He Got Caught Secretly Praying for His Crush

The captain’s quarters were completely silent.

Uncle and nephew looked at each other.

One was wondering why the little brat thought he had a boyfriend, and had even
started calling him “uncle-in-law.”

The other was thinking that Wen Zhaoyan couldn’t possibly lie to him.

After a long moment, Mo Bai spoke slowly. “Is it supposed to be a secret?”

Mo Bai trusted Wen Zhaoyan. He sincerely believed Wen Zhaoyan wouldn’t deceive
him. And his mother had only one younger brother.

That meant he had only one uncle. There was no possibility of two uncles.

To summarize, his only uncle was Li Chaoci.

So, most likely, their private commitment was still in the confidentiality
stage.

Mo Bai felt this line of reasoning was probably correct. After all, Wen Zhaoyan
wasn’t an ordinary person. Wasn’t this how it always played out on TV?

An out-of-favor prince, biding his time.

Li Chaoci was about to be laughed angry.

If it weren’t for the fact that this was his precious little nephew, but one of
his subordinates, one glare from him would have made them shut up.

But the little guy here not only kept talking, but even dared to ask if it was a
secret.

Seeing that Li Chaoci didn’t answer immediately, Mo Bai thoughtfully added, “I
can keep a secret too. I’ll keep your relationship hidden. But secret
relationships are hard…”

Before the little guy could finish, Li Chaoci covered his mouth and said with a
strained smile, “There’s nothing to hide. I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Mo Bai said, “Ah.”

Li Chaoci narrowed his eyes, catching the hint of disbelief in the little brat’s
gaze. “What were you going to say, baby?”

Mo Bai said lightly, “So there’s no possibility of abandonment either?”

Li Chaoci rubbed the little brat’s head with some force. “Do you think your
uncle is that kind of person? Hmm?”

He had heard from the guards’ daily reports that Mo Bai always spoke in a
precocious manner, not at all like a six-year-old child.

Li Chaoci had thought the guards were exaggerating.

But seeing it now, it wasn’t that the guards were exaggerating. The little guy
really did have a mature mind for his age.

But…

How cute!

It showed that his little brat was smart!

He must have learned these mannerisms from TV, but the fact that he understood
their meaning and could apply them to other people showed what a smart little
brat he was!

And he belonged to their family!

Mo Bai fell silent.

His delicate little brows furrowed.

He clasped his hands behind his back, seeming deep in thought.

Li Chaoci couldn’t resist. He patted the little brat’s head and picked him up
again.

He pinched the little brat’s chubby cheek and asked, “Where on earth did you
hear this?”

Just as Mo Bai was about to say something, the guard’s voice interrupted,
carrying a note of urgency. “Sir, Admiral Kai has closed the port. He’s
conducting investigation now. He’ll be at our location soon.”

Kai had always worked for Wen Zhaoyan.

Mo Bai immediately understood. Wen Zhaoyan must have noticed he was gone.

Mo Bai looked at Li Chaoci.

Li Chaoci was very calm. His handsome face showed no sign of nervousness at the
port being closed, nor did his expression change at the mention of Kai’s name.

Clearly, he wasn’t familiar with Kai.

Could it be that he and Wen Zhaoyan really weren’t together?

Li Chaoci carried Mo Bai as he walked out, giving orders. “Everyone off the ship
and into disguise. Alud, take the spaceship away.”

Mo Bai said, “Can it leave with the port sealed?”

Before Li Chaoci could answer, a hoarse, dull voice spoke. “Baby, don’t worry.
Alud loves interstellar drifting.”

Mo Bai turned his head and saw a monster with four hands, waving his tentacles.

His large, blood-red eyes were very frightening, yet they were wide open,
looking at him with seeming anticipation.

Mo Bai: “?”

What species was this?

Thinking Mo Bai was frightened, Li Chaoci said sternly, “Alud, stay hidden.
Don’t scare the baby.”

Alud lowered his large, strange, beast-skinned head in disappointment. His dull
voice carried a hint of feeling wronged. “I may be ugly, but I have two more
hands than you now.”

He could toss the baby up high and catch him safely.

Li Chaoci shot Alud a glare, then carried Mo Bai off the ship.

Mo Bai asked, “What was that?”

Li Chaoci pressed his lips together but didn’t answer.

He already considered Mo Bai a smart little genius.

If he told him Alud was from the Uruk Civilization, the baby would definitely
ask why he was with someone from the Uruk Civilization.

Li Chaoci changed the subject. “I’ll take you to Mo Xiangtian.”

He had come to see the little brat because he was worried he might be fooled by
someone impersonating him.

Now that the little brat had acknowledged him, he no longer worried about that.
Of course, he wouldn’t actually take Mo Bai away.

But the Mo family villa was no longer safe. And if his sister learned that Mo
Bai was missing, she would be worried.

Sending him to Mo Xiangtian was the best option.

Just as Li Chaoci finished speaking, a loud noise came from behind.

At the same time, soldiers appeared. After the spaceship started, they summoned
their mecha and began issuing warnings.

But just as Alud had said, he loved drifting.

He played with the soldiers, circling them several times, then leaped into the
air.

The port’s protective shield had closed. Alarms blared across the sky.

Alud didn’t panic at all. He flew the spaceship, continuing to play with the
soldiers, hiding.

With Alud attracting all the firepower, no one noticed Li Chaoci and his group
leaving.

But just as they were about to exit the port—

Suddenly, a soft, small hand grabbed Li Chaoci’s arm. Then, an equally soft,
small voice sounded—

“Got… got you…”

Li Chaoci turned his head and met a pair of clear, gem-like eyes.

It was a little mermaid.

The little mermaid was nervous and scared. His pupils were slightly dilated with
fear. The hand gripping Li Chaoci was soft and weak, yet it held on stubbornly.

When he met Li Chaoci’s gaze, the little mermaid grew even more frightened. He
seemed to sense a violent, brutal aura from Li Chaoci’s consciousness sea, which
made the sensitive little mermaid extremely uncomfortable.

Yet even so, the little mermaid didn’t let go. Instead, clinging to Li Chaoci,
he tearfully shouted to Mo Bai, “B-baby, run… I’ll, I’ll hold him off…”

Mo Bai: “…”

Li Chaoci pinched the little mermaid’s soft hand, peeling it off finger by
finger without force.

Mo Bai: “…”

The little mermaid froze.

He clearly hadn’t expected to be broken free from so easily.

After a moment, he snapped out of it and hurriedly hugged Li Chaoci’s arm again,
shouting to Mo Bai, “M-master is outside, baby, baby run…”

Watching Xixi bravely trying to make him leave, Mo Bai felt both touched and
amused.

Mo Bai struggled a couple of times, jumped from Li Chaoci’s arms, and said to
Xixi, “He’s my uncle.”

The little mermaid was completely stunned.

Un-uncle?

He wasn’t a bad person?

Li Chaoci snorted.

The little mermaid silently withdrew his hand, letting go of Li Chaoci’s arm,
and drooped his head.

Master had said that little baby Mo Bai had been taken by bad people. He had
followed his master to find the little baby.

His mental energy was different from humans, so he could keenly sense little Mo
Bai’s whereabouts and had chased after him.

But he hadn’t expected it wasn’t a bad person…

Mo Bai wanted to comfort the little mermaid, but when he reached out, he
realized he was too short to reach his head.

So he climbed back into Li Chaoci’s arms and, using Li Chaoci’s height, finally
patted the little mermaid’s head, comforting him seriously. “Thank you, Xixi,
for coming to save me. I’m very happy.”

But Xixi’s courage had already been exhausted. He simply couldn’t stay near Li
Chaoci.

Li Chaoci’s aura was like Wen Zhaoyan’s—very fierce.

Xixi could only whisper, “M-master is looking for baby…”

Just then, Mo Bai’s communicator rang.

It was a call from Mo Xiangtian.

As soon as Mo Bai answered, Mo Xiangtian’s anxious voice came through. “Baby,
where are you? Are you okay? Are you hurt? Daddy is coming to save you!”

Clearly, Mo Xiangtian had already heard that Mo Bai had been taken.

Mo Bai’s voice calmed. “I’m fine. I’m at the port. Not hurt.”

His voice seemed to carry a special power, like a mermaid’s soothing ability,
calming people’s emotions.

Under its influence, the anxious Mo Xiangtian calmed down a little, but he still
couldn’t sit still. “Send me your location. Daddy’s already on his way in the
hover vehicle.”

Mo Bai knew he wouldn’t rest until he saw him in person. He obediently sent his
location and added, “I’m with my uncle.”

That reassured Mo Xiangtian even more.

Because of Wen Zhaoyan, Mr. and Mrs. Mo both knew that Mo Bai’s little uncle had
been quietly watching over their family.

Hearing that his uncle was there, Mo Xiangtian wasn’t as tense anymore.

No sooner had Mo Xiangtian’s call ended than Mrs. Mo’s call came in.

Mo Bai likewise comforted Mrs. Mo, but he couldn’t stop her from coming either.

Upon learning that Mrs. Mo was also coming, Li Chaoci’s usually indifferent
fox-like eyes showed a flicker of change.

Li Chaoci didn’t want to meet Mrs. Mo.

If he hadn’t worried that the little brat might be fooled by someone
impersonating him, he might never have met anyone from the Mo family.

Therefore, upon learning that Mrs. Mo was coming, Li Chaoci didn’t intend to
stay.

But leaving Mo Bai alone here wasn’t a good idea either.

Li Chaoci’s gaze shifted and landed on Xixi.

Xixi was very sensitive. The moment Li Chaoci’s gaze turned to him, he sensed
it. He shrank his neck, very nervous.

When he was nervous, he longed for water. Adult mermaids would grow legs, but at
this moment, under his nervousness, he felt his legs turning back into a fish
tail.

Li Chaoci beckoned to the little mermaid. “Come here.”

Xixi didn’t dare move.

Li Chaoci snorted, walked over, and, like grabbing a chick, picked up the little
mermaid and placed him next to Mo Bai.

In light of the fact that the little mermaid had been scared to death yet still
tried to let Mo Bai escape, Li Chaoci said to him, “Stay here. Watch the little
brat. Understand?”

The little mermaid was in tears, pearls the size of beans streaming down his
face. “Un-un-un-understand…”

Li Chaoci looked speechlessly at the pearls scattered on the ground. Was he
really that scary?

Mo Bai asked, “You’re leaving?”

Li Chaoci didn’t dare look directly into the little brat’s eyes. He picked up a
few pearls and played with them, saying, “Your uncle has things to do.”

Mo Bai said, “Mom really wants to see you.”

Li Chaoci’s body stiffened.

A violent, brutal aura seemed about to surge out of him.

He suppressed his emotions, as he had countless times before, suppressing the
changes in his body. “There will always be a chance in the future.”

Mo Bai also noticed something strange about Li Chaoci.

In that moment, he had sensed a very violent aura.

Before he could examine it closely, Li Chaoci stood up and instructed him,
“Don’t trust strangers easily. If anyone impersonates me, tell me immediately.”

Then, before Mo Bai could say anything more, he quickly left.

Only after he left did Xixi stop crying, sniffling pitifully. “The, the monster
uncle is so fierce.”

Mo Bai froze. “Monster?”

In the Empire, he had only seen two types of high intelligence beings: mermaids
and humans.

As for monsters, he had only heard that the Uruk Civilization were monsters.

Why did the little mermaid call his little uncle a monster?

The little mermaid, still scared, nodded, then crouched down to pick up the
pearls on the ground. “He… has so many hands!”

Mo Bai: “?????”

Li Chaoci, hiding in the shadows, hadn’t actually left. He was waiting until Mr.
and Mrs. Mo arrived before leaving.

He had worked hard to conceal himself, only to be exposed by this little
mermaid.

He glowered at the little mermaid.

Very well.

Mo Bai didn’t like opening his heavenly eye, especially now when his divine
power wasn’t very abundant. He rarely used divine power.

And this current body was different from his body on Earth. On Earth, he had
been born a god and could see through any disguise without opening his heavenly
eye.

This body of little Mo Bai was a mortal body, reincarnated. If he didn’t use
divine power and open his heavenly eye, he naturally couldn’t see through
disguises.

But what the little mermaid said still left Mo Bai dumbfounded.

Many hands?

What kind of thing was that?

A spider? A centipede? An octopus???

The little mermaid, completely unaware that his words had sent Mo Bai into
confusion, continued obediently picking up the pearls on the ground.

Mo Bai thought for a while about what kind of monster might have many hands.

But after thinking for a long time, his knowledge of interstellar races was
limited to the Empire. He couldn’t think divergently, so he gave up.

Looking down, he saw the little mermaid still picking up pearls.

Xixi had cried so hard that pearls, as if worthless, had rolled all over the
ground.

Mo Bai said, “Are you going to pick up all the pearls?”

Xixi sniffled and nodded vigorously. “Mm mm… can’t, can’t litter…”

Mo Bai: “………”

On the other side.

Kai had already learned from Xixi’s message that he had found Mo Bai.

Kai immediately informed Wen Zhaoyan. “Your Highness, Mo Bai isn’t on the
spaceship.”

He sent Wen Zhaoyan the location of Xixi.

Wen Zhaoyan looked at the location. It wasn’t far from them. He immediately
headed to where Mo Bai was.

But when Wen Zhaoyan arrived, he saw only Mo Bai and Xixi.

Wen Zhaoyan looked around but didn’t see anyone else. Still, he felt something
was strange.

Li Chaoci, hiding in the shadows, saw Wen Zhaoyan’s gaze sweep vaguely in his
direction. He was secretly surprised that Wen Zhaoyan’s mental energy, as
rumored, was the strongest in the Empire’s history.

He looked at Mo Bai once more, confirmed he was no longer in danger, and then
left.

As soon as he left, Wen Zhaoyan’s strange feeling disappeared.

Wen Zhaoyan frowned slightly. Without drawing attention, he sent soldiers to
check that direction. He crouched down, carefully examined Mo Bai, and asked,
“Are you alright?”

Mo Bai shook his head, looking at Wen Zhaoyan with a scrutinizing gaze.

“I’m fine,” Mo Bai said, but his mind was already speculating on the possibility
that Wen Zhaoyan had lied to him.

Xixi was very afraid of Wen Zhaoyan. When Wen Zhaoyan approached, he felt very
uncomfortable, so he obediently hid to the side, watching them from a distance
with his eyes.

Confirming the little brat wasn’t hurt, Wen Zhaoyan patted his head and said in
a low voice, “That’s good.”

If something had really happened to the little brat, how would he explain it to
Mo Li?

Mo Bai, however, crossed his arms over his chest, assuming the posture of an
interrogator. “Do you really know my little uncle?”

His voice, carrying a milky lisp, completely undermined any majesty he was
trying to project, making him seem even more adorable.

Wen Zhaoyan couldn’t resist patting the little brat’s head again. He thought to
himself, ‘How can Mo Li’s nephew be this cute?’

In the past, he hadn’t particularly liked children. He hadn’t disliked them
either; he just found them a bit troublesome.

But now, if all children were like Mo Bai… he seemed quite okay with it too.

Wen Zhaoyan grunted in acknowledgment. “Of course I know him. Why the sudden
question?”

Mo Bai said, “The one who brought me here was my little uncle.”

Wen Zhaoyan was startled. It was Mo Li who brought the little brat here?

Wen Zhaoyan said in a low voice, “The people who took you were from the Uruk
Civilization.”

Hearing this, Mo Bai was also stunned.

Uruk Civilization?

Wait, what had the little mermaid said?

His uncle was a monster.

He had many hands!

The Uruk Civilization—wasn’t that the legendary monster civilization among the
four great interstellar civilizations?

And that creature called Alud seemed to resemble the Uruk Civilization monster
babies!

He had specifically looked up the Uruk Civilization’s images before, but had
only found the dolls for sale, which were made in their likeness.

Worried Mo Bai might be deceived, Wen Zhaoyan explained flatly, “The guards at
your home possess a biological mecha from the Uruk Civilization. In the entire
Empire, there are only three biological mecha.”

And he knew exactly where those three biological mecha were.

So that couldn’t be Mo Li.

Mo Bai furrowed his little brows. “I don’t know why you think he’s from the Uruk
Civilization, but he is definitely my uncle.”

He had used his divine power to invade the guard’s consciousness. There was no
possibility the guard had lied to him.

And blood relation couldn’t be faked.

He could feel a sense of shared bloodline from Mr. and Mrs. Mo. On Li Chaoci,
though the feeling was faint, it was still there.

After all, it was an uncle-nephew relationship, not parent-child. It wasn’t
strange that the shared bloodline was a bit weaker.

So Mo Bai was very certain that was Li Chaoci.

Thinking that his little uncle had gone missing as a child, could he have been
taken to the Uruk Civilization? And then turned into a monster of the Uruk
Civilization?

This time, it was Wen Zhaoyan’s turn to fall silent.

Because the same thought had occurred to him.

Why had Mo Li, despite clearly being present around the Mo family, never
revealed himself or recognized his relatives, instead choosing to protect them
silently?

And considering that he had gone missing as a child and now had ties to the Uruk
Civilization…

Could it be… he had truly become a monster of the Uruk Civilization, and that
was why he didn’t dare reveal himself and recognize his relatives?

At this moment, Wen Zhaoyan and Mo Bai’s thinking finally synchronized.

Wen Zhaoyan decided not to ask Mo Bai about this anymore. Instead, he asked,
“Where is he?”

Why had Mo Li brought the little brat here?

Mo Bai said, “He left.”

He hadn’t understood why his little uncle had decided to leave when he heard his
parents were coming.

But now, thinking about it, he must have been afraid his parents would discover
his changes.

Mo Bai carefully observed Wen Zhaoyan’s expression.

Wen Zhaoyan really didn’t seem to be lying. He seemed to genuinely know his
little uncle.

But his little uncle had said he didn’t have a boyfriend.

Could it be… Wen Zhaoyan was just in unrequited love and hadn’t actually
confessed?

Mo Bai’s eyes immediately filled with sympathy.

Wen Zhaoyan: “?”

What was that look in the little brat’s eyes?

Mo Bai patted his shoulder and lowered his voice. “Keep it up, okay? My little
uncle doesn’t look easy to chase.”

And with his little uncle probably feeling inferiority now, thinking he was a
monster, it would be even harder.

The little mermaid nearby overheard and nodded sagely, feeling the same: ‘The
little brat’s uncle is very fierce.’

Then he thought, just as fierce as Wen Zhaoyan.

Hearing this, Wen Zhaoyan’s body stiffened. He looked away, a little
uncomfortable. “Little children shouldn’t meddle in adult affairs.”

Mo Bai pouted. “Fine.”

Wen Zhaoyan carried Mo Bai as he walked. He walked in silence for two minutes.
When Mo Bai didn’t speak, Wen Zhaoyan pressed his lips and finally couldn’t help
asking, “Did he say anything else?”

Mo Bai asked in return, “Anything else like what?”

Wen Zhaoyan fell silent again.

After another minute, he asked awkwardly, “About me.”

Mo Bai glanced at his slightly red ears and thought, ‘This person is actually
quite shy.’

He was amused but kept a serious face. “He said he doesn’t have a boyfriend.
Probably doesn’t want me to call him uncle-in-law.”

Wen Zhaoyan breathed a sigh of relief.

That was normal.

After all, the two of them… hadn’t actually confessed.

Although Mo Li mistakenly thought he liked him, he hadn’t really confessed in a
true sense. They weren’t dating.

Besides, he hadn’t liked Mo Li before. As for now…

If Mo Li really did have feelings for him, he supposed it wouldn’t be
impossible…

Wen Zhaoyan grunted in acknowledgment, indicating he understood.

Mo Bai patted his shoulder and said in his milky voice, “So you need to work
hard!”

Work hard to confess!

Wen Zhaoyan: “…I know.”

Where did this little brat learn all this?

He would suggest to the StarNet company that they shouldn’t provide this kind of
romantic TV shows to minors!

It was far too easy to make children grow up too fast!

Soon, Mr. and Mrs. Mo also arrived.

Seeing Mo Bai unharmed, the couple both breathed sighs of relief.

Then, Mrs. Mo eagerly looked around. “Baibai, didn’t you say your little uncle
was here too?”

Mo Bai said, “Little uncle left.”

Mrs. Mo looked disappointed. “He left? Did he say where he was going? Did he say
when he’d come home?”

Mo Bai shook his head. “No.”

Mrs. Mo grew even more disappointed. “He didn’t say anything at all? Then why
won’t he return to the Li family? Why won’t he see me?”

Mo Bai and Wen Zhaoyan exchanged a glance. Both tactfully remained silent.

Ah, this was something Li Chaoci should explain himself. They couldn’t speak for
him.

Mo Xiangtian couldn’t stand seeing his wife so disappointed. He lowered his
voice. “Honey, don’t be sad. Don’t worry, you’ll see him soon.”

Mo Xiangtian secretly resolved to go home and burn a tall incense to worship the
Wish-Granting God.

He had worshipped many times. Every time, his wish came true.

Surely this time would work too.

When they returned home, the search teams had already left.

They had found nothing at the Mo family villa, and nothing at Wen Zhaoyan’s
estate either.

In the estate’s pool, they had found two defective little mermaids.

But those two mermaids were registered, and their paperwork had been handled by
the Third Prince himself. They couldn’t possibly be the mermaid king.

The search teams returned empty-handed. The Mermaid Association found it hard to
believe.

If the mermaid king wasn’t there, then where was he?

The Mermaid Association president asked, “Where was Wen Zhaoyan when you
searched?”

The search team said, “The Third Prince was taken away by police robots due to
some misunderstanding. His Highness the Crown Prince seems to have gone to the
police station. He wasn’t at the estate either.”

That was what Wen Zhaoyan had said when he left.

The search teams were also worried about the Third Prince, so they didn’t say
much.

They had no idea that Wen Zhaoyan hadn’t gone to the police station at all, but
to the port.

The Mermaid Association president’s face darkened.

In his view, Wen Zhaoyan’s absence meant he had likely taken the mermaid king
away.

Why else would he, given his relationship with the Third Prince, go to the
police station to rescue him?

The Mermaid Association president said in a low voice, “Search again. No one
leaves.”

The search team’s tone was troubled. “President, when we were leaving the
sanatorium planet, Admiral Kai asked to meet with us.”

“What did he say?”

“He said that the old Marshal asked him to pass along a message: ‘I may be
retired, but I’m not dead yet.'”

“…”

The Mermaid Association president knew this was a warning from the old Marshal.

Unwilling but not daring to openly fall out with him, he hung up with a cold
face and temporarily backed off.

But giving up was impossible.

The mermaid king was too important. If he couldn’t act openly, there were always
ways in secret.

Night. It was quiet all around.

With the Mo family’s guards gone, the estate’s soldiers temporarily split into
two groups, patrolling back and forth between the two villas.

Wen Zhaoyan soaked in the pool, relaxing.

Now, the pool water was ordinary water, without that special energy liquid. Yet
it still made him feel very comfortable.

Or rather, after so much ‘energy liquid’ had been added, the water was no longer
ordinary.

He didn’t need to change it, yet it always retained a strange fragrance, calming
the mind.

Wen Zhaoyan was waiting for Mo Li.

But tonight, he waited for a long time, and Mo Li didn’t come.

For the past two months, Mo Li had come every few days, telling him to soak in
the ‘energy liquid’ pool. Tonight was another night he should have come. But he
hadn’t.

Was he… upset?

Upset that he hadn’t protected the little brat?

Wen Zhaoyan opened his eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, he logged into his
StarBlog and sent a message to Mo Li.

[Wen Zhaoyan: I’m sorry. I was negligent today. I didn’t protect little Bai
well.]

After sending the message, Wen Zhaoyan stared at the screen, waiting for a
reply.

More than ten minutes passed. There was no reply. He wasn’t even logged in.

Wen Zhaoyan pressed his lips and sent another message.

[Wen Zhaoyan: I’m waiting for you at the pool.]

The message continued to sink like a stone.

Wen Zhaoyan turned off his terminal and leaned against the edge of the pool.

The crucian carp in the pool had turned completely red.

The lotus leaves had grown from just a few to over a dozen, lush and leafy, with
buds forming.

The two defective little mermaids had been taken back to the Mo family,
temporarily staying in their bathtub for the night.

Moonlight spilled onto the water’s surface, shimmering with an inexplicable
coolness.

It mirrored Wen Zhaoyan’s current mood—a little cold.

He opened his terminal again and searched online—

How to apologize to a friend you’ve upset?

Then the search box showed dense Q&A—

‘What to do if you upset your boyfriend and he wants to break up?’

‘Why do girlfriends always get angry?’

‘What to do when your boyfriend always makes you angry?’

None of them were what Wen Zhaoyan wanted to search for. Yet when he saw them,
his heart tightened inexplicably, and he clicked on the first Q&A.

Although he and Mo Li weren’t dating yet… the only thing between them was the
ritual of a confession. That was close enough, right?

Wen Zhaoyan expressionlessly read the replies:

First, figure out the reason for the anger. Most importantly, regardless of
whether it’s the other person’s fault, apologizing first is never wrong.

Wen Zhaoyan mentally noted all this. Just as he finished, his communications
device rang.

Thinking it was Mo Li, he answered without looking, his mind full of the apology
guide he had just read. As soon as he answered, he said into the device, “I’m
sorry. It’s all my fault. I won’t let it happen again. Please don’t be angry.”

“…”

There was no reply from the other end.

Mo Li refused to forgive him?

Suppressing his embarrassment, Wen Zhaoyan looked down and met an aged face.

Wen Zhaoyan: “…”

Wen Zhaoyan: “…Grandfather.”

The old Marshal: “It seems I’ve called at a bad time.”

Wen Zhaoyan: “…”

Grandfather and grandson were silent for a full three minutes.

Finally, the old Marshal spoke again. “Kai said your mental state is much
better?”

Wen Zhaoyan: “Mm. Better than before.”

“Better than when?”

“Before the incident.”

The old Marshal understood. He was saying his mental condition had completely
recovered, even better than when he first enlisted.

The old Marshal was relieved, but still felt compelled to say, “With such
important news, you didn’t tell me?”

Wen Zhaoyan: “I was going to say it later.”

He had tried so many mermaids before, and besides mermaids, various other
methods. All had failed.

Each time he tried and failed was just another disappointment.

So this time, he had wanted to wait until he was better before telling him. He
hadn’t expected the old Marshal to seek him out himself.

The old Marshal said, “Was it that Mr. Mo Li who treated you?”

Wen Zhaoyan nodded, his handsome face growing serious, his voice carrying more
sincerity. “It was him.”

The old Marshal sighed. “No wonder the Mermaid Association won’t give up on
finding him. So he really is that powerful.”

Wen Zhaoyan emphasized again, “He’s not a mermaid.”

The old Marshal said, “I know. Kai already told me. What are you planning to do
next?”

Wen Zhaoyan had long had a plan, but he didn’t want the old Marshal to worry, so
he said, “I’ll handle it. You don’t need to worry.”

Seeing this, the old Marshal didn’t press further. “As long as you have a plan.”

After a pause, the old Marshal suddenly added, “Who are you interested in?”

Wen Zhaoyan kept a straight face. “No one.”

The old Marshal: “Mo Li?”

Wen Zhaoyan: “…”

The old Marshal: “Ah, so it is. You made him angry, didn’t you? That apology of
yours was dry and insincere.”

Wen Zhaoyan: “Get some rest. Good night.”

The old Marshal: “Wait. Have your butler send me the incense burner and incense
sticks.”

The butler was Wen Zhaoyan’s butler.

Wen Zhaoyan: “…What do you want those for?”

The old Marshal: “Kai and the butler said worshipping that Wish-Granting God is
very effective. I’ll give it a try.”

Wen Zhaoyan: “…”

The old Marshal: “I’ll just pray for your love life. May your relationship go
smoothly. You’re so reserved, I’m afraid you’ll never catch up in a hundred
years.”

Wen Zhaoyan: “…………”

After hanging up, Wen Zhaoyan was still full of bewilderment.

His grandfather, a generation’s war god, a household name as the Empire’s
Marshal—why did he also believe in this superstitious nonsense!

What kind of brainwashing method did this so-called Wish-Granting God have,
making so many people believe in him?

Wen Zhaoyan looked again at the messages he had sent Mo Li. Still no reply.

Wen Zhaoyan pressed his lips, his gaze slowly shifting to the half-meter-tall
incense burner inside the estate.

Was it really… that effective?

The next day.

The butler was preparing the delivery for the old Marshal, packing the incense
burner and incense sticks for shipping.

But there weren’t many incense sticks left.

The main reason was that the butler led the estate’s guards in worship every
day, consuming a lot.

The butler thought for a moment, then decided to borrow some from Mo Xiangtian
next door, and return it when the next batch arrived.

Mo Xiangtian hadn’t gone to work. He had transferred his company’s guards to the
villa.

The company’s guards had also worked for him for years, and their backgrounds
were clean. It was perfect to leave them at the Mo family villa to protect the
baby.

When the butler came to borrow incense sticks, Mo Xiangtian had just finished
giving instructions to the guards and was also about to worship the
Wish-Granting God. Hearing the butler’s request, he immediately said, “I have
plenty! I’m about to burn some incense myself. Want to do it together?”

The butler said, “Sure!”

As they burned incense, they chatted.

The butler asked, “Does Master Mo have a wish?”

Mo Xiangtian said, “Ah, my wife has always been worried about her younger
brother. He’s clearly come back, but he won’t see us. So I’m going to pray that
he’ll reconcile with my wife soon. What about you?”

The butler said, “I naturally hope His Highness will recover soon.”

The two of them clinked their incense sticks like glasses and blessed each
other. “May your wish come true.”

Then they inserted their incense, gathered their things, and left separately.

After they left, the guards silently took out their communicators and sent a
message to Li Chaoci.

Yes, they were still Li Chaoci’s people.

Upon learning that Mo Xiangtian had actually prayed to a god, hoping he would
reconcile with them, Li Chaoci snorted.

So superstitious.

Whether I reconcile with them or not is my own decision. Can some god control
me?

Am I such an easy person to manipulate?

Heh.

After the guards finished their report, they also left.

Only the incense burner and the burning incense remained.

A tall figure slowly walked over. It was Wen Zhaoyan.

He looked around. No one was there.

Wen Zhaoyan stood before the incense burner, his thoughts complex.

Mo Li still hadn’t replied to his message.

If… if this really worked…

Wen Zhaoyan reached out and carefully pulled out a handful of incense sticks and
candles from his space button.

He had forced his guards to hand them over.

And strictly ordered them not to tell anyone.

But just as he took out the incense, a clear, pleasant voice came from behind—

“Wen Zhaoyan, what are you doing?”

Wen Zhaoyan’s body stiffened. He immediately turned his head and saw an
ancient-robed youth with long black hair standing behind him.

It was Mo Li, who hadn’t replied to him all night.

Wen Zhaoyan, holding incense in one hand and candles in the other, stood there,
completely dumbfounded.

He had spent every minute telling others not to be superstitious.

And now he had become one of them.

Wen Zhaoyan couldn’t face it, especially not in front of Mo Li.

It made him feel a burning heat on his face, unbearably awkward.

After a full minute of silence, Wen Zhaoyan, expressionless and very calmly,
carried the incense and candles toward the trash bin. As he walked, he said in a
low voice, “I just found these on the ground. Someone must have dropped them.”

Mo Bai: “…”

Wen Zhaoyan placed the candles and incense into different trash bins.

“This is dry trash.” After throwing away the candles, he paused, holding the
incense, and seriously asked Mo Bai, “What kind of trash is this?”

For the sake of waste processing and energy recovery, the interstellar had even
more detailed trash classification than Earth.

But Mo Bai didn’t know what category incense fell into in the interstellar,
since no one had ever used it before.

He hesitated for a moment. “Probably also dry trash?”

Wen Zhaoyan said, “Oh.”