“Speaking of which… how is your brother doing these days?”
Bai Yanzhou asked casually, his tone unchanging.
However, Coal Ball, who had been nestled in his arms, stiffened subconsciously.
Why mention him all of a sudden?
Lin You was momentarily at a loss for words. His gaze fell on the black cat, and he answered vaguely, “My brother… everything is fine with him…”
Fine my ass. He’s a total coward!
Sending a clone because he doesn’t dare come himself?
What kind of move is that!
He’s even worse than me!
Lin You roared internally.
“Is that so? That’s good.” Bai Yanzhou stroked Coal Ball’s sleek fur rhythmically, seeming relieved.
Lin You couldn’t help but glance at Coal Ball again.
“What’s wrong? You seem very interested in him?”
Noticing Lin You’s gaze, Bai Yanzhou narrowed his eyes, feeling a bit wary.
Lin You quickly looked away. “No, no, no, I just think he’s very cute, hahahaha. I just remembered I have work later. Teacher, I’ll be going now!”
“Wait.” Bai Yanzhou stopped him again, taking his phone out of his pocket and handing it over.
“Give me your contact info.”
Lin You’s hand trembled as he glanced once more at Coal Ball, who was staring at him intensely from Bai Yanzhou’s arms.
Heh, actually glaring at me!
Glaring is useless. I’m the one getting Teacher’s number first~
After getting the contact information, Bai Yanzhou didn’t bother keeping him any longer.
With a wave of his hand signaling Lin You could leave, the golden figure vanished from the spot with a whoosh.
He was so fast that Bai Jimu at the counter saw only a golden blur.
“Bro, what did you do to him? Why do I feel like he’s scared of you?”
Bai Jimu couldn’t help but comment.
Bai Yanzhou knew exactly what the boy was thinking and chuckled helplessly. “It would be strange if he weren’t scared of me.”
After all, compared to the steady Xiao Duchuan, the Lin You of that time could be counted as a “demon child.”
Pranking the palace maids, climbing onto the roof to remove tiles, sleeping in class, making the tutors cry…
In the end, only Bai Yanzhou could discipline him.
Bai Yanzhou wasn’t like those ordinary tutors who held back because the boy was a prince.
The ruler in his hand didn’t have eyes.
After a period of discipline, Lin You had indeed improved quite a bit—otherwise, the three rulers Bai Yanzhou broke on him would have been for nothing.
Pulling his thoughts back, Bai Yanzhou’s gaze fell on the small lump in the shoe box. He leaned over to examine it, his thin lips pressing into a tight line.
This little guy… isn’t in good shape.
Bai Jimu was still seriously reading a “Beginner’s Guide to Raising Birds” on his phone, completely oblivious to Bai Yanzhou’s grave expression.
“Little Bi,” Bai Yanzhou said. “Your little bird might…”
“Bro, I’ve decided. Since I picked it up, it should take our surname. I’ve even picked a name—how about Bai Zhaocai (White Fortune)!”
“…”
The little bird in the box looked up weakly at Bai Jimu, its eyes seeming to hold a trace of disdain.
“No rush on the name.” Bai Yanzhou rubbed his forehead helplessly. “Its condition isn’t good. It might not survive the day.”
“!!!” Hearing this, Bai Jimu was so scared his phone clattered onto the table.
He leaned in to look at the pitiful cockatiel, his eyes instantly filling with tears.
“Bro…”
“Stop.” Bai Yanzhou knew what he was going to say and cut him off. “I can only try. I’m not sure if I can save it. First, promise me you won’t wail.”
“Oh…”
Bai Jimu shut his mouth, looking aggrieved.
But since Bro promised to try, then it would definitely work!
After all, Bro saved Little Bi when he had only one breath left, so he could definitely do it!
Bai Jimu was full of confidence.
There weren’t many patients in the afternoon, so Bai Yanzhou prepared to extend the little cockatiel’s life.
He cupped the tiny cockatiel in his palms.
The little thing’s eyes were closed, its downy feathers drooping, its breathing so light it was barely perceptible.
He quickly found a small piece of dried mugwort, lit it, and held it suspended just above the fledgling’s belly, letting the gentle heat radiate onto his palm.
“Warm up and you’ll be fine,” he cooed softly, staring at the fledgling’s claws.
They had been ice-cold earlier, but now they were finally showing a hint of warmth.
Next, he scooped out a tiny bit of finely ground medicinal powder from a jar, mixed it with warm water until it was very diluted, dipped a clean cotton swab in it, and carefully brought it to the bird’s beak.
The fledgling instinctively turned its head away.
Bai Yanzhou waited patiently, his fingertips gently stroking its back.
After several attempts, it finally swallowed a few drops of the medicinal juice.
Once the medicine was fed, he took a sour jujube seed, crushed it into powder in a bowl, mixed it with warm water, and dabbed it on the corner of its beak. “This will make you feel better.”
A while later, the cockatiel’s small head moved slightly. It slowly opened a slit in its eyes, its dark, beady eyes rolling weakly to look at his face.
Bai Yanzhou breathed a sigh of relief, his fingertip lightly brushing its down.
This should do. At least it’s not as lifeless as before.
With such a frail body, even if he wanted to transfer demonic energy, it was impossible; the cockatiel’s body simply couldn’t withstand it.
I’ll nurse it for now. Whether it survives depends on its fate.
When he looked up, it was already dark.
Bai Jimu had shoveled a few mouthfuls of rice and gone out to help Qiqi find her Pomeranian. He still hadn’t come back.
Bai Yanzhou was alone in the large TCM clinic, actually feeling a bit lonely.
He picked up Coal Ball, who was sleeping on the side, and took another deep inhale of cat, rubbing his nose against Coal Ball’s soft belly. His nose was filled with the unique scent of a kitten.
It wasn’t exactly fragrant, but it was addictive and hard to stop.
“Little Coal Ball, Little Coal Ball~”
Coal Ball had given up the struggle, looking like he had lost all hope.
On the other side of town, Bai Jimu hadn’t been idle.
After several days of effort, he had finally found some clues.
An abandoned, sealed warehouse.
Faint barking could be heard from inside. It seemed soundproofed.
Luckily, Bai Jimu was a dog, otherwise an ordinary person truly wouldn’t have heard it.
But the warehouse door was locked tight.
Bai Jimu reverted to his true form and vigilantly scouted the perimeter.
After confirming no one was around, he breathed a sigh of relief.
But here was the problem: how to get in?
After all, it was a huge warehouse with surveillance at the entrance and no dog holes.
It seemed he could only get in by “accidentally” getting caught.
Bai Jimu used his not-so-bright brain and finally came up with a plan he thought was reliable.
Coincidentally, a van was approaching from a distance.
Bai Jimu’s eyes lit up.
The man driving yawned.
The back of the van was filled with the barking of various dogs; it seemed their haul today was substantial.
The next second, a brown blur rushed out.
The man slammed on the brakes instinctively, his heart pounding.
What the hell was that?
Before the man could get out, a tragic, earth-shattering wail rang out.
“WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF!”
Did I hit a dog?
The man looked at his companion and signaled with his eyes. “Goudan, go take a look.”
“Why don’t you go?” Goudan was impatient, but he still got out of the car to check.