Chapter LXVII: The Search Begins

Chapter LXVII: The Search Begins

Gu Heting was taken aback for a moment, then he released his grip and said, "I apologize for my rudeness."

Luo Le adjusted his clothes again, thinking that Gu Heting had already left, but to his surprise, he was still there.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward. Luo Le turned back and asked, "Aren't you going to be busy?"

Gu Heting pursed his lips and said, "Go, I must go. As for the butterfly on your shoulder..."

Luo Le tilted his head to glance at his shoulder. "Oh, this? I got it tattooed."

Gu Heting slightly furrowed his brows, with a hint of disbelief: "Tattooed?"

Luo Le's lips curved slightly. "Does it not seem like me?"

"It does seem so."

It didn't seem like a tattoo; it appeared more like something he had brought into the world from his mother's womb.

Luo Le glanced at Gu Heting with a puzzled look.

"Shall you attend to your tasks? I'll get changed, otherwise there might be too many people downstairs handling the discharge procedures later."

Gu Heting glanced at his shoulder and acknowledged with a nod before leaving.

Gazing at his retreating figure, Luo Le pressed her lips together and fell into a slight trance.

In his teenage years, Luo Le associated with a group of wayward aristocrats, racing cars, indulging in alcohol, and partaking in all sorts of revelries, never once tasting defeat.

The group of privileged youths, having witnessed Luo Le's audacious racing skills, dared not provoke him easily.

He had never been anyone's definition of an obedient child, yet here he was, unexpectedly experiencing what it felt like.

Luo Le smiled. As he walked over to change his clothes, he remembered that the curtains were still open.

He approached and drew the curtains, taking just two steps when something in the corner of his eye caught his attention – a commotion at the hospital entrance.

There, parked, was a black hovering vehicle that appeared increasingly familiar the more he looked at it.

Isn't that license plate on the car Huo Lanjing's favorite?

No way, right?

Luo Le stepped forward, leaning against the glass, scanning for that figure. Suddenly, he spotted the person downstairs.

Why on earth would Huo Lanjing come to the Second Planet out of the blue? It was clear he was here for Luo Le.

Luo Le hastily drew the curtains shut and glanced back at Chen Chen, still sound asleep.

He couldn't let Huo Lanjing catch him.

In a flurry, Luo Le threw on some clothes, too rushed to gather anything else.

Grabbing a small blanket, he wrapped Chen Chen in it, then lifted him gently into his arms.

Perhaps because his movements were a bit rough, or maybe his anxiety had affected Chen Chen, the baby began crying loudly the moment he was picked up.

As a new father, Luo Le had no experience soothing a child.

Contemplating for a moment, he gently patted Chen Chen's back and softly said, "Good boy, Chen Chen, don't cry. Be a good boy."

Seemingly understanding, Chen Chen stopped crying.

With his big eyes wide open, he stared at Luo Le as if he could really see him.

Luo Le smiled and dashed out the door with the child in his arms.

Just as he pressed the elevator button, he noticed an elevator about to arrive on this floor.

It was coming from downstairs.

Luo Le hastily rushed to the stairwell corner with Chen Chen. Taking the stairs would be too slow; they had to take the elevator.

If Huo Lanjing ordered the hospital to be sealed off before he reached the ground floor, there would be no escape.

Luo Le hid by the staircase entrance, constantly watching the elevator, afraid of missing it.

A minute later, the elevator doors opened.

Huo Lanjing emerged from the elevator, clad in a deep camel-colored coat, his steps hurried.

A nurse pushed an Omega in a hospital gown across his path.

He paused for a moment.

Luo Le's heart hung in suspense, his gaze cautiously landing on Huo Lanjing.

Fearful that he might approach.

Suddenly, Chen Chen in his arms began to cry, the wails echoing loudly.

Huo Lanjing stopped nearby, looking over with a puzzled expression.

Luo Le inwardly cursed, hastily withdrawing and swaying Chen Chen back and forth in his arms, patting him as he did so, remembering that infants often enjoyed being jostled about.

His body had not yet fully recovered, leaving him devoid of strength. Though Chen Chen was not heavy, he could not run while carrying him.

All he could do was pray fervently, "Please don't come over, please don't."

Perhaps his wish was answered by the heavens.

Huo Lanjing had only taken a few steps when Captain Lin suddenly emerged from the elevator. "General, let's go. The doctor is waiting for us at the entrance."

Huo Lanjing nodded and turned to leave with Captain Lin.

Watching his figure disappear around the corner, Luo Le hurriedly joined the crowd and entered the elevator.

At the same time, at the closed door of the patient's room, three doctors in white coats were waiting.

As Huo Lanjing approached, the lead doctor extended his hand. "General Huo, I've long heard of your reputation. It's an honor to meet you."

Seeing his sycophantic expression, Huo Lanjing gave him a cold glance. beads of sweat formed on the doctor's forehead, and he took a step back.

Huo Lanjing ignored him, grabbing the handle and pushing the door open.

The room was empty.

An open bottle sat on the bedside table, and the patient's gown was messily sprawled on the bed.

A vein pulsed on Huo Lanjing's forehead. "Seal the hospital, find her for me."

A doctor hurriedly interjected, "General Huo, you can't do that. There are still patients seeking treatment."

Lieutenant Lin stepped forward to clarify, "The General means to seal the hospital, allowing entry but not exit."

Upon understanding his intention, the doctor didn't linger and went to seek the director's approval.

Moreover, it was clear to anyone that the General's mood was terrible. Staying any longer might turn him into a venting target.

Huo Lanjing strode inside. At the foot of the bed, there was a small bag, and the slippers were neatly placed underneath. The water bottle had its cap open.

If not for the hospital gown on the bed, one might have thought that the patient had just gone to the restroom and would return momentarily.

Huo Lanjing sat down, clutching the gown, his gaze darkening as he fixated on it, lost in thought.

"General, it seems Madam has given birth to a little prince," Lieutenant Lin said, presenting a medical record before him.

Huo Lanjing took the paper and flipped it over, revealing the words on its surface.

Gu Chenyue.

A child born from the fusion of his and Luo Le's blood.

He reached out to gently stroke both names, a subtle glint flickering in his eyes.

So Luo Le had named their child Chenyue.

Meanwhile, as Luo Le reached the ground floor, he quickened his pace towards the entrance.

The building he lived in was already close to the door, and within three minutes of descending the stairs, he was outside.

It wasn't until he was safely inside his car that Luo Le allowed himself to relax.

Gazing at the ceaseless flow of traffic through the window, Luo Le felt a bit lost.

Leaving the Second Planet was definitely out of the question now. Chen Chen was only a little over a month old, and his fragile body would not withstand the strain of space-time travel.

Considering that Huo Lanjing managed to track him down to the hospital, he must have uncovered his identity by now. If Luo Le were to return, he might well be walking right into a trap set by Huo Lanjing's men.

Luo Le leaned against the car window, lost in thought.

He couldn't risk going to an establishment like a hotel that required identification.

So, where could he go now?

Should he contact Wind City now?

Wait, Luo Le suddenly realized his mistake. He had yet to retrieve his AI brain.

How could he have forgotten about such a crucial matter?

Luo Le hastily instructed the autonomous hovercar to change its destination.

*

The staff member looked grave as they asked, "Are you sure you want to retrieve your AI brain?"

Luo Le nodded, responding earnestly, "Yes, please do it quickly."

"Alright, follow me."

A few minutes later, Luo Le felt a weight lifted off her shoulders as she pulled the newly bought mask up over her nose.

On their way here, Luo Le had already fed Chen Chen, who was now contentedly asleep after a full meal.

Luo Le lowered her gaze to look at the tiny bundle of joy on her chest. She reached out to gently rub his face; it was soft and squishy, indentation forming under her touch.

— "Gu Zhiwei?"

The sudden voice startled Luo Le, who stiffened and gradually turned sideways.

No way, could he be recognized despite being so well-covered?

He raised his eyes and saw that it was Gu Heting.

"Why are you here? No, how did you know I was here?"

Gu Heting blinked at him and said, "It was just a guess."

"Aren't you supposed to be in the lab at this hour?"

Luo Le looked at him with a hint of confusion.

Gu Heting smiled and said, "You must be avoiding someone and not going home."

Luo Le felt somewhat awkward, unsure of how to respond.

"Where are you headed next? If you haven't found a place yet, I do have a suggestion for a temporary residence."

"Where exactly?"

Gu Heting pursed his lips and said, "How about my dormitory? Would you like to go there?"

Luo Le furrowed his brow slightly. Wouldn't a place like school require real identities?

It seems that he noticed his doubts, so Gu Heting explained: "No need for real names, and there's no one else, you can rest assured."

Luo Le nods, he indeed has nowhere else to go at the moment.

"Thank you. I'll make sure to pay the rent."

Gu Heting knew that if it was for free, Luo Le might not feel at ease living there: "Alright, five hundred a month will do. I rarely stay there either, but may I ask you a few questions?"

"What?"

Gu Heting's car was parked right outside the door. After walking for a short while, it was easily spotted.

"Step into the car first, you can't afford to catch a chill right now."

Luo Le nodded, and the two of them got into the back seat together.

Moments later, the vehicle began to move.

Gu Heting spoke: "Is that fierce and ferocious person another father of Chen Chen?"

Luo Le didn't intend to hide anything and nodded.

"He's... so domineering. You wouldn't believe it, but the moment he found you were missing, he ordered the hospital to be locked down, allowing entry but not exit."

Luo Le knew he would do this. Thankfully, he was one step ahead.

"He's always been like that."

"It's evident."

After that, neither of them spoke, and the carriage fell into a sudden silence.

"Does Chen Chen have a godfather now?" Gu Heting suddenly asked this question.

Thinking of someone on the distant Fifth Planet, Luo Le smiled. "I've got it."

"Well, I didn't expect someone else to beat me to it."

At that very moment, a distant Wind City let out an unbidden sneeze. Rubbing his nose, he wondered if Brother Le was thinking of him.

Gu Heting said with a smile, "Then would you like to consider me as an older brother? I'm thirty this year, so I should be a few years older than you."

After a long while, Luo Le did not respond. Just as Gu Heting thought he was unwilling and was about to treat it as a joke, he suddenly saw Luo Le nod his head.

"Truly?" The tone held a touch of delight.

During this period, Gu Heting has been of great assistance to him. Without Gu Heting's help, he might have truly struggled to manage on his own.

Luo Le nods sincerely, "Mm-hmm."

Gu Heting: "That's wonderful."

Perhaps it was because of excessive joy, but Gu Heting was quite talkative all the way.

It is often said that a three-year age gap constitutes a generational divide. Gu Heting is thirty years old, which is almost eight years older than him.

Luo Le could only respond to him from time to time.

Suddenly, Luo Le thought of a question and turned his head to ask, "Do you have an Omega?"

Ever since Luo Le has known Gu Heting, he has never met his family nor seen him discuss relationships.

Yet, during this period, he could faintly detect the subtle scent of an Omega.

If there were, it wouldn't have been appropriate for him to have lived there in the past.

After all, it would seem peculiar for an Omega with a child to move into his quarters.

Surely no omega would be indifferent to such a matter.

"No, there isn't."

Gu Heting had just finished speaking when he noticed Luo Le's expression, which was somewhat amusing. He said with a smile, "Why do you look at me as if I were a scumbag? Really, there's nothing like that. I like Alphas, so you can rest assured, there's definitely no Omega involved."

Luo Le paused, refraining from asking further questions.

You really don't need your real name to enter the school, you just need Gu Heting's guarantee.