Chapter 154

Chapter 154

It was like he was hearing things.

Bai Ye's body stiffened slightly. The eyes beneath his hat fixed on the little one who had already come to stand before him.

Seeing the little kid extend his hand expectantly, Bai Ye also reached out—but not to take the notebook and pen. Instead, he pointed at himself.

Him?

Write a blessing?

Was this some kind of joke?

And weren't you just looking for someone down that way? How did you end up coming in here?

And on top of that—Bai Ye glanced at the recording device clipped to the little one's collar.

He should get out of here right now.

...But wouldn't turning around and walking away right now look just as weird?

Bai Ye kept thinking.

Seeing this odd uncle slowly extend his hand and point at himself, Bai Nuo nodded eagerly.

"Yes, uncle, aren't you cold just sitting here?"

The little kid had just seen him and trailed after him.

It should have been their first meeting, but there was a weird sense of familiarity.

Little Bai Nuo didn't quite understand it, but he couldn't help following him, wanting to talk to this uncle.

Even if it was just a few words.

That's what Nuo Nuo was thinking.

"...I'm okay."

Bai Ye's voice was hoarse, with a slight rasp—after all, the accidental fire and explosion years ago had damaged his vocal cords.

He only said those two words, then fell silent again, just staring at the little kid.

After the little one's arms got tired from holding up the notebook, he set it down for a moment and opened his little bag.

"Nuo Nuo's got snacks here—this one, this one, and this one. Nuo Nuo recommends this kind of bread! It's especially soft and sweet, with coconut filling inside, super crunchy. Nuo Nuo loves it. And there's this strawberry-flavored cookie sandwich..."

That's just how kids are—when they like something, they go on and on about how great it is.

"Nuo Nuo's got water here too. Uncle, you want some water? Uncle, you catching a cold? Your voice sounds a bit rough. Nuo Nuo had a cold last week too—drinking lots of water helped."

Little Bai Nuo also took out a small unopened water bottle from his bag and handed it to Bai Ye.

Bai Nuo's eyes curved into a smile, his voice light and carefree, sounding totally carefree—as if the past had left no mark on him at all.

He wasn't even afraid of him, just a little shy because they didn't know each other.

Completely different from the blank, unresponsive kid in the lab.

Bai Ye didn't take it either. He stepped back slightly.

"...I don't know how to write a blessing."

Blessings—such a thing just didn't fit him.

What he was best at was probably cursing the world.

But what he cared about more was, "Why did you come to me?"

He had already gotten away pretty fast, hadn't he? There was almost no one here, and even the distant police officers were on alert, occasionally glancing his way.

Bai Ye didn't understand. He couldn't figure out what this little kid was thinking.

In the lab, he couldn't understand why this kid, who always seemed out of it, would still come up to him. Now, he also didn't understand why this kid had come up to him again.

The little kid pulled back the water bottle in his hands.

The uncle before him was actually one of the coldest people he had ever met.

But Little Bai Nuo blinked.

"Because... uncle was watching Nuo Nuo from over there earlier."

That lonely, isolated feeling.

The little one wasn't bothered by his mood at all, his small hands still holding the little water bottle: "Nuo Nuo thinks if Nuo Nuo didn't come try to get uncle's blessing, Nuo Nuo would regret it later."

Bai Ye: ...

After all these years, he was once again this close to the little kid.

He could see his round little face, his thick eyelashes when he blinked—and now his lashes were no longer wet from crying in pain, looking just like a normal child.

As for regret, or wanting a blessing?

Don't be ridiculous. You won't remember anyway.

"I don't need water."

Bai Ye finally spoke again.

But this time, he took the notebook, scribbled a few lines on it, thinking with a hint of weariness.

You don't need to know about these things, you little waste.

Bai Ye handed the notebook back to the little kid.

And emphasized again.

"I don't need these snacks either. Take them and leave quickly. I'm leaving too."

Little Bai Nuo instinctively took the notebook back. He had already taken off his gloves earlier for convenience, and now his little hand brushed against the other's.

The cold made the little kid shiver.

This uncle's body was clearly so cold—how could he say he wasn't cold at all?

Little kids usually can't really understand grown-ups.

Bai Nuo watched the man turn to leave, then suddenly stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve. "Uncle, uncle."

Bai Ye froze for a second, then spun around and backed away. "Didn't I already write you a note? What more do you want?"

Then he watched the kid pull a scarf out of his little bag.

The scarf from the kindergarten was the wide, long kind that could wrap around a child's neck several times, so even on an adult, it wouldn't look too small.

"Uncle, since you won't take water or snacks, Nono's giving you this scarf instead. You must be freezing sitting here—it's okay, Nono's never worn it."

The kid kept going. "Uncle, you're really cold."

Bai Ye stared at the kid. Most of his face was hidden, so his expression was unreadable.

It was cold.

But that didn't matter.

And this kid, still laying on the sweet talk, swayed a little.

"Thanks for the blessing, uncle. I hope you stay warm every day from now on—no worries, year after year, and everything sunny and bright."

He flashed Bai Ye a sweet smile and shoved the scarf right into his hand.

He really did seem happy.

Bai Ye: ...

The hand the kid had shoved the scarf into was his prosthetic arm, and with the glove on, he could barely feel the scarf's weight or even that it was there.

Bai Ye was about to say something when the kid spoke up again.

"Uncle, have I met you before?"

Bai Ye froze. "No."

This time, he denied it fast.

"Anyway, I need to go. I'm busy."

His voice was hoarse as he finished, and without another glance at Xiaobai Nuo, he turned and walked off quickly.

Bai Nuo was still thinking.

He really felt like this uncle looked super familiar—familiar enough that he couldn't help but go up to him.

Where... exactly had he seen him before?

...

Just those blurry, clueless years in the lab.

No way he'd remember that.

Bai Ye quickly got out of that "danger zone."

He turned off the main road onto a side path.

The area got quiet again. The alley between two towering apartment complexes was walled off on both ends, just like how he could only keep moving forward down this dim path.

Bai Ye looked down at the scarf he'd almost forgotten, still clutched tight in his prosthetic hand.

He swapped it to his other hand.

A light cashmere scarf—fluffy, soft, and featherlight. It really weighed nothing.

Bai Ye took a deep breath, thinking about how that little brat would just give stuff away. Didn't those good-for-nothing Bai Family members teach him any better? Keeping your interests firmly in your own grip—that was the Bai Family way, wasn't it?

Just as he was thinking that,

a message came in from The Saviors Organization.

Bai Ye's face instantly darkened. He felt his stomach cramp and spasm on its own, a wave of nausea rising.

But Bai Ye still started reading, keeping his face neutral.

'Dear Mr. Bai, you've been in Country Z way too long. Got any conclusions yet? Any way to help us get the test subject back? With you being so quiet, it's not just K—even I'm starting to wonder how useful you really are, Mr. Bai. —R'

Bai Ye replied coldly, 'Don't call me Mr. Bai.'

'Haha, fine, fine. I know you don't want anything to do with the Bai Family, but the top-tier A-rank Bai Family's rep in Country Z is still pretty loud. I figured you wouldn't mind the compliment that much. Oh, of course, as long as we get the test subject back and run more research on the genes and other traits, I'm sure the secrets passed down through the Bai Family generations will be laid bare for us too. We'll also find a way to handle the Bai Family. Then you can live out in the open too, right? —R'

'Oh? Really? Then I'll look forward to it.'

After sending the message, Bai Ye slowly, almost lazily, stuffed the scarf into his trench coat pocket. The coat's pockets were big enough to hold it, but the bulging lump made it look kind of ridiculous.

He pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of the other pocket.

Finally, he pulled down his mask, baring the ugly scars on his face in the empty alley. Bai Ye leaned against the wall, tapped out a cigarette, stuck it between his lips, and lit it with a click. He stared blankly at the glowing orange tip.

Nicotine slid down his throat into his lungs, then drifted out through his nose—decadent and wrecked.

The Bai Family basically didn't smoke. Even drinking was only for the few under serious pressure. And in business, no one was dumb enough to expect the Bai Family to play along with their whole social ritual.

Generations of top-tier A-ranks, with the strongest of each generation in charge, had created this dynamic: it was always everyone else adapting to the Bai Family, never the other way around.

But Bai Ye was hooked on the rush that cheap smokes and booze gave him.

It was probably a feeling that he was still alive.

Lately, though, his cigarette packs were all still full, and he hadn't been drinking much.

Walking openly in the sunlight?

Bai Ye blew out a plume of smoke. Maybe because he hadn't smoked in a month or two, he was a bit rusty. He coughed lightly, tears welling up from the cough, but that ever-gloomy face seemed to almost smile.

What exactly was keeping him from walking out in the open like that?

—Not that he'd ever planned to walk in the sunlight anyway.

He hated the Bai Family, and he hated The Saviors.

People walked by on the main road nearby, chatting and laughing. Bai Ye stubbed out his cigarette, straightened up, and pulled his mask back on.

Another message buzzed in on his watch.

'Oh, right, speaking of which—though we don't have reliable sources inside Country Z yet, we can still access public info, and with all the activity from foreign organizations, Mr. Shen, is the test subject's kindergarten holding some kind of event? Have you been in contact with that little test subject? Oh, of course, I'm not rushing you. I get it—even if you did make contact, given the security at that kind of event day in Country Z, especially after what happened last time, there's no way you could pull anything off anyway.'

However, what I have to say is related to these matters. Your third uncle seems to have finally found a loophole in the Bai family. He flew into a rage and stirred up some trouble for the Bai family's overseas business, taking the opportunity to leave the Bai family. Given the situation, I think there's still something worth talking about, don't you?

I've already had someone contact the other party on the dark web, and there will be a meeting soon. I wonder if Mr. Shen would be interested? Feel free to come along. Of course, most importantly, the pheromones you use to stabilize your body are just about used up, aren't they? I'll have them replenish them for you as soon as possible. You're really important to our research institute, you know. —R'

Bai Ye: ...

Third uncle?

Bai Zhize?

What did he and Bai Wan do?

Bai Ye just skimmed over it, extracting the relevant info, and raised an eyebrow, a little puzzled.

Can't make sense of it.

He'd never really been able to figure out what Bai Zhize was up to, let alone the fact that they hadn't been in touch for ages.

Forget it, they were all worthless anyway. The Bai family was way behind him now.

Bai Ye cleared all the information with a blank face, his hand reaching into his pocket out of habit, only to touch the scarf that little kid had shoved in there.

Bai Ye: ...

Bai Ye: .............

Bai Ye finally pulled his hand out and just let it hang there.

"Worry-free every year, clear skies ahead"?

Ha, that was definitely not for him.

Bai Ye looked up at the sky, then dropped his head again and walked forward quickly.

Bright? At noon it had been so bright, with the sun blazing, but now... it had even turned cloudy.

It was always like that for him.

But it didn't matter. That little brat wouldn't remember anyway.

Xiaobai Nuo only snapped back to reality when he saw Bai Ye turn down the side path.

Xiaobai Nuo muttered under his breath, "Strange."

He kept feeling like he'd seen that uncle somewhere before, but no matter how hard he thought, he just couldn't remember.

Xiaobai Nuo looked down to look at the notebook in his hand.

Bai Ye had only casually scribbled a few lines on it just now.

Only a few words.

"Wish you happiness."

These four words kind of seemed a bit perfunctory.

But that's just how people were—you couldn't really tell what someone meant just from their words, or even their attitude.

Nuo Nuo really liked the uncles, aunties, big brothers, and big sisters who'd written all those long, flowery blessings, but just four words, Nuo Nuo also liked them. They were all blessings—there was no better or worse.

The little kid blinked a few times, closed the notebook, hugged the pretty one he'd picked out, and then looked toward the direction where Bai Ye had disappeared.

It was just that the uncle looked really unhappy, and it made Nuo Nuo feel a bit sad too, looking at him.

Wondering if he'd feel better if he was a bit warmer.

He was dressed so lightly, looking like he might be sick. Didn't his family care about him?

The little kid kept racking his brain, trying to dig up memories from the past to figure out where that familiar feeling came from.

While still thinking, Bai Nuo kept going around the little park to find other uncles and aunties to give out little gifts and trade blessings.

Roughly an hour later, the little kid's little snacks were all given out, and he'd filled up several pages in the notebook. Some uncles and aunties even wrote pinyin on it, afraid he couldn't understand.

But the sun was blocked by clouds, and it started to look like it might turn cloudy. When a light breeze blew over again, it got a bit chilly.

Xiaobai Nuo tucked his neck into his collar and heard Yu Chuyan calling out to him from behind.

"Nuo Nuo!"

Xiaobai Nuo almost turned into a little Nuo ball, slowly shuffling his way around to look at Yu Chuyan.

"Brother, Nuo Nuo's all done giving stuff out. Are you done too?"

"I'm all done on my end."

Yu Chuyan walked over quickly.

"But Xie Yue seems to have wandered off. The teacher's already gone after him. They'll be back in a while. We can head to the meeting spot first."

The two Xie brothers were quite rowdy. There was no way they'd actually sit still for the social practice activity. Within no time, they were distracted by other things in the park, and the moment they weren't paying attention, they slipped out of the kindergarten's designated area and were quickly "wanted" by the teachers.

"Mm."

The little kid nodded.

Then he watched Yu Chuyan's cool little face slightly frown, and his hand reached out to touch his neck.

Yu Chuyan's hand was warm. The little kid, who'd just shivered from the wind, instinctively leaned in, clamping Yu Chuyan's hand between his neck and shoulder.

Yu Chuyan just went ahead and put down his bag, sticking both hands into the little kid's neck to warm him up.

"Nuo Nuo, where's your scarf?"

Yu Chuyan looked at Xiaobai Nuo's bag.

Now the snacks in the bag were all gone. Inside were his notebook, pen, and water bottle. His gloves and hat were also thrown in there, but the scarf was nowhere to be seen.

"An uncle looked really cold, so Nuo Nuo gave it to him."

Xiaobai Nuo shrank his neck, letting out a soft whimper, feeling his neck warming up.

"You gave it to someone else?"

Yu Chuyan frowned while warming Xiaobai Nuo's neck.

"Didn't brother tell you to put yourself first? You have to be comfortable yourself before you can take care of others."

It was because this little kid was too soft. Whatever you asked for, if he had it, there was a high chance he'd just give it to you directly, even if he might need it himself. It always felt like he could easily be bullied.

So Yu Chuyan and the Xie Family Brothers, who had already completely taken the little cub under their wing, usually kept an extra close eye on him, hoping he'd be a little more mindful of himself.

"Mm-hmm, Nono remembers! When Nono gave it away, the sun was still out, and then it vanished in the blink of an eye."

So it was the sun's fault, then.

The little one nodded his little head seriously, set down his bag too, and took Yu Chuyan's hand in his small ones, smiling sweetly.

"But Nono's got Brother Xiao Yan! That uncle was all alone, sitting on that super cold bench."

What if, just maybe, he was missing that little bit of warmth?

"So Nono thought, if giving him that scarf could make him feel a bit warmer, that'd be nice, wouldn't it?"

Xiaobai Nuo went from holding Yu Chuyan's hand—the one warming his neck—to cupping his own face.

Yu Chuyan: ...

Nono has Brother Xiao Yan...

Nono has Brother Xiao Yan!

Nono has Brother Xiao Yan!!!

The Little Cool Guy immediately started to pull his hand back, ready to take off his own scarf.

He only noticed Bai Nuo's scarf was missing after he started warming his neck, so he hadn't thought to take his own off at first.

Xiaobai Nuo: ...?

Huh?

Yu Chuyan even started taking off his jacket.

"Brother works out, so Brother's super strong."

Yu Chuyan was practically thumping his chest as he said it.

Bai Nuo: ...

"Brother, be careful not to catch a cold!!"

The little cub hurriedly reached out, grabbing Yu Chuyan's hand on the zipper, and pressing down on the scarf he'd half pulled off.

"But you'll get cold."

As soon as Bai Nuo reached out, Yu Chuyan stopped moving, and he started thinking about snatching Xie Qing's and Xie Yue's scarves.

Anyway, those two didn't like wearing scarves, always saying scarves got in the way of their jumping around, probably never even wore them. Snatching theirs would work too, he just didn't know where those two had run off to.

Xiaobai Nuo thought for a moment, then suddenly leaned in.

Yu Chuyan froze as he felt his shoulder press against Bai Nuo's.

Then he heard the little cub say, "The scarf's pretty long, so Nono can share it with Brother, and then neither of us'll catch a cold."

Bai Nuo looked up at Yu Chuyan with big, sparkling eyes.

Yu Chuyan: ...

S-share it?!

About half an hour later, they were at the meeting point.

When Xie Yue and Xie Qing were 'escorted' back by the teachers, they saw Bai Nuo and Yu Chuyan sitting close together, sharing one scarf around their necks. Since Xiaobai Nuo was shorter than Yu Chuyan, he naturally tilted his head a bit toward him. When he saw the Xie Family Twins, Bai Nuo waved at them.

The little cub was still deep in thought.

Nono never forgets anyone he's met, so it must be something he hasn't noticed yet. Think again, Nono.

Think again, Nono.

Quite a few cubs nearby were looking at them.

Xie Yue: ...?

Interesting!

He whipped out his own scarf.

"Count me in! Count me in!"

"Can you calm down for once?"

Xie Qing nearly tripped over his brother's foot and protested in annoyance.

But he quickly pulled out his scarf too.

"Get in line behind me! And don't share one with me—I'm going to Nono's side, you go to Brother Yan's side."

Separate—he wanted to cut ties with this bouncing, chaotic, friendly-fire-prone little idiot brother!!

"Ha, like I'd want to share one with you!"

...

The teachers photographed every cub's blessing book as they returned to the meeting point.

Once all the cubs had gathered, the field trip was successfully wrapped up.

Today was a day off, and most parents had time, so they were all waiting early at the school gate.

With so many people at the kindergarten entrance, Bai Sheng just stayed in the car. He kept an eye on the time, planning to get out when Xiaobai Nuo came out.

He lounged casually in the back seat, taking a call from great-grandpa's side of the family.

The last incident where the little one was almost taken had the whole Bai family on edge.

Although only Bai Sheng was waiting here to pick up the cub, Bai Liang, Bai Jin, Cen Zhi, and Cen Liu were all nearby, keeping watch.

At the slightest sign of trouble, the whole family would spring into action.

But the content of the call still surprised Bai Sheng a bit.

"Third uncle ran off?"

Bai Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly, listening to the voice on the other end.

"Oh, planned for a long time, that's normal."

After all, even the friendliest members of the Bai family weren't idiots.

And they'd probably set some traps and get some dirt on people before they dared to bolt.

Getting them back would probably be a pain in the ass.

But...

"The cook?"

Bai Sheng snorted.

What the hell did it mean that his third uncle had been test-cooking at his grandpa's for a month, then just took off with Bai Wan and three cooks?

Did that even make any damn sense?

Bai Sheng didn't get it. He was completely blown away.

Hearing the kindergarten bell ring on the other end of the line, he cut the call short and got out of the car. Even then, he still hadn't gotten over the shock of Bai Zhize running off with three cooks—something that almost never happened in the Bai family. He idly glanced around and spotted four kids coming out of the school gate, all tied together with scarves.

At first, Bai Sheng didn't clock it. Then it hit him, and he looked at his own kid squished lovingly between those three A-rank kids.

Bai Sheng: ...?

What the hell are you A-rank brats doing?