The Child Raised by a Golden Retriever Boy-Mom - Chapter 14

The flowers they bought were placed into a brand-new vase.

The nursing home had staff dormitories and a cafeteria. The director had reserved an extra double room for the two of them and had already made the beds. Since CEO Mu had personally requested special care for them, the staff did not dare to be negligent.

Feng You squatted next to the suitcase, folding their daily clothes neatly inside. He had a bit of a knack for folding; with just a few shakes, he could turn a garment into a perfectly square block. One by one, the clothes were layered in, first the child’s and then his own, until half the suitcase was full.

While he was busy, Lu Yubai ran into the bedroom clutching a pile of items. He held his own toiletries and his Golden Retriever Mommy’s version too. The large and small sets were cradled clumsily in his arms.

Watching the boy seriously arrange the items in the suitcase, Feng You smiled.

“Is our little treasure packing too?”

“Do you want to come to the nursing home with me? But the nursing home is a place for elderly people. Children are not allowed there.”

Lu Yubai clutched his small Golden Retriever plushie, blinking as he processed Mommy’s words. What did it mean that children were not allowed? Could he not go to work with Mommy? Was a child supposed to stay home alone?

The questions popping up in his head almost made his brain overheat. Lu Yubai’s fingers slowly tightened, squeezing the plushie out of shape. He wrapped his arms around Feng You, rubbing against him, and could not help but start crying. How could he not be with Mommy?

He looked at Feng You with pleading eyes. When Feng You did not immediately speak, Lu Yubai turned around, lifted a thick stack of clothes in the suitcase, and hid his plushie at the very bottom. He rubbed his wet eyes and shook Feng You’s hand, weeping as he earnestly begged Mommy to take him along.

“I was just joking, of course. How could I ever not take you?”

“You have grown so much, otherwise Mommy would just put you directly in the suitcase and carry you away.”

Feng You scooped Lu Yubai up and held him in his arms, resting the small head against his soft chest.

“Be good. Of course you are coming along. How could I ever leave you home alone?”

Lu Yubai broke into a wide grin through his tears, though the tear tracks on his face were not yet dry. He was easily comforted by just a few words and a hug from his Golden Retriever Mommy. Feng You patted his back to soothe him.

“No more crying. If there is anything else you want to bring, go get it and put it in the suitcase.”

Lu Yubai sniffled in his arms and nodded, tears still hanging from his eyelashes.

Children grow up very fast. A four or five year old Alpha was already taller than the average height. He was almost big enough to wrap his legs around Mommy’s narrow waist. He nodded in agreement but refused to let go, staying clung to Feng You. His tears dampened Feng You’s chest. The thin inner shirt became wet and translucent against his skin.

That night, Lu Yubai rarely slept without holding his plushie. The little dog was currently resting in the suitcase.

A dull ache began in his calves, quickly escalating into a sharp throb. His leg muscles twitched and cramped violently. Lu Yubai woke up. The intense pain in his calves and knees became unbearable. He kicked his legs out blindly, striking Feng You.

The child, who rarely made a sound, actually cried out in pain. Low sobs emerged from his throat. Feng You woke up instantly and quickly turned on the light. He had read many parenting posts and recognized the situation. It was a common case of growing pains.

Growing pains are aches caused by bone development, often occurring at night and concentrating in the leg muscles. Feng You quickly rubbed his palms together to warm them, then placed them on the child’s calves, massaging gently.

“Do not be afraid, little treasure. You are just growing. It means you are going to become tall and strong.”

The child was still trembling from the pain. Tears slid down his face as he bit his lip and shook his head.

“I do not want to grow up. Growing up hurts.”

Feng You’s warm hands rhythmically massaged the cramped muscles to ease the discomfort.

“Be good. It will feel better after a massage.”

“Growing up is a good thing. Our little treasure is going to become a big boy.”

Lu Yubai shook his head so hard he almost made himself dizzy. He did not want the pain, and he did not want to grow up. Having been perfectly protected by his Golden Retriever Mommy, he had rarely even suffered a cold. He did not want to grow up at all. He just wanted to be Mommy’s little boy.

Feng You rubbed his head and lifted his arm slightly.

“If it hurts too much, you can take a bite of me. It is okay to bite Mommy.”

The child looked at him with teary eyes and rubbed his nose against Feng You’s arm. The pain was too much to bear, and Lu Yubai eventually bit down as if grabbing onto a literal life preserver.

The taste was salty from Lu Yubai’s tears and Feng You’s sweat. It was not a pleasant taste, but Lu Yubai did not pull away. Instead, he gnawed harder. He was in too much pain and desperately needed an outlet.

A man’s arm is firm when tensed. The muscles forming hard lines like stones make it difficult to bite through. The muscles shifted as Feng You worked, and only during a change in pressure could the child find a gap to bite.

After gnawing for a while, Lu Yubai leaned on Feng You’s shoulder and sobbed. He felt the heat from Mommy’s palms on his knees and the soothing pressure on his calves. The pain was gradually neutralized by Feng You’s care.

“Growing up always has a price, little treasure,” Feng You whispered as the trembling in the boy’s legs subsided. “I will go boil some water for a hot water bottle. Wait here for me.”

Lu Yubai nodded obediently and lay back down. The salty taste lingered in his mouth and his legs still throbbed slightly, but it was bearable now. With Mommy always by his side, the pain of growth was not so difficult to endure.

Feng You carefully wrapped the hot water bottle in a soft towel to prevent low temperature burns. He placed it under Lu Yubai’s knees and continued to gently massage his calves. He felt a slight stinging on his arm. Looking closely, he saw that the child had broken the skin, and tiny beads of blood were seeping out. The small wound would scab over in no time, so Feng You did not give it another thought.

Comforted by the warmth, Lu Yubai grew drowsy. Half-awake, he touched the visible blood on Feng You’s arm, and his brow furrowed deeply.

Feng You turned and saw the child’s worried, little adult expression and could not help but laugh. He poked the boy’s puffed-up cheek.

“Now you know you do not know your own strength when you bite?”

Lu Yubai nodded. Feng You smoothed out the child’s furrowed brow and shook his head gently.

“It is okay. If pain is shared, it is halved.”

The child tilted his head, looking at Feng You with half-belief.

“Do not doubt me. Do you not feel much better now?”

Lu Yubai still felt an occasional twinge, but the warmth of the towel and the pressure on his legs had long since overshadowed the unbearable pain. Growing up did not seem so scary anymore. If the pain allowed him to grow as tall as Mommy, then surely he would be able to protect Mommy too.

Lu Yubai dizzily rolled up his own sleeve. His small, young arm was currently far from being able to carry any burden, but the child thought to himself that he must grow up well. If one day Mommy felt pain, Mommy could bite his arm too. Lu Yubai was no longer afraid of growing up. On the contrary, he looked forward to it.

Having experienced growing pains, Lu Yubai tended to hop on one foot. The residual ache made his legs uncomfortable when walking normally. He bounced along like a kangaroo learning to walk.

“Little treasure, we are going to the workplace now.”

Feng You was carrying a suitcase in one hand and needed the other free to check the GPS on his phone, so he could not hold Lu Yubai’s hand. He squatted down in front of the boy, his broad back offering a total sense of security.

“I know it hurts. Ride on my shoulders.”

“Just straddle your legs across. Hold on tight and hug my head.”

Lu Yubai obediently climbed onto Feng You’s shoulders, wrapping his arms tightly around his head. His field of vision suddenly became very high. Lu Yubai widened his eyes in surprise and squeezed Mommy’s head tightly.

“Do not be afraid. I will hold you steady.”

Lu Yubai sat securely. The broad, powerful shoulders were enough to make him feel safe. He had never seen the world from this height before. Excited, his feet could not help but swing, lightly thumping against Feng You’s chest. The child leaned down, resting his chin on the top of Feng You’s head, and took hold of the floppy Golden Retriever ears hanging on either side.