Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 25
byChapter 25 The First Day Living at Daddy’s House
After randomly choosing a hotel and checking in with He Leyan, He Chen hadn’t even caught his breath when his terminal received a message:
[Why are you staying in a hotel?]
Sender: Leyan’s Daddy.
He Chen looked down at He Leyan: “Did you message your Daddy?”
He Leyan lifted his small head, stating the obvious: “I asked Daddy if we could stay at Daddy’s house.”
…How badly do you want to stay at his house?
He Chen suppressed a sigh and forced a smile: “Isn’t it better for us to stay in a hotel? Look here, there are snow-white sheets, and—”
He trailed off, unable to continue. It was just an ordinary standard room.
“Let’s make do tonight, and tomorrow Dad will find you a better place,” He Chen said. His terminal vibrated again—it was “Leyan’s Daddy.”
He Chen paused for a second, then answered the call: “Senior Lu.”
“You’re staying at the East Dan Hotel on Puxia Road?” Lu Changqing got straight to the point.
He Chen frowned: “Senior’s intelligence network is advanced, but this isn’t how you should use it.”
“Someone took a photo of Leyan and posted it online,” Lu Changqing said.
“Which site?” He Chen’s expression turned serious.
“I’ve already had someone delete it. But the information has spread. It’s not safe for you to stay there.”
“Thank you.” He Chen sighed in relief, thanked him, and opened his suitcase to take out toiletries. “I’ll switch hotels first thing tomorrow morning.”
“If you wait until tomorrow, the area downstairs will probably be swarming with cameras.”
“Is it that exaggerated?” He Chen stopped what he was doing.
“Don’t underestimate Leyan’s national popularity,” Lu Changqing said calmly from the other end of the terminal. “Five minutes. Go to the skycar channel on the hotel’s top floor. License plate 1743.”
What 1743? He Chen frowned. Who has a four-digit license plate?
But five minutes later, he really did see a four-digit license plate—the kind of special plate that could enter and exit the Imperial Palace.
He Chen, the bumpkin, had never seen this model of skycar either.
There was actually a bed inside, similar to the ones on their patrol starships… The little one hadn’t lied after all.
“I have a house nearby. Why don’t you and Leyan stay there for the night?” Lu Changqing, sitting in the front, spoke up.
“Alright,” He Chen snapped back to reality, glancing at Lu Changqing. “Thank you, Senior.”
“You’re welcome. What happened that made you suddenly run out and stay in a hotel?”
“Nothing much,” He Chen replied, glancing at He Leyan, who was about to speak. He quickly covered the boy’s mouth—then wiped it. “Look at you, you still have toothpaste on your face.”
Who had toothpaste on their face?
He Leyan glared at him, his face stinging from the rough wipe, but he turned to Lu Changqing instead: “Daddy, what is a ‘Senior’?”
So that’s what he wanted to say. He Chen relaxed.
“A Senior is like an older schoolmate. Your father and I were classmates. I’m older and was a few grades ahead of your father, so I’m his Senior.”
“You were classmates?” That was the sentence He Leyan understood most clearly. He looked at Lu Changqing, then at He Chen, feeling a little happy, his voice cheerful: “Then you’re good friends, right?”
How did he deduce that?
He Chen looked at the happy little one and didn’t speak, but Lu Changqing cooperated by saying “Yes,” and then glanced at He Chen.
Their eyes met in the rearview mirror, then they tacitly looked away.
“Then can Dad stay at Daddy’s house for a few more days? His old house is all broken,” He Leyan immediately asked.
He Chen was caught off guard, his face changing slightly: Ancestor, why did you have to say it!
“What’s broken?” Lu Changqing looked at He Chen through the rearview mirror.
“Nothing, the room just hasn’t been tidied up,” He Chen answered awkwardly.
“No, he—” He Leyan had just opened his mouth when he was fed a piece of candy.
What was this for? “I already brushed my teeth!” the child looked at He Chen indignantly.
“Then why are you sucking on it?” He Chen asked shamelessly.
The candy was so sweet, he, of course he had to suck on it.
He Leyan, angry, forgot what he was originally doing.
Lu Changqing seemed to notice something but didn’t press the father and son further. The car turned and pulled into a garage.
“Don’t tell other people everything in the future,” He Chen whispered to He Leyan, lagging a few steps behind with the suitcase while Lu Changqing walked ahead to open the door.
“Daddy isn’t other people,” He Leyan first retorted, then, remembering He Chen’s past instructions, he frowned slightly. “Is this also a ‘secret’?”
“Not a secret… but it’s embarrassing,” He Chen lowered his voice even more. “In the future, you can’t tell anyone about Dad’s embarrassing things, only the glorious ones.”
“What’s glorious?” He Leyan tilted his small head and asked.
“For example—”
He Chen started, then stopped. For example, what?
While he was pondering, he heard Lu Changqing finally open his seemingly complicated password lock and push the door open, inviting them inside.
A strange smile played on Lu Changqing’s lips.
“Does Senior usually live in this house?” Stepping into the living room, He Chen looked around and couldn’t help but ask.
The house had high ceilings, was spacious and bright. Books lay on the coffee table, news scrolled across the smart wall, and a dishwasher was running in the kitchen. It was full of signs of life.
“It’s close to the Academy of Medical Sciences. I usually stay here on weekdays,” Lu Changqing said, taking the small backpack off He Leyan’s shoulder. While doing so, he took off the vest the boy was wearing backward and put it back on correctly.
Ahem. Wasn’t that pattern supposed to be in the front?
He Chen averted his gaze, saying calmly, “Sorry for the intrusion. I’ll find another place to stay tomorrow.”
Why! He Leyan looked up and tugged at his hand.
“No rush. You can stay as long as you need,” Lu Changqing said to He Chen. He then lowered his head and stroked He Leyan’s soft, smooth hair. “It’s late. Go brush your teeth and go to bed early.”
He Leyan was very obedient in front of him and nodded immediately.
Lu Changqing looked at He Chen again: “I’ll arrange for someone to bring your car back. You can stay in Leyan’s room. There are new towels in the bathroom. If you need anything else, just ask me.”
He said this while picking up the skycar key.
“Where is Daddy going?” Seeing that he was about to leave, He Leyan asked, confused.
“Daddy is going back to the old family estate. I have something to take care of,” Lu Changqing said, leaning down to kiss the child’s smooth, fine hair on his forehead. “Good night.”
“Good night, Daddy,” He Leyan said softly, a completely habitual reaction, standing on his tiptoes to kiss Lu Changqing’s cheek.
…This house was no good; it smelled of sourness.
He Chen thanked Lu Changqing again and watched him leave. He then turned to the somewhat lost little one, first taking off that vest—they were about to sleep, why put it on the child? It was clearly a jab at him for putting it on backward.
“Come on, brush your teeth, time for bed.”
He Chen picked up the little one and followed his guidance into his room, where he paused: The room was brightly lit, the small furniture was rounded and cute, the low picture book shelves were colorful and neatly organized, and half a wall was covered with extremely childish doodles.
“Did you draw these?” He Chen asked.
He Leyan nodded, excitedly struggling to get down. He pointed to the drawing in the center and announced: “This is me and Daddy!”
He Chen looked at the large black blob and the small black blob, forcing a smile against his better judgment: “Very good drawing.”
As he spoke, he listened to He Leyan introduce his other “masterpieces,” while his eyes involuntarily scanned the toy shelf nearby, focusing on the mechanical toys.
Finally, when He Leyan finished talking about his drawings, He Chen walked over and picked up a mechanical beetle from the shelf, looking at He Leyan with anticipation: “Do you like playing with these?”
He Leyan nodded: “Daddy likes them too. Daddy made this for me.”
“Dad can make them too,” a competitive spirit flashed in He Chen’s eyes. “I’ll show you.”
He said this and fiddled with something. With a crash, the shiny beetle instantly scattered into a pile of parts on the floor.
He Leyan was stunned, a small person with big confusion: “You—”
You call that “taking it apart” for the baby to see!
But before He Leyan could speak, He Chen’s hands moved quickly, a dazzling blur of motion, and soon, a beetle, as good as new, appeared in his hand.
“Who’s better, Daddy or me?” He Chen asked, holding the beetle, his eyes bright.
“…You.” You are more childish than Daddy.
He Leyan thought this internally but didn’t say it aloud.
He just looked at the big monster, his eyes showing a sense of relief beyond his years: The energy on the big monster was bright again…
*
At this moment, Lu Changqing had parked his skycar and walked into the deepest part of the inner courtyard of the Lu family estate, an assembly hall that appeared particularly dark due to its heavy materials and age.
“Why are you only arriving now? Making everyone wait for you, what kind of behavior is that?” The moment Lu Changqing stepped into the hall, a gloomy voice came from the head seat.
A man whose features bore a slight resemblance to Lu Changqing sat high on the central chair, his brow clouded with fatigue and impatience, looking down at Lu Changqing with pressure.
This was Lu Changqing’s father, Lu Jingshan, the Speaker of the Imperial Council.
“I had a matter to attend to temporarily,” Lu Changqing said flatly, walking to his seat and sitting down.
“It’s not late, we just arrived too,” a genial-looking, round-faced middle-aged man smiled at Lu Changqing. Hearing Lu Jingshan snort from the head seat, he quickly dropped his smile. “First Young Master, we were just discussing this year’s Blood Crystal allocation.”
“Please continue,” Lu Changqing said.
“Yes. Blood Crystals have historically been dominated by the military, which essentially means the major noble families. This year, two crystal mines have been depleted and closed, reducing the total quota by one and a half tenths. None of these families are willing to yield, so His Majesty asked our Council to come up with a plan.”
Although it had already been discussed, the round-faced man reiterated the background since Lu Changqing had just arrived.
“This is the military’s business. They won’t speak up themselves because they’re afraid of offending people. The safest solution is to average the reduced quota—”
Another square-faced middle-aged man started speaking, but his voice gradually faded.
Because when his eyes subtly swept over Lu Changqing, he saw the First Young Master picking up his teacup lid.
“Since His Majesty asked us to deliberate, we should come up with a proper solution, not just seek stability, which would make those families think the world belongs to them. I propose recalculating the allocation based on merit and contribution, using the base as the unit.”
Another official picked up the conversation.
Lu Changqing took a sip of tea and set down the cup lid.
“What are your thoughts?” Lu Jingshan asked from the head seat.
“Agreed.” Five or six people in the hall expressed their approval.
“Very well. Let them fight among themselves then.” But Emperor Chu Jianheng would surely complain that he was causing trouble.
Causing trouble was necessary. Chu Jianheng didn’t do a single proper thing, sitting on the throne too easily. Lu Jingshan’s expression grew gloomier.
Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to endure it for long. A hint of suppressed satisfaction flashed across Lu Jingshan’s brow as he looked at Lu Changqing: “Are you sure that He Chen can be used by us?”
“Certain,” Lu Changqing put down his teacup, answering with a flat, emotionless expression.
“Then act quickly.” Lu Jingshan finished, then looked down and asked about something else. “I heard the Second Prince accepted a male consort gifted by the Xia family. Has the intelligence department confirmed this?”
Reports and discussions followed. Lu Changqing listened without saying a word, as if detached, only occasionally lifting the lid of the celadon teacup with the crab claw pattern in his hand…
The meeting finally adjourned late into the night. Lu Changqing returned to his private courtyard within the Lu estate.
Compared to his office area, this place had more plants and was more “natural.” The trees in the courtyard were lush and dense, almost blocking out the sky, and even the courtyard walls were covered in dark green vines. Between the walls and in the stone crevices, living water, drawn from an unknown source, flowed coolly and mysteriously.
Stepping into the courtyard, Lu Changqing spoke directly: “Pass the news about the Second Prince’s dealings with the Xia family to Consort He.”
“Yes.” A shadow-like figure automatically appeared and responded.
“Also, find out what happened at the He family tonight.”
*
“Your Daddy’s bowls are so small,” He Chen commented while rummaging for tableware in the kitchen early in the morning.
He Leyan didn’t say anything, sitting at the dining table, his face groggy from sleep.
[What a devilish broadcast time, but we subway commuters made it!]
[Little one, little one, you look so cute when you’re groggy!]
“Wipe your face. Dad made porridge.” He Chen said, taking a wet towel and roughly wiping He Leyan’s confused face.
Alright, he was awake.
Seeing the little one’s big eyes become focused, He Chen brought out one, two, three, four bowls of porridge.
[Huh, four bowls. Who else is there?]
[He family members?]
[I think I just heard He Chen mumble something about “Daddy’s house.”]
[Who is “Daddy,” sob, sob, Leyan, do you need a “Mommy”?]
[He does, haha. I heard He Chen is still single.]
[Ah, this…] On the subway, a white-collar girl’s face inexplicably flushed.
To be fair, based on his physique alone, Leyan’s father was definitely her type. However, it was too unrealistic. Although the comments section was not shy about judging He Chen, he was a noble, and a Fleet Commander at that, separated from a commoner like her by a vast distance.
Moreover, the girl had a very poor impression of the so-called nobility.
According to the military and political system of the Star River Empire, the garrison forces in various star sectors and bases did not participate in politics, but they could levy a certain tax percentage from their jurisdiction, and they had some autonomy over how much to levy.
When the girl was young, her father ran a small company that was doing well. But because the local noble troops claimed they needed to raise taxes for defense purposes, their company’s cash flow became insufficient, leading to a decline, and they eventually had to close down.
And that so-called “defense-needed” special facility was still a half-finished project to this day. Needless to say, those taxes lined the pockets of certain individuals.
She decided she would just watch the obedient little one.
The white-collar girl was momentarily distracted. When she turned her attention back to the screen, she was stunned:
[After all that, three of the four bowls of porridge are for himself?]
[I really don’t understand the thinking of rich people. Can’t he just save two bowls and refill after eating?]
[No, no, you don’t understand the thinking of a big eater. If he refills, he has to wait for it to cool down, right?]
That made so much sense. The white-collar lady smiled. Nobles were hateful, but a “noble” with such a good appetite was somehow hard to dislike.
He Chen finished three bowls of porridge, while He Leyan hadn’t even finished half of his small bowl.
Bored of waiting, He Chen glanced at the little one, then suddenly walked away from the dining table, returning a moment later with something.
“Ahem, this is for you.”
He Chen placed the small object on the dining table and pushed it toward He Leyan.
“Take a look. Isn’t it better than that one?”
[Better than which one?]
[What is that? It’s so beautiful!]
He Chen held a lifelike silver-blue metal butterfly. The metal-etched wings were delicate and intricate, making it look ready to take flight.
He Chen pressed a mechanism on the butterfly’s abdomen. With a subtle whirring sound, the butterfly actually flew up.
He Leyan tried to resist looking but failed, his eyes following the butterfly, turning from west to east.
He Chen happily curled his lips, caught the butterfly, turned off the switch, and handed it to He Leyan: “Eat first, then play after you finish eating.”
He Leyan obediently took a sip of the burnt-tasting porridge, secretly touched the butterfly’s wing, took another sip of the burnt porridge, and couldn’t help but look at the big idiot: “Did you make it?”
“The rice cooker made it,” He Chen said with an innocent expression.
He Leyan was stunned and had to use a lot of brainpower to connect with the big idiot: “I mean the butterfly.”
“Oh,” He Chen visibly perked up. “I made it! While cooking the porridge!”
[Hahaha, he admits that without hesitation.]
[So what happened to the porridge just now?]
[There seems to be something black in it. I don’t know, maybe the rice cooker took the liberty of improvising?]
Pfft! The white-collar girl laughed again, watching He Chen on the screen flip the metal butterfly over.
The girl squinted, subconsciously bringing the screen closer to herself, trying to see what the dense array of things on the back of the butterfly’s wings were.
“This is the power gear assembly, this is the dynamic and static pressure gauge, and this, the smart central control chip, but it’s fake. I’ll get you a real one another day. These two are the integrated light source system—” He Chen said, fiddling with something, and the butterfly’s silver-blue wings lit up.
From the front, it was beautiful; from the back, it looked like a mechanical bug.
He Chen continued his excited introduction: “This is the planetary gear structure motor, and here,” he pointed to the very bottom of the butterfly’s abdomen, explaining seriously, “the miniature reactor core, used for turbojet acceleration, but it’s also fake for now. Just take a look.”
[Buddy, dare you put a real one in?]
[Don’t say it, don’t say it, the rice cooker really has some skills…]
Seeing this comment, the white-collar girl couldn’t help but laugh again, and she couldn’t help but look at the man on the screen… those unusual hands.
People who are serious and focused are handsome. Others called his hands strange, but she found them incredibly cool.
Just then, another comment floated across the live stream: [Wait, he said he made this strange thing while cooking the porridge…]
[No, I don’t believe it. I couldn’t make this even if you cooked me into porridge!]
He Leyan, however, didn’t doubt it. He looked at the butterfly, wanting to play, but restrained himself, holding the bowl with both hands and drinking the porridge quickly.
Why was he so obedient? He Chen wanted to rub his head but glanced at his terminal and stood up: “I need to take a call.”
When He Chen returned after the call, He Leyan had obediently finished the burnt porridge, gotten down from the table, and was standing on his tiptoes collecting the bowls—not just his own, but He Chen’s too.
Even more obedient!
He Chen praised him, took the bowls into the kitchen, and asked while washing them: “Leyan, Dad needs to go back to that house from yesterday. Do you want to go back? If not, Dad will take you to Doctor Wen.”
That house from yesterday? He Leyan instinctively frowned: “Why do you have to go back?”
“I have something to take care of.”
He Chen could tell from He Leyan’s slight frown that he didn’t want to go back, which was fine, as He Chen didn’t want to take him either.
“Just go to Doctor Wen. Let Doctor Wen give you a soothing treatment.”
Perhaps due to the shock at the He family, the child had a nightmare last night. He Chen intended to take him to Wen Yi for treatment. He packed two of He Leyan’s items, dropped him off at the Academy of Medical Sciences, assigned Ning Tian to accompany him, and then, unhurriedly, drove his skycar back to the He family estate.
“Patriarch.” Upon seeing He Hongyi, the He family head, He Chen bowed respectfully, neither servile nor overbearing.
“Call me Uncle,” He Hongyi said, sizing He Chen up from head to toe. “You look well?”
“Thanks to Uncle’s blessing.”
“Haha, good!” He Hongyi laughed heartily and arranged for He Chen to sit down, right next to He Siyuan. “You two brothers, one scholarly and one martial, are both fine sons of the He family.”
He Hongyi said this, then changed the subject: “I heard from the Third Highness that you want to change your garrison post?”
“It’s not that he wants to, it’s that he should,” Chu Yunqi spoke up—he was sitting next to He Hongyi’s main seat, looking down at He Chen and He Siyuan with a mocking expression. “They are both fine sons of the He family, but one enjoys all the blessings, while the other endures all the hardships.”
The comment was quite direct. The He family members below began to murmur, not about the disparity between He Chen and He Siyuan—that was orchestrated by their mother, He Yayun, and had nothing to do with them—but about the fact that the Third Highness seemed determined to help He Chen.
This made things difficult. Originally, with He Chen garrisoned at Han River Base, this tough assignment wouldn’t fall to them. If Chu Yunqi insisted on interfering, who knew if the burden would fall on one of them.
“Your Highness is joking. It’s just different work locations; the hardship is the same,” He Hongyi chuckled. “However, His Highness’s concern is valid. Chen’er has served two consecutive terms at Han River; it’s time for a rotation.”
“Chen’er, setting aside outsiders, you can choose from the He family’s bases,” He Hongyi said cheerfully.
“Uncle is generous!” Chu Yunqi praised, looking at He Chen. “Since that’s the case, Cousin, don’t be reserved. Feel free to choose. I think Liaoshan Base is excellent. Liaoshan Star is wealthy and has beautiful scenery—”
“Liaoshan Star is my eldest sister-in-law’s family home. If I go there, Big Brother’s family will be separated from their in-laws. That wouldn’t be appropriate,” He Chen said, glancing at He Sizhong, the He family’s eldest legitimate son, sitting below.
He Sizhong and He Hongyi, sitting above, both showed satisfaction in their eyes.
Such a coward. Where was that intensity you showed against the Mysterians? Chu Yunqi looked at He Chen with disdain and spoke again: “Then how about Yingjiang Base? I heard Yingjiang Star is excellent at education. Leyan is sure to thrive there.”
“Leyan will thrive anywhere,” He Siyuan suddenly interjected. “But the locals in Yingjiang are clever and difficult to manage. Third Uncle’s subordinates have only just managed to bring the jurisdiction under control. If we switch people now, all the previous efforts might be wasted.”
The term “brought under control” actually meant that the tax revenue had just been “evenly divided” with the local officials. This matter indeed could not be “wasted.” Everyone in the hall nodded.
“Is this what you call ‘choosing freely’?” Chu Yunqi snorted. “What about the others? Surely not every single one is irreplaceable?”
Chu Yunqi leaned over to look at the list in He Hongyi’s hand: “This one? Nan—”
“Ahem!” He Hongyi coughed heavily, leaning toward Chu Yunqi’s ear. “Your Highness, Nanzhang Star is managed by the He family on behalf of you and your mother consort…”
“What the hell! This is a headache!” Chu Yunqi huffed in annoyance. “You guys discuss it yourselves. If you can’t figure it out, I’ll tell the Emperor to make my cousin draw lots!”
“This matter requires careful consideration. Fortunately, Chen’er just returned, so there’s no rush,” He Hongyi said, turning to He Chen, changing the subject. “But you were staying comfortably last night, why did you suddenly move out again?”
“The house was too big and gloomy. Leyan wasn’t used to it,” He Chen replied.
“Hmm.” He Hongyi pretended to ponder. In fact, he had investigated last night’s events and even personally visited the room this morning. He didn’t blame He Chen; his sister had gone too far.
He Chen’s biological father was not only a criminal but had committed a serious crime. He was an advisor in the residence of Chu Jianhua, Chu Yunqi’s uncle. When Chu Jianhua plotted treason, none of his subordinates escaped punishment.
With the identity of a traitor’s son, He Chen was naturally disliked by the Emperor. Therefore, He Hongyi had previously turned a blind eye to He Chen’s mother’s actions. At worst, after He Chen’s mother abused him, he would step in to show kindness, making it seem like the family still cared for He Chen.
However, He Chen was growing older and his strength was increasing. The old methods wouldn’t work anymore. He needed tangible benefits to win him over. With the Snow Wolf by his side, his potential was extremely high, and he was skilled at commanding troops. He Hongyi was unwilling to lose such a top-tier combat asset.
“Now that you have Leyan, you’ve established half a family. If you truly can’t get used to the main estate, you can move out. I’ll arrange a residence for you in the capital. Choose whichever one you like.”
“Choose whichever one?” He Chen looked pleasantly surprised.
“Whichever one!” He Hongyi was in a good mood: It was easy to win over someone who had been poor since childhood.
“I want Yuhe Cloud Manor,” He Chen said without hesitation.
Yuhe Cloud Manor was the community where Lu Changqing’s house was located. He Chen was a bumpkin, but he trusted Lu Changqing’s taste. Besides, he had seen the surrounding environment, which included a large green park, perfect for taking He Leyan to play.
And most importantly: He Leyan kept wanting his Daddy. He Chen thought, if you can’t beat them, join them—since he wouldn’t be staying for long anyway, why not let the little one be happy.
“Haha, good, you certainly know how to pick the best.” Yuhe Cloud Manor was the most expensive property in the capital. But no matter how expensive, it was just one house. He Hongyi wasn’t pained by the cost and immediately instructed his steward to contact the property source and take He Chen to complete the transfer.
“Thank you, Uncle.” Having received the benefit, He Chen was eager to leave.
But He Hongyi stopped him: “Wait!”
“Does Uncle have anything else?”
“You earned great merit by annihilating the Fire Fox and the Glorious Dragon. One house is not enough of a reward. I also had one hundred kilograms of Blood Crystals prepared. Take them with you later.”
“Thank you, Uncle.” He Chen bowed, accepting everything.
Blood Crystals aided Martial Warriors in their cultivation, but they were entirely controlled by the powerful. He Chen’s subordinates desperately needed them. One hundred kilograms meant thousands of crystals, a considerable amount. He Chen knew He Hongyi was rewarding him for appearances, but he was even happier to accept it knowing that.
“However, for such a major operation, you shouldn’t have acted without consulting the family beforehand, Chen’er. That was inappropriate.”
He Chen’s annihilation of the Fire Fox was a sudden blow to the He family, making He Hongyi wake up in anger in the middle of the night. Yet, he had to suppress his anger and reward him for appearances!
“Chen’er was incompetent. I couldn’t defeat the bandit leader and avenge my brothers for three years. I was truly ashamed to report it,” He Chen said, lowering his head.
“So you’ve been focused on revenge all this time?” He Hongyi asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“Yes.” He Chen’s voice became slower and deeper. “Two hundred and two comrades, Chen’er recalls their faces every night—”
“I finally feel relieved now that I’ve avenged them, Uncle,” He Chen said, raising his head, his slightly reddened, sharp eyes looking directly into He Hongyi’s, like a blood-stained dagger, suddenly sending a chill down He Hongyi’s spine.
As He Hongyi was startled, He Chen suddenly smiled, relieved: “The great revenge is done. Uncle, I finally feel lighter now. I don’t really care where the garrison post is. I’ll leave it entirely up to Uncle.”
“Let’s not talk about the garrison post yet. You haven’t returned to the capital or home for three years because you were focused on revenge?” He Hongyi didn’t speak, but He Chen’s Second Uncle, He Hongsheng, sitting to the side, suddenly asked.
Since the accident three years ago, He Chen had never returned to the He family, which was indeed suspicious. He Hongyi stared at He Chen, his doubts deepening slightly.
“Yes. And no,” He Chen replied.
“What do you mean?”
“I actually came back shortly after the incident,” He Chen said, lowering his head again, his voice somewhat subdued.
“When did you come back?” He Siyuan frowned.
“Not long after the incident. Big Brother didn’t see me, but I saw Big Brother once,” He Chen said, looking at He Siyuan and lightly chuckling. “I had narrowly escaped death and wanted to come home to report my safety first. Unfortunately, when I reached the door, I happened to hear Mother—I heard Madam talking to Big Brother. She said—”
He Chen paused here for some reason.
He Siyuan seemed to recall something, shifting his gaze away from He Chen, his face looking somewhat unpleasant.
“What did she say?” Chu Yunqi, sitting above and listening to the gossip, was unbearably curious.
He Chen moved his gaze away from He Siyuan’s face and answered slowly: “She said it was a blessing that I was the one sent to garrison the Han River Base, not Big Brother.”
Damn. Chu Yunqi’s mouth dropped open in surprise: “So? You just slunk away again?”
That venomous mouth was certainly not useless. He Chen glanced at Chu Yunqi, then turned to He Hongyi, his expression showing the perfect amount of restraint: “Uncle, Leyan is waiting for me at the Academy of Medical Sciences. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Go. Your mother was wrong about this. The family will give you justice,” He Hongyi waved his hand.
He Chen bowed again and turned to leave. Chu Yunqi called out “Wait for me” and quickly chased after him.
The remaining He family members started buzzing with discussion after they left, their eyes occasionally sweeping toward He Siyuan.
“Did your mother really say that?” He Hongyi asked with a grim face.
He Siyuan’s expression was now calm: “As you know, Mother has always had a sharp tongue. She was just worried at the time.”
Worried? What a joke.
Forget it. What was done was done. He Hongyi had a slight headache, but the suspicion in his eyes faded somewhat—He Chen’s reason for not returning to the He family was sufficient.
As for that look in his eyes just now, perhaps it could be interpreted as hatred for the star pirates?
“Double He Chen’s Blood Crystals, and add another hundred,” He Hongyi instructed, then looked at He Siyuan, adding, “You and your mother will cover the cost.”
“Uncle—” He Siyuan’s expression changed slightly.
“That’s enough. The matter is settled,” He Hongyi ignored He Siyuan’s expression and looked down impatiently. “If you have extra energy, focus on how to rotate this garrison post. The Third Highness is determined to see this through this time.”
“If we must rotate, we should exchange with other external bases. Han River Base is remote and troublesome. We can’t keep dumping it on the He family, can we?” someone below spoke up.
“Exactly. Let the military discuss it. Even if no one else takes this mess, we must exchange it for some benefit. Siyuan, what do you say?”
“Third Uncle, the Fire Fox is gone, but there will be another Fire Fox. Han River Base is strategically important; we cannot lose it,” He Siyuan said calmly, without rushing.
“If we don’t lose it, then who should go?” The discussion below started up again—or rather, the argument started again. The central theme was that no one wanted to go.
He Siyuan saw He Hongyi frowning, looking stressed, and proactively spoke: “First Uncle, who we send is not the urgent matter. The Third Highness is focused on where He Chen is placed.”
“What are your thoughts?” He Hongyi looked at him. He Siyuan was an anomaly in the He family, preferring brains over brawn. He was quite resourceful and thorough in his considerations, and He Hongyi had come to rely on him more in recent years.
“He Chen’s strength is exceptional. Leading a group of cannon fodder soldiers, he managed to annihilate the Fire Fox and Glorious Dragon, two major forces, just like that. Such a talent, as long as he is loyal to us, is useful anywhere. However—”
He Siyuan paused here.
“However, he is not loyal to us,” someone interjected. “If he were, he wouldn’t have annihilated the Fire Fox.”
“He was unaware of the He family’s relationship with the Fire Fox,” He Hongyi said, narrowing his eyes at He Siyuan. “You were the one who said he was too straightforward and rigid, unlike Han and Xiang, and difficult to control, which is why we bypassed him.”
“Does First Uncle think I was wrong?” He Siyuan countered.
He Hongyi was silent for a moment, then looked down: “What do you all think?”
“I think he is still pragmatic,” He Sizhong mused for a moment.
His willingness to reject Liaoshan Base proved that He Chen was not a rigid person.
“Pragmatic in small matters, perhaps not in big ones,” He Siyuan said, turning to the head seat. “First Uncle, I don’t want to doubt my own brother, but was Han Jin’s dying request to him truly just a request to look after his son?”
“Since he returned home, why did he not enter the door, but sneakily eavesdrop?”
“Sneaky, indeed.” He Sizhong looked up at He Siyuan with a mocking expression. “No wonder you’re suspicious. If I had heard that, I wouldn’t have just stayed outside the door; I would have torn the door down.”
That retort was sharp, and many people in the hall laughed. They were mostly martial men and didn’t particularly like He Siyuan’s demeanor.
“Discuss the matter at hand, stop dragging in irrelevant things!” He Hongyi slammed the table heavily.
“Yes, Father.” He Sizhong, who started the provocation, was the first to become serious. “Father, based on He Chen’s words, the Fire Fox is destroyed, his old hatred is gone, and he is now willing to follow the family’s arrangements. If he is unaware of the internal situation, there’s nothing more to say. If he is aware, then this gesture is clearly him submitting to us.”
Submitting? He Hongyi recalled that sharp, blade-like gaze. He couldn’t help but feel suspicious again.
“First Uncle—”
“Father,” He Sizhong’s voice cut across He Siyuan’s. “I heard a rumor that Blood Crystals will be allocated based on merit starting this year.”
“How is that possible? Who proposed it?” He Hongyi frowned.
“The Council. Although the result is not yet decided, if it turns out to be true, Father, we need this kind of killer…”
*
When Lu Changqing walked into the restaurant, He Chen was holding a stylus, gesturing on the virtual screen spread across the table, looking completely engrossed.
He Leyan sat beside him, his small head nestled against He Chen’s arm, also focused, occasionally pointing at the screen and saying something.
Lu Changqing stood quietly for a while before stepping forward: “Did you arrive early?”
“Not early, just arrived a little while ago.” He Chen looked up at Lu Changqing, his gaze lingering.
Perhaps because they were dining out, Lu Changqing was dressed slightly formally: fine-textured, deep-colored high-count wool trousers, and a fitted shirt of the same color. He Chen didn’t recognize the material, but he noticed the soft luster, which was both sharp and subtly composed—clearly indicating nobility.
“Is something wrong?” Lu Changqing asked, meeting his gaze.
“No.” He Chen stared at the man’s jeweled cufflink again, calculating how much one might sell for.
“What are you drawing?” Lu Changqing smoothly caught He Leyan, who was rushing toward him, skillfully picked him up, and placed him on his lap.
“It’s a house!” He Leyan reported first. “Dad bought the house next door to Daddy’s. We’re going to be neighbors with Daddy!”
“Is that so?” Lu Changqing glanced at the floor plan He Chen was putting away, confirmed it was indeed the house next door to his, and calmly withdrew his gaze. “Don’t talk on an empty stomach. Order first.”
Lu Changqing invited He Chen and He Leyan to order. Once they had ordered, the waiter took He Leyan to choose an appetizer dessert. He Chen kept his eyes on He Leyan, asking Lu Changqing: “Is this restaurant reliable? There’s no one else here.”
“We only host one table per night,” Lu Changqing explained. Seeing He Chen’s tense expression as he watched He Leyan, he added, “I own it. The staff are trustworthy. You don’t need to be so nervous.”
“…Your business is quite diverse.”
Lu Changqing was good-natured: “And you, where did you get the money to buy a house?”
“I had money to begin with,” He Chen said instinctively.
“Is that so? My intelligence suggests otherwise,” Lu Changqing said flatly.
“…Senior even investigates this?”
“I like to know my opponent.”
As they spoke, Lu Changqing had the waiter pour him a glass of wine, but he personally poured He Chen a cup of tea: “You shouldn’t touch alcohol during your volatile period.”
He then sent He Chen a photo: “The publicly traceable information shows that Xia Jingpeng has been in contact with Xiang Heng.”
“Xia Jingpeng, who?”
“Xia Xue’s cousin, He Siyuan’s wife,” Lu Changqing replied.
He Siyuan? He Chen’s fingers tightened for a moment.
“The Xia family is deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. Xiang Heng’s only sister, Xiang Zhi, entered the Xia family’s entertainment company as a trainee eight years ago and debuted six years ago.”
“I remember that,” He Chen said, looking thoughtful. “We congratulated him at the time, but he didn’t seem very excited…”
He Chen frowned.
He recalled more details. Before Xiang Zhi debuted, Xiang Heng clearly cared deeply about his sister. He wasn’t a boastful person, but he would unconsciously talk about his sister in a doting tone. However, after Xiang Zhi debuted, he never mentioned her in public again.
“So, the Xia family seized some leverage over Xiang Zhi to threaten Xiang Heng?” He Chen’s eyes turned cold.
Although it was a question, he was basically certain of the answer.
“Our preliminary assessment suggests it’s related to this. More detailed information will take time to confirm. I’ve instructed people to continue investigating,” Lu Changqing said.
“Good, thank you.” He Chen replied, but he was lost in thought, his mind elsewhere.
Lu Changqing glanced at him and pushed a document across the table: “I can’t help you with the major issue on your mind for now. Consider this compensation.”
“What is it?” He Chen said, looking down. After reading two lines, his initially indifferent expression turned serious. “Is this true?”
Lu Changqing nodded. “All you need to do is sign. Han River Base will become a pilot cooperation unit for the Academy of Medical Sciences. The subsequent treatment for injured and medically retired soldiers from the base will be handled by the Academy of Medical Sciences.”
“But—” He Chen opened his mouth, hesitating. “This will cost a lot of money.”
“The Academy of Medical Sciences is not short on money.”
“If other bases find out, will it make things difficult for you?” He Chen asked instinctively.
“That is my concern.”
True, why was he worrying about that?
“If the He family suspects—”
“I will dispel their doubts.”
“How will you dispel them?” He Chen pressed.
“I plan to relocate the seriously ill patients currently under treatment to Hanxiao Star,” Lu Changqing replied.
Hmm? That was a perfect excuse.
Those patients were at risk of going berserk at any time. Many people already resented them being in the core area of the capital, but they dared not say much because of Lu Changqing.
If the Academy of Medical Sciences proactively proposed moving this group of patients to the remote Hanxiao Star, no one would object, and the cooperation between the Academy of Medical Sciences and Han River Base would become logical. Brilliant!
“If they move there, they can merge with the Han River Sanatorium on Hanxiao Star!” He Chen’s eyes brightened. The Han River Sanatorium was the facility where he housed his injured soldiers, which he was struggling to keep afloat.
Lu Changqing looked into his eyes for a moment, nodded, and handed him a pen.
“Thank you.” He Chen took the pen, looked at the gentle-eyed Lu Changqing for a moment, then lowered his head and signed his name very solemnly.
After signing, he watched Lu Changqing retrieve the contract, then tapped the table with his finger: “Senior, I have one more humble request.”
“Go ahead.”
“Hmm.” He Chen took a sip of tea to moisten his lips. “Before I say it, I wanted to ask first, is Doctor Wen single?”
Lu Changqing’s hand, which was calmly folding the contract, paused for a moment.
He looked up at He Chen: “Why do you ask?”