Rebirth, but baby, where are you?

Chapter 42

Mo Siyuan was especially happy today. It had been ages since he’d visited the zoo. He remembered the last time was when Sister Shanshan had brought him, though he couldn’t remember if that was last year or when. After that visit, he’d never returned to the zoo, even though he really loved small animals.

But today held special meaning for him. Both Dad and Big brother Huanxi were accompanying him to see the animals at the zoo. Never again would he need to envy his classmates whose parents took them to the zoo, because Dad had told him with certainty that Big brother Huanxi would be his mother from now on.

Mo Siyuan was overjoyed, but Dad said he couldn’t call Big brother Huanxi “Mom” yet because Big brother Huanxi wasn’t ready. If he suddenly started calling him “Mom”, Dad explained, Big brother Huanxi would feel shy and that he needed time to prepare.

Hearing this, Mo Siyuan had been secretly delighted for ages. So Big brother Huanxi could feel shy too! Well, he’d give Big brother Huanxi more time. Dad said that once Big brother Huanxi became his mother, he’d move in to live with them, and they’d be a family of three. He was certain he’d be the happiest child in the world.

Qin Huanxi was earnestly teaching Mo Siyuan about the national treasure giant pandas, but after explaining for ages without any response, he looked down to find his little one in his arms had wandered off mentally again, covering his mouth while giggling to himself.

He sighed helplessly. Mo Shaoheng must have made some wild promise to their child again. Something about how he’d be his little treasure’s “mother” in the future, how they’d get married, how he’d move in to live with them. That had to be it. He’d already extracted every detail from the child’s mouth long ago.

Qin Huanxi really wanted to roll his eyes, decorum be damned. Did Mo Shaoheng think he didn’t know about his “evil” intentions? Mo Siyuan was a six-year-old child, how could he keep secrets? Even without prompting, his little treasure would excitedly run over to tell him everything, then mysteriously ask him to keep it secret.

“Dad said I can’t tell Big brother Huanxi because Big brother Huanxi would be shy, but Xiao Yuan thinks lying is bad. Teacher said we should be honest, good children, so Xiao Yuan will secretly tell Big brother Huanxi. But Big brother Huanxi absolutely cannot tell Dad.” His little treasure had “betrayed” his own father with complete innocence.

Qin Huanxi found it both amusing and exasperating. This Mo Shaoheng was actually using his own son! He really wanted to pull his little treasure across his lap and give him a spanking. How dare he say he’d be shy! But thinking about it, Mo Shaoheng had probably taught him to say that too.

Since Mo Shaoheng wasn’t planning to speak up directly, he’d pretend ignorance as well. Let’s see who could hold out longer.

After leaving the panda exhibit, Qin Huanxi spotted a spacious lawn in the distance where many parents were resting with their children. He looked down at Mo Siyuan, who was walking hand-in-hand with him: “Xiao Yuan, are you tired from all this walking? Should we rest on the lawn for a bit? After we rest, we can go watch the sea lion show.”

Mo Siyuan nodded obediently: “Okay!”

Qin Huanxi smiled and pinched his cheek. The more he looked, the more adorable he became. Bending down, he scooped up his little treasure.

Mo Shaoheng watched from the side, then reached out to take Mo Siyuan: “Let me carry him.”

Qin Huanxi didn’t refuse, reaching up to adjust the little backpack strap that had slipped down Mo Siyuan’s shoulder. Suddenly, he felt a burning gaze fixed on him and Mo Shaoheng. Following the sensation, he turned back alertly, only to see a group of young girls watching them with excited faces.

Qin Huanxi calmly withdrew his gaze, squeezed Mo Siyuan’s little hand, and continued walking forward with Mo Shaoheng.

He probably knew what those girls were excited about. Back in his Ning Xue days, their student council had similar girls who particularly enjoyed reading certain unconventional novels and comics, boldly categorizing him as a “queen uke”.

Qin Huanxi usually indulged them, letting them have their fun since it was harmless joking. Perhaps he’d grown accustomed to it and been somewhat influenced, becausewhen he and Mo Shaoheng became intimate, he hadn’t felt particularly resistant. Or perhaps from the very beginning, Mo Shaoheng had been someone special in his heart.

“By the way, did something happen this morning? Why was Qi Fengyu looking at me so strangely?” While Mo Siyuan was playing by himself, Qin Huanxi moved closer to Mo Shaoheng and asked quietly. Today’s Qi Fengyu had seemed especially odd, looking at him with an expression both sympathetic and indescribable.

Mo Shaoheng’s lips curved into a sly smile as he asked quietly: “You really want to know?”

Qin Huanxi had seen Mo Shaoheng smile before. Outsiders always thought Mo Shaoheng was a humorless, coldly aloof person who seemed somewhat unapproachable. Indeed, meeting Mo Shaoheng for the first time would create such a misunderstanding, as his hard features showed almost no expression, making people afraid to approach.

Actually, Mo Shaoheng was quite handsome. Though he wasn’t one of those fresh-faced pretty boys popular with girls nowadays, Mo Shaoheng’s features were sharply defined, belonging to the mature, steady, rugged type. Time had left no traces on him; instead, it had added the unique masculine charm of his age group, making him seem utterly reliable and irresistible.

Looking at the smile playing at Mo Shaoheng’s lips, Qin Huanxi suddenly felt dizzy—a bewildering dizziness of being enchanted. Mo Shaoheng was already eye-catching enough when he wasn’t smiling; when he did smile, probably no woman could resist him. Right now, he wanted to touch his chest. His heart had to be racing.

Qin Huanxi’s face reddened slightly. Annoyed, he turned away and said with forced composure: “If Uncle Mo doesn’t want to say, I won’t force it.”

Mo Shaoheng chuckled softly: “Mm, you’ll know eventually.”

Qin Huanxi really wanted to glare back, but worried Mo Shaoheng would mock him for being childish, so he could only swallow his irritation and change the subject: “Oh right, did you see this morning’s news? The place where Brother Shui lived was burned down, and the arsonist was some drunk who’d had disputes with them before. Uncle Mo must have already discovered something, right?”

Mo Shaoheng’s expression grew serious as he nodded: “Only his subordinates died in the fire. He was taken away before it started.”

Qin Huanxi frowned: “I always felt this wasn’t so simple. Maybe that drunk really did start the fire, but someone took advantage to make it burn even fiercer. Otherwise, with so many people, it’s impossible that not one escaped. The person who did this probably wasn’t Su Wentian or Fu Zecheng. There’s a third person who wants them dead, someone more ruthless than Su Wentian and Fu Zecheng.”

Though Qin Huanxi was vindictive, he wouldn’t completely destroy everyone. Moreover, this body’s current identity was quite sensitive. He was an internationally renowned violinist. Many things couldn’t be made public knowledge.

He’d originally planned to handle the banquet incident personally, but when he woke up from sleep, attended classes all day, and returned home to resolve the old man’s “crisis”, he discovered that Mo Shaoheng had already thrown those two into the police station. Combined with the previous smuggling case, they wouldn’t be getting out anytime soon.

Qin Huanxi rubbed his forehead. He really couldn’t keep up with Mo Shaoheng’s swift and decisive methods.

Mo Shaoheng nodded: “Fengyu is still investigating this. The other party acted without leaving traces and seems prepared. It won’t be easy to investigate, and we can’t be too obvious about it, or we’ll alert them.”

Mo Shaoheng didn’t want Qin Huanxi to know about Ning Xin yet. He knew Qin Huanxi harbored hatred, but now that Ning Xin was interfering, if Qin Huanxi made any moves that caught Ning Xin’s attention, given Ning Xin’s obsession with Ning Xue, he could easily see through the deception.

Mo Shaoheng turned to look at Qin Huanxi. Sometimes he really hoped Qin Huanxi could let go of his past life’s grudges, because he would be responsible for settling those accounts. In this lifetime, he need only be the simple “Qin Huanxi.” All the life and dreams that Ning Xue had longed for in his previous life could be realized in this one as Qin Huanxi.

But Mo Shaoheng knew Qin Huanxi had his own pride, the pride of being Ning Xue. He didn’t need to depend on anyone. Once his wings were clipped, he wouldn’t be that radiant Ning Xue anymore. So no matter how many times they started over, Ning Xin would never have a chance to possess this person.

No matter what Ning Xue became, he would forever be only his, Mo Shaoheng’s Ning Xue!

“Dad, Big brother Huanxi, when are we going to watch the sea lion show?” Mo Siyuan had been playing by himself for a while, but every time he looked back, Dad and Big brother Huanxi were chatting. He was torn with indecision. He didn’t want to interrupt their conversation, but he really wanted to see the sea lion show.

Mo Siyuan played for a few more minutes, but Dad and Big brother Huanxi were still talking with no intention of going to the sea lion show.

Finally unable to wait any longer, Mo Siyuan ran over and squeezed between Mo Shaoheng and Qin Huanxi, grabbing Mo Shaoheng’s hand: “Dad, tonight let Big brother Huanxi sleep with you so you can chat properly. Can we go watch the sea lion show first?”

Qin Huanxi couldn’t help but cough, embarrassedly turning away while frantically reminding himself that children speak innocently.

Mo Shaoheng bent down to pick up Mo Siyuan, stroking his face: “Alright, let’s go watch the sea lion show first.”

“Dad is the best! So tonight Big brother Huanxi will sleep with you, and Xiao Yuan can sleep alone. I asked my classmates. Other families’ moms and dads all sleep together.” Mo Siyuan’s face fell: “Dad, was I very inconsiderate before, always making Big brother Huanxi sleep with me? Xiao Yuan will never do that again. Starting today, Xiao Yuan will sleep alone, and Big brother Huanxi will sleep with Dad.”

Qin Huanxi looked up at the azure sky. The December sunlight felt especially warm on his skin. As they say, daughters are mother’s caring little padded jackets, so sons must be father’s little padded pants. His precious son was indeed a little padded pants, Mo Shaoheng’s little padded pants, to be precise.

Mo Shaoheng lowered his head to kiss Mo Siyuan’s forehead, praising: “Good son!”

Qin Huanxi looked up at the winter sun again, sighing: Little padded pants!

After the sea lion show, it was nearly noon. With an afternoon visit to the tea house planned, Qin Huanxi and Mo Shaoheng took Mo Siyuan to a Western restaurant near the zoo for lunch.

Mo Siyuan had originally thought they’d go home after lunch, but hearing they were going to the tea house in the afternoon, he was so happy he couldn’t stop grinning. His little mind started turning again, wondering how to make Big brother Huanxi marry Dad sooner. Only then could their family of three often go out together, eat together, and sleep together.

“By the way, I received a concert invitation this morning.” While waiting for the steak to arrive, Qin Huanxi rested his chin on his hand: “With Christmas and New Year approaching, many countries are hosting concerts. The invitation was sent directly to Grandfather, and he hopes I’ll participate.”

“When exactly?” Mo Shaoheng already had plans forming in his mind.

“End of this month, Berlin Concert Hall in Germany.” Qin Huanxi smiled at Mo Shaoheng: “Will you come with me?”

Looking at Qin Huanxi’s slightly provocative smile, Mo Shaoheng felt his heart skip a beat and answered without hesitation: “Of course!”

Qin Huanxi picked up his glass, hiding his ever-widening smile behind it.