Chapter 28
Shi Xiaowang opened the private message—it was from someone named Xu Qingluo.
[Hello, Young Duke. My name is Xu Qingluo, and I am also a plant-type psychic. I have been livestreaming for a year and a half, focusing on plant cultivation. Recently, I saw the plants you grew bloom, and you even made them into food. Watching your livestreams excites me every time. I’ve been growing plants for over six years, yet none of them have ever bloomed. So I pleaded with my livestream manager and finally got the chance to send you a private message. If possible, I hope to receive your guidance and get an opportunity to connect with you live. I know this is abrupt, and I apologize if I’m disturbing you.]
After reading the message, Shi Xiaowang clicked on Xu Qingluo’s avatar and browsed his previous works.
Xu Qingluo seemed to be a gardener, with a style completely different from Shi Xiaowang’s.
Compared to Shi Xiaowang’s free-range, laissez-faire approach—merely keeping plants alive—Xu Qingluo focused on the overall aesthetics and arrangement of his plants. Even simple greenery in a small courtyard looked organized and well-balanced, with colors harmoniously arranged, giving a fresh and refined impression.
Shi Xiaowang’s expression showed some admiration. He glanced at his slightly messy greenhouse, thought for a moment, then replied and added Xu Qingluo as a platform friend.
[Hello, I’ve looked at the works on your homepage. Your courtyard is beautiful. If you’re free tomorrow, we could connect live.]
After sending the message, Shi Xiaowang touched his wind-dried clothes, looked upstairs, sighed, and picked up the scattered catnip leaves, planning to store them in the upstairs lab to dry.
In the bedroom, Jian Da Meow was lying on the bed with his eyes closed. Hearing Shi Xiaowang’s footsteps approaching, he twitched his ears.
The footsteps stopped at the bed. Even with his eyes closed, Jian Da Meow could feel Shi Xiaowang’s gaze on him.
He didn’t move, continuing to keep his eyes closed. Yet his tail betrayed his embarrassment, swishing slightly.
“Ah, I wonder who just did something naughty and ran upstairs. Now pretending to sleep to avoid responsibility—isn’t that a bit much, hmm? Jian Da Meow?”
The spot beside him sank, and his ears were gently pinched.
Jian Da Meow froze, his eyelids twitching, unsure whether to move or stay still.
He wanted to apologize, but Shi Xiaowang still carried the scent of catnip. He feared losing control and doing something worse.
Better to just bury that pile of catnip…
Jian Mo felt frustrated.
He was human, yet his mind was being controlled by a few pots of plants. It was maddening.
While he was self-reflecting, someone suddenly bit his ear.
The warm, slightly sharp sensation made the lion snap his eyes open and meet Shi Xiaowang’s withdrawn gaze.
Shi Xiaowang’s eyes curved in a triumphant smile.
“What are you looking at? Only you are allowed to bite me?”
The big cat seemed still shocked at being bitten by a human and remained motionless, looking at him.
It was a little cute.
Shi Xiaowang suppressed a laugh, pretending to be serious as he tapped the lion’s nose.
“Jian Da Meow, next time if you want something, let me know. Don’t destroy things casually, alright?”
Jian Da Meow blinked, as if agreeing.
The mighty lion looked obedient and well-behaved, greatly satisfying Shi Xiaowang’s vanity.
He cleared his throat, crossed his arms, and struck a pose.
“Even though you’re the king of beasts, in this greenhouse, I’m the master. As a furry, you have responsibilities. You must learn to act cute toward your master and please your master. Understood, Jian Da Meow?”
Jian Da Meow remained silent, a hint of a smile in his eyes, tilting his head to look at him.
How to please… demonstrate?
“Hmm…”
Shi Xiaowang thought seriously. Though his free-range kittens weren’t very affectionate, he had watched some pet livestreamers.
“First, don’t just sleep all the time. You need to come to me and play. Other kittens actively rub against their owners, seek pets, even ask to be held. You need to learn all these skills…”
Shi Xiaowang sat close to him, his body heat mingling with the catnip scent. Watching Jian Da Meow’s red lips part and close, the lion’s mind began to wander.
“…In summary, you need to learn to actively cuddle and rub against me. Got it, Jian Da Meow?”
No sooner had Shi Xiaowang finished speaking than the lion pressed his furry forehead against his neck. A light nuzzle flipped Shi Xiaowang onto the bed.
Yet Shi Xiaowang didn’t dislike it. He laughed, lying there without resistance, stroking the lion’s head.
“Not bad, already practicing?”
The lion retreated slightly, staring into his eyes.
His rationality wavered; he didn’t fully understand the words, but he felt the encouragement.
The lion leaned down again, sniffing his neck.
The already-torn clothes hung loosely, exposing a large swath of pale skin.
His amber eyes darkened further.
The lion opened his mouth, nibbling at his neck.
“Mm…”
Though light and painless, Shi Xiaowang instinctively panicked.
Was Jian Da Meow rebelling?!
Before he could react, the lion released him and licked up to his collarbone.
He stepped back, meeting Shi Xiaowang’s slightly disapproving gaze.
Shi Xiaowang pinched the lion’s face.
“You’re licking, fine—but biting? You scared me!”
The lion tilted his head, rubbed against him as if to please him, and rested his chin on him, looking innocent.
Shi Xiaowang couldn’t help laughing.
Alright, so he knows how to act cute.
He pinched the lion’s ear.
“Get up, you’re way too heavy!”
The lion ignored him, pressing down even more, burying his head in Shi Xiaowang’s neck and shoulder.
Shi Xiaowang laughed and didn’t say anything, stroking the lion’s fur.
Wonderful—his big cat finally learned to be affectionate!
“Young master, I brought you—”
Uncle Ye’s voice suddenly came from the stairs.
Most walls in the greenhouse were transparent.
Shi Xiaowang turned to see Uncle Ye taking a deep breath and pushing up his glasses.
See? I said it was inconvenient… He had purposely arrived late.
Hearing Uncle Ye, Jian Mo stiffened, as if regaining his composure.
What am I doing?!
What did I just do?!
The head buried in Shi Xiaowang’s shoulder didn’t know whether to lift.
And Uncle Ye was still watching…
So embarrassing, Jian Mo wished he could bury himself in the ground…
Shi Xiaowang, oblivious, pushed Jian Da Meow lightly.
“Da Meow, move for a bit, I’ll come back to play later.”
Jian Da Meow didn’t look up, quickly moved, turned his back to Uncle Ye, and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.
Uncle Ye said nothing, handing over fresh clothes.
“I brought you two pieces of clothing.”
At the word “clothes,” Jian Da Meow stopped pretending to sleep and started faking death instead.
Super socially mortifying…
He never expected this when he bit earlier.
“Alright, thank you, Uncle Ye.”
Shi Xiaowang took the clothes.
“Can this one still be mended? Blame Jian Da Meow for biting…”
He complained to Uncle Ye.
“Just now he bit my neck, startled me. I said he could lick, I didn’t forbid it…”
Before finishing, Jian Da Meow leapt up, flustered, trying to cover Shi Xiaowang’s mouth with his paw.
Stop…
If I say more, it’ll be unexplainable…
“What are you doing!”
Startled, Shi Xiaowang dodged, glaring at him.
“Switching to scratching now? Do you want a spanking, Jian Da Meow?”
He started “punishing” him, chasing Jian Da Meow around the room.
Uncle Ye held back laughter and greeted Shi Xiaowang.
“Young master, I’ll prepare the ingredients for the Third Prince and have them delivered afterward.”
“Okay!”
Shi Xiaowang replied while continuing the chase with Jian Da Meow.
The next morning, Xu Qingluo started his livestream. Since Shi Xiaowang hadn’t specified a time, he didn’t want to miss the opportunity.
Unlike previous broadcasts with only a few viewers, this time the room quickly filled.
[Came from the Young Duke’s livestream. Curious—who is this streamer? First person on the Young Duke’s follow list!]
[Not just first, the only one!]
[So many plants! Is the streamer plant-type too?]
[Could it be a research institute teacher?]
Hiding in a corner, Xu Qingluo nervously gripped his small flower spade handle, overwhelmed by the chat flood.
After building his courage for a while, he finally approached the camera.
“Hello everyone—”
Before he could finish greeting, the livestream connection rang.
Even more people rushed in.
Seeing the avatar, Xu Qingluo’s newly built composure nearly collapsed again, and he hurriedly clicked accept.
“Good morning, Qingluo. You’re up early, more diligent than me.”
Shi Xiaowang smiled at the flustered, blushing boy on the screen.
“I… um… Young Duke, hello!”
The boy stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.
Suddenly, he bowed deeply toward the camera, and thunk—his forehead hit the trellis.
Ouch…
Shi Xiaowang instinctively leaned back.
That hit… such a good head…
