Chapter 17

The door opened again. Bai Ruonian was overjoyed and was about to leap out of bed to pounce over, but when he saw it was a sullen Ji Shiyu, his movements froze instantly. He turned around, went back to his bed-nest, and pulled up the covers in one fluid motion.

Ji Shiyu snorted a laugh, sizing up the little Omega. A standard delicate beauty, with a pair of azure blue eyes that sparkled like starlight. Although the light in them had dimmed upon seeing him, that gaze was truly rather radiant.

No wonder even Lu Mingjin could act like a human being.

“What’s this? Not happy to see me?”

Bai Ruonian pointed at his ear to indicate he couldn’t hear clearly.

Actually, he could make out the gist, but he couldn’t be bothered to understand, and certainly couldn’t be bothered to care.

This guy who only ever pulled his tail the first time they met, hmph.

“Really can’t hear, or just pretending?” Ji Shiyu curled his lip, walked up, looked at Bai Ruonian’s azure eyes, and patiently leaned closer. “But it doesn’t matter. Lu Mingjin asked me to get someone to make you a Military Hearing Aid. You’ll hear clearly soon.”

He looked Bai Ruonian up and down, snorted another laugh. “Good thing your physique test came back decent, or else Lu Mingjin would be using Blue Snowflake on you just for a minor surgery.”

“Blue Snowflake?” Bai Ruonian wrinkled his nose. The name sounded pleasant.

Seems he’d heard that clearly. Ji Shiyu raised an eyebrow.

“A rare medicinal herb. It enhances physical condition and Mental Power. Anyway, it’s a good thing. I heard even the Royal Family asked for it last time and didn’t get it.” His tone was a bit sour. After all, this stuff was extremely difficult to cultivate, and even his General Medical Research Institute didn’t have the cultivation base. His expression was sour as he noted something even he didn’t have was practically going to be used as a supplement for this little Omega.

Seriously.

Bai Ruonian, however, clearly didn’t grasp the importance of the item. He just tilted his head. To him, it was just a flower.

Before, if he’d wanted it, his Master could have plucked the very stars from the sky…

“Where’s Lu… Where’s Lu Mingjin?”

Bai Ruonian blurted out. He cared more about this than Blue Snowflake.

Ji Shiyu paused, scratched his hair, and chuckled lowly.

Lu Mingjin had really been right. This little Omega had eyes for him when awake, eyes for him when asleep, and when the person wasn’t there, he still asked for him. Something even the Royal Family wanted, and this little guy didn’t even bat an eyelid; all he wanted to know was where Lu Mingjin was.

So strange.

Less than a month, and they were this close? Especially with a block of ice like Lu Mingjin?

He really didn’t believe it.

“He’s about to go on a mission, probably went back to the Military Command to prepare.” Ji Shiyu said it once. To make sure he was understood, he specifically typed it out on the screen. “It’s fine. Getting a Cochlear Implant is a minor surgery; it doesn’t matter if he’s here or not.”

Seeing those words, Bai Ruonian almost bristled.

Mi… nor… surgery?

Before, if he even got a shot, his Master had to hold him!

There was no way he was letting the guy who pulled his tail do surgery on him.

Bai Ruonian looked up at Ji Shiyu’s peach blossom eyes. The latter narrowed them, smiling like a fox with ill intentions.

He flipped over and jumped off the bed. “I’m not doing it!”

“I want to go home!”

Ji Shiyu clearly hadn’t expected Bai Ruonian to be so wild and untamable, the complete opposite of his well-behaved and cute appearance. Stunned for a second, he snapped back, “No!”

This Omega, one face with Lu Mingjin and another face behind his back.

After a commotion, the ward door burst open with a bang. Ji Shiyu stormed out, already annoyed by Lu Mingjin’s earlier jibe, and now rebuffed by Bai Ruonian—truly a black-bellied couple. He turned to his deputy in a fit of pique. “Quick, quick, send him home! I can’t handle this wildcat. Let him go yowl at Lu Mingjin!”

Happily, Bai Ruonian got into Old Cao’s car. He wasn’t seriously hurt anyway. If his Master wasn’t there, he certainly wasn’t going to obediently stay in the ward, much less undergo surgery by Ji Shiyu all alone and lonely.

Old Cao, of course, immediately sent a message to Lu Mingjin, mentioning the surgery. The reply came back faintly: Let’s do it another day. Nothing else was said.

Had to admit, the Major General really doted on the Young Madam.

Old Cao looked through the rearview mirror. The Omega looked well-behaved, napping with his eyes closed, as beautiful as a painting.

It was hard to say who was luckier, the Major General or the Young Madam.

“Young Madam… we’re here, wake up.”

Old Cao gently called to Bai Ruonian.

Bai Ruonian drowsily opened his eyes, his first reaction a smile. Still drowsy from sleep, his voice was a bit coquettish. “Oh, Uncle Cao, just call me Little Bai.”

Old Cao waved his hands rapidly. “Oh no, I couldn’t do that.”

“You’ll get used to it. I’m used to people calling me Little Bai.” Bai Ruonian’s eyes curved.

Old Cao couldn’t help but smile too. “Alright, Little Bai.”

Bai Ruonian pushed the door open and got out. “Uncle Cao, come in for some water.”

Old Cao shook his head. “The Major General doesn’t like outsiders coming in unannounced.”

Bai Ruonian was a little curious. “Why?”

Old Cao sighed. “It’s not really a secret anymore. Two years ago, right after Major General Lu came of age, he wiped out several Space Pirate strongholds and faced some retaliation. At that time, the Major General kept a cat. Those Space Pirates didn’t dare touch him, so they snuck in and took his cat, and then…”

“And then what?” Bai Ruonian stared at him unblinkingly.

He actually knew the story all too well.

Then they made his Master go alone.

And he actually did. Afterwards, he went berserk and annihilated an entire star system.

“Ah…” Old Cao rubbed his nose, realizing he’d said too much. He changed the subject. “What ‘then’ haha. Say, those Space Pirates were ridiculous though. Bauhinia Villa on the Capital Planet, Military Command jurisdiction, top-level security. No one knows how those guys snuck in, even cracked Major General Lu’s biometric password… I tell you, there had to be a mole… Eh, what’s wrong?”

Only then did Old Cao notice Bai Ruonian was rubbing his eyes somehow.

Bai Ruonian’s voice was a bit hoarse. “Nothing…”

Being able to return to his Master’s side was a miracle among miracles. He wondered how much pain his Master must have been in at that time, but from the looks of it, he should be much better now.

Old Cao paused, relaxed, and saw Bai Ruonian to the door, looking like he wanted to say something but was hesitant.

“What is it, Uncle Cao?” Bai Ruonian raised his eyes in confusion. He’d learned to read the room slightly better recently.

Old Cao spoke with some difficulty. “Little Bai, are you going out this afternoon? You…”

He paused, a bit formal. “If you’re not going out, I’d like to ask for half a day off. I want to take my daughter to the doctor this afternoon.”

Bai Ruonian paused for a moment, then immediately nodded. “Of course, you can.”

Then he realized something. “What kind of sickness? Is it serious?” He tilted his head. “Is it a cold?”

“No…”

Old Cao shook his head sadly. “It’s caused by lack of light exposure. You know, once star systems are developed to a certain extent, the farther from the sun, the less energy there is. Some regions naturally don’t receive sunlight, which leads to some corresponding illnesses…”

He swallowed the sigh he wanted to release. “I’m pretty lucky already. Thanks to Major General Lu promoting me to be his driver, my daughter benefited and could come to the Capital Planet to access medical resources, which includes supplementary light exposure. A blessing in misfortune…” He gave a wry smile, a bit apologetic. “I wanted to go on the weekend, but we just couldn’t get an appointment then…”

“Seeing the doctor is important.” Bai Ruonian’s answer was firm.

He’d been sick once right after becoming human and empathized deeply.

“Drive safe. You don’t need to come pick me up this whole week.”

Old Cao left, deeply touched. Bai Ruonian entered the house alone.

The sunlight was perfect. Lu Mingjin’s home had been stark and empty before, the large house feeling very cold. Ever since Bai Ruonian arrived, his first act was to change the thick, dark black curtains. The living room now had beautiful moon-shadowed gauze curtains, smooth and bright. Sunlight streamed in, warm and comfortable.

Bai Ruonian wandered around for a while, feeling like something was missing. Suddenly his gaze fell on the spot where the vase had been shattered. Originally, a stick of Catgrass had been there, green and vibrant.

He remembered the large bouquet of flowers he’d taken to the Bai Family. Such beautiful flowers, how nice they would look displayed at home.

Taking them there was a complete waste.

Bai Ruonian’s eyes darted around. Maybe he could go buy more. Not necessarily flowers, Catgrass would do. His Master liked growing Catgrass before anyway. In any case, this house needed decorating. His Master would surely be happy to see the house bright and cheerful.

He turned on his Terminal, about to call Old Cao, but remembered he had plans that afternoon. After thinking it over, he put the Terminal down.

A moment later, he picked it up again.

He was a person now, with hands and feet. Why did he need someone to drive him?

Bai Ruonian poked at the Terminal, found the map, and input Central Avenue. The map thoughtfully presented a 3D street view, along with the various malls within. Next to it was a button that thoughtfully offered a ride-hailing Starship service.

Bai Ruonian tentatively tapped it. An interface instantly popped up: Little Bai Starship x86, Tail Number 95288, is heading your way.