Another New Older Brother? - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: A Sudden “Male Mommy”?

Children are as fragile as a chocolate coating. You don’t even need to poke them, they’ll melt just from sitting in the sun.

Bai Lihui and Bai Wenjin stood by the bed, one behind the other. On the bed, the child lay weakly, his eyelashes trembling fitfully. Two splotches of feverish crimson had bloomed on his porcelain-white face. Even in sleep, he was restless, his brow furrowed in obvious distress.

“He was perfectly fine just a moment ago. How did he get a fever?” Bai Lihui knitted his brows, his heart tightening.

When the three Bai brothers were young, they rarely fell ill, and even when they did, Bai Lihui didn’t pay it much mind. He had always believed that boys should just toughen up through minor ailments. But today, for some reason, seeing this soft, sweet little nephew lying pitifully on the bed made Bai Lihui feel a strange pang of discomfort.

Perhaps it was because Jiang You looked so much like Bai Xi. To that younger sister who was two full zodiac cycles younger than him, Bai Lihui had always been both a brother and a father figure, raising her himself. It was only natural for that love to extend to her child.

“The Little Master was just on the phone with the Miss. He missed Miss Bai Xi too much and kept crying even after hanging up. Later, I saw he’d fallen asleep and was going to change his clothes when I realized he was running a fever.” Lizi was full of guilt. She had a child of her own and knew how fragile they were, sharp emotional swings could easily trigger an illness. She felt she should have been more attentive.

Watching the child, whose very earlobes were flushed red as he murmured “Mama, Mama” in a small voice, Bai Lihui felt troubled. Yet, there was little he could do. He frowned and commanded, “Call Old Tian again. Tell him to bring the doctor back quickly.”

“Yes,” Lizi said hurriedly.

Simultaneously with Lizi’s voice, Bai Lihui’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen; it was an important call. To avoid disturbing the child, he took the phone and stepped outside.

Lizi held a white ear thermometer and moved to scoop up the child, intending to take his temperature. However, the child was miserable from the fever and extremely uncooperative; she couldn’t manage him on her own. Sweating from anxiety, she looked around for someone to lend a hand.

Bai Wenjin stood a short distance away, motionless.

Lizi didn’t dare hope the Eldest Young Master would help. He had always been like this—cold-hearted and distant, barely showing affection even to his own brothers, let alone this newly arrived, unfamiliar little master.

Just as Lizi was about to force the measurement, a pair of large hands reached out from the side.

“Give him to me. I’ll hold him, you measure.” Bai Wenjin’s tone was flat but brooked no refusal.

Lizi quickly handed Jiang Youyou over.

Bai Wenjin thought holding a child would be simple, but when the child was in his arms—feeling that body as soft as water, he didn’t even know where to put his hands. Seeing Bai Wenjin as stiff as a block of wood while the child cried in discomfort, Lizi sighed inwardly and hurriedly gestured to guide him: “Master, like this… hold the Little Master sideways… yes, yes, press down slightly.”

Taking advantage of Youyou being restrained, Lizi deftly pressed the thermometer to the opening of his ear canal.

Beep—

The thermometer sounded an alarm. Lizi glanced at the screen, her expression turning solemn.

“38.4°C.”

A high fever.

Bai Wenjin’s brow locked tight. “Measure again.”

The second reading was 38.6°C.

“The temperature is too high. Eldest Young Master, please hold the Little Master a bit longer while I prepare wet towels for a physical cooldown.”

Bai Wenjin was about to call Lizi back when the child in his arms suddenly let out a tiny cry. It was a whimper like that of an unweaned kitten—light, soft, and heart-wrenching.

Bai Wenjin looked down at the child.

Jiang Youyou was indeed a very beautiful child. He had curly hair and long, upturned eyelashes like a doll’s. His chubby cheeks hadn’t yet lost their baby fat, and his features vaguely echoed Bai Xi’s. Bai Wenjin had a deep impression of his aunt, who was only a year older than him, mostly because Bai Xi’s face was so persuasive; if they did something wrong and were caught by adults, all Bai Xi had to do was act cute, and they were guaranteed to get off scot-free.

Staring at those chubby cheeks, those unreachable childhood days seemed to reappear before his eyes. It made him a little nostalgic, and a little soft-hearted.

Rumble—

A clap of thunder exploded, and lightning illuminated the room. The child in his arms began to sob without warning.

Bai Wenjin clumsily bounced him in his arms, but it had no effect. It was a real headache. The Eldest Young Master of the Bai family was an expert at strategizing in the business world, but he was utterly helpless against a crying child. He racked his brain for a memory—to soothe a child, you were supposed to pat them, right?

Bai Wenjin reached out and patted the child’s back twice. He thought he was being comforting, but the child, who was trapped in a nightmare, was startled by the cold, ruthless force of the palm. He shivered and slowly opened his eyes.

Bai Wenjin and the child stared at each other, big eyes to small eyes.

“Waaa, it hurts…” The child sobbed twice, looking aggrieved.

Bai Wenjin pursed his lips. Just as he was thinking of how to offer a word of comfort, the child lunged into his chest.

The sudden embrace caught him off guard. Bai Wenjin, who had never been approached so intimately, instinctively moved to pull the child’s hands away. Sensing the intent, Youyou clung to his neck tightly, refusing to let go for dear life. Bai Wenjin had to increase his strength slightly, and two red finger marks immediately appeared on the child’s lotus-root-like arm.

Delirious with fever to the point that his vision was blurred, Jiang Youyou began misidentifying people. He straightened up, his wet face pressing against the man’s, acting cute to curry favor: “Mama, Mama… don’t be mad at Baby.”

His tone was as pitiful as could be, it was clear he was no stranger to acting spoiled in front of adults.

Bai Wenjin’s gaze was extremely cold. “Jiang You, don’t think just because you’re sick I won’t scold you.”

He was now certain the kid was burning up quite badly and was losing his mind, actually mistaking him for Bai Xi. Setting aside how much their features might overlap, one was a man and the other a woman—the difference in appearance was not small.

However, Bai Wenjin didn’t know that, individually, his features actually did look like Bai Xi’s, especially from certain angles where the resemblance was uncanny.

Right now, the lights in the room were off, the sky was gloomy, and the child’s eyes were blurred from the fever. In his muddled state, he had made a mistake.

He was desperately sad, his tears falling like a broken string of pearls. He burrowed aggrievedly into the chest of the “Mama” who was ignoring him, calling out piteously: “Mama, talk to Baby…”

First being hugged, then having his face touched—Bai Wenjin took a deep breath, telling himself to stay calm. At the very least, he couldn’t be like the brainless Wen Jue and toss the kid out by the collar.

Disturbed by the crying, Bai Wenjin barked in a low voice: “Stop crying.”

The mist in Youyou’s eyes grew thicker, and his wet cheeks were covered in streaks of tears. It was a sight that could make anyone’s heart ache. Unless one’s heart was made of stone, it was impossible to remain unmoved. Listening to the child’s broken sobs, Bai Wenjin felt helpless. He surrendered, letting out a frustrated, muffled “Mhm.”

Though it was a short sound, it was music to Youyou’s ears. He broke into a smile through his tears, hugging Bai Wenjin’s neck and rubbing his soft little face against the man’s. His voice was as sweet and sticky as if it were dipped in sugar: “Mama, Baby missed you so much.”

“Mama, do you miss Baby?”

Youyou asked several times, but “Mama” somehow didn’t respond. Youyou felt a bit hurt, his voice choking up: “Mama, why don’t you answer Baby?”

Amidst the repeated cries of “Mama,” Bai Wenjin gradually lost his patience. If the child were throwing a loud, chaotic tantrum, Bai Wenjin might have dropped him immediately. But Jiang Youyou was just crying quietly, his face wet with tears and his nose red, a sight that naturally softened one’s resolve.

Just as the child gave a hiccup, looking like he was about to cry himself into a faint, Bai Wenjin—possessed by some strange impulse, opened his lips: “…I’m here. Be good.”

These words were like a switch; the incessantly crying child actually quieted down.

As soon as the doctor arrived, Bai Wenjin handed the child over to Lizi without hesitation. Under the doctor’s guidance, after taking medicine, applying a cooling patch, and having his body wiped down with wet towels, Youyou’s temperature finally dropped. However, the child was clearly still groggy, his voice hoarse from crying as he continued to call for “Mama.”

“It’s no use if he keeps crying like this,” Old Tian said, his heart aching at the sound.

“When the Eldest Young Master was here, the Little Master was quite alright,” Lizi whispered.

“Call Wenjin and tell him to come back,” Bai Lihui ordered with a somber face.

The door was suddenly pushed open. Bai Wenjin stood at the doorway with a cold expression. “Give the child to me.”

Lizi saw his displeased look and hesitated. She worried the Eldest Young Master found the child too noisy and wanted to kick him out. She’d heard from Uncle Tian that during the day, the Third Young Master had grabbed the kid by the collar and nearly tossed him. She glanced at Bai Lihui, not daring to move.

Bai Lihui clearly had the same thought, his eyebrows shooting up. “Wenjin, this is your brother!”

“Dad, I’m not Wen Jue.” Bai Wenjin’s face held its usual cold indifference. He took the child from Lizi’s arms. “He won’t stop crying; it’s too noisy.”

He had intended to leave things be, but if he let the kid cry all night, who would be able to sleep?

Strange as it was, the moment Youyou entered Bai Wenjin’s arms, he stopped crying. Bai Lihui and Old Tian exchanged a look, thinking: I suppose that’s what they call ‘blood is thicker than water.’

“Send the medicine he needs to take, the thermometer, the cooling patches, and a change of clothes to the study,” Bai Wenjin commanded. He carried the child out, but before leaving, he said to Bai Lihui: “I’ll look after Jiang You. Dad, you should get some rest.”

Bai Lihui nodded. “Don’t worry about me. Old Tian is going to Country A with me. With him looking after me, you can rest easy.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Tian.”

“It’s only right. I will sync the Master’s status with you regularly.”

Bai Wenjin nodded and left with the child.

Bai Lihui finally let out a sigh of relief. His eldest son didn’t seem to dislike this younger brother as much as it appeared. While he was away, he wouldn’t have to worry about Jiang You being neglected.

Bai Wenjin stopped at the door of the study. He looked left and right. No one was there.

Jiang Youyou had a sudden realization and blearily opened his eyes, offering a sweet smile.

“Mama.”

After a long silence, Bai Wenjin lightly pinched the boy’s cheek.

“Calling me ‘Mama.’ You’re asking for it.”

Seeing the child’s lips pout, that strange emotion in his heart seemed to find relief. He carried the child into the room, unaware that the corners of his own mouth had unconsciously curled into a smile.