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

Chen Hao sat down on the sofa chair against the wall, took out his phone, scrolled through Douyin for a while, watched some videos about woodworking and planting, and occasionally looked up at his daughter.

She was sweating profusely from playing, but the smile on her face never disappeared.

He suddenly realized that this kind of life was pretty good.

The phone rang.

The screen displayed the three characters "Shen Mengyao," indicating a video call.

Chen Hao paused for a moment, then answered the call.

Shen Mengyao's face appeared on the screen—

She was wearing a white loungewear set, her hair draped over her shoulders, and she looked more energetic than a few days ago; the dark circles under her eyes had faded considerably.

"Chen Hao." Her voice still had that clear and crisp quality.

"Shen Mengyao." Chen Hao called her name, paused, and then asked, "How have you been lately?"

"I'm fine. How about you?"

"I'm fine too." The conversation between the two was like going through a fixed routine, polite and distant, but it was something they had to do.

There was a two-second silence.

Shen Mengyao asked, "Is Tingting asleep?"

"Not yet." Chen Hao stood up, walked to the middle of the main room, and squatted down in front of his daughter. "Tingting, Mom is on the phone."

Shen Xiaoting immediately got off the rocking horse, leaned close to the phone screen, saw her mother's face, and a smile bloomed on her little face: "Mom!"

Chen Hao handed the phone to his daughter, Shen Xiaoting, who took it with both hands, but unlike before, she didn't hold the phone still.

Instead, she skillfully tapped an icon on the screen, switched the camera to the rear camera, and then pointed it at the Trojan horse next to her.

"Mom, look! This is the rocking horse Dad made for me! I've been riding it all day!"

Shen Mengyao saw a brown wooden horse on the screen—its body was smooth, its lines were fluid, its four legs stood firmly, there were wheels under the base, and a leather saddle was on its back.

She had seen photos of Chen Haofa's swing before, but this was the first time she had seen a wooden horse.

"Did your father make this?" Her voice was clearly surprised.

"Yes! Daddy made it today! He made a swing in the morning and a rocking horse in the afternoon!" Shen Xiaoting's voice was full of pride. "Mom, this rocking horse can walk! I'll show you!"

She held up her phone, turning to Chen Hao standing beside her: "Dad, can you hold this for me? I want to ride it to show Mom!"

Chen Hao took the phone and pointed the camera at his daughter.

Shen Xiaoting straddled the rocking horse, grabbed the horse-ear shaped handles with both hands, put her feet on the ground, and pushed off forcefully.

The rocking horse slid forward, sliding across the floor tiles. The curved structure hidden beneath the base caused it to rock back and forth as it slid, making it look like a real pony running.

"Mom, look! It's walking! And wobbling! Just like a real horse!"

Shen Xiaoting skating to the other end of the main room, turned around, and skating back.

She pushed off the ground harder and harder each time, the rocking horse slid faster and faster, and her laughter grew louder and louder.

Chen Hao followed her with his phone, making sure Shen Mengyao could see the whole process.

Shen Mengyao saw it on the screen—the rocking horse was indeed sliding, and it was indeed rocking back and forth.

This is not a static toy, but a moving wooden object with a mechanical structure.

She paused for two seconds, then said, "Tingting, slow down, don't fall."

"You won't fall!" Shen Xiaoting slid back to her father's side, got off the rocking horse, took the phone, switched the camera back to front view, and brought her little face close to the screen.

"Mom, isn't Dad super amazing?"

Looking at her daughter's rosy, expectant face, Shen Mengyao's lips curled up slightly: "Super amazing."

Shen Xiaoting was satisfied and added:

"Mom, Dad is still selling this rocking horse online! Lots of uncles, aunts, older brothers and sisters like it!"

Dad only makes five a day, and they sell out as soon as they're on the shelves! Tomorrow I'm going to make a rocking horse with Dad! I can help Dad earn money!

Shen Mengyao's eyebrows were slightly raised.

She never expected that people would actually buy the Trojan horse Chen Hao made, and that all five of them would sell out every day.

She glanced at the rocking horse on the screen again—although it was just a fleeting glimpse, she could tell that it was finely crafted and made of solid materials, definitely better than those mass-produced children's rocking horses on the market.

"Tingting, give the phone to Daddy. Mommy wants to say a few words to him."

"Okay." Shen Xiaoting handed the phone to Chen Hao. "Dad, Mom wants to talk to you."

Chen Hao took the phone, a slight thought crossing his mind.

Did Shen Mengyao take the initiative to talk to him?

In the past, I would hang up after talking about Tingting.

He held the phone up to his face, and Shen Mengyao's expression on the screen was more serious than before.

"Chen Hao, you're letting Tingting make the rocking horse with you?" Her tone carried a hint of worry.

"Those tools are dangerous. What if she gets hurt? If you need money, I can send you some. You don't need to rely on this to make money, and you don't need Tingting's help."

After listening, Chen Hao shook his head.

His tone was calm, but very firm:

"I make and sell Trojan horses not primarily to make money. I want to cultivate Tingting's hands-on skills."

She's three years old now, an age when she's curious about everything. Let her participate; she'll learn a lot.

And I will keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't touch any dangerous tools.

As for money, I'm not short of cash right now, so you don't need to worry.

Shen Mengyao remained silent for a few seconds.

She thought about the changes in Tingting during their recent video calls—

Tingting used to be quiet and didn't smile much; now she chatters nonstop every time we talk on the phone, her eyes sparkling.

She would say things like "Dad taught me," "Dad did it," and "Dad said," each sentence filled with heartfelt admiration and joy.

And she has indeed learned a lot—folding paper airplanes, recognizing flowers and vegetables, planting flowers and vegetables, and now she is going to learn woodworking.

"What you said makes sense," Shen Mengyao said softly.

"Tingting has indeed changed a lot recently. She's more lively and confident than before. You... have taught her very well."

Chen Hao was stunned for a moment.

This was the first time he had heard Shen Mengyao praise him.

"Thank you," he said.

The two remained silent for two seconds.

Shen Mengyao spoke first: "Then please be careful. Tingting is still young, don't let her touch knives, saws, or electric drills."

"Don't worry, I'll be careful."

"Okay. I'm hanging up."

"Um."

The screen went black.

Chen Hao put down his phone and glanced at the time—9:10 PM.

"Tingting, it's bedtime."

"Let's play a little longer," Shen Xiaoting said, sitting on the rocking horse, unwilling to get off.

"I have to get up early tomorrow to make the Trojan horse; five orders are waiting to be shipped."

Shen Xiaoting thought for a moment, then got off the rocking horse.

She pushed the rocking horse to the corner and put it away, then ran to her father, took his hand, and said, "Daddy, I'll make you a rocking horse tomorrow!"

"Okay, Tingting will help Daddy."

Chen Hao took his daughter to the bathroom and helped her take a bath.

Shen Xiaoting didn't play in the water today; she stood obediently while her father washed her hair and body.