Chapter 72

Chapter 72

As the Bai Family, who had successfully turned around their image in the little cub's heart, Bai Jingyun felt that the first lesson he needed to teach this group was to jump at the chance, and if he really couldn't beat them, then join them.

Anyway, his pheromone scent was lemon, so it was fine; he could learn to love lemons.

Then he saw Xiaobai Nuo's eyes widen slightly.

Bai Jingyun: ...?

Why was he so surprised?

Bai Jingyun heard Bai Sheng's sneer, followed by Cen Zhi's helpless sigh, and Cen Liu suddenly bursting out laughing.

Bai Jingyun: ...

Bai Jingyun watched the little guy snap the paper bag shut, then turned to look at his father. After receiving confirmation, he trotted back to the counter.

The counter was still very high for a cub; he had to stand on tiptoe, resting his little hands on the surface, just barely peeking his head out.

The beta shop assistant in charge of taking orders was already melting from the cuteness. He bent down, his voice naturally going all cutesy: "What else would you like?"

"I want a lemon-flavored ice cream. Can you put it in this bag too? Thank you, uncle."

The little cub said in a soft, sweet voice, then looked over at his grandmother sitting nearby, sounding even more sure of himself.

"Grandma, Nono said it before—Big Uncle likes weird-tasting things, including lemons!"

The juice from before, Big Uncle had drunk it all up!

Bai Jingyun: ...

Bai Jingyun, slightly stiff, exchanged a glance with his mother, meeting Cen Zhi's expression that screamed, "You're a lost cause now."

Just ten minutes ago, Cen Zhi—who still had a shred of maternal love for her five kids—had actually suggested the little cub buy his big uncle a different flavor to try, trying to help Bai Jingyun break that stereotype in the cub's eyes.

Now Mom was helpless; you'll have to live the rest of your life with this label.

A moment later, Bai Jingyun, holding the lemon ice cream, twitched the corner of his mouth.

Admittedly, lemon-flavored ice cream was delicious, but that stereotype label was definitely sticking tight.

Life Lesson One: Jump at the chance; if you can't beat them, join them.

Life Lesson Two: Don't go around teaching people lessons.

Heh.

Bai Jingyun stuffed a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth and thought deadpan.

He heard Bai Sheng's even more mocking sneer.

Bai Jingyun: ... Damn it!

Xiaobai Nuo had already distributed the ice cream to everyone, then hugged the paper bag with one last ice cream left inside—the vanilla one originally prepared for Big Uncle. The little guy had only taken two bites earlier, and the rest had been eaten by his father. Now, he looked at Bai Sheng expectantly again, reaching out his little hands for a hug.

The shop assistants glancing over couldn't help a small gasp, watching as the father picked up the well-behaved cub.

The little cub nestled by his father's ear, whispering a plea: "Daddy, can Nono have one more bite? Just one little bite. Daddy, can you ask Uncle Xu for Nono? Just one little bite."

The tiny cub's eyes sparkled as he hugged the packed paper bag, his little hand stretching out to show a 'one'.

Bai Sheng lasted only two seconds, then tapped the little cub's forehead: "No need to ask Uncle Xu. Yes, just one bite."

He said, opening the wrapper, scooping up a spoonful, and bringing it to the little one's lips.

Xiaobai Nuo licked his lips excitedly.

Of course, Xiaobai Nuo had never seen ice cream before. He had seen snow—endless, thick snow—back during the apocalypse, the only time the world's colors changed.

But that pure white snow was also very dirty, mixed with dust and pollutants. Touching it too long was really dangerous, not to mention the biting wind that could easily freeze his thin, small body completely. Finding a suitable shelter from the snow and wind was the most important thing.

However, that terrifying scene wasn't a nightmare for Xiaobai Nuo, because the apocalypse's climate was unstable. Such a cruel and beautiful sight lasted at most three days, a rare change in the apocalypse.

Of course, Xiaobai Nuo didn't know that this ice cream, resembling snowflakes, could be eaten—sweet and cool—a very novel experience for a cub.

That one bite melted in his mouth, and the squinting cub savored it carefully. Once the unique blend of vanilla and milky cream was all gone, Xiaobai Nuo's eyes brightened, and he obediently stopped staring at the ice cream bag.

Cen Zhi got up then.

"Since we're all out anyway, let's just eat outside. It's summer now. The night market wrapped up yesterday, and there's a fireworks show tonight. I already booked the top floor of the restaurant next door—it's high up, has a big glass window, and faces right toward the fireworks."

Cen Zhi reached out, pinched Xiaobai Nuo's cheek, and said with a smile, "Nono hasn't seen fireworks before, has he? It's super close, and it's beautiful."

Xiaobai Nuo reached out his hands, bringing them together and then opening them up, describing it to his grandmother.

"In the picture book, little animals go watch fireworks together. Nono remembers."

"That's right, that's it."

Cen Zhi nodded, agreeing.

If they were eating out, it was actually really hard to get all the Bai family together. Top-tier alphas have strong territorial instincts, and these guys couldn't stand each other. When they were kids, taking them out often led to fights. As adults, they hated being together even more. It was already rare for them to meet for a meal at the main building, where traces of their cub days remained.

But today, no one in the Bai family suggested heading back early.

Even Bai Er and Bai Si, who normally ignored each other, kept quiet.

They all headed to the restaurant.

The Bai family were usually quiet people, but today it was relatively lively. Every single one of them pricked up their ears, listening as Xiaobai Nuo chattered away by his father's ear, telling him all about what happened at kindergarten today.

"Today everyone did origami together. Nono saw a lot of kids. They didn't know how to fold little roses or little bunnies... So Nono taught them, and they all said Nono is amazing."

The little guy only felt a bit proud after the fact, waiting for the grown-ups to praise him.

Bai Sheng spoke up.

"Nono is so amazing."

Hearing the praise, the little guy got a bit shy and snuggled back into his dad's arms.

But this afternoon during ball game, Nono didn't get a single ball through the net. He definitely wasn't telling his daddy that.

Xiaobai Nuo blinked.

The restaurant.

The elevator went all the way up to the top floor.

The sun had just set. The spacious rooftop private room had multiple sections and entertainment rooms, with crystal chandeliers casting light, resplendent and magnificent.

The Bai Family had already finished the ice cream the little one had distributed, watching Bai Sheng follow the little cub who was starting to toddle around and explore, wandering after him. Without Dou Dou, the biological dad directly stepped into Dou Dou's role.

Like a little kitten familiarizing itself with a strange environment, followed by his large feline parent casually patrolling the territory.

It was amusing, yet one couldn't help thinking—after having this cub, the Bai family had indeed become much livelier, so lively that everyone was a bit unaccustomed.

Bai Jin looked around at the people nearby, then casually found a place to sit.

He looked at his phone.

He had a message from his classmate: 'Brother Jin, why did you run off so fast after class? The class advisor came looking for you right on time but couldn't find you. Which way did you leave?'

Where else? He just conveniently climbed out the second-floor window; that route goes directly to the school gate.

Bai Jin casually swiped his finger and looked at the next message.

The messages Bai Jin received were always of a few types: school stuff, messages from his shady friends outside, and clubs under his name for e-sports, racing, and other exciting activities. Finally—

Bai Jin squinted his eyes and looked at a rather unexpected one.

From Yu An.

'My overseas mentor is also preparing to develop in Country Z and has taken a position at Ang City University. I've settled down as well, everything is packed up. In a few days, I plan to get together. It's summer, so we'll be at the newly opened ecological park in Ang City, on the outskirts. It's great for stargazing, has space for gaming and racing. Are you coming? Bring those guys along. I heard you're racing more and more excitingly these days. Let me tell you, I'm no worse than you overseas. Those foreigners pull even crazier stunts, and I've been through the wringer because of them. I guarantee I'll take you down.'

Bai Jin looked at this message. The more arrogant the challenger was, the more interesting Bai Jin found it, because the disbelief after such a guy's failure was often even more amusing.

Besides, hadn't he been cooped up at home for too long?

It wasn't like he was going out gallivanting with those unreliable guys; just one evening out for some fun shouldn't be a problem.

As Bai Jin was thinking, he casually sent an OK gesture.

Bai Jin had just put down his phone when he suddenly saw a small head lying next to the armrest of his chair. The little guy was puffing up his cheeks, staring at him, silently, without a sound—and who knew how long he had been watching.

Too relaxed and oblivious to his surroundings, Bai Jin was startled badly. He jerked back, nearly taking his chair with him, but the cub that had just scared him had already been picked up by Bai Sheng behind him.

The little cub blinked, skillfully tugged at his slightly wrinkled clothes after being picked up by his dad, and asked softly, "Little Uncle, what are you doing?"

Nono is watching Little Uncle.

"Where did you pop up from? You scared me to death."

Bai Jin patted his chest, still shaken, and tried to reach around Bai Sheng to poke Xiaobai Nuo's cheek.

The cub wrinkled his nose at him and stuck out his tongue, and hid behind his dad. His small childish voice carried a sense of triumph: "Little Uncle was scared, huh? Dad said Little Uncle never noticed Nono. Dad is awesome."

Haha, even scaring Little Uncle makes your dad awesome.

You little double-standard squirt, you're holding a grudge, aren't you?!

Bai Jin snorted. With Bai Sheng in the way, he couldn't pinch the cub's cheek after all.

Then he heard the cub continue: "Little Uncle, you're crispy now, you can't run around."

Bai Jin was left speechless by the little guy.

Bai Jingyun beside him added insult to injury with a deadpan face: "Crispy Jin."

His expression said: I'm already a lost cause, and you won't be either.

Cen Zhi over there also looked over, at Bai Jin, silently asking what he had done this time to upset Xiaobai Nuo.

Bai Jin: ...

Bai Jin: ......

Is everything this little guy does always right?

Great, this is so Nono.

Bai Jin gave a light snort.

Then he met the little cub's gaze, and Bai Jin couldn't help remembering the weird thing the little guy had said the night before: that a big villain should always stay a big villain.

Bai Jin finally sat back down in the chair, his body relaxing naturally.

"Alright, I get it. Until my pheromones stabilize, I won't go out at night for no reason, okay?"

Bai Jin sent a new message to Yu An: 'Pheromones unstable, we'll talk later.'

After sending, Bai Jin put down his phone, stood up, and seeing Xiaobai Nuo nod vigorously, he immediately went around Bai Sheng to catch the cub.

This startled the cub who was hiding behind his dad. Xiaobai Nuo instinctively ran half a circle around his dad, then came to the front of Bai Sheng, clinging to his dad's clothes: "Daddy, pick me up, daddy, pick me up."

When the other Bai family members looked over again, they saw Bai Sheng holding the cub with one hand and pushing Bai Jin's head away with the other hand.

—This was indeed getting a bit too lively. Was Bai Jin provoking Bai Sheng more often than before? Was he more resistant to getting beaten up now?

Yu family mansion.

Yu An also came from a blended family. His dad and step-dad lived here with his younger brother Yu Zai, who was a few years younger. He felt it was inconvenient to live here, so he always lived outside. This was a rare visit back to the Yu family mansion.

He smiled and greeted his dad and step-dad, then patted the head of Yu Zai standing beside him.

The relatively quiet eleven-year-old alpha didn't react much to the head pat. His jet-black hair was a bit long, covering part of his eyes. He called him "brother" in a slightly raspy voice.

"Mm, Xiao Zai, long time no see."

Yu An said with a smile, looking at his brother.

He couldn't help thinking: Although he's grown up a lot, he's still very cute. Bai Jin said he's never seen a truly cute kid? Hmph, he didn't buy it! What kind of cute cub could Bai Jin have seen?

"Isn't your hair a bit long? Shouldn't you get it trimmed?"

"I was planning to take him to get it trimmed. Since Xiao An is back, why don't you take him then?"

Yu An's step-dad was a beta. Although Yu Zai was an alpha, based on experience, his pheromone level was not high, so the position of Yu family heir was firmly in Yu An's hands, unshakable.

"Sure."

Yu An laughed.

"How can an alpha be this unenergetic? I'll take him out for more walks these days. Xiao Zai, do you still like drawing?"

"Those were childhood hobbies."

Yu An's stepfather casually said, then gave Yu Zai a gentle push.

"Dad's going to check on the kitchen arrangements. Chat with your brother about your recent studies and hobbies."

Yu An raised an eyebrow but still smiled: "No need to fuss, just something simple. Let Xiao Zai relax, we haven't seen each other in so long."

As he spoke, Yu An sat down on the sofa and patted the spot beside him, signaling Yu Zai not to be nervous. He glanced at his phone casually and saw Bai Jin's reply.

Yu An couldn't help raising an eyebrow and muttered: "What's Bai Jin up to? First he agrees, then he backs out."

Despite his grumbling, Yu An sent a message to his group chat.

'Bai Jin's not coming. We'll have fun on our own.'

The group had either middle school friends or a few of his sponsored buddies from back then, and everyone was pretty familiar with each other.

They were all in college and, because of their skills and grades, were involved in various university labs. At the moment, they were discussing how some universities in Ang City had lost important samples and materials due to lax management. They were still searching and investigating.

They briefly acknowledged Bai Jin's absence and then continued the discussion.

After all, they'd been investigating for days without any new leads.

'Though it's not like the lost items were expensive, I've heard those materials are key for influencing pheromones. I wonder if it's just a theft or if someone has a plan.'

'Fang Kai, I heard several labs at your university lost materials. Did your lab lose anything?'

Fang Kai: '...No. Those labs had lax oversight and broken surveillance. Our lab has solid monitoring.'

'I see. Then being ordered to rectify makes total sense.'

As the discussion went on, Yu An was about to leave the group when he saw Fang Kai ask another question.

Fang Kai: 'An Ge, Bai Jin... isn't coming?'

Yu An remembered the voice message Fang Kai had sent last time and, though he sensed something off, didn't dwell on it. He replied casually: 'It's fine. That guy chickened out and isn't coming. I'll beat him in other ways later.'

In an apartment building, someone stared at their phone screen, muttering almost maniacally. If you listened closely, you could catch a few words.

"Acting entitled, mocking others for fun—parasites. Even they hide when their pheromones are unstable? Ha... ha... the only chance."

Let him experience falling to rock bottom too.

On the top floor of a restaurant.

It was completely dark outside.

Dishes were brought up one after another.

Bai Sheng put Xiao Bai Nuo in his high chair and handed him his little spoon.

The newbie dad was already skillfully arranging the food one by one on the little one's rice.

He also grabbed a spoon and leaned over to ask the little cub: "Want some soup?"

"Yes!"

Eager about eating, Xiao Bai Nuo gripped his spoon tightly and nodded eagerly, watching his dad add a ladle of soup to his bowl.

Yay! Smells great!

The little guy mixed carefully with his spoon, then took a big mouthful, squinting his eyes in bliss.

At the Bai family's dinner table, watching Xiao Bai Nuo eat had become an everyday thing without anyone realizing.

Especially Cen Liu, who didn't see this often. His eyes were about to pop out, as if he'd snatch the kid away if he could.

Suddenly, the little guy stuffed a mouthful of rice into his mouth. His happy squint turned into a slight frown, but he still chewed hard and swallowed.

Then the little cub looked down into his bowl, searching.

What's wrong?

Bai Sheng paused slightly, watching the little one's actions.

He watched the little guy dig around, pulling a few pieces of yellow, red, and green bell peppers from under the rice.

Xiao Bai Nuo smacked his lips.

At home, Xiao Bai Nuo had never eaten bell peppers before. Bell peppers aren't spicy, but they do have a distinct pepper smell.

Xiao Bai Nuo didn't really like the taste, or perhaps kids' taste buds often make them dislike certain vegetables.

Wasting food is bad and not allowed. In the past, even if Xiao Bai Nuo ate something he didn't like, he could eat it without making a face. But now, things were different—

The little guy instinctively looked around, and then saw his uncle resting his chin on his hand, looking over. His uncle's plate was already empty, with a pile of bones beside it. Seeing the little guy looking, Bai Jin smiled, showing his white teeth.

Xiao Bai Nuo: !

All the food will be eaten by Uncle!

The little guy worked hard, stuffed another piece into his mouth, then chewed with a wrinkled little face.

A moment later, Bai Sheng saw a little hand reaching over from the side. In that hand was a spoon holding a piece of bell pepper, which the tiny cub gently transferred into his bowl.

Bai Sheng turned to look at Xiao Bai Nuo.

The little guy looked guilty, lowering his head, but couldn't help looking up at Bai Sheng and speaking in a baby voice: "Dad... Nono doesn't like this. Can you help Nono eat one?"

Being picky is a luxury. The little cub only needed Dad to help with a little bit, then he would push those feelings aside, eat the rest of the stuff he didn't like, and still happily finish his rice.

But—

"If you don't like it, don't eat it. We don't lack this one vegetable."

Bai Sheng casually scooped out all the bell peppers from Xiao Bai Nuo's bowl. He even smiled, looking unexpectedly cheerful.

Then he added a piece of rib meat into the little one's bowl.

As the little guy held his spoon, looking puzzled, he heard Bai Sheng say softly:

"From gnawing on shrimp shells and bones before, to now finally being a picky eater... indeed..."

It had nothing to do with health or anything. He just thought it was—

"Especially cute."

Dad said Nono is—especially cute.

Gripping his spoon, Xiao Bai Nuo blinked. Under everyone's gaze, he stuffed another mouthful of rice into his mouth, then mumbled in his baby voice: "Dad, Nono wants... to hear that again."

He wants to be praised again.

Cen Zhi's heart was about to melt.

Sitting next to the little cub, Cen Zhi held her chopsticks.

"You're not good at praising—let me handle it!"

From further away, Cen Liu also tried to poke his head out: "Me too! Nono, your cousin is the best at giving compliments—"

The other members of the Bai family didn't say a word, but one by one they stared at the cub, practically holding sacks in their hands.

Bai Sheng: ...

All of you, back off!

'Kidnappers'!

The meal was almost over.

Xiaobai Nuo was taken by his father to the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, held in his arms as his stomach was gently rubbed to help with digestion. The little one was fiddling with his phone, planning to show his brothers the fireworks as well.

That was when—bang!—a loud sound came from outside, so loud it seemed to shake the ground.

"Ah! Daddy!"

The little one was startled, instinctively trying to pull his father to hide.

"Had something been thrown at them?"

"It's okay, it's just the loud noise when the fireworks ignite. Look, they're about to burst open. These are fireworks."

Bai Sheng held the cub securely and pointed to the window. At that moment, a huge golden firework exploded before the little one's eyes, the sky suddenly brightening. Countless sparks, like meteors, streaked downward after their brilliant burst, trailing long tails, with smaller accompanying fireworks bursting into silver sparks.

Xiaobai Nuo had never seen anything like it. The reflection of those fireworks shone in the cub's eyes. He looked like a kitten, his pupils wide with awe, the tiny cub completely mesmerized.

Even though he was startled by the next sound, he couldn't help but think: So beautiful.

"Ten minutes earlier than expected?"

"Seems like it. This place is so close to the launch site?"

"The safe distance is fine."

The Bai family members behind them also crowded over, talking, then looked at Xiaobai Nuo, who was startled yet couldn't stop going "wow wow."

"Still, being this close makes it a bit loud."

Bai Sheng said softly and sent a message to have someone close all the windows that were open for ventilation on the upper floor hallway.

The little one was staring wide-eyed, not wanting to miss a single thing. When he heard his father's words, he looked up at his father, blinked, and occasionally flinched at the sudden noises outside.

Just as Bai Sheng finished sending the message, he felt the little one climb up from his arms.

"What's wrong?"

As Bai Sheng spoke, a soft warmth suddenly touched both sides of his ears, and the surrounding noises seemed muffled.

Bai Sheng froze, realizing the cub, frightened earlier, had heard him mention the noise and climbed up to cover his ears.

The little one seemed to say something then, but Bai Sheng couldn't hear clearly in that situation.

Right at that moment, behind the little cub, the floor-to-ceiling window burst into a sky full of dazzling fireworks.

In the sudden "daylight," Bai Sheng could only make out—the tiny little one seemed to be saying—Daddy, it's not loud now, it's beautiful, you should look too!

Author's note:

Cub: Dad gets a perfect score! [Confetti][Confetti]

Dad: The calm of a biological father.JPG

The whole family stares at Bai Sheng: Why does this guy get all the sweet talk?