CHAPTER 370: EPISODE 40.1 BACK IN ACTION!

By the second day of Yanyan’s school, their mornings were already starting to settle into a comfortable routine.

Shen Yuan prepared breakfast for the family. Bai Tingfeng took care of bathing and dressing their son. And Yanyan was slowly learning what it felt like to wake up at five forty-five in the morning. Thankfully, he had enough sleep. Sharing ice cream before bed turned out to be the perfect way to unwind and guarantee a good night’s rest.

The family was in high spirits when they arrived at Qilin Academy. Yanyan was excited to see his classmates again, and Shen Yuan was equally eager to begin the new task that Chairman Mao had mentioned in his call the night before.

Yes, the call last night had been about a new job.

As it turned out, the commercial advertisement had finally been approved.

"So, does this mean you finally met Lee Jinhyuk in person?" Shen Yuan asked the moment Chairman Mao delivered the good news.

"Yes," Chairman Mao replied. "And he looked completely fine. Are you sure you cut off his arm? I was with Xia Jinhai during the meeting, and he also confirmed that Lee Jinhyuk had two working arms."

"If I didn’t, then we wouldn’t have his DNA as evidence," Shen Yuan said with certainty. "We kept that severed arm secured. How could he have reattached it?"

With the power of awakeners in this world, reattaching a limb without leaving a single scar was no longer impossible. Still, if Lee Jinhyuk’s arm looked as natural as Chairman Mao claimed, then it meant one of two things: either he somehow managed to steal back the severed arm from storage, or he achieved the impossible and regrew it entirely.

He had been off their radar for a long time. With enough time and resources, it was not unthinkable that he had evolved further.

"I do not know either," Chairman Mao said with finality. "Whatever the case may be, we are certain that he is still our target. Go to the Headquarters tomorrow, and we will discuss the details of the plan."

"Oh, and make sure you are combat-ready tomorrow. I will assess whether you are still fit to carry out your role."

That was why, after dropping Yanyan off at school, Shen Yuan went straight to the Hunter Association Headquarters. His steps were light, his mood bright. It had been a long time since he had any real action.

He knew he should avoid tiring himself out now that he was pregnant, but surely a little exercise would not hurt, right?

However, Bai Tingfeng seemed to think otherwise.

When it was time for Shen Yuan to get out of the car and head into the Hunter Association building, Bai Tingfeng was already one step ahead.

He stood there holding his sword in one hand and the car door open with the other.

Shen Yuan arched a brow. "Okay. What exactly is the meaning of this?" he asked, forcing a grin as his gaze zeroed in on the sheathed sword in his husband’s hand.

If this was just Bai Tingfeng being a gentleman, then Shen Yuan was pretty sure opening a door didn’t require anyone to brandish a weapon.

So either Bai Tingfeng was planning to ambush him the moment he stepped out, or...

"I’m shadowing you today, Yuan," Bai Tingfeng said with quiet resolve. Confirming Shen Yuan’s thoughts.

Shen Yuan blinked, then tilted his head, lips quirking. "I’m sorry, what now? The only one qualified to ’shadow’ me is Gu Jinpeng, because that’s literally his ability—and his job as my assistant and part-time dog." He crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed. "But you? You’re not my assistant, not my dog, and you don’t even work at the Hunter Association. So, tell me, what exactly makes you think they’ll let you in?"

Bai Tingfeng said it without the slightest hint of shame. "Because I am an S-class awakener."

The celestial fox spirit could only flick his nine tails in silent annoyance.

He never imagined his uptight husband would actually play the S-class awakener card just to have his way.

"No," Shen Yuan immediately refused. "I still remember you dropped your work yesterday just to storm that blasted hotel. You must have a mountain of paperwork waiting for you, so no, I will not let you skip work just to watch me do your job."

He sounded sincere, but in truth, his real concern was something else entirely.

How was he supposed to unleash his full strength in the assessment while Bai Tingfeng was watching?

He could already picture it now—the glare, the scolding, and the inevitable lecture about how he was pregnant and needed to take it easy.

But Bai Tingfeng remained perfectly calm. He clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. "Actually, I already finished my paperwork before I took you out yesterday. The only things I moved were some meetings that can be postponed indefinitely."

"Wow," Shen Yuan said flatly, his face twisting in mock disbelief. "Let me guess why you can move your schedule so easily. It is because you are an S-class awakener, right?"

Bai Tingfeng chuckled and rubbed his nose.

Rather than admitting to abusing his privileges, Bai Tingfeng smoothly changed the subject. "Why does it seem like you are avoiding me? I thought you liked being with me. Remember yesterday? You were so clingy that you stayed in my office all day. Why can I not do the same now?"

He had a point, and Shen Yuan hated that. He closed his eyes, trying hard not to agree.

Because if he does agree, how can he run wild?

"Still, you are not allowed to shadow me," Shen Yuan said firmly.

He strode into the building while Bai Tingfeng followed close behind, stubbornly sticking to his decision to be Shen Yuan’s shadow.

Bai Tingfeng could be incredibly persistent once he made up his mind. Shen Yuan both loved and hated that about him.

As he walked, Shen Yuan could sense the man’s steady presence behind him. A spark of mischief flickered in his mind.

If Bai Tingfeng was so determined to follow him around, then he should prove that he was worthy of the task. Not everyone deserved the privilege of following the celestial fox spirit’s sexy butt. To do so, one had to be fast, clever, and skilled.

Without a word, Shen Yuan summoned his nine tails. No one could see them, not even Bai Tingfeng.

Then, the moment he cleared the security check, Shen Yuan suddenly took off running.

Gasps filled the hallway as the beautiful omega dashed across the Hunter Association’s polished floors.

"Yuan!" Bai Tingfeng called out helplessly as his husband sprinted away. He had known Shen Yuan would pull something the moment he saw that spark in his eyes. That sly fox. "You are not allowed to run!"

Bai Tingfeng gritted his teeth and ran after him.

With his long legs and superior alpha physique, he quickly closed the distance between them. But just as he was about to catch up, Shen Yuan veered past the elevators and ran straight for the stairwell.

"Not the stairs, Yuan! You will tire yourself out!" Bai Tingfeng shouted in alarm.

Shen Yuan only smirked. He knew it would be exhausting to climb all the way up to Chairman Mao’s office, which was on the highest floor. If he walked, he would probably give birth halfway there.

To avoid that, he used a bit of magic and lifted himself into the air.

Bai Tingfeng froze on the stairs, staring in disbelief as his husband glided upward like a smug dragonfly.

"This is completely unfair," he muttered, feeling defeated.

While Shen Yuan floated gracefully, Bai Tingfeng could only rely on his aura to hover slightly above the ground. His control was not as refined as Shen Yuan’s, so flying smoothly was out of the question.

In the end, the proud S-class alpha was left with no choice but to chase after his celestial husband on foot, climbing every single step to the very top.

"Hahaha!" Shen Yuan cackled like a mischievous witch when he saw his husband starting to sweat. "You wanted to be my shadow, didn’t you? Then keep up."

Any trace of worry Bai Tingfeng had for his pregnant husband disappeared the moment he noticed how effortlessly Shen Yuan was flying.

"Yuan, you know how my stamina is. Don’t challenge me."

And just like that, the race began. The S-class couple turned the stairwell of the Hunter Association into their private racetrack. Bai Tingfeng’s heavy footsteps echoed like thunder against the narrow walls, while Shen Yuan’s rapid movement through the air created sharp gusts that sliced through the silence.

Together, the sounds blended into a chaotic rhythm that made everyone passing by peek at the fire exit.

"Whoa! Is that Master Shen Yuan and Master Bai Tingfeng?" someone exclaimed.

"They are so fast! I can’t believe this is how powerful S classes flirt!"

Bai Tingfeng’s face burned at the comment. Flirting? Was that what it looked like? He was only trying to stop his troublesome, pregnant husband from overexerting himself!

Neither of them noticed that their playful chaos had already reached the highest floors.

Chairman Mao, who had heard the noise from his office, stepped out and stood by the fire exit, waiting for the culprits with crossed arms and a very unamused expression.

"Always coming to work with a bang, Yuan?" Chairman Mao welcomed the couple the moment they exited the stairwell. His looks could totally kill a naughty employee.