After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! (BL) - Chapter 19

If this had been the past, hearing Cheng Yi make such an absurd and shameless demand, Shen Ran would have jumped up on the spot, ready to brawl with him for 300 rounds.

There was no way he’d call Cheng Yi—this sharp-tongued, annoying, and overbearing guy—Dad…!

But now, before Cheng Yi’s words had even fully landed, Shen Ran responded without hesitation, not missing a beat.

“Dad!”

“…?”

Cheng Yi’s brow visibly twitched, and he looked at Shen Ran with an expression that practically had question marks written all over it.

Shen Ran, however, was perfectly clear on his current position.

He was now living under Cheng Yi’s roof, had received comfort from him countless times, and even the mystery of his origins was being investigated with Cheng Yi’s help.

Not to mention… in front of his parents, Cheng Yi was still acting as his “boyfriend”…!

Shen Ran knew how to read the room. Calling someone “Dad” a couple of times? Please—who hadn’t done that jokingly with a buddy as a kid?

It wasn’t like he’d lose a piece of flesh.

Let alone once—he could say it ten or twenty times without batting an eye.

He could even say it with emotion, with depth.

And so…

“Dad!” Shen Ran scooted closer to Cheng Yi, tilting his head, locking eyes with him. “Dad? Dad! Daddy, Fa— Mmph!”

Before he could continue pouring his heart and soul into it, Cheng Yi suddenly covered his mouth.

Cheng Yi looked like he couldn’t take it anymore. “Who told you to say it so many times? You… Tch, forget it.”

Shen Ran obediently nodded on the surface, but secretly scoffed.

You’re the one who told me to call you Dad! He said a few extra times, sure, but it’s Cheng Yi who got to enjoy the upper hand. And now Cheng Yi was acting all annoyed after getting his fill?

He couldn’t understand—what right did Cheng Yi have to complain?

What Shen Ran didn’t know, however, was that Cheng Yi’s reaction wasn’t annoyance or disgust. It was…

When someone you like suddenly tosses aside their tablet, crawls toward you on hands and knees—on the floor cushions—and calls you Dad over and over, like a puppy…

And not just calls, but locks eyes with you, tilts his head, and uses that kind of tone…

If you’re going to call someone Dad, why use that tone? And why tilt your head like that??

Cheng Yi prided himself on his self-control.

But faced with Shen Ran like this—his gaze, his voice, one “Dad” after another—Cheng Yi truly couldn’t remain unaffected.

Feeling an impending “raising of the flag,” Cheng Yi had no choice but to clamp Shen Ran’s mouth shut.

Shen Ran could say it all he liked—he couldn’t keep listening!

Grabbing a random book, he opened it and firmly planted it over his… area, pretending nothing was amiss.

“Even if you can’t find the adoption papers at the Shen house, you can switch approaches. For example, you could investigate the adoption records of orphanages around K City.”

Shen Xianming and Fu Sijie might’ve shredded the adoption contract years ago.

But at a proper orphanage, no matter how much time has passed, they would have paper records stored away.

Shen Ran’s adoption must have happened in or near K City—that way, his background would match, and no one would notice any discrepancies.

Go through them one by one, and eventually, something might turn up. It was far more efficient than Shen Ran flailing around like a headless chicken at home.

“You’re right!” Shen Ran suddenly lit up. “That’s a great idea! If one road’s blocked, I’ll just find another! I’ll check which orphanages are around K City and visit them all one by one!”

Shen Ran now had next to nothing.

The only things he had left were boundless energy and the will to act.

Seeing Shen Ran about to jump up and dash out the door, Cheng Yi clicked his tongue, stood, tugged at his pants, and promptly yanked Shen Ran back down.

“You’re just going to run off unprepared, in the middle of the night? Not even scared of ghosts?”

“I’m not afraid of ghosts! I used to—”

I used to be a wandering ghost for a while, you know! Shen Ran really wanted to say that.

But doing so might get him tossed into a psych ward by Cheng Yi, so he could only shut up resentfully.

“Besides, you don’t need to go knocking on orphanage doors yourself. I’ve got a friend who can look into it directly. You just stay here and rest.”

Shen Ran was stunned. “…You have another friend who can help?!”

Cheng Yi shrugged. “Exactly. A business partner I met last year—he’s really into philanthropy and has donated a lot in this area. He’s pretty familiar with the orphanages in and around K City.”

Shen Ran covered his face and gave a helpless laugh. The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous his past self seemed.

Cheng Yi was calm, resourceful, well-connected—practically invincible.

How had he ever seen someone like Cheng Yi as a rival? Thought he was just some small-time boss?

“I give up. No point in trying anymore.” Shen Ran sighed, still chuckling as he walked toward the guest bedroom. “I’m exhausted, I’m sleepy, I’m gonna wash up and sleep. Daddy, I’ll be waiting for your good news.”

“…Don’t call me Daddy again. And don’t call anyone else that either!”

Naturally, Shen Ran had to rebel.

If Cheng Yi didn’t want to hear it, then he was going to say it—say it—say it until it got old~!

“I just will~ Daddy~ Daddy~~ Good Daddy~ Best Daddy~~~~ I have a good Daddy~~~~”

His exaggerated singsong voice practically soared to the heavens.

Even a winding mountain road wasn’t as twisty as Shen Ran’s tone.

Before Cheng Yi’s face could darken completely, Shen Ran grinned, closed the door with a flourish, and cheerfully called out: “Goodnight, dear Daddy~”

“…Tch.”

Adjusting his pants again, Cheng Yi walked off with a noticeably stiff posture.

Thankfully, Shen Ran was a complete idiot—he didn’t notice anything was off. He didn’t see the faint red flush on Cheng Yi’s ears either.

If he had known it would turn out like this, Cheng Yi wouldn’t have made that joke. Wouldn’t have invited Shen Ran to say those two damned words.

And yet—he’d only heard two words. Just that one title.

And he’d… reacted? He actually…?!

Good thing they were home—just the two of them in the house. No one else heard.

Even if he had risen to attention, at least no one would find out.

But what about next time? If they were out? With other people around?

If Shen Ran shouted something like that again, well… it’d be a disaster waiting to happen.

A few days later, Cheng Yi kept his promise and brought Shen Ran to a company—to meet that philanthropic business partner of his.

Top floor of Luo Group, CEO’s office.

Shen Ran unconsciously fidgeted with his fingers. When he looked up, he accidentally made eye contact with the cold, imposing man across from him. He quickly forced out a goofy smile, then ducked his head, pretending to be invisible.

Cheng Yi never mentioned that this “partner” had such a terrifying aura!

With that serious, expressionless face, Shen Ran didn’t even dare speak.

Instead, Luo Mu gave Shen Ran a long, thoughtful look, then finally spoke first.

“…So it is you. Long time no see.”