Seven Cubs, Seven Fathers, Zero Days Off

Chapter 272: Chapter 270: I Will Never Live On Alone.

She was right.

No one had ever spoken to him like that before, with words that struck right at his heart.

He knew that anything he said now would be useless—just another excuse.

As a man, he shouldn’t try to change things with words, but with actions.

Shen Yue looked at him, hoping only that he would understand:

”Your past is your own suffering. It’s the ordeal you must overcome, the karma of your own life. It can never be an excuse for you to hurt others so recklessly.”

In truth, Shen Yue only said these things because she wanted Bai Chaosi to face his problems—and to face himself.

She wanted him to find his own way to cast aside the past, to save his broken self, and to piece himself back together into a whole person.

Seeing him with his head bowed like a child who’d done something wrong, she softened her tone considerably.

”Do you understand what I’m saying? You have to learn to find yourself again, to accept the incomplete version of yourself. Let those painful experiences from your youth become your drive. What happened in the past wasn’t your fault, but you can’t use it to punish others, and you certainly can’t use it to punish yourself. You should treat it as a part of your life. It’s the road that led you here!”

As Bai Chaosi listened, the meaning behind Shen Yue’s words suddenly hit him.

His chest heaved rapidly.

A spark ignited in his eyes, as if breaking through layers of fog and shattering the shackles that had bound him.

He began to truly look at himself. It was as if he’d never tried to save himself, only ever using his past suffering as a reason to pity himself.

’I shouldn’t be like this.’

In the past, he lacked the ability to change, to save himself.

But now he could. He had the means, the strength, and everything he was meant to have. He could save himself. He could change.

Shen Yue watched him, and seeing that he seemed to have had a breakthrough, her gaze softened.

”Fox, you’re not inferior to anyone. That past of yours should be your armor, not your wound. First, learn to accept yourself, and then you will naturally learn how to love others.”

When that time came, whether he was loving someone or being loved, the world he saw and the understanding he gained would be completely different.

These words seemed to strike Bai Chaosi right in the heart.

His eyes reddened as he finally understood Shen Yue’s intentions.

He swept her into his arms, his voice hoarse and thick with irrepressible emotion.

”Shen Yue, I understand now. I know what you mean. You were never disgusted with me, you never hated me or were angry with me. Everything you said was to help me—to help me overcome my inner demons, to help me see my true self, to help me become a better, more complete me!”

He knew. He knew it all.

Her anger wasn’t at him, but at his foolishness, his refusal to change, his inaction, his repeated screw-ups, and most of all, at the fact that he had let himself become this person.

He understood. He understood it all.

This time, he wouldn’t make any more excuses. He wouldn’t try to coax and pester her into forgiving him like last time.

He held her, his heart filled with gratitude.

”Shen Yue, thank you. I know where my problem lies now. You’re right. I’m not lacking. I’m not the least bit inferior to anyone else.”

”My flaw was that I believed I was flawed. And since I was so terrible that I couldn’t even love or accept myself, how could I possibly make you feel loved?”

Held in his embrace, Shen Yue listened to his words and felt her heart settle.

He finally understood what she meant.

”So, Fox, no matter what happens between us, you first have to become a good person on your own. Only then will you have the strength to love someone. Otherwise, even if you meet ten or a hundred other females you desire, you’ll just run into the same problems. There will be nothing but endless conflict and arguments.”

No matter what, she had to at least help this man find himself and live with clarity.

Hearing this, Bai Chaosi immediately let her go, his eyes filled with a mixture of grievance and a hint of anger.

”Shen Yue, even if I, Bai Chaosi, don’t know how to love, don’t understand how to love, and haven’t given you the warmth and care you deserve, I still won’t allow you to say something like that.”

”Whether or not I know how to love is one thing. But that I love only you—and will *only* ever love you—is another matter entirely.”

He would only love once, and that love was for Shen Yue, and Shen Yue alone.

Seeing his serious expression, Shen Yue raised an eyebrow.

”Who can say what the future holds? What if I have an accident and pass away? Are you telling me you’d never look for anyone else?”

At her words, a flicker of fear appeared in the depths of Bai Chaosi’s eyes.

He recalled the moment of danger she had faced just two days ago.

At the time, he had thought several times that he was about to lose her.

In that moment, he felt as if his whole world was collapsing.

Her reflection was mirrored in his dark green eyes as he slowly raised a hand, as if making an oath to the heavens.

”Shen Yue, I, Bai Chaosi, swear it. If that day ever comes, I will not live on alone.”

Shen Yue met his gaze.

His eyes held all of his love and determination at that moment.

But beneath it all lay a hidden worry and fear—the fear of losing her.

In truth, it wasn’t just her; everyone had noticed. After everything that had happened recently, she believed everyone was weighing the situation in their own minds.

They all understood that the world was no longer at peace!

Her tone was teasing, yet laced with an imperceptible sadness.

”What kind of stupid oath is that? If that day really comes, you still have to protect Liu Bao and take care of him. Don’t you dare do something like that!”

Bai Chaosi was a deeply sensitive person; he could detect the sorrow in her tone almost instantly.

He spoke. ”So, for Liu Bao’s sake, so he doesn’t lose his Father and female mother, you can’t say things like that either.”

His gentle face wore an expression of unwavering conviction.

”Shen Yue, you’ll be fine. That day will never come.” ℯℓ.

As he spoke, he gently pulled her into his arms.

”I haven’t learned how to love you yet. I haven’t treated you well enough yet. You’re not allowed to say things like that.”

A cool, faint fragrance from Bai Chaosi’s embrace instantly enveloped Shen Yue.

Shen Yue snapped back to reality.

She immediately pushed herself out of his arms.

”Why are you hugging me again? Did I say I forgave you? You’re so shameless.”

’All this hugging and cuddling... so improper.’

With that, she rolled her eyes, turned, and started walking out of the bamboo grove.

Bai Chaosi’s expression froze. Knowing she hadn’t cooled down yet, he instantly ran to block her path.

”Wait!”

Shen Yue asked, ”What do you want?”

Bai Chaosi extended his fingers, and a long, thin bamboo switch fell into his hand. He offered it to her.

”Here.”

Shen Yue stared at the bamboo switch in his hand, somewhat puzzled.

”What for?”

Though his expression was gentle, his words were shocking.

”Shen Yue, beat me!”

Hearing this request...

”??”

It took Shen Yue a few seconds to process.

’Beat him?’

’So suddenly?’

She looked at the bamboo switch held out to her, then back at his sincere, earnest eyes.

”What’s the meaning of this? Are you a masochist or something?”