Part 2
The vines flicked their tendrils and quickly resumed hauling boxes into their designated rooms.
Ten minutes later, with the help of the mutated plants, the once-empty rooms were filled with furniture and the floors were covered in plush rugs.
Zhu Ran had chosen pale beige rugs for every room, creating a warm and unified look.
He hung paintings themed around natural plants on the plain white walls: the living room featured red roses, the master bedroom had lavender and freesias, and the study had eucalyptus.
These were all works by the artists he collaborated with; Zhu Ran held the rights to use them.
For the sofa, Zhu Ran chose an ink-black fabric cover with light green throw pillows. The coffee table was in a raw wood style. Combined with the Midnight Lamp plant in the corner, the decor was natural and had a retro feel to interstellar eyes.
Zhu Ran’s own room was decorated in pure white with deep purple accents, a color scheme that perfectly matched the lavender and freesia paintings on the wall.
The ice rose Mu Qingzhou had given him was placed in a cabinet in the study; the crystalline rose looked beautiful next to the greyish-blue eucalyptus painting.
Zhu Ran placed natural plants in every room, filling the house with a vibrant life that brought him peace of mind.
When he lived on Aispu Star, it had only been a rental, so Zhu Ran hadn’t put much effort into the decor beyond the basics.
Now that he had a place of his own, he naturally wanted to transform it into exactly what he liked.
Once the interior was mostly finished, Zhu Ran went to the second-floor balcony to release the natural plants from his storage.
The balcony was 65 square meters, nearly three times larger than his balcony on Aispu Star.
As he arranged the freesias, lavender, and other smaller plants onto the racks, the once-empty balcony was quickly filled with lush greenery.
The delicate fragrance unique to the plants immediately filled the space. The scent of flowers mixed with the aroma of stems and leaves transformed the sterile, high-tech space into something overflowing with the hope of life.
“You two, split off some branches and stay on the wall. Just one wall, though.”
The moment Zhu Ran finished speaking, the vines and thorns chose a side wall, drank the spiritual power water he provided, and began to grow rapidly.
One wall of clear blue glass was soon covered by the winding vines and thorns, possessing a dark, treacherous beauty.
This was the guard Zhu Ran had arranged for his home, just in case.
He also set up a lounge chair and a small table here so he could work while soaking in the sun.
Finally, Zhu Ran went down to the first-floor garden.
The garden was 80 square meters, currently just a stark white concrete slab that was a bit hard on the eyes.
“I’ll get some soil later to turn this into a real garden. But it’s too late today, and I don’t have the tools. I’ll just set out the Camellias and Eucalyptus for now.”
With a ripple of space, four pots of Camellias and three pots of Eucalyptus appeared before him.
The moment they were placed, a fresh, clear scent with a hint of sweetness filled the air.
The Camellias had grown to about 1.9 meters, slightly taller than Zhu Ran.
Having been fed Zhu Ran’s spiritual power water every day, they were bursting with nutrients and eager to reach two meters or more. They had been forced to suppress their growth because of the low ceilings at the old place; now that they were in the garden, the Camellias could grow happily.
The Eucalyptus had also reached just over two meters. Previously limited by the height of the room, they could now stretch toward the open sky without worry.
Zhu Ran looked forward to seeing them reach thirty meters; it would be a spectacular sight.
Zhu Ran also stationed vines and thorns in the garden. They climbed up the wall behind the blooming Camellias. Hidden behind the dense Camellia branches, they weren’t particularly noticeable.
“I should go visit the neighbor. The Eucalyptus will grow very tall, so I need to discuss it with them. I wonder if the neighbor really is Prof. Lai…”
Zhu Ran was just thinking about what to bring as a housewarming gift when his doorbell rang.
A gentle voice came through the monitor: “Hello, are you the new resident? I’m your neighbor from No. 8, surname Lai. Congratulations on your move.”
“One moment.”
Zhu Ran went to open the door.
Standing there was a man in a thin, black turtleneck and a khaki casual blazer.
He wore silver-rimmed glasses, and beneath the lenses, his narrow eyes were creased in a gentle smile, radiating a mild, scholarly aura.
“Hello, I’m Lai Ze. I live right next door at No. 8.”
Lai Ze’s voice was slow and soothing.
He held a moderately priced bottle of sparkling wine—a housewarming gift for Zhu Ran.
“Hello, I’m Zhu Ran. I just moved in today.”
Lai Ze offered Zhu Ran a gentle smile.
Zhu Ran was wearing a dark hoodie and jeans for the move, with white sneakers. He looked just like a university student.
Having slept well and eaten beast meat every day for the last few months, Zhu Ran had been well-nurtured.
His cheeks had filled out slightly, his complexion was healthy, and his lips were rosy. Though his frame was still somewhat delicate, it was no longer a sickly thinness, but a refined slenderness.
However, his aura was exceptionally calm and peaceful, and that gaze of his—a shade of green that seemed to hold nature itself—drew people in instantly, causing them to overlook his age.
Lai Ze was briefly dazed, though his glasses hid the momentary slip in composure.
He’d known his neighboring property had been sold a few days ago, but hadn’t given it much thought.
He’d had no intention of introducing himself today either, until… he’d seen several strange tentacles emerging from the house to move furniture. That had piqued his interest.
“Hmm? Are those… mutated plants?”
Lai Ze adjusted his glasses.
He’d selected a bottle of wine from his cellar and come over to pay his respects.
The moment the door opened, Lai Ze felt the unmistakable aura of natural plants—vibrant and full of life, far superior to anything cultivated at the research institute. That blossoming vitality carried a unique plant affinity.
It was very much like the spiritual power of the shop owner, Zhu.
Combined with the youth’s peaceful aura and the name Zhu Ran…
Oh dear, did I just hit the jackpot?
Lai Ze had his suspicions and voiced them directly: “Are you the owner of Zhuying Anxiang? I can feel the aura of natural plants from you.”
Zhu Ran nodded. “I am. Are you Prof. Lai? I saw your address when I was shipping your package yesterday.”
“It’s me. What a coincidence.”
Lai Ze handed the wine to Zhu Ran.
“I’ve wanted to discuss natural plant cultivation with you for a long time. Your plants are all so healthy and vibrant; I really admire them. In fact, I’m a bit envious.”
Zhu Ran accepted the wine. “Envious?”
“I want to cultivate plants like the ones in your shop, but I never can. So, I’m a bit envious.”
Lai Ze proactively offered his optical computer. “Can we add each other on Starcom? I’d like to talk to you about plant cultivation.”
Meeting a fellow plant enthusiast was rare, and Zhu Ran had no reason to refuse him.
The man’s Starcom ID was simply ‘Lai Ze,’ and his profile picture was the bouquet of Camellias, Sunflowers, and Eucalyptus that Zhu Ran had sent him yesterday.
He clearly truly loved natural plants.
“I won’t keep you from your work, then.”
After his polite greetings, Lai Ze took his leave.
Zhu Ran set the wine on the table.
His impression of Lai Ze was quite good; he was the first person Zhu Ran had met who was truly knowledgeable about natural plants.
A short while later, Lai Ze sent him a photo of the small lab he’d built at home for plant cultivation.
Lai Ze: [This is my home lab. Come visit when you’re free.]
Zhu Ran’s eyes lit up. He had never seen how natural plants were cultivated in the interstellar era.
[Zhu Ran: Alright. I’ll come over when I have some free time.]
Setting his optical computer down, Zhu Ran continued organizing his clothes, toiletries, and other necessities until nearly 7:00 PM.
His stomach let out a soft growl, and just as he was about to solve the problem with a tube of nutrient solution, his home AI spoke up: [A dinner ordered by Mr. Z has arrived at the community gate. Shall I permit delivery to your door?]
Zhu Ran was stunned for a moment, a soft smile touching his lips. “I didn’t expect Z to order dinner for me.”
He’d assumed Z was too busy to think of him, yet the man had still ordered him a meal.
After permitting the delivery, a set of exquisite dishes featuring all his favorite flavors soon arrived.
Zhu Ran finished the meal quickly, chewing slowly. He took a photo of the empty containers and sent it to Z.
Zhu Ran: [It was delicious. Thank you.]
After waiting a while without a reply, he went back to organizing the house.
During this time, Ni Xia the sales rep, Mu Qingzhou, and several others sent housewarming gifts, which Zhu Ran set aside for now.
Before he knew it, it was midnight. Just as Zhu Ran was getting ready for bed, Z called him.
Z: [Heterochromia cat peeking around a corner.JPG]
Zhu Ran replied immediately: [I’m done organizing and I’m in bed. I’m taking the 8:00 AM shuttle to Ghalan Star tomorrow, should be there by 2:00 PM.]
Z requested a voice call.
Once connected, Z’s voice came through the headset. “Zhu Ran, I’m finished for the day. Things went smoothly.”
Zhu Ran leaned back against his sofa, his gaze mild. “I’ve already moved in. Thank you for the dinner. I probably would have just had a nutrient solution without it.”
Z frowned at that.
Zhu Ran wasn’t eating properly? He’d only been gone a few days; was Zhu Ran already failing to take care of himself?
Z: “I’ll order all your meals for you from now on.”
Zhu Ran accepted the offer. “Alright, if it’s not too much trouble.”
As they chatted, Zhu Ran mentioned using his mutated plants to help him move, and how his neighbor Lai Ze knew a lot about natural plants and had even given him wine.
Z’s hand tightened around his pen. With a sharp crack, the crystal-inlaid metal pen snapped in his grip.
Zhu Ran heard the strange noise through his headset.
“What was that?”
Z pretended nothing was wrong. “The pen was flimsy. It broke.”
Then Z added dismissively, “The Plant Research Institute has been a bit unstable lately. You’d better not have too much contact with their people.”
Zhu Ran was curious. “Oh? You have insider info?”
“Byron violated interstellar law and will likely be exiled. He had illegal dealings with Rio, the Director of the institute. They will 100% be replacing the Director, and there’s bound to be internal infighting. Furthermore…”
Z’s tone shifted. “Because of Zhuying Anxiang’s appearance, the institute’s status has plummeted. The researchers might hold a grudge against you. Don’t let your guard down while I’m not there. Don’t go opening the door for strangers like an idiot.”
Zhu Ran could hear the concern in Z’s voice. “I understand. I’ve set up the mutated plants as a defense, don’t worry. Oh, and Ni Xia, Mu Qingzhou, and Yan You all sent housewarming gifts today, though I haven’t looked at them yet.”
Zhu Ran heard the sound of something else shattering through his headset.
Blinking in confusion, he asked, “Z? What happened?”
Z looked down at the table that had just split into four pieces under the pressure of his aura. His expression was terrifyingly dark. “It’s nothing.”
Zhu Ran is too popular. What should I do?
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