Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"It's just a monitor," Bai Sheng picked up the little guy, checking him all over, making sure he hadn't hurt himself, before reaching down to grab the dumb robot that had lost its target and started circling his feet. "The monitor connects to me; I can talk to you through it."

Bai Nuo's little head was buried in his father's arms, and from Bai Sheng's angle, he could only see the fluffy back of the little guy's head.

Hearing Bai Sheng say this, the little guy, who had been on high alert in the post-apocalyptic world, turned his head from Bai Sheng's embrace to look at the mobile monitor with its wheels still spinning in the air, held by Bai Sheng.

Little Bai Nuo still clung to Bai Sheng's chest, a bit nervous as he watched.

As an alpha, he's way too soft, and he's also easily startled.

And—Bai Sheng wasn't quite sure—was this him being clingy?

Although Bai Sheng didn't remember if he had looked like this little guy when he was young, one thing he knew for sure: he never would have thrown himself into an adult's arms for comfort like this.

Even though this little soft bundle felt nice to hold, this wouldn't do.

Bai Sheng mentally ran through his parenting plan, and casually pressed the monitor's power button.

The red light immediately went dark, and the monitor went dead.

Before he could make his next move, he heard the little guy's milky voice instinctively exclaim, "Dad, you're so cool! You turned it off just like that!"

The words Bai Sheng was about to say—to make the little guy stand on his own and tell him he couldn't just be clingy like that—got stuck in his throat.

He coughed softly.

It's just turning off a monitor—what's so great about that?

He'd gotten tons of praise growing up, but who would be happy about such a strange compliment?

Bai Sheng picked up the kid and said softly, "Don't climb over the bed railing on your own... Never mind, it's not like you'll listen."

Bai Sheng's voice was low, his handsome brows slightly thoughtful. He decided to have someone raise the bed railing higher later.

Behind him, the servants who'd been notified also showed up.

Actually, they should have come earlier and stayed near the kid's room, but today Bai Sheng was at the old mansion instead of the company. He didn't like being disturbed, and since he was keeping an eye on things from the study on the second floor, the servants hadn't stayed on the second floor and arrived a bit late.

The servants who knew Bai Sheng were staring at him, confused—hadn't the young master just climbed over the bed railing? So why does Third Master look like he's... smiling?

The servants working for the Bai family knew about the family's cold dynamics—were they really mocking a little kid like this?

They shouldn't get involved... but the little master is so freaking cute.

They shouldn't interfere in the master's private affairs... but the little master is so freaking cute.

The maid looked at Little Bai Nuo's ridiculously cute face, fidgeting with her clothes.

The kid had noticed the strangers and was hiding in his dad's arms, peeking out half his head from over his shoulder.

The servants: ...This is too cute!

Maybe they should secretly try to make his life a bit better.

Meanwhile, Bai Sheng had already settled the kid in his arms and glanced at the time.

"Third Master, dinner is ready."

"Mm, take him to dinner."

Bai Sheng said, starting to put the kid down.

Bai Sheng never ate on time—he had work to do. He'd just come out of the study because the kid falling off the bed startled him.

The servants were used to this. They stepped forward, ready to respond, when they heard the kid's milky voice.

"Did you already eat, Dad?"

"No, but Dad isn't hungry right now."

Little Bai Nuo didn't get it.

In the post-apocalyptic world, finding food was hard—everything had mutated, even the water was contaminated.

In all his few years, he'd rarely had a full stomach.

The little guy's idea of happiness was simple.

To him, having a full belly was the most important and happiest thing.

But Dad didn't seem to think so.

The little guy gathered his courage and reached out to touch Bai Sheng's brow.

They had only met for the first time today.

But maybe it was the blood bond—the kid felt an instinctive closeness to Bai Sheng.

The kid held onto Bai Sheng's neck, not letting him put him down. "Dad, you've gotta eat! Eating is the most important thing! Nono loves eating."

Someone who didn't like eating?

This kid just couldn't get it!

Bai Sheng had a little sticky kid glued to him.

Of course, not to mention an elite alpha's strength—even an ordinary person could peel this little guy off.

But Bai Sheng didn't move. He held the kid's body. He was still awkward at holding a kid. He met those round, stubbornly determined eyes.

The kid was still pale and frail. His cheeks looked chubby, but it was just baby fat—his body was thin and tiny, nothing like a proper four-year-old.

His stomach was growling, yet he was holding onto Bai Sheng's neck, refusing to let go.

Still being clingy? Bai Sheng thought, and again he realized—he actually didn't mind it.

This feeling was very strange.

Alphas are naturally aggressive—not just about rejecting other alphas' pheromones, but also driven by strong possessiveness and ambition.

They seek uniqueness, wanting to be one of a kind, which often shows up as competitiveness and can sometimes be overwhelming.

But Bai Sheng was feeling something for the first time—in this little guy's eyes, he was special, someone to depend on and get close to, the pillar holding up this frail little body.

The little guy cared about him a lot.

How strange. If he got this feeling from his siblings, he'd think they were just trying to gross him out. But getting it from this little guy...

He only felt a little... soft-hearted?

Without even thinking, he carried the little one downstairs, putting work aside for the moment, and took him to eat.

Bai Sheng sat down at the table, watching the little one obediently swinging his two short legs beside him. He felt like he must have lost his mind.

Probably not expecting him to actually come down to eat, the dishes on the table were all light and healthy foods for children.

Vegetable porridge, stir-fried cabbage with shrimp, stir-fried broccoli, carrot, tofu, and egg custard...

Maybe in case the little one had dietary restrictions, the kitchen had prepared a variety of kid-friendly dishes.

Bai Nuo had never seen such a spread. His big eyes widened, unable to take it all in—what's this? What's that? Can it really smell this good?!

Food!

Is all this for Nono to eat?

The little one couldn't help glancing at Bai Sheng. In the past, food had been a rare and precious resource; when eating with others, you couldn't just think of yourself.

"What's wrong?"

Bai Sheng was scooping vegetable porridge into a bowl when he noticed the little one looking at him.

"Need someone to feed you?"

A four-year-old asking to be fed? Wasn't that too spoiled? But... his little arms really couldn't reach.

Before Bai Nuo could react, Bai Sheng had already brought a spoonful of porridge to his lips.

Bai Nuo opened his mouth instinctively.

The porridge was warm and at just the right temperature, its sweet and savory flavor stimulating the little one's taste buds.

After swallowing the first bite, the little one's eyes lit up. He couldn't help leaning forward, nearly falling off the chair.

Bai Sheng set down the porridge bowl and steadied him, frowning.

"Didn't I tell you to prepare everything? Isn't there a high chair?"

"There is, Third Master. Some things just came in and haven't been set up yet. I'll go get it."

"...Never mind."

Bai Sheng looked at the little one, then at the bowl in his hand, and waved dismissively. It was just one meal—by the time it was set up, the food would be cold. He lifted the little one onto his lap, though still uncomfortable holding a child. Then he picked up the bowl again and said casually,

"Eat up."

Bai Nuo sat sideways in Bai Sheng's arms, gripping his father's clothes. He looked up at Bai Sheng's face.

In the apocalypse, a small child like him was a burden... No one had ever been this good to Nono before.

But if Dad was so good, why did they say he was a villain? Why did they say he would die in the end?

The little one pouted, his eyes welling up with tears.

But he didn't cry, because the food was so fragrant and delicious.

Bai Sheng fed the little one, bite after bite.

Bai Sheng felt a mix of amusement and disbelief. The little one hadn't even swallowed the current mouthful before his eyes were already eagerly fixed on the next spoonful. He ate like he might cry from joy.

"Are you that hungry?"

And Bai Sheng overheard the servants in the corridor whispering to each other: "The young master doesn't seem picky. He eats everything."

That was true. Even Bai Sheng had foods he disliked, but the little one didn't.

The little one truly ate everything—the kind of child that's so easy to raise.

Bai Sheng peeled a shrimp and popped it into the little one's mouth.

The little one chewed with his cheeks puffed out. After swallowing, his eyes shone brightly, and his voice was light and happy: "Nono has never seen these before. They're so delicious, Dad."

Then he looked up, his little milk voice content, holding up his unused spoon: "Dad, you eat too."

Nono has always said that! Eating is the best thing in the world!

...Never eaten before?

But Bai Sheng, who had just been thinking how easy this little one was to raise, paused. He had only skimmed the little one's health records; the details of his past in the lab were very general, and he hadn't pursued it.

Now, the smile around his eyes and lips

faded slightly. He looked down and noticed the little one was even staring at the shrimp shells that had been discarded. If an adult hadn't peeled them, he might have thought the shells were meant to be eaten too.

Author's note:

Little one: Dad, you're amazing! (Adoring gaze)

Dad: What's so amazing about that? (Trying hard to suppress a smile)

Servants: ...The little one fell, and Third Master is laughing?! The Bai family isn't even pretending anymore?!

Some amusing misunderstandings~