Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 33
byChapter 33: Rainbow Lollipop Dad
If I’m not embarrassed, then others will be.
If I’m not embarrassed, then others will be…
After three to five rounds of mental preparation, He Chen, who had showered and changed clothes, finally pushed open the door.
Unexpectedly, Lu Changqing was not outside.
Big Wolf was standing guard nearby, and He Leyan was sitting obediently in the dining chair, eating.
Seeing He Chen looking around, He Leyan asked clearly, “Are you looking for Daddy?”
“No,” He Chen answered instinctively, then cleared his throat. “Where is your Daddy?”
“Taking out the trash.”
Taking out the trash? He Chen paused. “Don’t you have a garbage disposal?”
Although they hadn’t seen each other for years, his white—no, black moonlight had become more down-to-earth, but this was too down-to-earth, wasn’t it?
“Taking out the trash in his heart,” He Leyan said.
“It means meditating. Daddy says meditation is emptying the mind, so it’s taking out the trash.” Seeing He Chen still confused, He Leyan explained further.
“…Oh.” He Chen nodded. “That’s a very accurate understanding, and a very vivid description.”
He-Rainbow-Flatterer-Chen sat down next to He Leyan, giving the “betraying” snow wolf a glare on the way.
He Leyan looked closely at He Chen. “Are you still tired?”
Last night, when he came out after his bath, he saw Dad already asleep in bed. Daddy had said Dad was tired and needed more sleep.
He Leyan was a little worried.
He Chen was startled, then shook his head. “Not tired.”
He Leyan was somewhat relieved and pushed a plate of perfectly presented fried eggs toward He Chen. “Your meal.”
“Thank you.” He Chen picked up his fork, ready to eat, but paused for a moment before taking a bite. “Is this plate yours?”
What was this little sun radiating sunshine, squeezed out of ketchup?
He Leyan shook his head and pointed to his own empty plate. “I already finished mine.”
Oh. So, this was indeed his?
He Chen forked a fried egg, hesitated, then dipped it in a bit of the “little sun,” being careful not to quickly destroy the sun’s shape.
“Does it taste right?” A voice came from behind him.
“It tastes right.” He Chen turned his head and, as expected, saw Lu Changqing.
Perhaps having just “taken out the trash,” Lu Changqing looked refreshed, his eyes deep and bright. He wore a simple, well-ironed shirt and trousers, which somehow looked inherently noble on him.
He Chen inexplicably shifted his gaze.
He Leyan, however, jumped off the dining chair with his short legs. “Is Daddy going to work?”
“Yes,” Lu Changqing replied, his voice as deep as a cello. Then He Chen’s chin felt a slight itch, as if someone had lightly scratched it—
He was sitting properly here, so no one was scratching him.
The one being scratched could only be the fellow who had actively gone over to cling to Lu Changqing.
He Chen endured it without saying anything, eating and drinking quickly.
Lu Changqing scratched Big Wolf’s chin, then patted its head, straightened up, glanced toward He Chen, and then looked down at He Leyan. “Happy Blood God Festival. Here are your gifts.”
He handed He Leyan several beautifully wrapped gift boxes.
“So many?!” He Leyan’s voice was filled with surprise.
“One for you, and one for Dad,” Lu Changqing said.
“And the other one?”
“It’s for your brother.” Lu Changqing said, then looked toward the dining area. “Are you going back to the He family for lunch?”
He Chen knew the question was directed at him. He calmly turned back. “No.”
“Then shall we eat together here?” Lu Changqing asked.
“Aren’t you going back to the Lu family?” He Chen was puzzled.
The Blood God was the only true god worshipped by the people of Blue Star in the past. The Blood God Festival had always been a day for Blue Star people to offer sacrifices to heaven and ancestors and for families to reunite. He Chen had his reasons for not returning to the He family, but why wasn’t Lu Changqing returning to the Lu family?
“I will go back for the ancestral rites, but as for the reunion dinner—” Lu Changqing paused for a moment and smiled faintly. “My father and I don’t get along very well. If he sees me, he might not be able to eat.”
Huh? He Chen was stunned. He was surprised that Lu Changqing had a strained relationship with his family, and also surprised that he would state this “discord” so directly.
Most surprising of all, someone as outstanding as Lu Changqing also seemed to be disliked by his parents, just like him. Why?
He Chen felt a flicker of curiosity and looked at Lu Changqing.
“We’ll eat at home for the holiday. I’ll arrange for someone to come and cook.” Lu Changqing had already made arrangements. He rubbed He Leyan’s head, preparing to leave.
The doorbell rang precisely at that moment—He Chen never knew Lu Changqing’s house had a doorbell, as it had never rung before.
Lu Changqing went to open the door. Out of curiosity, He Chen glanced over.
“Brother Lu, Happy Holiday!”
The voice was heard before the person was seen.
He Chen first heard a young, enthusiastic voice, then saw a spirited young man in his twenties appear at the door, holding a potted plant.
“Happy Holiday. When did you get back?” He Chen heard Lu Changqing ask. His tone was quite gentle.
“Just arrived in Star Capital yesterday.” The young man said, offering the flowerpot to Lu Changqing. “A gift.”
“Thank you.” Lu Changqing accepted it and placed it in the entryway. As he did so, he seemed to sense He Chen’s gaze and looked back at him.
“This is—” The young man’s eyes had been following Lu Changqing’s movements. He now noticed He Chen’s presence, and of course, He Leyan.
“Leyan? You’ve grown taller! Do you remember me, Brother?” The young man squatted down, smiling brightly as he greeted He Leyan.
“Hello, Brother Feiyu.” He Leyan walked over, stood by Lu Changqing’s leg, and politely greeted the young man.
“Such a good boy! I brought you a gift too, I’ll go get it later!” The young man said, rubbing He Leyan’s head. He couldn’t help but look at He Chen again, his eyes showing a hint of concern.
He Chen had already walked over. Lu Changqing looked at him and introduced him. “This is Zhuang Feiyu. His grandfather, Zhuang Shiliang, was my mentor.”
“Hello.” He Chen extended his hand proactively.
“Hello—” Zhuang Feiyu glanced at He Chen’s right hand, hesitated for a second, then shook it.
“This is Leyan’s father, He Chen, Commander of the Han River Base,” Lu Changqing introduced He Chen to Zhuang Feiyu.
“Oh, hello, Uncle He,” Zhuang Feiyu said again, quickly releasing He Chen’s hand.
He Chen paused: Uncle He?
What did this person call Lu Changqing just now?
He looked at Lu Changqing, feeling slightly off: This young man’s way of addressing people is a bit confusing. Is he not quite right in the head?
Lu Changqing happened to be looking at him, a smile in his eyes. “Go eat first. It won’t taste good cold.”
He said this, and when he looked at Zhuang Feiyu, his eyes cooled slightly. He ushered Zhuang Feiyu out and closed the door behind him.
He Chen looked at the door, then turned back, inadvertently seeing the flowerpot in the entryway.
So everyone knew Lu Changqing liked gardening?
He Chen looked at the flowerpot, feeling a bit strange, though he couldn’t pinpoint why. He returned to the table and focused on eating.
Meanwhile, He Leyan, like a happy little squirrel, carried two gift boxes, one large and one small, from the sofa and ran to the dining table next to He Chen.
“Happy Blood God Festival!” he said clearly, standing on his tiptoes to place the large box in front of He Chen, then started unwrapping his small box.
“Happy Blood God Festival,” He Chen said belatedly, looking at the large box. He saw a simple but vivid drawing of a wolf head on the box, and his fingers twitched.
“Open it after you finish eating!”
Seeing He Chen reach for the box, He Leyan stopped what he was doing and stared at him righteously.
The house rules are strict…
He Chen muttered silently in his heart, but his hand obediently retreated.
After quickly finishing his meal, he even had the self-control to clear the dishes before opening his gift box.
“What did you get?” He Leyan curiously leaned his small head closer.
It was—He Chen’s expression stiffened slightly: It was The Complete Knowledge and Analysis of Children’s Educational Psychology Exam Questions (Mind Map Edition).
Damn it, this was all Chu Yunqi’s doing.
“What kind of book is that? It’s so thick?” He Leyan looked a little envious.
“How about we trade?” He Chen said, looking at He Leyan’s gift:
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Spiritual Entities: Complete Knowledge and Analysis of Wolf-Type Spiritual Entities.
…As expected of the youngest academician in the Empire, he really liked “Complete Knowledge and Analysis.”
“I don’t want to trade.” He Leyan shook his head, hugging his book tightly: He needed this to understand Big Wolf!
Speaking of Big Wolf, He Leyan curled his short, chubby fingers, then suddenly ran back to his room. A moment later, he walked out with his hands behind his back.
“What is it?” Seeing him looking at himself, shuffling his feet, He Chen couldn’t help but ask.
“A gift.” He Leyan mustered his courage and revealed the item in his hand:
It was a 3D-printed figurine, with short legs, a large body, and extra-long arms. The unique proportions clearly showed that the “designer” hadn’t graduated from kindergarten.
But this didn’t stop He Chen from smiling widely. “Is this Dad?”
—The figurine had two wolf ears on its head, and following behind it was a… round… pig-wolf?
Seeing him smile, He Leyan felt relieved: It looked pretty good, didn’t it?
He had specially used several colors! He made Dad look as beautiful as a rainbow lollipop!
He had many thoughts, but outwardly, He Leyan nodded solemnly to He Chen. “Happy Holiday.”
“Thank you, Leyan.” He Chen held the figurine, unable to put it down, and stroked the little wolf. “This is the first time I’ve received a handmade gift.”
“I’ll make you more in the future!” He Leyan immediately said.
Hmm? He Chen was momentarily stunned: Why did he suddenly feel “spoiled”…
“Well, there’s another kind of gift I’ve never received,” he said, blinking.
“What?”
“It’s, cough, like a hug, or a kiss, you know.”
Ah, that kind… He Leyan tapped his small fingers, blushing. Just as he was gathering the courage to act, the doorbell rang again.
It was Zhuang Feiyu again.
“Leyan, this is your gift.” The young man handed over a box containing a gemstone brooch. It was somewhat cartoonish in shape, but the size didn’t seem suitable for a child, and—
“This is too valuable, thank you, young man, but it’s not appropriate,” He Chen interjected.
“It’s appropriate. Brother Lu used to send me gifts all the time.” Zhuang Feiyu insisted on placing the box in He Leyan’s hand, then looked at He Chen, his gaze lingering on his face for two seconds before asking, “Is Commander He on leave? Are you staying here with Brother Lu?”
He wasn’t calling him “Uncle” anymore?
“Just borrowing the place for two days. My house next door is still airing out,” He Chen answered calmly.
“Next door?” Zhuang Feiyu’s expression changed slightly, then he quickly masked it. “Then we’ll all be neighbors in the future. My house is in this community too.”
He told He Leyan to come find him if he was bored, then bid farewell and left.
He looked preoccupied.
Could it be that kind of preoccupation? Did he see He Chen as a love rival?
That was completely unnecessary. He and Lu Changqing were just collaborators. Besides, “Brother Lu” was preoccupied with important matters; he hardly seemed to have the leisure for romance.
Of course, He Chen had even less leisure time. Definitely not.
He Chen closed the door normally, then turned around to find He Leyan looking up at him.
“What’s wrong?”
He Leyan didn’t speak, but beckoned with his small hand for He Chen to squat down.
He Chen squatted down. The child stood on his tiptoes, hugged He Chen’s neck, and pressed his soft little face against He Chen’s. After a moment, he made a “pop” sound, leaving a kiss on He Chen’s neck, then quickly ran away, blushing.
He ran to the living room, flopped onto the carpet, and began reading his book—the Complete Knowledge and Analysis.
He Chen remained where he was, smiling foolishly for quite a while.
Big Wolf gave him a look of disdain, then followed He Leyan, lying down on the carpet like a proper dog, serving as the research subject for the cub. It was occasionally touched here and pinched there, compared with the pictures in the book.
He Chen got up and walked back to his room. A moment later, he came out with his hands behind his back.
“Happy Holiday, Leyan. This is Dad’s gift.”
In He Chen’s hands was a plush puppy, made of excellent material and clearly very soft and cuddly. It was about the same size as He Leyan’s old one, which He Chen had specifically chosen based on the size and color. “Cough, Dad saw that your little dog was old, so I bought a new one. You can hug this one when you sleep.”
He was secretly trying to promote the new puppy.
“I can hug both of them,” He Leyan said, taking the puppy and also finding it irresistible.
Hugging both is acceptable, perhaps. You have to eat one bite at a time, and winning favor must be done step by step.
He Chen thought this, then heard He Leyan speak. “That’s not a puppy, it’s a little wolf.”
Then he pushed the book next to him toward He Chen, his tone mature and worried. “You should study this book too!”
After silently studying the difference between wolves and dogs for half a day, He Chen finally managed to coax the research-obsessed He Leyan out of the house—they went to the sanatorium where Xu Lin was staying.
“Leyan, this is Uncle Xu, Dad’s good friend. Say hello to him.”
He Leyan was very obedient. He called out “Uncle Xu” to Xu Lin, who lay unconscious on the hospital bed, then looked up at He Chen. “Why is Uncle still sleeping?”
“He’s sick. He needs to sleep a lot to get better,” He Chen said.
What kind of sickness? He Leyan furrowed his small brow.
He Chen then took He Leyan’s small hand, asked for his opinion with his eyes, and held his hand to touch Xu Lin’s hand.
“Leyan, can you give Uncle Xu a blessing?”
“Okay.” He Leyan nodded, proactively grasping one of Xu Lin’s stiff, cold fingers. “Blessing for what?”
“Wish Uncle a speedy recovery and to wake up soon,” He Chen taught him.
He Leyan obediently repeated the phrase.
He Chen watched quietly. The miracle he had secretly hoped for did not happen; Xu Lin still showed no reaction.
He rubbed Leyan’s head, gave him a toy to play with on the side, washed his hands, and began massaging Xu Lin’s muscles.
After the massage, he planned to shave the guy and tidy him up for the holiday, only to realize that his chin had just been shaved, leaving a clean layer of stubble.
“Still very handsome, refined and elegant,” He Chen pinched Xu Lin’s handsome face and rubbed his head. “Sleeping Beauty, enjoy the holiday in peace.”
“Thank you. He’s well cared for, and the beard was shaved quickly.” As he was leaving, he specifically thanked the medical staff.
“Not at all. Someone came this morning, perhaps a comrade of yours and Captain Xu? He was very meticulous. He washed Captain Xu’s face, shaved his beard, and even tidied up his hairstyle. Captain Xu looks even more handsome now,” the medical staff said with a smile.
He Chen’s smile, however, faded.
He couldn’t think of a second person who would be that meticulous.
Among the four of them, Han Jin was the most reserved, Xu Lin the most carefree, and Xiang Heng the most considerate and careful.
The first Blood God Festival they spent in the military after graduation, they had agreed that even if they eventually married and lived far apart, they would gather together for the Blood God Festival.
Thinking of this, He Chen felt as if a knife was silently twisting in his heart.
Xiang Heng said every day working with him was infuriating. He Chen didn’t believe it, at least… not entirely.
But one thing Xiang Heng hadn’t said so directly, He Chen knew clearly: because of him, they had all ended up this way.
If they hadn’t joined the He family army with him after graduation, they wouldn’t have been targeted by the malicious He family members, and everything would have been different.
So, when Xiang Heng said he “wanted a new start,” He Chen couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth or a lie.
Perhaps, most of it was true. Perhaps, they all harbored hatred and dissatisfaction toward him in their hearts. That’s why Xu Lin refused to wake up, why Jin punished him with such a decisive death, and why Brother Xiang—
“Dad?” He Leyan tugged at He Chen’s hand. He Chen snapped back to reality.
“Let’s go, we need to pick up your brother for the holiday.” He Chen smiled, suppressing his somewhat turbulent spiritual domain. He straightened his back, took He Leyan in his arms, and walked out with the firm steps of a soldier.
Just before lunch, He Chen picked up He Moyan from the Military University and brought him home.
“Here, a gift.” He Chen’s gift for He Moyan was simple and unadorned: a blood crystal. Watching He Moyan carefully put the blood crystal away, he then handed He Moyan the gift Lu Changqing had prepared, waiting expectantly for He Moyan to open it—wondering what kind of “Complete Analysis” it would be.
It turned out to be a beautiful black dagger.
He Moyan didn’t say anything, but the way he kept turning it over and touching it showed how much he liked it.
“This is from Uncle Lu. You need to thank him later,” He Chen instructed.
He Moyan neither agreed nor disagreed. After touching it enough, he tucked the dagger close to his body, opened his school bag, and started pulling something out.
“What, you prepared a gift too?” He Chen was a little surprised, expectant, and flattered.
He Moyan silently pulled out a piece of paper and placed it in front of He Chen.
He Chen looked down:
Application for Withdrawal from the Imperial First Military University.
His heart seized up. He Chen glared at He Moyan with a dark expression. “Do you think I won’t beat you just because it’s a holiday?”
“I don’t want to go to school,” He Moyan said stiffly, gripping his school bag tightly.
He had already packed his luggage and saved some money. If He Chen still refused to sign, he would run away himself and find a way back to Han River.
“Why don’t you want to go?”
“What they teach is useless.” And he constantly had to deal with people and talk to them.
“How is it useless?” He Chen had a headache from anger. “Is assassination useful? Is infiltration useful? Are you going to be someone’s shadow for the rest of your life?”
“What assassination?” He Leyan stood by the door, his hands behind his back, asking in a childish voice.
“Cough, a game. Your brother is addicted to games, and Dad is educating him,” He Chen instantly changed his expression.
Is that so? He Leyan glanced at his cool brother, dressed in black, whose eyes never met his. He clutched the item in his hand, hesitated, then walked over.
“A gift, for Big Wolf.” He extended his small, lotus-root-like hand, holding a large flower wreath that dragged halfway to the floor—Daddy said it was a Blood God Festival tradition to weave flower wreaths for spiritual companion beasts to convey gratitude and blessings. Daddy had taken him to the flower room to weave it early this morning.
“Thank you, Leyan.” He Chen was genuinely surprised this time and immediately reached out, but Big Wolf darted out, snatching the wreath, putting it around its neck, and wrapping its body around He Leyan. It nudged its large head against the child, trying to control its strength.
He Leyan giggled and dodged, tickled by the nudge, but kept his other small hand behind his back. After a while, Big Wolf settled down, and He Leyan quieted down, secretly glancing at He Moyan. “There’s another one.”
They had also woven a small one. Daddy said it was for Brother’s spiritual entity, but He Leyan felt it was too small. He hesitated before extending his left hand as well.
It was indeed a small wreath, not much bigger than his palm.
“This is for Brother, for Brother’s spiritual entity. Happy Blood God Festival,” He Leyan said nervously.
He Moyan looked at the wreath, unmoving.
He Chen nudged him, and he finally reached out to take it.
“What is Brother’s spiritual entity?” He Leyan asked, gathering his courage. He had been unconscious after the danger during the last “camping trip” and hadn’t seen He Moyan’s spiritual entity.
Ah, that one—“Your brother’s spiritual entity is a bit—”
He Chen started to speak, his expression strange, then suddenly stood up from the sofa.
Why did this brat let the snake out without saying a word!!
“It’s a little snake!” He Leyan exclaimed, his voice sounding… somewhat delighted?
“It’s so pretty!” He Leyan was genuinely surprised, his eyes shining as he stared at the dark red markings on the little snake’s body.
…He Chen quietly sat back down on the sofa while no one was looking. Suddenly feeling something, he looked up. Lu Changqing was standing on the second floor, silently watching him.
He Chen felt extremely uncomfortable. “When did Senior Brother get back?”
“A little earlier than you,” Lu Changqing said, walking down the stairs. He glanced at the small snake, only about the size of a baby’s fist, coiled around He Moyan.
Lu Changqing extended his hand. Without any visible action, the snake paused, flickered its tongue, and obediently crawled from He Moyan onto him. The black snake head, wearing the flower wreath, rested perfectly on his smooth, strong hand.
“Are you afraid of snakes?” Lu Changqing asked, stroking the snake’s head and looking up at He Chen.
He Chen swallowed. “Of course not.”
Even He Leyan noticed something from his reaction and righteously promoted the snake to him. “Snakey is cute!”
He Moyan, who never made eye contact with people, glanced at the little bean when he heard this.
He Chen suddenly stood up from the sofa. “It is cute! I didn’t say it wasn’t cute!”
“You guys chat, I’m going to see if the food is ready!”
———————–
Author’s Note: Chen: I can’t talk to you guys! [Melting] [Melting] [Melting]
Academician Lu: Oh no, he’s afraid of snakes… Gotta train his courage [Sunglasses] [Patting head]