Chapter 113: The Father Who Exploited His Child Star 6

Xie Hui reached out and scooped the little one into his arms. Once held by his father, Xie Chu was like a little turtle pinned down by its shell, flailing his limbs in an attempt to get up.

Realizing he truly couldn’t break free, he sighed and gently tugged at his father’s ear with his chubby little hand.

“Daddy, get up! If we’re late, that uncle will scold you!!”

Xie Hui helplessly opened his eyes and met the worried gaze of his little one, the corners of his lips curling into a gentle smile.

“Alright, I’m getting up.”

For someone who rarely exercised, working all day like yesterday left him merely tired last night, but today his whole body was sore and aching.

Getting out of bed in this state was quite a test of willpower.

Because Old Li had previously mentioned that Xie Hui should work with him, and although they had only tentatively set a time, Xie Hui still packed up his things, so he could just grab them and go next time.

On the way to the construction site, he bought steamed buns and tea eggs at a roadside breakfast shop, and also got a cup of hot soy milk for the little one.

Early in the morning, even though it wasn’t yet the cold season, there was still a bit of chill in the air as they walked.

Xie Chu held the paper cup of hot soy milk with both hands to warm them, eating as he walked. When they arrived at the construction site, he obediently stayed in Old Li’s office, rereading the books he’d already finished.

Occasionally, when he was too bored, he’d put down the book and walk to the window, standing on tiptoe to look for his father among the busy workers outside.

Seeing his father carrying such heavy things, Xie Chu’s initial excitement at finding him faded considerably. He turned around, picked up his book, and began reading earnestly again.

Dad said that reading more books would make it so he wouldn’t have to work so hard when he grew up.

Xie Chu kept this firmly in mind. Even though he couldn’t yet read the words in the books, he still looked very serious as he read.

At lunchtime, Old Li specifically called Xie Hui aside and told him to pack up his things. Judging by the weather, it would probably rain tomorrow, so if there was no work, Xie Hui could come over and join them.

Work at the construction site was truly exhausting. At night, after showering, Xie Hui just wanted to collapse into bed. But seeing his dirty clothes, he took a deep breath and decided to wash them first.

Xie Chu took the small basin his father had bought him, put the clothes in, poured in some detergent, and, imitating his father, scrubbed them carefully.

Xie Hui had already finished washing, but seeing the little one still scrubbing at his sleeves, he wanted to help him finish up after hanging up the clothes.

Unexpectedly, Xie Chu frowned and moved away in annoyance.

“Daddy, don’t mess things up!.”

“It’s late, you should go to bed. Tonight, Daddy will help you wash. Kids who don’t rest on time won’t grow tall.”

Xie Chu was stunned by his father’s words, his eyes wide as he asked in surprise:

“Really? I won’t grow tall?”

“Really.”

“Then, Daddy, please help me.”

Xie Chu stood up to give his father space, washed the soap off his hands at the faucet, then squatted beside the little basin, watching his father’s long fingers wash his clothes.

“Hehe, thank you, Daddy.”

Xie Hui put the clean clothes aside, turned on the tap to fill the basin with clean water, and, seeing the little one following behind him, smiled and replied softly:

“You’re welcome.”

This was probably Xie Hui’s unique parenting philosophy: as long as the child spoke to him politely, no matter how busy he was, he would always answer as he wanted to teach him.

The next day, just as the weather forecast predicted, it rained. There was no work at the construction site, so Boss Li personally drove over with his wife to pick up Xie Hui.

Xie Hui took his few belongings and held Xie Chu’s hand as they got in the car.

When they arrived at the house Old Li rented, a few workers who had nothing to do on the rainy day were playing poker together. Seeing someone come in, they greeted them with a smile.

In a new place, Xie Chu was still unafraid of strangers. After greeting the uncles, he hurried over on his short legs to help his father.

The sudden addition of this father and son made the card-playing workers curious. At their construction site, it was not usual for workers—male or female—to bring their children, since bringing kids made it impossible to do their kind of work.

It was rare to see this, so of course they found it interesting.

After a day’s work at the construction site, coming back to eat and shower, their fingers were too tired to move, let alone take care of a child, which required even more attention.

“Daddy, do we have a place to live now?”

After tidying up, Xie Chu ran into his father’s arms, squinting happily as he said this.

They had a place to stay at the little motel before, too. Although Xie Chu was still young, he understood that wasn’t a place they could really call home.

But this place was different.

“Mm, now we have a place to live.”

Xie Hui rubbed his fluffy head and bent down to kiss his forehead.

After being kissed, Xie Chu covered the spot with his hand, giggled shyly, and hid in his father’s arms.

Feeling the warmth of the child in his arms, Xie Hui lowered his voice and made him a promise.

“Chu Chu, Daddy will work hard to give you a better life.”

He couldn’t let him keep living like this. Xie Hui didn’t mind working hard himself, but he wanted to give his son a complete and happy childhood.

The things Entruster had done left a deep impression on him, and it wasn’t easy to get rid of such ingrained ideas.

Xie Chu clutched his father’s clothes, looked up, and secretly kissed his father. In his childish, milky voice, he spoke with utter seriousness.

“Being with Daddy is the best life.”

From his attitude, it was clear Xie Chu truly didn’t think there was anything wrong with their current life. But the more he was like this, the more Xie Hui’s heart ached for him.

“Daddy wants to give you something even better.”

“But if it’s better, Daddy will have to work a lot harder. Daddy hasn’t played games in such a long time…”

When Entruster had nothing to do before, he liked to stay in the motel and play games, losing track of time and muddling through the days.

“Daddy doesn’t like playing games anymore.”

“Daddy is lying. Daddy actually really wants to play games.”

Xie Chu pressed his cheek against his father’s and was already starting to feel a bit down as he said this.

“I know, Daddy is only working so hard because of me.”

Xie Hui sighed, not really sure how to explain things clearly to this little one. In truth, his real father wasn’t working so hard just for him—more often, it was a way to seek some subtle psychological comfort.

After thinking seriously for a moment and organizing his words, he held Xie Chu’s hand and gently explained:

“Daddy doesn’t feel it’s hard, because Daddy loves Chu Chu very much. I work hard because I hope you can have a better life, but at the same time, Daddy is also enjoying it.”

Xie Chu nodded as if he half-understood, but his eyes still showed confusion. After a while, when his little mind couldn’t figure it out, he simply reached out and hugged his father’s neck.

“Chu Chu loves Daddy very much too.”

After saying that, as if it wasn’t enough, he added:

“Daddy is my favorite.”

Since they didn’t go to the construction site today, everyone was gathered at home. Old Li’s wife had gone to the market to buy groceries. As soon as she walked in, she heard the little boy speaking in his childish voice and smiled.

“Your child is really quite sensible.”

Rarely praised, Xie Chu was very happy. His ears turned a little red with shyness, and he peeked out from behind his father, smiling at Old Li’s wife.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“No need to thank me.”

At noon, to take care of the extra child, Old Li’s wife specially made a vegetable and tofu soup for him. It was only when they ate that Xie Hui realized they usually came home for lunch.

But recently, Old Li’s wife had been diagnosed with some health issues, so she had Old Li buy food outside instead. Even Old Li’s daughter was temporarily sent back to stay with her grandmother.

After settling in here, Xie Hui greeted his fellow townsman, Old Xie, and life temporarily got back on track.

Old Li guessed that Xie Hui and his son must have run away because they couldn’t get by anymore. Unlike the other workers who waited until the end of the year to settle their wages, after Xie Hui had worked a full month, Old Li privately paid him in advance.

After getting his wages, another half month passed. On a cloudy day when they couldn’t go to the construction site, Xie Hui took Xie Chu to the mall to buy him some suitable clothes.

Kids grow fast, and Xie Chu’s mother liked to dress him in clothes given by relatives. Supposedly, it was a custom from her hometown—kids wearing other people’s old clothes wouldn’t get sick easily.

Xie Hui didn’t believe in such unscientific things. His son was so good-looking; he deserved some new clothes.

Although life was tough now, Xie Hui’s ideas about spending were deeply ingrained.

When buying the first set of clothes, Xie Chu was very happy to let his father help him try them on. When they got to the second set, his eyebrows were already furrowing.

When his father tried to get him to try on a third set, Xie Chu’s face scrunched up into a ball.

“Daddy, we can’t live like this! I’m growing so fast, these clothes will be too small soon. You should buy something for yourself—look, your clothes are already torn.”

Xie Hui glanced in the direction his son was pointing. The clothes he was wearing had been accidentally torn while working.

“My son is so good-looking, what’s wrong with buying him a few more outfits? Want to be a little housekeeper at such a young age?”

Seeing he couldn’t reason with his father, Xie Chu simply hugged his father’s leg to stop him from moving, refusing to let him buy another set no matter what.

“Alright, we won’t buy any more. Daddy will go pay, and then we’ll go home, okay?”

As soon as he heard his father compromise, Xie Chu let go and cheerfully agreed.

“Okay!”

With two new outfits plus his old clothes, Xie Hui figured it was enough, especially seeing how distressed his son was, so he didn’t push it.

When they got back, Old Li’s wife opened the door with a noticeably unpleasant expression. Soon after, Old Li came over and called Xie Hui to the balcony.

“Brother Xie, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”