Chapter 31
Xu Qingluo looked like he was about to cry, fearful and embarrassed.
His eyes were red, his face pale, and his hands trembled slightly.
“It’s okay.”
Shi Xiaowang smiled.
“But next time, if there’s something you want to do, you can just tell me directly. It’ll help avoid misunderstandings.”
“Mm… I’m sorry…”
Xu Qingluo glanced timidly at the lion a few steps away, still tense.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll take him upstairs first. Wait here a moment.”
Shi Xiaowang pinched the lion’s ear and said to Xu Qingluo.
Back in the bedroom, Shi Xiaowang turned and hugged Jian Da Meow’s neck.
“Jian Da Meow! You noticed he was taking photos, so you came to warn me, right?”
Taking photos with the neuro-interface didn’t involve large movements, so it wouldn’t normally look like an attack. If Jian Da Meow came downstairs to warn, it could only mean he realized Xu Qingluo was secretly recording and disapproved of it.
As expected from a large feline—double the intelligence!
Jian Da Meow looked up at him.
He had expected Shi Xiaowang to think he was meddling.
Sensing his hesitation, Shi Xiaowang kissed him on the bridge of his nose.
“Thank you, Da Meow. You always rush to protect me when there’s a problem. With you around, I feel so safe.”
Jian Da Meow twitched his ears, keeping a calm expression, his tail swaying slightly behind him.
Shi Xiaowang stroked the lion’s fur.
“Don’t worry, I’ll explain it to him.”
After calming Jian Da Meow, Shi Xiaowang returned downstairs.
“Brother Xiaowang…”
Xu Qingluo’s expression was nervous, fidgeting with the edge of the table as she looked at him.
“Please don’t be mad…”
“I’m not mad.”
Shi Xiaowang smiled.
“It’s normal to want to take pictures of things you’ve never seen before. I never told you not to take photos anyway.”
His tone was gentle, and Xu Qingluo finally relaxed.
He didn’t want this incident to affect his relationship with Shi Xiaowang.
“But Qingluo, my ability is kind of like my spiritual self. People usually value the privacy of spiritual beings. Because you’re my friend, I don’t mind showing it to you.”
Shi Xiaowang continued.
“But as you saw, my spiritual self is a bit unusual. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I don’t want more people to know about it.”
“So, taking photos is not allowed, okay?”
Shi Xiaowang wagged his index finger, smiling.
Xu Qingluo looked at him, eyes flickering. He nodded.
“I understand.”
Shi Xiaowang said no more and patted his shoulder.
“Let’s go. It’s almost lunchtime. We’ll head to the fields and prepare some food. I’ll let you taste some ancient dishes.”
“Okay!”
Xu Qingluo’s smile returned, though he glanced nervously upstairs.
“But… the lion won’t come down again, right…”
“No.”
Shi Xiaowang wrapped his arm around his shoulder, reassuring him with a gesture. “Don’t worry, you won’t end up as a meal.”
Xu Qingluo exhaled quietly.
“You really have to keep that promise…”
The two laughed together.
After settling today’s menu, Xu Qingluo asked, “Will we livestream? The dishes we’re making today haven’t been streamed before, right?”
“Sure.”
Shi Xiaowang placed the washed eggplants on a plate.
“Use your account. The camera angles are the same anyway, I won’t stream this time.”
“Okay.”
Xu Qingluo agreed and started her livestream.
Before officially starting, Shi Xiaowang put up a notice in his own livestream, guiding viewers to Xu Qingluo’s stream.
“Remember to share senses. Once it’s on, be careful not to bump into anything.”
Shi Xiaowang teased with a glance.
“No need to repeatedly lecture me, Brother Xiaowang.”
Xu Qingluo said helplessly.
“I swear, I’m just giving a friendly reminder!”
Shi Xiaowang protested.
Xu Qingluo nodded.
“Alright, you’re the chef. You decide.”
Perhaps due to the lion’s scare, the last tension snapped, or maybe because Shi Xiaowang said “friend,” Xu Qingluo gradually relaxed more than before.
This was good, Shi Xiaowang thought.
This felt more like the natural way friends should interact.
[Wow, Qingluo actually went to the Marshal’s residence! Isn’t he afraid of meeting Jian Mo?]
[I wanted to ask… Qingluo is so close to the young duke. Won’t Jian Mo get mad?]
“Uh… I didn’t meet Marshal Jian.”
Xu Qingluo didn’t want to answer about Jian Mo, so she looked at Shi Xiaowang.
“I’m close to Qingluo. Why would Jian Mo be mad?”
Shi Xiaowang smiled while chopping vegetables.
“And he knows and agrees that Qingluo can visit. Didn’t I tell you yesterday?”
He handed Xu Qingluo a slice of cucumber.
“Quick! Take a bite. Let everyone taste it. Plants and food are the stars of this livestream.”
“Mm…”
Still washing vegetables, Xu Qingluo’s hands were occupied. She bit the cucumber slice.
“Mm! So refreshing!”
“Right?”
Shi Xiaowang smiled.
[Sss, I’m worried about Qingluo’s safety. He just bit right in. Isn’t he afraid Jian Mo will throw him into a black hole?]
[Brother Xiaowang~ You’re feeding Qingluo like this. Won’t Brother Jian Mo be mad~]
[If Brother Jian Mo gets mad, you’ll protect Qingluo, right~]
[Hahaha, stop, it’s toxic!]
Shi Xiaowang laughed along for a while.
“Brother Jian Mo won’t be mad. He’s busy, where would he have time to get angry?”
Whether he was busy or not, Jian Mo really wasn’t angry right now.
The lion flicked his tail.
He suddenly understood why Shi Xiaowang wanted people to call him “brother.”
“Will Marshal Jian return for lunch?”
Hearing Xu Qingluo’s voice, the lion’s tail stopped moving.
“Not necessarily.”
Shi Xiaowang said.
“Probably not coming back today.”
“Oh.”
Xu Qingluo relaxed.
[Hahaha, Qingluo, you were really scared, huh.]
[His relief is so obvious, hahaha.]
“Definitely.”
Xu Qingluo whispered.
“He’s the Marshal, of course I’d be nervous.”
“I’m also a duke. You’re not afraid of me now.”
Shi Xiaowang smiled.
“It’s only because you don’t know him well. I was nervous the first time I met him too, but now…”
[Now what? Why stop?]
[Don’t be shy, young duke. Speak freely, hahaha.]
“I just hope he can come home often.”
Shi Xiaowang admitted openly.
“I hope he isn’t too busy and can play with me often. Being home alone can get boring.”
Since the last coronation, he hadn’t seen Jian Mo. In all his time at the Marshal’s residence, he had only seen him once.
The one other time, he mistook Jian Mo for Jian Da Meow and fell asleep.
Shi Xiaowang touched the red string on his hand.
He glanced at the catnip by the wall.
The last time he picked catnip, he sensed weak purifying energy in the leaves. Though faint, it was highly active.
Even the leaves already processed in the lab retained some purifying power.
When Uncle Ye delivered crops to the young prince, he also sent catnip to the research institute.
But Meng Zhan hadn’t reported back yet.
Perhaps once the frenzy syndrome is cured, Jian Mo will be able to relax.
Upstairs, Jian Mo watched Shi Xiaowang staring blankly at the screen, guilt in his eyes.
He could probably guess what Shi Xiaowang was thinking.
Whether it was frenzy syndrome or crop research, Shi Xiaowang spent all his energy on these things every day.
If possible, someday Jian Mo wanted to travel with Shi Xiaowang, like the old duke couple, hopping between planets, collecting unknown plants and flowers, allowing Shi Xiaowang to live freely and without burden.
[What’s fun at home? I’d rather travel to different planets. I’ve wanted to go for a long time, but my parents always said it’s dangerous outside.]
[Travel has its advantages, being home does too.]
[Hey, don’t spoil the kid.]
“Brother Xiaowang, if you’re bored at home, you can come visit me.”
Xu Qingluo suddenly said.
“Although there’s nothing particularly famous nearby, the local parks have lots of pretty plants. I even helped plan the parks. You wanted to build a small pond? You can reference the one in the park—it would suit the Marshal’s residence garden.”
“That’s impressive?”
Shi Xiaowang looked at her and smiled.
“Sure, why wait? Let’s do it tomorrow.”
[Brother Xiaowang~ Qingluo invited you out. Won’t Brother Jian Mo be mad~]
[If Brother Jian Mo gets mad, you’ll protect Qingluo, right~]
“Enough already.”
Shi Xiaowang looked at the live comments helplessly.
“You guys are picking fights with Jian Mo? He’s not as dramatic as you think. Anyway, let’s get to the point—we’re cooking now.”
Jian Mo wasn’t dramatic, but… he wasn’t exactly happy.
Upstairs, the lion’s face drooped, clearly frustrated.
He didn’t oppose Shi Xiaowang going out, but…
One second he imagined taking Shi Xiaowang out himself, the next second someone else did it first.
And he didn’t know when he’d have the chance—very disheartening.
The discouraged lion drooped his ears, closed his interface, and lay on the carpet, looking dejected.
He didn’t even notice when Shi Xiaowang brought the prepared food upstairs.
“What’s wrong, Da Meow?”
Shi Xiaowang stroked the lion’s head, concerned.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Jian Da Meow looked at him, expression complex.
Finally, he let out a silent sigh.
It’s okay—go have fun with your little brother.
