"Uncle, be gentle," he said sucking in a cold breath of air. He regretted it now. He should have just gone to the upper deck and coaxed Luo Muchen. Though he might start a fight again at least it was much more bearable than when this old man did it.

"Why do you act so casual with the captain? Had you met him before?" asked Jie trying to get some information out of him.

Qie Xieling chuckled lowly before saying, "It’s a secret." After he said that he felt the weight on his back come off. He looked up and Jie was standing up.

"Uncle, it still hurts," he complained but Jie ignored him. He exited the cabin to go wash his hands. While he was gone Qie Xieling sat up with a sigh. His muscles felt less stiff and he couldn’t help but applaud the old man’s magic hands.

He put on his t-shirt and lay back on the bed. Just then his calm stomach grumbled and he knew he had to eat something otherwise he would die from starvation.

"He grabbed his jacket and straightened his bed before getting up. He intended to get them both some dinner thus he left without saying a word.

When he stepped into the cafeteria, his stomach kept growling from hunger. The scent of freshly cooked meals filled the air making it even more noisy.

The clatter of cutlery against plates and the broadcast playing in the background created a lively atmosphere. Thank goodness his face was no longer plastered on the news otherwise it would be even more embarrassing for him.

As he walked in, the friendly crew members turned their heads and greeted him with warm smiles.

"Hey, Xieling! The captain tired you out right?" one crew member called out with a chuckle.

Qie nodded, returning the smile. "Yeah, and he will tire me out in bed as well," he said with the latter half of his sentence in a whisper. The man turned his head shapely wondering if he was hallucinating or hearing things. He scratched his head in confusion before turning back to his plate.

Qie Xieling stopped by Mauve’s table and patted his back before saying, "How is it? What’s good to eat."

Mauve put down his chopsticks and said, "I thought you were dead. You looked like a walking corpse staggering out of the training room," and the others at the table let out soft laughter.

"How can that be? I am after all the most wanted man in the universe. I don’t die that easy," he said and the crew members laughed.

"Get the pork ribs. It’s delicious," suggested Mauve and Qie Xieling nodded before making his way towards the food stations.

He scanned the options available before he started picking out the food. Uncle Jie was not as young as he used to be, and Qie Xieling knew he had to pick up some nutrient-rich meals with less spice for him. Carefully, he selected a balanced plate of steamed vegetables, tender chicken, and a side of plain rice.

As he focused on his choices, an unfamiliar voice pierced through the chatter of the cafeteria. "Daddy pass me a new tray," it sneered, followed by a mocking snicker. Qie Xieling was a little vexed. He turned around and said, "Do I look like your father to you?" having forgotten what he said last night.

A woman with the name tag ’Zara’ was standing nearby with a smirk on her face. "No, but you think the captain is your ’daddy’. You called him that last night."

Qie Xieling, "..."

He vaguely remembered that Mauve yelled at him about it but he was too drunk and hungover in the morning to remember. Now that she had joked about his memory he was speechless.

"Ah shit," he swore with his head tilted back.

Someone stood behind him and he felt his back tingle like an animal was watching him.

"So you left me behind," said a familiar voice and he turned around feeling a great sense of relief. It was just Uncle Jie. Damn, he was already in fight mode.

"Uh, uncle look. I was getting you food. I know you need to take care of your health so I picked the most nutritious," he said showing off the tray of food.

Jie glared icyly at the woman standing beside them smiling but she wasn’t affected in the least. She made the exact same expression as Qie Xieling did last night and said, "’Daddy, Uuup up take me to beeeed’ that’s what you said to the Captain.

Qie Xieling, "..."

She clapped her hands excitedly and opened a holographic display on her communicator playing love-themed fireworks. "I wish you happiness,"

Qie Xieling smiled and said, "Thank you." Satisfied she hopped away with the word crazy floating above her head.

"Here," he said to Uncle Jie, "I will pick mine first." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Jie who didn’t want to eat this was forced to take it. He had already asked Bo Ailun to bring them food but who would have thought when he got back Qie Xieling was gone. He was so annoyed that he stormed over here after he checked the camera feed and found he was there.

Who would have thought that he would find Qie Xieling already chatting it up with some crew member? What he didn’t expect though was the fact that Qie Xieling didn’t deny it when the woman mentioned the whole ’daddy’ thing.

Jie scoffed to himself while saying internally, ’So he remembers everything he said.’

When they sat down Qie Xieling picked up his chopsticks to eat but two bites in and he found that Uncle Jie was staring at him not lifting his chopsticks.

"What?" he asked and Jie said,

"You called the captain ’daddy’? Aren’t you afraid for your life? You do know his reputation?"

Qie Xieling smiled while taking another bite. "I know his reputation..."

"So? Why would you say such a thing?"

"I also get what I want," he said and Jie’s muscles stiffened.

"Think about it. Only a great man should have the opportunity to be with a great man. I deserve the cream of the crop," he said making up some type of nonsense but there was no lie in it. He deserved the best and the best to him was Luo Muchen.