Chapter 99

Chapter 99

During the day, Lu Wei had communicated with Emperor Star's technical department about the issue. They were actively searching for a solution.

Unfortunately, Lu Wei hadn't come across that rare crop again. If he had a sample, Emperor Star would likely have found a resolution faster.

They also advised him to avoid provoking His Majesty the Dog and to keep the dog in a familiar environment as much as possible.

Given how the seventeen-year-old version had disdainfully treated him, if he knew about the two puppies, he'd probably be terrified.

Lu Wei shook his head helplessly.

Well, he might as well dote on this temperamental little fellow.

— Lu Wei secretly connected with the two little Pang Qius via three-dimensional communication at night.

Upon establishing the connection, both puppies were thrilled.

Lu Danjiao yelled, "Daddy!"

Huo Nian said, "Blue Star is hosting a banquet."

"And it's the second time," Huo Nian added, his tone tinged with resignation.

One could sense his unease with such events.

Lu Danjiao was an extrovert, probably enjoying this kind of gathering. In contrast, Huo Nian disliked such occasions, hence his worn-out appearance.

Lu Wei found it amusing. "What's on your faces?"

Both toddlers had their faces painted with various colors, giving them a somewhat messy appearance.

Lu Danjiao explained, "A lot of people did this to me, but I don't know why, huh?"

Huo Nian elaborated, "It's a Blue Star tradition to bless newborns by painting their faces with these colors. Each elder has a different color, and they can smear it onto the younger ones. The more colors a child has, the healthier and happier they will be in the future."

Listening to their explanation, Lu Wei replied, "I see."

The people of Blue Star seemed genuinely fond of the two little plump ones, as their faces were a vibrant rainbow, resembling two colorful palettes.

Lu Wei massaged his shoulder while chatting, "Where do you two sleep at night?"

The two youngsters shifted the camera towards their room.

It revealed a cozy and adorable children's room with sleeping pods on either side, designed in the latest trendy cartoon style, filled with playful charm.

It was evident that Blue Star welcomed the two youngsters warmly.

Lu Wei exclaimed, "Those sleeping pods are limited edition."

Lu Danjiao whined, "I can't fall asleep without you at night."

Huo Nian commented, "Some people managed to sleep through three meals on the way."

Lu Danjiao: "…"

"I don't like Agent Two anymore right now."

The other chubby ball whispered fiercely into the ear of the first, "Leave some room for future encounters, don't expose us in front of Dad, give him some face, okay?"

The voice wasn't soft, and it reached Lu Wei's ears without fail.

Lu Danjiao had never been one to have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places. If he claimed to be awake, it was likely an exaggeration.

Lu Wei pursed his lips but ultimately decided not to divulge the current situation with the royal dog to the two youngsters. Instead, he said circuitously:

"There's been a bit of a situation on Emperor Star, so your return will be delayed."

Lu Danjiao and Huo Nian: ?!

"No! Didn't you say we'd go back after the banquet ends the day after tomorrow?"

"What happened on Emperor Star?"

Both boys looked reluctant.

They exchanged glances, each thinking the same thing: It must be the other father's doing.

Lu Wei reassured them, "Don't worry too much, it's just a minor issue. But it might not be convenient for you to come back soon. I've asked Delphi to prepare a travel itinerary for Blue Star, so you can stay there and enjoy yourselves for a few more days."

Lu Danjiao shook his head frantically. "We've already played with Blue Star once, we don't want to play again."

Huo Nian nodded. "I've been here more than once."

The two little fat balls widened their eyes, their lovely eyes shimmering with moisture, looking incredibly pitiful.

"Daddy..."

Both children called out to him, one with a crisp and mournful tone, the other with a low and sorrowful one, melting Lu Wei's heart.

He thought about simply bringing the two children back and letting nature take its course.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, a creaking sound was heard from the door.

It was a loud creak.

Startled, Lu Wei immediately turned off the three-dimensional communication.

In an instant, the shadows of the two little ones vanished.

With Lu Wei being an avid gamer, his reflexes were exceptionally fast. He was confident that whoever had entered wouldn't have noticed him.

The boy narrowed his eyes, assuming a rather sinister appearance.

Lu Wei turned his head as if nothing was amiss. "What's up?"

Emperor Dog gazed at him silently, then turned and left the room without another word.

Lu Wei: ???

However, His Majesty the Dog was always unpredictable, so Lu Wei wasn't too surprised.

Lu Wei returned a call to assure them of his safety and then engaged the two children in intimate conversation.

As the Earthling was about to head to the restroom, he bumped right into someone standing at the entrance upon opening the door.

The person was leaning closely against the doorway, seemingly engrossed in something.

It was none other than His Majesty the Dog, standing right there at the entrance.

Lu Wei was startled. "What are you doing?"

His Majesty the Puppy Emperor glanced at him coldly and tossed out a phrase. "Fickle as water."

Then he turned and walked away.

???

What kind of riddle is this, Bombardier Guy?

It was unclear what had happened to that guy; ever since he loitered outside Lu Wei's room, he had become rather enigmatic.

During dinner time, he had an aloof and unapproachable demeanor.

Lu Wei made himself a handheld pancake and asked if the boy wanted one.

The puppyish teenager: ...

"Huh."

"Don't think that this can win me over."

His voice was as cold as ice.

Lu Wei: "..."

Lu Wei: "Leave it here. Don't let me see your starved corpse tomorrow."

It's best to avoid being overly eager with someone who is sulky, especially a teenage version of one.

Lu Wei placed the other hand pie on a plate and happily headed off to start up his interstellar warship.

He didn't know how long he had been gaming for, but when Lu Wei emerged, he found the plate empty.

He wanted to laugh.

What happened to not eating it?

The royal dog was right there by the side.

The young man sat elegantly, savoring his tea with slender grace.

His Majesty the Dog didn't seem embarrassed at all and commented, "Not bad."

Lu Wei patted his chest. "Of course not. Go ask around in Peaceful Community, nobody would say I'm not great at cooking."

His Majesty the Dog: "Peaceful Community?"

Lu Wei: "That's the neighborhood I lived in on my rural planet."

"Oh, I see."

"What kind of tea are you drinking? I'm getting a bit thirsty too." Lu Wei felt his own thirst as he watched the youth sip his tea.

The young man raised his gaze. "It's a special tea from Garden Star."

Lu Wei pulled up a chair and grabbed the teacup for a gulp. "Not bad, but the aftertaste is a bit peculiar."

His Majesty the Dog stared at him. "That's my teacup you're holding."

Lu Wei took a glance and said, "Oh."

"Are you very much in love with me?" He corrected himself, "He."

Lu Wei: ?

The unique interpretation from His Majesty the Dog: "He really loves me."

Brother Earth explained, "He's really a helpful buddy."

The youthful figure insisted, "I'm not him; your affection for him has nothing to do with me."

Indeed, worthy of being the Landmine Virgin Brother.

Lu Wei: "Alright, alright, alright."

In the evening, Lu Wei received a communication from the Blue Star organization.

The first time, he missed the call while bathing, followed by two more hurried attempts to reach him.

When Lu Wei answered the call, he realized that both children had their own issues.

Lu Lan had indigestion at night, while Huo Nian couldn't fall asleep.

On the first day, this situation had the Blue Star communicators in a panic.

As Lu Wei listened, he offered solutions:

"Lu Danjiao can't eat... you could try gently patting his back. Afternoons, avoid giving him dairy; it might upset his stomach... As for Huo Nian, well, if he has trouble sleeping, don't engage him in conversation late at night. He needs time to settle down..."

Blowing his hair, Lu Wei couldn't help but feel a hint of worry.

Both kids were barely three years old, even though they were high-grade genotypes, they were still just little ones.

He always felt uneasy leaving them on other planets.

While juicing fruits and vegetables in the evening, Lu Wei encountered the Canine Sovereign, who gave him an enigmatic look.

Despite his confusion, Lu Wei was used to it by now. His thoughts simply couldn't resist wandering there.

That night, His Majesty the Dog didn't visit Lu Wei's room and had a peaceful night's sleep.

The next day, Lu Wei received a reply from Emperor Star, asking him to bring His Majesty the Dog back.

Ever since the Garden Star's monarch stepped down, this palace had been converted into an administrative office.

The servants had all been dismissed and replaced with new ones.

People tended to gossip when they gathered together, and the recent hot topic was undoubtedly about the Empress of Emperor Star.

"Tell me, is it true that the Queen was wearing a green hat?"

"They say it's not true publicly, right? Do you believe them?"

"Probably just a claim for the sake of the royal family's dignity. The Queen has been missing for so many years; any child she has would logically belong to another man. Isn't that obvious?"

Amidst their animated gossip, speculations ran wild.

The conspiratorial theories flourished.

As the Sovereign, known affectionately as 'Dog Emperor,' passed by, he overheard their conversation but didn't pause. His expression, however, grew even more peculiar.

The two then boarded the spacecraft bound for Emperor Star.

All along the way, His Majesty the Dog was subtly yet constantly observing him.

Lu Wei was quite accustomed to the shady gazes that always clung to him. Undisturbed by these looks, he quietly sorted through the materials he had collected over the past few days.

The two of them could have peacefully coexisted throughout the duration of the starship voyage.

However, not long after they set off, an incident occurred.

The young man lay sprawled, silent as can be.

Lu Wei casually glanced over, noticing the pulsing vein on his forehead and the paleness of his complexion.

Upon closer inspection, he realized that his arms were tense, and his body was rigid.

The 'Mouthy King' was unusually silent, not uttering a single word.

Lu Wei wanted to give him a good thump but held back. Instead, he scolded, "Does it hurt so much that you can't even speak?"

The brooding figure lay down and turned over. "None of your business."

Feeling both annoyed and amused, Lu Wei had the urge to hit someone.

The Terran enveloped the other in a hug. "Got a headache, huh? You're quite the tough one."

"Stop—touching me," he mumbled.

Strangely, after being embraced by this Queen from a rural planet, his headache actually dissipated.

Not only did the pain disappear, but he also felt a warm sensation.

It's so soothing it makes one drowsy.

His Majesty the Dog spoke in a cold tone, "What did you do?"

Lu Wei casually brushed it off, "Do you know, in my previous life, I was Ibuprofen?"

"What's Ibuprofen?"

"Guess."

Gently stroking the fur of Emperor Dog, Lu Wei soothingly calmed this vulnerable, emotionally fragile, and somewhat distorted child at heart.

The young man's expression remained anguished.

"Express your pain, don't always try to bear it alone, do you understand?"

"..."

Perhaps due to his recent transition into fatherhood, Lu Wei found himself perceiving a subtle transformation in his demeanor.

Perhaps it's because he has become more mature and dependable, his temper has significantly improved as well.

The young man struggled to sit up, but as soon as he moved away from Lu Wei, his head throbbed as if pierced by ten thousand needles.

Ah.

But Dark Bro, being overly concerned with his pride, still managed to sit up.

"Do you truly harbor affection for him?"

It took Lu Wei a moment to realize that "he" referred to His Majesty the Mature Dog.

When addressing His Majesty personally, Earth Bro would need to gather his courage to say it. But to this one standing before him...

"I like him."

The gloomy B was dealt a direct blow to his psyche, his pupils darkening even more.

He suddenly shot back coldly, "He's lying to you."

Lu Wei: ??

The enigmatic and troubled youth continued, "He married you because your presence alleviates his genetic condition."

Lu Wei was perplexed. How could someone speak to themselves like this?

Yet, considering it was His Dogness, his behavior was entirely in line with his usual self. Nothing was out of the ordinary for His Dogness.

Lu Wei was certain. "No."

"He definitely is." Shadow B emphasized with a twisted tone, "Because he sees some utility in you."

Lu Wei had absolutely no idea why this person was acting so crazily.

"Probably... possibly... should not be."

Shadow B asked coldly, "How can you be so sure?"

Lu Wei rolled up his sleeves, "If he dares, I'll crush him to death myself."

Twisted Brother: "Well, he was lying to you anyway."

Out of curiosity, Lu Wei approached him, "Why? Don't you like me, hence why you're saying this?"

A face suddenly enlarged before him, beautiful eyes met in an intimate gaze, filled with nothing but pure curiosity. Every lash was discernible in exquisite detail.

A captivating blend of untamed wildness and mature charm exudes from him, carrying the scent of hormones.

The youthful canine averted his gaze: "You, you have no sense of decency."

Now, Lu Wei finds the seventeen-year-old virgin quite intriguing.

Lu Wei teased him, much like how one would play with two little pups, "You don't like me either, so you think he's using me?"

The youth's voice was harsh as he said, "Of course he wants to use you if you can alleviate his migraines. Don't you think for a moment; how could someone like him ever have a lover?"

This piqued Earth Brother's curiosity: "Why wouldn't he have a lover?"

The sullen young man fell silent, averting his gaze awkwardly.

Lu Wei nudged him with his shoulder. "Isn't he you? Why don't you tell me?"

"No."

His Majesty the Dog had always been a twisted character; perhaps even his seventeen-year-old self was wary of the mature version. Having not experienced it himself, he couldn't recognize that person as himself.

Silent, Lu Wei leaned in closer. "Then do you like me?"

His Majesty the Dog deflected the question, his tone stiff. "There's no receptor in the entire galaxy who dresses like this."

Tsk.

Skin exposure.

Muscle display.

And a nice scent.

This struck a chord with Earthlings, immediately diverting Lu Wei's attention. "Doesn't it look good! Can't big brother be the pioneer of fashion trends?"

The Shadow B regarded him with a dark gaze, taking in Lu Wei's attire - a black tank top exposing his neck and arms.

His skin had a slight tan, revealing smooth muscle contours.

Flesh, flesh, flesh.

Then, he averted his eyes.

With a sharp tone, the Shadow B commented, "Ugly."

Lu Wei replied, "I've been putting up with you for quite some time, buddy."

"Hmph."

Recalling his high school days on Earth, the human scoffed, "Brother, at seventeen, you were quite the foul-mouthed one, weren't you?"

The Dog Emperor, skilled in twisting others' words, abruptly turned his head, "You think I'm too young?"

Lu Wei reminded him, "Big brother, you're a hundred years old."

In the Empire of Stars, longevity was common; reaching a hundred years old wasn't even considered middle-aged, but still part of one's youth.

However, for the Earthling Lu Wei, a hundred years old was considered very old!

The brooding figure emphasized, "He is he, and I am I."

"Okay, okay, you're seventeen," Lu Wei placated, then grew curious. "So you've always been in the Royal City of Emperor Star?"

The twisted figure replied coolly, "Yes."

Occasionally, he'd go out to commit acts of violence or arson to relieve his mood.

"Are you going to school?"

"I think you can figure that out," the sovereign with a dog-like air lifted his eyelids.

The Earthling sighed. "Doesn't that mean you don't have any friends?"

The sovereign responded with the same question, "What do you think?"

Well, that hit the spot.

Brother Twisted is probably friendless, loverless, parentless, and only has a genetic disease he was born with for company.

Even dogs might disdain him.

Garden Star is quite close to Emperor Star, and they soon reached the time to land.

The two of them descended together, heading for the Royal City.

In the Royal City, Lu Wei had a much better rapport with people than Emperor Dog did.

Emperor Dog followed him expressionlessly, observing how everyone along the way greeted Lu Wei warmly.

The maids curtsied playfully, the servants saluted respectfully, and even the chefs struck up casual conversations with him.

It was as if it were his own home.

Emperor Dog's face remained stoic as he commented, "Fickle-hearted."

"Suit yourself."

Upon returning, Lu Wei first visited his old acquaintances in Royal City to assure them of his safety.

Then, he listened to their tales about the past three years.

A forlorn attendant came to complain that after the Canine Emperor had casually given some orders, he hadn't convened any interstellar meetings ever since.

As a responsible man, Lu Wei decided to urge the Canine Emperor to attend the interstellar meeting.

One would have to look closely to notice that the Canine Majesty appeared slightly younger, and besides, that group of people never dared to raise their heads to look anyway.

Dog-like Youth: "I have no knowledge of recent events."

Lu Wei: "Yes, but it's alright."

Anyway, His Majesty the Dog usually just sits there with his eyes closed, appearing nonchalant.

The young man with the eyes of a dog gazed at him, attempting to convey his intentions.

Lu Wei didn't understand the unspoken message and smiled at him.

Twisted Guy: "I'm not going."

Earthling: "You should."

Patting his shoulder, Lu Wei said sincerely, "Go ahead, I have faith in you."

When Lu Wei pleaded, his big eyes made him appear genuinely earnest.

"I... believe... in... you."

So good at being coquettish.

Using such tactics on him.

No shame at all.

...

And so, the young man, akin to a loyal hound, sat expressionlessly upon the golden steps.

—Alone.

Lu Wei wasn't worried about him at all; he didn't even come to see him.

Heh.

Noticing the Emperor's foul mood after returning from Gardenia Star, the officials below dared not utter a sound. As Lu Wei had anticipated, no one dared to lift their heads.

Each of them feared becoming the target of the Emperor's wrath or being made a scapegoat.

The young man tapped his fingers on the table, surveying his surroundings.

A small stool had been added beside his seat, complete with a cushioned backrest.

There was even a sleep aid device and a pillow placed on it.

—There's a pig sleeping here.

Ordinarily, during meetings, Lu Wei wouldn't dare imagine what he'd be doing sitting here.

In his memory, he was still seated yesterday, dealing with a bunch of old folks.

Now, everything seemed utterly transformed.

Not only had the Interstellar Conference Hall changed along the way, but other areas within the Royal City had also taken on a bizarre atmosphere.

For instance, there was now a rack filled with exercise equipment inside the hall, an outdoor kitchen and a designated vegetable storage area had been added, and several freshly tilled vegetable plots had sprouted in the garden.

The decor had inexplicably shifted to a minimalist black and white style, with signs of use by other humans evident everywhere.

This Royal City seemed to have become the domain of a queen.

His mature self.

Was a helpless man with a weak husbandly authority.

Heh.

The gloomy figure mused silently.