Chapter 36: Infant

After placing the little baby in my arms, Yan Dong let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted.

His entire demeanor visibly slumped, making it obvious he had no intention of taking care of the child any longer.

In fact, this scumbag really did plan to wash his hands of it.

“I’m leaving the kid to you.”

Yan Dong flopped back onto the Leather Sofa, tugged loose the collar of his hoodie, and casually grabbed the Switch from the coffee table, getting ready to dive into a game.

“She’s driving me crazy, just keeps crying nonstop. Even when I hold her, she squirms the whole time.”

Carefully soothing the baby in my arms, I took advantage of a lull in her crying to glance at Yan Dong, who was lounging with his neck craned against the back of the sofa, looking completely at ease.

“What’s the child’s name?”

“Forgot.”

He didn’t even bother to think about it, just hesitated briefly before carelessly propping his feet up on an empty potato chip bag he hadn’t thrown away on the coffee table.

“Her nickname’s… Duo Duo, I think.”

“You think?”

I always thought that even a tiger wouldn’t eat its own cubs. No matter how irresponsible this scumbag was, at the very least, he should remember his own child’s name, right?

Today, I finally witnessed the true diversity of living creatures, and at last understood why the ancients invented the phrase “beast in human clothing.”

“Young Master, you really are something.”

“What?”

Ignoring his retort, I reached out and pinched the diaper.

The dry feel proved the baby wasn’t crying because she needed changing.

I barely had time to think before the little one in my arms started sobbing and struggling even harder, my shirt gradually soaking with a fine sheen of sweat.

“When was the last time Duo Duo had milk?”

I carefully supported the baby girl’s neck, looking up at Yan Dong, who was now completely sprawled out and relaxed on the Leather Sofa.

“When? How would I know? I was just about to make some milk…”

Yan Dong suddenly sprang up, bumping into the coffee table.

A glass cup clattered dully across the teak floor as he dashed barefoot over the mess toward the entryway.

“Crap, I think the Milk Powder Can spilled!”

The Kitchen’s Direct Drinking Water Machine let out a faint beep, and 48-degree warm water swirled into the glass Baby Bottle.

I undid the third button on my blazer, carefully nestling the hiccuping, tearful infant against my chest, hoping the warmth of my skin would calm her down a bit.

My white shirt was immediately wrinkled by her tiny fists.

“Alright, there’s at least 200ml of milk here. It’s enough for her.”

Yan Dong shook the full Baby Bottle, ready to hand it over, looking quite pleased with himself—if you ignored the milk dripping from the bottle’s mouth and the undissolved milk powder clinging to his hair.

“First, press the nipple a few times to let the air out, then drip a couple drops onto my wrist. I’ll check the temperature.”

“Miss Lin, you sure know your stuff…”

His voice suddenly caught in his throat, his gaze lingering on the tear-soaked fabric at my chest.

His Adam’s apple bobbed suspiciously.

I really had no idea what was going on in this scumbag’s head.

Shouldn’t he be more concerned about his daughter, who was on the verge of fainting from hunger?

Thinking this, I couldn’t help but let out a cold, extremely disdainful laugh.

“Are you done staring? Or do you need me to put the baby aside so you can get a better look?”

“Who’s looking at you!”

Yan Dong jumped back like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, nearly dropping the Baby Bottle.

“I—I was just wondering when you lost that dumb Strawberry Hair Clip on your head?”

“Sorry, even if it’s broken, I’m not throwing it away.”

I shot him a cool glance, the corner of my mouth twitching with a hint of irritation.

“Annoying. You really treat some random trinket someone gave you like a treasure? What about the one I gave you?”

“Don’t want to wear it.”

“You… forget it…”

He impatiently shook the Baby Bottle, his voice tinged with his usual frustration.

“Give me your hand to check the temperature.”

The motion of testing the temperature on my wrist still felt awkward in this unfamiliar body.

The little one in my arms finally stopped sobbing the moment she latched onto the nipple.

Afternoon sunlight filtered through the blinds, weaving a golden halo over her soft, downy hair.

Yan Dong leaned lazily against the door frame, the sounds of his game leaking from his pocket.

“Aren’t baby girls supposed to be well-behaved when drinking milk?”

I shifted slightly to block his prying gaze—not just because I disliked him, but mainly because it’s best not to disturb a baby while she’s feeding.

“I suggest Young Master add the Infant Care Manual to your game favorites. Learn a little when you have the time.”

With a gentle pat on her plump little bottom, the well-fed baby smacked her lips, then burrowed into my arms and fell completely silent.

Only the sound of her steady breathing remained in my ears.

“Tsk, this little ancestor is really hard to please.”

I ignored Yan Dong, who was basically useless except for getting in the way, and stood up with the baby, heading toward the Housekeeper Room.

But just two steps in, Yan Dong blocked my path.

“Don’t go to your room. Come to my Master Bedroom. My bed’s bigger.”

I could only say that, up to this point, this scumbag had finally said something reasonable.

I couldn’t be bothered to argue, so I carried the child straight into his room, gently placed her in the middle of the bed, patted her lightly, and, seeing she didn’t wake, tiptoed over to fetch a small blanket to cover her.

As I bent over to tuck in the corners, I suddenly caught sight of a Go Game Joseki Encyclopedia that had somehow appeared on the nightstand.

Go again?

Come to think of it, he’d asked me a couple of days ago if I knew how to play Go.

Since when did Yan Dong get so interested in Go?

“She can’t crawl yet. No need to stand guard, right?”

Yan Dong’s sudden voice broke my train of thought.

I withdrew my gaze and casually picked up a pack of Wet Wipes from the nightstand.

“Unlike Young Master, infants have emotional needs.”

I warmed a pure water Wet Wipe in my palm, then gently wiped away the tear stains on her chubby cheeks.

“If a baby doesn’t see a family member when she wakes up, she’ll be scared.”

“Family?”

He suddenly sneered, raising an eyebrow.

“Miss Lin, you’re not her mother, are you?”

“Of course I’m not her mother.”

My hand paused mid-wipe. I glanced up at that lazy rascal, my tone even more scornful.

“After all, her father’s still busy trying to beat The Legend of Zelda.”

“What father?”

“Don’t play dumb. The illegitimate daughter has come knocking, and you’re pretending not to know? Do you want me to applaud your performance in this wayward father’s redemption drama?”

“What the hell?”

“Duo Duo is the child you abandoned, who’s gone through countless hardships to survive!”

My words made Yan Dong’s handsome face scrunch up like a crumpled draft.

“Now the wronged one is here to demand an explanation—doesn’t that mean she wants to recognize her father?”

“Lin Yunxia, what nonsense are you spouting! She’s my cousin’s daughter!”

Yan Dong practically squeezed the words out from between his teeth, the tips of his ears flushed with extreme annoyance.

“What, is your brain full of those trashy short drama plots?!”