Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Bai Ye paused.

"What exactly did Bai Sheng teach you?"

Bai Ye couldn't understand it, his tone even a little sullen and displeased.

"You should remember who brought you pain, not cling to these lessons, nor go looking for reasons."

No matter how much you were forced into it, it's still wrong.

That was just an excuse to hide the fact that you're useless.

Anyway, even if I was saved, I wouldn't live much longer.

After speaking, Bai Ye gradually fell silent again, looking weary and like he couldn't be bothered.

And the cub, caught off guard, had his little hands on the edge of the bed, his bewildered little face looking even sadder.

Hey.

Bai Jin, who had been standing at the door and not wanting to get involved in this whole situation, straightened up slightly, his expression turning odd for a moment.

He didn't really want to get involved in Bai Ye's business, so at the end of the day, whatever Bai Ye said didn't matter—but if it made this cub unhappy, Bai Jin figured that to avoid a beating, he should still step in.

Not to mention, if the cub was upset, he'd be upset too.

But before Bai Jin could step in.

The cub had already thought about it and spoke up again.

"But the pain isn't something you wanted either, Uncle. Dad and Grandma both say Nono is a smart boy, so what Nono feels has to be right."

It's different—Nono can feel it.

Even if I forgot, I can still feel it.

But the cub didn't know what to do or say next.

He thought adults were so amazing, that there was still so much he didn't understand, so many things he couldn't do.

Nono just thought: it was good that the bad guys on his side were still here.

Bai Ye was slightly caught off guard by the cub's words, pausing as the coldness in his eyes hadn't faded yet, but then he froze again, glancing at the little cub, whose head was lowered and whose tears suddenly dripped onto the bed.

Light as a feather.

Yet heavy, soaking into the blanket, weighing on him.

Bai Ye: …

He was… crying?

He actually cried?

Why?

Bai Ye's expression stiffened, and he remembered what Bai Sheng had told him earlier.

Back in the lab, he hadn't really seen much of this cub's behavior—the little one was always quiet like a little decoration, going along with whatever was done to him without complaint, showing almost no reaction except for the occasional tears from the pain—though even when he cried, his face stayed blank.

So Bai Ye had kind of brushed off what Bai Sheng said.

Crying for me?

Don't make me laugh.

"…What are you crying about?"

"Huh?"

The cub had been looking down in thought, but at that, he looked up, his moist eyes clear and bright, reflecting Bai Ye as he was now.

Like a mirror, but Bai Ye didn't like mirrors, so he looked away slightly, avoiding the cub's eyes.

And little Bai Nuo raised a hand to rub his eyes—he hadn't even realized he was crying.

"Because it feels like you're in so much pain, Uncle."

Just a few minutes ago, Bai Nuo had been happy that Uncle was okay, but once he got closer and saw Bai Ye's injuries clearly, he didn't know what to do.

They knew each other—they'd met a long time ago—but they weren't really close.

Bai Jin had been watching from the doorway for a while and finally couldn't help but walk over.

"Your ID says Shen Ye, but you're called Bai Ye, right? So should I call you cousin?"

Bai Ye: …

Little Bai Nuo let out an "oh" and looked up at Bai Jin.

He really didn't know yet—it took the tiny cub a moment to process.

Bai? Cousin?

So Uncle was part of Nono's bad-guy family?

"Then Nono should call you..."

The cub started counting on his fingers, thinking it over.

As Bai Ye froze, he saw the cub look over, with eyes sparkling in a way that was completely different from before.

"Uncle-cousin? Or just uncle?"

Little Bai Nuo looked up at Bai Jin again, seeking the answer.

"Call him uncle-cousin."

Bai Jin answered.

So the cub looked over again: "Uncle-cousin!"

Bai Ye: …

Bai Ye gritted his teeth slightly.

"Don't go making decisions on your own over there—I'm not part of the Bai family."

Actually, Bai Ye had more scathing words ready to spill out, and he couldn't care less what Bai Jin thought.

But he opened his mouth, glanced at the little cub, then fell silent again, swallowing the words back down.

Before they could say anything more.

The sound of doctors discussing came from outside the door.

They were in Country M, and those foreign words sounded like gibberish to the little cub, like some kind of alien language.

A doctor pushed the door open, saying that surgery would be arranged shortly, followed by a period of rest, and that if someone was staying to watch over him, they shouldn't talk to him for now and should avoid agitating him.

"Alright."

Bai Jin spoke, bending down to pick up the cub who hadn't understood a word, and replied.

Then, addressing the cub in his arms, he said, "He needs treatment. We should head back first. We can come again once he's better. Third Brother said he'll come find you later."

The cub nodded.

Then he glanced at his silent, unresponsive older uncle, and mindful of the hospital setting, whispered, "Uncle, bye. Nono will come see you again later."

There was no response.

His uncle carried Xiaobai Nuo away.

Once out of the ward, the cub still lay on his uncle's shoulder. Even though the man had been rescued, the cub's little face still didn't look happy.

Then the little cub noticed someone cleaning up medical waste by the ward door.

"Uncle, uncle."

The cub propped himself up and turned his head to call Bai Jin.

"What's wrong?"

Bai Jin turned to look too, a hint of confusion on his face.

He saw the pile of stuff the little one was pointing at.

Realizing the little cub wanted to be put down, he crouched and set him down.

The cub spotted the scarf he'd given away earlier.

It was soaking wet, with threads unraveling, tangled into a messy ball.

It was among the torn clothes and blood-stained bandages.

The cleaner handling the medical waste noticed the cub and instinctively asked if he needed help.

But Xiaobai Nuo couldn't understand, so he looked to his uncle for help.

"Uncle, are they gonna throw it away? Can Nono take the scarf?"

If this scarf was here, did that mean Uncle actually liked it a lot?

If he fixed the scarf, would Uncle be a bit happier?

Bai Jin let out a soft sigh and talked to the person.

In the end, the scarf was disinfected and put in a small kraft paper bag, which the cub held in his arms.

Bai Jin translated the other person's praise for how thoughtful the cub was.

Xiaobai Nuo hugged the paper bag, nodding and then shaking his head.

"Because Nono is a big kid now. I need to grow up slowly and learn more things."

Bai Jin paused for a second, then smiled and translated for the other person.

Finally, Bai Jin carried the cub out. The little one said he'd learn a foreign language later too, so he wouldn't need his uncle to relay things for him.

Hearing that, Bai Jin, since the tiger wasn't around, secretly pinched the kid's cheek.

"You're already learning a lot, and now you want to learn a foreign language too? No need to rush. Your uncle's a top graduate—leave a little translation work for me."

The cub dodged his uncle's pinch, hid in his arms, and retorted with dissatisfaction.

"Dad's way better than Uncle!"

Hey!

You little rascal, can't you say something nice to your uncle?

Bai Sheng had already gone back to the research institute.

Bai Qi, quick and decisive, had gone out to handle the aftermath. Bai Liang was looking for relevant materials inside the institute. Bai Jingyun was a step behind Bai Qi but was now also watching Bai Zhize and Bai Wan.

Bai Zhize, as usual, was grumbling with a displeased look on his face.

He was pretty unhappy about having already run off but still getting dragged into this institute's mess again.

Bai Wan stood nearby, still seeming emotionless, saying nothing.

In truth, Bai Wan was assessing. Once he figured out how many people had charged in, he gave up resisting.

Because the chance of successful resistance was essentially zero, and that number had dropped to negative once the Bai Family members gradually arrived.

Both of them had some injuries.

They explained the situation without any misunderstandings, except that Bai Zhize was jumping around as usual.

This went on until Bai Sheng entered.

Having heard from Bai Qi that Bai Sheng was searching for news of Bai Ye, Bai Zhize looked over and raised an eyebrow. Not knowing what was going on outside, he only asked, "Alive or dead? Did that rascal get brainwashed by this damn institute?"

"K's dead, and Bai Ye's been taken to the hospital."

Bai Sheng, looking at Bai Zhize and Bai Wan, wasn't in too bad a mood.

After all, Bai Zhize and Bai Wan were the ones who had run off, stayed at the institute, and shot at K.

Whoever did something good for his cub, this guy who cared about no one else would inevitably treat them a bit better.

"Oh, right, Bai Ye killed K."

Bai Zhize: ?

"Damn, then what the hell was that rascal doing earlier?!"

"Maybe he just can't stand the sight of you?"

Bai Sheng took the report from the person beside him, without looking up, he shot back sarcastically.

Bai Zhize: ?

Bai Zhize was about to speak again when he noticed Bai Wan, who had been standing silently beside him, suddenly step forward two paces.

Bai Zhize: ??

What the hell, have you all lost your minds?

They'd made a big stir this time, working with the authorities. As top-tier alphas on the mission, they had to sign off on some action reports.

Bai Sheng handed the report back to the other person and asked another question: "Where's Bai Liang?"

"Mr. Bai Liang is in that room reviewing their research records. You can go straight there."

Bai Sheng had just responded when Bai Wan suddenly spoke up, catching him off guard.

"Based on what we've learned, Bai Nuo spent his first five years in a highly unstable, stressful environment, put through multiple drug pathology experiments. He needs more focus on his mental and physical health, proper scientific care, and help getting those emotions back. I've been reading up on this a lot lately and can put together a plan."

Bai Sheng shot him a puzzled look.

Bai Zhize was equally bewildered.

Read up on this a lot?

Since when did you read stuff like this? How would I not know?

And what's this 'scientific parenting' crap? What are you two, some kind of experts? Bringing this up out of nowhere, here of all places?

Then Bai Zhize heard Bai Wan keep going.

"Of course, if the whole scientific parenting thing is too much trouble for you, I can help out too."

Bai Zhize: ?

What, you're just gonna shove your help down his throat?

This time, Bai Zhize just stared at Bai Wan, then quietly stepped back.

Can't you just flush the virus out?

Maybe eat more of the food your hired chef cooks?

Bai Sheng: ...?

Bai Sheng caught his drift. He curled his lips, a warning glint in his eyes, and let out a laugh: "Don't bother."

Isn't this straight-up kidnapper talk?

"I can help out"? No, that's not it.

What you really mean is—if you won't raise him, I will.