Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The printer was working, and the file was being transferred over from the computer.

Dr. Xu Chuan was reading through the various data item by item, checking if there were any remaining issues.

Wait a minute...

He suddenly paused. Wasn't the expression of these pheromones a bit off?

A genetic disease? No, no, the system hadn't flagged any errors. And with this kind of expression... despite his extensive experience, it was indeed rare to encounter an omega, let alone an omega cub undergoing future pheromone testing at their hospital. So Dr. Xu Chuan didn't react immediately.

He had just gotten the results and hadn't yet looked at the last line of the conclusion. As he continued reading, he abruptly stood up, startling everyone around him. His eyes widened in shock.

Because the last line of the report clearly read: "In summary, this cub is an omega cub suffering from nutritional deficiency, developmental deficiencies, and a weakened immune system, requiring special care."

If he remembered correctly, the Bai family had never had an omega cub before, had they?

That meant this little one brought back by Bai Sheng would be the only omega cub in the Bai family's lineage over more than ten generations from their ancestors to the present.

No wonder a group of Alphas couldn't resist that cub.

He grabbed the report and headed straight out the door.

"Is the Third Young Master Bai currently in the hospital?"

"Yes, Director."

"Compile all the data and download the complete examination report, then send it to the Third Young Master Bai. I'll take the printed version and go there myself."

Meanwhile, in the hospital room.

The temperature had risen sharply. Though the feverish cub was still afraid of needles, with his dad holding him, he'd gotten a shot in the bottom—so now, embarrassment outweighed fear. His round little face was still flushed, a blue cooling patch stuck to his forehead. His eyes were dazed, and he was half-buried in his dad's arms.

His curly hair was messy, and his big eyes blinked, but he didn't close them to sleep.

At that moment, the cub didn't show much resistance to being there.

That was because when Bai Sheng had first brought the little one back, he'd sensed the cub might dislike hospitals. So from then on, this private hospital under Bai Sheng's management had cleared out a room and turned it into a children's room that didn't feel like a hospital at all.

Assistant Li, who had hurried over from the police station after receiving the news, stood to the side with Aunt Feng, watching.

Aunt Feng was worried sick, her face creased with concern as she gazed at Little Bai Nuo, whose eyes were still moist.

The cub's body temperature had spiked at an alarming rate. At this age, high fever in children could easily lead to convulsions and serious problems. Luckily, they'd arrived in time, and the shot had brought the fever down. Now the temperature wasn't as frightening, but the cub still looked dazed and out of it.

"I checked on him just ten minutes ago, and he was fine."

Aunt Feng brought over a glass of water, muttering with concern.

"We were just starting to see him put on a little weight over the past two days, and now it'll take a long time to build it back up again."

Bai Sheng let the cub lie on his chest, holding him that way, while he scribbled on a tablet in his hand.

Hearing Aunt Feng, he turned to look at her. Bai Sheng, not known for his good temper, took the water glass from her and his tone turned sharper. "The doctor said kids can get scared and have nightmares, which can cause this."

He pressed his lips together, then lowered his head, gently bringing the water glass to the cub's lips. It was clear he wasn't used to doing this. When Bai Sheng took the glass, Aunt Feng immediately noticed, but seeing how careful his movements were, she didn't stop him.

"Drink some water."

Bai Sheng gave the little one a few sips, noticing that the cub wasn't closing his eyes. Instead, he stared at him blankly, as if afraid Bai Sheng would disappear if he fell asleep.

By now, Bai Sheng was pretty good at ruffling the little one's curly hair.

"What's with those big eyes? Isn't your head spinning? Aren't you tired?"

"Dad..."

The cub, who had seemed dazed from the fever, finally spoke in a soft, hoarse voice, still a bit muffled.

"Huh?"

"Nono forgot to feed Dou Dou 'dinner'."

The cub seemed to be gradually coming to his senses, his slow little brain starting to work.

"It's okay. Grandma Feng can feed Dou Dou for Nono, okay?"

Little Bai Nuo pursed his lips, hanging his head low, looking dejected. "Nono... is sick?"

"Just a little issue."

Little Bai Nuo pouted where Bai Sheng couldn't see.

Medicine was extremely precious in the apocalypse, more important than candy. Other than his time in the lab, the cub had never seen real medicine. During his long, wandering years, he had gotten sick once. He had been in pain for a long time, felt miserable, and at one point thought he was going to die. So after that, Little Bai Nuo was very careful.

Because of his chaotic past, he couldn't afford to get sick.

Thus, the cub cherished his current life even more, but his caution made him treasure it carefully. He always wanted to be good, even better, to deserve the delicious food, the warm, clean water, and the dad who would hold his hand and take him for walks.

But Nono was sick.

The feverish cub's mind was a mess. Before Bai Sheng realized it, tears started falling down his face. He sobbed and whimpered, clinging to Bai Sheng's clothes.

"Nono is a bother to Dad! Sob..."

Bai Sheng had been about to say something funny to coax the cub to sleep, but he hadn't expected the little one to suddenly start crying again.

He froze for a moment. Listening to the cub, who was coming to his senses after the fever broke and was even trying to suppress his sobs, Bai Sheng experienced for a moment what the phrase "a heart-wrenching ache" really felt like.

That strong feeling that something was off he had felt from this exceptionally well-behaved cub who wasn't picky hit him again.

What exactly had his cub gone through in the past?

But whether it was today's criminal or that lab, Bai Sheng gently patted the cub's back, his expressionless as he thought—he really needed to rethink things. Had he been too gentle with these people? Should he have just kicked that guy away outright instead of acting civilized because the little one was nearby? That might have saved the cub from getting scared.

Kids learn from their parents, but for a cub like this, normal parenting methods obviously wouldn't work.

Bai Sheng thought: It's okay. I'll come up with a plan and take care of him slowly.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his expression had softened slightly. He leaned back in the chair, looking at the little cub sobbing in his arms, while Aunt Feng fussed behind him, and Assistant Li also came closer.

"Nono thinks protecting Dad is a bother?"

"Hm?"

Little Bai Nuo, still with teardrops on his long eyelashes, looked up. He was still dazed, but his slow brain thought about the question for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

"Then it's no trouble."

Bai Sheng directly concluded for the young cub.

"Nono is still small. He'll be very strong in the future."

"Nono will... be very strong?"

The cub blinked, his soft little face flushed with a sickly red from the fever.

"Tell Dad what you like to eat. I'll make it for you from now on. Nono will grow up tall and strong."

Bai Sheng propped his chin on his hand, making empty promises for the little one.

Aunt Feng and Assistant Li both looked over—have you ever even been near a kitchen in your life? And now you're saying you'll cook?

Is that how you capitalists are? Always promising the moon when you can't deliver?

"Also—"

Bai Sheng tapped open the tablet where he'd been doodling.

"This is a training plan. Once you're better, we'll start. Then no other kid will be able to beat you. Anyone who messes with you, you can just punch them."

Didn't you say you weren't a villain? This sounds more and more like one!

Assistant Li glanced at the packed training schedule his boss had laid out for his little cub, hesitating before speaking: "...Boss, the young master is still young. Isn't going all out from the start a bit much?"

"Oh, that's for the later stages. We'll take it easy at first, no worries," Bai Sheng tapped the cub's cheek. "A-cub can handle it."

By building the little one's confidence now, he could take it easy later after getting him a bit more lively.

"A-cub..." the little guy repeated in his soft, babyish voice, tilting his head. "Can handle it? Nono will be strong? Nono—can do it!"

Bai Sheng nodded, satisfied. His phone kept buzzing, so he settled the little one back into his arms—okay, he'd been successfully soothed. Time to sleep.

Still dazed and feverish, the little cub snuggled into the warm, solid embrace.

He thought: Oh, right. Those days of wandering and the pain of being sick—they were already in the past.

Meanwhile, Bai Sheng glanced at the messages still coming in on his phone—unexpectedly, from Bai Jingyun.

From asking about the cub's condition to the results of his actions.

The old man had taken a hands-off approach, only asking one question at the very start and then nothing else.

The name "Bai Jingyun" irritated Bai Sheng more the longer he looked at it. He frowned, finding it annoying that the man kept popping into his head, but before he could react further, someone knocked twice on the door and pushed it open.

Instinctively, Bai Sheng turned his head, still wearing a sour expression, and saw Xu Chuan, slightly out of breath—clearly having run over—holding a printed document in his hand. At the same time, Bai Sheng's phone buzzed with the hospital's full check-up report.

"Boss."

Xu Chuan panted as he strode quickly inside, his breathing uneven and his words jumbled. He handed the printed report to Bai Sheng without explaining.

"Why are you panicking?"

Bai Sheng frowned as he looked down at the report.

His heart tightened—was there something wrong with the check-up?

...Wasn't it just basic good health, aside from known issues like malnutrition from the lab? What else could there—

Huh?

Wait a minute.

Bai Sheng's eyes went wide. He had been holding the cub casually, one hand keeping his head against his chest, but now he sat up straight, staring at the last line.

Omega?

Bai Sheng turned, hesitated, then carefully tilted the little cub's chin up to take a closer look.

Still dazed, the little guy hadn't caught on, mumbling feverishly: "Dad, Nono'll train, Nono'll be strong, Nono is... a strong A-cub, protect Dad..."

No, no, no, no—hold on, let's pretend Dad never said that.

O, an Omega cub?! So this soft, adorable little thing that made his heart melt—was a sweet little Omega?

Having never even raised an A-cub, Bai Sheng went blank. His first instinct was to grab his phone and look up how to raise an Omega cub.

Just then, he saw another message from Bai Jingyun.

Bai Jingyun: 'I know you've seen this, but I'm texting you for reasons unrelated to you. Grandpa found out about the cub you got because of your earlier slip-up. He's furious and on his way to Ang City now.'

Bai Yan, their grandfather and Xiaobai Nuo's great-grandfather, had a quirky, strict personality—a textbook perfectionist. After stepping back from the Bai family's power center, he settled in a coastal province, growing flowers and raising things, running a small business he found interesting to keep himself busy in retirement.

Though he'd withdrawn from the family's power center, the old man still called the shots in many areas—connections, resources, everything. And Bai Jingyun didn't think the old man would go easy on this little cub.

After getting the news and worrying about Xiaobai Nuo, he couldn't help warning Bai Sheng to be prepared.

But the next second, his phone buzzed.

Bai Sheng had replied?

Bai Jingyun was a little surprised. His expressionless face turned to his phone and opened the message—the words didn't sound like Bai Sheng at all.

Bai Sheng: How did you know Nono is a cute little Omega cub?

Author's note:

Dad: Forget if he'll be a weak Alpha later—first brainwash the cub. Anyway, I doubt anyone will dare bully my cub once I'm around—wait, what did you say my cub is?

Bai Nuo (confidently): Nono is a strong A-cub.

Bai Jingyun, already bitter: ??????