Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 125

Chapter 125 

When Qi Cheng got home this time, he didn't go back to being a salted fish. He'd already spent a whole month abroad doing nothing — and it was the boring kind of nothing. Now that he was home, he actually felt more energized. Looking back, he realized he'd had such a great opportunity overseas but barely went out and just stayed cooped up indoors every day.

Now he was full of energy and had to ask about everything.

How's the studio's footage coming along? We should print more postcards too.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 124

Chapter 124

The entire press conference lasted about forty minutes. Qi Cheng spent most of it not fully understanding what was going on, but he was impressed. He watched the livestream viewership climb steadily from 160,000, with early comments flooding in like: "Here to see the handsome young guy." "Whoa, this isn't just any young guy—this is a total beauty." "I want to buy stock in this company." "This face is the kind I'd screenshot and send to my group chat asking where to get one." "Now I finally have a face to imagine for that novel's handsome CEO."

Qi Cheng wasn't upset about any of it—because the moment he remembered that this handsome man was his husband, he couldn't be upset, only happy. He watched the bullet comments scroll by, and about five minutes in, the viewer count shot up again.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Qi Cheng and his group were staying in Switzerland. Transportation wasn't very convenient, but they had a car and a driver at home, and even with the language barrier, they had interpreters with them. They were living in a massive villa estate. 

After the long flight, Fanfan was inevitably a bit restless and uncomfortable. At times like this, he didn't want anyone else—he just wanted to lie in his daddy's arms, cheek pressed against his daddy's chest, making soft, milky little sounds without actually crying. But somehow, because he was so quiet about it, it made people's hearts ache even more.

Qi Cheng stroked his little goose's cheek.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 122

Chapter 122

The Jiang Group controlled half of Huaguo's wealth. Everyone knew them as "North Jiang." When their official Weibo posted the announcement, it instantly hit number one on the trending charts, with a massive "EXPLOSIVE" next to it.

The speed was swift and precise. Overnight, all the marketing accounts that had been posting from every angle disappeared without a trace. They deleted their posts and issued apologies. Online trolls and bots all went into hiding, deleting their accounts as well.

Only Yu Qingshi's fans and the curious onlookers remained.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 121

Chapter 121

Weibo had already crashed.

Qi Cheng stared wide-eyed, too excited to sleep, and decided to scroll through the drama online. Bai Zongyin glanced at the time, held the restless young man in his arms, and said, "Play a little longer, then it's time for bed."

"Okay, okay, Husband, I love you the most." Qi Cheng gave a perfunctory peck on his husband's chin, his eyes sparkling as he turned back to his phone. Before he could even look at it for two seconds, Bai Zongyin pinched his chin and gave him a proper kiss.

Qi Cheng: ...

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 120

Chapter 120

Before Qi Cheng even clicked on that Weibo post—or to be more precise, right after the smear articles started flooding the internet—Yu Qingshi's team was urgently discussing how to handle the situation.

Their first stance was clear: they had to clarify things as soon as possible.

This was a baseless accusation. Some suggested taking legal action and suing the actress for defamation. Others said they should send a lawyer's letter—they would definitely sue—but since the other side was being shameless and trying to stir up trouble, and since it involved a female actress, especially with a topic like sexual harassment, the general public (not just the fan circle) would instinctively sympathize with the actress.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 119

Chapter 119

Qi Cheng had recently become obsessed with giving his husband pocket money. Bai Zongyin was more than happy to play along with him, and the couple never tired of this little game.

For instance, one morning Bai Zongyin got to the office like any other day. His secretary usually ordered lunch for him, but today Bai Zongyin called specifically to say not to order him a meal. When noon came, everyone noticed the boss walking out.

Ten minutes later, someone in the group chat exploded:

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 118

Chapter 118 

"Husband, is the chip that Young Master Zhao's company is making going to lose money?"

As soon as the others left, Qi Cheng asked curiously.

Bai Zongyin said, "Last year, Jiang Qifeng kept going abroad to buy back a certain technology. The chip project Young Master Zhao took on was supposed to be the exclusive patent for that technology, and it should have been very profitable. Unfortunately…"

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 117

Chapter 117 

After waiting at the police station entrance for over half an hour, Qi Cheng finally saw his husband.

His eyes turned red on the spot, and he threw himself into his husband's arms. Bai Zongyin held the young man in his arms and gently patted his head. Qi Cheng had been terrified, and he… had been terrified too.

"It's okay now." Bai Zongyin kissed Qi Cheng's forehead.

Qi Cheng gave a soft "mm" in response, though his voice was a little weak.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 116

Chapter 116 

Before they knew it, the first snow of the season had fallen over Mingcheng.

The temperature dropped sharply. The snow didn't stay on the ground, but it left the streets wet and slippery, with dead leaves from the trees along the road scattered all over.

"Take it slow on the road." Qi Cheng saw his husband off to work that morning.

Fanfan followed behind on a sleek black tricycle, piping up in his babyish voice: "Big daddy down down."

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 115

Chapter 115 

Qi Cheng's ID was the default one, and he was in such a hurry to reply that he forgot to change it.

—Anyone who's been around here long knows all about the elementary-school kid and his love story. It's true, alright.

—Hahahaha Orange, Sweet Orange from Da Bai's family—hahahaha that matches! The vibe is totally in sync too.

—If it were anyone else, I wouldn't believe they messed up the prize amount because they were being absent-minded. But our elementary-school kid? I believe it. He's just a sweet, naive one.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 114

Chapter 114 

"Use your little brain for a second — does Xiao Zhi even have the guts for that?"

Qi Cheng calmed down a bit too, his reason returning, and said shyly, "My mouth moved faster than my brain. Erha wouldn't dare. Qingshi was already careful with his words when he said Fanfan felt light earlier, so what I was thinking definitely couldn't have happened."

When adults compliment kids, they say things like sturdy, chubby, or plump and healthy-looking. Actually, it wasn’t that the word "light"  couldn’t be used — it was just that Yu Qingshi was being especially careful. Probably because of his profession: in the entertainment industry, even one wrong word could get twisted and taken out of context.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 113

Chapter 113

"...Husband, should I be polite and invite Xiao Zhi's mom?"

It was pretty clear what he meant. He didn't really want to invite her, but since they'd already invited so many people, not inviting Zhao Qing seemed awkward—especially since Zhao Zhuo was already coming. But if they invited Zhao Qing, what if Jiang Qifeng came along too?

Qi Cheng's face showed his displeasure. He really didn't want Jiang Qifeng to show up.

Bai Zongyin found Qi Cheng's little pout funny.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 112

Chapter 112 

Fanfan was almost one year old.

Uncle Quan said we should throw a lively party, since Fanfan was the only child in the house. When Uncle Quan first started taking care of Bai Zongyin, Bai Zongyin was already sixteen. After everything that had happened, Uncle Quan wasn't exactly the close uncle who had raised him from childhood. In the beginning, there was a certain distance between them—partly because of Bai Zongyin's personality, and partly because Uncle Quan was afraid of saying the wrong thing.

But as time went on, they found their footing. One was the elder, the other the nephew, and both knew where they stood.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 111

Chapter 111 

When Fanfan woke up and saw his dad, he kicked his little feet happily. Qi Cheng casually gave him a pat — all soft, squishy baby chub. Fanfan was a clean little baby; his clothes smelled of sun-dried freshness mixed with the scent of milk, a smell that could melt anyone's heart.

He giggled happily every day, showing off his tiny little teeth.

Just watching him made Qi Cheng feel good. Fanfan was still in his "super clingy to Dad" phase. His chubby little arms wrapped around Qi Cheng's neck, and when Qi Cheng tried to put him in the stroller, the little guy flailed in his arms.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 110

Chapter 110

Qi Cheng had missed his husband and his little goose so much that he even ate lunch on the plane. But when he got home, he found the place empty.

"...Then I'll just wait for them to come back," he said. But then he missed them too much and added, "Actually, I'll just go to the company instead? I can pick up Fanfan, so Husband won't be disturbed while working."

He thought he'd found the perfect excuse!

Yes. I'm going to go pick up my little goose.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 109 Part 3

Qi Cheng waved excitedly. "Fanfan Fanfan!"

Fanfan heard his dad's voice, bobbed his head around to find it, and Qi Cheng saw his little goose's round face press close to the camera – he cracked up laughing.

"Husband, Fanfan is so silly." Qi Cheng laughed.

Bai Zongyin adjusted their son's position, and Fanfan plopped back down onto his big dad's chest with a soft thump. But he wouldn't give up – he leaned his little body forward, trying to get closer to see his dad, babbling away.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 109 Part 2

His flight was the morning one, same as Lu Yang, Lao Ke, TT, and the assistant. He'd booked first class – it was only a two-hour flight, but without even realizing it, Qi Cheng had grown used to comfort when it came to spending.

If money could make him happy, comfortable, and at ease, then that's how he'd do it. This was so different from when he'd first arrived – even though his husband had given him a supplementary card, he'd gone out shopping in the dead of winter, shivering in the cold, too scared to splurge on a pricey down coat, and ended up braving the wind all the way home.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 109 Part 1

Chapter 109 

They spent an entire day shooting at Lu Yang's school.

They took two days off while Lao Ke edited the footage. Lu Yang was now sleeping on the third floor of the studio. After several outdoor shoots, the two had grown close. Lao Ke kept teasing Lu Yang by calling him "Little Deer," and Lu Yang had threatened to punch him over it more than once—but Lao Ke still wouldn't quit.

Clearly, Little Deer had quite the charm.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 108

Chapter 108

His husband started going to work again. Every morning, he'd get up around seven, have breakfast, and then "fuss around" at home for a bit. Qi Cheng admitted that it was mostly him fussing over his husband—dragging things out until eight with kisses and cuddles before his husband finally left for work.

His husband would get home around six in the evening, have dinner, and still have work to do. But unless he had a video conference that required him to go up to the study on the second floor, his husband spent most of his time with Qi Cheng in the playroom on the first floor, or at the big desk.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Qi Cheng had been glued to his husband all day, and then it was time for Lu Yang's thank-you banquet for his teachers.

The venue for the banquet was chosen by Uncle Quan, with a lot of thought behind it. The main priority was to make it convenient for Lu Yang's teachers. After all, this was a banquet to thank them, so it couldn't be booked too far away and make the teachers travel in the hot weather.

"Xiao Lu did so well on his exams this time, we should definitely celebrate." Uncle Quan patted Xiao Lu's arm.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 106 Part 2

Qi Cheng went on Weibo and saw that under the "Sunshine Road" account, his giveaway post had been shared.

Sunshine Road: "Doesn't count."

—???

—Chickening out already?

—You let them walk all over you.

—Enjoyed that trending topic about being a rich second-gen, huh? Where's that bravado now?

—Disgusting.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 106 Part 1

Chapter 106

"How long will you be gone?"

Qi Cheng remembered now—his husband was going abroad for serious work, something involving artificial intelligence. He kind of wanted to go, but he was afraid of getting in the way or wasting his husband's time. Besides, what would he even do there?

And what about Fanfan?

He hesitated for a moment.

Bai Zongyin pulled the young man into his arms and gently stroked his hair.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 105

Chapter 105 

June was already halfway through by the time Lu Yang made it back to Mingcheng.

Back when Lu Yang was doing an event in Sucheng, Qi Cheng thought he spotted Liu Sinian in one of the big promo photos from the event—looking really enthusiastic. Mostly just out of curiosity, he asked around.

And sure enough, it was him.

Husband, Hungry, Eat! Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Once the weather got hot, Qi Cheng didn't feel like going out anymore. He stayed home all day—luckily, the house was big enough and there was plenty to do. He played video games, read comics, and even had Fanfan to keep him company.

Plenty of ways to pass the time.

His husband had been especially busy this year. Qi Cheng had been playing games in the living room on the first floor when his mind started to wander. It seemed like his husband had been swamped ever since that overseas research project started showing some results.