Luo Qi smiled dismissively, "Aren't you just trying to comfort me?"
He furrowed his small brow and hesitated before speaking, "You should be able to see it too, right? I'm different from other insectoids. I'm not as powerful as Father or Uncle General. I can't even do the body transformation that every insectoid can quickly master. In the future, I might not be a qualified insectoid."
By the end of his sentence, Luo Qi sounded a bit dejected, "I feel like I can't do anything right."
Luo Qi genuinely felt this way. Throughout history, all transmigration seniors were paragons in their original worlds. Luo Qi didn't consider himself an outstanding person. He was an ordinary orphan who attended an ordinary school. If it weren't for that incident, he might have just become an ordinary office worker in the future. If he had to say anything special about himself, it would be an overly soft kindness that shouldn't exist in this cruel interstellar world.
But kindness couldn't improve his intelligence after being reborn, nor could it allow him to easily defeat potential or existing enemies. It could only lead people from other races in the galaxy to describe him as an anomaly among insectoids, unlike any before.
Luo Qi sighed again, wishing he could hug himself with pity. Between being a 996 office drone and being a high and mighty Insect King, he would rather choose the former. At least office workers wouldn't be assassinated by suddenly appearing Taoist priests (specifically referring to Mo Li and his little lackeys).
Ye Mu watched as Luo Qi, after his words, slumped onto the sofa, contemplating life, and finally became like jelly melting into the sofa, wobbling when poked. He shook his head and chuckled, "I'm not saying this to make you lose confidence and give up."
Luo Qi turned to look at him, his large eyes filled with a clear, bottomless confusion and helplessness.
Ye Mu glanced at the closed study door. Cecil was probably inside right now, and might even be able to hear what he was saying. He also knew that Cecil wouldn't feel at ease with him, an outsider, being so close to Luo Qi without any other insectoids present.
But he still said what he wanted to say, "Luo Luo, you might not have the confidence to be an excellent insectoid yourself, but Cecil Uncle surely knows all your doubts and worries."
Luo Qi responded with a confused "Mm?"
Ye Mu stroked Luo Qi's head and continued, "You should know yourself how much Cecil Uncle values you. I think if you could develop normally, you would have been kept on the insect planet and trained to be an excellent insectoid warrior. But Cecil Uncle didn't. He preferred to rebuild his residence on Bella Star just to send you to kindergarten. Both Mo Xuan and I are able to approach you with Cecil Uncle's tacit approval, aren't we?"
His voice was very soft, but Luo Qi heard every word clearly. Cecil had said similar things to him. "Luo Luo, no matter what, I will help you. I will stand by your side. Not because you are the little prince of the insectoids, but just because you are Luo Qi. Imperfect, not strong, not smart, even a bit ordinary you."
Luo Qi stared blankly for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled and playfully hit Ye Mu, "Are you praising me or scolding me?"
Ye Mu ruffled Luo Qi's hair again. His hair was very soft, like stroking a newborn kitten. "I'm telling the truth. Don't you believe yourself? Don't you believe me?"
"I believe you!"
Ye Mu smiled and took the document next to Luo Qi, "So, if I can learn it, you can definitely learn it too."
Luo Qi blinked, filled with a surge of energy from Ye Mu's pep talk, "I can do it!"
Inside the study, Cecil raised an eyebrow and showed the conversation between the two little cubs on the screen to Ye Yun beside him, saying with a half-smile, "Your son is quite eloquent."
Regarding this matter, Cecil and 111's thought processes, separated by an entire royal palace and Luo Qi's mind, reached a high degree of agreement: "The cunning and sly human is manipulating the little insect cub! And the little insect cub actually believes him!"
If one listened carefully to Ye Mu's words, although he claimed not to be comforting Luo Qi, his words were filled with subtle reassurance. He avoided Luo Qi's worries and confusion, subtly guiding the little insect cub to follow his lead, and finally poured him a bowl of chicken soup, making himself quite happy.
Ye Yun smiled, "Isn't Your Majesty also happy to see this? Why do you act as if you care so much?"
Cecil picked up his teacup and took a sip. This habit was also learned from Luo Qi. What should have been a rich and mellow black tea had become more lively and sweet because the little cub, who was always full of whimsical ideas, had added a few sugar cubes to it.
Cecil didn't refute Ye Yun's words. He was indeed happy to see Luo Qi begin to make an effort. However, what Ye Mu said was not wrong. He didn't demand that Luo Qi be powerful himself; he would arrange everything on Luo Qi's path of progress. Everyone who appeared on the road would only be stepping stones to push Luo Qi forward. They would help him, obey him, and dedicate their souls to him.
This matter had been planned since Luo Qi's birth, but it was possible that in places he hadn't noticed, the kind Luo Qi might achieve this goal in another way.
However...
"He's your son. Seeing him get so close to someone from another race, you don't stop him?"
Ye Yun looked at Cecil, who met his gaze sharply. He knew that question was not a casual remark. He also knew the answer Cecil wanted to hear.
"That's his own business."
Cecil raised an eyebrow, "Seriously? Even if he might lose his life because of someone else in the future?"
Ye Yun looked at the screen. On the screen, the two little cubs were holding hands and walking towards Luo Qi's bedroom together.
"Your Majesty, perhaps you misunderstand one thing. In your heart, Ye Mu might be a subordinate, a subject, or even a stepping stone. But in the eyes of the little insect cub, Ye Mu is just a friend."
The teacup was placed on the tray, making a crisp "clack" sound. "Insectoids don't believe in friends."
Ye Yun shrugged, "Perhaps so, but the little cub also said he doesn't have the confidence to be an excellent insectoid."
Cecil's lips curved slightly. Thinking of Luo Qi's confused little expression just now, his eyes softened, but his voice remained as cold and hard as ever, "That's just your thought."
The human general did not back down, "That's your thought too, isn't it? Otherwise, you wouldn't have come to ask for my opinion."