249: A tangled mess

One person joined the meeting midway, so he only had a one-way Video Call open.

He worked while watching the commotion on this side.

From time to time, when Tu Nan spoke, he would stop writing and listen for a while, then a smile would appear on his face.

This period was both torture and growth for him.

After he proposed it that day, Tu Nan often brought the Children to the conference room during the day. Sometimes, while in a meeting, she would play with the Children crawling on the floor.

The Two Children babbled in a language no one could understand, not bothering the adults.

He finally saw clearly the child named Lan Yong'an.

He and Tu Nan's child.

He finally understood why some people turn into Incarnations of doting parents, because he too had secretly screenshotted countless pictures.

Among them, what he liked most was Yong'an, whose arm was tugged painfully by the other child, but he pouted and refused to cry. Yet, Tu Nan noticed his unusual state at a glance. She picked up the child and checked his injury.

Then she repeatedly lifted the child high, coaxing him to be happy.

The dynamic photo he screenshotted perfectly captured her smiling as she lifted the child, who was giggling, a warm scene of mother and child looking at each other.

He never tired of looking at it.

He directly sent this photo to his Elder Sister and Second Sister.

"My beloved and my child," he told them, then ignored their barrage of communications.

He thought about what Tu Nan had said; she said he was only 10% about love, and he didn't refute her.

This was impossible to prove, even if he himself knew that this proportion was not so tiny.

Moreover, it was growing larger and larger.

But it was useless; if Tu Nan only allocated 10% to this part, then what was the point of him competing within that quota?

He was not content with that 10%, so he wanted to slowly create more and more intersections with Tu Nan.

In her career, in her ideals, in every day she faced the future, he would strive to occupy more.

Patience was one of his greatest strengths.

But just now, he suddenly felt a little uncertain.

The Emperor's attitude was too subtle. He... was a very tolerant and benevolent monarch, but he also paid great attention to his own dignity.

When did he ever care so directly about such trivial matters?

He really wanted to be by her side, Hain thought. At least then, he wouldn't overthink things like this.

Sighing, he put down his pen, pinched the bridge of his nose, and forced himself to calm down.

He knew that as an S-class, he shouldn't be crowding the front lines anymore.

But what if he tried?

What if Your Majesty agreed?

***

Your Majesty is very busy, Your Majesty cannot agree.

Your Majesty was very pleased that Tu Nan had Children so quickly.

Your Majesty carefully reviewed the report submitted by James, and was greatly pleased.

"Excellent, the fact that you achieved results so quickly this time deserves a good reward." The Emperor's words were as gentle as a spring breeze, "Didn't the research institute propose renovations before? And adding equipment? Approved."

James's eyes immediately narrowed into slits with joy.

"Your Majesty is indeed wise and decisive, but this research also owes much to Miss Tu Nan's efforts, if it weren't for her..."

Oops.

James realized he was too happy and said the wrong thing. Miss Tu Nan had made great sacrifices for scientific research... James now only dared to define this matter as dedicating oneself to science.

Indeed, The Emperor's expression turned cold.

To prevent The Emperor from changing his mind, James bit the bullet and excused himself.

"Well, if we're renovating, we'll need to temporarily move to another location first. I'll go and submit a report to Chief Director Yuan Zhe, Your Majesty, I'll take my leave now."

He didn't dare to look at The Emperor's expression, only hearing The Emperor snort through his nose, and then he quickly exited the room.

Touching his forehead, the old man thought.

That was close. Knowing too much wasn't necessarily a good thing either.

But Miss Tu Nan, how should I put it.

She truly is someone you can't judge by appearances, with limitless potential.

The Emperor always felt that even clear reports were irritating, so he casually tossed the report aside, paced in place for a long time, then stopped.

He lightly sighed.

This really can't be blamed on anyone... However, since this conclusion is set in stone, his child must definitely receive the best 'care'.

The Emperor snorted coldly and went to find Tu Nan.

Then, night after night, Tu Nan was immersed in water by The Emperor, tossed and turned, making her feel weary of life.

Of course, there was another reason... she hadn't had a proper rest during her lunch break every day.

The other person had cleared out a small cabin in the corner of the starship the next day, saying it was for her to nap.

In fact, every day, he squeezed in there too.

It's too tiring, Tu Nan thought.

Doing bad things is truly too tiring, so tiring that she fell asleep several times directly during meetings in the conference room.

***

When Kong Jiamu suddenly appeared before her, Tu Nan felt a sense of disorientation, like clouds changing into dogs.

It was outside the Children's room. Embarrassingly, the Children were now being looked after by Doctor James.

He had just come out of the room, the door was not closed, and Little Bird's wailing clearly came through, along with a complaint that exploded in Tu Nan's heart.

"Ahhh, why are you kissing me? My hair is all wet. Is he spitting? Little Fish, help me smell, do I stink?"

Tu Nan's eyebrow twitched. She quietly closed the door, not letting the Children discover she was there, and then she scrutinized the rather desolate Kong Jiamu.

His hat was askew, and there were red little palm prints on his face, indicating how much force his son had used to hit him.

As for his military uniform, most of the time, he didn't wear it neatly, but it was rarely this disheveled.

His collar was forcibly pulled open, and one of the buttons on his shirt had fallen off.

Peacock looked embarrassed under Tu Nan's gaze. He stiffened his neck and explained, "This kid sees me too little and isn't familiar with me. Just... just spend more time together and it'll be fine."

Actually, he himself had some doubts.

Tu Nan rarely saw him so flustered. After a moment of silence, she suggested, "Little Bird likes all kinds of pretty feathers. Next time, bring him some feather toys."

"Pretty feathers?" Peacock's mind spun. "Then I'll pluck some feathers for him, tail feathers... no, I'll pull others for him, how many do you want?" He raised his hand, seemingly wanting to conjure wings on the spot to pluck feathers.

Tu Nan was startled.

"Wait, there's no need to pluck your own feathers! If you pluck yourself bald, he'll only dislike you more. Go find some other kinds for him. For him, it's like a cat scratching post, but for pecking."

"Ah." Kong Jiamu hadn't expected his son to have such a strange hobby. "As a bird, why does he like to peck other birds' feathers..."

He didn't understand.

Tu Nan was also helpless, "Go ask the Bird Beastmen. I don't know if this habit is serious."

"Okay." Kong Jiamu agreed.

Silence fell between the two.

Tu Nan turned to leave, but Peacock grabbed her hand.

"Tu Nan," he pleaded, "I've thought about it, really, listen to me."

Tu Nan didn't look back.

Kong Jiamu ignored her and began his rapid confession.

"I figured it's normal for you to like Hain; he's actually a pretty good person. But look, your liking him is your business, and my liking you is my business. They're not the same thing."

He convinced himself with logic.

"But, I'm telling you, you like Hain because he's devoted and gentle? But look, he was born into a big Family, and he has a lot of messy affairs. I'm different; I'm a Devil King in the Kong Family, no one dares to talk nonsense in front of me."

Tu Nan wanted to leave, but Peacock clung to her hand like a child, following behind her.

"Besides, don't you want to help your Foster Mother and set up mobile garrison points? I can help! I can apply to accompany you at the border. Or, if your transport company is short on money, I have it! Look, I'm too busy fighting to spend money, so you can spend it, it's perfect."

He eagerly promoted himself.

"Also, that Hain is a sea beast. You're a Cat Beastkin, you don't like water, right?"

He started by saying Hain was good, and now he kept trying to prove that his friend was not suitable for Tu Nan.

"Oh?" Someone turned from the other end of the corridor.

"How do you know she doesn't like water?"

The Emperor walked over with a sullen face, asking as he approached, "Then does she, like you, enjoy squatting in trees for no reason?"

Kong Jiamu looked at Your Majesty, his eyes full of accusation.

"Your Majesty, why do you keep taking Hain's side?"

The Emperor thought for a moment before understanding Peacock's train of thought.

He thought The Emperor's words meant that if Tu Nan liked water, she should be with Hain?

Ridiculous.