Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Bai Sheng had little involvement in the Yu family's affairs. He was only willing to lend a hand because he knew them and because the other party was well-liked by his own little cub.

Bai Sheng had always known that his little cub had a high capacity for empathy and was easily soft-hearted—softer and better behaved than anyone would ever guess.

Bai Sheng didn't think this was necessarily a good thing, nor did he think it was a bad thing. He just needed time to gradually teach his little cub how to protect himself.

Outside, rain came down in sheets.

Bai Sheng carried his little cub out of the car and entered the main building of the Bai family's old residence.

The Bai family members basically all knew what had happened around the little cub.

And hearing from Bai Sheng that the little one's mood seemed to have soured because of what had occurred, some who were fussy about rankings—especially one jealous sourpuss—had already started thinking of ways to comfort the little one.

But they didn't get the chance. Not one bit.

The little cub walked in, holding up his trophy and certificate to show his grandparents.

In a soft, sweet voice: "Grandpa, Grandma, Nuonuo got first place today."

With soft curls and a brown outfit, he looked like a curly teddy bear in a shop window, his eyes bright—even gentler and better behaved than they'd imagined.

At his age, he already seemed to know how to keep everyone from worrying.

Cen Zhi's lips parted, then closed, and finally she smiled, just as the little one hoped.

"Grandma saw the list and photos on Ang City's education website. Nuonuo's amazing! How about Grandma and Nuonuo hang the certificate in the highest spot later?"

Xiao Bainuo nodded vigorously.

After a beat, Bai Jingyun, standing behind Cen Zhi, spoke up calmly: "Second Uncle's tall. Second Uncle'll help you."

Cen Zhi smiled, blocked Bai Jingyun, and even pinched his arm. She was having such a sweet moment with her little grandson—what was this guy butting in for? Huh?

Bai Jingyun: …

"...Second Uncle's suddenly in a bad mood and can't stand up. Let Grandma help you."

Xiao Bainuo: ?

Huh?

The little one thought it over.

"Then later Nuonuo'll make some juice. Does Second Uncle want some?"

Would drinking something he likes cheer him up a bit?

Lemon and vegetable juice? Bai Jingyun's expression twitched slightly, but seeing the little one looking up at him with concern—

It was impossible to refuse. Normen.

Under Bai Liang's admiring gaze, he nodded. "Yes."

Don't just accept everything!! Are you crazy?!

Bai Liang, who'd been smiling, froze, turned, and pushed up his glasses.

Bro, I never believed Nuonuo when he said you had weird taste, but now I really do.

The little one then busied himself hanging the certificate with Grandma, then followed Grandpa Butler to make juice.

Dou Dou had just been brought over by the staff and was trailing behind the little one, looking quite at peace.

Bai Sheng stayed in the living room instead of following Xiao Bainuo. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, glancing at his cub, then at his phone.

The phone stayed silent the whole time, no reaction, right up until Xiao Bainuo's bedtime.

Bai Qi wasn't there. It was pouring, and the old man hadn't come over either. Bai Jingyun, though, had an impromptu meeting and left early.

He downed the healthy juice Xiao Bainuo had picked out for him with a blank face before leaving. Dou Dou, that artificial idiot, was something else—endless weird recipes that left Bai Liang stunned. His final verdict: Bai Jingyun was a true veteran lemon-eater.

Xiao Bainuo had a busy day and fell asleep playing Ludo with Grandma, Little Uncle, and Second Uncle.

Bai Sheng sat in the living room, talking with Bai Qian.

Because waiting around to be attacked, letting those hidden 'rats' show themselves, was never Bai Sheng's style.

"The Saviors?"

Bai Qian thought seriously.

"When I had people look into it before, they found some related activity from this organization, but the details were unclear."

As for the incident where Xiao Bainuo was almost taken, the Bai family was naturally investigating. They'd wanted to act themselves, but Bai Sheng moved too fast, too decisively—and with that anger still bottled up, they found him genuinely unsettling to look at. In the end, they just kept tabs on progress and let Bai Sheng handle it himself.

"As I thought."

Bai Sheng wasn't surprised. He was just here to add some info.

"But actually, thinking about it, I should've heard of this organization a long time ago."

Bai Qian noted that Bai Sheng had specifically brought up this Saviors organization.

Bai Qian thought again, then nodded when Bai Sheng looked over.

"Yeah, that's right. I heard that name a long time ago."

Bai Sheng dropped his lazy air, raised an eyebrow, and sat up straight.

"Do you still remember your second uncle? Even though you were pretty young then."

Bai Qian took a sip of water from the table and spoke calmly, like he was talking about a stranger.

Bai Kun—Bai Qian's younger brother from the previous generation—had resorted to any means in the fight for the heir position but died unexpectedly.

Whether it was the word "younger brother" or the fact that he'd been badly hurt because of Bai Kun, Bai Qian showed no emotion.

"He could be considered the rebellious type, fond of dabbling in gray-area research. In the end, he took your cousin with him and died accidentally in an explosion and fire. Before his death, he should have met with this Saviors organization. At that time, it seemed to still be a legal organization."

Bai Sheng narrowed his eyes and suddenly looked up.

"Second Uncle really did die back then, didn't he?"

"The DNA's already been tested," Bai Qian said flatly, glancing over. "It'd be harder for him to be dead, wouldn't it? He was a madman, a freak of nature, but he probably hasn't achieved godhood yet."

That was a little dry humor.

Bai Sheng slouched back into the sofa, drawling lazily, "Fair enough."

That was when the door swung open.

"What are you two talking about?"

Cen Zhi's hushed voice drifted in.

Bai Sheng and Bai Qian both turned to look.

Cen Zhi stood in the doorway, holding a small bundle, the hallway light falling across her face, softening her features.

Bai Sheng rose to his feet as well, speaking softly: "He's asleep?"

"Yeah, he wore himself out. He dozed off on the board game mat for a bit, then conked out. Go deal with Bai Jin—that kid saw Nuonuo asleep and didn't even pick him up. Instead, he went hunting for a stamp to stamp on Nuonuo's face. Good thing I caught him in time."

Honestly, how messed up is that?

Outside, thunder rumbled and rain poured; inside, the grumbling stayed hushed, every word measured.

Bai Sheng took Xiao Bainuo from Cen Zhi.

The little guy was out cold, only leaning into his chest when passed over, letting out a tiny murmur before going still again.

"I know. I'll get him tomorrow."

Bai Sheng quirked a smile and murmured. From behind Cen Zhi came a protest, just as hushed.

From Bai Jin—"Didn't I fail anyway?"

Bai Liang chuckled: "That's attempted crime, right there."

"Everyone, hush."

Cen Zhi turned around, annoyed, and Bai Jin behind her shut up instantly.

Cen Zhi then looked back at the little cub in Bai Sheng's arms.

She went on: "Hurry and take him back to bed. Whatever's bothering him, you should look into it too. If not, go tell Mom—she'll handle it."

He's too well-behaved; it breaks your heart.

"I know." Bai Sheng nodded.

He carried Xiao Bainuo and grabbed Dou Dou on the way back.

After washing up the little cub, who was dead tired from all that sleep, Bai Sheng tucked him in.

In his pajamas, he stood on the big balcony, the curtain pulled open just a sliver, wide enough for one person. It was still raining, and the moon was a no-show. The streetlights along the old Bai estate's road were on, though, and the wind was whipping the estate's plants around, making the place look bleak.

Bai Sheng spun his phone in his hand, staring outside with a blank face, wide awake.

A moment later, his phone finally dinged with a message.

Bai Sheng looked down and opened his messages.

The phone screen's glow lit up Bai Sheng's face.

It was from Li Zhilin.

Li Zhilin: Confirmed the location of the identity tied to that organization. I got to Fei City half an hour ago. I'll let you know the second I find anything, boss.

Fei City was in southern Z Country, right on the border—they could slip out of the country at any moment.

After reading it, Bai Sheng replied, telling him to book a flight, then pocketed his phone.

Of course, he knew these guys were slippery and probably had multiple fake identities.

But no matter how careful they were, there was always a slip—like now. Searching everyone tied to the Saviors, fake identities were bound to pop up. As long as those fake IDs showed any activity in Ang City, they couldn't slip past Bai Sheng.

The Bai family usually kept a low profile, but clearly some people didn't know what "the Bai family of Ang City" actually meant.

Suddenly, Bai Sheng heard a very soft murmur.

Bai Sheng turned his head instantly.

He quietly pulled the curtains shut, walked back to the bedside, sat down, and looked at the little cub sleeping softly in the blanket.

The cub, rounder and cuter from his care, seemed to be having a nightmare, struggling faintly, then letting out two very soft sobs out of nowhere.

Bai Sheng: ...

Bai Sheng had said he'd been sleeping poorly lately due to nightmares, waking up later and later compared to this little one.

—Because he wasn't the only one having nightmares.

Bai Sheng bent down, the warm light from the bedside lamp falling across his cold face.

But Bai Sheng didn't wake the little one having the nightmare.

Because waking him wouldn't help. The little cub's nightmares seemed to happen quietly, his crying soft and nearly silent. If woken, he'd be dazed for a while, need comforting, and once he fell back asleep, the nightmare would return. But if left alone, after the nightmare passed, the cub could sleep soundly through the night.

That was the experience Bai Sheng had gained recently.

And this little one was easily startled awake, so on normal days, Bai Sheng stayed fairly stiff before actually falling asleep, afraid of startling him. Today, though, he'd slept deeper—Bai Sheng figured Xiao Bainuo was just too tired today, so he wasn't as easily roused.

What kind of nightmare was he having? Ever since recovering from that sedative-anesthetic drug last time.

What was in the dream?

Bai Sheng reached out, and as thunder suddenly crashed outside, he brushed the stray hair covering the little one's face aside, feeling a helplessness—as if his hand couldn't reach into Xiao Bainuo's dream.

Sleep, Daddy's here.

With Daddy here, no bad guy can touch you.

The nightmare will disappear completely.

So, sleep well.

Fei City, Z Country.

The entire Z Country was being battered by multiple air currents.

Rain was drizzling down in Fei City as well.

The sky was completely dark, with neither stars nor moon visible.

A man stood before a small inn, holding a bag, repeatedly glancing at the electronic watch on his wrist.

He checked the relevant information.

Then he quickly replied to complex messages using the simple keypad.

"That research subject's value to us has gone up again. The list and images sent by the education department of Ang City show that in less than a year, he went from knowing nothing to blending in smoothly, even displaying talent and abilities beyond his peers. Wouldn't it be a shame to give up now? The Bai family may not necessarily be aware of my presence. I think it's worth staying a few days to observe the situation, and if there's a chance, try once more properly. He doesn't seem like a failure—he actually seems to be exactly what that researcher said: his pheromones and genes could change the world. Oh, that researcher was called Shen Ye? Though that's probably a fake name—not that it matters. What matters is that I checked the database and saw that he cut off his own arm and withdrew from research years ago due to an alpha gland disability? He was one of the lead researchers on the project. Please verify.—H"

The man was genuinely surprised—after all, this was the failure who couldn't even find food for himself after three days of hunger. He sent the message, then looked at the sky.

Then he walked toward the inn.

The man had virtually no distinguishing features. When he approached the front desk, he was smiling. He was distracted, thinking about other things, as he pulled his ID card from his wallet and handed it over.

The receptionist reached out, took the ID card, and seemed to hesitate for a moment.

The man caught that tiny hesitation. He looked up, glancing at the code on the Z Federation ID—the federation's IDs were flip-style, so the other person hadn't seen the photo yet.

H quickly reached out and snatched the ID card back.

"...Sir?"

"Haha, sorry, wrong one. This is the right one—it's my partner's."

He put on a smile and handed over another ID card.

"You know, traveling with a partner who's got too much on their plate is exhausting."

The receptionist smiled, made a few pleasant replies, finished the registration, and handed the ID card back.

"Hope you and your partner enjoy your stay in Fei City."

"Alright, thanks. He'll be here soon—if he comes asking, could you point him the right way? He's such a handful."

H smiled as he stepped into the elevator. His eyes darted to the surveillance camera, and his smile faded.

Something... felt off.

Though H couldn't quite pinpoint where this uneasy feeling came from.

But his gut instinct had saved him more than once.

Even though he still needed to stay in Z Federation territory for a few more days, it seemed he couldn't afford to let his guard down and stay at an inn.

Once he reached his floor, he stepped off the elevator and glanced at his watch.

A new message had already come through, sent secretly.

From R, one of the organization's top brass.

'As you said, this is definitely worth researching. Looks like giving up on him was a mistake. I'll go to Shen Ye's place myself to talk to him. Oh, you don't know this, but Shen Ye does have ties to the Bai family—though rest assured, it's mostly bad blood.—R'

After getting the reply, H ducked around a corner, bag in hand.

Moments later, a slightly altered man slipped past all the surveillance cameras, made his way to the stairwell, and—with agility and strength completely at odds with his beta identity—leaped from the fourth-floor landing to the second-floor landing. Then he quickly disappeared.

It was a bit risky, but it only cost him two fake IDs.

About half an hour later, Li Zhilin, dressed in casual wear, arrived at the inn's reception area.

Unfortunately for him.

Even for a small chain inn in a remote federation province, the Bai family had a stake in it.

Li Zhilin said calmly.

"Did you get a look at the ID on the card I told you to watch for?"

"Honestly, the receptionist barely got a look—just a quick glance—but the guy's gone now, and he's not on the cameras either."

The hotel manager had never dealt with anyone from the Ang City headquarters, let alone someone several levels above their own department. Li Zhilin was Bai Sheng's assistant, several ranks above the people who managed the hotel departments.

Li Zhilin nodded and got to his feet.

"It's fine. He hasn't caught on yet." Dodging cameras was that guy's habit—if he'd realized, he wouldn't have so casually handed over that ID card again.

Li Zhilin had been quietly tailing him for days. He hadn't seen the man yet, but the all-capable Assistant Li had already figured out his personality inside and out.

The guy might be a little confused, but they could basically confirm he was in the area—once they caught up, it'd be easy.

"Besides, my boss is coming in person."

His boss, who'd been walking around with a dark, sulky face every day, was going to come down himself.

Li Zhilin didn't think anyone could beat the Bai family at this game of cat and mouse—or, more specifically, beat Bai Sheng.

It was just a shame.

If he'd come a little earlier, would he have earned a title like "the awesome Uncle Li"?

Then he'd update his nickname in the company group chat to that.

Li Zhilin thought, his face completely blank.

The next day, in Ang City, the rain had stopped.

It was the kindergarten's day off, and as usual, Xiao Bainuo didn't sleep in.

He got up early, video-called Brother Xiaoyan to confirm Yu Chen was okay and had been discharged, and was now dealing with things on the Yu family's side. Only then did the little guy breathe a sigh of relief and tell Brother Xiaoyan he'd come visit them later.

After breakfast, the little cub's father carried him over to the main building.

It was a rest day, but the Bai family didn't really have a concept of rest days. Only Bai Jin, the college student about to graduate from the accelerated program, was still home.

Bai Sheng went as usual to handle the information Li Zhilin had sent. He planned to leave Ang City that evening and had told Xiao Bainuo in the morning that he had a business trip. The little one was a bit reluctant but still obediently agreed.

Bai Jin, however, was surprised to hear that Bai Sheng was going on a business trip. He had Xiao Bainuo perched on his shoulder and asked curiously.

"How did Third Brother manage to agree to a business trip?"

He hadn't left Ang City in over half a year.

Basically a dad completely tied down by his little cub.

And on top of that, he was still super on edge, right? If he couldn't see Xiao Bainuo for even a second, he'd go looking everywhere. He didn't seem like the type to volunteer for a business trip.

"Put him down now."

Cen Zhi's eyebrow twitched as she watched Bai Jin, reaching out to take Xiao Bainuo from him.

Bai Jin winced, his hair pulled painfully, the uncle and nephew already pros at this routine—one hoisting up, the other tugging hair. Bai Jin looked at Xiao Bainuo, who hadn't made a sound this time when picked up, and snorted in amusement.

Nuonuo said nothing, just kept yanking his uncle's hair until he was set down.

Then the little one picked himself up off the floor, looked up, and said seriously, "Daddy has to work, not like Uncle."

The little cub, fully affirming his father, nodded as he spoke, looking all big-hearted and well-behaved.

Oh, he didn't like hearing that.

As if he wasn't grinding at his 'job' all the time.

Bai Jin crouched down to get on the little one's level, curious.

"You won't see your dad for a few days—that's not gonna bother you?"

Xiao Bainuo seemed to mull it over.

He hadn't been apart from his dad for more than a day since he got here. The little cub instinctively pouted, a little hurt in his voice, but he still tried to keep it together: "Daddy said he'll FaceTime Nuonuo, not like Uncle!"

Cen Zhi: ...

Isn't that exactly what a villain does, whispering to a kid that your dad doesn't want you?

She'd had enough. She kicked Bai Jin in the rear, sending him stumbling two steps before he caught his balance with a little 'dance move.'

"What nonsense are you saying? Shoo, shoo, go away. You've got the worst mouth. When your second brother and sister get back, they'll deal with you."

Cen Zhi gave him a dirty look.

Bai Jin was a bit surprised: "Don't they usually stagger their visits? They're both coming back today? I get Second Brother, but my sister..."

Bai Qi had been coming back way too often lately. Could it be because the little one had been 'kidnapped'? She's got a thing about those two words, huh?

Bai Jin gave a soft tsk.

Cen Zhi didn't reply. She looked at Xiao Bainuo and bent down and took the little one's hand.

"Come on, don't play with your uncle. Your dad said Grandma will look after you. Grandma's the safer bet. Grandma's been reading a book on massaging kids lately—she says doing it daily can help you relax and sleep better. Wanna give it a shot?"

A massage?

Xiao Bainuo held Grandma's hand, toddling along beside her, and looked up at her curiously.

He wasn't really sure what that meant and was about to ask.

Then Grandma said.

"It's free of charge."

Xiao Bainuo let out a quiet "Oh."

Free. Free. Free...

Thanks to his dad's influence, those three words spun around in his head. Finally, the little cub looked at his grinning grandma and nodded seriously.

He stuck out his little hand.

"Nuonuo wants to try it!"

Free samples taste good, free toys are fun.

Free!

Can't say no.

Massaging a child involves many pressure points, but it mainly requires a gentle, slow touch. Among these points are sensitive spots like the soles of the feet and the sides of the waist, which were pure torture for the ticklish Xiao Bainuo.

Bai Jin leaned against the doorframe, watching the little cub lying on the soft carpet flopping around like a fish on dry land, 'bouncing' all over the floor.

His little voice trembled with laughter, whimpering and howling as he tried to escape Grandma's 'clutches,' even though Cen Zhi was trying her absolute hardest to be gentle.

"Hahaha, hahaha—Grandma, don't tickle my feet—hahaha—it tickles so much—hahaha, Grandma, not there either."

This little guy rarely laughed this hard.

Bai Sheng, having wrapped up some company stuff for now, came downstairs to find his cub and heard the racket.

Bai Sheng: ...?

What's going on here?

Bai Sheng, puzzled, walked toward the playroom and saw Bai Jin outside, shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Right, right, Mom, press there again—he'll jump right up. Did you learn that from a professional tickler?"

Cen Zhi stopped, turned to glare at Bai Jin: ...

Do you always have to run your mouth?

Bai Sheng put a hand on Bai Jin's shoulder, shoved him aside, and walked in.

"What's going on?"

He watched his cub flailing and reaching out for him.

Bai Sheng walked over and scooped the little one up.

Then he heard the little one, sounding totally relieved, pat his chest and say, "Daddy... free... is bad news."

Free stuff costs the most. Nuonuo doesn't like free massages.

Huh?

Bai Sheng looked around instinctively.

"Free? Where's the free stuff?"