The Empire's Assigned Cub Is a Little Too Cute

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[This is a story about raising a kid!!!!!]

Blurb:

When he was four, Kuku, a little cub at the Imperial Cub Nurturing Center, was assigned to a caregiver with a special status.

At their first meeting,

four-year-old Kuku didn't even reach the top of his caregiver's black military boots.

As Kuku strained to look up at him, he accidentally fell flat on his bottom.

The caregiver, radiating coldness, said, "Send him back to the Cub Nurturing Center. I don't need an heir."

The bewildered Kuku sat on the floor and held out his hands innocently. "Daddy doesn't want me?"

The caregiver replied coldly, "I'm not your father."

Kuku got back up, timid but brave, and hugged one of his legs. His big, innocent eyes blinked as tears glimmered in them. "But you are my daddy!"

The caregiver ignored him and impatiently told the person who had brought the cub, "Send him back to the nurturing center now."

Later,

Kuku played in the vast garden,

his childish laughter drifting on the breeze.

His tall caregiver chased after him, holding the latest plush lop-eared rabbit and coaxing him:

"Kuku? You haven't called me Daddy today~"

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On the Hanghai Empire's National Day, during the grand military parade,

the man who represented the empire's supreme authority sat high atop a pure-white unicorn.

In his arms, he held an adorable, soft little cub.

The man's black military uniform was stern and imposing, but beneath the brim of his black cap, his narrow eyes brimmed with tenderness and affection. He could see nothing but the little one in his arms, nervous and excited.

Kuku: My daddy is the best! And I won't hear otherwise!

[Please note]

1. The story is mainly told from the little cub's point of view. It's a slow-paced, heartwarming daily-life story about raising a child.

2. The little cub's love interest is another cub from the nurturing center. They start as friends and become lovers after they grow up, later in the story.

3. Dad has his own love interest~~

Please add my new cub-raising story to your reading list~ "This Kid Is Way Too Easy to Handle [Showbiz]"

Lin Wenyan is a singer in showbiz who considers himself laid-back and fond of life.

By chance, he transmigrates into a novel, continuing the life of a cannon-fodder character who was supposed to die unexpectedly, and becomes an obscure, unpopular young star.

The original character is a nobody who causes plenty of trouble and is disliked by all sorts of people in the industry.

On top of that, he leeches off his idol's popularity and gets hounded and cursed at by the idol's fans every day.

The moment Lin Wenyan opens his eyes, he's at the live taping of a variety show where celebrities take care of kids, about to be paired with a little one for the broadcast.

There are four little kids: one is a child star with a built-in fanbase, one is an upbeat, cheerful little pottery lover, and one is a fussy, clingy, spoiled darling.

The last little one is called Nuonuo.

He's wary, quiet, picky about food, and neither cries nor smiles.

The three celebrity guests move fast, each taking one of the first three kids. Nuonuo is left over.

Lin Wenyan and little Nuonuo stare at each other:

Neither of us gets to be picky. Let's just make do. It's not like we can quit the show, right?

The other male guests are secretly gloating:

Lin Wenyan and Nuonuo clearly won't get along. Just wait, Lin Wenyan is going to make a fool of himself.

The viewers:

This kid looks like a handful. Can Lin Wenyan handle him? Don't make him cry.

Lin Wenyan is famous for his bad temper and being difficult and high-maintenance. Can he really look after a kid?

Poor little guy. Who knows how Lin Wenyan will mistreat him?

I'm really worried Lin Wenyan will hurt the kid. Damn it, if he needs money, couldn't he take another show? Why come here to torment a little kid?!

But as the broadcast goes on, both the guests and the viewers realize something is off.

Nuonuo, who never talks and never plays with anyone, is actually following Lin Wenyan everywhere.

Lin Wenyan cooks in the kitchen.

Little Nuonuo sits on a tiny stool by his leg, quietly looking at a storybook, reminding him every so often, "Don't waste the flour!"

Lin Wenyan picks vegetables in the courtyard.

Little Nuonuo carries a big basket and follows right behind him, occasionally muttering, "Don't step on the little flowers!"

Lin Wenyan goes to the bathroom.

Little Nuonuo brings a tiny stool to wait outside, tilts up his little head, and asks with concern, "Did you bring toilet paper?"

Even when Lin Wenyan goes to bed,

Nuonuo stands on the bed to tuck him in and kisses his forehead, saying in a sweet, obedient voice, "Good night, Yanyan. Don't kick off your blanket."

Lin Wenyan: Looking after a kid is this easy~

The viewers: Wait, which one of them is taking care of the other?!

The guests, driven to distraction by kids who cry their eyes out, refuse to sleep, or are impossibly picky eaters: Is it too late to swap kids?

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During the show, the other adorable kids burst into tears. Lin Wenyan can't bear to see them upset and tries to soothe them with dessert.

But little Nuonuo, standing by his leg, watches him like a hawk.

Nuonuo: Yanyan, if you go comfort the other kids, I'll cry for you! Really, really loudly!

Lin Wenyan: ...

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As the variety show becomes a hit, viewers are surprised to discover

that Lin Wenyan, who used to be only half-famous in the industry, can casually whip up all kinds of exquisite desserts and cakes, as well as delicious meals. Even the tune he hums offhandedly to soothe a child sounds heavenly.

From then on, on a cooking show, Lin Wenyan's focused dessert-making wins him a crowd of fans who love life.

On a music variety show, he performs a classic song as a guest, earns praise from the original singer, and gets invited to record a song together.

When a popular idol drama airs, the theme song sung by Lin Wenyan leaves all other downloads in the dust.

When a movie based on a famous fairy tale comes out, fans are surprised to discover that Lin Wenyan did the voice acting.

Lin Wenyan: Isn't this what I do for a living!

Theme: We must do our best to protect the little ones' innocent, kind nature~