The Cutest in the Galaxy Chapter 4

Another individual was also listening to Su Cha’s bold and ambitious speech.

A silver fox was squatting on the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. It was a very weak spirit form—so frail that it was hard to detect. Despite having the advantage of stealth, it still didn’t dare get too close and had hidden itself several rooms away from the examination room.

Su Cha didn’t lower his voice and spoke with great enthusiasm. Every word was clearly caught by the silver fox’s keen ears.

“Little Ning.” Upon hearing a voice, the sickly-looking boy restrained the eerie smile on his face.

“Uncle Norton.” The boy’s name was Shen Ningze. He obediently rolled up his sleeves and casually remarked, “There are a lot of reporters outside.”

Dr. Norton, who had just finished up some work, replied vaguely while giving him an injection: “Today there’s a special patient—might be someone in the same situation as you.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Ningze lowered his head slightly, as if a bit saddened.

After the injection, Dr. Norton patted him on the head. “You’ll get better.”

Shen Ningze nodded. “Uncle Norton, I feel a bit sleepy.”

Dr. Norton helped him close the door and instructed the nurse on duty not to let any reporters sneak in and disturb the patient’s rest.

Everyone was especially considerate toward the boy in that room—he was the only survivor among the experimental subjects rescued a year ago. Having recovered from his initial violent outbursts, he’d become well-behaved and sensible over time, which brought comfort to all.

Inside the room, Shen Ningze opened his eyes again and began speaking to someone through a concealed communicator.

“What the h*ll were you thinking? You alerted the media—now the whole place is in chaos.”

Facing the rebuke, Shen Ningze replied unhurriedly, “If we let the military fully prepare before making the announcement, we’d only end up more passive.”

After the experimental base was wiped out, not all involved parties were dealt with. The web of interests was too vast—when weighed against the Empire’s stability, the current monarch clearly favored the latter. However, the military believed that winning the public’s support was more important than just superficial damage control.

The identity of the rescued subject was bound to come out eventually. Their only option was to strike first.

Originally, Shen Ningze had planned to use the media to further provoke the survivor, hoping to use the chaos to eliminate them. But plans couldn’t keep up with change. Faced with so many cameras, the target didn’t show the slightest fear.

The person on the other end accepted the explanation, then said, “I’ve looked at the photos that were sent over. I’m quite sure I’ve never seen this person before.”

Between the lines was clear suspicion of Su Cha’s status as an “experimental subject.”

“Is it possible the military fabricated a fake victim?”

Shen Ningze paused for a moment. “Doesn’t seem like their style.”

If it were exposed, it would be digging their own grave.

The person on the call seemed to suddenly recall something and clenched their teeth as they spoke: “Could it be that Dr. Jin secretly hid one away?”

That lunatic—he always seemed to be secretly doing something in the past.

“I’ll further verify the identity of the experimental subject,” Shen Ningze said calmly, before commenting on Su Cha, “Don’t worry, he won’t get much public sympathy.”

What he’d overheard earlier was utterly absurd. If he hadn’t heard it himself, he wouldn’t believe anyone could speak so shamelessly.

Forget everything else—on Galan Star, the survival rate of flora was extremely low. The common tree species were just a few hardy ones that could survive even in deserts. Roses sold for 100 starcoins a piece, which was not cheap.

And he dared dream of owning hundreds of acres? No citizen would ever agree to spend taxpayer money on such a bottomless pit.

The voice on the other end reminded him, “Be careful yourself—don’t blow your cover.”

Shen Ningze looked at the needle mark on his wrist and smiled. “Who would ever suspect a victim?”

…

Outside, the number of reporters continued to grow. Some had even deployed drones. Suppressing them briefly wasn’t hard—but maintaining airtight control was unrealistic.

Su Cha had also realized the situation. When he saw a drone flash by overhead, he paused his daydreams about a rose garden and offered, “Why don’t I go say a few words publicly?”

Just a moment ago, he’d seemed like a delicate, spoiled child—yet now, he suddenly stood up.

Thinking of Su Cha’s earlier words, Yise looked at him deeply. “You don’t have to force yourself.”

“What’s so hard about it?”

He understood the media’s eagerness to interview a young subject. Su Cha sighed, his tone carrying a subtle note of gentle reproach: “You shouldn’t go too easy on me.”

Afraid he’d sounded too harsh, he added, “Some things… when it’s time to face them, you have to face them.”

He wanted to walk toward the elevator and prove he wasn’t just talking big. But after only a few steps, he spotted a translucent wolf and tiger ahead and promptly stepped back.

Yet, within just three seconds, both spirit beasts vanished before his eyes.

“Just spiritual manifestations. In the future, you’ll be able to form one too,” Yise explained simply.

Su Cha pushed down his doubts for now and decided to go face the reporters.

He didn’t go through the main lobby, instead using a special passage. As soon as he appeared, the reporters threw aside their boxed meals and rushed over. Thankfully, they were still somewhat restrained and didn’t swarm him, keeping a few meters’ distance.

Under Yise’s sharp gaze, they were forced to step back even farther.

“Hello, I’m a reporter from the City Evening News.”

“Little one, why were you at that ruin site?”

…

Questions came flooding in like a tidal wave. Some were aimed at Yise, but most were directed at Su Cha himself.

Upstairs in the hospital, Shen Ningze gently lifted a corner of the curtain with a finger. His spirit form floated outside, waiting to eavesdrop on Su Cha’s shameless speech.

At the hospital entrance, Yise slightly raised a hand. His status and authority were well-known—no one dared act out of turn. Everyone fell silent to listen.

“This isn’t a press conference. He will speak next, and you will listen.”

His sweeping gaze and immense spiritual pressure caused many to avert their eyes. Only then did Yise continue, “Anyone who remains after hearing him out—I’ll have to question their intentions.”

The scene grew much quieter.

After inspecting a microphone passed to him, Yise handed it to Su Cha.

Su Cha began with a polite smile: “Thank you all for coming. I understand how you must be feeling.”

A loud plop interrupted him. Su Cha turned slightly to the side and caught sight of a child running out of the hospital entrance. At the sight of Yise, the child froze in fear and tripped over nothing, landing face-first.

“G-Gen-General…” the boy stammered, trembling.

He’d seen Yise on the news countless times, but never imagined he’d meet him in person one day.

But the next second, the boy’s gaze was captured by Su Cha—his delicate, porcelain-doll-like face, and the few strands of silver hair draping over his wrist were particularly striking.

The boy’s father charged out angrily, but the moment he spotted Yise, he too was stunned. “General.”

He served in the military and reflexively started to salute.

Yise gave a slight nod.

Seeing that his superior wasn’t going to make a fuss, the father sighed in relief, grabbed the boy by the collar, and gave him a solid smack on the rear.

Unwilling to back down, the child kicked off the wall and launched a flurry of punches targeting vulnerable areas like the throat. Unfortunately, due to his lack of strength and poor technique, the clash ended with the child howling in defeat.

No one paid much attention to this scene—except Su Cha.

The child flailed in the air as he was carried back into the hospital, rubber tubing swinging from his arm.

“Put me down! If you’ve got guts, fight me again! I’ll even tie my hands!”

“You just wait till we’re home!” the father growled, full of rage.

So much for the Empire’s treasured children and their supposed unconditional love, Su Cha thought.

His smile gradually faded. He stiffly turned his head and cautiously asked Yise, “Excuse me… did he kill someone?”

Yise raised a brow.

Su Cha pointed toward the departing father and son. “That child… did he commit murder?”

Yise was puzzled by the strange question but chalked it up to nerves. “He got a shot for misbehaving.”

Su Cha fell silent for three full seconds.

Under normal circumstances, no parent would outright beat their kid for acting out—maybe scold them at most. Reflecting on that father-son pair, both seemed very strong, like the kind of people who favored solving problems with fists.

If this was typical now, the system’s data was severely outdated, or something else was going on.

Lowering his eyes, Su Cha suddenly asked Yise, “Can I see your ID?”

Yise looked at him with a hint of scrutiny.

Su Cha didn’t avoid the gaze. “I want to learn about you—so I can grow up to be like you.”

“Good!” one reporter below cheered him on for his ambition.

“If that’s too much to ask…”

A small booklet with a starlight emblem was handed to him.

He opened it, and among the fine print, the words “Galan Empire” jumped out immediately—stunning in their clarity. At that moment, Su Cha saw nothing else.

Galan Star?

Galan Star!

His gaze seemed to burn through the page as he fixated on those words.

Still clutching the ID tightly, he suddenly raised his head like an excited swan, nearly toppling backward.

Yise steadied him. “Do you need a doctor?”

Su Cha straightened up and waved it off weakly. Then he randomly pointed to a reporter. “What do you think?”

The reporter was caught off guard.

Su Cha deflected smoothly, “I just want to hear your opinion.”

The reporter composed himself and said, “Secretly conducting human experimentation is utterly inhumane. I hope the Empire will enforce the harshest laws against everyone involved.”

Human experimentation.

Su Cha sorted out the logic. Based on the awkward encouragement he’d received earlier, he now suspected—had they mistaken him for a victim?

After finishing his comment, the reporter asked habitually, “Do you have any plans for the future? For yourself, perhaps?”

He was actually giving Su Cha an easy out—just say he wanted some rest or a quiet environment, and the media would naturally wrap things up and leave.

“I want a simple life,” Su Cha answered sincerely. He closed his eyes slowly. “A one-meter bed, three meals a day, and… a thirty-square-meter room would be enough.”

The reporter was moved. This was clearly the voice of a wounded child yearning for normalcy. He even snapped a picture of Yise’s faintly dazed expression beside him—see? Even the general was deeply touched.