Chapter 104

Chapter 104

This guy is already annoying enough, and he just snagged a Nono for free—where's the justice in that?

The more I think about it, the madder I get—if you ask me, that research institute has zero taste! Those remnants who escaped better hide for the rest of their lives and never show their faces again, period!

The anger they've built up from Bai Sheng is no joke.

Show your face, and you're toast.

Cen Zhi looked around, and the more she compared, the more ticked off she got. She couldn't help but step on Bai Jin's foot beside her.

Bai Jin looked down: '...?'

"...Ow!"

…

Over there, Little Bai Nuo had finished his cake and cleaned up. He climbed down from his dad's arms, lifted Dou Dou up high, and told his first 'little friend' here that tomorrow he was going to take him to the aquarium to see the fish.

With this kid around, the house is never quiet.

Of course, that feeling isn't annoying at all.

Bai Jin picked up his game console and tried out a new character he'd been hyped about for a while, but he wasn't really feeling it. He set the console down and looked back at the kid.

"Still wanna go see the flowers?"

Little Bai Nuo, holding Dou Dou, looked over and nodded. "Yes, I want to see them."

"Then let's go."

Bai Jin tossed the game console aside, and seeing Bai Jingyun not far away stand up too, he raised an eyebrow and looked at Bai Sheng.

Bai Sheng was in the middle of his next job. He paused. "Nono, you go ahead. I'll finish this and be right there."

Since they were just moving around inside the old Bai mansion, with someone keeping an eye on them, Bai Sheng wasn't too worried about anything happening. Besides, he could still check the cameras. Right now, he just wanted to finish all his work early so he could go to the aquarium with the little one tomorrow.

The little guy thought for a moment. He stood on his tiptoes to look at his busy dad. Then his dad ruffled his hair. The little cub glanced out the window at the climbing orange-red flowers, and the wisteria trellis in the distance, which had withered in the peak of summer. But in this weather, there were still plenty of flowers blooming in the courtyard.

So the little one spoke up.

"Then can Nono pick some flowers and bring them back for Daddy?"

Bai Sheng looked over.

"Have someone else pick and cut them for you. Don't use scissors yourself."

"Mm-hmm!"

Little Bai Nuo nodded hard.

Even though Little Bai Nuo often played by himself in the front garden in the morning while waiting for his dad to get up, for Bai Jingyun and Bai Jin, this was something they rarely saw.

Bai Sheng wasn't tagging along with his kid?

Grandpa, who had been sick and had barely come out to work, staying quietly on the sidelines without saying much, also stood up and got ready to go. And then the group started quietly fighting over who would stand next to the little one—oh, Cen Zhi had already snagged one side, so there was only one spot left.

Bai Jingyun and Bai Jin kept shoving each other aside, each taking the spot for a bit, with Grandpa occasionally squeezing in without a word.

They were so casual about it that Little Bai Nuo didn't really notice. His attention was soon drawn elsewhere.

The garden design of the old Bai mansion was, of course, top-tier.

Beyond the usual rock formations, the greenery inside the garden was carefully planned and maintained with a lot of effort.

Although Ang City was in the northern part of China, where winters were cold and hardly any flowers bloomed at all, they had managed to create an area where flowers could be seen in every season, with different blooms each season, and the plant varieties were updated every year.

After the wisteria trellis withered, the white-and-orange rose arch next to it was blooming like crazy. Trumpet vines usually climbed along the walls, and occasionally you could see a wall of pink roses. Next to that were big patches of hydrangeas, dahlias, and low-growing zinnias spread across the ground. Further off, you could see a small sunflower field. The colors of these flowers were even more vivid in the cloudy weather.

With the fresh smell after the rain and the cool breeze, there was a special comfort that broke the usual routine.

Little Bai Nuo liked everything he saw. He tugged at his grandmother's clothes and carefully picked the prettiest flowers for his dad. Soon, a small bunch was gathered in his hands.

The adults looked on. They didn't have any special feelings about the weather or the scene.

But Bai Jin remembered something.

"You really like it? Your great-grandfather's place is almost done. You can go check it out then. I heard he's moved all his plants over. Oh, and he made a small fish pond, but it's a bit out of the way. You don't have to go if you don't like fish ponds."

The little one was just accepting the flowers his grandmother handed him.

He blinked.

A fish pond? Nono remembered the adults saying that fish ponds are easier to catch fish in than reservoirs.

"Then Great-Grandpa can catch fish again, right?"

The little one's focus was clearly not on what Bai Jin had been trying to say. He spoke happily instead.

"Will that make Great-Grandpa happier usually?"

If Great-Grandpa's mood improves, the chance of something bad happening might go down, right?

Bai Jin paused, looking at the little guy. "...Was I asking you to focus on that?"

And he also had to find time to pick up his second brother, who loved watching the fun, from work. He rested his hands on his knees and looked at the little one, muttering softly, "Why don't you come pick me up from school?"

"Because Little Uncle is on vacation."

Little Bai Nuo blinked and smiled.

"When Little Uncle goes back to school, Nono will pick him up."

Leave it to Nono. Nono gets out of school early. Whatever others have, Nono's villain family must have it too.

The wind blew, making the large, light pink gradient dahlia quiver slightly. In his arms, he held mostly large, pink-blue hydrangeas, looking as if they were blooming right from his embrace.

Bai Jin: ...

Bai Jin reached out and suddenly lifted the little one high, like holding a bouquet.

He laughed brightly and freely. This time, he lifted him slowly, giving the little one time to adjust. "I never said you had to come pick me up."

He just liked doing things Little Bai Nuo wouldn't expect. For him, the thrill of stimulation and challenge brought excitement and adrenaline. Of course, he wouldn't take the little one into dangerous activities, but he also wanted the little cub to feel what he felt—a little excitement now and then is a kind of fun.

"Wow!!"

Little Bai Nuo hugged his flowers tightly, letting out little cries of delight, but his eyes were sparkling, and he kept shouting.

"Uncle, you're bad!"

"Be careful, don't drop him!"

Cen Zhi was the first to lose it, reaching out to protect Xiaobai Nuo.

Bai Qian didn't say a word, but had already raised his foot, ready to kick as soon as Cen Zhi grabbed Xiaobai Nuo down.

Bai Jingyun stepped aside and prepared to finish him off.

In short, with everyone working together, Xiaobai Nuo was caught by Grandma and placed back on the ground, while Bai Jin successfully face-planted.

—He dodged his father's kick but not his elder brother's.

Bai Jin, who had been holed up at home gaming through an unstable period, was still thinking: What the hell? Since when did you guys have such a coordinated combo?!

Xiaobai Nuo poked his little head out to look at his uncle, originally wanting to reach out and touch him, but after thinking about it, he poked him with a flower branch instead.

Bai Jin, not minding the dirty floor, simply made himself comfortable. At that moment, before he could speak, he saw Bai Sheng coming out of the house.

Oh, the 'big boss' is here.

Bai Jin was just thinking that when he suddenly felt a bit puzzled.

Why did it feel like his third brother was moving faster and faster... as if he was about to get right in front of him in no time?

No illusion.

Because Bai Jin heard another set of footsteps rapidly approaching behind him.

He turned around and saw Cen Liu charging over with a creepy uncle-like grin.

"Nono Nono Nono!!! Uncle Cen is here!!! Uncle Cen hug—"

Uncle Cen hugged air.

Bai Sheng, who had scooped up his own kid at the last second, seemed to sigh with relief.

He looked at Cen Liu, then at the car behind him.

He stared at Cen Liu with a look that screamed, 'You're a child trafficker, aren't you?'

Cen Liu: ... "What's wrong with a hug?! Am I going to grab Nono and drive off?"

Bai Jin rolled over and stood up, staring at his cousin in disbelief.

You actually said that out loud!

So the chance of him just grabbing the kid and driving off is definitely not zero, right?!

The other members of the Bai family all looked at Cen Liu, and even Cen Zhi couldn't help twitching the corner of her mouth.

Scary!

We almost had a 'kidnapper' right in our home.

Bai Sheng lowered his head to look at his cub, who still didn't understand what was happening.

Then he pointed at Cen Liu and asked Nono to say who he was.

"Nono, look who this is?"

"It's Uncle Cen!"

The little one answered right away.

Then Dad shook his head.

"He's a bad guy who steals little kids."

Xiaobai Nuo: "Huh?"

Cen Liu: ...

"Don't teach him like that!!!"

The adults suddenly got loud and rowdy.

Xiaobai Nuo looked around, then flashed a big smile and showed his father the big bunch of flowers in his arms.

"Daddy, Nono picked the prettiest ones to show you. Grandma said if we put them in a vase at home, we can enjoy them for a long time."

Bai Sheng looked at his cub, whose face was partly hidden by the flowers, making him look even paler and cuter, with bright and clear eyes.

Bai Sheng couldn't be bothered with the arguing behind him, so he carried the cub back inside and replied.

"Mm, then we'll get the butler to find you a nice vase when we go back."

...

In the end, Cen Liu still couldn't successfully hug the little cub. It was already after dinner, and as darkness fell, he glared at Bai Sheng through gritted teeth.

Finally, looking defiant but knowing he couldn't beat Bai Sheng in a fight, he insisted on pulling out the strategic board games they used to play as kids to settle things.

Back in the day, they mostly just fought directly; they rarely played these games seriously. As a kid, he even avoided Bai Sheng for ages because Bai Sheng had thrashed him so hard, let alone playing board games with him.

In response, although Bai Sheng's work was done for the day and he could focus on reading picture books with the little one in the evening, he felt his time wasn't meant to be wasted on this bunch. Besides, Cen Liu was the oldest but super childish. He tried to refuse, but unexpectedly the others seemed a bit eager to try.

Bai Sheng: ?

Are you guys crazy?

Bai Jingyun sat down and shared a look with Cen Liu.

He'd already admitted he wasn't going to butt heads with Bai Sheng anymore, so what's one more admission—that they were all crazy?

Bai Jingyun looked up and eyed Bai Sheng: "You scared to play?"

Bai Sheng: "Hmph."

A taunt?

"What's that? Daddy, what is this?"

The little one was laying out the flowers from his arms on a mat on the floor, with some vases filled with pre-mixed nutrient solution in front of him, and now looked over curiously.

Bai Sheng looked at his cub—in his cub's heart, Dad is the greatest.

Even a board game like this, which is a bit complicated and involves some calculations, designed to help energetic kids burn off energy, was no exception.

Bai Sheng sat down.

"Bring it on."

This type of board game was still too complicated for Xiaobai Nuo.

He sat beside Grandma, following her as she plucked the leaves off the flowers one by one, then handed them to her to cut diagonally, and gestured toward the vase, looking on with a confused expression.

Nono didn't understand, but it seemed like Uncle had been eliminated.

The little one clapped his hands enthusiastically. "So amazing!"

Even though he didn't get it, that didn't stop him from shouting "amazing."

Bai Jin, who had been eliminated: ...What's so amazing about it?

Amazing that they all teamed up to kick me out first?

Did I really have that much of a target on my back? Shouldn't they be ganging up on Third Brother instead?!

As it turned out, compared to someone formidable, it was Bai Jin—the "time bomb" who acted on whims—who needed to be cleared out first.

Then they focused fire on Bai Sheng.

Of course, that caused Bai Sheng no small trouble.

At that moment, Cen Liu waved a stack of supply vouchers, showing his true colors. "Third cousin, let me hold Nuo, and I'll help you take down Big Cousin."

Xiaobai Nuo instinctively stood up, blinking.

But Bai Sheng quickly calculated in his head, not even looking up, and even smiled. "No way. Want one? Have your own."

Did he even need to think about choosing between supply vouchers and the little one?

No, he didn't.

Besides, he felt like things were about to get a bit easier for him.

Cen Liu: ...

Sure enough, Bai Jingyun turned around, looking confused: ??

Weren't we all supposed to be ganging up on Bai Sheng?

Everyone had their own motives, and the friendly alliance fell apart.

In the end, the crumbling alliance of Cen Liu and Bai Jingyun was outmaneuvered by Bai Sheng one after the other.

Cen Liu slammed the table, cursing, "How the hell is your brain wired?"

How could one person have such a strong presence, such an irritating personality, such a sharp mind, and still have such a cute kid?!

And all he wanted was a simple invite for his dear nephew to come over—without even getting a chance.

Damn heavens, do you see any fairness in this?!

Bai Sheng gave a contemptuous smirk, tossing aside all his props.

He said that if anyone still wasn't convinced, they could settle it in the training room.

Then he picked up his little one, looking at the flowers Xiaobai Nuo had arranged. The little guy wrapped his arms around his father's neck. He hadn't understood the game, but that didn't stop him from being thrilled that his dad had won.

"Nono told you—Dad is super amazing!"

Nono's dad was the best dad in the world.

Just like Dad had told Nono before—Dad could do anything!

Bai Sheng, having successfully maintained his image as an amazing dad, was in a good mood.

"Let's go. We need to get up early tomorrow. Time to go home and sleep."

"Okay!"

Xiaobai Nuo responded, hugging Dou Dou and picking up a small vase to take home. Then the little one looked around the activity room and said goodbye to each person in turn.

Bai Qian was still recovering and wasn't in the activity room. Cen Zhi was putting on a face mask.

Also in the room were Bai Jingyun, Bai Jin, and Cen Liu.

The three watched as Bai Sheng, having put on a big show in front of the little one, carried his son toward the door. They could still hear the little guy's voice.

"...Why are you so happy? Because Dad won! And because Dad chose Nono."

The little one had rarely been chosen without hesitation before, so of course he was happy now, even if it was just a game.

"Dad chose Nono. Nono can fold paper to support Dad and get lots and lots of stuff."

The little one's voice was soft and babyish.

But relying on paper folding... wouldn't you starve? Bai Sheng, how could you let a little kid fold paper to support you?!

Everyone thought this as they watched the father-son duo walk away.

Cen Liu stretched and stood up. "I should get going too. I've got to work early tomorrow."

After soaking up Nono energy, he felt alive again—ready to work.

Meanwhile, Bai Jin muttered something under his breath. "I think I have a pretty high sense of deservingness too."

He could support him too!

Cen Zhi: ?

"Aren't you just thick-skinned?"

Bai Jin: ..."Mom!"

The next morning.

The little one woke up early. Today, he had the important job of waking up Dad. He hugged Dou Dou, watched the time, and started calling Dad to wake up right on schedule.

He was a precise little human alarm clock.

Bai Sheng yawned, helped the little one wash up, and then dressed him.

Since they were going to the aquarium, he wore a T-shirt with little fish on it, gray shorts, and little sandals. It was cloudy outside—it might drizzle at some point—so Bai Sheng also prepared a small transparent umbrella for Xiaobai Nuo. The little one had a small children's camera hanging around his neck.

After breakfast, the little one happily said goodbye to Grandma Feng, held onto Dad's clothes, and headed out.

The aquarium was located on the outskirts of Ang City, a fair distance from the city center.

They had to leave early, so it wasn’t Bai Sheng’s usual waking and eating time.

Since nothing had happened to stir up his alpha emotions, Bai Sheng seemed less energetic, like a giant monster woken from his sleep by his cub, lazily trailing behind the little one as he made his rounds, letting his cub use his authority to intimidate others.

He yawned lazily, watching the sparkle in Xiaobai Nuo's eyes.

“That excited?”

“Because I haven’t seen my brothers in so long!”

The little guy looked up at his dad, waiting to be picked up and put in the car.

As he was lifted, the cub snuggled into his dad.

“And I get to go out and play with Dad again!”

“Yeah, Dad does too.”

Bai Sheng strapped the cub into his seat, only realizing after he said it—

Some words were easier for him to say now.

At the Yu household.

Yu Chuyan was originally supposed to go with Yu Chen’s assistant.

But early that morning, Yu Chen rushed back and got in the car with his little brother.

Lately, Yu Chuang had been making a lot of trouble, acting as if Yu Chuyan was his son and couldn’t be kept from seeing him forever.

Yu Chen was worried something might happen to Yu Chuyan, so he hurried through his tasks, feeling that for outings like this, he had to keep an eye on things himself.

Before the car started, Yu Chen fastened Yu Chuyan's seatbelt, then rubbed his temples, looking tired.

Though he didn’t want to admit it, a beta really didn’t have an alpha's stamina.

Yu Chuyan looked at his brother, his naturally cool little face tense, clearly upset.

“Aren’t you supposed to meet Little Brother Nuo Nuo? You were so happy when you were planning, why the long face?”

“Because big brother is important… Big brother, did they pick on you?”

Yu Chuyan still had a baby face, but his eyes were icy.

“I hate them.”

—Because big brother is important.

Yu Chen suddenly felt that all the busyness lately had been worth it. He chuckled.

“Adult stuff, kids don’t need to worry about. If the sky falls, Grandpa will catch it first. If he can’t, big brother will.”

A five-year-old's job right now is to eat well, play well, and grow up strong.

Yu Chen patted Yu Chuyan on the head.

Yu Chuyan finally answered, obediently gripping his seatbelt. As the car started, he saw a maid inside the house carrying out a pot—one that looked familiar.

Yu Chuyan stared for a moment, then turned to his brother. “Brother, did your cactus die?”

Yu Chen: …

Shut that little mouth.

His new plants were on their way! He was definitely going to break the curse of killing everything he touched!

But before that,

Yu Chen closed his eyes, grabbed a bottle of water, and smiled at his brother.

“Here, Yan Yan, take a sip of water and hold it in your mouth so you don't get carsick.”

Yu Chuyan took the water skeptically, took a sip, swallowed, then looked at his brother suspiciously.

“Brother, are you lying to me?”

Yu Chen: …

Ha, that little rascal is getting harder to fool!

In the end, the three families met up outside the Children's Aquarium.

Shi Lin had a work meeting, so Xie Yu was handling both cubs by himself.

Unlike Bai Sheng’s laziness, Xie Yu was genuinely yawning from exhaustion.

Don’t ask—last night, there was World War III at home. Xie Yu would call the pillow fight on their sleeping dad's head the fuse.

And there was “battle damage” too!

Everyone looked at Xie Yue, whose hand was wrapped in a bandage.

Yu Chen asked curiously.

“What happened to your hand?”

“Don’t feel sorry for him.”

Xie Yu smiled wearily.

“Last time, they stuffed dried wood ear mushrooms into my tea canister and mixed them in, so I ended up brewing them. This time, they messed with my tea again, following a science book, picking leaves from outside to try making tea and swapping it in, saying I’d never notice. They ended up with several blisters from burns. This one just had the blisters popped and a bandage put on—it won’t affect movement.”

He just wanted to ask—what use is the child lock on the induction cooker against energetic, clever alpha cubs?!

Now, he’d not only told the maid to lock away dangerous items like kitchen tools, but also demanded three locks!

Xie Yue patted his chest, looking proud. “No big deal, Brother Yan, Little Brother Nuo Nuo!”

He'll do it again next time.

Xie Qing also greeted them, then chimed in with a summary of his brother's behavior.

“I told you it was a stupid idea.”

“You’re the stupid one! Xie Qing couldn’t even come up with a single idea!”

“I said long ago—just throw it away so Dad can’t find it, and he’ll think he forgot it.”

Xie Yu: "...Hey, your dad is still right here! Little brats!"

Xiaobai Nuo walked over with a pitter-patter and stood together with the big brothers.

Kindergarten habits made him naturally hold hands with Brother Xiao Yan.

Yu Chen looked at the kid who had just said his brother was very important but had now completely forgotten him, and he rubbed his chin.

Bai Sheng, meanwhile, squinted, swept his eyes over these little alphas, and finally glanced at the two little ones holding hands.

Kindergarten kids holding hands... seems normal, right?

They were about to enter the aquarium, and the Xie twins (both alphas) were still arguing.

And things escalated.

Lately, these kids had been studying idioms, so Xie Yue blurted out.

"Don't mess with me, or I'll disown everyone!"

Xie Yu glanced at Xie Yue, recalling how he had been 'dancing' on his head last night, and nodded.

Disown them?

Agreed.

Xie Qing refused to be outdone: "Well, I'm a tyrant!"

Xie Yu looked at Xie Qing again, thinking of the dumb ideas and sneaky tricks he had come up with.

A tyrant?

Makes sense!

Yu Chuyan joined the 'destructive squad' formation: "Then I'm a ruthless villain!"

Yu Chen looked over.

Since when is this your business?

You really are vicious enough—leave your brother's plants alone, please.

Finally, it was Little Bai Nuo's turn. He blinked his eyes, looked at his father, then at the big brothers, and said earnestly in his soft, babyish voice: "Nono is a law unto himself."

Nono is a little villain, a bad guy!

Little Nuo is proud to be lawless!

Everyone looked over.

Oh my god.

He said he was lawless in that soft, earnest voice of his!