Chapter 71: Peculiar Bloodline (3200+)
Chapter 71: Peculiar Bloodline (3200+)
Gu Heting, after a hurried and strenuous journey, finally arrived at the Empire.
Having just sat down and taken a sip of water, still catching his breath, Luo Le handed over a slip of paper with the ID number of the Intelligent Brain written on it.
He reached out to take it, casting a glance at Luo Le and noticing the dark circles under his eyes. Sensing the situation, he wisely swallowed his words back.
After putting down the cup in his hand, Gu Heting started to contact Huo Lanjing.
It's only five o'clock now, and Gu Heting wasn't really holding out much hope.
To my surprise, the call was answered on the first ring, yet there was silence on the other end.
"Hello, this is Gu Heting. I believe my son, Chen Chen, is with you at the moment. I truly appreciate your assistance yesterday. Could you please let me know when it would be convenient for me to come and pick him up?"
There was a considerable pause before any response came.
Huo Lanjing's tone was calm, utterly devoid of any signs of just waking up. After giving the time and location, he concluded the call.
At eight o'clock in the morning, the Hao Residence was bustling with lively chatter and commotion.
Gu Heting was escorted by the Huo family's servants to the reception room on the second floor.
Luo Le waited for them in the car parked within the garage.
After an extended wait, the door finally creaked open.
It was Huo Lanjing, and Chen Chen was by his feet. Upon opening the door and spotting him, a look of delight spread across her face as she opened her mouth, eager to call out to him.
Gu Heting hurriedly ran over and grabbed him, "My dear Chen Chen, I've missed you so much, my son."
Chen Chen froze for a moment before promptly realizing what was happening. He kissed her on the right cheek.
"Daddy, Chen Chen misses you so much." With these words spoken, she threw herself into his embrace and, from a corner out of Huo Lanjing's sight, playfully fluttered her eyelashes at him.
If the situation allowed, Gu Heting would have extended his thumb in appreciation.
This kid, he's got a good grasp of the situation.
Gu Heting picked up Chen Chen and, looking up at Huo Lanjing with a smile, said, "Thank you for taking care of Chen Chen yesterday. I heard that today is your sister's birthday. This is a specialty from our Second Planet, it's not worth much money."
He walked over and placed a box of tea on the table.
Huo Lanjing also took a seat on the sofa, studying the tea leaves on the table for a moment before asking, "Are you his father?"
In the Empire, on the household register, Alphas are recorded as fathers, while Omegas are noted as caregivers.
Isn't this person an Alpha?
Gu Heting nodded and explained, "Yes, Chen Chen likes to call her that way."
"What brings you to the Empire?"
Huo Lanjing exuded an aura of authority, as if interrogating a suspect.
Gu Heting felt a bit uncomfortable upon hearing this. He changed his previously good attitude, his lips slightly curled, and the smile did not reach the bottom of his eyes, "This is my private matter, I don't need to report it to you, do I?"
The atmosphere became tense in an instant, with undercurrents surging between the two individuals.
Huo Lanjing leaned forward to pour two cups of tea, extending an inviting gesture.
Gu Heting didn't drink, glancing at the door, he said, "Thank you, if there's nothing else, we'll go back first. I have something to attend to later."
"No rush, the child has something left to fetch," he said, sipping his tea gently.
Gu Heting looked at Chen Chen with a puzzled expression.
Chen Chen suddenly recalled the snack from yesterday and briefly explained it.
Gu Heting had no choice but to wait with him.
After a while, the servant arrived with multiple paper bags.
Huo Lanjing cast a glance at the person at the door. "Uncle Wang, send them home."
Gu Heting frowned and said, "No need to trouble yourself, I've driven here."
Huo Lanjing didn't insist; he waved his hand, indicating that the man should do as he pleased.
Gu Heting waved his hand towards the other end of the sofa and said, "Chen Chen, let's go."
Chen Chen let out an "oh," climbed down from the sofa, and threw herself into his arms.
After that, Gu Heting carried Chen Chen away. On the road, he kept an eye on the rear, fearing being followed.
The moment Gu Heting thought of Huo Lanjing's gaze as they left, he couldn't help but feel a tingling sensation on his scalp.
Fortunately, their escape was uneventful, with no pursuers in tow.
Gu Heting first stuffed the items in his hands into the car, then he picked up Chen Chen and placed him inside the vehicle before closing the door.
The moment Chen Chen got into the car, he spotted someone bundled up tightly. With a hint of confusion, he called out, "Dad? Dad?"
Luo Le revealed a pair of eyes, acknowledging with a soft sound, and secured Chen Chen into the child safety seat.
Though the touch was gentle, Chen Chen could sense Father's displeasure. He obediently sat still and dared not utter a word.
Luo Le rummaged through the paper bag, revealing its contents, and his eyes darkened slightly.
The hovercar started smoothly.
Meanwhile, at the Huo residence.
"Master, should we follow?" Uncle Wang asked, glancing from the departing car on the screen to the person beside him.
Huo Lanjing tapped his thumb rhythmically against the rim of his cup. After a few taps, he spoke in a deep voice, "No need."
He had already instructed someone to install a tracker on the car's undercarriage when it entered the garage. They could locate Luo Le's residence simply by following the vehicle.
Given Luo Le's alertness, sending someone to tail her would only risk exposing their plans.
"Understood." Upon receiving an answer, Uncle Wang stepped back into his position behind Huo Lanjing.
Fixing his gaze on the screen, Huo Lanjing's eyes darkened as he pondered over something.
The moment Luo Le left the Huo residence, she heaved a sigh of relief. She removed the messy fabrics draped on her and pointed at something on the ground. "What's this?"
Gu Heting: "Ah, this is..."
"Let him speak for himself," Luo Le said, his face dark as he looked at Chen Chen, who was curled up in the seat.
Seeing her father's reaction, Chen Chen's heart skipped a beat. She quickly explained, "Uncle gave it to me. Please don't be angry, Father. I only had one small jelly."
Luo Le frowned, "Luo Chenyue."
"Here." Chen Chen shot his hand up abruptly.
Father only called him by name when he was extremely upset.
But when he went to Zhu Zhu's house, Father wasn't that angry; he just told him not to go to strangers' homes.
Zhu Zhu was the first friend Chen Chen made on his first day at kindergarten. He had spent the night there without sending a single message.
"Did I ever tell you not to take things from strangers?"
Chen Chen retorted, "Uncle Hao isn't a stranger."
Luo Le was taken aback for a moment. Although Chen Chen was sociable on the surface, it was only a facade. When a colleague of Gu Heting asked him to call him "Uncle," he refused and only agreed to do so after a month.
But addressing him as Uncle after just one night?
Gu Heting stood by, watching without interjecting.
"How could he not be? Have you met him before? What if he's a bad person? Aren't you afraid that he might sell you off? What about the promise you made to me?"
Chen Chen lowered their head, not offering a response.
"Why didn't you wait for Father to come back yesterday? How many times have I told you not to accept food from strangers, and never to follow them?"
Chen Chen remained obstinately with his head lowered, an unwavering look of determination on his face.
Luo Le's frustration grew with each passing moment, and he eventually reached out to undo his seatbelt.
Gu Heting took a look and realized that the situation was getting out of hand. He pressed down on the belt and tried to calm Luo Le down by saying, "Luo Le, calm down, calm down. The empire cannot hit children."
With a loud wail, Chen Chen burst into tears. Wiping away her tears, she accused, "It was Daddy who... didn't want Chen Chen. Waaah! Now, Daddy is blaming Chen Chen. Daddy is mean. Chen Chen doesn't want Daddy anymore. Go away, Daddy."
Feeling a sting in his heart, Luo Le reacted to Huo Lanjing's defiance with a sarcastic laugh. "Fine, I'm the bad guy. Then go ahead and acknowledge your Uncle Huo as your father."
Upon hearing this, Chen Chen's sobs intensified, rendering her unable to speak coherently.
Gu Heting tried to comfort her, but no matter what he did, he couldn't seem to soothe her.
The rest of the journey was made in silence, father and son not exchanging another word.
Upon returning home, Luo Le went upstairs. Seeing that he truly ignored her, Chen Chen hurriedly scampered after him, panic-stricken.
"Father, Father."
Luo Le seemed to have not heard, disappearing around the corner.
Tears welled up in Chen Chen's eyes, a surge of unjustified suffering within her.
Gu Heting walked over and patted, "Don't cry."
"Daddy, really, no, don't abandon Chen Chen, Daddy, oh." With that, she threw herself into his arms.
Gu Heting patted him on the back and said, "Chen Chen, do you still remember the bad person I told you about?"
Chen Chen lifted her head, "Bad... person?"
"Yes, the one who bullies your father, always making him suffer injustices and be bullied by others."
Chen Chen pondered for a moment and suddenly recalled the scars on Father's body. She nodded. "Yes, I remember."
"Weren't you always asking who that villain was? Well, now I can reveal it to you — that villain is the Uncle Hu you mentioned earlier."
Chen Chen paused, "Him?"
"Yes, him. That's why your father is so angry. Yet you're still defending him."
Deeply affected, Chen Chen lowered his head and turned to grab the railing, climbing up the stairs step by step.
That night, as Luo Le finished his evening routine and lay down on the bed, he heard movement at the door.
He had a good idea who was outside and made no move.
For a moment, the sound of knocking echoed.
"Who is it?"
A tiny voice came from outside the door, "Daddy, it's me."
Luo Le slipped on his shoes and got out of bed. Upon opening the door, he found Chen Chen hugging a cushion, looking at him from the doorway.
"Daddy, can Chen Chen come in?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he caught sight of his father's back, causing him to lower his head in disappointment. However, he couldn't bear to leave just yet.
A few minutes later, he suddenly heard his father's voice.
"Why aren't you coming in? Close the door."
Luo Le saw Chen Chen visibly light up with joy. He closed the door and sprang onto the bed with excitement.
After turning off the lights for some time, Luo Le sensed rustling sounds beside him.
"Daddy, are you asleep?"
"What's the matter?"
"Sorry, Daddy, Chen Chen shouldn't have defended that big bad guy."
After saying this, Chen Chen pounced on Luo Le and snuggled up to him, holding on tightly for fear of being thrown out.
"Daddy, are you still angry at Chen Chen?"
Luo Le's strong reaction today was largely due to Huo Lanjing.
Initially, he was indeed angry, but Chen Chen was just over a year old, how much could he understand?
He turned on the bedside lamp and stroked Chen Chen's head.
"Chen Chen, were you scared today? Daddy wants to apologize to you."
Chen Chen shook his head. "It was Chen Chen's fault."
"Why did you defend that uncle today? Just because of those bags of snacks?"
Chen Chen shook his head. "Chen Chen doesn't know."
Luo Le ruffled his hair. "It's alright, go to sleep. But stay away from that uncle in the future, okay?"
"Okay."
After such a tiring day and reassured that his father wasn't angry, Chen Chen fell into a deep sleep.
Gazing at his sleeping face, Luo Le found himself unable to sleep.
Although Chen Chen claimed he didn't know why he spoke up for Huo Lanjing, Luo Le was certain that Chen Chen had felt a inexplicable affinity towards Huo Lanjing upon seeing him. Otherwise, there would be no explanation.
With this thought, Luo Le sighed. Blood ties were truly strange things.
It would be best to minimize their interactions.
This time Luo Le returned, primarily for his mother, and secondarily for Chen Chen.
The Empire offered the finest education, and though he couldn't provide the elite tutelage that the Huos could, it would certainly surpass what he himself had received previously.
His mentor had facilitated his entry into the mecha division under his company as a technician.
The Empire provided ample support policies for technicians.
With this identity, he would be able to offer Chen Chen an even better education.
*
Luo Le had previously investigated and found out that Luo Lu had another partner outside, one who had him utterly enchanted, causing him to be seldom at home.
Wang Yiyi, aware of this, wanted to make a scene but didn't dare. She spent her days drowning her sorrows in alcohol and only returned home at night.
Luo Zhining, still at school, was unaware of this situation.