Your Wife Was Stolen

Xie Zhaozhou’s face darkened.

He was about to hang up the video call, but Xie Yaoyao suddenly called out to him urgently in his milky voice.
Big Daddy, Big Daddy!

What is it?
Xie Zhaozhou asked.

Stroke stroke fur,
Xie Yaoyao insisted, his camera still shoved in Ning Shixue’s face.
Pat baby.

Xie Zhaozhou found this request absurd and refused him.
Go to sleep.

But Xie Yaoyao kept huffing like a little puppy, as if he wouldn’t stop until Xie Zhaozhou agreed.

…Patted.
Xie Zhaozhou had to appease him.

Xie Yaoyao didn’t dare throw a tantrum at Xie Zhaozhou, but he couldn’t help pouting, his fair cheeks puffing out.
Why was Big Daddy like this?
He was just tricking the baby!

He didn’t know how to switch the camera direction.
He had turned on the rear camera himself, so it could only film Ning Shixue.
But he could see Xie Zhaozhou.

Xie Zhaozhou hadn’t even raised his hand.

Lying,
Xie Yaoyao propped his chubby face in his hands and said solemnly,
Not good kid, will get bottom spanked by baby!

When he made mistakes, Big Daddy spanked his little bottom.
But what should be done when Big Daddy lied?

Xie Yaoyao decided to work hard himself.
He would spank Big Daddy’s bottom!

Xie Zhaozhou: “…”

Xie Zhaozhou finally understood the pain Ning Shixue felt taking care of the kid on the variety show.
He rubbed his brow ridge, closed his eyes in exasperation.
To avoid being ‘killed by filial piety,’ he had to raise his hand.

But Ning Shixue happened to move in his sleep.
His long, thick eyelashes drooped, his skin pale as cool jade.
As he turned his head, his cheek brushed against Xie Zhaozhou’s fingertip through the screen.

Xie Zhaozhou’s finger paused, then curled inwards uncomfortably.

…

Ning Shixue slept completely unaware.
When he woke up the next morning, he discovered a nearly half-hour video call log on the tablet.
It was from 11:30 last night, Xie Yaoyao calling Xie Zhaozhou.

His heart skipped a beat.
He poked Xie Yaoyao.
Kid, what did you tell Big Daddy last night?

Xie Yaoyao was groggy with sleep.
He only wore his baby pajama pants, sticking out his little bottom as he tried desperately to burrow under the covers.

His milky voice was full of grievance.
Baby not know.

He just wanted to sleep.

Ning Shixue had to give up asking him.

He picked up his phone.
He had thanked Xie Zhaozhou last night, and Xie Zhaozhou had replied.

Though still cold, at least it wasn’t just a comma.

– [. : No need.]

Ning Shixue sent him another little sea otter kowtowing emoji.
As soon as he sent it, before he could exit the chat, he saw Xie Zhaozhou suddenly show as ‘typing…’

But after waiting a while, Xie Zhaozhou didn’t send anything.

Ning Shixue: “…”

The heart of a CEO was so hard to guess.

Xie Yaoyao slept for another hour or so before finally willing to get up.
With his eyes closed, he tried to put on his little socks.
The soft hair on his head was sticking up from sleep, his face flushed pink.

When he attempted to put the sock on his head for the third time, Ning Shixue couldn’t help stopping him.

Then he dressed him.

When they returned last night, he had turned off the live stream in their room.
The director, perhaps feeling guilty, or perhaps afraid of Ning Shixue’s mouth, hadn’t dared to ask him to turn it back on.

The program team hadn’t confiscated their phones.
As they went out, Ning Shixue casually opened the live stream.

As soon as he and Xie Yaoyao appeared, the bullet comments multiplied instantly.

[I wouldn’t mind being part of your little game.
Can you tell me now what kind of games you play?]
[ native dog holding a rose.jpg]

[Wifey is so hot.
Can you curse me out too?]

Ning Shixue: “…”

Ning Shixue: ???

Thanks.
Never heard that request in his life.

The other guests were also up.
The director came to announce the task.
The task for the third episode was called ‘Swap Dads.’

The guests would swap children for the day.
It was a traditional feature of this show, present every season.

The director’s team had already arranged it, based on the children’s ages.
Tang He’an would swap with He Lin.
Ning Shixue would swap with Ji Qing.

Tang Haohao didn’t understand at first, but once it sank in, he immediately started crying and making a scene.
His chubby cheeks were flushed red from crying as he struggled desperately.
No want no want!

He Miao was usually quite mature, but hearing her dad wasn’t swapping with Ning Shixue, her little face immediately fell too.

Miaomiao,
He Lin asked sourly,
You’re going to be separated from Daddy for a whole day, and you don’t miss Daddy?

Why was she so fixated on Ning Shixue?

He Miao was still immersed in the sadness that Little Ning Gege was being someone else’s dad and couldn’t be her dad.
She didn’t even hear what He Lin said.
She was resigned to her fate as Tang He’an picked her up, and she waved at He Lin.
Daddy, I’ll come pick you up tonight.

[Hahaha who’s picking up who?]

[Director He, don’t cry. Miaomiao still loves you, even if not as much as she loves my wife (?)]

He Lin almost shed bitter tears.

Ji Xiao was always well-behaved.
He didn’t resist however the program team arranged things.
He obediently went over and took Ning Shixue’s hand.

But surprisingly, Xie Yaoyao didn’t cry either.

He sighed and quickly accepted reality.
After all, he had once been a fan of this show.

Before leaving, he ran over to find Ji Xiao.
Xiaoxiaoshu, you need to, take good care of my stepdad oh.
Cannot take him to dangerous places.
Baby will fall down.
Falling down will make bottom hurt.
And he doesn’t know the way.

The more Xie Yaoyao talked, the more worried he became.

Without Xie Yaoyao, what would the bad stepdad do?

Ji Xiao was a bit dazed.
Xie Yaoyao seemed like such a daddy.
But he obediently agreed,
I will take good care of Little Ning Gege.

[This dad-son role reversal…]

[Xie Yaoyao: Who understands me? Worrying myself sick over my delicate, helpless stepdad. Chubby kid sighing.jpg]

Ning Shixue: “…”

He wasn’t, he didn’t, don’t slander him, okay?

Tang Haohao was still crying.
He Lin decided to take him to the children’s play area in the neighboring town and borrowed a car from the director.
Tang He’an also took Miaomiao to the town market.

Ning Shixue wasn’t worried Ji Qing would do anything to Xie Yaoyao.
Ji Qing simply didn’t dare.

After all, Xie Yaoyao was a child of the Xie family.

Before he could figure out what to do with Ji Xiao, he first took Ji Xiao’s little hand and went back to their room.

Ji Qing’s complexion still wasn’t great.

He never expected not only to fail in driving Ning Shixue off the show, but also to implicate Xie Hanzhou.
He was terrified, unable to sleep all night, afraid Xie Hanzhou would discover it was him.

Even though he had used a foreign IP to tip off the paparazzi, it would be hard to trace back to him for a while.

Xie Hanzhou had been at the company all night, rehearsing a new song.
When he left the recording studio, he saw Qiu Mingchuan holding his phone, hesitating as if he wanted to speak.
Xie Hanzhou frowned impatiently.
If you have something to say, say it.

Brother Zhou, you’d better see for yourself.
Qiu Mingchuan didn’t dare tell him and simply handed him the phone.

Only then did Xie Hanzhou see Ning Shixue’s live stream.

‘Fell for someone else’?

Xie Hanzhou immediately sneered.

Ning Shixue was like a dog he kept at the Ning residence.
He could always call him over with a simple gesture.
No matter how many lovers he had by his side, Ning Shixue would throw a tantrum, then turn around and come crawling back.

No matter how hard he tried to drive him away, he wouldn’t leave.

Ning Shixue liking someone else? What a joke.

But he soon noticed the motorcycle Ning Shixue had resold.
His expression instantly darkened.
Qiu Mingchuan beside him didn’t dare speak.
He saw Xie Hanzhou’s brow cloud over, his expression almost狰狞, his knuckles white from gripping the phone.

Finally, he threw the phone back to Qiu Mingchuan, viciously kicked the door, grabbed his coat, and left.

Qiu Mingchuan didn’t think much of Ji Qing, but Ji Qing’s meek and submissive nature made him let his guard down.

Whatever Ji Qing asked him, he told him.
He even told Ji Qing about Xie Hanzhou losing his temper.

…

Ji Qing had recovered his composure.
Xie Yaoyao’s big, dark eyes were fixed on him unblinkingly.

He felt a bit at a loss and could only lower his head and ask gently,
Yaoyao, where do you want to go play?
Gege will take you.

Xie Yaoyao thought for a moment, then pouted.
I want go zoo see dinosaur.

He even tried to roar like a dinosaur.
Aw woo wuwuwu.

‘Just like that.’

Ji Qing: “…”

The smile froze on Ji Qing’s face.
Where was he supposed to find a live dinosaur for Xie Yaoyao?

Did zoos even have such things?

Ji Xiao was much easier to handle.
He obediently took a storybook himself and sat on a little stool to read.

Ning Shixue could even go back to sleep for a bit.

But Ji Xiao occasionally looked up and stole a glance at him, as if checking his expression.
Ning Shixue would proactively talk to him.
Little Tangyuan, what book are you reading?

‘The Three Little Pigs,’
Ji Xiao said timidly.

Then came another awkward silence.

Ji Xiao read his storybook for a while.
Ning Shixue went out and bought him some ice cream.
Ji Xiao lowered his head to eat it, but the ice cream melted too fast.
In his carelessness, some dropped onto his pants.

Ning Shixue started another game.
Ji Xiao suddenly grabbed the edge of the kang with his little hand and called him quietly.
Little Ning Gege.

Hm?
Ning Shixue looked down.
What’s wrong?

Ji Xiao said,
I want go play in yard.

I’ll go with you,
Ning Shixue said, thinking Ji Xiao wanted him to go out with him, and started to get up.

Unexpectedly, Ji Xiao nervously waved his little hands, insisting on going alone.

The director was also in the yard, along with several cameramen and other program staff.
Ning Shixue agreed.
Go ahead then.
I’ll be right here.
Remember to call me if anything happens.

Ji Xiao nodded.

Xie Yaoyao looked chubby and soft, but he was a solid little lead weight of a child.
Ji Xiao, however, was genuinely thin.

The soft flesh on his face strained with effort as he carried a small basin, filled it with water, and squatted in the corner of the yard.

The cameraman tried to sneak closer.
Ji Xiao turned away, using the basin to block himself like a little mushroom.
All the camera could capture was his little hands holding a bar of soap, covered in bubbles.

The director thought he was just playing in the water and didn’t pay much attention.

Ning Shixue stayed in the room for a while but felt something was off.
A bit worried, he went out to find Ji Xiao.

His footsteps were light, like a cat’s.
Ji Xiao was startled by his approach.
The soap slipped from his little hands.

What are you doing?
Ning Shixue then noticed his pants were soaking wet, and his little sandals were wet too.

Ji Xiao lowered his head and didn’t speak.
Ning Shixue asked again.
Only then did he finally whisper,
Pants… dirty.

Ning Shixue paused for a moment, then finally understood.
It must have been from the ice cream.

[I probably shouldn’t say this, but I kind of feel bad for Ji Qing.
Taking care of a kid like this must be exhausting.]

[I’m actually starting to wonder if Xiaoxiao might have autism.
But autism doesn’t present like this either.]

[Asking and he won’t answer, it would really drive anyone crazy.]

[Isn’t he just a little shy?
He’s only known Ning Shixue for a few days.
Isn’t it perfectly normal not to dare speak up???]

Ning Shixue didn’t ask anything.
He picked up Ji Xiao and found a pair of Xie Yaoyao’s pants to put on him.

The cameras were all turned off while changing clothes.
As Ning Shixue pulled up the pants, Ji Xiao’s leg suddenly flinched.
Ning Shixue looked down and noticed a bruise near the top of his leg.

Ji Xiao was a bit shy.
Besides the nanny, this was the first time anyone other than his uncle had changed his clothes.
Seeing Ning Shixue staring at his leg, he said quietly,
I fell down.

There was no way a place like that could be bruised from falling.

Ning Shixue knew that better than anyone.
When he was in the orphanage, he had been pinched too.
Older kids would often pin him down at night, pull down his pants, and pinch his legs.

They always pinched places that wouldn’t show.

In the original novel, everyone was somewhat villainous.
Ji Qing was indeed abusing Ji Xiao.
His hatred was just too deep.
He had advised his sister back then, telling her not to marry that man.
But Ji Wan still got married and had a child.

In the end, she left him with this burden.

Ji Xiao, however, never hated him.

He felt his uncle was too pitiful.
Everyone who called was always cursing at his uncle.

And Xie Hanzhou.

He vaguely understood that Xie Hanzhou seemed to be his uncle’s boyfriend.
But Xie Hanzhou wasn’t nice to his uncle either.
Every time he came to their house, Ji Xiao noticed his uncle’s hands trembling.

Ji Qing might not like him very much, but Ji Xiao was the person in this world who loved him the most.

Ning Shixue gently squeezed Ji Xiao’s little hand and asked very softly,
Does it still hurt?

Ji Xiao’s eyes seemed to redden a bit.
When no one cared, he didn’t feel anything.
But suddenly someone asked if it hurt, and his leg instantly started to ache.
He held back his tears and shook his head.

I’ll take you out to play,
Ning Shixue thought for a moment.
I think the town has a playground too?

Ji Xiao was naturally well-behaved, and what kid didn’t like playgrounds?
Of course, he nodded in agreement.

It took them an hour to get there.

The town’s playground didn’t have many attractions, but Ji Xiao had a great time.
At first, he was afraid to go down the slide, worried about dirtying his pants.
Ning Shixue just picked him up and put him on it.

‘They’re already dirty anyway,’
Ning Shixue blinked and said with unassailable logic.
‘Might as well play.’

Um, um.

Ji Xiao felt something was off, but it also sounded so reasonable.

After lunch, passing by a shooting gallery, they ran into Tang He’an and He Miao.

Tang He’an was 1.9 meters tall, a regular in police-gangster films, with muscles everywhere.
He looked like he could knock out two Ning Shixues with one punch.
But now his face was exceptionally gentle, smiling so wide his mouth couldn’t close, coaxing Miaomiao.
Which doll do you want?
Uncle will shoot it for you.

He was almost moved to tears.

He Miaomiao called him ‘uncle’ sweetly and softly, impossibly well-behaved.
His heart was melting.
He couldn’t imagine how happy He Lin must be every day being called ‘daddy.’

Until He Miao turned her head and suddenly spotted Ning Shixue.

Little Ning Gege!
He Miao immediately ran towards him, leaving Tang He’an behind.

Tang He’an: “…”

His tears flowed even faster.

Ning Shixue took her little hand, holding Ji Xiao in his arms, and asked him,
Do you want a doll?

At this shooting stall, popping the balloons at designated spots earned you a little plush toy.

…Can I have a little pig?
Ji Xiao pursed his lips.
Just when Ning Shixue thought he wasn’t going to speak, he finally timidly raised his finger to point.

It was a very ugly little pig, all dirty and black-ish.

That was the only way Ning Shixue could describe it.

But Ji Xiao wanted it, so he nodded.
Okay.

I can shoot for you,
Tang He’an offered.

The guns at this stall were quite realistic.
He stared at Ning Shixue’s overly slender wrist bones and couldn’t help offering.

It’s fine,
Ning Shixue declined.

He picked up a smaller gun, not too different from a Browning.
His fingers were long and beautiful, his profile pale and cold, making his eye sockets seem even deeper.
He naturally carried a kind of cold beauty.

He just raised his hand, seemingly without even aiming, and bang, shot down the little pig.

[??? Holy crap, he’s this good?]

[Seems even better than Brother Tang just now.
Brother Tang still took a moment to aim.]

[Wifey, what other surprises do you have that I don’t know about?]

Tang He’an was more surprised than anyone.

For his roles, he had spent a cumulative year in the military and had handled real guns…
Ning Shixue seemed a bit too proficient.
He couldn’t help glancing at Ning Shixue’s face.

Ning Shixue still had that lazy air about him.

He Miao cheered him on from the side, hugging his hand and acting cute.
Little Ning Gege, I want a bunny!

So Ning Shixue shot one for her too.

Since he was here, he noticed there were Ultraman plushies and some from the Forest Bunny Police series.
He shot a few extra to take back for Xie Yaoyao.

He didn’t forget Tang Haohao’s share either, giving Tang He’an a Tiga.

Whenever he raised his hand, the gun was always aimed perfectly at the balloon corresponding to the plushie.
Some commenters even screenshotted it.
Every shot Ning Shixue fired hit the center of the balloon.

[Help, this is like shooting straight into my heart.]

[Hisss, hisss. I can’t imagine how well President Xie usually eats.
Why don’t I have a wife like this?!]

Actually, when Ning Shixue touched the cold gun stock, he froze for a moment.
His item in the instances had been a silver handgun.
He got it in some vampire instance.
The gun was engraved with a rose entwined with thorns.

In the instances, abilities were enhanced, but after three years, Ning Shixue’s own marksmanship was excellent too.

They were having a great time over here.

But Xie Yaoyao was very unhappy.
He felt Ji Qing was way too dumb.
He couldn’t find any dinosaurs, and he couldn’t understand what Xie Yaoyao was saying.

How could there be such a dumb adult?

It was like the nannies and servants at home who took care of him.
They wouldn’t let him do this, wouldn’t let him do that.
Then, when they turned around, their expressions towards him became annoyed.

Once, a nanny even said he was an unwanted child, that he had ‘cursed’ his parents to death at such a young age.
The butler grandpa told Big Daddy, and then that bad person was kicked out.

He couldn’t see Ji Qing’s expression, but little kids are very sensitive.
He felt Ji Qing definitely hated him too.

I want eat little cake,
Xie Yaoyao clutched his little spoon and banged it hard on the table.

In just a few hours, he had already asked for chocolate, ice cream, jelly, fried chicken, and even made Ji Qing roast lamb chops for him.
Ji Qing was exhausted but didn’t dare refuse.

Afraid he’d overeat, Ji Qing coaxed Xie Yaoyao.
How about gege tells you a story?

Not listen,
Xie Yaoyao turned his little face away.

Ji Qing found Ji Xiao’s storybook for him, struggling to maintain a gentle expression.
Yaoyao, do you want to read this?

Every time Ji Xiao got a storybook, he would quietly occupy himself for a long time.

This time, Xie Yaoyao reached out and took it.
His fair, tender cheeks puffed with each breath.
He lowered his head and opened it, and his little mouth immediately puckered into a trumpet shape again.

Why was it all words?

He couldn’t read.

[This is way too bratty.]

[When Ning Shixue is around, Xie Yaoyao is pretty well-behaved, isn’t he?]

[You think everyone is as crazy as Ning Shixue???]

You go play by yourself,
Xie Yaoyao sighed, like a little adult.
I also go, play by myself.

Ji Qing never expected to be rejected by a three-and-a-half-year-old.
He felt embarrassed, but could only force a smile and say,
Don’t go too far.

Xie Yaoyao maturely waved him off, then sat on the steps, propping his chubby face in his hands.
He picked up the tablet and asked a program team uncle to help him open Ning Shixue’s live stream.

Baby checking in!

Xie Yaoyao didn’t like the bad stepdad.
But Xie Xingxing was best friends with Ning Shixue.
Xie Xingxing was online now, and he wanted to secretly check if Ning Shixue had started liking some other kid.

He opened it and saw Ning Shixue and the others at the playground.
Ning Shixue was shooting one plushie after another for the kids.

The stall owner nearby was almost in tears.
Were you here to film a show or to wreck his business?

Xie Yaoyao felt so wronged.
He was so wronged he kicked his little short legs a few times.

Why was it like this?

Ning Shixue had never bought him a plushie.

Jealousy distorted the little kid’s face.
His chubby face pressed against the screen, the flesh squishing out of shape.

Xie Yaoyao decided to complain to Big Daddy.

Xie Zhaozhou seemed busy and didn’t pick up.
He called back a few minutes later.

Xie Yaoyao had already melted into a puddle of jealous jelly.

Big Daddy!
Xie Yaoyao hummed and hawed for a long time, trying to figure out how to make Big Daddy understand the severity of the situation.
Finally, he said, full of grievance,
Your wife, got stolen by little black pig!

Ning Shixue had put the few plushies for Xie Yaoyao in his bag and left them in the car.
Then he helped Ji Xiao carry his little pig.

Xie Yaoyao only saw Ning Shixue constantly holding the little black pig.
What was he supposed to do?
He didn’t like pigs anymore.

Xie Zhaozhou: “…”

What nonsense was this?

Where did this pig demon come from?

[Little Black Pig: So I was just part of your game all along. doge]

[Baby, are you trying to make me laugh to death?]

Bad Bad took other kids out to play,
Xie Yaoyao pouted.
Didn’t take baby.

Xie Zhaozhou knew about their task for the day.
His voice remained cold as he told Xie Yaoyao,
He’ll be back soon.

The bullet comments had been eagerly waiting to hear Xie Zhaozhou speak.
Even if they couldn’t see him, hearing this President Xie’s voice would be fine.

But as soon as Xie Zhaozhou spoke, the live stream suddenly went silent.

[??? @ProgramTeam, why can’t I hear my wife’s husband talk?]

[I’m going to throw a tantrum!!! Rolling on floor crying.jpg]

The director’s team had been instructed beforehand not to reveal anything about this President Xie.
They didn’t dare slack off.

Xie Yaoyao’s little face was puffed up in anger.
Big Daddy just didn’t understand.
The little black pig was very bad.

He had already imagined the little black pig as the black evil dragon from the cartoons.
Ning Shixue would be captured and locked up.

Then Xie Yaoyao the brave warrior and Big Daddy would go save him.

But Ning Shixue would only want to be with the little evil dragon.

If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up,
Xie Zhaozhou said.

Xie Yaoyao started to get angry.
He was so angry he even dared to talk back to Big Daddy.
His little bun face puffed up.
He used some line he must have picked up somewhere.
You just spoiling him!