The Child Raised by a Golden Retriever Boy-Mom - Chapter 19

Feng You sat on a stool using a comb to groom the loose fur from his tail, collecting the small clumps of dog hair on the table. Photos alone were not enough. Since the child wanted a pair of Golden Retriever ears, Feng You intended to make him a set.

As the weather grew colder, the transition between autumn and winter brought the time when dogs shed their summer coats to grow thicker, warmer fur for the winter. Feng You only had pale golden fur on his tail and ears, so his shedding was easier to manage than that of other dogs. Soon, a fluffy ball of dog hair accumulated on the table.

Lu Yubai ran over curiously and poked the fluffy ball with his finger. The plush texture was so loose that there was almost no sensation when his finger touched it; it felt like a soft cloud pressing against his fingertip. The child loved the feeling and began to knead the hairball, squeezing the large clump into a tiny, semi-solid mass.

Feng You took the crumpled hairball, pulled it apart again, and felted it onto the handmade Golden Retriever ears he had prepared. He held the semi-finished product against his own ears to compare, checking if the size and shape were similar before making fine adjustments.

The inside was made of pink felt, and the outside was covered with a thin layer of secured dog fur. Feng You had originally planned to make them entirely out of his own fur, but since he only started collecting it during the shedding season, there was not nearly enough for a pair of ears. If he had insisted on doing it that way, he would have become a bald Golden Retriever, and a cold tail would easily lead to a cold. Therefore, he had to settle for covering the handmade ears with a thin layer of his own fur.

For his fifth birthday, Feng You made a handmade cream cake as usual, and the seniors at the nursing home gathered around to celebrate and sing the birthday song. Lu Yubai was now old enough to have a basic understanding of birthdays. He loved this rare holiday and often thought how wonderful it would be if he could have a birthday every day.

The seniors also prepared gifts for him, mostly warm items for winter and carefully crafted toys. They treated Lu Yubai as their own grandson; the love grandfathers and grandmothers have for the younger generation is to hold them in the palm of their hands.

The little favorite of the seniors bounced around during the birthday song. He took the small pieces of cake from Mommy’s hand and delivered them to the seniors one by one. Feng You took off the chocolate plaque that said “Happy Birthday” and placed it on the plate intended for the birthday boy.

“Little treasure, happy birthday. This is for you to eat.”

Lu Yubai did not take it. Instead, he pointed to the box where the birthday gifts were placed. He had been staring at the gift box for a long time; he had no interest in the sweet cake, as his heart had already flown to the gift Mommy had prepared.

「Puppy ears, puppy ears!」

Lu Yubai looked at Feng You expectantly. Feng You brought it over and handed it to him with both hands.

“Happy birthday to our Lu Yubai. Grow up well.”

Lu Yubai nodded, untied the familiar red silk ribbon bow, and took out the puppy ear headband from the box. He put the headband on his head and adjusted the angle of the two ears in the mirror. The two thick Golden Retriever ears hung down on either side of his head like earmuffs, their plush texture tickling his face.

On them was Mommy’s scent, belonging to the warm sunshine, like the reassuring smell emitted by quilts after they have bathed in the sun. Lu Yubai studied his appearance in the mirror. The handmade ears were the same size as Feng You’s, so they looked even larger on the child’s head, completely covering his human ears.

「A puppy mommy’s child is, of course, a puppy!」

Lu Yubai happily dragged Feng You over, wanting him to look in the mirror with him.

“You two look more and more alike. It is true that children often take after their Omegas. Those are some good genes,” one senior remarked.

They shared no genetic bond, but long term companionship had truly made their appearances increasingly similar. Another senior nudged the speaker’s arm and gave him a look, frowning. Only then did the man realize he had misspoke.

The fact that the Golden Retriever Omega and his child were not blood related was already an unspoken piece of gossip among the seniors in the nursing home. One should not poke at people’s sore spots like that; even if Lu Yubai could not understand, Feng You certainly could.

Feng You smiled and pressed his face against the child’s cheek. In the mirror, with their cheeks touching, the two pairs of similar Golden Retriever ears looked as if they were cast from the same mold.

“We really are looking more alike. In the future, when we walk out together, everyone will say this is my child.”

Lu Yubai agreed with Feng You’s words and rubbed his cheek against his face. He loved this idea; as long as he wore the puppy ears, he would be recognized as the Golden Retriever Mommy’s child no matter where he went.

The child shook his head back and forth in front of the mirror, and the two Golden Retriever ears followed the movement, brushing against his face. He tugged at Feng You’s hand, wanting his Mommy to shake with him.

“What are you doing?” Feng You did not understand, but he joined in.

He also shook his head back and forth with Lu Yubai, swinging his Golden Retriever ears around. The two of them swung their ears in front of the mirror, their childishness perfectly synchronized. They did not stop until they were dizzy and leaned against each other laughing, their eyes squinting into slits, looking like carbon copies of one another.

After the New Year, Mu Jingyi brought many things to the nursing home to visit.

“I have not been here in a while. Yubai has grown quite a bit,” Mu Jingyi noted, measuring the child’s height against his own waist. He carried the aura of an older brother, possessing basic gentleness and humility.

Lu Yubai jumped up, the top of his head hitting Mu Jingyi’s palm, pushing it higher. Every day the child looked forward to growing up; ever since experiencing growing pains, he had been hoping to grow up so he could share Mommy’s burdens.

“He really is a clever little fellow. Why do you not go play with Grandfather? I have some things I need to speak with Brother Feng You privately.” Mu Jingyi knelt down halfway and sought Lu Yubai’s consent in a warm voice.

Lu Yubai nodded obediently and left holding his Golden Retriever plushie. He stood on his tiptoes to close the bedroom door gently, making sure it did not make a loud sound. This was also something Mommy had taught him.

The child no longer suffered from severe separation anxiety; even if he were separated from Feng You briefly, he would not have a stress response. However, he had to hold his little Golden Retriever plushie; either Feng You or the plushie had to be by his side.

In the room, only Feng You and Mu Jingyi remained.

Mu Jingyi said in a low voice, “Has Yubai still not learned to speak? What does Doctor Du Shiwei say?” He had come this time primarily to discuss this matter with Feng You.

Feng You nodded helplessly. The child’s life in the nursing home was carefree. Even though he did not attend kindergarten, a grandmother retired from a song and dance troupe would sing to him, a grandfather who had been a teacher would teach him to read and count, and Grandfather Qin Youjiang would teach him xiangqi.

The only problem was that no matter how many times Lu Yubai attended psychological therapy, he would not speak. Feng You had patiently spoken to him countless times and tried to teach him to talk, but the boy would only open his mouth without making a sound.

Every developmental report showed a green light, and Du Shiwei also said the child’s psychological state was more cheerful and lively than that of most children. Logically, a child who had experienced early childhood trauma would be unwilling to contact others, but Feng You had become the variable in this common situation.

The Golden Retriever Mommy and the grandparents at the nursing home had created a beautiful utopia for the child, allowing him to grow up wrapped in love. Feng You’s biggest fear was that if Lu Yubai began to understand the world but remained unwilling to make a sound, he might permanently lose his ability to speak.

“Doctor Du Shiwei explained that the biggest issue right now is that we still do not know what happened to the child before he was two years old. We cannot prescribe the right remedy,” Feng You said with a heavy expression, handing Lu Yubai’s medical records and treatment logs to Mu Jingyi.

“He hopes that President Lu of the Lu Group will participate in the child’s treatment, saying that the one who tied the knot must be the one to untie it.”

Feng You paused before continuing, “The emails I sent to the Lu Group’s inbox went unanswered. President Lu is determined to abandon this child. Doctor Du Shiwei suggested using the media to threaten him, demanding that President Lu participate in Yubai’s treatment. The famous President Lu would surely guarantee that he would fulfill his responsibility as a father due to public pressure.”

“But I am worried that Lu Yubai’s name and photo would appear in the news. The paparazzi would go crazy digging up detailed information about President Lu’s illegitimate son. I am also worried that President Lu might do something harmful to Yubai to eliminate the hidden threat of an illegitimate child.”

The sound of flipping medical papers filled the room, and the two were silent for a long time. Feng You clenched his fists, sniffed, and his eyes grew red, which was rare for him.

“I am sorry, Little President Mu. I need your help. I currently do not have the power to protect Yubai in a confrontation with the Lu Group.”

“Do not be like that. Pull yourself together,” Mu Jingyi said, patting his shoulder to comfort him. “You have already done so much. I will find a way. We, and you, will all get through this.”

“Thank you,” Feng You took a deep breath to calm his emotions and gave a faint smile.

Mu Jingyi tried to change the subject, asking, “By the way, how is your work and life here at the nursing home?”

“It is very good. I really like it here.” Feng You finally showed a gentle smile, and his Golden Retriever tail began to wag from its previously dejected state.

Mu Jingyi also let out a sigh of relief. “Golden Retrievers really are suited for being with the elderly and children.”

Feng You’s smile deepened, a faraway look in his eyes. “I really like it here. They call me kid. This is the only place where I hear that.”

He looked out the window, a bright and soft light shimmering in his eyes. “It has been a long, long time since anyone called me a kid.”

Mu Jingyi’s thoughts stalled, and he watched Feng You with a complicated gaze. He, like countless others, had forgotten that this person who took care of a child like an adult, who was pushed to the front and called a Golden Retriever Mommy, and who carried the responsibilities of a parent, was also only eighteen years old.