Chapter 142

Chapter 142

The next morning.

Feeling the embrace around him loosen, Luo Ci stirred awake, rubbing his bleary eyes.

"Brother…"

Tristan, now dressed with a tie, walked over and placed a palm on Luo Ci’s forehead to check his temperature. "You had a slight fever last night, but it’s gone now."

Luo Ci rested his cheek on Tristan’s shoulder, rubbing his eyes with tiny hands. "So… you stayed with me all night?"

"I’ve told you not to rub your eyes like that." Tristan gently guided his hand down.

"Mmm…" Luo Ci nodded obediently.

Tristan chuckled at the sight of the sleepy, docile boy. He leaned down, touching foreheads with him. "Do you feel unwell anywhere now?"

Their gazes met, and Tristan’s warm breath ruffled Luo Ci’s hair. Luo Ci turned his face away. "N-no…"

Observing his expression and confirming he wasn’t uncomfortable, Tristan pulled the blanket up around him. "It’s not even six yet. Sleep a little longer."

"But what about you…?" Luo Ci lay obediently under the covers, yet his small hand clung tightly to Tristan’s sleeve like sticky mochi.

Tristan patted his head. "I have a meeting in the morning. I’ll try to make it back by noon."

Luo Ci pouted, cheeks puffing out unhappily.

Before, Tristan would always take him to work. But as he grew older, Tristan seemed to think he needed more independence. Once his health stabilized, Tristan stopped bringing him along everywhere.

He had thrown fits about it before, and Tristan had relented. But as he neared adulthood, Tristan started doing this again.

Seeing the little one pout, Tristan said, "Didn’t you always want that new *Swallow Trick* LEGO set? I bought them—they’re waiting in the game room. Go take a look after breakfast. And don’t go to the flower room yet. Since you had a fever, I’m not sure if it’s related to the new flowers there. I’ll have someone test for allergens first…"

Luo Ci grumbled. He didn’t understand why Tristan refused to take him to work yet still doted on him like this.

Puffing his cheeks, he pushed Tristan away. "Got it, got it. Don’t you have a meeting? Go already."

Tristan leaned down once more, kissing his forehead before leaving the room.

Luo Ci looked back halfheartedly, watching Tristan leave, then buried his face in the blanket.

Hmph. Tristan was so mean. He decided to punish Tristan… by not thinking about him all morning.

But that was hard for Luo Ci.

After sleeping two more hours, he got up at eight for breakfast.

An attendant brought the meal to the table. Luo Ci browsed social media on his virtual tablet while scooping bites of berry Basque cheesecake with a small spoon. After a few bites, he licked his lips. "This tastes familiar…"

The attendant replied, "The master made it specially for you before leaving."

Luo Ci paused, then angrily stuffed a big bite into his mouth, filling his cheeks.

Hmph. He had planned not to think about Tristan all morning, yet here he was, just hours later.

After breakfast, he went to the game room and found the perfectly wrapped building blocks in the corner.

"Young master," came a metallic voice as a human-like robot stepped in, its footsteps muffled against the marble floor. "It’s time for your health checkup."

This robot was developed by the Luo Zi Alchemy Technology Consortium, formally designated TKR–056232. Luo Ci found the name too long and simply called it No. 2.

No. 2 managed resource allocation and personnel coordination in the castle, functioning as the head butler. It had been Luo Ci’s caretaker since birth, and even as more advanced robots were developed, it was never replaced.

Luo Ci was used to the routine—checkups before noon and bedtime. Sitting on the carpet, he extended his wrist. No. 2 pressed a chip against it, and seconds later, announced, "Readings normal. Wishing you a pleasant afternoon, young master."

Luo Ci went back to playing with the blocks. A while later, No. 2 returned. "Young master, your friends are here to visit. Shall I let them in?"

"Friends?" Luo Ci held a block, thinking. A few faces came to mind. "Let them in."

When the attendants led them in, Luo Ci looked up and recognized them—children he’d met at his birthday party.

The Luo Zi Alchemy Technology Consortium was now a dominant giant, its every move under scrutiny. Unlike Tristan, who already held real power, Luo Zi’s biological youngest son had remained out of the public eye, shrouded in mystery and curiosity.

No one knew what Tristan was thinking when he threw an extravagant sixteenth birthday party for Luo Ci, inviting numerous corporate elites. That was when Luo Ci met many kids his age or close to it.

Stuart looked around in awe. "Even though I’ve been here before, I can’t help but marvel—this castle is huge."

"Right? I thought Theodore’s place was big, but the Winters’ is in another league," Anthony chimed in.

"Well, Newbett City is basically Luo Zi City," Piffons remarked by the rose window, gazing at the neon-lit skyline.

Piffons wasn’t exaggerating. Luo Zi had started in Newbett City, with industries spanning tech, pharmaceuticals, alchemy, and energy—almost monopolizing the city’s energy supply and real estate. Newbett City functioned because of the Luo Zi Alchemy Technology Consortium, which is why some call it "Luo Zi City" among sycophants.

Julia disagreed. "But this castle isn’t the Winter family’s property, right? I heard Tristan gifted it to Luo Ci personally?"

Stuart came from a political dynasty; Anthony and Julia’s parents were part of southern conglomerates. Even as minors, they understood economic interests clearly.

Luo Ci gave a distracted nod.

He wasn’t big on socializing, but since he wanted to distract himself from thoughts of Tristan, their visit was welcome.

"Want anything to drink?"

His friends listed their preferences, and Luo Ci had No. 2 prepare them.

Luo Ci wasn’t interested in joining their chatter, usually just listening.

They frequented social events and always had the hottest gossip—sibling inheritance feuds, idol scandals with consortium heirs.

Anthony, holding a teacup, walked out onto the balcony and gasped. "This view is unbelievable…"

Though mature for his age, Anthony was still a child, not fully grasping the disparity between consortiums—until now.

He’d been to Newbett City’s outskirts—dark, polluted, riddled with acid rain and danger. Meanwhile, downtown was ultra-modern, pristine from advanced automation.

And amid the neon skyscrapers, Luo Ci’s castle towering imposingly, overlooking them all.

Most wealth was monopolized by corporations, with Luo Zi Alchemy Technology as the top player—its armed robots excavating caves, hunting monsters for raw materials, supplying 90% of the city’s metals and energy.

The endless cash flow fueled mechanical advancements, turning Newbett City into a giant money-making machine.

Anthony finally understood why his parents insisted he befriend Luo Ci Winter.

As he wondered how to get on his good side, Julia beat him there, sitting beside Luo Ci.

Luo Ci, holding his teacup carefully, pointed at Stuart, who was grinning at his wrist comm. "Who’s he talking to? He can't stop grinning."

"Probably Mafalda?" Julia said. "Stuart’s had a crush on her for two years. He told us recently she finally agreed to go out with him."

Seeing Luo Ci's curiosity, Julia didn't hesitate to throw Stuart under the bus, recounting all the embarrassing things he had done while pining after Mafalda over the past two years.

"Can we stop bringing up the past?" Stuart couldn't take it anymore, his eyebrows twitching as he emphasized, "We're in a good place now. Yesterday, when we were on a date, Mafalda agreed to let me hold her pinky."

"Haha…" Julia cracked up upon hearing they had only held hands so far, clapping her hands in amusement.

Anthony also was dumbfounded: "You've been together for three months now, right? At this rate, it'll take you at least three to five years to even kiss, won't it?"

Stuart shot back defensively, "What does that matter? I can wait for her! As long as we're spiritually connected, I'm content."

Luo Ci piped up, "What if you've been kissing for five years?"

Anthony replied without missing a beat, "Then of course you'd get married."

Luo Ci went still for a moment, his small hand touching his chest. He had just imagined a scene of him marrying Tristan in his mind and realized he didn’t feel the slightest aversion to it.

He was almost an adult now, no naive kid anymore. He had seen plenty of arranged marriages between business dynasties and knew what they entailed—building a life together long-term.

While many fulfilled their familial duties, others chafed at the idea, yearning for love instead. A marriage without love wasn’t what they wanted.

He liked Tristan, always wanting to cling to him, because Tristan had been the only one who treated him so well since childhood. But now, he suddenly realized that the thought of marrying Tristan didn’t repulse him at all. Instead, warm fuzzies bubbled up from the depths of his heart.

It was as if something he had vaguely sensed and subconsciously wondered about had suddenly come to light.

He realized—his feelings for Tristan might actually be love.

This discovery hit him like a ton of bricks, leaving him flustered. He didn’t even notice when his friends had left.

When he realized his attachment to Tristan wasn’t purely innocent, Luo Ci was thrown for a loop.

He sank into the bathtub, trying to calm down.

Hugging his knees, he sat in the tub as the tepid water rose past his shoulders.

He recalled how, just days ago, he had taken a cold shower to give himself a chill—simply because whenever he fell ill, Tristan would never let him sleep alone. Back then, he hadn’t thought much of it; he just wanted to be near Tristan. But now, he felt lost. He probably had already liked Tristan back then without realizing it.

"Blub, blub…" He buried his flushed face in the cool water to calm himself.

When he stepped out of the bathroom and saw Tristan sitting on the small chair in his room, Luo Ci’s eyes darted about nervously.

He instinctively tried to retreat into the bathroom but was a step too late.

Tristan had already frowned, noticing the little one emerged without even a trace of steam on him.

Tristan marched over, slid open the bathroom door, and tested the water temperature from the showerhead.

Seeing the veins bulge on the back of Tristan’s hand, Luo Ci knew there was no talking his way out. His small face drooped guiltily.

"What were you doing? Taking a cold bath?"

Luo Ci ducked his head, pressing his lips together. "I didn’t mean to… I just needed to clear my head…"

"What did you need to clear your head from?"

"……"

Luo Ci clammed up.

Tristan was furious. He had doted on the little one meticulously since childhood, treating him like fine china—afraid he’d melt if held too tightly or shatter if dropped. He had never even let the little one make his own bed. Yet, the little one cared so little for his own health, secretly taking cold baths. Didn’t he know how much harm it could do?

Luo Ci stared at his wrist, now in Tristan's grip, and obediently followed him back into the bathroom.

Even in his rage, Tristan’s first priority was to push the little one under a hot shower. He dried his hair, dried him thoroughly, and only then carried him back to bed.

He treated Luo Ci like precious glass, as if the slightest pressure would break him.

Luo Ci was always unusually meek when guilty. His searching gaze lingered on Tristan’s face, trying to gauge his mood.

"Brother…" He tilted his flushed face, revealing pearly little teeth, his fingers lightly hooking Tristan’s sleeve. "Don’t be mad…"

Tristan could never stay truly angry at him.

With a sigh, he looked down at Luo Ci, who was watching him obediently. "I’m not mad."

"You are mad at me…"

Luo Ci pouted. Initially, he had felt guilty, but now that Tristan claimed not to be angry, he suddenly felt wronged. His slender fingers tightened around the fabric of Tristan’s sleeve, and his watery eyes threatened to spill little pearls.

Tristan sat down on the edge of the bed. "What do you want me to do?"

Luo Ci thought for a moment. "Then give me a goodnight kiss."

It wasn’t an unreasonable request. Since childhood, whether for naps or bedtime, Xiao Luoci had always asked Tristan for a kiss—a goodnight kiss.

Tristan gazed into the little one’s clear, bright eyes and leaned down, intending to kiss his forehead as usual.

But when they were close enough, Luo Ci suddenly lifted his face, his alabaster arms looping around Tristan’s neck, and pressed a kiss to his lips.