157: Dead End

Tu Nan only felt that the other shoe had finally dropped.

It smashed onto her heart.

A strange guess rose in her heart—perhaps this was exactly the situation the System would be glad to see.

She even felt this made sense; otherwise, with so many types of Foster Mothers in this world, why would the System have her wake up in the body of a Cat Beastkin?

Seeing her silence, Lance reached out and poked her face.

"Stunned?" She was disappointed by Tu Nan's reaction.

Before Tu Nan woke up, she had been clutching the Uncle and exclaiming for a long time about what an incredibly rare research specimen this was.

Yi Xingye hesitated for a rare moment, actually asking if he should just let Tu Nan "sleep" permanently; he could try his best to smuggle this Female Beast and the Children in her belly away.

Lance was almost dumbfounded.

"Are you crazy again? Which old research freak put out a sky-high bounty on the dark web?" Was he starting to take jobs without any bottom line again?

"What did I tell you?" Lance's expression was fierce and harsh.

"If I find out you're taking random jobs... I'll nail you to my lab table and use the blood from my body to completely replace the dirty blood in yours."

When she stopped laughing and playing, and her cynicism faded, one would realize that her slightly high brow bones and cold eyes formed a three-dimensional bone structure that was quite aggressive.

"Do you want to bet? We live together, or we die together."

Yi Xingye lowered his eyes.

Since Lance didn't need it, then forget it.

After all, he would have to risk being hunted by two S-ranks. As for what Lance just said, it was nothing... Seeing Yi Xingye obediently comply, Lance let out a sigh, her expression softening as she moved back to Tu Nan's bedside to watch over her.

Fortunately, Tu Nan hadn't woken up, so she wouldn't misunderstand Lance as some kind of perverted scientist.

She finally waited for Tu Nan to wake up, but Tu Nan was actually this calm?

Thinking she hadn't been clear enough, Lance grinned mischievously, the hand poking Tu Nan's cheek moving to pinch her face.

"Didn't understand? There are two, one Bird Beast and one Aquatic Beast." She frowned. "The preparation wasn't sufficient, so I couldn't compare their DNA. How about you go to them tomorrow and get some samples so I can compare them again?"

Tu Nan shook her head gently.

There was no need for that; things weren't that messy... "Alright," Lance said regretfully. "Oh, one more thing. The gene sequences of these Two Children are at least not Peacock, nor Orca."

Suddenly, her expression became serious.

"I can't find a corresponding beast form in the open gene bank. I judge that they have either mutated or are some kind of Advanced Atavistic Beast Form. To confirm, I'd probably need to get internal data from an Advanced research institute."

"No need." Tu Nan knew what was going on.

"We'll naturally know in seven months. It's too risky to make a big fuss about getting data." Speaking of which, she asked Lance, "The records of my check-up here won't be kept, right? They won't be uploaded to the network?"

"Don't worry," Lance promised. "I downloaded and copied the data myself for comparison. We'll clear all traces of use in a bit. Uncle won't let any traces of these things remain."

"Then let's go. I'm feeling better."

Leave here as soon as possible.

***

The problem before her was almost unsolvable.

It wasn't a matter of choosing between the Peacock or Hain, nor was it something that could be prioritized.

If she wanted the Children in her belly to have a perfect Awakening like Ao Ao and Miao Miao, she needed to be with both of them at the same time.

True, both Kong Jiamu and Hain were interested in her now, but did she dare to bet?

First, she couldn't tell Kong Jiamu.

She hadn't forgotten why she had planned to hide the pregnancy from Kong Jiamu in the first place.

After all, even if he was willing to have a more intimate relationship, it didn't necessarily mean he was willing to become a father... And no matter how much of a playboy the Peacock was, his bond with Hain was exceptionally different, something Tu Nan had come to realize more and more lately.

His trust in Hain was astonishing; Hain seemed more like a brother he had chosen for himself. He was proud to have Hain as a friend and was indignant about the poor treatment Hain had received on Sea Soul Star.

In the Peacock's eyes, this situation would truly be a double betrayal. He would most likely be furious. Of course... Tu Nan didn't think she was actually that important; his anger toward Hain would likely be even more intense.

Once that Peacock's reckless madness kicked in... nothing he did would be surprising.

Even at the simplest level, if he wanted to sever the relationship, could Tu Nan really tie him up and sleep with him?

As for Hain's side.

It seemed a bit simpler; not only did he assume she was carrying his child, but he was also willing to continue the relationship.

It seemed like she could tell Hain that she was also carrying Kong Jiamu's child at the same time.

She believed that even if Hain were in pain, he would eventually accept it all, as long as he still wanted his own child.

But this still wouldn't work.

Hain was... such a serious person. He would be an overly responsible father, with the excellent parenting traditions of an Orca layered upon the background of Sea Soul Star.

Even if he didn't tell the Peacock everything, he would at least take excessively meticulous care of her as a pregnant woman.

That would result in her having a hard time finding opportunities to be with Kong Jiamu.

That little Bird Beast would be sacrificed, forced to watch its twin brother or sister stand at the top of the world.

Just thinking about the child's disappointed little face made it impossible for Tu Nan to make such a cruel decision.

Indeed, the premise for Hain accepting all this would definitely not be her continuing to be entangled with Kong Jiamu.

Tu Nan wasn't so conceited as to think she could make Hain choose that.

Yes, Hain came from the matriarchal Sea Soul Star.

It was said that some Female Beasts there were just like many Male Beasts outside, having Junior Husbands and Male Paramours.

But if Hain could accept such things, he wouldn't have left his hometown, burned his bridges, and fled alone to join His Majesty the Emperor.

Such a person wouldn't be him.

What should she do?

Lost in thought, Tu Nan was carefully helped out of the car by Lance and taken home.

After standing in the foyer for a moment, she sighed deeply and went to knock on Amy's door with great apology.

"What's wrong..."

Amy rubbed her eyes, wondering what was going on with Tu Nan in the middle of the night.

"I miss the Children; I'll carry them upstairs."

Tu Nan needed the Children; they could make her feel calm and warm.

Lance quickly stepped forward, rushing to pick up the slightly heavier Miao Miao.

With a soft smile, Tu Nan carried Ao Ao and followed.

Yi Xingye followed behind them, but once they reached the second floor, he turned and went back to his own room.

As Lance was about to leave after putting the Children down, Tu Nan spoke.

"Lie down with me for a while."

The two little ones had been moved to a different room and a different bed by the adults, but they slept soundly the whole time, never waking up.

Lance didn't hesitate at all; she quickly took off her outer coat and got into bed.

"Come, you sleep here, with the Children right in the middle." She took charge, patting the other side of the mattress.

Tu Nan lay on her side, stroking the Two Children's fuzzy ears one by one.

"How is that research of yours going?"

She brought up a strange topic.