1122 - Chapter 35.2

Jiang Yi was startled by the sudden voice behind him. Just as he was about to turn around, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist from behind, clasping his soapy hands.

Their hands intertwined intimately under the foam, fingers tightly locked, rubbing and holding each other under the warm stream of water more intimate than the broad, solid chest pressed against his back.

Yan Nanchen embraced Jiang Yi from behind, resting his chin on his shoulder. He grabbed a wet wipe nearby and gently cleaned Jiang Yi’s hands before tilting his head to look at him with a smile. “Were you thinking about me?”

The warm breath against his cheek and neck, or perhaps the overly tender tone, sent a shiver down Jiang Yi’s spine.

Jiang Yi’s throat bobbed before he finally muttered, “In your dreams.”

Yan Nanchen chuckled, tossing the used wipe into the trash bin before letting go of Jiang Yi and leaning against the counter. “Then why are you upset? Shouldn’t you only be upset when you see me?”

The sudden loss of warmth left a trace of reluctant gloom in Jiang Yi’s eyes. The image of Yan Nanchen looking at their son when he first entered flashed through his mind.

He turned around, seeing Yan Nanchen leaning against the sink. Stepping between his legs, Jiang Yi grabbed the front of his shirt and gazed deeply into his eyes before softly calling out:

“Puppy.”

That quiet, sorrowful call, along with the long-unused term of endearment, “Puppy” instantly seized Yan Nanchen’s heart.

“Hold me.”

Meeting Jiang Yi’s slightly reddened eyes, Yan Nanchen softened completely at the rare sight of him like this. He pulled Jiang Yi closer between his legs and wrapped him in his arms, murmuring gently, “What’s wrong?”

“Just now, I saw you looking for Nian Nian as soon as you came in. It made me both sad and touched.”

Hearing the choked emotion in Jiang Yi’s voice, Yan Nanchen knew he was missing their son again. He held him tighter. “From now on, I’ll look for him every day. You’ll have to get used to it.”

Jiang Yi’s nose stung as he laughed. “You’re dreaming again.”

“I’ve always dreamed big.” Yan Nanchen released him, cupping his face and leaning down to press their foreheads together, gazing at him with deep affection. “You’ll have to get used to it. From now on, I’ll always be in your life whether you want me or not, whether you fall in love with me again or someone else. I’ll never leave your sight. I’ll always be there when you call.”

“If you’ll have me, I’ll be your backup.”

Jiang Yi frowned at the word “backup,” disliking it. He took a step back, exasperated. “You don’t have to be so hard on yourself. The world is big maybe you’ll meet someone else. Don’t be anyone’s backup.”

“I won’t fall in love with anyone else. My heart is so small, already completely filled by Jiang Yi. It can only take in more, never let anything flow out.” Yan Nanchen stepped closer to him: “Whether you want me or not, this is how it is. Without you, I almost couldn’t go on living.”

Jiang Yi didn’t catch the deeper meaning in Yan Nanchen’s words, only thinking him somewhat stubborn and slightly displeased: “Life is so precious. Back then, even when I thought keeping this child might kill me, I still chose to keep it. What could possibly make you think life isn’t worth living? Don’t throw your life away for love, it’s not worth it.”

The thought that something might have happened to Yan Nanchen over these five years made Jiang Yi’s chest tighten.

“It was worth it.”

Jiang Yi froze.

“To me, it was worth it.” Yan Nanchen reached out, his fingers brushing against the violet tattoo on Jiang Yi’s neck. “If I hadn’t fallen in love with you, I might never have known this feeling. I would have remained, as Ranran said, someone people dislike aloof, arrogant, and unwilling to bend.”

“But because of you, I learned to lower my head. I learned how to express love properly.”

“I also reflected on myself again and again amidst lies, punishing my past self. I realized I never wanted to be that arrogant person. The same words, spoken with different tones, create entirely different impressions. When I first saw you and noticed your tie wasn’t properly adjusted, I actually didn’t want to say anything just had a bit of a compulsive urge to fix it for you but I still spoke up.”

“Later, when I saw your shirt, I really wanted to say white would suit you better, but the way I said it came out wrong.”

“And then there were your shoes, the night before, I’d seen a pair at the store that would have been perfect for you. When I saw the ones you were wearing, I thought they didn’t suit you at all, but again, my words came out harsh.”

Yan Nanchen pressed his cheek against Jiang Yi’s, whispering, “You cured my compulsiveness. Every time I heard you criticize ‘Yan Nanchen’ in front of me, I changed a little. You said it once, and I adjusted once. Before, I didn’t car when my family criticized my personality, it meant nothing. But when it came from you, I couldn’t ignore it.”

“Because from the moment I first saw you, I was in love with you.”

Jiang Yi was stunned, his eyes flickering with disbelief. “Really? You fell for me at first sight?”

This “love at first sight” was so infuriating.

“Really.”

Jiang Yi was both exasperated and amused. He gently pushed Yan Nanchen away and walked out of the kitchen. “Others fall in love at first sight, and so do you. But you really made me see you in a new light.”

He hadn’t taken two steps before Yan Nanchen wrapped his arms around him from behind.

“I know I was wrong. So for these five years, I’ve been reflecting on myself. Do you see any progress now? Even just a little?”

Jiang Yi stopped. Listening to Yan Nanchen’s cautious question, he thought back on everything Yan Nanchen had done for him in the short month since his return.

Progress?

If there was real progress, it was that the daytime Yan Nanchen was no longer as nitpicky and unreasonably strict as before.

There had been improvement, perhaps shedding that old facade, allowing puppy to appear during the day, letting Yan Nanchen no longer need to pretend.

From an objective standpoint, Yan Nanchen did not shirk responsibility. He actively acknowledged his mistakes and continuously made amends for his actions. As First Dad, he was also dutiful and accommodating in every way.

From a subjective perspective, however, he felt he shouldn’t be won back so easily.

But…

“You’ve improved,” Jiang Yi muttered under his breath.

He still couldn’t help softening.

“Really?!”

The sheer delight in Yan Nanchen’s voice instantly made Jiang Yi’s ears burn. “Yes, yes, fine!” he snapped, shaking off Yan Nanchen’s grip. “It’s too hot stop clinging to me.”

But a puppy who’d just been praised wasn’t about to let go. He clung to Jiang Yi, wrapping himself around him no matter where he went.

The two were practically conjoined, inseparable in their closeness.

Jiang Yi was no match for Yan Nanchen now. The man had grown broader and stronger, impossible to push away or fight off. After struggling in vain and working up a sweat, Jiang Yi could only surrender, resigning himself to his fate with a sigh.

Just as they were about to head to the walk-in closet to pack, Qiao Qiao emerged from her room, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

Still half-asleep, she blinked at the sight of First Dad and Daddy hugging. After freezing for two seconds, she let out a little gasp, covered her face with both hands, and chirped in her sweet, childish voice, “First Dad and Daddy, so shameless~”

Jiang Yi: “…”

As if they were doing something indecent. Expressionless, he tried to shake off the leech clinging to his back, but it was useless. Gritting his teeth, he hissed, “Yan Nanchen, let go.”

“No.” Yan Nanchen tightened his arm around Jiang Yi’s shoulders. “Qiao Qiao, look at First Dad.”

Hearing him, Qiao Qiao lifted her head.

Yan Nanchen cupped Jiang Yi’s nape, leaned down, and kissed him.

Jiang Yi’s eyes widened. Flustered and furious, he smacked Yan Nanchen’s face. “YAN NANCHEN!!!”

Qiao Qiao gasped dramatically. “Wow!”

Grinning, Yan Nanchen caught Jiang Yi’s hand. “Yi Yi, I love you. Puppy will love you forever.”

Jiang Yi’s scalp prickled with embarrassment.

“First Dad, First Dad! Do you love Qiao Qiao too?” She bounced between them, jumping up and down for a hug.

Yan Nanchen bent down to scoop her up, his eyes brimming with affection. “Of course I do. First Dad loves Qiao Qiao, and Nian Nian too but your Daddy most of all.”

Qiao Qiao patted her chest, then formed a little heart with her hands above her head, beaming at Jiang Yi. “Qiao Qiao loves Daddy most too.”

Jiang Yi had been annoyed, but their antics melted his irritation. Meeting Yan Nanchen’s tender gaze, he swallowed back his discomfort.

“Daddy, don’t you love me?” Qiao Qiao pouted, swaying cutely when he didn’t answer.

Yan Nanchen chimed in, “Daddy, don’t you love me either?”

Jiang Yi shot him a glare, but under his daughter’s expectant stare, he caved. “I do,” he muttered.

Qiao Qiao puckered her lips. “Hmm~ Daddy didn’t say it clearly. Who do you love? Qiao Qiao? Or Gege? Or First Dad? Or Uncle?”

Under Yan Nanchen’s intense gaze, Jiang Yi stiffly replied, “I love Qiao Qiao.”

“But doesn’t Daddy love First Dad?” she pressed, then glanced back at Yan Nanchen, who was putting on a pitiful expression. Remembering all the gifts First Dad had bought her tonight, she gasped. “Ah, if Daddy doesn’t love First Dad, he’ll cry! Daddy, just say it, please?”

“Daddy, Daddy say it!”

Under their daughter’s relentless prompting, Jiang Yi could only suppress his embarrassment and whisper, “Love First Dad.” After saying it, he immediately walked to the walk-in closet, as if feeling the burning gaze on his back: “I said it, okay?”

But he completely missed how Yan Nanchen’s eyes instantly reddened behind him.

Seeing First Dad about to cry, Qiao Qiao gasped quietly and whispered, “First Dad, are you gonna cry?”

“Mn.” Yan Nanchen nodded with a smile: “First Dad is too moved.”

His voice trembled at the end.

“Is it because Daddy said he loves you?”

“Mn.”

Qiao Qiao wrapped her arms around First Dad’s neck and giggled like a cute little duck, then whispered in his ear, “Actually, Daddy has always loved you very much. In Daddy’s heart, First Dad has wings and can fly.”

Yan Nanchen fought back the moisture in his eyes as he gazed in Jiang Yi’s direction, smiling as he replied, “Mm, I know.”

It’s okay. This kind of waiting is worth it.

He’s very happy now.

Extremely, extremely happy.

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