Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Bai Qi couldn't help but glance over there again.

She watched Bai Sheng hold the baby with one arm while pushing Cen Liu's shoulder back with the other, trying to fend off the hands reaching for them.

Cen Liu was always this enthusiastic—almost to a fault—so much so that even a sweet, well-behaved baby like Xiaobai Nuo didn't dare reach out to him. Right now, the little one was clinging to his dad's neck, waiting for Dad to calm his cousin down so the cousin could hold his little hand.

After all, judging by Cen Liu's expression, he looked so eager he might just gobble Xiaobai Nuo up in one bite.

Bai Qi: ...

Bai Qi quickly walked away.

Well, at least Bai Sheng probably thought nobody in this family was normal.

...

Apparently, getting the little one all dirty didn't help Cen Liu either.

For Cen Liu, it was probably like—what's this? A cute baby, let me hug! What's this? A dirty baby, let me kiss! Bag it and take it home!

Bai Sheng: ...

In the end, Bai Sheng picked up Xiaobai Nuo to wash him and change his clothes, getting ready to head to the main building for a meal.

Under Bai Sheng's watchful eye, Cen Liu—whose shoulders Bai Sheng had loosened up—didn't dare act up.

Of course, he hadn't expected to get a hug today anyway.

It was just that he'd seen too many monsters and demons lately, and he was in a bad mood. He wanted to look at something cute to cheer himself up.

Cen Liu finished his meal at the Bai family's old place with a smile on his face.

He glanced at the time.

This lunch only had Cen Zhi, Bai Liang, Bai Qi, and Bai Sheng with Xiaobai Nuo there.

Bai Qi left in a hurry after saying hi to everyone once she finished eating. Xiaobai Nuo, full and rested, was now running around in the open-air garden with the sunshade net pulled over.

He could still give himself ten more minutes to "recharge."

Cen Liu lay sprawled on the table, staring at the little one outside without blinking.

The little one stood on tiptoes to check how many new leaves the plant had grown.

Adorable.

He was hugging Dou Dou, babbling away.

Adorable.

He hopped around, got startled by a mosquito flying in from who-knows-where, and dove into Bai Sheng's arms.

Super, ultra adorable!

How could such an adorable little kid exist?

Cen Liu hummed a light tune to himself.

Cen Zhi asked him a couple of questions about how things were going.

Cen Liu responded with his usual bright smile, telling his aunt not to worry.

Meanwhile, Bai Liang—the busy guy—hadn't left, sitting at the other end of the sofa.

Cen Liu sat up straight at just the right moment and glanced sideways at Bai Liang.

He could see the hesitation behind Bai Liang's usual smile.

Cen Liu stretched.

"What's up? You've been a lot less busy lately, which is good. The way you were burning yourself out before, nobody could've kept that up. Aunt just doesn't show it on the surface, but you should take it easy—don't go meeting my old man too soon."

"...That's not what I wanted to talk about."

Bai Liang sat on the other end of the sofa, with a water cup in front of him. At that, he let out a soft breath, picked up the cup, took a sip, and then turned his head with a smile.

"The public opinion stirred up by that family should've died down days ago, right? Those online influencers who tried to build accounts off it got shut down too. What are you busy with now? It's still related to me, isn't it? Is there something you can't say? Or is it..."

Before Bai Liang could finish, Cen Liu burst out laughing, cutting him off.

The young man with innocent puppy-dog eyes had a kind face, looking simple and honest—even a bit dense.

"Don't joke around, cousin. This world isn't just you being busy—your cousin here is pretty busy too."

Cen Liu even stood up as he spoke, patting Bai Liang's shoulder twice, teasing.

"The big hero about to save countless patients, right?"

Bai Liang's smile faded slightly. He looked up at Cen Liu standing in front of him, then lowered his gaze.

"You know that's not what I meant."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. But who knows, maybe I'll need you to save me someday. You hold yourself together, and I'll have more confidence too."

Cen Liu checked the time.

"Alright, I carved out a bit of time to swing by. I've got other things to handle soon—I need to leave in a few minutes. Let me get a few more looks at Little Nuo Nuo, and let's not talk about anything else, deal?"

Let me recharge a little, please.

"Also, don't go treating everyone like idiots. Your cousin here isn't one, right?"

Cen Liu laughed heartily, took two light steps, then stumbled over the coffee table. He let out a few "ouch ouch" cries, hopping on one foot as he went to find the little one.

Bai Liang watched Cen Liu hop away, looking relaxed and steady.

Bai Liang stared for a few seconds before standing up.

Meanwhile, Cen Liu's smile faded slightly as he walked away from their conversation. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and his fingertips tightened around his phone for a brief moment before relaxing.

Something had indeed happened afterward—something related to Bai Liang.

But because Cen Liu had full control over the narrative and hadn't told Bai Liang, Bai Liang only sensed it and came to ask.

After ruthlessly dealing with those who tried to use moral grandstanding to grab attention and traffic, Cen Liu did receive some information.

Apparently, someone had picked up rumors from who-knows-where and was sending messages like a madman, insisting that Bai Liang was the main cause of his father's death—that Bai Liang had indirectly killed him—and wondering why he would choose to help this shady professor.

Cen Liu was indeed angry to see these things, but also surprised. At the time, only Bai Liang clearly knew the situation. He had been vague, feeling that he was the one who had dragged his father into this matter. The information had been tightly sealed then, and he never expected to still hear discussions from people who seemed to be in the know.

Clearly, someone couldn't hold back anymore. Some unknown faction, seeing the internal strife within the Bai Family ease, was trying to push things along.

He needed to get to the bottom of it.

Cen Liu thought, smiling as he closed his eyes.

If Dad were here, he'd probably think the same, right? Although Cen Liu hadn't liked Bai Liang before, at least that kid hadn't been so difficult lately. They couldn't dredge up those old grievances again.

After all, he was the oldest.

Cen Liu's puppy-dog eyes were bright, and he clenched his fist slightly, feeling responsible.

When will little Xiaonuonuo let his cousin-uncle hold him!

Cousin-uncle promises, just a hold, not a takeaway!

Cen Liu stood at the entrance to the open-air balcony.

Watching Bai Sheng, who was already lazily reclined on the lounge chair, the chair swaying slightly, his curly hair blowing in the wind, his eyes still fixed on little Xiaobai Nuo.

Cen Liu: Are you some kind of baby-staring monster?

There was simply no way in!

But little Xiaobai Nuo himself noticed his cousin-uncle standing at the door, wearing a thin jacket, hidden in the shadows inside the house.

The little one handed the small flower he'd just moved out of the sun to the auntie tending the plants nearby, then trotted over with Dou Dou to stand before his cousin-uncle.

Little Xiaobai Nuo looked up.

"Cousin-uncle, are you going to work?"

Cen Liu watched this little peanut bounce over.

His heart was melting.

Cen Liu crouched down, and under Bai Sheng's gaze, he didn't dare reach out, feeling a bit timid.

Unlike Bai Jin, Cen Liu was still quite sensible—most of the time he had the nerve but not the guts.

Cen Liu nodded: "Yeah, cousin-uncle has to go to work again, and deal with a bunch of people who won't listen to reason. Poor me, right?"

He put on a pitiful act, pressing his fist to the corner of his eye like he was crying.

"Nono doesn't know, cousin-uncle has been all alone since he was little, and everyone bullied him..."

That wasn't true at all. Cen Liu was an alpha who dared to fight Bai Sheng when he was a kid. He just couldn't beat the Bai family members—outside, he was a domineering little tyrant of an A.

Cen Liu was joking with the little one.

Little Xiaobai Nuo understood being alone all too well.

Doing everything by yourself, cold in the rain and snow, weak, only able to move small things. Every time he had to move due to circumstances beyond his control, he had to abandon so many things he'd accumulated, and it always made Nono sad.

Little Xiaobai Nuo blinked and asked softly, "Cousin-uncle, are you thinking about Mom and Dad?"

Cen Liu, who was deliberately playing the victim, paused slightly. His eyes were clear: "Maybe... a little bit?"

But not really, though.

Of course, he wouldn't say that out loud.

Cen Liu quickly realized this pity act might bring up the little one's past memories, so he cheerfully changed the subject.

He reached out a hand.

"Cousin-uncle really has to go to work now. Can't I at least get a hug?"

Little Xiaobai Nuo instinctively reached out and threw his arms around Cen Liu's neck.

When Cen Liu froze in shock, the little one froze as well.

Little Xiaobai Nuo thought for a moment, then whispered to his cousin-uncle, "Cousin-uncle, you won't take Nono away and eat me, right?"

Cen Liu slowly turned his head, a look of disbelief on his face: ...?

He looked in disbelief toward Bai Sheng, who had sat up slightly but, seeing that Xiaobai Nuo had hugged him on his own, hadn't come over.

Third cousin!!! What have you been telling Nono about me?!

Is cousin-uncle the kind who eats kids?!

Slander, pure slander!

Cousin-uncle just wants to steal kids.

But... Cen Liu let out a very soft sigh.

Such a soft little kid, with a faint warm scent of having been in the sun.

Alright, charging complete, rationality restored. Cen Liu felt he should slip away and come back for another hug next time.

He'd already hugged once—would it be hard to hug again after that?!

But Cen Liu felt the little one straining on tiptoe, wrapping his arms around his head.

Then he spoke softly, just a gentle breath: "Cousin-uncle, cousin-uncle."

What?

Cen Liu couldn't see Xiaobai Nuo's expression, only heard him continue.

"Daddy said that even when Nono grows up, he's still a little kid to Daddy. So Nono thinks, if you miss Mom and Dad, it's okay to cry. Nono's blocking for you, Nono won't look."

Adults rarely cry—Second Uncle was like that, and cousin-uncle was too. The little one could understand, because he himself felt embarrassed when people saw him cry.

But that's okay. In cousin-uncle's parents' eyes, cousin-uncle was also a little kid, and Nono was blocking for him.

That way, no one could see him cry.

The soft little body pressed close.

Cen Liu had wondered when he'd ever get to hold little Xiaobai Nuo.

Maybe when the kid grew a bit older and he could be "calmer" around him? Or during holidays like New Year, when it would happen naturally? Or when the kid had some self-defense ability?

Cen Liu knew that besides Bai Sheng and Cen Zhi, the other Bai family members rarely got to hold the little one. Bai Nuo was a kid who loved asking for hugs but preferred being close to those he knew best.

Cen Liu closed his eyes briefly, wiping away the slight wetness that welled up the moment he heard the words "it's okay to cry when you miss your parents."

Then he reached out.

Cen Liu held the little one tight and, completely losing his head, started quietly backing away with the kid in his arms.

What the—? A wild little human?

Mine!