Chapter 28
Xing Nuo, covered in dirt, his lips trembling, tears streaming down his face, returned to his small bedroom. He took a couple of steps inside and, glancing up, saw his reflection in the mirror.
“Yikes!”
He immediately stopped crying, his eyes widening in surprise, his red-rimmed gaze fixed on his reflection.
Who was that dirty child in the mirror?!
Xing Nuo wiped his face, took a step closer, and realized the little one in the mirror was indeed him. He let out a small sound and quickly turned away.
That couldn’t be Zaizai!
He walked away, wiping his tears, still slightly sniffling.
The doorknob of the bedroom closet was too high for him to reach. Wanting to change out of his dirty clothes, Xing Nuo went downstairs to find the butler.
The butler must have been assigned other tasks by Shen Wen. Xing Nuo called out for him several times at the bottom of the stairs, but no one answered.
Going down the stairs alone was a bit difficult. Xing Nuo gripped the banister tightly, slowly making his way down, step by tiny step.
Halfway down, he sighed and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Having spent the afternoon picking flowers and running around the garden, Xing Nuo was exhausted. He sat down on the steps, panting softly.
Just then, the players, sneaking around, emerged from their room.
They wanted to take advantage of the quiet castle to explore. They looked up and saw the little cub sitting on the stairs and jumped, startled.
A player patted his chest, trying to remain calm, and greeted the little master with a forced smile:
“Xing Nuo, what are you doing here all alone?”
Xing Nuo, seeing the unfamiliar guests, sighed softly and pointed at the stairs.
“Zaizai…going down.”
The players were eager to please the little master who had helped them. Determined to stay on his good side, a player quickly offered:
“These stairs are quite steep, not easy to navigate. How about I carry you down?”
The moment he spoke, the buzz-cut player’s face changed. She quickly nudged him.
Turning her head, she whispered: “Are you stupid? Remember the rule about not going upstairs?”
The male player’s eyes widened.
“I completely forgot! But…these stairs shouldn’t count as the second floor, right?”
This was a rare opportunity to gain favor with the little master!
If they could improve their standing with Xing Nuo, their chances of survival tonight might increase!
The buzz-cut player was clearly also conflicted. After a whispered discussion, they decided to…take the risk!
Xing Nuo, sitting on the steps, tilted his head, looking at the two older people whispering, a confused expression on his face.
Just as he was about to say he could go down by himself, the buzz-cut player started walking up the stairs.
Xing Nuo thought her movements looked stiff and unnatural. Her face was tense, and she kept looking around nervously.
Xing Nuo scratched his dirty chin and looked around as well.
“Sister…looking for what?”
Zaizai didn’t see anything.
The buzz-cut player shook her head. “Nothing. Come, Xing Nuo, let me carry you down.”
Xing Nuo nodded, his watery eyes, still slightly red from crying earlier, curving into a smile as he thanked her politely:
“Thank you…sister.”
The buzz-cut player adored cute, innocent children like this!
For a moment, she almost forgot they were in a horror instance. A warm smile appeared on her face as she couldn’t resist pinching Xing Nuo’s dirty cheek.
“How did you get so dirty? Shall I wash your face for you?”
Xing Nuo, aware that he was currently a dirty child whom Dad disliked, lifted his head, afraid of getting her clothes dirty.
“I…wash…myself.”
Xing Nuo had attended kindergarten; he was a big boy now!
He could wash his face and hands and feet all by himself at home, without his dad or brother’s help.
The buzz-cut player carried him down the stairs, chuckling.
“So well-behaved? Xing Nuo is so clever!”
Xing Nuo shook his head, about to say he wasn’t clever, when he saw the open bedroom door, his eyes lighting up.
“Dad!”
The buzz-cut player, startled, missed a step and almost fell, sending both herself and the child tumbling down the stairs.
She quickly grabbed the banister to steady herself and hurriedly placed the little cub on the steps, looking up at the second floor.
Shen Wen, having changed his clothes, stood at the bedroom doorway, his expression cold.
His gaze was devoid of emotion as he looked at the players, then flickered slightly as it landed on the small cub who was shorter than most people’s legs.
“Dad…I…wash…very clean! Not…dirty…anymore~”
Although Dad disliked him, Xing Nuo didn’t dislike Dad.
Even an unfamiliar Dad was still Dad. Even if he had a bad memory and forgot to be nice to Zaizai, Zaizai would forgive him!
Xing Nuo, ever optimistic, smiled, revealing his little rice teeth, and waved at his dad.
He tugged on the buzz-cut player’s sleeve.
“Sister…let’s go…down.”
The buzz-cut player felt like she couldn’t breathe.
Her neck stiff, she nodded and awkwardly carried Xing Nuo down the remaining steps.
The monster’s cold, oppressive gaze followed her, and she felt like she was about to receive a death sentence.
Fortunately, they reached the bottom of the stairs without incident.
Xing Nuo ran to find the butler.
The butler, followed by a line of servants, entered the living room, saw the dirt-covered little master, and exclaimed dramatically:
“What happened?! Who bullied our little master?!”
His cold gaze fell on the cowering players, his expression sinister.
The players, holding their breath, shook their heads frantically.
Xing Nuo touched his nose sheepishly, his voice soft.
“I…got dirty…myself.”
The butler snorted coldly, dismissing the players he already disliked, and picked up the little master.
Xing Nuo scratched his cheek and asked:
“Butler uncle…can…help…change clothes?”
The butler’s wrinkled face softened into a doting smile as he wiped the dirt from the little master’s face with a handkerchief.
“Of course, it would be my honor.”
He instructed a few servants to go upstairs and prepare a bath for the little master.
“I’ve done some research. A warm bath is conducive to sleep. After a bath, Little Master will definitely have sweet dreams.”
The sky outside had darkened without them noticing.
Night had fallen, and the castle was brightly lit by crystal lamps.
Xing Nuo soaked in the warm water, his fair face flushed, his curls plastered to his cheeks and neck.
He didn’t ask the butler for help, scrubbing his arms and splashing water on his face.
Wiping away the water droplets, he nodded in satisfaction, feeling clean and refreshed.
Just as he was about to call for the butler to bring him some clothes, he opened his eyes and saw his dad standing there.
“Dad?” Xing Nuo blinked in confusion.
Shen Wen’s eyes, reflecting the bright light of the crystal lamps, looked soft and warm. He walked over and lifted Xing Nuo out of the water.
Wrapping him in a soft towel, Shen Wen lowered his head and kissed Zaizai’s forehead.
“Did Zaizai miss Dad?”
Xing Nuo’s eyes crinkled into a smile, bright as the Milky Way, and he gave his dad a wet kiss.
“Missed you~”
This was his familiar, loving Dad!
He rested his cheek against his dad’s shoulder, swinging his little feet, and rubbed his head against his dad’s neck affectionately.
“Like a little puppy.”
Shen Wen smiled, his lips curving upwards, and carried Zaizai back to the bedroom.
Xing Nuo, wrapped in the towel, reluctant to let go of his dad, mumbled softly:
“Dad…ignored Zaizai…today…didn’t want…flower…”
Shen Wen chuckled, remembering something.
“Yes, I didn’t really like children at first.”
Especially fragile, troublesome human cubs.
They got sick, they cried, they clung to you…they seemed to be nothing but trouble.
For Shen Wen, a life of luxury and extravagance was enough; why bother with a little troublemaker?
He gently dried Xing Nuo’s hair with a soft towel and pinched the cheek of the little one who was clinging to his leg, refusing to let go.
“Time to sleep after your hair is dry.”
Xing Nuo, nestled against his dad, his hair still slightly damp and sticking up, looked rather dishevelled.
“No, Dad…sleep…with Zaizai.”
He pressed his little feet against his dad’s leg, his whole body radiating an unwavering determination not to leave his dad’s side.
Shen Wen chuckled, his long hair falling over his chest.
“Not tonight. Dad still has some unfinished business.”
Since hurriedly leaving the kindergarten and returning to the instance world that day, Shen Wen hadn’t had time to go back.
He hadn’t expected the little one to come to him first.
But the players in the castle this time were particularly troublesome. Shen Wen had fought them several times but hadn’t been able to defeat them yet.
Unable to spare any more time, he picked up a storybook and gently pinched the little one’s cheek.
“How about I tell Zaizai a story about a little knight and stay with you until you fall asleep?”
Xing Nuo let out a small whine, changed into his pajamas, and reluctantly nodded.
“Okay…”
Shen Wen opened the storybook, his voice as gentle as a warm breeze, patiently telling Zaizai his favorite story.
Downstairs.
The players, looking at the top-ranked boss who had suddenly appeared, their eyes widened with excitement.
