Chapter 33

Chapter 33

After everyone left, the entire living room fell silent. Lanxiu looked at the sofa shattered into pieces, clicked his tongue, and looked a bit distressed.

That was a custom order he had commissioned from a top designer on Baiyao Star at great expense, and now it had been sullied by those obnoxious people sitting on it. Oh well, consider it a loss to avoid disaster.

Fu Han sat across from him, head bowed, motionless for a long time. Eliza came over to clean up and casually mentioned, "Dr. Gray came by this morning and said that surrogacy document needs..."

"What surrogacy?" Fu Han jerked his head up as if stung.

In an instant, Lanxiu wanted to strangle Eliza. He slapped his own chin twice, his eyes fierce, and Eliza immediately shuddered, slowly turning to Fu Han while covering her mouth.

"My deepest apologies..."

Fu Han just looked at Lanxiu. "What exactly is this surrogacy document?"

Meeting Fu Han's unyielding gaze, Lanxiu rubbed his temples, crossing his arms in frustration.

When Fu Han saw he wasn't answering, he turned to Eliza. "Eliza, tell me."

Eliza stammered, "I..."

Lanxiu sighed and waved his hand. "Go on down first. We'll clean this up later." He added, looking meaningfully at the latter, "And while you're at it, fix that rusty brain of yours and your loose lips!"

"Waa..."

Eliza gathered her skirt and ran off pitifully, leaving only Fu Han and Lanxiu standing face to face in the living room. It was like a butcher staring at a lamb to be slaughtered.

And honestly, that creepy comparison was pretty accurate.

This matter was a bit complicated, and Lanxiu didn't know where to start. To prevent Fu Han from flying off the handle and to avoid being caught in the crossfire, he decided to clarify first. "First of all, this was Dr. Gray's idea. He applied on his own initiative, and I didn't participate in the final vote. But I did say I'd consider it. I didn't expect him to act without waiting for my decision, so..."

"So finding a surrogate wasn't your idea." Fu Han cut to the chase as Lanxiu beat around the bush.

Lanxiu quickly nodded. "Right, exactly."

Just as he started to relax, he saw Fu Han narrow his eyes.

"So why were you considering a surrogate? Could you explain that?"

Since he started living with Lanxiu, he had never heard him mention wanting children. Why the sudden rush to find a surrogate, and why did Dr. Gray seem even more anxious than Lanxiu?

Thinking about this, Fu Han felt a bit annoyed. They had a Breeder living at home eating for free, yet Lanxiu was looking for a surrogate elsewhere. It felt like looking for a donkey while riding one.

And he wasn't the only one annoyed—Lanxiu was even more troubled.

He had originally planned to quietly resolve this issue behind the scenes, but Eliza's slip of the tongue had let Fu Han find out. He had been busy with experiments lately and was already exhausted. There was no need to burden him with this mess. Besides, this was his own problem, not Fu Han's.

Standing face to face like this was tiring, but mostly, it was awkward.

Lanxiu pulled him back onto the sofa, their knees touching, the feeling completely different from before.

Lanxiu draped his arm over Fu Han's shoulder, completely unaware that the look in Fu Han's eyes had changed drastically from the beginning.

"Actually, I told you before—I have an ageless condition. The Federation really wants to study my body to develop an immortality drug. But my job is dangerous; I often have to go to the front lines. So they can't guarantee my absolute safety. They want me to get married and have kids quickly to preserve my bloodline. And that's when you were sent here."

It really was a strange story. Looking back at the first time he met Fu Han, Lanxiu never imagined their relationship would become what it was now.

When he first saw Fu Han, he wanted to laugh—it felt absurd. The Breeder the Federation sent him was a scrawny little boy with severely malnourished. He had just showered, and his wet hair clung to his face, making him look like a pitiful stray kitten.

The room was dim. The boy stood by the bed, completely still, like a doll come to life.

So exquisite, so wonderful.

But Lanxiu didn't know that in Fu Han's first impression, he was far more breathtaking.

By now, whether it was love at first sight or love that grew over time didn't matter anymore.

Lanxiu half-explained, half-complained, "The Federation's ultimate goal is for me to have kids as soon as possible. They don't care whether I like it or not, and they don't care if anyone else is willing. They just keep pushing, pushing, pushing. Also, my physiology is really strange. In vitro fertilization never works—I can't fuse my reproductive cells with a female's to form an embryo. So surrogacy is the only option."

Fu Han interrupted, "If you wanted a child, why didn't you just have one with me in the first place?"

Lanxiu looked at Fu Han's serious expression and almost laughed. "Have one with you? Back then, you were holding a gun and almost blew my head off! Besides, you were a minor. I'm not that twisted."

Thinking back to that chaotic night, it really was dangerous. If Lanxiu hadn't reacted quickly, those bullets wouldn't have just taken down the ceiling—they'd have taken my head off.

"So why are you suddenly in a hurry to find a surrogate?"

Lanxiu countered, "Did you read that 'Breeder Manual' I gave you?" Seeing Fu Han shake his head, Lanxiu gave a knowing look. "Article 12: If the Breeder has not conceived within six months, the agreement between the Breeder and the Breeder Master will be terminated, and the Breeder will be assigned to the next Breeder Master to continue the breeding task."

Fu Han had never even glanced at the breeder certificate or the stack of manuals he received. He had no idea about their content. He had heard that if a Breeder couldn't conceive, they'd be reassigned, but he thought that only applied when there was no designated Breeder Master. He didn't realize it applied to him too, even with a designated Breeder Master.

In other words, if he wasn't found to be pregnant within six months, his agreement with Lanxiu would end, and he would be assigned to someone else.

Strangely, hearing this, Fu Han felt a strange sense of relief. "So you and Dr. Gray were in such a hurry to find a surrogate because you were planning to pass the child off as my own?"

That was the only explanation he could think of.

Lanxiu admired his quick wit and smiled bitterly. "That was the original plan. But after thinking it over, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Being forced to have a child with someone else feels like being raped. But Gray, afraid I'd hesitate again, sent the application form over in advance, just waiting for my signature."

He looked at Fu Han. "Do you think I should sign it?"

He didn't know why he was asking Fu Han this. He had planned to handle it alone, but now he wanted to hear Fu Han's opinion.

Fu Han thought for a moment. "Bring me that document."

"Alright." Lanxiu had Eliza fetch the document Dr. Gray had delivered that morning. He was about to explain the hard-to-understand clauses when the kid grabbed it and ripped it to shreds without a second thought.

Watching the shreds of paper fall from Fu Han's hand, Lanxiu smiled. The kid reminded him of his younger self—both were pretty wild. But then his smile faded.

"There's no need. I... can have a child with you." After saying that, Fu Han himself felt embarrassed. His eyes immediately shifted from Lanxiu to the floor. Watching the legs step closer, Fu Han took a deep breath and balled his fists.

This day had finally come.

But the two were clearly not on the same page.

Watching the kid with his head bowed, Lanxiu wanted to slap himself. Because of him, Fu Han was bearing such a heavy burden. Even he had trouble deciding, but he'd asked Fu Han to help—it was practically forcing a choice on him.

Lanxiu felt like a total scumbag.

He ruffled Fu Han's hair, noticing his body was stiffer than usual, and pulled him into a hug and patted his back.

"It's okay. This is nothing. If the sky falls, I'll hold it up. I'm definitely not handing you over to someone else. Don't be scared."

Fu Han nestled in his arms, his voice was muffled. "I'm not forcing myself. I mean, I want to have a child with you." He paused, mustered his courage, and finally said, "I like you."

"..." Lanxiu heard it clearly but couldn't believe it, and tried to push the person in his arms away, "What did you say?"

Fu Han, however, clung to Lanxiu's waist like an octopus and refused to let go, burying his face deeply in the other's stomach. Lanxiu was at a loss, feeling as if he had been struck on the head, dizzy and disoriented.

The little brat said he liked him?

Under normal circumstances, he might have accepted it gladly, but this statement came together with "I'm willing to have a child with you," making it hard not to overthink.

Lanxiu had lived this long and was being confessed to face-to-face for the first time. If Fu Han was nervous, Lanxiu was even more nervous. It was too unexpected; he never could have imagined it.

He grabbed Fu Han's arms and tried to push him away, "Come on, don't joke around!"

"Who's joking!" Fu Han's tone was firm, but his actions were like a shy little ostrich, his head buried in Lanxiu's chest and refusing to come out, only his ears exposed, burning red.

Lanxiu slowly let go of his hands and let out a long sigh. It seemed it was true.

He was liked by the little brat.

The two stood frozen in the living room for a long time. Lanxiu spoke gently, "Let go first, and we can talk slowly, okay?" Holding him like this, he was also starting to feel unsteady.

Fu Han was silent for a moment, then slowly released his hands, but his eyes still didn't dare to meet Lanxiu's. When he was in school, he used to think that watching classmates confess with flushed faces and racing hearts was childish and ridiculous, but now that it was his turn, he was even more exaggerated. His heart felt like it couldn't bear the load.

Thump, thump, thump. He felt so uncomfortable he wanted to cry.

Lanxiu sat opposite him, this time keeping an appropriate distance. He was now starting to regret his previous thoughtless behavior of hugging Fu Han so casually. He had always thought that with such an age gap, it was fine for an elder to be affectionate with a younger one. Only now did he realize how wrong he had been.

Fu Han actually liked him? He actually liked him!

What kind of mess was this?

Fu Han sat on the sofa, hearing no response from the other side for a long time until eventually a sigh came. His heart began to feel uneasy. Lanxiu's surprise was expected, but whether he would reject or compromise was unpredictable.

Lanxiu remained silent, and Fu Han did too. In the quiet environment, everything seemed to stand still.

Lanxiu had never thought about anything so seriously before. He dug his fingers into his hairline and scratched his scalp hard, his face twisted as if trying to pull out his brain.

"Fu Han, are you sure you really like me?"

After a long silence, that was the only response. Fu Han suddenly looked up, his face pale, "What do you mean?"

"Don't misunderstand. I'm not doubting you. I'm thinking, maybe you've mistaken this affection for love. Because no one has ever been so warm to you before. Now that I've suddenly appeared, you've mistaken this affection for love. Don't rush to decide now. When you grow up a bit more and get to know the world, you'll find that more and more people will be good to you, and you'll understand that sometimes affection is not the same as love."

Fu Han looked at him and smiled, "Did that person say the same thing to you before?"

Lanxiu "..."

Fu Han shifted his gaze away from his eyes, "I don't think I'm someone who can't tell the difference between affection and liking. My liking for Grandmother and Little Fei, my liking for Teacher Qi, my liking for Zhou Yunxuan, and my liking for you—I can tell them apart very clearly. If this is an excuse to brush me off, then don't bother. You just need to say no, and everything will end."

Human emotions are truly strange. A moment ago, when he confessed, his heart was like a wild horse galloping on a cliff. But in an instant, Fu Han felt like he was lying on a small boat, drifting with the current, quiet as a painting.

As long as Lanxiu clearly rejected him, everything could end.

But he dared to bet that Lanxiu wouldn't refuse.

Lanxiu was startled by the resolute expression on Fu Han's face. He really didn't know how to handle this problem. If he refused, he could imagine how things would be between him and Fu Han from now on—it would be like going back to square one, truly strangers.

But agree? That was even more impossible!

A man over a hundred years old dating a teenager—wasn't that ruining a young seedling? If Gray found out, he'd never let him hear the end of it.

Lanxiu wanted to see if there was any room for negotiation. He looked at Fu Han hesitantly and asked, "What if I say no..."

"Then in six months, send me to the next person. That way, you don't have to worry about rushing to have a child."

"No way! You stay home, and you're not going anywhere!" As soon as Lanxiu heard that, he refused without thinking.

Fu Han saw his attitude and smiled. From his probing words just now, he could tell that Lanxiu was leaning more toward rejecting him. Since that was the case, he might as well be harsher.

Fu Han sneered, "You're always like this—constantly approaching me on one hand and pushing me away on the other. If you can't accept being with me, then you shouldn't have kept saying you liked me in the first place, always hugging and kissing me. Don't you know how misleading that can be?"

Lanxiu shook his head mentally. If he had known, he would never have done it.

"Is it my fault?" Lanxiu muttered in self-doubt.

"Of course it's your fault." Fu Han stood up and walked toward him, "If you're determined to refuse, then stop getting close to me and stop saying you like me. In six months, our agreement will end. I'll remember the good you've done for me. It's just like with that person—you said he treated you like a child, so you were destined not to be together. Because your future depended on that person's decision. And now it's the same for us. Everything depends on your decision."

Staring at Fu Han like this, combined with those words, Lanxiu felt like a live octopus pressed on an iron plate, sizzling and burning. He was completely fried, his whole being about to collapse.

Everything depends on his decision?

Wasn't this pushing him onto a knife's edge?

As if Fu Han's lifelong happiness was in his hands. Wasn't this just a teenage crush? Why did it have to be as tragic as a disaster?

Lanxiu felt terrible—both for Fu Han and for himself. Wasn't there a perfect solution?

After a profound internal struggle, Lanxiu finally compromised, "If you really believe that your feelings for me are love, then let's give it a try. But I still need some time to adjust right now. You might have to wait for me to get into the right mindset."

Hearing his answer, Fu Han felt a huge relief. Even though a forced melon isn't sweet, being able to twist it off was still very satisfying. It might be unfamiliar now, but later, with some ethylene to ripen it, it would still be sweet.

Fu Han's face changed like a switch, and he smiled like a flower. When Lanxiu heard his laughter, he immediately felt like he had been tricked. But instead of anger, he just sighed inwardly. This little brat had put a lot of effort into setting him up.

Now he was so persistent, but as time passed and he grew older, he would realize that the world was big and there were many excellent people. His liking for Lanxiu would gradually fade.

Fu Han grabbed Lanxiu's hand, "You don't believe in my feelings. I can prove it to you." As he spoke, he abruptly pulled Lanxiu's arm, trying to lower his head.

Lanxiu, seeing the mouth heading straight for his, quickly reached out and pressed Fu Han's face away, craning his neck desperately to avoid it. "This is too fast, I can't take it! Even in a relationship, you don't just kiss right away, do you? I'm too old, my heart can't handle it. Let me recover for a few days!"

Fu Han pulled at his hand for a long time but couldn't get what he wanted. He let go of Lanxiu's arm resentfully and pouted. Back then, when he hugged and kissed him, he was so affectionate. Now, just one little kiss, and he was being as coy as a maiden who had never seen a man.

What was this old guy doing?

Fu Han saw that it was late and he had to go to the lab the next day. He turned and went upstairs to sleep. When he reached the stairs, he noticed Lanxiu hadn't followed. He looked back and saw the guy still standing there in a daze.

"Come to bed!"

"Oh."

Normally, they would race up the stairs, and Fu Han couldn't catch up. Today, Lanxiu moved like a turtle. By the time Fu Han had been in his room for a while, he still hadn't seen Lanxiu.

Fu Han took out his pajamas from the wardrobe and changed. He had been holding back his smell of smoke for a long time. Just as Lanxiu pushed the door open, his gaze a little unfocused, and saw Fu Han shirtless while pulling on his clothes, he immediately covered his eyes and fled into the bathroom.

Hearing the panicked door slam, Fu Han turned around "..."

Where did this virtuous wife come from?

When Fu Han changed into his pajamas and knocked on the door to go take a shower, the person inside dawdled for a long time before opening the door, clutching his collar like he was guarding against a thief. Fu Han saw this and, with a sly smile, suddenly stuck his foot on the threshold, blocking Lanxiu's way.

He rubbed his nose and looked at him with a playful glance, "Where are you going? The bathroom is big enough for two to wash together."

"No!" Lanxiu refused while grabbing Fu Han's ankle, trying to push past him.

Seeing his red ears, Fu Han's smile grew wider. "Who was it who said before that it's normal for two men to shower together, and besides, I have no improper thoughts about you."

"You call this 'no improper thoughts'?!" Lanxiu was pressed against the tiled wall as Fu Han's leg slowly advanced. He never imagined that one day Fu Han would dare treat him like this.

Bold move, kid.

Fu Han tilted his head, seeming to seriously ponder Lanxiu's words, then smacked his lips. "Improper thoughts? You think I have improper thoughts about you?" With that, he bent the leg that was braced against the wall and leaned in, squeezing Lanxiu until he could barely breathe—the bathroom was already so airtight.

"Aren't we in a relationship now? It's only natural for me to have thoughts about you. How does that turn into 'improper thoughts' for you?"

Lanxiu's eyelids drooped desperately under the heat, unable to meet his gaze. Fu Han directly lifted his chin with a hand, making him look up, meeting Fu Han's dark eyes. He gulped.

I've lived long enough to see this: a hundred-year-old man being teased by a teenage boy in the bathroom—was this a distortion of human nature or a collapse of morality?

"Fu Han," Lanxiu grabbed his wrist and pulled it down, "if you don't respect me like this, I'll get angry."

Seeing his serious expression, Fu Han wasn't scared at all; instead, he leaned in closer and blew a puff of air in his face. "Then get angry. I want to see what you look like when you're mad."

"..."

This situation made it impossible to lose his temper, since he had already agreed to Fu Han's request. Wouldn't that be like playing the saint after being a whore?

But the pace was really taking off like a rocket—he was getting motion sickness.

Lanxiu gave in. "I beg you, let me go for now. Besides, you're still underage now, and there are some things you're too young to handle."

Fu Han saw the veins bulging on his neck and figured if he kept pushing his luck, Lanxiu would really explode. Thinking it over, he released his grip and bit Lanxiu's chin, then said with a provocative look, "Then hurry up. Don't keep me waiting too long."

With that, he let go and walked out of the bathroom. Hearing the door close, Lanxiu breathed a huge sigh of relief, grabbing the tiles to keep from sliding down the wall. His military uniform was soaked with cold sweat.

What kind of kid is this? Daring to flirt with even him—Is he some kind of demon?!

Fu Han closed the door and stood on the floor. Suddenly, he slapped his hands over his face, the heat between his fingers lingering, unable to dissipate for a long time. Thinking back to the scene just now, he couldn't help but chuckle.

He never expected Lanxiu to be in this state after being confessed to—turning into a limp shrimp whenever he touched him, not daring to look up. This is hilarious, hahaha!