The Child Raised by a Golden Retriever Boy-Mom - Chapter 11

After Feng You finally recounted every detail of their story to Mu Jingyi, the other man finally suppressed his urge to call the police. The equally young CEO Mu cast a sympathetic gaze toward the child.

“I have friends specializing in psychiatry who are pursuing further studies, though they are not working domestically. If you like, I can ask them for recommendations regarding top experts here in the country.”

Feng You stood up and gave an awkward, formal bow to express his gratitude.

“I know that expert consultations are rare and hard to come by. Thank you so much, CEO Mu. I cannot thank you enough.”

“There is no need to be so polite.”

Noticing Feng You’s nervous and uneasy expression, Mu Jingyi added, “In that case, let me purchase the remaining paintings as well.”

Although he did not strictly need them, he figured it was better to treat it as a favor in exchange for the paintings, helping this young Omega parent feel more at ease. Feng You immediately agreed.

“Of course, CEO Mu. You can come to collect them whenever you like.”

With the heavy weight finally lifted from his heart, he gently pushed forward the child who had been hugging his leg and peeking out from behind him.

“Little one, come and thank CEO Mu.”

Lu Yubai leaned against Feng You’s side, staring warily at this strange Alpha. He felt that Mommy’s attitude had changed. There was a sense of relaxation he had never seen before. Was it because of this Alpha?

The scent of a fellow Alpha made Lu Yubai very unhappy. He did not like this feeling at all. Even though Big Brother Chang’an was also an Alpha like him, this felt completely different. The child’s eyes followed Mu Jingyi’s every move, acting like a wolf cub guarding his territory against a potential intruder.

“Mommy is mine.”

Lu Yubai tightened his grip on Feng You’s leg, practically hanging onto him. He pressed his face firmly against Feng You, as if this gesture could prove that Mommy belonged to him alone.

“I am sorry, CEO Mu. The child might be a bit shy around strangers,” Feng You explained quickly while rubbing the boy’s head.

“It is fine. I understand.”

Since it was merely a matter of etiquette, Mu Jingyi was not going to argue with a child only a few years old.

“However, since you have no blood relation and the contract has no legal standing, why did you take on this responsibility? Raising a child is very hard work.”

Anyone who heard the full story could not help but ask the same question. If there was no bond of blood, what was it that tied them so closely together? Mu Jingyi did not quite understand this unique dynamic. In his world, the “Mommy and Child” label did not seem to fit them.

“We are already family.”

Feng You smiled and lightly patted Lu Yubai’s head.

“Family closer than blood. We are each other’s only family in this world.”

When Feng You left the factory to face the new world, he was also entirely alone. The loneliness and confusion he should have felt were shattered and then filled by Lu Yubai. This familiar lifestyle helped him find a way to belong. They were each other’s remaining anchors in this world, family closer than any biological bond.

“I see. That really is…”

Mu Jingyi wanted to find a word to describe them, but the usually eloquent CEO was temporarily at a loss for words. He could not think of a single term that could fully encapsulate them. Witnessing this story firsthand had moved him deeply.

As they were leaving, Feng You patted the child’s shoulder, prompting him to wave goodbye to Mu Jingyi as he usually did for others. Instead, the child pouted angrily and turned his head away.

“Oh dear, Yubai, what are you angry about?”

Feng You picked him up, trying to take Lu Yubai’s hand to wave to Mu Jingyi, but the boy pulled away. He had no choice but to apologize to Mu Jingyi with a smile, bowing slightly while holding the child.

“Do not apologize. It is fine. It is normal for kids to be shy, especially since this is our first time meeting.”

Mu Jingyi quickly helped Feng You straighten up and handed him his business card.

“You are a bit older than me, so technically I should call you Brother Feng. Wait for my good news. I will get back to you as soon as possible.”

Back at home, Lu Yubai was still resting on Feng You’s shoulder, huffing irritably through his nose. He could not speak, so this was the only way he could express his dissatisfaction. Feng You sat on the rug and stood Lu Yubai up straight.

“Stand properly, baby. Mommy wants to ask you, why are you unhappy? Is it because of CEO Mu?”

Lu Yubai’s eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously.

“Because of CEO Mu?”

Feng You was at a loss for how to question him. This was their first time meeting Mu Jingyi. Why would the boy be upset with a stranger?

“Let me think. Have you met CEO Mu before?”

The boy shook his head.

“Is it because he is a CEO and he reminds you of something familiar?”

“Is it because he looks like someone you know?”

Feng You asked several imaginative questions, but the child rejected them all. He scratched his head, truly stumped. It felt like playing a high-difficulty game of Lateral Thinking. He could only gently rub the child’s head.

“If only you could speak and tell me.”

Lu Yubai opened his mouth anxiously, but no sound came out. He opened and closed his mouth silently. He crawled into Feng You’s lap, leaned against his shoulder, and rubbed his nose against the back of Feng You’s neck. Seeing no reaction, he opened his mouth and carefully ground his teeth against the back of Mommy’s neck.

“Mommy, whom only I can bite, will you only be bitten by me?”

Feng You froze. As one of the most sensitive spots for an Omega was brushed by the cub’s firm teeth, an absurd thought crossed his mind. He pulled the clinging cub off of him, his voice filled with disbelief and a hint of a smile.

“Little cub, do you think that because CEO Mu is also an Alpha…”

The child stood up excitedly and hopped twice.

“So you think CEO Mu will also become Mommy’s child?!”

The moment the words left his mouth, Lu Yubai jumped up, clapping his hands excitedly and lunging at Feng You. He buried himself in Feng You’s embrace, happily rubbing against his chest. His arms were not yet long enough to wrap around Feng You entirely, so he stuck to his chest muscles like a bandage.

Feng You laughed so hard he could not stand up straight, doubling over to hold the child tightly. His bright laughter echoed in the living room. He pressed Lu Yubai’s head firmly into his chest.

“You silly child, why are you so jealous? In the whole world, only you can call me Mommy.”

Amidst the bright laughter, the golden tail wagged joyfully against the floor, hitting it with a steady thwack, thwack sound like a wooden stick. The child looked up, his chin resting between Feng You’s chest muscles. Having just been smothered to the point of breathlessness, he was now leaning there and taking deep breaths. His vision was limited by the muscle, and his cheeks were pressed against the warm skin, gradually becoming sweaty.

“Not every relationship is exactly the same, silly child.”

Feng You picked him up and placed him on his lap, taking the boy’s fingers and counting them one by one.

“Big Brother Mu is our friend and benefactor. He has helped us very much.”

Feng You lifted one of Lu Yubai’s fingers.

“Big Brother Mu: Good person.”

“Big Brother Chang’an and Auntie Qin are also our friends. Auntie Qin is an elder, so we must show her even more respect.”

Lu Yubai stared at the three fingers held up and nodded again.

“Big Brother Chang’an, Auntie Qin: Good people.”

Feng You folded the boy’s hand into a fist, wrapping his large hand around the small one, his warmth pressing against the back of the child’s hand.

“As for us…”

He paused. He wanted to say something, but the words seemed to catch in his throat. In the end, he only opened his mouth silently. Lu Yubai turned his head and watched Mommy’s profile, his eyes wide. He was waiting for Feng You to speak, waiting for Mommy to acknowledge him as the only child.

“We are the closest and only family in this world, even without a blood relation.”

It was a firm, resolute promise, a vow carved into his very genes. Lu Yubai jumped up and bounced around for a long while before leaping back into Feng You’s arms. He did not fully understand every adjective, but he understood the words “only” and “family.”

The child jumped up and gave Feng You a big kiss on the cheek, grabbing his hands and swinging them happily. Feng You watched Lu Yubai hopping around and nodded along with the rhythm of the child’s movements.

His heart felt complicated. Before this, he had not thought about their relationship in such fine detail. There was no biological tie, yet there was a bond deeper than blood. He drifted into thought, whispering softly.

“I of course will only ever have you.”

Mu Jingyi soon sent a message saying he had contacted a top domestic expert and that they could take Lu Yubai for a visit. When they met Mu Jingyi again, Lu Yubai ran up to him, gave a proper bow, and even waved hello.

Mu Jingyi raised an eyebrow in surprise and poked the child’s rosy cheek.

“What a big change! Did your Mommy say nice things about me in your ear?”

Lu Yubai understood about half of that and nodded seriously.

“I just told Yubai that you are our friend,” Feng You explained with a smile after greeting him.

Lu Yubai continued to nod, flashing a wide grin that made his eyes crinkle into slits. He had accepted this friend who could make Mommy happy. But the condition was that they could only be friends. All other Alphas could be their friends, but only he could call Feng You Mommy.

“Mommy.”

Lu Yubai opened his mouth and silently mouthed the word.