Chapter 307 307 - Parenthood

Yue came to the barrack with Fan, and they were leaving with a child in tow. It was all too sudden. He was genuinely surprised and secretly glad it had happened.

And Fan too. he had a look in his eyes as he looked at Zi cheng. he loved this kid already. He could see it all so clearly.

Yue nodded to himself. 'I've made a good decision...'

Zi Chen was super silent along the way. He did not ask for his mother again. His small form looked so pitiful.

Yue lifted him up in his arms.

Hesitantly he looped his arm around his neck hugging him.

Feeling his small warmth, Yue started to feel emotional. This young three year old child had to suffer so much. He lost his mother, his only family to this...

In his previous life, he lost his parents when he was eighteen, which itself was a traumatic incident. he was not able to cope with the loss. Little by little he could not even remember how his parents looked like.

Subconsciously he erased all those painful memories and lived life.

Yue peered down at little Zi Chen. He did not want this kid to grow up like that. He wanted him to have the love of a family; he wanted him to grow up cheerful even though they were in the end of the world.

He wanted to give him everything.

His eyes teared up a bit. 'I wonder if this is how my dad felt holding me in his arm.. fuck I understand why he would be so protective at times... I just met this kid and I would give my life for him,'

Suddenly he felt small hands touch his tail.

The child's tiny fist caught it curiously. "Beauty brother has a tail?"

"hmm I even have ears, see," he removed the cap and showed his cute lemur ears. "do you like them?"

Cheerfully, he pinched and played with them. "it's soft.. like cotton candy..."

"Really, I am honored,"

Yue hesitated to touch his face. he still did not have a glove. All along he had been holding Fan's arms which was covered in clothes and Zi Chen's who was wearing long sleeve.

But he desperately wanted to touch his chubby cheeks.

'I'll hold off that feeling for later.'

He withdrew his hand.

Zi Chen looked at him weirdly but continued to play with his tail.

They first made a pit stop at Yue's house.

Fan adjusted his hair and made sure he was presentable. He held the kid's hand confidently and knocked on the door.

Yue's dad opened it with a grumpy look. "you... then he glanced back at Yue. "oh Yue, you look good," he opened the door wide.

Yue walked in along with Fan Xui and Zi Chen. "dad.. I have an announcement to make.... we need the whole family here. Fan can you go and call Tian Juda and Lui here,"

"Sure," Fan Xui gently tapped his cheeks before walking out.

His dad and mum sat opposite him with a questionable look.

They waited for a few minutes until the girls joined him.

They all sat awkwardly in the small couch.

Clearing his throat Yue started, "I have a big announcement,"

"are you getting married? I thought you were going to wait for twenty five," his dad added with a small frown.

"He can marry anytime dad," Tian added hugging Juda on her lap. "so when is the marriage? We have to prepare the dresses."

"Oh my god, I'm so happy. I'm finally having my son married off. This is such an exciting time," his mother squealed.

Yue blinked. "Guys, guys! Stop it."

They all paused anxiously waiting for him to tell the news.

"We are adopting Zi Chen," Yue whispered hugging the child close.

Even he was slightly shy and hid behind him.

"I didn't expect that at all," Tian said peering at him. "I thought you hated children,"

"I do, I did.....but I like him okay,"

He felt Zi Chen slightly flinch.

"It's very much overwhelming for him. We won't be introducing anyone to him as of now. After a few days, one by one come to our house and get acclimated,"

His mum pouted. "Not even me..."

"Sorry, mum he's genuinely nervous. I don't think it's a good to overwhelm him so much,"

They all understood his decision.

Yue Fan and Zi che let for their house.

Looking at the almost empty house, Yue sighed. "we seriously need an upgrade."

"I'll call Bohai to fix the solar sheets,"

"Awesome, we need to get children's clothing. As of now, I have a few shirts that might.. stay on his body. I'll help him with a bath," he led the kid to the bathroom.

Zi Chen obediently walked in.

"oh before I forget," ye ran to the other room and wore a glove. He picked up the bar of soap that was mild and non irritating. He also took a soft towel with him. "Zi Chen, are you ready for bath time?" he whispered.

Zi Chen was already in the bathtub naked. There was two inch of water there. And he was slouching in it.

"Let me soap you up and scrub you,"

Yue gently soaped him with his small body. he was small for a three-year-old child. His body looked more like a two years old baby.

Frowning, he gently scrubbed his back.

All along, Zi Chen kept looking at his hands.

"Is everything okay? Do you like the smell of the soap?"

Zi Chen nodded. "Can I wash off on my own?"

"Sure," Yue washed his gloved hand and walked out. Of course, his gloves were wet. He changed into a new one while waiting for the child to come out.

Zi Chen came out wrapped in the huge towel.

"Here," he held up the smallest white shirt he could find. "lift your hand,"

Zi Chen lifted his hand.

Yue immediately noticed red marks on his arm. "What is this?" when he was bathing him he never spotted this. It could not have just appeared on him.

He hurriedly checked his body.

Zi Chen had scratch-like marks on his back as well as his tummy. "Baby what is this? Did you get hurt anywhere?"

Zi Chen shook his head.

"Fan! Come look at this.. he has marks..." he worriedly called for his lover.

Fan came running. He did a casually checked him. While he was doing this he noticed Zi Chen's eyes focus on Yue's glove. "Zi Chen let's have a talk,"

"hmm..."

They all sat on the mattress.

"Chen, did you scratch yourself?" Fan softly whispered.

The kid shook his head.

"Don't be ridiculous, Fan why would he hurt himself?"

"let me handle this."

Fan held Zi Chen's hand. "Did you scrub yourself?"

"yes.." he cutely smiled. "Body clean..."

Fan suddenly sighed out loud. "I think I understand what is going on here. Yue... he thinks you are not willing to touch him with your bare hands because you think he is dirty. Is that right Chen?"

Hesitantly, Zi Chen nodded.

Yue gasped out loud. "Is it because of me? Zi Chen, I would never think of you like that." he removed the glove. "This glove helps me keep these tails and ears. Without these, I can't hear anything..."

Zi Chen just looked at him.

"Here let me show you," he held Fan's hand, and instantly his ears and tail disappeared. Instead, his body was filled with that familiar power. "see.. it's my superpower."

Zi Chen looked at him, eyes shimmering. He was saying something but he could not hear anything...

Fan wrote it down for him. "he's asking if you are a super hero?"

"yes, I am. It's an awesome power. Do you like it? is it okay if I wear my gloves from now on?"

Zi Chen hugged him tightly. He mumbled something but Yue could not hear a thing.

He simply hugged him tight.

To think this child misunderstood him so much. He knew that children are perceptive but he didn't realize how sharp Zi Chen was.

His eyes teared up slightly. He hurriedly wiped the tears away. "will you accept my powers? I can't touch without gloves..."

Zi Chen nodded. "It's okay," he said slowly.

This he understood.

Yue hugged him tightly. Parenthood was not getting everything right; it's a long process of failing and learning. He understood that point then.

'I hope to be his strength…'