| PN | Documentary | 179
"What did you say?! The abilities of the ability users at the base have disappeared?" The president immediately stood up upon hearing this, and in his haste, the tea cup that was originally on the table was knocked over, crashing to the ground with a loud noise.
The secretary's face turned pale, his voice trembling, "Yes, it disappeared suddenly today. The ability users have been sent to the research institute, and they are investigating the cause of the loss of their abilities. It is not ruled out that it may be due to mental exhaustion, which prevents them from using their mental power."
Of course, both of them knew that this was likely not due to mental exhaustion. If it had been, the ability users themselves would have realized it.
"Tell me everything you saw, exactly as it happened," the president gritted his teeth and said, trying his best to stay calm.
But the loss of abilities was a serious matter, and no matter how much he tried to control his emotions, he couldn’t calm down.
The secretary hurriedly nodded and recounted everything he had seen when he entered the base, describing the scene through the glass window from beginning to end, including how the man defeated his opponent and how the man suddenly screamed, saying he had lost his abilities.
However, the secretary didn’t mention Qi Chao, or rather, in his view, Qi Chao was just an ordinary person who accidentally witnessed the incident.
As the president listened to his words, his face alternated between white and red, and in the end, he held his breath and said, "Prepare the aircraft for me. I’m going to the research institute right now."
He had to uncover the cause of this incident before His Majesty found out.
On the other side, Qi Chao was aware that the disappearance of abilities would cause a stir in the association and the royal family.
However, he didn't pay much attention to it. After all, in Qi Chao's view, the abilities of those ability users would gradually fade away, until there were no more ability users left on Blue Star.
Inside the villa, Shen Yuxi and the puppets learned through the surveillance that Qi Chao was unharmed, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Just a few seconds later, they heard Qi Chao say that he was going to take them to the old mansion of the Qi family.
Most of the puppets didn't have much of a reaction, but only the lively Li Bai and Qiu Qiu, knowing they would leave home, cheered aloud.
When Shen Yuxi heard this, his eyelashes fluttered, and his mood wavered. He hadn't officially met Qi Chao's father yet, although he knew that this father was just Qi Chao's father in this particular dimension.
Meanwhile, the world consciousness sitting nearby also felt a little awkward. He looked at the villain sitting not far from him, confused as to how the villain had become interested in Qi Chao.
The two had already progressed to the point of meeting each other's parents.
Shen Yuxi noticed the gaze of the world consciousness. He put away his discomfort and smiled faintly, asking, "Is there something on your mind?"
The world consciousness quickly shook his head.
He didn't want to stir up any trouble right now; he just wanted to figure out a way to restore his abilities as soon as possible.
"If there’s nothing else," Shen Yuxi continued calmly, "please go upstairs and tell Qi Yang that Qi Chao will be heading to the old Qi family mansion this afternoon."
Shen Yuxi's expression remained unchanged, as if he didn't find it strange to give orders to the world consciousness.
Hearing the villain's command, the world consciousness was filled with dissatisfaction. However, feeling cornered, he reluctantly lowered his proud head and went upstairs to deliver the message to Qi Yang.
Originally, Qi Yang had been in his room, arguing with Qi Feng and Qi Ye over the phone, but when he heard that his brother was taking him to the old mansion, he immediately opened the door and looked down at the world consciousness with an uncertain expression. "What? My brother is going there this afternoon?"
The world consciousness took a step back, displeased with the attitude of this outsider. He snorted dismissively and was about to leave.
However, Qi Yang's actions were faster than his. Qi Yang jumped directly from the second floor to the first, then turned to look at Shen Yuxi. "Is my brother also taking me to that Qi family mansion?"
Qi Yang’s expression was not friendly.
The chat history between him, Qi Feng, and Qi Ye was still open in his room. He didn’t want to meet with those two troublemakers who always went to his brother to complain when something went wrong.
But what bothered him most was that his brother was about to meet with those two brats.
When Shen Yuxi saw Qi Yang's expression, his lips curled into a faint smile, and the discomfort he had felt earlier disappeared without a trace. "Yes, so please make sure you're presentable, or Qi Feng and Qi Ye will make fun of you."
"They don’t have the right to mock me."
Qi Yang sneered, then quickly realized that Shen Yuxi was teasing him from a higher position.
His face darkened slightly, but he was conscious of the image he wanted to maintain in his brother’s eyes. He muttered a few choice words about Shen Yuxi in his heart, then turned and went back upstairs.
At that moment, the world consciousness also walked downstairs. He snorted as he passed by Qi Yang, then sat down beside Moss.
The household really had two useless troublemakers.
Shen Yuxi faintly withdrew his gaze. Taking advantage of the fact that Qi Chao hadn't returned home yet, he paused for a moment, then spoke softly, "You all know what your father has been busy with. If anything happens at home, you don’t need to tell him. Just come to me."
As he finished speaking, his gaze swept over the world consciousness, pausing on him for a few seconds before moving away. It was clear that when he referred to "things," he was talking about the world consciousness, as well as Qi Yang upstairs.
The world consciousness felt embarrassed. He believed he had been insulted.
The puppets at home, recalling the harm the world consciousness had caused to their father in the past, didn’t hesitate for a second. They immediately nodded in agreement with Shen Yuxi’s words.
“Father, can we help Dad?”
Xiang Yue, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
“Dad took on all these matters because of us. We want to make things easier for him.”
This was the shared thought of all the puppets.
They had followed their father and Shen Yuxi to the Lingjing District, knowing that their parents’ purpose for coming back was to resolve the issue with the ability users and change the status of the puppets.
These matters didn’t concern Qi Chao or Shen Yuxi much. After the world consciousness had become a puppet, their parents should have been able to rest for a long time, rather than needing to continue playing the game of pretense with the association as they were now.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yuxi turned his gaze to the puppets in the room. It seemed like they had discussed this among themselves earlier, as none of the puppets averted their eyes when Xiang Yue spoke.
"You want to help him? How?"
Shen Yuxi tilted his head slightly, his peach blossom eyes smiling as he looked at them.
Xiang Yue had already organized his thoughts in his mind. He pursed his lips and said, "Before we went to the Ganfen District, we were preparing a surprise for Dad, but then things kept being delayed, and we still haven't given him the surprise."
That surprise was something they had prepared together. During that time, every night, they would go out and form alliances with other puppets. By now, their team had grown to several hundred puppets, even more than the number in the training grounds.
Shen Yuxi had known about this all along, since the puppets he had created, Moss and Agu, had been involved in the plan.
"Since you already have an idea, go ahead and do it." Shen Yuxi smiled lightly after hearing Xiang Yue’s words. "You should know that whether it's me or Qi Chao, we'll support whatever you want to do."
He knew the puppets understood their boundaries.
Even if Qi Chao didn’t want them involved, the puppets would surely find a way to act on their own. Since that was the case, it was better to agree from the start.
The puppets were immediately excited. Even Moss, whose expressions rarely fluctuated, tightly gripped the plush doll in his arms.
Agu grinned and cheerfully said, "Long live Father!"
Shen Yuxi glanced at the puppets and calmly added, "Since you've decided to help your Dad, you must think everything through before doing anything. Don't cause trouble for him."
The puppets immediately nodded in agreement.
In reality, this statement was a bit redundant.
Even though Shen Yuxi had already decided to allow the puppets to do what they wanted, he still worried about them causing any negative impact on Qi Chao. He would be keeping a close watch on their actions, and this statement was just a public reminder to keep them in check.
Meanwhile, Xing Yu observed the puppets, who were so eager to help Qi Chao. The villain had only said a few words, yet the puppets were so excited about it.
What’s there to be so happy about?
The world consciousness curled his lips, resolute in his decision not to get involved. However, despite his intentions, when he saw Xiang Yue calmly discussing the next steps with Moss, he couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy.
As the world consciousness wrestled with his own emotions, Qi Chao had already returned to the villa. The puppets, thinking it better to wait until things were clearer, wisely kept silent.
Although Qi Chao sensed that something was off, when he met Shen Yuxi's smiling eyes, he knew it wasn’t the right time to ask any questions.
His deep brown eyes curved as he turned to the puppets, asking, "Have you all gotten ready? We're heading to the old mansion soon."
"No, we're going to pack now."
Li Bai and Lan Luo were the first to rush upstairs, chattering away, seemingly in a good mood. The other puppets quietly followed behind them, and soon the living room was empty.
Shen Yuxi and Qi Chao exchanged a glance and returned to their rooms to discuss the events of the day.
"The children at home all want to help you."
Shen Yuxi didn't directly mention what the puppets were planning. In fact, since the puppets hadn't taken any concrete actions yet, he didn't know much about their plans.
Qi Chao was silent for a moment after hearing this, then suddenly let out a laugh. "They're really too lovable."
The feelings that bubbled up were a mix of bitterness, warmth, and gratitude, and in the end, all he could manage was that one sentence. No matter what the children ended up doing, their initial intentions were enough to stir deep emotions within him.
Shen Yuxi looked at Qi Chao and thought about the things he had done for them in the past. His fingers instinctively tightened around Qi Chao's hand. Considering everything Qi Chao had done for them, it wasn’t surprising that the puppets would make such a decision.
After the two changed into appropriate clothing, they went downstairs, where Qi Yang and several puppets were already gathered in the living room.
Qi Chao looked at the group of children and his younger brother in the living room, thought for a moment, and then walked to the room to knock on the bedroom door of the three book transmigrators.
"We're going to the old mansion for a while. Please keep an eye on the house for us," he said.
The three book transmigrators had also been brought to the Lingjing District by Qi Chao from Ganfen District. Though they were no longer afraid of him, they still felt a bit nervous when alone with him.
"Sure, enjoy yourselves," they replied.
The three of them had their own light brains now and spent their days immersed in the interstellar internet, living a carefree life.
They were even happier now that the puppets were temporarily leaving, and it wouldn't have surprised anyone if they'd set off firecrackers to celebrate their departure.
Seeing their reaction, Qi Chao didn’t comment. He smiled and, with the book transmigrators watching, he walked into the vortex with Shen Yuxi, Qi Yang, and the puppets.
Once they emerged at the old mansion, Qi Chao turned to his troublesome younger brother.
"Qi Yang, later go and have a good talk with Qi Feng and Qi Ye. Try to make peace with them. The kids are here, so be a good role model, alright?"
"Alright, big brother, no problem."
Qi Yang’s attitude was very cooperative.
Shen Yuxi watched Qi Yang's obedient expression, his eyes holding a faint smile that wasn’t quite a smile.
The reason for returning to the old mansion was something Qi Chao had informed his father and two younger brothers about early in the morning. Since Qi Father’s business was also in the Lingjing District recently, he replied that he would be coming home as well after receiving Qi Chao's message.
As for Qi Feng and Qi Ye, the two university students had no reason not to come home. Since it was their eldest brother coming back, the two brothers had been waiting eagerly in the living room since the early morning.
They were soon greeted by the sight of Qi Chao, who arrived with a group of puppets in tow.
One couldn’t help but notice that the sudden appearance of over ten puppets was a bit overwhelming at first glance.
After Qi Chao exchanged a few words with his younger brothers, he handed the situation over to Qi Yang and took Shen Yuxi with him to the study.
"Still feeling nervous, Brother Shen?"
On the stairs, Qi Chao reached out and gently rubbed Shen Yuxi's cold fingers. "Don't worry, Brother Shen. My dad won't interfere in our affairs."
Shen Yuxi naturally knew this. He was also aware that even if Qi Chenming didn't like him, it wouldn't change Qi Chao's opinion of him.
However, it wasn't easy for him to completely relax. Shen Yuxi understood that Qi Chao still cared a great deal about this elder.
His eyelashes fluttered slightly, revealing a soft expression, and he followed Qi Chao into the study.
Qi Chenming was sitting at his desk, handling official business. From his posture, it was clear that he seemed stiffer than usual, likely because Qi Chao had informed him earlier that he would be bringing his partner home.
The sounds of laughter and play from the living room filtered through the door, followed by the sound of the door opening.
When Qi Chenming saw his son entering with a blonde man, he hesitated for the briefest of moments, before seemingly casually putting his pen down.
"You've arrived?" Qi Chenming asked, his tone neutral.
Qi Chao smiled and replied, "Yes, we're here."
Shen Yuxi, standing beside him, greeted Qi Chenming politely, "Hello, Uncle."
His manner and speech were so poised and respectful that it made him appear as a well-mannered young man, easy to like.
Qi Chenming's expression softened, the lines on his face slightly relaxing. He nodded in acknowledgment.
In truth, Qi Chao's father wasn’t difficult to please; he appeared stern on the surface but was more like a cat who enjoyed being pampered and stroked the right way.
Shen Yuxi, who was already adept at reading people's emotions, initially felt nervous. However, upon meeting Qi Chenming in person, he became noticeably more composed. He used a mix of light conversation, subtle remarks, and unassuming compliments, which made the usually reserved Qi Chenming feel very satisfied.
As the conversation shifted naturally, Shen Yuxi stopped pushing the topic forward and allowed Qi Chao to take the lead.
After all, they had come to the old mansion for an important matter. If it weren’t for that, they wouldn’t have chosen this moment to meet his parents.
Qi Chenming, sensing there was something important to discuss, quietly waited for Qi Chao to speak. However, when Qi Chao began to address the issue at hand, Qi Chenming instinctively furrowed his brows.
"I told you not to get involved with the Association's matters," Qi Chenming said, his voice laced with frustration.
Qi Chao offered a few words of appeasement, and once he saw his father’s frown relax, he continued, "I had no choice. The Association approached me first, so I had to go to that ridiculous ability user base."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Dad, I have to tell you in advance, the abilities of those users are unstable. After I got there, some of them completely lost their powers. If things continue like this, there might be more cases of abilities disappearing. If the research institute comes to you asking for funds, don’t give them any."
Upon hearing the mention of abilities disappearing, Qi Chenming’s expression faltered with surprise, but he quickly nodded in understanding. "I know. If any proposals come through, I’ll consult with the board."
The request for funding from the research institute was to be expected; after all, the royal family's internal funds weren't enough to support their research, and the study of abilities was a massive financial drain.
The existence of these abilities had always been a well-kept secret, with only a select few in the higher echelons privy to this information. Qi Chenming had only learned of it through vague hints from the upper ranks.
Originally, Qi Chenming had already felt that the existence of abilities was ethically questionable. After hearing Qi Chao’s words, it seemed that investing in such research might not be worthwhile at all.
"You’re not allowed to get involved anymore," Qi Chenming snapped, his tone firm as he returned to the present.
"I know," Qi Chao responded, having simply wanted to inform his father to prevent him from making any rash decisions about investments.
Now that his point was made, he would leave it at that.
Shen Yuxi watched their exchange, a slight smile flickering in his eyes. Just then, there was some noise coming from the living room.
"What are they making such a racket?" Qi Chenming muttered, clearly irritated.
Qi Chao and Shen Yuxi exchanged a glance before standing up. The two turned and headed toward the living room.
Before they reached the stairs, Qi Chao suddenly turned on his camera. Seeing the confused look on Shen Yuxi’s face, Qi Chao explained, “I’m planning to make a documentary, to record the lives of the children at home. Later, I can put it online and let people see that the puppets aren’t just what they think they are.”
Puppets can cry, laugh, and have emotions.
If this were documented, it might change the views of some netizens who believe the puppets are merely tools.
This idea came to him suddenly. Qi Chao wanted to change the public’s misconception about the puppets, but he knew changing such ingrained beliefs couldn’t be done in a day or two.
He decided to test the waters with a documentary. Though he wasn’t sure what was happening downstairs, the commotion below would definitely provide some good footage, right?
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