| PN | 9
It was almost nine o'clock in the evening, it was bedtime for the obedient Lan Lou, Qi Chao watched as the kid tucked into bed.
He then went downstairs and sat on the sofa, licking his dry lips nervously as he sent a cautious message to the puppet master, waiting for a reply.
The puppet master’s code name was "Doctor," a name Qi Chao had seen on forums before, indicating this person was a puppet master-level.
According to the books, puppet maker’s needed to release their spiritual energy to nurture the heart of the puppet, so the personalities of the puppets would be influenced to some extent by the puppet maker.
Since Lan Luo was so obedient and kind-hearted, with such a good temperament, the puppet master who created Lan Luo must be someone very easy to get along with and would probably agree to repair the puppet, right?
Despite thinking this, Qi Chao still felt a bit uneasy.
[Has Lan Luo been injured?]
Suddenly, this message popped up on the chat interface, instantly making Qi Chao's nerves tense.
[Yes, I'm very sorry. I had a mental illness before, my mind was not right, my psychology was very distorted. I am a scumbag. After Lan Luo came, not only did I not take care of him well, but I also beat him. I'm just a scum who bullies the weak...]
Qi Chao cursed the original owner in his heart, apologizing in a sincere and proactive manner, almost kneeling down to express his determination.
[So I want to ask you to repair the cracks on Lan Luo's body. You can offer the price as you wish, and I will actively cooperate.]
The other side seemed to be at a loss for Qi Chao's self-deprecating operation, and didn't reply for a long time.
Qi Chao sat restlessly staring at the light brain screen. He typed a few lines of apology, but before sending them, a new message appeared on the interface.
[Okay, you don't need to come. I have something to deal with now. Send me the location, and I will come over to repair the puppet after I'm done.]
Qi Chao: !!!
It was so easily agreed?
If he were in the puppet master’s shoes, Qi Chao would definitely repair the puppet if his created puppet had been so abused.
However, he would never speak so kindly to the perpetrator.
He had already prepared himself to be scolded, but he didn't expect the other person to control their emotions so well.
Although Qi Chao was the buyer of the puppet and the puppet master had no right to be angry, Qi Chao still felt uneasy.
How could he not be angry? His own child, created by his own hands, was treated like that. How could the puppet master not be angry?
Having worked in the industry for many years in his previous life, Qi Chao had long seen through the dirty tricks in the circle.
Buyers dressed the puppets in revealing clothes, posed them suggestively, skirted the boundaries and posted photos online to attract attention, while puppet masters remained silent for the sake of money.
When Qi Chao was barely twenty, he encountered such disgusting incidents. He and the unethical blogger had argued online for days and nights, he eventually refunded the money and took his child back home to resolve the matter.
After that, he became known in the circle. His studio's business suffered, but Qi Chao didn't mind. If he couldn't find good guardians for his children, he preferred to care for those children himself.
Qi Chao was an oddity in the circle. Most puppet master’s entered the profession for money. As long as they were paid, they would agree to whatever the buyer wanted to do with the puppets and would never intervene.
He couldn't believe that the puppet master who created Lan Luo, such a gentle and kind puppet, would be like that.
The only explanation was that this Doctor was angry but had a soft personality, and since Qi Chao had sincerely apologized, he felt too embarrassed to be angry.
Qi Chao had experienced frustrations when starting his studio from scratch. Understanding this feeling, he slowly typed a few words and sent them over.
[You can go ahead and scold me. I'm such scum; it wouldn't be right if you didn't scold me a bit.]
The system, just returned from the neighboring room, was perplexed: ...
Wow, it was the first time it had seen Qi Chao seek to be scolded.
It hesitated for a moment before asking: 【Host, who are you chatting with?】
Qi Chao was distracted as he waited for a reply from the other side and absentmindedly responded: "With Lan Luo's father. This person is too soft-natured, doesn't even know how to get angry. I have to teach him."
The system: ????
Lan Luo's father? A soft-tempered man?
No, how did you get in touch with the villain? It hasn't been here for just one day. How come he is looking for death in various ways? !
Seeing that the host was still angry at the villain for not fighting back, he kept saying that the villain was too soft.
The system remained silent, contemplating the possibility that the Doctor might just be polite but lethal, capable of ending Qi Chao's life with the flick of a finger.
The system briefly flashed with green light, considering the existence of confidentiality agreements, then quietly retreated to the central city to order a funeral wreath. Given the current pace, it estimated the wreath would be put to use shortly.
Qi Chao, absorbed in his conversation with Doctor, didn't pay attention to the system's departure.
He now understood that Doctor truly lived up to being Lan Luo's creator, gentle as cotton candy. Qi Chao would send a message, and Doctor would promptly respond.
In just a few minutes, their chat was filled with dozens of messages.
Qi Chao: [How come you don't know how to scold people? What if someone bullies you? Would you just endure it?]
Doctor: [I won't be bullied.]
Qi Chao read the response and chuckled inwardly, thinking, ‘Perhaps you wouldn't even realize if someone did bully you.’
Qi Chao had always been patient with younger individuals compared to himself. Deciding not to push further, he grabbed a lollipop from the coffee table, unwrapped it, and snapped a photo to send over.
Qi Chao: [Then, I'll give this lollipop to Doctor, who won't be bullied.]
Doctor: [...]
Qi Chao couldn't help but laugh softly at Doctor's silence. The evil taste that he had been holding back came out, Qi Chao had been playing the role of a caring father figure since his arrival but hadn't engaged in a serious conversation until now.
The Doctor was indeed easy to get along with, and Qi Chao, in his lighter mood, was starting to enjoy teasing him a bit. Yet, he was always cautious not to overstep and potentially sour their interaction.
As the evening grew late, Qi Chao decided not to disturb Doctor further. After exchanging a few words, they bid each other goodnight and Qi Chao retired to his room to rest.
Early the next morning, diligent as always, Qi Chao began preparing a nutritious breakfast for his child at home.
He meticulously arranged a colorful assortment of dishes, ensuring a balanced mix of protein and vegetables, all while paying attention to the visual appeal of the food.
Lan Luo had by now grown accustomed to Qi Chao's caring demeanor. He looked up with a bright smile and greeted him with a cheerful "good morning."
Then, unexpectedly, Qi Chao brought up the topic of his father.
The smile on Lan Luo's face froze momentarily.
Why was Qi Chao mentioning his father?
"I've talked to your dad, and in a few days, he'll come to help repair those cracks on you," Qi Chao explained with a smile as he emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of steamed buns.
Repair up the cracks?
Lan Luo paused, glancing at the cracks on the back of his hand, then back at Qi Chao, uncertain.
"Is Lan Luo's father really coming?" he asked tentatively.
"Of course!" Qi Chao nodded affirmatively, looking at the puppet with a mix of nervousness and anticipation in his eyes.
Sitting at the dining table, Lan Luo's face, already bright with a smile, lit up even more. His deep blue eyes squinted like a mischievous cat's.
Suddenly, he jumped out of his chair, ran over to Qi Chao, and threw his arms around his waist.
"Thank you, Master!"
Qi Chao lowered his head and saw the golden hair with antlers on top. His heart softened. Lan Luo was obedient but not one to seek affection actively. It was rare for him to initiate such closeness. It seemed that Lan Luo truly longed for his biological father.
At that moment, Qi Chao was more certain about the Doctor's character solidified. The puppet's personality was undoubtedly influenced by the puppet master. He was so affectionate towards his "father," so Doctor couldn't be a bad person.
Knowing Lan Luo was feeling excited, Qi Chao chuckled softly and said, "No need to thank me. I've been calling myself dad for so many days now. I'll be happy when you finally call me that too."
Lan Luo seemed a bit shy, stepping back a few paces and returning to his seat.
Qi Chao couldn't help but chuckle at the situation. He didn't continue the conversation further and turned to open the projection screen.
Out of his sight, Lan Luo sat on the chair, swinging his legs with childlike innocence. His smile remained bright but somehow appeared a bit eerie.
Master is really kind to actually initiate contact with his father.
He no longer needs to figure out how to contact his father.
Lan Luo reached up and touched the deer antler headband on his head and was filled with anticipation.
He really liked this headband. As a token of gratitude, before leaving with his father, Lan Luo could give his Master a little favor and ensure that his Master would die painlessly.
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