Sponsored chapter (3/5)
After ten minutes, Lu Huan ended the call.
He shifted his gaze to Yu Baihan, who was perched at the edge of the bed. Yu Baihan, still dutifully cradling the “Huo’s eldest son” in his lap, lay there, the hamster curled up into a fuzzy ball, asleep.
Lu Huan stated, “Mr. Huo mentioned that it’s too late tonight, so we’ll return him tomorrow.”
Yu Baihan nodded compliantly and said, “Alright.”
Lu Huan closed his eyes, deliberately avoiding the visage that often triggered his headaches. “I’ll provide you with Mrs. Huo’s WeChat. You can add her.”
Yu Baihan inclined his head slightly, “To apologize?”
Lu Huan chuckled, “You brought someone else’s ‘cherished son’ home. Shouldn’t they verify whether you’re taking good care of him?”
“…” Yu Baihan lowered his head in agreement and said, “Yes.”
Once back in the bedroom, cradling the “eldest son” in his arms, Yu Baihan promptly added Qiao Yun on WeChat.
He snapped a photo of the peacefully slumbering hamster dumpling.
[Yu Er]: My apologies, Mrs. Huo. Your son is in good health. [image]
[Qiao Yun]: No problem, I remembered. I think the pup must have been accidentally tucked into your pocket while they were sliding down. [sheepish]
She followed up with a series of hamster care tips, also advising Yu Baihan to prepare a proper resting place for the “eldest son” tonight.
Yu Baihan meticulously noted each piece of advice, typing his responses in the chat box: Rest assured, I’ll treat him like my dear…
He corrected himself mid-sentence: I mean, I’ll care for him like a beloved family member.
[Qiao Yun]: Sounds good!
Following Qiao Yun’s instructions, Yu Baihan set up a comfortable space for the hamster. Turning off the lights, he turned to his little charge:
“Good night, Yigubigu.”
—
The following morning, Hua Wu drove Yu Baihan to the Huo residence.
Qiao Yun had already been waiting in the quaint yard, a tray of morning tea set on the coffee table.
Yu Baihan held the furry ball a bit shyly, “I’ve returned your son.”
Qiao Yun accepted the hamster and let out a soft sigh, “My apologies for the inconvenience caused by the pup.”
Yu Baihan shook his head. “I’m the one who startled your son.”
The two exchanged a few courteous words, but quickly slipped into a more relaxed conversation.
Qiao Yun suggested, “Since you’re here, why not stay for some morning tea?”
Seated on opposite sides of the coffee table, Qiao Yun introduced the second and youngest “sons” to Yu Baihan, placing them on their respective knees and gently petting them.
As Yu Baihan tenderly stroked the hamster’s fur, he turned to meet Qiao Yun’s contemplative gaze.
Pausing in his movements, he inquired, “Is something on your mind, Mrs. Huo?”
Meanwhile, the eldest son nestled on his shoulder and the second son cradled in his hands also seemed to respond, their dark eyes curiously trained on him.
Unable to restrain herself, Qiao Yun mused aloud, “You guys look like a trio of brothers.”
Yu Baihan, “…”
Then Qiao Yun had another thought, “Why don’t you be my ‘son’ as well?”
Startled by her sudden enthusiasm, Yu Baihan’s grip on the hamster loosened, and the little creature tumbled from his palm. Swiftly bowing his head, he apologized once he identified which one was which, “I’m sorry, second brother.”
He then turned to Qiao Yun with a quizzical expression and asked, “…Is this appropriate?”
If his memories weren’t tangled, this would only be their second meeting.
Qiao Yun dismissed his concerns with a casual wave, “Let’s not overthink it. Just go with the flow.”
Yu Baihan: …
Indeed, if a hamster can be considered a son, why can’t he be too?
Qiao Yun added, “Furthermore, Lao Huo and I have not had children. It’s been quite a journey to find someone we both appreciate. I must say, I wasn’t quite fond of that third child from the Si family who visited us a few days ago…”
Yu Baihan cocked his head, his expression questioning.
As he suspected, the honorable Si Wei had also made an appearance here.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Qiao Yun’s expression shifted to confusion, “Oh, is that your sibling?”
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Wait, when did he agree to this?
—
Fifteen minutes later, the coffee table was adorned with neatly stacked plates, forming three separate piles.
On each side of the table rested a cup of tea, with three hamster dumplings nestled in the middle.
The caretaker, who had been appointed temporarily, clutched three incense sticks in his hand, hesitating as he stood behind the coffee table, casting a glance at the duo before him, his words lingering on his tongue.
Directly before them, Yu Baihan and Qiao Yun underwent an instantaneous transformation into a mother and son.
A slight clink, as their tea cups made contact.
“After we finish these cups of tea, we’ll be mother and son by heart, even if not by blood.”
Yu Baihan, in the midst of taking a sip of tea, abruptly had his concentration disrupted by his ringing phone. The only person likely to call was Lu Huan, so he put down his cup and answered the call.
“Have you managed to return it?” came Lu Huan’s voice from the other end.
“Mission accomplished,” Yu Baihan reassured in a hushed tone, “I’ll explain later, I’m in the midst of a solemn oath right now.”
“What do you mean…?” Lu Huan’s confusion was palpable.
With his message delivered, Yu Baihan ended the call abruptly. Then he turned to Qiao Yun and quipped, “He’s quite clingy. Let’s continue.”
Qiao Yun comprehended the situation, nodding resolutely, “Yes!”
—
By the time Yu Baihan left Huo’s residence, the afternoon sun was already waning.
Given that Huo Ming was absent, Yu Baihan enjoyed a pleasant lunch with his “adopted mother” Qiao Yun before heading back home.
Sitting in the car, he excitedly shared a post on his social media account.
[Yu Er]: New additions to the family! 🏠❤️ [Image Attached]
Qiao Yun had taken the picture for him. The photo displayed three adorable hamsters sitting on the coffee table, and Yu Baihan perched on the table, his bright smile revealing a pair of charming canine teeth.
Soon, comments started to pour in under the post.
[Qi Jue]: How adorable! Where did you get the hamsters?
[Qiao Yun]: These little ones are all precious babies! 😄
[Wen Lou]: Quadruplets?
“…”
Yu Baihan glanced at Wen Lou’s comment with amusement, muttering, “As eloquent as always.”
Upon returning home in the afternoon, he bought a myriad of hamster-related furnishings online for his new furry family members. He also had a delightful chat with Qiao Yun for a while.
At night, Lu Huan returned from his work at the Lu Group.
With the Qiongshan Project now resolved, he wasn’t as swamped as before. Tonight, he had come home for dinner, marking a rare occurrence.
Following the meal, Lu Huan beckoned Yu Baihan to halt, his tone inquiring, “Care to explain this sworn parental thing?”
Yu Baihan took a sip of lemon tea to cleanse his palate, and upon hearing the question, he peered over the rim of his cup with an innocent gaze, “Didn’t you see my social media post?”
Lu Huan responded, “I did, but I’d like to hear it from you.”
He wanted to understand the logic behind becoming blood brothers with a hamster.
With evident delight, Yu Baihan elaborated, “Sure thing. If Mrs. Huo confesses her love for me, then we’ll become sworn mother and son.”
Lu Huan’s expression shifted, “…”
Lu Huan pressed on, “Who is Mrs. Huo?”
“Mrs. Huo,” Yu Baihan patiently reiterated, placing his water glass down once more, “is now my sworn mother.”
Adding a pinch of humor, he continued, “She’s also your sworn mother-in-law.”
“…”
Lu Huan’s lips parted, then closed again, utterly taken aback by the unconventional terminology.
As Yu Baihan observed Lu Huan’s silence and contemplative expression, he noticed a subtle tremor in the man’s delicate eyelashes. It made him recall Lu Huan’s unique “life background” in this world—
According to the story’s setting, Lu Huan had no parents in this version, leaving him without any family ties. Thus, he was essentially bereft of relatives.
Reflecting on this, Yu Baihan gazed at Lu Huan with profound affection.
But that’s alright; he’s here now.
Though Lu Huan might lack family by nature, Yu Baihan could bestow that warmth and kinship upon him.
He could shower Lu Huan with all the affection he desired, ensuring that he’d never feel isolated again.
—
He gently tapped Lu Huan’s hand resting on the table and leaned in, inquiring, “Why the silence? Are you overwhelmed with joy?”
The area beneath his palm seemed to shift slightly, followed by the soft release of a breath right in front of him…
Lu Huan responded, “I am happy.”
Yu Baihan teased further, “But I haven’t even seen you smile.”
Lu Huan raised his head, a slow grin spreading across his face as he addressed Yu Baihan, “I was merely pondering, with my head lowered.”
Perplexed, Yu Baihan queried, “Pondering about what?”
With one hand, Lu Huan retrieved his phone and opened up his social media account, displaying the photo from his Moments in front of Yu Baihan. Enlarging the image, he pointed to the hamster adorned with a floral crown atop the coffee table.
“I was reflecting on how I didn’t take proper care of my brother-in-law last night.”
“…”
Yu Baihan turned off the screen, his gaze lowered, lips curved into a smile. “I’m sure it doesn’t mind. It’s easygoing.”
Lu Huan complimented, his voice gentle, “Our Baihan truly found a heartwarming family for me.”
Bashfully, Yu Baihan agreed, “Yes.”
—
Since introducing his new “family” to Lu Huan, Yu Baihan began sending Lu Huan a series of hamster photos daily to help them bond swiftly.
Initially, Lu Huan remained silent, but eventually, he started responding with a few words after receiving multiple posts.
Occasionally, Yu Baihan would challenge him with tests, asking him to identify which hamster was which based on cropped sections of their fur.
[Yu Er]: Quick answer, who’s this? [Image Attached]
[Fish]: Brother-in-law.
[Yu Er]: Congratulations, Classmate Lu, for getting the right answer! You’ve earned a five-minute hair-rubbing session with the third brother next time! [Open alloy balls and sprinkles.jpg]
“……”
[Fish]: Who sent the emoji set?
[Yu Er]: Wen Lou.
[Fish]: Great.
Yu Baihan spent his days happily tending to hamsters, while Lu Huan immersed himself in the same endeavor.
However, his contentment was disrupted by a text message from Si Yanting.
It had been around two weeks since their last interaction concerning the kennel incident, and Si Yanting was now urging for progress.
Yu Baihan didn’t immediately respond to Si Yanting’s message. Instead, he turned to Qin Lun for an update on the progress of cracking the program. Qin Lun’s reply was, “Almost there, give me two more days.” Armed with this information, Yu Baihan directly forwarded Qin Lun’s message to Si Yanting.
[Yu Baihan]: Almost done, give it two more days.
After sending the message, he switched back to his new account, deciding to engage Si Yanting in some meaningful work.
In the original narrative, Huo Ming became quite enamored with a piece of cake held by Si Yanting. As Huo Ming assisted Si Wei with the Qingshan project, Si Yanting, out of gratitude, ended up sharing a portion of the project’s bonuses with the Huo family.
However, both Si brothers had their individual assets limited.
Si Yanting had no intention of making a gratuitous offering, so he strategically claimed the 25% Qiongshan share that Si Wei had managed to secure from Lu Huan.
Huo Ming extended assistance to Lu Huan this time, and now Huo Ming was determined to claim the major benefit for himself.
Promptly, Yu Baihan dialed Qiao Yun’s number.
After the call connected, their customary greetings flowed between them. After a few moments of pleasant conversation, Yu Baihan skillfully steered the discussion towards Si Yanting’s project, “Speaking of which, my elder brother has a project at hand…”
Qiao Yun’s surprised voice came through, “Oh, did Xiao Lu fill you in on the details?”
Yu Baihan, puzzled, asked, “Fill me in on what?”
While he was processing this, Qiao Yun continued, “Mr. Huo has been eyeing that project for a while. Initially, he struck a deal with Xiao Lu, offering his support in safeguarding Qiongshan Project. In return, Xiao Lu was to assist him in securing the project from your elder brother.”
Yu Baihan gripped his phone, his mouth agape—so his plan had already been set into motion.
What kind of twisted drama was this?
His unjustly maligned husband was aiding his morally upright father in handling his eccentric elder brother.
The complexity of his family relationships truly baffled him!
Observing Yu Baihan’s silence, Qiao Yun ventured cautiously, “Baihan, do you mind…”
Yu Baihan promptly assured her, “I don’t mind.”
His tone was as serene as a gentle breeze, “Family matters should never be approached with formality.”
What about considering the boss’s house? Just embrace it fully!
“…”
Qiao Yun remained quiet for a while before speaking with admiration, “Mr. Huo mentioned that you are a magnanimous young man. I didn’t expect you to be this magnanimous.”
Yu Baihan, with humility, responded, “It’s just a few virtues.”
—
Two days later in the afternoon, Qin Lun delivered the USB flash drive as promised.
He cautioned Yu Baihan, “I’ve installed the anti-tracking program on it, but remember to wipe the crucial files from your computer before using it.”
Yu Baihan inquired, “Can the other party detect it?”
Qin Lun responded, “I didn’t disable their access so as not to alert them.”
Yu Baihan’s tension eased, “That’s perfect, I’m about to submit my ‘assignment.'”
“What assignment?” Qin Lun looked puzzled, “For Mr.Lu?”
Yu Baihan shook his head, opting not to explain. He turned away, USB drive in hand, and headed back to the main house to locate Lu Huan.
Qin Lun watched his departing figure, the white T-shirt blending with the shade of the surrounding trees. As a breeze rustled through the leaves, casting a play of light and shadow, his pristine white clothing seemed to blur at this moment.
Qin Lun furrowed his brow, a premonition forming that someone was headed for trouble.
In the Lu residence, on the second-floor study.
Lu Huan reclined in his chair, focused on his computer screen. The study’s door received two light knocks before Yu Baihan’s head popped in, “Lu Huan.”
Lu Huan glanced up, gestured for him to come in.
Yu Baihan entered the room, USB drive in hand, and circled around the desk to stand near Lu Huan.
Raising an eyebrow, Lu Huan waited in quiet anticipation, curious about what scheme Yu Baihan was cooking up now.
Yu Baihan grinned, “Let me take a look at the partnership agreement between you and Mr. Huo.”
“Did Mrs. Huo tell you about this?”
“We’re on pretty relaxed terms~”
“…”
Lu Huan leaned back in his chair, studying him for a brief moment. Then, he retrieved a file from his computer and displayed it on the screen, turning it for Yu Baihan’s easy viewing, “Have a look.”
Yu Baihan leaned in, carefully examining the contents.
The agreement hadn’t yet been submitted to Huo Ming; it was signed only by Lu Huan.
The wording was succinct:
Huo Ming vowed to assist Lu Huan in securing the Qiongshan Project project, and in return, Lu Huan pledged to aid Huo Ming in resolving the company’s delays.
Yu Baihan turned to face Lu Huan after perusing the document, his countenance fair and delicate, his eyes gleaming, “Lu Huan, I have a ‘task’ to complete. Can you make an alteration here?”
Lu Huan glanced at him, inquiring, “What alteration?”
Yu Baihan pursed his lips in a self-contained smile, “Just change Mr. Huo’s name in the contract to Si Wei’s.”
Author’s note:
Yu Baihan: Betrays the third brother and criticized the brother madly.
Lu Huan: Your family dynamics are truly intricate.
Yu Baihan: It’s our “family,” you silly. [Pats]
Lu Huan: …
Yu Baihan is sooo lovable~ no wonder everyone who meets him immediately clicked with him XD
I love their new hamster family haha
Thank you so much 😊
Lu Huan has a new family now 🤗
Thanks for the chapter 💞
My gosh… everytime Wen Lou came out he always managed to make me laugh… 🤣🤣