FMLB Chapter 162

Extra Chapter Seventeen

 

Stellar Calendar 278, September 18th, Sunny

 

Baldy really sleeps poorly. When the small blanket covers him, leaving only his little head visible, everything seems fine.

 

But once the blanket is lifted, you’ll discover his body twisted into a graceful curve, tail and paws nearly tangled together.

 

I woke Baldy up and told him to get up and do his homework.

 

Baldy grumbled as he snuggled into my arms, eyes closed, and coaxed, “Papa, can we get up later?”

 

He insisted on staying up late last night to watch an animation. I warned him, “If you stay up late and can’t wake up tomorrow, I’ll spank you until your bottom blooms.”

 

It’s been so long since I spanked Baldy’s little bottom. If I let him go for three days without discipline, he’ll become a lazybone.

 

“You can either get spanked or get up to do your homework. Your choice.”

 

Baldy pondered for a moment, turned in my arms, and facing me with his bottom, declared boldly, “Papa, you can spank me.”

 

I was speechless.

 

Ruge couldn’t help but laugh when he saw this. 

 

He said to Baldy, “Baldy, do you know a story? Once upon a time, there was a family with a baby boy. They pampered him so much—they dressed him, washed his face, and fed him.”

 

“That baby boy grew up into a giant baby, lazy and clueless. Even as an adult, he lay in a huge baby crib.”

 

Baldy opened his eyes, rubbed sleepily, and asked Ruge, “And then?”

 

“One day, the parents had to go on a long journey. They prepared lots of pancakes, hung them around the baby boy’s neck, and instructed him, ‘If you get hungry, just lower your head to eat the pancakes.'”

 

Baldy was fully awake now and chuckled, “So lazy.”

 

“However,” Ruge continued, “when the parents returned, they found their baby boy had starved to death—because he couldn’t even be bothered to lower his head.” 

 

Ruge glanced at Baldy, and I followed suit.

 

Baldy also lowered his head, staring at his soft, chubby belly.

 

“…I’m not lazy. I can dress myself, wash my face, brush my teeth, and eat by myself,” Baldy protested.

 

“It’s useless to just talk. Baldy, you sound good but can’t even get out of bed,” Ruge shook his head skeptically.

 

This tactic prompted Baldy to sit up straight, transform into human form with vigor, put on his little clothes, and then dash to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.

 

After washing up, he peeked out from the bathroom, half of his face showing, eagerly asking, “Am I diligent?”

 

I told Baldy, “You’ll be diligent when you finish your homework.”

 

His ears, initially perked up with spirit, drooped instantly. 

 

Baldy walked out dejectedly, saying pitifully, “Papa, I did homework for so long yesterday, my hand hurts. Can I write a little less today?”

 

I told Baldy, “No, you can’t. Your slow and steady pace is like a little tractor.”

 

After hearing my conversation with Baldy, Ruge started telling another story, “Once, there was a man who, while a tiger was about to bite his butt, turned around to count how many hairs were on the tiger’s mouth—what a little tractor.”

 

Baldy quickly protested, “No, no tiger ever bit my butt! I’m the tiger myself!”

 

I lifted Baldy up. 

 

“The tiger can still spank your bottom.”

 

Baldy deflated like a balloon, muttering, “Okay then.”

 

“Look, Bobo finished all his homework today. He gets to watch cartoons, play games with Ruge, and make dessert. Look at us—your homework isn’t done, and I still have to supervise you,” I gently tapped Baldy on the head.

 

“It’s all your fault,” I said to Baldy.

 

Baldy hung his head in my grip, pawing the air. 

 

“It’s all my fault,” he said.

 

Then I climbed back onto Baldy’s little tractor.

 

When Baldy got tired of drawing, he handed me his little chubby hand and said, “Papa, massage.”

 

I absentmindedly massaged him for a while. Baldy’s hand was as soft as a lotus root. After massaging his right hand, I was about to stop when Baldy quickly offered me his left hand, “This one too!”

 

He really knew how to enjoy it. Baldy basked in my massage, happily wagging his tail, and said, “Papa, when you get old, I’ll massage your hands too.”

 

I said, “No need to wait until I’m old. You can start massaging me now.”

 

Baldy hesitated for a moment and whispered, “Should I finish my homework first or massage first?”

 

I relied on Baldy to be filial to me, rather than on a massage chair. 

 

“Finish your homework first. Stop talking.”

 

Baldy put his hand next to his mouth, mimicking a zipper, and quietly started on his homework.

 

But his quiet lasted less than three minutes. 

 

After three minutes, he started again, “Papa, why do I have to study art? I’m not going to be an artist in the future. What’s the point of learning art?”

 

I didn’t know how to answer him because I never studied art myself.

 

Seeing my silence, Baldy began to ramble, “I think music is useless too. I’m not going to be a singer in the future!”

 

“What do you think is useful to study?” I asked Baldy.

 

Baldy’s eyes rolled around, sparkling as he looked at me, “Math and Interstellar Language!”

 

“Why?” I continued.

 

“Because we use them in life~” 

 

Baldy turned out to be quite pragmatic.

 

I didn’t know if studying art and music was useful, but Ruge could sing and draw. He was good at designing besides singing.

 

I told Baldy that studying makes us better people. 

 

“If Baldy doesn’t study this or that, why should I like Baldy and not Bobo?”

 

After hearing my words, Baldy immediately felt a crisis. He went from a little tractor to… a slightly faster little tractor.

 

“You’re not allowed to take the love for my brother!” 

 

As the only passenger, the little tractor worked hard to move forward while being squeaky, “Hmm.”

 

“Yes, I’ll look at your performance.” 

 

I touched Baldy’s little head and said to him.

 

Stellar Calendar 278, September 19th, Light Rain

 

Baldy finally finished his homework, and our whole family decided to celebrate. Besides preparing a delicious meal, we also planned to watch a movie together.

 

Initially, we wanted to watch an animated film, but during our search, Baldy suddenly spotted a horror movie.

 

With pitch-black screens, blood-red letters, and white ghosts drifting about, this unique art style immediately caught Baldy’s attention.

 

“Papa, I want to watch this!” 

 

Baldy pointed to the horror movie.

 

I told Baldy that it’s a horror film and not suitable for kids, especially not for scaredy-cats.

 

Baldy protested, “I’m not scared anymore! I don’t even need you to accompany me to the bathroom at night anymore~” I don’t know why he’s so proud of not needing someone to accompany him to the bathroom.

 

But Baldy really wanted to watch it. If we didn’t satisfy him, he’d start pestering me endlessly, like a little monk chanting the same thing over and over again, much like how he keeps asking about that diary every day: What’s in that black book? Can I take a look?

 

So, I decided to ask everyone’s opinion. If Ruge and Bobo didn’t mind, I could watch the horror movie alone with Baldy at night.

 

Ruge said it was fine, and Bobo nodded curiously.

 

So we opened the holo-screen together. To protect the children’s mental health, during the horror movie, the cubs couldn’t choose immersive viewing, only flat projection.

 

Immersive viewing would make the viewer feel like they’re in the midst of the action. I chose this mode, feeling not much fear, as the horror and despair in the film didn’t compare to a tenth of what I’ve experienced before.

 

Reality is the most absurd horror movie.

 

The film’s tone was dim. Baldy squeezed into my arms, murmuring, “It’s so dark…” 

 

His little paw rested in my hand, nervously fidgeting.

 

I held his restless paw. Baldy seemed to draw strength from my palm. He curled his tail around his bottom and sat upright in my arms, watching the movie.

 

For a moment, I felt Baldy’s fuzzy little figure was somewhat reliable. How should I describe it?

 

Small, round, but resolute.

 

But these were just my illusions.

 

“Aaaaah!” 

 

When a ghost suddenly appeared, it wasn’t the movie that scared me, but Baldy’s piercing scream that startled me.

 

I took off the holo-glasses and found Baldy in my arms, his fur standing on end at some point. He was shivering and slumped against me, clearly frightened.

 

Was it that scary?

 

I reached out to pat Baldy’s head. Just as my fingertip touched his fur, Baldy sprung up like a spring, leaping to the coffee table not far away. He then turned back, still trembling, looking at us timidly.

 

It was the first time I knew Baldy could jump so far. Ruge told me Baldy seemed like a natural at long jumping.

 

Baldy, who was clamoring to watch the horror movie, turned out to be the most frightened. To comfort the trembling Baldy, we ended up watching an animated film again.

 

At night, when we slept, the long-lost little paw stepped on me, waking me up. 

 

I opened my eyes to see Baldy’s damp blue eyes and his trembling little tiger whiskers, “Papa, can you accompany me to the bathroom?” 

 

His voice trembled.

 

Just as Ruge said, a flag cannot be planted. Once raised, it mustn’t fall.

 

I wasn’t surprised by Baldy’s cowardice. But what should we do about Baldy being so timid? How can he grow up to be a brave man who protects Bobo?

 

I looked at Baldy’s round back of the head. He didn’t know my expectations of him, so he could seek comfort in my arms without shame.

 

Perhaps when people have something to rely on, they unconsciously seek help. When Baldy was this young, I had no one to rely on and could only depend on myself. So I had to strengthen my own heart.

 

But Baldy… even if he remains a coward, it’s okay. Because I’m here, he can be a happy coward.

 

Stellar Calendar 278, September 20th, Sunny

 

Today we returned to Star Seventeen. The small cabin in the purple forest had been unoccupied for nearly a month, yet it had grown a nest of squirrels.

 

The sweets Baldy hid under the bed were eaten by the squirrels. Baldy angrily removed the unwelcome guests’ supplies—a large pile of pine nuts.

 

Finally, we buried those pine nuts in the nearby pine forest.

 

Bobo, on the other hand, caught many lively fat fish in the water pit I dug for him. So our lunch turned into boiled fish. Although Ruge and Bobo are mermaids, there’s no conflict with them eating fish.

 

Our whole family loves fish.

 

Baldy’s favorite way to eat it is grilled until it’s crispy, then squeezing lemon juice on top. Bobo likes to drink fish soup, milky white fish soup. Ruge likes braised fish. 

 

As for me, I like anything Ruge makes.

 

Initially, I didn’t know where these fish came from because they were clearly sea fish. At noon, I saw a bird with a large mouth flapping its wings and flying to the water pit, where it spat out live fish from its mouth. That’s when I realized these fish were also unwelcome guests’ supplies…

 

However, these unwelcome guests were destined to lose everything they had gained. After working hard for a month, they were wiped out in an instant.