What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Chapter 78

Chapter 78 – Daily Life with Cubs

Duan Yi perfectly embodied the saying, “No proper way to sit, no proper way to sleep.”

His limbs sprawled haphazardly across the bed, as if yearning to disintegrate on the spot, each part returning to its rightful place.

When Sheng Yunze woke up for the third time with Duan Yi lying on top of him, his mood was far from pleasant. With a surge of irritation, he yanked Duan Yi into his arms, treating him like a large plush toy and locking him in a tight embrace.

True to form, Duan Yi couldn’t move. He eventually woke up gasping for air, suffocated by the lack of oxygen.

Last night, the twins had slept in the bed.

Sheng Yunze had dragged a mattress from some dusty storage room on the third floor, tore off the packaging, and tossed it onto the floor. With zero artistic flair, he haphazardly draped a sheet over it and slept on the floor with Duan Yi in his arms.

It was fortunate Duan Yi hadn’t slept in the bed; otherwise, they would have surely broken a bone upon waking.

When Sheng Yunze woke up and finished washing, Duan Yi was still sprawled on the floor, clutching the comforter and mistaking it for Sheng Yunze.

He went downstairs to cook a bowl of congee.

Sheng Yunxi drifted down the stairs, brushing her teeth, a comb stuck in her hair. Like a puppy drawn by the scent, she floated toward the kitchen.

“What’s cooking? It smells delicious! Can I have a taste?”

Sheng Yunze’s methods for dealing with Sheng Yunxi were primal instincts, etched into his genes from the womb.

Without even turning around, Sheng Yunze’s elbow shot out, delivering a sharp blow to Sheng Yunxi’s shoulder. “Get lost.”

Sheng Yunxi staggered back dramatically, toothbrush still in her mouth, clutching her chest. Foam sprayed everywhere as she wailed, “Lao Sheng, you’ve given me a heart attack! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!”

Her performance was convincing, but Sheng Yunze remained unmoved, refusing to spare his sister even a glance. He couldn’t bear to turn around and see her making such a ridiculous face with his own face.

“What’s going on? Why was your little sister yelling about being hungry so early? Did she get up to cook herself breakfast?”

Mrs. Sheng had woken up.

Entering the kitchen, she was surprised to find Sheng Yunze cooking. “Son, what are you doing?”

Sheng Yunze stirred the porridge while watching a cooking tutorial on his phone. “Making porridge.”

Sheng Yunxi chimed in sourly from the side, “It’s definitely not for us, Mom. Can you make me something else? I want chicken noodles—but don’t overcook the noodles!”

Then she skipped upstairs.

Mrs. Sheng remarked curiously, “You never cook.”

Sheng Yunze’s hand paused awkwardly for a moment. Mrs. Sheng smiled knowingly, choosing not to call him out, and pointed at the porridge. “Your porridge is too mushy.”

Sheng Yunze emphasized, with a hint of nonchalant pride, “Don’t all little kids need their food cooked until it’s mushy?”

It was as if he was waiting for Mrs. Sheng to ask why he was cooking such soft food for the children, so he could casually bring up the twins and show them off.

He was just like those new dads who overshare baby photos on social media—so annoying.

Sheng Ming woke up, rubbed his eyes, and panicked when he didn’t see Duan Yi. He was about to cry.

He quickly sat up and spotted Duan Yi sprawled out on the floor, his posture completely disheveled. Sheng Ming sighed in relief.

Sheng Xi was awakened by his brother’s movements and rolled over.

Sheng Ming climbed out of bed, no longer wanting to sleep there. He ran straight to the floor, found a comfortable spot beside Duan Yi, and curled up like a kitten.

Duan Yi vaguely sensed someone sleeping beside him and instinctively pulled a blanket over the child.

A while later, Sheng Xi couldn’t find his brother in bed. He peeked over the edge and saw Sheng Ming and Duan Yi sleeping together on the floor. Immediately changing his mind, he decided to join them.

He tried to slide down, but he leaned too far over and tumbled headfirst onto Duan Yi.

Sheng Xi didn’t cry. He dusted himself off and crawled toward Duan Yi.

Duan Yi was startled awake by a sudden movement. He opened one eye to find Sheng Xi already settled on the other side of him.

He pulled a corner of the blanket over Sheng Xi and mumbled sleepily, “Why are you lying down here…?”

Sheng Xi mumbled back, “I wanted to sleep with you.”

Duan Yi gave him a quick hug. Sheng Xi placed his hand on Duan Yi’s chest, clutching his shirt tightly.

When Sheng Yunze entered with a bowl of porridge, this was the scene that greeted him.

None of the three were on the bed. The two younger ones were sprawled on either side of Duan Yi.

Sheng Yunze’s heart seemed to clench, a strange sensation rising within him.

Instead of waking Duan Yi, he quietly sat down beside them like a curious cat, studying the scene intently, his gaze unwavering.

It wasn’t until Duan Yi vaguely sensed two pairs of eyes on his face that he finally opened his eyes and saw Sheng Yunze.

Duan Yi slowly sat up, his mind still foggy.

His eyes were vacant and silent, his lips slightly parted, and his hair was a mess from sleep, with one stubborn tuft sticking straight up like an antenna.

His nose twitched, as if catching a pleasant scent. He noticed the bowl of porridge Sheng Yunze had placed on the desk.

Stare.

Sheng Yunze chuckled, then slipped his hands under Duan Yi’s armpits and lifted him off the floor.

Duan Yi snapped awake, swallowing hard. “Mmm, smells good. Let me taste it.”

He leaned forward, eyes still closed as if half-asleep, and soon found himself draped over Sheng Yunze, fast asleep.

Sheng Ming and Sheng Xi woke up.

They calmly observed Duan Yi clinging to Sheng Yunze in such an undignified manner, as if they’d seen it a thousand times before.

Sheng Ming removed his pajamas, changed into proper clothes, and then dutifully helped Sheng Xi get dressed.

Holding hands, the two boys obediently went to the bathroom to brush their teeth and wash their faces.

On the sink counter lay unopened toothbrushes—the ones Duan Yi had bought the night before.

After brushing and washing, Duan Yi was still asleep when they emerged. Sheng Yunze had already half-undressed him, changed his clothes, and carried him to the bathroom.

Duan Yi forced one eye open, spotted his toothbrush, and knew he couldn’t prolong his laziness any longer.

He brushed his teeth, then shamelessly clung to Sheng Yunze, begging him to wash his face.

Only after washing his face did Duan Yi finally fully wake up.

“This grandpa’s fully recharged!” he declared, leaping to his feet and striking a Superman pose in the room.

Sheng Xi mimicked Duan Yi’s superhero pose, standing beside him and declaring, “Papa’s back at full health too!”

His older brother, Sheng Ming, was more composed, helping to serve the porridge.

Duan Yi picked up Sheng Xi and pinched his nose. “You’re not allowed to call me ‘Papa,’ understand? What’s with trying to become a Zu’an little rascal?”

As they sat at the table, Sheng Yunze placed a bowl of porridge in front of Duan Yi, still holding a grudge from the previous night. “Still want to visit the rice noodle shop owner today?”

Duan Yi immediately turned sycophantic. “No way! Wildflowers can’t compare to the school beauty! Home-grown flowers are the best!”

Sheng Xi swung his legs in Duan Yi’s lap as Duan Yi scraped his spoon against the bowl. “Just one more bite. Ahh.”

Sheng Xi turned his head away. “I don’t want any more.”

He had arrived already plump from Duan Yi’s doting care, and his resistance was surprisingly strong.

Duan Yi coaxed him. “Just the last bite. Brother ate his whole bowl. Don’t you want to be big and strong like him? Don’t you want to grow tall?”

This tactic proved useless. Sheng Xi refused to eat, and Duan Yi struggled to feed him, resorting to both cajoling and trickery. Finally, Sheng Yunze cast a casual glance at Sheng Xi. Sensing a warning in that look, Sheng Xi suddenly opened his mouth with a reluctant “Woo” and swallowed the last spoonful of porridge with a pitiful expression.

Duan Yi sighed in relief and patted Sheng Xi’s little bottom. “Go play with your brother. I’m going to eat now.”

Sheng Yunze frowned. “Do you always feed him like that?”

Duan Yi casually scooped porridge from Sheng Xi’s bowl using the same spoon—the one Sheng Yunze had seen Sheng Xi licking earlier.

His mood soured instantly. He swapped Duan Yi’s spoon for his own. “Use mine.”

Oblivious to Sheng Yunze’s subtle jealousy, Duan Yi simply found it odd. “Why? Is yours prettier?”

He continued the previous conversation. “Xibao’s a picky eater. He needs to be fed. His brother doesn’t.”

Though inwardly, he grumbled: Sheng Xi’s pickiness is exactly like yours!

Sheng Yunze raised an eyebrow. “I’m picky too. Why don’t you feed me?”

Duan Yi chuckled as he ate. “Sure. If you can squeeze your six-foot frame into my arms like a little bird, I’ll feed you too.”

Sheng Yunze grunted and opened his mouth. “Ah.”

Duan Yi held the spoon in his mouth. “Really?”

Sheng Yunze impatiently tapped the table.

Duan Yi glanced furtively at the twins, who were engrossed in their own games and oblivious to the scene. He quickly fed Sheng Yunze a spoonful.

Ugh, this mushy stuff in front of my son is so embarrassing!

After breakfast, Duan Yi grabbed both twins.

He pulled a jar of Frog Prince Baby Cream from his backpack, scooped some out, and first applied it to Sheng Ming’s face.

Sheng Yunze took the backpack and, noticing it was filled with various children’s items besides the cream, asked, “You didn’t even pack a single book?”

“My clothes are stuffed in there,” Duan Yi replied. “Where would I put books? Besides, I’m going to Jiang Wangshu’s birthday party. Why would I need books?”

He turned to Sheng Xi. “Xibao, come here. Tilt your face up.”

Sheng Xi obediently tilted his face upward. Sheng Yunze watched curiously as Duan Yi applied the cream to his son’s face.

“What’s that you’re putting on?”

Duan Yi casually smeared the excess cream on his own face. “It’s for dryness. Kids’ skin is delicate. Without this, they’ll get red patches in winter.”

“Wasn’t this the same cream your mom used on you last time?” Sheng Yunze asked.

“Yep, it’s really good.”

Duan Yi seemed eager to recommend it. “Want some? I have an extra jar. I’ll give it to you.”

Sheng Yunze politely declined, asserting that cool high school guys don’t use baby cream.

Meanwhile, a more subtle thought crossed his mind: Duan Yi, in this situation, was like an unwed mother.

Sheng Yunze escorted Duan Yi downstairs, the twins trailing closely behind.

Duan Yi interrupted, suggesting they leave the children at Sheng Yunze’s place for a few days. He explained he needed to go home first to talk to Xiaoduan Dad and find a reason to bring the twins back later.

Still unsure about this parallel world, Duan Yi immediately thought of Qin Shu. He remembered that guy had previously formed some kind of “Transmigration Alliance” with him.

Reaching the apartment complex gate, Duan Yi waved. “Say goodbye to your brother.”

Sheng Xi quickly greeted Sheng Yunze, “Bye-bye!”

Then, with his little backpack bouncing, he chased after Duan Yi. Duan Yi chuckled, squatting down. “No, not that brother. Say goodbye to this brother.”

Sheng Xi looked at him quizzically. Duan Yi whispered, “You’ll stay at Dad’s house for a few days, okay?”

Sheng Ming nodded. “Okay!”

Duan Yi felt relieved. At least his older brother was being sensible.

He patted Sheng Ming’s head. “Then you need to take good care of your younger brother, understand?”

Sheng Ming nodded again. Duan Yi turned to leave.

Suddenly, Sheng Ming grabbed the hem of his shirt. “Where’s Mommy going?”

Duan Yi shushed him urgently. “Don’t shout!”

He squatted down again. “I’m going home! Didn’t you just agree to stay at Dad’s with your brother?”

Sheng Ming was puzzled. “Aren’t you staying with us?”

Duan Yi replied, “I never said I was.”

The twins froze, stunned. They hadn’t even considered the possibility of Duan Yi “abandoning” them. Four pairs of eyes stared intently at him.

Duan Yi’s heart softened under their gaze. “I’ll come pick you up soon.”

Sheng Xi tugged at his finger. “But I want to stay with you.”

The little boy’s eyes seemed to have an on-off switch for tears. Duan Yi, realizing he couldn’t calm him down, quickly said, “I’ll visit you often. I’ll come tomorrow.”

Sheng Xi had never imagined that his mother bringing them downstairs wasn’t to take them away, but to abandon them. He burst into a heart-wrenching wail.

Duan Yi found himself rooted to the spot. “I’m not saying I don’t want you! Hey, don’t cry! If you cry, your brother will start too.”

Flustered, Duan Yi struggled to soothe the boy. Sheng Yunze, who had been observing from the side, couldn’t find an opening to speak.

Duan Yi glanced at him. “Say something.”

Sheng Yunze stiffened. “I don’t know how to comfort kids.”

Seeing the high schooler’s awkwardness, Duan Yi knew he couldn’t rely on him. With a headache brewing, he prepared to speak again.

But Sheng Xi, between sobs and hiccups, blurted out, “You already left us once. How can you leave us again?”

Duan Yi was utterly bewildered.