The simple nutritional soup cooled untouched, but Lu Tao was methodically eating the meal Cheng Jin had prepared. He ate elegantly, almost noiselessly, and did not speak during the meal, making the atmosphere in the room extremely heavy.

Cheng Jin felt that something was off; it was as if Lu Tao had come back specifically to eat. He had always hoped that Lu Tao would eat the meals he prepared, but it rarely happened. Now, although Lu Tao was eating, Cheng Jin didn’t even want to ask if it suited his taste.

The answer wouldn’t be what he wanted to hear, and the responses he yearned for had already been said many times by Lu Tao’s other personality.

After a silent dinner, a small household robot cleaned up the dishes, and Cheng Jin took off his apron and was about to enter his workshop when Lu Tao suddenly said, “Let’s talk.”

Surprised, Cheng Jin turned to look at him, but the man had already seated himself on the sofa. Cheng Jin reluctantly took a seat on a single sofa to the side. Once settled, Cheng Jin asked, “What about?”

“About the ‘chimera’ you saw, can you think of any more details?” Lu Tao asked.

Hearing this, Cheng Jin internally thought, “As expected.” Lu Tao must have come back specifically to ask him this. Otherwise, he would have preferred staying at the military base eating nutritional soup rather than spending time alone with him. Already anticipating this, Cheng Jin wasn’t as upset as he might have been. He thought carefully, then shook his head, “I’ve told you everything I can think of, there are no more details.”

“Are you sure it was a child?”

“I can’t be certain, but his weight felt only about 50 pounds, he wasn’t tall, his cheeks felt soft and tender, and his voice was a clear child’s voice. That would mean he’s probably a child, right?” Cheng Jin speculated.

“But you said he mentioned he just doesn’t grow up?”

“Yes, he did say that, and I don’t understand what that means. Why would someone not grow up? A dwarf? But there are no dwarf races among humans,” Cheng Jin was puzzled.

“If he’s a test subject, it’s possible that an error during the experiment could have halted his growth,” Lu Tao suggested, pausing before adding, “Are there any details you might have omitted about what happened on the train during your trip?”

“About the murderer?”

“Yes.”

“No, I didn’t feel anyone watching us,” Cheng Jin, perhaps out of some emotion, couldn’t help but add, “I was too absorbed at the time.”

As soon as he said it, Cheng Jin realized it might be inappropriate to mention how engaged he was with another personality of his husband in front of his husband’s primary personality. It felt almost like boasting. But when he saw Lu Tao’s subtly changing expression, a part of him felt vindicated.

And also shocked.

He thought Lu Tao wouldn’t care about such things. He had always been thoroughly indifferent towards him, as if his actions had nothing to do with him. How could he show an emotion that seemed almost like embarrassment?

It must be an instinctive reaction as a man, right? After all, they were still partners.

Realizing this, Cheng Jin stood up, “I have work to do. I really can’t remember any more details, I’ve told you everything.” He quickly headed to his workshop, but once seated at his desk, he paused for a long while before regaining his focus on his work.

Thread and beads slowly formed a beautiful pattern under Cheng Jin’s hands, and by the time he finished the embroidery, it was already midnight.

Lu Tao hadn’t come in, which meant his primary personality was still in control.

If that was the case, he must have left, right?

Cheng Jin thought so, but when he opened the door, he found Lu Tao still in the living room, apparently busy with some work. The communicator was on, and he was talking in a low, steady voice. Probably hearing the door, he paused, looked up at Cheng Jin, then his gaze returned to the screen.

The eye contact felt strange; even though their feelings for each other had grown cold, Cheng Jin’s heart still skipped a beat.

Cursing himself for his weakness, Cheng Jin withdrew his gaze and walked to the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

The room was spotlessly clean, the little robot had even changed the bed sheets. Cheng Jin opened the wardrobe; the clothes were neatly folded, mostly his, with some of Lu Tao’s.

The second personality of Lu Tao had never slept upstairs, so more and more of his things had accumulated in this bedroom. At first glance, it looked like they had been living together since they got married.

Cheng Jin picked out his pajamas, and hesitated over his choice of underwear, settling on a pair with lace edges.

His underwear had always been pure and cute, generally solid colored and not particularly seductive. But the later Lu Tao liked sexy ones, buying many for him, including several erotic ones, coaxing him to wear them, and even buying him erotic pajamas and role-playing costumes.

The current Lu Tao certainly wouldn’t care what he wore, but what did it matter? He wasn’t going to touch him anyway.

Cheng Jin entered the bathroom to shower. Seeing the enema machine, he hesitated but sat down.

Maybe the second personality would come back? That way, no time would be wasted.

With this thought, Cheng Jin thoroughly cleaned himself and then put on the sexy underwear and a robe.

No one came into the bedroom, and the soundproofing was too good for him to hear any noise from outside. After dawdling for a while, it was nearly one o’clock, and Lu Tao had not come in, leaving Cheng Jin a bit disappointed.

Certainly, the primary personality was too domineering, preventing the second personality from competing and taking control of the body.

Cheng Jin sighed, ready to go to bed, but his gaze fell on the night pearl on the dresser, bringing back old doubts. Why was this pearl in Lu Tao’s office? He had asked both personalities but hadn’t gotten an answer. It seemed the only way to learn the truth was to ask the real Lu Tao.

Hesitating, driven by some impulse, Cheng Jin picked up the pearl and walked to the door. Opening the bedroom door, only dim light filled the living room; the person previously on the sofa was gone. Cheng Jin wondered if he had gone to the military base, but then noticed light on the second floor.

Lu Tao was still at home.

But for him to go upstairs now would seem like making a suggestion. Cheng Jin hesitated, about to give up and ask the next day when Lu Tao’s voice called out, “What is it?”

Cheng Jin looked up abruptly, seeing the tall figure on the upstairs hallway, his body shivering slightly, he stammered, “Nothing…”

“Come up.”

The command-like tone made Cheng Jin involuntarily walk upstairs. The lights weren’t bright, and he couldn’t see his husband’s expression clearly until he reached the top of the stairs. Lu Tao still wore his usual indifferent look, as if nothing in the world could touch his heart. Cheng Jin hid the pearl behind him, standing before Lu Tao about to inquire when Lu Tao walked into the bedroom. Cheng Jin hesitated, then followed.

The guest bedroom upstairs couldn’t compare to the one downstairs, the furniture was very simple, the grey bedding was already laid out, and the nightstand, which should have been empty, now had a box on it.

It was a box of condoms.

Cheng Jin was puzzled, not understanding why Lu Tao would bring out condoms, when a flash of realization struck him, remembering why this box was on the nightstand.

It was the second personality who had put them there because they had been intimate here! And at that time, it wasn’t Lu Tao who used the condoms, but rather himself.

Remembering the scene made Cheng Jin’s face uncontrollably flush, but Lu Tao asked again, “What is it?”

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Jin held up the night pearl, its smooth, large surface glowing faintly, resembling the most beautiful starry sky or a vast blue ocean. As he watched Lu Tao’s expression, he asked, “I wanted to ask, why is this pearl with you… I clearly had my brother sell it.” It wasn’t wishful thinking, but he really felt that the likelihood of Lu Tao buying it just to add to his collection was less than him buying it for a reason related to him.

“It’s an heirloom,” Lu Tao said.

Cheng Jin was stunned, “An heirloom?”

“It’s a luminescent mineral that was excavated from the water planet 530 years ago. There are thirty such minerals in the world, but only this one emits a blue glow and has a starry appearance. After the water planet exploded and vanished, these minerals became heirlooms. Since they had no research value, it was auctioned off and, after several changes of hands, reached the Imperial Planet, then to you. I had only seen it in catalogs before, and seeing it again in person was rare,” Lu Tao explained seriously.

Cheng Jin had never imagined his beloved pearl had such a history, “Why do you know this?”

“My grandmother was an archaeologist.”

Cheng Jin’s mind clicked, he awkwardly asked, “So, you bought it to give to your grandmother?” Knowing this must be the correct answer, the bit of luck he felt earlier dissipated completely, and a wave of irrepressible disappointment surged within him. Cheng Jin, without waiting for Lu Tao’s response, forced a smile, “Sorry, he didn’t know your intentions, thought I would like it, so he brought it back to me. Here, take it back to give to your grandmother.” Cheng Jin handed over the heavy night pearl, Lu Tao stared at the pearl for a few seconds, then said, “I don’t have time, keep it for now.”

“Ah, okay,” Cheng Jin slowly retracted his hand, thinking he might have some time in the coming days to pass it on to the grandmother. With this thought, Cheng Jin turned to leave, but after only a few steps, Lu Tao’s voice rang out again, “Leaving just like that?”

Cheng Jin turned back, looking puzzled, “Is there anything else?”

Under the dim light pouring down, Lu Tao’s height cast his features in shadow, making it hard for Cheng Jin to read his expression, but his actions were clear.

He unbuttoned his shirt, and said, “Shouldn’t we fulfill our duties as partners?