Chapter 2: Baobao Was Born By the Original?!

"Divorce? What divorce?"

Zhou Yiguo was taken aback, his brows slightly furrowed as if he couldn't understand why Xiao Naiwang had suddenly changed his temperament. In the past, he would be fine with just a little coaxing, or even without any coaxing at all. Now, he was actually throwing a tantrum and talking about divorce.

"What's so hard to understand about the word 'divorce'?"

Xiao Wang found it amusing. His gaze swept over Zhou Chuanguan, whom Zhou Yiguo was holding by the hand, as if he didn't see the resentful and furious look in the child's eyes. He curled the corner of his lips toward Zhou Yiguo. "You should start preparing. Let's try to get divorced as soon as possible."

Xiao Naiwang's appearance was truly exceptional. His rosy lips curved slightly, and a faint smile flickered beneath his long, dark eyelashes. The gentle sunlight accentuated his delicate and exquisite face, his fair skin glowing with a fine sheen. Even with that mocking expression, he managed to dazzle Zhou Yiguo's eyes.

"Ugh, shameless vixen." Zhou Yurou genuinely despised the person before her. A man, yet more beautiful than any woman, not only stealing her brother's attention but also bringing along a burden to share their family's assets. How despicable!

"Shameless vixen?" Xiao Wang raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced at her briefly, and laughed. "Zhou Yiguo, your sister's upbringing is truly remarkable."

Not expecting Xiao Wang to dare fight back, Zhou Yurou flew into a rage. "You damn—"

"Xiao Rou!" Displeasure flashed across Zhou Yiguo's brow as he scolded her sternly. "Go back to your room!"

"Brother!" Zhou Yurou gritted her teeth in anger, shot Xiao Wang a fierce glare, then turned and ran upstairs.

Seeing this, the bratty Zhou Chuanguan angrily tried to kick Xiao Wang, who deftly dodged it without seeming to move. Xiao Wang's voice carried a hint of impatience. "Zhou Yiguo, first settle your family matters, then we can talk properly."

"Xiao Wang, they're just children. Be the bigger person. As an elder, don't get angry with them, alright?" Zhou Yiguo held back Zhou Chuanguan, who was struggling to hit Xiao Wang, his tone carrying a hint of disapproval—though this "disapproval" was directed at Xiao Wang. "Xiao Wang, divorce is no joke. Stop making a scene."

"What do you mean by 'making a scene'?" Xiao Wang found Zhou Yiguo's sanctimonious and self-righteous attitude laughable. No wonder he was the scumbag father—the rottenness was clearly passed down through the bloodline.

"I can't handle your two children. Take your son away, then come back and talk to me about divorce." Xiao Wang raised his hand to rest on the doorknob. "Also, your sister is older than me. If she's a child, then what am I?"

Xiao Wang didn't give Zhou Yiguo a chance to continue making excuses. He raised his hand, closed the door, and locked the bolt.

What a headache!

Carrying the little one who was desperately snuggling into his arms, Xiao Wang walked to the bed and sat down. He gently patted the baby's back, soothing him. "Baby, don't be afraid. Daddy won't let them bully you."

"I... I'm not afraid..." The baby stretched out his small hand to rub his still slightly swollen eyes, then patted Xiao Wang's arm, comforting him in a soft, childish voice. "Dad... Daddy also don't be afraid. Baby... baby also won't let them bu... bully Daddy..."

Xiao Wang was amused by the baby's cute lisp. He gently pinched the baby's cheek, but unfortunately, there was hardly any flesh to pinch. The little face was pitifully thin, making Xiao Wang's heart ache. He secretly resolved to work hard to get rich, to properly raise the little one and himself. And of course, to get divorced.

The Zhou family is truly laughable, really thinking he covets their meager assets. Not to mention him, even the original Xiao Naiwang never intended to scheme for their property.

Thinking of the original owner, Xiao Wang grew even angrier. His own son was so thin he was practically skin and bones, yet he only cared about pleasing the Zhou family. He truly couldn't understand that kind of thought process. Speaking of which, he had only briefly merged with the original owner's memories earlier, giving them a cursory glance without carefully examining each one. Now, he suddenly felt it was necessary to thoroughly sort through the memories again.

Having decided, Xiao Wang immediately acted. He placed the little one in his arms onto the bed, gently ruffled the child's hair, and said, "Baobao, Daddy needs to sleep for a while now. You can play by yourself or sleep next to me, okay?"

"Okay..." Xiao Baobao nodded obediently, even diligently using his small hands to tug the nearby blanket, struggling to cover Xiao Wang with it. His soft little voice murmured, "Daddy... Daddy cover up and sleep, won't get sick..."

"Baobao is so good." Xiao Wang felt a warmth in his heart and gently ruffled the top of the child's head. This little one was far too sensible—such an obedient and caring child absolutely could not be allowed to suffer a lifetime of abuse or be ruined in the hands of that scumbag's family.

Xiao Wang gently held Baobao's hand, lay down together, pulled the blanket over both of them, and closed his eyes.

Seeing Xiao Wang close his eyes, Xiao Baobao beside him struggled to turn most of his little body sideways. His dark, bright eyes blinked not once as he stared at Xiao Wang, his cheeks dimpling into two sweet little smiles, looking especially happy.

Daddy was so nice today... When his brother scolded him earlier, Daddy didn't glare at him like before but even hugged him. He was so happy! If Daddy could always be like this, that would be even better. He... he must be even more obedient, so Daddy would like him more and hug him lots...

As soon as Xiao Wang closed his eyes, he focused his mind, carefully reviewing each memory from the present moment backward, all while inwardly criticizing. This Xiao Naiwang's thought process was truly baffling—just three months after meeting Zhou Yiguo, he started going to great lengths to please their family, yet always forgot about his own son.

However, this Xiao Naiwang was also somewhat pitiful. In his memories, Xiao Baobao seemed to have always been raised by him alone, usually with no relatives or friends to help... Wait, hold on, that's not right!

Suddenly, he came across a memory so shocking it was horrifying. Xiao Naiwang's fingers twitched, his eyes snapped open, and his gaping mouth took a long time to close.

"Daddy?" Seeing Xiao Wang like this, Xiao Baobao thought he was having a nightmare. He quickly put down the large fan in his hands, reached out with his little hand, and gently patted Xiao Wang's chest, soothing softly, "Daddy, don't be scared... Daddy, don't be scared..."

Xiao Wang looked at the little one lying on his chest, whose dark eyes were full of concern. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he felt too conflicted to know what to say...

This Xiao Baobao was actually born by the original owner?!

—The original owner gave birth to him?!

Why wasn't that mentioned in the book?! He thought Xiao Baobao was the child of the original owner and some other woman!

Damn, this is just too bizarre. How can a man give birth? Xiao Naiwang's body is clearly identical to that of a man!

Thinking of the original owner undergoing a C-section in a rural clinic, Xiao Wang felt an internal flood of tears. Although he liked men, that didn't mean he could accept giving birth himself!

As Xiao Wang thought this, his hand slipped under his shirt and touched his belly, only to find that the scar there had completely disappeared. Then he remembered—the original owner was exceptionally gifted, never retaining scars on his body. Even the cut on his finger from chopping vegetables last week was now invisible.

"Daddy?" Xiao Baobao leaned his little head over, his fluffy hair brushing against Xiao Wang's chin. "Daddy, are you still scared?"

"Daddy's fine." Xiao Wang sighed, his emotions complicated as he ruffled the little head resting on his chest. "Daddy's going to sleep a bit more. Be good, Baobao."

"Okay, Baobao will be good. Daddy, sleep well." Xiao Baobao moved his little head off Xiao Wang and lay down obediently beside him, his small hand tightly clutching Xiao Wang's sleeve.

Xiao Wang closed his eyes and once again sorted through the original owner's memories.

The original owner hadn't originally lived here but in X City. Four years ago, after graduating high school, he went to a restaurant gathering with classmates, was forced to drink heavily, and blacked out completely. The next thing he knew, he woke up in a hotel room with a tall, muscular man lying beside him.

He didn't get a clear look at the man's face, only saw a terrifying knife scar on his back. Terrified and fearing he had provoked the mafia, he hastily dressed and fled. But a week after starting university, he discovered he was pregnant.

At the time, the original owner was utterly panicked. He wanted to find someone to help him secretly abort but couldn't—after all, he had no reliable friends, and his stepfather, who had remarried, was even less dependable. Before he knew it, his belly had grown. He had no choice but to drop out of school alone, flee to a remote countryside, and scrape by while earning a living. In the end, he found a black-market clinic to perform a C-section. When Baobao was two years old, he brought him to this county, where he later met Zhou Yiguo.

That was all the memory there was. Anything earlier, Xiao Wang couldn't see clearly.

With indescribable emotions, Xiao Wang took a deep breath, suppressing the chaos in his heart. After pondering for a long time, he decided to turn over a new leaf.

He sympathized deeply with Xiao Naiwang's plight, but he couldn't understand why, because of this, the original owner had desperately tried to please Zhou Yiguo's family while treating his own son like a slave.

But from now on, he was Xiao Naiwang.

He would live well, raising Baobao with pride and dignity. As for those scum who enjoyed tormenting others, let them amuse themselves.

Having made up his mind, Xiao Naiwang opened his eyes. A cool breeze suddenly swept through, tousling his hair.

He saw little Xiao Baobao, with his tiny hands and feet, struggling to hold a large bamboo fan with both hands, fanning him vigorously. The fan was especially big—about the size of three of Baobao's little heads—so Xiao Baobao was straining hard, his small face flushed with effort.

Xiao Naiwang immediately sat up, took the fan, and asked gently, "Baobao, why are you fanning Daddy?"

"Daddy was sweating just now, Daddy was hot..." Xiao Baobao tilted his little head up, looking at Xiao Naiwang with his dark, bright eyes.

Xiao Naiwang was taken aback for a moment, then felt his heart melt. He gently hugged the baby and kissed his little cheek. "Baobao is so good, Daddy isn't hot anymore."

"Mhm!" Praised, Xiao Baobao shyly pursed his little lips into a smile, secretly puffing out his small chest, soft little dimples appearing on his cheeks.

Xiao Naiwang's heart was instantly touched, and he reached out to hold the baby in his arms. Such a well-behaved, sensible, and caring child—no one could dislike him. Unfortunately, in the book, he was tormented from beginning to end. Luckily, now that he was here, the tragedy wouldn't continue for the baby.

"Gurgle~" The sound of a stomach growling suddenly rang out, and Xiao Baobao's face flushed red instantly. He covered his belly with both little hands.

"Baobao is hungry?" Xiao Naiwang felt both amused and heartbroken. He reached out and patted the baby's flat little belly, feeling a pang of discomfort. "Shall we go eat?"

"Okay!" Xiao Baobao nodded his little head.

Xiao Naiwang turned around and found a small wallet under the pillow. Inside, he counted out twenty-seven yuan and eighty cents, which made him feel a tightness in his chest. After a moment's thought, he put the money in his pocket.

Usually, the meals were bought and prepared by the original owner. When he married Zhou Yiguo, he had brought over eighty yuan with him. In just over half a month, he had already spent more than fifty yuan—more than an ordinary worker's monthly wage. This showed how lavish the meals had been, yet the family had eaten their fill while still hurling insults at the original owner.

What beasts!

Xiao Naiwang picked up Xiao Baobao, who was so thin he could feel his spine, and felt a pang of sorrow. He stood up to open the door. He wasn't going to live for the sake of face—this family had eaten so much of his money, so taking the baby out for a meal wasn't too much to ask.

Just as Xiao Naiwang opened the door, he saw Zhou Yiguo standing outside, poised to knock. As soon as he saw Xiao Naiwang come out, he immediately spoke up, "Xiao Wang, it's getting late."

It's getting late?

Hah, was he waiting for him to cook?

Xiao Naiwang sneered inwardly. He had originally thought of eating at their expense, but it seemed he still had to cook this meal himself. Well, so be it—getting a meal was more important.

Carrying the baby, Xiao Naiwang walked past Zhou Yiguo and headed to the kitchen based on memory. Seeing that Xiao Naiwang actually ignored him, Zhou Yiguo's expression darkened, but he said nothing and followed, asking gently, "Do you need any help?"

"No need." Xiao Naiwang set the baby down and gently patted his little shoulder, speaking softly, "Daddy needs to cook. You stay here and be good, okay?"

"Okay." Xiao Baobao obediently nodded, even puffing out his little chest. "Daddy, I... I'm very capable."

Was he saying not to worry about him?

Xiao Naiwang smiled and kissed the baby's little cheek. "Good... Baobao is amazing."

Standing up to start cooking, Xiao Naiwang glanced at Zhou Yiguo, who was still standing nearby, and showed a look of disdain. "You can leave. You're just getting in the way here."

Zhou Yiguo choked back his words. In the past, if he offered to help, Xiao Naiwang would be overjoyed and flattered, never letting him lift a finger. Now, he was actually being dismissed like this?!

Feeling somewhat angry, Zhou Yiguo turned and left the kitchen.

Xiao Naiwang sneered inwardly and began inspecting the things in the kitchen.

Apart from scallions, ginger, and garlic, the kitchen contained only three types of vegetables: tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. Additionally, there was a small piece of pork belly and half a small basket of free-range eggs. After a brief moment of thought, Xiao Naiwang settled on a menu in his mind.

Even before his transmigration, he had been one of the most renowned food bloggers online. Not only did he know how to eat and critique food, but he also knew how to cook. His close friends were all seasoned foodies, and none of them failed to praise his dishes to the skies... Suddenly, Xiao Naiwang's eyes lit up.

What if... he found a way to sell some snacks?!

He had full confidence in his culinary skills.

Although this world was fictional, it closely resembled China in the 1980s. The market economy had only been open for seven or eight years, making it a time ripe with opportunities. However... he currently had very little money, so starting a small business might not be feasible.

With a sigh, Xiao Naiwang decided to focus on preparing this meal first.