Grandpa Su prepared a table full of verdant dinner, with Su Siyuan holding Bai Tang, sitting in front of the dining table, while Chi Cainan, holding a small fish tank, sat sulkingly beside.
In the small fish tank, there were seven small snails resembling white jade. Bai Tang curiously asked, “System, can men give birth in this world?”
The system explained to Bai Tang, “Snails are hermaphrodites, but usually, they undergo cross-fertilization, meaning they can’t fertilize themselves.”
Bai Tang responded, “Wow.”
Chi Cainan, with a delicate appearance and his two antennae drooping listlessly, cautiously glanced at Grandpa Su, and weakly said, “This time, I want to leave the baby here with you.”
Grandpa Su, leaning on his cane, asked with a serious expression, “Who’s the child’s father?”
“He’s also a snail spirit, living deep in the mountains.” Chi Cainan, fearless of heaven and earth but fearing Grandpa Su, observed his expression and nervously continued, “He saved me after my failed tribulation, and then some things happened. Now, I’ve given birth to a child, and I want to go back to find him.”
After Chi Cainan finished speaking, he dared not breathe, sitting upright and waiting for judgment. Grandpa Su, with a stern face, raised his cane, seemingly fierce but gently tapped Chi Cainan’s leg, “Eat. Only when you’re full, you’ll have the strength to find someone.”
Chi Cainan’s nose tingled, and he buried his head to indulge in his vegetable salad. Silently finishing his meal, he purposely pulled Su Siyuan to a small corner, handing over the fish tank to Su Siyuan with determination, “Brother, I’m entrusting the child to you.”
The fish tank collided with the jade bottle, producing a crisp sound. The small leaves of Bai Tang brushed against the bottle’s mouth as he gently tapped the glass tank, exchanging greetings with the seven small snails inside.
The snail babies, with spiral-shaped shells, had pure white and jade-like flesh. Their tiny antennae moved curiously as they looked at Bai Tang.
“Hi~” Bai Tang waved the small leaves, startling the snail babies with the sudden “Hi,” and they all rushed back into their shells.
Su Siyuan introduced Bai Tang to Chi Cainan, saying, “This is Bai Tang. He’s my lifesaver who helped me through the thunder tribulation.”
Bai Tang waved the small leaves, “Hello, I’m Bai Tang.”
The small grass was like carved jade, with roots and stems in deep ink-green, bright green leaf surfaces, and clear veins. It looked especially beautiful in the white jade bottle.
Chi Cainan held onto Bai Tang’s small leaf, “Your color is so beautiful.” Chi Cainan loved everything beautiful, which was also the reason he was involved in the beauty industry.
Bai Tang proudly accepted the praise, “Your antennae and the snail babies are cute too.”
The named snail babies cautiously peeked out their little heads, secretly glancing at Bai Tang.
‘I haven’t been praised by Bai Tang yet…’
Hearing this, Su Siyuan slightly furrowed his brows. He discreetly blocked Bai Tang with his hand and casually said, “It’s getting late; you should go back quickly.”
After seeing off Chi Cainan, Grandpa Su carried away the snail babies, while Su Siyuan held Bai Tang and returned to the bedroom.
“Are you thirsty?” Su Siyuan asked.
Bai Tang, who was nestled comfortably in the golden sand, felt a bit thirsty upon Su Siyuan’s inquiry.
Su Siyuan turned to fetch the teapot, pouring spring water into it. Grandpa Su usually liked tea, and the mountain spring water used for brewing was clear, lively, and sweet. Su Siyuan thought Bai Tang would like it.
After filling the teapot, he felt a wave of drowsiness. Su Siyuan checked the time and realized it was already nine o’clock. Usually, by this time, he would have already covered himself with a blanket and fallen into a deep sleep.
Su Siyuan covered his mouth and let out a long yawn. The weakness in his body after tribulation persisted, coupled with the overwhelming drowsiness. Su Siyuan’s movements were noticeably sluggish now.
He felt his eyelids in a battle, as if glue had stuck his upper and lower eyelids together. Su Siyuan rubbed his eyes with his fingertips, making an effort to shake off the fatigue. He walked to the bedroom, holding the teapot.
It seemed like today’s work was not finished yet.
Su Siyuan blinked forcefully, realizing that Bai Tang, who had been stretching his small leaves, suddenly stopped moving.
“System, is he winking at me?” Bai Tang stared at Su Siyuan under the light. They say people look beautiful under the light, whether beautiful or not.
Su Siyuan looked incredibly handsome under the dim light, wearing loose pajamas. His eyes were slightly closed in fatigue. If he were to endorse these pajamas, it would undoubtedly boost sales, because—
This man exuded a quality that made people want to take a nap with him!
It wasn’t because he was particularly sexy, but the lazy and tranquil aura he emitted made people want to snuggle together in a soft bed, listening to each other’s breathing.
“Wake up, you’re drooling.” The system said coolly.
Bai Tang dangerously hummed, “What did you just say?”
“I said wake up; the spring water is coming, darling.” The system exclaimed enthusiastically.
And indeed, the water came.
Su Siyuan sat on the edge of the bed, holding the teapot, and poured water into the jade bottle. The sweet spring water sprinkled onto Bai Tang’s leaves. The water droplets queued up to slide down the leaves, rushing into the golden sand like sliding down a slide, ultimately absorbed by the small roots.
Bai Tang joyfully drank the water.
Slurp Slurp.
Slurp.
Slurp.
Slurp.
No, there’s a bit too much water…
Bai Tang was submerged in water, feeling bewildered. He shook his small leaves, flicking off the water droplets. He looked at Su Siyuan in confusion, only to find that Su Siyuan had closed his eyes while holding the teapot. He had fallen asleep.
His eyelashes were long, curled, and lifted. Exaggeratedly, you could say they were like the wings of a black butterfly.
Bai Tang hesitated to wake Su Siyuan, afraid of disturbing the butterflies in the forest.
While Bai Tang was contemplating whether to wake him or not, Su Siyuan’s head nodded slightly, and he woke up on his own. Su Siyuan wiped the water off a bit awkwardly, “I was a bit tired and accidentally fell asleep.”
“Then you should go to sleep earlier. Good night,” Bai Tang kindly said.
The main light in the room was already turned off. The only source of light was a small lamp on the bedside table, flickering in Su Siyuan’s warm eyes. He looked down at Bai Tang and whispered, “Good night.”
His slender fingers pressed the button on the small lamp. With a snap, the bedroom fell into a quiet darkness.
Su Siyuan lay on the bed, but he couldn’t fall asleep. He knew Bai Tang was right there. This awareness felt like a mint candy melting in his mouth. Su Siyuan wrapped himself in the blanket and turned over.
In reality, he preferred to transform into a sloth and peacefully nap in bed.
Su Siyuan recalled something from his childhood.
In his memory, Grandpa Su asked, “What kind of sleeping style do you like?”
The baby sloth replied without hesitation, “Holding… onto… a… tree… to… sleep… sleep…”
Grandpa Su said, “Humans sleep lying on beds.”
The baby sloth, in distress, said, “Then… just… on… the… bed… holding… onto… a… tree…”
Grandpa Su burst into laughter, “You can’t hold a tree in bed, but you can hold a partner while sleeping.”
The baby sloth asked in confusion, “What… is… a… partner?”
“A partner is someone you see and immediately want to hug and sleep with.”
…
Su Siyuan had a dream. In the dream, he lay in bed, cradling a small, emerald-green grass in his palm. The grass was so tiny that he was afraid of turning over and crushing it, so he resisted the urge to sleep.
The small grass tenderly patted his back and transformed into a handsome young man. The young man embraced Su Siyuan’s waist. Burying his face in Su Siyuan’s chest, the young man murmured, “Sleep quickly.”
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating the entire room.
Su Siyuan opened his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling. After a while, he became a bit more awake. Su Siyuan glanced at the jade bottle on the bedside table and looked thoughtfully at the emerald-green grass.
He couldn’t remember the appearance of the young man in the dream, but the stunning feeling lingered in his heart.
What would Bai Tang look like in human form?
“Energy value +0.001.” The sunlight shone on the leaves, converting into light energy absorbed by Bai Tang. The system solemnly reported the data and then loudly exclaimed, “Wake up, wake up! Even sloths have gotten up. What right do you have to sleep in!”
Bai Tang was awakened by the system’s cameo as an alarm clock. For a moment, he wished to kick this annoying system until it blossomed into flowers. This frustrating emotion ceased when he saw Su Siyuan at that moment—
Su Siyuan’s eyes were amber, and such a light color would reveal any emotional fluctuations in his eyes under the sunlight.
“Good morning.” At this moment, a smile bloomed in his eyes.
If waking up to such a gentle smile every morning was possible, then getting up early seemed like something worth looking forward to.
Bai Tang hesitated for a moment, then quickly raised his small leaves and waved, “Good morning!”
Su Siyuan carried Bai Tang downstairs and saw a sumptuous breakfast on the table and… the lined-up snail babies!
Grandpa Su had prepared fresh tender shoots for each snail baby. He looked at the snail babies lovingly as they had their breakfast. When he noticed Su Siyuan, Grandpa Su straightened up and said to Su Siyuan, “I just realized a problem.”
Grandpa Su’s expression was very serious, making Su Siyuan involuntarily serious too. “What problem?”
Grandpa Su pointed to the group of snail babies, “They don’t have names.”
Su Siyuan: “…”
This was indeed a serious problem.
Everyone’s attention shifted to the snail babies. Feeling the pressure, the snail babies collectively put down the tender shoots and quickly retreated into their shells.
Su Siyuan took out his phone and called Chi Cainan. When the call connected, Su Siyuan got straight to the point, “What are your children’s names?”
Chi Cainan: “…Huh?”
“You haven’t given your children names.” Su Siyuan put down his phone and told Grandpa Su, “He hasn’t named the children yet.”
Grandpa Su shook his head with his cane and gestured, “Let him name the child now.”
Su Siyuan relayed Grandpa Su’s words. Then he put down his phone and said to Grandpa Su, “He said he’s busy right now, so he’ll give the children temporary nicknames, ‘Yi1One, Er2Two, San3Three, Si4Four, Wu5Five, Liu6Six, Qi7Seven.’ He’ll decide on the formal name later.”
“Yi, Er, San, Si, Wu, Liu, Qi?” Grandpa Su tried calling the snail babies by their new names. In response, he received seven unmoving big white shells.
The snail babies, lacking a sense of security after being away from their parents, would retract into their shells at the slightest disturbance.
Grandpa Su was extremely worried. Early in the morning, he coaxed these little ones with tender shoots. He finally coaxed the snail babies out, but now they were retreating again.
Bai Tang pulled his small roots out of the golden sand and ran to the dining table under Su Siyuan’s surprised gaze. The emerald-green grass circled the snail babies, and then he walked briskly to a small white shell. He extended a small leaf and knocked on the snail shell, “Little snail, be a good boy. Open the door, I want to come in~”
Spiritual wood energy emanated from the leaves, drifting into the small white shell. The occupant inside, attracted by the fragrance, hesitated for a moment. It cautiously extended a small antenna and peered at the visitor.
“Are you the biggest baby?” Bai Tang looked at the seven almost identical babies, “Whatever. I’ll call you ‘Chi8Chi Cainan’s last name Yi9One as in first‘!”
“Hello, baby Chi Yi. I’m Bai Tang.” Bai Tang smiled, “Your little antennas are cute.”
The only antenna that was exposed quickly retracted, and after a while, both antennas shyly peeked out—
Then came four antennas, eight antennas… all the little snails showed their adorable little antennas~
Author’s note:
Names for the snail babies are being collected. Any good names, little angels?
Also, the name for Bai Tang’s plant is out (sought help from the forum’s ladies), and you can vote for it:
1. Heavenly Sound Jade Tiger Grass (Heavenly Sound and Jade Tiger Roar are alternative names for thunder)
2. Mu Lei Xian Zhu
3. Electric Light Morning Dew
4. Purple Thunder Plant
5. Jade Grass
6. Startled Awakening Immortal Plant
7. None of the above, I’ll come up with one
Mini Theater:
Snail Babies: Why are we named Yi, Er, San, Si, Wu, Liu, and Qi?
Chi Cainan: Because the author is bad at naming.
Author: Life is hard, don’t expose me QAQ
