Ch 113: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

“Pfft.” Mu Xing couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

Mao Mao glared at this human in irritation, only to see him laughing with curved brows and eyes, looking at him with such gentle warmth. A lock of soft curly hair dangled at his forehead, bouncing lightly as he laughed.

So, so good-looking.

Sitting cross-legged on the teapot lid, Mao Mao squirmed awkwardly for a while before muttering in a small voice: “If you don’t want to coax me, then… if you just smile at me like that more often, I can like you a little too.”

He stretched out his tiny hand and made a gesture: “Just a little bit!”

Mu Xing was completely overwhelmed by the cuteness. After a moment’s thought, he reached out his hand.

Mao Mao glanced at the palm held out before him, hesitated, then stepped onto it with delight.

Mu Xing placed the little fellow on his shoulder, smiling brightly: “Mao Mao is too cute. Even if you don’t make flowers bloom for me, I’ll still like you.”

In a flash, Mao Mao blushed from his neck all the way to his ears.

Dizzy, he thought: Oh no, am I about to become the first Iya to roast myself alive?

Mu Xing was full of curiosity about the Iya, with countless questions he wanted to ask.

But that night, he didn’t get to ask any of them.

Ami arrived.

Time to urge the little master to bed.

Mu Xing looked at the robot butler standing before him, speaking to him in its soft voice, as though it couldn’t see the tiny figure on his shoulder at all.

He cast a curious glance at Mao Mao.

Mao Mao understood: “If we don’t want to be seen, they can’t see us.”

Otherwise, with human technology so advanced, how could the Iya have gone undiscovered for so many years?

Mu Xing understood: “So that’s how it is.”

This must be the natural self-defense of these fragile little beings.

He smiled: “I’m going to sleep now. What about you, Mao Mao?”

Mao Mao was reluctant, but he didn’t want to let a human notice, or else he’d surely act smug.

So he huffed: “I’m going to sleep too, nestled in fragrant petals.”

“How nice.” Mu Xing chuckled. “No wonder you smell so sweet yourself.”

Mao Mao’s ears flushed red again. Mu Xing felt a breeze brush his cheek, and the slight weight on his shoulder vanished.

He figured Mao Mao must have left.

*

Back in his bedroom, the air still thick with rose fragrance, Mu Xing drifted into a dream.

He dreamed of sitting on a tree in full bloom, every flower cradling a tiny winged Iya.

Together, they carried a palm-sized cup to him, filled with amber nectar, urging him to drink.

Mu Xing took a sip.

The Iya laughed, chattering:

“He drank it, he drank it!”
“Xingxing drank our nectar.”

“Once you drink the nectar, you’re one of us, an Iya!”

Mu Xing stared at them in confusion, when suddenly something huge fell from above. He jumped, dodging quickly, only to see it was a cup several times larger than him.

It looked familiar.

Wasn’t this the same cup of nectar he had just drunk?

Startled, he reached out—and found his hand had turned green. Looking up, he saw himself now the same size as Mai Mai and the others.

He had become an Iya with little wings!

…

When Mu Xing woke up, he thought the dream was quite amusing.

After washing up, he went out and found his whole family already awake. Everyone looked energized, clearly up for a while already.

“You’re all up this early?”

Mu Yue, radiant, said: “How could I sleep, knowing we have such a huge rose bush now?”

She pointed behind her excitedly: “Xingxing, look! Overnight, the roses grew even more!”

Sure enough, what had once been sparse vines climbing the hollow metal fence had now, in just one night, multiplied several times over. Countless new branches covered the entire fence, blooming with roses as big as bowls.

Now it truly was a solid wall of flowers on three sides.

The fragrance was overwhelming, and even drew a few colorful butterflies from who knew where, fluttering gracefully around the wall of blooms.

“It’s so beautiful.” Mu Yue stood frozen at the sight.

After staring for a while, she suddenly rushed back into her room, carefully chose her favorite dress, and put on her best makeup before coming back out.

Such gorgeous flowers deserved to be matched with her prettiest self.

But Mu Xing’s attention wasn’t on the wall of flowers. Not far away, nestled in two roses side by side, Mai Mai and Mao Mao dangled their little legs, waving at him.

“Good morning, Xingxing.”

Mai Mai, still unable to speak, waved enthusiastically.

Mu Xing walked over and whispered: “Did you make this happen for me on purpose?”

Mai Mai tilted her head and smiled.

Mao Mao nodded, struggling to suppress his anticipation, pretending calm: “Do you like it?”

“I like it! I love it so much!” Mu Xing nearly wanted to grab the two little ones and kiss them, though he didn’t dare startle them.

Or the rest of his family.

“Xingxing, what are you mumbling about over there?” Lan Xi was directing Ami to set breakfast in the yard—who would want to eat in a cold dining room with scenery like this?

Mu Xing turned back and found a reason: “I was thanking them.”

Lan Xi thought the “them” referred to the roses, since Mu Xing had been chattering to the roses every day.

He nodded: “It’s right to thank them more.”

Last night, he and his wife talked for a long time. It was hard to explain this strange phenomenon, and in the end, they could only conclude: Little Xingxing is too cute, even flowers can’t bear to disappoint him.

Though it sounded far-fetched, it also oddly made sense.

At the table, Han Jing looked at the happy Mu family.

Their faces were full of pure joy, already chattering about how to use the flowers, without thinking anything was wrong.

He tentatively suggested: “Should we report this to a professional agency for testing? After all, this is very strange.”

Mu Rongrong froze, then turned to look at her husband and children: “Right, should we do a test? Could there be something wrong with the flowers?”

Mu Yue asked nervously: “And after testing? We won’t have to hand them over to the Federation, right?”

That she would never accept!

These beautiful flowers were planted by her little brother! They belong to their family.

No one wants to give them up!

Seeing her protective expression, Han Jing strangely felt she looked like a little kitten whose claws hadn’t grown out yet—more cute than fierce.

His gaze softened, and he said quietly: “No, I can guarantee no one will dare to take your flowers.”

Mu Yue gave him a doubtful glance, not questioning how he could make such a promise, but clearly the words lifted her spirits again.

This was a strange family, Han Jing thought while eating the simple breakfast.

But being with them felt rather pleasant.

After breakfast, Mu Rongrong used the optical brain to submit a report about their roses’ unusual situation to the relevant department.

Of course, no reply came right away. That was normal.

Next, the family began discussing how to deal with the roses.

At first, when they heard the roses would bloom, they thought they could cut the flowers and sell them.

Natural flowers were expensive, and even small, plain ones sold at high prices.

But their rose had blooms the size of a bowl, with delicate, bright colors, beautiful shape, and an enchanting fragrance—an absolute rarity.

With a whole courtyard full of such roses, if they sold them all, their financial crisis would be solved at once.

And if they sold the whole plant, it would be even more amazing—this kind of flower could definitely become the finale at the Federation’s top auction house, fetching a sky-high price.

Han Jing saw the Mu family excitedly discuss for a long time, then all eyes turned to Mu Xing, who hadn’t said much.

“Xingxing, you planted the flower, you decide.”

“Yes, Xingxing decides.”

Han Jing thought this family really was strange.

Mu Rongrong might be simple-minded, but she was not ignorant.

They couldn’t possibly not know how valuable the flower was.

Even a small blue rose could sell for nearly ten million.

Not to mention this rose?

Han Jing himself couldn’t even estimate its true value.

And now, the Mu family gave such a priceless treasure’s decision-making power to a thirteen-year-old child?

Mu Xing met their expectant gazes and slowly asked: “You want me to decide?”

The three nodded.

Mu Xing asked again: “Even if I don’t want to cut branches or sell them?”

The three’s expressions immediately turned conflicted and pained.

Mu Rongrong said heavily: “Yes, whatever you want.”

Lan Xi nodded, his voice always gentle: “Whatever you want, Dad supports you.”

Mu Yue hesitated for a moment, then said: “Anyway, it was you who grew them. Just being able to see such beautiful flowers is already a blessing from you.”

Mu Xing smiled.

He was so good-looking, and with such a pure smile, the two little Iya people not far away were entranced.

They heard Xingxing say: “This is a gift from my good friends. It’s a very precious gesture. I don’t want to sell or cut the flowers.”

The little Iya’s faces flushed red: Xingxing said I’m his good friend!

He even can’t bear to sell the flowers.

Xingxing is so wonderful! No wonder I like him!

The Mu family, hearing this, didn’t doubt—unanimously thinking this “friend” referred to the rose itself.

Mu Yue propped her chin, her big blue eyes staring at her little brother, sighing: “Maybe it’s just Xingxing’s pure heart that touched the rose.”

Mao Mao gave a tiny snort and muttered: “It’s not the rose, it’s me and Mai Mai who made it bloom for him.”

But he didn’t like other humans, even if this one was Xingxing’s sister and very pretty.

Mai Mai leaned her head over, cuddling against Mao Mao.

Her soft voice said: “As long as Xingxing knows it’s from us, that’s enough. He really likes the gift we gave him.”

Thinking about it, Mao Mao’s bit of dissatisfaction vanished.

Yes, it’s enough if Xingxing knows.

As for others, who cares.

On this side.

Mu Xing looked at the courtyard full of roses and suddenly had a bold idea: “What if we open a livestream on StarNet and let netizens admire the flowers online? I can also plant many other kinds.”

“When we have money later, I’ll buy Red Moon Star and cover the whole planet with flowers and trees.”

He thought of the timid little Iya.

He wanted to try—maybe he could return a beautiful homeland to them?

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