CH 54

TL: Moonlit

Kane was startled by Ai Chen’s reaction and subconsciously said, “W-William, what’s the matter?”

Ai Chen met William’s golden beast eyes. Although the eye color and current appearance were quite different, there was no mistaking it. “Y-Your Highness Crown Prince William, right?”

Upon hearing the full name, Kane’s eyes widened in astonishment. He turned his gaze to their large fox in disbelief. “Y-You, you’re a prince?”

The name William did sound somewhat familiar at first, but considering the vast population in the Empire, it wasn’t uncommon to have duplicate names. How could it be such a coincidence?

William was also somewhat surprised that Ai Chen recognized him. He wasn’t frequently seen in public, and now in this half-fox, half-human form, even those who had seen him before might not immediately recognize him.

The guest who just arrived at their home could actually recognize him. “You know me?”

Upon hearing this, Kane’s already unsettled heart started pounding again. William had acknowledged it! He really was the prince!

It was too unbelievable. The forced match for their child turned out to be the prince of the Empire. Not only that, but he was also the prince with illustrious military achievements and loved by the people.

Ai Chen also seemed dazed for a moment, his gaze on William becoming increasingly fervent. “I… I guessed it. I had the privilege of participating in the Star Border War and saw you from afar. I never thought, never thought I would meet you here!”

Mentioning the Star Border War, William’s eyes showed some emotion. “The war is over, and now everything has returned to peace.”

“Yes, Your Highness. It’s all thanks to you.”

“It’s the merit of all the warriors.”

Kane stood still, listening to William’s conversation with Ai Chen, feeling that all of this was too incredible, too awe-inspiring.

Seeing Kane’s blank expression, Lin Su brought out a table from the house and glanced curiously in the direction of the chatting trio. He approached Kane and asked, “Are you okay? Feeling unwell?”

Seeing Lin Su approaching, Ai Chen and William immediately stopped their conversation and looked at Kane following Lin Su’s words.

Kane pursed his lips and looked deeply at William, reaching out to grab Lin Su’s arm and pulling him aside in a mysterious manner. He said, “Xiao Su, did William tell you about his background?”

As Kane suddenly asked this question, Lin Su instinctively glanced at William, probably understanding why Kane was acting this way.

Apparently, something had happened just now, and his male father knew about William’s identity. His emotions probably hadn’t settled yet.

Smiling and nodding, Lin Su said, “I know. William told me. He’s the prince of the Empire. But so what? He’s the person I brought back, my partner. It doesn’t matter who he is.”

Lin Su’s response surprised Kane, and he was momentarily dazed. However, he still had some concerns. “But he is still a prince, with a transcendent status. What if…”

What if he wants to start chaos and abandon everything?

Lin Su looked at Kane’s worried expression and smiled, “Male Father, his status is indeed remarkable, but I am doing just fine now!”

He was the only one in the Empire who could cultivate purified fruits and vegetables containing 72% natural elements, the only one capable of treating mental disorders.

Was he not worthy of William?

Of course, he was!

Kane remembered the chaotic Contracted Beasts incident he had witnessed during the live broadcast and the sensation caused by Lin Su publicly admitting to being able to treat mental disorders. Yes, their child was exceptional, even unprecedentedly so.

Why wouldn’t he be worthy of a prince?

Kane nodded, “My Xiao Su is the best. I was overthinking.”

Lin Su understood that Kane was worrying unnecessarily and said, “Male Father, you care too much about me. I will be fine, no need to worry.”

Seeing his sensible child, Kane couldn’t help but feel that his child was more than worthy, not just of a prince but even a king.

But it seemed that the king was William’s older brother.

Su Jin brought out the hot pot broth that Lin Su had prepared and saw them standing there talking in groups of three or two. He called out, “It’s time to eat. Everyone, go wash your hands.”

Lin Su walked over upon hearing Su Jin’s call and said, “I’ll help you, Female Father.”

They placed the prepared vegetables, chicken meatballs, sliced meat, and various other ingredients on the table.

Everyone washed their hands and gathered around, looking at the steaming hot pot broth in the center of the pot, with its special aroma that made one’s mouth water while feeling spicy. “What is this? It looks really delicious.”

Lin Su handed out a bowl to each person and said, “This is called hot pot. The main way to eat it is to put these vegetables from the table into the pot, cook them, and then fish them out. Dip them in the sauce, and you can eat them. As for the sauce, you can learn from me and add some cilantro, chili peppers…”

The people around the table followed Lin Su’s lead and prepared a bowl of sauce. “It feels quite novel.”

“If any of you can’t handle spicy food, you can eat this clear broth here. I’ve added mushrooms to it, and it tastes great. William, Uncle Ai Chen, you can have this clear broth.” Lin Su specially made a non-spicy sauce for William. “I’ll help you with what you want to eat.”

In the pot, a bunch of ingredients simmered and bubbled, gradually releasing a delicious aroma.

Xie Bai, standing next to Su Ge, twitched his little nose and said, “This smell is so fragrant.”

Lin Feng held a small notebook and recorded everything Lin Su had said, including the method and way of eating the hot pot. He planned to try this novel food when he had the time.

Su Jin opened the pot lid, and the rich steam carried a tempting fragrance. “It’s almost ready. Don’t be shy, everyone. As Xiao Su said, hot pot is more enjoyable when shared. Ai Chen, don’t hold back. Since you’re here, consider this place your own. If it weren’t for your help, Kane might not have made it this far!”

Ai Chen hurriedly responded, “Jin-ge, that’s not true. Back in the military, if it weren’t for Kane taking care of me, I wouldn’t have been able to hold on.”

Kane laughed and continued, “Our good days are just beginning. I hope that from now on, all of us will continue to improve.”

With the “opening remarks” from the three elders concluded, everyone immediately started eating with great enthusiasm.

Xie Bai followed Lin Su’s example and picked up a piece of vegetable from the spicy broth, dipped it in the sauce bowl, and took a bite. The combination of the broth and the sauce, with its spicy and savory flavor, pleasantly stimulated his taste buds. “Mmm… This is so delicious, but it’s a bit spicy!”

For those who weren’t used to eating spicy food, it could be a bit overwhelming at first, but chili peppers had a special magic. Even if it was uncomfortable, one still wanted to continue eating.

As a result, everyone at the table, except for Lin Su, William, and Ai Chen, had teary eyes from the spiciness but adamantly continued eating.

Lin Su wasn’t afraid of spice; the spicy broth in the pot was far from reaching his threshold.

Unconsciously, the dishes on the table were eaten in batch after batch.

When Lin Su got up from the table, a few of the males were still engaged in the battle of eating.

Even William, who usually exercised restraint, was struggling to control himself at this moment, sweating from his nose.

His large tail hung down behind him, swaying in contentment.

Lin Su smiled and used the smart camera in his mind to capture this scene as a memento.

Xie Bai had a round belly from eating, and if he could fit more, he would have eaten a few more bites.

Seeing Lin Su happily entering the house, he followed suit and asked, “Lin Su, what are you going to do?”

“We’ve eaten so much, let’s have something to drink to cleanse our palate,” Lin Su said while taking out a large jar of red strawberry jam from the cabinet. As soon as the jar was opened, a pleasant aroma filled the air, immediately attracting Xie Bai’s attention. With a wagging tail and sniffing nose, he walked over, his gaze fixed on what Lin Su held in his hand. “What is this?”

“It’s strawberry jam. You can mix it with water to make a refreshing drink, or you can eat it on its own. Open your mouth,” Lin Su scooped a spoonful and gestured to Xie Bai.

Understanding Lin Su’s meaning, Xie Bai obediently complied. He tasted the sweet and sour strawberry jam and nodded. “Mmm, it’s delicious! Lin Su, you’re so amazing. You can do everything. Can you teach me? I also want to learn cooking from you and make these delicious dishes.”

“I don’t have time to teach you individually, but you can ask my female father if he’s willing.”

“Great!”

Although Lin Su couldn’t teach personally, Su Jin’s culinary skills were also amazing. On regular days, Su Jin would prepare their lunch, and the taste was always excellent.

With Lin Su’s suggestion, Xie Bai immediately turned around and ran out to seek an apprenticeship from Su Jin.

Lin Su put the jar of jam back in the cabinet and couldn’t help but think. After practicing his own cooking skills for such a long time, his female father had definitely reached a level where he could be considered a master. Considering the Imperial culinary techniques demonstrated by those online food live streams, Lin Su felt that Su Jin could actually do a live stream and surpass those people.

He wondered if Su Jin would be interested.

In his view, now that their family’s living conditions had improved, Kane and Su Jin could pursue things they enjoyed and start their own careers. After all, according to the lifespan of Imperial citizens, Kane and Su Jin were still very young.

Lin Su brought out the infused jam water and saw that the few males who had been fighting at the table had almost finished eating.

“Here, have some water to cleanse your palate.”

Seeing the red liquid in the glass pitcher that Lin Su brought out, Lin Feng curiously asked, “What kind of water is this?”

“This is strawberry-infused water. Give it a try,” Lin Su poured a cup and handed it to him.

Lin Feng took it with suspicion, first bringing it close to his nose for a gentle sniff. The sweet strawberry fragrance, combined with the rising steam, was both sweet and refreshing, not cloying at all, and quite captivating.

After blowing on the steam, he cautiously took a sip. The sweet and sour taste instantly eliminated the greasy feeling in his mouth from eating a lot of hot pot, leaving a refreshing sensation.

His eyes lit up. “It’s delicious!”

Having just finished a satisfying meal, everyone now held a cup of strawberry juice, basking in the glow of the evening sun and enjoying the cool evening breeze. A sense of contentment filled their hearts.

Life was truly wonderful.

Ai Chen sat to the side, his pale and weary face gaining some color after the meal. Even his spiritual domain felt much more comfortable compared to before, making him feel a hint of drowsiness.

The aroma of the hot fruit juice, released along with the steam, further relaxed his tense nerves.

When Kane glanced over, he saw Ai Chen slumped to the side, his eyes closed as he held the cup in his hand, on the verge of falling asleep.

Indeed, bringing Ai Chen back was the right decision.

After dinner, Xie Bai had already begun shadowing Su Jin, actively resembling a young swallow learning to fly.

Ai Chen dozed off for a while, feeling somewhat refreshed despite not getting a deep sleep. His complexion had improved significantly. Kane helped him up and said, “Come, I’ll take you to the neighboring room for some rest.”

Ai Chen supported himself with Kane’s hand and stood up. “Kane, I feel much better. Lin Su’s ability is really strong.”

“Didn’t I tell you? As long as you come back with me, I can definitely help you straighten out your mental disorder. You’ve seen what I was like before, and I’ve managed to overcome it. You can do it too.”

Hearing movement, Lin Feng, who had returned early, opened the door and greeted Kane and Ai Chen with a smile. “Uncle, everything here is taken care of.”

“Thank you, Lin Feng. I heard you were conducting experiments. You’re an extraordinary scientist.” Su Jin briefly explained to Kane what had happened during his absence, realizing that Lin Feng’s background and abilities were exceptional.

“Not at all. I’m here to serve the people. How severe is Uncle Ai Chen’s mental disorder?” Lin Feng helped Kane assist Ai Chen to the bed. “My main research focus is on treating mental disorders. I’ve recently upgraded a sedative, increasing the natural element content from 73% to 80%. Uncle Ai Chen, can I invite you to try it?”

“A sedative?” Ai Chen was taken aback. “It must be expensive, and I can’t afford it.”

Hearing Ai Chen’s words, a tinge of sourness rose in Lin Feng’s heart. “Uncle Ai Chen, this sedative is currently not officially available. It’s still in the experimental stage. According to laboratory data, the natural element content exceeds 80%. The sedative no longer has a usage limit because it’s purified using Lin Su’s purified fruits and vegetables. The success rate has more than doubled compared to before. I believe that even if it can’t achieve a complete cure, after using this sedative, it should repair your spiritual domain to a certain extent. Can I ask you to try it and provide feedback?”

For the sedative with a current natural element content of 80%, there were already comparative data from William.

Here, it wasn’t like in the laboratory where test subjects were easily found.

Now, they could only rely on their own invitations for test subjects.

“I have a B-grade spiritual disorder, already showing signs of progressing to A-grade. Don’t hesitate, I know that this sedative was developed by your father and it was the initial hope given to patients like us. I’m willing to try it.” Ai Chen reached out and took the vial of medicine from Lin Feng’s hand, removed the cap, and tilted his head back to drink it down.

Ai Chen instinctively squinted his eyes after swallowing the cool liquid. “Mmm…”

His hand unconsciously pressed against his forehead. Before he could speak, his body fell back onto the bed, fast asleep.

The sudden turn of events startled Kane, but he quickly approached and took a look, relieved to find that Ai Chen was simply asleep.

Just then, they heard Lin Su’s voice at the door. “What happened?”

Lin Feng turned his head with a smile. “Lin Su, you’ve arrived at the perfect time. Ai Chen just tried a sedative and fell asleep within 5 seconds of drinking it. I was thinking, in the future, when we encounter patients whose conditions are not suitable for immediate treatment, we can have them drink this sedative with a natural element content of 80% to facilitate a more efficient recovery.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Su walked over to check Ai Chen’s condition and confirmed that he was indeed just asleep. He nodded and said, “Your method is feasible. In that case, you provide me with the sedative, and I’ll provide you with purified fruits and vegetables.”

“Deal!”

The two immediately agreed and were satisfied with the proposal.

Since Ai Chen had finally fallen asleep, none of them wanted to disturb him. Considering Ai Chen’s current physical condition, he needed this sleep more than anything.

Afterward, Xie Bai and Su Ge finished helping with the cleanup and returned home. Su Jin saw Lin Su approaching and pulled him aside. “Today, Xie Bai suddenly came to me, saying that you asked him to come and learn cooking from me?”

“Yes, he seems quite interested in learning, and I don’t have much time to teach him. So I let him assist you when he has free time. By the way, Female Father, have you ever thought about doing a food livestream?”

“A food livestream?” Su Jin naturally knew what a food livestream was, but it had never crossed his mind. Now that Lin Su brought it up, he felt a sense of liveliness within him. “Can I do it? I’ve never…”

Before he could finish speaking, Kane walked over and asked, “Can you do what?”

“Luckily you’re here, Male Father.” Lin Su smiled and asked him, “Male Father, what do you think of Female Father’s cooking skills now?”

“Sure, although he’s still a bit inferior to you, Lin Su, I can confidently say that your Female Father’s culinary skills are more than enough to become a chef in a gourmet restaurant.”

Though he had never actually been to a gourmet restaurant to taste their purified cuisine, Kane believed that even without going, he knew it wouldn’t be as delicious as what their little cub and his partner could make.

“Female Father, what he said is what I wanted to say. Your culinary skills are truly excellent now.”

Su Jin had a natural talent in this area. Just by observing Lin Su a few times, he could attempt to replicate the flavors and even come up with his own variations.

Su Jin blushed and his heart raced from their praise. “Our cub wants me to do a food livestream. Kane, do you think I can do it?”

“Sure, why not? Haven’t you seen food livestreams before? They’re all the rage! Even if they just randomly throw things together, people still watch. Besides, it’s your culinary skills we’re talking about here. I think Lin Su’s suggestion is great,” Kane said, growing more convinced that it was a suitable idea. Livestream platforms had always been popular, and if they did it well, it could also help alleviate some of Lin Su’s burden at home. “Don’t worry, you can give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, we won’t continue.”

“Yes, Female Father, just give it a try. If you don’t like it, then don’t do it,” Lin Su added.

“It’s not that I don’t like it. I actually want to give it a try, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to. However, since both of you think I can, I’ll give it a shot,” Su Jin finally made up his mind after hesitating. “Let’s do it tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll think about the dishes.”

“Female Father, don’t rush. I’ll place an order for some kitchen utensils, and we can spruce up the kitchen a bit,” Lin Su suggested, already planning to contact the previous renovation company and spend a day refurbishing the kitchen.

Su Jin hesitated. “Won’t that be too much trouble?”

“It’s not troublesome. If we’re going to do it, let’s do it properly,” Lin Su reassured him.

“Listen to Lin Su,” Kane smiled and reassured his partner, then turned to Lin Su and asked, “Xiao Su, now that Female Father is occupied, what do you think I can do?”

It was evident that Kane didn’t want to just stay at home doing nothing. He was feeling lively too.

“Well, I do have an idea. Come with me,” Lin Su said, and immediately piqued Kane’s interest. He followed Lin Su to the chicken coop they had recently built at the back of the house.

Upon their return, Kane hadn’t had a chance to visit yet. When he saw the fenced-off area filled with yellowish little chicks, his eyes widened involuntarily. “There are so many?”

“Yes, the breeding rate is quite high. Moreover, these chicks have undergone purification before hatching, so there are no impurities once they hatch. They are completely safe for consumption. That’s why I had plans to start a chicken farm. However, I’m limited by my abilities alone. Once Uncle Ai Chen’s condition improves, I thought we could build a chicken farm together, not only for these chicks but also for future expansion to other animals like pigs. But for now, we need to plan ahead.”

Meat would become an essential part of the Empire’s people’s diets in the future, starting from this moment.

Kane never expected that a single statement would lead to such a tremendous opportunity. “Xiao Su, Male Father won’t let you down.”

Lin Su smiled and said, “If Male Father is interested, I can ask Deputy Chief An Ye to see if there is suitable farming land in North Star. It would be best if the area is large. In the future, we can raise not only chickens but also pigs and other animals. But for now, we need to plan ahead.”

Kane’s expectations were aroused by Lin Su’s expanding blueprint. “I understand. I’ll ask tomorrow.”

After discussing with Su Jin and Kane separately, Lin Su returned to the room and shared the news with William.

William quietly listened to the discussion and couldn’t help but feel amazed at the many creative ideas in Lin Su’s mind.

As for Kane and Su Jin, after Lin Su’s remarks, they were lying in bed, unable to sleep due to their excitement. They spent a long time lying in bed, finally got up with rosy cheeks, and began to plan their respective endeavors.

Both of them were not rigid individuals. They had ideas in the past but lacked the ability and conditions to pursue them. Now that their family was improving because of Lin Su, they also needed to have their own things to do.

Moreover, the path that Lin Su paved for them seemed more and more feasible as they thought about it, making them feel inspired.

So, early the next morning, Xie Bai and Su Ge arrived to find a renovation company with robot workers bustling in and out of Lin Su’s yard.

In the yard, Kane was chatting with An Ye while eating fruit.

Lin Feng accompanied Ai Chen, moving around in the yard and taking notes.

Lin Su sat next to William, holding a fluffy tail in his arms and gently combing the fur with a comb.

The large fox lying on the chair had warm and affectionate golden beast eyes fixed on Lin Su, creating a warm and beautiful scene that captivated people’s attention.

“Uncle, what are you doing?” Before Su Ge could envy the scene for too long, Xie Bai ran in and grabbed Su Jin’s arm, asking, “What are you renovating?”

“We’re renovating the kitchen. Yesterday, Lin Su asked me if I wanted to do a food livestream, and I thought it was a good idea. So, today, let’s start by renovating the kitchen. Xie Bai, would you be willing to help me during the livestream?”

Su Jin felt a bit nervous about livestreaming alone, but if Xie Bai could accompany him, it would be better.

Unexpectedly, Xie Bai, who had been waiting for the invitation, immediately exclaimed, “Me? Uncle, I’m willing! But I don’t know how to do it. Can I?”

“Why not? I also started from not knowing to knowing. You’re young and smart, so you’ll pick it up quickly.”

“I’ll learn from you, Uncle!” Xie Bai was overjoyed and turned to Su Ge to share the good news.

Seeing the light in Xie Bai’s eyes, Su Ge tightened his heart and said, “Since that’s the case, then learn well from your uncle.”

“I will!”

Xie Bai’s face beamed with a radiant and beautiful smile, making Su Ge hesitate to look deeply. He averted his gaze, but his heart kept racing, unable to slow down.

Su Ge, I smell something fishy… >.>