Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Bai Sheng had little involvement in the Yu family's affairs. He was only willing to lend a hand because he knew them and because the other party was well-liked by his little cub.

Bai Sheng had always known that his cub had a high capacity for empathy and was easily soft-hearted—better-behaved than anyone knew.

Bai Sheng didn't think this was necessarily a good thing, nor did he think it was a bad thing. He just needed time to slowly teach his little one how to protect himself.

Outside, rain poured down in sheets.

Bai Sheng carried his cub out of the car and entered the main building of the Bai family's old residence.

The Bai family members all basically knew what had happened around the little cub.

And hearing from Bai Sheng that the little one's mood seemed off because of what had occurred, certain ones who cared about rankings—especially one jealous sourpuss—were already scheming ways to comfort the little guy.

But they didn't get a chance.

Not one.

The tiny cub walked in, holding up his trophy and certificate for his grandparents to see.

In a soft voice, he said, "Grandpa, Grandma, Nono got first place today."

With soft curls and a brown outfit, he looked like a curly teddy bear from a shop window, his eyes bright—even softer and better-behaved than they'd imagined.

It seemed that even at such a young age, he already knew how to keep others from worrying.

Cen Zhi's lips parted twice before she finally smiled, just as the little one hoped.

"Grandma saw the list and photos on the Ang City education website. Nono is so amazing! How about Grandma and Nono hang the certificate up high in a little bit?"

Xiaobai Nuo nodded eagerly.

After a moment of hesitation behind Cen Zhi, Bai Jingyun suddenly said calmly, "Grandpa's tall, Grandpa will help you."

Cen Zhi smiled, blocked Bai Jingyun, and even pinched his arm. She was having such a sweet, loving moment with her little grandson—what was this guy butting in for? Huh?

Bai Jingyun: ...

"...Grandpa's suddenly in a bad mood and can't stand up. Let Grandma help you."

Xiaobai Nuo: ?

Huh?

The little one thought for a second.

"Then Nono'll make some juice later. Grandpa, want some?"

Would drinking something he liked make him feel better?

Lemon mixed vegetable juice? Bai Jingyun's expression twitched slightly, but seeing the little one looking up at him with concern...

It was impossible to refuse. Norman.

Under Bai Liang's admiring gaze beside him, he nodded. "Yes."

Don't just say yes to everything!!

Are you crazy?

Bai Liang, who had been smiling, froze for a moment, turned to look over, and pushed up his glasses.

Bro, I didn't believe Nono when he said you had weird tastes, but now I really do.

The little one then busied himself hanging the certificate with Grandma, then went to make juice with Grandpa Butler.

Dou Dou had just been brought over by the servant and was running along behind the little one, looking quite cute.

Bai Sheng sat in the living room, not following Xiaobai Nuo. His fingers tapped lightly on the table now and then, glancing at his cub, then at his phone.

The phone stayed silent the whole time, no reaction, until evening when it was time for Xiaobai Nuo to sleep.

Bai Qi wasn't there. It had been pouring all day, and the old master hadn't come over either. Bai Jingyun, though, had a sudden meeting and left early.

He'd finished the healthy juice Xiaobai Nuo had picked for him with a blank face before leaving. You could say Dou Dou, that artificial idiot, was really infuriating sometimes—his weird recipes just kept coming one after another. Bai Liang was left speechless and could only give his final verdict—Bai Jingyun was a real pro at eating lemons.

Xiaobai Nuo had a busy day and fell asleep while playing board games with Grandma, Little Uncle, and Second Uncle.

Bai Sheng was sitting in the living room talking with Bai Qian.

To be clear, sitting back and waiting for those hidden 'rats' to show themselves had never been Bai Sheng's style.

"The Saviors?"

Bai Qian thought seriously.

"When I sent people to investigate before, they also found related activities of this organization, but the details are unclear."

As for the incident where Xiaobai Nuo was almost taken away, the Bai family was naturally all investigating. They had also wanted to take action, but Bai Sheng moved too fast and too decisively, and with that pent-up anger still bottled up, they found him too unsettling to look at. In the end, they just kept tabs on the progress and let Bai Sheng handle it himself.

"Just as I thought."

Bai Sheng wasn't surprised. He was just here to add some information.

"But actually, thinking about it, I should have heard of this organization's name a long time ago."

Bai Qian noticed that Bai Sheng had specifically singled out the Saviors organization to discuss.

Bai Qian thought again, and when Bai Sheng looked over, he nodded.

"Yeah, that's right. I heard that name a long time ago."

Bai Sheng dropped his lazy demeanor, raised an eyebrow, and sat up straight.

"Do you still remember your second uncle? Even though you were really young then."

Bai Qian took a sip of water from the table and spoke calmly, as if talking about a stranger.

Bai Kun—Bai Qian's younger brother from the previous generation of the Bai family, who had resorted to any means to fight for the heir position but died unexpectedly.

Whether it was the word 'younger brother' or the fact that he was severely injured because of Bai Kun, Bai Qian showed no emotional change.

"He was the rebellious type, into gray-area research. In the end, he took your cousin with him and died in an explosion and fire. Before he died, he should have met with this Saviors organization. At that time, it seemed to still be a legitimate organization."

Bai Sheng squinted and suddenly looked up.

"Second Uncle really died back then, right?"

"DNA tests were done," Bai Qian said expressionlessly, looking over. "It'd be harder for him to be alive, wouldn't it? He was a madman, an extraordinary person, but he probably hadn't achieved godhood yet."

That had a touch of dark humor.

Bai Sheng slumped back onto the sofa lazily. "That's true."

At that moment, the door was pushed open.

"What are you two talking about?" Cen Zhi's voice came through, lowered.

Bai Sheng and Bai Qian both looked over.

Cen Zhi stood at the doorway, holding a small bundle cradled in her arms. The corridor light fell on her face, giving her a very gentle look.

Bai Sheng rose to his feet as well, speaking softly. "Did he fall asleep?"

"Yeah, he played himself out. He dozed off on the board game mat after a bit. Go deal with Bai Jin—that kid saw Nono asleep first, but instead of picking him up, he went looking for a stamp to press on his face. Good thing I caught him."

Honestly, can you believe that?

Outside, thunder rumbled and rain poured down. Inside, the complaining voice stayed low, each word distinct.

Bai Sheng took Xiao Bai Nuo from Cen Zhi's arms.

The little one was sleeping soundly, only leaning into Bai Sheng's chest when handed over, letting out a faint murmur before going quiet again.

"I know. I'll handle him tomorrow."

Bai Sheng's lips curved slightly as he replied in a low voice. From behind Cen Zhi, an equally hushed protest came.

From Bai Jin—"But I didn't even get to do it."

Bai Liang chuckled softly. "That's attempted mischief."

"Everyone, quiet down."

Cen Zhi turned around, displeased, and Bai Jin, who was behind her, instantly fell silent.

Cen Zhi then looked back at the little one in Bai Sheng's arms.

She continued, "Hurry and take him back to rest. Whatever he's worried about, you should keep an eye on it too. Otherwise, tell Mom, and she'll handle it."

He was so well-behaved it was heartbreaking.

"I know." Bai Sheng nodded.

He carried Xiao Bai Nuo and picked up Dou Dou on the way home.

After bathing the exhausted, drowsy little one, Bai Sheng tucked him in.

He stood on the large balcony in his pajamas, the curtain pulled open only a gap just wide enough for one person. It was still raining outside, and the moon wasn't out. The streetlights along the road at the Bai family estate were lit, though. The wind blew the plants around the estate every which way, making it look quite desolate.

Bai Sheng spun his phone idly in his hand, staring outside with a blank expression, showing no trace of sleepiness.

A moment later, the phone buzzed with a message.

Bai Sheng looked down and opened the message.

The light from the screen fell across his face.

The message was from Li Zhilin.

Li Zhilin: Confirmed the location of the identity connected to that organization. I got to Fei City half an hour ago. I'll notify you immediately once I find relevant information, boss.

Fei City was in the south of Z Country, right on the border—the other side could slip out of the country at any moment.

After reading the message, Bai Sheng replied, telling him to book a flight, then put his phone away.

Of course, he knew these people were cunning and might have multiple identities to disguise themselves.

But no plan is perfect. Just like now—searching through everyone connected to The Saviors, they could always dig up fake identities. As long as those fake identities showed any activity in Ang City, they couldn't escape Bai Sheng's notice.

The Bai family usually kept a low profile, but clearly some people didn't know the weight behind the name "Ang City Bai Family."

Suddenly, Bai Sheng heard a soft murmur.

He turned his head at once.

He quietly pulled the curtain shut, walked back to the bed, and sat down, watching the little cub sleeping softly under the covers.

The cub he'd raised to be rounder and cuter seemed to be having a nightmare, struggling faintly, then letting out two soft, tearful whimpers all of a sudden.

Bai Sheng: ...

Bai Sheng had mentioned he'd been having nightmares lately and sleeping poorly, waking up later and later compared to the cub.

—Because he wasn't the only one plagued by nightmares.

Bai Sheng bent down, the warm light from the bedside lamp falling on his cold face.

But Bai Sheng didn't wake Xiao Bai Nuo from the nightmare.

Because waking him up wouldn't help. The little cub seemed to have nightmares quietly, crying almost without a sound. If woken, he'd be dazed for a bit, and after being comforted, he'd fall back asleep and have another nightmare. But if left alone, after this stretch of nightmare passed, he'd sleep well the rest of the night.

That was what Bai Sheng had learned recently.

And the cub was easily startled awake, so Bai Sheng stayed fairly rigid before actually falling asleep, afraid of disturbing him. Tonight, though, he was sleeping deeper—Bai Sheng figured Xiao Bai Nuo was too tired today, so he wasn't as easily startled.

What kind of nightmare was he having? Ever since recovering from that sedative-anesthetic last time.

What was in his dream?

Bai Sheng reached out, and as thunder suddenly crashed outside, he brushed the stray hair covering the little one's face aside, feeling a helplessness—as if his hand couldn't reach into the dream.

Sleep, Daddy's here.

With Daddy here, no bad guy can touch you.

The nightmares will go away completely.

So sleep well.

Fei City, in Z Country.

Multiple weather systems were battering the entire country.

It was drizzling in Fei City as well.

The sky was completely dark, with neither stars nor moon visible.

A man stood in front of a small inn holding a bag, lowering his head multiple times to check the electronic watch on his wrist.

He checked the relevant information.

Then he quickly replied to complex messages using the basic keypad.

'That research subject just became more valuable to us. The list and images sent by the Education Department of Ang City show that in less than a year, he went from knowing nothing to integrating smoothly, even displaying talent and abilities beyond his peers. Wouldn't it be a shame to just give up and walk away now? The Bai Family may not necessarily have detected my presence. I think it's worth staying a few days to observe the situation and try again properly when there's a chance. He doesn't seem like a failed product—in fact, just like that researcher said before, his pheromones and genes could change the world. Oh, that researcher was named Shen Ye? Though that's probably a fake name. That doesn't matter. What matters is that I checked the database—he cut off his own arm, disabled his alpha gland, and retired from research years ago? He was one of the lead researchers on the project. Please verify.—H'

The man was genuinely surprised—after all, this was the same failure who couldn't even last three days without finding food on his own. After sending the message, he glanced up at the sky.

Then he headed toward the inn next to him.

The man had virtually no distinguishing features. He smiled as he approached the front desk, his mind elsewhere. He pulled out his ID card from his wallet and handed it over.

The clerk reached out, took the ID card, and paused for a beat.

The man caught that tiny pause. He looked up and glanced at the code on the Z-Federal ID. It was a flip-style card, and the clerk hadn't gotten to the photo yet.

H quickly snatched the ID card back.

"...Sir?"

"Haha, my bad, I grabbed the wrong one. This is the right one—my partner's."

He smiled and handed over a different ID card.

"You know, traveling with a partner who's got too much on their plate is a real hassle."

The clerk smiled, made a few pleasant replies, finished the registration, and handed the ID back.

"Hope you and your partner enjoy your stay in Fei City."

"Sure, sure, thanks. He'll be here soon—if he comes by asking, point him in the right direction, would you? He's such a handful."

H smiled and stepped into the elevator. His eyes darted to the surveillance camera, and his smile vanished.

Something... felt off.

Though H couldn't pinpoint where this uneasy feeling was coming from.

But his gut instinct had saved him plenty of times before.

Even though he still needed to stick around in Z-Federal territory for a few days to observe, it looked like he couldn't afford to let his guard down and stay at an inn.

When he reached his floor, he stepped out and quickly checked his watch.

A new message had already come in, sent secretly.

From R, one of the top brass in the organization.

'As you said, this is definitely worth researching. Looks like my earlier decision to ditch him was a mistake. I'll go to Shen Ye's place myself to have a talk with him. Oh, you probably don't know this, but Shen Ye does have ties to the Bai Family—though rest assured, it's mostly bad blood.—R'

After getting the reply, H grabbed his bag and ducked into a nearby corner.

Moments later, a man with a slightly altered appearance slipped past every surveillance camera, made his way to the stairwell, and—with agility and strength that didn't match his beta identity at all—leaped from the fourth-floor landing down to the second. Then he was gone.

It was a little risky, but it only cost him two fake IDs.

About half an hour later, Li Zhilin, dressed in casual wear, showed up at the inn's reception area.

Unfortunately for H, even a small chain inn in a backwater province of the federation had the Bai Family holding a stake.

Li Zhilin said coolly.

"Did you get a look at the ID on that card I flagged for you?"

"Honestly, the front desk only caught a glimpse, but the guy's gone now, and he's not on any of the cameras either."

The hotel manager had never hosted anyone from the Ang City headquarters before, let alone someone from a department several levels above theirs. Li Zhilin was Bai Sheng's assistant, which put him several ranks above the hotel management crew.

Li Zhilin nodded and got to his feet.

"No worries. He hasn't caught on yet." Dodging cameras was that guy's habit—if he'd caught on, he wouldn't have casually handed over that ID again.

Li Zhilin had been tailing him quietly for days. He hadn't met the guy face to face yet, but the all-capable Assistant Li had already read him like a book.

The guy might just be a little rattled. But it was basically certain he was still in the area—once they caught up, it'd be easy.

"Besides, my boss is coming down himself."

His boss, who'd been walking around with a scowl every single day, was going to make the trip himself.

Li Zhilin didn't think anyone could beat the Bai Family at this cat-and-mouse game—or, more specifically, beat Bai Sheng.

It was just a little unfortunate.

If he'd shown up a little earlier, would he have gotten himself a title like "the greatest Uncle Li"?

Then he'd change his nickname in the company group chat to that.

Li Zhilin thought, his face completely blank.

The next day.

Ang City.

The rain had let up.

It was the kindergarten's day off, and as usual, Xiaobai Nuo was up bright and early.

He got up early, video-called Brother Xiao Yan to confirm Yu Chen was okay and had been discharged, and was now sorting things out with the Yu family. The little guy breathed a sigh of relief and told Brother Xiao Yan he'd come visit them later.

After breakfast, his dad carried the little cub over to the main building.

It was a day off, but the Bai Family didn't really do days off. The only one still home was Bai Jin, the college kid who was about to graduate early from the gifted program.

Bai Sheng went about his usual routine, dealing with the intel Li Zhilin had sent over. He planned to leave Ang City that night and had told Xiaobai Nuo that morning he was going on a business trip. The little guy wasn't too happy about it, but he stayed obedient.

When Bai Jin heard Bai Sheng was heading out on a business trip, he had Xiaobai Nuo perched on his shoulders and asked, puzzled.

"Third Brother, why are you suddenly going on a business trip?"

He hadn't stepped foot outside Ang City in over half a year.

It's like he's completely tethered to the kid, a dad totally tied down by his little one.

And on top of that, he's still on high alert, isn't he? If he can't see Xiaobai Nuo for even a moment, he's searching everywhere. He doesn't seem like the type to volunteer for a business trip.

"Put him down now."

Cen Zhi's brow furrowed as she watched what Bai Jin was doing, reaching out to take Xiaobai Nuo from him.

Bai Jin tilted his head, wincing at the hair-pulling, the uncle and nephew already well-versed in this routine—one hoists, the other pulls hair. Bai Jin looked at Xiaobai Nuo, who hadn't made a sound this time, and chuckled.

Nono stayed silent, just kept tugging at his uncle's hair until Bai Jin set him down.

Then the little one picked himself up off the floor, looked up, and said in a serious tone, "Daddy has to work, not like Uncle."

The little cub, fully confident in his dad, nodded as he spoke, looking all gracious and well-behaved.

Hey, he didn't like the sound of that.

As if he wasn't working hard at 'work' himself.

Bai Jin crouched down to get on the little one's level, curious.

"You'll be okay not seeing your dad for a few days?"

Xiaobai Nuo seemed to mull it over.

He hadn't been apart from his dad for more than a day since he got here. The little cub instinctively pouted, a hint of whininess in his voice, but he still tried to keep it together: "Dad said he'll video call Nuo, not like Uncle!"

Cen Zhi: ...

Isn't this just like a villain whispering in a kid's ear that your dad doesn't want you anymore?

She'd had enough, kicked Bai Jin in the butt, sending him stumbling a couple of steps before he straightened up with a little 'dance move'.

"What nonsense are you talking? Go on, get out of here. You've got the worst mouth. When your second brother and sister get back, they'll take care of you."

Cen Zhi gave him a disapproving look.

Bai Jin was a bit surprised: "Don't they usually come at different times? Coming back together today? I can understand Second Brother coming, but my sister..."

Bai Qi had been coming back way too frequently lately. Could it be because of the little one's 'kidnapping'? She reacts strongly to those words, doesn't she?

Bai Jin gave a soft tsk.

Cen Zhi didn't answer. She looked at Xiaobai Nuo, then bent down to take the little cub's hand.

"Come on, let's not play with Uncle. Your dad said Grandma would take you. Grandma's more trustworthy. Grandma's been reading a book on massaging kids lately—she says a daily rub can calm the nerves and help with sleep. Want to try it?"

A massage?

Xiaobai Nuo held Grandma's hand, toddling beside her, and looked up curiously when he heard that.

He didn't quite understand and was about to ask a question.

Then he heard Grandma say:

"It's free of charge."

Xiaobai Nuo let out a soft "Oh?"

Free, free, free...

Thanks to his dad's influence, those three words spun around in his head. Finally, the little cub looked at Grandma's smiling face and nodded solemnly.

He held out his little hand.

"Nuo wants to try it!"

Free samples were tasty, free toys were fun.

Free! Can't resist.

Massaging a kid involved many acupoints, but the key was to be gentle and slow. Among these points were sensitive spots like the soles of the feet and the sides of the waist, which weren't too kind to a ticklish Xiaobai Nuo.

Bai Jin peeked in from the doorway, watching the little cub lying on the soft carpet flopping around like one of his pet fish.

His little voice trembled with laughter, whimpering and howling as he tried to escape Grandma's 'clutches,' even though Cen Zhi was already being extremely careful and laughing despite herself.

"Hahaha, hahaha—Grandma, don't tickle my feet—hahaha—that's so itchy—hahaha, Grandma, not there either."

This kid rarely laughed so freely.

Bai Sheng, having temporarily wrapped up company matters, came downstairs to find his kid and heard the sound.

Bai Sheng: ...?

What's going on here?

Confused, he walked toward the activity room and saw Bai Jin outside, shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Right, right, Mom, press there again—he'll jump right up. Did you learn massage from a tickling master?"

Cen Zhi stopped, turned to look at Bai Jin: ...

Do you just have to run your mouth?

Bai Sheng placed his hand on Bai Jin's shoulder, shoved him aside, and stepped in.

"What's going on?"

He watched his cub flailing and reaching out for him.

Bai Sheng approached and scooped the little one into his arms.

Then he heard the little one, in a tone of pure relief, patting his own chest and saying, "Dad... free... bad."

Free was the most expensive. Nuo didn't like free massages.

Huh?

Bai Sheng instinctively searched.

"Free? Where's it free?"