Chapter 29
[Oh my god, luckily the streamer didn’t share senses—hearing that sound hurts…]
[I probably shouldn’t be laughing, but… hahahaha!]
[Who is this streamer? Shouldn’t be saying this, but… kind of cute.]
“Sorry…”
Xu Qingluo murmured, a little embarrassed.
“Don’t be so nervous. We’re probably about the same age. You’re putting on such a big performance, it’s making me a little nervous too.”
Looking at Xu Qingluo quietly rubbing his forehead, Shi Xiaowang smiled.
“I’ll try my best…”
He said “try my best,” but he clearly looked even more nervous.
Shi Xiaowang smiled—he could understand it.
“What plant do you have there? Did you just plant it? The soil looks fresh.”
“Oh, this? It’s an Oxalis. I found it a few days ago on a nearby lawn. It was my first time seeing it, so I transplanted it. I thought the leaves were very pretty.”
Talking about plants, Xu Qingluo visibly relaxed.
“Oxalis, huh… I think I still have some seeds. I remember this plant can bloom too.”
Shi Xiaowang recalled seeing some seeds in a small wooden box.
“Yes, I know.”
Xu Qingluo nodded, then touched his nose and smiled shyly.
“But I probably can’t make them bloom. I once planted roses a long time ago, but they never flowered. So when I saw the little roses you grew, I was really excited—they were so beautiful. If possible, I hope you could give me some guidance. I really hope that one day my plants will bloom too.”
[Huh? What’s going on? Is the Young Duke taking on disciples now?]
[Asking about technique on livestream… isn’t that a bit inappropriate? After all, only the Young Duke can make plants bloom now. What if it’s some kind of patented method?]
“Ah! It’s not that I absolutely need guidance, I just… I just…”
Seeing the comments in the chat, Xu Qingluo became nervous again, wanting to explain but not knowing how.
“Stop teasing him.”
Shi Xiaowang waved a finger.
“What patent? You’ve watched my livestreams for so long—don’t you know what I want? I hope everyone can make flowers bloom with ease. There’s no such thing as a secret technique.”
“But Qingluo, regarding making plants bloom—that is, purifying plants—I have to be honest with you. I probably can’t teach you anything. My purification ability awakened suddenly. I was originally just trying to see if I could train a mental body, but by accident I awakened this skill. I’m sorry, I truly can’t guide you.”
Seeing Xu Qingluo’s disappointed expression, Shi Xiaowang continued.
“However, Director Meng is already researching this. Soon, the institute might develop a plant purification solution, like a nutrient supplement. Then anyone could make roses bloom. For now, if you want, I can give you some purified seeds. With your skills, you can definitely make them bloom and bear fruit.”
“Really? You can really give me seeds?”
Seeing Shi Xiaowang nod, Xu Qingluo finally smiled brightly, full of happiness.
“I’d love to! I’d really love to! Thank you, Young Duke!”
He tried to bow again.
Shi Xiaowang hurriedly stopped him.
“Hey, hey! Don’t bow! Be careful not to hit your head again!”
“Oh…”
Xu Qingluo straightened, touching the red spot on his forehead, smiling awkwardly.
[Hahaha.]
[This kid is too funny, hahahaha.]
[By the way, how old is Qingluo? Compared to the Young Duke, who’s older?]
“I’m a year younger than the Young Duke. I’m eighteen.”
Xu Qingluo said.
“Oh, little Qingluo.”
Shi Xiaowang felt a subtle excitement.
“Then don’t call me Young Duke anymore—call me Brother Xiaowang.”
Xu Qingluo’s eyes widened in shock, whispering in protest.
“That’s… not really appropriate… you’re royalty, how could I…”
“What’s not appropriate? Just think: I’m a year older than you, so I can be your brother.”
Shi Xiaowang said confidently.
Xu Qingluo was confused, hesitated, then weakly nodded.
“…Okay.”
“See? That’s settled.”
Shi Xiaowang waved his hand.
“Come on, call me brother.”
Xu Qingluo blushed even more than before.
“…Brother Xiaowang.”
“Exactly!”
Shi Xiaowang nodded, satisfied.
[Hahaha!]
[Why so proud, Young Duke? Hahaha!]
[Telling us not to tease him, but the Young Duke is teasing the most! Double standards!]
[I checked—the Young Duke is the youngest in the royal family, three older brothers above. No wonder he wants to be someone’s older brother.]
Upstairs, the lion flicked his tail, slightly irritated.
When did Shi Xiaowang meet this Xu Qingluo?
A person who is with him every day, yet he suddenly knows someone he knows nothing about, and they seem so familiar.
Jian Mo took a deep breath, trying to calm his complex emotions.
It wasn’t bad that Shi Xiaowang made a new friend.
He’s only nineteen—he should have friends his own age, laughing and talking, not spending every day with a lion in a one-acre greenhouse.
Rationally, he could see this, yet he still felt the urge to turn off Shi Xiaowang’s neuro-interface and keep him to himself.
Of course, he couldn’t do that—it would be no different from those who had trapped him before.
[Uncle Ye, check Xu Qingluo’s background.]
He sent a message to Uncle Ye.
Maybe his irritation was just because he knew nothing about Xu Qingluo, worried he might harm Shi Xiaowang, purely out of concern.
Jian Mo reasoned with himself.
“You’re a gardener? I saw your work yesterday. Your courtyard is beautiful.”
Shi Xiaowang continued chatting with Xu Qingluo.
“Sort of.”
Xu Qingluo nodded.
“Sometimes people ask me to design green layouts for their courtyards. Other times, I livestream planting and arranging greenery.”
“You’re way more skilled than me. Look at my greenhouse—it’s like a plant store. No design sense, just flowers making themselves beautiful.”
Shi Xiaowang shook his head, comparing bitterly.
“Where did you learn garden design?”
Xu Qingluo smiled.
“Nowhere special. I lived with my grandfather. He liked plants, so I wanted to make a little garden for him. As I planted more varieties, I gradually learned planning. I really wanted my grandfather to see the flowers bloom, but unfortunately, I missed the rose pre-sale.”
Shi Xiaowang paused, feeling a newfound fondness for him.
Maybe not so newfound—mentioning his grandfather reminded him of the old man who raised him.
“It’s fine. I’ll give you some rose seeds, as well as gardenias and sunflowers. Soon, your courtyard will bloom. Flowers you grow yourself will be more beautiful than pre-sale ones.”
“Mm!”
Xu Qingluo nodded vigorously.
“Thank you, Brother Xiaowang!”
“You’re welcome!”
Being called “big brother” made Shi Xiaowang very pleased.
“Can you introduce your plants? Some I don’t recognize. Introduce me to them.”
“Sure.”
Xu Qingluo adjusted the camera and began introducing his plants.
“Let’s start with this. It’s also a gardenia, but it seems different from yours, Brother Xiaowang. Maybe that’s why it hasn’t bloomed. Oh, this one is also a little rose, but the leaves are different from yours.”
“Probably the seeds. My gardenias and roses were collected by my mother, at least a hundred years old. Maybe they hadn’t mutated yet.”
Shi Xiaowang explained.
Xu Qingluo nodded.
“Probably. Many of my plants I transplanted myself. Few were grown from seeds, and I don’t really have access to seeds…”
Shi Xiaowang and Xu Qingluo talked about plant varieties, mutations over 300 years, flowers, fruits, crops, and finally, food.
They talked from morning until the livestream ended in the evening.
Though they ended the livestream at night, they exchanged neuro-interface contacts. Shi Xiaowang even video-called Xu Qingluo to help plan his greenhouse design.
The whole day, he didn’t even go upstairs once.
This continued beyond that day.
Whenever both were online, Shi Xiaowang would actively connect with Xu Qingluo, often filling the air with their joyful laughter.
Uncle Ye quickly checked Xu Qingluo’s background. His family were ordinary federal citizens; his parents worked in the commerce association as basic employees, frequently traveling across planets.
Everything else matched Xu Qingluo’s own words—plant-type psychic, growing plants from a young age, some gardening side jobs.
He was close to Shi Xiaowang purely for plants.
Even if there were other possibilities, they were controllable.
Ruling out any threat to Shi Xiaowang, Jian Mo tried to convince himself.
After all, the boy finally had a friend his own age with the same interests. Naturally, he wanted to play together.
Being happy was fine.
The lion flicked his tail and buried his head in Shi Xiaowang’s pillow.
Forget it, sleep.
Their laughter reached upstairs; whether he watched the livestream didn’t matter. He knew Shi Xiaowang was happy.
Just as he closed his eyes, a new message came to his neuro-interface—from Shi Xiaowang.
[Sir, I recently made a new friend. He’s a plant-type psychic and a gardener. He said he can help me with the overall planning of the greenhouse. I haven’t invited him yet, and I wanted to ask your opinion first. Is that okay?]
Jian Mo looked at the screen expressionlessly.
If it was okay… he wasn’t really keen on it.
