The Boyfriends I Picked Up in Horror Games Are Bizarre - Chapter 68

To be honest, Xue Xiaobao was someone who could easily affect others’ moods.

Innkeeper Shu asked in a calm tone, “Why did you run away from home and come to me?”

Xue Xiaobao answered matter-of-factly, “You have a lot of delicious food here. I ran away from home to make my dad angry, not to suffer. Of course, I’d go wherever is most comfortable.”

This kid was quite clever.

Xue Xiaobao touched his chin, his clear, bright eyes blinking. “It should be about ten more minutes before my mom comes looking for me.”

Imagining his hateful father being thoroughly lectured by his mother, Xue Xiaobao couldn’t help but chuckle, “Heh heh.”

Innkeeper Shu joked, “Are you treating your dad like an enemy?”

Xue Xiaobao snorted, “He’s always bullying me!”

Innkeeper Shu elegantly took a sip of tea and said slowly, “When you were born, your father went through quite a lot himself.”

Xue Xiaobao was intrigued. “How so?”

Innkeeper Shu explained, “At that time, your mom had to go to work every day, so your dad stayed home alone to incubate the egg. I heard he almost got depression from it.”

This was the first time Xue Xiaobao had heard this story. He asked skeptically, “Really?”

Innkeeper Shu nodded. “Of course it’s true.”

When Bai Yao was five months pregnant, she gave birth—not to a baby, but to an egg.

It wasn’t painful.

It only took about ten minutes, and then she had laid an egg.

So Xue Yan had no choice but to take parental leave.

Bai Yao recovered quickly. The next day, she was up and about as if nothing had happened. But then, it was Xue Yan who had to suffer. He stayed in a room for more than forty days, incubating the egg until it finally hatched.

From the egg emerged a chubby little boy with fair skin and small white scales on his face. He was too young to control his body properly. One moment, his lower half was a plump white snake’s tail, and the next, it had turned into human legs again.

A large white serpent coiled his body, encircling the child to prevent him from rolling off the bed. Lowering his head, his dark green vertical pupils curiously observed the tiny figure crawling all over his body. Compared to his enormous frame, the little one was as fragile as a sprout.

He stared at him for a long moment, then lightly poked the chubby, lotus-root-like arm of the little one with the tip of his tail.

And then, the little one smacked it away.

And that was how the grudge between Xue Yan and his son began.

Innkeeper Shu chuckled and said, “Your dad had a tough time incubating you.”

Of course, it wasn’t easy. During that period, Xue Yan couldn’t eat whatever he wanted, nor could he sneak off to dark corners to secretly watch Bai Yao’s every move. Every day, all he could do was guard a white egg. It was no wonder he nearly fell into depression from boredom.

Xue Xiaobao had only just learned that he had been hatched by his father. He asked in confusion, “Why didn’t Mom and Dad ever tell me?”

Innkeeper Shu smiled. “Because your dad refused to let your mom tell you. The first thing you said after hatching was calling him ‘Mom.’”

Xue Xiaobao’s expression twisted in utter disgust.

Xue Yan was obsessed with saving face. He had already lost his authority as the head of the household, though, to be fair, he rather enjoyed it. But as a strong and dignified man, there was no way he would accept being called a male “Mom”!

He was supposed to be a strict father—the kind who disciplined his child with a firm slap when they made a mistake, the kind who guided them with wisdom when they were lost in life!

Yes, the image he wanted to leave for his child was one of towering strength. His child should grow up knowing exactly who was the head of the household, and who deserved to be offered the snacks he brought back from kindergarten. If others found out that his own son had called him “Mom,” how humiliating would that be?!

Xue Xiaobao also felt deeply embarrassed. He had actually called that old man “Mom.” If anyone found out, it would be the greatest humiliation of his life!

Xue Xiaobao’s dark, shiny eyes stared at Innkeeper Shu. “Dad wouldn’t let Mom talk about it, yet you know all these things. Uncle Shu, have you been sneaking into my parents’ dreams?”

Innkeeper Shu’s smile became a bit strained. Did this child have to be so perceptive?

In truth, he hadn’t deliberately entered Xue Yan’s dream. At the time, he had been bored and lacking inspiration for his new artwork. Moreover, Xue Yan—who was on paternity leave—would often stroll past his door, cradling a plump, fair-skinned baby, as if he were the most content and fulfilled person in the world. Innkeeper Shu thought that perhaps it was time to dampen Xue Yan’s arrogance a little.

So, he decided to give Xue Yan a nightmare.

That very night, he entered Xue Yan’s dream and witnessed the moment Xue Xiaobao hatched.

Unfortunately, before he could alter the dream’s course, he was nearly discovered by Xue Yan. Luckily, he escaped in time, though for the next few days, Xue Yan kept watching him with a suspicious gaze, making Innkeeper Shu’s neck tingle with unease.

Xue Xiaobao swung his short legs, his smile pure and angelic. “Don’t worry, Uncle Shu, I won’t tell Dad about this. It’s just that… Dad stole all the pocket money I had hidden away, and now I don’t have any money to buy crushed ice. Without good food, I get upset. And when I’m upset… I tend to say the wrong things…”

Innkeeper Shu gave a slight smile. “How much do you want? I’ll give it to you.”

Xue Xiaobao’s eyes lit up. “Uncle, you’re such a good person!”

Sure enough, ten minutes later, Bai Yao arrived with Xue Yan to retrieve their child.

Xue Xiaobao instantly jumped off his chair, rushing toward Bai Yao while letting out sobs. His small face was flushed, his eyes red from crying, making him look genuinely pitiful. “Mom, I thought you didn’t want me anymore!”

Before he could throw himself into Bai Yao’s arms, he was intercepted by another pair of arms.

Xue Yan crouched down, holding his son tightly, his own eyes also red. Tears streamed down his face as he pitifully pleaded, “Xiaobao, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have eaten your snacks. I’ll give you all my pocket money. Please don’t be mad at me, okay?”

Xue Xiaobao locked eyes with Xue Yan, and Xue Yan stared right back. As their gazes locked, a silent understanding passed between them: Hah, quite the act you’re putting on.

Bai Yao wiped her eyes. “Seeing how close you two are makes me feel relieved.”

Xue Yan and Xue Xiaobao: “……”

Close?! Since when?!

Bai Yao, touched by this heartwarming father-son scene, thanked Innkeeper Shu and took her teary-eyed husband and son home.

As for whether she was truly moved or not, only she would know.

At last, the family of three finally left.

Innkeeper Shu let out a sigh of relief. But with their departure, the inn suddenly felt a little too quiet.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, a group of travelers stepped through the inn’s entrance.

Innkeeper Shu put on his professional smile to welcome them. His gaze immediately landed on a girl within the group. The corners of his eyes crinkled as his lips curled into a smile. “It’s been a long time, Miss Yin.”

After all these years, Yin Huanmian had become noticeably thinner. Time and again, she had found herself reliving that spring night in her dreams, and the constant unrest had left her pale and weary.

But now, as she looked at Innkeeper Shu, a flicker of vitality sparked in her dark eyes—though it was filled with malice.

Innkeeper Shu asked politely, “What brings Miss Yin back to Beiji Town this time?”

Only those with darkness in their hearts have the chance to enter Beiji Town. Yet, the person she despised had long been dead.

Yin Huanmian fixed her gaze on him, her voice cold and steady as she uttered, “I’ve come to kill you.”

Innkeeper Shu let out a delighted laugh. “Good. I look forward to it.”

For ghosts and monsters alike, the concept of death carried an intimate, entangled meaning.

It was, in fact, the most romantic thing in the world.