Chapter 98

Chapter 98

When they both regained consciousness, it was already early morning.

Lu Wei, rubbing his waist, went to check on the soup he had instructed the servants to prepare.

Don't misunderstand, he didn't particularly enjoy cooking soup; it was simply because this particular soup had special effects.

This was a recipe that Lu Wei had concocted by referencing the interstellar plant encyclopedia.

—Purifying Ascetic Soup.

The plant used for the soup was called Crimson Vegetation, known for its temporary impotence-inducing properties.

It was harmless to the body and could also help in abstinence, allowing one to rest and rejuvenate.

If His Majesty the Dog didn't purify his desires a little more, that bastard would likely try to create another life inside him.

That damn dog whined and complained whenever he was denied, like a twisted landmine spirit, but such resistance only seemed to fuel his desire even more, making him even more frantic in his actions.

It had gotten to the point where Lu Wei didn't dare to bring it up anymore.

He might end up with kidney deficiency if they kept this up.

Grinning wryly, Lu Wei hastily prepared a casual breakfast.

With the two little troublemakers out of sight, the couple could finally enjoy a meal together after a long time.

As soon as His Canine Majesty took his seat at the table, Lu Wei perked up.

He promptly served him a bowl of Abstinence Soup. "Come on, drink more."

His Canine Majesty didn't suspect a thing and obediently drank it.

Ordinarily, two or three bowls would render most people incapable of further action. However, considering His Canine Majesty's unique constitution, Lu Wei had to make him drink several more bowls.

As Lu Wei fed him the soup, His Canine Majesty licked his lips, wearing an expression that seemed to say, "He loves me so much."

After finishing their meal, His Canine Majesty yawned, squinting his eyes.

Lu Wei gazed at him intently, suddenly realizing something.

While they were cuddling and digesting their food, His Majesty the Dog announced that he was feeling drowsy.

Lu Wei: "!!!"

It was a moment of universal rejoicing – in a situation that seemed ripe for intimate moments, His Majesty the Dog was actually feeling sleepy.

The Decent and Unselfish Soup had proven its worth indeed.

In the afternoon, for the first time, His Majesty the Dog voluntarily took a nap.

Lu Wei was so touched that he nearly burst into song. Turning away, he fired up his Starship.

The long-forgotten Starship roared to life!

Three years had passed, and the once-popular game had evolved into a classic. Fortunately, there were still plenty of players, and the matchmaking process was still reasonably quick.

Lu Wei immersed himself in the game for the entire afternoon, reveling in the thrill of victory.

It was almost dinner time when there was finally some movement coming from the dormitory.

I surmise that His Majesty the Dog is about to awaken.

Lu Wei seized the moment to play one last game.

Finishing the bout, he indulged in a profound stretch, savoring the release of tension.

Rising to rinse his face at the vanity, he collided with the person in front of him.

Your Majesty, the Canine.

Upon actually seeing the person in front of him, Lu Wei was dumbfounded. "Er... Who are you?"

Before me, they are not two younglings in terms of age, but rather, they resemble two younglings grown into maturity.

His expression was detached, yet he carried the allure of a youthful figure.

The young man looked at him, tilting his head slightly.

Lu Wei: ???

Who are you, buddy?

You have His Majesty the Dog's face.

The issue is that there are only three people in his family with this face - the eldest is more mature than this face, and the youngest is more innocent.

There's no one in between!

The youth turned to leave, but Lu Wei quickly tugged on his arm. "Wait a moment."

The young man swatted his hand away, "Get lost."

Lu Wei: ?

The young man turned around and asked coldly, "Who are you?"

Earthling: "Are you kidding me?"

Upon closer inspection, the person indeed resembled His Majesty the Dog, but with a youthful appearance. The features were undoubtedly his, albeit with a touch of innocence.

If one were to force a comparison, it would be as if His Majesty the Dog had been transported back a few years in age.

Lu Wei stared at the individual before him. "Hold on, buddy, I've got a question for you. Who exactly are you?"

The man pondered, wondering if he had somehow fathered a third child without realizing it. Surely, there hadn't been enough time for a third child to grow up so much.

The young man gazed at him intently, his dark pupils piercing, somehow unsettling in their intensity.

They gazed into each other's eyes for a long moment.

The young man spoke with a detached tone, "What is your standing?"

"..." Lu Wei's mind was somewhat muddled. "In any case, just stay there for a moment. I'll go and ask His Majesty the Dog for clarification."

The young man fixed his gaze on him and even trailed after him all the way.

His demeanor and expressions were so akin to a petulant spirit that nobody would believe he wasn't the offspring of one.

When did the reserved spirit acquire a high school-aged offspring?

Lu Wei's mind was in disarray, preparing to enter the bedroom to search for His Majesty the Dog.

The youth lifted his eyelids and inquired, "Who is this Dog Emperor?"

Lu Wei stroked his chin and asked, "Huo Jin, do you know him?"

The youth's tone was chilly. "You dare to call me by my name?"

"I didn't address you as..." He paused, confusion evident.

???

He claimed to be Huo Jin.

"You're Huo Jin?"

"To address His Majesty by his given name, your audacity is remarkable."

Damn it.

That tone was unmistakable.

Lu Wei closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

With the two young ones gone, the dog of a king shouldn't dare to have any illegitimate children.

Well, damn, is that a miniature version of the royal dog before me?

Lu Wei pondered carefully, no wonder His Majesty the Dog was nowhere to be seen early this morning.

He had thought it was due to the... impotency... The effects of the Abstinence-Boosting Soup were too potent, which is why His Majesty the Dog slept through until now.

Earth Brother took a deep breath and asked again, "Are you really Huo Jin?"

The youth didn't answer his question but instead looked up and asked, "And who are you?"

Perhaps in this world, there's a notion of karma or the turning of fortune's wheel.

Now, it was the turn of His Majesty the Dog to inexplicably transform into his innocent childhood years.

After all, Gardenia was not the Emperor Star; it was a place with a multitude of voices and opinions.

Lu Wei sighed softly, pulling the young child inside the house. "Let's talk first before anything else."

The youth reacted sharply, "Don't touch me!"

After settling the miniaturized canine monarch, Lu Wei began searching the Star Network for information on adults suddenly shrinking.

He stumbled upon a clue.

It seemed there was a certain plant that could revert adults to their infantile state, with their memories also frozen at their teenage years.

Lu Wei glanced at the picture of the plant.

It was red, resembling red vegetables.

A rare plant with an extended growth cycle, found exclusively in specialized cultivation zones. A legendary species, known only through written records, with no documented clinical evidence.

It's said that consuming it can revert one's body and memories to their youthful state, though this claim remains unverified.

Unverified, you say?

Well, it's verified now.

Chances are, His Majesty the Dog ingested it accidentally.

This had caused him to shrink, returning to his teenage years.

"..."

That must have been the pot of Purifying Heart and Desires Soup.

Perhaps that plant had mixed into it, and he had even coaxed Emperor Dog to drink several bowls.

His hanging heart finally came to rest in peace.

Lu Wei certainly hadn't forgotten that this kid started preying on others at a young age, probably growing up with a distorted perspective.

The youth continued to appraise him, then asked with an ominous undertone, "Who are you?"

Lu Wei asked, "Would you believe me if I said I am your man?"

Miniature Canine Majesty: "Shameless."

It's hilarious beyond belief.

It was a feeling reminiscent of their initial encounter.

Even though this B didn't trust him, he couldn't just abandon the miniature version of the dog emperor here.

Lu Wei considered reaching out to his adjutant, but then dismissed the idea, remembering the adjutant's unreliable nature.

It would be best to first contact Blue Star and people like Captain Li.

Informing everyone would facilitate future planning.

Lu Wei sighed. "I need to tell you something, but try not to be too surprised."

Then, he recounted the entire story in detail to the young Emperor Star.

The young royal clearly didn't believe him. "Did someone order you to say this?"

Lu Wei tugged the stubborn child towards the window. "Look outside. This isn't the Emperor Star. If you don't believe me, check the calendar and tell me what year it is."

The young Emperor Star glanced out the window before turning back. "…."

The calendar read:

Galactic Year 3077.

Lu Wei huffed. "See? Are you convinced now?"

The emperor's gaze slowly descended to the hand that Lu Wei was holding.

Unaware of the implications, Lu Wei asked, "Can you accept it?"

The youthful Emperor Pup scoffed, "He's not an idiot, is he?"

Lu Wei's fists clenched.

So, some people were just asking for it since they were young.

The young Emperor Pup sat down on the sofa, ignoring him, "Who do you say you are?"

Lu Wei chuckled, "Guess."

Fortunately, this 'B' wasn't really expecting an answer; he was just using the opportunity to express his critique.

After giving Lu Wei a glance, he commented, "My taste can't be that bad."

Reacting instinctively, Lu Wei defended himself, "Isn't my outfit cool? Just look at this vest and these pants, aren't they stylish?"

Brother Earth was dressed in one of his fashion staples, paired with a jacket.

It was a very masculine ensemble, definitely not something one would call unattractive.

The young man with a dog glanced over and commented, "Unattractive."

The tone was resolute, without a hint of hesitation.

Lu Wei: "Ah, so it's because you've been thinking it looked bad all along, and now you're finally speaking your true feelings!"

Seeing the corners of his brows dance with anger, Huo Jin, for some reason, felt a twinge of guilt.

The youthful canine averted his gaze.

Young Emperor Pup: "I could never have a spouse like you."

Lu Wei crossed his arms, "Check the Star Network records yourself."

The youth accessed his personal Star Network.

It displayed "Married," with the name "Lu Wei" listed as the partner.

With a radiant smile, Lu Wei said, "Guess whose name is Lu Wei."

The young man, with a hint of obstinacy, insisted, "My taste isn't that poor."

When it came to appearance, His Majesty the Dog was quite the looker, especially during his younger years when he exuded a more youthful innocence.

Yet, even if it caused him to utter such pearls from the mouth of a dog, Lu Wei could restrain himself from striking back.

Lu Wei chuckled softly, "We're old partners, no need for such formalities."

The young man, obviously struggling to accept it, kept eyeing Lu Wei in various subtle ways.

With a clear conscience, Lu Wei, a male character, had no fear of ghosts knocking on his door. He allowed himself to be seen without reservation.

The youth stared at him for a moment before turning away, engrossed in his own affairs.

Taking advantage of the lull, Lu Wei went to take a shower.

The unfavorable news is, His Majesty the Dog doesn't know when or how he will return to his former state.

Delightful news, this particular B is now more refined, at least not attempting to barge in on Lu Wei while he's showering to cause trouble.

Isn't this also a new path to simplicity and abstinence?

After a refreshing shower, Lu Wei emerged with a towel draped around his neck, his hair still damp from the water.

On ordinary evenings, he wore clothing that was comfortable, revealing a lovely suntanned arm sprinkled with droplets of water that hadn't yet been wiped away, exuding a subtle sensuality.

The young man gazed at him, then quietly averted his eyes, murmuring, "Shameless."

Grown up to be mentally unstable, his adolescence was no less tumultuous.

Unperturbed by the response, Lu Wei continued to dry his hair and then immersed himself in watching a movie.

Logically speaking, at this age, Dog Emperor should still be in his virgin form.

A gloomy and warped virgin, one could say.

His stamina and prowess were likely subpar.

In any case, his objective of maintaining a clear and abstinent mindset had been achieved.

Well, let's see.

Lu Wei browsed for films on the interstellar channel. Due to the cunning reproductive incentives prevalent in this starry realm, the homepage was filled with suggestive content, leading him to accidentally click on a rather explicit one.

The young man's face was expressionless as he asked, "Is this the kind of movie you usually watch?"

I could sense a hint of irritation in his tone.

Lu Wei: "…An unexpected turn of events."

The youth finished speaking and then folded his arms, sitting aside with a cold demeanor.

Lu Wei couldn't care less; he casually selected a movie to play as background music.

Two individuals, one seated at the end of the sofa, the other at the opposite end, creating a poignant contrast in their proximity.

Disregarding the individual spouting vitriol, Lu Wei initiated the launch sequence for the interstellar warship.

The young man had been watching him intently from the side all along.

"You're not allowed to play."

Lu Wei was puzzled. "Why?"

The youthful version of the Canine Sovereign looked at him with a resentful gaze. "It bothers me to see you playing video games."

It was over.

The Canine Sovereign's dislike for Lu Wei playing Starship Wars was ingrained in his DNA.

Lu Wei ignored him. "You don't even remember. Why do you care if I play games?"

The Canine Sovereign commanded with a dark and twisted tone. "If I say you can't play, then you can't."

Lu Wei pounded his head. "Trying to be all domineering with me, huh?"

When he said he was going to pound his head, he actually did it.

The teenage Canine Sovereign looked up at him, disbelief in his eyes.

His gaze while staring at someone was indeed unsettling, exuding an innate aura of a dark and menacing predator.

However, the Earthlings were long accustomed to it.

Lu Wei raised his fist and said, "What are you looking at? Do you want more?"

"..."

His Majesty the Dog never imagined that this person who claimed to be his future spouse would actually dare to strike him!

From childhood to adulthood, those who dared to lay a hand on him have all met their demise.

The young man with a cold demeanor said, "You dare to hit me? That's out of line."

Lu Wei: "Why are you being so fierce towards me!"

The unwavering monarch, a natural ruler, fell into a silence.

There was a subtle sense that this person in front of me was a ticking anger bomb, someone who shouldn't be provoked right now.

The Canine Majesty averted its gaze, attempting to salvage its dignity.

Lu Wei was granted access to the Intergalactic Warship Raging Play.

However, despite usually enjoying himself, he wasn't in the mood today.

"..."

Currently, there was still no knowledge about that particular substance – how long its effects lasted or how to counter them remained a mystery.

It's uncertain when His Majesty the Dog will resume his normal state.

Lu Wei put down the virtual controller and gazed at him with a hint of curiosity, "You really don't remember?"

The young man propped his chin on his hand. "What do you think?"

Not putting on an act.

Lu Wei let out a sigh, the game had lost its charm.

The young man inquired, "Are you from Emperor Star?"

Lu Wei, feeling the heat, adjusted his collar and said, "No, it's from a rural planet."

The young man wore an enlightened expression, as if he were saying, "As expected."

"Which galaxy?"

"It's so obscure that it doesn't even have a name."

"Huh."

"..." What the hell does that 'huh' mean, idiot?

Thanks to Young Master Dog's annoying way of speaking, Lu Wei's initial worry had transformed into anger.

The conversation ended there.

He returned to his room to sleep.

The young man folded his arms, looking down imperiously. "Don't sleep with me tonight."

"..."

Amused by this gesture, Lu Wei couldn't help but smile before promptly activating the starmap communication recorder.

"Recording, initiate!"

Lu Wei inquired, "Then where do you sleep?"

The Landmine Teen: "It's none of your business."

Lu Wei entered the room with a pillow in his arms, "Suit yourself."

The person didn't try to stop him and simply returned to their room.

The young man's expression fluctuated between joy and gloom.

As an accomplished translator of both Chinese and English literature, specializing in the elegant rendering of danmei novels, I approach the task of translating the passage with the utmost care to preserve its delicate nuances and themes inherent to the genre. However, since no specific text has been provided for translation, I am unable to offer a direct translation but can certainly demonstrate through a crafted example how such a translation might be undertaken.

In the dead of night, all was still.

It was the time when one should be in deep slumber.

In a room that was supposed to be occupied by only one, an uninvited figure silently materialized.

A dark silhouette stood by the bedside, fixating on the person in the bed.

Lu Wei's sleeping posture was always uninhibited. The quilt was kicked away, revealing his belly, while his arms were stretched out naturally in a state of utmost comfort.

Yet, it was also rather indecent.

The young man's expression was ever-changing.

This person, unbelievably, was his spouse.

Reaching out, the youth pinched Lu Wei's face, then promptly withdrew his hand in disdain.

In his dream, Lu Wei had a nagging feeling of being stared at by an indescribable octopus, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

After His Majesty the Dog pinched his arm for the nth time, he finally awakened.

Eyes snapped open, locking instantly with a pair of deep, dark eyes staring back.

"..."

The youth sat by his bedside.

The royal dog had a peculiar habit of staying awake at night, sitting by someone's bedside and gazing intently at them.

This bad habit of forming deep attachments started from my childhood.

Lu Wei exhaled in relief, "You almost gave your old man a heart attack."

The voice carried the unique huskiness of someone freshly awoken.

The youthful Emperor, with a hint of danger in his narrowed eyes, asked, "Who are you calling 'Father'?"

Lu Wei was accustomed to it and, without any fear, he simply rolled over and returned to sleep.

His voice was muffled as he said, "If you can't sleep, let's watch a movie. You might fall asleep while watching."

The teenager never expected this person to be so unfazed and fearless, even daring to close his eyes without any guard beside him.

He leaned closer and asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll strangle you?"

Lu Wei leaned against his pillow, ignoring his antics, and muttered, "That movie is called... Interstellar Showdown 3066..."

Just like a pig, he dozed off again after finishing his sentence.

The teenager lowered his eyelids and nudged him, "I'm not sleeping, you can't sleep either."

But the person in the bed seemed completely oblivious to his words.

The teenager bared his fangs, "If you don't wake up, I'll really make it happen."

"..." Only the steady sound of breathing responded to his threat.

Perhaps unable to tolerate his incessant antics, Lu Wei stretched out his long arm and pulled the teenager towards him.

Embracing him like a large pillow into his arms.

The canine monarch, suddenly enfolded: "...."

The young man's tone was stiff: "That won't work on me."

Of course, this person paid no attention to his response; it was like an instinctive reflex, without any prior indication, just happening as such.

Their breaths mingled in close proximity.

Warm in his embrace, the sensation of his muscular body was peculiarly delightful, as soft as cotton.

Noticing the surrounding silence, the Earthling no longer heard any coaxing. He smacked his lips and turned over.

The embrace gently released him.

A small gap now separated the two.

Then, in a fleeting dream, the Earthling felt himself being relentlessly stared at by an eerie, distorted octopus.

Bathed in sweat, Lu Wei found the octopus in his dream. The creature remained silent, putting on an indifferent act. He could only stroke it as if he were petting two plump balls until it seemed content, and the scorching gaze softened slightly. In reality, Lu Wei treated His Majesty the Dog with the same perfunctory manner one would use on a petulant child.

Both Pang Qiu and Lu Wei adored having their heads patted and their backs gently rubbed, to the point that it had become a conditioned response for Lu Wei.

After his perfunctory attention, he returned to his slumber.

The young man no longer disturbed him.

Instead, he lay in the shadows, contemplatively pondering:

fickleness.

With such expertise, you must have done this to many others before.

Lu Wei was utterly unaware of the dark thoughts that had consumed the adolescent Octopus throughout the entire night.

Awakening the next day to find the other person lying beside him: ???

"When did you arrive?"

The young man had already fallen asleep, and from Lu Wei's perspective, he could see the long eyelashes resting on his face, while the mouth that was always prone to spouting nonsense was now obediently closed.

Lu Wei paid him no mind.

Having freshened up and changed into my clothes, I began to map out the route to another materials district on Gardenia.

After he changed his clothes, the young man appeared before him.

"Wherever you go, I'll be going too."

"Stay here for now," Lu Wei said.

The youth persistently asked, "Where are we going?"

Lu Wei then explained his search for materials on Gardenia, leaving out one detail: there might be a plant here that could alleviate the Emperor Dog's peculiar condition.

After listening, the youth continued to gaze at him intently, wanting to accompany him.

Lu Wei responded with confusion, "?"

The next day, it was still Emperor Dog, but in his youthful form, sitting beside Lu Wei as he dug up plants.

Lu Wei, while digging, explained, "These are what made you regain your youth. I wonder if there are any side effects."

The dog-like youth honed in on the key point, "Am I old?"

Lu Wei countered with a question of his own, "You were originally a hundred years old, and I'm only in my twenties. If you're not old, who is?"

The dog-like teenager emphasized, "I'm seventeen."

Lu Wei: "Oh." Nonsense.

Upon realization, Lu Wei playfully retorted, "Then you should call me 'big brother' now."

The Canine Sovereign lifted his eyelids. "You?"

The Earthling chuckled. "Be a good little brother."

As soon as Lu Wei finished speaking, the Canine Sovereign pinched his chin. "Don't push your luck."

For some inexplicable reason, he disliked this person addressing him like that immensely.

"..."

The Earthling brother swatted away the Canine Sovereign's hand.

There was an untamed beauty to the youthful version of the Canine Sovereign, and Lu Wei tolerated it.

The Earthling now ignored him, resuming his task of picking vegetables.

However, before he could enjoy some peace for long, the Canine Majesty spoke up.

"You dare to ignore me?"

"I'm ignoring you. So what? What do you plan to do about it?"

Lu Wei wasn't intimidated in the slightest; he met the canine's gaze head-on and countered with his own question.

The youth's tone was chilly. "Do you know what the final outcome has been for those who dared to speak to me like this in the past?"

Lu Wei leaned closer to his face. "Oh, then how do you want to punish me?"

How could the inexperienced and emotionally conflicted young man compete with Lu Wei? He fell silent, turning his head away on the spot, as if trying to escape in defeat.

"It's fickle and unfaithful," he muttered.

With gritted teeth.

Lu Wei: ???

No, what's with you? Why do you insist on using this worn-out phrase for every situation, be it big or small?

After Lu Wei had roughly documented the plants in the area, he was ready to move on, with the youthful and energetic Imperial Canine keeping a close tab on his steps.

The youth's eyes always held a hint of inquiry.

They encountered someone in the more remote area, likely someone who had been staking out their location specifically.

Fortunately, the people on the outskirts weren't familiar with Emperor Dog, so they found it difficult to distinguish between his youthful and mature forms, thus unlikely to perceive any clues.

Upon seeing the two of them emerge, whispers and discussions broke out among the crowd.

Some bold ones even teased:

"Is the Queen carrying all those crops? Watch out, the Queen might scold you later."

It was all playful teasing, born out of good intentions.

Only to be met with the Emperor's icy gaze, which immediately silenced the jesting individuals.

Perhaps due to Lu Wei's presence, they didn't seem overly frightened.

The young man's face darkened. "They all know you dared to hit me?"

Lu Wei: "Yes, indeed."

The entire galaxy probably knows by now, more or less.

The young man's tone rose. "You really dare to hit me?"

"Mm-hmm."

His Highness the Dog had been accustomed to having his way since childhood, so it wasn't easy for his teenage self to accept this reality.

Amen.