Part 3
But just now, he was indeed envious and expectant. He even wondered… what would it feel like if Ning Yunyi kissed him like that?
Ning Yunyi looked down at the Big Cat, who was staring up at him without moving. He strangely saw a complex longing in the other’s eyes. His expression shifted as he looked at him oddly. “You… you aren’t envious of our relationship and want to experience ‘fatherly love’ too, are you?” Big brother, did you forget how old you are? You aren’t a kid!
The pointed ears hidden under the Big Catâs long fur twitched into “airplane ears.” He looked down in embarrassment and anger. “Meow!” How could I have such a thought? I’m much older than him, okay! Don’t slander me!
In the past, Ning Yunyi wouldn’t have cared about Zong Haoâs envy. He might have even just thrown him out of the Ning house or driven him away. But currently, he was feeling guilty toward Zong Hao. Looking at him now and thinking about his backgroundâhow Master Zong had hidden his shifter son away, likely never caring about the boy’s emotional needsâhe felt a bit sorry for him.
Thinking of it that way… the man was actually a bit pitiful.
As the Big Cat slowly lowered his head, his image became increasingly small, pitiful, and lonely. Even the tips of his ears weren’t perked up anymore.
Ning Yunyi hesitated for a moment. Finally, holding Ning Xiaomiao, he closed his eyes and haphazardly leaned down to give the top of the Big Catâs head a big smack of a kiss. “There, happy now? At your age, you’re still envious of a child. Now move, youâre blocking the way. Ptui, a mouth full of fur. Haven’t you recovered? Why are you still shedding? Are you going to keep shedding like this from now on?”
Muttering as he went, he walked around Zong Hao while carrying Ning Xiaomiao downstairs. He left behind a stunned Zong Hao, who looked up in absolute disbelief. “??”
I didn’t! I didn’t ask him to kiss me! Why did he just kiss me like that? Also, I’m not shedding! It’s because he was too perfunctory with the kiss and almost bit a bald spot on my forehead!
I didn’t even complain about him pulling out a clump of my fur, and he has the nerve to say I’m shedding? Now I know what it means to be the first one to make a false accusation.
And… how-how can he just kiss people like that?
Yet, while he was grumbling and muttering like that, his four limbs felt as light as air as he went downstairs. Even his tail couldn’t help but wag rapidly. Once downstairs, he crouched warily at the bottom of the stairs, watching Ning Yunyi enter the kitchen to make a cake for the cub.
He seems to be in a very good mood today… He probably won’t kick me out, right? I’ll stay a bit longer. I’m definitely not here for the food, nor am I envious of their relationship.
But Zong Hao soon realized something was wrong. Not only did Ning Yunyi make a table full of delicacies, but he even let him stay for dinner. Before he left, Ning Yunyi even gave him an insulated food box with a cakeâthe kind that would keep for three days.
As Zong Hao stood near the exit of the Ning house with his Invisibility Talisman, he was still in disbelief. He clutched the food box with his paws and looked at Ning Yunyi, who was standing nearby with a gentle smile. All the previous dissatisfaction seemed to have vanished from his features. “Be careful on the road. Eat the cake if you get hungry tonight. Xiaomiao will have some tomorrow, and I can prepare a portion for you too.”
Since he had already driven him away and taken his anger out on him, he would try his best to make it up to him for these few days. After three days, the matter would be considered settled.
As long as Zong Hao didn’t try to take the cub from him in the future, they would be allies for life. He was generous and considerate to his allies; he would never let them lose out.
Zong Hao swallowed his saliva. He felt like something was wrong. In fact, the fur all over his body stood on end in places Ning Yunyi couldn’t see. This guy… isn’t planning a “retreat to advance” move, is he? Is he going to wait until I’m out of the Ning house and then delete my iris scan so I can’t get back in?
But he immediately dismissed the thought. He shouldn’t think that way; Ning Yunyi wasn’t that kind of person. If he wanted to kick him out, he would have done it directly.
Like last time…
But Ning Yunyiâs sudden change in attitude and his hospitality made him very uneasy. He simply left with his small bundle and the food box on his back.
Ning Yunyi breathed a sigh of relief once Zong Hao was gone. He counted on his fingers: two days left. Once the three-day limit was up, he wouldn’t allow his previous outburst to be mentioned again.
Ning Yunyi was in an exceptionally good mood tonight, even allowing the cub to sleep in the same room as him.
Meanwhile, on the Star Networkâin a place the three weren’t paying attention toâa massive uproar had already broken out. The entire Capital Star was shaken. Everyone was discussing Mu Jiayiâs sudden self-destruction and confession, combined with Zong Lingâs sudden tasting of “Sect’s First Blade’s” food and little Lyman’s bizarre attitude.
The family of three immediately became a trending topic, shrouded in various speculations. Countless netizens were camping in the livestream room to “eat melons,” making Zong Ling afraid to go online at all.
Furthermore, because of Mu Jiayiâs sudden confessionâespecially since it was made in front of so many peopleâmany had recorded it. With the evidence solid, the military had sent people to arrest Mu Jiayi.
Mu Jiayi had already become a vegetable, but the legal procedures still had to be followed. If it was proven that Mu Jiayi had indeed killed Ning Yunyi, then even as a vegetable, he would have to face the law.
Whether it was life imprisonment or the death penalty, it was his deserved punishment.
Big Brother Ning and Professor Ning had also received the news. However, since they were the families of the victim, they couldn’t get involved and could only wait for the results.
The two knew Ning Yunyi hadn’t really died, so they followed the arrangements obediently.
By the time the news reached the Crown Princeâs ears, there was no chance to turn things around. After all, the confession was made in front of hundreds of thousands of live viewers across thousands of planets. Even if he could silence the Capital Star, his reach couldn’t extend that far to other planets.
Furthermore, Mu Jiayi was now a useless piece; there was no need to save him.
Zong Ling knelt before the Crown Prince, his face as pale as paper. Beside him was little Lyman, who was indifferent from start to finish. Because he had eaten too much, he kept burping. He was taken away by a healer for treatment, for fear he might accidentally anger the Crown Prince and bring disaster.
The adjutant also looked unhappy. He thought about how much effort the Prince had put in to have them act out a good show so their own people could take over the Lyman family. First it was Mu Jiayi, and now Zong Lingâthey were both trash.
Zong Ling lowered his eyes, his forehead pressed against the floor. “Your Highness, this subordinate is guilty. But I truly didn’t expect Mu Jiayi to suddenly self-destruct. He even sent out such a confession on a timer. If I had known, I never would have let him appear. But this matter is truly strange… Mu Jiayi is a coward who fears death. Why would he suddenly self-destruct? And in such a way that ruins his reputation…”
The Crown Prince looked at him quietly. “What do you think? Why did he do it? If you hadn’t crippled his legs and made him a useless person, and then failed to take care of him, why would he have come to this point? Don’t tell me he was framed. What was with those voices? Did he do that himself?”
At first, he had thought so too. But according to the reports from those monitoring Zong Ling and Mu Jiayi, no one had entered or left. From start to finish, Mu Jiayi was alone in his room.
Thus, the source could only be everything Zong Ling had done to him, which had broken him. He didn’t want to be a puppet who was neither dead nor alive.
the Crown Prince admitted that Zong Ling had some small cleverness, but he had failed. Someone had to take responsibility. No matter what the process was, the result was this. Zong Ling… had to take the fall.
The Crown Prince looked at Zong Ling, who was now a discarded pawn. “Destroy his mental power as punishment. Zong Ling, do you have any objection? I’m sparing your life today only because you were merely caught up in this. But you ruined my plan. Letting you live is already a grace. Now leave. I’ll let you live for now. If you’re useful again someday, perhaps I’ll let you recover. But before that, if you dare say anything you shouldn’t… Mu Jiayiâs fate will be yours.”
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thank you for the chapter!