TCFMSCBF 3: Bickering

Early the next morning, Chi Chi rolled over and his hand accidentally landed on something soft and squishy.

Huo Xiao Cha stuck out his little bottom and shuffled a bit further to the side.

He… he hadn’t come over on purpose—he had only ended up here by accident.

He was just… in the middle of the night, he thought he heard the sound of his daddy going out. He thought daddy had left him home alone again to go out and have fun, so he got up to take a look.

As it turned out, his daddy hadn’t left. He had simply misheard.

He simply went ahead and slept next to his daddy.

That’s right, that’s exactly how it was—just that and nothing more.

Chi Chi felt that the sensation just now had been quite satisfying to the touch, so he gave him another pat.

Huo Xiao Cha woke up completely. He turned his head, and stared at him with wide, rounded eyes.

Daddy is so annoying.

Blood relations really are the most troublesome thing in the world. 

Once he grows up a bit more, he definitely won’t want to sleep with his daddy anymore.

Chi Chi had only just become a father, so he hadn’t stayed up late last night, forcing himself to go to bed early instead. An effective way to avoid staying up late—becoming a daddy.

Chi Chi woke up as well, opening his eyes and meeting Huo Xiao Cha’s gaze.

Chi Chi took a deep breath, trying hard to adjust to his new identity, before patting the boy’s bottom for a third time and sitting up.

“Get up, get dressed. I’m taking you out to buy some things.”

Who knows what on earth the original owner was doing, but Huo Xiao Cha’s clothes were practically falling apart at the seams. Chi Chi needed to pick up some daily necessities for himself as well.

If possible, Chi Chi also wanted to take him out for a meal. Between yesterday’s two meals, one being instant noodles and the other takeout, Chi Chi had even dreamed about eating a grand feast last night.

Chi Chi took a moment to clear his head, then pulled his phone and a black card from under the pillow. “I found this yesterday—it’s already linked to the phone. The card is named【Xiao Cha’s Growth Fund】, so it should be usable.”

Huo Xiao Cha turned his face away and gave a soft huff. That was the card his big daddy used to send money. The night before last, he had just finished a call with big daddy, and the funds hit the account immediately after.

The account remark had been set back when daddy was busy professing his loyalty to big daddy. It simply hadn’t been changed since then.

If his daddy wanted to use the money or go out and have fun, he should just go. After all, it was always like that before, so why even bother with all this talk now?

Chi Chi turned to look at Huo Xiao Cha. “What’s wrong with you? Still haven’t woken up yet?”

What was going on? This little cub heard they were going out, yet he didn’t have a single reaction?

He used to get so happy whenever he heard about going out.

Huo Xiao Cha just frowned, so Chi Chi collapsed back onto the bed. “Then let’s just sleep a little longer.”

Chi Chi closed his eyes and fell asleep in a single second.

Villainous Male Supporting Character · Huo Xiao Cha: Heh, as expected, he doesn’t actually want to take me out.

*

When Chi Chi woke up from his second nap, he saw it was already past eight on his phone and hurriedly scrambled out of bed.

Huo Xiao Cha was already up, standing on a small stool while brushing his teeth in front of the bathroom sink.

Chi Chi walked over. He pulled out the toothbrush and rinse cup he had the errand runner buy yesterday, then naturally stood beside him to start brushing his own teeth.

A cracked mirror hung on the wall. Huo Xiao Cha used the reflection to steal a quiet glance at Chi Chi.

Chi Chi didn’t notice at all. Instead, he was fixated on the crack in the mirror, swaying his body back and forth across it to watch himself split in two.

Hehe, this is actually pretty fun.

Chi Chi was ‘split apart.’

Huo Xiao Cha was also ‘falling apart’ mentally. Why has his daddy become so strange?

Huo Xiao Cha forced himself to stay calm. He finished brushing his teeth and picked up his tiny towel and washbasin to go to another faucet then wash his face.

Only then did Chi Chi notice. Good grief—Huo Xiao Cha’s toothbrush barely had any bristles left and his towel was nothing but a mess of unraveled threads.

Was the original owner abusing him?

Chi Chi mentally added a children’s toothbrush and towel to today’s shopping list.

After they finished washing up, Chi Chi put the instant noodles that Huo Xiao Cha had taken out back. “From today on, we aren’t eating junk food. I’m taking you out to eat. First, change out of those holey pajamas.”

Huo Xiao Cha looked back at him, then returned to his room.

Chi Chi followed him in. He opened the wardrobe and picked out a few clothes, holding them up against Huo Xiao Cha to size them up—

The sleeves and pant legs were all way too short, not to mention the pilling and holes.

Chi Chi was baffled. “Is this the trend here?”

Huo Xiao Cha curled his lip. “Daddy, these are all old clothes. I haven’t worn anything new in a long time.”

Why act like you don’t know?

Chi Chi was stunned. “Ah? The orig—”

The original owner wasn’t poor. He had six figures in his bank account. Had he really not spent a single penny on the kid?

The original owner really was abusing a child. Even if he’s a vicious male supporting character, he shouldn’t be like this…

Seriously.

He finally understood why Huo Xiao Cha would end up becoming a vicious male supporting character.

Chi Chi gritted his teeth and barely managed to pick out two passable items from the wardrobe, handing them over. “Can you dress yourself?”

Huo Xiao Cha nodded. “I can.”

“Alright, you get dressed then. I’m going to go and change too. Call me if you need anything.”

“Got it.”

Wearing his bathrobe, Chi Chi shuffled back to his own room and opened the large wardrobe for the first time.

…!!!

Chi Chi was nearly blinded by the flash of the closet full of studs and sequins.

Oh, heavens, where on earth did this “Nightclub Little Prince” come from?!

Chi Chi slammed the wardrobe shut and leaned against the door, terrified that the studs inside might crawl out and bite him.

He looked down at the bathrobe he was wearing and suddenly felt that going out in a bathrobe wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Ruining the city’s aesthetic and being a total eyesore weren’t even in the same league.

Still shaken, he turned his head, only to see Huo Xiao Cha standing at the doorway watching him.

“Daddy, I’m all changed.”

“Mhm, good boy.” Chi Chi looked at the white tee and black pants the cub was wearing, giving a firm and emphatic nod.

This was already much better than the original owner’s taste in clothes.

—Affirmation from a “stepfather.”

Chi Chi asked him with total confidence, “Xiao Cha, Daddy is going to give you a little test.”

Refusing to give up hope, he closed his eyes and pulled the wardrobe open with a swish. “Which outfit does Daddy usually like to wear the most?”

Huo Xiao Cha frowned and stepped forward.

He was now completely certain—his daddy had scrambled his brains.

Even so, he walked up and rummaged through the pile of clothes. He pulled out the one Chi Chi wore most often. “Daddy loves wearing this one the most.”

“Aha…” Chi Chi pinched a corner and lifted the garment. “Look at this perfect ‘distressed’ design—so cool, so breathable. If I’m not mistaken, the design inspiration must have come from the Beggar Sect. Moreover, look at this perfect combination of holographic laser-beams and sequins. Inside and out, it’s like a walking disco ball, bringing light and love to the world.”

So, the “Nightclub Little Prince” was actually me.

Chi Chi smiled at Huo Xiao Cha. “Your Daddy’s taste has always been this good. Don’t be jealous; you just didn’t inherit it.”

Huo Xiao Cha picked up another pair of pants. “So, is Daddy going to wear his favorite pants?”

Chi Chi maintained his smile as he took the pants. “Look at this perfect leather, so shiny and black; look at this belt—it must be made from the exact same hide as the pants. Moreover, look at these dainty leg openings…”

He can’t keep praising this anymore, get out of here!

Chi Chi bared his “vicious fangs^[1],” stuffed the clothes back into the heap, and slammed the wardrobe shut.

He would rather die than wear those things. Just what kind of aesthetic taste did the original owner have?

Finally, Chi Chi dug out a pink shirt and a pair of suit trousers from the very bottom of the wardrobe.

Huo Xiao Cha said, “That is what Daddy bought when he was getting ready to look for a job, but Daddy always…”

Never actually looked for a job.

Buying the clothes had only been to put on a show for the Huo family. Later, he simply stopped pretending altogether and the clothes ended up buried at the bottom of the wardrobe.

Chi Chi changed into the pink shirt and suit trousers. Since he was currently wearing the original owner’s clothes, he refrained from making any more comments on the bright pink color or the rose embroidery on the cuffs.

After all, one should be lenient toward those whose resources they are using.

Chi Chi waved a hand at Huo Xiao Cha. “Let’s go. We’re heading out—Daddy is taking you shopping. You aren’t allowed to make a scene demanding to ride the kiddy rides.”

Huo Xiao Cha: “…I don’t even like riding those rocking cars.”

*

The two of them managed to grab breakfast from the stall downstairs just before it closed at nine o’clock.

In the residential complex where they lived, there was a convenience supermarket right outside the gates. Chi Chi took Huo Xiao Cha there first.

He wanted to buy some daily necessities nearby first, making it easier to haul them back home. As for clothes and other things, Chi Chi planned to take Huo Xiao Cha to a proper mall in the afternoon.

Chi Chi grabbed a shopping cart with a child seat. He looked at Huo Xiao Cha and gave him a wink. “Quick, hop in.”

While Huo Xiao Cha was still looking confused, Chi Chi picked him up and plopped him into the cart. “Let’s go.”

This was one of Chi Chi’s favorite tropes from cub-rearing novels—putting the cub in a shopping cart and strolling through the supermarket.

Chi Chi found it incredibly heartwarming. He loved it so much that every time he read a scene like this, he felt like his heart had been struck by a bolt of cuteness. Now that he had the chance, he definitely had to try it out for himself.

Chi Chi pushed Huo Xiao Cha along, strolling leisurely through row after row of shelves and tossing in the items they needed as they went.

“Do you want the little duck toothbrush, or the elephant one?”

Huo Xiao Cha instead reached out and grabbed a different one. Chi Chi took the toothbrush from his hand. “This one won’t do—it’s for adults. You’re still little, swap it for a smaller one.”

Huo Xiao Cha pursed his lips. He simply figured that since it might be a long time before his daddy brought him out shopping again, he might as well get an adult one he could use later on.

In the end, he pointed to the little elephant toothbrush.

Chi Chi tossed the elephant toothbrush into the cart and continued pushing him along. “What about toothpaste? Do you want orange flavor or strawberry?”

Chi Chi paused, then picked a box on his own initiative. “Actually, mint is better. If the scent is too sweet, I’m afraid you won’t be able to resist eating the toothpaste.”

Don’t ask him how he knows.

He had done that exact stupid thing when he was little, eating an entire tube of fruit-flavored toothpaste in a single afternoon. That night, he turned into a little goldfish, spitting bubbles all night long.

After finishing with the daily necessities, Chi Chi moved on to the snack aisle.

Chi Chi subconsciously reached for a bag of potato chips. He was just about to put them back when he heard Huo Xiao Cha say, “Daddy, starting today, we can’t eat junk food. That’s what you said this morning.”

Chi Chi was left speechless.

Fine then. As expected of you, Vicious Male Supporting Character Huo Xiao Cha.

“Do potato chips… even really count as junk food?”

Wait a minute, I’m the Daddy here. I need to be more firm.

Chi Chi grabbed Huo Xiao Cha out of the cart and set him on the ground. “Walk by yourself.”

He piled in all his favorite flavors—Original, Cucumber, Lime. He even gave the bags a gentle pat. “My little babies—”

The father of the vicious male supporting character, the “Father of Viciousness”, will only be even more ‘vicious.’

The ‘vicious’ Chi Chi beckoned provocatively at Huo Xiao Cha as he continued pushing the cart forward. “Keep up.”

Huo Xiao Cha holding a grudge.jpg