Chapter 39

The plane back home touched down at J City’s international airport around nine o’clock that evening.

Yan Tuo made it back to his place without a hitch, but his familiar single apartment suddenly felt a little off somehow.

He thought about it carefully and realized it was because everything was too quiet.

Ever since he’d discovered that Tangyuan was actually a person, the kid had been like a dam bursting after holding back for ages—chattering nonstop every day about endless topics. Yan Tuo had grown used to the constant nagging at his side. Now, after being apart for several days, he actually missed the little guy a bit.

He wondered how Tangyuan was holding up at Great-Grandpa’s. With the old man’s strict military background, he probably wasn’t thrilled about looking after a little pet.

Truth be told, it wasn’t just now—he’d thought of the kid several times during those days abroad, too.

As he dug into Russia’s famous red-braised beef and sipped borscht, that tangy sourness hit him hard, making him crave Bai Yiyi’s cooking: mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork.

Passing by Red Square, he was struck by the solemn majesty of all that red… but it made him think of Bai Yiyi’s all-green painting. Using a single color to such an extreme was truly shocking in a way that gripped the heart.

If the kid could come here to check it out and snap a few pics, it might spark some real inspiration for him. Before he knew it, Yan Tuo had taken countless photos with his phone.

The moment Basong arrived at the Russian detention center, they shaved his head bald—and Yan Tuo couldn’t help thinking of Bai Yiyi’s pot-lid haircut.

Such a good-looking guy, so why keep such an outdated, weird hairstyle? If it was a matter of taste, the kid studied art, so that didn’t add up at all.

Only after washing up and getting into bed did he realize he’d spent half the night lost in these thoughts.

He’d never experienced anything like this before. Reflecting on it, it must be because the kid’s situation was so bizarre. Yan Tuo was the only one in the world who knew, and the only one who could help—naturally, that stirred some protective instincts in him.

The next day, he dove back into work at the bureau, handling the handover of documents and catching up on the tasks he’d put off. Luckily, nothing major had cropped up. After clocking out, he rode with Xu Qingru while Li Zhong took his son Li Jue. The two cars headed out one after the other toward A City.

As for Yu Lian, she was the only one with some extra free time, so she’d returned a day early to prepare for the birthday banquet.

The car pulled up at the courtyard gate, and the moment Yan Tuo stepped out, the little white dumpling came rushing over, calling his name.

Yan Tuo’s face broke into a grin. He held out his hand, letting it land steadily on his palm, then ruffled its pot-lid head vigorously with his index finger, responding affectionately.

Xu Qingru came around from the passenger side, eyeing it fondly. “Well, well, this must be Tangyuan. I’ve heard so much about you, and here you are at last.”

Bai Yiyi hadn’t expected to see this man again—and so suddenly, with no way to dodge. His body went rigid, his wings trembling uncontrollably.

This time, Yan Tuo definitely noticed something off. He recalled the last time the dumpling had trembled like this… hadn’t Xu Qingru shown up then, too?

Instinctively, he drew his arm back to his chest, shielding the little white dumpling more closely. Jokingly, he said, “Uncle Xu, don’t go startling it like that. You’re scaring my Tangyuan.”

Xu Qingru squinted with a chuckle, drawling, “What, you think I’m a tiger gonna eat it up? A little compliment and it’s shaking in its feathers?”

After that, Yan Tuo saw Bai Yiyi trembling even harder. Utterly baffled, he hurried into the house, putting some distance between him and the apparent source of the fear.

After greeting Great-Grandpa and his cousin, Yan Tuo settled into a corner of the living room sofa and asked quietly, “What’s wrong? That was my Uncle Xu you just saw. You met him once before, right? He’s Great-Grandpa’s foster son, raised in the family from a young age. Something about him bothering you?”

Bai Yiyi had no idea how to explain it properly, but he didn’t want his owner to misunderstand, so he skimmed the truth: the man looked just like the scary uncle from his past, and his body had reacted on instinct.

Yan Tuo really wanted to press for details—what kind of uncle could freak him out so much that even a look-alike set him shaking? But with the whole family gathered that night and the lively atmosphere, now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

Instead, he pulled out his phone and flipped through the Red Square photos for Bai Yiyi to see, hoping to ease his nerves. He explained he’d taken them because they’d reminded him of the kid’s green painting—maybe it’d help spark some ideas.

Bai Yiyi was instantly soothed. The scenery was nice enough, but what really mattered was that his owner had thought of him even out on a work trip. He was so thrilled he felt like he might burst.

Master and pet huddled together admiring the views. Yu Jianguo called for Tangyuan a couple times, but got no response, and he wasn’t used to that.

These past few days, he’d grown accustomed to the little white dumpling tagging along—especially after it’d called in reinforcements the other day. They’d been inseparable ever since. But now that his grandson was back, the bird wouldn’t even answer his calls?

Never mind the old man’s quiet pang of jealousy at the shift. Li Jue, who was shucking corn in the living room, heard the commotion and sidled over with his basket. He peeked at the phone screen, then tsked sourly: “Sharing your travel pics with your little pet? Uncle, you’re spoiling this melon-headed gremlin rotten.”

Li Jue had come early with his dad and hadn’t been inside long before his mom cornered him for a lecture: he wasn’t even as good as a bird—the bird was sensible, self-sufficient, and called “Great-Grandpa” all bright and cheerful, while he just holed up staring at his phone, not even greeting anyone.

The scolding didn’t stop there; she made him shuck corn, which he had no knack for. It was slow going, and his thumbs ached. Right now, he had it out for his phone-scrolling Uncle and the dumpling.

Yu Lian came over and handed Yan Tuo a bowl of iced mung bean soup to cool off. What she really wanted to ask was why he hadn’t invited Su Xiao to the birthday banquet. Yan Tuo had completely forgotten about her and, not wanting to arouse suspicion, mumbled something about her being busy.

Yu Lian didn’t press and launched into a lively retelling of how the dumpling had called for backup, lavishly praising both the adorable little thing and its owner.

It was plain as day: she treated her cousin like spring sunshine and her son like midwinter frost—a double standard famous throughout the family.

Li Jue, a strapping 19-year-old at 186 cm, pouted like a kid. “Mom, I want some too.”

Yu Lian: “What, no hands? Go dish it out from the fridge yourself.”

“You always take Uncle’s side. It hurts my feelings, you know…”

Yan Tuo, bored with the familiar family drama, carried his mung bean soup to the kitchen. He scooped out a spoonful with a ladle and offered it first to Bai Yiyi—a small thanks for saving his family again.

That night in bed, master and pet lay side by side against the pillows, finally free to chat openly. Bai Yiyi chattered away until he suddenly remembered the culprit behind his owner’s trip this time.

“That Basong… did he really go blind?”

“Mm. Vitreous rupture. Unless he gets an eye transplant, the right one’s permanently gone.”

Pecking someone’s eye out like that was still a bit intense for Bai Yiyi. His voice came out muffled: “I… I just wanted to help you out. I didn’t expect it’d be such a fluke… how’d it end up blinding him?”

Yan Tuo understood perfectly. He rolled onto his side, smoothed down the pot-lid head, and comforted him: “Better blind. Russia hardly ever carries out the death penalty anymore. Officially, he’s only got two murders on record—twenty or thirty years at most over there. You have no idea how many lives he’s ruined with his drug trafficking. This is heaven’s judgment on him. Got nothing to do with you.”

Once he’d reassured him, Yan Tuo remembered his question from earlier at home. Unable to hold back, he finally whispered, “Yiyi, why are you so scared of people like Uncle Xu? Feel like telling me about it?”

This had been festering in Bai Yiyi’s heart for years. Even his parents had shied away from bringing it up, moving house right after to avoid it entirely. He’d never talked it through with anyone, and over time, it was like a forgotten abscess, swelling and rotting from the inside—aching silently, unknown to all.

Tonight, facing his owner and seeing the concern in his eyes, he suddenly felt the urge to open up.

“…When I was little, the uncle next door—I don’t remember his name—looked just like your Uncle Xu. Same gold-rimmed glasses, same squinting smile, very approachable. Every time he saw me, he’d give me fruit or candy. Even my parents thought he was just a great guy who loved kids.”

Hearing this, Yan Tuo had a sinking premonition—and sure enough, what came next confirmed it.

“The whole family had no guard up against him. Turns out he really did like kids… just in a disgusting way. One day, he said he’d take me to the park nearby to play. But he took me somewhere deserted and… to me…”

Yan Tuo cut his memory short, whispering urgently, “Enough, don’t. I get it.”

Bai Yiyi paused, then continued anyway: “I didn’t want to, so he hit me. When someone passed by, I lunged at them for help, but he brushed it off as just disciplining his kid…

Yan Tuo’s heart was in his throat; he couldn’t bear to hear more. A boy as stunning as this now must’ve been just as cute and adorable back then. How terrified he’d been, prey to an adult’s harm.

But Bai Yiyi ended up comforting him: “Don’t worry. Nothing really happened in the end. I just took a bad beating. It was almost winter; I had lots of layers on, and I kept struggling. Luckily, a beat cop came by and saved me. His lies didn’t fool the officer.

“I might have grown up too fast. Although nothing really happened, I knew all about his intentions. Later, I probably developed PTSD from squinty-eyed smiles. Whenever someone smiles at me like that, I desperately want to hide. As for your Uncle Xu, I really didn’t mean to—it was just… I just couldn’t hold back.”

Yan Tuo let out a deep breath, filled with respect in his heart for that colleague he’d never met. “Thanks to that police senior.”

Bai Yiyi: “Yeah, it’s just a shame I never got to see him again after we moved. It’s been so long, I’ve even forgotten his name. I just know others called him Big Fish. When he took me to the station, he had me call him Uncle Da Yu too. He wasn’t young anymore, but he looked so handsome in his uniform.”

“Big Fish?”

The name sounded oddly familiar to Yan Tuo. His maternal grandfather was called Old Yu, and his eldest uncle was called Big Yu. But on second thought, it was probably just a coincidence, so he let it go.

“Once we’re home, find a day to cut off that bowl cut. It really doesn’t suit you.”

Bai Yiyi was puzzled—how had the topic suddenly shifted to hairstyles? Then he heard his master continue:

“No need to hide such fine jade; you should show it off boldly. The past is in the past. From now on, no matter what happens, you can tell your bro. I’ll protect you, so you don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

Bai Yiyi fell asleep, sweet as honey.

Right before drifting off, his mind was still mulling over his master’s words. Nothing fancy about the vocabulary, but they were incredibly touching. Of course, if “bro” could be changed to “husband,” it would be even more perfect.

The next morning, Yu Lixiang, who was the last to show up, finally arrived.