Chapter 34

Chapter 34

That confident, steady voice reached the flustered little one.

The little one's tears were wiped away. Though his eyes were still red, no more tears spilled out. He copied the adult, whispering softly to the now-silent little monitor, "Dou Dou, see you later."

Finally, he stopped crying.

Bai Sheng let out a breath and urged the delivery personnel for the various parts once more.

The other parts were fine, but the little monitor’s voice system was clearly partially damaged. That part wasn’t available in Ang City—it had to be shipped from outside the province. Even with express shipping, it probably wouldn’t arrive today.

Bai Sheng stood up, carrying the little monitor toward the study. The little cub trotted behind him with a pattering da-da-da.

Bai Sheng placed the little monitor on the study desk and glanced sideways to see a soft, white, chubby little figure clinging to the chair, tiptoeing to peek… well, not so white, actually—covered in dust from rolling around in the dirt.

A bath was in order now.

Bai Sheng thought instinctively.

“Third Master.”

Outside the door, Aunt Feng knocked lightly.

“Let Nono play in the yard or inside today, and don't let him go outside.”

Bai Sheng said casually, used to always keeping an eye on where the little cub went. He felt a bit off without the little monitor.

“Alright.”

Aunt Feng replied from outside, then added,

“The Old Madam and the Eldest Young Master are here. They said the Old Master will come by later too.”

Bai Sheng raised an eyebrow.

He wasn’t surprised that Bai Jingyun knew Xiao Bai Nuo had been bullied, but why was Ms. Cen Zhi here too?

“Alright, I understand.”

Bai Sheng said, then looked down at his cub.

His cub looked up at him.

The dusty little cub had reddened eyes, looking pitiful. He blinked his big eyes, his tiny voice a bit hoarse from crying, and called to him softly, “Daddy?”

Bai Sheng: …Is this gonna be a problem?

Yeah, it's a problem.

Ms. Cen Zhi, who had been endlessly bragging about her little grandson to her circle of friends these past few days, had grown fonder and fonder of Xiao Bai Nuo. It was as if she wanted to stuff all the maternal affection she hadn't expressed in over twenty years into Xiao Bai Nuo. Seeing such a dusty, pitiful cub, grandma was about to lose it.

In the grandmother’s eyes, the child’s father had taken the cub out to play for a whole morning. Dad went to negotiate business, leaving the cub to play on his own. In just that short time, the cub was all dirty and had been bullied into tears.

Cen Zhi was ready to give Bai Sheng a live demo of 'high damage left hand, even higher damage right hand'.

How do you even take care of a kid?! Your own child gets bullied by someone else, and what have you been out there doing all day? Is your terrifying reputation completely useless? Are you just dead weight?!

Bai Jingyun, who had asked about Cen Zhi and brought her along, stood quietly behind his mother, watching the little cub run a few steps this way, then a few steps that way, unsure which side to calm down first.

“Grandma, Grandma, Daddy is very good. Nono wasn’t bullied. It’s just that Dou Dou broke. Daddy said he'll fix Dou Dou for Nono. Nono was sick before and got better fast—Daddy is so awesome.”

The little dumpling of a cub grabbed onto Grandma’s pants. He had been crying just before, but now, seeing that Dad was about to get a beating from Grandma, he hurriedly came over to put in a good word.

“Oh, my baby. Come here, let Grandma see. Did you get hurt anywhere? How did you get so dirty?”

Cen Zhi immediately ignored Bai Sheng, who was standing lazily ready to take his punishment. She picked up the little one holding onto her and gave him a thorough once-over.

“Nono was playing with sand earlier…”

Xiao Bai Nuo finally looked down at his dusty clothes. He awkwardly tugged at the hem of his shirt, and patted the sunflower pattern on his clothes, trying to brush off the dust.

“The young master just got back and hasn’t had time to change yet.”

Aunt Feng quickly chimed in. She had already picked out new clothes for Xiao Bai Nuo, but after coming in, the little one had run straight to the little monitor’s charging station. Seeing Bai Sheng follow him, Aunt Feng hadn’t followed further.

“Playing in the sand is great.”

Hearing this, Cen Zhi's expression shifted.

“Kids should try all sorts of things, explore all sorts of things. Our Nono can play in the sand now? Tell Grandma what you played with.”

The little one had already been comforted by Bai Sheng, but his mood was clearly still a bit low. Cen Zhi smiled, holding the cub, quickly distracting him from the earlier conflict.

She heard that Nono even scratched the other kid?

That didn’t matter—as long as her own cub didn't come out on the losing end, it was fine.

Xiao Bai Nuo was indeed distracted. He gestured with his little hands: “Today, I built a castle with Brother Xiao Yan. Brother Xiao Yan could make the castle this big—”

As Xiao Bai Nuo was reporting to Grandma in his milky voice what he had played today, Bai Jingyun had already moved quietly to Bai Sheng’s side.

Bai Sheng was already full of pent-up anger today, and seeing Bai Jingyun made him even more annoyed. He twisted his lips into a sneer full of sarcasm and irritation: “What do you want?”

“Why didn’t you beat that guy up?”

Bai Jingyun asked, a bit dissatisfied, looking at his younger brother.

Forget about how he was bullied or whether he got hurt—if someone made you unhappy, wasn’t it normal to break an arm or a leg?

“You want Nono to make another trip to the police station?”

Bai Sheng snorted lightly.

“…Then maybe I should make you the family head too.”

Bai Sheng: …?

What?

Bai Jingyun: “I don't think you're doing a good job raising Nono anyway. You can focus on your work.”

The subtext was obvious: You do your thing, I’ll take care of raising him.

Bai Sheng: …

Bai Sheng: ………………

What’s going on today? Everyone’s a kidnapper? Just reach out and take him?

"Get out of my face."

"Stay away from me."

"Disgusting."

Damn, feeling even worse now.

Bai Jingyun stepped back two paces, watching Bai Sheng's expression darken further. His own pent-up frustration eased slightly. Wrestling the kid away from Bai Sheng wasn't happening, but getting under Bai Sheng's skin? That he could still do.

Just then, the door, which was already barely shut, was pushed open again.

The old man shuffled in slowly, gripping his walking cane. No one knew how long he had been listening outside, but judging by the expressions on Bai Jingyun and Bai Sheng's faces, they'd already known he was coming.

The old master glanced around the room, his gaze landing on the little one hanging onto Cen Zhi's neck.

The kid was still tense facing his great-grandpa, his round eyes wide and wary.

Xiaobai Nuo's skin was way too pale—not the healthy kind of pale, but a sickly, ghostly white. The marks from his crying would take forever to go away. Even now, with everyone comforting him, he still looked so pitiful it broke your heart.

The great-grandfather had spent little time with the little one, and every time he'd just made the kid hate him more. Seeing the child like this, he felt even more sure he was right all along—that the boy shouldn't be spoiled. No child of the Bai family should be bullied so badly.

Outside, Assistant Li, who'd just wrapped things up for now, parked the car and got out, carrying a cute fabric bag. He glanced at the old man, said a quick hello, then strode quickly inside. He handed the bag to Bai Sheng and whispered a few words in his ear.

On the surface, the matter was settled—compensation and apologies had been made—but the real moves were just beginning.

News had spread through the secretarial and assistant offices of the Bai Group and blew up. Even Li Zhilin, often described as a cold, precise instrument, was really pissed off. Just days ago, Xiaobai Nuo had handed out peppermint candies to them, cheerfully saying they were refreshing and not bitter. And now, this little one was crying, calling him "Uncle Li" all pitiful like that.

Li Zhilin felt his head buzz.

"Alright, don't bother with the Yu family. Old Master Yu will keep them in check; they won't cause trouble. Go handle it."

Bai Sheng barely nodded, glancing at the cloth bag Li Zhilin handed him.

Meanwhile, the old master approached. He cleared his throat loudly. If anyone in the Bai family was worst at interacting with Xiaobai Nuo, it was undoubtedly the great-grandfather. His voice came out all stiff and gruff: "If someone bullies you, hit back. No need to cry. If something breaks, get a new one..."

This was actually meant as comfort. In the past, Bai Yan might never have said such words—he had been raised with the belief that winners don't cry and losers have no right to cry. But with the generation gap, his harsh upbringing and cold demeanor made his words sound even more rigid. That little machine was just a machine; why cry so bitterly over it? He could buy the kid a dozen new ones.

Then, as everyone gave him weird looks, Bai Yan managed to perfectly step on another landmine.

The little one, who had been resting in his grandmother's arms, suddenly shot up. His small hands pressed against her arms as he fired back.

"Nono scratched him! Nono didn't lose the fight! And Dou Dou is unique—Nono won't replace Dou Dou! Papa said he would fix Dou Dou!"

Nono doesn't want to talk to great-grandpa anymore.

Nono is never talking to great-grandpa again.

Xiaobai Nuo pouted.

The old man's face changed, went blank for a second.

"Grandfather, if there's nothing else, you can go do your thing."

Bai Sheng stepped forward.

"It's nothing major. No need for you to worry."

Bai Sheng held out the bag to Xiaobai Nuo.

The little one lowered his head, his lips pressed together as he looked at the contents of the bag. His mood seemed to drop again.

Bai Jingyun thought the old master was indeed skilled at pissing people off—but this old dog's got some sharp moves. Let's ease up, or we might make the kid cry again.

Finally, the old master turned and left. He paused at the entrance to Bai Sheng's courtyard, giving his assistant a weird look, whose face was like, "I don't even know what to say." "Did I say something wrong?"

"Well... Boss, that little machine is probably very important to the young master. Sometimes, important things can't just be replaced by a new one."

The assistant made a face.

Bai Yan's expression didn't change. He couldn't understand what could be so important to that little thing. As a product of fierce competition within the Bai Group, the ultimate model of what it means to be in charge, the old master believed nothing was truly important except the Bai family's big, glorious mission. His current hobbies, his past collections—they were all the same to him.

But to that little guy, it seemed different.

He really couldn't understand.

Just as he couldn't understand why he was standing outside a younger family member's door.

Soon, someone came out of the house.

"Dad."

It was Cen Zhi.

"Got him all calmed down? No more crying?"

Bai Yan stood quietly outside, like a huge, imposing mountain, turning his head to look.

"He was pretty much comforted already."

Cen Zhi smiled. She was used to the old man's ways by now. Most of it was just his ingrained habits and instincts, with no real malice. He just kept stepping right on Xiaobai Nuo's landmines.

"Bai San said he'd fix it for him. He's still waiting."

"Mm."

Bai Yan nodded. Just as he was about to move, he saw Cen Zhi extend her hand toward him. He raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"What's this?"

"Nono made it."

Cen Zhi put the little dark clay figure into Bai Yan's hand. Xiaobai Nuo had just handed it to his grandmother earlier—the little one didn't want to talk to his great-grandfather.

"He made a little Dou Dou. He made them in many colors, one for everyone he knows in the family. Of course, you have one too. This is for you, Dad. Maybe you should check out the recordings from when Nono was in the lab. Maybe then you'll understand—that little machine means nothing to us, but to him, it's his first companion, the first thing that always answered him back, and the first 'gift' from Bai Sheng."

That little one was truly a soft-hearted soul. This wasn't about currying favor. It was simply that he had been through so much, and instinctively thought one step ahead. While others thought about whom they liked and what to give them, he thought about who might end up with nothing and whether they would be sad. Cen Zhi didn't dare think too hard about why that was—whether it came from a need to share so he wouldn't get into trouble.

She only knew that being too soft-hearted would be exhausting.

Of course, Cen Zhi didn't want Xiaobai Nuo to suffer, but that was something Bai Sheng would have to teach him gradually. For now, she needed to tell some Bai family members who still insisted on going their own way: don't use his soft heart to hurt him.

The old master stared at the sort of lopsided little clay figure in his hand. His face changed over and over.

"Haven't Bai San fixed it yet?"

"The parts haven't arrived yet. By evening, it should be mostly repaired. One audio part is coming from out of province—it won't get here until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest."

After Cen Zhi finished speaking, the old man recited a string of code numbers.

"Is this the part?"

"...I think so?"

"Tell Bai San it’ll arrive early tomorrow morning."

The old man said, still with the same expression, turning around.

He held the simple little clay figurine in his hand and pulled out his phone.

He truly didn’t understand what that little one was thinking, even now, but at least as a great-grandfather, there were some things he could still help with.

On the other end of the line, his old buddy answered with a "hello."

Bai Yan stated his request briefly.

"Got it, Brother Bai. You say the word, and I’ll have someone find the nearest warehouse and send it to you overnight."

"Alright."

"But, Brother Bai, not coming out to fish together today? The fishing’s been great these past couple of days—Old Wang can’t get enough of it. He’s been bringing back six- or seven-pound fish for his great-grandson for several days straight. Those little rascals are thrilled, playing catch-and-release in the pool."

"...Not today."

"Brother Bai, I swear, last time you got skunked before because you didn’t have enough chum. This time we’ll chum plenty, guaranteed to land those big old monsters from the reservoir! Oh, by the way, Brother Bai, I heard your little great-grandson is an omega? How is he? Cute? Well-behaved? Clingy with you? Old Zhang’s been bragging that his little omega loves to cuddle and act cute."

Stepping on the landmine repeatedly—earning a thumbs-up from Bai Jingyun, and being the Bai family member Xiaobai Nuo disliked the most—Bai Yan: ...

"What's the point of asking all that?"

He scowled. "Goodbye."

Bai Liang and Bai Qi didn’t come back today.

Bai Qian did call Bai Qi, though.

It was only then that Bai Qi learned the full details. The Liu family had indeed tried to contact her earlier for some assurance, and Liu Sen had sent her several probing messages in the afternoon, which she hadn’t taken seriously.

Bai Qi, super busy at work, knitted her brows, her stance clear.

She would give the Liu family some leeway because of Liu Sen, but the rest of the Liu family had nothing to do with her.

After hanging up with a frown, Bai Qi’s brow remained tightly furrowed.

She let out a long breath, leaned back in her chair, and stared at the ceiling.

The surrounding area was brightly lit.

Bai Qi lightly rubbed the armrest of her chair, then finally pulled out her phone again. She glanced at the messages from Liu Sen on the communication page and ignored them. She rarely responded to Liu Sen’s messages anyway, only reacting through actions, silently allowing Liu Sen to hide out under her financial empire from the storms outside.

But now, she couldn’t hold back.

She tapped out angrily to Liu Sen: Is that Liu Dong family crazy or what?

Feels worse than Bai Liang’s sickness.

Bai Liang, busy in the lab at Sheng’ang University, was like: ?

Back at the Bai family’s old mansion.

It was already dark. Xiaobai Nuo had changed clothes but hadn’t bathed yet. He was now clinging eagerly to his daddy’s side, staring at the phone screen.

“So it can be fixed, right? My two kids are stirring up a storm. Nono, shouldn’t you be in bed by now?”

On the other end was Xie Yu, who had called to ask how things were going.

Bai Sheng had made such a big fuss that several of the Liu family’s deals fell through today. Some partners were willing to break their contracts with the Liu family just to cut ties—it was clear what a good deal Bai Sheng had offered. The Yu family hadn’t made a move yet, and Xie Yu had taken the opportunity to pile on, wondering if the Liu family would do something desperate.

“Uncle Xie, Nono is watching Daddy fixing Dou Dou.”

“Little brother!”

“Little brother Nono!”

Before Xie Yu could respond, his two little monkeys inside the house were already bouncing around, trying to snatch the phone from his hand.

Xie Yu shook his head helplessly as the two little ones grabbed the phone and seriously said to the little guy on the other end.

“Next time we see ’em, we’re gonna beat ’em up!”

“Brother Yan said he’ll smash them! Then pour boiling water on their money tree to kill it!”

“And cut up their statue of the God of Wealth!”

Xie Yu, who had been listening with a smile as his kids plotted ambushes and sucker punches, was taken aback: ?

“Where did you come up with such mean tricks?! You haven’t done this at my company already, have you?!”

“Whoa!”

The two little ones scuttled off in different directions.

Xie Yu hurriedly said goodbye to Bai Sheng before hanging up, and you could still hear the chaos going on at his place.

“No! Mom taught me that! Dad, you can’t frame me! Why are you grabbing me and not my brother?”

“Because your brother runs faster than you…”

The video call ended, and Xiaobai Nuo looked up again.

“Daddy, is Dou Dou fixed?”

“All fixed.”

Bai Sheng let out a breath and lifted Xiaobai Nuo up.

He showed the little one Dou Dou on the table.

Part of the mini-monitor was still disassembled, but the casing had been replaced and upgraded, the internal components swapped out, and the data restored. Just one voice part is missing, which is coming tomorrow, and then everything will be fully assembled.

For now, the mini-monitor can already charge, its light blinking normally, but it still can’t talk.

“Dou Dou can eat now!”

Xiaobai Nuo looked up at Bai Sheng, then over at Dou Dou.

"Hello, Dou Dou."

Xiaobai Nuo didn't get a response.

Bai Sheng lifted the little one, hefted him, and headed for the bathroom.

"He can't talk yet, but he'll be able to tomorrow. Daddy doesn't lie, right?"

"Daddy is super awesome!"

Xiaobai Nuo's eyes sparkled as he clung to his dad's neck, until his dad carried him into the bathroom.

Xiaobai Nuo: ?

Why are we here? It’s fine to wash up out here. Nono doesn't like that tub of water; it reminds Nono of that suffocating feeling.

The little one's voice dropped, and he asked timidly in a soft, childish tone.

"Daddy?"

"Bath."

Bai Sheng was brief. He glanced at the bathtub with just the right ripples in the water, then looked at the cub who was strangely resistant to bathing.

A simple wipe-down and hair wash just wouldn’t cut it anymore. This cub had rolled around in the sand and needed a proper wash.

But the usually well-behaved, obedient cub nervously clung to Bai Sheng's neck.

"No, Nono doesn't want a bath. Daddy, Nono doesn't want one."

The little one's soft, pleading voice was devastatingly effective. Bai Sheng almost gave in, but he said firmly, "No bath means no bed tonight."

Xiaobai Nuo met his dad's gaze, blinked, and the clever little guy thought for a second before asking, "Then can Nono sleep at the foot of the bed, Daddy?"

You little smarty-pants!

Bai Sheng: ...

Why is he so scared of baths?

Bai Sheng had a feeling there was more to it, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

"Not sleeping with Daddy?"

Bai Sheng asked softly.

The cub, who had thought sleeping at the foot of the bed would solve everything, thought it over and looked conflicted.

"I want to sleep with Daddy."

"Then you need a bath."

"Then… I won’t sleep with Daddy then…"

Bai Sheng: ...

Am I not the cub's favorite dad anymore?!

"Why don't you like baths? The water’s nice and warm, way more comfortable than just a wipe-down."

Bai Sheng stood by the small bathtub, holding the cub.

The cub panicked, like a cat afraid of water, trying to wriggle out of Bai Sheng's arms. Bai Sheng nearly dropped him.

Finally, the little one clung desperately to Bai Sheng's neck, holding tight: "Not this, Daddy. Nono doesn’t want it. Nono’s scared, Daddy, Nono’s scared—"

The little one's words were a bit jumbled; he was genuinely terrified, because the water before was so deep. Nono fell in and couldn’t get back out.

"Don't like the bathtub?"

Bai Sheng caught on.

This was the small bathtub custom-made for Xiaobai Nuo.

Bai Sheng met Xiaobai Nuo’s eyes, saw the slight fear in the little one's eyes, and quickly relented.

Bai Sheng didn't ask more; now wasn’t the right time.

"Is it okay if I just pour water over you? If you’re scared, just hold on to Daddy."

Xiaobai Nuo looked at his dad, then at the small tub that was now far away. Finally, his trust in his dad won out over his fear of water, and he nodded cautiously.

Then, as Bai Sheng poured water over him, he clung to Bai Sheng for dear life, terrified of being set down in the small tub.

Bai Sheng, who was already clumsy at washing the cub, looked down at his own soaked clothes: ...

Right.

He had no experience. He’d been washing carefully, but now he just gave up. Expressionless, he picked up the basin and dumped it over himself from head to toe.

Oh well, he’d have to wash himself anyway.

Author's Note:

Dad: According to the manual, wash the cub carefully – first here, then here…

Seeing the cub clinging tightly to him.

Dad thought: ‘Come on, face the storm!’

Little drenched chick Nono: Cuddling Daddy, sticking tight.JPG