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Even though he didn't need human help.

"It's fine." Hearing Moss's voice, Qi Chao showed no surprise. Smiling, he picked up a bag of Energy Stones from beside him and handed it to Lan Luo's older brother. "Moss, try this."

The Energy Stones in the kraft paper bag had all been processed beforehand. Each was shaped into a little square, looking just like bite-sized snacks. Qi Chao had specially prepared them that morning.

Moss's blank black right eye fixed on the kraft paper bag. Before he could say anything, the snack was unceremoniously stuffed into his arms.

"Don't be polite." Qi Chao spoke kindly. "There are still twenty minutes before we get home. I'll put on a projection for you—you can eat while watching a show, and we'll be home before you know it."

Moss's mouth moved beneath the bandages. Just as he was about to refuse, the other man had already arranged everything.

"This is Lan Luo's favorite cartoon." Worried that Moss might be too reserved, Qi Chao deliberately brought up Lan Luo. When both sides were strangers, the one familiar person was the best way to break the ice.

Moss did not care what Lan Luo liked.

Or rather, there were very few things he cared about.

His blank black right eye looked toward Qi Chao. When ordinary people met his gaze, they either looked away or showed disgust. Yet the man before him had none of those reactions. He even smiled at him.

Moss lowered his head and loosened the bandages wrapped around his lips, revealing pale lips and a delicate chin.

From the driver's seat, Qi Chao heard a crunching sound beside him. Glancing at the little puppet from the corner of his eye, his heart softened. Whether it was Lan Luo or Moss, they were both so well-behaved.

By the time they got home, Lan Luo was already waiting in the entryway.

Qi Chao led Moss inside. He first rubbed the little puppet's golden head, his voice warm with laughter. "I'm going upstairs to change first. You two brothers can chat for a bit."

With that, Qi Chao turned and headed up to the second floor, leaving the space to the brothers. In his view, Moss would definitely feel somewhat restrained in an unfamiliar environment. Having the brothers together might help Moss relax.

"Big Brother."

After Qi Chao's back vanished up the stairs, Lan Luo withdrew the smile from his face and looked up calmly.

Moss looked at Lan Luo with his blank black right eye and nodded. His bandage-wrapped face still revealed no expression.

Unlike the warm, harmonious scene Qi Chao had imagined, the living room fell into an eerie silence after he went upstairs. Aside from their initial greeting, the brothers did not exchange another word.

That was normal for them. Other than conveying tasks assigned by their father, they had never said much to each other.

The silence lasted until Qi Chao came downstairs.

And when the big-hearted man came down, he did not notice anything strange at all.

"Moss, do the bandages on you need changing?" Qi Chao raised the bandages in his hand. While they were in the aircraft, he had noticed that the bandages around Moss's head were a little darker, clearly having been soaked with water.

Moss was still standing on the floor. Hearing that, he looked over and shook his head.

Compared to Moss, Lan Luo was far more at ease. He sat on the sofa, swinging his legs as he focused on the cartoon playing on the projection.

"Doesn't it feel uncomfortable?" Qi Chao walked over, somewhat puzzled.

"It doesn't."

Moss's voice was hoarse and dry, his tone somewhat hurried. As if afraid Qi Chao would forcibly unwrap his bandages, he took a step back, pressing a hand over the knot at the back of his head while his blank black right eye stared fixedly at Qi Chao.

Did I scare the kid?

Qi Chao paused, then tossed the bandages into the coffee table drawer, pretending naturally that nothing had happened.

"Only Father can change Big Brother's bandages." Lan Luo lifted his face and answered.

So that was how it was. Qi Chao understood. Looking at Moss, he apologized directly. "Sorry, Moss. I didn't know. Then we'll wait until Doctor comes to the house tomorrow and has him change them for you."

His tone was natural, his voice apologetic, as though he had not realized at all that he was apologizing to a puppet.

Moss watched him strangely and nodded. A few minutes later, Moss asked, "When does the examination start?"

The reason he had come today was to examine Lan Luo. Moss did not want to waste time on unnecessary matters.

"Any time." At the mention of the cracks on Lan Luo's hands and feet, Qi Chao's heart immediately tightened. He turned off the projection and picked up Lan Luo, who had been watching the cartoon.

Lan Luo leaned back in Qi Chao's arms and looked at his older brother.

"How do we examine this?" Qi Chao raised his little one's hand. A ten-centimeter crack ran starkly across the pale, soft back of it.

Moss did not seem surprised by the wound on his younger brother's hand. He took out a flashlight, a diagnostic device, and a series of other high-tech equipment from his briefcase.

The moment Qi Chao saw those things, most of his worry eased. With equipment this professional, there definitely would not be a problem. Looking at the one-eyed puppet wrapped in bandages, he could not help praising him inwardly. Moss is so handsome and capable. No wonder he's Lan Luo's older brother.

After the flashlight, diagnostic device, and Mental Power detector had each been used in turn, Moss took out a notebook and began recording the data. More than ten minutes later, he closed it.

"Doc... Moss, how is Lan Luo?"

Qi Chao swallowed the word "doctor." Moss had been too professional from beginning to end, giving him the illusion that Moss was a doctor.

Moss's voice was as hoarse as ever. "He's fine. Father can repair him."

The moment Qi Chao heard that, he was immediately relieved. The smile in his eyes could barely be contained.

He rubbed the hair of the little one in his arms, set Lan Luo down, and stood. "As long as he can be repaired, that's good. I'll go make you both lunch."

Having received the good news, Qi Chao went into the kitchen and decided to prepare a hearty lunch for the two little puppets at home.

Only the two puppets remained in the living room.

"Big Brother, isn't my master wonderful?"

Lan Luo narrowed his eyes as he smiled.

Thinking back on everything from their first meeting until now, Moss nodded. His voice sounded like sandpaper scraping over a tabletop. "He really is."