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.
Thus, for almost-four-year-old Xing Nuo, he had experienced more sickness than health in his short life.
He was as familiar with being sick as he was with eating and drinking, easily slipping into a state of weakness.
He didn’t quite understand it himself; the slightest discomfort would make him listless and lethargic.
His already pale face, coupled with his pitiful pout and drooping head, made it difficult for adults to discern whether he was genuinely ill or simply seeking attention.
Experiencing the little one’s mastery of “weakness” for the first time, Shen Yan, despite his exasperation, couldn’t help but find it amusing.
Carrying the perfectly healthy cub out of the hospital, he flicked Xing Nuo lightly on the forehead.
“The meeting isn’t over yet. It’s only a little past ten, too early for kindergarten. Why don’t you…come to the office…with me…?”
Having rushed out of the meeting upon hearing Xing Nuo was sick, he wanted to return and hear the concluding remarks.
Xing Nuo, unconsciously milking his feigned illness, nodded obediently, his voice sweet and clingy, aware he had been caught.
“Okay…Zaizai…go with…Brother…”
His eyes, dark and bright, like polished black gems, even under the sunlight, his gaze innocent and trusting, looked incredibly cute.
Shen Yan’s heart softened, feeling the vibrant pulse of life in the little one, and he smiled.
“Then I’ll have…Assistant Li…bring you…bread and biscuits…Be a good boy…and wait for Brother…”
Xing Nuo nodded and hummed in agreement.
Ten minutes later, Shen Yan led Xing Nuo into the Shen’s Tech building.
The entire building exuded an aura of elite efficiency, its cool, dark tones and large glass windows giving it an almost sterile, impersonal feel.
The receptionist at the front desk, about to greet Mr. Shen with a bow, looked down and was met with a pair of round, curious eyes.
She was startled for a moment, then quickly plastered a professional smile on her face.
After watching Mr. Shen enter the elevator, she quickly took out her phone and eagerly shared the gossip in the company group chat.
[Breaking news! Big Boss Shen brought a three or four-year-old child to the office!]
[Ah! My dreams are crushed. So I’m not Mr. Shen’s illegitimate child after all.]
[Don’t be ridiculous, Big Boss Shen couldn’t possibly have a child your age!]
[I saw him too! The child is adorable! He hasn’t inherited any of Mr. Shen’s coldness! So cute!]
[Stop guessing! The child called him ‘Brother’! They must be siblings!]
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, his small hand gripping his brother’s pants tightly, looked slightly nervous.
Shen Yan, listening to his assistant’s report, sensing the little one’s unease, ruffled his hair.
Xing Nuo looked up at his serious-faced brother, then at the efficient-looking assistant, a sudden thought popping into his little head:
When Zaizai grows up, will he be like Brother?
Wearing a dark suit, walking confidently through clean, spacious corridors, listening to assistants reporting on work.
It seemed…rather interesting.
Xing Nuo tilted his head, giggling, suddenly eager to grow up.
But then he reconsidered. When he grew up, he would become a little knight first!
After defeating the evil demon king with his little wooden sword, returning home to eat the cake Dad had prepared for him, then he would come to the office with his brother and be a grown-up.
Shen Yan, after hearing the assistant’s summary, looked down at the little one, who was giggling to himself, and led him to his office.
“Assistant Li, please keep an eye on Xing Nuo. The cloud bread I ordered will arrive soon, you can give him one.”
Shen Yan, still slightly worried, looking at Xing Nuo, who was now pressing his face against the window, looking down, added:
“Don’t give him too many. Xing Nuo has a small appetite, he won’t be able to eat lunch if he’s too full.”
He had clearly gained some childcare experience recently, his instructions regarding Xing Nuo’s food quite specific.
Assistant Li diligently noted everything down and opened the door to the adjacent conference room for Shen Yan.
“Yes, Mr. Shen, don’t worry,” he said, his expression serious and reliable.
Shen Yan’s office was on the fifteenth floor. From here, the people below looked like tiny ants.
Xing Nuo pressed his cheek against the glass, his breath fogging it up for a moment before evaporating.
He gasped in amazement and was about to call his brother to show him when he realized he was gone.
“Brother…?”
He quickly moved away from the window, looking around the room for his brother.
Assistant Li walked in, carrying a fruit platter and some snacks. Seeing the little one’s confused expression, his normally stern face softened into a wide smile.
“Awww! Whose adorable little baby is this?!”
Holding the snacks, his serious, professional demeanor vanished, replaced by an almost childlike excitement.
“Come here, little cutie, I have some delicious biscuits!”
Xing Nuo, hearing the assistant’s strange, high-pitched voice, rubbed his arm and shook his head.
“Zaizai…no eat…”
He was waiting for his cloud bread; he didn’t want biscuits.
Assistant Li gasped dramatically, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the adorable little one, wanting to pinch his cheeks.
“You don’t want any? Then come here and let me pinch your cheeks, and I’ll give you all of them~”
Mimicking Xing Nuo’s childish speech, he reached out, trying to pinch the little one’s soft cheeks.
Xing Nuo, caught off guard, let out a small cry and, wiping his eyes, ran to the window, huddling in a corner, his small body trembling.
So scary!
This assistant brother would eat children!
Assistant Li, having successfully pinched the little cutie’s cheeks, his eyes practically glowing green, squealed excitedly.
“Oh my god, so squishy!”
He shook the biscuits enticingly.
“Come here, Xing Nuo, I have lots of yummy treats! Your brother won’t let you have any, but if you let me pinch your cheeks again, I’ll give you all of them~”
Assistant Li, usually a model employee, but secretly a lover of cute things, his face beaming with an almost uncle-like doting smile, stared at the adorable little Xing Nuo.
Xing Nuo huddled in the corner by the window, wiping his tears, and shook his head vigorously.
“Brother…very good…bought Zaizai…cloud bread…”
Assistant Li almost burst out laughing, hearing Xing Nuo praising his boss.
That workaholic, with his cold demeanor and constant criticism, was practically a demon himself!
But he couldn’t complain, so he just sighed.
“Well, he’s quite generous with overtime pay and bonuses.”
Thinking this, he felt slightly better.
Just then, the delivery person arrived with the cloud bread. Assistant Li left the office to retrieve it.
Xing Nuo, seeing the door close, the strange man finally gone, quickly wiped his tears with a tissue from the coffee table 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.
The thought of the sweet treat made him swing his little legs happily.
He hummed a kindergarten tune, but before he could finish, a voice echoed from thin air:
“Why aren’t you…at kindergarten…?”
Xing Nuo, playing with the tassels on a pillow, didn’t even look up.
“Brother…took Zaizai…no kindergarten…today~”
He was clearly happy about not having to go to kindergarten, his curls practically vibrating with excitement.
“Skipping school…to remain…illiterate…? Your brother…is an idiot…”
The voice in the air was clearly displeased, tinged with a cold disapproval.
Xing Nuo didn’t like hearing people say bad things about his brother. He pouted and looked up, protesting angrily:
“Not true! Brother…very smart!”
He looked around, trying to locate the source of the voice, and, realizing something was amiss, added:
“Zaizai…not…illiterate…”
Although he sensed something strange, he still insisted on defending himself and his brother.
Something seemed to shift in the air, as if struggling against invisible restraints, then subsided.
“Quite stubborn…takes after me…”
Wen Xingxue, hidden, his face pale, his hand gripping his blade, his dark eyes devoid of light, looked at Xing Nuo, his gaze softening momentarily. He sheathed his blade.
He wanted to reach out and touch him, but, realizing they were in different dimensions, he withdrew his hand.
“Study hard…learn to write…next time I see you…no more…illiterate…little cub…”
Xing Nuo, hearing the disembodied voice, rubbed his arms and nervously took a couple of steps back.
“Zaizai…doesn’t know…you!”
He lifted his head and shouted, trying to sound brave:
“Zaizai…very powerful!”
But the voice was gone, and Wen Xingxue didn’t hear his words.
