Chapter 64

Chapter 64

The little guy had quite a temper, the parent thought with amusement, quickly walking toward the activity room.

In the activity room, Xiaobai Nuo, clutching the small pillow, whacked it twice against his uncle's face, only to suddenly see the large white lump on the sofa stir.

Even sound asleep, a couple of hits like that would be felt.

Bai Jin, who had been getting a bit less rest these past few days, was sleeping soundly but now began to wake up groggily.

The little guy, who rarely did anything wrong, jolted, clutching the small pillow guiltily and looking for a place to hide.

"...What's up?" Bai Jin's voice was a bit hoarse as he mumbled instinctively.

But since he was still in the state of having the weakest senses due to the sheet over him, after opening his eyes, it took him a moment to align the holes over his eyes, just about to see clearly what was outside.

The sound of the door opening came first, and by the time Bai Jin sat up groggily and looked over, Bai Sheng was already standing in front of the sofa holding the small toddler.

Seeing Bai Sheng as soon as he opened his eyes, Bai Jin was startled by his brother.

The large mass of "white sheet" leaned back, speaking suspiciously.

"What are you guys doing? Haven't you seen someone sleeping before?"

Swiftly picked up by his dad, the little toddler had the small pillow smoothly taken from his hand and tossed onto a nearby small sofa. He clung to his dad's clothes, pressed against his chest, his little heart pounding wildly.

The tiny child didn't lift his head, mumbling in a low voice, "Nothing at all."

Nono didn't do anything! Nono was just trying to chase away the big monster; the big monster was just on Uncle, really scary.

"...Really?"

Bai Jin, hearing Xiaobai Nuo's words, looked at him suspiciously.

But it wasn't the little kid who answered him, but an impatient Bai San, who let out a sarcastic laugh.

"What could it be? Could it be that I wanted to kill you while you were asleep?"

Bai Jin: ...

No need to put it so bluntly, and with you standing right in front of me like this, it's really hard not to suspect, isn't it?

Bai Jin raised a hand to scratch his head—well, he scratched his head through the sheet, getting more and more uncomfortable, and then he laughed out of frustration.

And the tiny toddler successfully disappeared from the conversation between the two adults.

The very vengeful child, who couldn't sleep earlier and came to retaliate, shrank into his dad's arms.

Bai Sheng thought this good boy would be especially guilty, but no, the little guy was secretly looking up at him with bright, sparkling eyes, full of excitement and admiration.

This reaction made Xiaobai Nuo seem to think his dad's "rescue" was very impressive.

Bai Sheng couldn't help but let out a low laugh.

Probably because the uncle playing the monster made the child too angry, and of course, this kid even got angrier the more he thought about it, so he specially ran over to hit his uncle a couple of times.

Although Bai Jin was full of confusion, he didn't dwell on it too much. He got up, poured a glass of water, and took a sip. Then his hand holding the cup paused. Bai Jin was silent for two seconds, then grumblingly went to find scissors to cut an opening for his mouth.

In that gap, Bai Sheng noticed the little guy pressing even closer to him, his small hand covering his own chest, his big eyes sparkling, whispering in a childish voice, "Daddy, it's going thump-thump-thump here."

Beating so fast, so thrilling! Being a big villain is so thrilling!

The little ball of a toddler, who was feeling guilty just a second ago, was now pressed against his chest, looking as excited as if he had done something huge and bad.

His curly hair was slightly ruffled from tossing and turning in bed earlier, making him look like a "broken" fluff ball.

Bai Sheng, who didn't need to check the time or date, only had to recall what Bai Jin had done earlier to feel justified in hitting his younger brother, couldn't help but lower his head and rub his chin against the child's soft hair.

Ah...

So adorable it hurts.

"How come you're back now?"

Outside, Cen Zhi's voice came.

Cen Zhi had been laughing so hard she could barely stand up straight, so she didn't join in the "rescue" of Xiaobai Nuo. She watched everything unfold from outside the door, composing herself.

Now, her voice was full of surprise.

Indeed, there had been the sound of the front door opening just now.

But when the Bai family was resting or free, the household staff would come regularly to clean, so that kind of sound wasn't unusual.

But the voice they heard next was very unusual.

"There are some things at the university; the laboratory will be closed for a few days."

That was Bai Liang's gentle and refined voice.

Bai Sheng pushed open the activity room door.

The curious little toddler poked his head out from Bai Sheng's arms and looked toward the door, meeting Bai Liang's gaze just as he entered. The child blinked: "Second Uncle."

"Haven't seen you for a few days, have you grown a bit?"

Bai Liang said with a smile.

Before Xiaobai Nuo could reply, Bai Jin's voice came from inside the room, confused.

Bai Jin was a student in the accelerated program at Sheng'ang University and often participated in competitions, so he was very familiar with Sheng'ang University.

He also knew that Bai Liang was practically a hallmark of Sheng'ang University; unless it was absolutely necessary, the university would never shut down Bai Liang's lab.

"What's there to close a lab for?"

"Several other universities in Ang City have found lab supplies stolen, some of which are quite important, some are experimental samples, and some are dangerous items that shouldn't be on the market. Those schools reported emergencies, and now the higher-ups are requiring almost all university labs across the Federation to conduct self-inspections, take inventory of samples and raw materials. I've just finished handling the related situation, and the next step is the inventory of raw materials, which requires the university side..."

Bai Liang seemed to have his own complaints. As he was speaking, he suddenly looked up and froze.

"...What are you doing?"

Bai Liang stared at the 'white sheet' standing in front of him.

He even doubted his eyes, took off his wire-rimmed glasses, carefully wiped them, and put them back on to look again.

Good, still a 'white sheet'.

This 'white sheet' had a mouth, eyes, hands, and feet.

Bai Liang was amused.

"Is this performance art? What? Finally found those things not exciting enough, ready to devote yourself entirely to art?"

Bai Liang said, always one to stir the pot, approaching with a warm, smiling face: "Come on, come on, tell me your troubles, Second Brother will write them down for you. Although we can't publish in a top journal, we can still get it in the school newspaper."

He even tried to take out his phone to take a photo.

Bai Jin: ...

"Get lost!"

"You have quite a temper."

Bai Liang sighed, but it sounded sarcastic no matter how you heard it.

"Bai Jin, how do you have an extra mouth?"

Cen Zhi over there had been feeling something odd about Bai Jin, and now she finally realized: she hadn't given this sheet monster a mouth!

Without missing a beat, Bai Liang expertly fanned the flames everywhere.

"You actually ruined Mom's design."

Bai Jin: "Mom, I need to eat and drink!"

Then Bai Jin looked at Bai Liang again: "I told you to get lost!"

Bai Jin also noticed a set of keys Bai Liang was casually holding.

There was a little polymer clay charm on the keys that didn't match Bai Liang's style at all.

The little one made a polymer clay ornament of Dou Dou; Bai Jin recognized it.

Because almost everyone in the family had one, except him.

If you don't ask for trouble, you won't die, but Bai Jin, who loved to court it, twitched the corner of his mouth.

He thought irritably—Ah, I came back too late then, but it's just a little clay trinket. Of course, I didn't care much. It's fine that it wasn't given to me; I won't give that little one the wicker bear I won last time either!

Yes, Bai Jin's wicker bear had originally made the little one mad, so he was afraid the cub would chew its head off and didn't dare give it. Then the next day something happened, and the whole family came back from Li Mountain; the wicker bear had stayed with Bai Jin, and he never got a chance to give it to the cub.

But the little cub knew nothing about the wicker bear.

The little one peeked his head out from his father's arms and listened for a while. He didn't really understand, but his little legs kicked back and forth.

"Daddy, later we need to feed the fish."

Xiaobai Nuo still remembers his little fish every day; he's super diligent about changing their water and feeding them.

"Nap time isn't over yet. How about sleeping a bit first, then feeding the fish?"

Bai Sheng said as he set the little cub down on the floor.

The little one naturally grabbed the hem of his shirt, looked up at his dad, and nodded.

"Okay."

Although Nono wasn't that sleepy now, he was an obedient good baby and decided to go nap with his dad.

The little monitor rolled along behind Xiaobai Nuo as usual, its wheels and gears making a soft whirring noise.

Bai Jin glanced at the little one, growing more annoyed by that little monitor.

The little cub was carefully passing by the sheet monster, feeling a bit guilty for sneaking a hit on his uncle, when he saw the big white blob looking at Dou Dou.

He suddenly said: "What's that joke called? Eat, sleep, hit Dou Dou."

The cub, who had been feeling guilty just a moment ago, immediately widened his eyes: "No hitting Dou Dou!"

Then the little one, in a huff as he passed his uncle, lifted his foot and stomped on his uncle's foot, leaving a tiny shoe print.

Then he wrinkled his little nose and looked up at his uncle again—Nono hit you!

The little one was too light; the stomp barely felt like anything—it was like an adorable little toy hopping... Then the next moment, Bai Jin jerked his foot back, dodging Bai Sheng's "attack."

He'd let his third brother slide.

Bai Jin figured that if Bai San kicked him, he'd be "crippled" for almost a week.

The little one wrinkled his nose, stomped away with Dou Dou, tugging his dad's shirt, fuming.

Bai Liang was left watching thoughtfully.

He hadn't seen much of Bai Jin interacting with this little cub. Before, when Xiaobai Nuo was made to cry by Grandpa and refused to let Grandpa bully Bai Sheng and Bai Jingyun, he just cried pitifully, not like this little angry look he gets around Bai Jin.

In a way, Bai Jin was quite skilled at making this good little cub hopping mad.

And—Bai Liang couldn't help asking.

"Is the eldest one over the moon?"

That bastard Bai Jingyun had been constantly passing the buck, finding someone to take the fall for him.

And now Bai Jin is a real pro at being the scapegoat.

Is Bai Jingyun so happy he can't stop grinning?

Bai Jin: ...

The angry big sheet "floated" away.

Behind him came the sounds of Bai Liang and Cen Zhi stifling laughter.

Bai Jin: So mad!

The little one got his revenge and finally took a proper nap. After waking up and feeding the fish, Bai Sheng had things to deal with, so he naturally handed his phone to the little one and helped him reach the Xie Family Twins and Yu Chuyan.

Although the Xie Family Twins and Yu Chuyan lived not far away, Xiaobai Nuo's place was a bit far from them. The four little ones, besides getting together to play, also played games online like this and shared what they'd been up to.

They were each working on puzzles separately, racing to see who could finish first.

Just then, Yu Chuyan, who had finally finished training, grumbled to his buddies.

"Today, my brother is in a bad mood."

"Why?" Xie Qing leaned over to see.

"Yeah, why?" Xie Yue also asked curiously.

"I read in a book that tea eggs can be made with tea, salt, and a little bit of spices. I tried it, and it didn't work at all!"

Tea eggs?

Xiaobai Nuo, who was working hard on the puzzle, swallowed and couldn't help but lean in to look.

"What are tea eggs, Brother Xiao Yan?"

The Xie Family Twins immediately looked over and asked curiously.

"Little Nuo Nuo has never had tea eggs?"

"They have their own flavor, very fragrant."

Yu Chuyan, looking like he knew it well, said in a baby voice, "Nono has a weak constitution, so he should avoid a lot of things."

Most kids their age aren't so restricted by their parents anymore.

But after all, the ingredients in tea and some spices are not good for the little guy's health. Yu Chuyan had already heard this from his brother and had asked Xiaobai Nuo; the little guy had always been eating boiled eggs.

So he gave up the idea of bringing his own homemade food for Little Brother Nuo Nuo.

"Nono should eat more easily digestible food recently."

Xiaobai Nuo, holding a puzzle piece, answered in a baby voice.

"And then he needs to move around more to help with digestion."

"Got it."

Xie Qing nodded.

"Understood!"

Xie Yue also nodded, and took a cookie from his brother's plate, earning a slap from his brother. He tried to slap back in defiance, and the twins soon erupted into chaos.

Despite the big commotion, no one outside reacted; apparently, they were used to it.

However—

After scattering the puzzle pieces all over the room, the two little ones finally settled down.

"Last time I made them with Xie Qing, it worked," Xie Yue said thoughtfully.

Xie Qing was busy stuffing the rest of the cookies into his mouth, and didn't reply for a long time. After almost choking and swallowing, he finally spoke.

"Maybe Brother Yan's tea is flavorless. What if we try a different one?"

"Can't change it. Brother locked up all the tea, not only put it up high but also locked it away. And just for using a little bit of his tea, he even hit me."

When Yu Chuyan mentioned this, the Little Cool Guy felt a bit sulky. Was tea really more important to his brother than he was? As he spoke, he looked at the little cub, who indeed looked over upon hearing this, holding the last puzzle piece in his hand.

And the Xie Family Twins couldn't help but freeze mid-movement.

"Hit?"

"If we use tea, will he hit us too?"

"The tea that little brother used last time hasn't been discovered yet."

The Xie Family Twins looked at each other.

And Xiaobai Nuo lowered his head to finish the puzzle, then tilted his little head and asked in a soft, childish voice, "Can't we put it back?"

Put it back?

One of the Xie twins suddenly seemed to realize something.

Xie Qing put down the puzzle piece, stood up, and looked up.

"I have an idea."

Xie Yue was not to be outdone.

"I have one too!"

About half an hour later.

Bai Sheng finished handling his affairs and came over to take back the phone.

The little ones had almost finished playing, and they said goodbye and ended the video call.

Bai Sheng picked up Xiaobai Nuo and stood up, planning to take the little cub outside to get some exercise before preparing dinner.

But at that moment, Xie Yu's video call came through again.

Bai Sheng answered the call, and the little guy also peeked his head out, meeting Xie Yu's gaze on the screen.

"Uncle Xie."

The little guy's eyes crinkled into a smile and greeted Xie Yu obediently.

Sure enough, no matter how many times he saw him, he felt this kid was perfect in every way, except for one thing—he wasn't his own kid.

Xie Yu's expression softened.

"Hello, Nuo Nuo."

After greeting, he looked at Bai Sheng.

"I heard from the kindergarten teacher that you've set Nuo Nuo's trial day?"

At the mention of kindergarten, Bai Sheng was still a bit reluctant.

"Yeah, in a week."

Xiaobai Nuo leaned against his father and repeated softly.

"A week later."

The little cub didn't find kindergarten scary at the moment; he just thought it was a place where he could play with his dad and friends. He sat obediently in Bai Sheng's arms, looking even a bit excited.

"Sounds good. I'm calling again because in five or six days, there's the annual night market festival in Ang City. Usually you're not interested in that kind of thing, but now how about taking Nuo Nuo to check it out? It just so happens that these little ones on my side also want to go, so they can keep each other company."

As Xie Yu spoke, he also rummaged through a small cabinet beside him and pulled out a small jar. While talking to Bai Sheng, he took a tea scoop from the jar, scooped two spoonfuls into a purple clay pot, poured in boiling water, and covered it.

Xie Yu set out the teacups while glancing back, looking puzzled, and muttering softly.

"What are those two little brats running for?"

Xiaobai Nuo listened, and immediately looked up at Bai Sheng.

"Dad, what is a night market?"

Bai Sheng really didn't want to take the little one to such crowded and noisy places.

He really hated that kind of environment.

But the little one looked up with sparkling eyes, with the purest curiosity and childlike fun.

Bai Sheng thought — his little one ought to see everything.

Bai Sheng thought for a moment: "A long street with lots of people, food, games, and all kinds of little shops. Nono, do you want to go?"

Xie Yu laughed and added from the other end: "There’s good food and fun stuff—it’s basically a kid’s paradise."

"Tasty food."

The little one couldn't help swallowing hard.

Xie Yu was surprised and laughed: "Bai San, are you starving Nono?"

The little one looked over, a bit shy: "Dad hasn’t been starving Nono."

It's just that recently the little one has had many snacks restricted, so now when he thinks of good food, he gets a little bit of a craving.

Just a little bit.

Looking at the little one's expression, Bai Sheng smiled.

"You shouldn’t eat too much street food, but you can enjoy some activities."

He glanced at the sky.

"Alright, say goodbye to Uncle Xie and we’ll go for a walk."

"Mm-hmm."

The little one hugged his father's neck and nodded.

"Goodbye Uncle Xie! You’ve got dark circles under your eyes—you should get some rest."

Before Xie Yu could let out his creepy uncle voice, Bai San hung up.

Xie Yu: ...

Xie Yu let out a breath, rinsed the tea cup with hot water, still thinking about how he had no time to rest tonight, having to deal with those two little rascals.

Then he heard a strange sound.

Xie Yu: ?

The sound came from...

He listened carefully and instinctively looked at his purple clay teapot.

The sound came from inside? Why?

Xie Yu leaned in a little closer and saw the lid bounce, startling him. He took a step back, then reached out to touch the teapot.

Then the lid, which had just bounced and lifted at one corner, was slowly pushed open by something black.

What the heck??

Xie Yu picked up a small black piece and looked at it, squeezing it between his fingers.

Xie Yu: ...

His fists clenched.

So that’s why those two little brats ran off!!

Haha, come on, tell me, which ‘little genius’ replaced the tea leaves in my tea canister with crushed dried black fungus?!

Come here, I want to give a good reward to this—‘lit-tle ge-nius!’

Meanwhile, Xiaobai Nuo had already gone for a walk outside with his father.

As summer gradually arrived, the temperature rose, the greenery deepened, and it got dark later.

"Dad! Dad! Over there!"

The little one suddenly saw something. He turned around and tugged at his father's clothes, pulling Bai Sheng with all his little might in the direction he was pointing.

The little one had recently learned to identify lots of plants with Dou Dou, along with the stories he knew from picture books, so when he saw a small patch of plants by the roadside, his eyes instantly lit up.

Bai Sheng glanced over.

It was a small patch of clover.

And the little one had just read a picture book about four-leaf clovers, so now he was enthusiastically searching through it with Dou Dou.

Kids are like that—small things grab their attention and they find them incredibly fascinating, seeing everything in the world as new.

Bai Sheng didn't stop him or offer to help. He just sat down casually nearby, watching the little one search through the leaves one by one.

Until Bai Liang came out, sent by his mother to find the little one, wanting Bai Sheng to bring Xiaobai Nuo back for dinner.

Walking along the path for a short while, he saw the slightly grubby little one squatting in the clover patch. Hearing the sound, Xiaobai Nuo looked up, his big sparkling eyes meeting Bai Liang's.

Bai Liang paused in his steps — indeed, no matter how much mental preparation he had done, no matter how many times he had met this little one's gaze, he still felt a bit uncomfortable. Those eyes were too bright, bright enough to attract people close, yet also inspiring a sense of awe.

Bai Liang hesitated for a few seconds before approaching. He glanced at Bai Sheng, seeing Bai Sheng completely indulging his son and ignoring him, Bai Liang felt a bit helpless — what kind of father are you? It's time to eat.

Then he put on a gentle smile, bent down, and spoke to the little one: "Nono, what are you up to?"

Although his tone was gentle and refined, it felt a bit distant.

After all, if we talk about unfamiliarity, in the entire Bai family, the one least familiar with Xiaobai Nuo now was Bai Liang. Even the big bad uncle had overtaken him to become someone special in Xiaobai Nuo's heart.

Not to mention Grandpa Bai Jingyun. Grandma had been the most present from the start, and now Grandpa had also become important.

And Bai Qi, though very busy normally, came every now and then with gifts to make her presence known.

Only Bai Liang was completely silent, as if he didn’t exist in the family.

But the little one still obediently met his uncle's eyes.

"Second Uncle, Nono is looking for a four-leaf clover!"

The little one answered him in a sweet, babyish voice.

"The picture book says that four-leaf clovers mean happiness and good luck."

Nono is looking for happiness and good luck.

Bai Liang paused for a moment, then smiled again: "Ah, yeah, I've heard something like that. Second Uncle has never found one, so I guess I'm really unlucky... But it's getting late, Grandma asked you to go home early for dinner."

The little one actually forgot about food for once, as if he'd heard something off, tilted his little head.

"Second Uncle has never found one?"

He blinked, puzzled.

But before Bai Liang could respond, the little child suddenly bent down, pulled out a clover leaf from his pocket, and held it up right in front of Second Uncle's face.

Bai Liang instantly got why the little guy was confused, because—

"Second Uncle, Nono can give you one! Nono found several."

Adults are always too busy and never bother to look.

But this tiny little guy could find several.

Bai Liang was stunned as he saw the tender clover leaf spreading, its four leaflets swaying lightly in the wind, offered up by a tiny hand.

Xiaobai Nuo smiled at Second Uncle with crinkly eyes, like he was casting a magic spell, his baby voice floated away on the wind: "Bye-bye, Second Uncle’s bad luck!"

Author's note:

Xie Yu: Where is my happiness and luck? "Starts losing his mind"

Father: Looking at the dusty little one, even that is adorable.JPG