When the food was finally brought out in massive quantities, Ano busied himself with piling this and that onto Ye Muo’s plate. A small mountain soon formed.
Meanwhile, Norton only served the child a few of his favourite dishes at the start. He stopped once Ano began his relentless funneling and was currently dining at a leisurely pace.
Ye Muo tried his best to keep chowing down at first, but upon realizing the food on his plate just kept multiplying, he looked up like a little squirrel with its cheeks stuffed full of nuts and pulled his plate away, firmly rejecting the latest incoming tongful of sliced meat.
Yet as Ano reluctantly placed the meat onto his own plate instead, Ye Muo pushed his empty glass over. Ano instantly cheered up. “Is 80% full alright? You can leave the rest to me if you can’t finish it.”
Ye Muo nodded. Ano then began pouring the milk very slowly, deliberately, as if trying to hit 80% on the mark.
After chewing thoroughly and managing to swallow the food in his mouth, Ye Muo seized the opportunity to offload the stuff on his plate onto the neighbouring plate, Norton’s.
Norton wordlessly slid his plate closer. He observed Ye Muo’s plate and estimated the boy’s food intake. He seemed to still be in okay condition judging by the amount consumed, though they would still need to prepare some insect crystals in advance just to be safe.
However, he did need psychic soothing now. While Ye Muo was busy eating, his psychic power was out misbehaving, rudely poking and prodding everywhere, obviously without Ye Muo’s consent.
His control over them would slip a little whenever he lacked soothing.
Consequently, Norton stood up the moment the meal concluded. Ye Muo was somewhat perplexed by this, but he stood up as well and huddled behind Norton, playfully crunching down on one of the candies Theodore had given him.
Norton looked at Ambrose. “I need to borrow a room. Xavier needs psychic soothing.”
Ambrose gestured toward the exit. “Please, help yourself. However, I can’t help but feel that the psychic soothing agent would be the better choice. You can sense his condition too, can’t you? Why skip the medication?”
He stared intently at Norton, demanding an answer.
A quiet sound escaped Norton’s lips. He looked back at Ambrose. Neither man’s gaze wavered in the slightest. Yet instead of answering the question, Norton countered with one of his own, “And when exactly did you notice?”
“When Ethan was preparing to teach him,” Ambrose replied calmly. “the moment Xavier entered his psychic domain.”
The stare-off lasted for several minutes before Norton stated, “The soothing agent doesn’t work on Xavier.”
“I see…” Ambrose lowered his eyes and murmured softly. Were the words meant for Norton or for himself?
Norton looked away as well.
The suffocating atmosphere inside the dining room finally began to thaw.
By this point, Ye Muo was already leaning his full weight against Norton’s back. He peered over his father’s shoulder with a thoroughly puzzled expression.
Norton continued after a pause, his tone level, “Thank you for taking care of Xavier. I apologize for causing offence earlier.”
Ambrose waved his hand dismissively, indicating it was water under the bridge. Under normal circumstances, he would have cracked a joke, telling Norton to take a good look at Ethan if he wanted to see what a real offence looked like, before gleefully recalling the time he had knocked one of Ethan’s teeth straight out of his mouth. That injury had taken quite some time to heal.
But Ambrose remained silent instead. Sometimes, even when he wasn’t doing anything at all, a wave of profound, existential exhaustion would wash over him. While he tread down this uncertain path, the tragic ending of the Grantz bloodline was already set in stone.
He had long accepted his own demise, and he harboured no regrets either.
Yet meeting Xavier brought him immense joy. Xavier was a unique Grantz. He thought this child would be able to escape their fate, only to realize now that it was but another mockery pinned by that cruel mistress.
He watched that child poke his head out curiously, unaware of what just happened. Even his fate was already decided.
Ambrose smiled at Ye Muo. Now was not the time to indulge in sorrow. Before that child reached the end, the path he tread should be covered with fresh flowers.
“Xavier’s quarters are upstairs. He has the entire floor to himself. He should be at ease up there.”
Although psychic resonance could theoretically take place anywhere, at any time, it usually happened in a place the child found safe, like home.
Norton’s gaze settled back on Ambrose. He thanked the man, but didn’t leave.
Moments later, he added, “Xavier is a unique existence. Contact with psychic power of another Grantz only causes his to become stronger and harder to control, hastening that process.”
“However, insect crystals can reverse the process, undoing even the most minute of symptoms.”
Ambrose’s pupils contracted. His attention snapped to Ye Muo as he frantically processed the implications of this information.
Ethan frowned, understanding only half of it. What were they talking about? Couldn’t one of them just dump the explanation straight into his brain using psychic power and be done with it?
Norton turned, already prepared to leave. “Therefore, we will need some insect crystals.”
He led Ye Muo out of the dining room. Ye Muo quickened his pace a bit to catch up. Theodore followed closely behind him.
Ano, however, was a bit conflicted. He felt he should probably stay behind and wait for the two local Grantz to snap out of their shock so he could answer their questions. Or, perhaps he could go hunt some insects and gather crystals later. Freeloading off them just didn’t sit right with him.
But Xavier was leaving.
Ye Muo stopped before leaving the dining room and looked back at Ano. He then glanced at Norton. Relief immediately rushed over him. Norton had stopped to wait for him.
And so, Ano made a quick decision. “In any case, thank you for taking care of him.”
Then, he pulled everyone into a group chat using psychic power.
Whatever needed to be done could wait. Xavier wanted him to come with.
Ye Muo’s living quarters were by no means small. Once the conditions allowed for it, Theodore had immediately started remodeling Ye Muo’s living environment. By now, Theodore had decorated the space in a style that was almost identical to the Grantz palace.
The living room resembled the lounge closest to the palace dining room. Even the patterns on the carpet were strikingly similar. Ano couldn’t help but relax a lot upon walking inside.
Kicking off his shoes, Ye Muo began chattering away to Norton and Ano about how he had ended up here, as well as everything he had experienced since. He recounted how everyone made it out of the Rift and how they had managed to secure a starship.
“Theodore said that Yinghui does not exist yet. If we mount that gemstone onto any sword later on and name it Yinghui, then theoretically, it will be Yinghui for all intents and purposes. However, we may need a formal occasion like a ceremony to let everyone know about this Yinghui.”
Norton made a sound of acknowledgement, “You did very well, Xavier.”
Ye Muo continued, “That’s why we’re still waiting. Maybe it isn’t the right time yet, but regardless–”
Norton had already taken a seat. Ye Muo rested his head upon his lap and finally fell silent. Theodore draped the blanket over him, while Ano quietly sat down on the other side.
Both of their psychic power began to unfold in the room.
Ye Muo turned slightly, burying his face into Norton’s embrace.
“I was really scared back then, Father.” he murmured.
A faint anxiety lingered deep down inside until the moment he saw Norton. Could they really pull it off? Would he ever make it home? Would he ever see his family again?
The flowers he just planted hadn’t even bloomed yet. He didn’t even get to give them names.
Although he was perfectly safe here, with plenty of food and a warm place to live, Ye Muo had never felt this frightened before.
He knew that many, many people loved him, and that no matter where he ended up lost, they would never stop searching for him until he was found.
But what if what separated them was spacetime?
He kept telling himself that he would make it back. Theodore constantly promised him as well. Yet nothing happened as time passed. No one could give him an absolute promise, so the doubts persisted deep in his heart.
Ye Muo even hoped that, if he truly couldn’t return, they would just forget about him, only for a tiny voice within to instantly object, crying out that he didn’t want to be forgotten.
This anxiety finally disappeared the moment he finally saw Norton and Ano again. Even though they were still here, the first thought that came to mind was: Thank goodness, I can go home now.
Ye Muo tried his best to keep his tone light, “I really thought I wouldn’t be able to go home.”
Yet his fingers gripped Norton’s clothes tighter, and he buried himself a bit deeper into his father’s embrace. His voice sounded a bit strained.
Norton gently pressed a hand to the back of the child’s head as he murmured a quiet promise to him with an exceptionally solemn, earnest expression.
Even Ano, sitting on the side, was momentarily dazed by the sight. The last time he had seen Norton wearing this expression was after he had slain their father. With that metallic scent still fresh in the air, he turned and promised Ano that he would put an end to their doomed bloodline.
Now, Norton used that same attitude to promise, “We will go back, Xavier. No matter where you are, I will search for you until the end of time, until I find you and bring you home.”
Ye Muo remained silent. With his psychic power flowing softly around the room, for the first time in a long time, he drifted off to sleep in peace.
Theodore quietly pulled the slipped blanket back up, leaving only his head exposed. Xavier loved being wrapped up securely and tightly.
How wonderful. He brought Xavier to a future filled with happiness.
Even when they returned to the past, happiness still managed to chase after them. Was this the absolute power of a happy future?
Theodore was at ease. He stopped interfering with the galactic network aside from basic erasure of info about Ye Muo and now Norton and Ano.
As for everything else, the parents were here. They would find a way to handle it.
The ever-diligent little AI finally laid flat and decided to focus solely on raising Xavier.
It was already nighttime when Ye Muo woke up again. He tried to linger in bed as always. His little head burrowed around before it shot up instantly. However, upon feeling Norton’s hand resting gently on his back, he let his head drop back down.
He pulled the blanket completely over himself. The psychic resonance was already finished. While he didn’t want to go back to sleep, he did want to savour this warmth for a while longer.
He continued to laze around for quite a bit until Ano scooched over and whispered, “Are you hungry, Xavier? Do you want something to eat?”
“I’m already asleep.” came Ye Muo’s muffled reply.
Ano let out a snort and placed a small pouch right on top of the child’s head. Ye Muo looked up at him with the pouch still carefully balanced.
The contents of the pouch clinked crispy as Ano removed it. “Snickering now? Did you not say you want to see me?”
“I do want to see Ano.”
Ye Muo was about to ask what was inside the pouch, only to turn and notice the glittering pile of insect crystals in the room.
Ye Muo’s eyes widened in awe.
Theodore was currently perched on top of the pile like a golden dragon on its hoard of coins. The only real difference was that he was far smaller than the dragons of legends, though the pile of crystals could certainly be a dragon hoard.
Noticing Ye Muo looking over, the little AI peered down at him. “I’ve already calculated the total quantity and overall energy amount, Xavier.”
Ano had gone out several times while Ye Muo was fast asleep, hauling these crystals back.
He felt a bit awkward about it. Getting such a massive haul without putting in the work felt strange.
“It was Ambrose and Ethan who insisted I bring them over,” he muttered, turning away.
Ye Muo’s full attention was on the crystals by now. “This is way too much, I feel like I don’t really need–”
Theodore slid down the pile like it was a slide, drawing Ye Muo’s gaze.
Mesmerized, Ye Muo couldn’t help but shuffle over to the mound. “Will I be able to reach the chandelier if I get on top of this?”
“Of course.” Do you want to climb up, Xavier?”
“Yes!” Xavier replied as he already started climbing.
Author’s Corner
Muomuo: why are there so many crystals
Theodore: wanna climb them?
Muomuo: yeah
—
Braving great danger to snake out a cocooning Muomuo from the Grantz palace to set down here
There’s a sign beside him: 2 bottles of nutrient solution for unlimited hugs
Then Muomuo reaches over and sets the sign face down
Therefore all the little angels can hug Muomuo for free
Black-hearted Merchant Wang Daqiang: 😭
(Afterwards, I run into a pack of large vicious beasts in the Grantz palace on my way to return Muomuo. Thankfully, Muomuo got underfoot and allowed me to escape. Along the way, I stole Pangzhua’s apple basket to hand everyone an apple)
