Ignoring the surprised and astonished glances coming from all directions, Lian Qiguang—with a snarling, carnivorous flower perched on his head—crouched expressionlessly by the roadside, munching on the meatballs bought by 009-a. His wide-brimmed hat covered half his face, and his tousled hair hid his beautiful eyes, leaving only his mouth, which kept gnawing on the meatballs.
After an unknown amount of time, seeing Lian Qiguang shove the last bite into his mouth, Lian Huju timidly approached him and cautiously tugged at his sleeve: “Second Brother, are you full?” ” Lian Qiguang stood up, rubbed his stomach expressionlessly, and stared blankly into space. After a long silence, he nodded calmly: “I’m full.” “Then can we go now?” “Where to?” “ You promised Big Brother you’d take me to school.” Lian Xiao-ju looked at Lian Qi-guang with a slightly aggrieved expression. Lian Qi-guang tilted his head slightly and stared impassively at Lian Xiao-ju. “ “If you don’t want to go there, then forget it.” Lian Xiao-ju pouted, lowering her head with reddened eyes, tears welling up. “Let’s go.” Lian Qiguang, his hands in his pockets, uttered those two words expressionlessly. “Huh?” Lian Xiaoju stared blankly at Lian Qiguang’s retreating back with reddened eyes, seemingly still unable to process what had happened.
“Miss, if you don’t catch up soon, the Second Young Master will be long gone.” 009-a took two steps forward, bowed slightly, and spoke respectfully. “Huh?” Lian Xiaoju froze for a moment, then broke into a bright smile. “Second Brother! Wait for me!!!”
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(Xiyang Academy) “Second Brother, this is the place. ” Outside the academy, Lian Xiao-ju held Lian Qi-guang’s hand, beaming with joy. Lian Qi-guang glanced expressionlessly at Lian Xiao-ju’s hand, said nothing, and let her lead him cheerfully toward the school grounds.
The Qingdi Military Academy was indeed very close to Xiyang Academy; there was no need for a flying vehicle or hovercar—it was just a ten-minute walk across the street.
“009-a, could you go handle the registration for me?” Inside the school, Lian Xiaoju tilted her face upward, looking at 009-a with pure delight. “Yes, Miss.” 009-a gave a slight, gentlemanly bow and turned to leave.
“Second Brother, let me show you around my school. ” Lian Xiaoju took Lian Qiguang’s hand and, without waiting for his reply, tugged him along as she weaved through the crowd. Since it was the start of the school year, this spacious campus was filled with household robots and a swarm of little ones as far as the eye could see. Perhaps because it was full of children, the buildings at Xiyang Academy were designed to suit their tastes, giving them an exceptionally charming appearance. Unlike the cold, metallic style of Qingdi, the view here was a riot of color as far as the eye could see.
“Xiaoxiao, you’re here?” A boy in his teens appeared out of nowhere, squeezing his way in front of Lian Xiaoju and looking at her with a face full of surprise. “Chu Zai Zai?” Lian Xiaoju asked in confusion. “ Xiao Xiao, how many times have I told you? My name isn’t Chu Zai Zai—it’s Chu Xi.” The boy pouted, looking a bit upset.
“Zai Zai, let me introduce you to someone.” As if she hadn’t heard Chu Xi’s protest, Lian Xiao Zhu pulled over Lian Qi Guang, who was standing nearby with a blank expression, his mind seemingly elsewhere. “ “This is my second older brother.” “Huh?” Chu Xi froze for a moment, then blushed. He hurriedly straightened up, stuck out his neck, and roared with the authority of a mountain range: “H-Hello, second older brother! My name is Chu Xi, and I’m Xiao Xiao’s good friend.”
Lian Qiguang withdrew his gaze, cast an expressionless glance at Chu Xi, and went back to staring blankly at his own toes.
“Xiao… Xiao Xiao, did… did I mess up?” Chu Xi looked at Lian Xiao Zhu with a slightly aggrieved expression. “It’s okay. My second older brother is just like that.” ” Lian Xiaorou patted Chu Xi on the shoulder and smiled reassuringly. “My second older brother didn’t slash you with a knife or kick you—that just proves he doesn’t hate you.” “Huh?” Chu Xi froze for a moment, completely baffled. What on earth was she getting at?
“Yo! Isn’t that the little good-for-nothing over there?” With a cocky shout, a boy with slicked-back hair and a little suit strut over, lolling and slouching, followed by three or four other kids.
“Lian Kai! You’re trying to pick on Xiao Xiao again!” Upon seeing the boy in the little suit, Chu Xi reacted as if facing a formidable enemy. He spread his arms wide to shield Lian Xiaoju, staring warily at the boy named Lian Kai. “ “Hmph! So that tagalong’s here too?” Lian Kai looked down at Chu Xi from above, snorting disdainfully. “Get lost. I’m not in the mood to deal with you today.” “No way!” Chu Xi’s eyes widened. “As long as I’m here, I won’t let you bully Xiao Xiao.”
“Why do you always follow that little good-for-nothing around? You don’t happen to like her, do you?” “You—what did you say?!” Chu Xi’s cheeks flushed red as he stole a glance at Lian Xiao Zhu while glaring angrily at Lian Kai. “ “Xiaoxiao and I are good friends—best friends!” “What kind of friends? I can tell you like her.” “I don’t!” “You do!!” “I don’t!” “You definitely do! I can tell you like her! A tagalong likes a little good-for-nothing!!”
“A tagalong likes a little good-for-nothing!” “A tagalong likes a little good-for-nothing!” ………………………….. The other kids surrounding Lian Kai began to cheer them on.
“You! You……………….” Chu Xi’s face was bright red with anger, but she didn’t know how to retort. She could only grit her teeth, stick out her chin, and stand in front of Lian Xiaoju.
“BAM!!” With a thunderous crash, a two-meter-tall carnivorous flower loomed between the two opposing groups of brats, claws outstretched and a row of large teeth clacking “click-clack!”
“Ah!!” A collective scream rang out as the brats around them scrambled to the side, staring in terror at the defiant man-eating flower. Chu Xi, pale-faced, gazed at the suddenly appearing giant man-eating flower. His body trembled, but he still stood his ground, shielding Lian Xiaoju behind him.
“You’re so noisy.” Mu Mu’s voice came from behind the carnivorous plant as Lian Qiguang slowly stepped out from behind it, extending his hand expressionlessly. The carnivorous plant, which should have been two meters tall, began to shrink rapidly, gradually getting smaller until it finally returned to a height of about twenty centimeters, bouncing up and down in Lian Qiguang’s hand.
“You… who are you?” Lian Kai’s face was pale as he struggled to make his voice sound firm. “Second Brother!” Lian Xiaoju ran happily over to Lian Qiguang and hugged his hand. Lian Qiguang placed the carnivorous plant on Lian Xiaoju’s head and said expressionlessly, “Feed it a little meat every day, and it’ll live a long time.” “ “Is… is this for me?” Lian Xiaoju, with the carnivorous flower perched on her head, looked at Lian Qiguang in surprise, not daring to reach out for it. “If you’re in danger, let the little flower bite him.” As long as the person isn’t a Level 8 psychic, nothing bad will happen.
Lian Qiguang thought for a moment, his face expressionless, then reached out and crushed a seed. A vine slowly grew, eventually stopping at about three meters, bearing fist-sized, lantern-shaped pods. Lian Qiguang shrank the part covering the vine to about twenty centimeters as well, then tossed it expressionlessly onto Chu Xi’s head. “Here you go.”
“Huh?” Chu Xi stood there dumbfounded, the vine resting on his head, looking at Lian Qiguang with a mix of surprise and flattery.
Lian Qiguang slipped his hands back into his pockets and looked impassively at Lian Xiaoru: “I’m hungry.” “Second Brother, let’s go eat.” Lian Xiaoru took Lian Qiguang’s hand, stuck her tongue out at Lian Kai—who was still standing there dumbfounded—and cheerfully led her wild, domineering, cool, and dazzling Second Brother off to dinner.
“Xiao Xiao! Wait for me!” Chu Xi, snapping out of his daze and seeing Lian Xiao Zhu walking away, hurriedly chased after her in a panic, leaving behind a group of kids who were too shocked to move.