Puppet Notes (Wearing Book) - 144

 

| PN | Friend | 144

The popularity of the forum post remained high, and a certain group of five people was engaged in an equally intense discussion.

【Zhang Cheng, don’t tell me this is you?】  

Attached was an image of the most popular post on the forum.  

Zhang Cheng had just finished replying to a post when he saw the message from his good friend in the group. He immediately switched interfaces and, with trembling fingers, typed excitedly: 【It’s me. My Ayao has just fully recovered! I was so excited that I rushed to post a review online first.】  

【Ge Si, Si Qi, weren’t both of your puppets both sick, and you couldn’t find their creators? If you have time, hurry up and take your puppets to find him!!!】  

Ayao was sitting next to Zhang Cheng, looking out the window with bright eyes. He tugged at Zhang Cheng’s sleeve and excitedly pointed outside, “Master, look! There are so many clouds outside.”  

At this moment, the cracks on Ayao’s body had already disappeared, and the yellow stains on his face were nowhere to be seen. His skin was as fair and soft as that of an ordinary human youth.  

Due to his low level, Ayao couldn’t make many expressive facial changes, but his personality had always been lively. Thinking back to not long ago, when he lay weak and asleep in a glass case, it now seemed like an unreal dream.

Zhang Cheng shifted his attention away from the screen, his heart filled with a mix of bittersweet emotions and the joy of regaining something lost.  

If he hadn’t witnessed the entire process himself, he probably wouldn’t have believed that there was truly a puppet master in this world capable of repairing all puppets.  

With these thoughts in mind, Zhang Cheng took a photo of Ayao and sent it out, then excitedly began typing rapidly in the group chat: 【It’s true! My Ayao has really been cured. You have to believe me.】  

In the photo, the black-haired puppet looked in great spirits, seemingly even better than before it had fallen ill.  

Seeing this photo, the people in the group felt hesitant. A feeling of disbelief slowly began to take root in their hearts.  

Could it be that what Zhang Cheng said was true?  

They rushed to a smaller, private group without Zhang Cheng and secretly started discussing: 【Zhang Cheng sounds so sincere, and he even sent a photo. Now I’m getting confused—could this really be true?】

Si Qi: 【No way. Have you ever heard of a puppet master this amazing? If such a person existed, would they really be posting on forums? The higher-ups at the Association would pay a fortune to bring them on board, wouldn’t they?】  

What Si Qi said made sense.  

Ge Si: 【I privately messaged Zhang Cheng, and he said the puppet master not only cured the puppet but also fixed his deformed legs—all for just two million gold coins.】  

【Two million gold coins?! Damn! That cheap?】  

Getting a master-level puppet master to treat a puppet would cost at least two million gold coins. If the puppet’s condition was complicated, the price would only go higher.  

Ayao’s illness had seemed extremely complicated at first glance. When Qing Yu was invited over back then, everyone thought he might walk away without trying, and sure enough, Qing Yu left.  

But now, not only had the puppet been cured, its legs had been fixed too. No matter how they thought about it, two million seemed far too low a price.

【So, are you saying Zhang Cheng got so affected that he’s developed delusions and even went so far as to Photoshop Ayao’s pictures?】  

Seeing this message, both Si Qi and Ge Si felt their hearts skip a beat.  

In their five-person group, Si Qi, Ge Si, and Zhang Cheng were quite close due to their shared struggles. They knew that if something had happened to Ayao, Zhang Cheng might really have been so shaken that he could develop delusions.  

Thinking along these lines, the two of them couldn’t sit still any longer.  

【Zhang Cheng, where are you right now?】  

【I’m on an aircraft, heading back to the lab. Why, do you both want to come over to see my Ayao? He’s doing really well right now and has been watching the clouds outside the whole time.】  

That’s it. He’s even fantasizing detailed scenarios now.

Ayao’s condition had been so severe that he had always been lying in the glass case, struggling even to open his eyes. How could he possibly have the energy to look at clouds?

Ge Si and Si Qi felt their throats dry up and their hearts grow heavy with a sinking feeling.

【Alright, we’ll come to the lab to see you.】

They switched back to the forum, where Zhang Cheng was still actively replying to messages, expressing immense gratitude to the so-called miracle worker as if his puppet had genuinely recovered. 

This made their hearts feel even more bitter.

【If only we had stopped Zhang Cheng earlier.】

Without the whole “miracle worker” incident, Zhang Cheng might not have held onto false hope and would have gone directly to Qing Yu for help instead.

Guilt and self-reproach weighed heavily on Ge Si and Si Qi as they met up, neither able to speak a word. Time seemed to drag on, making the journey to the lab feel unusually long.

At this point, Ge Si and Si Qi had already mentally prepared themselves to take Zhang Cheng to see a psychologist.

However, when the two of them entered the lab with heavy hearts, the next moment they saw Zhang Cheng chatting with Ayao, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

Ge Si: …  

Si Qi: ???  

Wait, why is Ayao still alive?

The two stood there in a daze, even beginning to wonder if they themselves were suffering from delusions.

Meanwhile, Qi Chao, who had been working continuously for a month, finally had some downtime, even sleeping in a bit. 

When he opened his eyes, he saw Brother Shen leaning against the side of the bed, reading a book. The golden sunlight filtered through the blinds, illuminating Brother Shen’s face, with his fair fingertips resting lightly on the page—an entrancing sight.

Sensing that Qi Chao had woken up, Shen Yuxi’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. He turned his head slightly, his peach blossom eyes brimming with tenderness and affection, and his deep voice carried a hint of intimacy that only lovers share.

"You’re awake? Why not sleep a little longer?"  

Qi Chao sat up, pulled Shen Yuxi's left hand over, and planted a kiss on it. He rested his head on Brother Shen’s shoulder, his voice deep and slightly hoarse, "No, if I sleep any longer, it’ll be noon."

This past month had been really exhausting for Qi Chao.  

Although Ayao’s illness wasn’t particularly complicated, it required a significant amount of mental energy. On top of that, Qi Chao had been working late into the nights to craft Ayao’s missing legs.  

Shen Yuxi gently closed the book, reaching out to brush Qi Chao’s cheek. "If you’re tired, should we stop running the shop?"  

His lover was always so kind-hearted. But Shen Yuxi wasn’t really like this; he cared more about whether Qi Chao would wear himself out over something that wasn’t truly essential.  

"I won’t rush like this again in the future."

Qi Chao found running the shop quite enjoyable, so he wasn’t planning on closing it for now. He smiled and said, "Who knows when the next client needing their puppet repaired will come by. I can take a break for a while."

Shen Yuxi listened quietly, offering no further persuasion. He had never been the type to oppose decisions Qi Chao had already made. 

Still, there was a faint restlessness in his heart. This meant Qi Chao would continue to divert his attention to other people.

The time they had alone together was always precious and rare. It wasn’t long before a knock sounded on the door, followed by the voices of Li Bai and Lan Luo.

“Dad, Father, are you still sleeping?”  

“Dad! Father! Come out and play with us!”  

The former was Lan Luo, a little nervous due to his fear of Shen Yuxi, while the latter was Li Bai, full of enthusiasm and eager to play with both of his parents.

Hearing the voices of the children, Qi Chao couldn’t help but laugh softly. 

Seeing this, Shen Yuxi lowered his eyelashes slightly, and the corners of his lips lifted in a faint smile as well.

Over the past month, Qi Chao had been leaving early and returning late, spending little time with the kids at home. The children had their own things to keep busy with, so there wasn’t much need to worry. 

However, to any of the puppets at home, no matter how fulfilling their days were, the most important thing was always having Dad and Father around.

Qi Chao casually threw on a piece of clothing and stepped outside to tell the two kids to head downstairs first, saying they’d join them shortly.

After Li Bai and Lan Luo left, Qi Chao turned to close the door and pointed in their direction, smiling, “Brother Shen, do you have anything planned today? If not, why don’t we spend some quality time with the kids?”

Shen Yuxi’s eyes curved slightly, but he didn’t agree. “You go ahead and be with them. I’m planning to visit a friend’s place today.”

A friend. Again. 

Qi Chao raised an eyebrow slightly, suppressing the discomfort in his heart and pretending to sound casual, “Are you going to pick up Agu back?”

Shen Yuxi gave a soft hum in response, then added, “And I’m also taking Chi Yao over to stay for a few days.”

“Is that so?” Qi Chao looked at Brother Shen, who was sitting on the bed, smiling faintly at him. 

He couldn’t resist leaning down to give him a kiss, then pressed his lips together and said, “How about I come with you to drop them off? I can bring a few things over as a token of thanks.”

Having the children stay at someone else’s house always required some show of appreciation—otherwise, it would seem impolite. Qi Chao gave himself a reasonable excuse.

“No need, I can handle it alone.”

If Qi Chao came along, wouldn’t the truth be exposed? 

Shen Yuxi knew that this excuse wouldn’t last much longer. He looked up at Qi Chao and pressed down on the back of his neck, letting their lips barely touch. His gentle voice elongated the words, making Qi Chao’s heart tingle inexplicably.

“Wait for me at home, alright?”

A golden-haired beauty sat on his bed, gently kissing him and asking for something he could easily agree to. 

What could Qi Chao say? 

He could only comply.

However, Qi Chao still managed to pull back a bit of his rationality amidst this charm, asking, “When will you be back?”

“I’ll be back in the afternoon,” Shen Yuxi replied, his eyes curving into a smile.

Qi Chao hummed in acknowledgment, but internally he started pondering how to subtly inquire about this friend to Lan Luo or Moss. He was very curious about the kind of person who could draw Shen Yuxi away so often.

Shen Yuxi was quite perceptive, but this time, he didn’t catch on to the subtle change in Qi Chao’s emotions.

In fact, Shen Yuxi had never considered that Qi Chao might feel even a hint of jealousy; he simply thought Qi Chao was doubting the authenticity of his reason for leaving.  

To him, Qi Chao always radiated positivity, and such negative emotions shouldn’t exist within him. 

Perhaps it was this peculiar lens through which he viewed Qi Chao that led Shen Yuxi to miss the subtle feelings swirling in Qi Chao’s heart.  

The two adults, appearing close on the surface, each held their own thoughts as they descended the stairs.  

Sitting on the sofa, the several puppets in the living room felt a wave of joy when they saw their two grown-ups come downstairs. They had known since early morning that Dad wouldn’t be going to the shop today and had been discussing what to play since yesterday.  

Xiang Yue sat in the corner, watching as Dad and Father held hands. The dog ears atop his head twitched slightly.

Xiang Yue didn’t know why, but he felt that something was off, although he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. 

After his father left with Chi Yao and Moss, he turned back to look at Dad, trying to figure out what he was thinking. 

Before he could make sense of it, Dad ruffled his hair.

“Stop staring; Dad is just reluctant to let your father go.”

As the father of his children, Qi Chao didn’t need to ponder to know what they were thinking.  

Xiang Yue looked up at the smile on Dad’s face. He paused for a moment before nodding in agreement. “Dad, Father will be back soon.” 

He wagged his tail excitedly and sat down next to Dad, earnestly trying to comfort him.  

Lan Luo, who hadn’t grasped the situation, walked over to Qi Chao just as he heard these words. Of course, Father would be back soon.

Lan Luo thought to himself that it would only take about an hour to get from the training grounds to here, even without Moss. 

Since Dad was home today, Father wouldn’t be delayed at the training grounds for long.

“Dad, what’s wrong?” Lan Luo tugged at Qi Chao’s shirt, looking up at him with concern.

As soon as he spoke, the other puppets in the living room turned their gazes toward Qi Chao, worry evident in their eyes.  

Noticing this, Qi Chao gently patted Lan Luo’s head and casually reassured the other children, “It’s nothing.” 

Just as he was about to say more, his light brain vibrated a few times. Qi Chao glanced over and saw two friend request verification messages pop up on his screen.

“Dad, your light brain is ringing,” Li Bai said, helping hold up the device for him.

Qi Chao thought for a moment, then decided not to open the messages. Instead, he turned off his light brain. Seeing the puzzled expressions on the children’s faces, he chuckled and said, “It’s nothing; Dad will check it later. Let’s go out and have some fun together first.”

Based on Qi Chao's analysis, those two verification messages were likely from people seeking his help to repair their puppets. 

Although Qi Chao was passionate about his work, he wanted to prioritize spending quality time with his children at home. 

For now, he didn’t want any distractions from those responsibilities.

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TL: Sorry for the late update! I was very busy today