Chapter 14: Changning
Zhujian: “But this humble servant still has things to say, wuuu.”
Shen Qingzhu: …Humble servant?
He said with a helpless smile: “Can you please act normal?”
With a pinch, Zhujian’s voice turned obedient: “Okay, Master.”
Shen Qingzhu asked: “How are you feeling?”
The emerald pendant glimmered excitingly, and Zhujian’s voice was bright and lively: “I feel great! Like my brain is no longer rusted! But I still want to soak up some stellar light…”
Zhujian was actually a stellar-powered artificial intelligence. t/n stellar energy is produced by stars through nuclear fusion
Shen Qingzhu thought for a moment and shook his head. He wouldn’t be able to take Zhujian outside yet because space stations were made with anti stellar-radiation materials.
“Once we reach Unistar, I’ll take you out to get some stellar light.” Shen Qingzhu comforted softly.
The gem flickered happily: “Okay, then I want to bask for a whole day!”
Shen Qingzhu felt sorry towards Zhujian and agreed without hesitation.
Using the automatic drying system built into the bathroom, Shen Qingzhu dried his entire body. He looked at his shoulder-length wavy black hair and long bangs that had frizzed into looking like seaweed.
Shen Qingzhu inherited his wavy hair from Ethel, and he had grown it out purely because he thought it looked better this way.
Shen Qingzhu took out a green hair tie he’d bought earlier and tied his hair into a low ponytail.
Zhujian complimented: “This hairstyle suits you a lot—playful and gentle.”
Shen Qingzhu smiled: “Thank you, I like it too.”
Fresh and clean, Shen Qingzhu prepared a simple meal of two dishes and one soup using the natural ingredients he’d ordered earlier too.
As a former top student of the Royal Omega Ethics Academy, Shen Qingzhu had excellent cooking skills. He finished his meal with satisfaction and took a short nap.
After Zhujian reminded him it was time to go out, he put on his new cotton clothes, put on his inhibitor ring, and left to meet someone.
[Hotel lobby]
Changning sat on the sofa with tense nerves.
A male Beta, 103 years old, and the chairman of a company called Idle Moments.
The company had been co-founded with Shen Xian, funded using Shen Xian’s technology, while Changning was in charge of sales and operations.
When Shen Xian and Ethel passed away years ago, Changning had fallen into despair.
Gradually, Idle Moments lost market share without innovative tech, and its performance declined year after year, teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
Then a turning point happened a year ago.
After the viral Travel Guide article by Teacher On A Roll, sales of the company’s long-forgotten Alpha inhibitors exploded. Not only did their year’s worth of stock completely sell out, their entire website was cleared!
Changning turned from worrying about unpaid bank loads to being showered with fortune.
Over the years, many people had advised him to stop manufacturing Alpha inhibitor rings. They all said hardly any Alpha would voluntarily buy one, there was just no customer base.
But these Alpha inhibitor rings were designed by Shen Xian himself. Not only that, Changning once suffered from Alpha pheromone suppression, so he refused to shut down the production line.
Even in the company’s darkest period, he didn’t give up on that product.
In his mind, he’d already accepted the fall of the company. He had enough savings to pay off the bank loan, but he unfortunately would have to delay this year’s dividend payment he always sent to Shen Qingzhu.
At that thought, Changning grew emotional again and sighed.
After Shen Xian and Ethel’s accident, Shen Qingzhu vanished. For years, Changning had searched tirelessly but to no avail. Everyone around him seemed to believe that the child was gone, but not him.
Shen Xian and Ethel once believed in him when no one else did. Shen Qingzhu was their treasure and legacy, so even if hope was faint, he would never stop looking.
Ten days ago, he suddenly received a special email. The sender claimed to be Shen Qingzhu, and asked to meet him at a hotel near B-11 Space Station.
Changning immediately agreed.
Although he’d met many imposters before trying to get the reward money, he always agreed to meet them in person because of his faint hope. But the moment he saw them, he would know.
Shen Xian and Ethel had protected their child’s identity so carefully that even the child’s name was only known by a handful of trusted people. So when this person called themselves Shen Qingzhu… he felt his heart skip a beat in excitement.
He bought the fastest ticket to arrive at B-11 today.
As he waited in the lobby, he wondered to himself, what did the child look like now?
In the email, he already learned that Shen Qingzhu had woken up on Planet C-07 with no memory and grown up in an orphanage. Shen Qingzhu only regained his memory a few days and wished to meet Changning before starting university. Changning imaged a frail boy dressed in recycled fabric, exuding humbleness-
A clear, warm voice interrupted his thoughts: “Excuse me, are you Mr. Changning?”
“Yes,” Changning answered automatically and turned his head, promptly freezing.
The young man in front of him was stunning. Pale skin, elegant features, and bright green eyes. And on his neck… was an Alpha inhibitor ring?!
“You’re an Alpha?!”
Shen Qingzhu blinked and nodded: “Yes, that’s right.” He sat down across from Changning and poured the elder a cup of tea.
Changning belatedly reacted and cleared his throat, sipping the tea to try and suppress how flustered he felt. He set down the cup and asked: “You’re… Shen Qingzhu.”
Shen Qingzhu opened his optical terminal and showed Changning the DNA verification proving he was Shen Xian and Ethel’s child.
All of a sudden, Changning choked up. After more than ten years of searching, he finally met the child. Shen Qingzhu’s familiar features reopened many old memories.
Shen Qingzhu saw his emotions and started the conversation gently: “I remember when my father talked about you…”
In his previous world, he was actually quite close with Changning. However, now that this was a parallel world, he couldn’t be completely sure if “Changning” was as trustworthy.
What convinced him to at least meet “Changning” was when he received a dividend payment from Idle Moments ten days ago. When Shen Qingzhu checked the logs, he saw this payment reoccuring every single year. Moreover, Idle Moment’s unprofitable Alpha inhibitor production line was still alive. “Changning” was just like Uncle Chang in his previous world.
After a warm recollection of memories, Shen Qingzhu turned to business: “I have a few products I’d like to collaborate on.’
He showed Changning the walnut-juice and cleansing bath gel. He described the tanning effects of the walnut juice, and how the bath gel outperformed most products on the market.
Even though they were just small household products, Changning showed an open and thoughtful attitude. The elder praised Shen Qingzhu’s talent and vision, leading Shen Qingzhu to reveal another formula.
Changning expected another skincare item, but the words on the projection made him freeze.
[S-SSS Omega Advanced Inhibitors]
⋅ ˚ ₊ ‧ ୨୧ ‧ ₊ ˚ ⋅
[Imperial Star-Jasmine Isle’s Springsong Villa]
With one month left before the start of university, Ji Mingxue was undergoing his final medical check.
Since he differentiated into a 3S Omega last year, his pheromones had been sometimes unstable. The doctor performing his medical check was Dr. Ethan from Imperial University's Institute of Pheromone Research.
Holding the report in his hand, Ethan smiled approvingly: "Condition is excellent. Both pheromones and spiritual power are stable. His Highness is as sturdy as a young bull, perfectly well enough to attend school.”
Ji Wushuang smiled politely: “Thank you, Doctor. But maybe don’t compare an Omega to a bull.”
“Oh, right,” the old man chuckled and winked at Ji Mingxhue. His next words were a bit serious: “But Your Highness, you still must be careful. The Empire has no effective inhibitor for 3S Omega yet. If it were anyone else, I’d suggest finding an Alpha.”
At that, both father and son’s faces darkened. Ethan quickly continued: “Of course, given His Highness’ unique circumstances, I will personally focus on research to develop a specialized inhibitor. I’ll need your cooperation for some pheromone samples and testing.”
Ji Mingxue nodded: “Dr. Ethan, feel free to contact me anytime at Imperial University."
Ji Wushuang shook Dr. Ethan’s hand: “Thank you, I’ll leave my son in your care.”
Ethan bowed and departed, returning to Unistar to prepare for the new term. He settled into his cabin, intending to check the new student roster.
He was looking forward to the new batch of driven and competitive freshman.
Smiling, Dr. Ethan sipped his honey tea and opened the list, and then did a double take at the very first name.
With a striking line of qualification certifications behind it: Shen Qingzhu.
“Isn’t this… Shen Xian and Ethel’s child?”