Chapter 243

Chapter 243

Yu Chuyan was stunned.

Those words hit him like individual blows to the heart.

Faced with such an accusation, he was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

What did he mean, he was the one who didn't want to be his childhood sweetheart brother anymore?

He clearly...

Yu Chuyan suddenly thought of something.

"...That day on the mountain, you heard that?"

Bai Nuo had been staring at Yu Chuyan with a mix of grievance and righteous indignation, but upon hearing this, he lowered his eyes again.

"You're the one who said you wanted to be my childhood sweetheart for life, and you're the one who said you didn't want to be my childhood sweetheart brother anymore."

How come you get to say all the good stuff and all the bad stuff, and you're still the one who's unhappy?

"I didn't."

Yu Chuyan spoke quickly, feeling flustered and at a loss.

"That's not what I meant."

"But those were all things you said. Bro, are you lying to me?"

Bai Nuo said just as quickly.

"Then what are you even trying to say? Which one's true, which one's right?"

"Wanting to be your childhood sweetheart for life is true, and not wanting to be just your childhood sweetheart brother is also true. Seeing you happy makes me happy, seeing you unhappy makes me even more on edge than you. When you sit next to Leon, all I can think about is whether it'd be too obvious to make my love rival disappear right then and there..."

Yu Chuyan's words, which he'd been holding back all this time, finally seemed to burst out all at once.

"I don't know how to say it more specifically. Xie Qing even taught me to watch those romance videos, but I watched them all, and I couldn't say a single line I was supposed to. I just want to tell you—now that you're eighteen, it's not some teenage crush anymore. I don't want to be just your childhood sweetheart brother. Can you... date me?"

The midnight bell rang out, echoing through the night sky over Ang City.

Bai Nuo's eyes widened slightly. Too much information rushed in at once, causing his usually quick-thinking mind to stall.

What did his brother... just say?

Didn't he say he couldn't say a single line he was supposed to, and then go on to spout a whole bunch of words that made his blood run hot?

You clearly said a ton!

And that stuff about making my love rival disappear.

"Don't break the law."

Bai Nuo said instinctively.

He'd finally been pulled onto the right path, only a villain in name—but now he was about to sprint headlong back toward villainy?

Yu Chuyan met Bai Nuo's gaze and couldn't help but laugh. Having said everything in one breath, he actually felt a lot lighter. He reached out and gently smoothed a strand of Bai Nuo's hair to the side, then lowered his head until his forehead touched his.

"Even though I feel like Uncle Bai's gonna kill me, isn't your focus a little weird?"

Bai Nuo finally snapped back to reality, a flush spreading across his fair face.

"Will you say yes? Or do you need to think it over? Anyway, I've already..."

Yu Chuyan stared into Bai Nuo's eyes, speaking slowly, word by word.

"I've been thinking about it for a long time."

He was now completely sure of his answer.

"I, I... let me think."

Bai Nuo said instinctively. Seeing the disappointment in Yu Chuyan's eyes, he couldn't help but rub his own cheeks with his hands.

"Bro, you look like I'm the one bullying you. You've been thinking about it for a long time, and then you just suddenly dump it on me like this?"

He was completely caught off guard, wasn't he?

Because of what Yu Chuyan had said before, he had never imagined what it would be like if they were a couple.

"But you really like my pheromones, don't you? You also said I'm your favorite brother."

The faint scent of freesia and vanilla around Yu Chuyan drifted over, wrapping around Bai Nuo.

"That's just a physical thing, right? The moment I smell it, it's like a special-flavored pudding."

He liked strawberries, he liked pudding—wasn't that common knowledge?

After saying this, Bai Nuo looked at Yu Chuyan's expression, paused for two seconds, and quickly added: "Don't start grinning the moment I say I like you."

How could he react to every single word like that?

It was seriously annoying.

Because that habit of perking up his ears at certain words was just adorable.

Bai Nuo: ...

Bai Nuo felt he was beyond saving too.

But he felt there was one thing he needed to emphasize.

"Leon, I see him as my own biological brother."

Don't go secretly fighting behind my back!

Bai Nuo stressed.

Biological brother.

Then Bai Nuo slipped out of Yu Chuyan's hold, raised a hand, and awkwardly patted his own cheeks.

The cool-faced alpha showed no expression, only raising an eyebrow slightly in confusion.

He felt his chances were very good.

Especially judging by Bai Nuo's reaction.

So at this moment, although he still found Leon quite displeasing, whatever Nuonuo said went.

...

Inside the room, Leon, who had been watching Norton pack, sneezed. He frowned slightly and couldn't help glancing around.

"Why isn't he back yet?"

And when the hell did that kid disappear?

Never mind the Bai family's top-tier Alphas—Yu Chuyan's pheromones were annoyingly overpowering too.

Leon stood up and walked outside.

It was about time to send Bai Nuo back to the Bai family's old residence.

As for the several Farrell estates abroad, Leon did intend to give Bai Nuo one of them. If Bai Nuo ever went abroad, he'd definitely stay there.

But Bai Nuo himself hadn't agreed.

Sure enough, without a proper title, he couldn't do anything freely.

Leon muttered to himself as he stepped out, and just then saw Yu Chuyan and Bai Nuo walking back side by side down the corridor.

Leon was about to speak when he locked eyes with Yu Chuyan. Before he could even express his sarcasm, Yu Chuyan's voice drifted over: "Brother."

Leon: ...

Leon: ???!!!

"Who's your brother?!"

Regardless of how Leon lost it that day or how he sent Bai Nuo back to the Bai family, one thing was crystal clear: Leon swore he'd be enemies with this Yu guy for life!

The next day, Bai Nuo's coming-of-age ceremony went off without a hitch.

Although the Bai family hadn't really noticed yet, Yu Chuyan was indeed becoming more and more blatant.

Even though Bai Nuo had only said he'd think about it, Yu Chuyan started seriously pursuing him. He wasn't great at it, but he seriously took what he'd learned from others and put it into practice.

In the process, Bai Sheng finally noticed something subtly off.

For example, before, when the two held hands, it still felt childish. But now, the two kids held hands less. When they did, they'd stare at each other for a long time, then both awkwardly look away.

Bai Sheng felt something was off.

But Bai Sheng didn't have time to dig deeper, since he had plenty of other things to handle.

Watching for suspicious people around Bai Nuo, monitoring Bai Nuo's gland, and with his kid coming of age, everything piled up at once.

This made Bai Sheng, who could already handle all the Bai family's internal affairs with ease, busy and tense, as if he was back in that stressful time when he first found this kid.

The "Science Gate" show was still going on. After one particular episode, Bai Nuo's gland differentiated, and he stayed in the hospital for two days for routine checks and pheromone level tests.

The results were just as expected.

A 3S-level omega pheromone—something rarely seen in the entire Z country.

Members of the Z country Omega Association even made several trips specifically for this.

As for Bai Nuo's pheromone scent, it seemed fitting, yet still a bit surprising.

It smelled like strawberry milk wine.

When he was calm, it was a sweet, milky strawberry scent, a bit like strawberry milk candy with just a hint of alcohol. But when his mood changed, a sharp, spicy undertone would rise from the sweet strawberry milk scent, giving off an indescribable pressure.

Honestly, such an aggressive scent was rare among omega pheromones.

All anyone could do was sigh—truly worthy of the Bai family.

...

There was still about half a month before school started, and only two or three more recordings left for the show.

Bai Nuo sat on the hospital bed, clutching a pillow: "Dad's been so busy lately... hmm... it feels like he's really busy... hmm... is it about me? But nothing seems to have happened... hmm, Brother, stop shoving fruit in my mouth!"

Every time Bai Nuo said a sentence, a strawberry got shoved into his mouth. He'd swallow, say another line, and get another strawberry shoved in.

Bai Nuo stared at Yu Chuyan, who was sitting by the bed with a plate of cut strawberries, watching his mouth closely, and got a little annoyed.

Who the hell stuffs fruit in your mouth the second you stop talking?!

Bai Nuo shot Yu Chuyan a glare.

Yu Chuyan, who had just forked another strawberry: ...

"I'm learning how to court you."

He held the fork up to Bai Nuo's lips.

"Still want some?"

Who could resist a strawberry right at their lips!

Bai Nuo glared at him indignantly, then chomped down and snatched the strawberry into his mouth.

The sweet, fragrant strawberry juice spread across his mouth.

Bai Nuo couldn't help asking: "Brother, is this how you're courting me?"

Yu Chuyan answered seriously: "Mm."

"It feels like—"

Bai Nuo rested his chin on his hand.

"It's pretty much the same as how we usually hang out."

It's just that when we do the same things as usual, it feels a little different.

Yu Chuyan thought for a moment: "Then... should I try harder?"

Try to do something different, maybe?

"And then ask if you'll accept me?"

Bai Nuo couldn't help but laugh.

Bai Nuo lowered his head to look at his own hands.

The scars on his hands from childhood had disappeared completely under the careful care of those around him.

The traces of the apocalypse were almost invisible now, and the deadly pool had become a lazy river ride full of laughter.

Holding hands, hugging, growing up together.

To be honest, if Bai Nuo thought about it himself, he couldn't imagine what it would be like if Yu Chuyan weren't by his side.

They'd done too many intimate things under the label of being childhood friends, knew each other's likes and dislikes inside out, had gotten used to turning around and finding the other right there, and were used to picking up the slack for each other when one of them wasn't good at something.

They'd naturally woven themselves into every part of each other's lives—like how Yu Chuyan was always calling him cute and couldn't take his eyes off him.

But Bai Nuo also often found Yu Chuyan adorable. Many times, watching him keep that cool, deadpan face while doing the weirdest stuff was hilarious.

So Bai Nuo rested his chin on the pillow, going from the initial sulk about not wanting to just be a childhood brother, to the flustered panic of hearing the confession, to this moment now.

Bai Nuo let out a very soft "mm," and nodded.

Yu Chuyan hadn't even processed it yet, still looking down to grab another piece of fruit, when the fork in his hand suddenly clattered down. He looked up at Bai Nuo.

What does "mm" mean?

Bai Nuo also raised his eyes to meet Yu Chuyan's gaze, reaching out his hand, as if he could tell what Yu Chuyan was trying to ask.

"'Mm' means—you're officially hired, boyfriend."

...

And so, a few minutes later, Yu Chen, who was busy working, got a text from Yu Chuyan—"Bro, Nuo Nuo and I are dating."

Oh, so you're dating Nuo Nuo, huh...

What?!

Yu Chen's hand, which had been about to casually toss the phone aside, froze. He let out a "hah?" and stared down at the phone screen.

A moment later, he confirmed his eyes weren't playing tricks on him.

He typed back fast.

'From now on, until Uncle Bai beats your ass, don't mention me—not even once.'

The two kids got along great, so Yu Chen didn't see any problem with it. If they wanted to date, Yu Chen figured that was their own business.

But Yu Chen still remembered how Yu Chuyan had promised Bai Sheng he'd keep an eye on Nuo Nuo and make sure he didn't date early—only for him to turn around and start dating the kid right after he'd just turned eighteen and his glands had barely even differentiated.

Yu Chen: ...

Yeah, no. Yu Chen figured Yu Chuyan could handle the storm from the Bai family on his own.

Yu Chen looked at the screen and couldn't help chuckling again.

You two really—just went and grew up on your own, fell in love on your own.

Leaving the parents feeling a little wistful.

It felt like just yesterday they were still so tiny.

Yu Chen slid open the drawer beside him and looked at the photo inside.

An omega with a gentle, handsome vibe was holding a sleepy little kid, looking out at the photo.

Yu Chen smiled along with it.

"Little Dad, I've managed to raise our little brother. He's turned out great, so you can rest easy over there."

...

As for dating, Bai Nuo obviously didn't plan to hide it from his dad.

But he really hadn't expected it to come out that fast.

It started when Bai Sheng finished up his business and just walked in from outside. Yu Chuyan stood up and, almost on reflex, blurted out, "Uncle Bai, I'll take good care of Nuo Nuo."

The old dad, who hadn't reacted at first: ...?

Old dad: ?!?!

Bai Sheng's face didn't change much, but his pupils went wide. He turned his head to look at his kid.

Bai Nuo: ...

His brother was such an idiot!

A total and complete idiot!!!

Who even talks like that?!

But at least Bai Sheng looked stable on the surface—except that he started staring at Yu Chuyan with a weird, intense look.

Like he was considering the best spot to drag this guy off and bury him.

Bai Nuo: ...

That's not stable at all!

Bai Nuo propped himself up, trying to say something.

But Bai Sheng casually pushed him back down.

Bai Sheng still had his usual lazy drawl, but having been the head of the Bai family for so long, he naturally gave off a hint of authority. He also casually patted his kid's head and shoved the fruit platter Yu Chuyan had left aside into Bai Nuo's hands.

"You eat first. Dad's going to have a little talk with him."

...A talk about what, exactly?

Bai Nuo sat on the hospital bed, still in his hospital gown, cheeks puffed out as he chewed, staring at the door.

Who gets caught by their parents on day one of dating?

He'd been planning to tell his dad in a little bit.

Bai Nuo let out a soft sigh and pressed his face into the pillow.

Thinking about how there was a whole group of people back home who'd also bought his brother's earlier "nonsense."

...He suddenly felt a little bad for his brother.

Soon after, the pillow he was pressing on was pulled out from under him.

Bai Nuo looked up, blinking groggily at his dad, then instinctively looked around left and right.

Bai Sheng gave Bai Nuo a light tap on the forehead.

"What are you looking for?"

"Mm."

Bai Nuo covered his little head, blinking at his dad.

"No need to look. I already sent him back. Don't worry your head over it."

Bai Sheng sat down beside Bai Nuo, said offhandedly.

"Right now, you just need to rest well, don't run around, and let me know right away if anything comes up."

"Dad, aren't you mad? I said before, we're just childhood friends."

This was all his brother's fault.

His brother had totally led him astray, hadn't he?

Bai Nuo saw Bai Sheng open his arms, and he naturally leaned in just like when he was little, burying himself in his father's embrace, looking up at him from inside the hug.

"Why would I be mad?"

Bai Sheng was indeed thinking, searching through his memories for clues, his lazy smile barely staying in place, but at that moment he met his kid's eyes again.

"Dad will never get mad at you."

Bai Sheng ruffled Bai Nuo's curly hair.

Bai Sheng had never said anything like that before.

But now, he spoke while Bai Nuo's eyes widened slightly.

"Dad doesn't care about what you went through at the institute, or what experiences you had before that, or why you seem to know about accidents before they happen, or why every time I try to pry, you stay quiet. All I know is that a father's job is to let his cub grow up healthy and happy."

Bai Nuo's eyes went wide as he met his father's gaze.

"What?"

Bai Sheng smiled.

"Used to being the smart one, surprised Dad figured it out? The institute experience alone couldn't make you this scared of water, this sharp, or this good at hiding."

The Bai family had searched many times, gone through the records over and over, and of course learned what drugs Bai Nuo was sensitive to, what made him nervous—those were all from the Saviors Institute's research files. They had originally tried to find evidence of a secret child, or what caused Bai Nuo's various stress responses, but there was nothing recorded, and it clearly stated from beginning to end that Bai Nuo showed no reactions.

So there was no way he'd escaped from the institute and learned to hide from that experience.

Those strange, supernatural things—the Bai family didn't believe in that stuff, but they believed in their own cub.

And since Bai Nuo wouldn't talk, they wouldn't ask.

So Bai Sheng patted Bai Nuo's little head.

"You have no idea how obvious you are to me, how easy to read. But if you can't say it, I won't ask. As long as you can keep yourself safe, that's enough."

When Dad first found you, he was a newbie dad and didn't raise you well.

But now.

Dad's honored to be the one in this world who understands you best.

Bai Nuo looked into his father's eyes, clearly seeing that message in them.

Bai Nuo opened his mouth, then clamped his lips shut.

He'd always thought... the Bai family was so smart, there was no way they didn't know something.

But he was also grateful no one pushed him for answers, because he couldn't say anything, and didn't know how to get anyone to believe him—especially that little cub who had no confidence in anything and felt so unworthy.

But in truth, everyone in the family had always accepted him.

Lifting him up as he grew up.

Bai Nuo had always known, but he'd never felt it this strongly before.

"So lately, you need to be on your best behavior. Don't do anything dangerous that would make Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, or Great-Grandpa worry. Your great-grandfather's getting old—one more scare and who knows what could happen."

Bai Sheng had prepared everything.

Not just Bai Sheng—the Bai family and the Cen family had all made their moves accordingly.

As for the Farrell family, Bai Sheng couldn't be bothered, leaving it all to Bai Ye.

But after all those preparations, there was still this kid to deal with.

He'd protected the adults many times since he was little—now it was time for the parents to declare war on his weird bad feelings.

But judging by Bai Nuo's expression, Bai Sheng knew he'd guessed right.

Of course, Bai Sheng actually wished he weren't this sharp—or rather, he really hoped he was wrong.

Maybe it wasn't that, maybe his cub was just gifted, without having gone through anything bad?

Clearly, the most reasonable answer was also the right one.

Bai Sheng wasn't sure what expression he had on his face right now.

Because his kid looked like he was about to cry.

And his cub had rarely cried since he'd grown up.

Bai Sheng held him close like he did when he was little.

Gently rubbing his back.

"Now, about finding a boyfriend—"

The old man's tone paused, sounding a bit put out.

"No, that's not what he said to me before..."

That little punk Yu Chuyan.

Bai Sheng started laughing as he said it.

"Don't worry, Dad will keep an eye on those unreliable uncles and aunts of yours. It won't get in the way of your dating life. Though Dad doesn't think it's a big deal and finds it a real hassle, I don't think you have to be like me. My little cub, you can have anything, experience anything you want—as long as it leads to happiness, that's enough."

Just like what he'd told Yu Chuyan.

He came across as the toughest to handle in the Bai family, but in reality, Bai Sheng was probably the easiest to get along with of them all.

Before this, everyone in the Bai family had all thought that although their little one had passed the coming-of-age ceremony at eighteen, you weren't really an adult until thirty.

"You don't need to worry about anything else. It's just that Dad feels a bit regretful—you've grown up so fast, a little too fast. Dad can still carry you, but holding you like this, it doesn't look proper anymore."

Bai Sheng reached out and wiped his baby's eyes.

When Bai Nuo was little, Bai Sheng worried about raising him right—when to let him co-sleep with them, when to move him to his own bed, and when he needed to ask his parents about everything, he'd think about how to help him become independent.

Now he'd grown up so much.

Those worries had disappeared, leaving behind a faint, bittersweet regret.

Guess every parent goes through this.

But what Bai Sheng felt most wistful about was—

"In that world I couldn't see, you went through a lot, didn't you?"

He held on until he could see Dad again.

This kid always said his dad was the best dad in the world.

Bai Sheng firmly believed: "Our Nuonuo is the most amazing baby in the world—no one else even comes close."

No one else, no other kid—Bai Sheng swore it.

Bai Nuo thought he'd already left that apocalyptic world behind.

Because no one else would know, no one else would care—that world didn't exist here, and it felt like a distant memory even to him.

Until this moment.

Bai Nuo buried his face in his dad's chest.

"It wasn't that hard..."

Bai Sheng heard a thick, nasal voice.

"This birthday... I made a wish for that place to be alright."

On previous birthdays, he had blessed all his family members. This birthday, he wished that apocalypse would get better and better, even if Bai Nuo no longer lived there.

"Crying like a little kid..."

Bai Nuo sniffled and spoke in a muffled voice.

Bai Sheng looked down at this "big kid."

Of course.

You said you'd be Dad's little kid for a lifetime.