Beauty and the Beasts

Once she got back to the hotel room, Bai Qingqing took off her gown and all the accessories and changed into a set of comfortable pajamas before laying down on the bed.

“Geez, this bed isn’t too reliable. Seems like we have to sleep on the floor again,” Bai Qingqing pressed upon the bed plank and said in dissatisfaction.

The carefree Parker plopped his butt down on the bed and rolled his eyes as he said, “Who cares? Who asked Curtis to be so fat?”

The corners of Bai Qingqing’s lips twitched as she thought: If your tone didn’t reek so heavily of jealousy, your words might have a hint of credibility.

After washing his cubs, Winston walked out of the bathroom with a tiger cub in his hand and said, “Your turn.”

Roarrr~

The leopard cubs also urged from the side. Mommy had said that they weren’t allowed to climb into bed before they showered.

Parker’s brows drooped as he resigned to his fate and went to wash his kids.

In this aspect, Muir had it the easiest, for birds couldn’t shower frequently. Usually, they would just wash their claws and beaks and that was it.

Right now, the three little eagles were nestled on the sofa, asleep.

Winston wiped the tiger cubs’ fur until it was half-dry, and Bai Qingqing brought over the blow-dryer and squatted by the side to help them blow-dry their fur.

“I remember when you first arrived, I’d blow-dried your fur like this too,” Bai Qingqing said as she recalled.

A reminiscent look also surfaced in Winston’s eyes as he replied gently, “In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed.”

“Yeah.” Bai Qingqing leaned against him and said in a melancholic tone, “Perhaps in another blink of the eye, the people I know will have grown old. Winston, have you brought the green crystals I asked you to?”

“I have,” said Winston.

She said, “When my parents and Xiaofan fall asleep, feed them one each. I’ll only feed them one. Any more and they’ll get suspicious.”

“Okay.” Winston agreed without hesitation. “You don’t have to stand on ceremony. Parker and the rest won’t mind it.”

“Mm.” Bai Qingqing relaxed and combed the tiger cubs’ fur on and off, feeling drowsy unknowingly.

Winston lowered the wind speed and sat on the floor to allow his spouse to lean against him more comfortably.

After the little tigers were blown dry, Bai Qingqing also fell asleep.

Winston carried her to the bed and covered her with a blanket properly, then quietly gazed at her sleeping profile for a while.

Noise rang incessantly from the bathroom, like a symphony. Worried that his spouse would be disturbed, Winston and Muir entered to help.

As Curtis didn’t have family, the responsibility of attending to the guests landed on him and Bai Qingqing’s parents, thus they were the last to leave. Bai Xiaofan was terribly drunk, and the minute he fell onto the bed, he lost consciousness. Winston stuffed a green crystal into his mouth. He then waited for another hour before Bai Qingqing’s parents fell asleep, after which he also fed them one each.

On Bai Qingqing and Curtis’s nuptial night, there were a total of 14 people in the room. If the one in her tummy was included, that happened to make 15, perfect like the round and full moon in the sky¹.

…

After the wedding, Bai Qingqing started nourishing the fetus.

As Mommy Bai had to work, she couldn’t take care of her. This was quite perfect for Bai Qingqing, actually, for there were already enough people taking care of her in the villa.

By the time school started, Bai Qingqing’s pregnancy had started to show. She didn’t take time off school and instead continued to attend classes. In any case, she wasn’t tired.

Only in the following year after Chinese New Year, in the second semester of her third year in university, did Bai Qingqing apply for two months’ leave. Due to it being sick leave, it didn’t affect her from graduating. After the baby was born, Curtis took care of it.

As Curtis didn’t have a surname, the child took on Bai Qingqing’s surname. The issue of naming gave the entire family a headache, and it was only when the baby turned a month old was it finally decided.

Bai Zhenbei, meaning ‘precious treasure’.

In addition, before this name was chosen, this precious treasure had been called Huahua, Bai Huahua¹.

This was also the name registered on Bai Zhenbei’s household register. It was unknown how much blood and tears she would have to shed in the future because of this.