Chapter 157

Chapter 157

But Bai Jin's life wasn't looking for a way out—he simply chose to lie flat and stop trying.

And there it was again—the Bai family's classic move of shifting blame and venting downward.

He'd love to pass the blame down too, but the only one younger than him was little Xiaobai Nuo. Blame that little cub? Did he want to make him cry, or was he just asking to die?

The only little omega cub in the family's history had already secured his position as the Bai Family's collective favorite through sheer cuteness and obedience. Anyone who messed with him would get jumped by the whole family and wrecked—even Bai Jin had to be one of the people jumping in to defend him.

All he could do now was smack his own mouth: Everyone else said it quietly, but you had to say it out loud. Use your brain next time!

Meanwhile, little Xiaobai Nuo was straining his neck, trying to peek over this way.

The cub lay in his grandmother's arms, eyes still red, cheeks tear-stained, looking like one pitiful, tiny little thing.

Bai Nuo was watching to see what was up with his little uncle.

Why did he suddenly just give up like that?

Bai Sheng had already walked over to the cub and took him from Cen Zhi's arms.

"It's all over now, no more crying. Let's put a cold compress on your eyes and go to sleep, okay? Daddy will stay with you tonight."

Bai Nuo looked up, meeting his father's eyes.

He couldn't actually sleep. He wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say, so he just latched onto his dad with his tiny hands and feet.

Bai Sheng carried the cub out, looked back and shot the rest of the Bai family a look before heading out the door and speaking again.

"Trust Daddy."

Two seconds later, the cub's soft voice followed, seemingly soothed, repeating gently.

"Trust Daddy... Nono trusts Daddy."

Bai Sheng took little Bai Nuo back to his room.

Only then did the Bai family members in Bai Sheng's study stand up.

"I'm heading out."

Bai Qian spoke.

Cen Zhi turned: "At this hour? Where to?"

"To go find the Federation's Special Incident Response Team from back then."

Bai Qian said, contacting his secretary as he headed out.

"Wait."

Cen Zhi hurried over and reached out to straighten his collar.

"It's dropped really cold outside. Have the butler grab you a coat before you leave."

"Mm, don't wait up for me tonight."

Bai Qian acknowledged, pressing his forehead against Cen Zhi's.

"You go back and get your beauty sleep."

"Dad, I'll go with you."

Bai Jingyun also stood, straightening his clothes, then looked at Cen Zhi.

"Mom, I'll bring Dad back early later, and I'll have Dad's driver take you home first."

With that, they left Bai Sheng's place.

Bai Qian, Bai Jingyun, and Cen Zhi left first, with Bai Jin right behind them.

The last ones left were Bai Er and Bai Si—the two who never got along.

"Didn't you find any more useful information?"

Bai Qi watched them walk away, then suddenly turned to look at Bai Liang beside her.

Bai Liang was surprised. He looked over with a gentle, refined smile.

"I really did want to find more useful information, but that guy codenamed H was clearly just an outside operative for The Saviors. They wouldn't hand over detailed files to someone like him."

Bai Qi muttered something very softly under her breath that Bai Liang couldn't quite catch.

Before Bai Liang could open his mouth to ask—

"I've been handling a lot of overseas business these past few years. I'll reach out to a few people in the know... and I'll have Bai Sheng get in touch with Harley too. I can't stand that guy's methods, but abroad, a conglomerate like his can get their hands on a lot of information."

That's the right thing to do, right?

Bai Qi thought.

An aunt should do this, and as a Bai family member, she should do this too.

But she had a subtle feeling that she was angrier than she'd expected to be at this moment.

"Of course, a person's existence always leaves behind clues. I'll ask overseas research institutes if they've seen anyone similar."

Bai Liang nodded.

The two of them were having a rare moment of calm, peaceful communication, without stabbing at each other.

Seeing Bai Qi about to leave, Bai Liang thought for a moment: "About what happened when we were kids—I think I can offer some explanation."

Bai Qi paused mid-step. She was somewhat surprised that Bai Liang mentioned this. No—or rather, clearly both of them had been unwilling to bring up the past, but over the past two months, Bai Liang had loosened up on this front. Bai Qi turned to look at Bai Liang, then broke into a sudden, unexpected smile.

There was a cold, striking, contemptuous elegance to her demeanor: "Is that so? But I don't need it. At least not right now."

Bai Qi hurried off.

The Bai family seemed to be cast under an ominous shadow by Bai Ye's sudden appearance.

Bai Liang was the last one standing at Bai Sheng's door. He watched Bai Qi walk away, then glanced back at little Bai Nuo's room.

The light was on inside—Bai Sheng was probably keeping an eye on the little cub's condition right now, so there wasn't much to worry about.

Bai Liang snapped back to himself and stepped out as well.

His attitude hadn't really changed, and he didn't feel he owed anyone an explanation—otherwise he wouldn't still be trading barbs with Bai Qi.

After everything that had happened before, he felt he couldn't let this life burn out so easily now that he'd done what he wanted.

So was that a good thing?

Maybe.

But at least he could be certain—Bai Nuo's arrival at the Bai Family was a good thing.

Bai Liang thought to himself as he turned and left.

Before he knew it, it was mid-to-late December.

Only two or three days remained until Christmas.

Compared to Z country, Christmas was a much bigger deal abroad.

In M country, at The Saviors Organization's temporary hideout.

The Saviors' leadership, forced to relocate multiple times in just a week or two, was extremely agitated.

"Damn it, do those Bai Family bastards never get tired? They've been chasing us nonstop—will they ever stop? A bunch of primitive savages."

R cursed in fury. Yet another backup research facility in a certain country had been destroyed by international organizations, and mercenaries were showing up at their door. He couldn't believe it.

They'd seen vengeful families before, but the Bai Family's sheer madness—relentless for months on end—was unheard of. It wasn't just about losing their profitable research projects anymore—even finding a place to crash was a struggle.

"We need new clients to keep those key research facilities running smoothly—Oh, my dear Mr. Shen, how did your talk with Mr. Bai go?"

R turned to see Bai Ye entering, his furious look quickly replaced by a smile.

Bai Ye merely glanced at R and said with a hint of mockery, "Are you all useless? You have to rely on Bai Zhize? Don't you know he's famous for being unpredictable and having no clear loyalties?"

"Mr. Shen, you're still so impatient. Calm down. Dealing with the Bai Family takes a lot of preparation. Of course, the intel and info you've provided, Mr. Shen, are extremely useful to us. I believe they'll be a big help in getting our test subjects back soon."

R said with a smile, seeming to trust Bai Zhize quite a bit.

But R still asked, "Does Mr. Shen think Bai Zhize and his son are unreliable?"

"Of course. I don't think they're the kind of people we can work with. They've been with the Bai Family for a long time—maybe they've patched things up and are just putting on a show for us. You know the Bai Family's always been this cunning. I'll prove it to you."

Bai Ye said, then thought to himself.

Anyway, Bai Zhize should be used to taking the fall by now, right? You need some resistance and instability to really flush K out.

And when it came to instability, Bai Zhize was the obvious choice no matter how you looked at it.

No harm in setting him up. Besides, Bai Ye didn't give a damn whether Bai Zhize and Bai Wan lived or died. If they died that easily abroad, it just meant they had bad luck for sticking their noses into this.

"Sounds like Mr. Shen didn't get along with them."

R raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.

"I'm just proving Bai Zhize is unreliable. Instead of hoping to work with them, you'd be better off preparing for other options."

Bai Ye said, getting to his feet.

"Of course, we'll take what you said into account and won't get too optimistic. By the way, Mr. Shen, interested in checking out some potential sponsors here in M country? Of course, you can say no."

R said with a smile, pulling a syringe full of liquid from the side and handing it to Bai Ye.

"This is your pheromone meds for the month."

Bai Ye turned to R. "You warning me?"

"No, of course not. This is just the usual meds, like always. The info Mr. Shen gave us is very useful—in just a few days, you helped us find a new place, handled some messy situations, and solved a lot of problems. I'm sure K will also meet Mr. Shen's demands."

It was precisely because he was so useful that R was wary.

But R had to admit—damn the Bai Family, even their castoffs were annoyingly effective. At least the intel Bai Ye brought back was highly favorable to the organization.

Even though R trusted his judgment, he also knew a rule: if someone fits your needs perfectly, don't get excited—first check if it's a setup to scam you.

Bai Ye didn't say anything else. Silently, he flicked the needle cap off with one hand and injected the liquid.

"I thought you'd inject it back at your place, so I didn't prep any disinfectant here."

"Don't need it."

Bai Ye closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and tossed the syringe into the nearby trash can.

"I'll go check it out. After being stuck in J country so long, I don't mind getting out a bit."

"Is that so? Good."

R kept smiling. He watched Bai Ye finish the injection and leave, and only then did his smile fade a little.

R rubbed his chin. "Seems like genuine hatred for the Bai Family."

Bai Ye needed the research institute to survive, so R wasn't too worried.

...

Bai Ye left the building and turned a corner, passing right by Bai Zhize and his son, who were also in M country.

Bai Ye didn't even glance their way.

Until Bai Zhize suddenly spoke up: "What's up with your hand? Oh, I mean your left hand."

Bai Zhize suddenly reached out to grab Bai Ye's left hand.

Bai Ye's right hand was a prosthetic, so it swung oddly when he walked, but now his left hand was also slightly curled, twitching faintly.

Bai Ye instinctively pulled his hand back, clenched his right fist, and slammed it into Bai Zhize's wrist, hitting the pressure point hard enough to numb it and make him let go.

Bai Zhize frowned. "Bai Wan."

Bai Wan, who'd been watching from the side, moved when he heard that.

Bai Wan had a reputation as a living grim reaper in J country, and he was no slouch.

Dealing with Bai Ye—whose glands were completely destroyed and who was clearly in rough shape—was more than enough.

Before Bai Ye could even put up much of a fight, Bai Wan had already yanked up his sleeve, revealing the needle mark still oozing a little blood.

Bai Zhize shook his numb arm, glanced at Bai Ye—who'd instantly pulled his sleeve down and frowned—and said thoughtfully.

"What did you just inject?"

"That's none of your business, right?"

Bai Ye sneered.

"You've caused Bai Qian plenty of trouble without posing any real threat—that must've been exhausting all these years. I heard you nearly succeeded in taking down Bai Jingyun last time. Might as well deal with that little brat too, right? Quite impressive, but I wonder if we can really cooperate since we want the same thing. Oh, of course, I've got no interest in running into you after this."

Bai Ye finished, then walked off without even acknowledging Bai Zhize and his son's reactions.

Bai Zhize watched Bai Ye's retreating figure and raised an eyebrow.

The initial surprise had faded, replaced by the urge to punch his nephew, who kept calling people trash.

He remembered that although the kid had been quiet as a child, he hadn't been this annoying.

"Is he making fun of me?"

Bai Zhize said, stroking his chin, addressing Bai Wan.

"Based on my analysis of what he said, there's a seventy percent chance he's mocking you. Want me to break down the other thirty percent?"

"No, that's good enough."

Bai Zhize cut off Bai Wan impatiently.

"This kid's getting harder and harder to figure out."

And why was he getting blamed for everything?

When did he ever plan to touch that little kid?

Not to mention, from his tone—was he happy or not?

Probably happy in a way that meant he was enjoying the show.

Bai Zhize quickly came to a conclusion.

He clicked his tongue: if that was the case, then he'd need to set him straight, wouldn't he?

His second brother's mistakes were still coming back to haunt him.

Though it was hard to tell if Bai Zhize felt relieved or more on edge seeing Bai Ye alive.

He'd always thought that what Bai Kun did shouldn't have dragged Bai Ye into it, and with Bai Ye's dad, who was a mess himself, he felt kind of guilty toward the kid.

But seeing Bai Ye in this organization was a real shock.

The two had now reached a secluded spot.

"Is Bai Ye going after your uncle?"

Bai Zhize looked at Bai Wan.

"Oh, and still going after the little bun you keep mentioning."

Bai Wan looked over when he heard "little bun," thought for a moment, then emphasized.

"The little bun's only five years old."

Laying a hand on a five-year-old is totally wrong and classless.

"Exactly, that's why I'm here—to figure out what's really going on."

Bai Zhize's face went completely dark.

"I can't just keep taking the heat without doing something. If we can't figure out what they're up to, see if we can grab him and take him away, hand him over to your uncle so he'll stop focusing on us."

Most importantly, he didn't want those three chefs he'd found to get chased off again.

Of course, he hadn't said a word to Bai Qian yet, partly because he still hadn't figured out what was going on here or what had happened to Bai Ye, and he didn't want to tip anyone off.

Both sides, wary and suspicious, had already cast each other as the perfect villain.

Bai Wan thought for a moment and nodded seriously: "I've received the latest intel—the current leader of the Farrell family and the head of the Garrison family have both arrived in the main state of M country. Should we keep an eye on them?"

"We'll deal with it later."

Bai Zhize let out a cold laugh.

"A bunch of people who won't do a thing unless there's something in it for them—calling themselves foreign aristocrats and gentlemen, but really just hypocrites who'd do anything for money. Though, is any of them working with that Bai Sheng guy? Keep an eye on it. If anything goes down, we'll take a look and then get ready to run."

He didn't want to get dragged back to Z country again.

But then...

Bai Zhize stroked his chin.

"He's dressed so thin, looking like he doesn't give a damn about himself—so why's he wearing a scarf?"

It seemed a bit out of place.

The temperature in M country this season, while not as cold as Z country, had already turned into a deep winter chill. A few days ago, there had even been a freezing rain that drenched the entire city.

And Bai Ye was dressed thin, lips pale, with a look of indifference—yet oddly wearing a scarf that looked really warm.

It was really weird.

"Based on what his outfit can handle temperature-wise, that scarf—plain, no brand, but good material—is probably important to him. There could be a few reasons..."

Hearing Bai Wan about to start, Bai Zhize, with a headache, cut him off.

"Alright, alright, stop. Has being told to keep quiet in front of others lately been driving you nuts?"

Why does he just start rambling the second he opens his mouth?

"...A bit."

Bai Wan was honest.

"The reason is the little bun likes listening to this kind of stuff."

That kid almost never interrupted him and always listened seriously to the end, which made Bai Wan talk more and more at the Bai estate. Suddenly being abroad and having to play mute again—he wasn't quite used to it, and with no one else to talk to, he could only latch onto Bai Zhize and talk his ear off.

Bai Zhize: ...

"Alright, shut up… Speaking of which, Christmas is coming up."

Bai Zhize murmured to himself again.

"Z country doesn't really care about getting together for Christmas."

What matters more is, of course, the New Year.

But come to think of it, wouldn't nobody in the Bai Family care about these holidays at all?

Oh, except for that little one.

Country Z, the Bai Family's ancestral estate.

A few days had passed since Little Bai Nuo woke up crying and searching for his dad.

The little cub had been in low spirits lately, looking a bit listless, with something weighing on his mind.

Not to mention, that morning he'd heard his dad say he might have to head out soon.

The little cub immediately went on high alert.

Now it was after school, back home, and dinner was done. The little cub was flipping through a new origami book, trying out a new fold.

Bai Sheng sat nearby with a juice cup, watching. He glanced at his phone, then looked up and rose to his feet.

The cub, who'd been sitting on the wool rug, immediately looked over warily, searching for his dad.

"Daddy?"

"I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere."

Bai Sheng, who'd been under Xiaobai Nuo's watchful gaze for a while, spoke with a hint of helplessness.

Last time he got hurt, but this time there was no need to be so cautious or on guard.

Bai Nuo tilted his little head, gazing up at his dad.

Then he decisively ditched the origami and opened his little arms wide.

"Daddy, pick me up."

He pattered over to his dad, raised his little hands high, and repeated himself.

"Daddy, pick me up."

Bai Sheng bent down and smoothly scooped him up with one arm. Feeling the cub naturally nestle into a comfy spot in his arms, pressing close like that, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Why are you watching me so intently?"

"If Daddy goes out, Nuo Nuo goes too."

Bai Nuo pressed in close, his big eyes earnest and stubborn.

Rubbing his face against his dad's cheek.

"Go out together? What about kindergarten?"

Huh?

The cub looked around, thinking about kindergarten, thinking about his brothers, then back at his dad.

In the end, the little cub made a tough call. He hugged his dad's neck, dead serious.

"If Daddy's going, Nuo Nuo's going too."

He even made a gesture while on Bai Sheng's shoulder.

"Last time, Daddy got hurt, and Nuo Nuo wasn't there, so Nuo Nuo didn't see it. Daddy even hid it from Nuo Nuo. Daddy's bad... no, Daddy's not bad..."

The cub, who always believed in his dad, wouldn't say Daddy was bad.

So the cub almost tied himself in knots over his own words.

But regardless.

The little cub leaned in like he was trying to bribe him.

"Nuo Nuo's going."

Going to protect Daddy, going to find that uncle and tell him Nuo Nuo remembers now — in short, Nuo Nuo's going.

Even if it's that foreign place, Nuo Nuo's going too.

Although Bai Sheng had vaguely sensed it last time, now that he truly couldn't 'shake off' this cub, he said with a hint of helplessness: "Daddy won't get hurt this time, I promise."

Bai Nuo looked at his dad's face, thought for a few seconds, then spoke up: "Nuo Nuo's going. Nuo Nuo heard it — Grandpa, Uncle... they're all going. Nuo Nuo's going."

He said pitifully: "Can't leave Nuo Nuo, can't leave Nuo Nuo all alone at home."

Anyway, this cub wasn't having any of it.

Bai Sheng: ...

Honestly, it wasn't like he couldn't bring him along. It wasn't that Bai Sheng couldn't protect his own kid, and if it really was Bai Ye, who'd actually spent time with Xiaobai Nuo at the research institute, having this cub around might get him to say something different.

And if the whole Bai family was mobilizing, staying in the country wasn't necessarily any safer than going abroad.

But the main issue was that things abroad were too chaotic.

Bai Sheng rested his chin on the little one's head: "Daddy's going to talk business. What would you do there? It's so dangerous abroad."

The cub looked up at him.

Nuo Nuo knew it would be dangerous.

The cub pouted, clinging to his dad's neck.

"Nuo Nuo runs super fast, Daddy."

What good's running fast gonna do?

Run off if danger comes?

And how far could those little stubby legs run anyway?

If real danger came, it'd be a blessing just to find a place to hide — no one expected him to run far or long.

Bai Sheng was still thinking that.

Then he heard the little cub say, full of confidence.

"Nuo Nuo runs off, helps Daddy lure the danger away."

Nuo Nuo runs fast, so Nuo Nuo can run off and lead the danger away from Daddy.

The little one looked at his dad with sparkling eyes, as if he'd discovered his own special purpose.

Nono's been working out lately, and learning how to fight back. Nono's also really good at running. Nono's pretty strong too, so he can protect his villain family even better.

Nono's villains... not one can be missing.

Nono counted before—they're all here. And after this, they still can't be missing.

Bai Sheng: ...

Bai Sheng: ...

You rarely see Bai Sheng look so blank.

Don't want that kind of use!

Don't want that kind of skill!

Bai Sheng finally couldn't help but raise his hand and lightly tapped the little one on the forehead.

Bai Nuo clutched his head: "Ow!"