Part 2
Only then did Yu An start eating. Including today, he had eaten instant noodles for an entire week. As much as Yu An used to love them, he now hated them just as much.
Yet Ling Xingcheng didn’t seem bored at all, happily cooking instant noodles every single day.
Halfway through, Wen Xun called Yu An to ask how his day wasâa nightly routine. Yu An glanced at the noodles. “It was good. Brother Xingcheng made me something to eat.”
Ling Xingcheng raised his head proudly. “Rest assured, Teacher! With me here, An-an won’t go hungry. As long as I have breath in my body, heâll never lack for a bowl of noodles.”
Yu An: “…”
Thatâs really not necessary.
Wen Xun, clearly oblivious to Ling Xingchengâs atrocious culinary skills, thanked him sincerely.
Lin Huaichen also chimed in from the side, surprised. “Youâre actually doing pretty well, kid. Youâve got a knack for looking after children.”
Ling Xingcheng brushed back his red hair, looking incredibly proud and confident. “Of course! You can leave the kid with me and have zero worries. Is there anything I can’t handle?”
Yu An felt a mess of emotions and didn’t want to join their conversation.
Perhaps because Yu An was too quiet, Wen Xun sensed a trace of something strange. Before ending the call, he transferred a sum of money to Yu An and instructed, “If youâre hungry or need anything, go buy it. You can have the housekeeper help you.”
Yu An sniffled. “Thank you, Papa.”
Wen Xun chuckled. “Miss me?”
“Mhm, I miss you and Dapa.” Yu An answered honestly this time, glancing at Ling Xingcheng and the more than half-full bowl of noodles. “And I miss Dapaâs cooking.”
Lin Huaichenâs cooking was in a different dimension compared to Ling Xingchengâs. He had clearly undergone professional culinary training; even the simplest things he made were better than restaurant food.
Hearing that Yu An missed his cooking, Lin Huaichen was incredibly moved. “What do you want to eat? Iâll make it for you when youâre back.”
Yu An thought for a moment, his voice soft. “I want seaweed and pork rib soup, and tomato scrambled eggsâthe kind with extra sugar.”
Lin Huaichen agreed immediately. “Sure thing. Come back this weekend and I’ll make it for you.”
Lin Huaichen would naturally agree to his babyâs small request. Furthermore, Wen Xunâs palate was very close to Yu Anâsâno spicy food, a preference for sweetness, even adding sugar to the tomato scrambled eggs at home.
The family housekeeper never understood this, finding the taste of sugared tomato scrambled eggs quite bizarre.
After finishing his chat with his fathers, Yu An turned back to face the bowl of noodles. Ling Xingcheng had already finished his in a flurry of slurps and was now resting his chin in his hand, watching Yu An take tiny bites.
“You really eat slowly.” Ling Xingcheng had specifically used a small bowl for Yu An, yet it was taking him forever. Did all kids eat this slowly?
He remembered being a very fast eater as a child; by the time he finished a bowl, his sister had usually only taken a few bites.
Ling Xingcheng stared at Yu Anâs beautiful little face and secretly wondered: Do all delicate people eat with such meticulous chewing? No wonder heâs slow.
Yu An was struggling to finish but was too embarrassed to tell Ling Xingcheng. He chewed dejectedly until a spark of inspiration hit him. Wait, I can share with others!
So he placed Claude on the table and lifted a noodle to his mouth. “You’re hungry, right? Iâll feed you.”
The half-asleep little octopus looked dazed but instinctively swallowed the noodle.
Claude had no idea what kind of scheme the cub was up to now. He ate the noodles expressionlessly, though they tasted like nothing to him. His only thought was that the cub should eat less of this nutritionally deficient junk.
Yu Anâs eyes lit up. He stole a cautious look at Ling Xingcheng; if the man didn’t object, he would give half the noodles to Claude.
Unfortunately, Ling Xingcheng saw right through his little scheme. “Don’t want to eat it?”
Yu An nodded, his voice tiny. “Iâm already full.”
“If you don’t want it, just dump it and go upstairs to bed.” Ling Xingcheng checked the time. “Itâs nearly ten. You have to wake up at seven for school tomorrow. Tsk… school is exhausting. You don’t even get to sleep in.”
Ling Xingcheng often felt glad he had graduated long ago; life for kids these days was far too bitter.
This was a complete surprise for Yu An. Although he hated wasting food, he hated forcing his stomach even more. He happily dumped the remaining noodles, climbed onto a small stool to wash the bowl, and put it away.
On the way upstairs, he stuffed Claude back into his pocket and called for Monday to follow.
Ling Xingcheng watched the two Xenogenics accompanying the boy, wanting to say something but ultimately only offering a reminder. “Be careful at school. Don’t let them appear in front of ordinary people, or the Base will confiscate your little Xenogenics.”
Monday was registered under Fu Yinâs name as a mere C-rank Xenogenic, but as for that strange-looking octopus, he knew nothing. Ling Xingcheng often felt a faint sense of oppression from that little octopus; it surely wasn’t an ordinary creature.
Many powerful families would specifically capture high-rank Xenogenics to infect their younger generation, hoping to force the awakening of Espers.
Fu Yunshuâs Snow Snake had been captured by the Fu family specifically for their juniors. However, several of his older brothers and sisters had died from failed infections; he was the only success.
Could it be that this little octopus was captured by the Lin or Wen families specifically for Yu An?
Ling Xingcheng felt it was possible. Since Wen Xun and Lin Huaichen hadn’t registered Yu Anâs detailed information with the Base, they must have their own reasons.
He didn’t want to pry, but with the various factions currently at the Base, he felt it was best to remind Yu An just to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Yu An had heard this from his fathers before and nodded his head seriously. He hugged both Monday and Claude to his chest. “Iâll keep a close eye on them.”
Claudeâs face was squished against Mondayâs furry one. Monday was incredibly enthusiastic toward all his companions and kept trying to nuzzle Claude with his face.
Slap.
Claude gave Monday a sharp smack, his gaze full of intimidation. Monday let out a piteous whimper and tucked his tail, finally behaving himself.
Yu An watched their interaction and smiled, stroking both their heads. He said to Claude, “Monday likes you! Puppies express love by nuzzling and kissing. Don’t bully him.”
Monday nodded in agreement immediately. [Monday: Monday, like!]
He liked everything about Yu An!
Claude looked at the happily stupid puppy. He felt he was being very restrained; in the past, he wouldn’t have just given it a light smack.
As an Ushatos at the top of the food chain, he did not tolerate offense from any creature. Their intense exclusivity meant they only felt a shred of tolerance for their own kind; for other creatures, the only distinction was between “tasty” and “not tasty.”
Looking at Yu Anâs clear, beautiful blue eyes, Claude hesitated for a moment before choosing to concede. [Claude: Iâll try next time.]
Since Yu An liked this dog so much, he could reluctantly give it a bit of special treatment.
Monday understood that Claude was intending to get along and wagged his tail furiously. Without a second thought, he delivered a big lick right to Claude. “Woof woof woof!”
[Letâs get along!]
Claudeâs face turned as black as ink, every small tentacle curling up in rage.
Yu Anâs heart skipped a beat. He quickly set the death-seeking Monday down and changed the subject. “Itâs late. Letâs go bathe and sleep. Early self-study starts tomorrow.”
Claude was a very clean little octopus. Even if his deep blue body didn’t show dirt, he still insisted on washing himself thoroughly every day.
Being covered in dog drool was something he could not tolerate. He could only suppress his fury by telling himself that this was Solandâs body, not his own. His true body was sleeping cleanly in the Temple; the one who was dirty was Soland, not him.
With that thought, Claude maintained his crumbling reason, only spared Monday a haunting look before entering the bathroom.
Mondayâs hair stood on end. He scrambled onto the nightstand to find the charging Little White, cowardily burying his head under Little Whiteâs mechanical wings, as if that would grant him the protection of his “big brother.”
Yu An sighed, unable to bear seeing Monday so terrified. He took Claude into the bathroom and closed the door.
“Do you want to use my body wash?” Yu An filled the bathtub and pulled out a small basin to act as Claudeâs personal tub.
He had originally wanted them to bathe togetherâhis tub was huge and Claude was so tinyâbut Claude had resolutely refused, so Yu An had to give up.
Claude looked at Yu Anâs milk-scented body wash, feeling incredibly conflicted.
Using it would make him cleaner, but that sweet, cloying scent only suited a cub. It would be too awkward for him to use.
Yu An took his silence as agreement, pumped some onto his hand, and started scrubbing Claude with bubbles. Claude froze, his eyes wide as his brain crashed for several seconds.
Having lived for tens of thousands of years, he was actually being forcibly scrubbed by a pipsqueak?!
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