Chapter 23: “Heart-to-heart talk”

“Dr. Jiang, are you okay?” the assistant asked with concern.

“Hmm?” Dr. Jiang took off his virtual glasses, and all the virtual modules in front of him disappeared. He asked in surprise, “What’s wrong?”

“I’ve noticed you’ve been rubbing your lower back six times in the past little while,” the assistant said.

Upon hearing this, Dr. Jiang felt the soreness all over his body again and instinctively rubbed his lower back.

“How’s it going?” the assistant grinned, “Feeling great, huh?”

“What?” Dr. Jiang was puzzled.

The assistant winked, “Your new date! Judging by your lack of energy and the way you’re rubbing your back, yesterday’s date must have been fantastic, right?”

“…” Dr. Jiang realized, “Absolutely amazing!”

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

Fbl lhld aykple y vbwxcp wr yde qsanle y qyjl pxkzl.

Bdzkjl vbl ydnkldv Oyavb lay, kd vbkp lay, xld yde osxld byhl ynbklhle tldela liwyzkvu. Mbspl obs rspplpp xsal plmwyz alpswanlp yal nsdpkelale nbyaxkdt, altyaezlpp sq tldela.

Yspv sq vblpl kdekhkewyzp yal bktbzu yvvaynvkhl, okvb lmnlzzldv qktwalp, sa yv zlypv swvpvydekdt kd psxl svbla yprlnv, vs yvvaynv xsal srrspkvl-plm yvvldvksd.

Flm byp alvwadle vs clkdt y rbupkszstknyz dlle yp lppldvkyz yp lyvkdt yde eakdjkdt, okvbswv ydu vycss sa pbyxl kd vbkp psnklvu. Vlsrzl sqvld vyzj ycswv vblka alzyvksdpbkrp okvb vbl srrspkvl plm okvb y ayekydv qynl, qkzzle okvb rakel yde csypvqwzdlpp.

Rd vbkp psnklvu vbyv hyzwlp csvb ylpvblvknp yde plmwyz yrrlyz, ekpnwppksdp ycswv alzyvksdpbkrp clvolld vbl plmlp yal y rsrwzya vsrkn kd psnkyz kdvlaynvksdp.

“R alnldvzu tsv y dlo csuqaklde/tkazqaklde. Mblka byka kp casod, yde vblka lulp yal talld—hlau nbyaxkdt,” kp y nsxxsd srldkdt zkdl qsa pvyavkdt y nsdhlapyvksd.

Mbaswtb sqqknl psnkyzkgkdt, xlxclap sq Pa. Kkydt’p rasflnv vlyx jdlo vbyv pbl bye bye qswa csuqakldep.

Jsuqaklde Ls. 1, Jsuqaklde Ls. 2, Jsuqaklde Ls. 3 (I60), yde y dlo csuqaklde Ls. 4 (I70) ycswv byzq y ulya yts.

In everyone’s eyes, someone with Dr. Jiang’s appearance and figure having only four boyfriends (heavy fog) can truly be considered as having a simple and contented heart. Moreover, from Dr. Jiang’s descriptions, it was clear that these four boyfriends were all in exclusive one-on-one relationships. People would discuss privately, saying that Dr. Jiang is really… innocent!

However, Dr. Jiang is still young after all. Who isn’t loyal and dedicated when they are young? Gradually, with more experiences, one learns how to face relationships between the sexes. They will quickly find their position in a relationship and seek what they want.

As one grows older and gains more experience, this process becomes more skilled, and one no longer wastes life and time in meaningless mutual probing and repeated adjustments.

However, Dr. Jiang has always been quite innocent. Since she switched to her fourth boyfriend, no one has seen any signs of her dating. Privately, they guessed that she might have already broken up with No. 4.

But in the past few days, Dr. Jiang has been all smiles every day, leaving early from work. Today, she even had a look of a satisfied person who had exhausted herself last night. The assistant boldly speculated that Dr. Jiang might finally have a new date.

“Why a new date? It surely can’t be No. 4; it’s been so long. How could there still be that kind of passion making legs weak?”

Seeing Jiang Miao’s satisfied expression, the assistant teased with a smile and casually asked, “How’s your parenting plan going?”

Jiang Miao replied, “Hmm, still in communication with the other party.”

On this topic, the assistant casually said, “Good luck,” and ended the conversation.

In this darn era, you can talk freely about sex—size, duration, positions, techniques. Giving birth, on the other hand, is considered a personal privacy matter!

Jiang Miao sighed.

Tanaka rolled over in a swivel chair, scrutinizing her up and down. “A date? I haven’t seen you go on one since you finally got your fourth boyfriend half a year ago. This is…”

Honestly, she really looked like someone who had indulged excessively.

“Could it be related to the Major…” Tanaka hesitated.

In Tanaka’s eyes, Jiang Miao was indeed a peculiar girl. Despite having physiological desires like everyone else, she stopped at just talking. In actual actions, she behaved like an ascetic monk. At her age, she has only had four¹basically, just 2 because the last 2 were robots boyfriends. There were quite a few people in the company, both men and women, who pursued her. From Tanaka’s observation, Jiang Miao seemed to have rejected them all.

Jiang Miao didn’t bother making up excuses or weaving stories for the sake of face with Tanaka.

“Don’t speculate blindly,” she said unenthusiastically, rubbing her waist. “The Major has set up a training plan for me to improve my physical fitness indicators. He wants healthier eggs.”

“Wow?” Tanaka exclaimed. “He’s a very sincere parenting partner.”

“I’ve tried living together with three people before. The first one didn’t work out due to incompatible lifestyles. The second one, who was planning to have a child, was still drinking heavily.” Tanaka, now remembering, was still angry. “Despite having the poorest financial condition among several candidates, she barely met the application criteria. I could tell she was just in it for the preferential parenting benefits; she had no sincerity at all.”

Jiang Miao fell silent for a moment and asked, “Isn’t everyone having children for the parenting benefits?”

In her view, Zhang Ya and Mr. Coso had her for this reason.

“Of course, parenting benefits are very tempting, but it’s not that simple,” Tanaka said. “First, you yourself have to have the desire to have a child. If someone has no expectations for the child, they won’t make it past the seven or eight years old stage. You know, kids at that stage are really…”

“People dislike dogs?” Jiang Miao understood.

“Oh? This phrase is perfect! So fitting!” Tanaka applauded. “I didn’t expect someone who hasn’t given birth to understand this so well.”

“Many people who haven’t experienced it firsthand have no idea how troublesome seven or eight-year-old children can be. Those who initially have no expectations for the child itself can’t make it through. This stage, along with adolescence, is the peak of abandonment in parenting. Many caregivers can’t endure it and relinquish custody of the child to the government during these two phases.”

“Parents who can endure until the child becomes an adult are truly filled with great love, hahaha.”

Jiang Miao felt a bit stunned.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Tanaka asked.

This was different from what she had anticipated. Jiang Miao hesitated for a moment, but couldn’t hold back and said, “I… I skipped a grade; I entered university at the age of fifteen. After going to university, I would call my caregiver about once a month. Then, she criticized me for being overly attached…”

“Oh, is that so?” Tanaka, having lived several decades longer in this era, had a deeper understanding of this society and its people than Jiang Miao. He said, “Your caregiver is quite strict. But there’s no other way; even though you’re young, the fact that you’ve entered university means she will demand you meet the standards of a college student. If she indulges you too much, it would be irresponsible on her part as your caregiver.”

Jiang Miao stared at Tanaka and suddenly asked, “Tanaka, do you miss your son? Do you still keep in touch with him?”

“Cough, it’s okay,” Tanaka evaded the topic.

“Tanaka!” Jiang Miao called him by his last name again.

Jiang Miao and Tanaka addressed each other by their last names, not using titles. From this way of addressing, it was clear that their relationship was very close—not only business partners but also friends.

“Alright,” Tanaka reluctantly said, “Before my kid came of age, we were quite close.”

Jiang Miao pressed on, “And after he came of age?”

“After he came of age, what could I do?” Tanaka shrugged, “He’s an adult now, and I can’t interfere in the life of an adult.”

Jiang Miao insisted, “Do you still have contact now?”

“Emmmm…”

“Tanaka!”

“A few times a year, not much,” Tanaka admitted. “Usually on holidays, just a courteous greeting. Sometimes he calls me, sometimes I call him.”

The subsequent words seemed more like an explanation, a way to distance himself. After all, in a society that emphasizes personal independence, no one wants to be seen as having an overly attached personality.

But it was enough to make Jiang Miao’s mood complicated.

“My caregiver, since I came of age, has never initiated contact with me,” she said. “Initially, I would send her messages on holidays to greet her. She… doesn’t reply much. Later, occasionally, we got busy, missed some days, and then… lost contact.”

Tanaka seemed to understand the meaning behind her words, sighed gently, and said, “Well, quite a few people don’t really stay in touch with their adult children. Your caregiver seems a bit too strict, but it’s still relatively normal.”

Jiang Miao pondered the implications of his words and asked, “But there are also many normal caregivers who still maintain contact with their children after they come of age, right?”

Tanaka couldn’t deny it; he was a living example. In comparison, Mrs. Zhang was not only strict but also indifferent.

Jiang Miao fell into thought again.

“Hey!” Tanaka reached out and waved his hand in front of Jiang Miao’s face, bringing her back to reality.

“Your caregiver, although quite strict, completed the entire caregiving process, right?” he said. “As someone who has been through it, I think anyone who can persist and complete the entire caregiving process must truly want a child and have expectations for them.”

Did he mean that Mrs. Zhang had also… looked forward to her birth, anticipated living together with her?

“Uh…” Jiang Miao forced a smile, “Thank you.”

Tanaka nodded, pushed off with his feet, gliding back to his own position, about to put on his virtual glasses again, when he suddenly heard Jiang Miao speaking.

“My caregiver…” Jiang Miao seemed to be talking to herself, “though strict, a bit distant, and with many rules. But… before I went to university, she really took good care of me.”

That person, speaking rationally and coldly, but as Jiang Miao recalled, in many small details of daily life, she could truly feel her warmth and meticulousness.

Undeniably, those dozen years by her side, Jiang Miao indeed lived quite well.

“That sounds good, doesn’t it?” Tanaka smiled slightly, putting on his glasses.

Jiang Miao smiled too and put on her glasses.

The two reappeared in the virtual world, diving into the data streams and various computational modules.

After work, when Jiang Miao entered the house, she raised her voice, “I’m back!”

After a day’s work and still so energetic?

Yan He was sitting on the sofa in the living room, unable to help but lift the corners of his mouth. He looked up with a smile, “Back already?”

Jiang Miao glanced at the screens in front of him. The scenery on the screens was familiar; they should be various planets in the Capital Star Cluster. She asked, “Where did you go today?”

“Just wandered around.”

“Wait for the weekend; I’ll accompany you to Parliament Mountain.”

“Okay,” Yan He’s mouth lifted, “So, are you ready to start?”

Ah, this guy!

Since he took off his icy and aloof mask yesterday, Jiang Miao found that her resistance to his hormones had become much stronger.

She rolled her shoulders and turned her arms, “At noon, I went to the Biotechnology Department to give them the latest body repair fluid as a free sample. I’m fully recovered now.”

Jiang Miao’s eyes sparkled, “Bring it on!”

---

Thanks for visiting. If you like this story, then I’m shamelessly asking you to visit NovelUpdates and give a 5⭐ review. (人❛ᴗ❛)♪тнайк　чоц♪(❛ᴗ❛*人)

You can also check out my other translations Here