Little Bai Nuo soon learned exactly how formidable his grandmother was: she had raised five Alpha cubs, currently maintained a temporary balance within the Bai family, kept Bai Qian firmly under control, was a world-famous designer, and held shares in the country’s largest entertainment platform.
Even the most rebellious members of the Bai family had to show the old mother some respect. After all, nearly all the warmth this generation of the Bai family remembered from childhood had probably come from Cen Zhi.
Thus, before the dazed little Bai Nuo had even climbed up, he watched Grandma stride over in her high heels.
“Bai Sheng! What are you doing to him?!”
“Mom, I’m teaching him how to trip someone.”
Besides, he had merely lowered the little thing gently onto the mat.
Helplessness appeared on Bai Sheng’s face. He clicked his tongue softly and began circling the padded floor with Cen Zhi pursuing him.
Cen Zhi’s eyes widened. All thoughts of dignity and image vanished, replaced by the scene she had just witnessed: the little fellow knocked down by his parent, raising his head pitifully toward Grandma.
Grandma’s treasure was asking Grandma for help!!!
And how old was the baby? Not even five. Physically, he had only developed to the level of a three-year-old. An Omega cub with the body of a three-year-old, and you were teaching him how to throw people?! Had you read the developmental stages of young Omegas?! Had you memorised every word?!
Was this how a father behaved?! Bastard! Every Bai in this family was a bastard!
Cen Zhi mentally condemned the entire family while repeatedly jabbing Bai Sheng’s arm and shoulder, attempting to stab him to death with her gaze. Naturally, she did not have the Bai surname and was therefore not one of them. Nuo Nuo was Grandma’s treasure and did not belong among those bastards either.
“And even if you’re desperate to teach the baby something, you can’t do it without warning him! Look at him—he’s completely stunned. I think you’re the one who wants to be thrown down!”
Bai Nuo recovered and climbed to his feet on the mat.
Although he was almost five, the little fellow looked only two or three. He stretched onto his toes and extended his tiny arms and legs, trying to defend Daddy.
Unfortunately, the little cub was far too polite, while Grandma spoke without leaving him the slightest opening, thoroughly demonstrating to Bai Sheng, that bastard, how unrealistic and premature it was to make Bai Nuo learn such techniques now.
The little fellow’s mouth opened and closed, then opened and closed again. His two small arms stretched helplessly as he followed Daddy and Grandma in several circles—Nuo Nuo was getting dizzy.
Once he realised Grandma was not truly going to hit Daddy, the cub who wanted to help but had no way to do so finally sat obediently on the mat and hugged his two short legs.
Grandma, once you have scolded Daddy, you cannot scold Nuo Nuo too.
At last, Cen Zhi achieved a temporary victory. Bai Sheng helplessly admitted that he had been somewhat impatient. He promised to restore the child’s health first and then exercise him gradually. Only then was Cen Zhi satisfied, and she turned toward the cub.
Bai Nuo blinked nervously and spoke.
“G-Grandma, Nuo Nuo wanted to learn from Daddy…”
Cen Zhi crouched down.
“Nuo Nuo is still little. Your bones and everything else are too soft. You need to grow more, or you could easily get hurt. At your age, if you encounter danger, it’s enough to know how to run and find an adult. What does Daddy understand? Grandma knows much more than he does.”
She had said that a single Alpha like him would not know how to raise a child! Especially such an adorable little Omega.
The cub wanted to say more, but when he saw Grandma’s resolute gaze, the perceptive child—who had already identified who stood at the very top of the Bai family food chain—swallowed his defence of Daddy.
The little cub nodded obediently.
“I understand.”
Cen Zhi nodded in satisfaction. Only after she had jabbed Bai Sheng into submission and heard Bai Nuo answer did she suddenly realise: Oh no. Grandma’s image. Grandma’s dignity. Grandma’s dependability!
It was over. She had grown too accustomed to losing her temper while raising Alpha cubs.
After being “educated,” Bai Sheng simply sat down beside his cub. One large and one small, they sat in a row and looked at Cen Zhi.
The intimidating presence of a top Alpha only eased slightly when Bai Sheng faced his mother. It was just like childhood, when an enraged Cen Zhi had dragged her rampaging Alpha cubs one by one out of every unimaginable hiding place, forced them to sit obediently together, then shouted each of their full names while scolding them.
Looking at Madam Cen Zhi’s expression now, however, Bai Sheng almost laughed.
Cen Zhi adjusted her expression and replaced it with an elegant, proper smile. She introduced herself again.
“Baby, I’m Grandma.”
Baby, you understand, don’t you? Grandma is actually an elegant, reserved, and dependable grandmother.
The little cub answered obediently.
“Grandma.”
Grandma was very beautiful, but since Grandma had hit Daddy, she must not hit Nuo Nuo too.
The little fellow pulled a sweet from his pocket and placed it in Grandma’s hand, once again obedient and even slightly reverent.
“Grandma, eat a sweet.”
Cen Zhi paused. Before she could say anything, she watched the little fellow lower his head and search every pocket on his body. With the solemn devotion of an offering, he placed the remaining two sweets in Cen Zhi’s hand as well.
Everything for Grandma. Nuo Nuo was surrendering all his supplies!
The cub’s gaze was clear and determined. He brought his palms together with a little clap.
Why did this look so much like paying tribute?
Bai Sheng finally lost control. He turned his head, his shoulders beginning to shake.
He could not take it. He was going to die laughing. His cub had made the scene several levels funnier.
Cen Zhi: …He didn’t understand at all?!
At that moment, Cen Zhi wanted to throw Bai Sheng out of the building.
Sensing danger, Bai Sheng quickly restrained his expression and changed the subject.
“Mom, why are you back now? Didn’t you say your flight wouldn’t land for another two hours?”
“I originally booked today’s flight, but I couldn’t wait. I left last night and transferred several times, which let me arrive a few hours early.”
Cen Zhi put away the sweets. No trace of her earlier panic remained on her beautiful, commanding face. Although they had met once over video and she had always longed for an adorable Omega, meeting him in person still carried a measure of unfamiliarity.
Cen Zhi tentatively pinched the cub’s cheek. He blinked, then instinctively tilted his head and rubbed against her palm.
Cen Zhi: !
Explosively adorable.
More adorable than all five of her Alphas put together!
Cen Zhi withdrew her hand, savoured the feeling for a moment, then smiled.
“Grandma brought gifts for the baby. I had people take them upstairs. These three sweets can count as Nuo Nuo’s return gift to Grandma, all right?”
Gifts?
Bai Nuo hesitated and pointed to himself.
“For Nuo Nuo? Nuo Nuo can have presents?”
“Of course.”
Cen Zhi smiled.
“Thank you, Grandma!”
The cub’s eyes lit up. Perhaps Bai Nuo now sensed that Cen Zhi was easy to speak to, because he finally continued.
“Grandma, Nuo Nuo is the one who wants to become stronger. Please don’t blame Daddy, okay? Daddy is super good to Nuo Nuo. Nuo Nuo likes Daddy super, super much!”
Bai Sheng turned to look at him.
Cen Zhi paused. She nearly sighed aloud—even among Omega cubs, she had never met one this obedient and lovable.
“All right. Whatever the baby says goes. Will you let Grandma hold you?”
Once she lifted that soft little body into her arms, Cen Zhi felt the exhaustion from travelling all night disappear.
But she now found Bai Sheng even more displeasing to look at. That brat had truly struck gold.
Cen Zhi admitted that at first, because she had believed the cub was an Alpha, she had not thought of returning. She had rushed back only after learning that he was a young Omega. There was inevitably some stereotyping involved, as well as the relief of finally seeing a long-held hope fulfilled. Did she like him? Of course. But for Cen Zhi, it was difficult to say she had utterly fallen for him at first sight.
Yet at that moment, the empty image of a little Omega in her mind finally began filling in, piece by piece. He was not just any Omega cub.
He was Nuo Nuo.
There was still serious business to discuss. After holding and admiring the cub for a long time, Cen Zhi finally looked at Bai Sheng.
“Your cousin messaged me on the way here. You’re raising a cub, yet you let people photograph you? There are even pictures of you taking him to hospital. What happens if someone uses them against you? Are they going to claim you’re mistreating a child and call for a boycott of the Bai family?”
“A minor issue.”
Bai Sheng spoke casually, arrogance and menace in his expression.
“There’s a major overseas contract recently, and several companies have their eyes on it. Those foreigners spend all day acting as though they’re guilty of something. Even when discussing business, they want to inspect whether the other party has a harmonious family. There are countless baseless rumours outside. If someone really wants to compete for the contract, they first need to consider whether they’re capable of swallowing it.”
Bai Sheng genuinely was not worried in the slightest.
“You’re you. What if it affects our baby?”
Never underestimate the malice some people displayed online. Cen Zhi did not want Bai Nuo dragged into the public eye through such a controversial subject.
She glared at Bai Sheng.
“There’s a charity banquet tonight. Don’t tell me you didn’t receive an invitation. I’ll inform your father in a moment. You’ll take Nuo Nuo and formally introduce him to the social circle tonight. We can hold Nuo Nuo’s homecoming banquet later, after taking our time to prepare something grand.”
She had already devised a response on the way there. Mistreating the child? Since information might be released from any number of places, they would act first. One meeting would make the relationship between father and son obvious, and her friends in various industries would understand the situation.
Most importantly—ha! Was it finally her turn to show off a cub?!
At the mention of the banquet, Bai Sheng could not help frowning, but he ultimately agreed.
He took Bai Nuo back into his arms.
The little fellow naturally rested against Daddy’s chest and listened in confusion. He did not understand the many events and customs of this world, but he remained obedient, looking at everyone with moist, wide eyes that softened the heart for no reason.
In truth, Bai Nuo had been thinking ever since Grandma picked him up.
The cub was trying to remember Grandma’s part in the story.
Grandma had died in the plot as well. It seemed related to relatives from her birth family. As a designer, she constantly travelled everywhere in search of inspiration, and she eventually died in a natural disaster—as though the story had composed a prelude of death specifically to drive the villain family toward madness.
“Grandma, Grandma—”
Bai Nuo looked at Cen Zhi.
The cub opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat before he could speak. No matter how hard he tried, he could not say them.
“What is it, baby?”
Cen Zhi was rapidly typing messages to Bai Qian on her phone. The instant she heard the cub, she threw Bai Qian on the other end entirely out of her mind. Her bright, elegant face filled with a smile as she asked gently.
It had not been Nuo Nuo’s imagination. The previous time, when he had tried to tell Daddy, he had also been unable to speak. At the time, Bai Nuo had thought he was simply too young and bad at organising his words.
Bai Nuo pursed his lips. Nuo Nuo was not free to say everything here, but he did not want Grandma to die. It was not only because Nuo Nuo liked Grandma…
Bai Nuo looked at Daddy, who was holding him, and pressed his small body closer to him. Daddy liked Grandma too, so Daddy in the book must have been very sad.
Nuo Nuo had to protect Grandma as well!
Bai Nuo pressed his lips together and spoke softly.
“Grandma, did you not sleep properly last night? Grandma has to take good care of herself.”
Who could understand the healing power of such a tiny little thing speaking so earnestly in his milky voice?
Cen Zhi immediately covered her heart.
Grandma could not survive this. Grandma was going to die from how adorable Nuo Nuo was.
“All right, all right. Grandma will rest for a while soon. Tonight, Daddy can take our baby to eat delicious food, okay? You can meet several other grandmothers too.”
Delicious food!
Bai Nuo’s eyes brightened, and he looked at Bai Sheng.
Bai Sheng nodded, but then suddenly remembered something and checked the time.
“There’s quite a lot happening tonight. I originally planned to take Nuo Nuo to look at the kindergarten after bringing you home.”
“Kindergarten?”
Cen Zhi looked at him in disbelief.
Grandma had not even had a chance to look after the cub, yet you already planned to send the little fellow to kindergarten?!
Cen Zhi was about to speak—surely he should spend at least six months adapting and another six months recovering at home?
Before she could, Bai Sheng gestured for her to wait. He put the little fellow down.
“Nuo Nuo, didn’t you want to make a flower crown for Grandma? Uncle Li said the flowers have arrived. Will you go with Uncle Li to collect them?”
“Okay!”
Bai Nuo nodded hard. He pattered over to Grandma and raised his head toward Cen Zhi.
“Grandma, Grandma, Nuo Nuo will give you a flower crown in a little while.”
With the monitor following him, the little fellow bounced toward the door. He did not forget to ask the monitor behind him:
“Hello, Doudou.”
“I’m here. How may I help you?”
“What colours would be best for Grandma’s flower crown today?”
“I recommend shades of pink, yellow, and purple. Would you like me to recommend suitable flowers? Please tell me if you do.”
The door opened. Assistant Li was waiting outside. Once it closed again, the voices of the cub and monitor gradually faded.
Only then did Cen Zhi turn to Bai Sheng.
“That’s the situation.”
Bai Sheng straightened his clothes.
“Nuo Nuo’s only friend right now is that little monitor. That obviously can’t continue. He never interacted with other children at the laboratory, so it would be better for him to start early. I’ve already selected Canghua Kindergarten. It’s close to the old residence, and the schedule is flexible. If he doesn’t want to attend, we can pick him up immediately. Meeting more children will help his development. One of my business partners has children there. He was also my university classmate—you know him, Mom. Xie Yu.”
Cen Zhi thought of the soft little fellow, then looked at Bai Sheng. In the end, although she had originally wanted to care for him herself for six months or a year, she compromised.
“That boy Xie Yu is fairly dependable.”
“Then take Nuo Nuo to have a look. The little fellow’s physical and emotional health matter most. Tonight is only a charity banquet hosted by your Aunt Chu. You just need to make an appearance and reveal a little information. It doesn’t have to be elaborate.”
Cen Zhi wanted to inspect the kindergarten as well, but she was genuinely tired and had many arrangements to make.
Still—
Cen Zhi looked at Bai Sheng again.
She truly was surprised.
The Alpha cub who had been the most mischievous, rebellious, and difficult to control in childhood… actually appeared to be a good father.
The phone in Cen Zhi’s hand kept vibrating.
As she thought, she looked down irritably. What was Bai Qian sending over and over?! Could he not see that she was concerned about baby Nuo Nuo’s physical and emotional wellbeing?!
Approximately two hours later, Bai Sheng took Bai Nuo to inspect the kindergarten in advance.
At that time of day, the kindergarten was nearly finished. Parents had already begun arriving one after another to collect their children.
The principal led Bai Sheng, who held the cub, through the facilities one by one. His face glowed, and he was visibly excited.
Omega cubs were extremely rare. Canghua Kindergarten had only a few young Omegas.
And this child was from the Bai family.
“We use small classes. One teacher supervises every two children, ensuring each child’s safety. That is the activity area. We have implemented every possible safety measure. You may take the young master to inspect it; some children are playing inside now. Over there is the free-play area, including sandpits and other spaces that allow children to express their natural energy. There is no need to worry. The sand, soil, and similar materials are disinfected daily and replaced regularly. We also hold special activities every week, lay foundations for later learning, and guide the children’s interests. Whatever the young master likes or wants, we can incorporate it later.”
The principal introduced everything in detail.
Then he looked at Bai Nuo and smiled even more kindly.
“Young Master, what do you think of this place?”
Bai Nuo had never visited anywhere like it. The tiny cub lay against Daddy’s chest and looked around curiously, his large eyes blinking. When he heard Grandpa Principal, Bai Nuo gave him a soft smile.
The little cub still did not understand that attending kindergarten meant separating from Daddy.
Assistant Li followed Bai Sheng. Although he had already completed one assessment, he listened to the principal and carefully evaluated everything again.
Bai Sheng looked around and nodded.
The environment was indeed good, and it could satisfy every requirement.
Naturally, the child would not enrol immediately. First, he would meet the other children—including the two Xie boys—and see whether they could play together. Spending all his time with a small monitor was not a solution.
At that moment, Bai Sheng’s phone vibrated. He checked it and saw messages from Xie Yu.
Xie Yu: Bai San, are you at the kindergarten?
Xie Yu: Perfect timing. My wife and I came to collect the children. Where are you? We can come over and say hello.
Bai Sheng put the child down.
“Daddy?”
The cub was still hugging Daddy’s neck. He possessed an instinctive vigilance toward unfamiliar places, a habit developed in the apocalypse. Yet the activity area was full of noise and children’s voices, which made Bai Nuo very curious. After all, not many children had survived in the apocalyptic world.
Bai Sheng did not know what the child was thinking. He simply encouraged him and pointed toward the activity area.
“Are you curious? Go and look if you are. Daddy will wait for you here.”
Bai Nuo blinked, looking at Daddy, Assistant Li, and Grandpa Principal before speaking softly.
“Then Daddy has to wait here for Nuo Nuo. Nuo Nuo will look once and come right back.”
Why did he sound as though he feared Daddy would get lost?
Bai Sheng found it amusing and nodded.
He watched Bai Nuo patter toward the area on his two short legs.
Grandpa Principal was already so overwhelmed by cuteness that he nearly needed oxygen—was he truly allowed to see such an adorable cub?!
At the same time, children were still playing in the activity area.
The Xie family’s twin Alpha cubs were gathered with Yu Chuyan. They whispered about the new friend, then began discussing who was the smartest child.
The other children had already heard that a new child was touring the kindergarten. They discussed it curiously in their milky voices.
“No matter who comes, my mommy said I’m always the smartest!”
“The smartest is obviously Liu Du from the class next door. He’s very good at crafts!”
“No, it should be…”
When the Xie twins heard the childish debate, they immediately began speaking over one another.
“The smartest child is obviously Brother Yan.”
“Exactly!”
Yu Chuyan did not want to argue about it. He looked with mild disgust at the twins, who appeared to have rolled through an entire patch of mud. Finally, he exhaled and spoke in a serious little voice.
“I looked away for one moment. Did you roll in the mud? Be careful or Uncle will hit you.”
“Hehe. If Daddy hits me, I’ll tell Mommy!”
Xie Yue declared proudly. He stood and shook the mud from his body.
Yu Chuyan rose and brushed the sand from his hands.
“I’ll ask Teacher Xiaoxue to bring you wet towels.”
Yu Chuyan was mischievous as well, but unlike the muddy Xie twins, he at least kept himself relatively clean.
He turned and walked several steps toward the edge of the activity area, then stopped. His gaze met the little fellow cautiously peeking in from outside.
Bai Nuo was observing the activity area. When he unexpectedly met Yu Chuyan’s eyes, his own wide eyes blinked blankly. Startled by the sudden eye contact, he released a brief, soft sound and instantly pulled his little head back.
Yu Chuyan froze.
At that moment, Xie Qing and Xie Yue heard their mother’s voice.
“Mommy’s here!”
“Mommy!”
The twins leapt up and ran out happily.
Only then did Yu Chuyan return to his senses. He touched his ear—had his eyes deceived him just now? Why did it seem as though he had seen a tiny angel?
So… so cute!
Outside, Shi Lin was also struck by Bai Nuo’s cuteness when she unexpectedly saw him. She greeted the little fellow but did not forget her own two cubs. She had called only twice when two filthy children charged out.
The cubs, who had rolled through the mud, stretched out their arms and bounced joyfully without a care.
“Mommy, Mommy!!”
They wanted to be held.
Shi Lin: …
Caught between satisfying her children and keeping herself clean, Shi Lin finally embraced her cubs with tragic determination.
There was no helping it. She had given birth to them. She could not dislike them. Shi Lin, you can do this. Do not be disgusted!!
Nearby, Xie Yu and Bai Sheng were speaking.
Bai Nuo had already pattered back and raised his arms for Daddy to hold him.
Shi Lin held the hands of her two dirty cubs and approached Bai Sheng and Bai Nuo. Honestly, she felt slightly embarrassed to introduce her two grimy little monkeys. Had they rolled in the mud?! Before she could speak, the little fellow blinked, searched his clothes, and produced a white handkerchief.
“Auntie, wipe your face.”
Shi Lin: …
With trembling hands, Shi Lin accepted the handkerchief. She looked at the beautiful, obedient cub, then at the two curious little monkeys on her side. Their panicked teacher quickly led them away to wash their faces.
Shi Lin could not endure it.
Trembling, she said, “Give the cub to me—mmph, mmph—”
A horrified Xie Yu covered his wife’s mouth.
Don’t say the same thing I did out loud!!!
Author’s Note:
Xie Yu: Give me the cub.
Shi Lin: Send the cub to me.
The tacit understanding between husband and wife.
Bai Sheng:
Nuo Nuo: Will Nuo Nuo come here to play with Daddy from now on?
Later—
The cub after learning that “going to school” also exists: The sky has fallen.JPG [bursting into tears]
