Seven Cubs, Seven Fathers, Zero Days Off

Chapter 183: Chapter 181: She Was Afraid They Bore Too Much

The little ones hadn’t seen Shen Yue for three days, so they couldn’t help but burst into tears after throwing themselves into her arms.

This was especially true for Xi Xi. Her shimmering eyes welled up, and tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls.

”Female mother, Little Qi missed female mother! Little Qi is so sad without female mother!”

The little one threw herself into Shen Yue’s arms, hugging her neck tightly and constantly rubbing her little face against Shen Yue’s.

It was as if only by pressing close to her could the little one quell the longing from their three-day separation.

Only then did she feel secure, back in her mother’s embrace.

Meanwhile, the other little cubs like Dabao and Er Bao lay in her arms, their voices helpless and pitiful:

”Female mother, Er Bao missed female mother so much! Er Bao hasn’t seen female mother for three days, Er Bao is so sad!”

”Si Bao too! Si Bao missed female mother so, so much! Si Bao even dreamed that female mother was holding Si Bao!”

”Wubao misses female mother too! When sleeping, when eating, every day, Wubao misses her. Wubao doesn’t want to leave female mother!”

”Liu Bao too! Liu Bao loves female mother the mostest! Not seeing female mother, not having female mother, Liu Bao is so sad!”

Shen Yue felt the longing and deep affection embedded in the seven little ones’ words, and her heart clenched painfully.

Especially as they clung to her tightly, looking so soft and pitiful while smearing tears on her chin. Her heart was about to melt completely.

She hugged them tightly:

”Female mother is back, don’t be scared!”

”Female mother missed you all too. Very, very much.”

She held the little ones, wiping their tears while affectionately kissing their small faces:

”Don’t cry now, okay? Female mother loves you all too. Very, very much!”

Her voice was choked with emotion.

Before, without her memories, she’d thought she already loved them enough. But only now did she realize that with her memories restored, she couldn’t even bear to see a single frown on her children’s faces, let alone watch them cry or be separated from them for three days.

If she were separated from them for even a minute, she would feel restless, her heart completely empty.

The little ones hugged her tightly, and hearing her words, they began to cry even more heartbrokenly:

”Female mother, don’t let the big bad guys take you away again! Er Bao can’t live without female mother!”

”Dabao wants to grow up fast so the big bad guys can’t take female mother away anymore!”

”Wubao too. Wubao wants to protect female mother.”

Shen Yue stroked the little ones’ heads, her heart melting. They were so young, yet they were already thinking about growing up quickly to protect her.

She knew her children had been different from others since birth, shouldering heavy responsibilities.

Perhaps her original reason for bearing them was for that dream, to prevent that world-ending disaster.

But now, she was afraid of them growing up.

She was afraid they would have to carry too much.

Perhaps people were just this contradictory.

If she could, she would rather her children were ordinary, growing up slowly, enjoying life, and simply having lives of their own.

A lump formed in her throat as she looked at them gently:

”Silly babies, female mother doesn’t need you to grow up quickly. Female mother only wants you to grow up healthy. Don’t worry, female mother can protect herself now and won’t let bad guys take her away again.”

”Female mother will be with you always and forever, and watch you grow up.”

Hearing this, the little ones still said:

”Really? But those bad guys are so mean and so powerful! They’re always hurting female mother!”

”Dabao doesn’t want female mother to get hurt anymore.”

As he spoke, Er Bao looked over at Mu Silin and the others standing to the side:

”Father and the others didn’t protect female mother well. When Er Bao grows up, Er Bao will protect female mother himself!”

Hearing this, Mu Silin’s heart skipped a beat.

’Father?’

’Is he calling me?’

He looked back at Er Bao, a little uncertain.

But after Er Bao’s gaze settled on him as he finished speaking, the boy looked away.

For a moment, his heart was in his throat.

He was both excited and afraid he had misunderstood.

Shen Yue was also stunned for a moment, unsure if the ”Father” Er Bao had called out to was Mu Silin or Si Muye.

Just then, after hearing Er Bao’s words, Dabao also looked at Ye Lüqi and said:

”Er Bao is right. Father and the others can’t protect female mother. Dabao also wants to grow up and protect female mother himself!”

The moment he said this, Ye Lüqi was sure that Dabao was looking right at him.

He froze, his voice trembling with excitement:

”Dabao, were... were you calling me?”

At this, the grown men all looked nervously at Dabao.

Even Shen Yue was a little surprised.

Hearing Ye Lüqi’s question, Dabao’s little face showed a hint of false pride:

”I’m only calling you that this one time. Don’t get too happy. My favorite is still Ancient Bear Father!”

Although the little one said this, his voice clearly grew quieter as he reached the end.

Besides, the look on his face—an unconcealed acknowledgment of Ye Lüqi—couldn’t have been more obvious. It was adorable.

Ye Lüqi’s heart leaped.

He was so excited he started to stutter:

”O-Okay, once is fine. Just calling me once is fine.”

He instantly crouched down, his voice trembling:

”Father will keep working hard. Just hearing you call me that once makes Father happy.”

Hearing this, Dabao seemed to suddenly become shy and hid in Shen Yue’s embrace.

But his emerald eyes peeked out at Ye Lüqi through a gap.

Shen Yue saw this. Although she was also extremely surprised by the change in Dabao’s attitude toward Ye Lüqi, she simply held him protectively in her arms.

Meanwhile, Mu Silin, standing to the side, now looked at Er Bao with hopeful expectation:

”Er Bao, that ’Father’ just now... were you calling me?”

Hearing this, Er Bao’s little face grew shy.

But, under the gazes of Mu Silin and everyone else, he hid in Shen Yue’s arms and gave a soft:

”Mm.”

That single ”mm” struck the softest part of Mu Silin’s heart.

His tall, resolute frame visibly stiffened for a moment.

His throat tightened, and he asked in disbelief:

”Er Bao, really?”

”Were you really calling me?”

Er Bao tilted his little face up to glance at Shen Yue.

It was as if he was worried Shen Yue wouldn’t approve.

But he saw Shen Yue looking at him gently, as if encouraging him, cheering him on.

He thought for a moment, gathered his courage, and said to Mu Silin:

”It’s true. Because Er Bao thinks you’re the greatest hero. Er Bao saw you protecting us, and you’re just like the great man female mother talks about—a noble man who stands tall and has the world in his heart.”

The little one said, word by word:

”So, Er Bao agrees to let you be my Father. But if you dare bully my female mother, Er Bao won’t want you anymore!”

Listening to this, Shen Yue looked at Er Bao, gratified and moved.

She couldn’t help but pull him into another hug.

Her Er Bao was so soft, with a heart that was both tender and brave enough to express itself.

She understood now.

The little ones must have seen the heroic image of Mu Silin, Ye Lüqi, and the other two raising the Boundary Wall in the city, desperately protecting the people.

That was what had sparked their admiration and affection for a father.

That was what had moved their hearts.