Chapter 30
Breakfast was a meticulously prepared Western-style meal, courtesy of the cook and pastry chef.
To cater to Shen Wen’s preferences, each dish on the silver platters was garnished with flower petals.
Xing Nuo, holding the small glass of milk the butler had brought him, drank most of it.
A milk mustache adorning his upper lip, he patted his round tummy and held up the empty glass for his dad to see.
“Dad, Zaizai…finished~”
Shen Wen glanced at the little cub, not understanding why finishing a glass of milk was worth mentioning.
“Mm,” he replied indifferently, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
Xing Nuo wasn’t upset that his dad hadn’t praised him. He put aside the bib the butler had tucked into his shirt and looked at his dad, his chin resting on his small hand.
Watching his dad elegantly finish his breakfast, sipping something dark and bitter called coffee, Xing Nuo realized something.
Daytime Dad and nighttime Dad were different.
Although they were both Dad, daytime Dad seemed to have forgotten about Zaizai.
Not understanding why his dad didn’t remember him, Xing Nuo sighed softly, thinking his dad must be sick.
Just like how Zaizai’s mind would be foggy for a while after waking up, unable to remember who he was.
But Dad forgot for a longer time, the whole day.
Only at night would he remember how well-behaved Zaizai was, coming to tell him stories and coaxing him to sleep.
Thinking he had figured it out, Xing Nuo sat there, nodding his head, his expression alternating between serious contemplation and cheerful understanding.
Shen Wen, noticing Xing Nuo’s changing expressions out of the corner of his eye, frowned slightly.
Were all children this lively?
Able to entertain themselves even when alone.
Shen Wen couldn’t be bothered to figure out where this child came from or why he was related to him.
He disliked trouble and couldn’t stand the noise children made.
It was only for a few days anyway. Once the instance ended, these players, along with this child, would disappear from this world.
Thinking he wouldn’t have to see this clumsy little cub, who always stumbled and fell, anymore, Shen Wen’s mood, strangely, wasn’t as light as he expected.
That inexplicable blood connection seemed to have affected him somewhat.
His mood dampened, he rubbed his temples, pushing aside these confusing thoughts, and stood up to leave.
Seeing his dad leaving, Xing Nuo hurriedly climbed down from his high chair.
In his haste, his little feet fumbled in mid-air, and he missed a step.
“Ouch!”
He landed on his bottom with a thud, his hands flying to his backside. Like a little turtle, he rolled onto his stomach and lay there for a moment.
Shen Wen paused, sighed, and looked back at the little one.
“How can you be so clumsy?”
Falling even while getting down from a chair?
Xing Nuo clutched his sore bottom, tears welling up in his eyes, and looked up at his dad, whimpering.
“Dad…Zaizai…hurts…”
Shen Wen, looking at the little one who was making a big fuss despite not actually crying, almost smiled.
“You’re not even crying? How much can it really hurt?”
He snorted and muttered:
“Fake Cry King.”
Xing Nuo pouted and covered his ears, shaking his head, refusing to listen.
“Not true! Zaizai…not…Fake Cry King!”
Dad and Brother always said that!
Xing Nuo was a bit angry now.
He scrambled to his feet, clutching his bottom, and walked past his dad, his head held high, ignoring him completely.
He looked incredibly haughty, like a little orange cat strutting past, feigning indifference while desperately seeking attention.
Shen Wen, arms crossed, watched the little one stumble out of the dining hall and couldn’t help but smile.
This little creature was quite entertaining.
He shook his head and gestured for the butler to follow:
“Go and keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn’t fall again.”
The butler, watching the interaction between his master and the little master with a doting expression, his wrinkles softening with amusement, nodded.
“Yes, Master.”
As expected, although Master appeared cold, he still cared for the little master.
Xing Nuo, clutching his bottom, slowly walked around a corner, then turned and peeked back, checking to see if his dad was following him.
Just as he was about to turn away, he saw the buzz-cut player, also sneaking around.
The buzz-cut player, who had been observing the monsters from a corner, also saw Xing Nuo.
Separated by the hallway, they stared at each other, their eyes wide.
The buzz-cut player gave an awkward laugh, abandoned her surveillance of the monsters, and walked towards Xing Nuo.
“Xing Nuo, what are you doing here?”
Xing Nuo shook his head and refused to answer, letting out a small whine.
“Sister…doing what?”
The female player also snorted and shook her head. “You won’t tell me, I won’t tell you.”
Xing Nuo simply replied with an “Oh” and, clutching his bottom, turned to leave.
Then the buzz-cut player remembered something and called out to him:
“Little Master, have you seen a man in black clothes, with a knife at his waist, on the second floor?”
They hadn’t seen Wen Xingxue since he charged at the monsters with his blade last night.
They had spent the night hiding in their bedroom, afraid to open the door in case they encountered a powerful monster.
The seemingly quiet castle was filled with the terrifying sounds of fighting throughout the night.
Only after dawn broke, and the lurking monsters retreated like a receding tide, did the players dare to venture out.
The buzz-cut player was worried about Wen Xingxue. She had been cautiously observing the monsters, searching for him.
But after searching the entire first floor, she hadn’t found him.
She didn’t want to think the worst, so she decided to ask Xing Nuo.
Perhaps Wen Xingxue had disregarded the rules and gone to the more dangerous second floor?
Xing Nuo shook his head, clearly having no idea who she was talking about.
“No…new guest?”
The buzz-cut player sighed and nodded.
“Yes, he’s our companion. I’m worried he might accidentally go upstairs and anger your dad.”
Xing Nuo tilted his head, confused.
“No…Dad…very nice…won’t be angry.”
The buzz-cut player gave a wry smile, thinking, your dad is only nice to you.
To them, the players, Shen Wen’s aura was terrifyingly oppressive, making them feel like they could be crushed by his fingers at any moment.
Xing Nuo, seeing her worried expression, patted her arm, his voice soft and comforting.
“It’s okay…sister…want flower? We go…pick…”
Dad had said that when you’re feeling down, picking a beautiful flower and smelling its fragrance would make you feel better!
The buzz-cut player gasped and quickly shook her head.
The thought of those eerie, dangerous roses in the garden, their blood-red color, made her scalp tingle.
Afraid the little master might offer to pick a rose for her, she quickly excused herself.
“I just remembered I have something to do, I’ll be going now!”
She turned and hurried away.
Xing Nuo, watching her leave, tilted his head in confusion, then, clutching his bottom, slowly walked towards the garden.
In the garden, the blood-red roses bloomed, their fragrance intoxicating.
The front garden was filled with roses, but near the fence at the back, Shen Wen had casually planted a few tulips.
Xing Nuo slowly walked into the garden and bent down to inspect the flowers.
He touched one, looked at another, nodding occasionally.
“Very good…flowers…blooming beautifully…today!”
The butler, emerging from the castle, saw the little master seriously inspecting the flower garden.
He beamed, tapping his cane on the ground, and exclaimed:
“The little master truly takes after Master, already learning how to manage the garden.”
The footman beside him nodded in agreement.
“When the little master grows up, he’ll be as remarkable as Master!”
Xing Nuo, unaware of the butler’s expectations, circled the garden and finally stopped beside a rose.
“Gardener uncle, I want…this one!”
The gardener walked over with his shears and snipped the large, healthy rose.
“Here you go, Little Master.”
Xing Nuo hummed in response, one hand clutching his bottom, the other holding the rose, and walked back inside the castle.
Having lived in the castle for two or three years, he knew the layout like the back of his hand.
He walked through the corridor with the paintings, crossed the living room, and arrived at the guest room where the players were staying.
He knocked gently on the door and, standing on tiptoe, called out:
“Hello~ anyone there?”
The noisy commotion inside the room instantly ceased.
The buzz-cut player, her arm bandaged after being attacked by the agitated male player, opened the door with a worried expression.
Seeing Xing Nuo holding a rose, she paused, a thought flashing through her mind.
Could this be…?
“Sister…for you…pretty flower!” Xing Nuo stood on tiptoe, holding up the rose.
The buzz-cut player let out a silent “Whoa!” It really was for her!
She took a deep breath, her forehead breaking out in a cold sweat, trapped between a rock and a hard place.
She couldn’t possibly accept this obviously dangerous flower!
But it was a gift from the little master. If she refused, would she offend him?
Losing Xing Nuo’s favor would be detrimental.
Just as she was hesitating, the agitated male player who had attacked her earlier walked over.
Looking at the rose, his expression manic, he let out a loud, mocking laugh.
“So this is what you get for sucking up to the little master?! Why aren’t you taking it?”
The male player’s mental state was clearly deteriorating. Since yesterday, he had been alternating between suicidal despair and violent outbursts, attacking his companions.
His expression was now twisted and frightening.
He had just attacked the buzz-cut player in the room, the wound on her arm still bleeding.
But he seemed oblivious to his own actions, staring at her maliciously, waiting for her to make a fool of herself.
