Chapter 5: The Nanny
Fei Zhiyan lowered his eyes to look at the half-finished bottle of milk, then at the earnest expression on the child’s face. A slight stirring moved in his heart.
Does the little one think I have nothing to eat, so he’s sharing his milk with me?
Fei Zhiyan found the act a bit silly, and a bit amusing. But at this moment, he couldn’t bring himself to laugh. He just quietly looked into the child’s innocent and pure eyes.
Nuonuo’s eyes were exceptionally clear, like a pool of clean, transparent spring water, limpid and bright. The first time Fei Zhiyan saw them, it was because of those beautiful eyes that his heart softened for a moment, and he held back. Otherwise, if Fei Zhiyan had acted just a second faster, the child’s neck would have likely been snapped on the spot.
“For me?” This time, Fei Zhiyan’s tone was less cold.
Nuonuo nodded emphatically, stretching his neck as far as he could. Seeing Fei Zhiyan’s empty plate, he held up the bottle and babbled, “No… no more, Nuo-Nuo, ya, Pa!”
Although his speech was stumbling and stuttering, Fei Zhiyan understood his meaning. Fei Zhiyan’s plate was empty, the little one saw it, and wanted him to eat his food.
Fei Zhiyan watched the child struggle to hold up the bottle. His fingers twitched, and he took the bottle from him.
After staring at the chubby white cloud pattern on the bottle for a moment, Fei Zhiyan suddenly asked, “Is your name Nuonuo?”
Hearing his name, Nuonuo’s little baby teeth instantly appeared as he giggled happily at his papa.
“Baya—”
Nuonuo’s smile was always soft, and whenever he smiled, his eyes would sparkle as if crushed stars had been kneaded into them, brilliant and bright.
Fei Zhiyan watched him for a long while before letting out a soft laugh and returning the bottle to little Nuonuo. “I don’t like milk. It’s too sweet.”
Nuonuo held the bottle, a little bewildered. His little head turned this way and that before he understood what his papa meant.
Someone actually doesn’t like sweet milk? Nuonuo’s eyes couldn’t help but fill with confusion.
Lowering his head, Nuonuo took a sip. The sweet taste of milk instantly filled his mouth.
It’s still just as sweet, Nuonuo thought. Maybe adults are just strange like that.
Fei Zhiyan propped his chin on his hand, watching Nuonuo drink his milk with relish. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
He’s quite easy to raise.
When the chef came out with a tray, this was the harmonious scene that greeted him.
It seems Mr. Fei isn’t angry anymore.
Well, of course, the chef thought. This little doll is so fair and cute, who could stay mad at him?
The chef put down the tray and said with a cheerful smile, “Mr. Fei, I’ve prepared some corn chowder and little buns for the young master.”
Fei Zhiyan’s brow furrowed as he looked at the food on the tray. “He’s only two. Can he eat this?”
Fei Zhiyan looked at the tiny, milky-soft ball that was Nuonuo, sitting in the large chair, and gave the chef a questioning glance.
The chef was a bit exasperated and explained to Fei Zhiyan what a two-year-old child should be eating. “Sir, a two-year-old can already eat soft, lightly-flavored foods. Just drinking milk won’t provide enough nutrition, and he’ll get hungry easily.”
Fei Zhiyan’s brow was still furrowed, but since the chef was the professional, he nodded. “I see.”
Nuonuo hadn’t heard the chef’s words. His little eyes were already fixed on the small buns on the table. The fragrant smell of the buns made his little nose twitch involuntarily. The savory aroma of the meat inside wafted out like a charming little sprite, luring Nuonuo to open his mouth wide, drooling a stream of shiny saliva.
Slurping up his drool, Nuonuo stretched out his little arms, trying his best to reach the buns. The table was only half a head taller than him. He stretched out his little hand, fumbling on the table, and after a long while, he managed to grab a plate. Like a little hamster hoarding its treasures, he pulled the entire plate of buns into his arms.
Fei Zhiyan had just finished talking to the chef when he turned to see Nuonuo hugging a bun and, with a big chomp, biting off more than half of it.
Fei Zhiyan’s eyelid twitched. He pulled the plate from Nuonuo’s hands and pinched his little cheeks. “Why is he eating so much? Won’t he choke?”
Fei Zhiyan’s movements were slightly frantic as he pinched Nuonuo’s cheeks to prevent him from swallowing.
Seeing the usually cautious and calm Mr. Fei so flustered, the sense of distance the chef felt instantly faded. It seemed that even the most powerful man had to bow before a baby.
“It’s alright, Mr. Fei. This bun is small, and I steamed it very soft. He’ll be fine.”
Hearing the professional’s words, Fei Zhiyan finally let go of Nuonuo’s little face and sat back down.
Released, a bewildered Nuonuo chewed on the incredibly fragrant bun in his mouth. His eyes instantly lit up, and his little feet kicked wildly in the air with delight.
Fei Zhiyan pinched the bridge of his nose. Just as he was about to tell Nuonuo to eat slower, he saw the butler walk in with a woman.
“Sir, this is Auntie Wu. She has over twenty years of experience as a nanny. What do you think?”
As soon as the butler finished speaking, Auntie Wu stepped forward nervously.
Looking at the impossibly handsome man before her, Auntie Wu’s heart pounded nervously. She had only ever seen Fei Zhiyan—the highest-ranking President of the Yunzhou Council—on the news. She never thought she would one day see him in person. And to think she would be working here… the thought made Auntie Wu’s heart beat even more fiercely, afraid she wouldn’t make a good impression.
“Let her stay for a trial period.”
Fei Zhiyan’s gaze swept over Auntie Wu. Seeing that it was getting late, he made a final decision.
Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.
The butler brought Fei Zhiyan’s suit jacket and stood by, waiting. “Sir, the car is already waiting outside.”
Fei Zhiyan nodded. He glanced at Nuonuo, who was still immersed in the bliss of eating his bun, and, in a rare moment, gave Auntie Wu a reminder. “Take good care of Nuonuo.”
Auntie Wu nodded hastily, watching Mr. Fei leave.
Hearing the sound of a car starting and driving away outside, Auntie Wu whispered, “Mr. Fei is just like on TV, so impressive.”
The chef chuckled and nodded. “Mr. Fei is a big shot, dealing with the council presidents from other continents every day. Of course, he has a strong presence. But he and his family are all very nice. You’ll see after a few days.”
Auntie Wu gave a slightly reserved smile and turned to look at Nuonuo, who was still eating his bun. A look of affection appeared in her eyes. In all her years as a nanny, she had never seen such a beautiful baby. He ate with such gusto and wasn’t noisy at all.
Nuonuo happily swallowed the bun in his mouth. Looking at his empty palm, he spread his hands. “No… no more!”
Full, Nuonuo licked his lips and turned to look for his papa, only to find that he was alone in the living room with a woman.
Where’s Papa? Nuonuo tilted his head, searching.
After looking for a while and not seeing his papa’s figure, he started to panic.
“Yaya!”
Nuonuo wiggled his little body, trying to jump down from the chair to find his papa.
Seeing Nuonuo’s dangerous movement, Auntie Wu quickly went over and lifted him onto a low sofa nearby.
Although Auntie Wu was a stranger, her eyes were kind, and she smelled clean and pleasant. Being held by her, Nuonuo didn’t struggle too much.
Seeing the child sit obediently on the sofa, with tears welling in his eyes but not throwing a tantrum, just looking uneasy and confused, Auntie Wu’s heart immediately softened.
He’s so well-behaved and adorable, with such a soft and endearing personality. He’s really lovable, Auntie Wu thought.
Children of two or three are at their clingiest, unable to be away from their parents for a moment. But they are also starting to understand reason. As long as you communicate with them properly, they are not completely oblivious.
Nuonuo sat on the sofa, listening to Auntie Wu’s words, which carried a slight regional accent. His confused and struggling little eyes gradually calmed down.
“Pa, bu-sy, ya?”
Auntie Wu nodded. “That’s right, Mr. Fei went to work.”
Nuonuo understood in his heart, but he couldn’t help but feel sad. He pouted and sniffled, and after a long while, he finally nodded his little head.
He had seen in cartoons that Daddy Pig also had to work hard every day to earn money to raise the little piggies.
But this is Nuonuo’s first day finding Papa.
Tears welled up in Nuonuo’s eyes, but since his papa wasn’t there, he could only raise his little hand and sadly wipe them away himself.
Auntie Wu was older and couldn’t bear to see Nuonuo’s red-rimmed, pitiful little face. After a moment’s thought, she turned on the latest cartoon to distract the child.
Sure enough, as soon as the TV turned on, Nuonuo was immediately captivated by the colorful cartoon. He stared wide-eyed at the little train on the screen.
The System had shown Nuonuo cartoons before, but at that time, the System didn’t have much energy and had to use it for the interstellar journey, so the opportunities to watch cartoons were very rare. The few things Nuonuo knew, he had learned from cartoons.
Now, watching the little train on TV that could transform, his eyes shone, and he let out an involuntary “wow.”
A little train that can transform! How amazing!
Auntie Wu looked at Nuonuo’s fair and serious little face and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. “This child is really easy to soothe.”
Seeing the chef come out of the kitchen after cleaning up, Auntie Wu couldn’t help but remark.
The chef, with his chubby belly, chuckled and agreed.
“But he’s a bit slow with his speech, and he’s not very steady on his feet.”
In Auntie Wu’s experience, a two-year-old child should already be able to say short sentences to express their thoughts and should be able to run and jump.
The chef waved it off. “What’s the big deal? He’ll learn slowly. I was even dumber as a child; I didn’t learn to talk until I was three.”
Auntie Wu was just curious. Hearing this, she smiled and nodded, then went to watch cartoons with Nuonuo.
Just as Nuonuo was engrossed in the little train cartoon, a ding sounded in his mind, and the System’s voice appeared.
“Nuonuo, the energy I worked so hard to save up last night is gone!”
Nuonuo covered his little head and shushed the System. “Liuliu, watch, ya!”
We’re watching cartoons, Liuliu, be quiet.
006 also noticed the cartoon on the TV. It was at an exciting part. He was captivated and curiously started watching with Nuonuo.
It wasn’t until the little train transformed to help the children and the episode ended that 006 came back to his senses and belatedly said, “Oh right, Nuonuo, my energy is gone. Hey? Where’s your fishtail? How did it turn into legs?!”
