"Drink a little milk, okay? You haven't eaten anything all day."
Adonis gently coaxed the child, holding a freshly prepared milk bottle.
Joshua sat on the chair, lips pouting.
It wasn't that he didn't want to drink the milk his papa had made—it was just that he wasn't hungry.
What his body needed right now was energy. Overflowing energy—from papa!
"Pa!"
Joshua raised both arms, wanting to be held. His eyes didn't even glance at the milk bottle in Adonis's hand.
Leo said,
"Perhaps your body must undergo one more evolutionary phase before reaching your original age. Until then, you won't truly be a resident here—you won't feel hunger or have basic needs like other humans do."
"Pa pa, chit, chit, pa, chit."
Joshua quickly repeated Leo's words to Adonis, even though he knew Adonis wouldn't understand a word.
Watching the little one go "pa pa chit chit" with such a serious expression, as if delivering an important speech, Adonis couldn't help but find it amusing.
Still, he quickly put on a stern face.
"No skipping meals. Being cute won't get you out of it."
He moved closer, but the child kept his mouth shut tight—unwilling to drink even a drop.
At this point, Adonis had no choice but to confront a truth he had been avoiding.
This child had been strange from the very beginning—from hatching out of an egg to never once needing the bathroom since birth and now refusing to eat at all.
Was the child just naturally like this… or was something wrong? Was he sick?
Adonis ate without tasting a thing and put the child to bed early.
"Goodnight. Tomorrow, Papa's taking you to see a doctor."
Joshua tilted his head, confused. He wondered what a "doctor" even was.
Adonis looked at the silly little bun face of the child and couldn't help but chuckle.
He suddenly leaned in, pressing his face to the child's, rubbing gently against him. Adonis couldn't help but feel a bit satisfied feeling soft skin.
So, this is why people love cuddling cats so much.
"Papa... moah."
Just then, the child wriggled slightly, puckered his lips, and kissed Adonis on the cheek.
The kiss left an undeniable wet spot.
Adonis touched the damp patch on his face and couldn't help but laugh.
Meeting the child's expectant eyes, he suddenly remembered the earlier kiss. Maybe… that was a goodnight kiss?
Thinking that, Adonis didn't hesitate—he gently kissed the child on the forehead.
"Sleep now. Papa's right here."
The child obediently closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, his little lips slightly puckered. Even in his dreams, he softly muttered, "pa."
Adonis couldn't help but smile. He raised his hand and gently touched the child's cheek.
The child instantly grabbed his finger, rubbing against it affectionately.
"Pa pa…"
"Papa's here."
Adonis didn't even know when he fell asleep himself.
He only woke when he felt a wave of heat beside him.
Instinctively, he reached out to touch the warm source—his hand met burning skin, drenched in sweat.
Adonis's eyes flew open, his heart pounding.
He saw the child curled up beside him, drenched in sweat. The once fluffy hair was now soaked and clinging to his head.
The child was breathing heavily, his tiny face scrunched in pain, letting out faint, pained whimpers that twisted Adonis's heart like a knife.
Without hesitation, he immediately scooped the child into his arms and called his private doctor.
Ariana also showed up at Adonis's villa after 2 a.m.
The dark circles under her eyes looked like they might slide down her cheeks. It was clear she hadn't slept at all tonight.
"Why did the child suddenly get sick? What kind of care are you giving him?"
Ariana looked at the feverish child on the bed, unable to hide her worry.
She knew she shouldn't be criticizing Adonis—after all, he had no experience being a father.
Adonis frowned slightly but didn't argue with her. He waited in silence for the doctor's diagnosis.
Ariana sighed and rubbed her forehead, visibly fatigued.
"Alright, that was out of line. It's not your fault."
Adonis shook his head.
"He hasn't eaten anything this whole time. I should've taken him to the hospital immediately instead of waiting until morning."
His eyes remained fixed on the child, a trace of guilt flickering across his face. It was impossible to hide.
Yes—his child. This little one was his son.
Ariana looked at Adonis in surprise.
Just then, the doctor stood up, packing away his equipment.
"It's just a fever. I'll give him an injection. If his condition doesn't improve by morning, it's best to bring him to the hospital."
Adonis nodded and lifted the child in his arms.
"Understood."
"Pa pa..."
Joshua wanted to explain that this was merely part of his evolution, that papa didn't need to worry, that he didn't need any medicine. But he was too tired now—and even if he did speak, papa wouldn't understand anyway. So he stayed quiet, lips pressed together, letting the adults do as they pleased.
Still, when he looked at the so-called "doctor" in the white coat standing nearby, he suddenly felt bad.
"It'll be alright, sir!" Leo's comforting voice suddenly echoed.
Then, papa's large hand gently covered his eyes.
Joshua felt a sharp pain in his arm, something piercing through his skin, and he quickly withdrew.
His eyes flew open. He had never experienced any pain in his life before—and now tears were streaming down his face uncontrollably.
"Pa…"
Adonis could feel his hand getting soaked with tears.
He had just cried himself to sleep a few hours ago, and now he was crying again.
Adonis looked at the child and suddenly understood what it meant to feel heartache for someone.
The shot had hurt—but the child hadn't struggled, hadn't fought back. He just silently cried.
"Why are you so good?"
Adonis looked into the child's eyes and asked softly, then gently wiped the tears from his round little face.
"What are you made of, little one? Water? How do you have so many tears?"
No, Joshua thought. Papa said I was made from papa's bones...
The doctor had already left. At that moment, Ariana glanced at the child in Adonis's arms and asked curiously:
"Don't you think… he looks a bit bigger?"
Adonis raised an eyebrow.
"He hasn't eaten anything all day. How could he possibly have grown?"
"Must be your imagination," he added.
Ariana didn't leave. She chose to stay at the villa to help Adonis take care of the child.
But once she stayed, she realized how unnecessary she was.
Adonis constantly rushed back and forth—fetching towels, changing clothes, wiping sweat.
His expression looked even more tormented than the child's.
She didn't know how this child had come into the world, but one thing was clear: Adonis had become a father.
The next morning, Joshua had never felt so full of energy. His body practically hummed with power—and it was all thanks to papa!
Thinking that, he turned and immediately saw papa dozing off beside his bed.
Last night, he had wanted to tell papa not to worry.
Papa hadn't understood him then—but now, that wouldn't be a problem anymore!
"Papa! Hungry!"