Seize the Throne

Chapter 44.1 Follow Up: Xiao Shu’s birthday

On the eve of Xiao Shu’s fourth birthday, many relatives and friends inquired whether Bian Yi and Kou Li should hold a birthday banquet, especially for those who also had children at home.

Bian Yi and Kou Li declined all the suggestions from those relatives and friends. They were fully aware of their intentions and didn’t see the need to put up a facade for Xiao Shu, who didn’t need to be called “brother” by those strange playmates who were trying to get close to him.

Originally, Bian Yi planned to celebrate with just their immediate family, but when the paper maze was set up in the yard, it was much larger than he had anticipated, and the difficulty level was also increased. Even with a map in hand, Bian Yi still couldn’t distinguish one path from another. His mother was even more dizzy and declared that she wouldn’t play with them.

So on the day of Xiao Shu’s birthday, Kou Li invited Jian Yi and Bian Yi invited Jiang Shi to join them. With four people, they could divide into teams and increase the fun of the game.

Jian Yi didn’t need to be asked, he would come regardless.

As for Jiang Shi, his second competition had already passed, and Bian Yi had only signed him for one season. He hadn’t gone to see the second competition, but he heard that Jiang Shi did quite well despite not winning first place.

Now he was preparing for the third competition, and Bian Yi wasn’t sure if he would come.

The maze was built on a remote corner of Bian Yi and Kou Li’s estate, and it wasn’t easy to find. Jiang Shi had already driven around the area several times, getting increasingly anxious.

“Xiao Shitou?” A car stopped not far from Jiang Shi, and the sound of the car door opening and the owner calling out came from behind him.

Jiang Shi was already very familiar with this voice, and as soon as he heard it, he wanted to hide.

However, he was riding an electric scooter, which allowed wind to pass through all sides, so he had nowhere to hide.

Jiang Shi awkwardly smiled and turned to look at Jian Yi.

Jian Yi was still dressed casually, wearing a pair of sunglasses on his face and smiling at him.

Without the system nagging him every day about how to manipulate Jian Yi, Jiang Shi’s love for him couldn’t be suppressed.

He looked at Jian Yi without blinking.

Jian Yi took off his sunglasses and looked at him with a smile. “Why did you come alone?”

Jian Yi looked around and said, “This place is quite remote, and it’s not safe to come alone. Did Bian Yi call you here? Why didn’t you tell me? I could have picked you up–”

At this point, both of them were stunned.

Oh, right. Xiao Shu’s brain no longer had the system, and it seemed a little inappropriate to flirt with Jian Yi now.

Jian Yi awkwardly touched his nose.

Jiang Shi’s ears turned red. A 98% favorable impression. He had been practicing dancing every day, thinking he had forgotten about Jian Yi and the number.

Upon seeing this person, he immediately remembered who he was. He lowered his head and awkwardly replied, “It’s more convenient for me this way. They won’t recognize me.” He had been wearing a helmet earlier, but after circling around a few times, he got too hot and took it off.

After Jiang Shi finished speaking, he looked up and saw that Jian Yi was staring at him intently. He felt like he wanted to hide again.

Jian Yi put his hand down and found that Jiang Shi’s blushing earlobes looked so cute that he didn’t care if it was appropriate or not to stare at him so intently.

Jian Yi’s smile deepened and he invited, “Get in my car. Take your keys and when we get to their place, I’ll have someone come over to help you bring it back. If you lose it, how do you want me to compensate you? I’ll compensate you that way.”

“Ah? Ah.” Jiang Shi awkwardly got off his electric scooter and took his keys, waiting for Jian Yi to open the car door for him to sit inside.

As the car started and the scenery outside began to retreat, Jiang Shi performed a pupil earthquake in the reflection of the car window.

He was easily dumbfounded by a beautiful smile. This problem seemed to have occurred again!

Ah, how did he end up in Jian Yi’s car? He really had nowhere to hide now.

Meanwhile, Bian Yi was holding a tablet and frowning as he tried to memorize the entire map.

Someone bumped his arm, and his tablet almost fell to the ground.

Bian Yi caught the tablet just in time, and he glared at the person next to him, asking with his eyes, “What are you doing?!”

Kou Li laughed and whispered in his ear, “Xiao Shu is watching over there. It’s not a good idea to cheat so blatantly, is it?”

Bian Yi’s ears burned, either from the warmth of Kou Li’s breath or from his own embarrassment.

He rubbed his ear and weakly defended himself, “No, I was just looking for other interesting places to go with him during his vacation.”

Kou Li didn’t expose him and just took away his tablet, saying, “Don’t worry, there’s still some time before winter break.”

“Hey, I haven’t…” Bian Yi wanted to say that he hadn’t finished memorizing the map, but he saw that Xiao Shu was indeed looking in their direction, so he immediately stopped talking and glared at Kou Li.

“Okay, okay, Jian Yi’s here,” Kou Li said, pulling Bian Yi up from his seat.

Bian Yi still wanted to bite the hand that Kou Li stretched out. He only let go of him when he saw that Jiang Shi and Jian Yi had really arrived.

But why did they come together? Did they meet at the door?

When Bian Yi walked over, Xiao Shu had already received the gift and thanked Jiang Shi.

Bian Yi patted the child’s head and talked to Jiang Shi about the program for a few minutes.

Jian Yi arrived empty-handed, and Kou Sen sneered at him before taking the gift Jiang Shi gave him and went to find his father.

After lunch, the group started playing the maze game.

In the end, they decided to split into three teams. The first team to get out of the maze would be the winner, and the winner could punish the loser.

Bian Yi’s mother originally didn’t want to participate, but Kou Sen kept telling her that he could help her win. To make her grandson happy, she decided to join in.

As for the other two teams, if Kou Li and Jian Yi were to be in the same team, the game wouldn’t work, so it was Bian Yi and Kou Li, and Jian Yi teamed up with Jiang Shi.

After the butler shouted “start,” the three teams entered the maze together.

Kou Sen was the fastest, pulling his grandmother along as he ran inside.

Hehehe, although this was a gift prepared by the dads for him, Kou “Maze Master” Sen had never lost before. He was definitely going to be first!

“This icon means…” Bian Yi chose the path he remembered the longest, but as soon as he entered the maze, he was dazzled by the pattern on the tiles.

Since the bug was completely trapped, Kou Li had nothing urgent to do, so he redesigned the maze. This time, not only were there more tiles, but the patterns on them were also more intricate, which made Bian Yi’s eyes feel like they were seeing stars.

“Here it is.” Kou Li saw that he couldn’t distinguish the path and pointed it out to him.

Unexpectedly, Bian Yi didn’t appreciate it at all and even turned around to glare at him.

“I know! I’ll find it right away. Who needs your reminders?” Bian Yi said angrily. If he had to rely on Kou Li to give him hints in every game they played in front of their child, how could he maintain the image of a knowledgeable and capable father? Would Xiao Shu think he was dumb?

Kou Li surrendered: “Okay, okay, I won’t say anything.”

But ten minutes later, Bian Yi became even more angry. He kicked Kou Li and scolded him, “What kind of maze did you design? I’ve been memorizing it for so long, how can I still get lost? I told you not to say anything, and you didn’t even give me a hint. Why are you so annoying?”

Kou Li, who had been silent all along, said, “…”.

Without knowing how he was accused, Kou Li was extremely innocent.

However, he still had to appease Bian Yi, the innocent one.

Kou Li hugged Bian Yi, who struggled a bit, but not wholeheartedly, and didn’t even step back.

Kou Li looked at his face and asked softly, “Are you really unhappy?”

Bian Yi lowered his head, tugged at Kou Li’s clothes, and mumbled, “You and Xiao Shu are both so smart, he must think I’m stupid, right?”

“How could he?” Kou Li smiled and pulled Bian Yi out of his embrace, holding his shoulders and making him look up at him. “Today is his birthday, let him win and he’ll be happy. And let him win every time we play in the future. When he grows up, he’ll think we’re playing with him, making him win every time.”

It sounded reasonable?