It wasn’t until four days later, after Lu Jianchuan had finished the food delivered by the Institute, that he barely managed to transform back into human form.
They rushed to the hospital and found Lu Heyin, who should have been in confinement, practicing yoga in her hospital room. Mr. and Mrs. Lu, along with the nanny, were gathered around a baby, all beaming with joy.
Lu Heyin was the first to see her brother and smiled, “The uncles are here!”
Lu Jianchuan, with his enormous belly, walked over to congratulate his sister on the smooth delivery. Lu Heyin pressed her cheek against his belly, listening carefully to the egg’s heartbeat. She looked full of energy, not at all like someone who had just given birth. “Brother, you need to hurry up and give birth. Everyone’s so anxious.”
Madam Lu chimed in, “I’ve been laughing in my dreams lately. Xiao Chuan, we’re all waiting for you.”
Lu Jianchuan smiled, supporting his waist as he stood up. He turned around and saw his lover skillfully holding their newborn niece, his usual sharpness replaced by a gentle expression. He patted the baby’s back softly, a smile on his lips.
It was a smile Lu Jianchuan had never seen before.
He stood nearby, watching intently for a while.
His fabricated human heart softened. He instinctively touched his belly, feeling an unfamiliar sense of happiness and fulfillment.
The TV dramas were right.
As long as the child is born, the bond between him and Xingzhou would become like two intertwined vines, inseparable, with only the possibilities of living or dying together, never to part again.
In the midst of this overwhelming love, he slightly narrowed his eyes and walked over to his lover. Watching him gently coax the baby into giggles, Lu Jianchuan couldn’t help but kiss his cheek in front of everyone.
“Wife, she’s so well-behaved,” Lu Jianchuan said, resting his head against Xingzhou’s as they both looked at the baby. “So cute, chubby, and not shy at all. She’s smiling at me.”
Fang Xingzhou saw their reflections in the baby’s pure eyes.
Soon, they too would welcome a precious new life.
Fang Xingzhou smiled warmly, “She looks so much like Heyin. I wonder who our child will take after?”
Lu Jianchuan carefully touched the baby’s delicate skin with his fingertip, “It would be great if it looks like you.”
The baby giggled again, drools dripping down her chin.
Lu Jianchuan smiled and took out the gift he had prepared, handing it not to Heyin but to Madam Lu.
It was a common gold lock, but it was heavy, as if it had just been taken off someone. It felt strangely warm to the touch. Madam Lu instinctively examined it closely and suddenly felt as if there were unknown eyes inside, staring directly at her.
She nearly dropped the lock in fright, but Lu Jianchuan steadied her hand.
Madam Lu struggled to look away and then up at her son.
Lu Jianchuan smiled, his eyes clear, and said softly, “Mom, I’ve placed one of my eyes inside. It will protect my niece and ensure she grows up safe and sound.”
Madam Lu shuddered, her hand trembling for a few seconds before she tightly gripped the lock. Without any hesitation, she fastened it around the baby’s neck.
“Thank you,” Madam Lu said, her voice still tinged with fear. “I’ll make sure she wears it always.”
Lu Jianchuan asked eagerly, “Can I hold her?”
Lu Heyin happily replied from behind, “Of course! She really likes you.”
Lu Jianchuan carefully took the human baby from Fang Xingzhou’s arms. She was light and soft, like a fluffy ball of cotton, with a milky scent. Her eyes were dark and bright, staring at Lu Jianchuan as she continued to smile, drool dripping down her chin.
Lu Jianchuan asked, “What’s her name?”
Lu Heyin said, “Lu Xinning[mfn]LuXinning,Xin, 心,“heart”,Ning,宁,“peace,silence”. As in “a pure, peaceful heart.”[/mfn]. I chose it, hoping she’ll live a happy, carefree life, healthy and peaceful.”
Lu Jianchuan thought of the name he had given the egg yesterday and felt a wave of embarrassment.
He imitated Fang Xingzhou’s manner and softly coaxed, “Ningning, I’m your uncle.”
The baby just giggled.
Lu Jianchuan smiled too, lowering his hand slightly so that Lu Xinning could touch his belly.
The egg inside was already eager, curiously approaching and pressing its eyes against the belly to peer at its newborn cousin.
So soft and sweet.
Only two eyes, how pitifully small its field of vision must be.
Are two hands and two feet enough? It doesn’t even have tentacles, life must be so inconvenient.
No teeth in its mouth, how will it survive?
The more the egg observed, the more astonished it became. It pressed closer, almost touching Lu Xinning’s cheek, causing the belly to bulge noticeably.
Lu Jianchuan couldn’t help but lean close to Fang Xingzhou’s ear and whisper, “It’s definitely learning how to act like a human baby.”
Fang Xingzhou touched the bulging area and whispered back, “Alright, don’t scare everyone.”
Lu Jianchuan bent down with difficulty, gently placing his niece back in the crib. Sensing the egg’s excitement, he feared losing control of his true form. After exchanging a few more words, they bid farewell and left.
Back in the car, they were still buzzing with the excitement of witnessing new life.
Lu Jianchuan reverted to his true form, perched on Fang Xingzhou’s head like a hat, the pregnant sac resting on top. His vocal cords buzzed, “How about we perform a C-section tonight? I really want to deliver too. I just ate yesterday, but I’m already hungry again.”
Fang Xingzhou actually considered the suggestion seriously: “By human standards, the baby already has self-awareness and can even make sounds. That means it’s fully developed. Why is it delaying birth? Does it need a trigger?”
Lu Jianchuan: “That makes sense! Like in those human fantasy movies, powerful beings need the right timing, location, and harmony…”
They both laughed. Lu Jianchuan rubbed the pregnant sac, “Hurry up and be born, or we’ll cut you out.”
The egg, frightened by their threat, shrank back, covering itself and not daring to move.
Fang Xingzhou started the car.
Normally, he preferred taking the highway, but today, as he pressed the accelerator, a small thought crossed his mind—maybe taking the scenic route would be nice.
With his lover and child in this small space, bathed in the rare winter sun, enjoying a beautiful, warm moment.
Fang Xingzhou changed direction, heading onto a less-traveled road, and brought up the food issue again: “The next delivery won’t be for five days. If C City’s security is too tight, should we go further, to more remote areas for hunting?”
Lu Jianchuan: “It’s fine, darling. I can eat my own tentacles. Three a day will last until the next delivery, and I’ll still have three left for housework.”
Fang Xingzhou: “…”
Xiangxing Street was located between the city and the suburbs. Instead of taking the main road, they took a detour through the countryside.
As they drove past an orchard, the slanting sunlight streamed into the car, making the monster on his head glow faintly. There was no one else around, no cars in sight. The straight road stretched like a white ribbon leading to the sky.
Fang Xingzhou was still thinking about hunting and said, “We still need to figure something out. Maybe we can collaborate with the Institute, help Officer Li…”
Before he could finish.
Bang! Something hit the windshield.
Fang Xingzhou was startled and immediately slammed on the brakes, pulling over. The tires screeched against the road.
The monster, not wearing a seatbelt, was almost thrown out. Its eighteen mini tentacles clung tightly to Fang Xingzhou’s head, accidentally pulling out a few strands of hair.
A few seconds later, the car stopped.
Fang Xingzhou, still shaken, quickly pulled Lu Jianchuan down and hid him in his arms. After confirming the surroundings were safe, he got out to check.
The “creature” that had crashed into the car was still alive, sliding off the hood onto the ground. It looked like a bird but had four legs and three eyes, each claw as sharp as a blade. It had already dug a small pit in the dirt while struggling.
Its side was injured, a deep gash running from its bird-like head to its tail. Its vibrant feathers were soaked in blue blood, emitting a strong metallic smell.
Its three pitch-black eyes were filled with malice, staring directly at Fang Xingzhou. Its beak opened wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth, letting out eerie cries as if it wanted to devour Fang Xingzhou to replenish its energy.
The scent of blood made Lu Jianchuan, hidden in Fang Xingzhou’s pocket, stir restlessly.
Seizing the opportunity while no one was around, he jumped out of his wife’s pocket, his body expanding, tentacles writhing, and instantly engulfed the “strange bird.”
All his mouthparts opened wide, gripping the bird and making crunching sounds as he chewed. The creature’s shrill screams echoed through the deserted orchard but lasted less than three seconds before falling silent. Its bizarre internal organs spilled onto the ground, only to be eagerly scooped up by the tentacles and devoured.
Fang Xingzhou instinctively looked around for nearby cameras.
Luck seemed to be on their side again. The nearest camera was mounted on a fruit tree just a few steps away, but it happened to be facing the opposite direction.
Fang Xingzhou frowned slightly.
The hungry father and son quickly devoured the bird that had literally flown into their mouths. Lu Jianchuan, not wanting to dirty his wife’s clothes, used his tentacles to lick off any remaining blood and flesh.
Fang Xingzhou fetched wet wipes from the car, had Lu Jianchuan shrink a bit, and patiently cleaned him.
Lu Jianchuan was thoroughly satisfied. He wrapped his tentacles around Fang Xingzhou’s neck, his brain matter pressing against his cheek, his mouthparts still rotating as he savored the meal. “So delicious, honey. This is the best-tasting food I’ve had recently…”
Fang Xingzhou: “It’s not a protected species, is it?”
“Of course not! I’ve memorized the entire list of protected animals,” the vocal cord said proudly. “That bird was likely a descendant of ‘The Sun.’ Its divine blood has been diluted over generations of hybridization, but it’s still incredibly delicious—tender, sweet meat, mmm…”
As he spoke, his voice grew softer, and he leaned drowsily against Fang Xingzhou’s shoulder.
Fang Xingzhou touched the brain matter and the pregnant sac. Perhaps due to the Sun’s divine blood, both the big and little monsters were warm to the touch.
He kissed the brain matter and said, “What a coincidence. We were just talking about being hungry, and then food literally fell into our laps.”
The brain matter nodded, already dozing against his neck.
Fang Xingzhou stopped talking and drove home with the sleeping monsters. The journey was smooth, with every traffic light turning green as they approached.
…
Lu Jianchuan didn’t wake up until the next morning.
The pregnant sac had grown even larger.
This time, even after eating fresh food, he couldn’t transform back into human form. Even in his true form, the sac was so large it hindered his movement.
The weather grew colder as the year-end approached, with only a few days left until the New Year. Lu Jianchuan, like a child, is obsessed with pre-holiday cleaning. But eleven of his tentacles had to constantly support the ground to prevent the heavy sac from dragging his brain matter down.
Of the remaining six tentacles, four had been eaten due to hunger, leaving only two usable. His cleaning efficiency was even lower than Fang Xingzhou’s.
He was deeply frustrated by this. As Fang Xingzhou swept the floor, Lu Jianchuan dragged his enormous sac, slowly following behind. When Fang Xingzhou cleaned the windows, Lu Jianchuan eagerly used his tentacles to lift him into the air.
The chore he usually hated the most—laundry—became the only task he could handle. With nothing else to do, Lu Jianchuan guarded the washing machine, washing all the bedsheets twice.
On New Year’s Eve, the Institute delivered “New Year’s goods.”
This was the only A-level special item approved during the entire pregnancy. Yan Xin and Li Xuan personally escorted it, temporarily sealing off the entire street and delivering it to their garage in a special enclosed vehicle.
After eating the strange bird, Lu Jianchuan, due to his limited mobility, hadn’t gone out and hadn’t had the chance to “luckily” encounter any wild prey. He was so hungry that he was about to eat his last two tentacles. He waited eagerly in the garage, and as soon as the car stopped, he extended a tentacle to open the door.
Yan Xin shouted in alarm, “Mr. Lu, please wait!”
All of Lu Jianchuan’s tentacles wriggled, the nutrient fluid in the sac rippling excitedly like waves. His vocal cord rubbed against the car, “Can’t I eat it now?”
Yan Xin: “A-level special items must be used away from crowds. There are neighbors nearby. According to regulations, we must shield…”
“I remember it,” Lu Jianchuan patted the car, interrupting. “It’s the one I helped you catch three years ago.”
Yan Xin: “That’s true, but…”
Lu Jianchuan: “After being locked up for three years, it’s too weak to fight. Even if it excaped I can catch it ten more times for you.”
Yan Xin was still struggling: “But the regulations…”
Li Xuan slapped his companion on the back: “What happens in the garage stays in the garage. Come on, let’s go see what Dr. Fang is cooking. I can smell something delicious from here.”
Yan Xin, still staring at Lu Jianchuan through his glasses, was dragged into the living room by Li Xuan.
Fang Xingzhou was in the kitchen, stewing chicken soup, planning to have the two single special agents stay for New Year’s dinner. As Li Xuan opened the kitchen door, the entire building suddenly shook.
Yan Xin trembled and asked worriedly, “Is this really okay?”
Li Xuan made a “shh” gesture.
The three of them fell silent, focusing on the sounds from the garage. The kitchen was quiet except for the bubbling of the chicken soup.
Soon, there were several more tremors.
In the garage, Lu Jianchuan, with his limited mobility and only two usable tentacles, used one to pull out the A-level special item he had captured three years ago—
A “printer.”
The moment the seal was broken, his other tentacle pressed firmly on the printer’s keyboard, preventing it from typing on its own.
Despite being starved for three years, the printer was still stubborn, resisting the tentacle and slowly typing in the air:
“Due to solar storms… an earthquake… is imminent… x…”
Each word typed caused the ground to shake. If the entire sentence were completed, C City, which wasn’t in an active seismic zone, might indeed experience an inexplicable earthquake centered on Xiangxing Street.
Slap! A loud noise as the tentacle struck the printer.
The printer shuddered, resentfully hitting the delete key, erasing the earthquake sentence, and then changing its tone, typing flatteringly:
“The god of fortune… will soon… be born smoothly in…”
It typed too slowly. The egg inside the sac couldn’t wait any longer, utterly disdainful of the flattery.
It was crazily eager for this meal. Neither the blind Yuris, the parasite, nor the strange bird had ever provoked such a strong urge in it. Even its father’s blood couldn’t compare to the allure of the “printer.”
The eggshell was on the verge of cracking, showing signs of splitting. Inside, it let out sharp, impatient cries, urging its parent to eat quickly.
Lu Jianchuan vaguely understood why the baby was so excited, but looking at the printer, he couldn’t figure out where to start. He muttered, “It’s so hard. I don’t even know where to bite.”
The egg, furious, repeatedly slammed against the sac wall, threatening to be born prematurely if its parent didn’t eat soon.
The printer, adept at reading the room, realizing that flattery wasn’t working, deleted the previous message and typed:
“Fortune will further… descend upon… Xiangxing Street… attracting…”
Slap! The tentacle struck the printer again, grabbing its delete key and erasing everything it had typed. Then, using his superior divine power, Lu Jianchuan completely suppressed it.
Seizing the opportunity, Lu Jianchuan transformed a human hand and quickly typed on the keyboard:
“Special item A0125 believes its design is outdated and can no longer deceive modern humans, so it has decided to transform into a plump, delicious chicken…”
The statement lacked logic and couldn’t be sustained. If the printer had typed it itself, it might have been difficult to achieve.
But with the combined divine power of Lu Jianchuan and the baby, the minor logical flaw was insignificant.
Whoosh! The hard printer turned into a clucking, plump hen.
Lu Jianchuan and the baby were both thrilled, waving their tentacles excitedly…
…
Hearing the sounds of chewing from the garage, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Yan Xin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, “Today’s special item was carefully chosen. I was worried it might be too nourishing, but Mr. Lu kept saying he was hungry… I hope everything goes well.”
Li Xuan, who had been responsible for delivering the “food,” sighed, “The pregnant sac is even bigger than last time. I feel like it’s about to be born. Are you sure you don’t want to stay at the Institute for the delivery?”
Fang Xingzhou had also been anxious these past few days.
But he couldn’t let his anxiety affect Lu Jianchuan, so he maintained a calm exterior.
He rubbed his temples, “The baby entered my dream again last night, hiding in the darkness and not letting me see it. I asked when it would be born, and it just said it was hungry.”
Even the embryo itself didn’t know when the “auspicious time” for birth would be.
The three of them fell silent.
In the silence, the monster finished its meal.
The sound of tentacles dragging across the floor came from the living room. Yan Xin and Li Xuan quickly tensed up, putting their glasses back on and turning to look with Fang Xingzhou.
—The pregnant sac was even larger than before, now bigger than the brain matter.
The tentacles had to support the ground to prevent the sac from dragging down, so they couldn’t clean each other. The freshly mopped floor was now streaked with long bloodstains. The sac had turned a bloody red, covered in black veins, contracting rhythmically in extreme excitement, like a demon crawling out of hell in a cheap horror movie.
All three of them widened their eyes. Yan Xin’s hands trembled, and Li Xuan was so shocked he forgot how to speak.
Only Fang Xingzhou calmly asked, “Was it delicious?”
Lu Jianchuan struggled to say, “It was delicious… so delicious that it’s a bit… mmm…”
Under everyone’s gaze, one of his tentacles was swallowed by the pregnant sac.