Lu Mingming was halfway through drawing and writing on the blueprints when her carry-on bag started to rustle.
She assumed it was the air conditioning in the room and didn't pay much attention.
The black bag's surface rippled. A tiny handprint pushed through the thin fabric, forcefully tearing a larger opening at the seam. Inch by inch, the black bag moved closer to the edge of the table.
"Bang!"
The loud thud finally drew Lu Mingming's attention.
She looked back to see the black bag had fallen to the floor, making a muffled sound, and then nothing else happened.
Lu Mingming put down the paper she was holding and leaned closer to examine it.
A tiny finger was poking from inside the bag, creating several distinct little bumps on the exterior. It was as if something was trapped within the bag, unable to escape.
Lu Mingming's mind went blank for a moment. Fortunately, thanks to the ten-day special training she had undergone, she instinctively reached for the hidden soft knife she carried on her waist.
She cautiously and gently unzipped the outer pocket of the bag.
If it were some unknown creature, she would give it a taste of her blade.
The zipper opening widened, revealing a hint of black hair.
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Suddenly, an absurd guess flashed through Lu Mingming's mind. She put the soft knife back and nervously waited for the unknown creature in the bag to crawl out on its own—it was Hong Yu, who had somehow managed to hide inside the bag.
Lu Mingming felt a surge of exasperation that turned into a laugh. Her first thought wasn't happiness, but a mix of anxiety and self-reproach.
She had been sent to the research institute and forced to become a spy at the risk of her own life. If she couldn't even protect herself, how could she possibly look after the little cub?
Lu Mingming reached her arm under Hong Yu's armpit and pulled him out, scolding him, "That's so dangerous on the main planet, how did you follow me?!"
Hong Yu had stopped struggling the moment he saw Lu Mingming. He let her move him, his eyes reflecting only Lu Mingming's figure.
Even when she spoke sternly, he didn't get angry. He obediently clutched Lu Mingming's clothes and leaned against her.
"Are you hungry?"
Lu Mingming cuddled the little cub, her momentary anger gone. The main problem now was: how to hide Hong Yu's identity?
She wasn't sure how long the little one had been inside, and Lu Mingming didn't have any food for a cub around. Not even a piece of dry bread to fill his stomach!
She thought: I'll have to go to the cafeteria later to get some.
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When Hong Yu heard Lu Mingming's question, he nodded and then shook his head, making it even harder for Lu Mingming to understand his meaning.
Suddenly, Hong Yu's little fleshy hand instinctively grabbed Lu Mingming's wrist and tugged it forcefully towards his mouth.
Lu Mingming, not understanding why, complied.
The next second, Hong Yu lowered his head and sucked her finger into his mouth. His moist, soft tongue licked the pad of her finger.
Lu Mingming's face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly tried to pull her finger away, fearing she might hurt the little baby. She whispered, "Hong Yu, what are you doing? It's dirty!!"
Before she could say more, a sharp stinging pain shot through her fingertip, and a faint, metallic scent diffused into the air.
Lu Mingming grunted. Her blood seemed to flow out bit by bit along her meridians, and her body felt a little weaker, as if some core strength had been siphoned away.
In a daze, a scene flashed before Lu Mingming's eyes—
Inside a vast, dense forest, Hong Yu was holding her hand, also sucking her blood.
An invisible link formed between them, hidden in their hearts.
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Hong Yu clearly felt the same sensation.
He stopped sucking her blood, a hint of confusion flashing across his features: What was that? When did that happen? Why did he have no memory of it at all?
"You truly are a child..."
Lu Mingming placed the little cub on the bedside and was about to find a band-aid or some medicinal ointment for her finger. However, she discovered that the wound on her hand had completely healed, her skin as smooth, tender, and fair as before.
She looked at Hong Yu in surprise.
What kind of beast-human was her little brother, truly?
Having such a powerful ability wasn't good. This was the research institute; if this ability were discovered, wouldn't he be captured for research?
Lu Mingming was genuinely worried about Hong Yu's safety. For the next two days, she inquired about the staff's room cleaning schedules and their work timings to ensure Hong Yu could avoid their inspections at the scheduled times.
As for food, she relied on packing meals from the cafeteria for Hong Yu to make do with, ensuring he ate his fill each day.
In addition, during these days, it was primarily the researcher Bai Yi who familiarized her with the environment. Morian had other arrangements and had not been seen for a long time.
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Lu Mingming wanted to inquire more about Olannal, but Bai Yi's mouth was sealed shut.
He always looked at her with a strange expression, as if he saw sparkling coins, but without greed. There was a hint of strange joy and relief.
Over time, Lu Mingming grew accustomed to it.
"Could you please get me the cis sample? We're doing it today."
When Morian finally returned to the research institute, he immediately began teaching Lu Mingming research courses.
Morian stated, "Today's experiment is of medium difficulty."
Lu Mingming, knowing nothing, reluctantly played the role of an assistant, occasionally handing him samples. The rest of the time, she slacked off.
She felt she was far from understanding these highly knowledgeable scientists and their high-tech academics.
Lu Mingming found the cix sample Morian needed.
Morian was very focused while conducting experiments, completely absorbed in the task at hand, as if nothing else in the world could capture his attention.
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He held a beaker, carefully pouring its contents down a glass rod into a flask, his eyes fixed on the chemical reaction occurring within.
Lu Mingming took this opportunity to discreetly observe Morian from the side.
During this time, Lu Mingming hadn't learned any major news, but she had gathered quite a bit of gossip—for instance, that many researchers in the institute had crushes on Dean Morian.
Who wouldn't like someone who was handsome, gentle, wealthy, and influential?
Lu Mingming had always admired Morian.
This was the kind of person the future of the Interstellar Alliance needed, wasn't it?
Lost in thought, Morian suddenly asked, "You seem to have been looking at me for a long time."
Lu Mingming immediately snapped back to attention.
She realized the man had already finished his experiment, was wiping the remaining samples from his hands, and was looking at her with a smile.
"I'm sorry, for intruding!"
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Lu Mingming seized the opportunity to apologize, her heart pounding uncontrollably, as if she had done something wrong.
I just glanced at him a few times; they shouldn't suspect me of being a spy.
Morian didn't say much more, suddenly changing the topic: "Can you cook?"
Lu Mingming nodded blankly, not understanding his intentions.
"I can, but unfortunately, no one wants to eat the food I make; it's all too strange."
"Oh, how is it strange?"
Morian's curiosity was piqued.
"It's just different from what beast-humans eat."
Lu Mingming gave a serious example.
"For instance, beast-humans like to eat fruit, but I would bake the meat until it was fully cooked, along with various strange ideas. What I made was often not eaten, and my assessment scores were extremely low."
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Speaking of which, Lu Mingming gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
"When I was assessed, if the maximum score was ten points, I would only get around three-point-something."
"I see."
Morian did not mock her.
"That's perfectly normal. It's common for interstellar people not to know how to cook."
After saying this, he didn't interact further with Lu Mingming and continued with his own tasks.
Lu Mingming waited hesitantly beside him, not daring to look around carelessly.
Morian reflected on Lu Mingming's answer and sighed silently.
Dreams and reality were quite different.
Last night's dream had become more detailed and clearer: the girl with black hair and black eyes was an excellent cook, very popular in the interstellar world, and truly a meal that was hard to come by.
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There was no absolute balance; in the end, it was just a substitute.
Emerging from his thoughts, Morian invited, "Would you like to join me for a meal? We can discuss your upcoming schedule. I was attending to some personal matters a few days ago, and I apologize for making you wait so long."
"It's alright, it's alright."
Lu Mingming quickly waved her hand to refuse, but Morian interrupted her.
"I'll treat you to the best stir-fried pot dishes on the fourth floor. Any leftovers can be packed."
Lu Mingming's refusal was stuck in her throat.
Thinking of the possibility of packing food and remembering Hong Yu waiting anxiously, she gritted her teeth and agreed.
"Okay!"