Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Lu Cian returned to his room alone. The spaceship was enormous, and with no companion and Nair Inan nowhere in sight, he decided to stay put, fearing he’d get lost if he ventured out.

When dinnertime arrived, Lu Cian headed to the kitchen in the dining area to cook.

Only Brother Nan was worth the effort of a special meal. So, he first set the same menu as lunch for four diners, then pondered what unique dish to prepare for Brother Nan.

Even with spices applied to mask its scent, a faint odor still clung to the dough.

Lu Cian pinched off small pieces of dough, rolled them paper-thin like wrappers, lightly steamed them, then filled them with a specially seasoned meat mixture. He then dipped them in a marinade, coated them with a flavorful plant powder, and finally fried them in oil.

This process demanded a unique touch; the thin wrappers couldn't break, or the filling would spill out. It was a delicate task that automated kitchen machines couldn't handle, so he had to demonstrate it himself.

Soon, plump, thin-skinned dumplings emerged from the pan. For the second dish, he took thinly pressed dough sheets, soaked them in the marinade, coated them with plant powder, fried them, and then stir-fried them with diced game meat over high heat.

The final aroma was incredibly enticing, overpowering the scent of the meat patties and steaks from the other pot. After a careful sniff, Lu Cian confirmed that the strange odor had mostly dissipated.

The other four insects were still at work and ate later than Nair Inan. By the time three of them arrived for dinner, the Young Master and his group were nearly finished, so they didn't notice the difference in the Young Master's meal.

The piloting duties were rotated, which meant Lu Cian finally saw Fletcher, who had been absent at noon.

Fletcher was larger than the other three, but his face was remarkably open and honest, occasionally breaking into a goofy grin.

Lu Cian knew at a glance that this was a simple, good-natured insect.

Indeed, during the meal, Lu Cian secretly observed Fletcher, who seemed so captivated by the food's aroma that he looked ready to swallow his tongue, devouring it without lifting his head.

The other two insects, perhaps having learned their lesson from noon, showed more restraint this time. They acted like supportive older brothers, urging Fletcher to eat more, earning his tearful gratitude.

Lu Cian would bet money that the other three had devoured Fletcher’s share at noon, which was why he was now eating enough for two insects, like a starving ghost.

The poor fourth insect, however, had to pilot the ship on an empty stomach.

Amidst the lively scene, Lu Cian felt a pat on his head. Turning, he saw Nair Inan and immediately broke into a smile. “Brother Nan, how was the food I made today? Did it suit your taste?”

Nair Inan was momentarily captivated by the smile. “It was delicious.”

Lu Cian’s smile widened. *If only Brother Nan could smile happily because the food was good. He’d look so handsome when he smiles.*

“Let’s go.” Nair Inan gestured, and Lu Cian realized he had already finished eating.

Walking together, Lu Cian felt a sense of calm, as if things had returned to their former rhythm. At noon, he had missed the chance to leave with Brother Nan because he wanted to ask Damon some questions, but now they were finally together again.

“Brother Nan, where’s your room for the night? Is it near mine?”

Nair Inan didn’t reply verbally, only nodded.

In the afternoon, Lu Cian had explored his room and discovered that the bathroom was unlike the prison’s washroom—it actually had running water and something resembling a bathtub, meaning he could take a hot bath at night.

“Brother Nan, do you have a spare bed in your room? Can I sleep with you?”

When Nair Inan didn’t immediately agree, Lu Cian pressed on. “Brother Nan, we’ve slept together for a month. Suddenly being apart would be tough for me to adjust to.”

He jumped in front of Nair Inan and gestured at their height difference. “Brother Nan, look, I’m still small. I need someone to keep me company.”

Lu Cian had been sleeping alone since first grade, a rule set by his parents. Though he initially cried secretly under the covers, he was a big boy now and had to learn independence. Gradually, he adapted to sleeping by himself.

Lu Cian wasn’t afraid of the dark, and there was no bullying on the spaceship like in prison. His request now was mostly just a playful tease.

To his surprise, Nair Inan glanced at the top of Lu Cian’s head, paused for a few seconds in thought, then frowned and slowly said, “Alright. You get three days to adjust.”

Lu Cian: “Huh??”

Seeing his stunned expression, Nair Inan’s frown deepened. “What, too little?”

When Nair Inan looked like he might consider enduring him for a few more days, Lu Cian quickly agreed. “Okay, three days it is.”

He remembered when he first slept alone and cried himself to sleep, his older brother seemed to have stayed with him for a few nights.

Lu Cian also remembered his brother’s embrace—tall and warm. His eyes welled up. Just like his own brother, Brother Nan was truly a great insect!

After a comfortable hot bath, Lu Cian happily bounced over to Brother Nan’s room with his bedding.

Looking around, Lu Cian noticed that every room on the spaceship seemed similar; Brother Nan’s room layout was almost identical to his own.

The bedroom originally had only one bed, but Lu Cian saw two in Brother Nan’s room, guessing Brother Nan had brought in another from elsewhere. Tears welled up in his eyes again, and he vowed to make Brother Nan even more delicious food in the future!

Lu Cian directly flopped onto the smaller bed closer to the wall, face down, and mumbled into the mattress, “Brother Nan, I’m going to sleep. Goodnight!”

But Nair Inan walked over and nudged Lu Cian’s calf with his foot. “Get up.”

Thinking Brother Nan had something to tell him, Lu Cian immediately sat up since he wasn’t very sleepy anyway. “What is it?”

Nair Inan sat facing him on the other bed, his expression serious. “Sit properly. Lesson time.”

Lu Cian instinctively sat up straight, then realized what he’d said and immediately pulled a long face. “We’re doing lessons now? Is this punishment because I wanted to sleep with you?”

Lu Cian felt that if Brother Nan said yes, he would get up and leave immediately.

Nair Inan shook his head. “Even if you hadn’t come, I would’ve gone to your room.”

Lu Cian crossed his legs and swung his feet. “Oh, so Brother Nan wanted to sleep with me after all.”

Nair Inan remained expressionless. “To supervise your studies. I’ll go back after this.”

Lu Cian’s swinging feet stilled. “…”

*In for a penny, in for a pound.* Taking a deep breath, Lu Cian pasted on a smile. “Fine, go ahead.”

But before the lesson, Nair Inan needed to clarify a few things.

His hearing was sharp, and he had overheard Lu Cian’s conversation with Damon and Wawen at noon.

His current identity was sensitive—he was a fugitive. Previously, he had taken Lu Cian with him without consent, effectively dragging the little female insect onto a path of no return.

Now that Lu Cian knew his identity, he should understand their situation. Though Nair Inan doubted his little pet would want to escape, he wasn’t a space pirate who would force an unrelated little female insect to become a fugitive with him.

“You must know by now.”

Lu Cian was confused by the abrupt statement.

Nair Inan lowered his head. “What Damon told you at noon.”

After a moment of thought, Lu Cian understood what Brother Nan meant and nodded. “Damon told me. Brother Nan, you guys have been through so much!”

“So, are you all going to wander the universe like in those dramas? Does that mean I’m coming with you?”

“Wow, that’s so cool! Have you been living like this before, flying around in space? Isn’t that like pirates—no, space pirates?!”

Lu Cian’s face lit up with an excitement Nair Inan just couldn’t comprehend.

Nair Inan couldn’t quite grasp the other’s thought process—what was so thrilling about being a fugitive? Had the whole thing stunned him into foolishness?

Lu Cian grew more and more animated as he spoke, feeling like his otherworldly adventures were straight out of a TV show!

"When the birds are gone, the bow is stored; when the cunning hare is dead, the hound is cooked." My goodness, isn’t this exactly the kind of plot you’d see in a TV show?

"The ruler is incompetent and foolish, the loyal and virtuous are persecuted by treacherous officials, the court is in chaos, factions vie for power, the nation is on the brink of collapse, and the fate of the people hangs in the balance!"

"When a great mansion is about to fall, when the raging tide sweeps everything away, it is always the common folk who suffer in the end..."

Lu Cian sighed dramatically, muttering like he was in some tragic opera. Nair Inan watched from the side, his expression peculiar, lost in thought.

Lu Cian continued his performance, unaware that a voice suddenly rang out beside him, striking like thunder out of a clear sky.

"There’s no internet on a barren planet. How did you watch TV dramas?"

Lu Cian: "!!!"

Stunned, Lu Cian wanted to explain, but when he met Nair Inan’s piercing, star-like gaze, he immediately shrank back. The other wasn’t easy to fool—if he was caught lying, he’d be done for!

Not daring to meet Nair Inan’s eyes, Lu Cian stammered, "Actually... my elder brother is amazing. He’s my idol—capable of governing the world with wisdom and securing the nation with martial prowess. He founded a golden age, a commercial empire, a..."

Nair Inan silently stared at him. Lu Cian couldn’t keep up the act, feeling as though Brother Nan’s gaze alone could kill him.

"Brother Nan, I’ll be honest with you. I truly see you as my own brother. All this was taught to me by my real brother—I wouldn’t dare lie in front of him." Lu Cian looked at him with sincere eyes.

After a long moment of eye contact, Nair Inan averted his gaze.

Lu Cian leaned in again. "Brother Nan?"

At this, Nair Inan simply reached out and grabbed the back of his neck. Lu Cian, ticklish, shrank back like a chatterbox cat caught by the scruff.

"Too much talk."

Still hunching his shoulders, Lu Cian dared to retort, "Is that the only thing you know how to say? Every time you don’t know how to respond, you just complain that I talk too much. Next time, don’t even speak—just hit me instead!"

Lu Cian was truly fearless. Did he not realize his frail little body couldn’t withstand even a single finger from the other?