Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 49
byChapter 49 Deep Link
“Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Lu Changqing paused when he saw He Chen wandering in the hall.
“Can’t sleep, just wandering around,” He Chen said, looking at him.
Can’t sleep? Lu Changqing saw his restless steps and the prominent capillaries under his eyes, clearly a reaction to having been injected with an inhibitor. He frowned and walked toward him, but was stopped halfway: “Director, number 5 is also unstable.”
“You go take care of it,” He Chen immediately said.
He really couldn’t sleep and was just wandering. He had originally intended to go to Xu Lin’s room but was afraid of disturbing the nurses, so he didn’t go in. The rest of the sanatorium wasn’t that big, and his wandering had inadvertently led him to the severe illness ward.
It wasn’t intentional.
“Wait for me,” Lu Changqing said, looking at his complexion.
“No need, I’m going back to sleep right away,” He Chen said, turning and walking out.
Lu Changqing frowned again, but ultimately walked toward room number 5.
He Chen, who was walking out, was called back: “Little He, come help out!”
It was Elder Fang.
He was in the laboratory where the beast-transformed individuals were kept, sweating profusely with a few assistants as they struggled to restrain a beast-transformed person convulsing and trembling on the operating table.
“What’s wrong?” He Chen walked in and helped them hold down the beast-transformed person. Elder Fang finally freed a hand and injected the individual with something.
“Drug reaction. That underground lab was controlling them with some kind of agent. We wanted to see if stopping the medication would help them recover,” Elder Fang said, sighing. “Judging by this reaction, we’ll have to take it slowly.”
“You’ve worked hard,” He Chen said.
“I’m not tired, you are. The rescue efforts these past two days must have been exhausting?” Elder Fang asked.
“It’s our duty, nothing exhausting about it.”
“It’s our duty too,” Elder Fang said, leaning down to observe the beast-transformed person’s pulse and pupils.
“It’s still different. You dedicate yourselves so wholeheartedly to patients you don’t even know,” He Chen said admiringly.
“Is Little He talking about me, or Changqing?” Elder Fang paused, straightened up, and asked with a smile.
He Chen’s face flushed slightly: “Naturally, I mean you.”
“Well, I can’t compare to Changqing’s hard work. He carries so many burdens that only he can handle. The pressure is truly immense.”
“Mhm,” He Chen lowered his head, lost in thought.
Elder Fang looked at him: “It’s so late, why are you here?”
“Nothing, I was taking a walk,” He Chen said instinctively.
Then he looked at the now calm beast-transformed person on the operating table.
The beast-transformed person’s hands, feet, and neck were secured with restraints. The person had clearly been “tidied up,” much cleaner, and the beast-transformed upper body no longer looked so hideous.
“Their condition seems to have improved somewhat,” He Chen offered comfort to Elder Fang.
“Yes, their physical functions are a little better,” Elder Fang said, glancing at He Chen, who was staring at the operating table. A thought struck him. “Oh, right, I contacted your father He Xiangye’s comrade. He’s willing to come to Hanhe Base. He said he wants to meet you in person.”
“Ah, good,” He Chen quickly looked up. “I’ll arrange for someone to pick them up.”
“No need, no need. They’re coming themselves. There are several of them, all old friends of your father,” Elder Fang told He Chen, his eyes constantly focused on the beast-transformed person on the operating table.
If he hadn’t been mistaken, when the name “He Xiangye” was mentioned, the individual’s eyes definitely moved.
“Elder Fang, I’ll take my leave now. You and everyone else should rest early too.” Sensing that Elder Fang’s attention was on the beast-transformed person, He Chen wisely excused himself.
“Mhm,” Elder Fang nodded, then suddenly spoke up, “Little He, wait a moment.”
Elder Fang looked at the thin string around He Chen’s neck: “Is that your father’s relic? Could I take a look?”
“Of course.” Assuming Elder Fang wanted to see the object to remember his friend, He Chen didn’t overthink it and took off the square pendant he wore close to his body.
“It’s a little wolf. It suits you well. He Xiangye’s intuition was quite accurate, knowing he would have a wolf cub.” Elder Fang said kindly, then handed the pendant back to He Chen.
He Chen’s eyes held a hint of sadness, but he managed a slight, cooperative smile, put the pendant back on, and turned to leave.
He didn’t notice that the beast-transformed person on the operating table had opened their eyes at some point.
Elder Fang, however, did notice.
“Are you awake?” he said to the beast-transformed person.
The person showed no reaction.
“Elder Fang, go back to sleep. He can’t understand you,” an assistant spoke up.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. You all go back to sleep. I’m old and need less sleep. It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t understand, I’ll just chat with him.”
He said this, genuinely dismissing everyone, and sat down in front of the operating table, chatting with the beast-transformed person: “Did you see that child? He’s the son of an old friend of mine, a little wolf cub…”
As the words “wolf cub” left his mouth, Elder Fang personally watched the beast-transformed person’s dry eyes blink.
Elder Fang’s heart stirred. He opened his terminal: “Come, let me show you what an excellent cub he is…”
“I told you to wait for me, why did you come here?”
Lu Changqing asked, finding He Chen in a tree not far behind the small residential building.
“You’re back.” He Chen looked down at him. “Haven’t you rested at all? Your eyes are dark.”
“Come down and talk.” Lu Changqing extended his hand toward He Chen.
He Chen looked up, took one last distant look at the stele forest, and with a leap of his long legs, jumped down from the tree.
“It’s so hidden, how did you find me?” he asked Lu Changqing curiously.
“I have built-in infrared perception,” Lu Changqing replied.
It was the truth.
But He Chen naturally took it as a joke.
He curved his lips. Before he could speak, Lu Changqing extended his hand again: “Let’s do an Anima Calming first.”
“Here?” He Chen asked.
“If your condition isn’t good, don’t be picky about the location.”
“My condition isn’t bad,” He Chen said in a low voice.
Lu Changqing glanced at him: “You weren’t right in the mine. Did the environment make you think of something?”
He Chen was silent for a moment: “Being too smart isn’t good. It makes people afraid of you.”
Lu Changqing frowned slightly. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t ask.”
“I was joking,” He Chen said. “I did think of something.”
He looked at Lu Changqing and clenched his fingers: “You said a deep link would improve the treatment effect. I have a deeper layer—are you willing to go there?”
Lu Changqing’s eyes deepened. He looked at him seriously: “As long as you are willing.”
“But it needs to be somewhere quieter,” Lu Changqing said, leading the way toward the small building.
He Chen followed him, speaking as they walked: “I have another question.”
“When we were underground, you said the mecha was for the right person. Who is the right person?”
“Someone who doesn’t foster enemies for self-importance, doesn’t collude with the enemy for personal gain, and doesn’t use weapons against their own people.”
“In short, not for the warrior nobility, right? But can you guarantee that the Second Prince won’t foster enemies for self-importance or collude with the enemy in the future?”
Lu Changqing stopped: “Why should I guarantee the Second Prince?”
“Your father is his godfather. Zero was developed jointly by your Lu family and their Qian family. The team you assigned to me this time even includes people who have worked for the Qian family. Senior Brother, don’t tell me you have no connection to the Second Prince.”
Since he had started, He Chen decided to speak plainly.
“Just because someone has worked for the Qian family, does that mean they are necessarily Qian family people? What if I sent them to the Qian family?” Lu Changqing asked unhurriedly, even with a smile.
“Don’t smile. I’m serious. Don’t let the Second Prince’s current honest appearance fool you. Wait until he gains power, and then see if there’s any difference between him and the He family.”
“Why would I look at him? Who said I’m going to give Zero to him? Can he lead troops, or can he fight?” Lu Changqing countered.
“The person I just described—didn’t you find it familiar? Didn’t you feel like I was talking about you?” he asked again.
This time, He Chen paused.
“Are you referring to Hanhe?”
“Yes,” Lu Changqing confirmed.
“No,” He Chen quickly averted his gaze and walked forward sullenly. “I will only cover you to obtain the mineral vein. Hanhe will not participate in the struggle for power.”
Lu Changqing caught up to him: “If you’re not participating, why were you so dedicated to the handover of Pingshan Base?”
“Of course I’m dedicated to weakening the He family.”
“So, you only want revenge, and you don’t care if Ning Tian and the others become the next Han Jin and Xiang Heng?”
He Chen’s steps faltered, but he quickly walked forward again: “You said it yourself, everyone has their own path. I don’t have the ability to be responsible for everyone.”
“Then what about your ideals?”
He Chen didn’t look back: “I have no ideals.”
Lu Changqing’s voice was calm: “You do. But your ideal is to gallop across thousands of miles and guard the star river, not to scheme and engage in petty, despicable acts.”
He Chen clenched his hand tightly.
“Senior Brother shouldn’t assume he understands everyone—” He suddenly turned around, his nose nearly bumping into Lu Changqing’s face.
“You, why are you so close to me?” He Chen’s face turned red.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you why you suddenly turned around?” Lu Changqing said, his tone slowing down. “My apologies. I was too presumptuous, speculating about your thoughts.”
“It’s okay. Just don’t speculate in the future,” He Chen said, turning back. His voice also softened. “Once the collaboration is over, I will retire and take Moyan and Leyan traveling. That is my ideal.”
“Understood.” After a moment of silence, Lu Changqing replied.
“I am very selfish—” He Chen began.
“You are not selfish,” Lu Changqing interrupted him. “Don’t worry about what I just said. If retirement is truly what you want, then do it.”
Lu Changqing said this, walking past the stunned He Chen and pushing open the door.
Fearing they might disturb others, neither spoke again. After going upstairs and glancing at He Leyan, who was sleeping soundly guarded by the big wolf, He Chen followed Lu Changqing into his room.
The room here was tiny, a single dormitory serving as both bedroom and living room, naturally much simpler than Lu Changqing’s home in Star Capital. However, it had a clean tidiness that was familiar to He Chen.
He Chen glanced at the spotless bed, withdrew his gaze, and sat down on the sofa as Lu Changqing indicated.
“Wait for me for a few minutes,” Lu Changqing said, opening the room’s simple refrigerator and taking out a bag of nutrient paste to eat.
“You haven’t had dinner yet?” He Chen frowned.
“I haven’t had a chance yet,” Lu Changqing said, taking a cup and filling it with warm water.
He Chen thought he was getting it for himself to drink, but Lu Changqing handed the warm water to him.
He Chen stood up to take the cup, then sat back down, his eyes fixed on Lu Changqing.
He couldn’t understand him.
Even eating convenient nutrient paste in the simplest way, Lu Changqing’s every movement was still noble and elegant. He should have been in Star Capital, living as the esteemed Director Lu…
“Do I have flowers on my face?” Lu Changqing finished the nutrient paste quickly and looked at He Chen.
He Chen briefly looked away, then looked back: “Senior Brother, why do you get involved in these matters?”
“Someone wants to make the best use of my talents and wants me to get involved,” Lu Changqing replied.
“Who?” He Chen asked instinctively.
He thought Lu Changqing would evade the question again, but Lu Changqing answered directly, honestly, and without hesitation: “My father.”
He Chen frowned: “So, you are still working for the Lu family?”
“Is Junior Brother concerned, or testing me?” Lu Changqing asked.
He Chen held the warm water cup and remained silent for a while.
Lu Changqing didn’t press him and quickly answered: “I haven’t lied to you. The first time you asked me, I told you I have no one behind me. Although in my father’s eyes, I am working for him.”
Lu Changqing washed and dried his hands by the sink and walked toward He Chen.
“If you want to understand these things, I will explain them slowly later. For now, let’s focus on the treatment.”
Lu Changqing said, extending his hand toward He Chen.
He Chen didn’t immediately offer his wrist. He bent his elbow, reached into his military uniform pocket, pulled out a small box, opened the lid, and pushed it toward Lu Changqing.
“Senior Brother has worked hard these past two days. This is a Bigen Stone we confiscated from the Star Pirate leader earlier. I just had someone send it from the base. It’s for Senior Brother to replenish his energy.”
Bigen Stone is to a Healer what Blood Crystal is to a Warrior, but Bigen Stone is rarer and harder to find.
Lu Changqing glanced at the translucent green stone in the box, paused for a moment, and looked at He Chen: “The quality is so good, it looks like a core stone. Keep it for Leyan’s future advancement.”
It was indeed originally saved for Leyan, but—”Leyan is still young. I’ll collect more for him.”
“I told you I don’t charge you for treatment,” Lu Changqing said again.
“It’s not a consultation fee,” He Chen replied, looking into Lu Changqing’s eyes.
Only half of his intention was to avoid owing Lu Changqing; the other half was genuinely viewing Lu Changqing as a friend and worrying that treating those critically ill patients was too taxing on him.
Lu Changqing understood his gaze, lowered his eyes, accepted the box, rubbed the side of the box with his thumb, and looked up again: “Thank you, Junior Brother. Shall we begin?”
He Chen finally offered his wrist this time, looking somewhat guilty: “It might be a bit negative.”
He didn’t want to “contaminate” Lu Changqing.
“Don’t worry,” Lu Changqing said, calm and composed, taking his hand and entering his mental domain.
The initial arrival was still the ice field—the layer that He Leyan thought was too “simple.” Previously, Lu Changqing treated He Chen here, and He Chen himself would appear, but today, with Lu Changqing in deep hypnosis, He Chen did not “follow.”
Lu Changqing scanned the ice field, where the gale was more biting than usual. He closed his eyes, released his mental perception, and his form appeared, following his intent, in front of a cave entrance behind the glacier.
The cave entrance had a door made of ice and snow. The lock was still there, but it was open.
Lu Changqing placed his hand on the door and pushed it open with a creak.
Behind the door was another world.
Although also covered in silver, this place was not as desolate and empty as the first layer of ice and snow. It resembled a snowy village.
Many ice houses were arranged in rows. People were moving between them, laughing, drinking around bonfires, and training in pairs in the snow.
What a vivid and natural scene.
Lu Changqing initially didn’t understand where He Chen’s “negative” aspect lay until he saw a slightly familiar face: Han Jin.
Lu Changqing frowned slightly.
He stood on high ground, looking back at the village, roughly counting the ice houses and the number of people.
Halfway through the count, he understood: each ice house corresponded to a tombstone in the cemetery.
However, in He Chen’s mental domain, everyone was still alive.
Safe, sound, and vibrant.
Lu Changqing’s expression slowly darkened.
Just then, a “scratch,” “scratch” sound made Lu Changqing turn to look at “Han Jin”:
The man was standing in front of an ice house with a crack, holding an ice saw, cutting blocks of ice. After cutting, he used his hands to mix snow and mud, patching up one crack before moving on to the next.
There were many such cracked ice houses.
Lu Changqing pondered for a moment and walked toward “Han Jin”: he was likely the “person” in this domain with the most mental projection from He Chen, thus acting like a fragment of He Chen’s subconscious.
As Lu Changqing walked toward him, he released mental threads, but the moment his mental threads approached “Han Jin,” “Han Jin” suddenly turned around. His originally solemn and capable face was suddenly covered in blood and grime, hideous and vacant.
Lu Changqing paused, but quickly walked toward “Han Jin” with greater resolve.
With every step, more fluorescent mental threads released from his body, wrapping around the figures around him. As soon as they revealed their blood and grime, they were enveloped in bright energy, like being wrapped in a cocoon, falling into slumber.
Han Jin was no exception.
Everyone in the village fell asleep. Lu Changqing seemed exhausted, sitting down where he was, his mental threads spreading toward the ice houses that had cracks…
After an unknown period, He Chen’s eyelids fluttered, and his nose twitched: it was that faint, alluring scent… soft… He Chen buried his face in it and inhaled deeply.
Wait, something was wrong—
He Chen opened his eyes and abruptly sat up.
A blanket slid off him.
He Chen grabbed the blanket, his eyes looking at Lu Changqing, who was watching him.
“Getting up so suddenly, aren’t you afraid of a headache?” Lu Changqing stood a few steps away, watching him unhurriedly.
His head didn’t hurt at all, but it felt like it was filled with paste.
He Chen stared intently at Lu Changqing’s fingers as he buttoned his collar. After several seconds, he suddenly reacted and shifted his gaze.
Only then did he see that the morning light was faintly visible outside the window.
“I… slept here all night?” He Chen awkwardly clutched the blanket in his hand. Realizing whose blanket it was, he suddenly let go and stood up abruptly from the sofa.
“Uh, sorry for the intrusion. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Deep sleep. It’s not good to interrupt it,” Lu Changqing said reasonably.
He Chen couldn’t argue, and he even found Lu Changqing’s voice, clear with a hint of morning huskiness, strangely pleasant.
He was doomed. His dependency was getting worse. He was unconsciously starting to pay attention to everything about him again.
He Chen didn’t dare to look up, glancing at the floor as he walked toward the door: “I’ll go back and check on Leyan first.”
“Your jacket.” Lu Changqing took He Chen’s military uniform from the hanger and handed it to him.
…Next time, he shouldn’t take off his clothes.
No, there won’t be a next time!
He Chen blushed, mumbled “thank you,” rolled up the jacket, and quickly fled back to the room across the hall.
Lu Changqing watched him close the door opposite, smiled faintly, closed his own door, looked at the sofa, and walked over to tidy up the pillow and thin blanket that held his traces.
As he folded the blanket, his fingers paused. He suddenly walked to the bathroom, opened the cabinet, and looked at the toiletries he had randomly received from the sanatorium.
Quickly, he opened his terminal and made a call, his voice steady: “Go to my house and check the brand and model of my toiletries. Send an identical batch to Hanxiao Star.”
“Identical. Do not change the scent.”
“Time? As soon as possible.”