Chapter 82

Chapter 82

The reality is that holding is out of the question.

Having heard that the little one usually wakes up early, Cen Liu waited for a long time until he saw the father and son come downstairs after washing up.

This pair truly was father and son—one carrying the kid with one hand, lazily walking down, the other holding onto Daddy’s neck with one hand while clutching a small monitor with the other. Both yawned in sync.

Cen Zhi and Cen Liu, looking up the stairs, couldn’t help but think: forget the big guy, the little one’s adorable.

Xiaobai Nono struggled to keep Dou Dou secure under his arm, then rubbed his eyes, still a bit drowsy.

“Grandma? Cousin? Nono got up late today.”

Usually when they saw the little guy, he was full of energy. Seeing him with soft, drowsy little arms and hands like this was a rare, special state.

Cen Liu couldn’t help rubbing his hands together, trying to hold back: “No problem, no problem. Did Nono sleep enough? You can come sleep in cousin’s arms.”

He couldn’t hold back at all.

Bai Sheng, as he passed the sofa where the other was sitting with the kid in his arms, couldn’t resist giving the sofa leg a light kick.

Xiaobai Nono, rubbing his eyes, shook his head.

“Nono is awake now.”

At breakfast, Cen Zhi and Cen Liu had already eaten before coming.

But watching the little one eat so heartily, they couldn’t help eating a little more themselves.

“Why did you come so early?”

Watching Xiaobai Nono happily went off to play with Grandma, Bai Sheng couldn’t resist giving Cen Liu a light kick.

To be honest, Bai Sheng wasn’t very familiar with Cen Liu in the past.

The one who knew Cen Liu better was Bai Liang. Bai Sheng’s most frequent interactions with him were during their initial mutual dislike and fights, but later Cen Liu realized he couldn’t beat him and would easily get pummeled, so he slunk away.

As adults, their fields were different, and they had even less interaction. Now, strangely, they felt an odd familiarity.

Bai Sheng would call this an instinctive wariness of ‘kidnappers.’

Besides, didn’t Cen Liu say yesterday he was coming to check on Bai Jin’s condition?

Bai Jin was still in the hospital and hadn’t returned yet. Showing up this early in the morning—Bai Sheng had reason to suspect his motives.

Cen Liu smiled and scratched his head.

“I just came early to check on things. My cousin’s gland issue is a big problem for an alpha; it needs to be taken seriously. Besides, Nono was also hurt, so I wanted to see him first.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Cen Liu instinctively looked over.

He watched Bai Sheng open the door and bring in a large cardboard box.

“What’s that?”

Cen Liu leaned over to watch Bai Sheng unwrap it, a bit curious.

It looked like a big picture frame.

“A painting by Nono.”

Bai Sheng said, quickly placing the painting Xiaobai Nono had painted last night into the frame, then had someone hang it on the wall of the playroom.

Xiaobai Nono had drawn some little flowers and birds following a sample from kindergarten the day before.

The brushstrokes were childlike, but he had carefully colored it.

A tiny painting inside a huge frame.

It didn’t look out of place; instead, it gave off a sense of childlike vitality.

And that feeling was really amusing, as if the rigid, serious adult had earnestly found the best way he could think of to preserve that childishness.

Bai Sheng looked at it with satisfaction, then called the little one, who was playing with Grandma, over.

The little guy was confused for a moment, then hugged his daddy’s leg and said softly, “Such a big frame, Daddy.”

Then he hid his little face in his hands. “Nono didn’t draw it well. It’s Nono’s first drawing.”

In kindergarten, the little one had only used crayons for coloring before. This was the first time he had actually finished a painting from scratch.

Cen Liu stared at the painting for a while, rubbed the tip of his nose, then discreetly looked around the room.

The Cens and the Bais had always taken different paths. The Bai family had always been strong in tech, focused on theory and results—which was of course good for corporate development and progress.

But because of this, Cen Liu always felt that the Bai family lacked liveliness, had no artistic sense, and were short on romance.

But raising a child seemed to change that.

Looking at the traces of the little one’s life left around, it made him feel that even Bai Sheng had started to enjoy life.

Cen Liu couldn’t help shuddering at the thought.

Bai Sheng had already picked up the kid: “It’s fine, we won’t show it to anyone else.”

Then he started shooing everyone out.

Bai Sheng closed the door and looked down at the kid hiding in his arms: “So, do you want to cover it up?”

The little one snuggled against his daddy, looking up to meet his eyes, then wrapped his arms around his daddy’s neck and shook his head. Though suddenly shy about seeing it, Nono’s eyes sparkled.

That was the look of a child who felt valued.

Ah, so adorable.

Cen Liu, who had been kicked out, stared at the closed door for a long time.

Suddenly, an idea hit him.

“Since he’s so good at painting, how about his singing?”

Cen Liu leaned in curiously.

Come on, come on, break that stereotype for your cousin that the Bai family has no artistic talent!

The little guy blinked, looking confused.

A few moments later,

They were in the play area, listening to the little guy's soft, off-key singing.

Cen Liu smiled and clapped, listening with a straight face.

Yep, classic Bai family — absolutely no musical talent!

Cen Zhi, on the other side, was laughing as she listened.

But still cute — come here, Nono, let your cousin hold you!

Cen Liu reached out, trying to grab the little guy.

Realizing he wasn't good at singing and feeling frustrated, the little cub jumped up and ran off to his dad — pitter-patter — Nono didn't want to hang with his cousin anymore.

Bai Sheng casually pushed Cen Liu aside and checked the time.

“Do you want to watch a cartoon?”

“Mm-hmm.”

The little guy nodded.

His dad took him to watch a kids' educational video.

Xiaobai Nuo knew almost nothing about how this world worked, so Bai Sheng specifically found science cartoons for kids.

The little guy scrolled through the options in his dad's arms and finally pointed at one.

The little guy was sharp with a great memory—he'd already learned a lot of characters from picture books. Bai Sheng raised an eyebrow at the video he'd picked.

“You wanna watch the one about the critters in the little river?”

This kid was terrified of any kind of water.

“Mm-hmm.”

The little cub nodded vigorously.

I mean, being scared forever isn't great, right?

Even though Xiaobai Nuo could still clearly remember struggling and sinking underwater.

But—

The little guy looked up at his father.

“Dad said yesterday, 'Dad will hold on to Nono.'”

If Nono falls in again, Dad will hold on to Nono.

So Nono can feel confident enough to try and not be so scared.

The little guy could already snuggle into his dad's arms naturally, and said softly, with the certainty of a cherished kid: “Because Dad is very important to Nono, and Nono is also very important to Dad.”

Bai Sheng subtly blocked the 'kidnapper' behind him from seeing, tapped the video to play, then rested his chin on his hand and lazily flicked the little one's curls.

Although there was a lot about Xiaobai Nuo's stress reactions he still didn't get, one thing was clear.

“Yeah.”

That's how a kid should think.

After lunch, the car that came to pick up Bai Jin stopped at the entrance of his place.

The assistant opened the car door for him.

Bai Jin coughed twice and got out, looking irritated.

Even though his gland was still developing, he was already an adult alpha, so of course he didn't need anyone visiting him in the hospital.

But he insisted on waiting until after the injection to wash off the smell.

The whole situation—and the humiliation—made him extra irritable.

Plus he was running a fever from the side effects, and would probably be dizzy for a week or so.

This made Bai Jin, who already had a short temper, look even grumpier.

He stretched his stiff joints a bit, looked down, and glanced at his phone.

“Fifth Master, we need to…”

Before the assistant could finish speaking, Bai Jin waved his hand; his voice was a bit hoarse.

“Don’t follow me.”

“Okay.”

Bai Jin took a couple steps forward, then suddenly stopped and turned around, giving a sinister laugh.

“Oh, right, put together a map of that guy's connections and send it to me.”

Bai Jin spoke slowly and deliberately, sending chills down their spines.

“I remember, that guy surnamed Fang, he hangs out with Yu An and his group, right?”

Even though he couldn't compete with the older siblings because of his age, Bai Jin had always had smooth sailing outside the Bai family. Now he'd taken a major hit for the first time.

Should he cut them some slack since there were no serious consequences?

Bai Jin was still holding a paper bag, his expression dark, thinking: 'Depends on my mood.'

“Okay.”

The assistant responsible for managing Bai Jin's clubs and various assets replied.

He watched Bai Jin go inside, and the door closed.

He let out a small sigh of relief. Dealing with a top-tier alpha who was always in a foul mood was just too stressful.

He got in the car and exchanged a look with the driver.

“Hanging out with the Yu family now?”

“The Yu family really got unlucky running into that crazy guy.”

“Not bad. If the other party had succeeded, Yu An, that heir with no competition, would probably be in real trouble.”

Given Bai Jin’s nasty habit of putting others down, he still let Yu An save face.

Inside the room, Bai Jin placed the bag by the bedside and threw himself onto the bed irritably.

He exhaled, aware of his awful state—even his breath felt scorching.

It was only thanks to an alpha’s strong constitution that he could just power through this.

Bai Jin tossed his phone aside, too lazy to deal with the apologies and concerns coming in from various people.

“Ah…”

He pulled the blanket over his head.

“Having this happen in front of that little guy—how embarrassing is that?”

Bai Jin muttered as he drifted off to sleep.

Because of the fever, his sleep quality was poor, but he was too groggy to wake up.

He felt like he was being tossed about on giant waves, occasionally glimpsing images that seemed dragged from his imagination.

There was that time on Chestnut Mountain when the little guy was crying, and the time he ran toward Cen Zhi and Cen Liu under falling rocks.

There was also that day at the school gate, when he lifted the little guy high up, and that stubborn cub snatched off his hat without hesitation, trying to cover his nose with it.

And then… that tiny, pale cub curled up in a small corner, hugging himself tight.

Such a small cub, with no one else around.

Where the hell was his third brother?

You mean to tell me you didn’t even pick him up when he was huddled up so pitifully?!

“Huh? Looks like a nightmare.”

“He won’t wake up even when you poke his face? Isn’t his vigilance a bit too low?”

“Having an incident during gland stabilization—Xiao Wu is the first in the Bai family, right?”

“Poor guy, haha.”

“Sounds like you’re having fun.”

What was that noise?

Struggling to separate reality from dream, Bai Jin finally forced his eyes open as a bunch of people pestered him.

The curtains were drawn, so the room wasn’t bright. By his bed stood one, two, three, four… people?

Cen Liu was poking his cheek, Cen Zhi was pulling his hair, Bai Sheng leaned against the wall, and Bai Liang watched with an amused grin, fanning the flames.

When they saw his eyes open, the whole family crowded around with an expression that said, “Oh, you’re awake.”

Bai Jin: …

Am I still in the land of the living?

What kind of hellish painting is this?

I must still be asleep, still in a dream.

Bai Jin closed his eyes again, trying to escape reality.

Then his cheek was gently touched, and Xiaobai Nuo’s voice exclaimed in awe, “Daddy, Uncle is so hot! Why isn’t he responding? Will Uncle burn to death? Can’t we cool him down?”

Bai Jin: …

Bai Jin’s eyes snapped open.

You really are a good nephew, little man!

“He won’t burn to death. It’s just a low fever. It’ll be over in a few days.”

Bai Jin croaked, sounding annoyed.

He propped himself up and looked at the little one lying beside the bed.

The kid was too short—when everyone else had leaned in earlier, he hadn’t even noticed the little cub crouched by the bed.

Xiaobai Nuo blinked and pulled his little hand back.

“Uncle, don’t burn to death. Nuonuo will share his ice cream with you.”

Xiaobai Nuo was completely serious, and Bai Jin was left speechless again by that little remark.

Bai Jin rubbed his forehead, switched on the main light, and looked at the others.

“Who let you in? Do those people outside want to get themselves fired?”

“You’re sick, you know. If we don’t check on you often, something might happen again.”

Cen Zhi sat on the edge of the bed, chuckling.

“How did Nuonuo put it?”

“Uncle, he’s fragile.”

The little cub piped up helpfully.

That got laughs from the others.

Bai Liang yawned, looking like he’d been up for a while, dark circles under his eyes.

He smiled too.

“Hospitals can only do so much. I came to see if you have any adverse reactions.”

“I heard you took a long time to come home after leaving the hospital?”

Cen Zhi’s tone grew a bit more serious.

“Don’t go out these next few days while you’re running a fever.”

Bai Jin just grunted in response to Ms. Cen Zhi, propping himself up with his messy black hair sticking up, feeling like a monkey in a zoo.

But…

He looked at the tiny little kid, twitched his lips, then stood up a bit irritably.

He shuffled in his slippers to a large bookshelf, reached out, took down a bag, and shoved it into Xiaobai Nuo's arms.

Then he also shoved the paper bag from the table into Xiaobai Nuo's hands.

Feeling embarrassed, his tone was still a bit stiff.

"Here."

What is it?

The tiny little one looked down at what his uncle had stuffed into his arms.

He blinked and opened it.

Then he first saw the delicate woven rattan bear inside.

It felt different from a plush bear, and still had a faint fragrance of the woven material.

All parts were smoothly polished, so there was no worry about hurting Xiaobai Nuo.

"Bear, and—"

Bai Jin just helped the little one take out another item from the paper bag.

"The little strawberries you wanted."

Bai Jin had previously asked the school's cooking club to help make two strawberry-shaped cakes. When he left the hospital today, he made a detour to the school and took them directly from the club's activity room. Bai Jin still looked that way.

"Although it's a rattan bear, mainly for display, since you like bears, I'll just set it up for you, and the strawberries—"

"Uncle!"

The little one's eyes sparkled as he looked at the little strawberries, then hugged the bear.

Bai Jin's words were suddenly cut off. He stared blankly at the little one pressing his face against the rattan bear. In the dim room, the little one seemed to glow.

"The bear's bow tie is also woven. Nono likes this bear."

The little one hugged the bear and looked longingly at the little strawberries.

"Uncle even brought back the little strawberries. Uncle is amazing. Can uncle really roll a seven?"

Bai Jin: ...

That wasn't about rolling a seven.

But Bai Jin looked at the little one's joyful expression and touched his nose.

Forget it, it didn't matter, as long as the little one knew that his uncle kept his word.

Then Bai Jin heard Cen Liu's voice beside him.

"So cute, let me hold him."

Bai Jin: ?

Bai Jin just turned to look, and saw Bai Sheng skillfully picking up the little one, while Cen Liu, charmed by Nono snuggling with the bear, ended up hugging empty air and let out a dejected sigh.

Bai Jin: ...

To be honest.

"What exactly are you here for?"

The heartbroken cousin ultimately failed to hold the little one. After sighing, he looked up at Bai Jin.

Cen Liu reflected for a moment — what was I here for today anyway?

He had done so many things with the little one that Cen Liu almost forgot. Oh, right!

"Seeing that you're fine, I'm relieved. I came to check on you."

Bai Jin: ...You clearly only remembered that at the very end, right?!

"Anyway," Cen Liu patted his shoulder and smiled, "You really gave Auntie a scare. As long as you're fine, get some good rest, cousin."

Bai Jin glanced again at the little one who was holding the rattan bear and still wanted to share his ice cream with him.

He thought: Of course, I've been certified as a 'big villain.'

The next day at kindergarten, the little one was sent to school early by his family.

And the Bai family members also learned a piece of news.

This weekend, on Children's Day, Canghua Kindergarten will hold a parent-child activity, inviting available parents to participate.

Mainly it's a sports day with prizes, various job role-playing, and making some food to share in the afternoon.

Generally speaking, the Bai family has no interest in such things.

The Bai family rarely participates in parent-child activities.

But the current situation is different.

In the group chat renamed by Cen Zhi as "Loving One Family," they were going back and forth.

Bai Jingyun: I'm free this weekend. Bai San probably has a project to discuss.

Bai Jin: I'm resting all this week!

Bai Liang: Haha, the fragile guy who keeps having a fever—he's banned from going out.

Bai Jin: ...Want to fight?

Bai Liang: Now? I think you can't beat me.

Bai Jin: #&%!

Cen Zhi: No swearing.

Bai Sheng: ? I'm free.

Bai Qi: I can make time.

Cen Zhi: Don't argue. Otherwise, let the grandparents take him.

Bai Jingyun: Dad's health is not good. What prizes can he win at the sports day? Of course, if we compete, we must win.

Bai Qian: ?

Bai Sheng: I'm free.

Cen Zhi: I guess that's true.

Bai Sheng: I'm free!!!

Cen Zhi: Looks like someone's words drifted off.

As always, completely unreasonable.

Bai Sheng squinted at the group chat.

He put away his phone and waited at the kindergarten gate for the little one to finish school.

Xiaobai Nuo was chatting with his little friends.

"Little cakes? Little buns? Can children make them too?"

He had only helped the uncles and aunties making pastries at home before. Dad told him the kitchen is dangerous and kids shouldn't mess around. Nono is a good kid.

"Just need to let the dough rise and shape it, right? Baking bread is for adults."

Xie Qing said.

"Mixing the ingredients together—isn't that the same as when we made drinks for Dad before?"

Xie Yue also nodded.

"I can help Nono pass the ingredients."

At dismissal time, Yu Chuyan held Xiaobai Nuo's hand. The kindergarten children lined up, like little buns with assorted fillings, and trotted out.

Xiaobai Nuo hummed in response, and his small free hand clenched into a fist.

"Then Nono will try first at home. For Children's Day, I need to do it better."

This was the little one's first Children's Day.

As the little one was saying this, he saw his father.

Xiaobai Nuo let out a "wow" and raised his little hands high to be picked up by his father.

Xie Yu also collected his two energetic cubs, listening to them eagerly say that the teacher told them there would be a sports meet, and this time they must get first place.

Xie Yu: ...

Xie Yu looked up again at Bai Sheng beside him.

It was already troublesome enough to get one first place, but now take first place from Bai Sheng?

That's quite an ambitious thought.

When he recommended this kindergarten to this guy Bai Sheng before, why didn't he think of this?!

My life is so hard.

Xie Yu's face fell.

Just then he heard Xiaobai Nuo softly say in Bai Sheng's ear: "Dad, Nono will go back and make little buns for Dad to eat. The teacher gave out a picture book that teaches Nono how to make little buns."

Xie Yu, holding his three cubs: ...

Haha, his cubs only discuss what fillings can be stuffed into the little buns.

... Life is even harder.

"Today?"

Bai Sheng carried the little one, who had said goodbye to the others, and walked back.

"That works too, it's still early."

Bai Sheng carried the little one into the car, thinking about that group's discussion, and then looked at Xiaobai Nuo in his arms.

The newbie dad leaned back in his seat with satisfaction.

Argue all you want, no matter how much you argue, this is still his cub.

Bai Sheng listened to the little one chattering in his ear about everything that happened today.

He and his dad seemed to have endless things to share. Bai Sheng wasn't sure if he had experienced so many interesting things when he was little.

And at the end, he would add one more sentence.

"Nono missed Dad a lot today too!"

Bai Sheng responded.

From the initial awkwardness, he had gradually become proficient.

"Dad missed you today too."

That was true.

The little one was a very proactive kid. After saying he would try making little buns first, he followed Grandpa Butler as soon as he got home.

He was also holding Dou Dou. While telling Grandpa Butler what ingredients he needed, whenever he came across words or pictures he didn't know, he'd ask Dou Dou to explain them.

He was tiny, and when he said in his milky voice that he wanted to make little buns, it was so adorable. The kitchen chef even found a small chef's hat and put it on the little one's head.

The little picture book made it look very simple. The little one looked at the several things placed in front of him, blinked his eyes, and was going to pour the flour, milk, eggs... all together, then mix them evenly.

The little one looked at his own hands, then looked at the mixed ingredients.

Bai Sheng was still leaning by the kitchen door watching.

At first, the little one imitated the kitchen staff who were plating dishes and put on a disposable glove.

He was being very serious.

To make little buns for Dad, he had to be particular.

But his hands were small, and the glove was very big. Xiaobai Nuo tried it at first, then looked dazedly at the glove that was about to stick to the ingredients, puzzled why the glove behaved differently on Nono's hand than on adults'. Why wouldn't the glove obey? The little one turned back to look at Dad, then at the aunties and uncles around him. He puffed his cheeks.

Then Bai Sheng watched as the little one took off the glove, pushed it aside, and chose to use his hands directly, while muttering to himself in a milky voice to convince himself: "It's okay, it's okay, Dad can."

Not being so particular is also fine.

Bai Sheng: ...

Particular, but only a little.