*

「The next day.」

When Yelias saw Flar and McKoff at his door, his expression faltered for a moment.

The strange look on his face became even more pronounced, especially when he saw the two old men carrying gifts.

"You two..."

When Flar and McKoff saw him, a flicker of discomfort crossed their faces as well.

The two old men cleared their throats. "Yelias... we..."

Bai Su had just finished making breakfast.

Spring had just begun, and the cherry blossoms in her courtyard were in bloom.

So, she had specially picked some cherry blossoms that morning to make cherry blossom cakes.

Spring was the right time to eat foods that promote vitality, so for breakfast she’d specially prepared scrambled eggs with toon sprouts, pea shoot and mushroom soup, pan-fried cakes of shredded radish and cherry blossoms, and an appetizing borscht.

Smelling the aroma, Flar and McKoff both swallowed involuntarily.

They had both tasted Bai Su’s fried shrimp and knew just how wonderful her fresh cooking was.

They could hardly imagine how delicious this magnificent breakfast spread would be!

Bai Xiaolang and Bai Xiao Zhu came downstairs yawning and couldn’t help but freeze when they saw the unfamiliar old men in the living room.

When Flar and McKoff saw Bai Xiao Zhu, they both stared with wide, shocked eyes.

’The spiritual power flowing through this child... is... is he a child of the Lanton Family?’

Yelias maintained a gentle, gentlemanly demeanor, but his eyes remained ice-cold. "You two gentlemen, is there something you need this early in the morning?"

Flar and McKoff sheepishly placed the gifts they were holding on the table. "We came to apologize."

Yelias replied, "You didn’t have to specifically pick a time when people are eating breakfast, did you?"

Bai Su gently ruffled his hair. "Yelias, you shouldn’t be rude to your elders."

Flar and McKoff’s eyes widened in astonishment. ’This kid, who’s been aloof and distant since he was little, would let someone pat his head and lecture him like a child?’

But Yelias, uncharacteristically, nodded meekly. "Oh..."

With that, he actually retracted his hostility toward the two old men.

Bai Su beamed. "You’re just in time for a meal. Would you two like to eat with us?"

Flar and McKoff looked at the table full of food that was a feast for the senses, immediately ignored Yelias’s dark expression, and sat down without ceremony. "Yes!"

Bai Su then turned to remind the two little ones, "Eat up. You have special training after this, and Kong Ji will take you to school."

The two little ones nodded obediently.

The special training had been arranged for them by Lu Tingyan. Their perfectly good winter break was now spent getting up early every day for training at the military base, only returning after dark.

The two little ones were drilled at the base every day, and after exhausting all their energy, they would come home and fall right asleep, with almost no time to talk to their mother.

’That damn Lu Tingyan!’

The little ones lowered their heads to eat, the grudges in their eyes a stark contrast to their obedient demeanor.

Bai Xiao Zhu had now also joined Bai Xiaolang’s Bounty Hunter Guild. Once they were strong enough, they would take their mother away and protect her themselves.

’Then Lu Tingyan would know to behave himself!’

’Hmph!’

Bai Xiaolang cursed inwardly while wolfing down his breakfast.

Flar and McKoff, smelling the fragrant food, were itching to start eating.

Bai Su was a little dissatisfied. She crossed her arms, staring at the two of them with a stern expression. "Is this what you call an apology?"

Beside her, Yelias’s lips curled into a smile without him realizing it.

’So this is what it feels like to have someone openly stand up for you.’

But these two old men were notoriously stubborn and prideful. For them to come to his door and apologize was, to Yelias, already an extremely rare event.

’An attitude like Bai Su’s will only infuriate these two old stick-in-the-muds.’

He reached out, just about to step in front of Bai Su.

But the sincerity on the two old men’s faces became even more apparent. "Yelias, we are truly sorry. We shouldn’t have had such suspicions and prejudices against you back then. Once the matter was investigated, it was clear your sister’s death had nothing to do with you. We truly owe you an apology."

"We hope you can forgive our disrespectful behavior from all those years ago."

"At the same time, we would also like to sincerely invite you to participate in Yarko’s female dietary nourishment project."

Their attitude was so good it was as if they were about to start worshiping Yelias like an ancestor.

After apologizing, the two of them looked expectantly at Bai Su.

Yelias found the scene before him both absurd and bizarre.

’What’s with those two old stick-in-the-muds staring at his little rabbit as if they’re waiting for a reward?’

Yelias narrowed his eyes. "You’re inviting me to join the project?"

The two old stick-in-the-muds nodded obediently.

Yelias was still having trouble adjusting to their unusual behavior. "Why?"

McKoff said sheepishly, "Miss Bai said that if you don’t go, she won’t go either. We desperately need Miss Bai’s cooperation, not just for the food samples, but also for her to occasionally release her Healing Ability."

Yelias looked toward Bai Su, stunned.

Bai Su gave him a beaming smile and a wink.

Yelias quickly understood and couldn’t help but smile.

’His little rabbit was backing him up.’

His mood lifted immensely, and he "reluctantly" agreed. "Alright then."

Flar and McKoff exchanged a glance, then carefully ventured, "In that case, could we ask Miss Bai to send over a little extra food sample each day?"

Yelias glanced at them, his gaze cool.

The two old men had never felt so constrained before; a chill ran down their spines.

Flar said awkwardly, "If it’s not possible, then never mind..."

The main reason was that the food was just too delicious. If a little extra could be sent over every day, wouldn’t they be able to snag some for themselves?

Yesterday’s fried shrimp had been absolutely incredible.

After tasting it, going back to drinking nutrient solutions and eating canned food just didn’t feel right anymore...

Although they said that, Bai Su did indeed have Yelias bring an extra portion of food to the research institute every day.

However, it wasn’t for the two old men, but for Li Yue.

When she exposed Sai’er, she had seen Li Yue hiding in a corner, frantically stuffing fried shrimp into her mouth.

Bai Su had always been generous to those who genuinely loved her food.

*

With the matter concerning Yelias resolved, the project’s progress also reached a turning point.

Spring in the Imperial City arrived exceptionally late.

It only began to warm up as April approached.

The restaurant at the mountaintop orphanage had been blown to bits.

With Yan Qingya’s help, Bai Su opened a new restaurant in the Imperial City.

To be precise, it was a much larger establishment.

Bai Xiaoshe also woke up from hibernation. He had been sulking for a long time because he missed Bai Su’s wedding.

The three little ones played together for a while and quickly got to know each other.

Bai Su had specially chosen this day for the grand opening.

It was a weekend that also coincided with a holiday—a perfect time when everyone was off work.

Lu Tingyan returned with a gift and, with a beaming smile, brought Bai Su two pieces of news.

"Good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

Bai Su blinked. "The bad news."

Lu Tingyan said, "The Medical Alliance has officially put you on their kill list. The person who took the contract is the world’s number one assassin, Leia."

Bai Su froze for a second, then asked, "And the good news?"

Lu Tingyan: "My request for protection assistance from the International Alliance was approved. The International Alliance will assign someone specifically for your one-on-one protection."

Bai Su thought for a moment. "You mean I don’t have to worry about Leia for the time being?"

Lu Tingyan nodded. "Right."

But he didn’t tell Bai Su that the person the Alliance was sending to protect her was Wen Lan.

The protection detail would last for a minimum of three years.

Wen Lan would need to move to the Imperial City and live there for an extended period.

If the fourth child was with him, they would certainly move over as well.

This protection operation was to be carried out in secret.

Because Leia, as the number one assassin, had infiltration and assassination methods that were impossible to guard against.

Overt protection would not only be ineffective but would also give the enemy an opportunity to observe from the shadows and learn the deployment of security personnel around Bai Su.

That’s why Lu Tingyan had opted for a two-pronged approach.

On the surface, he had his people and Yelias’s people mixed in at the restaurant as staff to protect her.

In the shadows, he would have someone from the International Alliance providing protection, silently and without drawing attention.

It was just that the person coming was Wen Lan, which gave him a bit of a headache...