Chapter 65
Xing Nuo’s constitution was naturally weak. If it weren’t for Shen Wen’s unconventional methods, he probably wouldn’t have survived this long.
So, for almost-four-year-old Xing Nuo, he had spent more time being sick and frail than healthy.
He was so familiar with being sick, it was as natural as eating and breathing. He could easily slip into his “weak little cub” persona.
His face was already pale, and when he pouted and drooped his head, looking aggrieved, it was difficult for adults to tell if he was genuinely ill.
Experiencing the little one’s “frailty” for the first time, Shen Yan was both exasperated and amused.
Carrying the perfectly healthy cub out of the hospital, he flicked Xing Nuo’s forehead.
“The meeting isn’t over yet. It’s only a little past ten. Too late for kindergarten now. Why don’t you come to the company with me?”
Shen Yan had rushed out of the meeting room when he heard Xing Nuo was sick.
The meeting probably wasn’t over yet. He could still catch the concluding remarks.
Xing Nuo, having unconsciously feigned illness, nodded obediently, his voice sweet and slightly apologetic, knowing he had done something wrong.
“Okay. Zaizai go with Big Brother.”
His eyes, dark and bright, even in the sunlight, round and cat-like, looked incredibly innocent.
Shen Yan’s heart softened, feeling the child’s vibrant life force, and he smiled.
“I’ll have Secretary Li bring you some bread and biscuits. Be a good boy and wait for Big Brother to finish the meeting.”
Xing Nuo hummed and nodded.
Ten minutes later, Shen Yan led Xing Nuo into the Shen Tech building.
The entire building exuded an aura of elite professionalism, its cool, dark tones and large glass windows somehow blocking out the sunlight.
The receptionist, about to greet Shen Yan, looked down and saw a pair of round, curious eyes staring back at her.
She was startled, then quickly put on a professional smile.
After Shen Yan entered the elevator, she immediately took out her phone and started gossiping in the company group chat.
[Breaking news! Boss Shen brought a three or four-year-old child to the company!]
[Ah! I have no hope. Turns out I’m not Boss Shen’s secret love child.]
[Don’t be ridiculous. Boss Shen couldn’t have a child your age!]
[I saw him too! The child is so cute! He didn’t inherit Boss Shen’s coldness at all! So adorable!]
[Stop guessing! The child called him “Big Brother”! They must be siblings.]
The gossip spread like wildfire. By the time Shen Yan and Xing Nuo reached their floor, almost everyone in the building knew.
Xing Nuo, his first time in such a tall elevator, was slightly nervous, his small hand gripping his brother’s pants tightly.
Shen Yan, listening to the secretary’s report, sensing the little one’s unease, ruffled his hair.
Xing Nuo looked up at his serious-faced brother, then at the professional-looking secretary, and a thought popped into his head:
When Zaizai grows up, will Zaizai be like Big Brother?
Wearing dark clothes, walking with a straight back through clean, wide hallways, listening to the secretary’s reports.
Seems fun.
Xing Nuo tilted his head, giggling, suddenly eager to grow up.
But then he thought, When Zaizai grows up, Zaizai will be a little knight first!
After defeating the evil Demon King with his little wooden sword, and eating the cake Daddy made for him, then Zaizai will come to the company and be a grown-up.
Shen Yan, having finished listening to the secretary’s summary, looked down at the little one, who was giggling to himself, and led him to his office.
“Secretary Li, please keep an eye on Xing Nuo. The cloud bread I ordered will be here soon. You can give him a piece.”
Shen Yan, still slightly worried, looked at Xing Nuo, who was now glued to the window, looking down.
“Don’t give him too much. He has a small appetite, and I don’t want him to spoil his lunch.”
Having taken care of Xing Nuo for a while, he had become more experienced in childcare, even giving specific instructions about his food.
Secretary Li, his face serious, noted everything down and opened the door to the adjacent meeting room.
“Yes, Mr. Shen. Don’t worry.” He looked dependable and efficient.
Shen Yan’s office was on the fifteenth floor, and from this height, the people below looked like ants.
Xing Nuo pressed his cheek against the glass, his breath fogging it up, then quickly evaporating.
He gasped in amazement and was about to call his brother when he realized he was gone.
“Big Brother?”
He quickly left the window, looking around the room for his brother.
Secretary Li entered, carrying a fruit platter and some snacks, and, seeing the little one’s confused face, his usual serious expression cracking into a wide smile.
“Awww! Who’s this adorable little cutie?!”
He held up the snacks, his professional demeanor gone, replaced by an almost childlike excitement.
“Come here, little cutie! I have yummy biscuits!”
Xing Nuo, hearing the secretary’s strange tone, rubbed his arms and shook his head.
“Zaizai no eat.”
He was waiting for his cloud bread. No biscuits for him.
Secretary Li gasped dramatically, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the adorable little one, wanting to pinch his squishy cheeks.
“You don’t want any? Then come here and let Big Brother pinch your cheeks, and I’ll give you all of them~”
Imitating Xing Nuo’s childish speech, Secretary Li, now a self-proclaimed “Big Brother,” reached out to pinch the little one’s cheeks.
Xing Nuo, caught off guard, let out a small yelp and ran to the window, hiding in the corner, his eyes wide with fear.
So scary!
This secretary Big Brother will eat children!
Secretary Li, having successfully pinched the little cutie’s cheeks, his eyes almost glowing green, let out an excited squeal.
“Oh my god, so squishy!”
He shook the biscuits, continuing to entice the little one.
“Come here, Xing Nuo! I have lots of yummy snacks! Your brother won’t let you eat them, but if you let me pinch your cheeks, I’ll give you all of them~”
Secretary Li, usually a model employee, but secretly a lover of all things cute, his face beaming with an almost uncle-like adoration, stared at Xing Nuo.
Xing Nuo, huddled in the corner by the window, wiping his eyes, shook his head vigorously.
“Big Brother vewy nice. Bought Zaizai cloud bwad.”
Secretary Li, hearing this, almost burst out laughing.
That workaholic, with his cold, stern face, scolding everyone, was no different from a demon king!
But he couldn’t complain. He just sighed.
“Well, he’s pretty generous with overtime pay and bonuses.”
This thought brought him some comfort.
Just then, the delivery man arrived with the cloud bread, and Secretary Li left the office to get it.
Xing Nuo, seeing the creepy uncle leave, quickly wiped his tears with a tissue and sat on the sofa, waiting for his cloud bread.
He had only had cloud bread once before. It was crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, with a creamy filling.
He swung his little legs excitedly, thinking about the sweet treat.
He started humming a kindergarten song, but before he could finish, a voice sounded from thin air:
“Why didn’t you go to kindergarten?”
Xing Nuo, playing with the tassels on a pillow, didn’t even look up.
“Big Brother took Zaizai. No kindygarten today~”
He was clearly happy about not having to go to kindergarten, his curls bouncing, his whole being radiating cheerfulness.
“Skipping school to stay illiterate? Your brother is an idiot.”
The disembodied voice sounded displeased, a cold hmph echoing in the air.
Xing Nuo didn’t like hearing someone insult his brother. He frowned and looked up, protesting.
“Not! Big Brother vewy smart!”
He looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, then realized something was wrong.
“Zaizai not illiterate.”
Despite his confusion, he continued to defend himself and his brother.
Something seemed to shift in the air, as if struggling against some unseen force, then subsided.
“Quite stubborn. Must have gotten that from me.”
Wen Xingxue, hidden, his face pale, his thin fingers gripping his knife, his eyes dark and cold,
his gaze softened as he looked at Xing Nuo, and he sheathed his blade.
He wanted to reach out and touch him, but, realizing they were in different dimensions, he withdrew his hand.
“Learn to write properly. Next time I see you, you better not be illiterate anymore.”
Xing Nuo, hearing the disembodied voice, rubbed his arms, feeling a chill, and took a couple of steps back, his eyes wary.
“Zaizai…no know you!”
He lifted his chin and yelled, trying to sound brave:
“Zaizai vewy stwong!”
But the voice was gone, and Wen Xingxue didn’t hear him.
