After I Died, My Childhood Friend Became Daddy - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Future Husband Thinking of Marriage? Only Over His Dead Body

The fourth floor featured a giant, wall-spanning gaming screen.

Fang Ran was playing like a maniac, so happy he felt he might faint.

No boy dislikes gaming, especially a high school senior like Fang Ran, who had been submerged in a sea of test papers not to mention that ten years ago, such cool and flashy games simply didn’t exist.

He held the controller so tightly he was practically pressing sparks out of it.

But what’s the fun in playing alone?

Naturally, it was much more enjoyable to play with his “good bro!”

Huo Yan tossed aside a pile of company matters and sat in a beanbag chair to accompany Fang Ran.

He pressed the buttons twice, but his gaze drifted sideways, landing deeply on the youth.

This was a vivid, living Ranran, someone who could be happy, angry, pouting, or laughing.

“A-Yan, why aren’t you moving!”

Huo Yan snapped back to his senses, frowned slightly, and pretended to struggle with the controller. “Ranran, I haven’t played games in too long; I don’t really know how to do this.”

Seeing a new round of monsters spawning, Fang Ran walked over impatiently. “You press this one.”

The beanbag chair wasn’t large, and Huo Yan was a grown man; there was no space left. He sat there composed, with no intention of making room for Fang Ran.

Fang Ran circled around twice in frustration and finally sat directly on Huo Yan’s lap, snatching the man’s controller. “You press this button!”

Huo Yan leaned forward from behind, naturally resting his chin on Fang Ran’s shoulder. From the back, it looked as if the man was holding Fang Ran entirely in his arms, like he was cuddling a large plush doll.

“Okay, Ranran, teach me.”

Holding Fang Ran entirely in his arms, Huo Yan felt his heart swell with fullness. A never-before-felt sense of satisfaction welled up; with one breath, he felt surrounded by the scent of Ranran’s body.

His gaze darkened, and Adam’s apple rolled. From this position, a slight tilt of the head allowed him to see Fang Ran’s soft earlobe. If he could take it into his mouth, he wondered how wonderful it would taste.

Fang Ran was oblivious to the greedy gaze behind him. He stared intently at the screen, his fingers clicking away at the controller. “A-Yan, are you watching? Did you learn it?”

Huo Yan withdrew his gaze surreptitiously and gave an “Mm.” “It still feels a bit difficult.”

He stretched his arms out from both sides, covering Fang Ran’s hands and gripping the controller. “Teach me like this.”

Only then did Fang Ran feel something was off.

He was tucked in the man’s arms like a giant doll, with Huo Yan’s burning chest right behind his back. The heat of the man’s breath hit the side of his ear, bringing a subtle itch.

Wait… this posture…

It didn’t seem quite right.

Fang Ran tried to struggle tentatively, but Huo Yan held him tighter, his tone calm. “Ranran, is this how I make the move?”

What?

Fang Ran looked up at the screen and was immediately distracted. He frowned and spoke urgently, “No, you need to do a front kick.”

Huo Yan gave an “Mm.” “Like this?”

“No, that’s a backward step.”

Fang Ran took the controller back and pressed it a few times. “Like this, this is how you do a combo.”

the man tilted his head slightly, watching Fang Ran’s eyelashes flutter like butterfly wings. While staring at him, he said nonchalantly, “Ranran, teach me two more times.”

…

After soaking in the game room for two days, Fang Ran’s interest finally waned slightly.

On the third day after dinner, Fang Ran turned himself into a long strip draped across the sofa. Huo Yan walked over and knelt half-way by the sofa, feeding Fang Ran strawberries one by one.

“Are we still in yesterday’s dungeon?” Huo Yan asked sincerely. “I’ll definitely try to keep up with your rhythm today.”

Fang Ran shook his head listlessly.

Huo Yan’s terrible gaming skills were one thing, but his eyes also hurt from the strain of playing.

Back when he was drowning in test papers every day, Fang Ran dreamed of a time when he wouldn’t have to study and could play games from morning till night. Now that the dream had come true, he actually found it a bit boring.

“I’ve been cooped up at home for two or three days.” Fang Ran swallowed the strawberry in his mouth. “I want to go out.”

The man’s body stiffened slightly, and his eyes darkened. He paused before speaking as if nothing were wrong, “Go out?”

Fang Ran sat up abruptly. “I suddenly thought you said I mysteriously disappeared for ten years. Were the teachers and classmates from our class terrified? What about the aunties at the orphanage? Did they miss me? Is my bed still there?”

“A-Yan, can I go see them?”

Huo Yan lowered his eyes, his expression very cold.

He thought: How would I know?

When Fang Ran first went missing, he wished he could have smashed his own head and gone with him. Living like a walking corpse, why would he care what others thought?

“By the way, A-Yan, I haven’t asked you yet.”

Fang Ran leaned his head in, staring seriously at Huo Yan. “Why do I feel like you aren’t shocked at all about the fact that I time-traveled?”

He seemed to have accepted it very calmly, without even asking Fang Ran much about it.

Huo Yan smiled. “It’s enough that you’re back.”

To this day, Huo Yan was still afraid this was a fleeting dream; he needed Fang Ran to be within his sight at all times.

However, he didn’t refuse Fang Ran immediately. Instead, he chuckled. “There’s no rush to go to the orphanage. Actually, I had someone deliver a barbecue grill today. How about we have a barbecue in the yard?”

Fang Ran’s eyes lit up. “Okay! I’ll skewer the kebabs!”

“Good. I’ll have Liu Ma prepare the ingredients, and we’ll do it together in a bit.”

Huo Yan’s tone was relaxed and gentle. “Do you want more strawberries?”

“Yes!” Fang Ran opened his mouth.

Huo Yan fed him a few more, only stopping when Fang Ran patted his stomach to indicate he was full.

He stood up and pulled a tissue from nearby, but the moment he turned around, he clenched the tissue in his palm instead of using it to wipe his hands.

With his back to Fang Ran, Huo Yan looked down at the strawberry juice on his fingertips that had been rubbed off the youth’s lips. After a few seconds of silence, he lowered his head and licked it twice.

The taste of Ranran.

He wanted to use a constant stream of new things to keep Ranran in the villa. But one day, when he could no longer produce new things, and when Ranran felt bored, what should he do?

…

Liu Ma prepared many ingredients washing and cutting them, arranging them one by one on plates, with specialized iron skewers placed nearby.

Fang Ran wore disposable gloves and was seriously skewering the meat, while Huo Yan watched his movements closely, terrified he might accidentally prick his hand.

After a few were finished, Huo Yan saw his movements were practiced enough and finally felt at ease.

“Do you remember that spring trip we had in middle school?”

Fang Ran suddenly spoke. “It was also an outdoor barbecue. The classmates who came back told me they burnt everything, or it was half-raw and inedible.”

Huo Yan remembered, of course.

In middle school, the class organized a spring trip: mountain climbing plus outdoor barbecue. It was fifty yuan per person, voluntary signup.

Fifty yuan wasn’t much; ninety percent of the students in the class participated. After all, it was a group activity, and everyone was excited.

But fifty yuan was a very large sum for Fang Ran and Huo Yan.

Living in an orphanage, basic needs were guaranteed, but for extra activities like this, there was no funding. They had just entered middle school then, and neither had any pocket money.

Huo Yan, of course, had no interest in such trips; he’d rather do two more sets of test papers.

Fang Ran, however, really wanted to go. He had been a restless character since childhood; he could crouch and watch dogs fighting in the yard for half a day.

He went to beg the director of the orphanage for several days in a row, but the director never relented.

In fact, the director was also helpless. If he gave money to Fang Ran, would he have to give it to everyone else? He managed an entire orphanage and couldn’t make an exception for one person.

Fang Ran returned to the dorm dejectedly, like a puppy drenched by the rain.

Unexpectedly, when he returned, Huo Yan was packing things.

Fang Ran was stunned. “A-Yan, what are you doing?”

“Packing for you. You’re going on the spring trip tomorrow. Here is fifty yuan; I’ve put it in the inner pocket of your backpack. Remember to give it to the teacher tomorrow morning.”

Huo Yan lowered his head, putting items into the bag one by one. “Water bottle, tissues, some snacks… I also put in a bag of band-aids. If you get bumped or scratched, remember to put one on.”

Fang Ran’s eyes widened, and he muttered blankly.

“I’m going… on the spring trip?”

“Mm.”

“But… where did you get the money?”

Huo Yan didn’t answer his question, only saying, “Go to sleep early today, or you won’t be able to get up tomorrow morning.”

It was like a dream.

He was actually going on the spring trip.

But Fang Ran felt something was subtly wrong in his heart.

He usually wasn’t clever enough, but at that moment, his mind suddenly sparked. Looking around, Fang Ran suddenly discovered something. “A-Yan, where is your Rubik’s Cube?”

Huo Yan had a Rubik’s Cube that he brought with him when he was sent to the orphanage from the Huo family. It was very beautiful, made of a special material, and had been given to him by his mother years ago. Huo Yan treasured that Rubik’s Cube.

Hearing Fang Ran’s words, Huo Yan’s movements paused. His tone was very flat. “I’ve played with it enough. I don’t like it anymore.”

Fang Ran’s eyes turned red.

He ran over directly, snatched the backpack, dug the fifty yuan out of the inner pocket, and ran away.

Fang Ran could guess who Huo Yan had sold the Rubik’s Cube to.

There was a chubby kid in the dorm next door whose late father’s friends often came to visit him and gave him money; he had always liked Huo Yan’s Rubik’s Cube.

Soon, Fang Ran returned, the money gone from his hand. He had traded back Huo Yan’s Rubik’s Cube.

He had run both ways; Fang Ran was breathing slightly hard as he stood before Huo Yan, holding out his hand to give him the Rubik’s Cube.

“A-Yan, I’m not going.”

“If you don’t go, I won’t go either.” Fang Ran said very seriously, “Wherever you are, I’ll be there.”

For many years, Huo Yan had remembered those words.

But Fang Ran had likely forgotten them.

“I won’t let you suffer that kind of grievance again.” Huo Yan said in a very serious tone, “I have money now. Ranran can do whatever he wants.”

Fang Ran’s eyes crinkled. “A-Yan is so impressive. I never thought I could live in such a big house.”

He sighed. “Back then I thought, after graduation we’d go to the same university, then we could work at the same company, maybe even get married and have kids later, and the kids could go to the same primary school, just like us.”

As Fang Ran spoke, the smile on Huo Yan’s face gradually disappeared. He just sat there expressionless, staring quietly at Fang Ran.

It was the first time Fang Ran had seen such an expression on his childhood friend’s face.

Fang Ran was dazed and blinked. “What’s wrong…?”

Huo Yan smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. His tone somehow carried a sarcastic feeling. “Ranran certainly thinks far ahead.”

Fang Ran gave a confused “Ah.”

Huo Yan averted his gaze and looked down. “Hurry up, or it’ll be dark.”

“Okay!”

In a place where Fang Ran couldn’t see, Huo Yan’s expression was very cold. He seemed to pull the corner of his lip in a very indifferent sneer.

Think of marriage?

Only if he were dead.

…

Halfway through skewering the ingredients, Liu Ma suddenly walked in with a plate. “Master, this is the venison that was delivered last time. Should I grill it too?”

Huo Yan was about to refuse, but Fang Ran spoke first. “Venison? Is it good?”

“Want to try?”

Fang Ran nodded vigorously.

Huo Yan nodded. “Bring it over; we’ll grill it together.”

The ingredients were varied, and by the end, there were several plates worth of skewers. The grill in the yard was ready. Fang Ran wanted to help; Huo Yan didn’t stop him, letting him work alongside him.

The spring trip he missed in middle school after all these years, Huo Yan was finally making it up to him.

Maybe it was because he did it himself, but Fang Ran felt the kebabs were exceptionally fragrant. He even ate quite a few venison skewers. His mouth was shiny with oil, and he sat obediently on the chair waiting for Huo Yan to wipe his mouth.

It was as if he were still that child in the orphanage who needed to be looked after by Huo Yan.

Having eaten too much, Fang Ran let out a small burp, then covered his mouth and smiled at Huo Yan with crinkled eyes.

The baby is so cute.

For a moment, it felt like Huo Yan’s heart stopped. His fingertips trembled slightly, and it took a long while for him to let out a stiff breath.

Is it time for medicine again?

…

Eating the barbecue had been quite happy, until he went to the bathroom to bathe and realized things were not quite right.

Huo Yan had intended to bring Fang Ran some new pajamas, but after waiting a long time and not seeing Fang Ran come out of the bathroom, he frowned slightly, walked over, and knocked on the bathroom door. “Ranran, can I come in?”

He asked as a formality, and without waiting for Fang Ran to answer, Huo Yan pushed the door open.

The heat from the bathroom rushed toward him.

The man’s gaze instantly landed on Fang Ran, who was standing by the shower with his legs squeezed together, looking quite awkward.

He had clearly seen Ranran like this before, but today’s Ranran seemed even more enticing. His cheeks were slightly pink, his eyes round as if covered in a layer of mist, looking at him piteously and innocently.

Huo Yan’s throat felt tight, as if a fire had been lit inside him.

He said hoarsely, “I called you from outside but you didn’t respond. I was afraid you had slipped in the bathroom.”

Fang Ran spoke in a cramped and embarrassed tone, “No, I…”

He couldn’t say it, but Huo Yan had already seen it.

In fact, he could guess.

Venison is “hot” in nature, and Fang Ran was a young man who had just turned eighteen, full of vigor.

He asked in a natural tone, “Can’t get it down?”

Whether it was from the steam or something else, Fang Ran felt like his whole being was about to catch fire. He nodded shamefully.

But by contrast, Huo Yan appeared very calm.

He even walked straight over. “I’ll help you.”

What?

“No, no, no…” Fang Ran’s eyes widened suddenly, and he retreated repeatedly. The floor was wet and slippery, and because he retreated in a rush, he nearly stumbled and fell. Fortunately, Huo Yan grabbed him.

His body lunged forward abruptly, pressing directly against Huo Yan. Right there, he was poking blatantly against the root of Huo Yan’s thigh.

“…”

“What is there to be shy about?” Huo Yan spoke in a serious manner. “The first time you dirtied your bedsheets, I was the one who washed them for you.”

That was true, but…

The Huo Yan before him was, after all, not the childhood friend from ten years ago. He was a genuine adult male, much taller and larger than himself, standing before him with a heavy air of oppression.

But Huo Yan gave Fang Ran no chance to refuse at all, reaching out directly to grasp him.

He coaxed in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid, Ranran. I’ll help you.”

His Ranran was still young. It was only natural for these matters to be handled by him, the “future husband.”