Chapter 26: The Cat Wouldn’t Accept It.

After leaving the pet store, Li Ye did not drive the hover car back to the Imperial Military. Instead, he headed to a local orphanage.

Li You burrowed into the cat carrier, facing the side where he could see outside. He sulked inside, pouting as he glared at the scenery.

Anjiel’s development had been slow. Even with funding from Prime Star, there had not been much change over the past decade, especially in the outskirts of the main city district.

Windbreak walls had been built here. Towering iron barriers enclosed the main city, blocking a large portion of the wind and sand.

The orphanage was not large. The buildings were old but not dilapidated. The walls were covered in chalk drawings by children, and the play equipment in the yard had peeling paint. It swayed in the wind and sand, emitting creaking sounds.

Upon arriving at the iron gate of the main courtyard, he could hear children’s voices reciting lessons from inside.

The gatekeeper was an elderly man dozing in a recliner.

Li Ye walked over with the cat carrier. The man, who had been pretending to nap, opened one eye and sized him up before standing. “Yo, an officer. What can I do for you?”

Li Ye nodded toward the inside. “Is Lude here?”

“Lude is teaching a class today. You’ll see him if you go in.” The old man smiled obligingly and opened the iron gate for him. “Please, come in.”

Li Ye nodded silently in thanks and walked inside with the cat.

Li You perked up his head from inside the cat carrier.

Senior Lude?

He worked here?

Li You was somewhat surprised. He had no bad impressions of Anjiel itself, but in his memories, Senior Lude had been one of the top students at the academy. Why would he now be working at an orphanage on Anjiel?

【Is the Empire recently implementing some policy support?】

【They sent Senior Lude here, but shouldn’t it be to the Imperial Military?】

Li You clearly had many doubts. Li Ye paused his steps.

He lowered his gaze to the bulging cat carrier in his hand, thoughtful, but said nothing. He raised his eyes and continued walking inside.

The forty-minute class ended quickly. Lude emerged from the classroom plastered with newspapers, turned, and spotted Li Ye standing not far away. His brow furrowed imperceptibly. He approached and stood at attention, saluting. “Good morning, Your Highness Li Ye. Anjiel Deli Orphanage welcomes your visit.”

Lude lowered his hand and stared at Li Ye expressionlessly. “I am very surprised by your visit.”

“I am also surprised. You really work here.” Li Ye’s tone was equally cold.

Lude’s skin was not like Jason’s wheat tone; he was very pale, even sickly. He was no shorter than 1.8 meters but very thin, looking as if he had just recovered from a serious illness—listless, lacking any vigor.

Li You stared dazedly at Senior Lude, who had changed so much after many years. His emotions were complicated.

The once spirited and robust Senior Lude, the proud senior—how had he become like this?

“If you don’t mind, we can talk in my office.” Lude turned to lead the way for Li Ye, showing no intention of waiting or saying more.

Li Ye followed, arriving at a small room at the far end of the corner.

This was Lude’s office.

The square space had only a small window. The room was tiny; even fitting a desk and a sofa was a squeeze.

“Space is limited. Sit wherever.” Lude fetched a cup of warm water from the water dispenser and placed it on the small table. “We don’t have much to offer here. Please forgive us.”

Li Ye set the cat carrier on the sofa, half-squatted to release the cat, but did not sit. He straightened and asked, “Your abilities are good. Why didn’t you stay on Prime Star?”

Lude continued to stare straight at Li Ye. “I am grateful for the Empire’s nurturing, but I am very sorry. Due to personal health reasons, I truly lack the energy to maintain everything I once had.”

Li You found this explanation somewhat hard to believe.

The old Senior Lude had not been like this. Back then, the senior always talked about his ambitions. He had been proud, confident, and diligent enough.

He was like a completely different person from this current wilted, dispirited state.

Not only did Li You not believe it, Li Ye did not either.

But Li Ye did not press further. Instead, he changed the subject. “Anjiel is very close to Kailenoa District.”

A flicker of movement stirred in Lude’s dull, stagnant gaze.

Li Ye’s hand slowly stroked the cat in his arms. “Over ten years ago, you, Jason, and Li You secretly surveyed Kailenoa. Did you tell anyone else about it?”

“No.”

Lude’s answer was crisp and straightforward. His expression remained perfectly calm, showing no flaws.

But a performance that was too perfect, without any flaws, was itself a flaw.

Li Ye looked down at the man before him. “It had better be as you say.”

“You can see for yourself. I am just a teacher at an orphanage on the verge of closing. I’ve stayed here for seven or eight years without leaving, and I haven’t contacted outsiders. Even if I wanted to mention it, who could I tell those old stories to?” Lude pulled a self-mocking cold sneer. “Besides, even if I had the chance, it would do me no good. Why would I mention it?”

“You and Jason are not the same kind of person.” Li Ye suddenly brought up. “Do you know what he said about you?”

Lude finally showed another reaction, a hint of forbearance on his face. “He and I were never on the same path. What he says about me has nothing to do with me, and I don’t care.”

【But Senior Lude, you seem to care a lot right now.】

The cat stared intently at Lude, his paws anxiously kneading Li Ye’s arm.

【Senior, if you have some unspeakable difficulty, just tell Li Ye. He’s not great as a person and has a bad personality, but he really is a good guy.】

Li Ye: “……”

He lifted his free hand, pinched the round face of the ragdoll cat, and turned the cat’s head to face him.

Li You’s pouting mouth pressed against his brother’s palm. He blinked rapidly, looked up at the expressionless Li Ye, and licked his brother’s hand in confusion. His teeth itched, so he opened his mouth and gently rubbed his sharp teeth against the back of the hand.

Li You could tell Lude cared a lot, and naturally, so could Li Ye.

Lude cared about leaving Prime Star, and similarly, he cared about Jason—or more precisely, he disdained Jason.

Deep down, he was still proud, even carrying a hint of aloof superiority.

“In that regard, you are quite like him.” Li Ye’s hand lightly scratched the cat as he said indifferently, “Both of you disdain your former friends.”

Lude froze, then let out a cold laugh. “Did he tell you I’m hypocritical? Yes, everyone says that about me. He’s no exception!”

Li Ye raised his eyes. “Everyone?”

Lude clamped his mouth shut and did not speak. After a moment, he unwillingly squeezed out through gritted teeth, “Forgive my bluntness, Your Highness Li Ye. You all are the same—hypocritical, selfish, aloof, and self-serving. You always repay those who put in effort and sincerity with the utmost malice! You, all of you, were like that in the past, and you still are now.”

His emotions surged, his voice rising. “His Highness Li You, who was hurt by all of you back then, even had to use death to prove his worth. I’ve seen through it all! I won’t follow His Highness Li You’s old path and die for you selfish bastards—it’s the least worthwhile thing! Only His Highness Li You was that foolish! A masochistic, rotten good person!!”

He spoke a torrent of words in one breath, breathing rapidly. After finishing, he clenched his fists and turned his head away. “Sorry……”

Li Ye remained silent, raised his wrist to activate his light brain, and connected to the old file transmitter in the office.

Moments later, the file transmitter emitted clicking sounds.

Li Ye lowered his hand and gently stroked the cat buried motionless in his arms. “We indeed are not worth it.”

Lude froze.

“But not everyone is as hypocritical as you say.” Li Ye glanced at the file transmitter. “That’s a letter Jason asked me to deliver to you. Also, I take back what I said earlier. The only one who disdains people is you. Your friend Jason mentioned you in front of me—he said you are a person of principles.”

“You are not the same kind of people.” Li Ye added, “He trusts you, but you suspect him.”

Lude’s eyes instantly reddened, veins bursting in them. He gnashed his teeth. “You’re lying to me?!”

“I’m not a good person.” Li Ye said coldly. “Don’t you know that?”

“Li Ye!” Lude clenched his fists. At that moment, a knock sounded at the office door. A little boy poked his head in, eyes timid. “Teacher Lude……”

Lude immediately suppressed his agitation, turned to the door, squatted down, and asked, “What’s wrong, Gar?”

“Garna took my rabbit doll.” The boy named Gar clutched his clothes, aggrieved. “You gave it to me. He already has his own toys.”

“Alright, good boy. I’ll go talk to Garna.” Lude patiently soothed the little boy, coaxed him back, then turned around. “Your Highness, I have work to do now. Forgive me for not being able to chat more.”

Li Ye said nothing, carried the cat toward the office door. As he brushed past Lude, he paused and turned his head to look down at the man filled with anger. “There is one thing I must correct you on.”

“You’re right that no one in the world is worth it.” Li Ye stared at Lude. “But Li You is not foolish, nor is he a rotten good person.”

“You are also a beneficiary of everything he did.” Li Ye’s voice was indifferent, an invisible pressure bearing down on Lude from afar. “With Li You’s personality, he wouldn’t demand gratitude from you all, but I am different.”

“I haven’t demanded that you worship him as a faith, which is already my leniency.” Li Ye’s tone carried a dangerous chill. “You should be filled with gratitude toward him.”

Lude stiffened, not daring to meet those eyes.

Li Ye carried the cat away and stopped in the outer yard. He stood still, his hand continuously gently rubbing the cat buried in his chest.

The cat’s ears were almost flattened, looking very aggrieved. Its tail wrapped around Li Ye’s arm without moving.

Li Ye pondered how to coax it when the cat in his arms suddenly lifted its head.

【Am I a rotten good person?】

【Damn it!!】

【I’m a rotten good person? If you have the guts, don’t live anymore!!】

The cat meowed densely, “meow meow meow.”

Li Ye was stunned for a moment, a quiet sigh of relief in his heart.

It seemed he was fine.

Li You was indeed fine. He just could not quite understand how Senior Lude had become like this.

The orphanage yard was empty. Near the entrance huddled a boy hugging a bear doll and a rabbit doll.

The boy had a pair of purple eyes. He sat in a pile of dirt, staring blankly in some direction.

Li You noticed the child and glanced a few times, but Li Ye had already carried him away from the orphanage.

After getting enough wind and sand outside, they rode the hover car back to the Imperial Military. The cat followed his brother to the rest room. Upon entering, Li You first shook off the sand from his body, then strutted inside. After two steps, he was scooped up by his brother.

“Meow!” Li You let out two short meows. He was carried into the bathroom and placed in the white sink basin.

His brother tested the water temperature and casually asked, “Bath time?”

The cat panicked.

【No, brother, don’t scare me. Should you really ask a cat’s opinion?】

Li Ye glanced at him and answered himself. “Mm, time for a bath.”

Li You quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Then Li Ye spoke again. “Don’t take his words to heart.”

Li You froze again and blinked.

Whose words? Lude’s?

【Brother, stop scaring the cat, okay? There’s only your cat here, no You-You!!】

Li Ye’s gaze was still. He watched the damp ragdoll cat, squeezed cleaning gel into his hand to lather foam, and applied it to the cat’s face, carefully cleaning it.

He washed every inch thoroughly. When he reached the tail and rear, however, the cat dodged away.

【Nooo! I can wash myself!】

【Go away!!】

Li Ye did not leave. His gaze remained serene, even somewhat vacant, but his voice was as steady as ever. “Don’t move.”

His words brooked no refusal.

Li You obediently sat still without moving, still staunchly guarding his rear from being touched.

After a standoff, Li Ye compromised, avoiding the cat’s sensitive area. He washed everywhere else spotlessly clean, then rinsed with warm water, giving the rear and tail a quick rinse as well.

The Imperial Military had no drying box. Li You was wrapped in a towel by his brother and rubbed dry several times before finally standing on a chair.

He tilted his head up, letting the Li Ye sitting beside him use the hairdryer to blow-dry his fur.

Once it was fluffy and soft, Li Ye used the purchased comb to groom the cat’s fur, then applied some essential oil. He even carefully cleaned up the shed fur afterward—truly dutiful.

Li You felt a bit unaccustomed to being pampered like this. He watched Li Ye head to the bathroom for his own bath, then turned to patrol the room. He paced to the mutant mirror, looked at his clean white self, and puffed out his chest proudly.

He was truly a beautiful little cat!

The cat jumped onto the sofa, his gaze falling on the soft big bed. He was just about to lift a paw to leap over but thought better of it and retracted his claw.

He glanced at the bathroom and listened to the sound of rushing water inside as he pondered in his mind.

【I’m shedding fur a bit too much.】

【Will Li Ye let the cat on the bed?】

【Hmm… That guy has intermittent germaphobia, so he probably won’t allow it.】

【Poor Youyou, can’t sleep on the bed.】

Li Ye in the bathroom: “………”

Li You curled up into a nest on the sofa cushion. Just as he lay down, the bathroom door opened. Li Ye emerged with heat radiating from his body and reached him in a few steps.

Shrouded in shadow, Li You opened one eye. He caught a glimpse of his brother’s waist and abdomen still misty with steam, froze for a moment, and then was picked up by the scruff of his neck.

With a spin, he found himself lying on the soft bed.

“Meow?”

Li Ye placed the cat properly, turned to blow-dry his hair, and looked back to see the cat sneakily padding its paws toward the edge of the bed.

He set down the hairdryer: “Go back.”

Li You pouted and turned to nestle back at the head of the bed.

【Fine, going back then, hmph.】

Li Ye: “……”