My Fortune-Blessed Leading Lady
Chapter 522: Came to Our Home Three Years Ago

Chapter 522: Chapter 522: Came to Our Home Three Years Ago

Zhizhi’s eyes sparkled as she vigorously nodded her head, looking at Bo Yan with a face seeking praise, "Daddy, does the dumpling Zhizhi made look good?"

Bo Yan’s mouth twitched, "Sweetheart, is that what our aesthetic is? Then tell Daddy, do you think the dumpling you made looks good?"

Zhizhi honestly shook her head, her expression serious, "Zhizhi doesn’t think it looks very good."

She subconsciously looked at the dumplings Yuran had made, "Compared to Mommy’s, Zhizhi’s looks so ugly."

Bo Yan was amused by her tone and squatted down to be at eye level with Zhizhi, "Baby, it’s your first time making dumplings, and it’s a result Daddy is proud of. Now, how about Daddy tries hard with Zhizhi to make the dumpling as pretty as the ones Mommy made, okay?"

Zhizhi’s eyes twinkled with hopeful brightness, "Is that possible?"

Bo Yan rolled up his sleeves and stood up, heading towards the sink, "Of course, if baby tries hard, it doesn’t mean Daddy doesn’t have to. Daddy isn’t very good at making dumplings either, let’s learn together, okay?"

Yuran couldn’t help but laugh when she heard this, glancing up at Bo Yan. Not good at making dumplings?

The dumplings Bo Yan made were very standard, and all the dumplings she had eaten before were made by Bo Yan. Now, for Zhizhi, he was being very meticulous.

Grandma Bo didn’t interrupt the father-daughter interaction, knowing that a father’s company is invaluable for a child. Bo Yinan never had that kind of patience back in the day.

Fortunately, Xiaoqi didn’t take after Bo Yinan.

Grandma Bo thought resentfully, the better Xiaoqi behaved, the more it highlighted how lacking Bo Yinan was in the past.

Bo Yan washed his hands, took the dough from Yuran, then rolled out the wrapper and placed it in Zhizhi’s hands, "You hold this, Daddy will roll out another one and we’ll make dumplings together, okay?"

Zhizhi was at an age of innocent curiosity, interested in everything; the kitchen was brimming with the whole family, which made the Chief of the Living Room, Bo, restless and eager to join in on the dumpling making.

But he quickly sat back down, knowing his skills would surely attract criticism if he tried to join in.

He slightly regretted not taking the time to learn.

Zhizhi patiently held the perfectly sized dumpling wrapper in her hands, waiting for Bo Yan to be ready, obedient as a doll that moved at the press of a button.

Bo Yan chuckled, placed the filling inside their wrappers, and taught Zhizhi how to slowly pinch the dumplings together. Zhizhi was a quick learner, and after Bo Yan’s repeated guidance, she managed to make the dumplings look quite professional.

Zhizhi’s dark eyes shone even brighter, "Daddy, Daddy, I did it, Zhizhi succeeded!"

The dumpling in her hands was plump and white, looking many times better than her previous attempts.

She was so excited that she forgot to think about why her father’s dumplings turned out so well and hurriedly took her dumpling to the living room to show Bo Yinan, while Yuran took the chance to teasingly say to Bo Yan, "Brother Qi, you’re quite skilled, I must say."

Bo Yan’s gaze shifted from Zhizhi’s retreating figure in the living room to Yuran, smiling, "Baby, are you undermining me?"

Yuran shook her head, "Not at all, just realizing you’re a good father. I don’t have any objections about having a second child."

Bo Yan didn’t reply, and Yuran noticed that every time the subject came up, Bo Yan seemed disinterested. Before Zhizhi was born, he had been agreeable to the idea of having children, but it was after Zhizhi’s birth that he seemed to develop a psychological shadow.

He took the dumplings Yuran had made to the pot to be cooked, and Grandma Bo said to Yuran with a smile, "When you gave birth to Zhizhi, you scared him. As for having a second child, I think it’s up in the air."

Yuran felt a little disappointed, "Mom, I want a second child, to give Zhizhi a little sister. Zhizhi would definitely be a good big brother."

Adding to the family was naturally a happy prospect for Grandma Bo, but she couldn’t decide on such matters—it was up to Bo Yan. Watching her son’s back, she said, "Baby, I’m not trying to dampen your spirits, but if you want a second child, it’s really up to Brother Qi to agree."

"Otherwise, he has a thousand ways to prevent you from getting pregnant, he might even get a vasectomy."

Yuran was frightened and dared not continue the topic.

This, she believed Bo Yan was capable of doing it.

...

In the evening, the whole family rested at the Imperial Inscription Platform. Zhizhi was lulled to sleep by Bo Yan, but he was so excited about the dumplings he had made that he still couldn’t fall asleep even after Bo Yan had told him two stories, showing no sign of drowsiness.

Bo Yan closed the storybook.

Zhizhi looked at him with puzzled eyes, "Daddy, are we not telling stories anymore?"

Bo Yan shook his head, lay down beside him, and looked down at him with tenderness, "Baby, since you can’t sleep, how about we chat with daddy instead?"

Zhizhi turned over to face him, his two big eyes filled with curiosity, "Daddy, okay."

Bo Yan gently stroked his tender cheeks with his hand, his heart softening, "Baby, tell daddy, what do mommy and daddy do for a living?"

Zhizhi thought for a moment, "Grandma says, mommy and daddy are big stars, the kind that lots of people like."

Bo Yan corrected him, "But daddy wants to tell Zhizhi that being a star is just a job title. We receive more compensation than others, and correspondingly, we become the subject of people’s gossip. Everyone has the right to slander you. Are you afraid, Zhizhi?"

Zhizhi pondered seriously and finally asked, "Daddy, does it make you sad?"

"What?"

Zhizhi, "Daddy, when Zhizhi hears people say he doesn’t have a mommy and daddy, it makes him very upset, and he thinks the people who say that are bad; so if so many people insult mommy and daddy, does it make you sad?"

Bo Yan was very patient, staring at Zhizhi’s cherubic face, a smile curling up at his lips, "We’re not sad."

Zhizhi was puzzled, "Why not?"

Bo Yan spoke with a soothing tone, "Baby, there are many people in this world, but only a few whom we love and who love us. The people I love are you, mommy, grandpa, grandma, and relatives;

I care about their feelings and worry whether what I experience might hurt you. To love someone is to protect them;

I don’t care about the rumors outside. Do you know why, Zhizhi?"

"I don’t know." Zhizhi shook his head.

Bo Yan patted his head twice, "Baby, remember, only the people you care about can make you sad, but the people you care about wouldn’t make you sad;

Everyone else is an outsider. You just need to know what you want, not to go against your principles, not to go against morality. Outsiders’ words can’t hurt you at all because they don’t care about you that’s why they might hurt you;

But those who care about you will only encourage you, motivate you, like you, always fearing that you might suffer any injustice. Don’t be afraid of being slandered, don’t be afraid of what people say, and don’t be afraid of people saying bad things about you.

You have to believe that in your mommy’s and daddy’s eyes, you are the best. Mommy and I are both so grateful that Zhizhi didn’t despise us and came into our family three years ago."