Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 32
byChapter 32 The Pure-Hearted Little Wolf
It was an intoxicating night.
Hearing that Miss Xie was waiting for him in the suite, Xia Jingpeng feigned annoyance, complained to his friends a few times, and then stood up to leave.
He had to move quickly. He couldn’t let that little temptress hold him up any longer. Tonight was a banquet hosted by the Third Prince, and it would be inappropriate for him to be absent for too long.
“Call me in half an hour,” he instructed an unfamiliar assistant. Seeing the assistant nod and retreat, Xia Jingpeng, impatient, swiped his fingerprint and pushed open the door.
The room inside was pitch black. Only the bathroom light was on, and the faint sound of running water could be heard.
Imagining the seductive scene that must be accompanying the sound of water, Xia Jingpeng’s pores opened up. He shed his jacket, loosened his collar button, and walked toward the bathroom, suppressing his excitement and adopting a look of annoyance as he pushed open the door.
A towel was immediately thrown over his eyes.
“What are you playing at? Stop messing around.”
Xia Jingpeng reached out to pull the towel off, but a tremendous force yanked him, and his head slammed heavily against something hard. Damn! Just as he was about to cry out, something sticky and muffled was pressed over his mouth and nose. Xia Jingpeng couldn’t make a sound, nor could he breathe. His chest heaved and vibrated with the suffocating pressure.
This was wrong! Xia Jingpeng realized instantly. While summoning his mental projection, he tried to reach for the alarm device on his terminal. However, something was injected into the back of his head, causing him to lose all sensation in his mental domain. As for his hands—
Before Xia Jingpeng could touch the terminal, there was a sharp click. Excruciating pain shot through both of his wrists. He wanted to scream, but still couldn’t make a sound. The only thing he could do was twist and struggle amidst the agony and suffocation.
Just then, the scene before him brightened.
The towel was removed. Xia Jingpeng finally saw the person in front of him. It certainly wasn’t Miss Xie, but a tall, masked man.
“Who are you?” Xia Jingpeng tried to ask, but only managed a weak, muffled grunt.
Then, the pressure on his face eased, and Xia Jingpeng could finally breathe.
“Who are you? What do you want?!” he gasped, wheezing heavily.
“Mr. Xia has some private data. Where is it kept?” the man asked, his voice distorted and strange, clearly manipulated by a voice changer.
“What private data?” Xia Jingpeng asked, stalling for time.
It wasn’t entirely to stall. He had a lot of “private data,” and if the other party didn’t specify, how was he supposed to know which one they meant?
As he thought, he regained some composure and focused, carefully analyzing the man’s physique:
The man was masked and wearing a voice changer, meaning he had likely interacted with Xia Jingpeng before and was afraid of being recognized… As Xia Jingpeng considered this, a chill ran across his throat—a sharp knife sliced through the skin of his neck.
Xia Jingpeng couldn’t help but try to cry out, but a gloved hand instantly clamped over his mouth and nose again. “Where is it? Can you talk now?”
Xia Jingpeng nodded frantically! “In my residence on Xixing Street! There’s a safe that only my palm print and iris can open! Whatever you want, I can go with you!”
“No need,” the other party said flatly.
That sticky, seemingly wriggling thing was pressed back over Xia Jingpeng’s mouth and nose, sealing them tightly. Then, Xia Jingpeng was lifted up. In front of him was a pool of clear water.
Xia Jingpeng was confused, but the masked man grabbed his broken hands, one by one, and plunged them into the “clear water.”
Pain!!!
The intense, corrosive pain made Xia Jingpeng convulse and slide downwards, only to be yanked back up.
The pain, far exceeding his tolerance threshold, caused Xia Jingpeng to twitch uncontrollably, but he still tried his best to muster the strength to struggle. Yet, his struggles were ineffective. The biting dog doesn’t bark; the man was silent but exceptionally resolute, gripping the back of his neck and pressing his head, inch by inch, toward that pool of “clear water.”
No!
No, no!!
Xia Jingpeng struggled wildly until another chill ran across his throat.
This time, the coldness was bone-deep.
His windpipe was severed, and blood gushed out. Xia Jingpeng’s head became docile, finally dropping into the “clear water.”
The high-concentration “clear water” corroded the muscle tissue around his eyes layer by layer, until the bone was visible.
From now on, he had no palm prints, and no irises.
Xiang Heng timed five seconds, then lifted the unrecognizable Xia Jingpeng and tossed him, neither gently nor heavily, into the nearby bathtub.
He didn’t delay for a second afterward. His steps steady, he headed toward the balcony.
Xiang Zhe had said he had five minutes, forgetting to account for the alarm that Xia Jingpeng’s personal terminal would emit upon his death. Xiang Heng wouldn’t forget.
He only had one minute to escape.
Pushing open the window and avoiding the surveillance system that Xiang Zhe was theoretically controlling temporarily, Xiang Heng moved like a silent shadow, transferring to the side of the building and quickly climbing toward the rooftop along the pre-arranged fine silk ropes.
But halfway up, he paused, his expression shifting slightly as he looked at the person in front of him. “Ning Tian?”
“Why are you here?”
“Curious about what Brother Xiang is doing.” Ning Tian was hidden in the darkness, his gaze sweeping coldly over Xiang Heng.
“You followed me?”
Ning Tian didn’t deny it. “Who were you going to see? Who was it that—”
“Leave quickly! Remember you haven’t been on this floor and haven’t seen me,” Xiang Heng interrupted Ning Tian coldly.
Xiang Zhe’s warning was already sounding in his earpiece, indicating that someone had entered the suite to check.
“Why should I listen to you—”
“So you won’t be implicated by me!” Xiang Heng suddenly exerted force, flipping Ning Tian onto an empty balcony. “Surveillance will be back online in 20 seconds. Don’t let anyone see you in a strange place!”
He gave one last warning and accelerated toward the hovercar parking area on the roof.
Damn it! Ning Tian was confused, but it didn’t stop him from acting fast. He cleaned up his traces, slipped out of the room, and entered the corridor. Twenty seconds later, he looked perfectly normal, appearing in a noisy, brightly lit hall.
Scanning the area, he was slightly surprised to see He Chen’s figure and stepped toward him.
But someone stuck out a foot to block him—
Chu Yunqi was too drunk to stand straight, swaying as he squinted at Ning Tian. “Ning Tian? I don’t remember… *hiccup*, inviting you.”
“I’m just here to find someone,” Ning Tian said in a low voice, lifting his foot to walk past.
“Find someone? Would the person you’re looking for be here? Which stray cat or dog?” Chu Yunqi, fueled by alcohol, laughed and grabbed Ning Tian’s collar. “Look at how white this shirt is. You didn’t come here to work a part-time job for living expenses, did you?”
“Part-time job? What kind of part-time job?” Someone nearby came over to support him, cooperating with a sneer.
The drunken Chu Yunqi suddenly felt a bit annoyed: What kind of part-time job could it be? They were so filthy!
He frowned, but Ning Tian picked up a bottle of champagne from a nearby waiter and actually poured a glass for Chu Yunqi.
“Enjoy, Your Highness,” Ning Tian said in a low voice, his tone as cold as ice.
Shoving the glass into Chu Yunqi’s hand, Ning Tian suppressed the fire in his eyes and quickly walked away.
Many people in black suits, looking like security guards, flooded into the hall. Ning Tian deliberately controlled himself not to look at them, walking over to He Chen.
Shen Xian was whispering something to He Chen. Ning Tian waited, and only after Shen Xian finished did he lean in and quietly tell He Chen about seeing Xiang Heng.
He Chen’s pupils contracted slightly. He looked up at the security guards in the hall.
“Did you hear? Xia Jingpeng was just killed. His body is downstairs.”
“Who did it?”
“I don’t know, but the building is sealed off. The killer will be caught soon.”
Amidst the noisy discussions, someone walked toward Chu Yunqi and respectfully said something.
Chu Yunqi glanced toward He Chen and Ning Tian, then irritably pushed the man away. “What suspicious person? How the hell would I know who’s suspicious? Everyone here, *hiccup*, everyone here was invited by me. Get lost!”
Ning Tian clenched his fingers, withdrew his gaze, and whispered another sentence into He Chen’s ear.
“Boring! The banquet is canceled! Everyone leave, and you guys can take your time investigating!” Chu Yunqi huffed, then suddenly stood up regardless of the situation and headed toward the elevator.
The security guards hadn’t expected him to do this. They wanted to stop him but didn’t dare, so they could only guard the elevator, hastily verifying the guests’ identities and watching them leave one by one.
Ning Tian followed He Chen and Shen Xian, easily blending in and getting out.
“He was probably planning to use the rooftop hovercar channel. I don’t know if he managed to escape,” Ning Tian whispered to He Chen.
He Chen nodded, deliberately staying at the back of the crowd, subtly observing his surroundings.
If Xiang Heng was still trapped here, this was the best opportunity to escape. Given his understanding with Xiang Heng, if Xiang Heng needed help, he would definitely leave some kind of trace for him.
But He Chen saw nothing.
Instead, he received a message on his terminal: [When are you coming home? Leyan is waiting for you to sleep.]
He Chen frowned slightly: [Coming back now.]
Lu Changqing put down his terminal and looked at the person in the back seat of the hovercar. “Are your injuries serious?”
Xiang Heng clutched his shoulder and shook his head, asking in a low voice, “Why did you save me? What do you want?”
“I don’t want anything,” Lu Changqing said. “I was worried about Leyan’s father causing trouble. Saving you was just a side effect.”
Worried about who causing trouble? Xiang Heng frowned.
Lu Changqing, however, had no intention of explaining. He asked directly, “Where should I drop you off? He Chen will be home soon. Do you want to stay and see him?”
“Which home?” Xiang Heng’s frown deepened.
“He’s temporarily staying with me,” Lu Changqing replied.
“…” Xiang Heng looked at Lu Changqing again, extremely cautiously. “What is your goal?”
Wait—”The person behind him, is that you?”
In Hanhe, Xiang Heng had already sensed that He Chen was keeping things from him, and the accounts for the weapons and equipment depot seemed off. He just hadn’t delved deeper and had even covered for him a little.
Lu Changqing neither confirmed nor denied. “Instructor Xiang, I asked first. Where are you going?”
“I—” Xiang Heng clenched his fingers for a moment. “I won’t see him. Can Dean Lu pretend he didn’t see me tonight?”
Lu Changqing frowned for a moment but still nodded.
When Xiang Heng requested to get out of the car, he didn’t stop him.
Just before Xiang Heng stepped out, he asked in a confirming tone, “Is this your choice?”
Xiang Heng met his gaze, his soul seemingly pierced. After a moment of silence, he nodded.
*
It wasn’t until he returned home and saw his parents looking peaceful at the dinner table, his younger brother looking terrified, and himself feeling somewhat dazed, that Xiang Heng confirmed he was truly back.
He hadn’t actually planned to return.
He had prepared for this night for three years. In every simulation, he hadn’t expected to walk away unscathed.
What he thought about most was how to use the evidence he obtained to take another bite out of the He family.
What he thought about second most was that, after doing all this, he could finally go and see his brothers beneath the ground.
But since he was alive now, it was a bonus. He had no other worries and could fully help He Chen achieve what he wanted, in a more suitable position.
This was his choice.
The only path that could make him feel better.
“Why are you standing there? Go wash your hands and eat,” his mother’s nagging brought Xiang Heng back to reality.
Glancing at the steaming home-cooked dishes on the table, he gave his brother, Xiang Zhe, a reassuring look, and walked into the washroom.
He held out his hands, watching the clear water automatically flow from the sensor faucet and fill the sink. Xiang Heng was still for a moment, then submerged his hands in the water.
The water was cool and harmless. Nothing unusual happened.
Nothing could wash away the sins he had committed.
“Brother!” Xiang Zhe’s voice came from outside. Xiang Heng’s expression instantly became calm and flawless. He hid the gun in his palm and pushed the door open to walk out.
Unexpectedly, He Chen was standing outside the door.
Accompanying him were Shen Xian and Ning Tian, plus a large man who was talking to his brother.
“You—” Xiang Heng looked at He Chen, silently tucking the gun back into his waistband. “Why did you suddenly come over?”
“Did you get—” He Chen started, then noticed Xiang Heng looking at his parents and quickly shut his mouth. “Can we talk outside?”
Xiang Heng nodded and walked with him to the small courtyard outside the door.
“I didn’t know before, that you—” Under an old cypress tree in the courtyard, He Chen looked at Xiang Heng, his expression complex.
“You had no reason to know,” Xiang Heng said flatly.
“You’re injured.” Being in the riot period, He Chen’s five senses were exceptionally sensitive, and his sense of smell was no exception. He smelled a trace of blood on Xiang Heng’s shoulder and reached out to touch it.
“Why would I be injured for no reason?” Xiang Heng took a step back, avoiding his hand.
He Chen frowned slightly.
“The transfer application I submitted has been approved by the military—”
“I’ll go to the military department and have it revoked immediately!” He Chen cut in.
“No need,” Xiang Heng’s voice was calm. “I’m actually relieved. Starting today, we are finally no longer colleagues.”
“Finally?” He Chen looked at him, surprised.
“Finally,” Xiang Heng lifted his eyes. “Every day by your side was torture for me.”
He Chen frowned. “I know you were coerced. That wasn’t your fault. You don’t need to judge yourself—”
“I’m not talking about that,” Xiang Heng interrupted He Chen, coldness flowing from his eyes. “Always being second, always being overshadowed by your brilliance, He Chen, do you know how frustrating it is to work with you every day?”
“I—” He Chen opened his mouth, meeting Xiang Heng’s cold, unfamiliar gaze. He forced himself not to look away. “Brother Xiang, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Of course you don’t understand, because you are a He family member, a favored child of heaven. You and I have never been the same kind of people.”
“Brother Xiang!”
“I apologize.” Xiang Heng looked him straight in the eye, his gaze unwavering. “Even if I did something today, it’s not what you think. I just hate being controlled, especially being controlled by your family.”
“I want a new start, in every sense of the word.”
He extended his hand to He Chen. “Let’s part ways amicably.”
He Chen glanced at the outstretched hand, his eyes darkening. “Do you remember, Brother Xiang? We used to be right here, in your courtyard, bragging about how we’d venture out together and conquer the four seas.”
“We were young then, and didn’t know the immensity of the world,” Xiang Heng said flatly.
“I still don’t know the immensity of the world,” He Chen’s eyes blazed. “I don’t believe your words. I don’t believe I chose the wrong friend!”
He looked seriously at Xiang Heng. “Think carefully about how you want to choose!”
After speaking, seeing that Xiang Heng’s expression remained calm, He Chen dug his fingernails into his palm, bypassed Xiang Heng’s outstretched hand, turned around, and strode away.
“Brother, why?” After the group of people rushed away, Xiang Zhe walked up behind Xiang Heng and asked.
Didn’t he say He Chen was someone he could trust and follow?
“If I didn’t do that, he would have tried to get my transfer order revoked,” Xiang Heng turned back, patted his brother’s shoulder. “Go inside. Tomorrow is a new day.”
*
“Why are you still following me? Don’t you have a home?” Once in the hovercar, He Chen looked annoyedly at Ning Tian.
“You knew all along?” Ning Tian asked out of the blue.
“Knew what? Get out of the car, or I’ll cancel your vacation!”
“You knew about Brother Xiang! That’s why you let the Fire Fox matter go easily,” Ning Tian stared intently at He Chen.
“You’re overthinking—”
“Is Brother Xiang important, but others aren’t?!” Ning Tian pressed, his tone still his usual calm one, but the end of his voice trembled slightly.
He Chen watched his reddened eyes for a moment, then turned his head away, seemingly angry.
“…Pathetic,” He Chen raised his hand and threw the tissue box in the car at him, only for Ning Tian to angrily throw it right back.
He Chen caught the tissue box, scoffed, then sobered up and explained seriously, “Everyone is important. But, those who are alive are more important.”
Hearing this, Ning Tian still didn’t respond, but there was more calmness and thought in his eyes.
“We will have our revenge, I promise. Do you think they only have problems related to Fire Fox?”
“What problems?” Ning Tian looked up.
“It’s like this—” He Chen’s eyes darted around. He beckoned Ning Tian to lean closer and whispered to him for a long time.
Ning Tian listened carefully and nodded. “Leave it to me.”
“Safety first,” He Chen said, pressing a button to open the car door. “Go back.”
Ning Tian lifted his leg to get out, but just before stepping out, he looked at He Chen again. “What about Brother Xiang? Did you two fight?”
“Are you a busybody? Do you have to manage everything?” He Chen countered, then kicked Ning Tian out of the car.
*
“You’re back?”
Stepping into the entryway, He Chen heard Lu Changqing’s gentle voice. He looked up, his eyes taking a moment to focus, as if he had just woken up from another world.
But soon, a smile spread across his face. He looked at He Leyan in the living room, his eyes brightening. “What are you wearing?”
He Leyan was wearing a miniature tuxedo—velvet fabric, satin piping, a peaked lapel paired with a small bow tie—making He Leyan look both gentlemanly and adorable.
“It’s for the Blood God Banquet tomorrow. Just trying clothes on Leyan.”
“Whose child is this cute?” He Chen walked over, lavishly showering him with compliments, which made He Leyan’s small face flush slightly.
“But is Leyan going to the banquet too?” He Chen looked at Lu Changqing.
“The Blood God Banquet has always had a tradition of bringing family. You, Moyan, can choose not to bring anyone, but if Leyan isn’t brought along, people might ask questions.”
“Then bring him.”
He Chen instinctively didn’t want the cub to go to crowded, complicated places, but he also wouldn’t feel safe putting the cub anywhere else.
Thinking this, He Chen relaxed. Looking at the handsome and cute He Leyan, he started worrying about something else: “Then, what should I wear?”
As the father, he couldn’t embarrass such a handsome cub. Was it too late to buy a matching parent-child suit now?
“You are an active-duty officer. You must wear your uniform,” Lu Changqing reminded him.
“Oh.” He Chen gave up. He sat on the sofa, looking a little lost.
“Wearing a military uniform is very handsome,” He Leyan said softly, perhaps sensing something.
Hmm. Huh? He Chen perked up. “Who looks handsome in a military uniform?”
“…You,” He Leyan said calmly, then suddenly ran off. “I’m going to take a bath!”
Lu Changqing smiled and went into the bedroom to help He Leyan take off the complicated tuxedo. When he returned to the living room, he saw He Chen, who had just been joking with He Leyan, sitting on the sofa, leaning against a cushion, eyes closed, his brow slightly furrowed, and his face a little pale.
“Headache?” Lu Changqing asked.
He Chen opened his eyes. Before he could speak, his wrist was grabbed.
He Chen instinctively resisted, but Lu Changqing exerted force, releasing his mental domain, which instantly enveloped He Chen.
When He Chen regained consciousness, it felt vaguely like the next day.
He was lying on He Leyan’s bed, wearing an eye mask. Beneath him were soft mattresses and pillows. The room was quiet, with only the sound of white noise.
He Chen took off the eye mask. The room was still very dark, with no light stimulating his eyes.
In such a comfortable environment, He Chen even wanted to lie down and sleep in, but he quickly flipped over and sat up. “Leyan?”
“Leyan is eating breakfast,” Lu Changqing pushed the door open. At his feet was… a snow-white, large wolf following him closely. “Come out and eat when you wake up.”
“Oh,” He Chen replied, getting out of bed and standing up. He paused.
When did he fall asleep last night?
When Lu Changqing was giving him mental comfort? Deep linking and comfort could indeed cause someone to fall into a deep sleep.
But—
When did he take off his jacket and change his shirt last night? And how did he get into bed?
He Chen stood rooted to the spot, his face inexplicably red. Although he hadn’t dated, he at least knew his sexual orientation. The thought that Lu Changqing had helped him change his clothes made him feel unspeakably awkward.
Just then, Lu Changqing knocked on the door again, his voice steady. “Do you want fried eggs or boiled eggs?”
“Fried, thank you,” He Chen answered calmly, quickly turning his back. His fingers curled up, everything except the alloy parts tinged with a faint pink.
———————–
Author’s Note: The pure-hearted little wolf [covering face and peeking]