After I Died, My Childhood Friend Became Daddy - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Tracker Eighteen-Year-Old “Fast Man”

After school started, the school was soon busy with the preparations for the Cultural Festival.

Fang Ran and a few classmates planned to set up a coffee stall.

Fortunately, having “worked” at Huo Yan’s company for half a day, he still possessed a bit of skill in brewing coffee.

Although the stall would only be open for one day, Fang Ran handled it very solemnly. He took on the task of drawing the menu, clutching a large pile of paintbrushes, and earnestly created an order book.

Since starting school, Fang Ran’s homework was always completed in Huo Yan’s study. The desk was very spacious; the two sat on opposite sides without disturbing each other. Huo Yan would be typing on his keyboard, and with just a slight lift of his head, he could see Fang Ran across from him.

At these moments, he felt a slight illusion of returning to ten years ago.

He and Fang Ran were both students struggling for the university entrance exam. Fang Ran couldn’t focus on his problems—he would space out after writing two of them—so Huo Yan had to keep a constant eye on him.

Fang Ran finished drawing a pattern, thought for a moment, got down from his chair, and ran around the table toward Huo Yan.

His eyes were round, blinking as he looked at Huo Yan, “President Huo, are you busy?”

Huo Yan had a smile on his lips, “What is it?”

“Can you help me write the menu? Your handwriting is better.”

As Fang Ran spoke, he did a “puppy beg” with his hands, “Please, President Huo.”

Huo Yan, truly a businessman, opened his mouth and said, “What’s in it for me?”

Fang Ran pouted, “How can you be like this?”

He put down the menu, ran “deng deng deng” behind Huo Yan, and industriously massaged the man’s shoulders. “How about I serve you?”

Huo Yan placed his hand on Fang Ran’s shoulder, catching Fang Ran’s hand. “You call this serving me? I’m not seventy or eighty years old yet.”

Taking advantage of the situation, he pulled Fang Ran over and circled him in his arms, like a languid lion grooming its prey’s fur with its tongue every now and then.

Lately, Fang Ran had become somewhat accustomed to being held by Huo Yan, so he didn’t feel it was abnormal. He said giggling, “Then what do you want? Otherwise, I’ll wash your feet tonight.”

Fang Ran was joking, but Huo Yan seemed to be reminded of something. His eyes darkened slightly, and he spoke quickly, “Fine, then it’s a deal. I’ll write the menu for you, and tonight you let me help you wash your feet.”

Fang Ran: “???”

He looked at Huo Yan in shock, “Is there something wrong with you? You’re helping me, and you still want to wash my feet for me?”

Before Huo Yan could speak, Fang Ran had an epiphany. “You want to tickle the soles of my feet!”

“…”

Huo Yan paused, then jerked his chin toward the desk. “Then do you still want my help?”

Fang Ran gritted his teeth, “Fine, tickle away then.”

Huo Yan didn’t let go of Fang Ran. Instead, maintaining this posture, he picked up the fountain pen on the desk. He was so close to Fang Ran whether intentional or not—his breath hit Fang Ran’s ear, carrying a subtle itch.

Fang Ran’s eyelashes fluttered, and the tips of his ears turned red and hot from a physiological reaction.

Yet he didn’t dare move; Huo Yan was writing, and he was afraid the ink would smudge if he moved.

Fang Ran tried hard to maintain this somewhat awkward and uncomfortable posture, his body slightly stiff. Huo Yan’s movements, however, were very slow, writing stroke by stroke.

He couldn’t help but say, “Write faster.”

Huo Yan said unhurriedly, “I’m just afraid of ruining it for you. Besides, I haven’t written this many words in a long time; I’m out of practice.”

Since taking over the company, the words Huo Yan wrote most on paper were his own name, though those were usually on contracts worth tens of millions.

For the first time, he was writing so many words on a somewhat childish doodle book.

Seeing there was only one [Orange Latte] left, the man’s pen paused slightly. Instead, he withdrew his hand and capped the fountain pen.

Fang Ran got anxious, “There’s still one left.”

Huo Yan’s tone was flat, “To prevent you from going back on your word, I’ll write this one tomorrow morning.”

Fang Ran: “…”

He said resentfully, “No merchant is not treacherous!”

Huo Yan smiled, “Thank you for the compliment.”

…

Ever since the Little Mister moved in, the dishes at the Huo residence each night were very abundant. Especially after knowing Fang Ran was in his senior year, Liu Ma changed the menu in various ways.

Fang Ran ate a bit hurriedly tonight. Huo Yan had just placed some fish with the bones removed onto the plate in front of him when he looked up to see Fang Ran had already finished half a bowl of rice.

He accidentally choked and coughed muffledly. Liu Ma hurriedly poured some orange juice over. “Eat slower, eat slower. Studying isn’t so urgent that you can’t spare this moment.”

Huo Yan frowned even more, lifting his hand to stroke Fang Ran’s back.

Fang Ran swallowed the rice in his mouth. “It’s not that I’m rushing to study. A-Yan is going to wash my feet for me in a bit.”

Liu Ma: “…”

She silently glanced at Mr. Huo, then turned away awkwardly and hid in the kitchen.

Huo Yan exhaled, a vein on his temple throbbing. “Eat slowly. I’m not in a hurry to wash them for you!”

“…Oh.”

After dinner, seeing Huo Yan go to study, Fang Ran thought he would probably be busy for a while. Just then, Zhao Yan asked him if he wanted to play a few rounds of a game.

Normally, Fang Ran didn’t play mobile games often. Today, thinking he could kill time while waiting for Huo Yan, he agreed and lay directly on the bed to log in.

Right in the middle of a fierce battle, Huo Yan walked in carrying a basin of water. “Ranran, test the water temperature.”

Fang Ran didn’t even lift his head, “Wait… Zhao Yan, save me!”

Hearing that name, the man knit his brows imperceptibly.

Him again…

Perhaps he really should consider changing Ranran’s desk mate.

Huo Yan walked over. Regardless of whether Fang Ran’s game voice chat was on, he directly grasped Fang Ran’s ankle. “You play yours; it won’t interfere.”

The man’s voice traveled through the microphone into the game channel. Zhao Yan’s character stopped dead in the middle of the melee and died within two seconds.

“Hey, why are you rolling up my pant legs?”

“Washing your feet.”

“…”

Zhao Yan’s tone was lightning fast: “Fang Ran, my dog just gave birth. I can’t play anymore; I have to go help with the delivery.”

“Ah?”

Zhao Yan quit the game in a split second. Fang Ran looked at the darkened screen, pouted, and quit the game as well.

He flipped over and sat up. The legs of his pajama pants had already been rolled up by Huo Yan, revealing a small section of fair leg meat swinging in front of the man.

Even though Fang Ran and Huo Yan had a good relationship, it had never reached the level of washing each other’s feet.

Fang Ran looked at the man sitting on the small stool at his feet and felt very novel for a moment. He lifted his foot and stepped on the man’s thigh, looking triumphant. “Call me Daddy!”

Huo Yan was amused to the point of anger. He gripped his ankle and looked up slightly. “Naughty again? I really will tickle your soles.”

Fang Ran hurriedly restrained himself and begged for mercy, “Daddy, I’ll call you Daddy. Don’t tickle my soles.”

That title entered his ears, causing Adam’s apple to bob up and down. His gaze darkened. After two seconds, he lowered his eyes. “Don’t call me names randomly.”

If you’re going to call me that, it should be on the bed.

Once Huo Yan actually started washing his feet, Fang Ran realized he had been thinking with the heart of a villain.

The man didn’t intend to tickle him at all!

The youth’s feet were fair and tender. Huo Yan supported one in his hand, then his gaze suddenly paused, his tone very serious. “Why is it red on the side?”

Fang Ran hadn’t noticed at all. He lowered his head to look carefully. “I probably ran too much during the day; we had PE class today.”

The man knit his brows tightly, “Are the shoes uncomfortable?”

Fang Ran shook his head quickly, “No, no.”

He didn’t understand brands, but he could guess the wall of shoes in the cabinet was surely worth a fortune.

Huo Yan didn’t say anything more, just lightened his movements and massaged for Fang Ran. He looked down at the foot held in his palm, feeling a strong impulse to take a bite.

But the next second, Fang Ran pulled his foot back.

“That’s enough.”

Fang Ran couldn’t help but say, “The calluses on your hands are making the soles of my feet itchy.”

Huo Yan gave a half-smile. “Why so delicate? Afraid of rubbing there, and afraid of rubbing here too.”

Knowing what Huo Yan was referring to, Fang Ran’s face burned as if on fire. He turned his head away, muttering, “I don’t…”

After a pause, his voice grew louder and self-righteous, “I’m young! I’m eighteen! It’s normal for me to be fast! Do you understand?”

Huo Yan couldn’t help laughing. “Fine, eighteen-year-old fast man. Wait here; I’ll get a towel to dry your feet.”

The man unwrapped a new towel and carefully dried Fang Ran’s feet.

In less than half a minute, Fang Ran immediately scrambled onto the bed. After ensuring a safe distance from Huo Yan, he continued his “output”: “Keep the towel to wipe your face; consider it a reward from this young master.”

To his surprise, the man didn’t come to catch him. He just looked up slightly, gave a somewhat strange smile, and then left carrying the water basin.

Fang Ran blinked dazed.

What did that mean?

…

Late at night, after Fang Ran fell asleep, Huo Yan pushed open the door and walked in.

He took a tube of ointment and sat gently on the edge of the bed, accurately digging Ranran’s foot out from under the blanket.

Huo Yan paused, looked up at the sleeping Fang Ran, then lowered his head slightly and lightly touched his lips to it.

Actually, his intention was just to apply ointment to the red spot on Fang Ran’s foot.

Who would have thought the room was too dark? The red spot on Fang Ran’s foot wasn’t serious to begin with, and now it was even harder to see. Huo Yan turned the foot over several times and couldn’t find it. He looked at the ointment in his hand, and finally just gave Fang Ran’s foot a spa treatment.

When Fang Ran woke up the next day, he was dazed with sleepiness. Just as he was about to put on socks, he suddenly felt his feet were sticky, forcing him to go to the bathroom and rinse them.

Unexpectedly, when his feet touched the water, the mint in the ointment took effect, making both feet feel like they were being blasted by a cold wind.

Fang Ran ran downstairs shouting.

“HUO YAN!! YOU WASHED MY FEET UNTIL THEY BROKE!!!”

“…”

He bickered with Huo Yan all morning. For the most part, it was Fang Ran muttering while Huo Yan tried hard to explain that he really hadn’t broken his feet. If it weren’t for Fang Ran being in a hurry to get to today’s Cultural Festival, he would have surely debated with Huo Yan for hundreds of rounds at home.

Because of the festival, Fang Ran was wearing a uniform today. The international school uniform was usually worn on important holidays and was somewhat similar to formal wear.

Huo Yan helped Fang Ran fasten his buttons, looked at him, then swapped for a pair of diamond cufflinks to help him put them on.

Fang Ran raised his chin, looking very conceited. “Handsome or not?”

Huo Yan chuckled softly and nodded cooperatively, “Super handsome.”

This was his Ranran.

The treasure he had raised with his own hands.

“The sun is a bit strong today. Don’t stand outside for too long. Do what you can. If the business is bad, just let it go consider it play. However much money you want to donate to the orphanage, I’ll make up the difference for you.”

Actually, when Fang Ran first returned, Huo Yan had given him a black card, but Fang Ran had never swiped it. After Fang Ran started school, Huo Yan would transfer money to him every few days, but in reality, Fang Ran at most bought some snacks or water.

“I know, I know.”

Fang Ran hurriedly ran out. “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Because of the Cultural Festival, the school was exceptionally lively. Fang Ran and his classmates’ coffee stall was in a corner. Zhao Yan was, of course, one of them. When Fang Ran arrived, he was already tidying the tables and chairs.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m late.”

Fang Ran ran in like a whirlwind.

Zhao Yan shook his head. “No rush; it’ll be a while before the crowds pick up.”

Fang Ran pulled the menu out from his bag, providing his own sound effects: “Deng-deng-deng~”

“So exquisite.”

“How is it! My artistic level isn’t bad, right? It’s a pity I didn’t learn painting when I was little,” Fang Ran said boastfully. “But the writing was done by Huo Yan. To get him to help me with this, I even…”

Washing feet and so on was a bit too unrefined to say aloud.

Fang Ran coughed slightly.

Zhao Yan’s face also turned a bit red for some reason, and he looked away.

No…

There’s no need to talk about that stuff you two do on the bed.

You dare to say it, but I don’t dare to hear it.

The two were not on the same wavelength, and they fell into silence.

“Um…” Fang Ran licked his lips. “I’ll go grind the beans first.”

“Oh oh oh, I’ll go sweep the floor…”

Unexpectedly, the coffee stall’s business was quite good. It was also lucky; when a classmate came to have coffee, they took a photo of the menu Fang Ran drew and posted it on the forum. It gained high popularity, and for a time, the small coffee stall was crowded with people.

Fang Ran was spinning in circles from being so busy.

“One cappuccino, one iced Americano.”

“Okay, one latte.”

While serving, Fang Ran just put down a coffee cup and, inadvertently looking up, suddenly froze.

Zhao Yan was also extremely busy. He passed by Fang Ran and patted him. “What are you doing?”

He followed Fang Ran’s gaze. Not far across from the coffee stall, under a tree, two boys were standing very close, looking as if they were… kissing.

Zhao Yan coughed, withdrew his gaze, and seeing Fang Ran’s red cheeks, he deliberately tried to lighten the mood with a tease: “What’s the big deal? You should be used to this.”

You probably kiss President Huo at home all the time.

Fang Ran’s eyes widened slightly, “No!”

Although Huo Yan said that good brothers can kiss now, he and Huo Yan hadn’t kissed yet.

Zhao Yan thought he was shy, laughed awkwardly a couple of times, and didn’t say anything more.

After a busy day, the crowds finally thinned out in the afternoon.

Zhao Yan suggested they take a group photo in front of the coffee stall.

Several people gathered together and asked a customer to help take the photo. Fang Ran was surrounded in the center, revealing a big smile.

Since registering for WeChat, Fang Ran hadn’t posted to his Moments yet. He excitedly posted his first one.

Happy (〃’▽’〃) [Image]

Unsure if Huo Yan was constantly staring at his phone or what, but he commented in less than half a minute.

A-Yan: [Ranran is the cutest.] A-Yan: [Tired?] A-Yan: [What time does it end? I’ll go pick you up.]

Fang Ran tapped his profile picture to chat privately with him.

[Probably in about forty minutes.]

Huo Yan replied quickly.

[Okay, I’ll wait for you across from the school. I bought the egg tarts from the place you love.]

[Woohoo! Long live!]

Just after sending this message, he heard Zhao Yan cry out, “Crap! My clothes!”

The coffee he was holding had accidentally spilled all over Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yan irritably pulled out tissues to wipe. “I have a performance later.”

Fang Ran hurriedly said, “Wear mine.”

He took off his jacket and handed it to Zhao Yan. “I didn’t sign up for any performances; I’m going straight home in a bit.”

Zhao Yan thought about it and eventually took it.

“I’ll have my auntie wash it and bring it back to you tomorrow.”

Fang Ran waved his hand, “It’s fine.”

After tidying up the coffee stall, Fang Ran said goodbye to his other classmates and ran out with his backpack to find Huo Yan.

The man’s car was parked at the gate; even among a group of luxury cars, it was somewhat eye-catching.

Seeing Fang Ran come out wearing just the shirt inside, he knit his brows imperceptibly. “Where’s your jacket?”

Fang Ran naturally took off his backpack for Huo Yan to carry. “Zhao Yan’s jacket got dirty, so I lent it to him.”

The frequency with which Huo Yan had been hearing this name lately was truly a bit high.

He knit his brows in displeasure, “How can you just lend clothes to anyone?”

Fang Ran blinked innocently, “What’s wrong with the clothes? And it’s just a jacket; it’s not like I lent him my underwear.”

Huo Yan was truly so angry he almost couldn’t catch his breath.

His voice sank, “What nonsense are you talking about!”

Fang Ran was left with a head full of question marks.

Huo Yan didn’t want to lose his temper with Fang Ran. Suppressing his anger, he handed the bag on the passenger seat to Fang Ran. “It’s still hot. Eat first; I’m going to make a phone call.”

Fang Ran had already smelled the sweet scent of egg tarts and was instantly distracted. Holding the bag, he nodded vigorously.

Huo Yan pulled the car door shut and called his secretary. “The President Zhao of Shengde give me his contact information.”

…

Zhao Yan was tired after a long day and was in no mood to play games. After returning home, he took off the jacket and threw it to the auntie, then sprawled out on the sofa.

“Auntie Liu, wash this jacket first; I need to bring it back to a classmate tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

The young master had spoken, and the auntie moved quickly. However, while dry cleaning, a cufflink accidentally fell off and hit the floor.

The auntie was startled.

She knew the clothes of families like this were worth a fortune and hurriedly crouched down to look.

The sparkling diamond cufflink was easy to find, but beside it had also fallen a black, button-like object, with a red light flashing.

The auntie hadn’t seen this thing before. She found a transparent bag and put it together with the cufflink, planning to give them to the young master together once the clothes were washed.

Unexpectedly, just as she came out of the laundry room, she bumped into the Master returning.

Zhao Wei had rushed back from the company, looking even a bit breathless.

His eyes were fixed on the auntie, “Did the young master bring back a jacket?”

The auntie nodded quickly and handed over the bag in her hand. “And this, Master. I don’t know what it is; it fell off the clothes.”

Zhao Wei immediately took it, his tone low. “You are not to speak of this to the young master. No not to anyone.”

The auntie repeatedly agreed.

Zhao Wei held the clothes and breathed a sigh of relief imperceptibly. He turned around and immediately sent out a message.

[President Huo, rest assured. The clothes have been retrieved. Let me know when it’s convenient to send them over to you.]