TSBDRA 79: Whose Child is This?

Because of Xu Xishuang’s unique physical condition, he didn’t experience postpartum lochia after giving birth, so he didn’t need to go through the traditional “confinement” period. He could bathe and wash his hair, but to be on the safe side, Dr. Xu still advised waiting three days before entering the bathroom.

That night, Yan Yushan helped Xu Xishuang into the bathroom. Xu Xishuang glanced back at him, signaling with his eyes for Yan Yushan to leave, but Yan Yushan acted like he didn’t see it, shut the door behind him, and started taking off his clothes.

In the end, the bath was given with Yan Yushan’s help or rather, the two of them bathed together. Xu Xishuang didn’t have much strength to begin with, and by the end, he was lazily leaning against the sink, a hot towel pressed against his waist, watching as Yan Yushan gently wiped his legs.

Xu Xishuang yawned, then suddenly felt a warm sensation on his stomach. Instinctively, he reached out to stop it, but Yan Yushan caught his wrist and gently moved it aside, continuing to kiss softly along the edge of the healing scar on his belly.

Xu Xishuang’s wound had healed well, with waterproofing measures in place, so there was no risk of infection. Even though Dr. Xu promised that the chances of scarring were minimal and they would use the most advanced methods to remove it, Yan Yushan’s eyes were full of pain and tenderness. After a few restrained kisses, he looked up and said to Xu Xishuang, “Baby, if the kid ever acts up in the future, I’ll help you beat him senseless.”

Xu Xishuang had suffered so much just to bring that little rascal into the world. If Yan Qingci ever dared to act out or upset Xu Xishuang, Yan Yushan would be the first to deal with him.

Meanwhile, the little Yan Qingci, blowing milk bubbles on the side, had no idea his path to becoming a mischievous kid had already been cut off before it even began. Not that he had any plans to be one. He quietly lay in the bed for a while, then went right back to sleep. Even the noise from Xu Xishuang and Yan Yushan coming out of the bathroom didn’t wake him.

A little over two weeks after Xu Xishuang gave birth, the three members of the Yan family went to a private hospital and arrived at Xu Xishuang’s ward. They asked about his recovery first, and only then turned their attention to Yan Qingci, who was sound asleep.

They didn’t wake Yan Qingci either, just took turns holding him. But because Father Yan and Yan Jingmo were both so stiff and awkward in the way they held the baby, Mother Yan gave them a fierce scolding and didn’t let them hold him again after just one turn, afraid they would drop the child.

When she found out that all of Xu Xishuang’s meals lately had been handled by Xiao Wang and the nanny working together, Mother Yan gave up the idea of bringing food over herself. After all, every field has its professionals—it was better to let the experts take care of Xu Xishuang and Yan Qingci. If she got too involved or tried to help too much, she’d just end up being a nuisance.

At the same time, the three members of the Yan family learned that Xu Xishuang and Yan Yushan had given Yan Qingci the nickname “Todou.”¹Means Potato. Because Yan Qingci was unusually well-behaved for a baby—not the type to cry or fuss—he spent most of his time quietly, and seemed to have a special fondness for yellow fabrics. Whenever he was wrapped in something yellow, he would smile.

Wrapped in pale yellow cloth, Yan Qingci looked just like a peaceful little Todou. The nickname was unanimously approved by everyone—even Dr. Xu would call out “Todou” a couple of times during his rounds.

Two weeks later, with Dr. Xu’s permission, confirming that Xu Xishuang’s body was completely recovered with no lingering issues and that Yan Qingci was growing strong and healthy, Xu Xishuang and Yan Yushan finally took their baby home.

It was Yan Qingci’s first time leaving the hospital. Held in Xu Xishuang’s arms, he stared wide-eyed out the car window. He didn’t stay awake long—soon, he got sleepy and dozed off nestled against Xu Xishuang’s chest.

Now out of the pregnancy phase, Xu Xishuang no longer struggled with drowsiness, but out of habit, he leaned a little toward Yan Yushan, lying against his chest while scrolling through his phone. Yan Yushan turned to look at the pair—one big, one small—and felt a wave of warmth in his heart. He leaned over and kissed Xu Xishuang on the cheek.

Xu Xishuang was already used to these little gestures from Yan Yushan. When he saw him leaning in, he even tilted his face up slightly to make it easier for him to kiss. Seeing how he acted like he didn’t care on the surface but was actually so cooperative, Yan Yushan felt even more smitten—his heart itched with affection.

After returning home, Xu Xishuang handed Yan Qingci to Yan Yushan to have his diaper changed, then walked into the kitchen to take the restorative herbal soup from Xiao Wang. After drinking it, he took Yan Qingci back from Yan Yushan and went to sit on the couch to watch TV.

Yan Yushan went upstairs to his study, joined a video conference with others in his studio, started promoting newcomers, helping them find resources, and laying out their future paths and goals.

The studio had recently signed a few new artists. Kong Xia had already started to sense that Yan Yushan was gradually preparing to step back from the spotlight. Although it was a pity, she didn’t try to stop him. At this point, Yan Yushan had already earned nearly every honor he could. He had achieved the dreams that brought him into the entertainment industry in the first place. Now that he had built a family with Xu Xishuang, it made sense to focus more on his home life.

While Yan Yushan was upstairs in his meeting, Xu Xishuang watched an episode of a drama downstairs but didn’t find it very interesting. He carried the now-awake Yan Qingci over to the floor-to-ceiling windows to look out at the small garden, where everything was beginning to bloom in the early spring.

Yan Qingci had a sweet temperament and didn’t cry even after waking. He already looked much better than when he was first born—his skin had grown fairer, and he was now adorably delicate and charming. Anyone who saw him would want to pick him up and smother him with kisses.

Xu Xishuang found himself growing more and more fond of him too. Holding him in one arm, he pointed with the other toward the wildflowers beginning to bloom in Yan Yushan’s garden. “Yan Todou, look! These are the flowers your dad planted. Aren’t they pretty?”

Yan Todou was only one month old—his full-month celebration was scheduled for the next day—so of course he couldn’t speak, let alone answer Xu Xishuang’s question. But seeing him stare intently at the vibrant flowers outside the window, Xu Xishuang found it amusing. Just as he was about to tease Todou a bit more, a loud engine roar came from outside the window. He looked up instinctively and saw a flashy red sports car pull up in front of the villa—

Jiang Yangze jumped out of the car, full of anger and frustration. Just over a month ago, his father had sent him abroad to negotiate a business deal. For reasons unknown, a small conflict suddenly broke out in the area. He had wanted to leave immediately, but the situation kept escalating. In the end, he was stuck in a remote village for an entire month with no signal and no internet, only getting rescued recently.

And the moment he got his phone back and checked the news online, he found out that his good buddy Yan Yushan had gotten married! To Xu Xishuang! Without telling him a thing!!

Jiang Yangze felt like their brotherhood was over right then and there but he couldn’t let it go. He remembered how Yan Yushan had even told him not to come over, saying something about “wait another eight months.” That just made Jiang Yangze even angrier—he had to come and get an explanation!

Then, through the floor-to-ceiling window, he saw Xu Xishuang holding a baby.

Jiang Yangze froze on the spot.

His mouth slowly dropped open as he stared in shock at Xu Xishuang, then at the fair and adorable baby in his arms who was staring right back at him. At that moment, Jiang Yangze felt like his whole world was falling apart.

A flood of thoughts raced through his mind. Where did this baby come from? Did I go to the wrong house? No, this is definitely Yan-ge’s place. So where is Yan-ge? Why is Xu Xishuang home alone… holding a baby? Wait—could this baby be Xu Xishuang’s? Did Xu Xishuang cheat on Yan-ge?!

The idea struck him like lightning. Jiang Yangze shuddered from head to toe, and the look on his face shifted from blank confusion to steely resolve. His eyes blazed with a quiet fury as he marched toward the front door of the villa, determined to confront Xu Xishuang on the spot!

On the other side of the glass, Xu Xishuang nearly didn’t recognize Jiang Yangze at first glance. The guy was almost as dark as a lump of coal now. If it weren’t for that signature sports car and the vaguely familiar features on his face, Xu Xishuang would’ve thought he was some foreign tourist.

Yan Qingci also turned to look at Jiang Yangze. It was his first time seeing someone so dark-skinned, and this dark-colored person kept moving around—he looked pretty entertaining.

Jiang Yangze quickly made it to the front door of the villa. He brushed past Xiao Wang, who had come to open the door, and stormed straight up to Xu Xishuang, firing off a question without warning, “Whose kid is this?”

Xu Xishuang hadn’t expected Jiang Yangze’s first words to be about the baby. He paused in surprise, unsure of how to respond.

But that moment of silence, in Jiang Yangze’s eyes, was pure guilt. If this child wasn’t someone Xu Xishuang had secretly had behind Yan-ge’s back, why wouldn’t he speak up?

Jiang Yangze’s expression changed dramatically as his suspicion shot from mild to near certainty. Without a second thought, he pulled out his phone, ready to call Yan Yushan and tell him everything—that he had to divorce Xu Xishuang immediately, that he couldn’t let himself get cuckolded and stuck raising someone else’s kid.

Just as Jiang Yangze hit the call button, the elevator dinged and Yan Yushan came down from upstairs. He glanced at his phone, then at Jiang Yangze standing in the living room. Honestly, even he almost didn’t recognize Jiang Yangze at first glance…

Yan Yushan reached out and hung up the call, then walked over and asked directly, “What are you doing here?”

Seeing that Yan Yushan was at home and clearly aware of the baby in Xu Xishuang’s arms, Jiang Yangze looked utterly betrayed. He glared at Yan Yushan, full of frustration and disappointment. “Yan-ge! Do you even know whose kid that is?”

Yan Yushan paused for a moment, then calmly replied, “Mine.”

“Yours…” Jiang Yangze’s fury and confusion halted midway and morphed into sheer disbelief. “Huh? Yours??”

What? So it wasn’t Xu Xishuang cheating on Yan-ge… it was Yan-ge cheating on Xu Xishuang?! And that’s why Yan-ge was in such a rush to get married—to cover up the existence of this child?! Oh my god, was Yan Yushan actually the ultimate scumbag?!

Jiang Yangze’s gaze at Yan Yushan instantly changed, full of inner turmoil and heartbreak. He couldn’t understand how his once-principled bro could fall so far.

Yan Yushan, unaware that Jiang Yangze was already planning in his heart to convince Xu Xishuang to divorce him, exchanged a glance with Xu Xishuang. Both of them understood what needed to be done—they had to tell Jiang Yangze the truth about the baby.

“Come with me to the study,” Yan Yushan said. “I have something to tell you.”

Jiang Yangze followed him, his thoughts a tangled mess of judgment and skepticism. He had no idea his worldview was about to be completely overturned.

The dark-skinned man was gone, and Yan Qingci withdrew his gaze, turning his attention back to Xu Xishuang. Xu Xishuang played with him for a while, and when he saw the baby had fallen asleep, he gently laid him down on the sofa beside him. He hadn’t been watching the TV for long when he heard the elevator doors open. He turned his head and, as expected, saw Jiang Yangze walking out—dazed, numb, practically floating.

Every time Jiang Yangze looked at Xu Xishuang now, his eyes instinctively drifted toward Xu Xishuang’s stomach. He still couldn’t believe the child had come from him. The thought that Xu Xishuang had been secretly pregnant while filming dramas and variety shows, fooling so many viewers, was simply unbelievable.

Jiang Yangze sat stiffly on the small sofa next to Xu Xishuang, his hands neatly placed on his knees, staring straight ahead without blinking, as if his soul had left his body.

Yan Yushan sat down beside Xu Xishuang, glanced at the peacefully sleeping Yan Qingci, and both he and Xu Xishuang agreed—Jiang Yangze had clearly taken a massive hit and would probably need a few hours to process everything.

But they had still underestimated the depth of Jiang Yangze’s imagination and his ability to bounce back. Barely ten minutes later, he had completely digested the truth and was suddenly full of excitement as he walked over, eager to see his little nephew.

Jiang Yangze suggested, “How about letting the baby have a godfather?”

Yan Yushan responded with a smile.

Jiang Yangze immediately dropped the idea and obediently accepted his role as “Uncle Jiang.” He patted his chest and solemnly promised that he would definitely attend Yan Qingci’s full-month celebration tomorrow, bring a big red envelope, prepare lots of gifts, and never, ever shortchange his little nephew. He also swore he wouldn’t tell anyone about any of this.

As Yan Yushan walked Jiang Yangze out, the two stood on the villa’s lawn. Yan Yushan said, “Tomorrow is also Xu Xishuang’s birthday.”

Jiang Yangze was stunned for a second, then smacked his chest again and promised, “I’ll get a gift for Xu-ge too! It’s a double celebration—no way I’m showing up unprepared.”

After sending Jiang Yangze off, Yan Yushan went back inside. Xu Xishuang carried Yan Qingci back to the crib in their room, gently tucking him in to sleep. Then he glanced at his phone screen lighting up, stepped out to the balcony, and answered the call from his agent, Zhao-jie.

“Xiao Xu, are you still enjoying your honeymoon with Yan Yushan?” Zhao-jie asked.

Xu Xishuang replied, “…No.”

“Well, since your honeymoon’s over, isn’t it time to get back to work?” Zhao-jie said earnestly. “Xiao Xu, are you still not fully aware of your current popularity and status? You’re famous now—hugely famous! And your body has recovered. The offers coming in are better than ever. You’ve got to seize the opportunity and level up your career.”

Xu Xishuang was silent for a moment. His original plan had always been to disrupt the storyline and break free from the fate of certain death. After that, he intended to leave the entertainment industry. While he did enjoy acting, he had no real attachment to the circle itself. Now that he had survived, now that he had a child, both he and Yan Yushan wanted to spend more time with their son—to give him a healthy, happy childhood.

So Xu Xishuang voiced the decision he and Yan Yushan had discussed. “Zhao-jie, I want to semi-retire.”

There was no response from the other end. Xu Xishuang waited for about two minutes before Zhao-jie finally spoke again. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Xu Xishuang replied. “I remember my contract with the company is renewed yearly. This year’s ends in June.”

Zhao-jie fell silent again. When she first heard Xu Xishuang say he wanted to semi-retire, her immediate reaction was disbelief and disapproval. Xu Xishuang had worked so hard for so many years and was finally experiencing a breakthrough in fame. There was a good chance he could soar even higher. But now, at such a critical point, he was choosing to step back, fade from the public eye, do maybe one project a year—or even less—and skip out on all the variety shows and endorsements? Wasn’t that just throwing away a golden opportunity?

But then Zhao-jie suddenly remembered—Xu Xishuang was now married. He and Yan Yushan had a family and both of them were actors. In the entertainment industry, there were quite a few actor couples—husbands or wives—who, after starting a family, no longer worked themselves to the bone. Instead, they chose to enjoy their life together, nurture their relationship.

After some thought, Zhao-jie ultimately decided to respect Xu Xishuang’s choice. “Alright, then you can manage your own schedule. Just remember to come to the company in June to terminate your contract.”

“Thank you, Zhao-jie,” Xu Xishuang said sincerely. “Really—thank you.”

Zhao-jie’s voice softened with emotion. “Xiao Xu, take care of yourself. Be happy.”

Xu Xishuang looked up, smiling, as Yan Yushan walked toward him. He replied to Zhao-jie, “Mm, I will.”

…

On the day of Yan Todou’s full-month celebration, it was also Xu Xishuang’s birthday. Holding Todou in his arms, Xu Xishuang stood in the living room to welcome the three members of the Yan family, along with Jiang Yangze. It was a small, intimate gathering.

It was the first time Yan Qingci had seen such a lively scene. His eyes darted around, and every now and then, he would flash a little smile that melted everyone’s hearts.

After the celebration, Yan Qingci received four pure gold longevity lock pendants. Since they were all a bright golden color, he loved them and couldn’t take his eyes off them. Once Xiao Wang carried him upstairs for a nap, everyone brought out another gift box and handed it to Xu Xishuang, smiling as they wished him a happy birthday.

Xu Xishuang hadn’t expected anyone to remember his birthday. He stood stunned for several seconds before coming back to his senses, quickly accepting the gift and thanking everyone.

Yan Yushan rolled out a large two-tier cake from the kitchen—a special order with extra cream—and placed it in front of Xu Xishuang. Seeing his eyes light up, Yan Yushan smiled, knowing he had made the right choice. He handed the cake knife to Xu Xishuang, letting him do the honors.

Now that he wasn’t dealing with pregnancy-related nausea anymore, Xu Xishuang didn’t hold back. He sliced himself a generous piece of cake and then cut portions for everyone else. Once done, he eagerly picked up a spoon, took a bite of the cream, and closed his eyes in blissful contentment.

With cream still at the corner of his mouth, Xu Xishuang met Yan Yushan’s gaze. In that instant, both of them were reminded of the wrap party that night, their hearts filled with countless emotions.

Back then, neither of them had imagined they would fall so deeply in love, or that they would spend the rest of their lives together.

How wonderful, Xu Xishuang couldn’t help but think again. He looked at the love in Yan Yushan’s eyes, then gently leaned his head against his shoulder. His gaze drifted to Father Yan, Mother Yan, and Yan Jingmo sitting across from them—now also his parents and brother—and then to Jiang Yangze animatedly flailing his arms as he retold the story of being stranded for a month.

Xu Xishuang smiled softly.

• 1
  Means Potato.