CH 82

“Daddy, isn’t the medicine bitter?”

Pei Zhaozhou’s pupils hesitated for a moment, and the shadow cast by the backlight fell on his dense eyelashes. His translucent, pale skin appeared somewhat sickly and weak, while his golden eyes shimmered with the touch of concern from his daughter.

In his almost snow-white hands, he held two pills: one black-red capsule and one white pill.

The black-red capsule was his stabilizing medication, specially formulated by the renowned doctor Yi Chengze to stabilize his recently repaired, slightly damaged body.

His departure from the medicine pod was rushed, and his body hadn’t fully recovered. However, in order to find Little Soybean, he had no choice but to push through despite his condition.

The white pill was a disguise, capable of subtly altering his facial features, even changing his muscles and bones. Without genetic DNA testing, his original appearance would remain unrecognized.

Being deemed a deceased person with no identification, Yi Chengze had arranged a temporary false identity for him. However, the height didn’t match. The person on the fake ID was only around 1.7 meters tall, while Pei Zhaozhou stood close to 1.9 meters.

Fortunately, during spaceship boarding, the ticket inspector didn’t check heights. Pei Zhaozhou only needed to take the medication to successfully infiltrate the heavily guarded main planet.

Originally, he didn’t want Little Soybean to worry, hence why he kept his back turned. But she still discovered it.

Pei Zhaozhou tightened his grip on the pills, then put them back into his pocket. He turned to look at the worried Little Soybean and reassured her, “They’re not bitter. The medicine given by Uncle Yi is sweet.”

His Majesty the King sent someone to invite him and Little Soybean to breakfast.

While Pei Zhaozhou helped Little Soybean comb her hair, he pondered whether the king understood the meaning of the letter he had just sent. His Majesty the King should already know, right?

Little Soybean’s light blue eyes filled with worry as she gently touched Pei Zhaozhou’s cheek, asking, “Daddy, do you have to take Uncle Yi’s medicine every day?”

Pei Zhaozhou didn’t want Little Soybean to worry too much, so he simply responded with a vague “Mmm” to brush it off.

Little Soybean was a thoughtful and observant girl. She touched Pei Zhaozhou’s cheek with her small hand and used her psychic power to sense his condition. Only when she confirmed that Daddy was fine did she feel relieved and changed the topic.

“Daddy, how come even I can’t see your original appearance with my psychic power? How did Uncle Yi do it?”

Little Soybean expressed a slight disappointment as she longed to see Daddy’s original cool and handsome appearance. Blinking her large eyes, she asked, “Daddy, when will you recover your original look?”

Looking at his intent reflection in the mirror, Pei Zhaozhou, with his amber-gold eyes flickering, replied, “Uncle Yi’s medicine can change facial features. Daddy may not return to his original appearance quickly. I still haven’t fully regained my memories yet. I think I’ll wait until everything settles down, until we are all settled, and then Daddy will revert to his original look.”

“For now, Daddy’s name is temporarily John. Little Soybean should also call Daddy by the name John. Otherwise, if Uncle Yi’s creation of the false identity is exposed, both Uncle Yi and Daddy will be arrested and investigated.”

Pei Zhaozhou was worried about their current situation in the palace. It was sensitive and peculiar, so he needed to explain some things to Little Soybean.

Little Soybean was startled, her eyes widening in shock, and she vigorously nodded.

“I understand, Little Soybean will keep it a secret!”

After Little Soybean obediently went to brush her teeth, Pei Zhaozhou stood in the room, slightly furrowing his brows. Only after swallowing the pills in his pocket did he feel a slight relief from his physical weakness.

But he didn’t have many pills left. He needed to go find Yi Chengze.

In Pei Zhaozhou’s eyes, Yi Chengze, the black doctor, was undoubtedly the most talented and gifted doctor in the world.

He had investigated the explosion, a planetary-level catastrophe capable of reducing the entire planet and its people to ashes.

At that time, Pei Zhaozhou had depleted all the energy of his mech and the smart brain, miraculously preserving his humanoid form, rather than being reduced to a pile of ashes by the high-temperature blast.

He couldn’t possibly have survived. Even with his S-class Alpha physique, under temperatures reaching several hundred degrees, his flesh had melted, the mech’s surface turned into charcoal, and the deep tissues emitted a savory smell as they cooked. His internal organs had long since decayed, his hair and scalp were burnt, and even his snow-white skull was visible.

He didn’t know why he had managed to survive back then, as if an incredible force was keeping him from completely dying.

Like a tiny flame on the verge of being extinguished, it flickered with a faint light in the hopeless and desolate abyss.

According to the black doctor, Yi Chengze, when they carried him out of the abandoned mech cockpit, his body had become as soft as boneless, more like a dead person than an actual corpse, yet miraculously he was still breathing, although weakly.

In order to save him, Yi Chengze performed countless major and minor surgeries. He used the remaining active skin, organs, and tissues from his body, placing them in specialized containers for cell cultivation and regeneration, growing new usable bodily structures and organs.

His entire skin had been replaced three times, the necrotic lungs three times, spleen and kidneys once, liver twice, and the most dangerous operation was the heart replacement once…

During those hazy and dark times, he couldn’t control his body from slipping into a deep sleep, even approaching the chilling sleep of death. This broken body became his burden, and several times, in his muddled consciousness, he felt his body go limp, but he heard the voice of a little girl’s prayer and wishes.

A feeble cry, like that of a helpless abandoned kitten, pierced his heart like falling rain, causing him pain, yet reluctant struggles kept him holding on.

Until he woke up.

The current Pei Zhaozhou was still Pei Zhaozhou, but he couldn’t be compared to the previous Pei Zhaozhou. His body’s components, organs, and bones had been replaced countless times inside and out.

His heart now was brand new, the organs were brand new, the skin was brand new…

Except for his brain, which was still his own, he didn’t know which other parts of this body belonged to his original self.

Even breathing had become fresh and unfamiliar, making his newly revived life somewhat uncomfortable.

Pei Zhaozhou supported his forehead and sat on the edge of the bed, breathing rapidly in a slight hurry. Only when the medicine completely dissolved into his body did his pale lips regain a hint of color.

He was still alive, for the sake of Little Soybean and finding that person. When his weakened body could no longer support him, he still tried to hang on for Little Soybean… That’s why he had to continue living.

In the dining hall.

“Your Majesty, hello—” Little Soybean greeted energetically.

Si Huaixi glanced at Little Soybean, who only reached his waist, nodded as a sign of acknowledgement, but when his gaze fell upon Little Soybean’s father, his expression suddenly turned cold.

“Your Majesty, greetings.”

Pei Zhaozhou sensed that he wasn’t warmly welcomed by His Majesty, so he politely greeted him with a bow.

After hearing this, Si Huaixi responded coldly with a nonchalant “Hmm.”

Pei Zhaozhou maintained a stern expression, his face devoid of any emotional ripples.

However, an awkward and frozen atmosphere lingered around them, as if two people were exchanging cold vibes.

Little Soybean blinked, looked at His Majesty, then looked at his father, feeling a bit puzzled but decided not to meddle further.

His Majesty invited Little Soybean and Pei Zhaozhou to the table.

Surprisingly, there was a Chinese-style breakfast on the table. Little Soybean usually ate nutritional supplements, so it was his first time encountering this kind of food.

Various aromas filled the air, and the appetizing dishes on the table made Little Soybean, like someone suffering from decision paralysis, unsure which one to eat with his small spoon.

Frowning with hesitation, Little Soybean cautiously asked Si Huaixi, “Your Majesty, can I eat all of these?”

Si Huaixi’s deep gaze fell upon the shy and adorable child, pausing for a moment before he replied, “Yes, you’re today’s little guest, so you can eat all of them.”

Little Soybean’s eyes shone brightly as she thanked His Majesty the King with a smile.

Because she was still too young to use chopsticks, it was Pei Zhaozhou who used them to pick up small dumplings and the like for her. Little Soybean sat on a specially made child’s high chair and ate pumpkin and shredded pork congee with a small spoon.

The sweet pumpkin melted in her mouth like pumpkin-flavored cotton candy, making Little Soybean close her eyes in enjoyment. The two little short legs under the table happily shook, and their mouths were smeared with pumpkin puree.

Pei Zhaozhou wiped Little Soybean’s mouth with a tissue, but none of the food on the table was touched. He even sat at the farthest diagonal from Si Huaixi on purpose.

Si Huaixi’s deep eyes were always involuntarily drawn to this man named John. He looked so much like… so much like Brother Pei…

But also different.

Brother Pei had been on countless battlefields as a mech pilot. His arms, chest, back, and neck all bore faint scars of healed wounds. Resolute and mighty, Brother Pei was like a brilliant diamond shaped through endless trials. Those scars were the symbols of his honorable charm.

This person in front of him looked very similar, bone structure-wise, and in movements and gestures, he resembled Brother Pei.

But he had no scars on his skin, smooth and tender as a newborn baby. His internal organs were pristine and intact, with a strong and vigorous heart, unlike Brother Pei, whose lungs had been damaged by gunshots. Everything about him was like new.

There was a mole behind Brother Pei’s ear, but he didn’t have one. Even his whole body was spotless, with smooth and fair skin like a porcelain doll that had been pampered since birth. There were no scars or moles on him.

He was so much like Brother Pei, yet upon closer inspection, not a single aspect resembled Brother Pei.

He resembled a person produced by a human cloning experiment.

A suppressed, twisted sense of resentment surged within him, deeply jealous and envious. The person in front of him was still alive, even though he resembled Brother Pei so much, whereas his Brother Pei was already dead.

Si Huaixi’s gaze darkened, and he lightly opened his thin lips. “Little Soybean’s father, you’re called John, right? Isn’t the food in the palace not to the liking of the people from Planet XX?”

Pei Zhaozhou paused, his stern gaze slightly softened as he replied, “It’s not the case, Your Majesty. The food in the palace suits my taste.”

Si Huaixi’s eyes sharpened as he looked at the untouched food in front of Pei Zhaozhou and asked, “Then why aren’t you eating?”

A tinge of melancholy flashed in Pei Zhaozhou’s eyes. He pursed his lips and said, “I plan to take care of Little Soybean first and then eat.”

Seeing the two adults seemingly arguing, Little Soybean, angered, slammed her little hand on the table and said fiercely, “No fighting!”

She looked at Pei Zhaozhou softly and said, “Daddy, it’s okay if you don’t want to eat this. Little Soybean will accompany Daddy to find something you like.”

Facing Si Huaixi, Little Soybean puffed her cheeks and said seriously, with a bun face, “Your Majesty, Little Soybean is grateful for your care, but Little Soybean needs to take care of Daddy. I’m sorry, but we have to leave the palace!”

After speaking, Little Soybean determinedly grabbed Pei Zhaozhou’s hand, intending to leave.

Pei Zhaozhou couldn’t bear to refuse the girl and bent down, allowing her to lead him.

“What would you like to eat?”

The King’s voice carried a hint of coldness.

“If you don’t want to eat these, I can ask the kitchen staff to make another serving.”

Pei Zhaozhou was surprised by the King’s surrender. He looked at Little Soybean, who suddenly stopped in her tracks, seemingly hesitant about whether to continue walking forward. She appeared rather stubborn.

Pei Zhaozhou’s lips curved slightly. He could tell that Little Soybean unexpectedly liked this King. He also didn’t want his daughter to be sad.

Besides, the special abilities within Little Soybean were something he couldn’t teach, and the King could still be useful for now.

After pondering for a moment, Brother Pei gently tugged on Little Soybean’s small hand. The golden eyes shimmered with a gentle light as he said, “Daddy is a bit hungry. Can Little Soybean let Daddy stay here and eat?”

Little Soybean nodded gently, saying ‘okay.’

With Little Soybean seated again, the conflict dissipated.

Pei Zhaozhou chewed on the food prepared by the King, and a deep and doubtful look flashed in his eyes.

— Why does it taste so similar to the one in his memory?

— It’s as if he made it with his own hands.

Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters.  (๑>ᴗ