Chapter 9: In 20 Years, I Will Take You From the Shu Family and Back to the Imperial Family

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: In 20 Years, I Will Take You From the Shu Family and Back to the Imperial Family

Shu Yao asked calmly, "Your Majesty won’t look down on my son just because he used to live in Zone 9, will you?"

Qin Shiwei said, his voice devoid of emotion, "Zone 9 is also a territory of the Interstellar Federation. The people who live there are citizens of the Federation as well."

"That’s good."

"Giving up custody of your son just like that?" Qin Shiwei sounded somewhat disappointed.

"Of course not!"

’This heartless bastard has no idea how anxious I am!’

’Fighting His Majesty for custody of Zaizai is like an egg trying to break a stone!’

’Based on the current situation, it’s impossible to bypass the Imperial Family and get Zaizai’s household registration processed.’

’And I can’t drag this out.’

’Otherwise, more and more people might find out about my son’s origins.’

As for this bastard’s position, Shu Yao couldn’t figure it out.

’At the very least, I can tell from his attitude that he doesn’t care about the child at all!’

’But he seems to be hung up on me.’

’Perhaps I can use that to my advantage.’

"That year you had a manic episode, and I was the one who calmed you down. I should also be the one who healed your eyes." Shu Yao raised her hand, poking his chest. "For such a great kindness, shouldn’t you repay me by giving yourself to me?"

Qin Shiwei was silent.

He remained silent, and Shu Yao did as well.

’Did this cliché tactic actually stump him?’

"Let’s get married. You are the child’s biological father, after all."

Qin Shiwei pursed his lips, observing her, trying to determine if this was just a whim.

"But I have conditions!"

Shu Yao poked him hard in the chest twice more.

Qin Shiwei said coolly, "I’m listening."

"As you probably know, I was only just reunited with the Shu Family. It’s impossible for me to leave them anytime soon. My mother and uncles wouldn’t agree to it. So, you’ll have to marry into the Shu Family!"

’Making the Federation’s First Commander marry into a family!?’

’This was the kind of outrageous thing only Shu Yao would dare to pull!!’

"Agreed."

’The Commander actually agreed without a second thought!’

Shu Yao was stunned!

’So the great First Commander has no need for dignity?’

Qin Shiwei said, "Twenty years. That is my limit. After twenty years, I will take you from the Shu Family and we will return to the Imperial Family."

Shu Yao was floored once again!

She met his dark green eyes. There was no hint of his thoughts, only her own champagne-colored reflection staring back.

The average lifespan for an ordinary person in the Interstellar Federation was around 170 years, and a Beastman’s was even longer.

For a Beastman, twenty years wasn’t a particularly long time.

Shu Yao composed herself and made another outrageous demand.

"Xiao Juzi’s registration must be tied to mine. And I still don’t want too many people to know about his parentage. If you move into the Shu Family as both his biological father and the First Commander, your identity will definitely be exposed. So you cannot reveal who you really are to the rest of the Shu Family!"

Without another word, Qin Shiwei decisively sent her an application.

A marriage application!!

His smooth maneuver completely threw Shu Yao for a loop.

’Is it too late to back out now?’

But when she saw him submit Xiao Juzi’s residency application for the Fourth District right then and there—and saw it get approved—Shu Yao’s heart won out over her head. Without a shred of hesitation, she accepted the Commander’s "proposal."

The next second, she felt the tail wrapped around her waist tighten slightly.

The lively tip of his tail brushed against her arm.

Although she couldn’t see it on the man’s face, Shu Yao could sense his delight.

Glancing at the tail still coiled around her waist, Shu Yao looked up. "You can let me go. I need to find my son."

Qin Shiwei showed no reluctance, merely retracting his tail at a leisurely pace.

Shu Yao asked, "When are you free? I’ll arrange for you to formally meet my family."

Qin Shiwei didn’t want to seem too eager. "Give me some time to prepare. I’ll pay a formal visit to the Shu Family tomorrow."

A message came in from Shu Xin.

Xiao Juzi was missing!

Shu Chao Yu had already gone to check the venue’s security footage. There was no news yet.

Shu Yao returned to the event hall and met up with Shu Xin.

With Zaizai having run off, Shu Xin was on the verge of tears from anxiety.

Shu Yao, however, was calm. "Mom, don’t worry. Xiao Juzi has a very keen sense of smell. He’ll find his way back on his own."

Shu Xin’s eyes were red. "But... what if a bad person took him!?"

’She didn’t want to go through the pain of being separated from her family again!’

Shu Yao soothed her. "Kittens are like that. They run back on their own once they’ve had enough fun. When I was taken away by the Seventh District police, Xiao Juzi found me all by himself."

The words had barely left her mouth when a little orange furball pounced over and leaped into her arms.

"Mama, I finally found you!" Xiao Juzi excitedly recounted his adventure. "Let me tell you, I met a yellow mister, and he showed me his super big wings! He even told me that I’ll grow wings someday, too!"

’A yellow mister?’

’With giant wings?’

’That meant Xiao Juzi had run into a Beastman.’

’And this person seemed to know a lot about Xiao Juzi’s beast form.’

’Could that Beastman have been... His Majesty?’

Xiao Juzi snuggled and squirmed in Shu Yao’s arms, his little nose twitching as he sniffed the air for a long moment.

"Mama, were you petting another kitty?"

Shu Yao: ???

Xiao Juzi scrunched up his face. "You have a really yucky smell on you, Mama!"

’This...’

’Shu Yao could already picture the explosive scene when father and son finally met. They would be like fire and water.’

She squished Xiao Juzi’s kittenish face, putting on a fierce expression. "Has it been too many days since I last spanked you! I told you not to run off! Why won’t you listen!"

Xiao Juzi looked aggrieved, his voice small and childlike. "But we were out for so long and I couldn’t see you, Mama..."

"No excuses!" Shu Yao tweaked his furry ear. "From now on, if I’m not with you, you have to tell Grandma and your grand-uncles where you’re going!"

Xiao Juzi hugged the bow on his mother’s chest tightly. "I’ll go wherever you go, Mama!"

Having gotten the news, Shu Chao Yu returned from the security room.

The eldest of the Shu brothers was still busy with guests.

Shu Yao said to Shu Xin and Shu Chao Yu, "Mom, Uncle Chao Yu, Xiao Juzi’s household registration is taken care of."

Shu Xin was taken aback. "When?"

Shu Chao Yu asked, "How did you manage that?"

"Just now." Shu Yao suddenly found it hard to explain. "I... I’ll tell you everything when we get back!"

The banquet came to an end.

The group returned to the Shu residence.

When Shu Xin heard that Shu Yao had met Xiao Juzi’s father at the banquet, she shot up from her seat in excitement.

"Then why didn’t you let us meet him!"

"It was a reunion for us after a long time apart. It would have been too abrupt to introduce you under the circumstances. He said he’d go home and prepare, and that he’ll meet you all formally tomorrow," Shu Yao said, relaying the facts.

Shu Guohua asked, his face stern, "And Xiao Juzi’s registration, how did he manage to get it done?"

Shu Yao answered vaguely, "I’m still not entirely clear on his situation. I think he has some connections in Zone One. In any case, as soon as I told him about the problem, he took care of it."

Shu Chao Yu seemed somewhat satisfied. "It’s good that he has no intention of fighting for custody of Xiao Juzi."

"He’d dare?!" Shu Guohua snorted heavily.