Chapter 135

Chapter 135

He didn't have a soft-hearted bone in his body to begin with, and as for everything that happened afterward at the institute—ultimately, it all came down to how smart that kid was. After all, Bai Ye wasn't the one in charge. If he were, he wouldn't be stuck here now.

In the now-quiet room, Bai Ye let out a soft, cold laugh. The half-repaired mechanical device lay quietly to the side, various mechanical parts scattered across the table—at a glance, it looked less like a repair job and more like something that had just been wrecked.

Bai Ye slowly got to his feet.

He'd actually left that lab and come here a while back.

As for why he left, he didn't want to think about it right now. He just stood up and stared at the far end of the room, where a mirror was cracked starting from one corner.

On the cracked mirror, his reflection was barely visible.

The broken body, the horrific burn scars, the completely wrecked gland...

Bai Ye spoke softly.

"Using my life to threaten and manipulate me?"

Did they really think he cared? He had nothing left to care about, got it?

He hated the Bai family, but he also thought the institute was a bunch of useless idiots.

Bai Ye flexed the stump of his arm. The black bionic arm on his right side had become incredibly fluid over the years of constant tweaking and adjustment.

The arm lifted, just like a real hand, opening and closing a few times in front of him. Each movement came with a faint mechanical whir.

Bai Ye's expression was mocking and tired, his whole vibe dark and gloomy. But then, as if something occurred to him, he let out another snort.

"Only that little good-for-nothing would think this is something special."

Bai Ye really hated thinking about the past.

Whether it was his father's lessons in hatred, his little dad's divorce and leaving, or the explosion and fire that landed him in the institute—every scene of his life felt like a carefully staged drama, rushing in and then fading away, leaving nothing but chaos and barely any lasting memories.

And yet, somehow, those two or three years with that little thing at the institute—he could remember quite a lot from that time.

He remembered how that little good-for-nothing had looked at this hand of his.

At the time, the kid was about two, sitting there blankly every day like a little doll, not even able to talk. Only when they were alone could you barely catch the faintest reaction from the kid.

He wouldn't let the bionic hand anywhere near his face.

If the bionic hand touched him, the little good-for-nothing would quietly shrink back.

But if Bai Ye used his left hand, the kid would silently lean in and press close.

Then a pair of round, vacant eyes would lift just a little to look at him.

Later, Bai Ye realized.

Because the little good-for-nothing thought his bionic hand was cold.

Bai Ye found it funny.

He could put up with all that pain, but a touch that was just a little cold was where he drew the line?

Letting him wipe his sweat, letting him hold his hand—that was already pretty generous.

So picky.

Bai Ye shut his eyes.

There had been no real interaction between them—just wordless, completely ordinary behavior by the institute's standards. Yet it stuck with him more than all those past scenes.

Weird.

He didn't have any desire to do anything anymore.

He was tired of this world too, and the cracks on the mirror seemed to be on his own body as well.

Bai Ye watched quietly, then after a moment, spoke again, barely above a whisper.

"They already took him back—couldn't they just keep it low-key? Why did they still get spotted?"

It was an unfair accusation, Bai Ye knew.

After all, every move the Bai family made was watched by a ton of people. If they really hid that little good-for-nothing away, it wouldn't be good for his development either.

But Bai Ye was just restless and irritated.

Because he knew damn well—whether it was him or R, they were just the tip of the iceberg of that institute. To really take down that organization, you'd have to deal with that top-tier alpha who roamed everywhere, holding absolute wealth, power, and influence in the gray areas.

And that's not even mentioning—

After taking him back, were they even raising him right?

Bai Ye had his doubts.

Because he thought the Bai family was also a bunch of useless idiots.

Hating everything, seeing everyone as equally worthless—Bai Ye thought, his face blank.

He'd go check it out. Find a chance to see for himself, and then do something.

Consider it a tribute to this hateful world.

Country Z, Fei City.

Since it was in a pretty remote area in the southern part of the Z Country Federation, with mountains and uneven terrain, the buildings and industries here naturally weren't as dense or advanced as those in Ang City.

There were also some buildings left unfinished due to funding issues, including old factory buildings that had been abandoned after industries moved out of Fei City to cut costs.

Away from the relatively busy downtown, past various fenced-off scenic tourist areas, in the more remote suburbs of Fei City, these zones stretched on in patches, rising and falling unevenly.

The rain had stopped the day before, but the ground was still wet. Bai Liang's shoes stepped across the slightly uneven ground packed down by vehicles, occasionally splashing through puddles. Water droplets splashed onto his pant cuffs, making the seemingly refined and gentle professor frown almost imperceptibly.

The target was sharp and moved too fast. If they sent multiple people, chances were that before they even got into position, the target would already be tipped off, destroy the evidence, and bolt—everything lost in one go.

After all, in a place like this, even with every intersection blocked off, who knew if there were shortcuts they hadn't found. Not to mention this beta didn't play by the rules at all—you could tell from the surveillance footage. He was great at dodging cameras, and when he couldn't, he'd only show up for a second or two, barely showing his face. He was elusive; sometimes when they couldn't find him and thought he might have sensed something and already run off, they'd spot him again and wonder how the hell he'd gotten there.

Seriously.

With Bai Sheng's ability to track down the target so fast, why was he even in business? He should just go be an international cop.

Bai Liang wore a hoodie with a cap on his head. For once, he wasn't standing tall with his chest puffed out—he was slightly hunched, hands in his pockets, smiling as he idly amused himself with the thought.

He made his move just as a tall, unremarkable figure was about to pass him by.

...

H's agitation over the past couple of days had hit its peak.

He hadn't actually noticed anything out of the ordinary—everything seemed normal. This was just a painfully ordinary small city in the Z Federation, with a slow pace of life, where no one usually paid him any mind.

But something still felt off. He'd been constantly moving around, so much so that in his agitation he'd even blown off his scheduled check-ins.

Even though he was supposed to stay in Z territory and might need to return to Ang City, facing the Bai Family made H think it was smarter to play it safe. Maybe he should just get out of Z country for now.

That was exactly what he was thinking when a gust of wind swept in from the side—a hand shot toward him like lightning, a textbook grappling move!

H didn't hesitate for a second. He fought purely on instinct—all street-smart and dirty tricks. His body twisted violently, his shoes screeching against the rough ground as he barely managed to dodge through sheer flexibility. At the same time, he flipped up, arching like a drawn bow, and slammed a heavy kick outward.

Bai Liang hastily pulled his hand back, raising it to block. Feeling the force of that kick, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

This guy's a beta? Come on—he's a desk jockey. How's he supposed to take a hit like that?

No, wait—everyone in the Bai Family in Z country was a desk worker, right? Except for someone like Bai Sheng—the guy with the messed-up sleep schedule, the scrambled brain, and the insane natural talent.

Bai Liang stumbled back several steps to absorb the force. The hood of his sweatshirt fell back, and the cap underneath tumbled onto the damp ground. His black hair a mess, he slowly looked up.

He let out a short laugh and shook out his numb arm.

Bai Liang's smile was sweet as honey, yet it somehow made your skin crawl.

"Always trying to steal other people's kids—that's just wrong."

H recognized Bai Liang and his blood ran cold.

Bai Liang? Shouldn't he be in Ang City?

He didn't even have time to finish the thought before a shadow fell from above!

The factory area was a patchwork of varying heights—perfect for observing, hiding, and fleeing, but just as good for anyone else.

The stuff H was carrying was knocked flying in an instant. He couldn't dodge, so he twisted and threw a punch, knowing full well it packed over a hundred jin of force—but it was caught mid-swing, locked in place, unable to move an inch.

Then H met Bai Sheng's eyes—still lazy and indifferent even now.

Bai Sheng didn't even frown, though he was a little surprised.

It was rare to see a beta with such a solid build.

Bai Sheng tilted his head. Another gust of wind whipped past his cheek, the kicked-up gravel flying fast enough to cut a person. Seeing it couldn't reach his face, Bai Sheng ignored it and struck back. Getting into close-quarters combat with arguably the top alpha in all of Z country was the worst mistake H could have made.

By now, the perimeter team had already moved in.

Bai Sheng subdued the man, pressing one hand on the back of his head and slamming his face into the ground with a heavy thud.

Bai Liang had already put on his gloves. He heard something inside the backpack and couldn't wait for backup—he crouched down and yanked the zipper open.

Then his pupils contracted. He didn't even have time to see what was inside—he grabbed whatever it was, kicked the backpack away, and yelled.

"It's a specialized mini bomb!"

Who would've guessed this guy was carrying explosives on him at all times?! Was it the kind that starts a countdown the second it's separated from the body? What if he'd accidentally gotten separated from it? Were these people insane?

Even with Bai Sheng's formidable physique, he wasn't invincible or bulletproof. Just like a car accident could leave lasting damage, his physical strength and alpha pheromones gave him the ability to fight someone like this, but his lack of experience let the opponent find an opening.

The man raised his head. The moment Bai Sheng's grip loosened slightly because of Bai Liang's shout, H seized the opportunity. He wrenched his captured limb until it dislocated, flipped up from the side, and raised a dagger he'd pulled from behind his waist, charging straight at Bai Liang.

More precisely, his target was whatever Bai Liang had pulled out of the backpack.

The sniper, already in position, didn't dare take a shot while the man was moving so fast. Bai Sheng followed close behind. Seeing more people rushing over from all directions, H gritted his teeth. Something seemed to cross his mind, and his teeth chattered with a faint, fearful tremor.

He turned his head to look at Bai Sheng: "What? So eager to see the data on that failed experiment in the lab? Let me think—didn't he once cry and call out for his dad?"

"You—"

Bai Sheng's focus wavered for a split second. The man hurled his dagger—it grazed Bai Sheng's shoulder, leaving a trail of blood. Seeing no way to escape, H flipped over the steep slope, tumbling and stumbling all the way down to the backpack, and then—boom.

...

"He's still alive? Unconscious? Get him to the hospital for emergency treatment first. The follow-up is, of course, for you all to handle. And yes, these things can be documented, but afterward I'll have a dedicated lab on my end for analysis and judgment—you shouldn't have any issues with that either."

As a researcher on various national projects and the youngest professor at Sheng'ang University, Bai Liang had plenty of experience dealing with government officials.

The Federation authorities were quickly cleaning things up. Bai Liang frowned slightly and turned to walk over to Bai Sheng.

Bai Sheng was leaning against the wall, head down, irritably pressing his temple.

"Aren't you going to bandage that?"

Bai Liang glanced at the bloody gash on Bai Sheng's shoulder, his head aching.

"Even if we can't get more leads from that man, we didn't come away empty-handed. At least we got some stuff waiting to be analyzed. As long as we find a clue, tracking them down won't be too hard."

That was true. Not being able to clean all this up right away wasn't about lacking ability—it was just that the other side was too good at hiding and rarely came near Z country. Certain gray zones abroad offered them shelter. This time they'd found a lead, but who knew how long it would take to root out these roaches for good.

The Bai family really hated bugs.

And also—is Bai Sheng even human?

Bai Liang adjusted his glasses and squinted, thinking. Alright, he was now even more certain he didn't want to end up like Bai Jin, getting put in his place by Bai Sheng.

If Bai Sheng really lost his temper, one punch from him might actually kill a man.

"...I do need to get this taken care of."

Bai Sheng didn't think much of the small wound. As long as it wasn't on his face, Nono wouldn't notice.

It wasn't time for the video call with the little one yet. At this hour, he should be taking his afternoon nap, and Dou Dou should be charging. He couldn't catch the little guy on camera right now—if Bai Sheng wanted to see his kid, he'd have to search through the fixed monitors in the kids' room at home one by one.

He'd wait a little longer.

Bai Sheng held himself back.

He straightened up.

Of course, he'd rather deal with all this troublesome stuff cleanly without Xiao Bai Nuo ever knowing a thing.

The newbie dad couldn't help feeling restless.

Oh, yeah—

"After this wound is treated, help me keep it under wraps. I have a video call with him in a bit."

Bai Sheng looked up at Bai Liang, then.

Bai Liang, who had just waved over the medical staff, gave a confused look: ?

What...? Keep it a secret?

A confused look crossed Bai Liang's gentle, refined face as he pointed at himself.

"Me? Help you hide it from Nono?"

Having already been burned by this before, Bai Liang's eyes widened slightly.

He's gonna find out! He'll definitely find out!

Don't drag me into this just because that little kid forgives you for everything!

It was all a nightmare.

At the Bai family's old estate in Ang City, the just-woken little cub sat on the bed hugging a thin quilt, rubbing his eyes.

Cen Zhi had been sitting nearby quietly drawing with her stylus, and looked up at the sound of movement.

"Awake? Why the long face?"

"Nono had a nightmare, Grandma."

Xiaobai Nuo came back to himself, turned to look at his grandmother, and said softly.

"Oh? What kind of nightmare?"

Cen Zhi was genuinely a bit surprised.

After all, the little one had nightmares whenever he didn't sleep well, but he rarely mentioned them.

"Dreamed that the big monster from the games he plays with Uncle swallowed Dad whole."

Xiaobai Nuo pressed his lips together and hugged the quilt tighter.

"No matter how Nono threw stones at it, it wouldn't give Nono's dad back."

Cen Zhi was speechless.

"Doesn't your uncle play those cute games with you?"

Xiaobai Nuo thought for a moment, then made a gesture.

"There was a huge dragon in the game."

A bit like the mutant monsters Nono had seen back in the apocalypse.

Cen Zhi: ... Yeah, this one's definitely on Bai Jin.

Then the little one looked up, gazing at Cen Zhi with pleading eyes, and held out his arms.

"Grandma?"

Cen Zhi snapped out of it and heard him continue: "Can you hold Nono?"

Nono wants a hug, please.

Cen Zhi's expression softened instantly, and she replied, "Of course."

She stood up and gathered the little cub into her arms. When she had nightmares herself, she never said anything, did she? Or maybe she didn't even think of them as nightmares? But the moment it involved Bai Sheng, he called it one.

Indeed... no matter how many times she saw it, Cen Zhi had to wonder: What did Bai Sheng ever do to deserve a kid like this?

Cen Zhi looked down at the soft, fluffy hair on the little cub's head in her arms.

"You'll rest this afternoon, then want to go play at great-grandpa's? Is your fairy-tale cottage all set up?"

"Mhm."

Xiaobai Nuo cheered up again after Grandma's hug, tilting his head up.

"It's all ready. Nono can go into the fairy-tale cottage and tell Grandma stories."

As he spoke, he touched Grandma's hand again. His small hand rested on hers, then, after a moment, he placed both hands on top.

"Grandma, your hands are cold."

It was almost October now. After the rain earlier, the temperature had been dropping little by little. The central air conditioning was on inside, but the windows were open too. The breeze wasn't cold, but after a while, it blew the warmth away.

Cen Zhi, who had won today's contest for taking care of the little one, hadn't even had a chance to speak.

Before she could say anything, the little one held her hand and pressed it against his soft cheek.

The cub, with his face now 'held' by her hands, smiled at her.

Beneath her hand was soft, chubby warmth, and he mumbled, "Grandma, Nono will warm you up. This way you'll be warm. Don't sit by the open window, Grandma."

Teacher Xiaoxue had said that this kind of weather made people get sick easily, and that all the kids should be careful not to catch a cold. Xiaobai Nuo had taken it to heart and naturally showed that same care and kindness to his family.

But Nono's hands were too small to warm them fully. This way, they'd get warm.

Cen Zhi was speechless.

Cen Zhi couldn't help but look down.

She couldn't handle it anymore.

Baby, how are you so adorable!

Cen Zhi cooed over the slightly shy little one for a while.

The little one had already cheered up again from the nightmare of Dad being eaten.

He brought Dou Dou along as Grandma held him in her arms, chattering away about what fun things had happened at kindergarten today. He also mentioned that in a few more hours he'd be able to video-call Dad again, wondering if Dad was done with work yet.

When they got out of the car, Cen Zhi looked up in surprise and saw the old master and Bai Wan sitting in the courtyard.

The old master was drinking tea, while Bai Wan stared at him without blinking, looking a bit accusatory. In front of Bai Wan sat a gift box.

Bai Wan said bluntly, "Grandpa, you set me up."

Bai Yan let out a light cough, glanced at Bai Wan, his lips curling up slightly before he pressed them back down.

"You're just not sharp enough."

How is that 'harm'? Don't worry, it'll be fine, everything will work out. Your old grandpa here stepped on plenty of landmines the same way.

That's when Bai Yan spotted Xiaobai Nuo.

Cen Zhi had just set the little one down.

The little guy was already bouncing inside, running up to the table, tiny hands gripping the table edge as he looked up and called out, "Great-grandpa."

Then the little one locked eyes with Bai Wan beside him, still holding a hint of awe for the 'green pepper spirit': "Cousin."

It was their pre-arranged time. Bai Wan saw the little one approach, blinked once, picked up the gift box in front of him, and handed it to Xiaobai Nuo.

"This is a gift—will you like it?"

Bai Wan studied the little one's expression: "I consulted multiple people, analyzed that you like strawberries, evaluated the chef's skill at home, and synthesized all factors to make this—strawberry cream scone."

Strawberry. Cream. Scone?

Three words that all sounded delicious put together, and the little one's eyes lit up instantly.

"Is this a gift for Nono?"

Bai Wan nodded.

The little one peered down through the clear window.

Then his eyes curved into a smile, looking at Bai Wan with an utterly adorable expression. He was wearing a hooded rabbit sweatshirt. Two long ears sewn onto the hood drooped behind him, swaying slightly as he moved.

Bai Wan's eyes showed no emotion: "Equivalent exchange—how did you get that cat to get so close to you? I want to learn from your experience for further analysis."

Cats—their soothing power is no joke.

He hadn't even seen the cat—just knowing it existed was enough to feel... hmm?

"Hmm? Give it food, play with it? Don't force it to do stuff it doesn't like?"

The little one tilted his head as he spoke, already opening the gift box.

Cen Zhi followed behind. Unlike the rest of the Bai family, she wasn't wary of Bai Wan. She just smiled and nodded in greeting, then spoke to her little grandson.

"It's just past two now, too early. Be careful—if you eat too much, your tummy will hurt. Wait until snack time in an hour to eat it."

The little one paused.

"Okay, Grandma. Then Nono will bring Grandma to see Nono's fairy tale cottage first."

Bai Yan cleared his throat: "Oh? It's already finished?"

"Mm-hmm, Nono invites Great-grandpa as well."

The little one reluctantly placed the gift box back on the table, then reached out his tiny hand toward his great-grandpa, like a tiny ant trying to lift a giant, to help pull him up.

Bai Wan, who had been slightly stuck in his thoughts, finally looked over.

"Fairy tale cottage? What is that?"

He knew what fairy tales were, but he'd never read any. He'd heard the term once without digging deeper—until now, hearing it again.

He had indeed studied many strange things, but he'd never paid attention to fairy tales as a subject, so he couldn't imagine it.

"It's a little house made of scenes from lots of fairy tales! Cousin doesn't know what fairy tales are?"

The little one turned to look at Bai Wan.

"I've never read them, and adults don't read fairy tales."

Bai Wan stated calmly.

"But fairy tales are so good! Nono loves them."

Xiaobai Nuo blinked, then glanced at the gift box on the table. As if thinking about something, he suddenly turned and walked toward Bai Wan.

"Cousin must not like them because he's never read them. Nono invites Cousin to Nono's fairy tale cottage too! Nono can tell Cousin fairy tales—it's my way of saying thanks!"

That tiny hand reached out to him.

Bai Wan: …

Bai Wan froze for a moment, unsure what to do.

But on instinct, he didn't take that little hand—he simply stood up on his own and followed after Xiaobai Nuo.

He had already come to his conclusion.

Fairy tales—those false stories meant to fool children—couldn't possibly relax or soothe anyone's mood.

Adults don't need fairy tales, so this trip was pointless.

But he had already followed the little one to the door of Xiaobai Nuo's fairy tale cottage.

The little one pushed the door open with some effort. The sheer curtains were drawn, only slightly dimming the light from outside. Xiaobai Nuo stood on his tiptoes to tap the light switch that had been specially installed lower for him.

In an instant, the lights inside lit up.

A dreamy forest scene, a room with a shining golden treasure chest, an underwater world with holographic projections...

Several rooms had been opened up into this one large space, with care showing in every detail.

Bai Wan watched the little one run over to grab a book and a notebook, then come back to the adults, looking up: "Nono has read it many times! Nono will tell it to Great-grandpa, Grandma, and Cousin!"

Bai Wan listened, his hand unconsciously tightening slightly—Dad, something's not right.

Is there no room for fairy tales in the adult world?

As if responding to that thought,

this little one gave a particularly soft smile.

Silently telling him: It's okay—the fairy tales adults don't have? They exist in Nono's world, and Nono will tell them to you.

Welcome to the fairy tale world.