Chapter 73

Chapter 73

That's a pretty primitive method.

The little one now climbed up, his back to the floor-to-ceiling window, his soft black curls outlined by the bright light outside.

Bai Sheng, under the gaze of the crowd, slightly lowered his head and gently headbutted Xiaobai Nuo's head, like a mighty lion playing with his little cub. Then Bai Sheng, holding the cub, turned a bit and leaned against the sofa so Xiaobai Nuo could see outside too. Then he slowly reached out and cover his own cub's ears.

The sound of the fireworks launching and exploding was muffled considerably at that moment.

The cub blinked, looking at his father. After a moment, Bai Sheng slowly loosened his grip, then also held the hands of the cub who had been covering his ears, pulling Xiaobai Nuo's hands down a little.

"Listen, isn't it quieter now?"

The restaurant quickly fixed the ventilation windows and closed the door for the Bai Family. The outside noise was soon muffled to the point of being barely audible. Xiaobai Nuo, still the curious little kid, listened carefully and exclaimed, "Is it magic again, Dad?"

"If you don't get physics and chemistry, everything seems like magic."

"It's just good soundproofing, the same as covering ears," Bai Sheng thought about how to explain it in terms the little one would understand, but didn't know where to begin. Finally, the newbie dad just patted Xiaobai Nuo's head. "When you're a little older, you'll learn all about it."

"Grow up?"

The little one hesitated, as if processing what he'd heard.

Maybe he'd never really thought about growing up. In the past, he just focused on protecting his family. Now, with his father's words, something clicked for the little cub.

Oh, right. Here, Nono can grow up.

Becoming an adult would make him even stronger!

So the little one watched the fireworks and asked his dad to record videos to share with his older brothers, his big eyes sparkling all the while.

"Then Nono will grow up fast so I can protect Dad."

Bai Sheng didn't hesitate. In fact, though he'd been doing a great job raising the cub, he'd always kind of hoped the cub wouldn't grow up. The anxious newbie dad immediately said,

"No, it's better if you grow up slowly."

And also—

"Mom, what are you doing?"

Bai Sheng looked up and saw Ms. Cen Zhi standing behind the sofa, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. She was holding a teacup as if she was about to place it on Bai Sheng's head.

Cen Zhi raised an eyebrow.

Isn't it obvious? Seeing Xiaobai Nuo, Cen Zhi was reminded of Bai Sheng as a child, and her hands itched to put the teacup on Bai Sheng's head.

Jealous, so jealous.

How come you didn't have to suffer at all raising a kid!?

After the little one finished recording the video, he turned around to see the whole family standing behind him. He asked his dad to send the video to his three older brothers, then blinked at his great-grandfather.

In a soft voice, he asked, "Was great-grandfather scared?"

The great-grandfather, singled out by the little cub, was confused?

Bai Yan didn't understand. What kind of weak image did he have in this little one's mind? Sure, I'm old, but my body's still really strong, okay? I don't need special care. Especially compared to that Bai Qian—I'm sturdier than him.

Then the little one continued, "Because great-grandfather's heart sometimes acts up, right?"

The little cub didn't know exactly where his heart was, so he hugged his chest with his small hands, his big eyes full of concern.

In Xiaobai Nuo's mind, great-grandfather was someone who, early in the story, went through a lot and eventually died early because of heart problems.

The little one, still startled, remembered his great-grandfather and looked up to ask.

Bai Yan paused for a moment.

He hadn't deliberately told the little cub about his heart condition, but he hadn't hidden it either.

And this cub was a very observant child.

Bai Yan looked at Xiaobai Nuo for a few seconds, then looked up again at the fireworks outside the window.

The sounds and lights that usually only bothered his ears and eyes now felt harmonious.

"Just a little firework, it's not enough to scare your great-grandfather. I'm very healthy now."

Don't underestimate the physical fitness of a fisherman!

The little one nodded, momentarily distracted by the fireworks, then remembered what he wanted to say and turned back seriously: "Then great-grandfather should stay healthy and never die."

No one would have accidents, so great-grandfather wouldn't either.

His little voice was very touching.

But.

Bai Yan: ...

Bai Qian: This blessing sounds familiar—and you, if you want to laugh, then laugh. Don't pinch me, Cen Zhi.

Bai Qian looked down at Cen Zhi's hand fiercely pinching his thigh, his usually expressionless face slightly twisted. Cen Liu, standing next to Cen Zhi, was shaking with suppressed laughter.

Bai Sheng paused, a small smile curling at the corners of his mouth; Bai Jingyun turned his head away; Bai Liang was frowning at his phone, occasionally glancing up at the fireworks. Hearing this, he looked over, still half-asleep; Bai Qi was leaning on the other sofa, not paying much attention to the outside fireworks, staring intently at the little cub.

No one laughed out loud, except—

"Hahahaha, 'never die' – what a great blessing! Grandpa, just go with it!"

Bai Yan: ...

Bai Yan raised his cane and, with a cold face, swung at Bai Jin's head.

"Laugh, will you? Laugh! Accept it, will you? Accept! Here, take it with your head!"

And that stupid fish you caught, huh—

To be fair, the old man's legs were still pretty agile, able to navigate various terrains by the reservoir.

Bai Jin: "Ow—Grandpa, what did I do?! Big bro laughed too, I saw him and couldn't help it—Ow—"

The little cub curiously peeked out, confused, then was gently pushed back down by his dad.

Bai Jingyun silently blocked the little one's view, his face expressionless, shielding him from the 'bloody and violent' scenes not suitable for minors.

"It's okay. Your uncle just needs a little discipline now and then."

Bai Jingyun said this in all seriousness.

Bai Liang instinctively laughed and said: "Hey, boss, didn't Xiao Wu say you laughed too?"

Bai Jingyun shot Bai Liang a glare, signaling the troublemaker to stay away from him.

Bai Qi cut in unexpectedly: "Bai Liang, aren't you the one who laughs the least? Grandpa, why don't you teach him a lesson too?"

Bai Liang leaned back, helplessly shrugged, and looked up at his sister: "Hey, hey, hey, aren't you more of a troublemaker than me?"

"Ah... no need to argue—" Cen Liu tried to mediate.

The Bai family is just like that.

Direct, provocative, love watching the drama, and inexplicably breaking into arguments.

Cen Zhi moved to sit on the other side of the sofa, watching the kid trying to figure out what was going on: "Pretty fireworks, huh? Actually, they put them on every year."

You see them year after year, even if the types change, sometimes you just feel meh about them.

But for a little kid, it's a whole different story.

"Do they do this every year?"

The little one lay in his dad's arms, looking at his grandmother.

"Then next year, can we do this too—" He traced a big circle with his little hand, even though today's fireworks hadn't ended yet, he was already looking forward to it. "Watch together?"

Cen Zhi was speechless...

Well, even if they put them on every year, it feels totally different with this little guy around.

After the fireworks ended, the Bai family members gradually walked out of the restaurant. Cen Zhi was still swooning from how adorable that was. She got into the car and sat next to Bai Qian, when she suddenly heard Bai Qian say in a very matter-of-fact way, typing on his phone: "Watch fireworks at this time annually."

Cen Zhi...

You're just as smitten with the cuteness, aren't you?!

And Xiaobai Nuo had already sent the recorded video to Yu Chuyan and the Xie twins.

The Xie twins had also been taken by their parents to watch fireworks and hadn't returned yet. Yu Chuyan didn't go along, and today Yu Chen had classes, followed by a meeting in the evening.

Lately, feeling the threat from him, the head of the Yu family, their father, Yu Chuang, had gone from not caring at first to increasingly targeting Yu Chen's business, especially after discovering that Yu Chen had reached several friendly collaborations with the Bai family. Yu Chen knew he had to be more on guard in all aspects.

So, recently, Yu Chen had been completely wiped out. The day before, taking Yu Chuyan to the night market was carved out of his four-hour sleep schedule.

Yu Chen had just stepped into the house and asked the servant where Yu Chuyan was. Upon learning he was in the toy room upstairs, Yu Chen nodded and headed up.

He was holding a small bag and pushed open the door.

He saw Yu Chuyan lying face down on a large beanbag, the Little Cool Guy glued to the tablet left for him.

"Why didn't you go see the fireworks with your two buddies?"

Yu Chen walked in and messed up Yu Chuyan's hair.

Yu Chuyan turned his head in displeasure and held up the tablet: "Brother, look, it's fireworks! Nono took it for me!"

Fireworks exploded on the screen, with the soft little kid's excited yell.

Yu Chen couldn't help but get sucked in, staring for a few seconds.

Meanwhile, Yu Chuyan had already gotten up and reached for the bag out of curiosity.

"Brother, what's this?"

"A cactus," Yu Chen said, full of confidence. I'm sure I can keep a cactus alive this time. "Wait, don't touch it—"

He said it too late.

The Little Cool Guy had already reached out with a serious face, then yelped.

"It really hurts that bad?!"

Yu Chen: !

"You knew it was prickly and still touched it!"

You little menace.

"Stop wrecking my plants, you hear?!"

Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to keep anything green alive?!

But in the end, Yu Chen had to storm off to get tweezers to pull the spines out of that little rascal. His gloomy, dead vibe completely vanished, replaced with just one thought: "Damn it, so damn frustrating! Stupid little brother!"

After the Bai family finished watching the fireworks, they had been back for a while. It was almost the little one's bedtime, but he was still wired and full of energy.

And Xiaobai Nuo wanted Cen Zhi to read him a picture book, so the whole loose-knit Bai family gathered again in the main building.

Halfway through the picture book, the little one heard sounds from the kitchen. With permission from his grandmother and father, the little cub, holding Dou Dou and telling Dou Dou all about the fireworks, followed Grandpa Butler toward the kitchen to see what goodies had been made.

He was already full, just had a craving. The Bai family indulged him. Though they limited snack feeding, they still let him have a bite or two to satisfy his sweet tooth.

So when Bai Qian finished handling company matters and came downstairs, he looked around but couldn't find the little one.

"He's in the kitchen. Some little pumpkin cakes are being steamed," Cen Zhi said to Bai Qian.

Watching Bai Qian nod, he walked toward the kitchen.

When Bai Qian entered, he saw the little one holding an orange cake smaller than his palm, blowing on it, and taking a small bite.

Hearing the sound, Xiaobai Nuo looked up and saw his grandfather. He chewed hard, swallowed the small piece, and curiously asked, "Grandpa, what are you doing here?"

The little one walked over and gestured, "Nono is only eating a little bit. I won't eat too much!"

Bai Qian had indeed just instinctively come over after hearing where the little one was. He didn't know how to answer the little cub's question.

The little one seemed to have an inspiration: "Could it be that Grandpa is craving too? No, no, Grandpa! Did you forget the promise with Nono? The doctor uncle said Grandpa can't eat anything at this time anymore!"

Grandpa promised Nono to listen to the doctor uncle.

Bai Qian felt a mix of amusement and helplessness as he crouched down.

But before he could speak, he saw the little one thinking for a moment, then raising the pumpkin cake in his hand high. The soft, sweet pumpkin filling had a milky smell. The little one said, "Grandpa, if you really want some, you can just take a sniff."

Looking at the sincere little cub.

Bai Qian: "...Grandpa says thank you."

Author's note:

Bai Qian: Look at that kid, just look at him.

Kid: Got it. Grandpa wants some too. Nono gets it, but Grandpa can't eat, so I'll let you have a sniff, Grandpa. Nono is so smart!

Bai Qian: "..."