Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 30
byChapter 30 You Are Papa!
“How is it?” Stepping out of the diagnostic machine, He Chen sat up and asked Lu Changqing.
“There is indeed a foreign object.”
“A foreign object?”
“To be precise, it’s a trace amount of abnormal elements, scattered throughout your meridians.” Lu Changqing said, pointing to a constantly changing data box on the terminal for He Chen to see. “I’m currently cross-referencing what this is.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the comparison result appeared: a 0.013% overlap rate with known substances.
0.013—that was essentially no overlap.
He Chen and Lu Changqing frowned simultaneously.
“Is this database accurate?” He Chen asked.
“It contains every substance known to the Star River Empire.”
Known to the Star River Empire…
He Chen stared at the screen, contemplating for a moment, then quickly reacted: “Then don’t worry about the comparison. Can we just research how to deal with this thing? Can blood dialysis filter it out?”
“It’s useless. It’s in your meridians, not your blood vessels.” Lu Changqing said, glancing at him. “You don’t seem surprised that it can’t be matched?”
He Chen paused, then said with a serious, grand air: “I don’t like wasting time on surprise.”
With that, he turned and walked away to change his clothes—Lu Changqing’s gaze made him feel inexplicably guilty.
Lu Changqing fixed his gaze on him for a moment. Seeing him turn his back to change, he turned back to call up another panel and review the analysis data.
He Chen took off the top of the examination gown.
Just as Lu Changqing was about to say something, he glanced in He Chen’s direction, and his gaze lingered.
During their sparring session at home two days ago, He Chen had changed into his training clothes in the locker room. Therefore, this was the first time in ten years that Lu Changqing had seen He Chen’s current physique.
He knew He Chen had suffered severe injuries in the mining accident three years ago, but seeing He Chen’s right arm, where alloy and muscle were intertwined and meshed, and seeing the jagged, crisscrossing scars on his straight back, Lu Changqing’s state of mind still fluctuated for a moment. His eyes deepened, different from his usual demeanor.
By the time He Chen finished changing and turned around, Lu Changqing had already suppressed that fluctuation.
“How do we check if Leyan has this thing in his body?” He Chen walked up to the panel and asked.
This was what he cared about most.
“We might be able to check using a different instrument with higher radiation.” Lu Changqing said. “Leyan hasn’t had a fever. Are you sure you’re willing to risk radiation exposure for this check?”
He Chen hesitated for a moment, then nodded. If he had it, Leyan likely did too. How could He Chen rest easy without checking?
Lu Changqing looked at him.
Given his protective instinct toward Leyan—the kind that wanted to hold him in his mouth—the fact that he was willing to subject Leyan to a high dose of radiation meant he was almost certain Leyan had the same problem.
Lu Changqing pondered for a moment, then suddenly said something seemingly irrelevant: “Your Sirius language is very good.”
“What?” He Chen blinked, then quickly asked with a puzzled expression.
Lu Changqing looked at He Chen’s right ear—the normal one. “Leyan mentioned that the Sirius person injured your ear.”
He looked at the small, nearly healed wound below He Chen’s right ear, his eyes deepening slightly as he said: “As far as I know, some species in the Myst system have a barbaric, arrogant tradition of marking their chosen mates with their teeth—”
“Cough!” He Chen’s face stiffened considerably. “That bastard was venting his frustration because he couldn’t beat me. I was momentarily careless…”
His momentary carelessness allowed Rupert to inflict this thing on him, which was already utterly humiliating, though thankfully the loss of face was silent, known only to himself—until today, he thought only he knew.
“His motive isn’t important,” Lu Changqing said, casually picking up an alcohol swab and wiping He Chen’s right ear. “What is important is, why is Junior Brother so familiar with the Sirius race?”
“I’ve been diligently researching Myst people… you said.” He Chen replied.
“The Sirius race has never invaded Star River. Why would you think of researching them?”
“I was interested.” He Chen answered calmly.
“Three years ago, you returned to Star Capital in June and picked up Leyan, but you didn’t bring Leyan to the Medical Academy until September. Where were you during those three months?” Lu Changqing asked again.
“Nowhere. I was on vacation recovering from injuries, and taking care of Leyan.” He Chen looked calm, but the two wolf ears on his head were tightly perked up.
“Where were you vacationing and recovering?”
“Pingchang Star, a pauper planet, where I grew up.” Although the name meant “Peace and Prosperity,” it was neither peaceful nor prosperous. It wouldn’t be easy for Lu Changqing to verify his words.
“You certainly pick interesting places for vacation,” Lu Changqing said. “However, no matter how chaotic Pingchang Star is, it’s still better than the Sirius heartland, right?”
“…Where did that come from?”
“The knot must be untied where it was tied. To neutralize this toxin, I need more information.” Lu Changqing stated directly, looking He Chen in the eye.
He Chen lowered his head, then quickly raised it: “Sirius Lake.”
“That year, I captured a crazy, rambling space pirate. To spare his life, he confessed that he specialized in selling Myst specialties, including a type of lake water from the Sirius race, rumored to improve physique. I was recovering from injuries at the time, so I tried it half-heartedly and found it actually worked. So I let Leyan try it too.”
“You let Leyan soak—how long did he try it?”
“Two months… I didn’t know there were side effects.” He Chen said, frowning slightly.
“At that moment, saving Leyan’s life was naturally more important than worrying about side effects.” Lu Changqing said.
“I thought so too.” He Chen’s expression relaxed somewhat.
He didn’t regret it. He truly had no choice; the Hatching Center told him Leyan’s condition was poor and he was destined to die young.
Now Leyan had at least survived. For new difficulties, he would find new solutions.
Lu Changqing looked at his determined expression, his eyes deep: “You should properly thank that ‘crazy, rambling space pirate.’ He is Leyan’s second parent, his savior.”
Ahem, it wasn’t that serious. He Chen looked away: “Leyan also saved ‘his’ life, in a way.”
Only He Chen himself could understand what that tiny life, clinging to him, meant to him three years ago when he had lost his brothers, his faith had crumbled, and he carried the burden of over two hundred gravestones.
It meant redemption and hope.
“If the Medical Academy can’t solve it, once things in Star Capital are done, I’ll go… find that space pirate as soon as possible to see if he has a solution.” He Chen said.
“Go where to find him, Myst?” Lu Changqing asked.
“Perhaps,” He Chen said vaguely. “I will find him, somehow.”
“It will take too long for you to find him. We should prepare two ways. I will send people to investigate the Sirius race immediately.” Lu Changqing said.
“You’ll send people to investigate?”
“Thank you, but—” He Chen paused, looking at Lu Changqing. “What are your requirements, Senior Brother?”
In other words, He Chen was asking what price he should pay.
Lu Changqing was silent for a moment.
“No requirements. For Leyan.”
This time, it was He Chen’s turn to be silent. Perhaps, at least concerning Leyan, he could trust Lu Changqing a little more?
He glanced at Lu Changqing, convinced himself to temporarily lower his guard, and asked as relaxedly as possible: “Then what can I do for you?”
He phrased it differently, but it still sounded… the same.
“Cooperate with a few experiments to see if anything can suppress your ears.” Lu Changqing said calmly. “The Blood God Feast is tomorrow night. I don’t want my partner to attract too much attention.”
He Chen coughed: “Cold showers usually help me. I can take a few more.”
“Cold showers?” Lu Changqing thought of his fever and sensitive reactions, frowning slightly. But before he could speak, the terminal flashed red alarms: “Didi,” “Didi.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Mental power surge.” Lu Changqing pulled He Chen’s hoodie hood over his head, speaking quickly but clearly. “You are in a surge period. Leave the sickbay immediately to avoid being affected.”
He then handed He Chen over to an assistant and left without looking back.
He Chen watched his back disappear into the deep sickbay, entering an alloy door.
The moment the door opened, He Chen, in his surge period, indeed felt an extremely chaotic disturbance. He frowned, and the assistant reminded him: “Commander He, this way please—”
*
“This is a butterfly, and this is a pony. My Papa made them!”
In the pediatric ward of the Medical Academy, He Leyan arranged the mechanical toys he brought on a small table, pointing them out to several children in hospital gowns like precious family treasures.
[Haha, Baby Leyan is showing off too.]
[So many children! *Inhale*!]
One child curiously touched the butterfly’s wing. He Leyan instinctively scooped up the butterfly, protecting it in his palm. “This, this is easily broken.”
“The toys my papa buys me are very sturdy, they don’t break so easily!” The child stared at the butterfly in He Leyan’s hand, envious yet unconvinced.
He Leyan also became unconvinced: “Yours are bought, but my Papa can make things! These are all handmade by my Papa! You can’t buy them anywhere!”
[It’s true you can’t buy them, don’t ask me how I know…]
[Good boy, tell your dad to open a shop! Auntie wants to buy ten or eight of them!]
[Leyan has a little ‘competitive’ side too, haha!]
Many comments quickly flew across the live stream, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious, but the atmosphere between He Leyan and the child was almost tense.
“If you can’t buy it, you can’t buy it. Yours isn’t fun at all!” The child said angrily.
“Yours isn’t fun!” He Leyan was even angrier, his voice trembling slightly. “My butterfly can fly! It has power gears, and a planetary motor, and a snail, snail jet!”
[Don’t be angry, baby!][Our butterfly is indeed very fun!][Pfft, it’s vortex, vortex acceleration, baby!]
He Leyan was anxious, the comments were anxious, but the child opposite was the most anxious. Listening to He Leyan’s rapid-fire output, he forcefully covered his ears and shouted loudly: “I won’t listen! It’s just not fun!”
The commotion grew loud. The adults, who had intended to let the children interact and try to resolve their conflicts themselves, walked over and separated the two children, comforting them individually. The previously angry child burst into tears, and He Leyan’s eyes also turned red with grievance.
“Don’t cry, Leyan. The butterfly is great, the pony is great, and the Papa who made them is even greater.” Wen Yi, who had brought Leyan over, gently comforted the child.
He Leyan nodded. Just as he was about to swallow his grievance, the voice of the child opposite reached his ears: “I don’t want to apologize! He Leyan is mean, he doesn’t even have a papa!”
“Jiaqi!” A stern adult voice came from the other side.
But the child was stubborn: “I’m not wrong! He Leyan wasn’t born from his papa!”
[Oh dear!]
[Shut up, you little brat!]
[Leyan, don’t listen, boohoohoo.]
The comments section was filled with worry. Wen Yi, startled, immediately picked up He Leyan, intending to take him away. But He Leyan was stronger than they all thought. The child’s eyes were red, but he didn’t cry. He shouted loudly at the other child: “You weren’t born from your papa either!”
“Nobody is born from their papa!”
The child opposite froze, looking pleadingly at the adult beside her, only to see the adults nodding. The child seemed shocked by this “bad news” and burst into loud tears.
Meanwhile, Wen Yi quickly walked out of the ward holding He Leyan. “Leyan, don’t listen to Jiaqi’s nonsense—”
He stopped mid-sentence, looking toward the elevator entrance: “Commander He.”
“Doctor Wen,” He Chen stepped out of the elevator, smiling as he looked at He Leyan resting on Wen Yi’s shoulder. “Little sleepyhead, why aren’t you walking yourself? Letting Papa Wen carry you?”
“Commander He—”
Wen Yi was about to explain, but He Leyan lifted his head from his shoulder and looked at He Chen: “I don’t feel well.”
“What’s wrong?” He Chen’s expression changed—he had already noticed the child’s red eyes. He instinctively touched the cub’s forehead to check if he was also running a fever.
Fortunately, He Leyan’s forehead wasn’t hot, and the child lowered his head and said: “I ate too much this morning.”
…Thank goodness it was just overeating.
“Doctor Wen, may I borrow your office?” He Chen asked, taking He Leyan from Wen Yi to hold him himself.
“Of course.” Wen Yi glanced at the father and son, especially He Leyan. He didn’t mention what had just happened in the ward. Instead, he led them into his private consultation room.
He Chen placed He Leyan on the small bed in the consultation room, rubbed his hands warm, covered He Leyan’s little tummy, and began massaging it in circles. While rubbing, he muttered: “No wonder your Papa had to ration your food. We really need to keep doing that.”
“I was trying to cherish the food.” He Leyan whispered.
“Next time, leave that glorious task to me. I’ll cherish it for you.”
Wen Yi returned after pouring He Leyan hot water and smiled at the comment.
He stood by the door, watching the father and son interact, watching the look in He Leyan’s eyes directed at He Chen, and then looking at the toy He Leyan still carefully clutched in his hand. He suddenly understood something and quietly left the room.
Leyan no longer needed that “one-month agreement.”
Also, did Leyan already know the truth about being adopted?
Did he intentionally prevent him from mentioning what just happened? Wen Yi fell into contemplation.
“What’s wrong?” Inside the room, seeing He Leyan silent and staring intently at him, He Chen asked curiously.
“Nothing.” He Leyan shifted his gaze slightly, then looked back at him. “Are you done with your treatment? Do you feel better? Is your cold a little better?”
He Chen nodded. He had gone for a check-up, but he told the cub he was getting treatment from Lu Changqing.
“What about you? Did you see your friends?” He Chen asked.
“Mhm.” He Leyan pursed his lips, his eyes turning red again.
“What’s wrong?” Seeing his state, He Chen realized something was amiss. “Did you fight with the children?”
He Leyan shook his head, but his eyes were even redder.
“Then what is it? Did someone bully you?”
He Chen asked, frowning, and began checking He Leyan’s body. Meanwhile, He Leyan… accidentally saw his loosened hood and suddenly climbed up from the examination bed.
“What is this?”
The child stood on the examination bed, reached out, and pushed down He Chen’s hood, staring straight at the two extra ears.
“Cough!” He Chen was extremely embarrassed. “This is… a popular decoration.”
“Liar!” These ears moved, and they turned red. They were exactly, exactly like the ones in his dream!
In an instant, many images surged clearly, clearer than any dream.
No, that wasn’t a dream at all! He Leyan’s eyes widened, and his breathing quickened.
“Alright, this is actually Papa cooperating with your Papa and the others on a scientific experiment, a test regarding the fusion rate between Warriors and Mental Bodies.” In reality, He Chen was still making up excuses.
“Anyway, don’t be scared. Papa isn’t a monster.”
He Chen said, lowering his head and fully exposing his extremely sensitive ears to He Leyan: “How about you touch them? They’re just two ears. They’re not scary at all, really.”
He kept his head down for a while, and when the child still didn’t move, he was about to give up on this tactic, but suddenly his vision darkened—the child had lunged forward, tightly hugging his head.
“Papa!” The child’s voice was muffled and tearful, filled with grievance, yet also satisfaction. “Not a monster, you are Papa!”