Chapter 129

Chapter 129

Cen Zhi: ...

Watching Bai Sheng, who was holding Bai Nuo, instinctively scan for him, Cen Zhi pressed her fingers to her brow.

"Subtle influence is terrifying."

The little one had clearly picked this up from watching Bai Sheng every day, right? After all, this cub was very perceptive, and Bai Sheng must have been quite pleased whenever he got 'free labor' out of this kid.

Bai Sheng had only asked casually. After hearing that his cub said Grandma gave him a massage to help him sleep better, Bai Sheng dropped the topic and looked at Bai Jin beside him.

Bai Jin instinctively stepped back.

He hadn't had time to deal with Bai Jin these past two days.

Just you wait.

Bai Sheng thought to himself, then looked down at his cub, whose breathing was slowly evening out.

He needed to go to Fei City—it wasn't like Ang City over there, and he didn't feel safe bringing Bai Nuo along. But if he didn't go himself, his temper would keep flaring. So these past few days, he'd filled Cen Zhi in on Bai Nuo's situation, and she and Bai Qian would take care of him in the meantime.

That was probably why Cen Zhi had gone looking for books on how to help this little cub sleep well.

Poor Little Bai Nuo felt itchy all over. He squirmed several times in his father's arms before burying his head back into his father's chest and staying still.

Then he mumbled, "How many days will Daddy be away?"

"At most five days, and Daddy will be back."

Little Bai Nuo murmured his reply from his father's arms. He was so small that tucked into an adult's arms, he was nearly invisible from any other angle. He stuck out his little hand and looked up from his father's arms.

"Pinky promise—Nono will wait for Daddy to come home."

The little cub looked at his father. His dad had only mentioned work without details, but this kid was always sharp.

Bai Sheng looked at the outstretched hand, made a soft "ah" sound, and reached out to hook his pinky with the cub's, pressing his thumb against the little one's.

Just then, Bai Liang and Bai Qi walked in one after the other.

They rarely went a minute without arguing, but now they were coldly ignoring each other.

They'd both brought gifts.

The Bai family was used to spotting something interesting while out and buying it for the little cub at home.

The little one quickly wriggled out of his father's arms and said softly, "Second Uncle, Auntie, you're back."

"Yeah."

Bai Liang was the first to smile, holding out the bag.

"I passed by those cooking clubs today—they'd bought a batch of cacao beans and were making chocolate. I tried some and it tasted pretty good, so I bought some off them. Give it a try. Of course, don't eat too much—you can share it with your friends."

"Mm-hmm."

Little Bai Nuo looked at the chocolate in the bag, took a piece, and popped it into his mouth. The melted, sweet chocolate had no bitterness—only the rich flavor of cacao beans, with a sweetness kids loved.

The little cub's eyes curved into happy crescents, almost spinning around in delight.

"Thank you, Second Uncle!"

Then the little one looked at his auntie and took the gift from her—the latest children's art pens from some brand.

Although the little cub couldn't carry a tune, he loved drawing, probably because he'd read so many picture books.

His big eyes lit up: "Thank you, Auntie!"

Bai Qi looked down at the little one's expression and let out a quiet hum of acknowledgment. She quickly glanced at the chocolate in Little Bai Nuo's hand, then averted her gaze.

"I'm glad you like it."

Bai Qi's tone stayed flat and even.

Bai Liang looked over, thought for a moment, and laughed out of nowhere. "Do you want some chocolate too?"

Bai Qi: ?

Bai Qi's head snapped up, bewildered, to look at Bai Liang.

Probably because they'd grown up arguing, Bai Qi had a look that screamed "are you insane," which made Bai Liang rub his nose.

Bai Liang rarely recalled it—he could barely remember when it even happened.

"I remember when you were very little, you also loved chocolate. You even swiped Big Brother's and San'er's chocolate and made Xiao Wu take the blame."

It was a bit before the kidnapping—when Bai Qi was five or six, and Bai Jin was only a little over one, barely able to speak clearly, yet he'd been blamed for stealing the chocolate.

Bai Qi: ...

Bai Qi let out a cold laugh. "Didn't you start by shifting the blame onto him? Taking advantage of him not being able to talk properly yet."

Little Bai Nuo hugged his gifts, still working on the chocolate in his mouth, watching dazedly as his Second Uncle and Auntie started arguing again.

Bai Jin, who hadn't been paying attention to what they were saying, suddenly whipped his head up: ?

How did I get dragged into this?

What are you two talking about?! Why are you two arguing again on your own? What about me? Me?! Apologize to little me!!

Bai Liang kept smiling, which only made Bai Qi angrier.

When they were kids, he never kept his word—he'd say he'd push her away, and he would, said he hated her and meant it. Now everyone acts like she's the problem.

Why? Just because this old fox knew how to put on an act? Hmph.

Bai Qi crouched beside Little Bai Nuo, looking up at Bai Liang, her dark eyes quiet and cold. The small flame of anger that had sparked was slowly dying out, yet she held her own against Bai Liang.

Of course—Bai Qi dealt with far more people and situations daily than Bai Liang, the academic type, ever did.

Bai Qi only glanced at him once before looking away. She smoothed her clothes, then stood up. "Of course, that's always been your style."

Bai Qi swallowed the harsher words she wanted to say, holding back for Little Bai Nuo's sake. She glanced at her phone as she spoke.

"You guys chat—I've got something urgent, I need to head out now."

Bai Qi was very busy, but she'd been coming back frequently lately, usually just to peek in on Little Bai Nuo before leaving.

Her expression softened as she said goodbye to Little Bai Nuo, watching the little one wave sweetly, not making a fuss, even telling her to get some rest.

Bai Qi let out a very soft breath.

She still had a little sticky potato charm, Dou Dou, that Xiaobai Nuo had given her, hanging on her keys. She, too, had been learning from scratch how to be a proper aunt, a proper elder.

But she truly didn't quite understand, nor was she entirely sure.

It seemed she'd been accepted by this little one from very early on—he'd like the gifts she gave, and whatever he did, he'd think to include her.

She did adore this kid, but probably just the same way one adores any normal, well-behaved child. Ever since that kidnapping when she was young, she'd been left with a lingering aftereffect few knew about—her perception of these emotions had gone faint, as if she'd walled herself off from the world in self-protection. Whether it was joy, confrontation, or being moved because this little one had taken her to heart...

But over all these years, she'd grown used to this feeling, and used her meticulous logic to handle all emotional responses as best she could.

Actually, wasn't this just the normal way to interact?

It's just that she couldn't quite understand how others could be so "indulgent" about it.

Even Bai Liang, who had always been uninvolved and wholly absorbed in his research, had a lot more free time lately.

No—or rather—

Bai Qi turned and walked out, her expression blank, as cold as ever. But unlike the arrogant aloofness of Bai Jingyun and the others, she seemed calmer, like a deep pool that never ripples.

This was the more normal attitude for her, wasn't it?

Bai Liang stepped aside and hurried a few steps after her, then suddenly spoke: "Is it because of what happened back then that you've been coming to see Nuo Nuo so often lately?"

Bai Qi turned around at that moment.

The two stood at the entrance, one ahead, one behind, facing each other.

Bai Qi looked at the still-smiling Bai Liang and coldly curled the corner of her lips. "I told you not to bring up what happened back then."

She raised her hand and made a shushing gesture.

"Shut up."

And with that, she was gone.

Bai Liang watched the closed door, let his smile fade a little, and in the shadows raised a hand to press his temple.

Then he turned and walked over to Bai Sheng, who was watching the scene from the side.

Xiaobai Nuo was being held by his grandmother, listening to Bai Jin loudly berate them all for being heartless. Bai Jin was also asking Cen Zhi to confirm whether he'd been pranked like this when he was one—though of course, he was too young to remember.

Cen Zhi, annoyed by his pestering, said: "You were only a little over one back then—would I have let them prank you? They were just looking for someone who couldn't speak clearly to take the blame, handed down from one to the next. Ask any of them—who hasn't been scapegoated at some point?"

…

Bai Liang turned to look at Bai Sheng.

"Have you settled on a time to go to Fei City?"

Bai Sheng turned to look at Bai Liang.

Bai Liang smiled. "I'm going with you."

"What about your research?"

Bai Sheng asked lazily.

"Ah, it can wait a few days. You found them, right?"

Bai Liang took off his glasses, pulled out a cloth, and gently wiped them, speaking just as lazily, eyes lowered.

"It's not just you who's pissed—you all stopped me once already."

Bai Liang looked up again as he spoke, his eyes dark and cold underneath, but he was smiling.

"Using me to cause trouble—that pisses me off too."

Bai Sheng and Bai Liang caught the evening flight.

Bai Sheng was still worried someone might be watching his kid, so he didn't let Xiaobai Nuo come to the airport to see him off. In the end, he ruffled his little one's hair. The newbie dad, who had been raising his kid for over half a year, was suddenly separated from him and was having a hard time adjusting. Only when he could no longer delay did he leave with that sharp, world-weary handsome face, looking like someone who owed him billions.

Dad wasn't around.

The little one was staying in the main building for now. His room had been set up long ago—he had his own space there.

Aunt Feng came by to drop off some things. The little one obediently read picture books and drew. He wrote out one, two, three, four, five, circled each number one by one, and told his grandmother beside him that once he crossed them all off, Dad would be home.

Cen Zhi, in her pajamas, took photos and videos with her phone, bragging in her besties' group chat.

The group chat had exploded.

The culprit, Cen Zhi, clutched her chest.

Adorable as hell.

She followed behind Xiaobai Nuo, watching him obediently wash up, dry off, and change clothes. He wiped Dou Dou clean, put him in the charging station to "eat," said goodnight to Grandpa and Grandma, and then got into bed, especially well-behaved.

It was the weekend, and Xiaobai Nuo had one more day off tomorrow. He'd made plans to play games with his little uncle and go see Anu in the afternoon.

It wasn't until Cen Zhi got back into bed that she couldn't help but sigh to Bai Qian: "What the hell did Bai San do to deserve this?! Nuo Nuo is way too easy to take care of!"

Damn it, why hadn't Bai San ever experienced the pain of raising a kid? This was unfair!

Bai Qian leaned against the headboard reading financial newspapers, nodding along, grunting in agreement.

He fully affirmed Cen Zhi's complaints, but because he never looked up, it still annoyed Cen Zhi, and she confiscated his newspaper.

All the lights outside had gone dark.

Cen Zhi was deep in conversation with her bestie group. She glanced at the time—midnight. This was Xiaobai Nuo's first time sleeping alone. Although she'd watched him fall asleep before leaving, she still decided to go check on him in person.

But just as she opened the monitor feed, goosebumps rose on her skin—the blanket on the low children's bed, surrounded by soft mats and rugs, had been thrown back, and the little cub who should have been sleeping there was gone.

Was the monitor broken?! What brand was it—this quality is crap?

Cen Zhi instinctively jumped up and hurried out.

Bai Qian's eyes snapped open, clear and alert, as he pushed himself up: "What's wrong?"

Cen Zhi didn't have time to answer—she'd already pushed open the door, and froze.

A few minutes earlier, Xiaobai Nuo had fallen asleep for a bit, but after waking up, he tossed and turned and couldn't fall back asleep. Hesitantly, he hugged his little pillow and sat on the bed for a while, then felt the darkness around him was too much, and the silence of being alone too much.

The little one finally crawled out of bed slowly, clutching his little pillow, and peeked out from the doorway—he wanted to find someone, but was afraid of disturbing Grandpa and Grandma.

Because he was peeking out, the monitor occasionally caught glimpses of him, so it never triggered any alarm for the adults.

At that moment, the little cub watched the door he hadn't dared to push open suddenly swing open. He met his grandmother's gaze, his little face pressed against the pillow he was hugging, still a bit dazed: "...Grandma, Nuo Nuo can't sleep. Grandma isn't sleeping either?"