Chapter 60

Yu Honghui instantly resembled a chicken being strangled, unable to make even the slightest sound. His already pale face broke out in a noticeable cold sweat, as if he had just seen a ghost.

“W-What are you talking about? I don’t understand what you mean.”

Gu Chen hadn’t expected him to admit it outright. Holding An An in his arms, he gently pressed the child against his chest and covered his ears with one hand before continuing:

“You want to replace me? Replicate my success?”

“No thief can stand before the owner without feeling guilty. So, you thought you could make the owner disappear completely?”

That pointed remark drained all color from Yu Honghui’s face. Overwhelmed by sheer terror, he couldn’t even suppress the slight tremble in his body.

“How… how do you know?”

There was no one else around at the moment, so Gu Chen took his time, admiring Yu Honghui’s thoroughly disheveled state.

When their eyes met, Yu Honghui, out of fear, instinctively avoided Gu Chen’s gaze. His guilty expression only made the smile on Gu Chen’s lips deepen.

“I’m just guessing. You were the one who secretly contacted Su Ling back then, weren’t you?”

If it hadn’t been for the baby’s phone call urging him to bring An An home, Yu Honghui’s plan would have undoubtedly led to his complete downfall.

Now that Gu Chen had exposed all the secrets Yu Honghui had buried deep inside, the latter couldn’t believe that something as absurd as getting a second chance at life had been uncovered.

Having just climbed out of the fish pond, his body was soaked, and the cold wind made him shiver uncontrollably.

He wanted to beg for mercy, but the words were stuck in his throat. Ever since his rebirth, he had been confident that he would take Gu Chen’s place. But now, he found himself unable to swallow his pride so easily.

“But considering that you brought An An to me, I am actually quite grateful to you. So… I don’t plan on exposing your secret.”

Now that his suspicions were confirmed, it would be a lie to say Gu Chen didn’t despise Yu Honghui. However, he was also well aware that this was a lawful society—he couldn’t let his emotions drive him to actions with irreversible consequences.

Especially now, with a three-year-old son in his arms—a tiny child with endless possibilities for the future. He couldn’t afford to let a moment of recklessness ruin the boy’s life.

After sorting out the situation in his mind, Gu Chen began considering how he could make full use of Yu Honghui and extract every bit of value from him.

“What do you want?”

Yu Honghui’s voice was hoarse. He didn’t believe in the luck of free handouts, nor did he think Gu Chen was generous enough to forgive past grievances.

“Although I’m doing well in the entertainment industry right now, money has always been a bit tight… I’ve been thinking about investing. Unfortunately, I don’t have any real business geniuses around me.”

Gu Chen glanced at Yu Honghui after speaking, making his intentions clear—he needed money, a lot of it, to raise his son.

In his past life, Gu Chen had never considered investing. He had only wanted to be an actor, which led to the success he achieved. It was impossible that he would suddenly change his ambitions in this lifetime.

Yu Honghui knew full well that Gu Chen intended to use him to achieve his goals. But because Gu Chen held something over him, no matter how unwilling he was, as long as he didn’t want this secret to be exposed, he had no choice but to comply.

“I came back from my past life, so I know exactly which industries will experience massive growth. I’ll leave the entertainment industry and become your investment advisor, but I have one condition.”

By now, Yu Honghui had gradually calmed down, analyzing how he could make the best of his current situation.

In the previous film crew, he had barely managed to meet the director’s expectations by imitating Gu Chen’s past performances. This had made him realize that he had no talent for acting, which was why he had turned to variety shows instead.

Thinking carefully, becoming Gu Chen’s investment advisor wasn’t a bad option either. In his past life, before his death, Gu Chen had become an international superstar, sweeping every major award.

Working for him wasn’t a loss.

“Yu Honghui, you’re in no position to negotiate with me. There are plenty of investment advisors with good business acumen—I can easily hire as many as I need with money.”

“I’m not the one asking for your help. I’m only giving you this opportunity because, like me, you also have a child.”

With that, Gu Chen held An An and was about to leave.

Yu Honghui froze for a brief moment, and by the time he snapped out of it, Gu Chen had already walked quite a distance away.

Ignoring the pain in his body, Yu Honghui scrambled to his feet and chased after him.

“Let’s talk this through properly! Pretend I never said that! As long as you promise not to reveal this, I’ll agree to all your demands.”

At this moment, Yu Honghui no longer dared to act haughty. In his past life, he had unintentionally learned about certain classified matters—people like him, with inexplicable abilities, would be taken in for dissection and research.

He had no desire to end up on an operating table, lying there like cattle waiting to be slaughtered.

“Be my investment advisor. Tell me which scripts I acted in during my past life and help me avoid potential dangers.”

“And… what happened to An An in the past life?”

The first few requests were trivial, but the last question—seemingly casual—was the real reason Gu Chen had brought this up.

Now that he knew he had a child, no matter how great the cost, he would never abandon him.

Yu Honghui had no doubt about that. The first two requests were things he could easily do, so he let out a sigh of relief and began recalling everything about Gu Chen from the past life. He also stared at An An for a long time.

After a lengthy silence, he finally spoke.

“I don’t know. Even when you were fifty years old, there was never any news about you having a child.”

The most likely scenario was that after Su Ling’s mother passed away, she had taken the child and raised him herself—perhaps even fabricating a story that Gu Chen had died to deceive the child.

Moving to a completely unfamiliar city, cutting off contact with old classmates… it was entirely possible that they would never have crossed paths again, nor would they have learned anything about each other.

“I see. When are you planning to leave the industry?”

“Do I have to quit?”

Yu Honghui swallowed hard. Ever since his rebirth, all he had thought about was how to rise to the top of the entertainment industry. Now, the dream he had envisioned for so long was suddenly shattering before his eyes—he found it hard to accept.

“Or do you think I’d let someone who constantly wants to replace me stay by my side? Maybe I should just make this news public instead. It wouldn’t harm me at all—in fact, I might even get some rewards out of it.”

Gu Chen lowered his head, as if seriously considering the feasibility of this idea. For him, it was just a simple task, but for Yu Honghui, it was a death sentence.

Not daring to bargain any further for fear of irritating him, Yu Honghui immediately agreed.

“Alright. Once this variety show finishes recording, I’ll announce my retirement from the industry.”

“I’ve always taken great care of my reputation and have never had any scandals. I’ll continue living this way in the future. If any negative rumors about me start spreading, you’re the only one who would know the truth.”

Hearing this made Yu Honghui’s throat go dry. Gu Chen’s implication was clear—if any scandals surfaced, whether he was responsible or not, he would automatically be considered guilty.

Not only could he no longer scheme against Gu Chen, but he also had to carefully maintain his reputation. He was now tied to Gu Chen for life, forced to be even more meticulous than Brother Li.

“You… isn’t this a bit too much?”

Yu Honghui didn’t dare to say anything too offensive, but he couldn’t help expressing his discontent. In the entertainment industry, who didn’t have a few rumors floating around? He couldn’t possibly monitor them all the time.

When Gu Chen looked over, Yu Honghui suddenly realized his mistake. He cleared his throat and quickly explained:

“I didn’t mean it that way. I-I just meant that if I spend all my time and energy on this, I won’t have the bandwidth to help you with investments.”

“Gu Chen, you have to believe me—I’m someone who has returned from the future. I have immense value.”

Yu Honghui was just short of outright saying that making him deal with gossip was a complete waste of his talents!

“I don’t trust you.”

That single sentence left Yu Honghui at a loss for words. He knew Gu Chen didn’t trust him fully, but he hadn’t expected him to be so blunt about it.

Being underestimated felt terrible. Yu Honghui had always hated being looked down upon.

“Once I retire from the industry, give me two months. I’ll prove my worth.”

“One month.”

One month wasn’t quite enough for Yu Honghui, but after recalling the events of his past life that had taken place during this time, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

The short time frame didn’t matter as much as the fact that if he failed to gain Gu Chen’s trust, he’d be sent off as a lab rat.

“Fine.”

“I’ll wait for your results. Don’t stress yourself over it—it’s just a small matter… I don’t care that much.”

The one with a knife hanging over his head wasn’t him, so of course he wasn’t anxious. Yu Honghui’s hands clenched tightly into fists at his sides, but he forced a smile.

“I’m not stressed. I’ll do my best.”

“Hm. I’ll be going now. But remember what I told you earlier—if any scandals about me surface and they can be linked to you in any way, our partnership ends immediately.”

Gu Chen wasn’t oblivious to the shady dealings of the entertainment industry. He just figured that if he made an outrageous demand and it got rejected, following up with a second, more reasonable-sounding one would ensure compliance.

“Alright.”

Yu Honghui didn’t care about Gu Chen’s reputation—he’d love nothing more than to see him fall and never rise again. But his own safety was another matter.

Only a handful of people knew that he had returned to the past, and apart from himself, Gu Chen was the only one who had any inkling. As long as he kept Gu Chen satisfied, no one else would ever find out.

It was an unpleasant feeling to have someone holding such leverage over him. But compared to becoming an experimental subject, it was a much better deal. With that thought, his frustration eased.

—

Earlier, Gu Chen had been worried about An An picking up bad habits. But by the time he thought about letting his head breathe for a bit, he had already fallen asleep. Probably because his sleeping position was awkward, he had even drooled.

With his mild cleanliness obsession, Gu Chen naturally found the sight unappealing. But since this was his own son, he had no choice but to endure it.

He took out a tissue and carefully wiped the drool off. Then, after glancing at the suspicious stain on his own clothes, he subtly quickened his pace, eager to get home and change.

No matter how urgent Gu Chen felt, the journey home was long, and they had to walk quite a distance.

As he strolled down the rural path, he couldn’t help but take in the scenery around him. Although he was still young and at the peak of his career, seeing such a beautiful landscape made him think—when he retired in the future, settling in a place like this, surrounded by mountains and rivers, would be wonderful.

A gentle breeze stirred the peach blossoms, sending petals drifting through the air like a dream.

His son was sprawled over his shoulder, fast asleep, like a lazy little piglet.

After settling his son in bed and changing into a fresh outfit, Brother Li hurried over, phone in hand, his expression tense. Lowering his voice, he asked:

“Did you say something to Yu Honghui? And… did you kick him into a fish pond? Someone filmed it, and now the video is circulating online. Someone’s deliberately buying traffic to push this onto the trending topics.”

Brother Li suspected that Yu Honghui himself might be behind it, but he hesitated to voice that thought.

“It’s fine.”

Gu Chen had indeed kicked him, but he was confident nothing would come of it. The ‘victim’ would clear things up on his own—he didn’t need to bother.

Seeing Gu Chen’s calm confidence, Brother Li lowered his voice even further.

“So… that thing he said—is it true?”

“Hm.”

Returning from the future—it was something straight out of fantasy, yet it had actually happened in their midst.

He had already been shocked when he first learned about it, so now his expression remained relatively composed. After a brief moment of processing, Brother Li asked:

“Then what does he want?”

“To work for me. In exchange, I won’t expose him.”

Brother Li felt unsatisfied after hearing Gu Chen’s plan. After all, Yu Honghui had intended to replace him completely! If he had succeeded, Gu Chen’s fate would have been absolutely miserable.

Having spent so many years together, Brother Li had come to see Gu Chen as his own younger brother. The thought of what Yu Honghui had done made his anger uncontrollable.

If it had been him who was reborn, he would never have tried to replace someone else. Living his own life without affecting others wasn’t difficult—being an upright person wasn’t hard.

“Brother Li, I understand what you mean, but everything so far is just our speculation. I was just lucky enough to stumble upon the truth.”

They had no solid evidence in hand. Keeping this secret undisclosed posed the greatest threat to Yu Honghui.

If they made it public, Yu Honghui might just go all out in desperation, even turning around and accusing Gu Chen of slander. At that point, Gu Chen wouldn’t be able to clear his name no matter what.

“That’s true. So, what do you want from him?”

“I asked him to retire from the industry and become my investment consultant, helping me manage my assets. I’ll hand over all my earnings from each film to him, and if he doesn’t triple it within a year, I’ll leak the information.”

This was a carefully thought-out plan by Gu Chen. He couldn’t push Yu Honghui too hard. By keeping the demands within what Yu Honghui could reasonably achieve, he would be unwilling to give up his current comfortable life and would comply.

As a fellow working man, Brother Li couldn’t help but shiver when he saw Gu Chen’s indifferent smile.

“Brother Li, don’t worry. We’ve been brothers for so many years—I wouldn’t go that far.”

Seeing Brother Li’s concerns, Gu Chen took the initiative to reassure him. After thinking it over, Brother Li agreed. They had years of friendship behind them, after all.

“Do you really think Yu Honghui will just let you manipulate him like this?”

“He won’t dare let his secret be exposed—he’s afraid of the consequences. As long as I offer him slightly better conditions than he expects, he’ll compromise.”

“That makes sense. Just be careful. I’ll handle the work-related discussions with him. As for investments, I know a few reliable people—I’ll have them review every decision he makes in the beginning.”

Brother Li had his own considerations. Having been with Gu Chen for so long, he knew that once Gu Chen divided his assets between himself and his company, there wouldn’t be much left. Plus, he still had to raise An An. Being cautious was always a good idea.

“Talk it over with Yu Honghui. If he refuses, then he must be hiding something.”

“Got it.”

There was no need for Gu Chen’s side to clarify the situation online. Yu Honghui, who should have been the ‘victim,’ stepped forward himself, explaining that he had fallen into the water because of a sudden leg cramp. He claimed that Gu Chen had actually been trying to save him, and that the misleading photo was merely an unfortunate visual illusion.

The production team, unwilling to tolerate someone secretly taking and leaking photos, conducted a thorough investigation. They found the culprit, who had accepted a bribe to do so, and the person was then forced to pay a hefty breach-of-contract penalty.

With Yu Honghui’s public explanation, the controversy gradually died down. Throughout the entire incident, Gu Chen never made an appearance, making many people feel sorry for him.

They believed that he had only been trying to help someone, yet ended up caught in a baseless scandal—completely innocent and undeserving of the trouble.

Without Yu Honghui causing problems, the recording of this episode was much smoother. An An, being naturally likable, won the favor of all the fathers and children present.

Gu Chen despised Yu Honghui’s actions but didn’t let it affect his attitude toward the man’s child. Once he confirmed that Hao Hao was genuinely kind-hearted and had been repeatedly reminded by his father to be good to An An, he allowed them to play together freely.

After the second episode aired, the production team informed them about recording the third episode. Around the same time, the film they had starred in was released in theaters.

The box office results were impressive right from the start. Director Wang even called Gu Chen personally to share the news and, while at it, asked when he’d be available so he could visit little An An.

This movie was the only one in recent years that had both a strong opening and lasting popularity. The box office continued to rise steadily from its release day, only starting to decline after a full week.

After the film was released, Yu Honghui personally bought a ticket and took his wife to the cinema, just like any ordinary couple.

By the time the credits rolled, the last bit of unwillingness in Yu Honghui’s heart had completely disappeared.

He had never admitted it, but in his past life, he had greatly admired Gu Chen. He had rewatched many of Gu Chen’s movies over and over, which was why he remembered them so well—so well that he could replicate them precisely.

After his rebirth, he had been blindly confident, believing that he could do better than Gu Chen.

But as he sat in the same theater seat he had often occupied in his previous life, watching his own performance on the big screen alongside Gu Chen’s, he could no longer deny the truth.

The reality was clear—he wasn’t as good as Gu Chen. No matter how perfectly he imitated him, he was still just a poor copy. The resemblance was superficial, but the soul was missing.

Meanwhile, Gu Chen’s portrayal of another character—a villain, no less—had once again moved the audience, just like in the previous life.

Many parents in the audience empathized with the father character in the script. If they had been in his shoes, they too would have done everything in their power to seek justice for their child. They had brought their children into the world not to have them suffer injustices and die before even growing up.

Younger viewers, lacking life experience, didn’t fully grasp the depth of the story. But seeing the contrast between the father and son’s lives—one a promising young student who ended up in handcuffs, the other a child with a bright future tragically cut short—made the emotional impact even stronger.

One had been full of potential, a life of infinite possibilities ahead. The other had studied diligently for years, on the verge of a bright career, only for both fates to be cruelly destroyed halfway.

As the credits rolled across the screen, Yu Honghui slumped back into his seat, drained of all strength. When he closed his eyes, he finally accepted his fate.

What he had stolen from Gu Chen had, in the end, returned to its rightful owner. And he, the thief, had gained nothing.

At that moment, his wife gently took his hand and asked when they should head home. Her touch reignited a spark in his lifeless heart.

At the very least, compared to his previous life, he no longer had a confidant by his side.

That night, after returning home, Yu Honghui released his statement announcing his retirement from the entertainment industry.

His performance as the lead in the movie was indeed underwhelming, and many film critics harshly pointed out that he was the only weak link in an otherwise successful film.

Even so, the record-breaking box office earnings still brought him significant popularity. At this crucial moment, his sudden announcement of retirement attracted even more attention.

The reason he gave was quite solid—he knew he wasn’t suited for the industry, so he made the decision to leave.

Regardless of how emotional his fans became, he successfully withdrew and started working diligently behind the scenes, like a busy little bee, helping his boss make money.

With Yu Honghui’s guidance, Gu Chen managed to avoid many pitfalls, leading his career to skyrocket. At the same time, An An, due to his role in the movie, was affectionately dubbed the “Nation’s Son” by many fans.

With Yu Honghui around, Gu Chen was never short on money. He generously engaged in numerous charitable activities, further boosting his reputation.

Thanks to his good temperament and continuous improvement in acting skills, many renowned directors were eager to collaborate with him. Some, who were especially close to him, even invited An An to make cameo appearances.

An An, perhaps inheriting his father’s talent, developed a deep passion for acting. Despite his young age, he already displayed remarkable acting skills.

Compared to adult actors, he was still inexperienced, but among his peers, he was undoubtedly outstanding.

Gu Chen readily accepted all the praise about his son and even instructed Brother Li to have his company sign An An under his name as his legal guardian.

Unlike before, Gu Chen now had the resources and influence to negotiate favorable terms. While An An was officially under contract, he had complete freedom, the highest level of autonomy possible.

Gu Chen had everything he needed and had no intention of forcing An An into anything he disliked, nor did he plan to profit off his son. The sole reason for signing him was because An An genuinely loved acting.

Every time he acted, even for just a scene or two, his eyes would light up with excitement.

From being just an ordinary child to taking on increasingly challenging roles, An An would have continued acting if he hadn’t been sent off to kindergarten.

As much as Gu Chen spoiled him, he wouldn’t allow indulgence to the point where An An refused to attend kindergarten out of childish stubbornness.

When it came down to acting versus education, Gu Chen would always choose the latter for An An.

Besides, he firmly believed that even if An An pursued acting later, it wouldn’t be too late.

With Yu Honghui’s assistance, Gu Chen’s standing in the industry only grew stronger over time.

Gone were the days when he had to accept every opportunity for exposure. Now, only high-quality scripts were offered to him.

Even those scripts underwent rigorous vetting—everything from the script itself to the director, screenwriter, and even the crew members had to pass Brother Li’s strict scrutiny.

There were many celebrities who valued their reputation, but few were as meticulous as Gu Chen.

As long as he remained disciplined and avoided any career-destroying scandals, even if his popularity waned over time, his status would still provide him with long-term security.

Gu Chen had everything mapped out, ensuring he did the right things at the right stages of life.

He had Brother Li help him select an elite kindergarten, one where most of the children came from affluent families, ensuring that An An’s school life wouldn’t be disrupted by his previous acting roles.

Kindergarten life was quite interesting. An An’s caretaker suggested documenting his kindergarten experiences through short videos and posting them on Weibo. This way, fans could feel involved in his growth.

Based on Brother Li’s extensive experience in the entertainment industry, the most beloved celebrities were often those whom the audience watched grow up.

Being part of an artist’s journey created a deeper emotional connection, making the public more forgiving toward them. Handling crises also became easier.

For instance, when a scandal surfaced, a well-liked celebrity was more likely to be perceived as innocent, with people assuming it was a smear campaign or media exaggeration.

Conversely, for someone with a poor public image, even the smallest rumor could easily convince people that they were guilty.

Brother Li, despite being middle-aged, remained ambitious. Having nurtured Gu Chen into a superstar, he now aimed to elevate An An to the same level, making them an industry legend.

He approved the video proposal and even assigned a professional videographer to ensure An An looked as adorable as possible.

The videos captured everything—his tearful reluctance on his first day, looking back every few steps as he struggled to part with his dad, and his lively participation in group activities.

Occasionally, Gu Chen would appear in the videos when he picked An An up from school. The father-son bond was evident, with An An’s reliance on him shining through.

The kindergarten’s environment was excellent, and many parents documented their children’s growth. Thus, their request to film An An wasn’t out of place.

Through these short videos, viewers watched An An grow day by day.

The more they learned, the more they realized how well Gu Chen had raised his son—polite, well-mannered, independent, and undeniably intelligent.

In certain group activities, An An always managed to come up with creative solutions that even some adults watching the videos found impressive.

The clips chronicled his journey from preschool to kindergarten graduation.

After the graduation ceremony, Gu Chen took An An on a trip to a small, unfamiliar country, marking the perfect conclusion to his kindergarten years.

There, he didn’t have to wear any disguises—just a completely ordinary father spending quality time with his son.

The accompanying videographer captured every delightful moment of their trip.

Gu Chen didn’t want his rare vacation with An An to be disturbed by outsiders, which was why he had chosen this particular destination.

By the time An An graduated from kindergarten, he had outgrown his previous cuteness, now appearing more refined and stylish.

With professionals guiding his fashion sense, he exuded an unmistakable charm and grace.

Gu Chen saw An An squatting there feeding the pigeons and took out his phone to snap a few photos.

Even though he knew that the professional photographer would take much better pictures, he didn’t put his phone away. After all, he had always believed that personally recording An An’s growth was something truly special.

Throughout his life, Gu Chen had experienced many moments of great accomplishment—such as standing on the award stage for the first time or proving everyone wrong by carrying a film on his own and successfully winning a grand slam of awards for a low-budget art film.

There were simply too many such moments, so many that they no longer stirred any deep emotions within him. Even at the most prestigious awards ceremonies, he could remain rational and composed while giving his speech.

But An An was different. Watching this little one grow up bit by bit, being part of his journey, and witnessing how his education had helped An An transform into an increasingly brilliant child—this sense of achievement was something Gu Chen would cherish for a lifetime.

Every time he thought about it, he couldn’t help but smile.

Just then, An An raised his hand, and a pigeon landed on it. Gu Chen captured the scene perfectly and casually posted it on his Weibo.

In the sunset glow, the white pigeon perched on the little boy’s hand, bathed in golden light.

Gu Chen was still the same as before—he disliked posting photos of himself, but he was especially fond of sharing pictures of his child. If he was on vacation at home, he could post three or four times a day.

His fans had long since grown accustomed to his frequent updates about An An. Judging by the background, they could roughly guess that they were currently traveling abroad.

【Wow, little An An looks like he’s grown a bit taller again!】

【Hahaha, does Brother Li know about this vacation? Didn’t he say he arranged a big-budget script for Gu Chen? I’ve been looking forward to it for so long!】

【Will An An have a cameo in it? Rubbing my hands in excitement~】

【An An, sob sob, now that you’re in school, Auntie won’t be able to see you as much.】

【I heard An An is doing really well academically. I wonder if he’ll join the entertainment industry in the future.】

Just because he was Gu Chen’s son, people didn’t automatically assume that An An would enter the entertainment industry. Though he was undeniably good-looking, everyone understood that each person had their own choices to make.

Moreover, over the years, some of Gu Chen’s investments—funded by the wealth he had accumulated with the help of Yu Honghui—had been unintentionally revealed. This made it clear to everyone that Gu Chen was more than just an actor; he also held a significant number of business assets.

For instance, last year, a newly listed new-energy company had Gu Chen as a 15% shareholder. Given the company’s promising outlook, these holdings alone were enough to secure a lifetime of wealth for his family.

Once fans realized just how formidable their idol had become, they no longer insisted that An An had to enter the entertainment industry.

【Honestly, it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t become a celebrity. Imagine him growing up to be a CEO—then we can compile all these childhood videos for a side-by-side comparison. That would be amazing!】

【Agreed!】

【From what we’ve seen of Gu Chen, he doesn’t seem like the type to force his child into anything. He’ll probably let An An decide for himself, right?】

【This reminds me of that one heiress’s interview. She said that if she weren’t the successor to her family’s fortune, she’d rather sell roasted sweet potatoes.】

【If An An ends up selling roasted sweet potatoes, I swear I’ll eat them every day!】

The comments were overwhelmingly supportive of An An. He was one of the rare child stars with absolutely no haters.

It all stemmed from how well Su Ling had paved the way for him before she went abroad. No matter who heard about An An’s past, their first reaction was always sympathy.

On top of that, having watched him grow up over the years, fans felt a deep emotional connection. Seeing this tiny child, once just a little tail following behind his father, now maturing into a handsome young boy—so long as An An never did anything morally or legally wrong, he would always remain the cherished little darling of his devoted “auntie fans.”

Gu Chen still hadn’t shaken off his habit of obsessively reading comments. No matter how many times Brother Li tried to stop him, it was useless.

Even though he knew that negative comments could affect his mood—Brother Li even suspected that Gu Chen’s past depressive tendencies stemmed from this—he simply couldn’t quit.

In the end, they hadn’t found the time to see a psychologist until much later. When they finally did, the conclusion was that his condition had already improved significantly.

After a deeper conversation, the psychologist’s assessment was that Gu Chen’s healing was largely due to a little angel in his life.

For patients with psychological conditions, it was as if they were wilting plants—whereas An An was the rain and sunlight that had helped him grow again.

The people closest to you influence you the most. While Gu Chen hadn’t managed to break his habit, he had at least reached a point where negative comments no longer fazed him.

After finishing his reading, he put his phone away and continued feeding the pigeons with An An. Then, on the way home, he casually reminded him:

“You’re at least a bit of a celebrity now, so you can’t act like you did when you were younger, okay?”

An An didn’t immediately understand what he meant and furrowed his brows in confusion.

“Daddy, what are you talking about?”

“You wouldn’t want to see ‘National Treasure Son Caught Stealing Roasted Pigeon Abroad’ trending on the hot search, would you?”

While An An was feeding the pigeons earlier, Gu Chen had noticed him swallowing several times.

It wasn’t that An An had any ill intentions toward the pigeons—he had always had an active imagination. Most likely, it was because these pigeons looked particularly plump, reminding him of the roasted squab they had eaten not long ago.

Having his inner thoughts exposed, An An’s face instantly turned red. He quickly shook his head in denial and muttered,

“No, no, I wasn’t thinking that at all.”