Chapter 40: Little Pig Cat Part 1

Imperial Military, third-floor tea area.

Five people sat down at a white curved booth. Li You and Li Ye sat together on one side, facing Li Ming and Li Ze.

Yulian looked back and forth between them before choosing to sit alone.

He placed the cake on the round tea table, unwrapped it, and skillfully cut the matcha mille-feuille cake into several portions. He handed the largest piece to Li You. “Try it. The matcha flavor is pretty good too.”

“Thank you.” Li You took it with both hands, scooped a spoonful, and brought it to his mouth. But he paused, turned his head to Li Ye, and offered the bite to him.

Li Ye ate it. He stared expressionlessly at the two across from them. Though he said nothing, the pressure was immense. His cold gaze alone made the two brothers squirm like they were sitting on pins and needles.

Li You’s relationships with his other relatives weren’t actually good. Aside from Li Ye, his two older brothers, one older sister, and parents all treated him indifferently, even dismissively.

Over those dozen-plus years, they had almost no harmonious moments together.

In Li You’s memories, his playmates were only Li Ye and Yulian. The scant friendship and family affection he knew came solely from them.

Li You stuffed cake into his mouth and let his mind go blank. He hadn’t removed the sunglasses perched on his nose bridge, so no one could see his expression. Only Li Ye, sitting beside him, could lower his gaze and notice the eyelashes trembling faintly beneath the lenses.

Li You didn’t want to return to the capital. He didn’t want to live in the place that had once made it hard for him to breathe, nor deal with the people who had made him uncomfortable—even if they were blood relatives.

He actually wanted to stay on Kara Star more, to live in the Sunlight Palace. It was so free there.

At that thought, he paused mid-bite, set down his spoon, and looked at Li Ye. “How’s Little Wan Sis doing?”

Li Ye tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear. “No major issues. Do you want to see her?”

“Yeah.” Li You nodded, then asked, “If she wakes up, what do you plan to do with her?”

“She hasn’t done anything to harm humans.” Li Ye told him the truth. “Once she wakes, we need to confirm her motives for those actions and get some answers from her. The handling after that will depend on the situation.”

“…Oh.” Li You buried his head and took another bite of cake. With his cheeks puffed out, he asked, “Any follow-up on the Kailenoa incident?”

“You’ll attend the meeting with me later.” Li Ye didn’t tell him now. He glanced across the table. “Don’t you still need to chat with these two who brought the cake?”

The two who brought the cake froze. Just then, the chocolate cake Li Ze had ordered arrived. He started to unwrap it, but Li You shook his head to stop him. “Yulian’s cake portion is plenty. Eat his first.”

Li Ze paused, withdrew his hand, and pressed his lips together. “Fine. Take this one home later, then.”

With no response from Li You, he clenched the hand on his knee and stared at the familiar face across from him. “You really are Li You?”

“The real deal.” Li You said, “If you don’t believe me, that’s fine. Li Ye believes me anyway.”

Yulian watched him eagerly from the side.

“…” Li You added, “Yulian believes me too.”

“So what exactly is going on with you?” Li Ming suddenly spoke up, his voice agitated. “Why did you vanish ten years ago? Why show up now, after a decade, looking exactly like you did back then?”

Li You fell silent for a moment before saying to him, “Brother Li Ming, ten years ago, I didn’t vanish. I really died.”

Li Ming stiffened abruptly.

Li You set down his half-eaten cake, shoved both hands into his pockets, and lightly tapped his shoe tip against the carpet. “I can’t explain to you why I came back to life. I don’t even know the reason myself.”

“Anyway, I’m alive now.”

After he finished, Li You licked his lower lip and turned to Li Ye. “Bro, I’m a bit thirsty.”

At that word from him, all four looked his way. Li Ye lightly raised his left hand to signal a distant officer. Soon, the officer brought a glass of milk. Before leaving, his gaze lingered for a moment on the blond youth among them.

Li You cradled the milk with both hands and drank half in one go. Holding the glass, he asked, “Anything else you want to ask? My bro has a meeting.”

“Li You,” Li Ming gritted his back teeth. “Li Ze and I are your brothers too. How long have you been back? Why haven’t you contacted us?”

“I never said you aren’t my brothers.” Li You pushed his sunglasses up with a finger. “But Brother Li Ming, you never cared about my affairs before. Why demand now that I’ve returned, I have to contact you?”

“I—” Li Ming opened his mouth.

“Big Bro didn’t mean it that way.” Li Ze cut him off, blocking the emotionally unstable guy. “He’s just too anxious and doesn’t know how to express it. You know his personality—he’s always been quick to flare up.”

“Youyou, our brotherly dynamic back then really wasn’t worth reminiscing about. I admit it: I was influenced by public opinion and our parents’ attitudes toward you. I’m very sorry.” Li Ze said, “These past few years, Big Bro, Third Sis, and I have often thought of you and felt deep guilt.”

“…” Li You stayed silent. After a while, he tugged at Li Ye’s sleeve with his hand.

Li Ye glanced down at him and stood. “That’s it for today. Let’s go.”

“Mhm.” Li You rose, clutching his brother’s clothes hem like a little tail. After a few steps, he turned back to Yulian. “I’ll come find you in the lab this afternoon.”

Yulian packed up the cake. “Sure. Bring the cake?”

“Nah, I’m full.” Li You waved. “See you this afternoon.”

He ignored the other two and followed his brother with his head down, walking in silence.

Li Ming’s brow furrowed so tightly it might snap. Li Ze sat dazed for a moment before picking up the cake and standing. “Let’s go. Back to work.”

“Just like that?” Li Ming asked.

“Big Bro, Youyou’s right.” Li Ze glanced back at him. “Don’t you know how we treated him before? He’s only been back a short time. How could you expect him to set aside old grudges and get along with us right away?”

He checked the time. “We can only take it slow. He’s back—that’s what matters. At least he’s back…”

Meanwhile, Yulian packed his things and stood. With one hand in his pocket, he glanced at the two brothers before stepping forward. “Your Highnesses, some things can’t be rushed. Leave it to time.”

He patted Li Ze’s shoulder. “Besides, if you’re sincerely trying to make amends, fine. But if you have other motives, it’s not just Your Highness Li Ye who won’t let you off. Plenty of people are watching you.”

“…” Li Ze frowned at him.

Yulian shrugged and walked off with a wave.

Over here, Li Ye brought Li You back to his office and led him to his desk, handing him the chair.

“The chair’s mine. What about you?”

“I’ll have someone bring another. Sit first.” Li Ye told him.

Li You didn’t stand on ceremony. He sat with his feet together, hands on his knees, and looked around the absurdly large office area piled with files and documents. He paused when he spotted Qi Yu in the distance, removed his sunglasses, and greeted General Qi.

Qi Yu smiled and nodded at him.

Li You turned back to Li Ye. “General Qi looks much better.”

Li Ye hummed in acknowledgment. He lowered his gaze to Li You, who looked so small in the office chair, and brushed the back of his hand against his face. “You need to gain more weight. Too skinny.”

Li You froze, then instinctively turned his face away. “I’m not skinny.”

【Why touch my face…】

【Stop stop stop!! Li You, your mind’s getting dirty again!!】

【Don’t think, don’t think!!!】

Li Ye narrowed his eyes at the youth whose eyelashes wouldn’t stop trembling but didn’t press. He simply said, “After the meeting later, we’ll head to the research institute first. Then I’ll take you shopping.”

“Okay.” Li You, sitting ramrod straight, nodded.

At that moment, Peisengke and Kris bustled in one after the other from outside. General Peisengke strode to the workstation and reached for the water in Qi Yu’s hand, only for the other to dodge aside.

Peisengke was shocked. “No way, buddy? I’ve been waiting on you hand and foot these past few days, and you won’t even share a cup of water? That’s outrageous!!”

Qi Yu sidestepped him and headed toward Li Ye. “It’s not for you.”

Peisengke looked over resentfully and saw Your Highness Youyou sitting in the chair behind the desk, while Your Highness Li Ye stood nearby working.

The scene was a bit surreal. He narrowed his eyes, turned to grab a cup of hot water and downed it, then set it down and crowded over.

Kris leisurely finished her water, glanced at the crumpled paper cup, and elegantly set down her own cup. “So crude.”

Then she followed over as well.

Li You looked at his light brain from the seat when three shadows suddenly blocked him. Puzzled, he looked up to find the three officers surrounding him.

He blinked, set down the light brain. “Good morning, General Qi, General Peisengke, and Kris sis.”

Peisengke, who’d been rubbing his chin while observing Li You, exploded at that. “Why’s Kris ‘sis’? We just get ‘General’?”

Kris elbowed Peisengke directly, then squatted down, propped her cheeks with both hands, and beamed at Li You. “Hello, Your Highness Youyou. So happy to see you.”

Li You smiled. “Hello.”

Qi Yu handed him the water. “This is sweet osmanthus brew made with the scented water from Your Highness Li Ye’s office. Tastes pretty good. You should like it.”

“Thanks.” Li You took it and cradled it. A bit dazed, he looked at the three generals staring at him and slowly blinked.

Kris covered her mouth, eyes full of fondness. “Oh my, Your Highness Youyou, you’re just too adorable.”

“Hiss…” Peisengke looked left and right, rubbing his chin stubble with one hand. “I keep feeling like you look familiar, Your Highness Youyou. Like we met recently.”

Li You pulled a polite smile.

Qi Yu smoothed things over from the side. “We met Your Highness Youyou over ten years ago. Feeling familiar and close now is only natural.”

“That makes sense.” Peisengke ruffled his hair.

Li You sneaked a glance at Qi Yu and curved his eyes at him. Qi Yu nodded politely back.

Then Peisengke crossed his arms and suddenly asked Li Ye over there, “Your Highness, how come I don’t see the little cutie you brought back?”

“Cough cough…” Li You choked on his water, quickly moved the cup away, and wiped the splashed spots on his clothes.

Li Ye handed over a tissue, pressed at his damp collar, and calmly replied, “The cat’s at home. Kairien’s watching it.”

“Oh, good that it’s back.” Peisengke sighed in relief. “Next time, Your Highness, don’t take the kitty on missions anymore. Too dangerous.”

Li Ye’s gaze dropped to Li You’s crown. “Very dangerous. No next time.”

Li You took the tissue from his brother’s hand, pursed his lips in a smile, and said nothing. Tracing it back, he had climbed aboard the starship and followed on his own initiative…

Beside them, Kris’s gaze darted between Your Highness Youyou and Your Highness Li Ye before settling on the clothes Your Highness Youyou wore. Her eyes scanned three times, and a strange smile tugged at her lips.