CH 2

After finishing their meal and sitting for a while, Jian Ning carried Tuan Tuan home in his arms. Tuan Tuan became sleepy after eating, and as soon as they opened the door, Tuan Tuan nestled in Jian Ning's arms and started snoring softly.

They entered the bedroom, and Jian Ning bent down to put Tuan Tuan on the bed. Tuan Tuan was initially in the form of a small baby when born, but after two days, it transformed into a little wolf cub. Lin Yang said that human-shaped babies couldn't freely run around and play, but in beast form, they could move around as they pleased. Therefore, the male members of the family preferred to live in beast form during their early years.

It was better this way. He had never taken care of a newborn baby before. Jian Ning could handle Tuan Tuan better in the form of a little wolf cub. After all, treating it as a pet would be sufficient. If he had to take care of a newborn baby that would cry at the drop of a hat, he would be overwhelmed.

Covering Tuan Tuan with a small blanket, Jian Ning went to the adjacent room to water the vegetables he had grown.

The vegetables were growing well, but there were too few varieties, only three. He had thought of buying more seeds to cultivate, but the only ones available outside were these three common types. Lin Yang said that most of the precious seeds could only be found at the Saint's Academy.

Only those who graduated from the Saint's Academy could be called planters (cultivators). Once becoming a planter, he could find good jobs to support Tuan Tuan. In half a month, should he leave here with Tuan Tuan to go to the Saint's Academy?

Thinking about Tuan Tuan's father, who had gone and would never return, Jian Ning was lost in contemplation. Suddenly, the doorbell in the living room rang.

He snapped back to reality, put down the watering can, and went to the living room to open the door.

"Xiao Ning," outside the door stood Zhang Wen, the stepmother of the previous owner, with a smiling face.

Jian Ning looked at her with a faint expression and asked, "What brings you here?"

"I came to see you," Zhang Wen replied and handed over a paper bag with two plump red fruits inside. Fruits were more expensive than vegetables, and these two red fruits cost her a whole 200 star coins. When she handed them over, there was a hint of heartache in her eyes.

"After seeing me, you can leave," Jian Ning knew the price of fruits and didn't want to accept them for nothing. He reached out and took them, about to close the door.

"Hey, you child! I came to see you, and you won't even invite me in to sit?" Zhang Wen hurriedly blocked the door, suppressing her anger.

Jian Ning remained expressionless. After the previous owner was driven out of the house, neither his father nor stepmother had ever come to see him. Later, after the previous owner was no longer around and Jian Ning occupied this body, the stepmother had come to visit a few times, but it was never for anything good.

A noise came from the bedroom, and Jian Ning turned his head, worried that Tuan Tuan had woken up. Taking advantage of his distraction, Zhang Wen quickly squeezed in through the door crack.

The living room was spacious and bright, even bigger than her own house. Zhang Wen looked around, feeling jealous in her heart. This damn child had such good luck. He had no money but managed to find such a capable man. In just one year, he had moved from the slums to such a nice house.

Jian Ning's hair was a bit long, as he hadn't had a haircut yet. After returning home, he casually tied up a small bun on the top of his head, revealing his handsome features. His eyes were clear and distinct, and his lips were rosy and plump. Zhang Wen turned her head and caught sight of his face, which stirred up another wave of resentment. He had such a seductive appearance, no wonder he could allure several men.

Tuan Tuan wagged its little tail and happily ran out of the bedroom, biting Jian Ning's pants and attempting to climb onto him. Jian Ning bent down and lifted the little one into his arms, then looked at his stepmother with a cold gaze. "If you have nothing important to say, please leave. I'm taking Tuan Tuan out."

Realizing her purpose, Zhang Wen disregarded his coldness and put on a smile. "Xiao Ning, do you still remember Commander Weiss? He has always liked you."

So, it was about Weiss again. Jian Ning's eyes grew colder.

Weiss was an officer in the stationed military on Blue Star. His sister was the wife of the highest-ranking officer in Blue Star, and they were both arrogant and unrestrained in their actions on Blue Star. When Jian Ning was working, Weiss spotted him and bothered him a few times. Later, Tuan Tuan's father arrived, and Jian Ning didn't know what methods he used, but he managed to prevent Weiss from harassing him.

During the previous visits, the stepmother had always brought up Weiss, trying to persuade Jian Ning to go to Weiss's side.

Zhang Wen earnestly advised, "Xiao Ning, you're still so young, yet you're already raising a child alone. It's rare for Commander Weiss to like you, and he doesn't mind that you have a child. What's wrong with going to him? With him supporting you, you won't have to work hard outside anymore."

As Jian Ning listened, he sneered inwardly. Weiss had already married a wife and kept two females outside. Although interstellar regulations only allowed one legal partner per person, this place was far from the Imperial Star, and the highest-ranking officer stationed here was like a local emperor. As a relative, Weiss could do whatever he wanted without anyone interfering.

However, it was the interstellar era, and the star network was developed. Worried about being exposed on the star network, the highest-ranking officer allowed Weiss to keep several females, but forced coercion was not allowed. That meant he needed the other party's consent.

So Weiss didn't dare to force Jian Ning and instead sent his stepmother as a mediator.

Zhang Wen continued, "You won't lose out by being with Commander Weiss. His beast form is a bear, and his spiritual power is B-level. He's much stronger than your previous man, right? That man only had good looks but ended up leaving you behind."

Jian Ning didn't want to listen to her nonsense anymore and said directly, "I'm not interested in being supported by him. Since Commander Weiss is so good, why don't you let Fāng Tiān go instead?"

Fāng Tiān was the son of the previous owner's father and stepmother. He was also a female.

Tuan Tuan kept nudging against Jian Ning's chest, eager to go outside. Jian Ning gently caressed the little one's ears, opened the door, and signaled for Zhang Wen to leave. "Please leave."

Despite Zhang Wen saying so much, Jian Ning remained indifferent. Zhang Wen's face darkened, and she clenched her teeth. Weiss had promised to give her 10,000 star coins if she could persuade Jian Ning. Her child was going to the Saint's Academy every day, and having more money would help him socialize with noble friends from the Imperial Star. But this child, born from her husband and his former wife, turned out to be such a difficult nut to crack. It was truly infuriating.

Her gaze fell on Tuan Tuan in Jian Ning's arms, and she sneered disdainfully in her mind. Giving birth to a mixed-breed dog, how high could that man's spiritual power be? If it weren't for his outstanding appearance, how could Commander Weiss have taken an interest in a female with only D-level spiritual power? And yet, Jian Ning didn't know how to appreciate it and rejected him several times.

Zhang Wen angrily walked to the door, paused for a moment with her hand on the doorknob, and then pulled the door open to leave.

Watching her hover car leave from the window, Tuan Tuan had become impatient and was now tearing at Jian Ning's collar. Jian Ning quickly carried the little one and headed out.

After taking a stroll around the surroundings, Tuan Tuan became exhausted from running around in excitement. On the way back, the little one refused to walk and instead bit Jian Ning's pants, jumping into his arms, insisting on being carried home.

Upon returning home, Jian Ning washed a red fruit for himself and prepared a bottle of milk for Tuan Tuan. He then opened the holomind and leaned back on the sofa, watching interstellar entertainment programs.

Tuan Tuan fell asleep after finishing the milk. Jian Ning carried the little one into the bedroom and placed him on the bed before going out to wash the leftover seeds from the red fruit. He cleaned them and planted them in flower pots in the adjacent room.

After finishing his chores, Jian Ning took a shower in the bathroom. He then lay down on the bed, and Tuan Tuan sensed his presence, automatically rolling into his arms. The little one placed both of its front paws on his chest and buried its head in the crook of his neck.

Jian Ning gently patted its paws, then the room's lights obediently went out. He covered himself and Tuan Tuan with the blanket, holding the little one, and closed his eyes to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Jian Ning felt Tuan Tuan squirming in his arms, thinking that it needed to pee. In his drowsiness, he reached out and patted the little one's back, but he realized that Tuan Tuan's entire body was tensed up, and a tender whimper came from its throat.

What was wrong with Tuan Tuan? Jian Ning felt puzzled, and when he opened his eyes and looked, his heart almost jumped out of his chest in fear. In the pitch-black room, there was a person standing by his bedside!

******

Reminder to everyone by the translator: 

In this novel, there are two types of individuals. Namely: 

Please bear this in mind!