DLRC – Chapter 100 Do You Still Want Daddy?

Yu Wei waited for Huo Mingwang to leave, but for some reason, the man just stood there, silently staring at her and their son, his eyes fixed on her with an intense gaze.

Even if she wanted to ignore him now, it was impossible. That gaze was like a scorching sun, burning her to the core.

Even though she was holding her obedient little boy in her arms, Yu Wei still felt completely uncomfortable under his stare.

“It’s so dark outside. Aren’t you going to see me off?” he suddenly said something inexplicable, making Yu Wei frown and turn to look at him.

Huo Mingwang curled his lips into a smile. Seeing her impatient expression, he turned to Yu Hui and said, “Son, how about Daddy sleeps with you tonight?”

Before Yu Hui could react with surprise, Yu Wei had already exploded. She put her son down and started scolding him furiously.

“Huo Mingwang, are you insane?! How shameless can you be?!”

She was absolutely livid! How could this man say something like that in front of the child? There was only one bedroom in the house, one bed. If he slept with Yu Hui, wouldn’t that mean sleeping with her too?!

What the hell is the difference?!

Yu Wei was so furious that she practically breathed fire. She yanked Huo Mingwang by the sleeve and dragged him toward the door while angrily instructing, “Huihui, Mommy’s going to walk Uncle Huo downstairs. You go wash up first!”

Yu Hui stood there dumbfounded, watching his mother leave with Uncle Huo. Before leaving, Yu Wei even closed the door. The little guy rubbed his eyes and saw only Xiaobai running happily across the floor.

He wondered in confusion: Uncle Huo is such a big man, why does Mommy need to walk him out? Is he afraid of the dark too?

Yu Wei walked Huo Mingwang all the way down the stairs to his car. It was late, and with the freezing weather, no one was outside.

The surroundings were silent, no better than the awkward atmosphere inside. Yu Wei shivered from the cold and urged, “Hurry up and go. I’m heading back.”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than her arm was pulled, and her body lost balance, falling straight into Huo Mingwang’s embrace. With a wicked smile, he pinned her against the car.

“Yu Wei.”

This was the first time she had ever been pressed like this by a man in a public place. Even though there wasn’t anyone around right now, who could guarantee no one would show up?

And this was right outside Jiang Aihua’s little courtyard! If someone opened that door, they’d see them immediately!

“Huo Mingwang, you’re crazy!”

He chuckled lowly, “Mm, I’m crazy.”

Then, Huo Mingwang lowered his head, restrained her flailing hands, and forcefully pinned her down on the car, kissing her lips like a madman.

That taste… absolutely divine. Especially when their breaths tangled together—Huo Mingwang felt like he had the whole world. She was his world.

No matter what she had done, as long as she hadn’t betrayed him, as long as she still had even a sliver of affection for him, he would forgive her. It was that simple.

She didn’t know how long it lasted. Yu Wei’s scalp was numb from the cold wind, yet her whole body burned from his kiss.

When Huo Mingwang finally let her go, she didn’t even think before swinging a slap at him—but the man was quick, catching her wrist in an instant.

Then he lifted her hand and kissed it lightly, speaking against her ear in a teasing tone.

“Yu Wei, see you tomorrow.”

With that, Huo Mingwang turned away, pulled out his keys, opened the car door, and under Yu Wei’s furious gaze, drove off. The direction he headed wasn’t toward the factory—it must have been home.

Yu Wei stared at the car disappearing into the distance, almost screaming out loud.

Fortunately, she held it in, or else she’d have drawn out the whole neighborhood!

Damn it!

The next day, Yu Wei slept in. When she woke up, her obedient son was already outside, gnawing on bread and reading a book, while his mother was still buried under the covers.

When she finally checked her phone, it was already ten o’clock!

“Huihui, why didn’t you wake Mommy up?”

Yu Wei yawned as she came out, feeling a bit guilty seeing her son chewing on cold bread.

“I wanted Mommy to sleep more. Because starting tomorrow, I’ll be going to kindergarten, and Mommy will have to wake up early every day and won’t get to sleep in anymore.”

He knew Mommy loved sleeping in, but to take him to kindergarten, she always had to wake up early, make breakfast, and even go grocery shopping. So tiring!

Yu Wei was moved and rubbed his head. After making a simple breakfast, she took him to open the shop.

Halfway on her bike, Yu Wei suddenly remembered—the dessert shop had been completely trashed by that man Ge Zheng yesterday. She wondered if Chen Liang had cleaned it up.

But these rich people really were efficient. In just one afternoon and last night, by the time Yu Wei arrived at the store, the broken glass had already been replaced, and every corner was spotless.

The door wasn’t locked. Someone was inside. When she went in, she found—it was actually Huo Mingwang.

“You’re here?”

His tone was lazy, making Yu Wei grit her teeth. She ignored him and went straight into the kitchen, about to close the door.

“Why so late today? I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” Huo Mingwang got up and strode to the kitchen doorway, blocking her from shutting the door.

Normally, he would wait for her in the courtyard downstairs. Today, he came to the shop because things at the factory were overwhelming, and by the time he squeezed out some time, it was already past nine.

He had rushed to the dessert shop, only to find mother and son still absent. He was about to drive to her home when they finally arrived.

“Don’t get in my way. Move!”

Yu Wei had no intention of being polite or soft with him anymore. She tore off her gentle mask, trying to scare him off—but she clearly underestimated his shamelessness.

Not only did the man not think she was unreasonable, he found her little tantrum adorable and wanted to tease her even more.

Of course, Yu Wei couldn’t overpower Huo Mingwang, but the shop had to open—and sure enough, a customer walked in.

“Boss, got any sponge cake?”

Yu Wei stood on tiptoe and called out, “Coming right up! Please wait a moment!”

She shot Huo Mingwang a fierce glare before marching to the counter, taking out flour, and starting to knead dough for the cakes. She kept reminding herself not to care about the man standing next to her—just focus on her work!

But his presence was so overwhelming it was impossible to ignore. Still, she held back and didn’t say a word to him.

Seeing Yu Wei’s determination not to talk to him, Huo Mingwang sighed and actually walked out of the kitchen.

Yu Wei turned and sneaked a glance. He was outside, chatting with their son.

Although she didn’t want Yu Hui to pay attention to him, when she thought about it carefully—Yu Hui was their child after all. What right did she have to stop father and son from spending time together?

Yu Wei’s thoughts spiraled into a strange loop, and even the crisp ding of the oven didn’t snap her out of it.

At the counter, Yu Hui was fiddling with his little backpack. He took out his beloved panda keychain from his pocket and hung it on the bag. Tomorrow he would start kindergarten, so everything had to be ready!

That little panda was his favorite toy. When he wasn’t in school, he kept it in his pocket. When he went to school, he hung it on his backpack. It had been with him longer than even Mommy’s company.

Gugu Jiji didn’t come to the shop today. Only lively little Xiaobai tagged along, and now it was running wildly around the dessert shop. Yu Hui couldn’t quite understand why and secretly thought maybe it was because Xiaobai felt it looked too weak and wanted to exercise…

“Son.”

Huo Mingwang, sitting beside Yu Hui, suddenly spoke up. But he didn’t call Yu Hui by his name—he called him “son.”

Yu Hui felt a little unhappy.

“Uncle Huo, I’m not ‘son,’ I’m Huihui.” Only Mommy could call him “son.” Uncle Huo wasn’t even his dad, so how could he call him that?

“Yu Hui, you are my son.” Huo Mingwang scooped the little guy into his arms, reached out, and kneaded his chubby, soft little cheeks. The feel under his hands was so good he didn’t want to let go.

“Uncle Huo, are you crazy?” He’d seemed off since yesterday. Mommy also said Uncle Huo was crazy, and now Yu Hui really believed it!

“Yu Hui.” Huo Mingwang looked him in the eye, his expression suddenly serious and earnest. “Don’t you want to know why your dad isn’t by your side?”

Unexpectedly, little Yu Hui just shook his head indifferently, making Huo Mingwang so angry he almost choked on his breath.

“I don’t want to know. Anyway, I don’t have a dad. I only have Mommy.” Yu Hui said seriously, patting the little panda on his backpack in satisfaction. “But if Uncle Huo wants to be my new dad, as long as Mommy agrees, then I agree too!”

But if he wanted him to change his name—change it to something like Huo Hui—absolutely not!

It sounded awful!

Of course, Yu Hui didn’t dare say that out loud to Huo Mingwang, so he just shouted it firmly in his heart.

Huo Mingwang suppressed the urge to grab this unfilial little brat and give him a spanking, and continued, “Yu Hui, I know where your dad is.”

“But I don’t want to know.” Yu Hui replied.

Actually, he used to wonder where his dad was, but now he didn’t care at all. Because his life was already happy and perfect. He was a content little kid—having Mommy was enough. No dad? Then no dad!

Who cared!

Huo Mingwang took a deep breath. “Your dad didn’t mean to abandon you and your mom.”

As soon as he said this, the air suddenly fell silent. Even the frantically running Xiaobai stopped to catch its breath. When it started running again, Yu Hui finally spoke softly.

“I don’t care whether he meant to or not. I only want Mommy.”

Huo Mingwang frowned. “Your dad just didn’t know you existed, that’s why he let you and Mommy live alone all this time…”

Yu Hui didn’t understand what “live alone” meant, so he stayed quiet and kept listening.

“But now Dad knows he was wrong. He knows about you and Mommy.” He hugged his son tighter, and his voice grew softer with every word. “Yu Hui, Dad was wrong. Luckily, it’s not too late. There’s still time to make things right.”

“Do you still want Dad?”

Yu Hui broke the tender moment with one firm shake of his head. “I don’t want Dad!”

Huo Mingwang: “……”

Really wanted to spank him now!

Yu Hui wriggled out of his arms, planning to grab his backpack and go play with Xiaobai. But before he could sling it on, a certain bad dad grabbed the strap.

No matter how hard his little legs kicked and ran, he couldn’t move an inch.

He turned around and saw—it was Uncle Huo pulling on his backpack!

“Uncle Huo! Don’t pull my backpack!” Mommy bought it for him. If Uncle Huo broke it, he couldn’t afford to pay for it!

If Huo Mingwang could hear the little guy’s thoughts, he’d probably cough up blood.

Instead of letting go, Huo Mingwang swung the backpack around him once, making the little guy freeze in confusion. Just like that, the backpack came off his back.

“Seems like you like this little thing more than Dad?”

Huo Mingwang scowled, took the little panda off the backpack, and toyed with it in his hand. Yu Hui’s eyes widened. His red little lips trembled as he reached out to take his panda back.

But this man was too cunning—he held it high over his head so Yu Hui couldn’t reach!

The little guy jumped and twirled on the floor in panic, but no matter what, he couldn’t get his panda!

“Uncle Huo! Uncle Huo, my little panda! Give it back!”

“Call me Dad and I’ll give it back.” Huo Mingwang wasn’t in the best mood either, but he thought as long as Yu Hui called him “Dad,” he’d forgive and forget about that hurtful “I don’t want Dad” comment.

Yu Hui was frantic, but he was also a principled little boy!

Uncle Huo wasn’t his dad, no matter how he threatened or tempted him. He couldn’t call him that! He couldn’t betray Mommy!

“Will you call me?” Huo Mingwang teased, lowering his hand to tempt him, then lifting it high again so he couldn’t grab it.

“No! No!” Yu Hui was on the verge of tears. “Uncle Huo, you’re bad! My panda! Give me back my panda!”

In the kitchen, Yu Wei heard her son shouting and thought Huo Mingwang was just playing with him. Her hands didn’t stop making the cake, but her ears perked up to listen.

After a while, though, she kept hearing her son yelling, “Uncle Huo, give me my panda!”

Puzzled, she finally rushed out when she heard Yu Hui’s voice choked with tears—only to find him standing alone at the dessert shop’s entrance, eyes red, staring out at the street.

“Son! Yu Hui! What are you doing?”

“Mommy…! Waaaah…”

As soon as Yu Hui heard her voice, he spun around and threw himself into her sweet-smelling arms, sobbing hard.

“Mommy! Mommy! Uncle Huo is a bad uncle! I don’t ever want to talk to him again, waaaah—”

Yu Wei was confused, but she still comforted him. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. What happened with Uncle Huo? Weren’t you two playing a game just now? What happened?”

This Huo Mingwang! He actually snatched her son’s toy—does he still want to be a dad?!

Yu Wei was furious!

She took her son behind the counter to calm him down. Once he finally stopped crying, a few waves of customers came in, and she had to go back to the kitchen.

“Huihui, be good and watch the shop for Mommy, okay? When things calm down, I’ll take you to find Uncle Huo and make him give your toy back. Okay?”

“Mm.” The little guy stubbornly wiped his tears. “Mommy, go make cakes. I’ll watch the shop!”

“Good boy, my son!” Yu Wei kissed his soft chubby cheek, then went back to baking.

Another busy day passed. For lunch, they ate noodles from the shop across the street—one beef, one shredded pork. Pretty tasty, and the little guy ate with great satisfaction.

But on the way back, he kept muttering, “When will Uncle Huo come? Will he give me back my panda?”

Yu Wei sighed helplessly. She figured what Huo Mingwang did was childish, but he was probably just teasing Yu Hui—he wouldn’t actually keep the panda.

So she comforted him, “Don’t worry. When Uncle Huo comes next time, he’ll definitely return the panda.”

“Okay then.”

Yu Hui finally relaxed and waited patiently at the shop for Uncle Huo to bring back his panda.

But… when closing time came, there was still no sign of Huo Mingwang—or the panda!

“Mommy—!”

“Mommy, waaaah—Uncle Huo is a bad uncle! He’s a bad uncle! My panda! My panda will never come back, waaaah—”

Yu Wei rushed to comfort him, scooped him onto the back of her bicycle, and pedaled home.

February wasn’t warm yet, and mornings and evenings were the coldest. Yu Wei wore gloves to keep her hands from freezing stiff.

Yu Hui clung to Mommy’s waist, sobbing heartbreakingly, his little mouth chanting only one thing: his panda.

“Mommy, Mommy, will my panda come back? Uncle Huo is so bad, waaah—”

“Yes, Uncle Huo is awful. Yu Hui, don’t talk to him anymore!”

Yu Wei gnashed her teeth in anger, ignoring the wind stinging her face.

“Don’t worry, Huihui. If he doesn’t bring it back tomorrow, Mommy will go snatch it back for you!”

Ugh! That man actually stole a kid’s toy—what kind of dad is that?!

Yu Wei wanted to smash a pot over his head. This was stepdad behavior!

However—

The next day, after finally coaxing Yu Hui into kindergarten, Yu Wei waited eagerly for Huo Mingwang to return the panda…

Nothing happened.

It was a day of nothing happened.

It was the first day of the new term, and Yu Hui was a little reluctant to leave Mommy—but today was different. Today he had something on his mind, something even heavier than missing Mommy.

After all, he’d see Mommy after school, but would he see his panda?!

And his worry wasn’t for nothing—because when he got home, his beloved panda was still nowhere to be found.

He looked at the empty dessert shop, at his empty backpack, and burst into tears.

“Mommy—! Uncle Huo is a bad uncle! I really don’t ever want to talk to him again! Mommy—waaah…”

Yu Wei: My hands are itching. Can I drag that man over here and beat him up?