Chapter 9

Chapter 9

The corporate culture of the Bai family business somewhat mirrors the Bai family itself—strictly professional, with little personal warmth, though with generous compensation and ample benefits. Most of the employees here are rational A and B types, many of whom are single, rarely encountering such a soft and well-behaved child.

Coffee is a must-have for most office workers, who have long grown accustomed to its bitterness and can down it without flinching.

But in a child’s world, bitter flavors are unwelcome; they are to be gently pushed back, with a soft plea to treat yourself better and eat more sweets.

Even knowing he's too young to understand, everyone is still moved.

Where did this precious child come from? Is he dreaming?

Clutching the candy, he quickly snaps out of it.

“There are plenty more here.”

Auntie Secretary quickly speaks, reaching for the plate and placing it before the little one.

On the floral-patterned ceramic plate are fresh candies that were just restocked, their wrappers beautifully delicate.

Auntie Secretary picks a few and places them in the little one’s palm.

She's never raised a kid, so she doesn't dare give him too many, afraid of making a mistake.

Xiaobai Nuo, who has always known that candy is a precious resource—something a child like him could never have—stares wide-eyed.

A poor kid strikes it rich. The little one nearly twirls, holding the candies.

“Wow! Can Nono really eat all these?”

He looks up at Auntie Secretary, big eyes sparkling.

“Of course,” Auntie Secretary replies with a smile.

The little one holds the candies in both small hands, his joy overflowing.

No child can resist candy.

But Xiaobai Nuo picks and chooses among the candies, selecting only two milk candies.

He had already heard the voices behind him. Turning his head, he beams with curved brows. “Uncles and aunties, would you like some candy too? You’ve all drunk so much bitter coffee.”

Coming from a post-apocalyptic world, this little guy has no idea candy is everywhere here.

In his eyes, while there is a whole plate of candies, there are also many uncles and aunties. If Nono takes too many, they won’t have enough to share. He’s not a greedy baby—he’ll take just one, and then give one to Daddy.

The little one stuffs the two candies into his small pocket and looks at the employees lingering by the doorway, staring at him with hopeful eyes.

—I can’t—this is too cute!

By the time Assistant Li quickly wraps up the meeting upstairs and passes by the break room, he sees a group of people lined up one by one, solemnly holding out candies in their hands, their usually professional, rational faces twisted into weirdly happy, distorted expressions.

Assistant Li...?

Assistant Li is startled, stepping back. His usually inscrutable face shows confusion and bewilderment, even a hint of disgust at their expressions.

“What are you doing? Have those candies been blessed?”

But Assistant Li quickly figures out what's going on.

“Uncle Li!”

A child's voice emerges from the crowd.

The tiny tot patters over to him with a *dada dada* sound. His big eyes shine brightly, the small drone following behind. He raises his hand, a candy in his palm. “Uncle, would you like some candy?”

Assistant Li looks down at the young master.

So that’s it. He had vaguely anticipated going through this phase.

All thoughts of plans, training schedules, and steering this kid toward a future path are thrown out the window.

Doubt the boss, question the boss, understand the boss, become the boss.

A few seconds later, Assistant Li crouches down, trying to keep a straight face as he looks at the candy in his own hand, thinking: This one should be enshrined. Maybe praying to it will keep the boss in a good mood.

Having received the candy, Assistant Li quickly gets up and hurries off again. The elevator on the top floor opens again.

Bai Sheng enters, followed by Xie Yu. They are heading out for lunch together, and Bai Sheng has come to pick up Xiaobai Nuo.

Xie Yu has insisted on tagging along, one hand in his pocket, his expression confused—or rather, he's been dazed from the start. Recently, the Xie and Bai families have been negotiating a partnership, so they’ve been in closer contact. Though he doesn’t know everything about Bai Sheng, Xie Yu is aware of major events in the Bai family.

Then Bai Sheng tells him that he now has a kid. He doesn't know many people with a four- or five-year-old A-type kid.

Xie Yu is speechless.

Xie Yu nearly chokes on his own saliva. A whirlwind of clichés—secret lover, running off with a child, secret baby—floods his mind before he learns the truth: it’s because of the illegal research institute mentioned in the news. Good thing he didn’t voice those thoughts; he can still salvage some dignity.

So, regarding the A-type child’s personality, the two have a 'heated' debate after the meeting—which means Xie Yu is heated, while Bai Sheng stays calm.

Given the Bai family's genes, Xie Yu never doubted that Bai Sheng's child would be an A-type.

But just listening to Bai Sheng describe him, Xie Yu starts to crack.

Impossible! It doesn’t exist! Bai Sheng must be embellishing it! There’s no such well-behaved A-type child!

“Not quite five yet? That still doesn’t change things. I just showed you the photos, didn’t I? You saw what an A-type child can do. If you haven’t experienced it yet, it’s probably just the beginning.”

Xie Yu holds up his phone, ticking off his own sons’ mischief as if he’s listing a treasured series of disasters, with an expression that says, *I’ve been through it, and you can’t miss out.*

Come on, how can you call yourself a real parent without having your home torn apart by an A-type child?

The two aren’t usually this close, but thanks to today’s topic of children, they become quite familiar.

Xie Yu even sighs inwardly—Bai Sheng seems more human today.

“Haven’t started what?” Bai Sheng looks at him.

“Wrecking the house. He just got home, so he’s not used to it yet. A-type kids have tons of energy. They can run wild at an amusement park all day. You’ll see soon enough. Speaking of which, have you chosen a kindergarten for him?” Xie Yu shrugs.

“He’s very clingy. I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

"Then let me recommend the one I chose. Both my kids are there, and the Yu family's kid is there too. They play well together, so they can get to know each other and have someone to look out for when school starts."

"Yu family. Hah."

Bai Sheng let out a sharp, mocking laugh at those two words.

The Bai and Yu families didn't get along. On top of that, a few troublemakers from the Yu side had provoked Bai Sheng before, and he'd dealt with them. Though they rarely crossed paths in business, the animosity was clear.

"Some of the Yu clan are a real headache, and I don't like them either. But that little A kid is okay—a bit wild and proud, but talented. Compared to my own kids, he's reliable. Not a bad kid in nature."

Xie Yu wasn't bothered by Bai Sheng's sneer. He responded briefly. Though he and Bai Sheng weren't close, he knew Bai Sheng wasn't the type to hold a child accountable for adult wrongdoings.

Then, from a distance, he spotted a little head poking out from a room.

Before Xie Yu could make out the face, the little one had already rounded the corner from the break room, toddling on his short little legs: "Daddy!"

The little cub's eyes lit up at the sight of his father. He ran over and hugged Bai Sheng's leg, his small hand fumbling in his pocket.

"Daddy, daddy, the uncles and aunties were so nice! They even gave Nono candy! Nono saved some for daddy!"

The little guy was eager to share, wanting to tell Bai Sheng everything he'd done that morning.

Then he noticed Xie Yu, whose eyes were practically popping out.

A strange uncle.

The cub blinked his big eyes. He handed the candy he'd taken from his pocket to Bai Sheng, then quietly hid a little behind him. Still polite, he said in a soft voice: "Uncle."

Xie Yu was floored.

Wait... What did this cub just do?

You're telling me this cub didn't charge at his parent like a little cannonball and slam into his stomach? Instead, he padded over and hugged Bai Sheng's leg?

And he didn't hold up a bug or frog he'd caught outside for his parent to see? He didn't even hold up a mud ball rolled into a ball and try to feed his parent "medicine"? He gave candy instead?

How could it be candy?!

And he even called me "Uncle" on the first meeting?

Xie Yu was floored.

Xie Yu couldn't believe it.

Xie Yu trembled, his expression twisting as he struggled to keep a smile on his lips. He managed a response.

"Daddy, are you done working?"

"Mm."

Bai Sheng picked up the little one.

"Taking you out to eat."

Eating! Great!

The little guy's eyes lit up.

Nono likes eating.

Bai Sheng held the little one out, putting the toffee the cub had handed him into his pocket, remembering Aunt Feng's warning about kids eating too many sweets.

But before he could ask, the well-behaved cub in his arms smacked his little lips in satisfaction: "Daddy, the candy was delicious."

"Mm. How many did you eat today?"

Bai Sheng glanced at Xie Yu, who was following behind, still staring in disbelief at the cub in his arms. He asked casually.

"One."

Xiaobai Nuo raised a finger and smiled as he held up a one.

"Nono shared the candies with the uncles and aunties—one each. This one Nono specially saved for daddy."

Bai Sheng paused. The candy in his pocket suddenly carried more meaning—it was a candy that a cub who kept saying how delicious it was had specially left for him.

Bai Sheng's gaze softened.

Xie Yu's face fell—This… this can't be right?!

The restaurant was a high-end private room arranged by Assistant Li. The dishes were specially chosen for their light and healthy flavors.

Xie Yu felt uneasy throughout the meal, even though the food was perfectly to his taste.

It was just that he couldn't stop looking at the cub over there, eating his food obediently and earnestly.

The cub sat in his baby chair holding a spoon, and Bai Sheng placed dishes one by one into the bowl in front of him. The cub happily closed his eyes as he ate and each one slowly.

His table manners were neat and refined, and he was well-behaved the entire meal.

Completely different from Xie Yu's two kids at home, who wolfed down their food like a whirlwind and acted like they had ADHD.

Xie Yu was stunned again.

Bai Sheng had already gotten advice from Aunt Feng on portion control, so although the little guy was still eyeing the food wistfully, Bai Sheng had already wiped his mouth clean and set a fruit platter in front of him.

The cub's eyes brightened with each piece he ate. He seemed to catch Xie Yu's mournful stare.

The cub, with cheeks full of fruit, looked up and meeting Xie Yu's gaze.

The little guy tilted his head, looking sweet and innocent, and asked softly: "Uncle, do you want some fruit?"

And he carefully used his small blunt fork to pick up a piece of apple and offered it to him.

Xie Yu accepted the apple: … Critical damage!

"Thank you, Nono."

Xie Yu felt like he was floating. Just then, his phone rang.

It was a video call from his family.

He finished the apple and stepped out of the private room to take the call.

The call went through. As soon as he answered, he saw on the screen two grimy cubs tangled together and rolling on the floor, who had clearly been fighting again.

His wife Shi Lin was saying, her head aching, “Have someone order another little horse toy. They broke one and started fighting.”

“Did they roll into a mud puddle?”

Xie Yu looked at his two precious sons, savoring the apple's sweetness, thinking about that well-behaved little one from earlier.

Shi Lin was about to speak when she looked up and saw tears streaming down Xie Yu’s face.

Shi Lin: ??!!

“Wife—” Xie Yu choked out a sob, “We both have Alpha kids, but my life is so hard.”

How come Bai Sheng gets such a good one?

Author’s note:

Bai Sheng: That’s just how my Alpha kid is.

Xie Yu: Impossible, there’s no Alpha that well-behaved! You’ll see later!

Then little Nono dealt Uncle Xie a crushing blow over just one meal.

Xie Yu: I hate it [crying loudly][crying loudly][crying loudly]