Chapter 63

Chapter 63

The biggest difference between a mature alpha and an immature alpha lies in this.

A mature alpha at least knows enough to restrain his temper, while an immature alpha still acts on impulse, especially Bai Jin, who loves novelty and excitement since childhood and was always more rambunctious than other alpha cubs.

This is why, after having Bai Jin, Ms. Cen Zhi didn’t want another child even though tech-assisted pregnancy was completely harmless to her body. Yeah, that's the true cost of a troublemaker alpha cub.

So alphas like Bai Jingyun, when determined to improve their standing in the little cub’s heart, used the capitalist trick of deflecting blame to rebuild the cub’s trust, with consistent follow-up effort and no more stepping on Nono’s landmines. For example, although Bai Sheng and Bai Jingyun still can’t stand each other, it’s been a long time since he went after Bai Sheng. At least in the cub’s eyes, his eldest uncle and father are now getting along harmoniously.

Of course, the Bai family also has someone like the old man, a natural at dodging landmines—pure talent, no skill.

And the one who needs a bit more skill is probably a guy like Bai Jin—loves excitement, creates his own landmines, then steps on them himself. To put it nicely, he’s youthful, spirited, carefree, and doesn’t think about consequences; to put it bluntly, he’s just a restless troublemaker who’s unhappy unless he stirs up trouble.

So after the little cub was startled by the sudden appearance of his uncle, squealing and burrowing into his father’s arms, and was comforted by his father in that way—

The newly-minted alpha, who was trying to escape while wrapped in a bedsheet, was grabbed by his older brother.

—Bai Sheng had seen this coming. He grabbed Bai Jin's clothes, not the bedsheet—so the escape trick failed!

Bai Jin turned his head to say something, when he saw Ms. Cen Zhi charging over furiously.

Bai Jin: …Plan foiled!

Bai Sheng first gave Bai Jin a few kicks, then dragged him, still wrapped in the bedsheet, over to the little cub.

“Nono, look. If you want to defeat the big monster, you twist it here (gesturing at the neck).”

Bai Jin jumped three feet high—

Are you serious?! A live execution, a live demonstration?!

“Didn’t you say before that kids need role-playing to improve various skills? I’m just making it immersive for him.”

“You’re right,” Bai Sheng nodded thoughtfully, his handsome face with a sneer, in a cutting tone. “Nono, let’s watch how the big monster exercises daily.”

With that tone, Bai Jin felt a chill. Then he felt his third brother’s hand reach out and wrap around his neck—of course, not in a brotherly embrace, but in a weird way, like the opening move of some big stunt.

Bai Sheng slowly finished his sentence.

“Today we’re training the neck. Relax. A little pain is normal—it’s muscle building.”

“Uh…”

Bai Jin struggled violently, throwing off the bedsheet.

“You're trying to hang me!”

Bai Sheng clapped his hands and laughed. “Oh, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Bai Jin: …

“Not a big monster… it's just Uncle Bai Jin.”

The tiny cub had just been startled.

Actually, the little cub had seen more terrifying mutated creatures before, so logically, he shouldn’t be afraid of this crude ‘big monster’ standing in the sunlight.

But just moments ago, the little one had been really into the picture book, and something that looked so similar to the book suddenly popped out—the shock was naturally different for Nono.

The cub had already stood up, puffing his cheeks, looking up at Bai Jin angrily, then turned to Bai Sheng.

“Daddy, Daddy, hold me!”

Though he thought about it for a second, Bai Sheng certainly didn’t intend to actually kill him.

Bai Sheng kicked Bai Jin, that troublemaker, again, and picked up his cub.

The little one, held by his father, enjoyed being lifted high. Under his uncle’s bewildered gaze, Nono turned to look at his father and said in a sweet little voice, “Daddy, Daddy, lift me high, high!”

He raised his hands high, signaling to his father—this high.

Bai Sheng, though not quite understanding, complied and lifted his cub up.

So finally, looking down at his little uncle from high above, the cub puffed his cheeks, wrinkled his little nose seriously, and said, “Little uncle, bad guy!”

He was even polite enough not to point a finger.

Bai Jin, looking up at the little one: …

To be honest, Bai Jin nearly cracked up.

Hey hey hey, you wanted to be ‘looking down’ at me, so you asked to be lifted high?

Not gonna lie, that’s too cute…

Before Bai Jin could finish his thought, he was grabbed again.

Cen Zhi smiled while watching Nono being lifted high by Bai Sheng. Seeing that the little one wasn't too scared, she grabbed Bai Jin's arm firmly and said with a grin, “Alright, baby, don’t be afraid. Grandma will teach the bad guy a lesson.”

So the little one blinked, and after being held back in his father’s arms, whispered, “Grandma rocks!”

About ten minutes later.

The little cub, who had abandoned the picture book and was now tilting his head with a small toolbox beside him, starting on a 3D puzzle, saw the ‘thing’ being dragged over by Grandma.

The little cub stared, his round face frozen in surprise, eyes wide and unblinking, his little mouth hanging open in shock, still holding his toy, motionless for a good while.

The white creature wrapped in a bedsheet was pushed onto the sofa by Grandma Cen Zhi. She clapped her hands with a satisfied smile, the smile of a satisfied alpha mother.

“Since you like wearing a bedsheet so much, you don’t have to take it off today.”

Bai Jin, who had been tied to the bedsheet by his mother at the waist and legs: …

His mom was merciful enough—she left a hole for his face and cut holes on both sides of the sheet so he could stick his hands out.

But I still have to eat today!

Bai Jin grumbled inwardly but didn’t dare make a sound. He sat obediently on the sofa, watching the little cub playing with toys.

The little one couldn’t help but stand up, not daring to come closer, just craning his neck to ask, “Little uncle?”

Bai Jin replied in a muffled voice.

“It’s me.”

He looked at the little one's round face and his hands started itching again.

He was totally the type to want to patch things up but couldn't keep his hands to himself.

Of course, the little one gave him special treatment too.

"Ugly."

The little one carefully examined his uncle, then reached a conclusion, leaving Bai Jin with a head full of question marks. After praising Grandma, he happily went back to assembling his little castle.

Bai Jin: ...

I want to ruffle your hair!

But I dare not right now.

So I'll just imagine rubbing your head!

And turn you into a squeaky little ball and make you tell Mom not to let me out.

The little one seemed relieved at the moment. Soon it would be his nap time, so he sped up his toy assembly.

Until he couldn't push the final castle piece into place, the little one searched through his tool kit but couldn't manage it.

The little one didn't ask for help. Bai Sheng watched from the side without offering assistance.

But Bai Jin moved slightly, half-rising.

It was already quite hot, and on top of that he was wrapped in a sheet in the sun, watching the little one work on the 3D puzzle, Bai Jin was drowsy but perked up a bit.

As he moved, the wary little one turned his head to look.

Bai Jin thought—was he about to ask for help?

But no.

The little one glanced at his uncle, then turned back, puffed out his cheeks, gathered all his tools back into the toolbox, lifted the toolbox, and smashed it down on the stubborn castle top piece that refused to fit—no way he'd ask his uncle for help, absolutely not!

Once, twice, three times, then the little one tilted his head to look, eyes brightening as he turned to his father—I got it on!

The Bai family, who had been watching the little one play with a smile, all burst into laughter.

Bai Sheng looked away, laughing—

Well done. Who would have thought the best tool in the toolbox was the toolbox itself?

Smart little one!

Alright, Bai Jin also laughed silently, his laughter hidden by the sheet.

Xiaobai Nuo had reached his nap time.

The little one often played in the main building and slept in one of its rooms.

Bai Sheng carried the little one out of the playroom, ready to take him for a nap.

Bai Jin didn't move, but he was sleepy too. He glanced at Cen Zhi, then slumped onto the sofa, ready to catch some sleep.

About half an hour later.

Xiaobai Nuo got up.

The little one was still bothered by the memory of being scared by the "big monster" his uncle had pretended to be. He was still fuming.

The bed here wasn't high. The little one easily climbed down by himself. His father was already asleep beside him.

The little one looked at his father, then at the little monitor that dutifully followed him. He shushed Doudou and then padded out of the room.

About a minute later, the father instinctively reached to pull the little one closer, but his hand met empty air. Bai Sheng's eyes snapped open—the little one was gone.

He instinctively searched the bed for the baby as before, then realized the little monitor was missing too.

Bai Sheng rolled over and got up. He grabbed his phone, opened the surveillance feed, and walked out.

But just as he stepped out the door, Bai Sheng paused, staring at the screen in surprise.

Over there, Cen Zhi was coming down the stairs. Seeing Bai Sheng standing at the door, she asked instinctively.

"What's wrong?"

She looked around.

"Where's Nono?"

How come I only see the dad, not the kid?

Bai Sheng looked up at Ms. Cen Zhi and showed her the phone screen.

What happened?

Cen Zhi instinctively walked down, curious to look.

The surveillance feed was clearly from Doudou's perspective, looking up at the little one toddling forward.

The little one had now pushed open the playroom door.

The little one wasn't a greedy child. He was a routine-loving kid, generally very organized.

Even during nap time, he didn't obsess over toys.

And at this moment, the only person in the playroom should be—the sleeping Bai Jin?

"Nono is looking for Bai Jin?"

Bai Sheng frowned involuntarily.

"Why? Is he not angry enough? The baby's been avoiding Bai Jin, right?"

Cen Zhi was a bit puzzled.

But Xiaobai Nuo's next move confirmed Bai Sheng's guess.

He and Cen Zhi watched as the little one toddled over to the sofa where his uncle was lying. The tiny child strained to tell his uncle's head from his feet—with the sheet, it was hard to tell. Once he figured it out, the little one walked to the area near his uncle's sheet-covered head and picked up a small pillow.

Looking at his still-sheet-wrapped uncle, his cheeks puffed up slightly. With one hand bracing the sofa and the other reaching up on tiptoe, he huffed and smacked his uncle lightly with the little pillow. After one smack, still unsatisfied, he thought for a moment and gave a second smack—

The two watching the monitor were silent for a second.

Then Bai Sheng let out a chuckle.

Cen Zhi cracked up.

So... you were so mad you couldn't sleep, tossed and turned, and got up just to let off steam?

Author's note:

Little uncle: Just messing around.

Dad: Let me help you work on those neck muscles : )

Kid: Woke up halfway, crawled over to throw hands .JPG