Chapter 37
Ling Xingcheng, who had always had everything go his way, had never suffered such a grievance. Covered in dust and soot with a pathetic broken leg, he refused to listen when Yu An tried to convince him to go back and rest. He insisted on staying with Yu An, waiting for a chance to get revenge on Joshua.
It was already very late. Lin Huaichen glanced at his watch, feeling a secret sense of urgency. “Since you aren’t going home, at least tell your sister so she won’t worry.”
Ling Xingcheng muttered, “I know.”
This time, he was obedient and went to call his sister.
The Night-traveling Mist had been completely eradicated. Most of the damage in Xiaonan Lane had been caused by the fight between Ling Xingcheng and Joshua. The cleanup crew arrived in a hurry, none of them giving Ling Xingcheng a pleasant look.
The team leaderâs brow arched when he saw the two children hiding behind Yu An. “Second Generation?”
Fu Yunshu, who was getting his wounds bandaged by medics, looked up and explained, “No. Theyâre ordinary humans caught by the Xenogenic. Just erase their memories.”
Hearing this, Wan Cen and Li Wang shook their heads frantically.
Even though they had witnessed the horror of the Xenogenic, they still felt a longing for this mysterious world they had never stepped foot in. If this memory were gone, they would forget everything they had seen tonight. They would go back to knowing nothing, forced to live out an ordinary, conventional life.
They didn’t want that.
“An-an, help us, please?” Wan Cen begged Yu An. “Tell them not to erase our memories. We won’t tell anyone.”
Li Wang was also reluctant to forget this thrilling experience, grabbing Yu Anâs hand. “Please…”
“But…” Yu An lowered his long, curled lashes and looked at the visible black mark on Li Wangâs wrist. He raised his eyes to meet his. “But those are the rules. And in Teacher Yaoâs class, I told you not to go looking for monsters. Itâs dangerous. But you didn’t listen.”
Wan Cen and Li Wang looked at Yu An. Even though the little fellow was half a head shorter than them, the way he pursed his mouth and knit his brows made him look “fierce” in a milky sort of way. It only made people want to pinch his cheeks.
Under Yu Anâs gaze, however, Wan Cen and Li Wang still felt a surge of guilt. Anxious adults were moving all around them, some stopping occasionally to check their vitals.
Wan Cen and Li Wang exchanged a shamefaced look. “Iâm sorry… for causing trouble.”
Once they backed down, Yu Anâs attitude softened. He gave each of his classmates a hug, repeating the words his fathers often said to him. “You both have to be good, okay?”
Watching Wan Cen and Li Wang leave with the cleanup crew, Yu An waved to Wan Cen, who had turned back to look at him. His face was full of smiles. Much of the fear in Wan Cenâs heart dissipated, and he couldn’t help but offer a small smile in return.
Lin Huaichen picked Yu An up, feeling sentimental. “Our An-an has really grown up.”
Yu An nodded with a beam. “Mhm! Iâm a big kid now.”
In the past, Yu An truly couldn’t understand why the Base had to wipe survivors’ memories of Xenogenics. Later, through observation, he realized that humans were like curious kittens. But curiosity kills the cat; the easiest way to protect them was to ensure they didn’t have that curiosity to begin with.
Furthermore, humans were even more fragile than kittens, lacking even sharp claws to defend themselves.
After their memories were erased, the survivors were fed Reversal Fruit. As the staff sliced open a fruit and used a spoon to feed the survivors, the others present simultaneously knit their brows, appearing to harbor a deep-seated hatred for the fruit.
Once everyone was fed, a small piece of the fruit remained. The doctor turned to look at Yu An and the others. “Which of you wants to eat this first?”
Ling Xingcheng and Liu Ming immediately shook their heads, their resistance written all over their faces. Fu Yunshu offered a strained smile and declined. Lin Huaichen went even further, taking a step back in disgust.
Yu An looked at them and raised his hand. “I want it.”
The doctor gave him the fruit, smiling as he patted the boy’s head. He rolled his eyes at Ling Xingcheng and the others. “This stuff is priceless on the outside, yet you don’t want it. You truly don’t know quality when you see it.”
Ling Xingcheng leaned on his crutches and snorted. “Forget it. This thing tastes worse than a chili pepper. I wouldn’t eat it even if you paid me.”
Yu An, who was about to eat the fruit with joy, froze. He looked at the Reversal Fruit, then at the others who were so resistant, and couldn’t help but doubt his own taste buds. He whispered to Lin Huaichen, “Papa, is it really that bad?”
Yu An had eaten Reversal Fruit before; the Botanical Garden Fu Yin looked after was full of them. Sometimes, Uncle Fu Yin would give him one to try.
Reversal Fruit didn’t smell bad; in fact, it had a faint, fresh fragrance. It had a soft, glutinous texture that Yu An really enjoyed. He had no idea why everyone else hated it.
“Everyoneâs taste buds are different,” Lin Huaichen taught Yu An responsibly. “People like different things. There’s no need to doubt yourself just because others don’t like it.”
Yu An thought for a moment and offered the fruit in his direction, his eyes sparkling. “Then Papa, do you want a bite?”
“I do not.”
Lin Huaichenâs rejection was decisive. Yu An stared at him gloomily. The latter turned his head away silently, appearing a bit awkward. The truth was, this fruit tasted somewhat “anti-human.” The first bite was deathly sour, then it turned spicy, and by the time you chewed, it was bitter.
In short, the number of people who could appreciate the flavor of a Reversal Fruit could be counted on one handâand Yu An was one of those little outliers.
Yu An ate the fruit indignantly. Since no one would share with him, he would finish it all by himself. Such a delicious fruit, and they all hated it! Yu An found it truly baffling and strange.
Once the matters at Xiaonan Lane were settled, Lin Huaichen prepared to take Yu An home. Ling Xingcheng followed them automatically, chattering non-stop. “My Majesty, why don’t you send a message to the Empress and have him get a room ready for me? Your house has spare rooms, right?”
Yu An was full and satisfied, his head resting on Lin Huaichenâs shoulder as he spoke to Ling Xingcheng. “Then you have to ask Auntie Xiaoxi. My Papa doesn’t know how to tidy rooms.”
Last time, Wen Xun had tried to put on a duvet cover and simply couldn’t get it right. He had such a perfectionist streak that heâd nearly cried from frustration.
Lin Huaichen didn’t look back. “You can just go home and sleep. My house has no room for a great Buddha like you.”
Ling Xingcheng acted completely fearless. “Itâs fine. At worst, Iâll just sleep on the floor in your room. Iâm sure Teacher won’t let his only student end up on the streets.”
Lin Huaichen was disgusted to the core, but he was no match for Ling Xingchengâs thick skin.
The two bickered all the way until Fu Yunshu suddenly ran over and blocked their path. “Uncle Lin, I want to ask you for a favor.”
Lin Huaichen had much more patience when dealing with children. “Sure. What do you need help with?”
Fu Yunshu glanced hesitantly at Ling Xingcheng, who took the hint and moved a short distance away.
“Uncle Lin, I want the Fu family.” Fu Yunshu got straight to the point, his dark eyes fixed on Lin Huaichen, the corners of his lips curving slightly. “My grandfather is old. The elderly think more slowly; heâs inevitably out of step with the current rhythm and prone to making foolish mistakes.”
“Within the Base, the Fu family holds a portion of the voting power. The Old Master is old and hard to control. But I am different. Once I become the head of the Fu family, the Fu familyâs vote will always belong to you and Uncle Wen.”
Fu Yunshu was completely open, telling Lin Huaichen his entire plan and goal as he waited for the most powerful manâs decision.
After listening, Lin Huaichen looked at the still-youthful Fu Yunshu and chuckled. “It seems you really have grown up…”
Fu Yunshu smiled as well. “Unfortunately, my grandfather doesn’t see it that way. He still treats me like a child.”
“Then your grandfather is about to trip over a ‘child’ like you.” Lin Huaichen gloated. “Aren’t you afraid your grandfather will spank your little butt when he finds out?”
Fu Yunshu knew Lin Huaichenâs words meant he would help. His tightly clenched hand slowly relaxed. He glanced at the drowsy Yu An. “Itâs still better than Grandfather trying to spank An-an’s.”
Lin Huaichenâs eyes darkened. “Go home early.”
His hint delivered, Fu Yunshu didn’t stay, turning to leave.
In the Lin manor, Lin Huaichen was preoccupied, calculating the whole way how to eliminate Old Mr. Fu without leaving a trace. When he arrived home holding the child, he suddenly realized the atmosphere was off.
The butler was waiting at the door and reminded him, “The Little Patriarch seems very angry.”
Lin Huaichen was surprised. “Who bullied him?”
The butler shook his head.
Entering the living room while holding Yu An, Lin Huaichen immediately saw Wen Xun sitting on the sofa. The TV wasn’t on, and he was picking at the corner of a throw pillow, his entire body radiating an intense low-pressure aura.
Yu An sensed that Wen Xun wasn’t in a good mood. He looked at Lin Huaichen, bewildered. What happened? Everything had been fine before they left.
Lin Huaichen immediately tried to remember if he had done anything bad recently, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t come up with anything.
Seeing things weren’t looking good, Ling Xingcheng limped away on his crutches, turning around and whispering, “Iâm going. No need to see me out; I know where the guest room is.”
For a moment, the living room was silent. Finally, Lin Huaichen gave a fake cough and tentatively walked over to Wen Xun, placing Yu An down beside him. “Baby, why are you angry?”
Wen Xun tossed the pillow aside and pulled Yu An into his arms, holding him tight as if afraid he would run away. “That old bastard from the Fu family used the Blue Bird system to monitor An-an.”
Yu An raised his head in surprise. “Is it Grandfather Fu?”
“Fu family” and “old bastard”âthose two keywords could only point to Old Mr. Fu.
Wen Xun nodded gloomily; clearly, the old man’s actions had infuriated him.
Lin Huaichen had already suspected something when Fu Yunshu approached him, so he wasn’t too surprised. “That old thing really knows how to cause trouble. When did the surveillance start?”
“Around four or five this afternoon. He used the Blue Bird surveillance system to track An-an’s location. Ling Xingyue noticed and told me.”
The Blue Bird system was the most advanced satellite tracking system currently in existence. It could simultaneously track the movements of Xenogenics and Espers everywhere. Only the Base high-levels had the authority to deploy it, and Old Mr. Fu just happened to be among those high-levels.
Lin Huaichen thought of Fu Yunshu and the corners of his lips quirked up. He patted Wen Xunâs shoulder and gave him a reassuring kiss on the forehead. “Don’t worry. That old thing won’t be arrogant for much longer.”
Wen Xun looked at him in confusion. Lin Huaichen placed a finger to his lips, his tone mysterious. “Shh. You’ll find out soon.”
Yu An had heard enough to understand. He knew Grandfather Fu had secretly done something bad, which was why his father was angry. He leaned sadly into Wen Xunâs arms. “Is it because Grandfather knows Iâm not human?”
“No. Heâs just a bad seed to begin with.” Wen Xun spoke of Old Mr. Fu with intense loathing. “He doesn’t like children. Not even human children.”
All Old Mr. Fu cared about was his own profit; he would sacrifice anything for it. The fact that he sent innocent children from his own family to be infected just to obtain Espers showed how ruthless he was.
For Yu Anâs safety, Wen Xun installed an alarm and an anti-surveillance system in Little Whiteâs software. At the very least, if someone tried to track Yu An with Blue Bird again, he wouldn’t be left in the dark.
Yu An knew his fathers would protect him. Feeling perfectly secure, he didn’t worry too much. He was already very sleepy, so he forced himself to stay awake just long enough to fill Mondayâs bowl with dog food and say goodnight to his fathers before heading to his room to wash up and sleep.
After Yu An fell asleep, Claude sprawled on the pillow, watching the little fellowâs peaceful sleeping face.
Without realizing it, the tiny “milk ball” had grown quite a bit. He could sense that Soland was showing signs of waking; it likely wouldn’t be long before they could swap bodies.
Before that happened, a dangerous light flashed in Claudeâs lake-blue eyes. He needed to clear out all potential threats. After all, Soland and Joshua were both absolute idiots.
Translator’s Note:
- When Gods Clash (çĽäťććś – ShĂŠnxiÄn dÇjiĂ ): Literally “immortals fighting.” Used to describe a clash between two extremely powerful individuals where bystanders (or in this case, the Night-traveling Mist) get hurt.
- Blue Bird System (é鳼糝羹 – QÄŤngniÇo xĂŹtÇng): The high-tech surveillance system mentioned in this chapter.
- Reversal Fruit (éč˝ć – NĂŹzhuÇn guÇ): The healing fruit that tastes different to everyone.
- Joshua vs Ling Xingcheng: I love how Joshua just treats Ling Xingcheng like an annoying, inferior cub. The slap was gold!
That’s it for this update! Our little An-an is eating well and growing up. But with the Fu family patriarch spying on him, the stakes are getting higher. Stay tuned!
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