PTGWD Chapter 42：Surveillance

After meeting with Li Xuan, Fang Xingzhou specifically went to a hotel to shower and change into clean clothes he had prepared in advance, ensuring that no strange odors lingered on him before driving to the Lu family’s home for the family dinner.

As soon as he parked in the Lu family’s garage and before he could turn off the engine, someone politely knocked on his car window.

Fang Xingzhou rolled down the window.

And was immediately met with a kiss.

The familiar, intoxicating fragrance filled the car, and an incredibly agile tongue, like a tentacle, invaded his mouth, sweeping and meticulously counting every tooth. Fang Xingzhou, deprived of oxygen, felt his breathing grow labored and instinctively tried to pull back. However, his intention was easily detected, and a cold hand soon rested on the back of his head.

The inescapable kiss quickly numbed his chin, and saliva mixed with the kiss dripped down the corner of his mouth. After what felt like an eternity, when Fang Xingzhou’s eardrums were buzzing from the intensity of the kiss, Lu Jianchuan finally reluctantly pulled away, his tongue lingering to clean the corner of Fang Xingzhou’s mouth.

“Zhouzhou,…”

Before he could finish, a soft cough came from behind. “Ahem.”

Fang Xingzhou quickly separated from Lu Jianchuan.

Lu Heyin poked her head out from behind the door, her ears red, her eyes shining as she looked at the two of them. She commented, “Brother, your kissing skills are amazing. I could hear you two kissing all the way from the hallway.”

Lu Jianchuan: “….”

Fang Xingzhou calmly wiped his mouth and said, “Good evening, little sister.”

“Good evening! Brother Zhou, we’ve been waiting for you to start dinner. Come on, we have good news to announce today.”

After urging them, she quickly left the scene, leaving the two of them alone in the parking lot. Lu Jianchuan looked at Fang Xingzhou, whom he hadn’t seen all day, and smiled warmly, leaning in for another intimate moment. But as he got closer, he suddenly stopped, his expression gradually freezing.

He stared at his wife, his nose twitching, his eyes narrowing sharply.

“…A strange smell,” he said slowly, his voice completely different from before.

This expression immediately reminded Fang Xingzhou of a dangerous wild beast.

Even though he was being questioned, Fang Xingzhou found himself distracted.

The conversation with Li Xuan echoed in his ears. Li Xuan had refused to reveal Lu Jianchuan’s true form but had described him as “facing a deity”….What kind of monster could be called a “deity”?

If he angered Deer now, would he lose control and reveal his true form, then open his mouth full of sharp teeth and swallow him whole, digesting him into a puddle of nutrients?

This mischievous thought flashed through his mind. Fang Xingzhou took a deep breath, suppressing his restless thoughts, and said, “What smell?”

Lu Jianchuan’s gaze locked onto him, scanning him from head to toe, then toe to head, his pupils faintly flashing red.

The voice that came from his throat grew increasingly strange, eerily echoing in the basement like ghostly whispers from a horror movie:

“…Unfamiliar shower gel… shampoo…” He paused slightly, his nostrils twitching again. “A foul-smelling air freshener… disinfectant… hotel… coffee… egg yolk… sandwich…”

His gaze fell on Fang Xingzhou’s right hand.

Fang Xingzhou’s heart skipped a beat. He realized he had underestimated Lu Jianchuan’s sense of smell. His right hand, which had shaken hands with Li Xuan, subtly moved back, trying to hide in his pocket.

But the moment he moved, Lu Jianchuan grabbed his wrist.

Lu Jianchuan lowered his head and pressed his nose directly against Fang Xingzhou’s palm, slowly sniffing inch by inch, from the palm to the back of the hand, then to the inside of the wrist. Fang Xingzhou’s went spine-tingling, and he tried to pull his hand away with force.

Lu Jianchuan held him firmly, his brow furrowed as he stared at the delicate skin of Fang Xingzhou’s palm. He seemed to vaguely sense something unusual but couldn’t directly catch the scent.

Fang Xingzhou said, “…Deer, you look really strange right now, not very human. I’m scared.”

The effect of these words was immediate.

Lu Jianchuan was slightly stunned, his hand loosening instinctively, allowing Fang Xingzhou to break free.

The faint red in his eyes faded a bit, and he seemed more rational, though his expression remained unhappy. He looked at Fang Xingzhou and stated, “You went to a hotel.”

“It’s a workday. Why did you go to a hotel?”

“And you took a shower there. Why would you shower at a hotel for no reason?”

“You didn’t eat at the cafeteria for lunch either. There’s a strong coffee smell, different from the cafeteria’s…”

Lu Jianchuan’s voice grew heavier as he spoke. Fang Xingzhou kissed his cheek and said, “While doing rounds today, a pancreatitis patient suddenly vomited all over me. There was no place to shower at the hospital, so I went to a hotel to clean up. Afterward, I had coffee at a nearby café.”

Lu Jianchuan stared into Fang Xingzhou’s pupils.

The latter met his gaze without flinching, showing no signs of retreat under the intense pressure.

Lu Jianchuan’s expression gradually softened.

After a long moment, Fang Xingzhou said, “Let’s go eat. Everyone’s waiting for us.”

Lu Jianchuan pursed his lips. His intuition was still uneasy, but he couldn’t find any more clues. He could only nod and agree.

Fang Xingzhou got out of the car and was immediately taken by the hand.

The two walked toward the living room together. Fang Xingzhou asked, “Did you eat enough today?”

“Yes,” Lu Jianchuan’s nostrils still twitching. “I ate a lot.”

“What about the baby?”

“The baby’s asleep.”

From the other end of the hallway, Lu Heyin’s voice called out, “Hurry up, you two! Stop kissing!”

Fang Xingzhou smiled and walked into the living room. The dining table was even more extravagant than the last time he had visited. Madam Lu had extended the table by another section, and it was now filled with an array of dishes. A quick count revealed over sixty dishes, most of which were meat-based.

Fang Xingzhou greeted Lu Jianchuan’s family. Madam Lu smiled warmly and said, “Sit.”

Mr. Lu nodded at him, and the two exchanged a look that seemed to convey a multitude of unspoken words. “You’ve been working hard lately.”

Fang Xingzhou: “It’s my duty.”

The two sat down side by side. Lu Heyin immediately cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention, and then said with a smile, “I have good news to announce.”

This scene felt familiar.

Fang Xingzhou’s brow twitched, and the vague memories he had been ignoring began to loosen slightly.

The rest of the family clearly had some psychological trauma from the last announcement. The table fell silent, and Lu Hejing sat up straight, on high alert. “What is it that can’t wait until after dinner?”

Madam Lu also looked nervous. “Let’s eat first. Your second brother is pregnant and can’t go hungry.”

Lu Heyin squirmed impatiently in her chair. “No, I’ve been holding this in all day. I can’t wait any longer! It’ll only take two minutes. Everyone can eat while I talk.”

Lu Jianchuan poured his little sister a half-glass of orange juice, the only one showing support. His gaze drifted down to her stomach, as if he had already sensed something, and he smiled. “Go ahead, I’m not hungry yet.”

Lu Heyin clasped her hands together. “This news will definitely whet your appetite.”

Everyone was looking at her. Fang Xingzhou’s heart inexplicably raced, though not because of Lu Heyin’s words.

His gaze was deep as he looked at Lu Heyin, as if seeing something through her that had already been altered.

Lu Heyin took a sip of orange juice and solemnly announced, “I’m also pregnant. I’m one and a half months along, and my due date is three months after Second Brother’s. Our family will have two new members this year!”

The table fell silent.

With a clink,  Madam Lu’s spoon fell to the floor, but no one bent to pick it up.

Lu Hejing’s mouth hung open in shock as he stared at his sister, his temple throbbing. Mr. Lu frowned deeply, his hand trembling so much that the red wine he was holding spilled everywhere…

—This scene caused a sharp pain to shoot through Fang Xingzhou’s temple, as if a sword had pierced his skull. The pain was so intense that he broke out in a cold sweat, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.

…Something’s wrong.

A familiar heat rushed to his head. He felt like he was running a fever, but only his brain was hot, while his limbs were as cold as if they were submerged in an icy cellar—just like when he had found the diagnostic note with the warning in his pocket.

Reality and memory began to overlap. The vague details of his first family dinner at the Lu family’s home quickly filled in, but they were fragmented and hard to distinguish. His brain was engaged in a fierce battle with an invisible virus, and the unbearable pain made him grip the chair tightly.

His gaze slowly swept across the faces of the Lu family.

Madam Lu clutched her chest, taking deep breaths and muttering, “Amitabha Buddha… my little ancestor… don’t scare me like this. It’s only been a few months. I… I’m too old for this kind of shock.”

Lu Hejing slammed the table and stood up, his face filled with anger as he glared at Lu Heyin. “Who is it? That foreigner you were dating last time? Or the new one? Where is he? Why didn’t he come with you today?”

Mr. Lu also showed clear anger, which was… completely different from his reaction when Lu Jianchuan announced his pregnancy… Fang Xingzhou’s mind wandered, even though he couldn’t remember what had been said at that family dinner.

The headache grew worse.

He slowly shifted his gaze and, while everyone was looking at Lu Heyin, turned to look at Lu Jianchuan.

Lu Jianchuan simply smiled, seemingly unable to understand the family’s anger. “Isn’t this good news? Heyin seems really excited about this child.”

Lu Hejing immediately turned his anger toward him. “You stay out of this for now!”

Lu Jianchuan blinked, tilting his head slightly, confused by the human family dynamics.

Lu Heyin: “Second Brother is right. I really want a child of my own, but I don’t want to marry a man. I’ve thought this through carefully. Right now, I’m in the best physical condition and at the starting point of my career. If I want a child, I should take care of it before fully focusing on my career. Get two things done at once, everyone’s happy.”

As she spoke, she hooked her arm around her older brother’s. “Big Brother, you’re already in your thirties and still single. I can’t count on you. With Second Brother and me both having children, you won’t feel so much pressure, right?”

Lu Hejing: “…”

“You…” He glared at Lu Heyin. “How could you think like this?!”

Mr. Lu spoke in a deep voice. “So, who is the father of the child?”

Lu Heyin replied seriously, “It’s mine. Once it’s born, it’ll take the Lu family name. So, it’s mine—it’s the Lu family’s.”

Her words were firm, and the table fell silent again.

Everyone’s expressions were mixed as they silently processed this new bombshell.

Only Lu Jianchuan blinked again and smiled. “I think it’s great. Congratulations, little sister.”

Lu Heyin was moved. “I knew Second Brother would understand. Brother Zhou, you understand too, right?”

Fang Xingzhou was silent for two seconds.

He was caught in a whirlwind of chaotic memories. Countless images, real and false, flooded his mind. Lu Heyin and Lu Jianchuan’s figures kept overlapping and separating, as if hinting to him… that all the altered memories originated from a family dinner, the announcement of major news, and a punishment that had hurt everyone involved.

Two seconds later, he heard himself speak in a slightly tense voice. “…Ah, I don’t think it’s a big deal. You’re fully capable of raising a child on your own, both financially and mentally. Congratulations, Heyin.”

Lu Heyin: “Thank you, Brother Zhou. You’re so kind.”

Lu’s mother tightly grasped her daughter’s hand, her fingers trembling slightly. “Are you really sure about this?”

“I’ve thought it through, Mom. Don’t worry about me.” Lu Heyin kissed her mother’s cheek. “Let’s eat.”

Madam Lu’s eyes turned red. “Okay, okay. Your father and I have worked so hard all our lives to make money, all so that your generation can live freely. One child? We could raise ten if we wanted to. Who says you have to find a man and get married? I’d hate to see you leave our family…”

As she spoke, Madam Lu began to cry.

Her tears threw the rest of the men at the table into disarray, and the family dinner descended into chaos.

Only Lu Jianchuan and Fang Xingzhou remained seated, unmoving. Lu Jianchuan leaned over and whispered to his wife, “What should I do in this situation?”

Fang Xingzhou stared intently into Lu Jianchuan’s eyes, his palm damp with cold sweat from the overwhelming pain.

The battle in his brain was nearing its end. All the memories that had been altered were piecing together into a complete picture, with only one black spot remaining.

He had always been a quick learner, topping every exam since childhood. Even though months had passed, he could still recall every single letter of that report with perfect clarity.

He had recovered most of the truth.

It turned out that Lu Jianchuan hadn’t initially used the “hermaphrodite” explanation to rationalize his pregnancy. He had once forged a report on human body modification, complete with the official seal of a highly authoritative research institution. Fang Xingzhou had believed the report at the time, and afterward… afterward, he had apparently done something extreme, even clashing directly with Lu Jianchuan.

But the memory of that conflict had been completely erased, like a black hole. No matter what keywords he tried to associate with it, he couldn’t recover even a fragment.

Perhaps, during that “conflict,” he had seen Lu Jianchuan’s true form…

Lu Jianchuan frowned slightly, leaning closer to sniff Fang Xingzhou’s scent. He couldn’t understand why his emotions had suddenly fluctuated. Was he disagreeing with what Big Brother and Mr. Lu had said?

His hand covered Fang Xingzhou’s. “…Xingzhou? What are you thinking about?”

Fang Xingzhou looked away.

He didn’t continue to wrestle with the “black hole.” Instead, he said calmly, “You don’t need to do anything. Just eat. If everyone sees you enjoying your meal, they might calm down. This isn’t a big deal. Heyin has thought it through.”

Lu Jianchuan could sense that the person beside him had quickly regained his composure.

He relaxed internally and nodded in agreement. “True.” Then he picked up a piece of chicken for Fang Xingzhou and focused on eating amidst the chaos.

Fang Xingzhou couldn’t help but glance at his profile again.

The report on abdominal modification—it could only have come from Li Xuan. Otherwise, given Lu Jianchuan’s limited social circle and academic abilities, he wouldn’t have been able to forge such a convincing report.

This also proved that Li Xuan hadn’t lied today.

The organization behind him was indeed a government agency. The research institution represented by the official seal was a prestigious name in the medical field, directly under central authority and not subject to threats from any private organizations.

Today’s conversation had been more credible than he had expected. Li Xuan and the forces he represented were potential collaborators worth considering.

These thoughts floated through his mind one by one. He pursed his lips, drawing a line of mild displeasure, his gaze heavy as he placed a pig’s trotter in Lu Jianchuan’s bowl.

So, in places he hadn’t known about, Lu Jianchuan had done so many things.

He needed to be monitored 24/7. Cameras weren’t suitable, so he’d have to consider other methods.

For the rest of the pregnancy, his memories couldn’t afford any more mishaps.

Fang Xingzhou lowered his eyes, placing the piece of chicken Lu Jianchuan had given him into his mouth, and began to think about an appropriate gift.