Chapter 47

“Little Bao! Brother Cheng!”

Lin Zao came to his senses and dashed forward.

Hearing that familiar voice, Fu Cheng and Lin Xiaobao’s eyes lit up in unison. They whipped their heads around.

“Dad, you’re awake?”

“Zaozao, roar roar roar!”

Fu Cheng was propped up against the headboard, with Lin Xiaobao standing right in front of him.

Father and son exchanged greetings with Lin Zao while secretly competing with each other.

Lin Xiaobao pinched off a small piece of rice cake and pressed it against Fu Cheng’s mouth.

—Big Daddy, eat up quick! I don’t have time to feed you anymore. I wanna play with Dad!

Fu Cheng clamped his mouth shut, his gaze resolute. He absolutely refused to take another bite.

—You little brat, I’m not eating! It’s dry and sticks in my throat. I want the soup Little Zao cooked for me—the one with medicine in it!

One was determined to make him eat, the other dead set against it.

Father and son were locked in a stalemate.

A thousand words boiled down to one.

—Zaozao/Dad, look at him! He’s being naughty!

Under their expectant gazes, Lin Zao lunged forward and scooped Lin Xiaobao into his arms.

“Little Bao, come here!”

“Okay!”

Lin Xiaobao leaped into the air with a joyful whoop.

—Dad’s hugging me! Dad chose me!

Fu Cheng froze in place, staring fixedly at Lin Zao.

—Little Zao… how could Little Zao not hug me?

Lin Zao had no idea about the rivalry brewing between them or the emotional turmoil in their hearts.

He’d hugged Lin Xiaobao simply because the boy was lighter and easier to pick up.

Lin Zao clutched Lin Xiaobao close, hurriedly trying to pull him away.

Just as Lin Xiaobao’s hand was about to leave the bite guard, he reached out and grabbed—

Clang!

Lin Xiaobao seized the metal bar on the outside of the bite guard and yanked, sending Fu Cheng pitching forward until his head tapped against it.

“Hee hee!”

He grinned foolishly and turned back to his dad.

“Dad, I was just feeding Big Daddy. That’s how I did it. Am I good or what?”

“Ah!”

Lin Zao let out a sharp cry and rushed to pry his hand away.

“No! You can’t put your hand near Big Daddy’s mouth! You can’t bully Big Daddy!”

“I didn’t.”

Lin Zao cradled his hand in his own palm, flicked on the light, and inspected it meticulously—twice over.

Only once he confirmed that Lin Xiaobao’s hand was perfectly intact, white and clean without a single scratch, did Lin Zao relax. Finally, he gave the back of the boy’s hand a couple of light pats by way of reprimand.

“You little rascal, take that.”

“Mmm…” Lin Xiaobao squirmed a bit, clearly displeased. “Why’d you hit me? Wasn’t I good? I even fed Big Daddy…”

“Big Daddy got bit by a monster and infected with monster virus. He turned into the Big Monster. Did you forget?”

“I didn’t forget, but…” Lin Xiaobao paused. “Dad let Big Daddy get back in bed to sleep, right? Doesn’t that mean Big Daddy’s all better?”

“Of course…” Lin Zao looked up at Fu Cheng and softened his voice. “Of course not.”

“Dad let Big Daddy come back to bed because Dad put gloves and a mask on him. He can’t grab anyone or bite anyone now.”

“Who knows if you—”

Lin Zao took hold of his small hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“—thought you could get away with it because your fingers are so tiny? Did you deliberately stick them in there right in front of Big Daddy so he could bite?”

“I…” Lin Xiaobao looked a little sheepish. “I didn’t know.”

Lin Zao grabbed his hand and opened his mouth wide, pretending to chomp down.

“Rawr—rawr rawr rawr—”

“Eek! Dad! Don’t bite me!”

Lin Xiaobao flailed in panic, wriggling to get free.

Lin Zao pulled him into a tight hug and held him close against his chest.

“No more of that next time. When you’re playing with Big Daddy, you have to wear gloves. Got it?”

“Got it.” Lin Xiaobao nodded.

Lin Zao had just soothed Lin Xiaobao and was about to turn around when the boy tugged at his sleeve. “Dad…”

“Hm?” Lin Zao leaned in. “What else?”

Lin Xiaobao whispered, “Then you have to remember to feed Big Daddy, or he’ll starve to death.”

“Got it.” Lin Zao ruffled his hair. “Don’t worry. Dad’ll remember.”

Right then, Fu Cheng wrapped his arms around himself, leaned against the headboard, and let out a low growl to get their attention.

—You two done whispering over there?

They’d called him a monster, said he bites people—and loud enough for everyone to hear.

No respect for the monster at all!

Fu Cheng grumbled, “Roar!”

Lin Zao said to Lin Xiaobao, “See? That’s how mean Big Daddy is.”

Lin Xiaobao nodded vigorously. “Yeah, yeah, I see.”

“Roar roar roar!”

Fu Cheng was even more incensed!

He threw off the covers and pounced forward.

—Talking bad about me again! Bullying me because I can’t talk!

You’re the bad ones, both of you—little rascals ganging up on a zombie!

Lin Zao and Lin Xiaobao huddled together as Fu Cheng pinned them down on the bed.

Fu Cheng braced his arms on either side, trapping them in his embrace beneath him.

“Help!”

“Big Daddy’s gone berserk!”

Father and son sprawled on the bed, crawling forward on their bellies, straining to escape.

“Dad, you got this!”

“Little Bao, you too! Let’s both go for it and break free from Big Daddy’s clutches!”

“Okay. Heave-ho—heave-ho—”

Fu Cheng watched the pair inching along like a pair of caterpillars, and a crack appeared in his stern, icy expression.

Lin Zao lifted the covers. “Little Bao, quick—under here. We’ll escape through the tunnel.”

“Okay.”

Just as they were about to slip out from under the covers, Fu Cheng made his move.

He reached out and pressed down on the blanket, cutting off their escape route.

Lin Xiaobao bumped his head against it, found the way blocked, and let out a muffled yell. “Dad…”

“I’ll go check.” Lin Zao poked his messy chicken-coop hair out from under the covers.

He rolled over, lay back on the bed, and looked up at Fu Cheng blocking the way.

The instant their eyes met, Fu Cheng forced his upturned mouth back into a straight line and stared back with a blank expression.

Little Zao said he was mean? Fine, he’d be mean for Little Zao to see.

But the next second, Lin Zao sprang up with a perfect carp flip, latched onto his neck, and planted a kiss on his chin.

Mm… huh?

Fu Cheng froze, eyes going wide.

What was Little Zao doing?

Lin Zao’s eyes crinkled with a smile as he kissed him again.

“Brother Cheng, I know you didn’t bite Little Bao. You didn’t snap at him either. You’ve always remembered not to bite us.”

“I was just scared. Scared you’d accidentally nick his finger while he was feeding you.”

“You know how tough it is raising kids, so I had to exaggerate a bit to teach him. Sorry for putting you through that, Brother Cheng.”

As Lin Zao spoke, he kept kissing him, making up for all the spots he’d missed the night before.

From the very first kiss, Fu Cheng was done for. His eyes, his mouth, his whole face overflowed with delight.

So that’s how it was.

Little Zao was the best. Little Zao loved him so much.

“Don’t be mad anymore, my favorite zombie husband.”

With the final kiss, Fu Cheng was utterly conquered.

Lin Xiaobao flopped his way out from under the covers too.

“Dad, hurry… I found a way out…”

He slid off the edge of the bed and glanced back.

All he saw was Dad and Big Daddy locked in an embrace, smooching away!

“Dad!”

What are you doing? Didn’t you say the Big Monster was super dangerous?

So how come you’re hugging the Big Monster Daddy now?

Lin Xiaobao stomped his foot in fury.

Lin Zao planted one last kiss on Fu Cheng, hopped off the bed with practiced ease, and scooped up Lin Xiaobao.

“Coming! Let’s go brush your teeth and wash your face. Did you brush yet?”

“Nope, ’cause I can’t squeeze the toothpaste.”

“Oh.”

Lin Xiaobao clung to his dad’s neck, nestled against his chest, and bobbed his head.

—Dad loves me the most, after all!

Fu Cheng sat on the bed, reached up tentatively, and touched the spot Little Zao had kissed.

—Little Zao loves me the most, after all!

Lin Zao threw his head back, flicked his fluffy little fox tail, and strutted.

—Those two dummies are way too easy to placate!

Lin Zao glanced back over his shoulder and lifted his chin at Fu Cheng. “Brother Cheng, come on—follow me.”

Fu Cheng hopped off the bed at once and trailed after him without a second thought.

Coming, coming.

The family of three crammed into the tiny bathroom.

Lin Zao and Lin Xiaobao brushed their teeth first, while Fu Cheng—bite guard in place—watched from the sidelines.

Lin Zao gripped his toothbrush, foam bubbling from his mouth as he bared his teeth at Fu Cheng, showing off his pearly whites.

See? This is how you brush, Brother Cheng. Your turn.

Fu Cheng folded his arms and leaned against the doorframe, watching intently.

Got it. Learning now.

He’d practiced brushing teeth for decades as a human. He could pick it up with one glance.

Besides—

Fu Cheng grinned, flashing his newly grown sharp fangs.

His teeth were just fine. Sharp enough to slice Little Zao’s skin without trying.

The next instant, Lin Zao spat out the foam and swatted him.

“Don’t play cool. If you cut your own mouth, Little Bao and I will laugh at you.”

Oh.

Fu Cheng obediently shut his mouth and went back to normal.

Lin Zao rinsed, grabbed a towel, and wiped his face.

Once finished, he announced, “There. That’s your essential morning routine…”

Fu Cheng pointed toward the bathroom window.

Little Zao, it’s afternoon now.

Lin Zao corrected himself. “That’s what you have to do after getting up. No matter when you wake up.”

Fu Cheng nodded. Got it.

Lin Zao shooed Lin Xiaobao out first, then stepped behind Fu Cheng, stood on tiptoe, and removed the bite guard from his face.

“I got your toothbrush, cup, and towel ready. Practice on your own.”

Fu Cheng picked up the enamel mug.

Lin Zao sensed trouble and leaned over. “Easy now—don’t crush it…”

Fu Cheng turned the mug halfway in his hand, revealing the design fully.

Two characters in an old-fashioned font.

The front had a big “囍,” the back a big “奖.”

Awarded to whom? The line of small print below:

Excellent Husband!

Lin Zao quickly said, “You bought that for yourself and patted yourself on the back. I didn’t get it for you.”

Fu Cheng’s lips curved up as he admired the mug from both sides.

No matter what, it was nice. He liked it.

He couldn’t read the characters all that well, but his gut told him they were good ones.

“Quit admiring yourself and brush already. Do a good job, and then you’re free.”

“Grrr—”

Lin Zao turned and left, locking Fu Cheng in the bathroom alone.

As he stepped out, Lin Xiaobao was jumping on the bed, putting the scattered pillows back in place.

Lin Zao marched to the bedside and flopped down without ceremony.

Lin Xiaobao complained, “Dad, you’re messing it up again!”

Lin Zao reached out and pulled him into his arms. “Come keep Dad company while I eat. We’ll tidy up together after.”

“Fine.”

Lin Zao grabbed a rice cake from the nightstand and took a bite.

Lin Xiaobao watched his dad munch away and felt hungry too. He reached out, snapped off a piece, and popped it in his mouth.

Suddenly, Lin Zao muttered, “That’s weird.”

Lin Xiaobao looked up, puzzled. “Who’s weird, Dad?”

“Big Daddy.” Lin Zao explained, “His strength comes and goes. Tell him to snap a switch, and he breaks it right off. Tell him to brush his teeth, and he doesn’t smash the cup.”

Lin Xiaobao thought for a moment. “When we used to bring Big Daddy food, he never wrecked the containers.”

“Exactly.” Lin Zao nodded. “But when he hugs us, he squeezes super tight. Wonder if he’s doing it on purpose.”

“Dunno.” Lin Xiaobao shook his head, echoing his dad.

Lin Zao tilted his head, pondering deeply.

What did the food containers and the mug have in common?

Right—the containers were pink heart-shaped, and the mug had big red double happiness characters!

Fu Cheng’s eyes had lit up when he saw them.

Was it because…

He fell in love at first sight with those things and couldn’t bear to grip them hard?

Even as a human, his taste had been so tacky.

Zombified, and still tacky!

How’d he end up with a tacky rich guy for a husband?

Lin Zao chomped viciously into his rice cake, crunching away.

But that didn’t add up either.

By rights, Brother Cheng should be head over heels for him too.

So why didn’t he hug gently? Why squeeze so hard?

Infuriating!

Before long, Fu Cheng knocked on the bathroom door from inside.

—Little Zao, I’m done. Let me out.

Lin Zao set Lin Xiaobao on the bed, rice cake dangling from his mouth. With a cold expression, he opened the door and snapped the bite guard back on.

That done, Lin Zao turned and walked off without a word.

—Come on out, tacky rich guy.

Fu Cheng eyed his frosty look and frowned instinctively.

Had he upset Little Zao again? But he hadn’t done anything.

So unfair, Little Zao, sir!