Pu Xin put on a new dress. She favored pale green, and from the rack of clothes she chose a knee-length dress with puffed sleeves. The waist was cinched, the collar delicately pleated, perfectly accentuating her graceful figure and snow-white skin.
The pair of off-white flat leather boots on her feet had been chosen by Lu Xunzhi. Their design, with a rather tacky pearl buckle strap, somehow looked unexpectedly nice. She stood on her tiptoes in front of the mirror and tested her steps. The soft, comfortable feeling made her somewhat nostalgic for the stiff military boots that used to rub painfully against her feet.
At the thought, Pu Xin turned her head to glance at Lu Xunzhi, who was sitting on the sofa in the mall. His posture was casual and unrestrained, and at that very moment he was also looking at her.
Pu Xin suddenly felt a little embarrassed. Instinctively she reached for the chain in her hand, only to grasp empty air.
After personally fastening the titanium bracelet onto her wrist, Deputy Director Fang had later realized, with complicated emotions, that once the Sunflower shrank in size the titanium bracelet had no restraining effect on the little dandelion at all. With equally complicated feelings, he had removed the chains from her.
The rampage of violent-type aliens in the city had happened half a month ago. The FSB moved quickly, and the Safety Bureau evacuated civilians at a fast pace as well. All the remaining fugitives from the underground auction house were captured, but unfortunately, every one of them died.
Although every department had minimized the losses as much as possible, there were still casualties. The FSB, which had been responsible for the capture operation, became the first target of criticism from certain people. Meanwhile, the theory that aliens were inherently harmful became a high-frequency topic on the StarNet.
“You shouldn’t let her wander around outside so casually,” Fang Jing said, leaning against the doorway with his usual businesslike attitude.
The genetic identification results had come out ten days ago. Lu Xunzhi accepted the truth with both shock and calm, while Qi Xia had reacted strongly and accepted, with complicated feelings, the fact that the major general was of mixed blood. At this moment he was enthusiastically recommending hairbands to Pu Xin.
Her attention had already shifted. Curious, she poked the service robot that floated in the air while introducing the hairbands to her. Two mechanical arms extended from the robot’s round belly. It tried to avoid the guest’s intrusion yet did not quite dare to, looking somewhat aggrieved.
Lu Xunzhi was browsing the mall with his smart brain. Seeing this, he ordered a home service robot. When he heard Fang Jing’s words, he let out a cold laugh.
“Send her back to the FSB, and afterward you’ll deliver her corpse back to me?”
The blatant assassination attempt in front of the Sunflower had enraged Lu Xunzhi to the extreme. The members of the FSB hunting squad who had been present at the scene were currently all suspended from duty. Anyone who had close contact with the young man who had been crushed into pulp by the Sunflower had also been taken into the FSB interrogation room.
The FSB Director had even confronted Lu Xunzhi over this matter. However, the latter held the moral high ground and stated bluntly that the person attacked had been his biological mother. The director had no rebuttal, and everyone related to the incident could only cooperate with the investigation.
“But you still shouldn’t have openly disobeyed the Ministry of Defense’s order and taken her out of the FSB,” Fang Jing said, glancing at him.
Lu Xunzhi responded with a faint snort.
“When did I disobey the Ministry of Defense’s order? As the leader of the FSB Special Operations Group, I have the responsibility and obligation to personally monitor an important investigative subject. Unfortunately, I still hold an important position and can’t remain in the FSB all the time, so I had no choice but to keep the subject with me.”
Fang Jing fell silent.
Someone capable of describing favoritism so righteously was probably unique in the entire world.
He rubbed his forehead and decided not to argue with Lu Xunzhi about it. Moreover, Lu Xunzhi had Marshal Lu Bieling behind him. If things really went too far, Marshal Lu Bieling would be the first person not to spare him.
“Then keep a close eye on her. At present, it seems most likely that her ability to pacify violent-type aliens is the reason someone tried to assassinate her.”
Pu Xin had tremendous deterrent power over aliens, yet she herself was no different from ordinary gentle-type aliens. After her blood was sent for testing, the results showed that she was simply an ordinary dandelion plant. No ability particles were even detected in her blood.
Fang Jing added, “I now suspect that someone deliberately released violent-type aliens into the city, and the target might have been her.”
But this was only speculation. There was not enough evidence. Judging from the situation at the time, Pu Xin might also have been attacked simply because she interfered with the terrorists’ actions.
This was not a good place to continue the discussion. After a brief silence, Fang Jing glanced at Pu Xin, who was holding two hairbands and struggling to decide between them. Rarely, he asked with curiosity, “Is she really your mother?”
As the most powerful and widely admired marshal of the Federation, Lu Bieling’s private life had always attracted great attention. Since becoming marshal, the most outrageous thing he had ever done was bringing back a child from the battlefield and publicly announcing that the child was his.
Countless people were curious about Lu Xunzhi’s mother, yet for twenty-eight years no one had ever known the answer.
Lu Xunzhi nodded. “The DNA results are already out.”
When humans and aliens combined, alien genes would be suppressed by human genes. Mixed-blood offspring generally retained a human form, but compared with ordinary humans they had a much higher chance of awakening abilities.
After the genetic revolution, cases of humans and aliens forming unions gradually increased. In recent years, thanks to the efforts of the Gentle-Type Alien Protection Association, the Federation not only designated residential planets for gentle-type aliens but also passed the interspecies marriage law. Aliens who obtained gentle-type alien certification were allowed to marry humans.
Even so, among the high ranks of the Federation government and military, marriages between humans and aliens remained rare, let alone involving a national marshal.
Fang Jing was momentarily speechless. Lu Xunzhi seemed far too calm.
Although the Federation had policies favorable to mixed-blood individuals, society in general still found it hard to accept a mixed-blood person as someone in power. Moreover, violent-type alien attacks still occurred frequently, and people on StarNet had already begun calling for the abolition of the racial harmony legislation.
Completely unaware of the storm she might stir up, Pu Xin walked over to Lu Xunzhi with the hairbands in hand, still undecided.
“Zhizhi, which one is prettier? Qi Xia says they’re both nice.”
Her long hair was like seaweed, constantly slipping loose when left down over her shoulders. It was inconvenient, so she had accepted Qi Xia’s suggestion to pick a hairband.
Meeting her clear, transparent eyes, Lu Xunzhi felt a slight easing in his chest.
He stood up, took the hairbands from her, but instead of answering, he picked up another one. Combining the red, yellow, and blue bands into a wide braided headband, he grabbed a comb and awkwardly gathered her hair up to tie it.
Under his movements, several loose strands fell over Pu Xin’s left shoulder, intertwining with the pale green dress and swaying playfully.
Pu Xin looked at the medal on Lu Xunzhi’s chest, faintly seeing her reflection in it. It was the first time her little one had helped tie her hair, and she felt a little nervous. Gently, she tugged on his military coat.
Lu Xunzhi finally finished tying her hair with clumsy hands, though it ended up somewhat crooked. He coughed awkwardly and was about to redo it when Pu Xin grabbed his arms.
“Thank you, Zhizhi. Mommy likes it very much.”
Her exaggerated tone sounded like a kindergarten teacher coaxing a small child. The corner of Lu Xunzhi’s mouth twitched. He truly did not think she was suited to being a mother.
Yet her eyes sparkled like starlight, filled with anticipation that made it impossible to reject her praise.
Lu Xunzhi felt something subtle stir in his heart. He looked away and gave a nearly inaudible response.
“Mm.”
Qi Xia and Fang Jing exchanged glances. One looked horrified, the other covered his mouth and coughed.
After leaving the clothing section of the mall, the three grown men were carrying large bags and small packages. Fang Jing could not understand why he had ended up as manual labor, while Major Lu seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.
They handed the purchases to a delivery robot. Fang Jing was about to return to the FSB. Habitually pushing up his glasses, he reminded them, “Report her condition every three hours. Otherwise, you’ll have to send her back to the FSB.”
Lu Xunzhi gave no clear reply, though the expression on his face seemed to say, Let’s see whether you can take her back from me.
Deputy Director Fang immediately felt a headache coming on. When Major Lu refused to cooperate, he was even more unreasonable than a three-year-old child.
Pu Xin glanced at him curiously but did not spare him any extra attention. She was still resentful that Fang Jing had tricked her into going to the FSB.
The little dandelion showed all her likes and dislikes plainly on her face. Lu Xunzhi’s lips curved subtly, but he soon noticed her attention had drifted away again.
Tilting her long ponytail, she followed a four- or five-year-old boy with her gaze. More precisely, she was staring at the bright red juice in his hand.
“Want some?” Lu Xunzhi raised an eyebrow.
Pu Xin nodded solemnly. “Zhizhi, I haven’t absorbed nutrients in a long time. I’m going to become wrinkled and ugly.”
Lu Xunzhi fell silent.
He truly could not see how the girl in front of him, glowing with health from head to toe, could possibly be wrinkled or ugly.
Ten minutes later, Pu Xin was linking arms with Lu Xunzhi, holding a cup of red lotus fruit juice and sipping it repeatedly, her steps light and cheerful. Beside her, Qi Xia carried four other cups of different juices with a bitter expression.
Lu Xunzhi had never been so physically close to anyone before. His body was somewhat stiff, while Pu Xin curiously observed all the new things in this new world.
His mood was complicated, and he failed to notice two women shopping in the mall not far away who were staring at him and Pu Xin with great surprise.
“Xunzhi, you have a girlfriend now?” a gentle female voice called out.
Lu Xunzhi frowned slightly. When he saw the two approaching women, his expression cooled.
Hearing her little one’s name, Pu Xin looked over. She immediately met a pair of probing eyes. The overly sharp gaze made her feel as though she were a commodity waiting to be sold.
Before Lu Xunzhi could respond, Lu Jinyu spoke.
“If you’ve got a girlfriend, why not bring her home? Your father and grandfather would surely be very happy.”
Something in those words irritated Lu Xunzhi. His already cold expression instantly froze over.
“What does that have to do with you?”
Perhaps not expecting him to be so blunt, Lu Jinyu’s face darkened. Her fair, luminous complexion seemed to be covered with a layer of shadow. The woman beside her, Fang Zhiren, quickly tugged her arm.
Fang Zhiren had pale skin. From the side it seemed as though a faint glow coated the surface of her skin, making her appear full of vitality. She smiled and said, “Xunzhi, how can you speak to your aunt like that? She’s only concerned about you. I just heard her say you haven’t been home in a long time. Your father has leave coming up and will return to the Lu residence tonight. You should go home and visit as well, shouldn’t you?”
Lu Xunzhi gave her a half-smile. “You seem to know quite a lot. Did Father tell you?”
Fang Zhiren choked on her words, forcing an awkward smile. “No… no…”
“If not, then do you know what crime it is to investigate the movements of the Federation’s marshal?” Lu Xunzhi asked.
Every single one of them had designs on the old man, yet insisted on showing their presence in front of him, hoping to become the marshal’s wife through him. Did they not even bother looking in a mirror to see what they looked like?
Lu Jinyu had long disliked Lu Xunzhi’s status as an illegitimate child. If not for Lu Bieling, she would never have given him any courtesy. Now that he had repeatedly embarrassed her, her anger flared.
“The family has already arranged a fiancée for you. Don’t go fooling around outside, or Father will break your legs when you return!”
Before Lu Xunzhi could react, Pu Xin asked in confusion, “Zhizhi, you have a fiancée?”
Her eyes were full of open curiosity. Lu Xunzhi suddenly felt a stab in his chest, but he still replied seriously.
“No, they’re talking nonsense. Are you tired from walking? Let’s go back to today.”
His patient, coaxing tone made Lu Jinyu and Fang Zhiren exchange glances. When they saw Pu Xin obediently agree and allow Lu Xunzhi to lead her away, they became even more certain he had found himself a young girlfriend.
They returned to the residence with Pu Xin still reluctant to stop exploring. As soon as they entered, a communication request suddenly popped up on Lu Xunzhi’s smart brain.
Seeing the caller ID, Lu Xunzhi frowned. Since the matter of suddenly gaining a mother would have to be explained to the old man sooner or later, he simply accepted the call.
Lu Bieling wore his marshal’s uniform all year round, dressed like a stubborn old traditionalist. As the most widely supported marshal in the Federation, he possessed not only outstanding military achievements and exceptional ability, but also a striking appearance.
Lu Xunzhi’s cold features were almost identical to his. If his eyes were exactly the same as Pu Xin’s, then the aloof, unapproachable expression he wore when silent was clearly inherited from his father.
Perhaps because he was older and had seen many hardships and compromises in life, Lu Bieling’s aura was colder, a coldness that seemed to rise from within, like a flower growing from a sheer cliff, making people feel it was unreachable yet tempting to destroy.
Their gazes met. Lu Xunzhi had only just said “Father” when Lu Bieling interrupted him coldly.
“I heard you have a girlfriend. Bring her back tomorrow for me to see.”
With that, the call ended abruptly.
Lu Xunzhi fell silent.
Pu Xin gulped down a mouthful of green mango juice and thought gloomily: Zhizhi’s father is so fierce.