Chapter 10: Learned How to Hold a Cub
The parents agreed on the arrangements, deciding to set Yu An’s welcome banquet for the third of next month in Kyoto. Lin Huaichen would notify the friends who required formal invitations, while the rest would be handled by assistants.
Both sets of parents stayed for two or three days. Yi Ruxin specifically bought a tablet for Yu An, downloaded messaging apps for him, added her own account, and taught him how to use it. “If you miss Grandma in the future, just video call us.”
Yu An tapped around on the tablet with novelty. “Mhm! Thank you, Grandma~”
Lin Huaichen felt Grandma Lin was being redundant. He rested a hand on Wen Xun’s shoulder. “If you miss An-an, you can video call us. It’s not like we won’t let you see your grandson.”
“Don’t you get it yet, son?” Yi Ruxin sneered. “I bought him the tablet precisely because I don’t want you to disturb me and An-an. I can see my precious grandson directly, so why would I want to look at you for even a second?”
Lin Huaichen: “…”
That hurt, Mom.
Wen Xun ruffled Lin Huaichen’s hair. Although his mother didn’t love her “big son” anymore, he still liked him.
Wen Yun watched them bicker with a faint, silent smile. When the time came, she said softly, “Ruxin, it’s time for us to go.”
Hearing her call, Yi Ruxin immediately abandoned her “good grandson,” picked up her suitcase, and hurried to Wen Yun’s side. The other two men also dragged their suitcases over.
Lin Huaichen was surprised. “You’re all leaving together?”
Their paths didn’t cross.
Yi Ruxin put on her sunglasses and linked an arm with Wen Yun. “We’re going on a world tour and will be back next month. If nothing’s wrong, don’t call us. If something is wrong, especially don’t call. Except for An-an, of course.”
Lin Huaichen, Wen Xun: “…”
Yi Ruxin blew a kiss to Yu An. “Goodbye, An-an~”
Yu An mimicked Yi Ruxin, touching his fingers to his lips and waving his hand, giving an unpracticed blown kiss. “Grandpa and Grandma, and Grandpa and Grandma, goodbye~”
“Wait, don’t say goodbye yet.”
Hicks, who had remained quiet the whole time, put down his suitcase and suddenly suggested taking a photo of Yu An. Yu An, who was being held by Lin Huaichen, didn’t refuse. “Mhm, take photo.”
Hicks took out his camera but didn’t take the photo immediately. Instead, he looked at Wen Xun. “Can you hold An-an? Zoe said she doesn’t want to see Lin Huaichen; he’ll ruin her good mood.”
Lin Huaichen: “…”
Zoe Dalton was Wen Xun’s half-sister, ten years younger than him. Before Wen Xun and Lin Huaichen married, Wen Xun often took her out to play, and they had a very good relationship.
Later, when Wen Xun moved into the Lin family home after the wedding, ten-year-old Zoe firmly believed that Lin Huaichen had kidnapped Wen Xun. She had cried on the wedding day as if she had lost her biological brother, and since then, she hadn’t given him a good look.
Yu An didn’t know the grievances involved, only hearing Grandpa Lin complain in a low voice, “Ungrateful little brat. I even bought her candy back then.”
Wen Xun looked at him gloomily. “She still doesn’t dare go get those cavities pulled.”
Lin Huaichen: “…”
Yu An was handed over to Wen Xun. He naturally hugged his papa’s neck and turned back to look at the camera.
Click—
The photo froze the moment. The exquisitely featured young man had a faint smile as he looked down at the little guy in his arms. The child with lake-blue eyes gazed at the camera innocently.
Both the big and the small were very photogenic; the image was beautiful and harmonious.
After the photo was taken, Yu An finally asked curiously, “Who is Zoe?”
“Your Little Auntie.” After responding to Yu An, Wen Xun looked up to ask Wen Yun and Hicks, “Why didn’t she come this time? She surely isn’t so unwilling that she won’t even see Lin Huaichen for a single moment, right?”
For a moment, the expressions of Wen Yun and Hicks both turned a bit odd. Wen Xun looked at Lin Huaichen in surprise. Did he really secretly beat Zoe up?!
Lin Huaichen could read Wen Xun’s thoughts with just a glance and immediately clarified, “I don’t know anything. That little girl blocked me on the day of the wedding and hasn’t said a single word to me in all these years.”
Wen Yun’s mood plummeted as soon as the subject was mentioned. She raised her chin slightly, letting Hicks explain.
Hicks was brief, letting out a slightly awkward cough. “Zoe got drunk and signed an indentured contract with someone. She’s gone off to work.”
Wen Xun: “…”
He had a thousand things to say but, after thinking it over, didn’t say a word. He looked down at little Yu An, who was obediently lying on his shoulder. “In the future, you must never learn to drink.”
Drinking causes trouble.
After the parents left, the manor suddenly became quiet with just the family of three. The atmosphere was inexplicably still, and Yu An felt a sense of melancholy, reluctant to part with Grandma Lin and the others.
Wen Xun noticed the change in the child’s mood. “We’re going back to Kyoto next month. Many children will come to play with you then. If you like Kyoto, we can stay there for a long time.”
Actually, this manor in Blue Moon Bay had been built in recent years. Because the Base needed Wen Xun to help advance the CAF Project, he often had to run to Blue Moon Bay and wouldn’t be home for two or three days at a time.
To stay close to Wen Xun, Lin Huaichen had simply built a Lin family home in Blue Moon Bay as well.
Lin Huaichen nodded in agreement and picked up Yu An, letting him sit on his lap. “A child needs to make more friends, otherwise it’s too boring. Won’t you be happy having children around your age to play with?”
Yu An had seen children his age. When he was picking up trash, those children would make faces at him and say he was a child nobody wanted. Sometimes, they would even intentionally kick away the bottles he was trying to pick up.
He didn’t like them.
Yu An pursed his lips, his voice muffled. “I prefer drawing with Papa Wen. I don’t want to play with other children.”
Children would bully him; he wouldn’t play with them.
Wen Xun’s lips curled up upon hearing this. “Then play with me. I’ll take you to draw together.”
Lin Huaichen didn’t know the reason behind it and assumed Yu An really just didn’t like playing with peers. He didn’t push him further. “Alright. But you two can’t stay in the art studio all day. You need proper exercise. How about you both run with me every morning?”
Imagining the scene of their family running together, Lin Huaichen’s gaze was full of anticipation.
But clearly, this wish was wishful thinking.
Wen Xun: “No.”
Yu An: “Running is tire-tire. Not going.”
Lin Huaichen: “…Pretend I didn’t say anything.”
However, while Yu An and Wen Xun could refuse the morning run, they couldn’t escape the night run.
As the sun was about to set, Lin Huaichen dragged the big one and the small one out as usual. They began running along the small path around the manor. To urge them to run, Lin Huaichen had specifically tied a rope around Wen Xun and Yu An’s waists, leading them from the front.
While tying the rope for Wen Xun, Wen Xun’s gaze was mournful. “Let’s get a divorce.”
He didn’t want to run.
Lin Huaichen kissed his face. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
He turned and tied the rope for Yu An. Because the little guy’s sense of balance wasn’t strong, Lin Huaichen specifically tied the rope to his wrist. Looking at the child’s small face scrunched up, Lin Huaichen mischievously pinched his small nose.
Yu An mimicked Wen Xun’s words from earlier. “You two can di-vor— Mmph!”
Lin Huaichen covered his mouth. “Baby, you can’t say those things lightly. Don’t learn from your papa.”
Yu An lowered his head listlessly. He didn’t want to run.
Because there was a three-year-old child in this small team, Lin Huaichen, who was leading the run, slowed down. After doing one lap around the manor, he led the big and small ones back.
Yu An and Wen Xun collapsed onto the sofa like half-dead things, waiting for Auntie Liu to call them for dinner.
Lin Huaichen sat next to Wen Xun like a sycophant, massaging his shoulders. Seeing Yu An leaning against the back of the sofa sighing, he laughed. “Come, Papa will massage you too.”
As he spoke, he reached out to pinch his small shoulders. But Yu An had many ticklish spots there, and he started giggling. “Hahaha, no pinching! Papa… tickles…”
Lin Huaichen then stopped his hand and continued to massage Wen Xun with a smile.
At this time, Butler Ide brought over two glasses of water, shaking his head with a chuckle. “You still need more exercise, Little Patriarch, and Little An-an. I’m starting to suspect my old bones are sturdier than your bodies.”
Wen Xun didn’t want to show off in this regard. “Old man, you are indeed stronger than me. No need to doubt yourself.”
Yu An also clutched his small tummy and tugged at Butler Ide’s sleeve. “Grandpa… I’m so tired. So hungry. Eat first…”
Butler Ide couldn’t do anything about them. He checked the kitchen and, once confirmed that dinner was ready, immediately called them to eat.
Perhaps the run had spent too much of Yu An’s energy; he exceptionally ate two bowls of rice this time. He was using a children’s bowl, so two bowls were actually just the portion of one normal bowl, but for a child, it was still a lot.
Yu An’s little stomach was bulging, but even though he was stuffed, the lingering hunger in his heart wouldn’t dissipate. Looking at the dishes on the table, however, he had no appetite at all.
Wen Xun saw him put down his spoon and asked, “Are you full?”
“Mhm… full.”
Yu An felt he should be full. Although he was still a tiny bit hungry, he really couldn’t eat anymore.
After dinner, Yu An went to brush his teeth and bathe, putting on his little yellow duck pajamas. A newly hatched chick stood in an eggshell, with half an eggshell still on its head, looking incredibly adorable.
Yu An’s face held an expression of confusion identical to the chick’s. He lifted his clothes to look at his round little belly and poked it. “You’re full-full. Why are you still hungry?”
Yu An sighed, staring at the ceiling with his bright eyes. An undeniable hunger spread from his stomach to his entire body. He tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling into a daze and sleeping after midnight.
Once he fell asleep, a tall figure slowly appeared at his bedside.
The tall youth stared fixedly at the little ball on the bed. His entire body was wrapped in a layer of thick black mist, looking like he was wearing a black robe. Eerie black patterns crawled up his fair and slender neck.
Although his features were handsome, they possessed a natural ferocity. The faint black patterns on his face added a touch of mystery and unpredictability to his aura.
Soland extended his hands. His arms were covered in powerful muscles, yet he was exceptionally gentle when he picked up Yu An. He skillfully lifted Yu An from the bed, with one hand supporting his small bottom and the other holding his waist.
Yu An whimpered unsteadily and struggled twice in Soland’s arms, showing signs of waking up. Soland froze, holding his breath. Using the knowledge he had learned recently, he gently patted the little guy’s back twice.
Sure enough, Yu An’s furrowed small brows slowly relaxed, and his breathing gradually became steady. He found a comfortable spot in Soland’s arms and fell into a deep sleep once more.
Soland’s lips twitched. But on his fierce face, this smile of simple joy looked somewhat terrifying in the dim room.
Soland felt the milky-scented little cub nesting in his arms, his soft cheek pressed against his neck. The sense of achievement and protection from being relied upon by the little guy filled his heart.
Holding Yu An, the Ushatos youth couldn’t help but look up at the star-studded sky, his heart filled with pride. See that? You idiot clansmen, I know how to hold a cub now!
At the same time, Soland received a message from another clansman. [Soland, I found the cub!]
Soland: …?
What the hell?!
Recommended Reads
![Accidentally Turned a Tragic Romance Plotline into a Sweet and Pampering One [Transmigration]](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ACCIDENTALLY.png)
