Bai Sheng fell silent for several seconds as he looked at the group of little “dirt buns.”
Bai Nuo had always been so obedient and well behaved that he never even got himself dirty when playing alone in the little garden. The sight was therefore rather shocking to this novice father.
Yet Bai Sheng could not help thinking that letting Bai Nuo spend more time playing with children his own age had indeed been the right decision.
Children were supposed to be children. If they stayed obedient, spotless, and sensible every moment of the day, could they still be called children?
He was a little dirty, but he looked as though he had enjoyed himself.
So Bai Sheng merely said, “It’s nothing. Daddy just wanted to look at you. I’ll be finished here soon. What are you going to play with next? Daddy will come and pick you up later.”
“Uncle, we’re going to play with polymer clay in a little while. It’s beside the sand.”
Yu Chuyan, who was standing behind Bai Nuo, poked his head into view as well.
The Xie family’s twin Alpha cubs had already finished fighting and made peace. Now they crowded over, chattering away. These young Alpha cubs feared neither heaven nor earth. They had not been afraid even when Bai Sheng was physically present, much less when he was only speaking through the little monitor, so they noisily described the area around them.
“Uncle, the sandpit is really big! When you come in, look to the left and you’ll see us!”
“There’s only one place for polymer clay, so don’t worry, Uncle. I’ll keep a close eye on Little Brother.”
Xie Yue thumped his little chest so loudly that every slap sent a puff of dust flying.
After ending the check-in, Bai Sheng silently pinched the bridge of his nose. He truly had very little experience interacting with children.
Keep a close eye on Little Brother? You little “dirt buns” should keep an eye on yourselves first.
Then Bai Sheng picked up his phone and began searching for instructions on how to bathe a four-year-old child.
It was not that Bai Nuo had never been cleaned since arriving. The little boy had simply been unfamiliar with everyone at first, so no one had dared to give him a bath without warning. They had wiped him down with a damp towel each day instead. By the time he finally became comfortable enough with them for a warm bath to be placed on the schedule, he developed a fever and fell ill. They had not dared bathe him then either, which had brought them to the present.
Thinking of his dust-covered cub, Bai Sheng’s expression grew solemn.
He was definitely giving him a bath when they got home tonight!
They were currently taking a break during the business negotiations. Most of the concrete details had already been settled, refreshments had been brought in, and discussion of the next area of cooperation had not yet begun.
Bai Sheng’s distracted behaviour drew the attention of the man seated across from him. The major foreign client was a tall gentleman with brown hair and blue eyes named Haller Garrison. Although they had never undertaken a major collaboration before, Haller had deliberately researched Bai Sheng before coming.
Bai Sheng was the third-ranking heir of the largest family in Ang City, Country Z. Although he was the third child, he behaved unpredictably and ruthlessly, acted with swift decisiveness, and was nearly unrivalled in the business world—even among his own siblings. He was a top-tier 3S Alpha, the Bai family member most likely to become its next head, and anyone who opposed him faced an extremely high level of danger. He was someone who required particular caution.
Put simply, he was extraordinarily capable but cared little for emotion. There was certainly no need to worry about working with him. He was professional and incisive, and every member of his team was exceptionally competent, completely unlike those bosses who loved ordering people around despite possessing no real ability.
To be honest, however, Haller did not particularly enjoy dealing with people whose personalities were so cold and unyielding. He had naturally seen the rumours circulating in Ang City as well, and he had wondered how an Alpha like this could possibly raise a child.
During the first half of their negotiations, Bai Sheng had been exactly as Haller imagined.
Until now.
Haller raised his brows in confusion. His Chinese was excellent, although his stress and word choices could occasionally sound peculiar.
“Respected Mr Bai Sheng, may I ask what you are looking at? At present, your… aura appears very gentle.”
It was not something that needed to be hidden.
Bai Sheng raised his eyes to meet Haller’s gaze, then briefly turned his phone towards him.
How to bathe a four-year-old cub?
Haller stared in a daze.
“Oh, I heard about this as well. You now have a young Omega cub. Do you handle all of these matters personally?”
“Not entirely. But as his father, I should know how to do everything, shouldn’t I?”
Bai Sheng was in a fairly good mood, and he laughed softly as he looked at Haller.
Haller, who had previously been formal and somewhat stern, laughed as well. Because of Bai Nuo, the atmosphere between the two company heads grew noticeably more harmonious. With the romantic sensibilities characteristic of his country, the Alpha said with feeling, “That is certainly true. Although I am single and have no intention of marrying, I sincerely adore cute children. They are the purest, most lovable little angels in this world. Simply watching them play can improve my mood for an entire day.”
He smiled, assuming that Bai Sheng had also experienced the pure sweetness of children.
“I heard that Boss Bai’s young cub is a precious and adorable little Omega.”
Then Haller heard the novice father speak in a tone so calm and utterly devoid of any trace of boasting that he might still have been negotiating a contract.
“Being an Omega is merely one of Nuo Nuo’s insignificant little virtues.”
Haller: …
Why did he sound so smug? Exactly how lovable was this cub of his? Young Omegas were certainly precious, but Haller had met quite a few of them before—
Although he truly had never seen one this adorable.
He had caught sight of the photo album on Bai Sheng’s phone.
Haller was rather stunned. How did a man who looked as though he cared about absolutely nothing have so many photographs of his cub? And was there any actual difference among those dozen or so pictures? The only distinction seemed to be that the child had moved one finger or blinked!
“Mr Garrison, it appears you also know about the recent commotion.” Bai Sheng smiled, put away his phone, and prepared for the next round of negotiations. “It was nothing more than a minor disturbance, but the little fellow heard about it and very seriously told me that I was the best father. Since I am the best father, naturally I have to know how to do everything.”
What? Had a real little angel descended into the mortal world?!
Haller came back to himself. He could barely maintain his smile, and a trace of sour envy rose in his heart.
Very well. He would like to revise his earlier opinion. He did not particularly want to deal with a man who possessed such an adorable child after all.
Mr Bai, Haller had thought your former cold and emotionless manner was excellent. Perhaps we should return to that.
Meanwhile—
The cubs had already climbed out of the sandpit. Their caregivers took them to wash their hands and faces, and before long they were seated outside the polymer-clay shop.
After playing for two hours, the little ones were now sharing biscuits and snacks.
They sat in a small circle. Their little faces and hands were clean, but their clothes and bodies were still dusty.
Xie Qing and Xie Yue each held a small bag and crunched away noisily while describing all the other entertaining things in the area to Bai Nuo. There was far too much to finish in a single day, and they also mentioned some of their kindergarten activities.
“At our last parent-child sports day, Daddy and I came first in the race!”
“Hmph! That was only because Daddy ran with Big Brother before running with me. By the time it was my turn, he had less stamina than the other parents! Next time, I’m making Daddy run with me first!”
“Hmph. I can’t help being older than you.”
“Are you trying to start a fight?! Do you think I’m afraid of you?! Whoever loses has to draw a turtle on Daddy’s face tonight!”
The twin Alpha cubs were on the verge of fighting again when their caregivers pulled them apart. Auntie Feng and the others gave the Xie family’s assistant strange, sympathetic looks.
President Xie truly had it hard. Did he have to serve as two people by himself at the sports day as well? What a vivid life he led.
Draw a turtle?
Bai Nuo listened to the twins in confusion. He opened his own packet, picked up a biscuit with one small hand, and held it out to Yu Chuyan, who was sitting beside him.
“Big Brother, this is for you.”
Yu Chuyan accepted the biscuit and looked at Bai Nuo, who was blinking his large eyes at him.
“Then what place did Big Brother come in?”
Yu Chuyan paused. He took a bite of the biscuit and gave a light snort.
“I don’t care about rankings like that. My big brother was busy and couldn’t go that day, but my big brother is very capable. He can do everything.”
Bai Nuo did not know anything about Yu Chuyan’s family circumstances, but he was very sensitive to matters like this. He blinked, held his own little biscuit in both hands, and said softly with a smiling face, “Nuo Nuo’s daddy is very capable too. He can do everything. Big Brother has his big brother, and Nuo Nuo has Daddy. Both are very good.”
That was enough. They did not need anyone else.
Yu Chuyan immediately turned to look at him. Then his gaze drifted aside again. He lifted his chin slightly and gave a small nod.
“Mm. Nuo Nuo, you’re right.”
The top-tier Alpha twins beside them, who came from a happy and complete family, could not find any natural way to join the conversation. They exchanged a glance and decided to force their way in despite lacking the necessary circumstances. With biscuit crumbs still clinging to their faces, they squeezed closer.
“Having Mommy is enough for me.”
“Me too!”
The Xie family’s assistant: …
Young Masters, stop saying “me too”! You’re far too filial. President Xie is going to cry!
Before the assistant could finish feeling aggrieved on his employer’s behalf, he heard Xie Yue continue, “But since Big Brother chose Mommy, I’ll choose Daddy. Having Daddy is enough too. Daddy always plays with us.”
Xie Qing, who was slightly more reserved than Xie Yue, raised his chin.
“Hmph. That is true.”
The Xie family’s assistant: …
Where is the video recording? Where is the record button?! Hurry up and record this, you useless hand! The chance to move the boss and earn a pay rise is right in front of you!
After they finished their snacks, the cubs’ faces were wiped clean again, and they lined up to enter the polymer-clay area.
The clay used here had to be set in an oven at a low temperature for twenty to forty minutes once the pieces were finished.
Bai Nuo had never seen this kind of “mud” before. He curiously squeezed and kneaded it. After following the instructor and learning to make a small flower, he quickly got the hang of it.
The cubs could take home everything they made.
Bai Nuo placed the little monitor on the table and said softly, “Hello, Doudou.”
“Please speak.”
“Can Nuo Nuo use Doudou as a model for the clay?”
“Of course. Do you require multiple angles? I can turn this way, this way, and also this way—”
The little monitor displayed itself from several different angles, then attempted to flip over and lie flat on the tabletop. Its wheels spun beneath it.
“I’m sorry. I have fallen over. Could you help me up? Help me, help me.”
“Wow, it can even trip itself.”
The Xie twins spoke curiously. They lacked the patience to shape their clay bit by bit and were currently kneading several bright colours together into one peculiar shade. They had begun by following the teacher’s instructions for making a small jar, but inspiration struck, and they started adding things to it. Little horns appeared first, followed by tiny hands and feet. The already strangely coloured jar was now racing wildly in an increasingly bizarre direction.
Bai Nuo’s eyes curved into a smile.
“Wait a moment, Doudou. Nuo Nuo will help you after he finishes sculpting.”
He still had to make Doudou’s wheels.
Bai Nuo made several Doudous in one sitting, each in a different colour. Yu Chuyan was not very interested in making anything himself, so he ran back and forth to fetch different colours of clay for the little boy.
After finishing them, Bai Nuo counted the figures one by one. This was the first time he had made a craft like this, and he wanted to give some to his family.
After all, Grandma, Eldest Uncle, and Auntie had all given Nuo Nuo presents. Nuo Nuo had to give them something in return.
The little monitor cried for help for a while. After hearing what Bai Nuo said, it lay on the table with an air of utter hopelessness. Fortunately, its camera could still capture Bai Nuo from that angle, so it did not send an alert to his parent.
At that moment, the sound of a tool falling to the floor came from the table behind the four cubs, followed by a dissatisfied complaint.
“Look at this! What you made doesn’t resemble it at all! How can you still boast that you’re good at crafts and can make everything look realistic? You’re just like Auntie. You’re always lying.”
The four children looked behind them. At the table directly behind theirs, a sturdy-looking boy of seven or eight was glaring in dissatisfaction at a child close to their own age.
Tools were scattered across the floor around the back table. The five-year-old cub there was someone the Xie twins and Yu Chuyan knew. He was Liu Du from the neighbouring class.
They remembered that Liu Du did have a primary-school-aged cousin named Liu Guang who had visited the kindergarten before.
However, because he was in the neighbouring class and had different interests, they were not close to Liu Du. They had merely heard other children say that Liu Du was highly capable and intelligent in many areas. The Xie twins had been unhappy about that for a long time. In their opinion, Yu Chuyan was obviously the cleverest, since he could defeat them in practically everything. He simply disliked participating in activities, which allowed Liu Du to stand out.
At that moment, five-year-old Liu Du was startled. He stood from his chair. When he heard the other boy say that his mother only knew how to lie, he tried to argue.
“Cousin…”
Before he could finish, the sturdy seven- or eight-year-old reached out and shoved him, his movements carrying the sharp arrogance of a thoroughly spoiled child.
“What are you trying to say? You’re only a Beta, while I’m an Alpha. The Liu family will belong to me in the future. If you don’t listen to me, I’ll make Daddy throw Auntie out!”
A seven- or eight-year-old was already quite strong. The five-year-old cub could not dodge in time. Liu Du staggered backwards and struck their little table, shifting the lightweight table and chairs. The moving table nearly struck Bai Nuo, who was seated in front of it.
Bai Nuo jumped in fright and had just leapt down from his chair when Yu Chuyan reached out, seized the back of his clothes, and forcibly pulled the little boy behind himself.
The caregivers were frightened as well. All the children playing here were young. The tables and chairs had no sharp corners, soft mats covered the floor, and everyone had undergone a safety check upon entering. There had seemed to be no possible danger. The caregivers from the three families had therefore sat together in a spot where they could see the four cubs and spoken among themselves. By the time they heard the argument, looked over, and rose, they were already slightly late.
Fortunately, nothing had struck the children.
They hurried over.
The owner of the polymer-clay shop rushed forward as well.
“Oh, children, everyone here is a friend. You shouldn’t quarrel while you’re playing together. If it doesn’t look right, you can simply try again. There are plenty of materials left.”
“Hmph.”
Liu Guang tilted his head up slightly. His voice was disdainful, and he clearly did not care whom his actions might affect.
“This place isn’t fun at all. The arcade is much better.”
Bai Nuo remained behind Yu Chuyan. Yu Chuyan turned to ask him, “Nuo Nuo, are you hurt?”
Bai Nuo shook his head.
“Big Brother, I’m fine.”
Once Yu Chuyan had confirmed that the little boy was unharmed, he turned towards Liu Guang. He was the tallest among this group of five-year-olds, though he was still shorter than Liu Guang. His presence, however, was no weaker. He tried to stride forward, but his brother’s assistant blocked him. He could only speak angrily from behind the assistant.
“You almost knocked Nuo Nuo over. Apologise!”
Auntie Feng had also reached Bai Nuo. She nervously examined him from head to toe and could not stop herself from muttering, “How can a child behave like that?”
“Grandma Feng, Nuo Nuo is fine.”
Bai Nuo’s eyes curved. He patted the small sunflower embroidered on his clothes.
After patting it, he poked his head out to look.
The Liu family had naturally sent adults to accompany their children, but their secretary had little contact with the Bai family and clearly did not recognise Bai Nuo’s group. He assessed the situation, identified the young masters of the Xie and Yu families, and stepped forward with a polished smile to mediate.
“The children are still young, and no one was hurt, were they? I’ll apologise on behalf of our young master, and we can consider the matter settled.”
The Xie family was a rising power, and it was unclear whether the Xie or Liu family was larger. The Yu family was certainly vast and influential, but it was currently divided into two distinct factions: Old Master Yu’s faction and that of the present family head. Coincidentally, the Liu family worked closely with Yu Chuyan’s father, while Liu Guang usually associated with the illegitimate young master of the Yu family, who was several years older than Yu Chuyan.
The situation therefore became rather delicate.
Liu Guang naturally knew Yu Chuyan. He was the same age as and attended the same class as Yu Chuyan’s illegitimate half-brother. He snorted.
“Who wants to apologise? I didn’t even touch them! If anyone should apologise, it should be Liu Du. Besides, your brother is only a Beta. No matter how hard he works, he’ll never be as good as an Alpha.”
“Say that again!”
Yu Chuyan clenched his fists.
Liu Du opened his mouth. He looked towards Yu Chuyan with a complicated expression, then looked at Bai Nuo and thought the child seemed somewhat familiar. He had been too far away at the previous banquet and did not recognise him now.
Whenever his cousin was speaking, Liu Du was never allowed to interrupt. Otherwise, Liu Guang would complain about him.
“Our kindergarten teachers have said many times that Alphas, Betas, and Omegas are all equally important. You’re obviously the kind of person who never listens in class.”
“You have no manners.”
The Xie twins took turns speaking.
“Brother Yu Chen is much more capable than all of you.”
Bai Nuo also stepped forward and said with complete seriousness, “Apologise.”
The situation reached a stalemate. With the adults present, the children could not truly continue arguing, but neither side could leave.
The Liu family’s secretary had begun to sweat. He was not certain which family the little boy playing with Yu Chuyan and the Xie twins belonged to. He was already developing a headache over his boss’s insistence on pursuing an opportunity and sending both young masters here to play, supposedly so that they would not spend all their time on video games.
They might as well have been allowed to play video games!
The Liu family’s secretary saw someone on the opposing side send a message and hurriedly sent one to Liu Dong as well.
During that brief gap in supervision, Liu Guang, furious that he could not outargue the Xie twins, suddenly charged forward and shoved the nearby table with all his strength. Everything on Bai Nuo’s table crashed to the floor.
“I’m not apologising to any of you!”
The little monitor, which had been lying on the tabletop, fell at that exact moment. Before Bai Nuo’s widening eyes, it struck the floor and bounced twice. Its rounded shell split slightly along the centre seam, and a faint crackle of electricity sounded.
“Alert—emergency notification to parent! Emergency notification to parent!”
“Doudou!”
The little cub’s eyes grew round. Auntie Feng failed to catch him, and the naturally agile child shot forward. Her eyes widened. How had he moved so quickly?!
Bai Nuo shoved Liu Guang hard. As Doudou had taught him before, he scratched Liu Guang forcefully, then ran to pick up the little monitor. Afraid that her young master would suffer a loss, Auntie Feng hurried after him.
The moment Bai Nuo moved, the adults were startled. Yu Chuyan seized the opportunity. He was the fastest runner and immediately tackled Liu Guang to the ground. The Xie twins followed directly behind him.
The sudden war among the cubs lasted only a few seconds before the adults stopped it.
This time, the Liu family’s secretary held his enraged young master tightly as the boy continued struggling and trying to fight. The secretary’s head felt ready to explode, and sweat was truly about to drip down his face.
This was bad. The matter might become serious.
Despite that thought, he still tried to maintain a professional smile.
Neither side’s caregivers dared release the children now. The shop owner, caught in the middle, also had an enormous headache.
Bai Nuo held the little monitor and stared at its injuries. It had fallen at precisely the wrong angle, and visible damage could be seen inside. Auntie Feng had just finished messaging Bai Sheng and immediately called him as well.
Grandma Feng held Bai Nuo in her arms while he clutched the little monitor. The small child still leaned forward and demanded, “Apologise! Apologise to Big Brother and apologise to Doudou!”
Nuo Nuo was a great villain. Nuo Nuo would scratch you!
The other cubs had also been restrained, but no one could leave now.
The Liu family’s secretary hurriedly took out his phone, hoping to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
“We will certainly compensate you. You do not need to worry about that.”
At the same time, the parents who had arrived outside had just met up.
Bai Sheng received the little monitor’s alert and walked inside with a frown. Then he answered Auntie Feng’s call. Xie Yu overheard that some cubs appeared to be having a conflict. He raised his brows and pointed at himself.
“It can’t be my children, can it?”
His phone rang the next second. He smiled serenely.
What was this?
This was a reputation.
Xie Yu followed close behind Bai Sheng.
At first, he did not take the matter particularly seriously.
Disagreements and fights among young children were common, especially among young Alpha cubs. Every one of them was energetic enough to climb to the sky and burrow through the earth, mischievous and noisy.
Then he entered the shop and saw the situation inside.
Bai Sheng had not initially thought there would be any serious problem either. As for losing the monitor feed? Considering the ridiculous things that artificial little fool had done before, it would have been perfectly normal for it to break itself.
But after answering Auntie Feng’s call and hearing only two sentences, Bai Sheng quickened his steps.
Then he saw his own baby, held in Auntie Feng’s arms, still struggling and stubbornly demanding in his milky little voice that someone apologise.
Bai Nuo had played until his entire small body was grey with dust.
“Nuo Nuo?”
Bai Sheng froze.
At the sound of his voice, the cub who had been so strong until that moment immediately looked over.
The little “dirt bun” clutched the monitor. His voice instantly became soft and aggrieved as he called quietly, the last syllable catching in a sob.
“Daddy… wu…”
Author’s Note:
This old father’s rage meter and power gauge are rising wildly.
Xie Yu: This is what a reputation—no, wait.
