“Understood. The light has been turned on for you. Would you like steady illumination, flashing illumination, or colour-changing illumination?”
As the mechanical female voice finished speaking, a ring around the small monitor Bai Nuo had placed in Auntie’s hands suddenly lit up. It even supported multiple modes.
Hm?
Bai Nuo looked at the glowing monitor curiously.
“Doudou, what is colour-changing light?”
“Understood. Switching to colour-changing mode.”
The light immediately began flashing and shifting, creating the atmosphere of an old-fashioned dance hall. Multicoloured beams flickered from the monitor and illuminated Bai Qi’s face. Holding what resembled a “shining disco ball” in the darkness of the Bai family’s main building, Bai Qi sparkled conspicuously and drew everyone’s attention.
Beneath the rainbow lights, blinking Bai Nuo and his aunt stared at each other.
Bai Qi: …
Do not shove something like this into my hands without warning and then change it to this mode without permission!!!
The cub spoke quietly:
“It might be a little too colourful.”
Doudou replied:
“Yes. It is recommended that you use this mode with music. Please tell me which song you would like to play.”
Bai Qi: …What is this supposed to be? Are we renovating the room into a senior citizens’ disco? If I let you start playing music as well, what will happen next?!
In a fluster, Bai Qi turned off the monitor’s AI voice control, restarted it, and changed it to steady light. By then, none of her fear from the sudden darkness remained. All that was left was astonishment at the artificial intelligence in her hands.
Her third brother truly had unusual taste.
But—
“Auntie, Doudou lit up everything around us. Isn’t it convenient? Now we can see!”
The cub took two steps through the light and raised his small head, looking softly at Bai Qi.
Under the assault of wind and rain, the entire house seemed like a small boat drifting through a violent world. Almost nothing else could be heard clearly. In the monitor’s cold white glow, the little face before her appeared exceptionally gentle.
Warmth returned to Bai Qi’s fingers. She even had enough mental space to think about the kidnapping from her childhood.
She and Bai Liang had both been targeted. Bai Liang escaped halfway through and appeared to ignore her completely. She was locked inside a sealed, sturdy box, surrounded by darkness with visible boundaries and an increasingly suffocating sense of despair. She lost consciousness and was only found when she was close to death.
Because of that experience, Bai Qi instinctively resisted enclosed spaces and darkness, even though she always concealed it.
She often wondered what Bai Liang had been thinking when he deceived the kidnappers and left. Had he considered her useless? Had he believed that if she could not escape, she did not deserve to be a Bai Alpha?
Naturally, no one knew the exact answer.
Later, she learned that Bai Liang had also been in a terrible state and that abandoning her had only been a temporary strategy. They had both been children.
But in the Bai family, who cared?
After years of hostile conflict, expecting them to perform deep sibling affection was genuinely unreasonable. Bai Qi did not want it, and no generation of Bai siblings had ever coexisted particularly harmoniously.
She needed to become stronger than every older and younger brother so she would never again become the expendable part of a temporary strategy.
She did not need those hypocritical emotions.
Whether it concerned the Bai family, the Liu family, or anyone else attempting to attach themselves to her, there were many things she understood perfectly. But perhaps because her own development had been the most difficult among the Bai family’s Alphas, she differed from her brothers in some respects and occasionally chose to overlook certain matters.
This time, however, the darkness arrived and light appeared almost immediately—in such a ridiculous, lively, comical fashion that it completely shattered Bai Qi’s emotions.
She was not certain whether the little fellow had noticed anything, but he had expressed himself earnestly:
It did not matter whether the darkness had startled Auntie or whether Auntie feared it. Nuo Nuo would find a way to make the room bright.
—It would have been even better without the section of rainbow lights flashing everywhere.
Bai Qi slowly acknowledged him and lowered her gaze to the glowing monitor. Its cold shell had absorbed the warmth returning to her fingers.
Of course, the only reason she thought about all of this was to explain—
Even now, she did not care about the little thing.
The tiny cub had already been scooped up by Bai Sheng and held in his arms. Bai Sheng glanced at the gifts Bai Qi had given the child, then looked toward Bai Jingyun, who stood nearby thinking.
The new father possessed an open-minded attitude:
Give him gifts. Compete as much as you want.
In the end, he is still my cub.
Bai Qi also stood. Bai Sheng carried the child and looked outside for a while. Bai Qi remained silent. After several minutes, a faint electrical sound came from the ceiling. The backup power activated, and the overhead lights came on.
Against the restored illumination, even the storm outside seemed to lose some of its ferocity.
“Auntie, Auntie.”
The little fellow held Bai Sheng’s neck with one arm and leaned toward Bai Qi.
“Auntie, put Doudou down. Hello, Doudou. You can turn off the light now.”
“Understood. You may wake me again whenever needed.”
The light in Bai Qi’s hands went dark. Standing in the brightly lit room, she bent slightly and placed the monitor on the floor.
It had only been several minutes of darkness.
She was already accustomed to it much of the time. Her reaction was mild and not truly unbearable.
Bai Qi thought this.
Then why had she been so shaken?
Was it because the little fellow was too young and his feelings too genuine?
…She could not understand.
But he was indeed rather cute.
“The storm is too severe today. Don’t send anyone to inspect it now. Wait until the rain stops tomorrow.”
Bai Qian, who had eaten many foods he disliked at dinner, still appeared displeased as he instructed the housekeeper.
“Yes, Master.”
Bai Sheng carried the cub back to the sofa. The small monitor rolled after him. Once father and child sat down, Bai Jingyun suddenly moved closer.
Bai Sheng: …?
He suspiciously inspected Bai Jingyun from head to toe.
Bai Jingyun ignored him.
Bai Jingyun had already abandoned his stubborn denial.
He admitted it.
He was jealous.
He simply could not understand why a man with Bai Sheng’s foul temper, who looked down on everyone every day, had suddenly acquired a cub like this for no reason.
Apart from Great-Grandpa, who effectively drew all the child’s resentment, Bai Jingyun had not found anyone who had done anything worse than his own “lemon attack.”
Watching Bai Qi interact with the child triggered alarms in Eldest Uncle’s heart. His position in the little fellow’s mind remained unstable and had not been completely repaired.
He took out the unopened gift boxes he had brought and opened them one by one in front of the child.
“These pastries and preserved fruits are made from fruit unique to Y Province… These snacks are imported, and the ingredient list is very clean…”
Any gift Bai Jingyun brought had clearly been thoroughly researched by brand. He explained each item and handed it to the child, who did not fully understand but felt impressed.
Having received no gifts in the past and suddenly being given so many now, Bai Nuo looked completely dazed. There were too many to hold, so he could only nod seriously and thank him.
A moment later, the cub seemed to remember something. He emerged from the pile of gifts and earnestly told Eldest Uncle:
“Eldest Uncle, in the future, join Nuo Nuo and Daddy as villains. Can we all be on the same side?”
Bai Jingyun: …What villains?
He did not entirely understand, but he raised his head and met Bai Sheng’s gaze.
Be on the same side as Bai Sheng?
The two highly aggressive top Alphas, who usually confronted each other whenever they met, stared for several seconds before both looked away in mutual disgust.
Their silent communication was practically visible.
Bai Sheng: Don’t look at me. Disgusting lunatic.
Bai Jingyun: If not for Nuo Nuo, who would willingly look at you? Disgusting madman.
If the cub had not been watching them eagerly, the two men might have gone to the gym’s boxing room and fought.
But Eldest Uncle would not abandon the opportunity to repair his image. He nodded somewhat stiffly. His voice was cold and rigid as he told Bai Nuo:
“I’m on your side.”
At that moment, Bai Qi suddenly strode over. She stopped in front of the sofa holding two brothers and a cub and looked at them.
The confrontation between Bai Sheng and Bai Jingyun was interrupted. Both men raised their heads.
Bai Qi bent slightly and told the child with complete seriousness:
“Those gifts aren’t good enough. Wait. Auntie will bring you better things later. Next time, you’ll understand that Auntie is better than Eldest Uncle.”
Bai Jingyun had been trying to elevate himself by comparing others unfavourably, only to be compared unfavourably himself.
Bai Jingyun: ?
Hey! What kind of younger sister behaves like this? Eldest Brother has not offended you recently.
Bai Qi acted decisively and aggressively. Although she looked cold and unapproachable, many of her decisions were bold. After speaking, she straightened and glanced outside. The backup power had activated across the old residence, including the road lights.
“I’ll return to my building now.”
“It’s raining this heavily. Won’t you wait until it eases?”
After watching the performance from the stubborn top Alphas of the Bai family, Cen Zhi raised an eyebrow.
“No. My building is the closest. It’s only a few steps away.”
She could not remain here any longer.
Bai Qi thought it was too strange.
She was not controlled by cuteness or appearances.
Yet after such a short time, she genuinely thought the little thing was adorable.
This was far too strange. If she stayed longer, she might become even stranger.
Besides, she would prepare a better return gift.
Yes. A return gift.
Bai Qi naturally regarded those few minutes of light as a gift.
After speaking, she left the main building quickly, leaving Bai Nuo confused.
The cub had only recently recovered from illness and could not endure such powerful wind. They would have to wait until the storm weakened before leaving. Fortunately, it was a thunderstorm—extremely intense for a period, then likely to diminish.
Bai Jingyun remained. He and Bai Sheng had separated and sat at opposite ends of the sofa, watching the television news with Bai Qian and the silent old master.
Farther from the television, Cen Zhi held Bai Nuo and looked through a picture book.
At that moment, the old master stood. He walked to the stairs, then looked back at Bai Sheng on the sofa and at Bai Nuo sitting far away.
“Bai San.”
The old master finally spoke again.
“Come with me.”
Bai Sheng looked up.
Since their previous conflict, he had barely spoken with his grandfather. Now, unconcerned, he prepared to stand.
But Bai Nuo, who had actually been watching Daddy throughout, instantly raised his head. He looked ready to jump out of Cen Zhi’s arms.
Daddy, don’t be afraid. Baby is coming to protect you!
Cen Zhi instinctively caught the cub, then began laughing.
The little fellow had not even reached the floor, yet his short legs were already attempting to run. Held in Cen Zhi’s arms, he resembled a wound-up toy moving in empty air.
Bai Sheng glanced back and gestured for Cen Zhi to put him down.
The instant his feet reached the ground, Bai Nuo pattered toward Daddy. His short legs moved rapidly, and he immediately positioned himself in front of him, clearly treating Great-Grandpa—who had struck Daddy with a cane—as a dangerous monster.
Bai Sheng stopped walking. He picked up the cub with one arm and looked outside.
“Enough. It’s nearly time, and the rain has eased. He’ll need to sleep soon, so I’ll take him back first. As for the discussion, Grandfather, you know my personality. No matter how many times you repeat yourself or how long you wait, my decision will not change.”
The old master’s face darkened instantly.
His cane struck the floor.
“You indulge him far too much!”
The old master looked at the tiny child in Bai Sheng’s arms.
“You know that spoiling a child is like—”
He stopped himself in time.
But there was no need.
Holding the cub with one arm, Bai Sheng drew him closer and positioned him sideways. One of the child’s ears rested against his chest, while Bai Sheng covered the other with his hand.
Bai Nuo had not understood what Great-Grandpa intended to say, but he pressed his lips together, stared seriously at the old man, and spoke quietly:
“Great-Grandpa isn’t allowed to bully Daddy again.”
Great-Grandpa did not cherish Daddy.
Nuo Nuo did.
“Grandfather.”
Bai Sheng exhaled.
“When you have nothing else to do, you should go fishing more often. You don’t need to concern yourself with anything else. If I’m unqualified, I can withdraw at any time. I have no objection. And another thing—”
Still covering his cub’s ear, Bai Sheng lowered his gaze. His tone was ambiguous, somewhere between admiration and irritation.
“Nuo Nuo will not be spoiled.”
Bai Sheng had never met such an obedient child. Besides, although the old master still possessed an enormous network in Ang City, he would return to his retirement residence soon. No one knew when they would meet again. Bai Sheng considered his own words already very polite.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take Nuo Nuo home.”
The old master fell momentarily silent and finally abandoned the attempt to argue about it.
The little fellow guarded his father far too closely.
It was practically rebellion against the natural order.
He watched Bai Sheng wrap Bai Nuo securely and carry him out of the main building. Before the old master could release his unspoken frustration, he saw Bai Jingyun, who had not yet left, silently raise a thumb in approval.
Old Master Bai: …
What does that raised thumb mean, you brat?!
Naturally, Bai Jingyun believed Grandfather had stabilised his position as the main target of the child’s resentment. He hoped Grandfather would continue his excellent work. Sacrificing one grandfather would benefit many people.
But he could not say that aloud.
With a cold face, Bai Jingyun quickly found an excuse and escaped.
The furious old master went upstairs. In his room, his assistant reminded him to take his medicine, and he swallowed the tablets with warm water.
“Bai family cubs have never given anyone peace.”
He spoke stubbornly, but still walked to the window. From a distance, he watched the lights turn on in Bai Sheng’s residence and muttered softly:
“How did he know I was going to say those things? There was no need to guard against me like a thief.”
Like Bai Jingyun, the old master had finally experienced the desperate frustration of being unable to do anything correctly once the child held a grudge.
After the violent storm, light rain continued for most of the following day.
Bai Nuo was not taken to the main building that day.
The overseas business partners would arrive the next day, and negotiations would take place at a specialised luxury venue. Naturally, Bai Sheng could not keep Bai Nuo beside him constantly.
However, the kindergarten would be closed the following day, and Xie Yu’s company was nearby. Bai Sheng planned for several children to become familiar and spend time together.
Because he was going to meet new companions, Bai Nuo packed the biscuits he had helped bake and prepared to share them. He also brought many of the snacks Eldest Uncle had given him.
Although the child liked every gift, the little glutton was clearly especially enthusiastic about food.
At the same time, at the Xie residence—
Although Xie Yu had anticipated this day, and although he himself had promoted his two mischievous monkeys as companions for someone else’s obedient young Omega, he still felt guilty when the moment arrived.
Kindergarten ended early that day. When Shi Lin collected Xie Qing and Xie Yue, she also brought Yu Chuyan home. The three children always played well together and lived nearby. Old Master Yu’s legs hurt in rainy weather. Yu Chen had not yet finished school, and rather than return home after kindergarten, Yu Chuyan accompanied Shi Lin.
At that moment, Shi Lin smiled while watching her two cubs hug a bucket of fried chicken. Their mouths and clothes were covered in grease.
The smile was not happiness.
It indicated that she had likely lost all ability to resist.
She did not even require her mischievous monkeys to resemble the obedient little Omega from the Bai family. Could they at least behave like Yu Chuyan and avoid making themselves look completely disastrous every time?!
Xie Yu approached and was about to speak. When the two cubs saw him, they attempted an emergency stop.
Too late.
“Daddy!”
“Daddy!”
The two children charged happily at him while raising pieces of fried chicken.
They smeared grease over Xie Yu and spoke like the most devoted sons in the world:
“We bought extra especially!”
“For Daddy to eat!”
Faced with the shining gazes of his cubs, Xie Yu used a tissue to wipe the oil from their faces.
It was fine.
It was fine.
He had made them himself.
Do not examine what they had done. Simply look at how adorable the twin Alpha cubs were.
He would endure.
“Stop rubbing against him! Both of you are taking baths in a moment!”
Shi Lin issued her command.
“Wait.”
Xie Yu caught the two cubs, who attempted to flee the instant they heard the word bath. Then he looked toward Yu Chuyan near the door.
“Do you remember what Daddy told you last night?”
The twin Alpha cubs’ gazes became equally clear and innocent.
“Hm? Daddy spoke last night?”
“What did you say? We were listening to Mommy’s story. We didn’t notice Daddy.”
Xie Yu: …
Does Daddy’s voice have no authority?! You two little bastards!
Enraged, Xie Yu reached out and tickled both Alpha cubs beneath their arms.
“Ahhh! Daddy is cheating!”
“Watch me wipe my mouth on Daddy’s shirt!”
“So you hugged me earlier specifically to wipe your mouths?! You thought if you made Daddy dirty, I wouldn’t wash you immediately?!”
Watching the father and sons wrestle together, Shi Lin pressed her forehead with a headache.
She truly believed her two children’s wildness had something to do with Xie Yu.
Ignoring the three of them, Shi Lin crouched and looked gently at Yu Chuyan.
The clever child, usually cool and handsome, watched their noisy play. A barely visible trace of envy appeared in his eyes.
“Xiaoyan, would you like fruit? Stay and eat dinner with Auntie tonight, all right?”
Although Yu Chuyan was also mischievous, he behaved at his wildest only before his biological brother. In front of others, he remained a polite Alpha cub, particularly with gentle Aunt Shi Lin.
He took out a small handkerchief, wiped his hands, and answered seriously:
“Thank you, Auntie.”
But a handkerchief?
Shi Lin remembered that Yu Chuyan had not previously carried one.
Why now?
Alpha cubs were energetic and rough and rarely cared about such things.
Had he deliberately brought it for someone?
Nearby, Xie Yu had subdued his two cubs. The children seemed to possess endless strength and had rammed his stomach until it ached. While carrying them toward the bathroom, he asked:
“By the way, Xiaoyan, does your family have plans tomorrow? Would you like to go with Xie Qing and Xie Yue to meet the child from before? You can all play together for the morning. I asked his father, and he said you may come. There’s a children’s amusement centre near Uncle’s company with many things to do. While the adults are working, your attendants can take you there.”
Some time earlier, an accident had happened involving one of Yu Chuyan’s caregivers. Afterward, Yu Chen personally handled many matters and did not hire another specialised caregiver. The people who accompanied Yu Chuyan were bodyguards and drivers trusted by Old Master Yu.
Yu Chuyan blinked and suddenly tightened his grip on the handkerchief.
The child from that day?
He immediately remembered adorable Bai Nuo.
The young Alpha’s neck reddened subtly, but he gripped the handkerchief and attempted to maintain a dependable image.
The little Alpha was best at mischief, destruction, and sudden clever ideas.
“Yes!”
“We forgot to tell Brother Yan. Come with us.”
“Come with us. Brother Yan clearly wants to play too!”
“He even looked unhappy and asked why little brother hadn’t come to kindergarten.”
The twins instantly exposed him completely.
Yu Chuyan turned sharply, his small fists tightening until they cracked.
“When was I unhappy?!”
Soon, however, the twins were carried to the bathroom, and Shi Lin took Yu Chuyan to wash his hands.
Watching the young Alpha make a serious face, Shi Lin thought:
Nuo Nuo was such an obedient cub. Her own two little demons had chattered about him for a long time after meeting him. Surely Xiaoyan could not dislike him?
She did not know whether the child would come tomorrow.
If Yu Chuyan was present, her two cubs might restrain themselves slightly and avoid ascending directly into the heavens.
Where Shi Lin could not see, Yu Chuyan’s eyes brightened. He quietly turned away and clenched his fist.
The following day—
Naturally, he came.
Xie Yu and Shi Lin brought the three children to the meeting place and saw the Bai family’s car. Bai Sheng stepped out holding the little fellow.
Bai Nuo had already seen them. Politely, he patted Daddy’s arm and asked to be put down. Then he pattered over and greeted them softly:
“Good morning, Uncle and Auntie. Good morning, big brothers.”
He took several beautifully wrapped packets from his small backpack.
“These are biscuits Nuo Nuo helped make. They’re for Uncle, Auntie, and the big brothers.”
Shi Lin accepted hers with delighted astonishment.
Other people’s children gave away biscuits they had helped make.
Her children gave their parents clothes covered in grease.
Sob…
No matter how many times she compared them, she felt her life was so difficult.
Xie Qing and Xie Yue accepted the biscuits openly. After thanking him, they gathered around the cub and began chattering, especially curious about the monitor following him.
The little fellow was not accustomed to interacting with children his age. He looked back at Daddy, then obediently turned and answered their questions.
They had already introduced themselves before.
Yu Chuyan, who had never formally introduced himself to the cub, stood a short distance away.
He did not approach.
He simply watched, the same way he used to watch other parents interacting with their children.
He was thinking about what his first sentence should be.
But Bai Nuo soon turned, met his eyes, and paused.
Then the cub smiled with curved eyes and spoke to him. His milky voice was soft and light, like floating candyfloss. He shook the little packet of biscuits in his hand.
“There’s one more. Big Brother, will you share it with Nuo Nuo?”
Author’s Note:
Eldest Uncle: I never expected it, Grandfather. You’re producing a continuous stream of ridicule. Excellent.
Great-Grandpa: …
Yu Chuyan, nearly flying into the air: He called me Big Brother, he called me Big Brother, he called me Big Brother. [I am very calm]
Old father: …
