Chapter 48: Chapter 48: A Difference of Opinion

Bai Xiaolang nodded and turned to go upstairs.

The Snake Child stared at her warily, his eyes narrowing into vertical slits, the characteristic golden pupils of a snake.

Bai Su scooped him up under her arm like a baby chick. "Come on, time for a bath."

The Snake Child hadn’t expected her to touch him and began to struggle violently. "Don’t touch me! You’re a bad woman!"

"I’m not taking a bath! Get away from me!"

Bai Su was unmoved, carrying him upstairs tucked under her arm.

Seeing the bathroom getting closer and closer, the Snake Child could only change his tune in a panic. "I-I... I’ll wash myself! I’ll do it myself, do you hear me?!"

"You bad woman!"

"Bai Su! Put me down!"

Bai Su stuffed him into the bathroom and locked the door from the outside. The bathtub was already filled with bathwater that Bai Xiaolang had prepared earlier.

The Snake Child’s eyes widened. "Are you trying to torture me in some weird way again?! I’m not falling for it!"

Bai Su froze for a moment, then sighed apologetically. "Snake Treasure, I’m sorry about before. I never should have mistreated you. Please, give me a chance to make it right, okay?"

The Snake Child hadn’t expected her to suddenly apologize so humbly. He was stunned and, for a moment, didn’t know what to say.

Bai Su said, "I’m not the same as I was before."

"I genuinely want to build a good life with you all now. Once we find the other two children, our family can be whole and together."

The Snake Child’s little face flushed. "Who’s family with you?"

The Snake Child wasn’t used to such direct communication. He couldn’t bring himself to say sappy things like Bai Su, nor did he trust her words.

Bai Su ruffled his hair. "How about this? If you cooperate and take your bath, I’ll secretly make you a delicious late-night snack. Just for you. How does that sound?"

The Little Snake’s eyelids trembled. His vertical snake-like pupils suddenly became round, making him look much cuter.

Seeing his eyes, Bai Su knew he had given in but was too proud to say it.

Suppressing a laugh, she pulled him over to a small stool, sat him down, and stripped off his clothes.

The little tyke was terribly shy and quickly turned his back to her.

But when Bai Su saw the wounds on his body, she could no longer smile.

’He ate so much of my food tonight, yet his wounds still haven’t healed?’

’I’m a Level 3 Beastman now. My Healing Ability has doubled, and with the boost from the cauldron in the System Mall, simple surface wounds should heal quickly.’

’Unless...’

Bai Su looked at him. "Snake Treasure, what’s your Level?"

The Little Snake snorted coldly. "Level 6."

Bai Su’s hand trembled. "How high?!"

’He’s only four, and he’s already Level 6?!’

’As expected of the prodigiously talented great villains from the book. Their starting point is leagues ahead of ordinary people.’

She cleared her throat, rolled up her sleeves, and briskly started washing the little guy.

A steady stream of black water flowed onto the floor.

After five or six rinses, the Snake Child’s black hair slowly gave way to reveal silver strands.

She said in amazement, "Your hair is so beautiful! Why did you dye it black?"

The Snake Child turned his head and gave her a strange look. Once he confirmed that her eyes held only admiration, not ridicule like everyone else’s, he lowered his head and mumbled, "They said silver hair is ugly. That it’s the color of old men and freaks."

Bai Su said, "What a bunch of people with no taste! This silver hair is gorgeous. It’s so beautiful!"

"Is that so?" The Snake Child suddenly released his spiritual power and entered a state of Full Beastification. A small white snake sat coiled on the stool, its head raised. "Am I still beautiful now?"

"AHHHHHH!" Bai Su recoiled in fear, falling ungracefully on her behind.

’God, I’m terrified of snakes!’ 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

She hurriedly scrambled backward, stammering, "Ch-ch-ch... change back. It’s easier to wash you if you change back..."

The Little Snake changed back to his human form and, facing Bai Su, revealed his first smile of the day. "Coward."

’Maybe this woman really is different now.’

’The old Bai Su was also afraid of my original form. Every time she saw it, she’d throw things at me, force me to change back, and then whip me viciously, humiliating me out of her own anger and shame.’

’But this Bai Su, even though she was scared, just kept backing away. Her face went pale, but she didn’t try to hurt me.’

’Even though she had plenty of things within reach to throw at me.’

’A person’s instincts don’t lie.’

’I don’t know if this woman took the wrong medicine or something, but she’s suddenly lost all her aggression.’

In a good mood, he sat on the stool, tilted his head up at her, and said, "Wash me."

Only then did Bai Su let out a sigh of relief. She pretended to be annoyed and pinched his nose, not daring to use much force.

She added, "I had Major General Lu get you an identity. From now on, you’ll take my last name. You’ll be Bai Xiaoshe, and your brother is Bai Xiaolang. You’re a person with an official identity now, not undocumented. No one will dare to bully you so easily anymore."

Bai Xiaoshe kept his head down, fiddling with the water in the tub, his thoughts unreadable.

Once the little guy was all clean, his true face was revealed.

Although he was Bai Xiaolang’s brother, his features were completely different.

Bai Xiaolang was exceptionally cute, with big, round eyes. His sharp eyebrows and bright eyes gave him a handsome and delicate look.

But Bai Xiaoshe’s features were sharper. Perhaps it was because he was so thin and had no baby fat. With his silver hair, golden eyes, and narrow face, he looked more dashing and possessed a strong, aggressive aura.

Bai Su scrubbed the little one clean and wrapped him in a soft towel.

Bai Xiaoshe smelled the sun-dried scent on the towel. Enveloped in its softness, he couldn’t help but relax.

’It seems Big Brother wasn’t lying. This woman, Bai Su, has really gotten better.’

After their late-night snack, Bai Su had him share Bai Xiaolang’s room for the night.

’Many of the rooms on the first floor have had their walls torn down to create a large ice cellar for food storage. When the other two children come back, there probably won’t be enough room for them to sleep.’

Bai Su mulled it over. She considered expanding the restaurant’s backyard and, while she was at it, the front yard too, to accommodate more customers.

After washing up, Bai Su changed into her pajamas and lay down on her bed, feeling fresh and clean. Before she could even close her eyes, she received a video call from Lu Tingyan.

She answered the call. "Is something wrong? It’s so late."

Lu Tingyan was still in his military uniform, seemingly in his office. "I just wanted to see if you had gone to bed yet."

Bai Su lazily sank back onto her bed, leaning against the puppy-shaped pillow behind her. "Not yet. I just got out of the bath."

Lu Tingyan gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment. He seemed a little unused to video calls, staring at the screen somewhat awkwardly.

Bai Su, on the other hand, was perfectly at ease. After all, she had lived two lives.

In her past life, Bai Su had been quite attractive and had spent plenty of time on long phone calls with her boyfriends back in college.

She took the opportunity to bring something up with Lu Tingyan. "I’m thinking of expanding the shop in the next few days."

Lu Tingyan grunted in response.

Bai Su explained, "Now that Little Snake is back, and we’ll be finding the other two children later, there definitely won’t be enough rooms."

’The original owner of this body made all the children cram into one room and sleep on the floor. I certainly can’t do that.’

"And I want to take advantage of the steady customer traffic to expand the front yard, make it several times larger, and add more tables. When I get too busy, I’ll hire a kitchen assistant..."

Lu Tingyan suddenly asked, "You’re still going to run the restaurant?"

Bai Su was confused. "Of course. If I don’t run the restaurant, how will I make money to raise the children?"

Lu Tingyan’s brow furrowed slightly. "You don’t have to work so hard. In the Federation, once females have a Beast Husband, they can be completely provided for by them."

This was also why he had desperately pushed his plan forward to reclaim his authority as the Federation Leader.

Only by doing so could he better protect Bai Su.

Bai Su burst out laughing. "I have hands and feet. I don’t need you to provide for me."

Hearing this, Lu Tingyan’s back stiffened. "Are you refusing to let me be your Beast Husband?"

Bai Su replied, "Even if you become my Beast Husband, I don’t need to rely on you completely. My restaurant can support me and the children."

Lu Tingyan said, "But it’s a male’s responsibility to let his female live a carefree life."

Bai Su explained patiently, "I understand what you mean. In the Federation, all females are provided for by their Beast Husbands."

"But I have my own career and ambitions. That doesn’t conflict with you being my Beast Husband."

Lu Tingyan’s brows knitted so tightly you could trap a fly between them. "A career? You’re a female. You don’t need a career, and you don’t need to toil and slave away for money."