Doctor Lu Always Wants To Steal My Baby! Chapter 85
byChapter 85 The Shape of Happiness
Hearing Lu Changqing’s question, He Chen nodded:
“Rupert, the Lyraen, he told me that the toxins in Lyra Lake can only be neutralized by Mystics; the constitution of ordinary Blue Star humans cannot withstand them. Also—”
“Mo Yan asked me what your psychic form is.”
“He saw some anomalies on your body,” He Chen said, looking at Lu Changqing’s arm.
“So that’s it,” Lu Changqing said. “So when you came back from Han River Base last time, you already knew something…”
“I only suspected,” He Chen looked at him. “Senior Brother, are you truly—”
He paused mid-sentence.
Lu Changqing was silent for a moment, then nodded: “My mother was a Mystic.”
He finally spoke the words he had never said to anyone before.
After speaking, he remained calm and looked into He Chen’s eyes.
There was no panic, no disgust, no evasion.
That’s right, He Chen had known in advance and had prepared himself mentally, so he wouldn’t panic now. But because of this, Lu Changqing missed his first reaction to the news.
Lu Changqing couldn’t gauge He Chen’s level of acceptance regarding this matter—regarding him being like this.
However, he temporarily swallowed his anxiety and continued to explain the whole story to He Chen:
“Back then, Lu Jingshan was forced by his father to marry, unless he could produce his own heir. To get an heir and avoid marriage, he tried many methods. After repeated failures, he sought out Fu Chen and participated in his experiment.”
“Fu Chen himself was a hybrid of Blue Star human and Mystic, and he was actually a protector to the Mystics in his lab. Lu Jingshan pretended to share his views and gained his trust. Fu Chen introduced Lu Jingshan to my mother.”
“Later, my mother became pregnant, and Lu Jingshan took her away. I was born. But—”
Lu Changqing paused for a moment.
“But deep down, Lu Jingshan never accepted Fu Chen’s views. He felt deeply humiliated by the entire experience. After my mother gave birth to me,” Lu Changqing paused again before continuing, “he killed my mother under the pretense of complications during childbirth.”
“As for me, because I have half Mystic blood, I occasionally exhibit Mystic features. He intensely disliked me for this and found Fu Chen, claiming that my condition made it difficult for me to survive in the Star River Empire. He asked Fu Chen to completely eliminate my other form through surgery or medication.”
“Fu Chen disagreed, so Lu Jingshan poached Zhuang Shiliang from him and performed surgical modifications on me.”
Surgery, modifications? He Chen frowned deeply: “Zhuang Shiliang? Didn’t Senior Brother say he was your teacher?”
“He was indeed my teacher,” Lu Changqing said.
“He was semi-coerced by Lu Jingshan, but he showed me kindness within the limits of his ability.”
What kind of kindness was that! He Chen pursed his lips and looked at Lu Changqing: “What kind of surgery did they perform on Senior Brother?”
“It was quite complex, and quite a failure,” Lu Changqing said lightly. “No matter the surgery, it couldn’t resist my bloodline instinct. I still manifest my other form periodically, but because of the surgery, the manifestation process became more difficult and painful. Later, Zhuang Shiliang changed his strategy and developed a drug that could suppress my form change.”
“Is that… the drug Lu Jingshan used to control Senior Brother?” He Chen asked.
Lu Changqing nodded: “I have been trying to break through and control myself. A few years ago, I no longer needed that drug.”
Lu Changqing paused after speaking: “This is everything I have hidden from you.”
“The reason I hid it was the fear that you might be like Marshal Shen once was—unable to accept that someone close to you is a monster like this.”
“Senior Brother is not a monster!” He Chen immediately interjected.
Lu Changqing looked at him: “I am half Mystic. Doesn’t that make you uncomfortable?”
“Aren’t we of the same origin…” He Chen said, preparing to use his old trick and bring out his wolf ears—only then did he realize he hadn’t retracted them at all…
Ahem, he felt a bit awkward, touched his wolf ears, and said with a blush: “I have a beast form too.”
“If this is what you call a monster, then I am a monster just like you,” He Chen looked at Lu Changqing and said seriously.
A large part of the gloom in Lu Changqing’s heart lifted.
He pondered for a moment, then asked He Chen: “Even if I’m not a monster, Mystics are Blue Star’s enemies. Can you accept that?”
“Regarding the things I said to Lu Jingshan… about me ‘betraying family and country,’ being ‘more dangerous than the Lyraen,’ and so on, did you have any doubts?”
“No,” He Chen said decisively.
Lu Changqing raised his eyes, looking at him with a hint of disbelief: “Have you changed?”
“I’ve figured things out,” He Chen said slowly.
“Before, I was suspicious, so I went to see Elder Fang, hoping he could cure me. Elder Fang said there was no need for a cure; when I have someone I care about, someone I don’t want to hurt and want to protect, I will naturally know what to do.”
He Chen’s head was nestled in the soft pillow, and he looked intently at Lu Changqing: “Elder Fang didn’t lie to me. I know now.”
“Between Senior Brother and Lu Jingshan, I naturally know who to trust. I also understand what trust is.”
Lu Changqing looked at his focused eyes and asked absently: “What is it?”
“It’s a choice, just like love,” He Chen replied.
“You said that love is independent of circumstances, it’s a choice, and that I made you see that choice. I don’t quite know how you saw it, but I have definitely seen the choice of ‘trust’ in Senior Brother.”
“When I asked you for funds, you never questioned it, trusting that I would use it for the right purpose.”
“When I arranged for people to become space pirates, you didn’t suspect for a second that I had ulterior motives, like the He family, to seize wealth.”
“Even when I hid the explosives that could easily destroy your life’s work and even take your life, you lightly dismissed it, saying I acted out of public duty, and let the matter go.”
“Senior Brother, you are almost foolishly trusting of me…”
“Who’s foolish?” Lu Changqing couldn’t help but pinch He Chen’s cheek when he heard this.
“I am foolish.” He Chen took Lu Changqing’s hand. “Senior Brother has chosen me and supported me countless times, always standing by my side, yet I was blinded by past experiences and couldn’t see Senior Brother’s true heart.”
“I’m sorry, Senior Brother.”
“There’s no need to apologize,” Lu Changqing said softly. “It was my excessive concealment that forced you to be cautious.”
“That’s still me not supporting Senior Brother enough, not giving you enough confidence to be honest with me,” He Chen countered.
“You gave me enough when you stopped Lu Jingshan for me,” Lu Changqing said, stroking his face.
Then he suddenly smiled: “Is this a self-reflection convention today?”
“…I rarely feel like reflecting,” He Chen mumbled, his voice growing softer—because Lu Changqing leaned closer to him, his lips drawing nearer.
Thump, thump, his heart rate quickened, faster and faster. He Chen lowered his eyelids, watching Lu Changqing’s approaching thin lips, a faint blush rising on his cheeks.
But just as their lips were about to touch, Lu Changqing paused and raised his head: “There’s one more thing.”
Lu Changqing swallowed lightly, stood up, and put some distance between them: “You haven’t seen my other form yet. You might not be able to accept it.”
Ah… He Chen thought of He Mo Yan’s description and Lu Changqing’s Scale-Ghost subordinate, and dryly swallowed: “I have a pretty strong capacity for acceptance…”
“But, Senior Brother, is your other form the cold-blooded, tailed kind?”
“Are you scared?” Lu Changqing asked.
“No,” He Chen shook his head, then added with a bit of guilt, “At least, I’m not scared of that kind. Mo Yan’s psychic form is also a snake. I wouldn’t stop loving him because of that. Senior Brother, trust me.”
“I trust you,” Lu Changqing said, clenching his hand.
He was naturally different from Mo Yan. Mo Yan’s Little Black was just a psychic companion beast, while he was his true, genuine form…
The love and trust He Chen had given him today far exceeded his expectations. If he could, Lu Changqing wished time would stop here, and the truth would only go this far. He didn’t want to risk losing He Chen’s love even slightly.
But Lu Changqing knew he couldn’t back down anymore.
He had to give He Chen the complete truth and let He Chen make his choice based on knowing everything.
Deep down, he also longed for He Chen to see the real him, longed for He Chen to love the truly complete him.
If He Chen couldn’t accept it… he would accept that too.
Slowly, a layer of dark, faintly shimmering scales appeared on the back of Lu Changqing’s hand.
In that instant, He Chen distinctly smelled that the scent of ice and snow on Lu Changqing intensified slightly.
He Chen looked at his hands, still clearly defined, only the backs covered in scales, and raised his eyes: “Is that all? Anything else?”
Lu Changqing was silent for a moment. Snake scales gradually began to climb up the side of his neck.
The scent intensified again…
“Could you come closer…” He Chen whispered. His face was inexplicably red.
Things were slightly different from what he had imagined. Lu Changqing pinched his fingers and sat back down on the edge of the bed.
“Closer,” He Chen said, staring at the scales on Lu Changqing’s neck. What was this? It was cool, and it was also fragrant…
Lu Changqing glanced at him, silently leaned down, allowing him a close-up “viewing.”
He Chen stretched out his nose, deeply inhaling the scent in his neck, almost touching the scales, and showed a look of refreshment.
Lu Changqing silently gripped the bedsheet, his pupils darkening: Could it be that he truly didn’t dislike it?
“Anything else?” He Chen asked again.
Lu Changqing looked at him, paused, and a vertical slit appeared in his pupils.
“…Isn’t this similar to when my toxins act up?” He Chen couldn’t help but ask.
In a sense, it was similar. During the manifestation period, his desires in that area were also particularly strong.
Lu Changqing’s pupils returned to normal, and he looked at He Chen: “Because of the modifications, these are the only manifestation features I usually have. A complete transformation is possible, but difficult.”
Lu Changqing in the manifestation period was in a state of limbo; it was hard to maintain his Blue Star form, and also hard to fully transform into a Mystic.
“I am neither a Blue Star human nor a Mystic. I am someone who belongs nowhere.”
“You belong to me,” He Chen blurted out.
Lu Changqing paused.
He Chen tapped his fingers: “I mean, you don’t need to belong to anyone. You are just yourself. I—”
Mmm… He Chen’s voice faded mid-sentence:
Lu Changqing’s lips, carrying the scent of ice and snow, kissed him again.
It was a light kiss on the lips, a mere taste. Lu Changqing raised his head: “You really don’t dislike it?”
He Chen shook his head: “I’m scared of snakes because I was bitten. Senior Brother won’t bite me.”
As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around Lu Changqing’s neck, his fingers stroking the scales on his neck.
Lu Changqing’s fingers tightened. Unable to control his passion, he lifted He Chen’s upper body, about to deepen the kiss, but He Chen let out a muffled groan.
“I’m sorry.” Lu Changqing realized he might have pulled on his wound and immediately lowered him back down. “Where does it hurt?”
Asking, Lu Changqing lifted He Chen’s blanket and looked at the wound on his side abdomen.
“Nowhere, I just used the wrong muscles myself,” He Chen was both embarrassed and annoyed.
Even his abs were tinged with a faint pink.
Lu Changqing lowered his eyes, restraining himself from making any further moves. He straightened He Chen’s hospital gown and covered him with the blanket. Just as he was about to say something, He Chen spoke:
“Does it hurt when Senior Brother is like this?”
“What?”
“You just said that because of the modifications, the manifestation process is painful,” He Chen said.
Lu Changqing had spoken of it lightly, but He Chen instinctively felt that anything Lu Changqing described as “painful” wouldn’t be a minor ache.
“That’s during the manifestation period. When I control it freely like this, of course it doesn’t hurt,” Lu Changqing said, pinching the wolf ears on his head. “Just like you control yours freely.”
Hearing this, He Chen relaxed.
Feeling relieved, his ears twitched: “Ahem, Senior Brother, do you like me… like this?”
“I like it.” Very much.
“But everyone says you don’t like fluffiness.”
“I only like two fluffy things.”
“Two?” He Chen frowned.
“One was a puppy I used to raise, and the other is you.”
…He Chen sighed in relief.
“But I like you the most.”
He Chen curved his lips.
“When did it start?” he asked demurely, suppressing his smile.
“Start what?”
“Liking me,” He Chen whispered.
Lu Changqing thought for a moment and replied: “I don’t know.”
“At first, I just liked observing you. Later, I liked teaching you things and watching you improve—like tending to flowers and plants.”
Well, so he was indeed Senior Brother’s potted plant…
“The moment I realized my feelings for you were love was when I heard about your engagement,” Lu Changqing looked at He Chen, his gaze strangely deep.
Ah, right, he almost forgot he had been engaged… He Chen coughed guiltily: “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, it wasn’t your fault. When you were slow, I wasn’t very smart either,” Lu Changqing rubbed his head.
“Senior Brother, you are so straightforward…” He Chen said, yawning.
Lu Changqing smiled, touched his forehead to confirm he wasn’t feverish, and felt relieved: “Sleep. You are too tired.”
“Mhm.” He Chen half-closed his eyes. “When I’m better, can we have a fight? Is Senior Brother stronger in your manifested form?”
Lu Changqing was silent for a while: “When you’re better, that’s what you’ll be thinking about?”
He Chen didn’t answer—he was already asleep.
Lu Changqing smiled helplessly, gave him a psychic soothing, massaged his tired body, watched his face for a long time, and, filled with endless relief and satisfaction, held his hand, guarding him as he slept.
As he closed his eyes, he thought, I really thank Fang Wen Zhuo, from the bottom of my heart…
*
“Governor-General of Han River? What kind of official position is that?”
“I’m not sure. I heard it’s on par with a Marshal. The Emperor created it specifically because General He Chen didn’t want to return to Star Capital to be a Marshal.”
“Is it an honorary position?”
“How could it be honorary? The Pingliao Star Sector is now renamed the Han River Star Sector, and it has great autonomy. General He is the Governor-General in charge of the Han River Star Sector, and he also has some oversight power over the military. That’s incredibly powerful!”
Inside a company in a commercial building in Star Capital, the entire department of employees was gathered, watching the new Emperor’s coronation ceremony and discussing it.
Fang Wen Zhuo sat alone in the corner. Through the crowd, he also glanced at the tall, handsome figure on the big screen, a person impossible to look away from. He clenched his fingers and lowered his head.
“Speaking of which, is the Medical Academy going to move completely to Han River? Is President Lu going to settle down in Han River permanently with General He?”
“That shouldn’t be the case. Star Capital is still the headquarters, after all. But if it were me, I wouldn’t feel safe staying in Star Capital. General He is so handsome, someone will definitely try to poach him, right?”
“Sigh, did you hear? Our company is setting up a branch in Han River. The policies there are good, and development is changing daily. If we really set up a branch, I’d actually like to go,” a female employee said.
“What, you want to poach him?”
“Haha, how could I? I know my limits! But aren’t there many good young men in the Han River military?”
“I’m not after their physique or anything; I just admire them, truly.”
“Mhm, we understand, you don’t need to explain.”
“Are you also dreaming that if you could conveniently have a cute baby like Le Yan, it would be even more perfect?”
“Perfect. I’d wake up laughing.”
“I wonder if President Lu often wakes up laughing in the middle of the night.”
Everyone burst into laughter. Amidst the laughter, someone noticed Fang Wen Zhuo and whispered to the person next to them. Everyone looked his way.
No one said anything, though. Fang Wen Zhuo had been very capable since joining the company and didn’t shy away from hard work. After Xia Zhenye’s incident, he had specifically posted a video clarifying that Xia Zhenye had forced him to slander He Chen. Everyone had also seen the marks of domestic violence on his body from Xia Zhenye. Those who had intended to speak ill of him decided against it upon seeing those marks.
Perhaps he had already tasted the bitter fruit of his own making.
At that moment, the live broadcast of the coronation ceremony on the screen ended. Confirming the cameras were off, Chu Yunqi finally relaxed a little, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
He stepped down from the dragon throne and reached out to untie the crown on his head, but his close attendant gave him a subtle hint, and he forced himself to stop.
“Cousin, let’s talk in the back,” he said, calling out to He Chen and Lu Changqing after dealing with the officials’ formalities, and pulling them to the back of the hall.
“These formalities are driving me crazy,” he said, finally taking off the heavy crown in the back hall.
“These formalities will be His Majesty’s daily routine from now on,” He Chen said with a hint of schadenfreude.
Since returning to Star Capital, Chu Yunqi rarely heard anyone speak to him so casually and naturally.
He couldn’t help but look at He Chen and Lu Changqing: “Are you really leaving tomorrow?”
He Chen nodded: “Things in Han River haven’t been completely settled yet.”
Alright. The young new Emperor clenched his fingers, but still asked the question: “Then what about Ning Tian? Can he stay?”
“Someone needs to manage your office in Star Capital, right? Or, he can join the military. He can choose any position he wants!”
“It would be unfair for His Majesty to rule this way,” He Chen joked, then said, “Ning Tian prefers to stay in Han River than be constrained by Star Capital. I’ve asked him seriously.”
Chu Yunqi lowered his head. After a long pause, he said: “I understand.”
“Tell him not to worry. I won’t force him.”
…You wouldn’t have the ability to force him anyway. He Chen complained inwardly, but maintained respect for the new Emperor verbally.
“Take care, Your Majesty,” He Chen and Lu Changqing bid farewell.
“You both take care. Also, I will remember your words,” Chu Yunqi looked at He Chen seriously.
“Which words?” He Chen raised an eyebrow.
“That ‘blades’ are also flesh and blood people,” Chu Yunqi replied.
“In fact, every ordinary person within the Imperial territory, regardless of origin, old or young, is a flesh and blood person.”
“I am not the sole center of the world.”
Lu Changqing paused, exchanged a glance with Lu Changqing, his eyes smiling, and looked back at Chu Yunqi: “Your Majesty will be a good Emperor.”
“Also, you can’t use ‘I’ anymore,” he said, giving Chu Yunqi a stern, formal military salute: “Your Majesty, this subject takes his leave.”
Chu Yunqi nodded, watching them walk towards the exit of the hall, and couldn’t help but ask one more question: “Cousin, am I, am I your friend?”
“Yes,” He Chen uttered a single word.
Chu Yunqi’s tightly clenched fists relaxed. For some reason, hearing that “yes” made him happier than becoming Emperor.
Well, becoming Emperor, seriously speaking, wasn’t something to be happy about…
“Hey, when you get married, send me an invitation!” Seeing the two about to disappear, he quickly shouted.
“We will. We definitely won’t forget His Majesty,” Lu Changqing smiled and turned back.
He Chen, blushing, tugged at him and quickened his pace.
“Why are you walking so fast? No one is chasing us,” Lu Changqing followed He Chen’s steps with a smile.
“I promised Le Yan I’d go back and watch the fireworks with him.”
To celebrate the new Emperor’s coronation, and the expulsion of foreign enemies and the quelling of internal strife, there was a fireworks show in Star Capital tonight. He Chen had indeed promised to go back and watch it with Le Yan.
“Even so, there’s no need to rush. Your wound hasn’t fully healed,” Lu Changqing said, pulling him back, summoning a hovercar, and putting him inside.
Halfway through the drive, Lu Changqing smiled, and He Chen couldn’t help but ask why he was smiling.
“I remembered the last time I drove you in Star Capital, I also asked you, just like Chu Yunqi, if I counted as your friend.”
He Chen also recalled the old memory, turned his head to look at Lu Changqing: “Of course you count.”
Lu Changqing curved his lips again.
He Chen was puzzled: “Is being my friend something to be very happy about?”
“Yes,” Lu Changqing replied. “Just being your friend is already a very fortunate thing.”
“But I’m greedy. Being sworn brothers isn’t enough.”
“…” He Chen silently blushed.
Lu Changqing squeezed his hand, then suddenly turned his head and kissed his cheek.
“Can you focus on driving…” He Chen asked, blushing.
“It’s on autopilot.”
Alright. He Chen was silent for a moment, then tilted his head and kissed Lu Changqing back.
“You’re not my friend, you’re my white moonlight,” he whispered into Lu Changqing’s ear.
The smile on Lu Changqing’s face grew wider and wider.
*
When they returned to their home in Yuhe Cloud Estate, He Le Yan had indeed been waiting for a long time: he was waiting on the third-floor terrace, having prepared fruits and snacks, Lu Changqing’s teacup, He Chen and He Mo Yan’s drinks, and his own bottle of milk.
He Mo Yan sat calmly to the side, looking not particularly excited, but he had set up a camera.
He Le Yan excitedly pulled He Chen and Lu Changqing to sit down: “Hurry up, Dad, Papa, it’s about to start!”
He Chen smiled and picked him up, sitting on the outdoor chair. Just as they sat down, a massive firework exploded into the sky.
Following that was a set of huge fireworks that almost covered the entire night sky, spelling out two lines of text: “Long Live Star River, Peace and Prosperity.”
“What is the word after ‘Guo’?” He Le Yan snuggled in He Chen’s arms and turned to ask.
“Tai, it sounds like the ‘Tai’ in sun.”
The moment he spoke, a massive… firework sun appeared in the night sky.
Next to the big sun, two small suns also appeared. One small sun was larger, standing calmly next to the big sun like a shadow, guarding the big sun, completely still.
The other small sun was mischievous. With a whoosh, it darted into the big sun’s embrace and merged with it.
He Le Yan smiled brightly: “It’s me, and Brother, and Dad!”
He Chen also found the big and small suns particularly cute, but he wasn’t that narcissistic: “These fireworks are for everyone.”
“This one isn’t!” He Le Yan insisted.
He Chen was stunned for a moment and looked at Lu Changqing, who was sitting in the chair next to him.
Lu Changqing smiled lightly and nodded.
“Big Wolf!” He Le Yan shouted then.
He Chen looked up at the night sky.
A new set of fireworks launched, featuring various psychic forms. However, the one closest to them, the brightest and largest, was indeed a big wolf.
He Chen couldn’t help but look at Lu Changqing again, but Lu Changqing gestured for him to look at the sky.
In the night sky, behind the snow wolf, a new firework exploded. It flew above the snow wolf, then hung down, turning into an anchor, wrapping around the snow wolf, and with a roar, they vanished together into the night sky.
“Can I be your anchor now?” He Chen turned back, his eyes reflecting the brilliant night sky, and asked Lu Changqing softly, after watching the two fireworks disappear and new ones rise.
“You always have been,” Lu Changqing said, cupping his face and lowering his gaze to kiss him.
He Chen couldn’t help but meet the kiss. Ten thousand fireworks bloomed in his heart.
This time, he was absolutely, positively certain he understood the feeling and the shape of happiness…
Thank you, Senior Brother.