Chapter 8
A boss-level horror monster being hospitalized for food poisoning was certainly a sight to behold.
Shen Baizhou, with a constitution tough enough to swallow small monsters whole, had been reduced to a state of weakness by a bowl of rice.
Seeing this, Shen Wen took Xing Nuo for a check-up as well.
Fortunately, Xing Nuo hadn’t had time to eat; the food on his spoon had all fallen onto the table.
The doctor, holding the examination results, kindly advised Shen Wen:
“Your younger son is fine, but your older son…doesn’t look too good.”
Shen Wen instantly relaxed with relief.
“That’s good.”
Doctor: ???
Is your older son adopted? That’s a bit obvious, isn’t it?
Shen Wen’s thick eyelashes fluttered like the wings of a black butterfly. A slight smile played on his lips as he ruffled Xing Nuo’s little head.
“Our Zaizai is truly blessed!”
Xing Nuo didn’t understand, looking at his dad in confusion, still unsure what had happened in the past half hour.
His little brain whirred for a while before finally catching up.
“Brother…sick?”
Shen Wen carried Zaizai back to the ward and nodded.
“Yes, his constitution is weak. He can’t handle the food I cook.”
Xing Nuo tilted his head and asked:
“Soak…water?”
Whenever he got sick, his dad would take him to soak in water.
After soaking in the water, Zaizai’s illness would vanish!
Shen Wen scoffed: “Not him.”
A horror boss hospitalized for food poisoning? It was embarrassing.
Shen Wen looked at Shen Baizhou lying on the hospital bed, his lips pale, and snorted.
How could something so fragile become an instance boss?
Xing Nuo furrowed his delicate brows, leaned over the bed, and gently touched his brother’s pale face.
Sighing like a little adult – who knows where he learned that from – Xing Nuo cradled his face and shook his head.
Shen Wen watched with amusement, finding it funny that such a small child could have such complex thoughts.
How entertaining.
After the examination, Shen Wen still had to deal with the aftermath of the previous instance, so he went home ahead of time.
The thoughtful Zaizai stayed at the hospital to accompany his brother during his IV drip.
The little cub lay on the hospital bed, sleeping soundly for the entire afternoon, his face flushed and warm, his breathing long and even.
Shen Baizhou sat on a small stool beside the bed, his long legs cramped, his expression indifferent, an IV needle stuck in the back of his hand.
Shen Baizhou stared at his younger brother for a while, then reached out and pinched Zaizai’s warm, soft face.
His brother’s skin felt a bit like the freshly baked bread he had eaten yesterday, soft and fragrant.
Shen Baizhou had the urge to take a bite.
The thought startled him, and he quickly retracted his hand.
Fortunately, high-level monsters could control their instincts. After calming down for a moment, Shen Baizhou poked his brother’s face again.
Waking up from the poke, Xing Nuo yawned, shook his head, and looked around in confusion.
“Dad…not here?”
Shen Baizhou, feeling slightly guilty, put his hands in his pockets, coughed lightly, and looked away, pretending nothing had happened.
“He went back first.”
The IV drip was almost finished. Shen Baizhou, without waiting for the nurse, pulled the cannula out of his hand.
The abrupt action made the young nurse, who had just entered the ward, flinch.
“You can’t just pull it out!”
The nurse hurried over, scolded Shen Baizhou, and, after explaining the necessary precautions, allowed the brothers to leave.
Shen Baizhou, letting the words go in one ear and out the other, nodded nonchalantly and left, carrying Xing Nuo.
While waiting for the elevator downstairs, Xing Nuo rested his face on his brother’s shoulder, his cheek squished.
“People~”
Xing Nuo pointed to the people moving things in and out of the elevator.
The little cub’s eyes shone with curiosity. He wanted to tell his brother about everything he saw.
Shen Baizhou didn’t bother lifting his head, giving a disinterested “Oh.”
“New residents, I guess.”
Xing Nuo nodded, nestled in his brother’s arms, only his bright eyes visible, observing the people in the elevator.
Like a cautious and curious kitten, observing the world in his own way.
The movers, finding him adorable, whistled and teased him.
Xing Nuo smiled shyly, hiding his face in his brother’s embrace.
The elevator stopped on the third floor, and the movers got off with their belongings.
Shen Baizhou continued upwards with Xing Nuo.
Back home, Xing Nuo, refreshed from his nap at the hospital, was full of energy, circling the television.
Having watched television once, Xing Nuo couldn’t forget the colorful images.
But having been refused by his dad and brother before, he didn’t dare ask this time, only blinking his eyes and staring at them intently.
Zaizai’s intention was clear.
Shen Wen pretended not to notice, and even kicked Shen Baizhou, who was trying to secretly turn on the television for Xing Nuo.
“Your teacher assigned homework. Go and do it. Tomorrow, I better not see you among those being punished for not finishing it.”
Shen Wen’s threat was perfectly timed and chillingly effective.
Shen Baizhou cowered, gave an “Oh,” and obediently went to do his homework.
In front of Shen Wen, Shen Baizhou never dared to show his rebellious side, always acting extremely submissive.
Xing Nuo, without his brother’s covert support, quickly followed suit, shrinking his neck and scampering away.
Seeing the little one’s hair drooping dejectedly as he stood by the window, peeking at him with his large eyes, Shen Wen couldn’t help but laugh.
“After dinner, you can watch one episode of cartoons.”
Zaizai, who had never seen cartoons before, instantly lifted his head, his eyes sparkling.
“Zaizai…watch?”
He needed confirmation.
Shen Wen chuckled: “Of course.”
Zaizai, granted permission to watch television, let out a whoop of excitement.
He ran to his dad’s side, rubbing his soft cheek against his leg like a happy puppy, acting coquettishly.
“Dad…good~”
Shen Wen, both amused and exasperated, picked up the little one, kissed him, and pinched his nose.
“Am I only a good dad if I let you watch television?”
Xing Nuo’s little nose turned red from being pinched, and he shyly buried his face in his dad’s shoulder.
For dinner, they had porridge and vegetarian pot stickers from the restaurant downstairs.
Xing Nuo, swinging his short legs, sat obediently in his chair, eating every spoonful his dad fed him.
As soon as he finished eating, Xing Nuo eagerly scrambled down from his chair and stood in front of the television.
He tilted his little face up, his curly hair sticking up, staring expectantly at his dad.
Shen Wen raised an eyebrow and tapped the little one’s forehead:
“Only one episode. After you’re done, ask your brother to turn it off. Dad is going downstairs to buy something and will be back soon.”
Xing Nuo, captivated by the colorful and exciting cartoons on television, his eyes glued to the screen, nodded vigorously in agreement.
Seeing Zaizai completely engrossed, Shen Wen smiled helplessly and left.
Xing Nuo sat on the sofa, his mood fluctuating with the cartoon characters on the screen.
At the climax, Xing Nuo even stood up and clapped for Catman, who had defeated the evil villain.
His small hands were red from clapping, but Xing Nuo remained excited, his eyes shining.
That was close, he thought.
Catman almost lost.
The cheerful ending theme song played, and Xing Nuo let out a long breath. His excitement faded, and his usual weakness returned, his face paling slightly.
He patted his chest, calmed down for a few seconds, and, remembering his dad’s words, obediently went to find his brother to turn off the television.
But as he turned around, the television screen suddenly flickered with static.
In the blink of an eye, the cheerful cartoon scene transformed into an image of a bloody, roaring wasteland.
Before Xing Nuo could look back, his head began to spin, and his vision darkened.
When he came to his senses again, the clean, white ceiling had become a smoky, gray sky.
He was surrounded by the ruins of dilapidated buildings, desolate and silent, only the occasional roar of an unknown monster echoing in the distance.
The sky was grayish-white, and thick clouds obscured his vision, casting a gloomy pall over everything.
This apocalyptic scene was identical to the last image shown on the television.
Xing Nuo, still wearing his cartoon sunflower pajamas, looked around the ruined city with a confused expression.
The roars seemed to be getting closer. Xing Nuo, wearing his fluffy rabbit slippers, was scared but didn’t know where to go.
He clenched his fists and patted his chest, trying to encourage himself.
“It’s okay.”
He was a little knight, and little knights were brave!
He must have gotten lost. He just needed to find his way back!
Xing Nuo took a few small steps, walking around a large rock, trying to find his way home.
After only a few steps, a pale, thin claw suddenly snatched him up.
“Where did this little zombie come from? Hasn’t even received its education and it’s already running towards humans?”
