After dinner Ximen Xueya carried his son, Ximen Chino for a late bath before going to sleep. They were doing their usual routine even in someone else's house. The father and son left the rest to have a talk with just the three of them. He didn't even care what they would be talking about. Currently, he and Chino are in a large tub soaking in hot water together, enjoying the huge tub only for the two of them.
Meanwhile the other three had gathered in the living room.
The old butler had even served some after dinner digesting tea and small snacks on the table. Cao Junye is about to lit the tobacco in his hands when he heard Lou Lan said.
Lou Lan spoke, "Xueya wouldn't allow you to approach Xiao Chi if you smell like alcohol or smoke you know."
Only Cao Junye heard this, his body stiffened and didn't know what to do with the tobacco in his hands. The old butler could only approach him.
Old Butler Wu said, "Master, let this old man take it."
"Take away the rest, hidden in the room as well, Uncle Wu." said Cao Junye.
"This old man will remove it before Master Ximen and the young master see it." said the old butler before he took his leave in the room.
After passing the tobacco to his butler, Cao Junye acted as if nothing was wrong and just reached for the tea on the table in front of him. But the couple had an even weird expression when he saw his reaction. This is General Cao Junye who is a well known authoritarian whose hobby is only smoking. Now this heavy smoker is willing to control his addiction to smoking because there is a child in the house.
Lou Lan uttered in surprised, "This is unbelievable."
"Boss, are you for real?" asked Wang Lei.
Cao Junye replied, "What do you mean?"
"I mean. That is the Master of Ximen."
"I know."
"He has a child already."
"I can see that."
"Boss, are you serious?"
"I will never bring someone I don't like in my own place. Much less let them stay."
After a while there is a short silence inside the room. Only until Cao Junye finished his tea that this conversation continued.
Cao Junye said, "Xueya and Chino would be staying at my place for a few months. Lou Lan I would like you to accompany them while I and Wang Lei are at work. Come over every morning. If I'm at home there is no need to come over."
"Okay but there must be something you need to know. Xueya doesn't like noisy crowds. Lessen the servants who would be following them. Just one person you trust should be enough. Chino likes seafood but you can't let him eat it all the time or Xueya will get angry. Leave some ingredients in the kitchen. There are times that Xueya would cook meals for themselves. Xueya and Chino like drinking cold and sweet beverages like Milk tea. They also like sweets." said Lou Lan.
Cao Junye asked, "Anything else."
"Keep the priority of the guards on Chino. As long as Chino isn't harmed there will be no reason for Xueya to get angry. If... Xueya gets angry then... I suggest that you don't make your move. Because even the head state and the minister would stand at the side when Xueya gets angry." replied Lou Lan.
"I understand. You have both my gratitude for coming over. Come over on Monday morning. There is no need to come over for weekends because I'm here. You may take your leave." said Cao Junye as he left the room.
Once Cao Junye is no longer inside the room the couple stay for a short while to calm themselves down.
Lou Lan was the first one to speak, "A'Lei~ is your boss serious? If this becomes a joke then Xueya would become our enemy."
"The boss seems more serious about Master Ximen than I thought. He even let them stay in his place when he doesn't even allow me to sleepover in the mansion." said Wang Lei.
Lou Lan murmured, "I truly wish nothing bad would happen between them."
---
Meanwhile in the guest room beside Cao Junye's room.
Ximen Xueya and Ximen Chino are still enjoying their bath when Cao Junye comes over. From outside the bathroom Junye could hear the adorable laughter of Chino echoing within such enclosed space.
KYAAHAHAHA~
Xueya, "My baby~ be careful you might slip~"
"Daddy. Daddy~ make more bubbles~ Hahaha~"
"Okay~ But don't run around the bathroom."
Cao Junye could already imagine the scene inside the bathroom and couldn't help but smile. If Xueya accepted him as his other half, he would have the right to step inside that room and join the fun. But unfortunately, he hadn't received any rights to be able to stay by their side rightfully.
Cao Junye whispered, "Have a good night sleep, my..." without completing his words he walked out of the room.
Knowing his current situation, Cao Junye walked away and returned to his own room. Take a bath as well before going to sleep. He still hasn't received a confirmation from Xueya yet. He could stay by their side but not all the time. He decided to take his time.
---
When Morning arrived, Cao Junye opened his eyes slightly surprised by the sunlight coming from the window in his room. He turned off his alarm which is scheduled to ring at 6 a.m. every morning. He usually turns it off every Friday night as there is no need to wake up early during weekends. Forgetting to turn it off last night as he laid down directly to sleep and he just like that he had fallen asleep without him knowing. He was about to stand up when he felt that something was grabbing his clothes.
Looking down he saw a cute little milk bun wearing a snowman onesie. He looked so adorable curled up like that, sleeping peacefully on his bed. Cao Junye unconsciously smiles when he sees Ximen Chino sleeping like a little fairy surrounded by pillows. Only then Cao Junye remembers that he went back to his own room to sleep last night. How could this little bun be here sleeping. Then he heard a knock from his door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Cao Junye gently pried the small hands, grabbed his night clothes, covered the little bun with a blanket before standing up from the bed and walked towards the door. As he expected the daddy of the child had come over early in the morning knocking on his door with a worried expression.
Ximen Xueya's face full of anxiety and fear appeared before him the moment he opened the door. The corner of his eyes was obviously red and shocked when he looked down he even saw him not wearing slippers.
"J-Junye... have you seen my son... Chino. Have you seen Chino anywhere? When I woke up just now... there was no one... wuwu~"
Tears startled to fall from those beautiful blue-violet irises but now it is full of distress and fear. Cao Junye felt a pain stabbing his heart seeing this scene. He immediately carried the man in his embrace which startled the former.
Xueya exclaimed, "W-What are you doing!?"
"You didn't wear any slippers. Your feet would get cold." replied Junye as he felt the temperature on those white feet as he expected it was slightly icy as he walked through the cold hallway without any slippers.
"I... I was looking for Chino everywhere. He... he is..."
Seeing the tears in the corner Xueya's eyes impending to fall, Cao Junye reached out and gently wiped it. He smiled at him and carried him over to his bed. After putting down a bewildered Xueya on the bed, Cao Junye smiles at him.
"Look beside you..." said Junye.
Xueya followed as he was told. Moving his gaze on the space beside him, he finally saw that supposed to be a missing child.
Xueya calls in surprise. "Chino?"
"I don't know how he was able to enter my room but... when I woke just now I saw him sleeping beside me. I was about to carry him back to your room then you suddenly came over." explained Cao Junye.
Ximen Xueya immediately understood that it was this naughty that suddenly left his side to find his father without informing him. As soon as he woke up Xueya saw that his son was not beside him and even System Yue was missing. He felt fear for the first time in his life. That was his biological son. The fruit of his and his husband's love. There is no way he is willing to lose his baby.
This is why he panicked for a moment when he saw that he couldn't find his son anywhere in the room. He looked around the mansion. Running around here and there even ignoring the servants that dared to approach him.
[H-Host... I'm sorry. You told me to always stay with the young master so...]
Replied Xueya in his thoughts, "Don't worry I know. But next time please leave me a message. I thought I really lost Xiao Jing just now."
[Forgive me, Host. I promise to leave a message next time.]
Xueya was really scared until he remembered his husband sleeping just next door. He instantly runs over to ask him to help him find their son and now this situation happens. Xueya suddenly spanked the naughty baby on his butt. The strength this time wants held back, a force was added on his hand though it was controlled. But it was enough to wake up the sleeping child.
"Ah! Pain! D-Daddy?" said Chino in shock.
The truth is he was only intending to play with his father that night after his daddy fell asleep but when he comes over next door his father is already asleep. He was pouting for a while and didn't know how he ended up falling asleep. Seeing his daddy's scary face right this moment plus that throbbing pain on his bottom, Ximen Chino knew that he had scared his daddy when he suddenly disappeared just now.
Ximen Xueya had hit his son's butt for 3 more times until the boy was crying and ran to his father. Cao Junye had to play the merciful father to save the naughty boy for his angry daddy.
Cao Junye spoke, "X-Xueya... calm down. The baby had just forgotten to inform you."
"Don't cover for him! He must be scolded to know his wrong!" said Xueya.
Chino who is now a crying mess from being hit on his butt thrice.
"Wuwuwu~ Daddy~ Chino is sorry~ I fell asleep. I planned to return to daddy's side but... Sobs~ but baby fell asleep~ Chino only wants to play with father for a bit..."
"Shss...hush~ don't cry Chi-chan~ it's fine." said Cao Junye, trying to coax the crying child.
The crying Chino hugs his father's neck and cries out loud. Seeing this pitiful face of his son Xueya's anger calm down immediately.
"Sigh~ give him to me please." said Xueya as he reached out his arms towards Cao Junye who understood what he wanted. He passed the crying baby to Xueya's arms which was immediately coaxed to stop crying with hugs and kisses.
It didn't take a while for the little bun to calm down and stop crying.
Xueya spoke with a gentle voice, "Chi-chan promised daddy. You can't leave daddy's side without asking permission first okay? Daddy only has Chi-chan left. Daddy can't lose you as well, okay?"
"Un. Un. Chi-chan promise."
"Chi-chan can also tell daddy what you want? And if daddy can fulfill it, daddy will give it to you okay. If you want to play with your father you must bring daddy with you next time. Daddy was so afraid just now when he thought he had lost his baby~" said Xueya as Chino wiped the tears on his daddy's face.
Chino hugs his daddy's neck and says, "Promise. I promise to bring daddy with Chino next time!"
"Good~ my baby~" said Xueya as he cuddled his son.
Beside them Cao Junye is watching with full of envy as if he is jealous of the two of them. He couldn't understand. For some reason within his soul something is saying that he had the all rights to stay by the side of these two adorable people in front of him. That he must protect them no matter what happens. From everything trying to harm them... even against himself.
---
Afterwards, the commotion made by Ximen Xueya this morning while looking around for Chino had been explained by Cao Junye to his old butler to tell everyone in the mansion. Only then did the servants understand that Master Ximen had woken up this morning and thought that his son had gone missing. Thankfully before Master Ximen had gone crazy, their Master had found the young master which ended the situation well.
Once they've finished eating breakfast, the three of them walk around the Maple Garden just outside the mansion. Cao Junye and Ximen Xueya played at the courtyard with Ximen Chino all morning. They've only returned to the mansion before the meals for lunch were served. Of course, it was the Old Butler Wu who called for this little family.
Most of the time this is the scene that happens in the mansion. The three of them would roam around the mansion or outside the mansion as a family of three in the morning. At night Xueya and Chino would spend some time in Cao Junye's room, allowing the father and son to play together. It didn't take a while for the three of them to end up sleeping in Cao Junye's room at night.
This is because Chino clamored that he wanted to sleep with his father Junye at night but at the same time he wanted his daddy to sleep beside him as well. In the first two nights the two adults were having a hard time convincing the naughty baby which ended with the result of the two adults indulging the little bun's request. Because of this Xueya and Chino started sleeping at Cao Junye's room at night and everyone in the mansion knew it. They kept a tight lease on their mouths but in secret they were squealing and murmuring that it wouldn't take a while for the Ximen dad and son to become a part of the General's family.
---
Tonight.
The one who accompanied Ximen Chino to bathe this night is his father Junye. Xueya had taken an early shower before the two of them. He is now at the bed looking through his tablet. On the screen is a video of the latest confidential news about the pre-apocalyptic events happening all over the world.
The end of the world is approaching so fast. It will be December next month soon enough. Xueya and Chino had stayed at the General's Mansion for two months and so. This is because the little bun is not willing to leave his father's side. He wanted to spend more time with both his father and daddy that he had already forgotten that the end of the world is coming.
[Host, the apocalypse is scheduled to begin on 25th of December. There would be a huge red moon that night followed by meteorites falling from outer space which possess the virus. That would be coming half a month later.]
"I know... I know that but... would he even believe me? Even If I told A'Ye about this would he believe me. These information and videos wouldn't be enough to make him believe. If the ending became worse... he might even send us away. His personality in this world is authoritarian. He believes in absolute obedience to the government, he would definitely question me about where I got this information. The only way to get this kind of data is through illegal means which are hacking. I would be lucky if he didn't send me to jail." replied Xueya in his mind.
[...Host... You should still tell him. If not... then he would... in danger when that time... comes...]
"Sigh~ Yue put the rest of our things into space. Ready the necessary preparation to leave this place."
[Yes... Host. But what about Xiao Jing?]
"Tonight. You talk to him in his dream. I will talk to Junye."
[Okay, host. Please leave the Young Master to me.]