The Whole Family Are Villains, I’m the Group Pet 211

Chapter 211:

If – Child-Rearing Arc: Previous Life’s Zaizai 4

Shen Wen sat on the bus, staring at his phone, then suddenly snapped out of his trance, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

Why was I searching for adoption requirements?

He pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering when he had become so sentimental.

Xing Nuo, rubbing his watery eyes, seeing the kind mister’s troubled expression, reached out and patted his arm gently.

“Mister, head owie?”

His small hand, light as a feather, its touch almost imperceptible, made Shen Wen pause.

“I’m fine.”

He couldn’t bring himself to be cold and distant towards the little one, his voice softening unconsciously.

He ruffled Xing Nuo’s hair, looking at his innocent, trusting eyes, and sighed softly.

“Wait here. I’ll be back soon.”

Xing Nuo nodded obediently, thinking, It’s okay if Mister leaves. Zaizai found the bus.

Zaizai big boy now. Can wait by himself.

Shen Wen, however, didn’t leave. He walked towards the front of the bus, saw the driver asleep, his head tilted back, and, worried about leaving Xing Nuo alone, returned.

“Mister back?” Xing Nuo’s pronunciation was still a bit unclear.

Shen Wen hummed and, taking out his phone, ordered some snacks through a delivery app.

A few minutes later, the delivery driver arrived at the zoo entrance.

Shen Wen went to collect the large bag, its contents a mystery.

“What’s that?” Xing Nuo asked curiously, looking at the large bag.

Shen Wen opened it, revealing several small boxes filled with colorful pastries:

cakes, egg tarts, bread, cookies…

He opened a box of egg tarts and offered one to Xing Nuo.

“Here, try this. It’s almost lunchtime. Have a snack.”

Xing Nuo politely declined, scooting away slightly.

“No, thank you. I not hungry.”

But Shen Wen insisted, even peeling the foil wrapper and holding the egg tart to Xing Nuo’s lips.

Xing Nuo, unable to refuse, took a small bite.

The pastry was crispy and flaky, sweet and savory.

More delicious than anything he had ever tasted!

Xing Nuo’s eyes widened, sparkling like tiny stars.

“So yummy!”

Shen Wen, looking at the little one’s happy face, a crumb of pastry on his cheek, his heart melting,

fed him another egg tart, a small bread roll, and a chocolate candy.

Xing Nuo’s tummy, now full and round, he said:

“No more. Full.”

Shen Wen, having never raised a child before, stopped, a flicker of regret in his eyes.

Watching the little one diligently chewing on the chocolate, his expression serious and focused, Shen Wen leaned back against his seat, his arms crossed, a smile playing on his lips.

Raising a child is surprisingly rewarding.

He took out his phone and searched for adoption information again.

He still wasn’t sure why, but he couldn’t help but feel a fondness for this little boy named Xing Nuo.

And because of his…preferences, he couldn’t have children of his own.

Adoption wasn’t a bad idea.

His father had been pressuring him to get married, and wouldn’t he be overjoyed to have a grandson?

And such a cute and well-behaved grandson, with the same hair color as him.

The more he thought about it, the more appealing it seemed.

His resolve firming, he turned to Xing Nuo, who was still chewing on the chocolate, his cheeks puffed out, and his perspective shifted.

He ruffled Xing Nuo’s hair and asked:

“Xing Nuo, you like sweet bread?”

Xing Nuo, having finally swallowed the chocolate, nodded, rubbing his aching jaw.

“Like.”

The bread was soft and fluffy, freshly baked, its sweet filling like a cloud melting in his mouth.

It was the most delicious bread he had ever tasted!

Even better than the ones the volunteers brought!

Shen Wen, his eyes softening, said:

“I’ll take you to buy some more next time, okay?”

Xing Nuo tilted his head, puzzled.

“Next time?”

They were at the zoo, with a kind stranger he had just met. There might not be a next time.

The thought made him sad.

This kind mister was the closest he had ever come to having the daddy he had always dreamed of.

Shen Wen, seeing his disappointment, didn’t mention adoption directly. He didn’t like making promises he wasn’t sure he could keep.

“Of course. I’ll take you back to the orphanage now, then come visit you tomorrow, okay?”

Xing Nuo’s eyes lit up, his earlier sadness forgotten.

“Really?”

Shen Wen smiled and nodded.

“Of course.”

They watched a cartoon together on Shen Wen’s phone, their shoulders touching.

Xing Nuo usually watched cartoons with the other children in the orphanage’s activity room.

Having an extra episode today made him incredibly happy.

Although he hadn’t seen any animals at the zoo, he had eaten delicious bread, watched cartoons, and met a kind and gentle mister.

Today was a good day.

Xing Nuo, his little legs swinging happily, waited for the other children to return.

Their chattering voices, filled with childish excitement, grew louder as they approached.

But Shen Wen, hearing the noise, frowned slightly.

The two volunteers, a man and a woman, their faces tired, waving their little red flags, climbed onto the bus and collapsed onto their seats, fanning themselves.

The children, surprisingly well-behaved, sat quietly, waiting.

The little girl who had been sitting with Xing Nuo earlier bounced over, then, seeing a stranger in her seat, paused.

“Who are you?”

Shen Wen didn’t answer, just stood up and gave her his seat, then walked over to the volunteers.

The volunteers, startled, seeing Shen Wen, their eyes widening in shock, listened to his question and gasped.

“I was wondering…where he went!”

They had almost lost the beautiful little boy!

The volunteers, young and inexperienced, their first time chaperoning a field trip, having missed the announcement over the loudspeaker, had somehow managed to lose Xing Nuo.

They quickly stood up and counted the children, their voices trembling slightly.

Fortunately, everyone was there.

They sighed in relief.