Werebeast Gongs CH 112 Family Reunion
The last trace of a smile finally faded from Lei Jin’s lips. His dark eyes, devoid of emotion, fixed on Chunji for a long moment, as if making a final confirmation.
Chunji thought he still didn’t believe him and was about to explain further when Lei Jin silently stretched out his arms. Clutching the child tighter for a brief second, Chunji ultimately handed the baby over without a word—into the embrace where he rightfully belonged.
The moment the baby was in Lei Jin’s arms, his tiny fists waved excitedly, his face breaking into a delighted grin. In that instant, Chunji felt a pang of guilt. No matter how many reasons he had, keeping the truth from the child’s birth parent for nearly three months was undeniably cruel.
Lei Jin kissed the baby’s cheek. Before leaving, he turned back and said, “Thank you, Chunji.”
Chunji froze for a second, then hurriedly ran back inside to fetch the baby’s belongings. As he handed them over, he finally uttered the long-suppressed words: “I’m sorry.”
Mingya was still in a daze, completely baffled by the situation. Though Xiya also didn’t understand how their supposedly lost child had come back to life, he knew Chunji wouldn’t joke about something like this.
What he hadn’t expected was that the baby’s eye color would unravel a mystery that had lingered in their family for nearly two decades.
Moya really is Uncle An Bu’s child.
Now, who knew what kind of storm this would stir up at home? Since there was no stopping it, all they could do was hope things would settle quickly.
“You’re back? Lunch will be ready soon—just wait a bit.” Roger emerged from the kitchen carrying a stack of bowls and utensils. When he saw the child in Lei Jin’s arms, he smiled and asked, “Is that Chunji’s baby? Why did you bring him back?”
“He’s not Chunji’s. He’s mine.” Lei Jin’s tone was calm.
“What?” Roger’s eyes widened in disbelief, thinking he had heard wrong.
Lei Jin briefly explained what had happened.
Roger was immediately overjoyed. “Really? How could such a thing happen? But it’s wonderful that the baby is alive! Come inside—it’s cold out. Let me see him.”
Lei Jin had been cradling the baby against his chest the whole way to shield him from the wind. Now, hearing voices, the curious little one turned his head and, upon seeing Roger, giggled without a trace of shyness.
But the moment Roger saw the baby’s eyes, his face paled. He staggered back two steps, the bowls in his hands shattering on the ground.
“I—I have a headache. I won’t eat lunch. Don’t wait for me. I’m going to rest.” With that, he turned and fled to his room, swiftly bolting the door behind him.
Xiya and Mingya, who had just entered behind Lei Jin, witnessed the scene.
“I didn’t do anything,” Lei Jin immediately defended himself—something he’d been doing a lot lately. What’s wrong with Roger?
“Don’t let the baby catch a cold. Go inside.” Xiya, carrying Mingya on his back, urged them to hurry in.
Later, when the rest of the family returned and heard the news about the baby, they were both shocked and overjoyed. The happiest was undoubtedly Moya. Lei Jin thought he looked like he might burst into tears at any moment—a rare sight.
Xiya was happy too, though a hint of worry lingered between his brows, his gaze frequently drifting toward Roger’s room.
As for Mingya, he just grinned foolishly, thrilled for no particular reason. Due to his injury, he had to remain in beast form to conserve energy. Lying nearby, he kept urging, “Second Brother, Second Brother!” demanding that Moya place the baby on his front paws for a closer look.
The baby didn’t seem afraid of him at all. When Mingya licked him, he giggled happily.
An Sen and An Luo knocked on Roger’s door several times with bowls of food, but received no response. After pressing their ears to the door for a while and confirming nothing out of the ordinary as well as adding to the fact that the children were present, they didn’t push further.
Everyone was happy, and Lei Jin played along, showing no signs of discomfort.
That night, Lei Jin suggested that Mingya share a bed with Moya while he slept alone with the baby. Understanding his feelings, none of the three objected. Moya even dug out the small animal hides they had brought back earlier and changed the baby into them.
While bathing, Lei Jin wondered if he should wash the baby too, but since he wasn’t sure how and Roger was in no state to ask, he decided against it. No need to risk making the baby sick.
“Baby, Baby… we should give you a name.” Lei Jin wiggled his fingers, and the baby swung his tiny fists to grab them. The two played back and forth on the bed, thoroughly entertained.
“What name should we give Baby?” Lei Jin asked the other three. Mingya was already in bed, Xiya was adding charcoal to the brazier (and tossing in a couple of sweet potatoes), and Moya—the proud new father—was pointlessly rearranging things in the room, seemingly unable to keep still.
Hearing this, Mingya perked up. “Oh, right! The baby doesn’t have a name yet! What should we call him? He’s our first baby!”
Xiya finished with the brazier, washed his hands in a wooden basin, and came over to stroke the baby’s cheek. “Baby, Naby, look at Daddy Xiya.”
The baby had been excited all day and still showed no signs of sleepiness, giggling at everyone he saw.
“Our baby is the prettiest,” Xiya said, clumsily lifting the child. Then, to Lei Jin, he added, “He’s just a bit thin. We’ll fatten him up—make him a chubby little baby.”
“You should name him. You’re his papa,” Moya said, pulling up a stool and placing a warm cup of milk fruit juice within Lei Jin’s reach.
Hearing the word papa, Lei Jin shuddered. “Don’t call me that.”
“Then what should we call you?” Moya sat on the edge of the bed, his mood visibly brighter than it had been in a long time. His fingers idly twirled a lock of Lei Jin’s soft hair.
Lei Jin lay on his side, propping his head up as he pondered. Call me ‘Dad’? But that might invite ridicule—the whole tribe knew the baby was his. ‘Father’? Roger had already claimed that. ‘Mother’? He’d rather die.
“It’s taking you this long to think of a title?”
Lei Jin snapped out of his thoughts to find Moya dangerously close, his warm breath brushing against his neck. His body instantly felt weak. Instinctively, he raised a hand to push Moya’s face away, but the moment his fingers brushed against the other's mouth, he yanked them back as if burned, clenching his fist.
Damn it. If you’re going to be an ice block, then stay an ice block. Since when did you learn to act like this?
“Have you decided yet?” Moya pressed, deliberately leaning closer.
“Back up a little.” If you get any closer, I will have a reaction. Lei Jin inwardly cursed himself. Since when am I this desperate?
Moya’s lips curved into a quiet, tender smile, his eyes crinkling with warmth.
Trying to seduce me? Not a chance. Lei Jin glared defiantly but slowly faltered under that gaze. Clenching his fists, he fought the urge to punch something.
Fortunately, Xiya intervened before tragedy could strike. “Have you two settled on a name? Why are you fighting already?”
“I’ve decided,” Lei Jin announced loudly. “From now on, the baby will call me old Dad.”
“‘Dad’ is ‘Dad.’ Why ‘old Dad’?” Xiya, having dealt with Roger’s preferences before, had expected Lei Jin to reject papa. But old Dad?
“Because I like it.” Lei Jin waved a hand, as if that settled the matter.
“What about the baby’s actual name?” Mingya was still scratching his head in thought.
“I have a suggestion,” Lei Jin said.
“Let’s hear it,” Moya prompted.
Lei Jin wrapped himself in a blanket and sat cross-legged before declaring, “Chunji saved the baby’s life. I think he should name him.” Mostly because it was obvious how much Chunji loves this child.
Xiya glanced at Moya, who nodded. “That’s fine.”
“But before that, I’m giving the baby a nickname. His eyes are green—green like… like…” Lei Jin tugged at his hair. Like what?
“Grapes!” Mingya blurted, latching onto the first edible thing that came to mind.
“Perfect! The baby’s nickname is Grapes!” Lei Jin clapped his hands in delight. “Little Grapes, come to ol’ Dad!”
Xiya and Moya could only sigh inwardly, already foreseeing the future. Only Mingya cheered enthusiastically, further fueling Lei Jin’s inexplicable confidence—directly leading to the eventual fruity nicknames of all their subsequent children.
“By the way,” Lei Jin suddenly said, belatedly realizing the key issue, “the baby’s eyes are emerald green. Who does that come from?”
Moya’s expression instantly turned complicated.
“If you don’t even know who the baby resembles, how could you be so sure he’s ours? Weren’t you afraid Chunji was lying?” Xiya tried steering the conversation away.
“I can’t explain the feeling.” The moment Chunji had spoken, Lei Jin had believed him—he just hadn’t dared to. Would fate really be so kind? To return the child he’d thought lost forever, giving him a chance to make up for his mistakes?
But it had never crossed his mind that the baby wasn’t his. It felt right, as if the empty space in his heart had finally been filled.
“The sweet potatoes are done.” Lei Jin, still holding the baby, caught the rich, sugary aroma.
Moya fished them out of the brazier, dusted them off, peeled them, and handed half to Lei Jin. “Don’t eat too much at night—it’ll upset your stomach tomorrow.” The rest he placed in front of Mingya, who had been begging for them earlier. As a werebeast, Mingya could handle more food without issue.
“So sweet!” Mingya took a big bite.
“With less rain this year, the potatoes are naturally sweeter.” Lei Jin took a bite, and the baby’s eyes followed the movement curiously.
“Want a taste?” Grinning, Lei Jin dabbed a bit on his finger and held it to the baby’s mouth.
The toothless little one sucked eagerly, drooling all over.
“Don’t feed the baby random things. He’s too young,” Xiya chided, taking the child and wiping his mouth. “Baby, don’t eat whatever your papa gives you. You’ll get a stomachache.”
“It’s Grapes. And don’t ruin my image in front of my son!” Lei Jin protested vehemently.
“Fine, Grapes. We got it.” Moya popped the last bit of Lei Jin’s sweet potato into his own mouth and wiped his hands clean.
“Ah!” Mingya suddenly exclaimed.
“What’s wrong? Does your leg hurt again?” Lei Jin asked anxiously.
“I just remembered! Baby—no, our little Grapes—his eyes look just like Uncle An Bu’s! Right, Eldest Brother? Second Brother?” Mingya sought confirmation.
The moment he said it, Lei Jin finally understood what was going on.