Small, Pitiful, and a Big Eater

In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.

Lin Xuan, nestled in Ye Hongyu's arms, held a bottle as he noisily suckled on the nipple. He was nearly done with the entire bottle, yet Ye Hongyu showed no intention of stopping him.

After more than a month of buildup from Lin Xuan, the couple had finally accepted the premise that their son was "small, pitiful, and a big eater."

Their initial worry had turned into something they were now accustomed to.

"Consumed Tai Nong Institute Stage 1 Nourishment Milk. Basic Nutrition +4"

"Consumed Tai Nong Institute Stage 1 Nourishment Milk. Basic Nutrition +4"

As the consumption prompts appeared, Lin Xuan could clearly feel warmth spreading from his abdomen and slowly flowing through his entire body.

His ever-increasing milk intake, coupled with the innate boost from Nutrient Absorption, made him develop far faster than other babies his age.

The most noticeable change was undoubtedly brought by the accelerated development of his brain.

Though he could not see how much more brain he had grown, as long as he avoided overthinking, he could now remain clearheaded whenever he was awake.

His vision had also developed to the average level of a six-month-old infant. He could already see nearby things clearly.

But what exactly is this "Tai Nong Institute"? It sounds a little like some official organization...

Lin Xuan guessed as he drank.

Tai Nong Institute Stage 1 Nourishment Milk was the new formula his family had just switched him to. These past two days, they had been alternating it with Premature Infant formula.

Still, the name of this new formula left him somewhat puzzled.

Clang—

As the door closed, Lin Hai, who had just gotten off work, entered the house. While taking off his coat, he asked impatiently, "How is it? Is our son getting used to it?"

"He's drinking happily," Ye Hongyu said with a smile.

"That's good."

Lin Hai let out a long breath of relief, then went to the kitchen, took a can of beer from the refrigerator, and popped open the pull tab with a click.

Seeing this, Ye Hongyu asked, "Another troublesome case?"

"The same matter as before."

Only after taking several gulps did Lin Hai speak in a somewhat heavy tone.

"We finally managed to catch those beasts from last time. Before we even had the chance to interrogate them, those arrogant bastards from Crimson Flame forcibly took them away... This is utterly outrageous!"

Smack!

As he spoke, Lin Hai could not help slapping the beer can onto the kitchen counter, producing a sharp bang.

The sudden noise reminded him that his son was drinking milk beside him. His neck immediately shrank back as he cautiously looked toward his wife.

This time, though, Ye Hongyu did not scold him. Instead, she comforted him, "Since Crimson Flame took them away, those people are most likely connected to the Old Soil. That isn't something the Public Security Bureau can handle... Besides, wasn't what happened last time an accident?"

"I don't care whether it was an accident!"

His wife's consideration only made Lin Hai feel more stifled. "Those beasts caused such a huge commotion that you fell, went into premature labor, and suffered massive bleeding. I only hate that I can't skin them alive with my own hands!"

Crimson Flame?

Old Soil?

What were those supposed to be?

Lin Xuan widened his round black eyes and openly eavesdropped on the conversation between Lin Hai and Ye Hongyu.

Over the past month, it was through such bits and pieces of overheard information that he had roughly figured out his situation.

First of all, this truly was not the Blue Star where he had lived in his previous life.

For a time, he had suspected this world might be a parallel world of Blue Star, because the languages of the two worlds were almost completely identical.

But later, he realized that whether it was or not did not really matter.

He had ultimately died from sudden death caused by overtime work and come to another world, where he had become the youngest son of Lin Hai and Ye Hongyu.

The city he now lived in was called Dragon River City.

His father, Lin Hai, was a veteran detective of the Dragon River City Public Security Bureau. His mother, Ye Hongyu, had once worked for the Public Security Bureau as well, but was now a full-time housewife.

He also had an eldest sister named Lin Rou, along with his second brother Lin Wu and third sister Lin Long, who were fraternal twins.

He himself was still named Lin Xuan, fourth among the children.

That was most of the useful information he had gathered so far.

There was also some information that he had heard in daily life but still could not make sense of.

Like the Crimson Flame and Old Soil that Lin Hai and Ye Hongyu had just mentioned.

The Public Security Bureau in this world is equivalent to the police department from my previous life, mainly responsible for maintaining daily order in the city.

Lin Xuan analyzed inwardly with the nipple in his mouth. Crimson Flame should also be an official department, like the Public Security Bureau, but its authority is clearly higher. Could it be a special department that specifically handles certain kinds of cases?

As for the Old Soil, it sounds like a place name... Unfortunately, there isn't enough information to tell.

While Lin Xuan was still analyzing what exactly the Old Soil was, Lin Hai, whose emotions had been soothed by his wife, casually turned on the television.

By sheer coincidence, the local news being broadcast mentioned the Old Soil, immediately drawing Lin Xuan's attention.

"Recently, a small group of vicious criminals illegally crossed over from the Old Soil and may appear in areas near our city."

"Mutants and Mech-Energy Users may be among these criminals. Should any citizens discover suspicious individuals, do not act rashly. Please immediately call XXX to report them. The Dragon River Security Division will wholeheartedly ensur—"

Click!

Before the news report could finish, Lin Hai directly turned off the television he had just switched on. With a sour expression, he said, "What use is reporting them? Even if we catch them, won't Crimson Flame just snatch them away again?"

"Enough, my great Detective Lin. Don't say such childish things. There weren't any Mutants or Mech-Energy Users among the people you caught, were there?"

Ye Hongyu found it both amusing and exasperating.

"So what if there were? Back when your husband was serving in the Old Soil, it's not like I never took down those self-righteous bastards!"

"Yes, our great Detective Lin certainly isn't afraid of them." Ye Hongyu chuckled. "But Crimson Flame probably took them away because they haven't caught the real culprit yet. Everyone is just doing their job, so don't lower yourself to their level.

Lin Wu and Long'er should be getting out of evening self-study soon. Go pick them up first, and while you're at it, ask whether Lin Rou needs you to pick her up too."

"If you hadn't said it, I almost would've forgotten!"

Lin Hai smacked his forehead, grabbed his coat and car keys, and headed out.

Watching her husband's departing back, Ye Hongyu smiled and shook her head.

What she did not notice was that Lin Xuan, in her arms, had widened his round black eyes even further—

"Mutants? Mech-Energy Users?"

Lin Xuan suddenly realized that this world... seemed somewhat different from what he had originally imagined.

During the new-book period, there will be two updates every day, totaling 4,000 to 5,000 words. Once it goes premium, daily updates will soar to 10,000 words minimum. This isn't empty talk—you can check Koi's previous book, which earned every rapid-update badge. The theme is small, pitiful, and guaranteed to keep you full!