Chapter 110
After Bai Nuosi finished shopping, he and Huo Ranchuan headed back. Because Huo Ranchuan still had duties at the military department, he dropped Bai Nuosi off at home before leaving again. Bai Nuosi stood on the balcony, watching as Huo Ranchuan and The Teng Snake flew away in their aircraft.
Looking at the time, Bai Nuosi realized it was already past five in the afternoon. It was so late, and Huo Ranchuan still had to go back to work. Bai Nuosi sighed and said to the little Birdy, “If I had known the director was so busy, I wouldn’t have bothered him.”
Moreover, his initial plan was just to buy some things for Adian, but he ended up buying items for the other little ones as well, spending several hours in the process. Despite this, Huo Ranchuan stayed with him the entire time without leaving midway.
As Bai Nuosi organized the items, he sorted everything he bought into five portions according to each of the little ones’ needs. He also washed and dried the fresh fruits, placing them in storage bags. He knew Qin Yuxing probably didn’t need any of these things since he had plenty of resources, including a personal nutritionist. However, the other four were likely lacking, and Bai Nuosi doubted they would buy these things themselves.
So, he prepared extra digital cookies and fruit-shaped candies for Qin Yuxing, remembering how much the little lion liked those. He gave less fresh fruit and jerky to him, though. As for the fresh bamboo shoots he had pickled, that was a must-have for the panda cub, Ballball!
Having prepared so much for the little ones, Bai Nuosi generously bought five storage terminals. He packed everything inside and planned to find Mons the next day to help deliver them to the kids. After that, he started organizing the items he had bought for Huo Ranchuan and The Teng Snake.
He had noticed The Teng Snake’s pitiful expression earlier. Thinking of Huo Ranchuan and The Teng Snake’s faces filled with disappointment made him chuckle. Of course, he wouldn’t leave The Teng Snake out when he bought things for the other little ones!
He had also bought The Teng Snake a hat—a yellow, dragon-shaped knitted cap with two horns that fit perfectly over The Teng Snake’s small head spikes. It even had two dragon whiskers as ties that could be fastened under its chin, keeping it securely in place. Bai Nuosi loved it at first sight! But he hadn’t told The Teng Snake it was for it. After all, The Teng Snake had behaved rudely in the cave, and he wanted it to learn a lesson.
He also prepared scale-care oil, fruit jerky, small bread, and several boxes of milk and nutritional supplements for The Teng Snake. All of these were packed into the storage terminal. Remembering that Huo Ranchuan’s nesting period wasn’t over and that he might lose control again while away, Bai Nuosi blushed and added a small blanket he often used, folding it neatly alongside The Teng Snake’s items.
As long as he didn’t admit it, this was just part of The Teng Snake’s supplies!
The little Birdy was also excited after their shopping trip. Wearing the frog hat with its eyes sticking out, it felt super cute as it bobbed around. It carried the lion headgear, which was about its size, in its beak, happily trotting toward the balcony.
The eagle was home now, and it could sense its presence. This gift was specially chosen for the eagle; it was sure the eagle would love it!
The little Birdy ran to the balcony door, chirping twice at Bai Nuosi. Bai Nuosi, who was still organizing things for Huo Ranchuan and The Teng Snake, turned around and walked over. “Is the little Birdy going to visit Mr. Eagle next door?”
The little Birdy nodded excitedly. Bai Nuosi, knowing the bird had visited the eagle before and that Adian was now Chen Min’s student, nodded. “Okay, but you have to come back before bedtime and can’t stay overnight, alright?”
The little Birdy immediately nodded. It understood now that it was the eagle’s student, so there would be plenty of time to bond in the future.
Bai Nuosi turned on the balcony light and made a long, colorful cardboard tunnel connecting the two balconies, with a sturdy plank inside for support. Testing its stability himself, he then placed the little Birdy on it. “Alright, you can go across here from now on. Remember to come back early.”
The little Birdy nodded eagerly, carrying the lion hat as it happily crawled through the tunnel.
Meanwhile, the eagle had just returned. Hearing the sound, it quickly ran to its room, but the little Birdy also dashed toward its room after crossing the balcony. Standing in its room, the eagle stared at the little Birdy, guarding its five potted plants with its wings and looking nervous. *Don’t come any closer!*
The little Birdy looked hurt. It placed the lion hat on the floor, tilted its head, and shook its frog hat gently, letting out a soft chirp.
The eagle blinked, staring at the little Birdy for a moment. *So cute!* The little Birdy was indeed adorable, but it didn’t dare approach. The bird was already so clingy—what would happen if it got closer? It didn’t want to risk it!
With a stern expression, the eagle watched the little Birdy try to act cute but remained unmoved.
The little Birdy’s head drooped as it left dejectedly. The eagle waited three seconds before sneakily following. It poked its head out from the room and cautiously peeked out. Only when it saw the little Birdy crossing back to its balcony did the eagle finally relax and return to its room.
When Chen Min came out of the bathroom and headed to the kitchen for a drink, he caught a glimpse of something unusual about the eagle. He paused, turning his head to look again. The eagle was wearing the lion hat, looking like a fluffy sunflower with a bird’s beak.
Chen Min: “…”
He rubbed his eyes, put on his glasses, and looked again. *Yep, a lion’s mane with a bird’s beak.*
Chen Min: “…”
After a moment of silence, he decided to turn and leave quietly. The eagle had gone mad—why was it wearing that ridiculous thing? It looked silly.
The little Birdy returned home, looking pitiful. Bai Nuosi, having finished organizing everything, was surprised. “You’re back already?”
The little Birdy’s eyes were red as it chirped sadly. Bai Nuosi comforted it, “Mr. Eagle doesn’t dislike you; it’s just not good at expressing itself. It was very ill before, so it struggles with emotions. Don’t be sad. When you grow up, you’ll understand.”
The little Birdy nodded, feeling wronged. If Mr. Eagle didn’t like it now, it would become stronger than the eagle someday and tie it up!
The next morning, Bai Nuosi got up early, first preparing fruits and vegetables for Little Nabi and then watering the plants in the garden. The two rose bushes he and The Teng Snake had planted were already budding and would bloom soon.
Feeling pleased, Bai Nuosi thought of a saying, “Find a place to settle in life, and then flourish.” The roses were like that, and so was he.
At dawn, Huo Ranchuan returned. He had first gone to the Huo family’s home for a late-night family meeting and, despite their objections, returned here at daybreak. Before his departure, he wanted to see Bai Nuosi one last time.
When he arrived, Bai Nuosi wasn’t awake yet, so he didn’t disturb him. Instead, he and The Teng Snake packed their belongings, preparing to leave. Not wanting to leave Bai Nuosi unprotected, Chen Min would continue to stay next door, and Mons’s post was moved from Zone S to the dormitory area. The defense system of the Rose Nursery was linked to his brainwave scanner, so if anything happened, the Huo family and central patrol units would respond immediately.
He had thought about and prepared a lot. He knew the most dangerous part of this mission was his own safety.
When Bai Nuosi woke up and carried the freshly washed little Birdy outside, he saw Huo Ranchuan standing in the garden, gazing at the rosebuds. Bai Nuosi was surprised. “Director? When did you get back? Have you had breakfast?”
Huo Ranchuan turned to him and walked over. “I just got back to say goodbye. I’m about to leave.”
Bai Nuosi’s mood dampened. He looked at Huo Ranchuan, feeling anxious. “Leaving so soon?”
He had thought it would be at least a couple more days. A month was such a long time. And although Huo Ranchuan hadn’t said it explicitly, Bai Nuosi knew this mission was dangerous.
Huo Ranchuan gazed at Bai Nuosi with longing, unable to resist brushing a lock of hair away from his face. “I’ll take you for a haircut when I return. Try not to go out; the Rose Nursery is safer.”
Bai Nuosi felt sad and nodded. “I understand.”
They stood in silence for a while, Huo Ranchuan watching Bai Nuosi for a long time. Bai Nuosi, feeling shy, avoided eye contact. He took a storage bracelet from his pocket and handed it to Huo Ranchuan. “Here, take this… It might come in handy.”
Huo Ranchuan looked down at the bracelet, then back at Bai Nuosi, joy lighting up his eyes. “For me?”
His voice was uncertain. After all, yesterday, Bai Nuosi had shopped for everyone else but hadn’t bought anything for him or The Teng Snake. So, he had a gift after all?
The Teng Snake, perched on Huo Ranchuan’s shoulder, eagerly watched the bracelet
, its eyes bright. *This is from Teacher Bai!*
Unable to wait any longer, The Teng Snake wanted to see what was inside!
Seeing the excitement in their eyes, Bai Nuosi felt shy and changed the subject. “Do you want breakfast? I can prepare something.”
Suddenly, Huo Ranchuan reached out, grabbing his arm, and said softly, “Teacher Bai, wait for me to come back.”
Bai Nuosi felt his heart race, the warmth from Huo Ranchuan’s hand spreading through him. He stood there, flustered, unable to respond.
Huo Ranchuan didn’t push for an answer. Instead, he whispered in Bai Nuosi’s ear, “If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as a yes. If you object, I won’t hear it because I’m leaving.”
Bai Nuosi blinked and quickly looked up, meeting Huo Ranchuan’s smiling golden eyes. Huo Ranchuan’s sharp features softened when he smiled, and his handsome face carried a hint of roguish charm that made Bai Nuosi’s heart flutter.
Blushing furiously, Bai Nuosi watched as Huo Ranchuan ruffled his hair before stepping out. Bai Nuosi followed him to the door and then to the balcony, watching as he left.
As his heartbeat slowed, a sense of worry took over.
