Chapter Six: Taking Care of Little Ones Is an Art in Itself

Bai Yue stared at Feng Xiu in utter bewilderment. She remembered that the Moon Night Chamber of Commerce was a massive entity that navigated between the human and demon races, arguably the largest of its kind on the Shengmo Continent. According to her father, the demon who controlled this chamber was the Moon Demon God, Agares.

Yet, her father had just demanded 51% of the shares in the Moon Night Chamber of Commerce, effectively forcing a change in ownership and rebranding. How could the Moon Demon God possibly agree to that?

Agares’s lips twitched, and he swallowed the word "no" back down. It wasn't that he was stingy with money, but while the Moon Night Chamber of Commerce was his property, it had always been managed by his wife. He feared that if he rashly gave away the shares as a greeting gift to his niece, he would be forced to kneel on a washboard all night and sleep in the study upon his return.

Agares watched as Feng Xiu brandished his scabbard, and with a grit of his teeth, he relented. "Fine! The greeting gift for my niece will be 51% of the Moon Night Chamber of Commerce. However, niece Yue’er, you will need to come to the Moon Demon Palace to sign the share transfer contract with your second aunt. I am usually busy with official business, and my wife handles all matters regarding the chamber."

The Star Demon God, Vassago, glanced at Agares and added insult to injury: "Giving away such a hefty greeting gift? Second Brother, you’re definitely sleeping in the study tonight. It’s freezing outside—what a long, lonely, and desolate night it will be for you!"

"..." Agares’s embarrassment turned into rage.

"Old Third, shut your mouth! If it weren't for you, would I have been extorted by Big Brother?"

"You still have the nerve to mock me!"

Now it was Vassago’s turn to jump and scramble to avoid being chased; the roles had reversed, with Agares now the one in pursuit.

Feng Xiu put away his staff and yawned, then took out some snacks from his ring with interest. They were classic human treats and beverages, things he had sent demons to scout out as favorites of young human girls.

Feng Xiu pulled over two chairs and beckoned his daughter to sit down to enjoy the spectacle of the Moon Demon God and the Star Demon God.

"Yue’er, Agares is usually quite composed; there are truly few moments when he loses his cool like this. You should record this footage. When you go to the Moon Demon Palace, show it to the Moon Demon Princess. With this video alone, she will be more than happy to sign the share transfer contract with you."

"Ah? Father, wouldn't that be a bit inappropriate?" Bai Yue blinked, feeling that it wasn't quite right to use the footage to set up her second uncle.

Feng Xiu was very pleased with the affectionate term "Father" from Bai Yue. He smiled gently and explained, "Old Second is henpecked. This is a bit of unique fun between him and his wife, and through your hands, you are simply giving his wife an excuse to keep him in line."

"Besides, his brain has been flooded with water; using a bit of leverage to knock it out is for the best."

Feng Xiu had demanded such a heavy greeting gift for two reasons. First, he wanted Agares to compensate Bai Yue and Bai Lingxuan. After all, Agares had previously misunderstood Lingxuan, spoken disparagingly of her, and even harbored unfair prejudices against Yue’er. Having him bleed a little was just compensation for Yue’er's emotional distress.

Second, he wanted Agares to feel the financial sting for a while so he would remember this lesson: don't let your imagination run wild. Everyone is family; if there’s a problem, just ask directly.

Bai Yue’s mouth twitched slightly as she looked between Feng Xiu and Agares, finally taking the recording orb and tucking it away.

Fine. She might not understand the marital dynamics between her second aunt and uncle, but she would respect them.

She never expected that the dignified Moon Demon God, the second-in-command of the demon race, would actually be afraid of his wife. Had she not heard it from her father, she would never have believed such a secret if any other demon had revealed it.

...

Three days later, Bai Yue received an invitation from the Moon Demon Princess to visit the Moon Demon Palace.

At the time, A’Bao was pestering his older sister, Bai Yue, to tell him human folktales, so he insisted on coming along.

Bai Yue sent a demon to ask Feng Xiu if she could take A’Bao to the Moon Demon Palace, and Feng Xiu waved his hand dismissively: "Go, go!"

After Bai Yue and A’Bao arrived at the Moon Demon Palace, the Moon Demon Princess, Yun Xi, personally greeted them and warmly welcomed the two siblings inside.

However, seeing A’Bao there, Yun Xi’s expression clearly faltered for a moment. She truly hadn't expected the new princess, Bai Yue, to get along so well with Prince A’Bao.

A’Bao had a difficult life. His mother had passed away from postpartum hemorrhaging the moment he was born, and despite all efforts, there was nothing to be done. Rumors that A’Bao was a "curse to his mother" had spread throughout the Demon God Palace, and despite repeated bans, they could not be stopped. Furthermore, the Demon God Emperor, Feng Xiu, was a busy ruler, and his affection for A’Bao was naturally limited.

If Bai Yue could get along well with A’Bao and become a true older sister to him, Yun Xi would feel much more at ease knowing A’Bao had a protector.

Yun Xi had been close friends with A’Bao’s mother in their youth. When they were young, they had even joked about becoming in-laws if they had a son and a daughter, or swearing their children to be siblings if they had two of the same gender. But times had changed, and everything had become a distant memory.

Yun Xi settled Bai Yue and A’Bao in the reception hall, only to be hurriedly called away by a panicked wet nurse.

"Princess, it’s bad! Princess Yue Ye has spit up her milk!"

Bai Yue had the experience of caring for Hao Chen in her previous life, so she handled the situation with ease. She took A’Bao along and followed.

With Yun Xi and the wet nurse in a flustered, helpless state, Bai Yue stepped forward to pick up Yue Ye. She stroked the baby’s back, patted her gently, and pressed a few acupoints that aided digestion. Yue Ye let out a burp and looked at the beautiful older sister, giggling and revealing a row of tiny, white teeth.

Seeing Yue Ye recover, Bai Yue breathed a sigh of relief. Caring for a baby was a technical skill; she hadn't done it in a long time, and she felt a bit rusty.

Yue Ye was only seventeen months old and didn't understand much, but she clutched Bai Yue’s clothes tightly with her small hands. If anyone tried to forcibly pull her away from the beautiful sister, she would wail.

A’Bao stared at the little sister, Yue Ye, and curiously poked her soft, pink cheek. It left a tiny dimple that bounced back—it was too fun.

A’Bao poked her three times in a row, making Yue Ye cry.

Bai Yue swatted A’Bao’s restless hand away and warned, "A’Bao, if you’re naughty again, I won't tell you any more stories when we go back."

A’Bao hung his head and withdrew his hand, grumbling inwardly: "Babies are the most annoying creatures ever!"

"They steal my sister’s attention and steal her affection for me!"

"I’m a child too! How could she be so mean to me just for her?"

"Little Yue Ye, this debt of stealing my sister today, I, A’Bao, will surely settle in the future!"

Seeing that her daughter liked Bai Yue, Yun Xi smiled slightly. "It seems that niece Yue’er and Yue Ye are truly fated to be close!"

"She usually doesn't let anyone hold her, and she cries the moment someone tries."

"My sister is beloved by all demons! This little girl just knows who’s worth it!" A’Bao lifted his chin proudly, looking as if his sister was the most amazing person ever.

This left Bai Yue feeling incredibly awkward, and she quickly explained, "Second Aunt, I suppose I just have a natural affinity with children."