Daddy's Birthday

"Does this count as making a small windfall?"

When Xiao Xiao returned home, he was still thinking about it, and a sense of security steadily rose within him.

With more than three hundred points, he now had a fairly substantial buffer against both the city's malice and himself. As long as he didn't cause trouble, he could live here peacefully for several months.

He poked his head out the window and saw the three vicious dogs sprawled on the wall, staring at him.

They had just accompanied him through a crisis, yet had somehow mysteriously returned to the yard. Aside from a few patches of fur that looked singed, they were completely unchanged.

This couldn't help but make Xiao Xiao feel that this city was truly wondrous.

Perhaps he ought to reward them. Looking at the three dogs' wise eyes, Xiao Xiao found himself wondering whether he should buy some sausages to feed them.

However, before he could act, the little girl from next door came out carrying a dog bowl. Several bones covered in meat could be seen inside, and the three dogs immediately leaped for joy.

Xiao Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. His neighbor had rewarded them in his place.

Still, as he watched the three happy dogs fighting over the bones from a distance, Xiao Xiao couldn't help feeling a little tempted.

Although the three vicious dogs' combat ability truly wasn't exaggerated at all—they were merely ordinary vicious dogs, and during their battle against the suffocated corpse, they had only bitten and pounced, displaying no other special abilities—

their loyalty had far exceeded Xiao Xiao's expectations.

Judging solely from their loyalty, this deal already seemed quite worthwhile.

Then, could he help strengthen them?

The thought suddenly popped into his head, but Xiao Xiao found it difficult to make a decision quickly. Strengthening them was too expensive—one hundred points in total.

Moreover, the results were unknown. The chances of obtaining three vicious dogs with special abilities were extremely low. It was far more likely that the three dogs would suddenly mutate and have to be disposed of.

Of course, if it succeeded...

Xiao Xiao couldn't help feeling a little expectant. He wasn't a gambling addict, but he still couldn't help imagining the joy of winning the gamble...

That night, after awakening, Xiao Xiao actually managed to sleep peacefully.

With this substantial stockpile of points, he no longer had to worry about the world's malice descending upon him for the time being. Besides, the next day was his day off, so he didn't have to consider work. He was filled with happiness.

However, when he yawned and walked out of the bedroom the next morning, he froze awkwardly on the spot.

His mother, who would normally have already gone to work at the mall by this time, was actually in the living room, basking in the sunlight pouring through the window and wrapping dumplings with flour-covered hands.

"Did I wake you?"

When Mother saw Xiao Xiao come out, she immediately smiled and said, "It's rare for you to have a day off today, so I'm making you some dumplings."

Xiao Xiao found it strange. Today shouldn't have been his mother's day off. His own workplace at the docks rested every Monday, but he didn't feel it was appropriate to ask.

During this period, he had tried his best to avoid contact with this "mother." But now that he had come out and run into her, it would be awkward to retreat straight back inside. He could only quietly give a soft "Mm."

He walked to the water dispenser and poured himself a glass of water. Then, feeling that it wasn't quite right, he poured a second glass and placed it beside his mother.

Mother glanced at the glass he had set down beside her and actually looked rather pleased. She said with concern, "There's some fruit I brought back yesterday. Wash some and eat it yourself."

"Why did you get up so early today?"

"..."

"It's already past ten..."

Xiao Xiao thought to himself, For the old me, who used to live day and night without rest, this really does count as early, doesn't it?

Sitting by the sofa the entire time was somewhat awkward, so after turning on the television, he sat for a while before washing his hands and joining his mother in wrapping dumplings.

Even if she merely had his mother's appearance, he still wasn't used to enjoying her care so openly.

"My son has really grown up."

Mother looked at the dumplings Xiao Xiao had wrapped, which were not particularly attractive, but the more she looked at them, the more she liked them. She smiled and said, "Sit over there and rest. Just keep me company and chat with me."

"Work must be so tiring. Can your body handle it?"

"..."

Xiao Xiao only answered with another "Mm," silently continuing to help.

Around noon, Mother cooked the dumplings. Mother and son sat at the dining table watching television and quietly ate.

Mother seemed to have something to say. Only when the meal was almost over did she suddenly pretend to speak casually:

"It's your father's birthday today. You used to hate going out, but now you've started working. At least go over and sit with him tonight."

"Father?"

Xiao Xiao suddenly froze.

He hadn't seen him for a long time, nor had they had any contact.

Four years ago, he had already had a child with another woman, divorced Mother, and formed another family.

Xiao Xiao had no desire to see him. The entire world had already turned into a writhing monster. Who knew what was hidden beneath those familiar faces?

Facing Mother at home and interacting with her as usual often made Xiao Xiao feel briefly dazed.

But that father... Xiao Xiao couldn't think of any reason to make a special trip to call a monster wearing human skin "Father."

In fact, he had completely forgotten about this matter. That "father" did not seem to have called to inform him either.

Yet Mother had taken the initiative to bring it up. It seemed she hoped he would go.

He could even sense the complicated emotions in her heart: She didn't want him to become too close to the man who had abandoned mother and son, but she also couldn't bear to sever the bond between a child and his father.

After a long while, he only gave a soft "Mm."

This seemed to improve Mother's mood even further. Perhaps Xiao Xiao's reluctant expression pleased her.

"Ever since he married that woman, he hasn't cared about the two of us at all. And because you didn't go to college, he even stopped giving you the tuition he promised."

Mother nagged on, "But he's still your father, and you're his eldest son. It's only right for you to go over on his birthday."

"I called him already. He said he really wanted to see you too."

"But dress nicely when you go. That family has eyes on top of their heads and never looks people in the eye."

"..."

Xiao Xiao didn't particularly want to go, but he still agreed.

Perhaps he simply wanted to see how far those people could carry out their act, even knowing they were monsters in disguise.

After eating, he washed the dishes and returned to his bedroom to go online, learning about this world through the forums. It wasn't until his mother came over and knocked on the door in the afternoon that he changed and left.

His mother gave him the address. Xiao Xiao took the subway straight there, without making a single phone call along the way.

When he arrived at an elegantly decorated, classically styled restaurant in the Uptown District, he recognized at a glance the distinguished man sitting among the crowd, with slicked-back hair and an outstanding bearing and outfit.

The two exchanged a distant glance. The man seemed somewhat awkward and, after a long pause, merely nodded at Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao walked over and nodded back.

The man didn't say anything warm and familiar, which saved Xiao Xiao the awkwardness of calling a monster those two words.

His father seemed somewhat uncomfortable. While smiling and entertaining the other guests, he merely pointed toward a corner and indicated that Xiao Xiao should sit there.

Xiao Xiao felt no displeasure. He simply sat down and watched everything around him with cold eyes.

Among the arriving guests, some recognized Xiao Xiao. From time to time, someone would pat him on the shoulder with a sigh and say to his father, "This is your eldest, right?"

"My goodness, I haven't seen him in a few years, and he's grown so much. He looks just like Lao Xiao did when he was young—such a handsome boy."

"..."

Sitting beside Xiao Xiao was a woman who looked to be only in her thirties. A chubby little boy dressed in trendy clothes stood beside her. He was Xiao Xiao's half-brother in this world.

The woman seemed somewhat displeased. Whenever others praised Xiao Xiao, she rolled her eyes and never spoke to him.

Even Father remained busy entertaining the guests. Only after everyone had taken their seats did he find time to say a few words to Xiao Xiao.

"It's been four years, and you haven't even called me."

"Are you recovered from your illness?"

"..."

Xiao Xiao nodded. "More or less."

Xiao's Father had clearly not wanted to talk much with Xiao Xiao to begin with. But when he saw that Xiao Xiao hadn't taken the initiative to speak to him at all and was answering coldly, he seemed dissatisfied. He frowned and said:

"I heard from your mother that after you got sick, you hid at home playing games all the time and didn't even leave the house?"

"What kind of behavior is that? If you stay cooped up too long, you'll become useless."

"If nothing else, go find a job at the company these next few days. That would be better..."

"..."

Before he could finish, the woman's expression darkened. She suddenly raised her voice and said to a friend beside her, "Brother Zhao, I heard your child got into college?"

"Oh, she worked hard for it herself..."

The friend immediately began speaking with a smile. Everyone's attention was drawn over, and the topic was abruptly dropped.

"This is way too realistic..."

After awakening in this world, Xiao Xiao had seen far too many strange and grotesque things. Now, watching the undercurrents swirling through Xiao Xiao's small birthday banquet gave him a different sort of feeling.

Surrounded by disguised monsters, he had no intention of competing with anyone. He simply observed everything in silence.

But seeing Xiao Xiao's silent, distant attitude, Xiao's Father somehow felt a surge of anger. Then, noticing the woman repeatedly signaling him with her eyes, he still found an opening and spoke:

"Right, since you came today, that works out well. Go back and tell your mother."

"The old house in the Uptown District is too old now, and it isn't convenient to live there. You and your mother should move out when you get the chance. I'll help you rent a better place."