If He Doesn’t Want To, Then He Won’t

Luckily, children have short memories.

Xie Yaoyao cried for a while.
He cried so hard, so utterly aggrieved, that by the time he finished, he had forgotten why he was crying in the first place.

Ning Shixue also breathed a sigh of relief.

Otherwise, expecting him to hold the kid and comfort him was impossible.
At best, he’d just scare the kid into crying more.

Xie Yaoyao and the others resumed drawing on the shirt.
Ning Shixue stepped aside, lowered his head, and sent Xie Zhaozhou a message.
He first explained what had happened, then apologized.

Feeling it wasn’t enough.

He also sent a sea otter covering its eyes emoji.

This time, Xie Zhaozhou didn’t ignore him.

– [. : ,]

Ning Shixue: ???

What did a comma mean?

He didn’t have time to ask further.
The assistant director had already arrived with Jiang Yu.
They were about to set off.

Jiang Yu was at the age where he was losing his baby teeth.
One of his front teeth was wobbly and hurt.
The program team had taken him to get it pulled in the morning.

The little ones all gathered around.
Jiang Yu opened his mouth to show them the gap where his tooth had been.

So scary,
Tang Haohao couldn’t handle it.
He covered his mouth tightly.
My teeth also fall out?

Tang He’an sneered nearby.
If you keep sneaking candy at night, all your teeth will fall out.

Tang Haohao didn’t believe him.
He turned and stared expectantly at Jiang Yu.
He was the chief of staff of the sea; the chief of staff listened to the marshal.
He’d only believe it if Jiang Yu said so.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Yu nodded, like a little adult.
The doctor uncle told me, everyone’s teeth fall out.

Tang Haohao immediately let out a wail.

Taking advantage of no one watching, Ji Qing went to answer a phone call.

It was his agent.

As soon as he picked up, the agent started cursing him.
Ji Qing, what have you been doing on that variety show these past few days?!

Since filming began, the company had bought Ji Qing several trending searches.
But every time, before the buzz could build, Ning Shixue overshadowed him.
Ji Qing was practically invisible.

Ji Xiao wasn’t a showy kid to begin with.
In the live stream, their screen time was shrinking.

Ji Qing bit his lip.
I didn’t expect…

Enough,
the agent interrupted him impatiently.
I told you to ask Xie Hanzhou who exactly Ning Shixue married into the Xie family.
Did you ask?

Xie Hanzhou might have become obsessed with Ji Qing, even cutting ties with many other lovers for him.
But that was it.
In his eyes, Ji Qing was just a plaything he kept.
Why would he tell Ji Qing about Xie family matters?

This time, Ji Qing’s face truly paled.

He had waited for Xie Hanzhou at the hotel all last night.
Xie Hanzhou had originally said he would come see him, but in the end, he didn’t.
Feeling anxious, he sent Qiu Mingchuan a message.

Qiu Mingchuan only then told him that at the banquet, Ning Shixue had inexplicably angered Xie Hanzhou.
So Xie Hanzhou went to the bar with them to drink and didn’t even return to the Xie residence that night.

Ji Qing lowered his eyes, his gaze dark and stormy.

He didn’t care at all about what went on between Xie Hanzhou and Ning Shixue.
What he couldn’t understand was why Ning Shixue, a fool inferior to him in every way, always managed to trample him underfoot.

On set, he had managed to ruin Ning Shixue’s reputation.
But even then, the Weibo posts criticizing Ning Shixue got more buzz than his own promotional posts for his acting work.

Now it was the same.

He admitted he saw Ji Xiao as a burden.
But he sent him to kindergarten, hired teachers to teach him piano, English… making him better than other kids his age.
Wasn’t that enough?

Yet everyone preferred that brat, Xie Yaoyao.

The director was already calling for them.
Ji Qing suppressed the malice in his eyes and told the agent,
I’ll find a chance to ask.

–

After the guests had all boarded the program team’s van, the director suddenly asked,
We still have over half an hour on the road. Do the little ones have any talents to show us?

In other words, he wanted the kids to perform.

Ji Qing was holding Ji Xiao.
He pinched Ji Xiao’s leg.
It wasn’t a hard pinch, but a child’s skin was delicate, and Ji Qing’s urgency made it hurt a little.

His agent had contacted the director right after hanging up.
This segment was specifically arranged for Ji Xiao.

Ji Xiao’s leg hurt, but he didn’t cry.
He looked up, confused.
Uncle?

Ji Qing didn’t speak.

It took Ji Xiao a moment to sluggishly react.
He remembered his uncle telling him at home to perform.
So he spoke up very quietly.
I can recite a poem for everyone.

Then let’s welcome Little Tangyuan,
the director said, leading the applause.

The other little ones in the van were very supportive, clapping along.
Tang Haohao clapped so hard his hands turned red, only stopping when Tang He’an glared at him.
He waited for Ji Xiao’s performance.

Ji Xiao was naturally timid.
Being watched by so many people, he instinctively wanted to hide in Ji Qing’s arms.

Xiaoxiao,
Ji Qing’s gentle voice sounded in his ear, but it made Ji Xiao shiver slightly.
Everyone’s waiting for you.

Ji Xiao’s little face paled.
He held back for another half minute or so, then finally began to recite, very quietly.
‘The grass grows tall on the plain, once lush, once withered. Wildfire cannot burn it all; spring wind blows it back to life.’

The director thought he was done and was about to clap.

But Ji Xiao continued quietly.
‘Its scent invades the ancient road, its green meets the desolate city…’

The bullet comments were also amazed.

[Only three and a half, knowing the first few lines is already impressive.
Xiaoxiao even knows the rest.]

[All thanks to Qingqing’s teaching.
Little Tangyuan especially loves reading.
Sniff, kiss kiss baby.]

The tightness in Ji Qing’s chest finally eased.
He lowered his head and kissed Ji Xiao’s cheek.

Next, He Miao sang a children’s song.

Then it was Tang Haohao’s turn.

Tang Haohao struggled, his chunky cheeks flushed with effort.
He pulled a donut from his pocket, lifted his little head, and announced,
I’ll perform, eating a donut in one bite!

With that, he shoved the donut into his mouth.
It wasn’t entirely one bite, but he did manage most of it.

The other little ones gasped in admiration.

Tang He’an covered his face in pain.

Just let him die.

When it was Xie Yaoyao’s turn, Xie Yaoyao looked bewildered.
What is, talent?

Just sing your ‘Little Cabbage, Yellow in the Field’ again,
Ning Shixue suggested.

Xie Yaoyao scratched his little cheek.
He started looking around.

Ning Shixue was puzzled.
What are you looking for?

Kiddie ride,
Xie Yaoyao’s fair cheeks puffed out.
Why bad stepdad so dumb.

Without the kiddie ride, why would Xie Yaoyao sing?

The director’s head was spinning.
How was he supposed to conjure up a kiddie ride?
But Xie Yaoyao absolutely refused to perform.
The director had to scare him.
Yaoyao, all the other kids performed. You should too.

Xie Yaoyao didn’t like this uncle anymore.
He was even meaner than the bad stepdad.
Always picking on Yaoyao.

His chubby little face was full of grievance.

‘If you don’t want to, don’t,’
Ning Shixue suddenly said.

The director was taken aback.
Teacher Ning?

Is this performance a task from the program team?
Ning Shixue asked innocently.
Do we get points for performing?

The director was embarrassed.
It’s not a task. No points for performing.

But this was a variety show with kids.
Wasn’t it normal to let kids perform?

[Remembering the horror of being put on the spot by relatives during New Year’s as a kid.
I didn’t want to perform at all.]

[If you want to see a performance so badly, do it yourself.
Why make things difficult for the kid???]

‘No points, nothing, huh?’
Ning Shixue, upon hearing this, reclined his seat, wrapped his arms around the chubby little kid, and started catching up on sleep.

The director had no reason to call Ning Shixue out.
He could only watch helplessly as he lay down, a look of resentment on his face.

[Not only does he slack off himself, he gets the kid to slack off too.
Gotta hand it to you.]

[The director looks like such a sucker, hahaha.]

But Ning Shixue didn’t get to sleep long.
After a while, Xie Yaoyao started shaking him with his chubby little hands.

What?
Ning Shixue opened his eyes.

Even a three-and-a-half-year-old had pride.
Xie Yaoyao had held back until now, but finally couldn’t help asking Ning Shixue, his eyes pleading.
Baby, baby have how many teeth?

Would his teeth secretly fall out at night?

He didn’t want to be a baby with no teeth.

Open your mouth.
I’ll count for you.
Ning Shixue raised an eyebrow and turned.

Xie Yaoyao obediently opened his mouth.

‘Wider,’
Ning Shixue said.

Xie Yaoyao pouted but still said, in his milky voice,
Ah~

Can’t find them,
Ning Shixue was still unsatisfied, despite Xie Yaoyao’s effort.
‘Even wider.’

Why was it like this?

Xie Yaoyao, a brat by nature, planted his chubby hands on his waist, about to throw a tantrum.

Only then did Ning Shixue stop teasing him.
All your teeth are there.

Xie Yaoyao didn’t believe him anymore.
He propped his chubby face in his hands and sighed.
The bad stepdad was so dumb.

He couldn’t even count, taking this long.

He himself could already, count from one to, ninety-nine.