Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Xiaobai Nuo hadn't met Yu Chen before. After putting the cookie into his father's mouth, the little one heard them introduce him. Looking at Yu Chen's features, which resembled Yu Chuyan's, the little guy blinked and softly called him "Big brother."

Yu Chen, who was still pinching his own brother's cheek, fell silent.

Yu Chuyan, on the other hand, leaned in eagerly: "Nono, when are you coming to kindergarten? I'll wait for you."

Including the two little guys who had run away, the three little guys now had a strong sense of responsibility.

Xiaobai Nuo blinked and looked at his father.

The little cub didn't really have a concept of kindergarten yet. He only remembered the beautiful place he had seen once before, but it seemed like all the children here had to go to kindergarten. Did Nuo Nuo have to go too? But Dad was usually very busy.

"The little guy's health isn't good," Bai Sheng said, glancing over. "He needs to rest for a while before starting."

"Okay, Uncle, I'll wait for Nuo Nuo."

Yu Chuyan said it seriously.

Bai Sheng, with all his quirks, certainly wouldn't take it out on children. But even though the other child was his cub's friend, hearing that he would wait for his own cub made the dad, who was still going through separation anxiety, feel a bit off.

He said to Xiaobai Nuo, "We're going home."

"Yeah!"

Xiaobai Nuo, holding the baby monitor, nodded vigorously. Then he looked at the people behind him, calling out each name and saying goodbye to them.

He let his father take his hand and walk out—he was too short, so Bai Sheng had to lean down more to hold his hand.

The little guy watched for just two seconds, then let go of his dad's hand, stretched out both little arms, and asked his father to carry him.

In the end, the two families were left there watching Bai Sheng walk away with the little cub in his arms.

Yu Chen was a bit dazed. He looked at his own brother: ...I could have lived with it if I hadn't known any better.

No, no, no, no—how could I think that?

Yu Chen came to his senses and shook his head vigorously.

Although Cub A was extremely naughty and wild, and gave the parents headaches, they all loved their own kids deeply.

If his brother heard that kind of talk, what would he think?

A sudden surge of guilt made Yu Chen let go of his brother and then hug him.

Yu Chuyan: ?

The five-year-old cub reached up and gently rubbed his pinched cheek, looking at his brother with a hint of confusion.

"Alright, it was wrong of me to lie to you, but you always sing in the bath and you're always off-key. I had no choice."

Ah! Yu Chuyan's eyes went wide, and he tried to cover Yu Chen's mouth.

But Yu Chen kept going, more fluently.

"And I would never think of swapping you with Bai Nuo."

Big brother would never think that!

Xie Yu, standing nearby, glanced at Yu Chen—are you brainwashing yourself?

But he wasn't too worried about his own two kids feeling upset about this. Besides them being easygoing, it was also because... they could always feel their parents' love. Even though other people's kids were indeed very good.

Ah, their dad had been through five years of hardship just so his own kids would always have a safety net and confidence, no matter what.

Then Yu Chen and Xie Yu heard Yu Chuyan ask curiously, "Why would you need to swap? Can't you just take Nuo Nuo yourself, big brother?"

Yu Chen: ...

The handsome young boy's expression was blank for a moment, then it took him two seconds to process.

You're eager, aren't you.

Yu Chen, who had just been moved by his own feelings, raised his hand and *smack* lightly smacked the top of Yu Chuyan's head.

Keep your voice down! Your big brother still wants to do business properly!

Back in the car.

Assistant Li was driving up front. Xiaobai Nuo was strapped into his car seat in the backseat next to Bai Sheng.

Bai Sheng had his eyes closed, thinking about the little one's kindergarten situation.

Even though Xiaobai Nuo had started socializing normally, he still needed to go to school eventually. He really should start preparing early.

But sending this little thing, who would look for him everywhere if he didn't see him for a moment, off to school? And with such a weak body, he hadn't even started exercising yet. He might get bullied easily. What if he caught a cold from the wind going to and from school, or played too hard with his friends in kindergarten and got sick...

The cub hadn't even gone to kindergarten yet, but Bai Sheng had already listed every possible scenario in his mind.

Bai Sheng was indeed a bit anxious.

Then Bai Sheng opened his eyes and glanced at Xiaobai Nuo sitting in the car seat.

The little one had set Dou Dou aside and, imitating his own seatbelt, had fastened the car's seatbelt around Dou Dou. But right now, the little guy had his head down, fiddling with his fingers and mumbling softly to himself. Bai Sheng couldn't hear what he was saying and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow curiously.

Xiaobai Nuo was indeed thinking.

He was thinking about the plot he remembered and the vague dream he had.

Xiaobai Nuo didn't know who the protagonist was, but he knew that everyone around him was a villain.

The Bai family was a villain family, that went without saying. The two Yu brothers also seemed like villains. Xiaobai Nuo vaguely remembered from his dream that something had happened to Brother Yu Chen, and also Grandma...

Now the most important thing was Grandma.

Grandma would die from an accident. After losing her, the villain family would completely fall apart.

Nuo Nuo had to protect Grandma.

The little one muttered to himself, his big eyes full of seriousness.

If Grandma was gone, everyone would be very sad. Grandpa actually liked Grandma a lot; he would definitely cry secretly. And Dad, Uncle...

And Nuo Nuo...

Thinking of Cen Zhi, who always smiled and hugged him, pressing her face to his and calling him Grandma's sweetheart.

Xiaobai Nuo pouted.

No one, no one in the past had ever lifted him high and called him the best baby.

And no one came every day to read picture books and play games with Nono, humming lullabies to coax him to sleep.

The first lullaby Nono ever heard was the one Grandma sang.

Without Grandma, Nono would be very, very sad.

Just thinking about it now makes Xiaobai Nuo's eyes sting with tears.

Nono doesn't want that. He has to find a way to protect Grandma.

"What are you counting on your fingers?"

Bai Sheng's lazy voice suddenly sounded right in Xiaobai Nuo's ear.

Bai Sheng watched for a while, and it just got funnier and funnier.

The little guy was mumbling, his round cheeks flushed a soft pink, his two small hands fidgeting with his fingers back and forth, as if he was trying to count something but couldn't figure it out.

The little guy yelped, startled, his eyes going wide as he looked at his dad.

"Huh? Scared?"

Bai Sheng reached out and ruffled Xiaobai Nuo's hair, smiling.

Teasing the kid was indeed fun. Thinking so, he casually pinched the little guy's cheek.

The little guy held no grudge against his dad; after having his cheek pinched, he instinctively nuzzled into Bai Sheng's palm, then rested his little chin on Bai Sheng's hand and looked up at him.

His already round face looked even rounder.

Oh, this angle—

Bai Sheng held his little one's face just like that, studying it.

Even cuter from this angle.

Then he saw Xiaobai Nuo's eyes light up.

"Dad!"

"Hmm?"

"When Grandma goes out later, I want to go with Grandma!"

Bai Sheng remembered that.

The little guy had told Ms. Cen Zhi countless times that she must tell him if she was going out.

Recently Cen Zhi did have plans to go out. Her nephew Cen Liu from her maiden family was doing a show in Chestnut Mountain and needed a designer who could command the scene, for just a few days. Besides, Ms. Cen Zhi was used to traveling for inspiration, and since her brother died, leaving only this nephew, she usually looked out for him, so she didn't refuse.

But Bai Sheng hadn't thought much of it before. Now, hearing the little guy bring it up again, he raised an eyebrow.

"You want to go with Grandma?"

"Mm-hmm!"

"Not going to work with Daddy anymore?"

Bai Sheng pulled his hand back and looked at Xiaobai Nuo.

Huh? The little guy paused.

Then he looked up and asked in his soft little voice, "Daddy, aren't you coming with us?"

"Daddy still has work."

Bai Sheng casually patted the little guy's head.

"What should we do? Come on, pick: Dad or Grandma."

Then Dad secretly added more weight to one side of the scale.

"There's a big river bend at Chestnut Mountain, full of water."

Hearing Dad say this, the little guy instinctively pouted, relaxed more, and his little body naturally leaned toward Dad, pressing his face more heavily against Bai Sheng's hand, and said in a muffled tone, "Nono doesn't like river bends, Nono wants to protect Grandma."

Nono wants to go.

Nono can't talk about those things, but Nono wants to protect Grandma, just like he protected Dad before.

Bai Sheng looked at the little guy's troubled expression, a little surprised. Even though he was so scared, he still insisted on going? Did he think Grandma would be in danger if she went to a place with a river bend?

Parents just couldn't understand what was going on in a little kid's head.

Bai Sheng considered his schedule. He could shuffle his work around and free up a few days. It wasn't impossible, and the little guy wanting to go out was actually a good thing. "Do you really want Daddy to come with you that much?"

The little guy nodded eagerly, sensing Bai Sheng's willingness. He had never been a difficult child—mostly very easygoing. Usually, if he heard a parent had work, he would sit quietly in a corner and play all day. But now, in his sweet, high-pitched baby voice, he begged, "Dad, Dad, please! Dad is the best! Nono will help Dad work, Nono will give you all the money from his Little Strawberry piggy bank."

In the little guy's heart, Dad was omnipotent; with Dad around, Grandma would definitely be fine.

And Bai Sheng was thinking.

Going to work, he doesn't earn money—he's actually planning to pay out of pocket—

Ahem, of course that wasn't important.

Although he didn't know why the little guy suddenly begged like this, children's minds naturally jump around.

Moreover—Bai Sheng patted the little guy's head.

This was the first time the little guy had tentatively made such a clear request.

Doesn't this show he's gotten a little braver? He's no longer constantly telling himself to be good, to be even better.

So Bai Sheng, still cupping his son's little face in his hand, said softly, "Okay."

The little guy's eyes slowly lit up as Bai Sheng spoke.

"Because Nono was the one who brought it up," Bai Sheng continued. "Although Daddy has only been a dad for a short time, I'll listen carefully to everything Nono says. So in the future, like this, if you want something or want to do something, you have to tell me. Daddy may not be very smart in this aspect; if Nono doesn't say it, I can't read his mind."

Leaning back in his chair, the man was still gently cupping his child's little face. Even in casual clothes, his tall posture and easy, aristocratic aura were unmistakable. When facing Xiaobai Nuo, Bai Sheng was always peaceful and soft. This man who had always seemed to look down on everyone was trying hard to learn how to understand a sensitive and fragile little child.

And it was showing initial results.

See? He's been doing a pretty good job raising him, hasn't he?

Bai Sheng, still holding the little one's face, pinched the little one's cheek. He saw the glimmer in his eyes, then watched Little Bai Nuo pout and bury his small face into his palm.

“Daddy isn't stupid.”

The little one said.

“Daddy's the strongest.”

Assistant Li heard that, glanced at the back seat in the rearview mirror, and then looked away.

—Bai Sheng couldn't stop his lips from turning up into a grin, not giving a damn about the extra work he'd have to put in to free up these few days.

Do all dads with omega kids end up like this?

Boss... he's been totally caught on the line.

However, when they delivered the little one home and watched him raise his hand to wave goodbye, Assistant Li Zhilin raised his hand too: "Little master, see you tomorrow."

He got in the car and glanced at the mirror.

Li Zhilin: ...

Li Zhilin touched the corner of his own mouth, surprised.

Uh oh!

Can even someone without an omega kid get hooked like this?

It wasn't completely dark yet, and the Bai family hadn't come back. The old man had also gone out in the afternoon. Because they were waiting for Grandma, Bai Sheng carried the little one into the main building.

The little one played at the play corner Cen Zhi had set up for him on the first floor, while Bai Sheng, to free up his schedule, started on some work upstairs a bit early.

The little one was playing with a puzzle.

Dou Dou stayed right next to Little Bai Nuo.

The little one had played this puzzle before, with pictures of various little cakes. Little Bai Nuo really liked it and wanted to piece it together again.

But as luck would have it, this was the very puzzle Bai Sheng had secretly taken two pieces from while the little one went to get cake, hiding them away.

So, when he reached the end, the little one went "Huh?" in confusion, tilted his little head and stared for a while, felt around, and stared blankly at the two empty spots in the puzzle.

"Hello, Dou Dou."

"I'm here. Please go ahead."

"Dou Dou, have you seen Nono's puzzle pieces?"

"Puzzle pieces? A puzzle is a brain game that tests patience and observation. Which kind of puzzle are you referring to?"

"Nono's puzzle is missing two pieces."

The little one widened his eyes, leaned in, lifted Dou Dou, and spoke in a milky voice to the little camera.

But the little camera just watched without doing anything.

"I see. Missing two puzzle pieces is quite common. Many people find pieces missing when they finish. There are several possibilities: they might have fallen into gaps, been missing from the factory, or ended up in the box. Do you remember where you opened the box?"

"I was playing by the sofa earlier," Little Bai Nuo blinked a few times, completely not thinking his dad might have taken the pieces. "Then Nono will go look for them."

"Okay, searching near the sofa. Got it."

The little one scrambled up and ran to the sofa, his little legs working hard to climb up, lifting up each throw pillow, and sticking his little hand into the cracks of the sofa.

But there was nothing there.

Little Bai Nuo climbed off the sofa, his little curly hair a bit messy.

"Dou Dou, there's nothing in the sofa."

"Maybe check under the table?"

Little Bai Nuo nodded and kept running around the living room with Dou Dou.

The old butler and the maids had things to do, but they all kept an eye on the little one.

That's the magic of a little kid—even if he sat and played with puzzles all day, it would be fascinating to watch.

"What's the little guy doing?"

"Looks like he's searching for something."

"Should we help?"

"No need, right? Maybe he's just playing a game to entertain himself. Just make sure he's okay."

"It's great. Ever since the little guy came, I've felt so much better. It's been ages since anyone argued, right?"

"Yeah. That atmosphere before was so tense."

"Third Young Master really hit the jackpot. An omega kid."

They were totally not jealous!

The little one had already walked around the house two or three times. Now he was holding Dou Dou, half asleep, trying to remember.

Nono remembers that Nono finished the puzzle before. Why are there two pieces missing?

"Don't give up. Based on your habits, would you like me to play an encouraging song?"

The little one's train of thought broke. "Huh?"

Dou Dou started singing skillfully.

Unlike Bai Sheng, who always tried to stop Dou Dou from singing, Little Bai Nuo was super supportive, even to a little camera. So the little one followed the singing camera, continuing to look for puzzle pieces everywhere.

Meanwhile.

Outside the door, Bai Jin was walking this way.

He held his phone, talking to someone on the other end.

"You guys at the club? Okay, you're there, have fun. I'm not going today. If there's a chance later, we'll talk."

Bai Jin said with a smile, then heard the voice on the phone. He was still smiling, but the arrogance in his expression was undeniable: "Meet? You know, I'm not interested in my defeated opponents, let alone crying ones. That's it... Oh? Why aren't you going back to school?"

Bai Jin, though arrogant and thrill-seeking, could still hold a conversation with his teammates and friends: "I saw my third brother's omega cub today—pretty interesting little guy. He wasn't around during the day, so I'll see if I can bump into him tonight... Oh? What's different about that omega? What could be different? It's not like an omega can turn into a monster... Want to see? Sure, if I bump into him."

Bai Jin's expression was dismissive.

Of course, he just found it amusing. Besides, his normally composed third brother seemed to get emotionally riled up because of that cub. His old habit kicked in again—he couldn't resist tweaking the tiger's whiskers.

As for that little cub—

Bai Jin recalled the light, small bundle that had sat on his shoulders before.

Of course, it was nothing special.

He was still curious to see if only Great-Grandfather and Second Brother were the only normal ones.

With that, Bai Jin pushed open the door of the main building and stepped into the first-floor lobby.

He'd barely stepped inside when he heard a song coming from somewhere.

That voice... well, it had personality.

Bai Jin: ...?

What's that noise?

Who's in the main building now?

Who in the Bai family has such terrible taste in music?

Intrigued, Bai Jin followed the sound.

Over there, Xiaobai Nuo, with Dou Dou, had gone to the toy storage area. There was a small box full of puzzle boxes. Though Xiaobai Nuo thought it unlikely, he still rummaged through it with Dou Dou. The box wasn't huge for an adult, but for a toddler, it was just big enough for him to stick half his body into.

Xiaobai Nuo leaned over the fallen cardboard box, peering inside. He spotted something shiny at the bottom. The box was a bit deep, hard for him to reach into or tip over, so he stuck half his body in and finally fished out a piece of wrapping paper.

The cub sighed in a sweet, childish voice: "Dou Dou, it's not here either."

The mini-monitor still playing music masked Bai Jin's footsteps as he reached the door.

The servants in the main building were watching the cub's antics, unaware of what had happened earlier. They didn't worry when they saw Bai Jin come in.

Just then, Xiaobai Nuo emerged and looked up to see the "bad guy" who had lifted him up before.

Bai Jin smiled and raised a hand: "Hello."

The cub's eyes instinctively widened, and he looked for a place to hide, diving into the small box.

—Oops, retreat a cub.jpg

But the small box could only hold half of him. As Xiaobai Nuo squeezed in, the flimsy cardboard let out two cracking sounds—about to collapse.

The little one, halfway inside, whimpered and froze, as if hiding his head in the sand.

Watching the cub's whole routine, Bai Jin chuckled.

He walked over, crouched down, and knocked "politely" on the box: "Anyone home?"

But it's rude to knock on a box that doesn't want to "answer."

A soft voice from inside said, "No."

Bai Jin laughed out loud.

It really was amusing—quite adorable, even, more so than that other omega outside.

"Want Uncle to dump you out?"

Realizing the ostrich act didn't work, Xiaobai Nuo finally "reversed" out and peeked around. Seizing the moment when Bai Jin was off guard, he sidestepped, grabbed the mini-monitor still playing music, and with a cry of "Daddy! Daddy!" he scurried away on his stubby little legs, desperate to avoid being lifted onto his uncle's shoulders again.

But short legs couldn't beat long ones. Bai Jin took a few quick steps, blocked the cub, and then grabbed him by the collar. He tried to gauge his grip but wasn't great at it: "Let Uncle snap a photo."

He held the little one still, quickly pulled out his phone, and took a literal snapshot—grabbing him for a pic.

Bai Jin glanced at the photo, thinking the cub looked good no matter the angle, when he heard footsteps behind him.

He smoothly stepped aside and let go. The little one darted to the door, where Bai Sheng scooped him up.

Bai Jin raised both hands, trying to show he hadn't done anything.

Then he saw Bai Jingyun, who had also returned home.

Big Brother had already reached the door.

Bai Jin dodged a kick from Bai Sheng, but didn't expect Bai Jingyun to land one on him too.

Bai Jin stumbled, "What the—?"

"Big Brother? What are you doing?"

Does Big Brother even know what he's doing?

Aren't you two always at each other's throats?

Big Bro, are you sick?

Bai Jingyun gave Bai Jin a subtle look, then glanced at Bai Sheng. They exchanged a glance, still full of disdain.

But the little cub in Bai Sheng's arms, having heard his uncle's words, held his father's neck and asked in a sweet, earnest voice, looking to the big uncle: "Daddy, Big Uncle and Nono are on the same side." The big villain!

Bai Jingyun: ...

Bai Jingyun turned his cold face to Bai Jin. Seeing the shock on his face, he nodded slightly, stood beside Bai Sheng, and said flatly,

"Yeah, same side."

Bai Jin: ...

Haha, you two are on the same side... are you crazy or what? Lost your minds? How many patches have I missed?!

Author's note:

Big Uncle: "Looks at Bai Sheng. Looks at the cub. I'll hold back."

Daddy: "Ready to throw a punch"

Dazed little uncle: You might not believe this, but it's really freaky—my big brother might have lost his mind.

Great-Grandfather: "Amazed" and "Applauds"