A Billionaire CEO Brings His Child Home: The Awakening of the Stay-at-Home Dad System

Chen Hao said, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things."

But she was still worried. She felt that in rural areas, there were many ponds without fences, and she didn't even want to think about the consequences if her child ran out to play and accidentally stepped into a hole.

But Chen Hao's method was different from what she had thought.

Not only did he prevent Tingting from going near those wild ponds, but he also built a swimming pool at home and personally taught her to swim.

Watching Tingting treading water, swimming on her back, and doing breaststroke in the video, she finally felt relieved.

She knew that if her daughter fell into the water, she could at least float, call for help, and wait for someone to rescue her.

This is much better than many children her age that she has seen.

"Your dad is amazing," Shen Mengyao said.

Shen Xiaoting nodded vigorously, her little head bobbing like a chick pecking at rice.

"Dad taught me very well! Mom, do you know that Dad said when you tread water, you should pedal your feet like you're riding a bicycle and use your hands like you're rowing a boat."

I tried it, and it really doesn't sink anymore!

As Shen Xiaoting spoke, she gestured, her little hands moving in the air and her little legs kicking, making the sofa thump loudly.

Looking at her daughter's excited little face, Shen Mengyao felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

In the past, when Tingting video-called her, she would say things like, "Mom, look what I drew" or "Mom, look what I folded," but the feeling was different.

Previously, it was "I made this to show you," with a tone that implied "Praise me."

Now it's "Dad taught me this, I've learned it, I'll show you," with a tone of pride that says, "You know what? My dad is amazing."

Tingting's tone changed, and the focus shifted from "I" to "what my father taught me."

Shen Mengyao couldn't quite describe the feeling.

It wasn't disappointment or jealousy, but rather a feeling that Chen Hao and Tingting had established a deep connection that couldn't be replaced by daily video calls.

When she video calls Tingting, Tingting is very happy, calls her "Mom," and says she misses her.

But that kind of happiness was different from the happiness she showed when she was with Chen Hao in the video.

That kind of happiness is grounded, reassured, and confident.

"Mom, can you swim?" Shen Xiaoting suddenly asked.

Shen Mengyao shook her head.

"Mom won't."

Shen Xiaoting stared in surprise, her eyes widening and her mouth forming an "O" shape.

"Mom, you can't swim? Dad can do everything! Mom, you can ask Dad to teach you to swim sometime, and Mom will definitely learn quickly too."

Shen Mengyao smiled but didn't reply.

Shen Xiaoting, oblivious to her mother's expression, continued excitedly:

"Mom, Dad made me a diabolo today! It's so much fun! Dad made it out of bamboo, with two wheels and an axle."

Tie a rope to two sticks, loop the diabolo around the rope, and pull it; it will spin and make a buzzing sound!

Shen Mengyao frowned slightly.

"A diabolo? What's that?"

Shen Xiaoting was surprised, her face filled with disbelief.

"Mom, you don't know what a diabolo is?"

"How could Mom possibly know everything?" Shen Mengyao laughed, a laugh tinged with helplessness.

"But Dad knows! Dad said he used to play with diabolo a lot when he was little."

Shen Xiaoting's tone carried a hint of confusion, as if to say, "How come you don't know something my dad knows?" She tilted her head and thought for a moment, seemingly unable to understand why her mother didn't know about such a fun thing.

Shen Mengyao's smile remained unchanged, but her heart stirred slightly.

She suddenly realized that there were some parts of Chen Hao and Tingting's relationship that she could never be a part of.

Those parts represent Chen Hao's childhood, the rural southern village where he grew up, the cicadas he had never heard before, the bamboo forests he had never seen before, and the diabolo he had never played with before.

She couldn't give Tingting these things, but Chen Hao could.

She couldn't quite describe the feeling. It wasn't disappointment, nor jealousy, but rather a faint, indescribable...regret? Or perhaps not.

She thought about it for a long time, but still couldn't figure it out.

"Mom, I'll ask Dad to send you the video of him playing with the diabolo today. You'll see what I mean when you watch it."

"it is good."

Chen Hao had been listening the whole time, then picked up his phone and smiled at the camera.

"I'll edit the diabolo video and send it to you."

Shen Mengyao nodded.

Chen Hao also edited the video of Tingting giving him the diabolo, keeping only the most exciting part—

Tingting stood in the yard, holding two bamboo sticks in her hands. The diabolo spun rapidly on the string, making a "buzzing" sound.

With a flick of her wrists, the diabolo flew up, and she caught it steadily, her movements already quite practiced.

He saved this clip and sent it to Shen Mengyao.

Chen Hao checked the time and said to Tingting, "Tingting, it's getting late. Get ready to take a shower and go to bed."

Shen Xiaoting nodded and said to the phone screen:

"Mom, I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. I'm going swimming tomorrow. I'll video call you again tomorrow."

Okay. Goodnight, Tingting.

Goodnight, Mom!

Shen Xiaoting kissed the screen loudly, a "pop," before handing the phone back to Chen Hao.

Chen Hao took the phone, and Shen Mengyao glanced at him.

Get some rest.

"Yes. You too."

The video call has ended.

Chen Hao took his daughter to the bathroom to take a shower.

Shen Xiaoting soaked in the water for almost two hours today, and her skin is a bit wrinkled, especially the skin on her little hands and feet.

But she didn't feel tired. She kept talking about the treading water and backstroke she learned today, and while she was talking, she was gesturing and almost splashed water on Chen Hao.

Chen Hao helped her wash her hair and take a bath. He squeezed out some shampoo, lathered it up, and applied it to her hair. She obediently lowered her head and let the water run down her head.

After washing her, Chen Hao wrapped her up in a bath towel, like wrapping a rice dumpling, and carried her to her room. He helped her put on her pajamas and placed her on her small bed.

Shen Xiaoting was holding the rabbit, her eyes half-open and half-closed. She was already a little sleepy, but she still refused to go to sleep.

Chen Hao sat down on the edge of the bed and began to tell a story.

Today's story is about a little frog that can swim.

The little frog lived in a pond. It was afraid of water, but unlike other frogs, it couldn't swim.

Every time it tries to learn, it gets scared as soon as it touches the water, and its two hind legs go weak.

It felt it wasn't a real frog. The other little frogs laughed at it, saying, "You're a frog, how come you can't swim? You're not even as good as a tadpole. At least a tadpole won't sink in the water."

The little frog was very sad and hid under the lotus leaf to cry secretly.

Later it met an old carp.

The old carp swam over and asked, "What's wrong?" The little frog replied, "I can't swim, I'm afraid of water."

The old carp said, "You were born a frog. Frogs are born to swim. Just relax your body and the water will support you."

The more nervous you are, the deeper you sink.

The more you relax, the higher you float.

The little frog said, "Really?"

The old carp said, "You'll know once you try it."

The little frog took a deep breath, closed its eyes, and completely relaxed its body.

It felt the power of the water surging in from all directions, supporting its belly, its legs, and its chin.

It tried to push off with its hind legs and lurched forward a bit.

It was overjoyed, opened its eyes, and found itself truly floating on the water.

It swam around in the pond, looking at the lotus flowers on the east side and searching for insects on the west side, no longer afraid of water.