Forced To Take Care Of The Protagonist, She Can't Leave [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 14

An eight-year-old child was no longer light; holding Huo Chen was not unlike carrying a medium-sized sack, but Gu Qingshi did not let go. The scene from his dream seemed to linger before his eyes. Perhaps what he had thought before was correct: it did not matter if it was real or false, as long as it had a good ending. Even if it were a dream, it was a beautiful one. Did he not hold onto hope during those three days at the welfare home?

Gu Qingshi’s expression remained indifferent, but his eyes drooped slightly as he explained, “I was too busy before, leaving you home alone. I will have more free time during the winter break.”

“Are you bored at home?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.

The image of Huo Chen eating alone at the dining table had left too deep an impression; it was no different from that of a left-behind child. Yet, he was clearly the boy’s guardian now. Gu Qingshi’s memories of the orphanage were too profound, to the point that he had established a certain emotional detachment after reaching adulthood. It was only after seeing Huo Chen at home, looking so much like a mirror image of himself, that he felt empathy. He lowered his eyelashes.

“Mmm!” Huo Chen showed no sign of letting go. He not only wrapped his arms around the man’s neck but also locked his legs tightly. He did not want to get down at all. The last time he had been held was when Gu Qingshi was drunk; it had been over three months since then. Huo Chen did his best to act like a child, even rubbing his head against Gu Qingshi’s shoulder. He wanted to appear ten times more attached than he felt. He began to please him instinctively.

Gu Qingshi had originally planned to hold him for only a short while, mostly to apologize for his own inability to understand the situation. There was no reason to let a child be so lonely.

“Get down,” he said, turning his head. They had reached the living room.

But the sack in his arms remained motionless, holding on tightly.

996 scoffed ruthlessly: 【He is faking it! He is faking it!】

Gu Qingshi frowned: 【Why would you say that about him? He is only eight.】

996 felt incredibly aggrieved, thinking that the Host simply did not understand the complexities of this world. This protagonist was the most difficult one in existence. Plus, his favorability rating toward the Host had not even cracked twenty. The protagonist was just too good at acting.

【But Host, you do not know, the protagonist’s favorability rating toward you is only—】 996 said coldly.

【Your words are blocked; I cannot hear you.】

996 was stunned, eventually realizing that its favorability authority had been disabled, and it would not be able to turn it back on for another year.

【…】

996 went to sulk against the wall. It felt inexplicably unhappy. Its humanoid attribute value was still rising.

Gu Qingshi added, “I cannot sit down while holding you.”

Only then did Huo Chen reluctantly let go, burying his head low, looking as pitiful as could be. Gu Qingshi had not yet taken off his overcoat, and as he began to remove it, someone nearby hugged him again.

“Let me hang it up for you,” Huo Chen volunteered again.

Gu Qingshi thought for a moment. “Alright, thank you.”

He was a weary person by nature; he was grateful for anyone who could save him a few steps. Huo Chen trotted away happily. Gu Qingshi reached up to rub the bridge of his nose, feeling his vision blurring. He had neglected his health and let it fall into a mess in less than half a year. Am I becoming nearsighted?

The footsteps were short and eager; Huo Chen was back in no time. Gu Qingshi looked up. “You are back.”

“Mmm!” Huo Chen’s little tail was wagging again.

996 diligently measured its Host’s intimacy level with the protagonist and, finding it low, felt relieved. This is good, this is good; it is merely out of responsibility and empathy. We are still far from the penalty threshold.

“Did you have fun at school?” Gu Qingshi asked after a moment of thought.

Huo Chen showed his best side, saying obediently, “Yes, it was fun.”

“Is that so? Tell me about it.”

Huo Chen’s heart sank. What could possibly be fun about it? It is just a bunch of kids. However, to avoid being driven away, Huo Chen stammered through the details, focusing on classroom content, the ponies he saw, and field trip sites. Gu Qingshi listened, nodding slightly at the nanny who had arrived to hand him the fruit plate. He moved it toward Huo Chen.

“…In short, that is all.” Huo Chen lowered his head, his gaze shifting back and forth along the man’s hands, unable to continue.

So clean.

He felt as if that was the only adjective he knew.

“Do you want to watch television?” A sudden question came from beside him, sounding a bit uncomfortable. Gu Qingshi had never raised a child and had little experience, so he had just asked. Huo Chen was momentarily stunned.

“If you do not like it, that is fine.” Gu Qingshi looked away, thinking, Forget it, I do not know what else to say; I will just have him go read a book.

Huo Chen hurriedly said, “I want to, I do.”

The reading plan was shelved, the television was turned on, and it was switched to the children’s channel. Gu Qingshi thought he had arranged things perfectly. Children liked watching this kind of thing; it should be fine. Besides, watching television meant no need for conversation. He was tired.

Gu Qingshi’s eyes were sore. He watched the screen with his legs crossed, his mind blank. I cannot see clearly. I need glasses.

The house had a climate control system, with warm air blowing all day, and sleepiness began to wash over Gu Qingshi. He glanced briefly at Huo Chen, and only after confirming the boy was focused on the cartoon did he close his eyes with relief.

He was so tired.

996 had not yet had a chance to sneak a photo before a small head blocked its lens.

【!!】

Huo Chen had no interest in the cartoon—what was so good about two bears?—but he kept his peripheral vision on Gu Qingshi the entire time. He is asleep again. Is he always this tired when he comes back?

Huo Chen could not help but look at the man’s hand; sure enough, there were new needle marks. Is he going for IV drips again? Why does he have to be an actor?

Huo Chen acted like a thief, leaning in secretly to look; he had never seen anyone so good-looking. When the man had first arrived at the welfare home gate, Huo Chen had secretly watched from the window. The other silly children had all crowded around the fence, and one had even tugged at the man’s hem. Huo Chen had maliciously thought that Gu Qingshi would surely slap that dirty child’s hand away.

But things went differently: Gu Qingshi had reached out calmly and hooked his finger around that child’s finger. Huo Chen was first surprised, and then his mood turned sour; he even hoped the dirty child would fall and never touch that person again. Why? He instinctively believed this person had also come for him. Weren’t all visitors like that? They came, paid money to take him away, forced him to call them “Dad,” and finally wore smug expressions, as if they had derived some pleasure from it.

Huo Chen hated going out, hated these messy people, and hated the outside world. He would rather rot in that orphanage, rather have it start over forever.

But this person had called him Miss Ginny Ellis.

Huo Chen selectively forgot that Gu Qingshi had denied it on that rainy night, remembering only the scene from their first day. He is truly good-looking.

His thoughts were too cluttered, so he forgot to pull away when he saw the man’s eyelids flicker. He stared straight at him.

The man chuckled softly. “So, you do not like to watch it after all.”

The television was turned off. Gu Qingshi patted Huo Chen’s face, stood up, and left, saying toward the back, “Come over and eat.”

Huo Chen’s face burned. He sat there as if his ears were ringing, his fingers wanting to tear a piece of leather off the sofa. Still, he ran over quickly, his breathing slightly rapid.

“New Year is coming soon; do you have any plans?” Gu Qingshi asked, turning his head. Huo Chen did not sit opposite him this time; he sat beside Gu Qingshi, quietly shifting his chair closer.

“No…” the child said dejectedly, then looked up and asked, “Do you have any?”

New Year was coming soon; he could not possibly keep leaving, could he? Huo Chen had to admit he was a bit nervous. Gu Qingshi seemed to have smiled, or perhaps he had not; Huo Chen did not dare to look too clearly, having already been caught once on the sofa.

“I do.”

The child’s back curved instantly; dejection hung around the dining table like a physical weight.

“Do you miss your grandmother? Shall I take you to pay respects tomorrow? Is that alright?”

Gu Qingshi lowered his head to ask. Seeing the boy still with his head bowed, he assumed the answer was no, so he leaned in closer. But the moment he opened his mouth, he received a heavy blow to the chin. The child had slammed his head forward.

“Ah? Gu Qingshi!” Huo Chen stood up immediately. The chair scraped against the floor with a harsh noise. His fingers touched the man’s face; it was cool and smooth.

“Are you alright!” Huo Chen stepped forward.

Gu Qingshi frowned and pushed the boy’s hand away. “I am fine. Sit down.” So restless.

Huo Chen could no longer touch him. He felt both guilty and regretful, but hurried to say, “I will go, I will go.”

I can actually go back… Grandmother. Grandmother. Huo Chen had almost given up, but this person said he could go pay his respects.

“Eat first,” Gu Qingshi reminded him.

Huo Chen’s heart beat wildly; even his appetite improved, and he ate quite a lot. Why bother with what is real or fake? At least he is happy right now.

The next morning, Gu Qingshi rose late as usual, but seeing Huo Chen waiting without eating a bite, he frowned.

“Why are you waiting for me? Isn’t the food getting cold?”

Huo Chen was in a daze, staring at Gu Qingshi’s chin; the spot that had only been red last night had turned into a small bruise by morning. Is my head that hard?

“Eat.”

Huo Chen hastily withdrew his eyes, feeling truly guilty. He could not stop himself from stealing glances at Gu Qingshi.

“Is there rice on my face?” Gu Qingshi asked flatly, without looking back, showing no major emotion.

Huo Chen fell silent, honestly shoveling rice into his mouth, his mind already calculating everything. This man’s temper was not exactly great; he did not like to talk unless necessary for social interaction. Huo Chen had observed a bit at home, even if he did not know much about the man outside. He was polite to adults but often used imperative sentences with him. Huo Chen was not pleased, but on second thought, if Gu Qingshi were to treat him the same way he treated the nanny, he might be even more uncomfortable. Imperative sentences it is; I am happy with them.

The man had morning grumpiness and hated being woken up by the nanny; he always gave instructions beforehand. If he had no work, he would sleep until 9:30 AM. He ate slowly and daintily, and he did not eat much. Like a cat. Huo Chen thought that eating like that would make him lose weight, but it seemed actors all controlled their diets. Huo Chen thought that was not good; this profession was especially bad.

At the same time, Gu Qingshi had a slight obsessive need for cleanliness. He did not like things to be placed messily; the master bedroom was concise and clean. He would wipe away anything on the table with a tissue. He even preferred washing dishes by hand; whenever he was home, he would definitely wash them himself because he thought the dishwasher was dirty.

Huo Chen did not quite understand, but it did not matter; he was the one washing them anyway.

In summary, this man was fussy, troublesome, weary, and sedentary. It seemed he was only fit to be kept at home.