Page 100

This intimacy was impossible in bird form; skin to skin, body temperature to body temperature, with no feathers to obstruct the way, so close it felt as if he were still sleeping peacefully in his father's womb.

Tao Qiu gently patted his back, but didn't say much, letting the Eldest Cub slowly digest this joy.

The second and Third Cub looked at their older brother, who was tightly embracing his father, and their eyes showed envy and anticipation.

When I grow up and become a human, I want to be this close to my dad too!

The Eldest Cub was quite composed; he quickly regained his composure and began to adapt to his human body, though the smile in his eyes lingered.

Tao Qiu cut a piece of bed sheet and wrapped it around Eldest Cub's waist and crotch to protect his privacy.

He asked the Eldest Cub, "Want to get up and try walking a few steps?"

The Eldest Cub nodded vigorously.

Tao Qiu helped him up, and only gradually let go of his hand after he stood up.

The Eldest Cub was standing on the mattress, not afraid of falling over.

"Take a step forward and keep moving," Tao Qiu encouraged.

"Ah." The Eldest Cub opened his arms and took his first step, wobbling unsteadily.

"Chirp! Chirp!" The second cub was even more excited than the Eldest Cub.

-- Gone! Gone!

Once you take that first brave step, things become much smoother.

Although he looked unsteady and wobbly, Eldest Cub still walked step by step to Tao Qiu's side.

"Oh my, our little darling is so great." Tao Qiu patted the Eldest Cub's head and gave him a thumbs up.

The Eldest Cub copied him too? He stuck out his white thumb, making Tao Qiu laugh.

"Gurgle~~~"

They were having a good time when suddenly the Eldest Cub's tummy started protesting with hunger.

Tao Qiu laughed even louder, "You've been sleeping since yesterday, you must be hungry."

The Eldest Cub was a little shy.

The second cub looked at the Eldest Cub's face and exclaimed in surprise, "Chirp chirp!"

--My brother's face turned red.

The Third Cub: "Chirp chirp."

--Like a big tomato.

After his sister said that, the Eldest Cub's ears turned red.

The downside of becoming human is that all your emotional changes are written on your face; you can't hide them at all.

Because the Eldest Cub was hungry, they didn't bother with lunch and just ate the usual pieces of meat and fruit.

Eldest Cub wanted to learn how to use chopsticks like Tao Qiu, but his hands were too small, and he had never practiced before. In his hands, the chopsticks were just ordinary sticks that wouldn't obey his commands.

Tao Qiu fed him a few bites first, filling his hungry stomach, before handing him the small spoon so he could try scooping food himself.

At first, the Eldest Cub wasn't used to it, straining with both his face and hands, his features scrunched up, looking both cute and funny.

Tao Qiu and the second Third Cub cubs lost their appetite, their three pairs of eyes intently watching the Eldest Cub tame the spoon.

After trying five or six times, the Eldest Cub finally scooped up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth.

Tao Qiu clapped her hands. "You learned it so quickly, that's great!"

Second child. "Chirp chirp."

--I knew my brother could do it.

The Third Cub: "Chirp chirp."

--My brother is so smart!

Amidst the effusive praise from his father and sisters, the Eldest Cub became increasingly skilled with a spoon, eventually finishing a bowl of diced meat and a bowl of fruit pieces on his own, filling his stomach.

While observing the Eldest Cub, the second Third Cub were also quietly learning and absorbing experience, preparing for their future life as humans.

After dinner, the family of four sat together. Tao Qiu held her Eldest Cub's chubby little hand; it was so soft and comforting.

"Momo, you're in human form now, do you know how to change back into bird form?"

The Eldest Cub shook his head.

Tao Qiu said, "You're still young. Actually, it's more convenient to move around in bird form most of the time. Of course, being able to switch freely is the best. Dad will share his experience with you. Try it and see if you can change back."

"Hey!" The Eldest Cub nodded forcefully again.

Tao Qiu chuckled. "Nodding isn't necessary. Why use so much force? Just a light touch is enough. Be careful not to strain your neck."

The Eldest Cub grinned foolishly and nodded slightly.

That's right.

After nodding in response to the instruction, Tao Qiu went on to explain how she switched between human and bird forms.

"When you're in human form, imagine yourself in bird form. Observe how your head, wings, and claws move. Find that feeling, and you'll naturally transform back."

"Conversely, the method for transforming from bird form to human form is similar. As for how to retain features like bird wings in human form, we'll learn that later."

This kind of teaching belongs to the abstract school, but that's exactly how Tao Qiu himself teaches; it's the only way he can teach.

Following his father's instructions, the Eldest Cub closed his eyes and began to recall the feeling of moving his claws and flying when he was in bird form.

"Hmm--"

As he thought about it, the Eldest Cub gradually clenched his fists, his whole body tensed up, and his neck and face turned red.

Two minutes later, the Eldest Cub opened its eyes and its body relaxed.

He looked at Tao Qiu dejectedly. "Ah... ya..."

It's highly likely that they're saying, "I'm sorry, I can't do it."

Tao Qiu hugged him tightly, patted his head, and comforted him, "It's okay. You've already learned to walk and eat today, that's great! We'll take it step by step, you'll gradually understand, and you'll learn eventually."

"Hmm." The Eldest Cub buried his face in Tao Qiu's chest, pouting in frustration.

To cheer up her Eldest Cub, Tao Qiu deliberately used a cheerful tone, saying, "I almost forgot to mention, yesterday, the 12th, was your birthday, Momo, but you were asleep and didn't get to celebrate. We'll make up for it today. Daddy will cook you something delicious, okay?"

The Eldest Cub looked up, somewhat bewildered. "Huh?"

The two little ones chirped happily.

--I know about birthdays, they were mentioned in cartoons, right? A birthday is the day everyone is born, and on your birthday you should eat something delicious to celebrate.

Tao Qiu smiled and said, "Yes, the birth of life is a miracle. The day a life is born is the most special day for every life."

He looked at the three chicks. "You were born as eggs. Your father incubated them, and you grew up and crawled out of the shells. So, the day you hatched is actually your real birthday."

The Third Cub chirped, "Chirp, chirp."

--Did I hatch after my older siblings? Does that mean my birthday is last?

"Yes, all three of you will celebrate your birthdays. Besides having delicious food, you can also make a birthday wish. If Dad can do it, he will definitely help you make it come true."

"Ah." The Eldest Cub pointed to his mouth, looking at Tao Qiu with a pitiful expression.

Tao Qiu slapped his forehead and smiled wryly, "I forgot, Momo, you can't talk anymore? But it's okay. If you can't express what you want to eat or what birthday wish you want to make, Dad will make it up to you when you can talk again, okay?"

"Hmm!" The Eldest Cub smiled again.

Since the birthday celebration was already announced, the surprise aspect was completely lost.

In the afternoon, Tao Qiu redid a food platter tower in front of the children. The fruit decoration on the top layer was tomatoes that the Eldest Cub picked out himself.

The remaining leaves, birds, and spelling words took some time. Finally, Tao Qiu also made a simple bowl of longevity noodles, telling the children that eating longevity noodles symbolizes the hope that the children will grow up healthy and live a very long time.

Eldest Cub couldn't use chopsticks, and if he broke the longevity noodles, it would be considered bad luck. He also couldn't eat with a spoon, so Tao Qiu fed Eldest Cub little by little.

After eating the longevity noodles, Eldest Cub wore a paper crown folded by Tao Qiu on his head and listened to his father and sister sing him a birthday song.

Tao Qiu held Eldest Cub's hand and helped him cut the platter tower into four pieces, leaving the largest piece for him and dividing the other three pieces equally.

To make it easier for the cubs to eat, Tao Qiu cut all the food into pieces so that even the Eldest Cub could scoop it out with a spoon.

From eating longevity noodles to dividing the platter tower, everything was recorded by Tao Qiu on her phone as a memento, which she can watch anytime in the future.

After washing up after dinner, Eldest Cub picked up his phone, skillfully opened the storage space, pointed to the crown placed next to him, and made a few "ah ah" sounds to Tao Qiu.

Tao Qiu guessed, "Your birthday wish is to watch more episodes of cartoons?"

"Ah." The Eldest Cub nodded.

Tao Qiu said, "You fell asleep yesterday, and the second Third Cub kids didn't watch cartoons either. Counting today, you can watch four episodes. How many more episodes do you wish for on your birthday?"

"Ah, ah."

Two episodes?

"Ah."

Tao Qiu chuckled, "I'm not being greedy. Okay, two episodes it is, six episodes in total. If you can't finish watching them tonight, you can save them for later."

"Chirp! Chirp!" The little one jumped and skipped with joy.

Hello, brother! Hello, father!

The Third Cub chirped, "Chirp, chirp."

--On my birthday, I'll add two more episodes of the anime.

Upon hearing this, Erzai's eyes lit up, and he ran to Tao Qiu's side, cautiously probing, "Chirp, chirp?"

--Dad, is it okay to add a few more episodes?

Tao Qiu chuckled, "You little rascal, how many more episodes do you want?"

"Chirp chirp?"

--Three episodes?

"Can."

"Chirp chirp?"

--Four episodes.

"Alright."

The second cub, incredibly bold, cried out, "Chirp chirp!"

--Ten episodes!

Tao Qiu remained silent, only smiling as she looked at the second child.

Erzai's newly swelled courage shrank back, and she whispered, "Chirp, chirp."

Five episodes, no less.

Tao Qiu feigned surprise. "Oh dear, Xuexue only wants five episodes? I thought you were going to say eight. I was about to agree."

"Chirp! Chirp!"

--I'll revise it! I want eight episodes!

Tao Qiu shook her finger. "No way, a promise is a promise. Five episodes means five episodes."