Seven Cubs, Seven Fathers, Zero Days Off

Chapter 227: Chapter 225: Xi Xi Is Sick?

The room fell silent once more. Shen Yue looked at Huang Ziyue and frowned, asking:

”The third quarter of chen hour... wasn’t that exactly when you and Bai Chaosi were fighting? At the exact same moment, how could Hu Tu appear in two different places?”

Huang Ziyue was also extremely perplexed.

That was indeed when he was fighting Bai Chaosi. Even if Hu Tu was incredibly fast, it would be impossible for him to rush back to the City Lord Mansion from the west side of the city instantly.

Half the city lay between the two locations. Even by continuously teleporting with spiritual power, he couldn’t have made it back.

Shen Yue asked again, ”Besides, did you see any injuries on him just now?”

Huang Ziyue shook his head.

”No. If he were injured, the scent of blood would be impossible to hide.”

He would have noticed it at once.

Shen Yue felt this was getting stranger and stranger.

’The same person can’t possibly be in two places at once, unless...’

”Could there be two Hu Tus?”

Shen Yue’s heart leaped in shock as the thought suddenly struck her.

Huang Ziyue found it suspicious as well:

”To find out if there really are two Hu Tus, I’m afraid we’ll have to make a trip to the dense forest on the west side of the city.”

Shen Yue stood up. ”Alright, let’s go now.”

The two were just about to get up and leave.

But then, another figure in black suddenly appeared in the room:

”My Lord, a message.”

He was clearly not the same person as the last one.

Shen Yue looked at the small box her subordinate held out, and her face lit up as she took it.

Opening the box, she found a recording pen inside.

Shen Yue eagerly pressed the button. The first thing she heard was Dabao’s sweet, childlike voice:

”Female mother, Dabao misses female mother so much. Female mother, are you doing well? Where are you? Do you miss Dabao?”

”Did you find Uncle Fox? When is female mother coming back?”

A smile unconsciously touched Shen Yue’s lips as she listened to Dabao’s stream of questions.

Listening to the voice coming from the recording pen, Huang Ziyue was momentarily surprised. ℴ

’I can’t believe that drab little black thing is so magical. It can store the little ones’ voices?’

Then, Er Bao’s voice cut in:

”Dabao, can female mother really hear our voices?”

”Of course! Didn’t female mother say so? When we miss her, we just press here, and we can talk when the green light comes on. You can talk now.”

”Oh yeah, it’s green now! Okay, Er Bao is going to talk now!”

Listening to the two little ones’ adorable conversation, Shen Yue’s heart felt like it was melting.

’I miss my babies.’

She had never been away from them for this long.

Listening to their voices, it was as if they were right there beside her.

Er Bao’s voice continued:

”Female mother, Er Bao misses female mother. Er Bao wants a hug from female mother. Er Bao has to tell female mother, when female mother isn’t here, all Er Bao’s dreams are about female mother. Er Bao misses you so, so much...”

”Si Bao wants to talk to female mother too... Give me the pen! I want to talk to female mother.”

Clearly, Si Bao must have snatched the recording pen from Er Bao’s hands.

”Female mother, Si Bao misses you too! When are you coming back? Si Bao misses female mother so much!”

”Also, female mother, Si Bao has something to tell you! I got into a fight with Wubao, and Wubao lost! HAHAHA, female mother, am I awesome or what?”

”Wubao even cried! His fur fell out! Also, Xi Xi got sick the day before yesterday. Uncle Mermaid said it’s because Xi Xi has been away from the sea for too long and isn’t used to the new environment. Uncle Mermaid already took Xi Xi back to the sea. He said he’ll bring her back to us when she’s better.”

As soon as Shen Yue heard this, her heart instantly clenched.

’Xi Xi is sick?’

’Is it because she’s been away from the sea for too long? Is it serious? Could there be another reason?’

’Lan Cangyue took Xi Xi away by himself. Can he take good care of her?’

Shen Yue was suddenly overcome with worry, wishing she could fly back immediately.

’That’s my precious daughter.’

”Female mother, don’t listen to Si Bao! Wubao didn’t cry! Ancient Bear Father can vouch for Wubao.”

Just then, Si Muye’s voice could be heard from the recording, coaxing the children:

”Si Bao, Wubao, what’s wrong? Why are you two fighting again!”

”Ancient Bear Father, hurry up and tell female mother that Wubao really didn’t cry!”

”Hmph! You totally did cry! Si Bao saw you rubbing your eyes, you must have been crying!”

”No I didn’t! That’s because Wubao got sand in his eye! Wubao would never cry!”

The two little ones went back and forth, their adorably fierce voices sounding unbelievably cute.

Just by listening to their voices, Shen Yue could almost picture the two little ones pouting, looking impossibly cute and sweet.

’I really want to hug them.’

At that moment, Si Muye’s voice came through very softly as he placated the two little ones:

”Alright, alright, Wubao didn’t cry. Ancient Bear Father will be his witness. Yesterday, Wubao just got sand in his eye!”

”You hear that, Si Bao? You’re not allowed to talk nonsense in front of female mother.”

”Bleh... whatever, Wubao’s still a crybaby! When female mother comes back, I’m still going to tell her!”

The two mischievous little ones instantly ran off, roughhousing as they went.

Then, Liu Bao’s soft voice came through:

”Female mother, it’s Liu Bao.”

”Liu Bao misses female mother so much, every single day. Female mother, you have to protect yourself, okay? Ancient Bear Father says there are a lot of bad people outside. When you’re out there, female mother has to be good like Liu Bao and eat and sleep properly...”

”Liu Bao is being very obedient! I eat a lot every day to grow big and tall. Liu Bao even went with Ancient Bear Father to help fix the city gates. Liu Bao is being very good...”

As he spoke, Liu Bao’s voice grew quieter and quieter, turning into a sob:

”But... Liu Bao doesn’t want female mother to leave. Liu Bao doesn’t want Father anymore, Liu Bao wants female mother to come back. Female mother, don’t leave Liu Bao behind... Liu Bao will be good...”

Listening to Liu Bao’s heartbroken sobs from the recording pen, Shen Yue’s heart clenched, and her eyes began to redden.

She knew all too well how fragile and sensitive Liu Bao was.

He had been hurt by Bai Chaosi’s actions that night. During that time, Liu Bao had been especially clingy, insisting on holding her even while he slept.

He was terrified that she, too, would abandon him like Bai Chaosi did.

Now that she had left again, he must be overcome with the fear that she would abandon him too.

That was why he kept telling her how good and obedient he was; he was afraid that if he wasn’t good, if he didn’t listen, she would leave him too.

This all stemmed from Liu Bao’s insecurity.

How could she not feel upset? How could her heart not ache for him? Her eyes grew red with sorrow, and her heart felt like it was constricting inch by inch.

’If only I could, I’d pull him into my arms right this second.’

She knew that although Liu Bao never said it, deep down, he still hoped Bai Chaosi would return to his side.

That was why, when she left this time, she had told Liu Bao that she would bring his Father back.

But now, she was afraid she would have to break her promise.

And Huang Ziyue, sitting beside her, listened to Liu Bao’s voice from the recording pen, his gaze darkening.

Seeing Shen Yue’s eyes redden with sadness, he pulled her directly into his arms.

”Don’t worry. We’ll be back with the children soon.”

’Once Shen Yue finishes her business in the Ye Country, I’ll take her back immediately.’

Shen Yue’s heart ached with a bittersweet sorrow, and she was just about to speak.

But Liu Bao’s voice continued from the recording pen:

”Female mother, Liu Bao didn’t cry. Liu Bao just missed female mother. Liu Bao is very strong. Liu Bao will wait obediently for female mother to come back.”

Just then, it sounded like Dabao had moved to stand beside Liu Bao:

”Be good, Liu Bao, don’t cry. Dabao is here. Dabao will protect Liu Bao just like female mother does.”

”Er Bao too! Er Bao will stay with Liu Bao too. Don’t cry, Liu Bao. Second brother will wipe your tears for you.”

The sensible and sweet voices of Dabao and Er Bao made Shen Yue’s nose tingle even more.

’My little ones are so warm and so good.’

’When I’m not around, they know to protect and care for their younger brother.’

At that moment, Dabao asked:

”Sanbao, don’t you want to talk to female mother?”

The recording pen fell silent.

Even Huang Ziyue and Shen Yue listened quietly.

Er Bao also said, ”Sanbao, hurry up and say it. Say you miss female mother.”

Huang Ziyue stared at the recording pen with a hint of anticipation.

’I know my son’s temperament is even colder than my own, and that he has a speech impediment.’

’But even a single word would be enough.’

After a long moment, the recording remained silent.

Dabao patiently asked again:

”Sanbao, don’t you miss female mother?”

Still no sound.

Huang Ziyue’s hope was completely crushed.

Just when even Shen Yue had lost hope...

Dabao’s voice came through again. ”If you can’t say it, that’s fine. I’m going to turn it off, okay?”

But then—

”Miss.”

Sanbao’s single, short word came clearly from the pen.