He Asked Me to Stay

Is that so,Ning Shixue’s eyes curved.
His under-eye area was deep and curved along with them, making his whole demeanor seem much softer.
Then I’ll take Xie Xingxing home.
You stay here.

Xie Yaoyao immediately pouted.
He whimpered like a little puppy and stamped his foot hard.

Afraid of making him cry, Ning Shixue stopped teasing him and took his little hand.

[Baby, there are more bad people in this world. Devil whispering.jpg]

[But why Xie Xingxing?]

[Sniff, I’ve only been away for a few hours, and my wife and my baby already have little secrets behind my back! Crying.jpg]

Filming for the variety show had come to an end, at least for the first two episodes.
The guests could go home tonight.

Let’s Go, Baby! combined live streaming with recorded episodes.
Every Saturday night at 8:30 PM sharp, the official channel would release the edited official version, which would also air on satellite TV.

For each season, the production team arranged four different filming locations, like the small village where Jiang Yu lived.

So the third episode would actually still be filmed in the village, wrapping things up there.
But the guests were going home now, and the production team would take Jiang Yu home tonight as well.

Seeing everyone going their separate ways, Xie Yaoyao blinked his big, dark eyes.
In a daze, he followed the director onto the bus, only to be lifted back down by Ning Shixue.

We’re going home tonight,
Ning Shixue told him.

Xie Zhaozhou had already sent a driver to pick them up.
The car was parked just outside the amusement park.

Once in the car, Xie Yaoyao couldn’t hold back and whispered to Ning Shixue,
We going to grandma’s house?

‘To your house,’
Ning Shixue said, wrapping himself in a blanket.
With a child in the car, the air conditioning wasn’t on full, but his body was too weak.
He still felt cold.

His fingertips were pale and stiff from the chill.

Xie Yaoyao’s face had already scrunched up, but upon hearing Ning Shixue’s words, his brow relaxed.
The whole little guy couldn’t help swinging his little feet on the car seat.

Hehe, they were going home!

To find Big Daddy!

Ning Shixue, wrapped in his blanket, leaned over and poked his chubby little hand.
Hey, kid, let’s discuss something.

Hm?
Xie Yaoyao turned his head.

‘I’ll give you two options,’
Ning Shixue said.
‘Call me ‘gege,’ or call me ‘baba’.’

Xie Yaoyao propped his chubby face in his hands, looking very reluctant.

Why did it have to be like this?
Ning Shixue wasn’t his gege, and he wasn’t his baba either.

Seeing his reluctance, Ning Shixue didn’t press further.
Fine, ‘stepdad’ it was.

Even if it did make him sound like he was about to abuse the kid any second.

It was past ten when they got home.
The old butler, hearing the car, came out to greet them.

Xie Yaoyao rushed over and snuggled up to him.

The old butler was momentarily taken aback, then smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling.
He picked Xie Yaoyao up and said respectfully, politely,
Young Master Ning has returned.
Would you like some supper?

Ning Shixue shook his head.

The old butler carried Xie Yaoyao off to bathe and change.
Ning Shixue also returned to the bedroom.
He took a quick shower, then flopped onto the big bed with a satisfied sigh.

He wasn’t sleepy yet.
Hugging a pillow, he lay on his stomach playing games.

The villa was far from the city.
The dead of night was exceptionally quiet.
The mountain night was deep and mysterious.
It wasn’t until it started raining outside that Ning Shixue realized it was already past 3:30.

No wonder he was a little hungry, even starting to feel a faint ache in his stomach.
He now regretted not following the old butler for a midnight snack.

He decided to go downstairs and find something to eat.
There should be leftovers in the kitchen, or he could boil some frozen dumplings.

Not wanting to wake anyone, Ning Shixue left the bedroom very quietly.
But he couldn’t help pausing.

Xie Zhaozhou’s study was also on the second floor.
The door wasn’t completely closed; a sliver of light peeked out.

Still awake after 3 AM?
Ning Shixue remembered that when he was sick and Xie Yaoyao messaged Xie Zhaozhou, Xie Zhaozhou had also been awake past 1 AM.

Didn’t the big antagonist ever sleep?

Ning Shixue had intended to go straight downstairs, but he stopped again.
He walked over instead.

Regardless of why Xie Zhaozhou committed suicide, his death currently held no benefit for Ning Shixue.

And… he admitted he felt a little soft spot for Xie Yaoyao.
The little antagonist from the book didn’t seem so bad.

What about Xie Zhaozhou, then?

In the original story, Xie Zhaozhou’s temperament was described as extremely cold.
Everyone said he was a heartless monster, devoid of any emotion.

Xie Sui was his elder brother, yet he hadn’t even attended Xie Sui’s funeral.
Liao Yanwan had attempted suicide several times right in front of him, and he remained unmoved.
When the doctor arrived, blood had pooled on the floor.
Old Master Xie finally died of illness, and Xie Zhaozhou hadn’t shed a single tear.

Ning Shixue didn’t think someone like that would commit suicide.

He didn’t want to meddle, didn’t want to interfere with the original plot.
But asking one more question couldn’t hurt.

Xie Zhaozhou seemed to have returned not long ago.
He was still wearing his austere black suit.
It had rained that night, and his shoulders were damp with cold moisture.
The depths of his pitch-black eyes were like a deep pool.

Anyone caught in those narrow, cold, black eyes would feel stiff and break out in a cold sweat.

But Ning Shixue seemed completely unaware.
He blinked and softened his voice.
Second Brother, why aren’t you asleep yet?

He could bend when necessary.

What is it?
Xie Zhaozhou’s tone was cold.

Nothing,
Ning Shixue didn’t step into the study.
He just stood outside the door.
I just saw your light on. Want some supper?
I can cook for you.

Liao Yanwan’s mental issues were hereditary.
Xie Zhaozhou might have them too.

Wouldn’t staying up late make it worse?

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t speak, but his refusal was clear.
He rubbed his brow, his eyes filled with an unfathomable weariness and gloom.

It’s already so late. Maybe you should rest for a bit,
Ning Shixue urged him.
I can stay with you…

He stopped mid-sentence.

On Xie Zhaozhou’s desk lay several thick case files.
Scattered beside them were over a dozen photos.
Even from a distance, he could tell they were from some kind of car accident scene.

The stains of blood were heavy.

Ning Shixue could only think of the car accident involving Old Master Xie and Xie Sui.
The police had closed the case, ruling it an accident.

Could it be that Xie Zhaozhou didn’t think it was an accident?

Seeing Ning Shixue’s glance, Xie Zhaozhou’s already icy expression darkened further.

He had watched the live streams of Ning Shixue and Xie Yaoyao on the variety show.
He had also sent Song Li to investigate Ning Shixue.

On the surface, everything seemed normal.

Yet something felt off.

It started from the night before the variety show filming, when Lu Li came to find him.
Ning Shixue’s gaze, his movements, his attitude towards Xie Yaoyao… were all different from before.

What was more unbelievable was that Ning Shixue actually seemed to care about him.
At the very least, Ning Shixue could tell there was no malice in it.

Ning Shixue looked up and met Xie Zhaozhou’s deep, dark eyes.
He didn’t insist any further and said dryly,
Second Brother, I’ll be going then. Sorry to disturb…

But he didn’t finish.

Xie Zhaozhou’s crimson lips suddenly curved slightly.
His voice remained cool and clear but carried a lazy tone as he asked, slow and deliberate:

So, now that it’s nighttime, is there something I should be doing that requires you to keep me company?