My Kid Took Me to Kindergarten… Then Everyone Watched My Variety Show

Xie Zhaozhou knew when to stop.

He didn’t dare push Ning Shixue too far.
He walked over and opened the car door.
Since Ning Shixue still had to film, he drove him to the production’s hotel.

Ning Shixue caught up on sleep.
When he opened his eyes again, Xie Zhaozhou was already gone.
There was a lunch he had made waiting in the microwave.

Ning Shixue didn’t even know when Xie Zhaozhou had made it.

There was even pan-fried lamb chop.

Ning Shixue felt a bit dizzy.
He lay in bed until the dizziness passed, then got up to eat.

On his phone, besides the message Xie Zhaozhou had left him, there were also dozens of voice messages from the chubby kid.

Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King was very aggrieved. Last night, he had gone home with the baby and Big Daddy. He had even wanted to sing the new song he had learned in kindergarten for the baby.

But when he woke up, both the baby and Big Daddy were gone. Why was it like this?

Ning Shixue sent a voice message back to Xie Yaoyao. Xie Yaoyao quickly called back, grumbling. Feeling guilty, Ning Shixue said,
“You can sing now.”

So Ning Shixue listened as he sang the new song he had learned, with a distinct “Little Cabbage” flavor.

The chubby kid was easy to coax. When he heard Ning Shixue was eating pan-fried lamb chop, he drooled and said,
“Baby needs to eat well.”

The old butler reminded him not to call while eating. Otherwise… otherwise… Xie Yaoyao scratched his chubby cheek. He couldn’t remember what the consequence was.

“Otherwise, your bottom will hurt,” Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King said, his soft, white cheeks puffed up like a little bun. He said it firmly.

The chubby kid held a grudge. He would never forget that Big Daddy had spanked his little bottom.

Ning Shixue: “…”

He didn’t say anything more. After eating, he went to the set. Xie Yaoyao went to kindergarten.

The Xie family had many collateral branches. With Old Master Xie in the hospital, Liao Yanwan mentally unstable, and Xie’s father hospitalized, Xie Zhaozhou was tied up with family affairs. Ning Shixue didn’t see him for several days.

He Lin, however, had finally decided to let Xie Yaoyao act in Last Night’s Star. So Ning Shixue went to pick Xie Yaoyao up from kindergarten.

Kindergarten let out at 4 PM. Ning Shixue arrived early, at 3:30 PM, outside Xie Yaoyao’s classroom. Through the window, he could see Xie Yaoyao and the other kids still in class. He had planned to wait by the door for half an hour.

Unexpectedly, a little girl with pigtails turned, spotted him, and exclaimed,
“Baby!”

Ning Shixue: ???

All the children in the classroom turned to look. Ning Shixue’s toes curled.

Xie Yaoyao perked up like a little puppy. His big, dark eyes instantly lit up. He pattered over to Ning Shixue and hugged his leg, rubbing against it excitedly.
“Baby, why are you here?”

Was the baby here to go to kindergarten with him?

He Miao had told Xie Yaoyao before that she wanted to send Little Ning Gege to kindergarten so he could read and count. Xie Yaoyao had agreed at the time.

But they had disagreed on details. He Miao thought Ning Shixue was old enough for the older class. Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King thought the baby was still young and should go to the younger class with him to avoid getting bullied.

They couldn’t agree, so Ning Shixue’s kindergarten enrollment had been delayed until now.

Ning Shixue’s face was full of embarrassment. He had discussed with Xie Yaoyao’s teacher and planned to wait until school let out to stick all of Xie Yaoyao’s little red flowers on the wall. He had even bought lots of red flower stickers on the way.

But now, surrounded by children, Xie Yaoyao was like a little sieve. He had already told all the other kids that he had a baby. The little ones all wanted to see Xie Yaoyao’s baby.

“You’re lying!” a little boy suddenly said after staring at Ning Shixue for a while.
“He’s already this big. How could he be your baby?”

His name was Lu He. Ning Shixue remembered it because Xie Yaoyao often fought with him.

Xie Yaoyao planted his chubby hands on his waist, very indignant. He wasn’t lying. He wasn’t a bad kid. But how could he prove the baby was his?

Then he remembered they had filmed the show. The director had captured everything. If he showed the kids the video, he could prove that the bad stepdad was indeed his baby.

Nothing could stop clever Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King.

The teacher had wanted to coax the kids to continue class, but now none were controllable. Lu He and Xie Yaoyao were about to fight again. The teacher simply gave up.

School was out in less than twenty minutes. She clapped her hands and said,
“How about we watch some of the show?”

The kids had no objections.

Ning Shixue strongly objected. This was social death. But with so many pairs of eyes staring at him, and Xie Yaoyao hugging his leg, he had no choice but to sit and agree. At least he could sit next to Xie Yaoyao.

Let’s Go, Baby! had already aired. According to the program’s routine, after the sixth episode, a special episode was inserted: guests’ daily lives with their kids, plus some mixed footage.

Ning Shixue, who had filmed at night a few days ago, had also been included in the edit. This episode had just aired last night. The teacher, who hadn’t had time to watch it, was happy to see it now.

The director was still mean. The very first shot was Xie Yaoyao crying. At the time, Qin Naonao had made him cry. His eyes were red-rimmed, tears streaming uncontrollably.

His eyes were swollen like little peaches, and the northern city was very cold. His fair, tender cheeks were flushed red.

Huh? Huh?

Xie Yaoyao’s eyes went wide. He didn’t even recognize the kid. When he finally realized it was him, his whole little being was unhappy. He anxiously waved his little hands, stuttering,
“No! Not that!”

He had never cried.

Luckily, the shot passed quickly.
And every kid’s crying face was shown.
So the great antagonist hadn’t been completely humiliated.

The director opened with over ten minutes of the show’s funny moments.
Then the filter gradually softened.
A line of subtitles appeared: “There are many moments when I want to watch you grow up.”

No wonder this show was so popular and had been successful for several years.

The editing rhythm was excellent. The first part was hilarious, and then, without feeling abrupt, it transitioned into a tear-jerking segment.

On the snowy mountain, He Miao, bundled up like a little ball, ran toward He Lin. He Lin’s eyes were full of smiles as he picked her up and placed her on his shoulders. His ears were red from the cold. He Miao covered them with her little hands and asked,
“Daddy, can you run faster?”

“What if I fall?” He Lin asked, smiling as he looked up at her.

He Miao swung her little pigtails, leaned down, and hugged him.
“I’ll fall with Daddy.”

The shot switched. Qin Zhou was having a snowball fight with Qin Naonao. Tang He-an was also playing with Tang Haohao nearby. Tang Haohao was completely wild, chasing him relentlessly with a snowball.

At night, the snowy mountain was lit by the set lights stretching far and wide. Tang He-an panted from exhaustion and waved his hand.
“I’m not playing with you anymore.”

“No!” Tang Haohao stomped his foot hard. “Daddy, are you not capable?”

Tang He-an: “…”

The bullet comments were dying of laughter.

“Kid, you can’t just say that.”
“Technically, if your dad wasn’t capable, you wouldn’t exist.” (doge)
“Calling the cops. I was crying, then laughed so hard I snorted. My mom came to hit me.” (Puppy hugging leg crying.jpg)

Tang He-an put his gloves back on and got serious. Tang Haohao was chased all over the yard. The production team even used slow-motion shots, giving a sudden feeling of growing up.

Then came Ning Shixue’s group. The style abruptly changed.

Ning Shixue was curled up in bed. His usually pale cheeks were slightly flushed from sleep. Xie Yaoyao struggled to put on his little socks beside him, then sighed maturely and patted him.
“Time to eat, little piggy.”

Ning Shixue slacked off and didn’t want to walk. Xie Yaoyao the Great Demon King huffed and puffed, pushing his leg to make him move. Ning Shixue wanted to eat fried chicken. Xie Yaoyao raised his soft, chubby little arm and made an X sign.
“Not allowed oh.”

The director even included the scene where Ning Shixue read a bedtime story to the kids. After he finished perfunctorily, the kids patted his pillow and covered him with a blanket. They also included the moment when all the kids competed to hand him their bottles.

It was basically treating the father like the son. It was hard not to suspect the director did it on purpose.

“How is this not a baby?”
“Hard-working old father Xie Yaoyao, having to watch the baby grow up.”
“Why does President Xie get so many babies? Don’t be unappreciative, give me one!!!” (Crying.jpg)

The kindergarten kids were stunned. This gege really was Xie Yaoyao’s baby. Ning Shixue had found it embarrassing at first, but now he was numb. Many kids came over to touch him, curious about what such a big baby felt like. He didn’t refuse, lying flat and letting them touch him.

Ning Shixue was grateful kindergarten was about to let out, so this public humiliation lasted only half the episode. After the kids were picked up by their parents, Ning Shixue helped Xie Yaoyao stick all his little red flowers back on the wall, said goodbye to the teacher, and left, thoroughly embarrassed.

He Lin hadn’t expected a three-and-a-half-year-old to memorize a script, so Xie Yaoyao’s scenes were filmed the same day, and he was taught how to do them then. At 6:30 PM, after He Miao arrived and they had dinner, filming continued. The mountain village scenes were finished; for the next half month, they would film in Yan City.

* * * *

That evening, Xie Zhaozhou left the company. Before picking up Ning Shixue, he went to meet someone.

Jiang Xin was waiting in a coffee shop, wearing a black halter dress. Her long curly hair draped over her shoulders. The Xie family had intense features, and hers were bright and beautiful, though now she looked pale.

Xie Zhaozhou sat across from her. Jiang Xin spoke first.
“You wanted to see me?”

“You went too far.” Xie Zhaozhou’s face was pale, making his features look sharper. He didn’t waste words and pushed a recording device across the table.

Jiang Xin picked it up, breath catching. She hadn’t expected this device in his hands, but she quickly realized.
“You investigated us abroad.”

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t deny it.

Anything done leaves traces. Jiang Xin and her brother hadn’t thought they could escape forever. This device was Jiang Zhan’s trump card, containing many conversations between him and Xie’s father, including when he begged Xie’s father after Xie Sui died and several meetings in between. It was enough to prove Xie’s father knew about the murder and deliberately covered for him.

Even if the worst happened and they were caught, with this device and the evidence in his safe, Xie’s father would definitely be arrested.

Going to prison was one thing. An illegitimate child killing his own son, and Xie’s father covering it up? After getting out, he’d be the laughingstock of Yan City’s elite and never hold his head up again. Xie’s father cared most about his face. Losing it completely would be worse than dying.

Jiang Xin now understood why Xie Zhaozhou had been investigating them openly recently. He had relentlessly pursued them. She and Jiang Zhan had been trapped in the country for the past half month while he took the opportunity to investigate their past abroad thoroughly.

Steadying herself, Jiang Xin asked,
“What do you want to say?”

Xie Zhaozhou could have handed all evidence to the police, but he didn’t.
“I don’t actually care who you want to target,” he said coldly. “But no matter who in the Xie family you hate, it has nothing to do with him.”

If Xie’s father didn’t die and they were caught, Jiang Xin’s final step would be making this recording public. Xie Zhaozhou had pushed them hard. Jiang Zhan realized they might really be caught this time and had preemptively contacted media outlets to release the scandal if he was arrested.

Of course, he wouldn’t hand over all the materials now. He’d already spent a lot to smooth things over. Since it involved the Xie family’s reputation, the media wouldn’t leak it easily; they’d only release it if Jiang Zhan were arrested. But as soon as Jiang Zhan approached the media, the word got back to Xie Zhaozhou.

After all, the Xie Group owned Shengxing Entertainment, a top company with close media ties.

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t care about Jiang Zhan’s schemes, but Ning Shixue had been dragged into the press release. The parenting show was still popular, and Ning Shixue had a drama airing. Jiang Zhan wanted to exploit his fame.

Whether Ning Shixue got sick or injured filming late nights, no one else cared—but Xie Zhaozhou did. He wouldn’t allow it to be tainted by hatred.

Jiang Xin finally clenched her hand.
“I understand.”

Since Xie Zhaozhou had come to see her, this wasn’t just a warning. If she didn’t want Jiang Zhan harmed, she couldn’t act rashly. She put down the device and left the coffee shop, glancing at Xie Zhaozhou with suppressed emotion.

Before they drove the car into Xie Sui, they had investigated him. They felt Xie Sui was very unlike a member of the Xie family. Xie Zhaozhou was also unlike them; otherwise, he wouldn’t have traveled just to ask her to leave Ning Shixue alone.

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t stay long. He arrived at the set after nine. Xie Yaoyao had finished filming and gone home to sleep. Ning Shixue was still filming the last scene.

Xie Zhaozhou waited in the car and saw Ning Shixue’s name trending. Opening it, he saw last night’s show:

[Just asking, do we ship directly or is there a procedure???]
[Sniff, begging the director to film another episode in ten years. I’ll cry for real.]

Ning Shixue hadn’t finished watching the show in kindergarten. This episode included half the kids and additional shots. The filter was soft, but the subtitles read: “There are many moments when I want to grow old with you.”

It opened with Grandpa Mu and Grandma Mu. At night, Grandma Mu wanted to go to the sheep pen but was afraid. Grandpa Mu carried a lantern and accompanied her through the wind and snow.

Then the shot switched to Yan City University. The sky was pitch black, but lights shone inside the campus. Tang He-an and Tang Haohao had gone to pick up Yan Ting from work. Tang He-an, smiling like a happy fool under the light, waved at Yan Ting.

The program team filmed nearby. Yan Ting was embarrassed but still walked over.

The director captured the quiet night, their clasped hands, and the moonlight above.

Ning Shixue appeared last, opening with Xie Yaoyao standing on tiptoe to stick a little red flower on his face. Then came Xie Zhaozhou’s hand holding the little red flower Ning Shixue had placed.

The shot reversed.

It was a snowy night in the northern city.
Ning Shixue’s complexion was so pale he seemed about to melt into the snowy night.
But his beautiful eyes held a smile even he didn’t know about.

He reached out and put his hand in Xie Zhaozhou’s coat pocket.
Then Xie Zhaozhou hooked his leg and carried him on his back.

The warm red light of the stove flickered in Grandpa Mu’s house.
Before Xie Zhaozhou arrived, Ning Shixue was wrapped in a blanket, leaning by the window.
His eyes reflected the lights of the ski resort and the distant car lights.

The director had also done a little interview that night.
It was the night Xie Zhaozhou and Ning Shixue went to buy the little lights.

The director asked the guests,
“Do you have any wishes?”

“Want baby and Big Daddy.”
Xie Yaoyao’s wish was very direct.
He just wanted to be with the baby forever.

Xie Zhaozhou hadn’t said anything at the time.
But he had thought for a moment, maybe many years later, he could still bring Ning Shixue to this place to buy little lights.

Ning Shixue hadn’t said anything either.
Salted fish refused unnecessary interviews.
But he couldn’t help glancing at Xie Zhaozhou.
When he looked away, the tips of his ears were slightly red.

[Just let me ship it and die. Actually, Ningning already kind of liked President Xie back then.]

[Baby, you’re a silly little sea otter.]

The shot ended on that snowy night.
Ning Shixue and Xie Zhaozhou were setting off fireworks in the yard.
The brilliant light of the sparklers shone on Ning Shixue’s face.
Instead, it made his complexion look even paler.
But the sicker he looked, the more there was a breathtaking beauty.

Like fireworks burning up in the snow.

The director hadn’t deliberately edited it. But Ning Shixue had been sick from start to finish on the show, and the weight of the words “grow old together” suddenly hit harder.

During his last days in the northern city, Ning Shixue’s hands were still wrapped in bandages—he had been injured saving Ji Xiao. The bullet comments were crying their eyes out. Ning Shixue had trended on social media from last night straight through to now.

Xie Zhaozhou’s Adam’s apple moved. At the time, he hadn’t realized how intently he had looked at Ning Shixue.

When Ning Shixue finished work that night and changed clothes, he saw Xie Zhaozhou’s car from afar and ran over. Xie Zhaozhou saw him too, opened the car door, and reached out to hug him tightly.

“Second Brother, when did you get here?” Ning Shixue’s eyes sparkled as he looked up.

The corner of Xie Zhaozhou’s mouth lifted. Quietly, not entirely serious, he said,
“Probably right when Teacher Xiao Ning was missing me.”

Ning Shixue: “…”
He swore he would punch Xie Zhaozhou one day.

He didn’t want to be seen clinging to Xie Zhaozhou on set, so he quickly got in the car. But tonight, Xie Zhaozhou was unusually quiet. Ning Shixue slumped in the passenger seat. Only when he realized the route didn’t look familiar did he ask, confused,
“Second Brother, where are we going?”

Xie Zhaozhou hadn’t drunk that night, but he felt drunk. His long, pale fingers toyed with his tie, loosening it slightly.

Every time Ning Shixue called him “Second Brother,” it sounded like acting cute—but Ning Shixue didn’t realize it. He even grabbed Xie Zhaozhou’s hand and gently shook it.

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t answer. The pure black Mercedes stopped at a hotel parking lot.

He grabbed Ning Shixue’s wrist and got out. Ning Shixue didn’t realize until he was pressed against the car door.

His face flushed red.

But Xie Zhaozhou had already pinched his chin, forced his teeth apart, and kissed him.

His tongue pressed hotly against Ning Shixue’s lips. Trembling, Ning Shixue couldn’t make a sound.

He could only let them grind together in a deep, consuming kiss.

Xie Zhaozhou lifted him by the thighs; Ning Shixue lost a shoe. His body tensed. His eyelashes trembled, wet with tears. His lips were bitten red and swollen. He pressed them together and whispered, embarrassed,
“Why are you so sudden?”

Hadn’t he been able to hold back before?

Xie Zhaozhou’s dark phoenix eyes reflected Ning Shixue’s face. He couldn’t take it anymore. Even if Ning Shixue was like the moon in the sky, he had to hold him completely. Otherwise, he always felt Ning Shixue would leave.

Only then did Ning Shixue realize Xie Zhaozhou had booked a luxury suite. The entrance was lined with roses. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped most of the room. Under the night sky, Yan City glimmered with neon lights.

Xie Zhaozhou kissed his reddened ear, chuckling softly.

Half of Ning Shixue’s pale neck flushed red. Xie Zhaozhou carried him further into the room. Below lay a soft bed. Ning Shixue sank into it, his body trembling uncontrollably.

“Don’t be scared.” Xie Zhaozhou’s suit jacket was crumpled in his grip.

He took a glass of red wine from the bedside, sipped it himself, then pressed his lips to Ning Shixue’s, letting him taste it.

Ning Shixue didn’t handle alcohol well—one sip wouldn’t get him drunk—but his body warmed.

His trembling ceased. His eyelashes fluttered, and his beautiful eyes were misty.

The bedside drawer opened and closed. Outside, it rained in Yan City, wind and rain shaking under the night sky. Neon lights on the tall buildings flickered tirelessly.

Ning Shixue pushed against Xie Zhaozhou’s shoulder and kissed him.

Each kiss felt like Xie Zhaozhou had a grudge against him—he sucked at his lips until they were swollen and hot, as if trying to swallow him whole. Yet tonight, he was agonizingly gentle.

He suddenly stopped biting. He lowered his head and kissed him slowly. Xie Zhaozhou’s palm pressed lightly against Ning Shixue’s heart through his thin chest.

Ning Shixue felt it wrapped and pounding heavily in Xie Zhaozhou’s palm.

He tightened his fingers, clutching the hair at the back of Xie Zhaozhou’s head. The corners of his eyes were wet and red. He whispered,
“Don’t worry about me.”
He wasn’t that fragile.

Xie Zhaozhou lowered his eyes and kissed his eyelashes. His high nose bridge rubbed against the soft flesh of Ning Shixue’s cheek. Still unaware of the danger, Ning Shixue pinched the back of Xie Zhaozhou’s neck, touched his sweaty face, and tilted his head up to kiss him.

And at that moment, Xie Zhaozhou’s restraint completely snapped.

…

The night was deep.

Ning Shixue’s eyelids were red.
He could barely open them.
Xie Zhaozhou suddenly said quietly,
“We’re out.”

“Then don’t use any,”
Ning Shixue said, stunned for a moment before he realized.
His ears burned as he reluctantly spoke.

“…”
Xie Zhaozhou held him from behind.
But he paused for a moment before speaking.
“Do you know what you’re saying?”

Ning Shixue was startled.
He suddenly realized.

This was a damn baby-having story!

Xie Zhaozhou’s breath was hot as he leaned closer.
His voice was low and suggestive.
“You want to have a baby with me?”

“…Get lost!”
Ning Shixue’s face was red enough to bleed.
He raised his hand to push him away.
But he had no strength left in his hand.

Xie Zhaozhou held him and chuckled softly.
“But I already have one baby. That’s enough.”