TPLTMOE – Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Extra 6 – Raising Pups (2)

The sound of running water in the bathroom continued well past midnight. By the time Ling Ran was carried out wrapped in a bathrobe, he was already exhausted and had fallen into a deep sleep.

Jiang Zhiyu placed him back on the bed, buried his face in the omega's pale neck for a kiss, then finally held him close as they slept.

The next morning, Ling Ran was awakened by soft calls from beside the bed.

Jiang Yunyun was already fully dressed, wearing a little yellow bear hat on his head as he lay by the bedside, staring at him with big, dark eyes.

Seeing the omega finally open his eyes, Jiang Yunyun excitedly shouted toward the door: "Daddy! Papa's awake! Papa can come with us now!"

The enigma outside strode in. Seeing what his son had done, he immediately scooped the boy up from behind and tucked the blankets back around the omega on the bed.

"Sleep a little longer," Jiang Zhiyu leaned down to kiss the corner of Ling Ran's lips, speaking softly, "I'll take him."

Even held firmly in the enigma's arms, Jiang Yunyun squirmed restlessly, his two slender white legs kicking as he tried to break free, only to receive a warning tap on the head.

"Jiang Yunyun, what did you promise earlier?"

The little sticky rice ball looked utterly aggrieved, pouting as he stretched his arms toward Ling Ran: "But... I want Papa to take me too..."

Ling Ran's consciousness wasn't fully awake yet. Seeing Jiang Zhiyu preparing to mercilessly carry the little one away, he sat up from bed. The moment his feet touched the floor, his legs trembled weakly, barely able to support him.

Remembering the enigma's wild antics in the bathroom last night, his ears flushed slightly red. His fingers clutched at the collar of his pajamas, afraid the child might see the marks left on his fair skin beneath.

"Wait," Ling Ran called out to them, asking, "Where are you going?"

Jiang Yunyun twisted desperately in the tall enigma's arms, looking at the omega as if facing life-or-death separation: "Daddy's taking me to kindergarten! Papa, I don't want to leave you... I don't want to go to kindergarten..."

Going to kindergarten had indeed been previously arranged, but Ling Ran had been too busy lately to remember.

"Wasn't it scheduled for next week? Why the sudden change to today?"

Jiang Zhiyu turned back: "Today's the 10th. It was always scheduled for today."

Ling Ran quickly grabbed his phone to check. He'd actually mistaken the date—today was his son's first day of kindergarten. How could he not accompany him?

"Yunyun, wait for Papa to get ready, okay? I'll change and go with you."

Jiang Yunyun successfully escaped the enigma's grasp and threw himself at the omega's legs, clinging tightly as he tattled: "I knew Papa would take me! Daddy said he'd take me alone and wouldn't let me wake you, but I couldn't bear to be without you, Papa. Can't you come to kindergarten with me?"

Ling Ran picked up his son, pinching his soft cheeks before adjusting the little bear hat on his head.

"Papa's already a grown-up, and grown-ups can't go to kindergarten anymore."

Jiang Yunyun wrapped his arms around his neck: "Then Papa should turn back into a little kid so we can be together. Otherwise, I won't see you at kindergarten and I'll miss you."

Ling Ran's heart melted completely. Rubbing the little head resting on his shoulder, he said with a smile: "Papa will pick you up after school, so you'll see me first thing, okay?"

Jiang Yunyun thought carefully, then looked up with utmost seriousness on his small face: "You have to promise you'll be the very first parent to arrive. Faster than all the other kids' parents. Let's pinky swear."

Ling Ran extended his hand: "Alright, pinky promise."

Their hands locked tightly together, but Jiang Yunyun still didn't feel the promise was secure enough. He vigorously waved at the enigma standing nearby.

"Daddy, you too! You have to pinky swear with us. You and Papa must come get me together, and you have to be the very first." Jiang Zhiyu stepped forward, one hand lightly resting on the omega's waist while the other joined their linked fingers. "Alright, we'll be the first to pick you up."

With the enigma's promise, Jiang Yunyun finally relaxed, repeatedly making them confirm that if they weren't first, they'd both turn into puppies.

The corner of Jiang Zhiyu's mouth lifted. Truly his omega's son - even the threatening tone was identical.

The two adults walked Jiang Yunyun to kindergarten together.

The little boy behaved exceptionally well, not crying at all on his first day. Though when the teacher led him toward the classroom holding his small hand, his tiny frame carrying a bear backpack and oversized water bottle kept turning back every few steps. His eyes grew increasingly red, clearly holding back tears that stubbornly refused to fall.

Ling Ran couldn't bear seeing his pitiful expression. Tugging the enigma's hand, his own eyes grew moist and red-rimmed.

"Honey, maybe we should take Yunyun back home. He's barely two and a half. We could wait until he's three to start kindergarten."

Only after that stubborn little figure disappeared from view did Jiang Zhiyu pull his soft omega into an embrace, gently wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes.

"Our son didn't even cry, yet here you are crying first."

Ling Ran simply buried his face in the enigma's chest, unceremoniously wiping his damp tears on the man's shirt.

"I just think he's still so small... It'd be better if he didn't have to grow up so fast..."

As if reading his thoughts, Jiang Zhiyu patted his back comfortingly: "Do you know what he told me privately?"

Ling Ran looked up at him: "What did he say...?"

Jiang Zhiyu cupped his face with one hand, treating him like a child as his palm nearly covered the omega's entire cheek.

"He said he wants to grow up quickly, because then he can protect you."

Jiang Zhiyu's conversations with Jiang Yunyun were far more mature. He never treated his son as an unweaned infant. When the boy asked where he came from, he didn't claim they found him in a trash can or adopted him from relatives.

Instead, he explained everything - the omega's past illnesses, the hardships of pregnancy, the pain of childbirth—all in terms a child could understand.

Children aren't completely clueless—in fact, their empathy can sometimes surpass that of all adults.

So after hearing Jiang Zhiyu's words, Jiang Yunyun cried his heart out, making sure Ling Ran didn't find out.

He said he didn't want to be a child anymore.

He wanted to grow up quickly so he could protect Papa together with Daddy.

But who would've thought that after just a few days of kindergarten, Jiang Yunyun refused to go back at all?

More precocious than his peers, he found school boring, he already knew everything the teachers taught, and none of the other kids could keep up with his train of thought.

Since both Jiang Zhiyu and Ling Ran had morning meetings today, the task of escorting the little master to school fell to Zhao Qin.

But when they reached the kindergarten gate, Young Master Jiang Yunyun absolutely refused to get out of the car. He even climbed into the driver's seat, ready to drive himself to the company to find Ling Ran.

If not for his short legs and small stature, the way he grabbed the steering wheel suggested he might actually have managed to drive off.

Zhao Qin broke out in a cold sweat and quickly pulled the little master out of the driver's seat, carrying him to the kindergarten gate and handing him over to the teacher before leaving.

Putting on his shoes, Jiang Yunyun appeared to comply on the surface, but no one knew he was secretly hatching an escape plan.

At noon, while all the other children were napping under the teacher's supervision, Jiang Yunyun quietly climbed out of his little bed and sat at the edge, bending over to put on his shoes.

Noticing this, the teacher walked over and asked, "Yunyun, do you need to use the bathroom?"

Jiang Yunyun thought for a moment, then nodded.

The teacher took his hand. "Then let me take you. After you're done, come right back to nap, okay? All the other kids are already asleep."

Jiang Yunyun replied obediently, "Teacher Candy, I know where the bathroom is. I can go by myself. You should stay here and take care of the other kids."

The teacher glanced back at two children who were on the verge of a fight, then at the clever and well-behaved Jiang Yunyun in front of her. "Alright, go quickly and come right back. I'll wait here for you."

"Okay, Teacher Candy!"

With his shoes on, Jiang Yunyun dashed out of the napping room.

His little legs pumped furiously as he ran back to the classroom, slung his teddy bear backpack and large water bottle over his shoulders, and put on his teddy bear hat. Fully armed, he sprinted out of the school building.

Outside, the sunlight was perfect, the breeze gentle against his face—everything felt warm and cozy.

How could such beautiful sunshine be wasted on a nap?

Lost in thought, Jiang Yunyun ran to the playground and had the time of his life.

But as he played, he suddenly remembered—he hadn't snuck out at noon just to have fun.

Papa and Daddy went to work every day, so busy, so tired. Now that he was grown up, he ought to help them.

With this in mind, Jiang Yunyun felt a great responsibility weighing on his small shoulders. Charged with the mission of rescuing Papa and Daddy, he toddled over to the kindergarten's side gate on his short legs.

He knew the main entrance wouldn't let him out, but the side gate was currently unmanned during the guards' shift change. Jiang Yunyun plunged into the flowerbeds, crawling on all fours until he reached the fence.

He tried to squeeze through the gap in the fence, but his backpack and water bottle made him too bulky. After several unsuccessful attempts, he had no choice but to remove the little bear backpack and water bottle, pushing them through the gap first. Then, his small, soft body bent down and successfully wriggled under the fence.

"Yay!"

Yunyun was overjoyed. He quickly dusted off his backpack, slung it back on, and secured his water bottle before marching forward with a proud and determined stride.

He was off to work at the company.

The group headquarters meeting lasted nearly the entire morning. After the main meeting, the news department held a smaller session. As deputy director, Ling Ran inevitably had to say a few words, and by the time the meeting adjourned, it was almost 1 p.m.

Qin Chengyue packed up his things and approached Ling Ran. "The department is going out for lunch together. I had your name removed from the list—I assume you're busy?"

Ling Ran glanced at his phone. Aside from a few missed calls, there were several unread messages from Jiang Zhiyu.

"I won't join you. Go ahead without me. I need to head upstairs."

Qin Chengyue wasn't surprised. "Alright, I'll message you when we're about to return."

"Sure, I'll come down early," Ling Ran replied.

Qin Chengyue gave him a knowing look, playfully measuring his waist with his hands before clicking his tongue.

"Still so slim—guess you're not pregnant yet."

Ling Ran flushed and swatted his hand away, glancing around nervously. "What are you talking about?"

Qin Chengyue leaned in and whispered, "Haven't you two considered having another? Yunyun's already in school, and given how often you've been going up to the 101st floor lately, it shouldn't take this long."

Ling Ran stammered defensively, "W-who says I'm going up there for... that?"

"Oh?" Qin Chengyue feigned seriousness. "Then what else? At Jiang Zhiyu's age, how does he even hold back?"

Ling Ran nearly lunged to cover his mouth, relieved no one else was around to hear.

"Yunyun is enough for us. I want to give him all my love, so we're not planning on another child."

Qin Chengyue nodded as if understanding. "Yunyun is very sensible and well-behaved. He'll definitely achieve great things in the future."

"Actually, I don't expect him to accomplish anything extraordinary," Ling Ran said softly. "As long as he grows up safe, healthy, and happy, that's all that matters."

It was the heartfelt wish of any parent who truly loved their child.

After the rest of the department took the elevator downstairs, Ling Ran headed to the 101st floor.

Jiang Zhiyu wasn't in his office. The secretary had already arranged the delivered Japanese cuisine and lobster on plates and briefed Ling Ran on Jiang Zhiyu's afternoon schedule.

"These were specially prepared for you," the secretary said. "President Jiang is still in a meeting and should wrap up in about half an hour. His next appointment isn't until three, so you'll have roughly an hour together."

Ling Ran nodded. "Got it."

The secretary placed a cup of hot cocoa beside him with a smile. "I'll leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything."

Ling Ran smiled back. "Thank you."

The secretary beamed. "Of course."

Once the office door closed, Ling Ran settled onto the sofa and began his meal.

He had ordered way too much and couldn't possibly finish it all. By the time he was done, the table full of food had barely suffered a scratch.

Some of the desserts were clearly ordered for him—Jiang Zhiyu wouldn't even touch them—so he decided to pack those up first to take home for later.

He had just finished boxing up two of them when he heard the door behind him open, followed by slow, heavy footsteps approaching.

Ling Ran snapped the lid shut on the container, accidentally getting a smear of creamy white frosting on his fingertips. He turned his head slightly and saw Jiang Zhiyu standing right beside him, silent, his dark eyes fixed on him with an intensity that burned.

In an instant, Ling Ran understood that gaze—it was filled with raw, unbridled hunger, a desire to conquer and claim, scorching and undisguised.

Come to think of it, they hadn't done anything in days. Ling Ran had been putting Jiang Yunyun to sleep first before returning to the master bedroom, trying to ease their son's adjustment to school. And Jiang Zhiyu, seeing how exhausted he was, had simply held him and let him sleep without pushing for more.

The thought sent a shiver down Ling Ran's spine. He lifted his hand, about to lick the frosting off his finger before it smeared on his clothes—

But before his fingertip could reach his lips, a large hand seized his wrist.

With just a slight tug, he was pulled down onto the plush sofa.

His glistening fingertip was enveloped in warmth, the sweet cream on his skin treated like the most delectable appetizer. The Enigma savored every bit, unwilling to waste a drop. Once satisfied, he only grew hungrier, pressing in deeper for more. Ling Ran was lost in a haze of feverish heat, the protective shell around his tender flesh already soaked through, melting, barely holding together as the delicate core threatened to spill out.

Jiang Zhiyu hauled the boneless Omega up from the sofa with one hand while stripping off his suit jacket, loosening his collar, and yanking off his tie with the other. Then he strode toward the inner room.

Once Ling Ran was laid out on the bed, he belatedly glanced at the window, biting his lip with damp eyes. "It's... still daytime..."

Broad daylight debauchery.

Jiang Zhiyu walked to the window and yanked the heavy curtains shut, plunging the entire lounge into dim obscurity. "Now it's dark."

He turned back, leaning down to swiftly strip the man beneath him bare.

Gripping the soft flesh of his thighs, he spread them apart and settled between them.

The sudden movement startled the Omega, leaving him with nothing to hold onto. He arched backward like a crescent moon, palms pressed against firm muscle for support.

"I—I'm going to fall..." he gasped, flustered.

"You won't."

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