The hovercar stopped beside them, and the retired soldiers flanking Lu Wanqing saluted.
Lu Wanqing stood among the crowd and looked around, realizing she was the only one not saluting. Feeling uneasy, she hesitated for a moment before raising her hand, mimicking their movements, and saluting Zhong Li Feiyu along with them. Her actions were stiff and awkward.
Zhong Li Feiyu raised his hand and returned the salute.
"Are you rested?" Zhong Li Feiyu asked Lu Wanqing.
Lu Wanqing blinked in surprise, then nodded quickly, "Yes." She had slept for a whole day and wasn't tired.
"Want to go home together?" Zhong Li Feiyu asked again.
Lu Wanqing froze again, then quickly nodded, "Okay."
She hurried into the hovercar.
Zhong Li family's hovercar soon started again and left. It stopped only when they reached the grand entrance of the Zhong Li residence.
Upon returning home, the household robots had already prepared dinner. A table full of dishes was neatly arranged on the dining table in the dining room.
Lu Wanqing quietly checked her chronometer and realized it was already quite late, time for dinner.
Zhong Li Feiyu and Zhong Li Yi both went to wash their hands. Lu Wanqing thought for a moment and followed them to wash her hands before returning. The whole family sat down, ready to eat.
However, before the meal began, Lu Wanqing glanced at the dining table where only a few of them were seated and couldn't help but ask, "Isn't Marshal coming to eat with us?"
Marshal Zhong Li, that is, Zhong Li Feiyu's father.
Zhong Li Feiyu paused slightly, then replied, "Father is very busy. He is eating at the military headquarters today."
Lu Wanqing blinked in surprise, then quickly nodded, "Oh, okay, okay."
Zhong Li Feiyu and young Zhong Li Yi began to eat. Lu Wanqing also picked up her chopsticks and joined them. For some reason, eating with this father and son made her feel an indescribable pressure.
By the time dinner was finished, Zhong Li Feiyu stood up, ready to leave. Lu Wanqing quickly called out, "General Feiyu!"
Zhong Li Feiyu turned to look at her. "Is something wrong?"
Lu Wanqing took a deep breath and quickly said, "Can I borrow... ah... do you have a spare room? Could I build another kitchen here?"
The house gave her a strong sense of oppression. Lu Wanqing was so nervous that she didn't know how to explain. Halfway through her sentence, she simply raised her hands and gestured.
"Like a kitchen from three thousand years ago. I want to set up a kitchen so I can cook for Little Yi every day from now on."
Zhong Li Feiyu paused, then turned to look at young Zhong Li Yi. He remembered Lu Wanqing's varied and delicious meals on the barren planet.
"Did you also have a kitchen from three thousand years ago at the Mu family's place?" Zhong Li Feiyu guessed.
Zhong Li Feiyu felt Lu Wanqing's cooking actions on the barren planet were too familiar, as if she hadn't stopped cooking for a long time, so he speculated if Lu Wanqing also cooked for herself at the Mu family's residence.
"Mhm, mhm." Lu Wanqing nodded quickly, seeing that he understood her meaning.
She explained nervously, "The household robots do a good job, but I always feel something is missing, a human touch. If I have time every day and spend some time cooking for the child myself, the child should be happier."
"Okay," Zhong Li Feiyu agreed.
"Anything you need, you can tell me directly, and I'll have it prepared," Zhong Li Feiyu added.
Lu Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief at his words. Her mood suddenly brightened. She realized the Zhong Li family wasn't as terrifying as she had imagined. Besides their natural and imposing military presence, everything else seemed quite good.
Lu Wanqing thought again of their shared days on the barren planet. She increasingly felt that although Zhong Li Feiyu had a powerful aura, he was actually a very approachable person, and there was no need to be afraid.
"By the way, doesn't the family have a butler?" Having figured things out, Lu Wanqing decided to open up and directly asked.
If the Zhong Li family had a butler like the Mu family, it would be great. Then she could discuss small matters of daily life with the butler and wouldn't have to bother Zhong Li Feiyu for every little thing, which felt very disruptive.
"Yes, we do," Zhong Li Feiyu replied. He explained, "Uncle Xiao had some family matters today and took a day off. He should be back tomorrow."
Took a day off?
So that's how it was.
Lu Wanqing smiled and quickly said, "Okay, I understand."
"So, can I discuss things directly with the butler from now on? Just for small matters of daily life, like using the kitchen?" Lu Wanqing asked again.
Zhong Li Feiyu paused slightly, then nodded. "Yes, you can."
Lu Wanqing's lips curved up. She was happy.
She turned her head and instinctively looked at young Zhong Li Yi. She saw the child still had the same expression as before, with a stern and serious face.
Lu Wanqing's heart sank. Were all children from military families like this?
No, that couldn't be right.
Although Lu Wanqing didn't know children from military families before, she had heard about the childhoods of some children from military families.
Being serious and proper was not a mandatory trait for children from military families. On the contrary, many children who grew up in military compounds were lively and active. They might even be naughtier than children from ordinary families, full of passion and vitality. That might be a healthier appearance for children from military families.
"Does Little Yi have any arrangements later?" Lu Wanqing couldn't help but ask, her thoughts racing.
Zhong Li Feiyu glanced at young Zhong Li Yi, then looked at Lu Wanqing and replied, "Every evening after dinner, he rests for half an hour, and then goes to the training ground for practice."
As expected, young Zhong Li Yi hadn't escaped this intensely competitive world. At such a young age, like Lanlan, he had to spend a lot of time training his skills every day.
"Can I go with Little Yi?" Lu Wanqing asked again, thinking.
Zhong Li Feiyu nodded. "Yes, you can."
Lu Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at young Zhong Li Yi opposite her and couldn't resist reaching out to ruffle his hair.
However, young Zhong Li Yi suddenly took a step back, and Lu Wanqing's hand missed.
A trace of disappointment flashed through Lu Wanqing's heart, but she quickly bent down, reached out again, pulled young Zhong Li Yi close, and hugged him as she squatted down.
Lu Wanqing hugged the child and squatted on the ground, her gaze level with the little one's. She stared into young Zhong Li Yi's eyes, playfully pinched his cheek, and teased, "Little Yi, do you dislike Mommy this much?"
The little one seemed very resistant. His already stern face scrunched up, his brows and eyes filled with resistance. He pushed her away, "Let go of me!"
The more the little one resisted, the more Lu Wanqing refused to let go. Why would a four-year-old child, who looked serious and expressionless every day like Zhong Li Feiyu, do that?
Moreover, she noticed that the little one's furrowed brow and unhappy expression made him seem more spirited, as if he had suddenly come alive from the state of an emotionless doll and had feelings.
Thinking this, Lu Wanqing lowered her head and gently kissed young Zhong Li Yi's forehead. Then she smiled and said, "Little Yi, I am your mother. Besides your father, I am the closest person to you, understand?"