Chapter 60 – The Little One Wants a Husband
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Han Yan noticed the change in Dong Hai’s expression.
He gently placed a hand on the little boy’s shoulder.
Dong Hai looked up at him.
Han Yan gently patted his head, then gave him an encouraging look toward Wei Fan, urging him to take the first step.
Dong Hai’s fingers curled slightly as he hesitated, his gaze shifting between everyone.
Han Yan could tell the little boy was flustered, probably already thinking that Wei Fan’s tears meant he didn’t want to be his friend.
But this was precisely why Han Yan wanted him to go forward.
Han Yan wanted him to become more expressive. He wanted Dong Hai to learn that he could approach others and could speak without being afraid of rejection.
Lin Xin also understood what Han Yan was trying to do. He looked at Dong Hai with an encouraging smile.
Then Han Yan reached over and took the basket of pastries from Lin Xin.
"Here."
He handed the basket to Dong Hai.
Dong Hai looked down at it, then back at Han Yan.
Han Yan gave a small nod, a faint smile touching his lips.
"Go, on."
He swallowed quietly before giving a small nod.
Holding the basket carefully, he slowly walked toward Wei Fan.
The crying Wei Fan noticed him approaching, and his sobs gradually became quieter.
Dong Hai stopped in front of him.
He looked at the crying child before glancing at the adults surrounding him. Everyone seemed to be watching, which only made him more nervous.
He did not know what to say.
Han Yan’s encouraging expression remained behind him.
Dong Hai took a small breath.
Then he spoke in his usual soft voice.
"Did I scare you?"
The question was sincere.
Unfortunately, Dong Hai’s serious little face made the words sound almost intimidating instead of comforting.
Wei Fan blinked through his tears.
His crying stopped for a moment.
The adults fell into an awkward silence, their eyes fixed on them as they waited for what would happen next.
Liu De stared at the two children while Wei Jun also looked slightly bewildered.
Dong Hai continued standing there, waiting patiently for an answer.
Wei Fan sniffed softly, rubbing his damp cheek with the back of his tiny hand as he looked up at Dong Hai with watery eyes.
Then he shook his head firmly.
"No!"
Dong Hai blinked slowly, his brows knitting together as he looked at Wei Fan in confusion.
"I wasn’t scared of you!"
Dong Hai’s brows lifted slightly in disbelief.
"But you were crying."
Wei Fan’s lips parted, but no words came out immediately.
A faint blush crept across his soft cheeks, his little ears turning pink.
"I..."
He lowered his head shyly before peeking at Dong Hai again.
Then, as if he had finally gathered enough courage, he suddenly said,
"I like you, handsome brother!"
The entire Wei courtyard fell deathly silent.
For a moment, it was as though even the wind had stopped.
Everyone stared at the little boy in disbelief, utterly caught off guard by his shamelessly innocent declaration.
No one knew how to respond.
Even the adults were left speechless.
Yet Wei Fan merely stood there, blinking innocently as though he had said nothing unusual at all.
Wei Jun, however, looked at his son with an oddly complicated expression.
For some reason, he felt a strange sense of pride.
As expected of my son.
He glanced at Liu De, who was clearly struggling to process what had just happened.
Meanwhile, everyone else looked equally confused.
Dong Hai was completely caught off guard.
Wei Fan’s face was still wet with tears, his little nose red from crying, yet he looked completely sincere.
"I like you, handsome brother!"
He repeated it with a little more confidence.
Dong Hai’s serious expression finally cracked.
"You... like me?"
Wei Fan nodded vigorously.
"Yes!"
He sniffed before looking down shyly.
"I wanted to play with you."
Dong Hai stared at him for a moment.
Then his gaze softened.
"You could have said that."
"Ummm... I got shy," Wei Fan admitted quietly.
Dong Hai looked at him.
For some reason, the answer made him feel a little less nervous.
He glanced down at the basket in his hands before opening it.
"Do you want some pastries?"
Wei Fan’s eyes immediately brightened.
"Yes!"
Dong Hai took one out and handed it to him.
Wei Fan accepted it with both hands.
"Thank you, handsome brother."
Dong Hai’s fingers paused for a moment.
"You don’t have to call me that."
"But you are handsome."
Dong Hai looked away, unsure of what to say.
Wei Fan smiled before taking a bite of the pastry.
His eyes immediately widened.
"It’s delicious!"
Dong Hai glanced at him.
"Really?"
"Yes!"
Wei Fan nodded enthusiastically.
"You’re handsome, nice, and you even gave me delicious pastries."
Dong Hai stared at him for a moment, his expression becoming slightly helpless.
"So you like me because I gave you a pastry?"
Wei Fan thought about it very carefully.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
He pointed at Dong Hai.
"I liked you before I got the pastry."
Dong Hai blinked.
That answer somehow left him even more speechless.
He lowered his gaze, quietly hiding the small smile that threatened to appear on his lips.
A warm smile appeared on Lin Xin’s face as he watched the two children.
The awkwardness that had filled the courtyard earlier had finally disappeared, replaced by their innocent exchange.
Liu De also breathed out in relief.
At least his son had finally stopped crying.
However, before anyone could say anything else, Wei Fan suddenly reached out and grabbed Dong Hai’s hand.
Dong Hai looked down at their joined hands.
Then he looked back at Wei Fan, clearly confused.
"Why are you holding my hand?"
Wei Fan only held on tighter.
"Because I like you."
Dong Hai’s fingers twitched slightly in surprise.
Before he could respond, Liu De reached over and gently pinched his son’s cheek.
"Fan’er."
Wei Fan looked up at him.
Liu De sighed helplessly.
"You can’t just say things like that. What if someone misunderstands you?"
Wei Fan blinked innocently.
"But I really like him."
"I know, but you’re still young."
Liu De lightly squeezed his cheek again.
"So don’t talk about marriage whenever you like someone."
Wei Fan’s little face scrunched up.
"But I like handsome big brother a lot."
Liu De was speechless.
Wei Jun silently turned his head away, pretending he hadn’t heard anything.
Unfortunately, the slight curve of his lips betrayed him.
Wei Fan looked back at Dong Hai, his eyes filled with complete sincerity.
Then, in a small but determined voice, he said,
"When I grow up, I want to marry handsome big brother."
Dong Hai froze.
His lips parted slightly.
"Marry...?"
He stared at Wei Fan as if he had just heard something completely unbelievable.
Wei Fan nodded shyly.
"Mm."
"I... I’m a boy too."
Wei Fan tilted his head.
"So?"
Dong Hai was speechless.
He had no answer to that.
Wei Fan simply smiled at him, apparently seeing no problem whatsoever.
Behind them, Lin Xin struggled to hold back his laughter.
Han Yan’s lips also curved slightly.
Liu De could only sigh and rub his forehead.
This child...
How was he supposed to explain something like this to him?
Wei Jun, on the other hand, looked completely pleased.
He folded his arms and glanced at his son with quiet satisfaction.
At least his son knew what he wanted.
Liu De noticed his expression and immediately gave him a look.
"Why do you look so proud?"
Wei Jun cleared his throat.
"I didn’t say anything."
"You don’t have to."
Liu De narrowed his eyes.
"I can see it on your face."
Wei Jun looked away.
"I simply think Fan’er has good taste."
"Good taste?"
Liu De stared at him in disbelief.
"He’s barely old enough to understand what marriage means!"
Wei Fan, still holding Dong Hai’s hand, immediately nodded.
"I understand."
Liu De looked at him.
"You do?"
Wei Fan nodded seriously.
"It means handsome big brother stays with me forever."
The courtyard fell silent again.
Dong Hai’s face warmed as he stared at the little boy.
Lin Xin finally couldn’t hold back. He turned his face away, covering his mouth as his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
Liu De looked completely defeated. After a helpless sigh, he turned to Lin Xin and gestured toward the house.
"Please, why don’t you come inside and sit for a while? It might take them some time to finish talking."
He gestured toward Han Yan and Wei Jun, who were still standing a short distance away, calmly continuing their conversation as though nothing unusual had happened.
Lin Xin glanced at them.
Neither man showed any intention of getting involved in the matter of Wei Fan’s sudden declaration.
It seemed the two men had decided that this was a matter best left for their partners to handle.
Lin Xin couldn’t help but chuckle.
"They really are leaving this to us, aren’t they?"
Liu De sighed helplessly.
"They certainly are."
He looked back at his son, who was still holding onto Dong Hai’s hand.
"Well, I suppose we’ll have to handle it ourselves."
Lin Xin nodded, following Liu De’s gaze.
Liu De crouched down in front of his son.
"Fan’er, listen to Father."
Wei Fan looked up at him, his little fingers still wrapped firmly around Dong Hai’s hand, clearly showing that he had no intention of letting go anytime soon.
Liu De gently pinched his cheek.
"You can like him and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be his friend. But you’re still so young. Marriage is something you should not be thinking about at your age. Do you understand?"
Wei Fan frowned slightly.
"But I really like him."
"I know."
Liu De smiled helplessly.
"You can like him. No one is stopping you from liking your new friend."
Wei Fan’s eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Really."
Liu De nodded.
"But for now, just be friends. You don’t need to think about anything other than that now alright."
Wei Fan thought about it seriously before finally nodding.
"Okay."
He looked toward Dong Hai.
"Then I’ll be his best friend."
Dong Hai blinked.
His expression softened slightly.
"Okay."
Wei Fan immediately smiled.
"Then you have to play with me every time you come here."
Dong Hai hesitated for a moment before giving a small nod.
"I will."
Liu De finally relaxed.
At least that was settled.
He stood up and looked at Lin Xin.
"See? It’s fine now."
Lin Xin smiled softly.
"That’s good."
He glanced at the two children again.
Wei Fan had already begun talking excitedly to Dong Hai about his toys, while Dong Hai listened quietly.
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