Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 6

Chapter 6 The Big Monster’s First Day of Babysitting

“Oh, you! You’d help someone count the money after they sold you. Upgrading battlesuits—that’s not a small amount of money. Even if it’s just a medium-sized vessel, the combat personnel must number a few hundred.”

“Don’t panic, Mother. I’m not stupid. I’ll just give them a basic upgrade; that should be enough. They look dirt poor, and their battlesuits are probably old models, so it won’t cost much. Besides, didn’t you teach me that any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem?”

Chu Yunqi was lying lazily in the rest lounge Xiang Heng had arranged for him, sipping the bland but better-than-nothing military nutrient solution, casually arguing with his mother on the video call.

“If he’s only after money, that would indeed be a good thing,” Consort He mused on the other end of the video.

She was nearly sixty, but the average lifespan of a Blue Star native was 150 years, with visible aging only starting around a hundred. At sixty, Consort He was slender and her skin was taut. If not for the calculating look in her eyes, one would never guess she had an adult son like Chu Yunqi.

Chu Yunqi was impatient with her constant weighing and measuring. He swallowed a mouthful of nutrient solution and said with some annoyance, “He’s just poor. He caught He Leyan, that cash cow, and now he wants to monopolize him and milk him for something.”

“It might not be that simple. The He family hasn’t given him much support over the years, and the fact that he’s climbed to his current position means his thoughts aren’t so shallow.”

“I don’t think he’s as deep as you imagine. Anyway, tell the He family to keep He Siyuan out of this. Once my role as godfather is settled, he won’t be able to stick his hands everywhere.”

“I tell the He family? Will they listen?” A flicker of worry crossed Consort He’s brow. “You’re an adult now. When will you start using your brain more?”

“It’s you, Mother, who thinks too much. You are the Imperial Consort, and I am the Prince. The He family is in the same boat as us. Haven’t they always obeyed your commands?”

“Obeyed my commands? That’s because I never made demands that truly put them in a difficult position!” Consort He’s face suddenly turned cold at the end of her sentence. Her words were like an arrow, containing a resentment Chu Yunqi didn’t understand, aimed at someone unseen.

However, in the blink of an eye, she softened again. “Qier, you must remember, without us, the mother and son, the He family is still the He family. Without the He family, we are not who we are.”

What kind of talk was that? Even without the He family, he would still be the Prince favored by the Emperor. Besides, the He family held significant military power, and the Emperor’s trust in them was not as deep as it appeared on the surface. Without the He family, things might even be better for him.

This thought flashed through Chu Yunqi’s mind, but he didn’t voice it. It was useless and would only lead to another lecture from his mother.

“Then talk to Father. For such a small matter, couldn’t he just issue an imperial decree?”

“Nonsense. It might be a small matter in your eyes, but not necessarily in your father’s. And your father, at times like this, prefers nothing more than to fold his sleeves and watch the show.”

The conversation was getting increasingly mysterious.

“Fine, I get it. Can we discuss this later then? You insisted I make this trip. Now I’ve delivered the person and stated the matter. Can I go back? This lousy place has nothing; it’s boring to death.”

“No.” Consort He denied him instantly, almost without thinking.

Chu Yunqi paused, sitting up straight. “Are you really making me stay here?”

“I told you, wherever the child is, you must be there too. This much sincerity must be shown,” Consort He said, picking up scissors and gracefully trimming the flowers in a vase.

“I, a dignified Prince, am willing to be his godfather. Isn’t that sincere enough?”

“Even if he has high talent, there’s no need to pamper him this much, is there? Healers are precious, but my Chu family is not lacking!”

“Lower your voice.” Consort He glanced at him lightly. “Your mother won’t harm you. You’ll understand the benefits later. Alright, I have things to attend to. I won’t talk to you anymore.”

With that, regardless of Chu Yunqi’s reaction, Consort He unilaterally ended the call.

She turned off the terminal and withdrew her mental barrier. After trimming two more flower branches, she summoned a maid. “Has Director Lu finished treating His Majesty? Should I prepare dinner?”

“Reporting to the Imperial Consort, the treatment time was short this time. Director Lu said he had urgent matters, and His Majesty has already sent him back.”

“How rude of me,” Consort He said casually, slowly picking up the gardening shears she had just put down, tidying up her slightly chaotic thoughts.

He Leyan was still young, but the person she wanted to win over was never He Leyan…

“Director Lu, please take care.” Outside the Donghua Gate of the Star River Empire’s Imperial Palace, the Captain of the Imperial Golden Palace Guard personally escorted Lu Changqing out, holding a Star River Purple Gold Umbrella by imperial decree to shield him from the scorching afternoon sun.

Lu Changqing nodded in thanks, boarded the hovercar, and after listening to Wen Yi’s report on the communicator, he spoke calmly, “I understand. It was just a joke. Just explain it clearly to Leyan.”

“I did explain, but Leyan still holds some grudge. He’s too young, and I worry he can’t distinguish truth from falsehood and takes Commander He’s intimidating words seriously.” Wen Yi finished his report, sounding hesitant. “Director, is it a bit heartless of us to just leave Leyan here? Perhaps we should have waited until he was a little older before sending him.”

“He needs a stable home, and he needs real family. The sooner he reunites with his family, the better,” Lu Changqing said.

“Theoretically, yes, but… this place is remote, and it’s a space base. The environment is far from comparable to Star Capital.” Wen Yi closed the window that simulated the Blue Star sky and looked out at the desolate, desert-like star sea, feeling incredibly conflicted.

“Star Capital is a place of trouble for Leyan; it’s not conducive to his growth,” Lu Changqing replied.

“But Leyan’s mental power is not 100% stable yet. We feel safer watching over him at the Medical Institute.”

“Shao Ying is at Hanhe. Are you worried about your Senior Brother?”

“No.” Senior Brother Shao had been stationed at the Hanhe Base as a healer for three years. Wen Yi had momentarily overlooked that.

“Even so,” Wen Yi paused, seemingly digesting the information and organizing his thoughts, “Commander He has been in the military for many years. His imposing aura is ingrained in his bones. He is, well, he is—”

“A bit scary?”

Lu Changqing’s voice was unhurried and calm, like water flowing from melting mountain snow, clarifying the mind.

“I wouldn’t say scary.” Wen Yi recalled the Commander’s awkward, helpless look in front of He Leyan. “I’m worried that he and Leyan won’t get along.”

“That means you don’t understand him, and you underestimate Leyan,” Lu Changqing said again.

“Director, you know Commander He well?” Wen Yi couldn’t help but ask.

Inside the hovercar, Lu Changqing paused briefly. “A little better than you.”

“You knew him before?”

“Yes. A junior who asked me for tutoring, and then deleted my contact number after he passed,” Lu Changqing answered calmly.

…There are people in this world who actively delete you?

Wait, then what kind of character earned your trust?

Wen Yi’s thoughts were in disarray. He felt the Director hadn’t told him everything. “Director—”

“Since he has been safely delivered, return as soon as possible. There is a lot of work at the Institute.”

“But Leyan hasn’t adjusted yet.”

“If you stay there, he certainly won’t adjust,” Lu Changqing said, his tone calm but decisive.

“No! I don’t want Papa Wen to leave!”

Forty Blue Star hours had passed since the little man, He Leyan, left his exclusive ward at the Medical Institute with his small suitcase. He had been very brave.

But the moment he learned Wen Yi was leaving, he finally couldn’t hold his “bravery” together. Ignoring the many people watching, he desperately clung to Wen Yi’s coat corner, eyes red, refusing to let go.

[My heart is broken, sob sob sob!]

[Doctor Wen, you are too cruel! How can you leave the baby alone!]

[Better short pain than long pain. You clearly haven’t raised a child or sent one to kindergarten. You have to be decisive at this moment.]

[Indeed. Thinking about my son’s first day of kindergarten, sigh. Now that brat is nearly eighty and still hasn’t given me a grandchild to hold!]

The live broadcast happened to catch the scene of separation. Watching He Leyan’s rare crying fit, the audience was heartbroken.

Wen Yi was naturally distressed, but he knew dragging it out would only make He Leyan feel worse. He suppressed his emotions, acted swiftly, reminded He Leyan of their agreement, pulled his coat corner from He Leyan’s grasp, turned, and boarded the shuttle.

“Papa Wen!” He Leyan cried out sadly. Wen Yi’s steps faltered. He clenched his hand, quickened his pace, and his figure instantly disappeared into the boarding gate.

He Leyan was heartbroken. His small body lunged forward but was tightly held back.

Ning Tian embraced He Leyan. He was careful with his strength, so He Leyan didn’t feel pain, but he felt like a dumpling filling, wrapped tightly on all sides by a dumpling wrapper, unable to break free no matter how hard he struggled.

And the shuttle that brought him here, carrying Papa Wen, flew away with a roar.

It flew away… From now on, there would be no gentle Papa Wen, only himself and these big dumpling wrappers…

Under the cover of the roar, He Leyan finally dropped the dignity and burden of being a “big boy” and burst into loud, heart-wrenching sobs.

“Don’t cry, Young Master.” Next to Ning Tian, a logistics officer temporarily assigned by He Chen to look after He Leyan’s daily needs quickly squatted down, flustered and helpless, trying to comfort him. “Come, look, what is this?”

He held a colorful pinwheel toy, attempting to distract He Leyan.

The distraction was unsuccessful. He Leyan opened his eyes, glanced at the toy for a moment, showed no interest, closed his eyes again, and continued to cry hysterically…

The logistics officer was sweating anxiously. The few officers behind He Chen were equally worried. Bound by discipline, they dared not speak, but their eyes were glued to the cub.

He Chen, however, maintained a calm expression, standing ramrod straight, but his hands were clasped behind his back, his prosthetic fingers tapping nervously.

After a moment of tapping, seeing that the logistics officer couldn’t soothe him, he finally couldn’t resist stepping forward. He knelt down, trying to make his voice as gentle and harmless as possible. “Leyan, Papa Wen is gone, but you still have Dad, and all these uncles.”

“No!” He Leyan’s crying grew louder. “Don’t want you! Don’t want any of you! Want Papa Wen! Want Daddy!”

What to do? He was shaking from crying…

He Chen glanced anxiously at the logistics officer, meeting his equally panicked eyes. Can’t rely on him…

He Chen made a quick decision, taking the pinwheel from the logistics officer. “Leyan, look at this. It’s colorful and fun—”

“Seriously, there’s no wind in this entire spaceport, and you bring a pinwheel.” A cold, mocking voice sounded. Chu Yunqi appeared on the gangway. Under the gaze of the surrounding officers, he arrogantly pushed past them, looked at the crying He Leyan, and forced himself to say something sickeningly sweet. “Leyan, be good, don’t be afraid. Cousin Uncle is still here.”

He bent down and reached out to He Leyan. Ning Tian looked at He Chen. With the latter’s silent approval, he slightly loosened his arms, allowing Chu Yunqi to approach He Leyan.

He Leyan’s crying did indeed quiet down a little.

It’s working. Chu Yunqi was delighted and no longer minded He Leyan’s noisy crying. He reached out to grab him, genuinely intending to pick him up. Unexpectedly, the moment he touched the edge of He Leyan’s clothes, the child flinched backward, hiding behind Ning Tian, leaving Chu Yunqi empty-handed. His crying grew louder: “Want Papa Wen!”

Chu Yunqi frowned.

[The Third Prince isn’t working either?]

[Poor cub. The Third Prince almost threw him away yesterday.]

[The Third Prince apologized and said he has severe mysophobia.]

[That’s still no excuse to throw a cub! Anyway, he’s unreliable. Sigh, our cub is truly helpless! Sob sob sob, I feel so sorry for him!]

“Too pitiful, too cruel.” Realizing He Leyan truly didn’t want him to hold him, Chu Yunqi muttered to himself, stood up, and looked at He Chen. “Cousin, Leyan is so small, and he’s not familiar with you. If you force him to stay at the base, it will be bad for him—”

Force him to stay? He Chen narrowed his eyes and, using his old trick, loudly interrupted Chu Yunqi again. “Oh dear, why is he hiccupping!”

He Leyan was genuinely hiccupping. His small body jerked with every hiccup, looking extremely frail. He was sobbing while hiccupping: “Want Papa Wen… hic… want Daddy… hic…”

“Quick, get some water!” The logistics officer called out to the soldiers. Immediately, some rushed to fetch water, some patted He Leyan’s back, and others offered a handkerchief to wipe his tears. The circle of officers inadvertently squeezed Chu Yunqi to the side.

Oh, and a large wolf, which had appeared at some point, was also standing with Chu Yunqi outside the circle of officers, staring anxiously at the center. The cold air radiating from it made Chu Yunqi’s face pale and his limbs stiff.

[It’s him! Why is he out again?!] someone in the live stream exclaimed.

“Put it away,” Xiang Heng pulled He Chen and reminded him softly.

He Chen didn’t seem to hear or perhaps chose not to. He stared at He Leyan’s constantly hiccupping, clearly distressed small body, nodded, and suddenly stepped forward, reaching out and pinching He Leyan’s upper and lower jaw together.

It stopped.

The long-lasting sound of “hic…” “hic…” ceased.

The air suddenly went silent.

Ignoring everyone’s astonished expressions, He Chen met He Leyan’s moist, wide eyes and offered a smile that was half-kind, half-shy, and upon closer inspection, held a hint of flattery—but overall, was terrifying. After smiling for a good while, he released his hand.

“Waaah!” “Hic!” A louder cry and a more resounding hiccup echoed through the spaceport, piercing the barren wasteland of the universe.