Married a Big Cat After Transmigrating to the Interstellar Era – CH14

Chapter 14

Shi Xiaowang’s small rose plants were growing beautifully. After using the flower house’s testing equipment to check for pollutants in the plants and confirming they were completely clean, he sent messages to Jian Mo and Meng Zhan to share the good news.

Thinking of Big Brother M asking him for flowers, Shi Xiaowang even joked with Jian Mo, saying that maybe in the future he could open a flower shop on the StarNet, selling flowers online — who knows, maybe one day he could even earn back the cost of the greenhouse.

Jian Mo immediately replied that the flower house counted as his investment, and if Shi Xiaowang made any profit later, he had better remember to give him dividends.

It wasn’t even close to becoming a real business yet, but the two of them were already flattering each other — one calling him “Boss Jian,” the other replying “Boss Shi.”

Shi Xiaowang couldn’t help laughing.

After finishing a new round of experiments, Meng Zhan invited him to the research institute.

Before, Shi Xiaowang had only given him some purified plants. Now that Meng Zhan had learned the purified rose seeds showed no sign of pollution during growth, he wanted Shi Xiaowang to give him a few more purified seeds.

At first, Meng Zhan had planned to go to the greenhouse himself to collect them, but got caught up with too many matters. Since Shi Xiaowang also wanted to visit the institute, Meng Zhan sent someone to pick him up.

Before, when Meng Zhan mentioned the research institute, Shi Xiaowang had imagined it being built somewhere deep in the mountains, in peaceful isolation. It was remote enough — but surprisingly, it was located inside a heavily guarded military base.

Of course, the institute existed to serve the military in the first place. The pollution-resistant medicines developed there were always prioritized for military use, with only a small leftover portion released for commercial collaboration under the Chamber of Commerce’s supervision.

The original body’s so-called “relatives” had taken advantage of this small loophole, colluding with business partners to take kickbacks from the military.

The solemn and disciplined atmosphere inside the base made Shi Xiaowang, who hadn’t been nervous at first, suddenly straighten up and compose himself. Everyone he saw stood upright and firm, their faces stern and full of resolve.

Until he saw Meng Zhan waiting at the gates of the institute.

Even standing among the crowd, Meng Zhan stood out effortlessly. Just like when he used to tutor him, he wore a white coat and had a gentle smile on his face, waving at him in greeting.

Seeing how stiff and restrained Shi Xiaowang looked, Meng Zhan chuckled.

“Why so nervous?”

“Not really.”

Shi Xiaowang rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“It just feels impossible to relax here.”

“It’ll be fine once we go inside.”

Meng Zhan didn’t say much more and led him in.

Once inside the institute, Shi Xiaowang finally understood what “a hidden world within” meant — and why Meng Zhan said it would be fine inside.

The place was filled with greenery. Courtyards had wide lawns, and everywhere he looked there were plants.

Compared to the soldiers outside, the researchers here had much more expressive faces — some frowning and muttering to themselves as they walked, others suddenly lighting up with excitement and sprinting past them.

After just a few steps, a sharp-beaked rooster came charging out of nowhere, screeching as it brushed past them. Behind it, a big yellow dog chased it gleefully, mouth open wide in a happy grin.

The contrast was so absurd that Shi Xiaowang froze.

He even wondered if he had imagined it.

“That chicken…”

He looked at Meng Zhan, face full of confusion.

“Oh, all the animals here are experimental subjects,” Meng Zhan said casually. “Very lively, huh?”

“…Yes, quite.”

Shi Xiaowang nodded, at a loss for words.

Seeing his speechless look, Meng Zhan laughed again.

“It might look ridiculous, but they’re the institute’s pride and joy. I told you before — spiritual pollution passes down genetically. That chicken just now, serial number GI98, comes from a line of experiments started back in my grandfather’s generation. The institute’s been working on breeding unpolluted organisms since then. It wasn’t until my generation that we finally managed to stably control the pollutants in its genes.”

Meng Zhan’s tone warmed as he looked at him.

“Until now, we could only maintain stability — but the pollution still slowly wore them down over time. Recently, after I added the extract I refined from your purified plants into their feed, the pollutants in their genes were completely suppressed.”

Meng Zhan’s face lit with joy.

“It’s not a reversal, but do you realize what a huge breakthrough this is? That’s why everyone in the lab has been acting like they’re on stimulants lately — don’t mind them.”

“Of course not.”

Shi Xiaowang quickly replied, “I’m honored to be of help.”

Meng Zhan handed him a bottle of water from a nearby fridge.

“Come on, I’ll take you to see where your mother used to work. I planted all the plants you gave me there. If possible, you can plant the new seeds there yourself — I’ll keep some for research.”

Shi Xiaowang hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Alright.”

His mother, Wang Shuxue, had dedicated herself to improving plants — trying to restore their natural ability to bloom and bear fruit. The old director had given her a team and a lab space for her research.

The lab wasn’t large. One smaller room was filled with instruments, and the larger one had rows of plant racks — some holding potted plants, others filled with nutrient solution.

There were handwritten labels on the racks, a little faded with age.

Shi Xiaowang recognized the handwriting — it was Wang Shuxue’s.

“These here,” Meng Zhan pointed to a row of racks ahead, “are the plants you purified.”

“Director?”

A middle-aged woman with short hair and gold-rimmed glasses walked over from the back row. Like everyone else, she wore a white coat, but her demeanor was more strict and composed.

“The extract collected today has already been delivered, and the purified plants are fine. Did you come to—”

When she noticed Shi Xiaowang, her expression froze. She stared at him for a long while, surprise and emotion rising in her eyes, before asking tentatively:

“You are… Little Duke?”

Shi Xiaowang politely bowed.

“Hello, I’m Shi Xiaowang.”

“Xiaowang…”

The woman smiled softly.

“I remember thinking your name was far too casual, but your mother said that was the fun of it — that way, whenever someone called your name, she’d have an excuse to join in too. She seemed so gentle, but her mind was full of mischievous ideas.”

“She was your mother’s assistant,” Meng Zhan introduced, “Han Ling — now the team leader. You can call her Aunt Ling.”

Shi Xiaowang smiled and greeted her, “Aunt Ling.”

Han Ling responded warmly and said with feeling, “You look just like your mother. The director told me those plants were purified by you — if your mother were here and knew about your ability, she’d be so proud.”

“Oh.”

Then she quickly added, “Don’t worry, only the director and I know about this. No one else does.”

“It’s alright, Aunt Ling,” Shi Xiaowang said, taking out a small bottle of rose seeds. “I’ve been livestreaming my flower planting lately. When these bloom, it won’t be a secret anymore. I’ll make sure to send you a pot as soon as they do.”

“Blooming flowers…”

Han Ling adjusted her glasses, hiding the shimmer of tears in her eyes as she looked at the seeds.

“That would be wonderful.”

“Aunt Ling, where do you think we should plant these?”

Meng Zhan walked around, inspecting the nearby racks.

“Leave me a few to take back, and we can plant the rest today.”

“Sure, let me see…”

Han Ling cleared off some space and said, “Here’s good — this rack was built by your mother herself.”

“She built it?”

Shi Xiaowang’s eyes widened at the tall metal rack.

From the photos he’d seen, Wang Shuxue had looked like a delicate, gentle woman — could she really have managed something so heavy?

“Yes,” Han Ling chuckled, “She insisted on doing it herself. I think she just found it fun.”

That afternoon, Shi Xiaowang and Han Ling chatted about Wang Shuxue as they planted the seeds and purified some nutrient soil together.

He used to think of Wang Shuxue as a graceful, idealistic woman — now, hearing others’ stories, he realized she had also been playfully childlike.

If they were still alive, Shi Xiaowang would surely have lived a very happy life.

Listening to those stories, he felt, for the first time in his life, a deep, aching longing — he truly wanted to know what his parents had been like. Even a photo of them together would have been enough.

Just then, Meng Zhan’s optical brain lit up.

A researcher appeared on the screen, face full of panic.

“Director! Major Xin has gone into berserk mode!”

“Inject a sedative! I’m coming right now.”

Meng Zhan stood up, glancing at Shi Xiaowang.

“I’m coming too,” Shi Xiaowang said immediately.

“You sure?”

“Let’s go.”

Meng Zhan didn’t argue and led him toward the ward.

It was Shi Xiaowang’s first time witnessing a berserk episode.

The man was still human — but his arms had mutated into bear-like limbs. His blood-red eyes burned with hatred and killing intent. The power radiating from his body was terrifying; even with restraining devices, he still flung aside seven or eight researchers who tried to hold him down.

Unable to hurt others, he began harming himself instead, shredding his hospital gown with his claws and tearing at his own flesh, until he was finally pinned down inside a treatment pod.

Shi Xiaowang stood there, watching the researchers scramble with instruments and medications, until the man finally lost consciousness.

“Shi Xiaowang.”

Meng Zhan’s voice brought him back — he realized he’d been holding his breath.

“You look pale. Did it scare you?” Meng Zhan asked, worried.

Shi Xiaowang instinctively shook his head, then looked up at him.

“Where’s Jian Mo? I want to see him.”

“Jian Mo?” Meng Zhan blinked, momentarily confused.

“He’s not—” He stopped mid-sentence, understanding from Shi Xiaowang’s worried expression that he was concerned about Jian Mo’s condition. He patted his shoulder gently.

“Don’t worry. Jian Mo’s fine. His situation isn’t like Major Xin’s. He’s on a mission right now, so you might not see him for a while — but probably soon.”

“Really?” Shi Xiaowang asked uncertainly.

“Of course. If you don’t believe me, send him a message. If he finds out how worried you are, he’ll be insufferably pleased.”

Shi Xiaowang stayed quiet for a while, then murmured,

“Since he agreed to the engagement… I’ve never actually met him. Whether it’s Uncle Ye or you, everyone just says he’s on a mission. But…”

He looked up, eyes full of concern.

“How is his health now?”

---

Completed Novel in PDF and EPUB Format, Click Here!