Chapter 20: Decide – Is He Family or Something More?

The wolf seemed to understand. Its massive body trembled violently for a moment.

But within seconds, its rage flared again. With a single swipe of its enormous paw, it smashed the drone out of the air.

The screen went black instantly.

The image of the wolf charging forward had been so vivid, like a 3D movie leaping out at him, that Shao Ye staggered back a few steps, genuinely startled.

His heart ached a little for the poor drone, though. Such advanced tech—probably expensive as hell—completely wrecked.

What a waste.

Ye Li, however, was unfazed. "Analyzing the footage, I noticed that Commander Lu briefly regained clarity upon hearing your voice. This suggests your image and voice can help stabilize his condition. Therefore, after completing the lessons arranged by Madam, please dedicate time each day to communicate with Commander Lu."

"I refuse," Shao Ye snapped.

He hated being ordered around. If it were simply about talking to Lu Zhanxing, he wouldn’t mind. Seeing Lu-ge suffer didn’t sit well with him either. But Ye Li’s demanding tone grated on his nerves. Since when did a programmer like him have to take orders from a robot?

"Refusal denied," Ye Li said flatly. "Until Commander Lu regains full consciousness, all decisions must prioritize his well-being."

Shao Ye’s face darkened. Great. Lu Zhanxing turned out to be a tyrant even while unconscious.

"Fine, fine. Get out. Let me breathe. And stop spying on me."

"Surveillance ensures your safety," Ye Li replied emotionlessly. "I hope you understand."

Shao Ye rolled his eyes.

Safety?

In a place with stellar security?

What a joke.

Exhaustion finally caught up with him. The lingering effects of the heavy anesthetic left his whole body aching. He collapsed back onto the soft bed, half-joking to himself that it’d be perfect if Lu-ge could give him a full-body massage right now.

The thought jolted him upright.

A full-body massage?!

That damn wolf!

Lu Zhanxing had hidden the fact he was an Alpha and used it as an excuse to cop so many feels. Some gentleman he turned out to be!

Still furious, Shao Ye let himself drift off again.

Time passed, and Ye Li woke him.

"Sir, the psychologist and etiquette instructor Madam arranged for you have settled into the Lu residence. Please meet them to discuss your upcoming lessons."

Still groggy, Shao Ye blinked in confusion.

What was this?

Some kind of Cinderella-marries-a-billionaire script?

Etiquette lessons?

He had endured those back at Omega Academy—social etiquette, dining manners, aristocratic dance, image management, tea ceremonies, floral arranging. Utter nonsense. He never understood the point. Just another way for the elite to kill time.

He pulled the blanket over his head, ignoring Ye Li. Sleep was a better use of his energy.

Then came the zap.

A sharp, sizzling electric shock shot through his body, jerking him upright like a bug on a hot skillet.

Now wide awake, Shao Ye erupted in curses, furious.

Ye Li didn’t respond this time. Instead, maids and guards marched in, efficiently dragging him off for washing, dressing, and hauling him to the living room—no resistance allowed.

A bespectacled man in a white lab coat and a woman in her fifties were seated on the couch in the living room, poring over Shao Ye’s files.

As soon as he walked in, they politely stood up to greet him.

“Good evening, Young Madam Lu. I’m your psychologist,” the man introduced himself.

“And I’m your etiquette instructor,” the woman added.

Shao Ye’s expression darkened. “My name is Shao Ye, not Young Madam Lu. Thanks.”

His sarcastic tone made the psychologist a little uncomfortable but also gave him a glimpse into his challenging new patient. The etiquette instructor, on the other hand, was visibly annoyed. She had never encountered such blatant disrespect from a student before.

From his entrance to the way he sat and spoke, everything about Shao Ye screamed unrefined delinquent. He didn’t waste time leaving a terrible first impression.

Unfazed, the etiquette instructor dove straight into her lesson, starting with how to walk properly.

Meanwhile, the psychologist quietly observed Shao Ye’s every move and emotional reaction.

At O'Dell Academy, even the strictest classes allowed for a decent break, but this woman was relentless. With a clipboard in hand, she treated him like a misbehaving grade-schooler.

Shao Ye was furious, but what could he say to someone his mother’s age?

He bit his tongue and endured.

By the time evening came, he was a mess. After hours of walking drills, he could barely move his legs properly and even managed to trip over himself, walking with the wrong foot forward.

Just when he thought his nightmare was over, he was served a lavish dinner—only to find the psychologist trailing him to his room afterward.

Seriously?

Was this guy planning to squeeze in some late-night therapy when Shao Ye was half-dead from exhaustion?

The psychologist smiled calmly. “Mr. Shao, it’s the first day. I won’t take much of your time.”

Shao Ye had dealt with psychologists before. As an orphan, every hospital visit came with mandatory check-ins from child welfare organizations. Those therapists promised confidentiality, encouraged him to share his struggles, and swore they were there to help.

But every time he opened up, it only led to harsher retaliation from his abusers.

Later, he realized those therapists didn’t care. They were just there to clock hours. The way they’d glance at their watches, growing impatient as their time ran out, told him everything he needed to know.

So, he learned to play along—how to fake optimism, breeze through evaluations, and get them off his back as quickly as possible.

This one, though, seemed different.

The psychologist asked him to lie down, relax, and rest. He could answer questions if he wanted to or even fall asleep if he was too tired.

Shao Ye was skeptical.

Was this the difference between free counseling and a private psychologist?

Or was there some hidden agenda?

Surely, it wasn’t hypnosis, right?

“Are you trying to hypnotize me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The psychologist chuckled softly. “Hypnosis can be an important therapeutic tool, but I don’t think you’d agree to it just yet.”

Intrigued, Shao Ye smirked. “What makes you so sure? Maybe I’m curious.”

"In my opinion, you’re someone with a strong self-defense mechanism. We’ve known each other for less than a day, and you’re clearly unwilling to open up or share secrets with me. Of course, as a professional, I wouldn’t use hypnosis on you without your full consent anyway."

Shao Ye forced a smile. “Who says I’m overly cautious? I’m super friendly, okay? I’ve only known Brother Lu for a day, and we’re already acting like brothers.”

As soon as he said it, he froze. Why had he dragged Lu Zhanxing into this?

The doctor didn’t comment on his deflection and instead calmly replied, “I heard your pheromone compatibility with Commander Lu is an astounding 99.9%. Getting along with him is an exception, a rare case. Otherwise, let me ask you—besides him, do you have any real close friends?”

“I…” Shao Ye was at a loss for words.

For a moment, a sharp pang of loneliness hit him. In a universe so vast, with billions of people spread across eight planets, he had no one he could truly call a friend.

The doctor didn’t let up. “In the questionnaire, you mentioned that when it comes to romance, you only like girls.”

Shao Ye muttered a faint “Yeah.”

“Do you know why?” the doctor pressed.

Shao Ye looked confused. “…Why?”

Why?

Isn’t it normal for a guy to like girls?

It’s just natural selection, isn’t it?

How was he supposed to explain to someone living in a world with six genders that his preferences weren’t an issue?

The doctor continued, his tone calculated and clinical. “It’s because, since childhood, your only close relationship has been with your sister. You were deeply protective of her—willing to sacrifice anything for her. She was your sole emotional anchor, the light in your life. That’s why, as you grew up, you couldn’t properly distinguish that kind of love, and you projected it onto your ideal romantic partner.”

His words were like a scalpel, slicing through Shao Ye’s thoughts. For a moment, Shao Ye almost believed it—believed that his fantasies about his future partner were just misplaced dependency and protectiveness toward his sister.

But he snapped out of it, shaking his head furiously. “Alright, stop. I’m an adult. I know the difference between family love and romantic love. It’s not what you’re making it out to be.”

The doctor gave a bitter smile. “Another hallmark of self-protective personalities—deflection. Refusing to face their own emotions and hiding behind the façade of blending in.”

“What the hell are you trying to say?” Shao Ye snapped, irritation flashing in his eyes.

“Some questions, Mr. Shao, you already know the answers to. You’re just too afraid to admit it,” the doctor said, rising from his chair and locking eyes with him. “For example—during your time with Commander Lu, weren’t you consciously or unconsciously trying to frame him as your ‘family,’ even though you both know that’s far from the truth?”

Shao Ye’s pupils contracted. Under the blanket, his hand clenched the bedsheet tightly.

The doctor chuckled lightly, grabbed his coat, and headed for the door. “That’s all for today’s session. I trust you’ll come to a proper understanding of the difference between family and romantic love after a few more treatments. Good night, Mr. Shao.”

Shao Ye didn’t respond. He just stared after the doctor as he left.

But then the doctor suddenly turned back, smirking. “Oh, one more thing. Since you’re a bit lacking in basic physiological knowledge, I’ve scheduled some video lectures on the subject. Don’t forget to watch them. There’ll be a test afterward. And if you fail? You’ll have to take hands-on lessons with a professional instructor. I’m sure you wouldn’t want that, would you?”

That was the final straw. Shao Ye cursed under his breath, “Fuck!”

In his past life, free counseling might’ve been laughable, but it was nowhere near as brutal as this.

Private doctors who charge a fortune?

No escape, no mercy.