Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Mental Manifestation (II)

A wolf and a dog really aren’t the same family.

At least, He Chen’s wolf wasn’t.

The moment the Snow Wolf appeared in the hall, the other mental manifestations that had been clinging to He Leyan and refusing to leave immediately retreated back into their owners’ mental domains, including the large brownish-yellow dog that He Chen had tried to claim kinship with.

The audience in the live stream finally understood who this tactless fellow was.

It was the cub’s father, He Chen, the illegitimate son of the He family who had gotten lucky.

[Gotta say, that Snow Wolf is definitely imposing…]

[It is noble blood, after all.]

Since ancient times, Blue Star warriors have been divided into nobles and commoners. Those with noble bloodlines often possessed higher innate talent and found it easier to grow into high-level warriors. Among the numerous noble bloodlines, several major families possessed signature, powerful companion mental beasts, such as the He family’s Snow Wolf—a top-tier mental manifestation with the rare talent for ice element.

[Nobles aren’t necessarily strong. Why are people still obsessed with bloodline worship in this day and age?] Someone in the comments expressed dissatisfaction.

In the past, the status difference between Blue Star nobles and commoners was vast. However, since entering the interstellar era, technology like weapons and battle armor rapidly advanced, while noble bloodlines became increasingly mixed. With these elements combined, the actual strength gap between noble and commoner warriors gradually narrowed, and the ideals of equality and freedom became increasingly prevalent.

Yet, that small group of nobles still controlled a disproportionately large amount of resources, firmly holding the keys to upward mobility. Especially in the military, the traditional stronghold of the nobility, while things were outwardly presented as merit-based and equal, the reality was a deeply entrenched network of corruption. Those without background could only serve as stepping stones for noble scions, their development constantly restricted.

Even as an illegitimate son, He Chen was still considered part of the nobility, so it was inevitable that some viewers held prejudice against him in the comments.

[It’s true they aren’t necessarily strong, and he awakened late, didn’t he? I heard he’s an outcast in the He family. The one the He family truly values is his older brother, He Siyuan, who is around the same age and already holds an important position in the military. That one was born with his awakening, so his talent must be stronger than He Chen’s.]

The comments were buzzing with discussion, but none of it affected He Chen in the slightest.

What He Chen cared about right now was the cub’s reaction.

The cub had touched the mental manifestations of the previous twenty-something people, even Ning Tian’s unfriendly Leopard Cat was no exception.

Since favor was distributed equally, his Snow Wolf shouldn’t be an exception either.

Spirit and soul are one; their minds are connected. He Chen thought this, and his Snow Wolf naturally thought the same. It majestically shook its long white fur, and without a word… it lay down.

Lying on the floor, it covered its muzzle—which was sharper and longer than the “big dog’s”—with its paws. Its two triangular ears attempted to flop down against all logic (but failed), and its pair of blue eyes looked at He Leyan expectantly.

[Hahaha, is it trying to pretend to be a dog?]

[Suddenly finding it a bit goofy and cute, what’s going on…]

[Even so, a large fierce beast is still a large fierce beast! Buddy, have some self-awareness and stay away from the cub, okay?!]

The audience reactions varied, with a few being quite intense, but they couldn’t be entirely blamed: even lying down, the Snow Wolf on screen was still enormous. Three-year-old He Leyan looked like a tiny speck next to it—the kind that could be bitten in half with one gulp.

He Leyan was indeed hesitant.

He was still a little scared. Although, although the “signal” the big wolf gave him felt very warm, warmer than all the other mental manifestations, standing out like a sun.

But he still remembered its big mouth…

That was a fear rooted in physiological instinct.

He Leyan delayed his movement. The big wolf whined pitifully, but that low cry didn’t change the child’s mind. Instead, it made the child clench his small hands and lower his head.

The numerous subordinates looked at He Chen with complex sympathy.

Sympathy my ass! I’m very strong.

He Chen calmly raised his hand, preparing to recall the whining, stubborn Snow Wolf as gracefully as possible. But just as he raised his hand, he was interrupted by a figure rushing in: “He Chen, what are you forcing the child to do?”

Third Prince Chu Yunqi hurried over and righteously positioned himself between He Leyan and the Snow Wolf. The next second, the live stream ended.

Chu Yunqi heard the notification sound, frowned regretfully, and impatiently waved his hand: “Recall it, recall it. Don’t scare—shit…”

The big fellow had stood up at some point, and its massive head was right next to his face. A pair of icy blue wolf eyes stared chillingly at him.

The wolf eyes looked calm at first glance, but behind that layer of calm blue film, there seemed to be endless, endless… Chu Yunqi couldn’t name what it was. Cold, murderous, blood—bloodthirsty?

In that instant, Chu Yunqi, who possessed half of the He family bloodline, suddenly remembered what the Snow Wolf truly represented. In a flash, he felt the blood in his body freeze.

But the Snow Wolf vanished at that moment. The chill that had frozen Chu Yunqi’s blood also dissipated without a trace.

“Your Highness, why did you trip?” He Chen reached out and pulled Chu Yunqi up, patting away non-existent dust from his body, his tone remarkably gentle.

For some reason, the hairs on the back of Chu Yunqi’s neck stood up even more vigorously.

He pulled away from He Chen, looked at him, and suddenly felt that He Chen was somewhat unfamiliar.

His mental manifestation was a Snow Wolf, the legendary creature that, when fully grown, could ignore all defenses, directly freeze the enemy’s blood, and kill without a trace…

Even within the He family, those who truly possessed the Snow Wolf were much rarer than the public believed. Just like their Chu family’s Qilin or the Shen family’s Golden Eagle… only a few lucky individuals could possess them.

Could a He Chen like this truly be as weak as he appeared? Chu Yunqi carefully considered the question and concluded:

Yes, he was very weak.

Among the He family descendants of this generation, in terms of military rank, He Chen was only a Colonel, not even close to Brigadier General. In terms of power, he only commanded a medium-sized fleet. In terms of territory, he was assigned a chaotic sector that no one wanted.

All of this boiled down to his lack of backing—his identity as a criminal’s son, coupled with He Yayun’s hatred. He Chen was unwelcome in the He family and had no support. In the military, he was practically invisible.

Thinking of this, Chu Yunqi’s back straightened up again… slightly.

“Nothing, I just slipped.” Chu Yunqi cleared his throat. “Say, has dinner started? I’m hungry.”

“Dinner is about to start.” He Chen checked the time, stepped around Chu Yunqi, and looked down at He Leyan, his voice instantly becoming awkward and unnatural. “Leyan, Papa asked them to prepare delicious food. Shall we—”

“Let’s eat!” Chu Yunqi scooped up He Leyan and placed him in the dining chair, which was a bit high for him, then sat down next to him.

He Chen patiently retracted the hand he had just extended.

He endured looking at Chu Yunqi, then looked at Deng Tie and nodded.

Deng Tie clapped his hands toward the transparent window of the mess hall. Immediately, several men in neat chef hats filed out, each holding a tray, looking nervously yet expectantly at He Leyan.

“What is this, a beauty pageant?” Chu Yunqi scoffed, leaning forward to look at the trays, his body blocking most of He Leyan’s view.

Then his view was completely blocked.

Ning Tian stood in front of him, expressionless, like an indifferent wall, obstructing his line of sight.

“You—” Chu Yunqi glared at Ning Tian’s cold, handsome face, which was inches away. After that one glance, for some reason, he didn’t flare up. He obediently sat back down, looking somewhat distracted.

He Chen took a plate from a tray and placed it in front of He Leyan, lifting the cover: “This is—”

He paused. “This is a clownfish rice ball.”

“It’s a little bee!” Chef No. 1 couldn’t help but speak, giving the Commander a subtle, enduring look.

The golden rice ball, paired with a few strips of cut seaweed and two small wings made of egg white, was clearly a little bee! Where did he see a clownfish?

“That’s a pretty fat bee you have there.” He Chen rubbed his nose and brought down the second plate. “This is—a duck?”

He glanced at Chef No. 2.

“Yes, yes, this is a little duck sandwich,” Chef No. 2 quickly confirmed.

Although the design was originally a chick, if the Commander said it was a duck, then it was a duck. He had that much flexibility.

Besides, that wasn’t important. What mattered was whether the young master liked it. Chef No. 2 observed the young master’s eyes and explained with a smile:

“Young Master, the little duck’s beak is made of corn kernels, the eyes are black sesame seeds, and this comb—”

“No, the rest of the parts are made of ketchup, and they are all edible.”

“No. 3.” He Chen glared at No. 2, then lifted the cover of No. 3’s tray. “What is this?”

He looked at the short, stout No. 3 with confusion. “You introduce it yourself.”

“Yes.” No. 3 placed his bowl on the dining table, looking a bit embarrassed. “Young Master, mine is just steamed egg custard.”

He tightened his grip on the tray. “I’ve been hoping the Young Master would come to our base for a long time, so I practiced steaming egg custard for ages. I didn’t expect the Young Master to finally arrive, but he’s already so big…”

“Everyone else did better and more suitable dishes today, but Young Master, I just want you to try a bite. My Old Wang’s steamed egg custard is truly fragrant and tender.”

Old Wang, No. 3, looked at He Leyan expectantly.

He Leyan, who had been sitting quietly and properly at the table, nodded, then shook his head: “I’m not called ‘Young Master.’ I’m called Leyan.”

He looked at the “big steamed bun skins” who had cared for him, accompanied him, and released their mental manifestations to play with him, then looked very seriously at the line of chefs: “Thank you, Uncles and Grandpas, for making me food.”

Oh my goodness, the chefs were incredibly moved: “Young Master Leyan, you’re too polite. Actually, none of us are professionals.”

They truly weren’t professionals. They were all veterans retired from the front lines due to injury or illness, and they often got teased by their comrades for not cooking well enough. Being thanked so solemnly by He Leyan caught them completely off guard.

Especially Old Wang, tears were almost welling up in his eyes: “That’s so kind, the Young Master is so kind.”

“I’m called Leyan,” He Leyan emphasized helplessly, even unconsciously glancing at He Chen, seemingly seeking his help.

“Alright, you can just call him Leyan from now on. We aren’t ‘Young Masters’ here anyway,” He Chen said gleefully.

Chu Yunqi shot him a look: What’s so gleeful? He Chen might not be a “Young Master,” but He Leyan had him as a godfather, so he absolutely deserved the title “Young Master.”

But forget it. Everyone present was a brute; he couldn’t be bothered to argue with them.

Chu Yunqi snorted inwardly, then glanced at Ning Tian, whose cold face also showed a hint of excitement, and snorted again: How inexplicable.

Chef No. 4 continued to introduce his dish, while He Chen lowered his head and sent a message to the “Dad-bi”: [Thank you!]

He sincerely thanked the person for raising He Leyan so well.

Lu Changqing opened his terminal, looked at the thoughtless text for a moment, and replied: [What’s wrong?]

[Nothing’s wrong, Leyan is great!]

Although it was only one line of text, Lu Changqing read excitement and a large ball of bright energy from it.

Lu Changqing looked at the terminal, unconsciously rubbing his long fingers resting on his knee.