Chapter 114

Chapter 114

Listening to his shocking yet matter-of-fact words.

Bai Jin: ?

“I got permission to bring him here.”

He had wanted to take him out to show off for a long time. As soon as Bai Sheng gave the green light, Bai Jin set off.

How did it become 'kidnapping' in that Pepper Imp’s words?

I'll give you one more chance to say that properly.

Ma Chengpeng: ?

“Brother Jin, how did your brother trust you with his son?”

Bai Jin: ???

“Come here! Come on, over here!”

Bai Jin, lollipop in his mouth and kid in one arm, laughed with a 'ha,' his voice slightly muffled by the candy, and beckoned to Ma Chengpeng.

Ma Chengpeng: ... “My bad, brother.”

When picked up, the little cub reflexively grabbed his uncle’s hair. He slowly withdrew his hand, a bit shyly wrapping his arms around his uncle’s neck. Though he had met this uncle before, it was only once.

In front of relative strangers, Xiaobai Nuo still clung to his family.

The little cub looked at Ma Chengpeng, thought for a moment, then obediently greeted him: “Hello, Uncle.”

“Hey.”

Ma Chengpeng responded instinctively, then recalling the little cub’s hesitation, couldn’t help but glance at Bai Jin.

If it weren’t for Brother Jin, at eighteen years old, he’d be called ‘big brother’ at most—calling him ‘uncle’ made him sound old. Plus, Ma Chengpeng had never really been called uncle by a kid before.

Feeling Xiaobai Nuo snuggle close, Bai Jin couldn’t stop his lips from curling up and his chin from lifting slightly. Biting the lollipop, he took the little cub for a spin outside before carrying him inside.

It was still early.

This time, the little cub wasn’t clinging as tightly to his second uncle as he had to his dad and grandma before. Mainly because, though the images in his dream were blurry, the dream showed something happening around his second uncle, after which another incident occurred.

The clever little cub had asked about it, and it turned out that such a thing hadn’t happened to his second uncle yet.

Inside the room, the group had already gotten word from Ma Chengpeng.

Today, the alphas involved in the competition had all gathered, even those who weren’t very familiar with Bai Jin and rarely spoke.

There was nothing surprising about it. These teenagers in the accelerated class were mostly the same age, quite different from regular undergraduates. Most had entered the program directly at around fifteen or sixteen, which coincided with the stable period of gland development.

When Bai Jin had his accident, the ensuing investigations not only implicated many people but also led the school to heavily restrict the freedom of their alpha group. After the holidays, they even specifically reminded parents to pay attention to safety and protect their glands.

So now that their pheromones were gradually stabilizing, the parents felt relieved letting them go out to play.

“He’s especially adorable today! He’s coming in any moment now.”

Ma Chengpeng was gesturing excitedly as he explained to them.

But a few who weren’t that familiar with Bai Jin and had never seen Xiaobai Nuo glanced over, looking confused.

“Omega cubs are usually cute, but haven’t you seen one before?”

“Different. Brother Jin’s little nephew is different.”

Ma Chengpeng waved his hand and said.

“Oh right, Yan Han, you haven’t met Brother Jin’s little nephew.”

The person Ma Chengpeng called out to also looked barely an adult, an alpha with outstanding abilities named Yan Han. But he wasn’t very close to Bai Jin.

Mainly because he was

, though with scholarships and other aid, he spent most of his spare time working part-time jobs. He couldn’t quite understand Bai Jin’s various views, and because Bai Jin was overly arrogant with some unsavory hobbies and tastes, he kept even more distance from Bai Jin day to day.

Of course, it was also because Bai Jin was truly exceptional. In the eyes of Yan Han and others like him, even if their personalities didn’t mesh, Yan Han had never denied Bai Jin and sincerely called him Brother Jin.

Just then, Bai Jin walked in carrying Xiaobai Nuo.

The little cub was holding Dou Dou with one hand, slightly shy and snug in his uncle’s arms. With big black-grape eyes, he obediently greeted everyone.

Yan Han looked up and was momentarily stunned.

He really was adorable, like a high-end doll in a display window.

And when the little cub was set down on the sofa, he sat there obediently hugging a small device, curiously looking around. When his eyes met Yan Han’s, he blinked, flashed a soft smile, and his dimples showed faintly.

Yan Han clutched his chest in disbelief.

It was hard to imagine this was Bai Jin’s little nephew.

Did the Bai family genes mutate or something?

“Would you like some fruit?”

“Or do you want to play with toy cars?”

“Play now? You just sat down. How about taking a break and having a snack first?”

“Let’s play games! Auntie will teach you to play!”

“If you teach him to get addicted, Brother Jin’s family will have a word with you.”

“Tsk... never mind.”

The little cub was obediently chatting with the uncles and aunties.

The little cub heard Bai Jin say to wait, then watched as Bai Jin turned and walked toward the door.

Xiaobai Nuo’s gaze followed his uncle.

What a good boy!

Everyone marveled and inwardly started to condemn Bai Jin for being a babysitter.

Just leaving the kid here and going off to do his own thing?

What a bad uncle! Come here, baby, don’t hang out with your uncle—hang out with us uncles and aunties outside instead!

They wanted to go play, but Assistant Li didn’t follow them inside. He only planned to join them when it was time to pick up Bai Liang.

Soon, Bai Jin came back carrying several bags. Some were insulated bags, while others gave off steam.

Xiaobai Nuo looked over curiously.

“Uncle?”

“I had some snacks made. I asked them to deliver them before I picked you up.”

Bai Jin placed the bags on the table and began taking things out one by one, while calling everyone over.

The little one sat nearby, blinking.

Grilled cold noodle wraps with sauce, sizzling squid drenched in sauce, savory grilled wings, crispy golden fried chicken—after eating too much healthy food at home, sometimes it’s nice to have something different.

Although they were also made by the hotel and didn’t taste exactly like street stall food, they were at least hygienic.

The food smelled amazing, and everything was new to the little guy.

“Uncle! Uncle!”

The cub, who loved food dearly, reached out his small hand enthusiastically to tug on Bai Jin’s clothes.

Yan Han couldn’t help but say softly: “These things are too oily and salty. They probably aren’t suitable for a child this age…”

Then Yan Han watched as Bai Jin distributed the food to everyone. Bai Jin’s own plate was piled high, but Xiaobai Nuo’s was completely empty.

“Wait a moment, buddy. Uncle will take you to play with the toy car soon.”

Xiaobai Nuo: ?

Only the toy car? What about the food?

Yan Han: …

You should at least give the child something to eat!

Xiaobai Nuo angrily poked his uncle with a tiny hand.

Putting down his lollipop and swallowing half a box of grilled cold noodles, Bai Jin turned to look at the cub. He couldn’t help laughing: “Nono wants to eat?”

“Uncle is bad.”

Xiaobai Nuo pressed his face against Dou Dou and spoke to his uncle while turning his head away.

“It’s not that Uncle doesn’t want you to eat,” Bai Jin said, following the older siblings’ lead and pointing at the bewildered Yan Han. “See? This uncle says Nono can’t eat.”

The little one looked over, meeting Yan Han’s gaze.

Yan Han: ?

Xiaobai Nuo thought for a moment. The clever cub turned back to his uncle and said, “Hello, Dou Dou. Uncle is a bad guy.”

Nono’s not falling for your trick!

Bai Jin was about to speak.

Dou Dou spoke first: “Understood. I’ve recorded that. Shall we take action against elders bullying the younger? I can recommend several methods. You can go to someone on his level, such as your father or other uncles, or tell your grandparents. Please let me know, and I’ll tell you how to phrase it.”

Bai Jin: ?

“You little spy, are you rebelling?”

“Brother Jin, this is high treason!”

Having eaten his food, Ma Chengpeng felt indebted.

Ma Chengpeng, holding a sizzling squid, pretended to be angry.

Bai Jin glanced at Ma Chengpeng: “Then take him away, take out his battery, and execute his entire clan.”

Ma Chengpeng: …

He looked at Xiaobai Nuo holding Dou Dou.

“This isn’t good, right?” he thought.

Forget I said anything.

“What’s Dou Dou’s whole clan?”

The little one heard a new term and asked, confused.

The little surveillance device answered again: “I understand. You want Dou Dou’s close relatives, right? Among the closely related types, there are soybeans, mung beans, red beans, yellow beans…”

As Dou Dou was about to list the entire legume family, Bai Jin couldn’t help reaching out to turn off the switch on Dou Dou’s back.

Xiaobai Nuo nervously hugged Dou Dou, looking at his uncle warily. He clung tightly to Dou Dou, his voice soft: “Uncle can’t remove Dou Dou’s battery. Dou Dou just had a full meal.”

What an adorable thing to say!

What an adorable baby!

Bai Jin saw Xiaobai Nuo hugging Dou Dou with a look that said, “If you dare reach out, I’ll shout ‘Dad’ at Dou Dou!”

Bai Jin: …

Bai Jin’s hand changed direction mid-air, pinching Xiaobai Nuo’s cheek. With past experience, he pinched very lightly, rubbing it twice.

“What’s this? Going to tattle on me?”

Xiaobai Nuo thought for a moment, then said: “This is called ‘holding Dou Dou hostage to command Uncle.’”

Bai Jin: …

Bai Jin was amused: “You’ve learned a few idioms and allusions, and now you’re showing off, huh?”

As he spoke, he glanced at his phone, which had lit up. He picked up the cub, who was about to shout “Dad,” and placed him on his shoulder: “It’s here—that one is yours.”

A moment later, Xiaobai Nuo held a tiny fork, looking at a pink ice cream cake the size of an adult’s palm, topped with strawberry pieces.

He leaned against Bai Jin, who looked down at him. The little one rarely leaned so quietly and snugly against his uncle, given that he usually roughhoused with him. He even scooped a spoonful to feed his uncle.

Bai Jin bent down and ate it, mumbling with his mouth full: “How is it?”

The little one tilted his head up.

“It’s delicious, Uncle.”

Bai Jin rested his cheek on his hand, feeling the warm little bundle pressed close to him. He poked the little one's cheek. "Take small bites, don't let it get too cold on your teeth."

"Mm-hmm."

The little one nodded, too busy to mind his uncle's hand.

It was simply too adorable.

He savored his favorite food, eating it with such relish.

Ma Chengpeng couldn't help but move closer, smiling at Bai Jin. "So that's why you suddenly went to get that, Brother Jin."

So it was because this little one's favorite treat was also there, but it hadn't been served the first time around.

And all those clever words earlier.

Ma Chengpeng couldn't help but look at Xiaobai Nuo.

"You're so smart."

Hearing the compliment, the little one looked up at him with bright eyes.

"I heard you say at home that you're a Villain Family?" Ma Chengpeng said with a smile, remembering Bai Jin had mentioned it as a joke earlier. "And you've taught yourself so many idioms and allusions? How are you so amazing?"

The little one smiled shyly, a bit of cake still on his lip.

Ma Chengpeng watched the child, eager to join the little villain family.

"I can be a villain too. From now on, I'll play with you, okay?"

Xiaobai Nuo blinked at that, then shook his head. "No, villains don't have uncles."

Meaning he wasn't allowed to join?

Ma Chengpeng still smiled, thinking it was just a playful tease—they'd only met twice; he was just saying it to tease the kid. "I can't? I'm so sad..."

But his words were cut off by the little one.

"Because villains might be miserable and breakable."

Like Dad, Grandma, Little Uncle, Big Uncle... Nono only has himself.

If there were too many, Nono wouldn't be able to help them all, or even dream about them.

The tiny one lowered his head, took another bite of strawberry ice cream cake, swallowed, and looked up at the stunned Ma Chengpeng with shining eyes. He nodded as he spoke.

"Uncles and aunties shouldn't be villains. Whether you're uncles, aunties, big brothers, or big sisters, everyone should be happy and well."

So it's better if you aren't villains.