Chapter 12 Piggy Bun Daifuku

Chapter 12: The Little Piggy Bao's Grand Reunion

"Excuse me, sir, but we're closing soon."

Through the curtain, the waiter cautiously urged the last customers in the shop. The powerful, icy aura of a top-tier Alpha, though not deliberately released, still made the staff feel an intense sense of threat.

Li Hanchuan murmured in response.

After a moment's hesitation, he gently tapped Rui Rui's shoulder: "Wake up, it's time to go home."

The Omega mumbled, turning his little face, which had been pressed against the wooden table, to the other side. As soon as the left cheek, which had just endured pressure, was exposed, the delicate skin revealed pronounced red marks that the Alpha could plainly see.

Then he fell quiet again and went back to sleep.

Li Hanchuan: "..."

Is he a mermaid or a little pig? How does he sleep so soundly?

Using "waking him up" as an excuse, the Commander poked the Omega's cheek with his rough, calloused fingertips. In that instant, the soft, marshmallow-like texture stunned him.

So soft.

So soft it was like touching air.

Poke. Poke. Poke.

"Wake up, how long are you going to sleep?"

Not a stir.

Li Hanchuan's voice gradually trailed off as his attention was clearly captured by his little wife.

The mermaid Omega's frame was delicate and agile, completely different from the naturally rugged Alpha. Even his hair under the warm yellow light emitted a faint fragrance, smooth and beautiful.

In this moment, without any outside commentary or external influences,

Li Hanchuan admitted...

The media calling this mermaid Omega the "supreme treasure of the ocean" was not an exaggeration.

"If he still doesn't wake up, then kicking me during the day was definitely on purpose," the Alpha's voice was low, magnetic, and hoarse. He stood up and walked around. As a long-serving Major General, his movements were broad and decisive, yet when he swept Rui Rui up in his arms, his actions were surprisingly gentle.

It wasn't until he was jostled for a moment that the Omega drowsily woke up.

In his daze, Rui Rui saw a sharp, angular jawline.

A human. A weak human, unable to resist even a single wave—a tiny human.

"Human, how dare you carry me?" The petite, soft wife suddenly spoke, inexplicably arrogant. Clearly not fully awake, his tone was much more defiant than usual. "...One of my tails alone weighs three hundred jin (approximately 330 pounds), enough to crush you."

In reality, Rui Rui was quite small even among his own kind.

Two baby seals piled together would barely reach three hundred jin.

Li Hanchuan raised an eyebrow.

The stunned adjutant never expected the Major General to finally come to his senses.

He actually carried the young master back! What were the two of them doing in that perfumed-book shop?

The adjutant silently opened the door.

Li Hanchuan gently placed his half-asleep little wife into the spacious back seat of the car, saying with a faint smile: "Is that so?"

"Then transform back into your mermaid form and let me see?"

That one sentence instantly sobered up the milk-dazed baby seal.

Li Hanchuan walked around to the other side and got in. As soon as he entered, he noticed Rui Rui sitting with a ramrod-straight military posture even more precise than his own. After a moment of silence, he realized his mermaid wife really did have dreams of joining the army.

In this regard, he quite admired the little seafood.

Rui Rui hadn't expected the Major General to personally pick him up. Flustered, the Omega asked first: "Was today's lunch good?"

His face full of eager curiosity.

If Li Hanchuan nodded in approval, he would immediately produce a hundred spicy turkey sauce rice balls.

The Alpha swallowed, his throat sore, like a poisoned madwoman, and said with difficulty: "...It was all right."

"That's good." Rui Rui beamed with joy. "You really didn't peek at what I made yesterday, right?"

What did he mean by "peek"?

Weren't they for him?

Li Hanchuan didn't argue: "I didn't look."

The driving adjutant was quite pleased, frequently glancing in the rearview mirror, almost uttering that classic line, as he cheerfully drove the two back to the manor.

"You don't need to wake up early tomorrow."

Before Rui Rui could push open the bedroom door, the Alpha behind him, watching him intently, said: "It's not as if you have anything to do anyway."

Li Hanchuan's tone was stiff and unpleasant.

He wanted to tell Rui Rui not to work so hard—it was, after all, a marriage of convenience that didn't require much emotional investment. Why go to the trouble of cooking and delivering meals, exhausting himself to the point of sleeping in public like a little pig?

As if...

He really wanted to be his wife.

This Omega was usually gentle and obedient, but upon hearing this, he grew agitated. Spinning around, his wide, blue eyes filled with anxiety: "How can that be?"

Li Hanchuan stared at him, his heart stirred.

The delicate mermaid seemed like a dodder plant that couldn't survive without its husband.

If his life didn't revolve around the Commander, he would completely lose his center.

Rui Rui pressed closer step by step: "If I don't wake up early and go out to observe what new dishes and creative dishes other restaurants are offering, how can I cook for you? I've been trying really hard for this!"

Even if his current cooking skills and taste weren't on the same level.

Even if all he could make after eating gourmet food was electric rice cooker steamed rice.

But.

If he wasn't allowed to move freely,

then the unlimited black card given by the Mermaid Chief and the exclusive bank card for the young master handed over by the butler would just collect dust, wouldn't they?

If that happened, and the baby seal's plump body and adorable face became thin and drawn, wouldn't he no longer resemble a mermaid?

The little one had big-picture thinking—it was all for Li Hanchuan and the entire ocean.

The Alpha was completely taken aback.

He remembered that even when he was on peacekeeping duties in the most dangerous places, he had never shown the kind of expression his little wife had, like the world was ending.

The Major General's expression darkened, and he gave him a cold look for a few seconds.

"Suit yourself."

The corner of his mouth suddenly lifted in a cryptic smile, then quickly fell again. He turned and headed back to his room first.

As the door closed, a trace of confusion appeared on the Alpha's handsome, striking features: "Could it be that Ruifulodite is taking the act seriously and has fallen in love with me?"

Li Hanchuan took off his sharp, tailored uniform piece by piece and stepped into the bathroom.

Under the rush of the steaming shower, his features grew even more pronounced.

He remembered how his little wife had nervously asked him if he had seen yesterday's lunch.

Li Hanchuan had replied that he hadn't.

In reality, as soon as the adjutant left, he had opened the large food container.

Li Hanchuan scooped up some warm water, picked up the miraculous all-in-one shampoo, body wash, and bruise ointment, and began carefully washing his muscular, scarred body.

He kept wondering, his handsome brows tightly furrowed.

"...It was made so well, with such hearty portions—why wouldn't he let me see it?"

The mermaid Omega was truly strange.

-

The baby seal's fur was special.

When wet and gliding through the water, it took on a glossy, sleek texture, like a piece of exquisite, marbled jade in an ink-wash painting.

Because of this, many people mistakenly thought seals had no fur.

"Mmrph~"

At 7:30 in the morning, the dry, soft, fluffy Little Dumpling woke up.

Flapping his plump back flippers on the bed, his short front flippers pressed against his body, he suddenly exerted force and stretched like a streamlined éclair: "Arf!"

Good morning!

Another day of tasting delicious foods everywhere and then recreating them for his human husband.

The short-furred, round ball of blubber got out of bed and slid toward the bathroom on his belly, looking like an old-fashioned hot water bottle filled with warm water.

Rui Rui had watched human educational clips.

It was said that taking a cold shower in the morning helped boost energy throughout the day.

As the icy water soaked his fur, the large ball of fluff couldn't help but shudder, his entire body rippling with waves for a long time.

...Mmm.

What did it matter if he didn't maintain his energy?

He was just a little seal.

The seal pouted, lifted a flipper, and silently adjusted the water temperature. Then, he rolled around wildly in the warm water, waking himself up for the morning.

His light golden long hair carried a light scent, the ends still slightly damp.

The beauty, dressed in a lazy white silk shirt reminiscent of a royal noble from a classical European oil painting, descended the stairs with a cool, elegant poise.

The Omega's eyes immediately fell on the ten-layer cake tower in the living room. The texture of the fondant ribbon was almost identical to that of his silk shirt.

Elegant and simple, it was even more beautiful than the wedding cake.

It was only with a second glance that he noticed Li Hanchuan sitting on the sofa.

Rui Rui couldn't help but pause: "Major General, are you getting married again?"

Li Hanchuan's handsome face darkened: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"As a return gift for the rice balls," the Alpha stood up, glancing at his little wife's eager, upturned face, feeling pleased, "It's human etiquette—courtesy demands reciprocity."

Rui Rui nodded obediently, having learned another new fact.

The Commander put on his military cap and silently curved his lips into a smile.

During the wedding, he had seen his little wife staring longingly at the cake tower. When the waiters served the cake to others, the food-protective mermaid had been utterly disappointed, looking so wronged.

But this was the human world, and he had to endure it.

The Alpha had asked his adjutant to find a bakery with even better flavors, one that was reportedly highly sought after by the wealthy ladies of the central city.

Rui Rui was truly grateful.

In his heart, the little seal was already bouncing with excitement, opening its mouth wide to gobble up the ten-layer cake in one go.

He clasped his hands together in front of his chest, his voice sweet and soft, a genuine smile spreading across his face: "Thank you, Major General! I'll reward you generously too!"

Li Hanchuan was momentarily blinded by his radiant expression and averted his gaze uncomfortably.

"You don't need to bring me food today. The officers' wives are required to attend etiquette lessons."

"I've already made arrangements. You can go and observe first, then choose a few that interest you to enroll in."

"The noble etiquette school will teach you social manners, and at the former palace site, guest instructors will teach you tea ceremony, floral arranging, and baking."

Rui Rui listened and nodded.

His mind wasn't on learning at all; his attention kept wandering toward the cake tower.

Finally, after Li Hanchuan left, he was so excited that he specifically dismissed the butler and servants, saying he wanted to be alone with the gift showing his husband's affection.

Once everyone was gone, it was completely quiet.

*Duang.*

A Coconut Charcoal Sticky Rice Ball flew onto the cake tower, opened its mouth wide, and took a big bite. Its originally dark, round eyes instantly widened, shimmering with starry eyes.

"Mm—!"

-

In the blink of an eye, the ten-tier cake tower was reduced to an empty shell.

The elegant and sacred mermaid Omega demurred the chauffeur's service, insisting on going to the baking class on his own and not wanting to trouble the Major with such matters.

The driver was deeply impressed.

"The young master, sir, is so young, yet already has the demeanor of a head of household. Truly remarkable!"

Not long after, Rui Rui arrived at the culinary shop he had visited last time.

With a warm smile, he said, "Hello, party of one."

By the time the thin and gaunt Omega walked out of the restaurant, the sushi chef had once again collapsed from acute tenosynovitis, and the shop hung up a sign:

"Today's ingredients sold out."

Rui Rui was now completely full.

Following the address Li Hanchuan had sent him, he wound around through the streets before finally finding the so-called former palace site.

However,

the alley before him was deep and pitch-dark, completely different from what Rui Rui had imagined.

"Is this the place?"

The baby seal frowned, timidly stepping inside. If things went wrong, he could always revert to his original form and make a run for it.

"Wait, what are you doing here?"

Just before entering, an Omega with wild black eyeliner stopped him, eyeing Rui Rui with disbelief and suspicion. "Do you have a referral?"

The baby seal was astonishingly beautiful, with a divine and compassionate aura.

Overall, he appeared noble yet non-threatening.

After a moment's thought, Rui Rui answered the odd baking teacher, "Yes, I'm here to learn how to be a good wife who can cook."

"What?" The cobra Omega widened his eyes, hissing and flicking his tongue. "Even someone of your level..."

Halfway through his sentence, he professionally changed the subject.

"Alright, follow me."

After all, Rui Rui looked wealthy—definitely a big cash cow.

"I'm the instructor here, specializing in teaching how to win back your husband's heart. Even the most rigid Omega can become a captivating, peerless top Omega under my guidance. Understand?"

Rui Rui didn't quite understand.

Why would learning to make cupcakes make someone captivating?

Confused, he entered the classroom, where the lighting was predominantly red and dim. The room was already filled with Omegas, all wearing masks to protect their privacy. He accepted the mask handed to him by the instructor and obediently put it on.

"Everyone!"

The cobra Omega stood in the center, clapping to get everyone's attention.

His vibrant snake tongue looked seductively strange. "Welcome to the Passion Club. Here, you can even use your genuine charm to revive love from the dead."

Rui Rui: "???"

Has this seal wandered into the netherworld?

The next moment, he watched as the instructor transformed into his cobra form, writhing mesmerizingly while teaching the customers how to make their movements more alluring and seductive.

Nearby, a chubby hamster and a groundhog were putting in great effort.

The entire room of animals suddenly began to gyrate, leaving Rui Rui at a loss.

What should he do...

Should he join in?

-

Using the excuse of going out, Li Hanchuan made a trip to the former palace site.

The light-toned European-style architecture, paired with lush greenery, looked bright and eye-catching at first glance.

Aside from hosting various ceremonies and diplomatic events, much of the space had been converted for profit. The training class Rui Rui was attending was held here.

The Alpha casually passed by a classroom on the fifth floor.

Three Birds Madam, wearing an apron, was chatting idly: "Honestly, I was right in the middle of my beauty sleep this morning when my old man dragged me here for some training class, saying it was a superior's orders. What a load of nonsense..."

Flamingo suddenly looked up and saw the Major's cold face at the back door.

"Squawk!"

She was so startled her beak nearly fell off.

It felt exactly like being caught by the dean.

A few Omegas trembled as they went out to greet him.

They usually enjoyed seeing the Major—after all, they grew tired of their own plain-looking husbands after a while—but facing Li Hanchuan in person felt entirely different from treating him like an internet celebrity online.

The top Alpha before them was undeniably handsome.

But he felt so distant.

A complete authority figure, not to be questioned or challenged.

"...Good day, Major."

Li Hanchuan nodded.

He had made special arrangements for his subordinates to invite all of Rui Rui's friends. So where was he?

"Where is Rui Rui?"

Flamingo shook her head like a rattle-drum, indicating she didn't know, her feathers flying everywhere with no concern for food safety.

Li Hanchuan frowned to himself.

Thankfully, his mermaid husband didn't shed.

The woodpecker suddenly struck a pose like a primary school student raising their hand to answer a question: "Major General, I think I saw the Major General's wife when I was on my way here by car!"

"She went towards the border of the old slums."

The Alpha's face suddenly changed: "What?"

The ostrich finally dared to speak up: "Oh dear, I remember that place is a complete mess, all sorts of people are there! If I'm not mistaken, there are even some beast-folk who specifically hold classes there, teaching decent Omegas sketchy methods to win back their lovers... The Major General's wife would never do such things!"

At the same time—

"Another one! Another one!"

Thunderous applause echoed.

In the dimly lit classroom with flashing lights and an intense atmosphere, baby seal stood at the center of the stage wearing a mask, his chubby body swaying rhythmically, having already successfully outdanced the cobra instructor.

Right now, Rui Rui was not the Major General's wife.

He was the king immersed in his own artistic world.

The trendy and dynamic baby seal king.

"Coo!" baby seal raised his paws high, and the audience responded with a chorus of various animal calls.

The cobra instructor was in disbelief: "Oh my, such a captivating leopard beauty, trying to steal my spotlight."

Rui Rui had never imagined that the training class would be so much fun, nor did he know when they were supposed to start learning how to make cakes, but right now, all he wanted was to dance his heart out!

The black sesame Little Dumpling was naturally gifted, able to contort into all sorts of shapes without any guidance.

Just as the little animals had completely forgotten about their husbands and immersed themselves in the dance, a corn snake Beta slithered into the room and shouted: "Everyone, run! The Federal Police are here!"

The cobra Omega transformed back into human form, casting a flirtatious glance.

"What's the big deal? The chief is an ex-lover of mine."

The corn snake was furious: "Hurry up and leave! I heard Major General Li Hanchuan is here too!"

The curious little animals froze for a moment before erupting into chaos, scattering in all directions. The dance floor, which had been full of joy just moments before, was now empty in an instant—even the boldest teacher had fled.

Amid the chaos, baby seal overheard something about a "win-your-husband-back class," and his round, grape-black eyes suddenly welled up with tears—

"Coo?"

Did the leopard come to the wrong place?

Did the leopard really come to the wrong place?

The situation was too critical. Rui Rui didn't have time to worry about anything else and immediately started bouncing wildly on his belly, escaping through the backyard. The big furball just needed to leap over the broken lift gate ahead to make a clean getaway.

As he leaped into the air, baby seal took a deep breath and tightened his belly!

His little whiskers trembled slightly as he sized up the distance—he could make it through smoothly.

"Squeak!"

The mischievously-masked baby seal got stuck in the gate bars.

"..."

Plump and motionless, like a sticky rice dumpling pinched by chopsticks.

He struggled a few times, to no avail. His proud, plump belly had become his biggest obstacle.

Baby seal waved his little paws, hearing the sounds of a search party approaching from behind. Scared stiff, he just wanted to coo and cry.

"Wow, come quick, it's a little pig!"

A group of children from who-knows-where gathered around.

The news of a little pig stuck in the gate spread rapidly within seconds, and more and more primary school students crowded around, pointing at Rui Rui with their dirty little hands stained with snack residue.

"It's a gray little pig, it's a gray little pig!"

The mischievously-masked baby seal: "..."

The leopard was furious. He twisted his head forcefully, shaking off the mask: "Coo!? Take a good look, what am I?"

"Wow, it's a beast-folk!"

The children surrounded him in a circle, chattering excitedly as they curiously stared at Rui Rui maskless: "You have a muzzle, so you're a plump pup! Why don't you have ears? So pitiful, boo hoo!"

Coconut-gray baby seal fell silent.

Coconut-gray baby seal seethed, quickly turning red with anger: "Woof! Woof!"

The Federal Police officers surrounded the Major General.

Li Hanchuan saw a group of primary school students causing a ruckus from afar and, without a second thought, brushed right past them.

He mused with relief.

He knew it.

Even if Ruifulodite were head over heels in love with him, such a proper mermaid would never come to a place like this.