Chapter 68: Xue Yan’s Extra Story (Part Two)

To be honest, Xue Xiaobao is truly someone who can easily affect other people’s moods.

With a calm tone, Boss Shu asked, “Why did you run away from home and come to me?”

Xue Xiaobao replied matter-of-factly, “You have lots of delicious food here. I ran away from home to spite my dad, not to make myself suffer. Of course, I go wherever is most comfortable.”

This kid is actually quite clever.

Xue Xiaobao stroked his chin, his clear, bright eyes blinking. “It should be about ten more minutes before my mom comes to find me.”

Imagining the scene of his annoying father being harshly scolded by his mother, Xue Xiaobao couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

Boss Shu joked, “Are you treating your dad like an enemy?”

Xue Xiaobao snorted, “He’s always bullying me!”

Boss Shu took an elegant sip of tea and said slowly, “When you were born, your dad suffered a lot too.”

Xue Xiaobao was intrigued. “What do you mean?”

Boss Shu explained, “Back then, your mom had to go to work every day, so your dad was left at home alone to incubate the egg. I heard he almost got depression.”

It was the first time Xue Xiaobao had heard this story, and he asked doubtfully, “Really?”

Boss Shu nodded. “Of course it’s true.”

When Bai Yao was five months pregnant, she gave birth. There wasn’t much pain; it just took about ten minutes, and then she laid an egg.

So Xue Yan had to take paternity leave.

Bai Yao recovered quickly and was back on her feet the next day, but poor Xue Yan had to stay in the room for over forty days, incubating the egg until it finally hatched.

From the egg crawled out a chubby little boy, with pale skin and a dusting of white scales on his face. He was so small and couldn’t control his body yet—his lower half would sometimes turn into a plump white snake’s tail, sometimes back into human legs.

A great white serpent coiled protectively around the restless child to keep him from falling off the bed. Lowering its head, the snake regarded the little one crawling over its body with dark green, slit-pupiled eyes, full of curiosity. Compared to its massive form, the child was as fragile as a bean sprout.

The serpent watched him for a long while, then gently prodded the child’s chubby arm with the tip of its tail.

The child slapped it away.

And so, the feud between Xue Yan and his son began.

Boss Shu smiled and said, “Your dad really had a hard time hatching you.”

Indeed, it wasn’t easy. During that time, Xue Yan couldn’t eat carelessly, nor could he sneak out to watch Bai Yao’s every move from some shady corner. Every day, all he could do was guard a white egg. No wonder he was bored enough to nearly become depressed.

It was only now that Xue Xiaobao learned he was hatched by his father. Puzzled, he asked, “Why didn’t my parents ever tell me?”

Boss Shu smiled. “Your dad wouldn’t let your mom tell you, because the first thing you said after hatching was to call him ‘Mom’.”

Xue Xiaobao’s face twisted in disgust.

Xue Yan cared so much about his dignity. As the man of the house—though truthfully, he rather enjoyed not being in charge—he refused to be called a “male mom.” He wanted to be the strict father: the one who’d smack the child when he did wrong, the one who pointed out the path in moments of confusion.

Yes, the image he wanted to leave his son was tall and imposing, so the boy would always know who the real head of the household was, and who deserved all the snacks he brought home from kindergarten. How humiliating would it be if people knew his own child called him “Mom”?

Xue Xiaobao too felt mortified. To have called that old man “Mom”—it was a disgrace he could never live down!

His dark eyes fixed on Boss Shu. “Dad wouldn’t let Mom tell, but you know all this. Uncle Shu, did you sneak into my parents’ dreams?”

Boss Shu’s smile turned a little stiff. Did this child have to be so sharp?

In fact, it wasn’t intentional. At the time, Boss Shu was bored and needed inspiration for a new painting. Meanwhile, the vacationing Xue Yan would often parade a plump baby outside his door as if he were the most blessed man on earth. Boss Shu thought it was time to humble Xue Yan a little.

He intended to give Xue Yan a nightmare.

That very night, in Xue Yan’s dreams, he witnessed the scene of Xue Xiaobao hatching.

Unfortunately, before he could shift the dream into a nightmare, Xue Yan almost caught him. Boss Shu escaped just in time, but for several days after, Xue Yan eyed him with suspicion, making Boss Shu’s neck tingle uncomfortably.

Xue Xiaobao swung his short legs, his smile pure and angelic. “Don’t worry, Uncle Shu, I won’t tell Dad about this. But you see, all my pocket money was stolen by Dad, so I can’t even buy crushed ice to eat. If I don’t have anything tasty, I’ll be unhappy. And when I’m unhappy, I might say the wrong thing…”

Boss Shu gave a gentle laugh. “How much do you want? I’ll give it to you.”

Xue Xiaobao’s eyes sparkled. “Uncle, you’re such a good person!”

Sure enough, ten minutes later, Bai Yao arrived with Xue Yan in tow.

Xue Xiaobao immediately jumped down from his chair, running toward Bai Yao while sobbing, his little face red from crying, looking truly pitiful. “Mom, I thought you didn’t want me anymore!”

Before he could reach her, however, he was intercepted by his father.

Xue Yan crouched down and hugged the boy, his own eyes red and streaming with tears, equally pitiful. “Xiaobao, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have eaten your snacks. I’ll give you all my pocket money. Please don’t be mad at me, okay?”

Xue Xiaobao stared at Xue Yan, who returned his gaze. In that silent exchange, both seemed to say:

Heh, you’re good at pretending.

Bai Yao wiped her eyes. “Seeing how close you two are, I feel reassured.”

Xue Yan and Xue Xiaobao: “…”

Close? Them?

Bai Yao, moved by the touching scene of fatherly love, thanked Boss Shu and led her weeping husband and son home.

Whether she was truly moved, only she would know.

At last, the little family departed.

Boss Shu breathed a sigh of relief, but with the inn suddenly quiet, he found the silence almost unsettling.

As the sun set, someone led a group of travelers through the inn’s doors.

Boss Shu put on his professional smile to greet them, his eyes quickly seeking out a girl among the crowd. The corners of his eyes crinkled and his lips curved up. “Long time no see, Miss Yin.”

After so many years, Yin Huanmian had grown noticeably thinner. She would often return in dreams to that spring night, and from poor rest, her face had taken on a pallor.

Yet now, upon seeing Boss Shu, a vivid light suddenly shone in her dark eyes, though it was filled with malice.

Boss Shu inquired politely, “Miss Yin, what brings you back to Arctic Town this time?”

Only those with ill intent can reach Arctic Town, but the one she hated had long since died.

Yin Huanmian fixed her gaze on him, her voice calm as she uttered, “I’m here to kill you.”

Boss Shu laughed delightedly. “Good, I look forward to it.”

For creatures of the night, death is a notion tangled with obsession—truly, the most romantic thing in the world.