Chapter 53

Chapter 53

The assistant turned instinctively: "Boss? Are you okay? I'll have someone clean it up."

Unlike his earlier panic when he accidentally broke the glass water cup, Bai Qian's face remained very calm, as if the noise hadn't been his doing at all. He picked up his phone from the side and had already dialed a number.

However, the other end didn't even ring, directly indicating it was out of service.

At that moment, the assistant saw Bai Qian's face turn terrifyingly fierce.

Panic?

No, he couldn't panic.

Everything was still unknown; it was just a rockfall disaster in some areas. The probability of being hit by falling rocks was extremely low. How could it possibly...

Even though he thought so in his heart, an overwhelming, unprecedented sense of dread surged over him, pressing down on Bai Qian so heavily he could barely breathe.

His hand trembled slightly around the phone, and his stomach, which had never fully recovered from surgery years ago, began to ache faintly.

He stood up and spoke calmly.

"Find the fastest way to get to Lishan."

His words, however, were anything but calm.

Now?

The assistant was startled for a moment, then quickly recovered when Bai Qian looked at him, and reported calmly: "There are no afternoon high-speed trains to Lishan. We'll need to use other transportation. The nearest major airport is too far from Lishan. One of our partner companies has a cargo plane service that doesn't require additional flight route applications. It can get us closer to Lishan, and then we can drive from there. But first we need to see if flights toward Lishan are cleared to depart."

Generally speaking, when there's a natural disaster, for rescue or safety, the federation takes over all air routes, and civilian flights would be redirected or grounded.

Lishan isn't so far from Anshi, but driving all the way would take way too long.

The assistant wasn't entirely certain either and frantically racked his brain, stumbling over his words.

"I'll get on it immediately."

Bai Qian didn't hesitate.

"Okay, boss."

The assistant quickly responded.

He hurried away. If he'd only been startled by the news a moment ago, now he was filled with unease and anxiety.

Please don't let anything happen to the missus. Though she and the boss bickered all the time, everyone could see that when she was around, the boss's temper and mood improved significantly.

If something happened...

Just the thought made the assistant shudder.

If something happened to the missus, to be blunt, given the boss's health, he wasn't sure how long the boss would last. And what would become of the Bai family then? It was unimaginable.

At the Bai Jingyun corporate building.

Bai Jingyun had just finished a meeting, pressing the pressure point between his eyebrows with his eyes closed, still on a Bluetooth call.

On the line was Lin Ren, who'd been advising him lately.

"So Bai Jin finally caught on? Haha, that kid's a little wild, but not everyone in the Bai family is actually stupid, right? It's only natural he'd catch on. But he's still bold and loves to mess with people. I'm telling you, follow my plan, and at least you'll keep your spot in your oldest nephew's heart. Speaking of which, my business trip is over; I'll be back tomorrow. Boss Bai, pick me up at the airport tomorrow. We'll talk then?"

"Yeah, sure."

Bai Jingyun said coldly, leaning back in his chair, his tone casual.

Then the other voice paused: "Ah... Brother Bai, where did your mother and your nephew go again?"

"Lishan. Why?"

"Just got a news alert. Says something happened in Lishan."

Bai Jingyun paused, opened his eyes, and sat up to grab his other phone.

Sensing Bai Jingyun's panic, Lin Ren quickly added: "Don't panic. It might just be a false alarm. You know how some domestic social media likes to exaggerate. Just try calling first..."

Bai Jingyun's voice was calm: "Can't get through. Not replying. I'll hang up now."

"Ah? Oh, then handle your stuff. Don't bother picking me up tomorrow. We'll meet up later when things are settled. I don't think you need to worry too much; even the exaggerated self-media haven't reported any casualties."

Lin Ren said that on the other end.

But the unspoken implication was clear: maybe it just happened, and details weren't in yet.

Meanwhile, Bai Jingyun was trying to figure out what was happening in Lishan when the family group chat started buzzing.

Bai Liang: What's going on in Lishan? Has anyone reached Mom or Bai San, Bai Wu? And our cousin? Is Cen Liu okay?

Bai Jingyun: Can't reach anyone. I'm heading to Lishan.

Bai Liang: My experiment is at a critical stage. I saw the news... It should be fine. It should be fine.

Bai Qi: Ha, your work is always top priority. Are you saying that to make yourself feel better? Hypnotizing yourself? Fishing for sympathy?

Bai Liang: Bai Qi, I don't want to fight.

Bai Qi: I don't want to hear your nice words either. I'm driving down myself.

Bai Jingyun: What about Dad? Why's he quiet?

Bai Qi: ...He's probably already headed to Lishan, hasn't looked at his phone. Someone should tell Grandpa? We probably won't be back today or tomorrow. He's old, don't let him get involved.

As for their parents? Sure, they fight all the time, but these top Bai family members know deep down that neither can live without the other.

Bai Jingyun didn't reply. He stood up, grabbed his coat, and furrowed his brow.

He felt an intense, almost fearful unease... but Bai Sheng was there.

Bai Jin might not be reliable, but Bai Sheng would pull through.

Though Bai Jingyun hated to admit it, he was hoping that his seemingly perfect, almost omnipotent brother, who made everything look easy, would once again keep everyone safe.

Xiaobai Nuo had no idea about the chaos outside Lishan.

But Bai Sheng and Bai Jin could both guess as much.

Even so, knowing didn't help; without contact with the outside world, it was all useless.

Although the area has stabilized, the danger alert level remains high. The rocks, soaked by rain for days, could trigger more rockfalls if there are aftershocks. They need to wait for communications to stabilize before deciding to evacuate.

"Under normal conditions, it will take one to two hours to restore communication."

Bai Sheng had already finished applying medicine to some of the wounds on Cen Liu's back—these were caused by flying rocks. The wounds were deep, with blood seeping out continuously. The cuts needed careful cleaning, and some might require stitches at the hospital.

Just looking at these injuries, you could tell how terrifying it had been.

Cen Liu grimaced as he disinfected and applied ointment to the wounds on his front.

The wounds on his front were patches of abrasions from when he suddenly lunged forward, now looking pretty gruesome.

But at least he survived.

Cen Liu thought to himself, sighing—why did it have to be alcohol? Wasn’t there any other disinfectant that wasn’t so harsh?

The medical alcohol was part of the supplies the scenic area had stockpiled earlier. When someone got hurt, they frantically grabbed it for emergencies. Now that the panic had subsided a bit, someone had found iodine and other disinfectants. In the distance, you could barely hear an ambulance siren.

His back wounds were still being treated, throbbing painfully. Cen Liu heard Bai Sheng unscrewing the cap of the alcohol bottle and quickly spoke up: "Hey, I see iodine over there! Use that on me!"

"I think alcohol suits you better."

Bai Sheng said without hesitation.

"Oww—"

You're definitely getting back at me! This is outrageous! You're still the same jerk!!

"But."

Bai Sheng carefully bandaged Cen Liu and said.

"Cousin… thanks for this."

"Ooh~ ooh~ ooh~ ooh~" Cen Liu, who had been grimacing, suddenly started hooting. His dog-like eyes looked over at Bai Sheng, wearing an expression of 'Mom in heaven, don’t worry, I’ve finally made it,' and said, "Cousin? Say it again."

Bai Sheng: ...

Cen Liu: ...

What are you going to do?

Cen Liu: "Oww—!!"

The ambulance arrived quickly.

The rain had stopped by the time they got out of the car, but the sky was overcast, as if a storm was brewing.

When the ambulance arrived, Xiaobai Nuo was pursing his lips seriously, tying the bandage on his grandmother's hand.

At this entrance of the Chestnut Mountain scenic area, there weren’t many injured people—mostly minor scrapes and cuts. Even Cen Liu’s injuries only looked scary; the doctor checked and said he didn’t need stitches, but he’d need a tetanus shot.

Same for Cen Zhi.

As time passed, the danger level gradually decreased, and the scenic area started evacuating the stranded tourists.

"You guys got lucky here. With so many falling rocks, you mostly just got scratches."

The paramedic from the ambulance checked on the injured while helping dress their wounds.

"Were there casualties elsewhere?"

Cen Liu asked casually.

The paramedic sighed.

"At Exit 4, a car got unlucky—a huge boulder smashed right through it. They rescued one person first, but the others are still being rescued. From what I heard, it doesn’t look good. They’ll probably release a casualty report soon. Once communications are restored, make sure to check in with your family to let them know you’re safe. The Federal Communications Department already sent out small drones, and comms should be completely back in about an hour or two."

...

"Grandma, does it still hurt?"

The little boy was held tightly in his grandmother’s arms, not daring to touch her wounds. His posture was a bit stiff as he leaned against her chest, then slightly straightened up.

"Let Nono blow on it for Grandma."

The boy’s own wound wasn’t deep and had already been taken care of by his parents.

Now, looking at Grandma Cen Zhi’s injuries, he blinked, then reached up and touched her cheek, trying to comfort her.

How could a little kid be comforting an adult?

Cen Zhi’s emotions were gradually calming down. Although she needed to hold the boy to feel at ease, she knew that what really comforted the kid was Bai Sheng.

When she saw Bai Sheng approaching, she handed the boy to him.

Bai Sheng took the kid expertly: "Later, we’ll pack up and move someplace farther from the scenic area. We'll go to the hospital for a full checkup later."

"Dad, Dad."

The little one hugged his father’s neck and called out softly.

"Hmm?"

"Dou Dou. Dou Dou is still back in the room."

Xiaobai Nuo was still thinking about that little camera.

He hadn’t taken it out with him today either.

"Dad will bring Dou Dou to you later, okay?"

"Mm-hmm." The little boy’s face still showed he’d been crying. He obediently snuggled into his dad’s arms and kept glancing worriedly at his grandma.

"Grandma’s fine. Nono, don’t worry about Grandma."

Cen Zhi’s eyes never left the boy’s face. When she noticed him looking at her, her panic slowly faded with time. She smiled again, speaking to Xiaobai Nuo.

"Mm."

The little one nodded.

He curled up again in his dad’s arms.

Xiaobai Nuo’s nerves finally relaxed a little. He was indeed a bit tired, but he couldn’t help thinking.

Grandma is okay. That’s good.

Grandma will be healthy and live a long, long life. That’s good.

Then Bai Sheng touched the little one's forehead.

The slightly listless child looked up at his father.

Bai Sheng looked a bit serious.

Obviously, he was still shaken by the last time the little one had a high fever and convulsions in the middle of the night.

"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Bai Sheng asked Xiaobai Nuo softly.

The little one shook his head instinctively, then thought for a moment before saying, "My head hurts a little, that's it."

"Your head isn't injured. Did the wind get to you?"

Bai Jin came over carrying a bag of things, and chimed in.

"Drink something calming later. After the checkup, Bai San, take Nono to rest early today."

Cen Liu also said, helping Bai Jin pass the food in the bag to Cen Zhi and Xiaobai Nuo.

It was already lunchtime. They were preparing to drive away from here to the nearest city, and also give the injured a full checkup.

They'd just grab a quick lunch for now, and eat properly once they reached the city.

But the adults couldn't help looking at the little one.

The little one showed little interest in food too, taking a couple of bites, seemingly not wanting to eat.

Bai Sheng stared, his frown deepening.

They moved quickly and efficiently. Fortunately, the roads hadn't been damaged. They relocated with their belongings to a nearby urban area that hadn't been badly affected.

The signal was no longer disrupted once they entered this area.

Cen Zhi clicked her tongue in frustration at the missed calls on her phone, and finally video-called Bai Qian.

The other side seemed to have been holding the phone, answering the moment it connected, before Cen Zhi could register the background behind Bai Qian.

She saw Bai Qian and instinctively said, "The signal at Lishan was cut off, so I couldn't get through. Let me tell you, we just had a narrow escape..."

Bai Qian quickly scanned Cen Zhi from head to toe. He didn't say anything, looking almost the same as usual.

But Cen Zhi stopped mid-sentence. She sensed something off about Bai Qian. He appeared calm, but gave off a subtly frightening vibe. Cen Zhi hesitated slightly—could he be this panicked in a way she had never seen before? It was just news, not an actual accident report in his hands...

Cen Zhi, who usually teased Bai Qian, felt a bit lost and didn't know what to say.

Just then, Xiaobai Nuo poked his head out, saying in a soft, sweet voice, "Grandpa."

Bai Qian immediately looked at Xiaobai Nuo.

He was on his way to Lishan. Not long ago, he had seen news that falling rocks at Lishan had caused casualties, and then he received Cen Zhi's video call.

Panic, tension, relief—all sorts of emotions collided in an instant. Bai Qian was having trouble keeping his emotions in check at that moment.

The slightly listless little one looked at his grandpa seriously and said, "Grandma is fine and here. Grandpa, Nono has been watching over Grandma for Grandpa."

So grandpa will be fine too, right?

Kids really do have that kind of magic, huh? Bai Qian's expression gradually softened. His voice was a little hoarse, and he slowed his speech.

"...Are you hurt?"

"Nono has a scratch. The others all have minor injuries."

Cen Zhi snapped back to reality and glanced at her shoulder.

"Xiao Liu's injuries are a bit more serious. We're about to—"

"I'll be there soon."

"Huh? Right now? No rush, right? We're heading for a checkup now, staying one night, and going back tomorrow."

But the other side persisted.

"I'll be there soon. Send me your location."

Cen Zhi paused. She sensed Bai Qian's emotions: "Where are you now?... Don't rush. Take your time."

"I'm not rushing."

Bai Qian said, still in that calm tone he always used.

"Get your checkups done first."

Realizing he wouldn't be talked out of it, Cen Zhi, who was also just pretending to be calm, paused for a few seconds before responding.

"...Then when will you get here? The trains heading this way must be limited today. Oh, yes, tell the others not to come this way. We'll be back tomorrow."

"Okay, wait for me."

Bai Qian replied, and without saying much else, ended the call.

Arriving at the hospital, Cen Liu and Cen Zhi had more tests to do.

The little one still hated hospitals. Seeing the bustling crowd, he listlessly lay in his father's arms, hiding his face in his father's chest like a little mushroom that's closed itself off.

The various tests showed no problems.

After a fright, aside from fever or gastrointestinal discomfort, a child might also experience slight dizziness, lack of energy, or nausea. Basically, keeping an eye on him for a couple of days and drinking some soothing oral liquid would be enough.

But afraid the little one might have another night fever, Bai Sheng carried the little one back to the hotel, still on edge.

Dinner time had passed, and the little one still had no appetite, listlessly lying in his father's arms. Cen Zhi's heart went out to him. After much coaxing, she got him to eat a couple of bites. Cen Liu frowned and asked the crew if there were better restaurants around. Bai Jin even went out for a stroll and came back with a bunch of snacks, but when he tried to cheer up the little one, he was pushed out by the kid's dad.

In the end, the little one forced himself to drink some porridge, then curled up sleepily in his father's arms.

Bai Sheng took the little one upstairs to rest, while Cen Zhi stayed downstairs waiting for Bai Qian, who hadn't arrived yet. Cen Liu and Bai Jin also stayed, setting up a screen in the lounge to play games.

In short, after the day's ordeal, none of the adults could sleep.

Bai Sheng was no exception.

But seeing the little one drowsy in his arms, Bai Sheng still took him to rest first.

As for Xiaobai Nuo, he had been tense because he knew Grandma was going to be in trouble, and now that he'd finally relaxed, he was exhausted.

Dou Dou had already been brought back, and the little one, as usual, said goodnight to Dou Dou, placing it on the charging dock to charge.

Before being taken by his dad to wash up, his little head was already nodding off.

Bai Sheng took the opportunity to stick the straw into the oral medicine the doctor had prescribed and handed it to the little one.

The little one, unsuspectingly, took the cool bottle with both hands and instinctively sucked on the straw.

The strange taste caught him off guard!

The cub looked up in shock, licked his lips, then stared at the oral liquid in disbelief. He stuck out his tongue and tilted his little head back.

"Dad, this tastes really weird."

"If you don't drink it, it'll go to waste."

Bai Sheng said smoothly, using the little one's own logic.

The little one blinked, drowsiness washing over him again, and he mumbled vaguely.

"Don't waste it, give it to Big Uncle."

Big Uncle has weird tastes—give all the weird stuff to Big Uncle.

Bai Sheng: ...

Bai Sheng felt like laughing.

He thought that Bai Jingyun had really set the tone for his weird taste with that one lemon.

But in the end, the little one finished the medicine in small sips, was taken by his dad to wash up, and before Grandpa had even arrived, he couldn't stay awake any longer. He soon leaned into his dad's arms and closed his big eyes.

Bai Sheng wasn't sleepy at first. He watched until the little one's breathing steadied, and after who knows how long he'd been staring, but before he realized it, his own eyes closed too.

Then Bai Sheng seemed to dream of the scene from earlier that day again.

A giant rock fell, and this time the tiny cub couldn't dodge in time. He fell from the gap, and no matter how hard Bai Sheng reached out, he couldn't grab him.

And below the gap wasn't solid ground, but a vast expanse of water.

The tiny cub, like a small pebble, plunged into the very deep water.

He struggled frantically, the water engulfing his mouth and nose, his little body. His lips opened and closed, his small hands reaching upward, miserable and pitiful, with a sense of grievance, and no matter how he tried, he couldn't reach Bai Sheng's hand.

Bai Sheng jolted awake.

His heart was pounding, and he realized he was drenched in cold sweat. The dream felt all too real.

Bai Sheng looked down at Xiaobai Nuo.

The little one was restless as well. He whispered softly, "Dad... Grandma..."

Then, under Bai Sheng's gaze, the little one woke up, tears in the corners of his big eyes.

Frightened cubs might wake up from nightmares in the middle of the night.

Bai Sheng remembered the doctor saying that.

Xiaobai Nuo was indeed a bit listless, but probably because he'd been well cared for lately, he had some sense of security and wasn't as sick as that day he had a fever.

He had just dreamed where both his dad and grandma were gone, and no matter how hard Nuo looked, he couldn't find them.

Even though Nuo had tried very hard, done everything with all his effort.

The little one couldn't quite separate reality from dreams, and he secretly cried after waking up.

He's been crying so much today.

He really was scared.

Bai Sheng watched for a moment, then reached out to gently wipe Xiaobai Nuo's tears away. He lowered his head and rested his chin on the cub's soft little curls. "What's wrong? Had a nightmare?"

The cub snapped out of it, turned his small body over, looked up to meet his dad's gaze, wearing his caramel-colored pajamas—he looked like a little rice cake that got a bit over-fried.

"Didn't you comfort Grandma earlier? Aren't you scared today?"

Bai Sheng looked at his unusually well-behaved cub nestling close.

He called out over and over in a soft baby voice.

"Dad, Dad."

"Hmm?"

"Nuo worked really hard today."

Nuo worked hard to protect Grandma and his villain dad.

So can he be a little more willful now?

The tiny cub stretched out his two little arms.

"Want a hug. Dad, hold me to sleep."

Before, the little one used to lean on his dad's side to sleep. Bai Sheng was always afraid he might hug him too hard and accidentally crush him. But now, there was no way this parent could resist this little cub, especially when he was pitifully pleading. Bai Sheng opened his arms wide.

The little one pressed close, burrowing into Bai Sheng's chest. Only when held tightly did he whisper to his dad in a pitiful tone, "Nuo is a bit scared."

But even though he's scared, sick, uncomfortable, and crying from nightmares—Nuo is still happy about it.

And Nuo only needs a single hug.

Author's note:

Nuo Zai: Gathered all sorts of weird-tasting stuff for Big Uncle.

Big Uncle: ...

Cen Liu: I nominate Bai San as the head of the Bai family.

Dad: ?

Big Uncle: I second that.

Dad: ??

Grandma: Add me in.

Dad: ??? "← The first guy to rise to power through his kid."