Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 26
byChapter 26 You Don’t Want It?
He Chen had a reason for asking that question: “Ahem, I heard that Doctor Wen hasn’t started a family yet. If he doesn’t have any ties, could we arrange for him to go to Han River to replace Doctor Shao for a rotation?”
“Leyan has missed Doctor Wen… and all of you, very much,” He Chen said. “I think if Doctor Wen could be stationed long-term at Han River, Leyan would be very happy.”
“Is that the only reason?” Lu Changqing’s wrist, which was holding the paper, relaxed.
“Not just that,” He Chen said in a low voice. “I also hope that after I resolve the current troubles, I can ask Doctor Wen to be Leyan’s godfather.”
There was actually another reason He Chen didn’t mention: he wanted Wen Yi to go to Han River to prevent Wen Yi from actually fulfilling that ‘one-month promise’ he made with the kid. The moment Wen Yi said it, the surveillance personnel reported it to him.
In the first few days after arriving at Han River, he saw the child secretly counting the days on the calendar several times.
Although Wen Yi definitely couldn’t take Leyan away as long as He Chen insisted, He Chen didn’t want to hurt the child. Sending Wen Yi to Han River to accompany Leyan seemed like a win-win situation to He Chen. The godfather matter was icing on the cake.
Lu Changqing was silent for a moment, then asked, “Why do you want Wen Yi to be Leyan’s godfather?”
“Doctor Wen is a very good person, excellent at guiding Leyan, and Leyan is close to him. He is also a High-Tier Healer, genuinely capable of helping Leyan stabilize his mental power. Today, I—” He Chen suddenly paused.
“You went to him for treatment today specifically to verify his abilities,” Lu Changqing said flatly, finishing his sentence.
He Chen touched his nose guiltily: “I wouldn’t say verify. I trust Doctor Wen quite a bit.”
Lu Changqing looked up at him. “What was the result of your verification? Was Wen Yi’s treatment very comfortable?”
Huh? He Chen found the question strange. Before he could answer, Lu Changqing changed the subject: “I cannot agree.”
“Why?” He Chen was stunned.
“I need to personally oversee the establishment of the branch hospital at Han River and the transfer of severely ill patients there. Here in Star Capital, I need Wen Yi to manage things for me.”
“As for the godfather,” Lu Changqing raised his wine glass and took a sip of red wine, slowly glancing at He Chen. “You told me not to covet Leyan.”
He Chen froze. He had indeed said that—to L, he hadn’t forgotten. What he didn’t understand was why Lu Changqing brought it up: “So?”
“What was the reason?” Lu Changqing asked.
“Because I don’t want Leyan to serve any family or any faction.”
“Are you sticking to your original intention?” Lu Changqing asked again.
“Yes,” He Chen raised his head, his expression serious.
Lu Changqing was silent for a moment: “Then Wen Yi won’t do.”
“Why not?” He Chen frowned. “I checked. Doctor Wen comes from a civilian family and doesn’t belong to any faction!”
“You missed something,” Lu Changqing looked at him calmly. “How much does it cost to cultivate a High-Tier Healer? Which civilian family can afford that? Wen Yi received full financial support from the Lu family long before he showed his talent at the age of five.”
“You—” He Chen hadn’t considered this and was momentarily stunned. After a while, he said, “That’s not ‘support,’ that’s ‘investment.’”
“That’s not wrong,” Lu Changqing didn’t refute. “In short, Wen Yi is my person. Whether you use him or not, consider it carefully.”
He Chen pursed his lips tightly.
Instead of saying how he would consider it, he looked at the contract next to Lu Changqing’s hand: “Senior Brother, your real goal is to facilitate your actions at the Han River base, right? The benefits you’re giving me are just a byproduct.”
Lu Changqing was silent again, then spread the contract open. His slightly narrow eyes lifted calmly: “If you don’t want it, we can void it now.”
“Don’t!” He Chen quickly reached out to shield the paper.
He was wrong. Regardless of whether it was a byproduct or a calculation, the benefits were real!
“What are you two doing?” He Leyan walked back at some point, looking at He Chen, then Lu Changqing, and curiously at their hands on the table.
Only then did He Chen realize he was still pressing down on Lu Changqing’s hand.
“Sorry!” He Chen let go as if electrocuted, then watched Lu Changqing’s jade-like hand slowly and steadily move away from the paper. He then quickly and carefully folded the contract, pushed it toward Lu Changqing, and said quietly and honestly, “I want it.”
Lu Changqing lightly pinched his fingers. “Good that you want it.”
As he spoke, he lowered his eyes and put the contract away, his voice unhurried: “This benefit is not for you, it’s for the Han River base. I’m afraid you’ll let those wounded soldiers die.”
“…”
He Chen opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Lu Changqing turned to He Leyan: “Did you eat the pastries? How many?”
“One…” He Leyan said, meeting Lu Changqing’s eyes, and scratched his small hand. “Two, two?”
Lu Changqing didn’t speak, but glanced at the waiter. The waiter silently held up four fingers.
This little rascal, daring to criticize him for lying? He Chen smiled, temporarily setting aside other thoughts. He glanced at the blushing He Leyan and kindly offered him a way out: “Leyan, come sit.”
He patted the seat next to him.
He Leyan hesitated, his big eyes looking left and right, but finally, he shifted his butt and sat next to Lu Changqing.
He Chen was silent for a while, then suddenly smiled foolishly: At least the kid hesitated for a bit!
When He Leyan reached out and pushed a small pastry toward He Chen, the smile on He Chen’s face became even brighter: “For me?”
He Leyan nodded.
“Thank you, Leyan!” He Chen’s grin stretched almost to the sky. Only he got one!
Lu Changqing couldn’t help but glance at He Chen, then silently withdrew his gaze. He pulled He Leyan’s plate closer, cut off a small portion of the tender steak on the plate, and moved it to his own dish.
He Leyan’s eyes followed the knife and fork the entire time, watching helplessly as a small portion of his steak flew away. He pursed his small lips repeatedly but didn’t dare to speak.
He looked so pitiful.
He Chen cut a piece of meat from his own plate and put it back on He Leyan’s.
“Leyan has a weak stomach. Eating too much at night can cause indigestion,” Lu Changqing said lightly.
…He Chen silently cut away three-quarters of that piece of meat, leaving a token amount for He Leyan.
“Did Chu Yunqi return to the He family with you this morning?” While He Leyan was having his hands washed by the waiter, Lu Changqing opened the conversation to discuss serious matters with He Chen.
“Yes,” He Chen glanced at Lu Changqing. He knew what happened at the He family this morning already?
“This afternoon, Chu Yunqi went to the palace and suggested to His Majesty that at the Blood God Festival banquet, you should draw lots to decide where you will be rotated.”
He Chen chuckled: “He really dared to suggest that. The Emperor didn’t agree, did he?”
Deciding major military and political affairs by drawing lots—that suggestion sounded unreliable. If Chu Yunqi weren’t the Emperor’s biological son, he would have been thrown out, He Chen thought gleefully.
“His Majesty nearly agreed,” Lu Changqing said. “The matter of rotation has always been treated as a private affair by the major families, and the Emperor has long been dissatisfied. Having you draw lots is more symbolic than substantive.”
“Then, if I draw lots by imperial decree and win, will I really have to rotate?” He Chen stopped his knife and fork.
“That’s why His Majesty didn’t truly agree. He won’t actually let you rotate. He doesn’t trust anyone else to go to Han River.”
He Chen’s sword-like eyebrows raised slightly: “He doesn’t trust others, but he trusts me? A—” He stopped halfway, swallowing the rest of the sentence: “son of a rebel.”
“He trusts you because you don’t rely on any side and you aren’t greedy. Han River is a special location. He knows that any other family sent there would only think about making money and dividing the spoils, neglecting the defense against the Mystics.”
“And you have been diligently researching the Mystics, knowing their methods and tactics inside and out.”
He Chen was stunned: “Actually, I haven’t—”
“You have.” Lu Changqing forked a piece of steak and chewed silently.
Even when eating meat, he did so with such composure, detachment, and otherworldly grace.
He Chen felt a sudden chill in his heart: “You, misled, no, manipulated that person?”
“Watch your words,” Lu Changqing looked at He Chen, his gaze calm and deep. “There was no manipulation. I merely understood and acted accordingly.”
Isn’t that still manipulation… He Chen looked at Lu Changqing, feeling that he shouldn’t be like this, or perhaps, this was how he was meant to be all along, and He Chen had never truly known him.
The Lu Changqing who buried his head lecturing him and stayed up all night fighting him in the training room was just a fading shadow.
“In any case, don’t worry too much about the rotation. Since you’re on vacation, take Leyan out for a good time and relax.”
“Okay,” He Chen nodded in agreement, falling silent, head lowered, thinking about something.
“Do you have concerns?” Lu Changqing observed him for a moment and asked.
“No,” He Chen answered instinctively.
“We are allies. For the sake of smooth cooperation, if you have any concerns, you can speak frankly.”
“I am being quite frank,” He Chen said. “There really isn’t anything. I just feel a bit sorry for my subordinates. I don’t want to rotate, but they might.”
Not rotating meant He Chen’s subordinates would also have to remain in the poor and remote Han River base for at least three more years.
“Staying with you at Han River is better than being exploited and used as cannon fodder in a wealthy place under someone else,” Lu Changqing said.
“That makes sense. Senior Brother, you’re really good at comforting people.” He Chen smiled, but his eyes still held a hint of gloom.
“What are you talking about?” He Leyan was led back by the waiter at that moment.
Seeing him, He Chen’s subdued eyes immediately brightened: “We’re talking about taking you out to play tomorrow. Didn’t you say you go to the park every Saturday?”
“Not every Saturday…” He Leyan murmured, looking at He Chen:
Silly Dad, he actually remembered something he said casually…
“Silly Dad” rubbed He Leyan’s small head and looked at Lu Changqing: “I was just about to ask Senior Brother if there are any less crowded places in Star Capital where I can take Leyan to play without being surrounded and photographed?”
“Very few,” Lu Changqing replied. “However, you can safely go to the park Leyan mentioned. Bring a tent; you can camp there.”
“You two”?
“Isn’t Daddy coming?” He Leyan asked.
“Daddy has work tomorrow.”
“Then,” He Leyan struggled for a moment, “Then we’ll wait until Daddy finishes work before we go!”
“No need,” Lu Changqing glanced at He Chen, then back at He Leyan. “Daddy will be working very late, so he won’t go this time. Your father rarely returns to Star Capital and isn’t familiar with it. Daddy is giving you a mission: you take Father camping, specifically to the lakeside we usually go to. Can you do it?”
He Leyan really wanted to complete the mission Daddy assigned, but— “I don’t know the way, and I can’t drive the hovercar.”
“You can navigate there, and let Father drive the hovercar,” Lu Changqing said.
He Leyan’s little mind finally caught on: What mission? It was just an excuse for him to go out and play with Silly Dad.
However—He Leyan looked at He Chen: Silly Dad is very pitiful. He has no home, no family who loves him, and he hasn’t played in Star Capital.
He Leyan’s soft heart grew even softer the more he thought about it. He nodded and agreed, arranging things like a little adult: “We need to bring water, food, the tent, and—”
He couldn’t remember what else, so he turned to Lu Changqing for help.
“Also sleeping bags, a bucket, a water gun, a sun hat, and a change of clothes. If you want to fish by the lake, bring your small fishing rod and bait.”
Three years old, fishing? He Chen didn’t understand but didn’t say anything.
He watched Lu Changqing skillfully list the items, and couldn’t help but imagine how they used to spend their weekends.
He also thought of Lu Changqing’s home, and He Leyan’s room.
The pictures that were solemnly hung up, one by one.
The toys Lu Changqing made by hand.
The picture books and stories He Leyan had heard so many times he could recite them…
And most importantly, he thought of He Leyan’s deep attachment and trust in “Daddy.”
A thought struck him, and He Chen suddenly spoke: “Tomorrow is Saturday. Does Senior Brother absolutely have to work?”
Lu Changqing paused and looked up at him.
“If it’s not urgent, could you come out and play with Leyan—with us—for a day?”
“Are you sure?” Lu Changqing asked.
Their eyes met, and both understood what the question meant: Are you sure you want me to continue interacting with Leyan?
He Chen was silent for a moment.
He was indeed wary of Lu Changqing’s identity. But—
“I’m sure,” He Chen replied.
He Chen remembered that the whole point of bringing Leyan back was for Leyan to reunite with “Daddy.”
While maintaining vigilance against Lu Changqing, He Chen also had to protect the child’s pure affection.
Yes, he would protect it with wide-open eyes.