to be honest.

“I’m a big kid now, so I don’t let others call me that. But Daddy still can…”

Xie Ze still vividly remembered how, before his father changed, every meeting was met with a harshly shouted name and a couple of scoldings.

Compared to that, he much preferred the way his father gently called him “baby” now.

After a joyful birthday celebration, Xie Ze pulled his father to sit with him in the backyard gazebo to admire the blooming sunflowers. Resting his chin on his hands, he couldn’t help but start worrying again.

“Daddy, is your work finished? Did you just come back like this? What if your boss doesn’t pay you?”

After spending more time with his peers in kindergarten and learning more about the world, little Xie Ze had become quite the little worrier.

“Hmm?”

Xie Hui was momentarily stunned by his rapid-fire questions. Then, seeing his little eyebrows furrowed together, he found it amusing and decided to tease him.

“What if my boss refuses to pay me?”

Upon hearing this, Xie Ze frowned even harder. He sighed, deep in thought.

“Then… we’ll be like Grandma Wang at kindergarten and pick up recyclables together! Grandma Wang says picking up trash helps recycle waste and turn it into lots of pretty flowers.”

After saying this, Xie Ze, worried his father might be unwilling, clenched his little fists and patted his chest, solemnly promising:

“Daddy, you just carry the bag behind me. I’ll do the picking!”

Seeing how serious his little ancestor was—so much so that if he didn’t stop him now, he’d probably start planning exactly where to collect trash—Xie Hui hurriedly said:

“I finished my work before coming back, so we don’t need to pick up trash.”

As for his earlier discussion with Brother Jiang about finding work closer to home, Xie Hui decided not to mention it to Xie Ze yet, just in case things didn’t work out and the little one got his hopes up for nothing.

The day after Xie Ze’s birthday, it was Xie Hui who took him to kindergarten. Unlike last time, there weren’t as many kids clinging to the entrance pillars, unwilling to go in. At the school gate, Xie Ze obediently waved goodbye to his father.

At the company, Brother Jiang—one of the company’s senior employees—had been working there for years. His skills, experience, and even his small stake in the company gave him considerable influence.

After running around for several days, he finally settled things for Xie Hui.

Although Xie Hui wouldn’t need to take on as many projects as other actors for now, he would still have occasional gigs—perhaps a guest role here and there.

He couldn’t completely vanish from the industry, but by keeping a minimal presence, he would have an easier time returning whenever he chose to work again.

In the meantime, Xie Hui followed Brother Jiang’s suggestion to take courses—what Jiang called “recharging”—in preparation for making a stunning comeback someday.

As for little Xie Ze, he finally got his wish: most of the time, it was his father who took him to kindergarten.

The kindergarten assignments were mostly hands-on crafts completed with parents. In autumn, they had to make a painting using fallen leaves. On Sunday, Xie Hui patiently took Xie Ze to a friend’s estate to collect leaves.

Coincidentally, the estate belonged to Director Song, who had another house there. When the old man heard that Xie Ze was coming, he eagerly rushed over and even invited them to stay for a meal.

Director Song was part of the entertainment industry, so he couldn’t quite understand why Xie Hui was choosing to step back just when his career was on the rise.

In this industry, small-time fame could be orchestrated, but true stardom required fate. Many companies poured endless resources into promoting actors, yet they still failed to make it big.

Someone like Xie Hui—who had talent, popularity, and perfect timing—was rare. Just a couple more projects, and he’d be stepping into the ranks of A-list actors. It had been years since the industry had seen someone like him.

At dinner, Director Song casually brought it up, but the old man sitting beside him shot him a glare.

“Back then, your mother gave up what everyone called a ‘stable job with good benefits’ just so you could have a happy childhood. What’s so strange about this?”

When he was younger, the old man had thought the same way as his son. But after having children, his perspective changed completely.

Parents strive to give their children the best, and compared to their kids, all those things they once refused to give up suddenly seem insignificant.

No matter how exhausting life is, holding your child in your arms makes it feel like you have the whole world.

Director Song had already guessed that his old man’s next words would be the usual nagging about marriage. He quickly raised his wine glass and clinked it with Xie Hui’s.

“I have a suitable script on hand, though I don’t have plans to start shooting yet. When the time comes, how about you do a cameo?”

At first, Director Song hadn’t thought much of Xie Hui. He had worked with so many actors that most were just passing acquaintances.

But he couldn’t resist his old man constantly fawning over Xie Hui’s son. Over time, they naturally became familiar with each other.

“Sure.”

Xie Hui clinked glasses with Director Song, only to feel a tug on his clothes. When he turned his head, the little one—who had just been munching on a drumstick—was now staring at him with disapproval written all over his face.

“Just a little bit,” Xie Hui reassured him.

Ever since Xiao Ze overheard Jiang-ge mentioning that drinking was bad for one’s health, any time Xie Hui picked up a glass of alcohol, the little guy would look at him as if he were about to consume some deadly poison.

“Only a tiny bit.”

Xie Ze held up his little pinky, showing just how much his dad was allowed to drink.

“Alright.”

Xie Hui chuckled, nodding in agreement, and took a napkin to wipe off the oil stains left on Xie Ze’s lips from eating the drumstick.

…

Three years of kindergarten flew by in the blink of an eye. When Xie Hui attended his son’s graduation ceremony, he felt a strange sense of nostalgia. It felt like just yesterday that he was sending him off for his first day.

For the ceremony, the children wore matching little graduation gowns and caps chosen by the teachers. Xie Ze, his baby fat still lingering, tried to put on a serious expression, but being so small, it only made him look even more adorable.

At that moment, Xie Hui was just like any other parent, snapping countless photos. He picked the best one and posted it on his social media.

Unlike other male celebrities who actively managed their online presence, Xie Hui knew his popularity had inevitably declined. After posting the picture, he simply logged off without checking the engagement metrics.

He hadn’t posted for attention in the first place—he was just a proud dad wanting to show off his well-behaved son.

On the drive home after the ceremony, Xie Ze, hugging his backpack, started to worry again. He turned to look at his dad and asked in a small voice:

“Will you still stay with me when I start primary school?”

The six-year-old had become much more thoughtful. With Jiang-ge occasionally dropping by to discuss work with Xie Hui, Xie Ze had overheard enough to realize how precious his dad’s time with him was.

Xie Hui instinctively ruffled the soft hair on his head and gently tapped it.

“Of course I will.”

Even though Xie Ze always insisted he was a big boy now, in Xie Hui’s eyes, he was still the same little one who would stretch out his arms and ask to be carried.

Hearing his dad’s reassurance, Xie Ze instantly forgot all his previous anxieties.

“Daddy, there’s no homework during the summer holidays! Does that mean we can go have fun?”

At that, Xie Hui remembered something he had completely forgotten.

“Uncle Chen said that Chen Yue and Chen Xing will be going on a trip this summer. Do you want to join them?”

After the show ended, their families had kept in touch. During holidays, they would occasionally meet for meals, and the kids got along well.

Xie Ze wasn’t picky—he didn’t care where they went, as long as his dad was with him.

“Sure! Daddy, where are we going?”

“We’ll see where Uncle Chen plans to go.”

When the two families finally met up as planned, they stood there staring at each other, dumbfounded. The adults exchanged awkward glances.

“Brother Xie, I thought you were the one deciding.”

Xie Hui, holding his son’s hand, pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand in resignation.

“What a coincidence, Brother Chen. I thought the same about you.”

In the end, they went with Chen Yue’s suggestion and spent the day at an amusement park. They had a blast, but when they got home, they found out that paparazzi had snapped pictures of them. The former reality show cast reuniting, the kids growing up—it all made the trending topics.

It was almost as if that show had only ever had two families.

Apparently, Ke Ting’s daughter had pushed the son of a company executive down the stairs at their office. Now, Ke Ting had completely disappeared from the industry.

That night, after tucking his son into bed, Xie Hui returned to his room and saw a message from Jiang-ge. Reading the sigh-filled remarks about Ke Ting, he felt no particular sympathy.

Neglecting a child wasn’t right, but blindly spoiling them wasn’t either. Back during the show, Xie Hui had already noticed that Ke Ting’s parenting style was problematic. When he had kindly pointed it out, Ke Ting’s daughter had just scolded him, calling him a “bad uncle.”

…

After a joyful summer break, Xie Ze carried the brand-new school bag his dad had bought him and walked through the gates of his primary school.

He had officially become a…

Tearful little first-grader, taking three steps and looking back each time, reluctant to part with his dad.