Chapter 37 2/2

The Demon King returned from his business trip and brought back good news: “You can relax and prepare for the defense; Cen Lang has been delayed by me.” He had dug up lichen for five days initially.

On June 3rd, the weather was fine, and a rare cool breeze preceded the arrival of midsummer. Jiang Li wore a dark jacket with loose sleeves and a hem over his short sleeves.

The defense hall was a 200-person lecture hall. In addition to the thirty-three fixed professors, there were also invited corporate guests, mainly from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

Because of their long lifespans and working hours, most students would choose their paths after graduation.

The defense was also a high-quality job fair; some companies valued the students’ qualities, while others focused on research projects, with many contracts being signed on the spot.

Graduates went in one by one for the defense. Jiang Li was sixteenth in line, and those who hadn’t had their turn waited in the adjacent waiting hall.

Jiang Li sat in the last row, holding his file folder. Once the defense was over and the mentors signed the documents, he could leave.

The computer science department had an early defense, and Yang Xiaoli, who grew up in the same orphanage, came specifically to accompany him.

Yang Xiaoli carried a large backpack, shielding curious glances. Initially, he thought Jiang Li’s rushing away immediately after the defense was too hasty, but now he feels it was just right.

As Jiang Li was well-known, many people stole glances at him, noticing his more obvious belly, and couldn’t help but look again.

Jiang Li placed the file folder upright on his lap, covering his stomach.

In Yang Xiaoli’s backpack were all of Jiang Li’s belongings. He checked his watch; it was almost Jiang Li’s turn. The car was parked outside, ready to leave as soon as Jiang Li came out. The person who finished the previous defense looked pale. “The next one is Jiang Li; get ready!” someone shouted. Jiang Li’s expression changed slightly, and his breath became rapid.

As Cen Lang passed by the pomegranate plantation, thinking he couldn’t return empty-handed, he considered picking a couple of pomegranates for Jiang Li. Lu Jing asked, “Not in a hurry to go back?” Cen Lang replied, “Accelerate later. What about you? Don’t you bring a fruit basket when visiting patients?” Lu Jing said, “…” Why did Cen Lang’s words provoke him back to Earth? He even thought picking pomegranates was reasonable now.

The freshly picked pomegranates were large and round, with thin skin and sweet seeds. Cen Lang didn’t care about the taste; he just plucked a tree clean.

The White Flame battleship powered up and headed towards Earth. Cen Lang almost timed it perfectly.

Wang Wang squatted at the edge of the flower bed, and when he saw Cen Lang, he quickly handed him the invitation letter received by the Cen family pharmaceutical company.

“Just that one.” Wang Wang pointed to the defense hall. “Just entered; it seems the next one is Dr. Xiao Jiang; he’s in the waiting hall now.”

Better not disturb.

The defense content involved confidential research that was not open to just anyone. Cen Lang verified the invitation letter, entered through the back door, and chose a seat in the last row.

This place was somewhat far from the podium, and Jiang Li might not necessarily see him. Cen Lang sat quietly, casually sliding each table’s equipped screen.

On the screens, the ongoing defense PPTs were synchronously displayed. The presenter, Chen Liufeng, spoke confidently about his iteration and application prospects for bionic skin.

Oh, this might interest the land-based forces.

Cen Lang absentmindedly swiped a fingertip, flipping the page to display today’s defense schedule. The current student’s name was highlighted in red, and the next one was unmistakably Jiang Li.

Jiang Li, the acknowledged top graduate of the medical department this year, would soon stand on the podium to showcase his adenoma drug. There might be some insignificant contribution of his in it.

Cen Lang delightedly wondered if his name would appear in the acknowledgments section of Dr. Xiao Jiang’s paper.

Jiang Li wouldn’t overlook anyone who had helped him.

Given Jiang Li’s formal writing style in official documents, what would his acknowledgement say?

Would it be “Top Alpha Cen Lang” or “My friend Mr. Cen”? It would be great if it were “boyfriend.”

Cen Lang subconsciously pressed his arm, fearing being shocked. After three months of isolation, he hadn’t been shocked.

Cen Lang lifted the corner of his eye, and his gaze fell on a sudden note after Jiang Li’s name appeared on the list. He fell into a silent shock, as if he had died suddenly.

[Jiang Li (grading system)]

In an instant, Cen Lang regretted knowing too much about the graduation regulations of his alma mater. Only those pregnant for six months or more could apply for the grading system!

Impossible.

How could Jiang De be pregnant?

He wanted to rush to the next room immediately and see for himself; Jiang Li couldn’t possibly be a pregnant husband of six months. It must be a mistake. However, he sat in his chair like a nail, his bones creaking stiffly. He couldn’t look; he needed a bit of buffer time.

Jiang Li’s every peculiar behavior flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

He vomited in the morning.

He hadn’t shown his face for nearly two months. He said he liked children and would consider having them.

The atmosphere in the defense hall suddenly became like the center of a typhoon, and the old Demon King glanced back as if sensing something, almost spitting blood.

Cen Lang’s gloomy gaze shrouded Zhou Qingyuan. At the moment of seeing the other’s expression, his arm suddenly hurt violently. His thoughts were confirmed by Zhou Qingyuan’s face.

So Zhou Qingyuan knew everything.

So, under the pretext of digging lichen, he delayed himself, even sending an assistant to tell him about his stepfather’s story. Cen Lang suppressed his pheromone level, and electric currents struck his arm in waves, the chest feeling stifling and about to explode. Which Alpha was it? Jiang Li clearly didn’t want a romantic relationship; Cen Lang could tell when Jiang Li spoke genuinely. In a flash, Cen Lang thought of the story the old Demon King had his assistant tell him. Was there a scumbag who ran away?

So Jiang Li encountered a scumbag who abandoned him? The thing he couldn’t get, someone actually used it to hurt Jiang Pin?

Cen Lang ordered himself to stay calm. Pheromones couldn’t overflow anymore. If it affected Jiang Li and hurt the child in his abdomen, he would truly surpass Lu Jing.

Jiang Li wouldn’t forgive him if the child got hurt.

Cen Lang was convinced. He would be like Jiang Wanlan and never see Lu Jing again.

Thinking of Lu Jing, who hadn’t seen his wife for twenty years, Cen Lang suddenly calmed down. Think about the benefits.

At least, with Jiang Li having a child, their platonic issue of not having children was resolved. The scumbag was already out, and Jiang Li could reconsider him.

Jiang Li wouldn’t agree to his pursuit; perhaps he was concerned that he couldn’t accept the child. Cen Lang could accept it.

Cen Lang thought indifferently that producing a sperm was just like being a father. Feeding Jiang Li, supporting Jiang Li’s career, accompanying him during pregnancy, and being willing to raise the child—this was being a father!

As long as DNA wasn’t tested, what difference did it make if he was biologically related? There is no difference at all. Only fools test DNA. Why couldn’t Jiang Li’s child in his stomach be considered his child?

He took a deep breath, moved his arm that was numb from the shock, raised his eyes, and stared forward, pretending to listen. If he didn’t pretend, he suspected Zhou Qingyuan would call the security office.

On the podium, Chen Liufeng effortlessly introduced his bionic skin.

“I’ve created a short-term disguise product; after applying it, it’s completely invisible to the naked eye. After several iterations, it’s widely used for various skin types, such as oily or dry skin, with usage extending up to three days.”

“The first-generation bionic skin was prone to falling off and had high demands on skin quality. As shown in the picture, the person on the left has some acne marks on their face, and the fit is poor. On the right…”

A familiar side profile unexpectedly entered Cen Lang’s unfathomable pupils, triggering a surging wave. The lower half of the face, identical to the caregiver captured by the surveillance, suddenly appeared.

That little beautiful mole under the earlobe—he had seen it on Jiang Wanlan. So… Cen Lang was choked by the suddenly disordered breath, coughing. Why couldn’t Jiang Li’s child in his stomach be his child?