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　　伊墨有時並不明白，為何沈清軒那麼喜歡沖他笑，笑得眉眼彎彎，像是身邊事俱是喜事，人人皆是好人。可事實卻非如此，伊墨知道他的諸多煩心事從未消失過。所以每次見到他的笑容，伊墨都會產生疑惑，究竟在笑什麼，有什麼值得他笑成這副模樣？
　　
　　雖然疑惑著，伊墨也不問。認識時間愈長這樣的笑容見得愈多，伊墨也習慣了，反倒是被那樣純粹的笑意帶動著，每次見到他時，心情都會愉悅不少。此番走過去，伊墨嗅到空氣裡的奶香味，便道：“這又是在做什麼？抱了什麼東西笑得這麼高興？”
　　沈清軒神秘地擺了擺手，示意他放低音量，而後揭開衣襟，露出了那團黑毛球。
　　伊墨只看一眼，就伸手把那睡得正香的小東西拎了起來，像是拎了一塊破布。也不管狼崽受驚地掙扎，提到眼前打量一番，嫌棄地一撇嘴，道：“哪裡來的這畜生？”
　　沈清軒聞言發笑，心想你們都是畜生，說：“你快放了它吧，叫你嚇死了。坐下，我同你細說。”
　　伊墨一揮手，那團黑色毛球就滾回了沈清軒懷裡，嚇得不輕的小狼崽嗚嗚叫著，縮成一團，直往他胸口扒拉。沈清軒安撫著，心裡知道這狼原是誰都不怕的，可到底野獸本能敏銳，感到伊墨危險，所以才露了怯。忍不住盯著伊墨直勾勾地看，看得伊墨皺起了眉，“看我做什麼？”
　　沈清軒實在是看不出他哪裡可怕，反倒是喜愛的不行，嘴裡說道“你好看”，說完又拉了他的手，坐在自己身邊。將事情如何發生，又如何收留了這小狼，娓娓道來。伊墨聽完臉上也不露喜怒，只冷笑一聲，目光停在他懷中那狼崽身上不移開。
　　沈清軒正欲問他作何想法，卻見伊墨手一揮，懷中同時一沉，那原先幾乎毫無重量的小狼陡然化作了一個嬰兒，正橫躺在他胸前蹬著肥胳膊胖腿咿呀做語，沈清軒突逢變故，唬得手一抖，險些把懷裡粉嫩嫩的嬰兒掉進腳邊火盆裡燒死，連忙驚叫一聲，本能的擁緊臂膀，將那嬰孩摟得死緊。
　　臉色都白了。
　　
　　等回過神來，沈清軒忍不住，單手緊緊抱著嬰孩，一手抄起火盆邊的鐵鉗，朝著伊墨身上劈頭蓋臉地刷過去，一邊喊著：“你嚇死我了知不知道你這混帳！”
　　伊墨沒想到他突然發難，閃身躲得甚是狼狽。沈清軒卻並未停下，仍揮著火鉗直往他身上抽，雖未擊中，卻抽的空氣都微微作響。臉上蒼白如紙，眼眶都泛了紅，可見是嚇得狠了，伊墨一時也沒想好如何應對，只能狼狽躲避，兩人在這一瞬間簡直都退化成了小孩，看起來又蠢又拙。
　　還是沈清軒懷裡那嬰兒一聲啼哭，終止了這場鬧劇。沈清軒摔下火鉗，也顧不上再收拾伊墨，脫了斗篷給孩子裹上，低聲輕哄：“莫哭莫哭，寶兒乖，叔給你找奶喝……”
　　伊墨站在一邊，驟然有一種待遇不公之感。而後沈清軒臉色一變，甚是呆滯地望著懷中嬰孩，等伊墨走過去把那小畜生拎起來的時候，只見沈清軒剛烘乾的衣物又一次潮濕。小東西尿了。沈清軒一時言語不能，抬著臉滿眼無辜滿臉無措地望著他，像是不知道怎麼辦才好，伸手拉著伊墨的寬袖，卻不知道該說什麼。空氣裡一股淡淡的臊味。
　　伊墨皺了眉，連鼻子一同皺了起來，說：“難聞。”
　　沈清軒這才反應過來，連忙解了衣物去換，哪有帶著這味道在身上過年的道理？
　　
　　伊墨把裹著小狼的斗篷解了扔到一邊，就讓小東西赤條條的暴露在空氣裡，他把肉團往椅子上一放，拎著濕透了的斗篷去了屏風後面。沈清軒正往下褪褲子，見他來了也不避，一邊換著衣物一邊道：“你真能耐，一揮手就讓動物變了人。我可怎麼辦？”
　　伊墨想起之間被他拿著火鉗抽的場景，哼聲道：“你才是越來越能耐了。”沈清軒聞言想起剛剛的事，頓時也有些不好意思，甚是靦腆的沖他一笑，道：“我被你嚇著了。你好歹打個招呼，哪有這麼冷不丁大變活人的，我要真把它掉進火盆裡，年夜飯的主菜可不是燒烤嬰兒了麼。”說著拉了伊墨的手，討好般放在唇邊親了親，“莫要生氣，你還要同我置氣麼？”最後一句問的軟極了，十足的賣乖。
　　伊墨也不當真同他計較，哼一聲便作罷。
　　沈清軒依舊拉著他的手，冰涼涼的指節貼在自己臉上，依然是軟綿綿地問：“說說為什麼把它變成孩子？”
　　伊墨順手在他臉上掐了一把，頓時紅了一片，又本能的摸上去，像是安慰。只是根本沒意識到自己在做什麼，收回手，伊墨依舊淡然，說道：“人與狼妖生的孩子，除了自母親處繼承了狼族的特徵，還擁有凡人血脈。它母親將一部分內丹轉給了它，我只需給它補充一些妖力，它就可維持人形……也正是如此，許明世才輕易殺了母狼。”
　　
　　沈清軒一時聽不大懂，但也知道伊墨的性子，最煩解釋，他自己想了一會，才想明白，頓時道：“啊，那你的意思，他根本不用修煉，就可以維持人形了麼？那許明世……”
　　“許明世殺了他母親，他父親因此而死。以狼的性情，這仇不可能不報。只是小狼一旦化為人形，人的特徵就明顯些，你若肯費工夫教導，許明世將來也少受些罪。”
　　“那你說的特徵是指什麼？”沈清軒思索著道：“莫非是指它的乳牙？”
　　“不過月餘就開始長牙，是狼的特徵。”伊墨道：“但它化成狼形時卻身形幼小，與剛出生差別不大，這是人類血脈的結果。他若以人形成長，三月就可翻爬，五月就可行走，除了身形與普通孩童並無差距，其餘都佼佼領先。”
　　沈清軒愣住，說：“那怎麼辦？”
　　伊墨說：“你要養就養著便是。”
　　“……我一個男人，養個孩子叫什麼事。”沈清軒直搖頭：“我養不了他，你養。”
　　伊墨說：“癡人說夢。”
　　沈清軒正要說什麼，屏風外被冷落在椅子上的嬰孩突地又大聲啼哭起來，嗓門嘹亮，音量大的驚人。
　　沈清軒雙肩一垮，歎道：“早知道先前不該給他喂得那麼飽。”現在倒是有力氣嚎了。
　　說是說，整了整衣物，還是出去了。等看到那小肉團子赤條條的被擺在冰冷椅子上時，沈清軒又覺得心疼，這世上也只有失了父母的孩子，才會這樣孤單單地被丟在一旁，連件保暖的衣物都沒有。
　　將孩子重新抱起，沈清軒又找了幾條自己冬天護膝的小被子出來，做了個繈褓將他裹好，抱在懷裡哄著。伊墨遠遠地一邊站著，也不幫忙，顯然是不喜歡孩子，沈清軒到覺得，比起不喜歡這孩子本身，他更討厭的是小傢伙沒完沒了的哭鬧。心裡不由得好笑，想起曾經床笫中那句“你要給我生小蛇”，忍不住默默腹誹，我即便給你生了，你怕是也要跑到天邊去的。腹誹歸腹誹，低頭看著懷中嬰兒，沈清軒真心犯難。
　　
　　並非他不想養，他今年這個歲數，同齡人早就做了父親，哪個不有一兒半女，惟他膝下寂寞。
　　曾經倒是有過孩子，剛剛成形又被老天收了回去。心疼也好心痛也罷，都盡力忘懷，否則還能怎樣？
　　已對孩子的事死了心，現在卻又送了個孩子到他懷裡。欣喜之外，更多的是擔憂。
　　他早已今時不同往日，也不知還能活多久，若是養它幾歲，撒手人寰，這小東西豈不是更可憐？再說沈家深宅大戶，如是他親子，他死後自然會悉心照料，不必擔憂。這卻是個撿來的孩子，將來異于常人之處必定會被發覺，到那時他一死，再無人護著這孩子，又不知道平白要添多少罪。
　　且到底是狼母所生，骨子裡的狼性是抹不掉的，他活一日，尚可教導一日。他死後，誰又願意平白無故不計較他的野性，諄諄教誨？
　　這世間冷暖，他這樣一個成人有時尚且不寒而慄，怎麼能把這孩子撫養著，愛護著，又在他年幼仍需呵護的年月裡，最終遺棄？
　　
　　沈清軒想了又想，心中仍是無法做出決定。
　　倒是活這麼多年，頭一回在責任面前望而卻步。
　　有些責任他能一肩挑起，有些則不能，尤其是對這樣一個稚嫩的生命時。沈清軒不知道能照顧他多久，不知道能給他怎樣的生活，不知道能為他鋪出一條怎樣的路，而往往有時，這個無辜的生命的所有未來，都押付在他一瞬間的決定上。
　　孩子又被他哄睡了，沈清軒抱著嬰兒，長久沉默。
　　
　　伊墨一直在等他決定，並未等到。只能開口詢問，在猶豫什麼？
　　沈清軒仍是沉默，低頭看著懷裡睡得香甜的嬰兒，睫毛又長又翹，淚痕未幹，呼吸比成人短而快，帶著濃濃奶香。
　　又不知過了多久，沈清軒才打破沉靜，低聲道：“伊墨，我還能活多久？”
　　“問這做什麼？”
　　“我想養他，又怕中途死掉，到那時他要吃更多的苦，我捨不得。”沈清軒也不隱瞞，將自己心思和盤托出：“若是還能活個十幾年，我就養了他，教他如何與這世界相處，受了欺負如何反擊，心情不好時如何排解……如果……如果我死了，你能再照顧他幾年，教他排除雜念，平和性情，那就更好不過了。”
　　伊墨看著他的側臉，低沉著嗓子道：“你想的倒是周全。”
　　沈清軒垂頭不語。
　　兩人安靜著，各有所思。
　　
　　最終伊墨走過去，站在抱著嬰孩的男人面前，神情冷漠的命令：“張口。”
　　沈清軒不知他要做什麼，卻也聽話的張了嘴。伊墨指尖一彈，一粒閃著金光的丸粒飛入他口中，順著咽喉滑入食道，沈清軒下意識的閉上嘴，問：“什麼？”
　　伊墨望著他，又移開視線看了看那繈褓裡睡著的嬰兒，看了一會，重新移回視線停留在沈清軒臉上，沉聲道：“權當過年賀禮了，這藥雖不能讓你恢復如初，卻也不會再減你壽命。往後多做善事，累積功德，你還能延長幾年壽命。”
　　沈清軒這才知道他給自己吃的是什麼，心中並無太多訝異，就如他說的那樣，他就拿這命賭伊墨何時心軟，解了這歡好的折損。倒是從來不曾想過，萬一伊墨真的解決不了怎麼辦？
　　這一點，沈清軒乾脆沒想，在他心裡，這蛇無所不能。也只有這樣無所不能，不可動搖的存在，才讓他心生愛慕，心甘情願的匍匐下去，不顧一切也要將這妖留在身邊。朝夕相對，長相廝守。
　　
　　沈清軒笑了，微紅著臉問他：“往後，可是再怎麼盡興都無妨了？”
　　伊墨挑眉，“你又想了？”
　　這人真是越來越貪，尋常人還真是應付不來。也虧得他是個妖，不是什麼尋常人。只是這幅模樣，不由得讓人想起色中餓鬼，心心念念就這麼一樁快活事，於是永遠不饜足。
　　伊墨彎下身，一手順著他衣襟滑進去，靈巧的挑開衣帶，繞向腰肢的部位。他已經成全他這麼久，做好人就要做到底，伊墨實在不介意。
　　繈褓裡的嬰兒哼唧一聲，蹬了蹬腿，打斷了兩人的多情。
　　從暴露在空氣裡赤條條一個肉團，陡然被裹成肉粽，小東西不舒服的很，掙扎著伸出拳頭揮舞。沈清軒還有一絲清明，想起今天是年三十，事情本就繁雜，加上又是青天白日，屋外人聲不曾斷過，即便再想縱情，也不是時候，況且懷裡還有一個嬰兒。
　　坐直了身體，沈清軒安撫住懷裡嬰孩，松松地握住他的小拳頭把玩著道：“你還嬌氣。”嬰孩又哼唧一聲，緩緩睜開眼。
　　沈清軒看他可愛，忍不住捏了捏他的手，軟綿綿的小小的手便捏住了他的食指，恰好一握。捏了片刻，嬰孩咧開剛長出兩顆小白芽兒的嘴，甜甜地沖他笑了。
　　他不過一個無意識的笑容，讓沈清軒愣了許久，看看他又看看伊墨，也就是這一瞬間，許多猶豫不決的念頭被快速地決定，也決定了這個嬰兒的命運。
　　
　　“今天年三十，你同我坐一起吃頓年飯可好？”沈清軒再次問伊墨。
　　伊墨根本不理會，倒是饒有興致地伸手戳了戳嬰兒肥胖的臉頰，他戳左邊，孩子就往左邊扭頭，他戳右邊，嬰兒又轉到右邊去，來回轉來轉去，轉的脖子都累了還樂此不疲，興奮的滿嘴口水都溢了出來。
　　一下子戳中了滑溜溜的涎水，伊墨嫌棄的看了看指尖，往他繈褓上揩乾淨，才徹底歇了逗弄這個小畜生的念頭。
　　“留下來也成。”伊墨話音剛落，沈清軒已是笑顏逐開。他衣裳還松垮著，懷裡抱著嬰兒，笑的實在傻的很，光是笑還嫌不夠，又湊過去親他，許多講不出的感謝的話，都盡訴在一個溫暖潮濕的親吻裡。
　　前事未歇，後事又起。
　　伊墨垂下眼，默不作聲，手卻不知何時握成了拳。莫名地有些煩悶，從前親熱，沈清軒也不知有多費勁才能撩起他的興致，而今一個傻乎乎的親吻就能讓他莫名地腹下沉重，這可真越來越不像他了。
　　“我留下來，又有什麼好處？”
　　沈清軒不知他心中所想，只是蹭過去黏住他，隔著衣袍察覺他的變化，便伸手在他那裡捉弄著，癡纏著道：“今晚守完夜，你想怎樣都成。”
　　“當真？”
　　“我何時對你說話不作數？”
　　“往常我都念著你的身體，”伊墨低沉著嗓音：“如今倒是不用顧慮了。”
　　“是你不早將丸藥給我。”沈清軒狡黠地眯起眼：“自找煩惱。”
　　“是你太不知進退。”伊墨淡淡地應答，仿佛批註。
　　“我早已無路可退。”沈清軒又笑起來，“自然只能得寸進尺。”
　　伊墨對他的伶牙俐齒領教多次，依然佩服的緊。
　　只是側過身，在他耳畔徐徐道：“往常我都念著你的身體，今晚我要將你幹到哭出來。”
　　沈清軒滿臉通紅，卻燦若雲霞地笑起來，回道：“我等著。”
　　
　　抱著嬰兒交給沈母照顧，沈清軒回到席間招呼，不知不覺，暮色深了，四處響起爆竹聲，沈父拿了個爆竹，沈清軒拿著火撚子，燃了引線，沈父猛地甩手，甩在半空中，轟地炸裂開來。
　　隨後家中親友僕人們一一燃了手中爆竹，火烈熱辣的炸響聲，伴著歡聲笑語，頑童的尖叫，盡了興，才回去吃年飯。
　　較疏遠的客人昨日就趕了回去，闔家團圓，只有那些特別親近的，才留了下來，一家子都居在沈府，女眷們在偏廳圍了幾大桌，男人們都在正廳，兩廳僅一牆之隔，兩邊的歡聲笑語幾乎都聽得清。
　　沈清軒卻不在，等他來時，小廝推著椅子，他身邊走著伊墨。
　　坐席時，伊墨坐在沈清軒身邊，沈清軒緊挨著沈父，三人都是主座。隨著屋外一聲“開席”的吆喝，年飯開始了。

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Sometimes Yi Mo didn’t understand why Shen Qingxuan liked to smile at him so much, with his eyebrows and eyes curved, as if everything around him was a happy event and everyone was a good person. But the fact was not so. Yi Mo knew that his many troubles had never disappeared. So every time he saw his smile, Yi Mo would be confused, what was he laughing at, what was there that made him laugh like this?

Although he was puzzled, Yi Mo did not ask. The longer they knew each other, the more he saw such smiles. Yi Mo got used to it. Instead, he was moved by such pure smiles. Every time he saw him, he would feel much happier. When he walked over this time, Yi Mo smelled the milky fragrance in the air and asked, “What are you doing? What are you holding that makes you smile so happily?"

Shen Qingxuan waved his hand mysteriously, signaling him to lower the volume, and then opened his collar to reveal the ball of black hair.

Yi Mo took only one look, then reached out and picked up the sleeping little thing, like a piece of rag. He ignored the wolf cub’s frightened struggle, and looked at it in front of him, curled his lips in disdain, and said, “Where did this beast come from?"

Shen Qingxuan laughed when he heard that, thinking that you are all beasts, and said, “Let it go quickly, it scared you to death. Sit down, I will explain it to you in detail."

Yi Mo waved his hand, and the black fur ball rolled back into Shen Qingxuan’s arms. The frightened little wolf cub whimpered, curled up, and dug into his chest. Shen Qingxuan comforted it, knowing that this wolf was not afraid of anyone, but the beast had a keen instinct and felt that Yi Mo was dangerous, so it showed its fear. He couldn’t help but stare at Yi Mo, which made Yi Mo frown, “Why are you looking at me?"

Shen Qingxuan really couldn’t see what was scary about him, on the contrary, he liked him very much, and said “You look good", and then pulled his hand and sat beside him. He told the story of how it happened and how he took in the little wolf. After listening to it, Yi Mo’s face showed no joy or anger, but only sneered, and his eyes stayed on the wolf cub in his arms.

Shen Qingxuan was about to ask him what he thought, but he saw Yi Mo wave his hand, and his arms sank at the same time. The little wolf that was almost weightless suddenly turned into a baby, lying on his chest, kicking its fat arms and legs , babbling. Shen Qingxuan was so frightened by the sudden change that his hands trembled, and he almost dropped the tender baby in his arms into the brazier at his feet and burned to death. He screamed in surprise and instinctively hugged the baby tightly.

His face turned pale.

When he came to his senses, Shen Qingxuan couldn’t help it. He held the baby tightly with one hand, picked up the tongs beside the brazier with the other hand, and swiped them all over Yi Mo’s head and face, shouting, “You scared me to death, you bastard!"

Yi Mo didn’t expect him to attack suddenly, and dodged in a very awkward manner. Shen Qingxuan didn’t stop, and continued to swing the tongs at him. Although he didn’t hit him, the air was slightly creaking. His face was as pale as paper, and his eyes were red, which showed that he was very scared. Yi Mo didn’t know how to respond for a while, so he could only dodge in a panic. At this moment, the two of them degenerated into children, looking stupid and clumsy .

It was the cry of the baby in Shen Qingxuan’s arms that put an end to the farce. Shen Qingxuan dropped the fire tongs and did not bother to clean up Yi Mo. He took off his cloak and wrapped it around the child, coaxing him softly, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, baby, uncle will find you some milk…"

Yi Mo stood aside, suddenly feeling that he was being treated unfairly. Then Shen Qingxuan’s face changed, and he stared at the baby in his arms in a daze. When Yi Mo walked over to pick up the little beast, he saw that Shen Qingxuan’s clothes that had just been dried were wet again. The little thing peed. Shen Qingxuan was speechless for a moment, looking up at him with innocent and helpless eyes, as if he didn’t know what to do. He reached out and pulled Yi Mo’s wide sleeves, but didn’t know what to say. There was a faint smell of foul smell in the air.

Yi Mo frowned, wrinkled his nose, and said, “It smells bad."

Shen Qingxuan finally reacted and quickly took off his clothes to change. How could he celebrate the New Year with this smell on his body?

Yi Mo untied the cloak that was wrapped around the wolf cub and threw it aside, leaving the little thing naked in the air. He put the meat ball on the chair and went behind the screen with the wet cloak. Shen Qingxuan was taking off his pants , and he didn’t avoid him when he saw him coming. While changing his clothes, he said, “You are really capable. You can turn an animal into a human with just a wave of your hand. What should I do?"

Yi Mo recalled the scene when he was beaten by him with fire tongs, and snorted, “You are getting more and more capable." Shen Qingxuan heard the words and remembered what happened just now. He felt a little embarrassed. He smiled at him shyly and said, “I was scared by you. You should at least say hello. How could you suddenly turn a living person into a living person? If I really dropped it into the brazier, wouldn’t the main dish of the New Year’s Eve dinner be a barbecued baby?" As he said that, he pulled Yi Mo’s hand, put it on his lips and kissed it in a flattering manner, “Don’t be angry, do you still want to be angry with me?" The last sentence was asked very softly, just to act cute.

Yi Mo didn’t take him seriously and just snorted and let it go.

Shen Qingxuan still held his hand, his cold knuckles pressed against his face, and asked softly, “Tell me why you turned it into a child?"

Yi Mo pinched his face, which immediately turned red. He instinctively touched it again, as if to comfort him. But he didn’t realize what he was doing. He took back his hand and said calmly, “The child born of a human and a wolf demon, in addition to inheriting the characteristics of the wolf from the mother, also has human blood. Its mother transferred part of her inner elixir to it. I only need to give it some demonic power, and it can maintain its human form… That’s why Xu Mingshi easily killed the mother wolf."

Shen Qingxuan didn’t quite understand at first, but he knew Yi Mo’s personality and he hated explanations. He thought about it for a while before he understood. He immediately said, “Ah, so you mean, he doesn’t need to practice at all to maintain his human form? Then Xu Mingshi…"

“Xu Mingshi killed his mother, and his father died because of it. Given the nature of wolves, it is impossible not to avenge this. But once the little wolf transforms into a human form, human characteristics will be more obvious. If you are willing to take the time to teach him, Xu Mingshi will suffer less in the future."

“Then what characteristics do you mean?" Shen Qingxuan pondered, “Maybe you mean its milk teeth?"

“But it started to grow teeth after a month, which is a characteristic of wolves." Yi Mo said, “But when it turned into a wolf, its body was small, not much different from a newborn. This is the result of its human blood. If it grew in human form, it would be able to crawl in three months and walk in five months. Except for its body shape, which is no different from that of an ordinary child, it is ahead in everything else."

Shen Qingxuan was stunned and said, “What should we do then?"

Yi Mo said: “If you want to raise it, just keep it."

“… I’m a man, raising a child is not a big deal." Shen Qingxuan shook his head: “I can’t raise him, you raise him."

Yi Mo said: “It’s just a fool’s dream."

Just as Shen Qingxuan was about to say something, the baby who was left alone on a chair outside the screen suddenly started crying loudly again. His voice was so clear and loud that it was astonishingly loud.

Shen Qingxuan’s shoulders slumped and he sighed, “I should have known I shouldn’t have fed him so much before." Now he had the energy to howl.

After saying that, he straightened his clothes and went out. When he saw the little meat ball being placed naked on the cold chair, Shen Qingxuan felt distressed again. Only a child who lost his parents would be left alone like this without even a piece of warm clothing.

Picking up the child again, Shen Qingxuan found a few small quilts that he used to protect his knees in winter, made a swaddling cloth, wrapped him up, and held him in his arms to coax him. Yi Mo stood far away and did not help. It was obvious that he did not like the child. Shen Qingxuan felt that what he hated more than the child himself was the little guy’s endless crying. He couldn’t help but laugh in his heart, thinking of the words “You have to give birth to little snakes for me", and couldn’t help but silently complain in his heart, even if I give birth to you, I’m afraid you will run away to the horizon. Although he complained in his heart, looking down at the baby in his arms, Shen Qingxuan was really troubled.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to raise a child. At his age, his peers have already become fathers and have children, but he is the only one who is lonely.

I did have a child once, but it was taken back by God just as it was formed. No matter how painful it is, I try my best to forget it, otherwise what else can I do?

He had given up on having a child, but now he had another child in his arms. Besides being happy, he was also worried.

He is no longer the same as he was before, and he doesn’t know how long he can live. If he raises it for a few years and dies, won’t this little thing be even more pitiful? Besides, the Shen family is a wealthy family. If it is his own child, he will naturally take good care of it after his death, so there is no need to worry. But this is an adopted child. In the future, his abnormalities will definitely be discovered. When he dies, there will be no one to protect this child, and he doesn’t know how much sin he will have to bear.

After all, he was born of a wolf mother , and the wolf nature in his bones cannot be erased. As long as he lives, he can be taught. After he dies, who is willing to ignore his wildness and teach him earnestly for no reason?

As an adult, he sometimes shudders at the warmth and coldness of this world. How could he raise and love this child, and then ultimately abandon him when he was still young and needed care?

Shen Qingxuan thought about it again and again, but still couldn’t make a decision.

This is the first time in all my life that I have shied away from responsibility.

There are some responsibilities he can shoulder, but there are others he cannot, especially for such a young life. Shen Qingxuan doesn’t know how long he can take care of him, what kind of life he can give him, what kind of path he can pave for him, and sometimes, the entire future of this innocent life depends on his instant decision.

He coaxed the child to sleep again. Shen Qingxuan held the baby in his arms and remained silent for a long time.

Yi Mo had been waiting for him to make a decision, but he never did. He could only ask, what are you hesitating about?

Shen Qingxuan remained silent, looking down at the baby sleeping soundly in his arms. The baby’s eyelashes were long and curled, and his tears were not yet dry. His breathing was shorter and faster than that of an adult, with a strong scent of milk.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Qingxuan finally broke the silence and whispered, “Yi Mo, how long can I live?"

“Why do you ask that?"

“I want to raise him, but I’m afraid he’ll die halfway through. He’ll have to suffer even more, and I can’t bear to let him go." Shen Qingxuan didn’t hide anything and told him everything he was thinking: “If I can live another ten years, I’ll raise him and teach him how to get along with the world, how to fight back when he’s bullied, and how to relieve himself when he’s in a bad mood… If… If I die, it would be even better if you could take care of him for a few more years and teach him to get rid of distractions and calm his temperament."

Yi Mo looked at his profile and said in a low voice: “You have thought it through."

Shen Qingxuan lowered his head and said nothing.

The two were quiet , each thinking about something.

Finally, Yi Mo walked over, stood in front of the man holding the baby, and ordered indifferently: “Open your mouth."

Shen Qingxuan didn’t know what he was going to do, but he opened his mouth obediently. Yi Mo flicked his fingertips, and a golden pill flew into his mouth, sliding down his throat into his esophagus. Shen Qingxuan subconsciously closed his mouth and asked, “What?"

Yi Mo looked at him, then looked away at the sleeping baby in the swaddling clothes. After looking for a while, he shifted his gaze back to Shen Qingxuan’s face and said in a deep voice, “Just consider it a New Year’s gift. Although this medicine can’t restore you to your original state, it won’t reduce your life span. Do more good deeds in the future, accumulate merits, and you can extend your life by a few years."

Shen Qingxuan only then knew what he had given him to eat, and he was not too surprised. Just as he said, he was betting his life on when Yi Mo would soften his heart and resolve the loss of their pleasure . But he never thought about what would happen if Yi Mo really couldn’t resolve it?

Shen Qingxuan simply didn’t think about this. In his heart, this snake was omnipotent. Only such an omnipotent and unshakable existence could make him love it and willingly crawl on it, regardless of everything, to keep this monster by his side, facing each other day and night, and staying together forever.

Shen Qingxuan smiled, blushing slightly as he asked him, “From now on, will it be okay to have fun as much as you want?"

Yi Mo raised his eyebrows, “You think about it again?"

This man is getting greedier and greedier. Ordinary people really can’t handle him. Fortunately, he is a demon, not an ordinary person. But this appearance can’t help but remind people of a sex-hungry ghost who only thinks about this one happy thing and is never satisfied.

Yi Mo bent down, slid one hand along his collar, deftly untied the belt, and wrapped it around his waist. He had been helping him for so long, and if he was a good person, he had to do it to the end, and Yi Mo really didn’t mind.

The baby in the cradle whined and kicked his legs, interrupting the two people’s passionate love.

From being a naked flesh ball exposed to the air, to being suddenly wrapped up like a meat dumpling, the little thing felt very uncomfortable, struggling to stretch out his fists and wave. Shen Qingxuan still had a trace of clarity, remembering that today was New Year’s Eve, things were complicated, plus it was broad daylight, and there were people outside the house all the time, even if he wanted to indulge himself, it was not the right time, and there was a baby in his arms.

Sitting up straight, Shen Qingxuan comforted the baby in his arms, loosely held his little fist and played with it, saying: “You are still so delicate." The baby hummed again and slowly opened his eyes.

Shen Qingxuan saw how cute he was and couldn’t help but pinch his hand. The soft little hand pinched his index finger, just enough to squeeze it. After pinching for a while, the baby opened his mouth, which had just grown two small white buds, and smiled sweetly at him.

It was just an unconscious smile from him, but Shen Qingxuan was stunned for a long time. He looked at him and then at Yi Mo. It was at this moment that many hesitant thoughts were quickly decided, which also determined the fate of the baby.

“Today is New Year’s Eve. Would you like to sit with me and have the New Year’s Eve dinner?" Shen Qingxuan asked Yi Mo again.

Yi Mo ignored him completely and poked the baby’s fat cheek with interest . He poked the left side and the child turned his head to the left. He poked the right side and the baby turned to the right, turning back and forth. He enjoyed it even when his neck was tired and his mouth was drooling with excitement.

Yi Mo was suddenly poked by the slippery saliva. He looked at his fingertips with disgust and wiped it on his swaddling clothes. Only then did he completely give up the idea of teasing this little beast.

“You can stay." As soon as Yi Mo finished speaking, Shen Qingxuan was already smiling. His clothes were still loose , and he was holding a baby in his arms. He was smiling very foolishly. Just smiling was not enough, so he leaned over and kissed him. Many unexpressed words of gratitude were expressed in a warm and wet kiss.

Before the past is over, the next thing will happen again.

Yi Mo lowered his eyes and remained silent , but he didn’t know when his hands clenched into fists. He felt inexplicably depressed. In the past, when they were intimate, Shen Qingxuan didn’t know how much effort it took to arouse his interest, but now a silly kiss could make him feel inexplicably heavy in his stomach. This was really becoming less and less like him.

“What good will it do me to stay?"

Shen Qingxuan didn’t know what he was thinking, he just rubbed against him and clung to him , noticing his changes through his robes, and then stretched out his hand to tease him, saying infatuatedly: “I’ll keep watch tonight, you can do whatever you want."

“really?"

break my word to you ?"

“I used to worry about your health," Yi Mo said in a low voice, “but now you don’t have to worry about it."

“You’re asking for trouble because you didn’t give me the pills earlier." Shen Qingxuan narrowed his eyes cunningly.

“You are too ignorant of the situation." Yi Mo replied indifferently, as if commenting.

“I have no way to retreat." Shen Qingxuan laughed again, “Of course I can only press on."

Yi Mo has experienced his sharp tongue many times, but he still admires him very much.

She just turned sideways and whispered in his ear: “I always miss your body, but tonight I’m going to fuck you until you cry."

Shen Qingxuan’s face flushed, but he smiled brightly and said, “I’ll wait."

Holding the baby in the care of Shen’s mother, Shen Qingxuan returned to the banquet to greet everyone. Unknowingly, dusk had deepened and the sound of firecrackers rang out everywhere. Shen’s father took a firecracker, and Shen Qingxuan took the fire wick and lit the fuse. Shen’s father swung his hand violently, and the firecracker exploded in the air with a bang.

Afterwards, the family’s relatives, friends and servants lit the firecrackers in their hands one by one. The fiery and hot explosions, accompanied by laughter and the screams of naughty children, made them have a great time before returning home to eat the New Year’s Eve dinner.

The more distant guests had gone back yesterday to reunite with their families. Only those who were particularly close stayed. The whole family lived in the Shen Mansion. The women sat around several large tables in the side hall, and the men were in the main hall. The two halls were separated by only a wall, and the laughter on both sides could almost be heard clearly.

Shen Qingxuan was not there. When he came, a servant pushed a chair and Yi Mo walked beside him.

When they sat down, Yi Mo sat next to Shen Qingxuan, and Shen Qingxuan sat next to Shen’s father. The three of them were the main seats. With a shout of “Open the feast" outside the house, the New Year’s dinner began.