Cub's Dad Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Xie Yishu was stunned.

In his impression, Gu Yanzhi was someone who, although poor, had no concept of frugality.

He didn't know to ask if there were any discount promotions before buying things, nor did he pay attention to major holiday sales. When something broke, he would replace it with a new one right away, without thinking of taking it to a shop for repair or fixing it himself.

These slippers, if it were five years ago, would have been thrown away by Gu Yanzhi immediately, rather than being kept in the shoe cabinet and worn repeatedly.

After getting together with Gu Yanzhi, Xie Yishu began to slowly correct his boyfriend's habits, with some small success. At least Gu Yanzhi now knew to show expensive broken items to Xie Yishu first. If Xie Yishu could fix them, they would be repaired and continue to be used.

In fact, Xie Yishu quite liked this extravagant spending habit of Gu Yanzhi.

Firstly, because Gu Yanzhi would change if he mentioned it; secondly, this habit gave Xie Yishu a sense that Gu Yanzhi might be dependent on him: — Without him helping his little boyfriend control expenses, Gu Yanzhi might spend all of his part-time wages at the beginning of the month and then rely on the cheapest nutritional supplements until the next payday.

By being frugal and managing their finances well, Xie Yishu felt a great sense of accomplishment in making their lives better.

So when Xie Yishu saw the pair of slippers with split sides in the shoe cabinet, instead of feeling that "his boyfriend had finally learned to be frugal," he felt more heartache.

If possible, he still hoped that his Gu Yanzhi would be someone who spent money extravagantly, rather than someone bent under the weight of loans and life, unable to even throw away a pair of torn slippers.

Looking at the embarrassed expression on Gu Yanzhi's face, Xie Yishu thought for a moment, then stepped forward and hugged him.

He rested his chin on Gu Yanzhi's shoulder and softly said, "Ah Yan, I love you just the way you are now."

He wanted to become Gu Yanzhi's support, to earn money and give Gu Yanzhi a good life, but he didn't want Gu Yanzhi to feel inferior.

Gu Yanzhi, surrounded by the pleasant scent of Xie Yishu, came to his senses and quickly hugged the person in his arms tightly.

He needed to thank Aunt Qiu properly.

Gu Yanzhi thought dizzily.

He would give her a big red envelope and also increase her salary.

Bo Zai looked up at his parents hugging each other, then looked down at the pair of old, worn-out slippers that he didn't know where his dad had found. He firmly believed: Mom really likes old and shabby things!

He had such things too!

There was no reason for Dad to prepare only for himself and not for him.

Bo Zai reached his chubby little hand into the shoe cabinet and rummaged around, proudly lifting up his little slippers.

Looking at the warm, comfortable little slippers that looked just like new, exactly like the ones at home, the chubby boy was stunned.

Xie Yishu noticed the little slippers Bo Zai was holding up high, released his embrace of Gu Yanzhi, bent down, and rubbed Bo Zai's little head, praising, "Wow, are these Bo Zai's little slippers? So cute."

Only a head rub, no hug.

Why didn't Dad also prepare a pair of little slippers that Mom likes for him? If his little slippers were also torn and tattered like they'd been chewed by a little dog, then Mom would surely hug him too.

Bo Zai's eyes, filled with a sense of grievance, glanced at his father, angry but not daring to speak out.

Gu Yanzhi coughed and said to Xie Yishu, "Although mine are a bit damaged, Bo Zai's are all good."

He paused for a moment, then shared another piece of wisdom from Aunt Qiu, "No matter how tough it gets, we can't let the child suffer."

Xie Yishu nodded in agreement and reached out to hold Gu Yanzhi's hand, "Things will get better. I'll go on the StarNet later and buy two pairs of slippers."

He would make sure his little boyfriend lived a comfortable life where he could buy whatever he wanted and replace things as soon as they broke.

The torn slippers were just the beginning.

Wearing the disposable slippers that Gu Yanzhi had brought back from a budget hotel during a work trip, Xie Yishu saw, one by one, the "dining table with one leg shorter but still usable with an ad paper underneath," the "bowl with a small chip on the edge but still usable because the chip wasn't deep," and the "clothes drying rod broken into two pieces but still usable with some tape wrapped around it."

The only things that looked new were the rows of books on the bookshelf related to auto repair.

They were carefully wrapped in ad paper to protect the covers, without a single trace of being read.

Gu Yanzhi's eyelashes trembled as he recited the last piece of wisdom Aunt Qiu had given him: "These can be sold on StarNet in the future."

Bo Zai, watching his dad receive another loving hug from mom, enviously gnawed on his chubby little hands.

He too longed to be tightly embraced by mom!

After dinner, Xie Yishu placed an order on StarNet for two pairs of slippers and a set of bowls.

He originally wanted to replace the clothes rod that had broken into two pieces, the light bulb with a burnt-out filament, the remote control with unresponsive buttons, and to buy Gu Yanzhi a new box of socks. But since he had just returned from a trip to Mutong Star last week, he was a bit short on funds, so he could only prioritize and buy the essentials for now.

He had told Gu Yanzhi about his need to livestream every night at eight, so as soon as it was half-past seven, he went into the small room to prepare for the livestream.

With the door to the small room closed, Gu Yanzhi looked at the little chubby boy who was quietly climbing down from his chair and trying to sneak into the living room: "'Box Teacher'?"

Bo Zai stopped in his tracks, fiddling with his fingers and softly corrected, "It's Teacher 'She Yu'. Bo Zai initially read it wrong and thought it was 'He Zi'."

He hadn't meant to hide this from his dad, but at that time, he didn't know how to pronounce those two characters as "She Yu."

Gu Yanzhi waved his hand, indicating that he wouldn't hold past mistakes against him, and took out his light brain, opening the StarLive app to register an account for himself.

Seeing that his dad didn't intend to pursue the matter, the little chubby boy breathed a sigh of relief, then happily ran back, tiptoed up onto the chair, and sat beside Gu Yanzhi, taking out his own little light brain.

Mom's livestream was about to start, and he and Dad were going to watch it together.

Although the livestream hadn't started yet, a few regular fans had already joined.

The little chubby boy greeted them familiarly, "Good evening, everyone."

Cool comments floated across the top of the dark livestream screen.

The other regular fans also greeted him.

【Sweet Fairy Daughter at Home: Superman is here today too?】

【Certified Clumsy Expert: Long time no see, Superman Bro's "Disco Light," I've missed it.】

【Crafting World Boss: How many little flowers are you planning to send today, Superman Bro?】 

Bo Zai sent a dice emoji in the livestream chat that only members could use.

It rolled a "one."

The little chubby boy held up one finger and clumsily poked at the screen.

【Little Bear Superman: I'll send Teacher She Yu a "Blossoming Flowers" gift when the livestream is about to end.】 

He had been learning to type with Tori recently and could now type into the chat box by himself.

Though his typing speed was a bit slow, and he occasionally made some typos.

【Short Legs Also Want to Be First: As expected of Superman Bro, 666.】

【Boss, Bring a Plate of Chili Powder: As expected of Superman Bro, 666.】

【Crafting World Boss: As expected of Superman Bro, 666.】

Bo Zai poked at the screen again, just about to reply, when a fiery red notification floated across his view.

【Honored User "7788219" has entered "She Yu's" livestream room】 

What is this? So cool!

The little chubby boy's eyes widened in amazement.

He was used to being the most dazzling kid in his mom's livestream room and hadn't expected that someone could outshine him!

Bo Zai vaguely sensed that his status as the "most dazzling kid" was in jeopardy and got a bit anxious. His little chubby hand poked at the screen, wanting to inquire, but others in the livestream room were quicker.

【Boss, Bring a Plate of Chili Powder: Damn! Did I just see that right?】

【Certified Clumsy Expert: Isn't this the new gratitude effect for the anniversary celebration? The one for a single recharge of 10,000!】

【Short Legs Also Want to Be First: Damn! Someone actually did a single recharge of 10,000! And it's a new account?!】

【Certified Clumsy Expert: I've seen this in other big streamers' rooms, but those are for million-follower big streamers' wealthy fans! I realize Teacher She Yu really has a knack for attracting wealthy fans. First, it was Superman Bro, and now... how should we address this new bro?】

Gu Yanzhi hadn't decided on a nickname to use.

He thought of several, but worried that Xiao Shu might recognize him, so he had to stick with the system-generated ID number.

Now that Xiao Shu's viewers were asking him in the livestream room, he couldn't respond and could only remain silent.

【Certified Clumsy Expert: Haha, this bro is so aloof, can we call him "Aloof Bro"?】

【Sweet Fairy Daughter at Home: Xiao Can, don't scare him away.】 

They were old fans of Teacher She Yu, and usually chatted casually in the livestream room.

But "7788219" was a new face, and Tang Yuan worried that he might just be looking around and would leave soon. If they were too enthusiastic, it might scare him off and cause trouble for Teacher She Yu.

Gu Yanzhi lowered his eyes and replied.

【7788219: That's fine.】

【7788219: I won't leave.】

He had learned from the little chubby boy's previous experience and immediately bought himself a special effect for the comments.

It was the recently launched anniversary special effect "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix," with its golden-red hues resembling the feathers of a phoenix, which was quite eye-catching.

The "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix," newer and more expensive than the "Disco Light," once again caused a flurry of comments in the livestream room.

The little chubby boy knew nothing about this.

He temporarily exited the livestream room and opened the "Calculator" app, dividing 10,000 by 100.

The result was a glaring "100."

Darn it!

The little chubby boy clenched his chubby fists.

Dad had set a weekly limit of 100 interstellar credits for him.

If he wanted to have such a cool entrance effect, he would have to refrain from sending little flowers to Mom for a hundred consecutive weeks.

He couldn't do it.

He still wanted to send little flowers to Mom.

The little chubby boy tightened his chubby face and returned to the livestream room.

He told himself, it’s okay, even if he’s no longer the most dazzling kid in Mom’s livestream room, he’s still number one on Mom’s fan leaderboard!

The little chubby boy clenched his chubby fists and watched his mom's livestream with a serious expression the entire time. When his mom said, "That's all for tonight, thank you to 'Sweet Fairy Daughter at Home' for sending little flowers," his chubby hand swiftly and decisively pressed the "Blossoming Flowers" button.

A shower of light pink petals began to fall in the livestream room.

The chubby boy's little mouth curved into a smile, and his chubby face just started to show a domineering little CEO's smile when it froze.

He saw two fiery red notifications at the top of the livestream room.

【Honored User "7788219" has sent 100 "Blossoming Flowers" in "She Yu's" livestream room.】

【The special effect is expected to last for 17 minutes. Enjoy the show, viewers and She Yu.】 

The livestream room fell silent for a few seconds.

What followed was an uproar.

Ignoring the flood of comments, the little chubby boy's trembling chubby hand opened the fan leaderboard.

The golden little crown that had originally been in front of his "Little Bear Superman" had now moved to "7788219."

He was no longer Mom's number one fan!

The little chubby boy, who had been pampered since childhood, couldn't bear such an injustice. He turned his head angrily and shouted, "Dad!"

He wanted to apply to Dad to increase his spending limit so he could reclaim his spot as number one on the leaderboard!

He believed Dad would understand him because Dad loved Mom just as much as he did!

Listening to his mom thanking others in the room, the little chubby boy felt so upset that his small chest heaved up and down, and his eyes turned red with anger.

Just as he was about to ask Dad to "open the little treasury and recharge 10,000 interstellar credits," he saw the livestream interface on Dad's light brain.

In the top right corner was the large ID: 7788219.

The little chubby boy's mind went blank.

He looked at the familiar string of numbers, then at Gu Yanzhi sitting right next to him, and weakly said, "Dad?"

Gu Yanzhi exited the livestream room and raised an eyebrow at him, "Hmm?"

The little chubby boy opened his small mouth, but in the end, he lowered his chubby face with tears in his eyes and remained silent.

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