He, The Scumbag, Has Turned Over A New Leaf. - Chapter 4

The following morning, Ivan was jogging in the courtyard.

The original owner had been addicted to debauchery; although his appearance was flawless, he was mentally lethargic and physically weak. Since transmigrating, Ivan had always felt his body was frail, so after clearing out the flowers and plants that triggered his allergies, he began a daily routine of running laps around the courtyard.

Over these past few days, Ivan had not stopped exploring this world. Apart from failing to find a job, remaining an unemployed loafer, he had gradually figured out the nature of spiritual power and pheromones between male and female insects. Regarding the issue of Tuovis’s mental power berserk state, which threatened his life, Ivan currently had no perfect solution. However, he was no longer as terrified as he had been upon first arriving. Between running and drinking tea, his life was becoming quite comfortable.

Tuovis stood behind the window of the first-floor bedroom, gazing down at the eye-catching figure in the courtyard.

Clearly, male insects had access to the most advanced body-sculpting instruments in the interstellar era. Why would he torture himself every morning with such a simple, dull, and strenuous exercise? These were methods of physical training used only by female insects on the most inferior planets. How did Tushio Ivan know of them?

Tuovis’s heart was full of confusion until a milky, soft voice came from behind him.

“Brother! Arie is awake!”

Tuovis turned around, watching the little male insect on the bed rubbing his eyes in a daze. He could not help but reveal a hint of a smile, pushing the swirling thoughts in his mind aside as he went to the bedside to help little Arie get dressed.

Physical activity keeps the spirit refreshed. After his workout, Ivan was drenched in sweat. After finishing a set of stretches in the courtyard, he took a towel from Xiao Yi and headed indoors.

As Ivan stepped into the living room, Tuovis happened to be coming out with Arie after the child had washed up for breakfast. The two sides collided head-on.

Ivan raised his hand, preparing to offer a friendly greeting, when he saw Tuovis frown deeply, cover his nose abruptly, and run back to the bedroom. The speed was so fast that even Arie was stunned.

Ivan awkwardly lowered his hand and tentatively sniffed his own arms to check for any unspeakable odors. Only when he was sure there was no offensive smell did he feel relieved.

Arie and Ivan stared at each other, evidently confused by Tuovis’s behavior.

Finally, Arie turned back and patted the door that had been locked from the inside. “Brother?”

The child was not even as tall as half the door. After failing to get a response, he tilted his head and looked at Ivan with golden, tearful eyes, as if seeking help.

Ivan threw his sweat-soaked towel back onto Xiao Yi’s tray, walked toward Arie, and said with a smile, “Arie, go have breakfast with Xiao Yi first. Brother might be busy with something right now. Let us find him to play when he comes out, okay?”

Arie frowned and thought for a moment before nodding. He took the initiative to place his hand on Xiao Yi’s hand. “Okay!”

Arie was truly the most obedient and sensible child Ivan had ever met. After successfully ushering the little one away, Ivan stood by the door, his expression conflicted.

Tuovis’s reaction clearly showed he was avoiding him. If he forced his way in now, it might deepen Tuovis’s hatred. Ivan hesitated at the door for a long time before finally walking away.

Behind the door, just one wall away, Tuovis leaned weakly against the wood. His normally expressionless face was flushed, his brows knit in discomfort. His lips parted, and he took short, ragged breaths.

He knew Ivan’s intention in taking him to the auction was not good. However, he had not expected Ivan to be so malicious as to release such potent pheromones just to make a fool of him. At this thought, Tuovis’s disgust for Ivan deepened!

Tuovis frowned, tore open his collar, and strode to the bedside. He pulled his last remaining suppressant from the cabinet and expertly injected it into his arm. He leaned back against the bed, closed his eyes, and endured the painful process as the medicine took effect.

A while later, once the medicine had taken effect, Tuovis slowly stood up and walked into the bathroom. With a humiliated expression, he changed out of his trousers, which were stained with strange fluids, and turned on the shower to wash away the mess.

In the dining room, Ivan was finishing his breakfast with Arie. They were almost done when Tuovis finally arrived.

Ivan looked at Tuovis’s slightly damp hair and raised an eyebrow. Upon seeing his brother, Arie put down his small porridge spoon, his mouth still stained with rice, and shouted happily, “Brother!”

Tuovis’s eyes darkened. He first addressed Ivan with a polite “Master” before sitting down beside Arie. He was incredibly polite and attentive, leaving no room for anyone to find fault, except, of course, for the morning’s incident.

Ivan had been on edge all morning, terrified that he had offended Tuovis in the living room, causing the Marshal to get angry, lose control of his mental power, and drag them both to their doom.

Ivan felt anxious and, after much deliberation, finally asked, “Are you not feeling well?”

Tuovis’s movement of spooning porridge froze. He slowly set down his bowl, looked up, and stared directly at Ivan. Before Ivan could feel a chill down his back, Tuovis offered a proper smile. “I am not unwell. Thank you for your concern, Master.”

Seeing he could get nothing out of him, Ivan stopped asking questions and went back to eating in silence.

Hearing that his brother was unwell, Arie turned his head and asked, “Brother, you must be unwell. You never sleep in. It is okay if you are unwell, but my teacher says one must be honest and not tell lies.”

Being exposed by his younger brother, Tuovis felt quite awkward. “It is my fault for making Arie worry.”

“Haha, then I forgive you, Brother!”

He was just a child and easy to coax. Ivan watched this scene with a pang of emotion. After finishing his last bit of porridge, he set down his bowl. “Eat slowly. I am going out, and I will be back at seven to pick you up for the banquet.”

Tuovis nodded and watched Ivan leave.

Ivan left, his smile fading the moment he turned away.

It was exhausting, utterly exhausting, to play these games of deceit with his so-called friends and his Lord Consort.

Sigh.

In the days that followed, Ivan shut himself inside the villa, using his light-brain to learn everything he could about the current state of the interstellar world.

Thanks to the convenience of the interstellar age, although he had not met Ivan’s fox friends, the 360-degree virtual images provided by the light-brain allowed him to learn about every insect Ivan had known. No more worrying about slipping up!

Since Tuovis had been stripped of his official rank, he did not need to work and had little to do at the villa.

Initially, because he did not know what kind of game Ivan was playing, he tried to stay in his bedroom, rarely coming out. Aside from mealtimes, they hardly ever crossed paths.

However, Arie was a child who could not endure loneliness. After figuring out the structure of the villa, he begged Tuovis to take him out to play every day.

Tuovis naturally could not bear to refuse his younger brother. However, his dismissal had been inexplicable, and he had only been released because of the marriage, so he dared not wander around at will. Furthermore, with his S-rank spiritual perception, he could feel that several waves of people had been monitoring the villa outside for the past few days.

Anxious, Tuovis squatted down to comfort his brother, who was busy pulling up weeds. “Arie, wait a little longer, okay? In a few days, brother will take you out to play.”

“Mm, okay.” Arie squatted on the ground, staring dejectedly at the weeds he had pulled up.

Tuovis stroked Arie’s head helplessly, his heart aching.

On the second floor of the villa, Ivan stood by the window, staring at the large and small figures squatting in the garden.

“Greatest handsome insect in the universe! Your custom-made clothes have arrived!”

Xiao Yi’s bizarre voice came from behind him. Ivan’s mouth twitched. He grabbed Xiao Yi’s round white head and changed the title in the system settings.

Finally free of that humiliating nickname, Ivan exhaled and went downstairs to try on the clothes.

He had specifically ordered these for the auction. The original owner’s wardrobe was far too flashy; Ivan preferred wearing t-shirts and shorts at home, but for the auction, he needed to dress formally. After Ess left that day, he had Xiao Yi order two formal suits.

“Hmm, not bad.” Ivan felt quite satisfied as he picked up a white suit.

“Young Master, everything you wear looks good,” Lotte praised from the side. He noticed a black suit on the bottom that did not match Ivan’s measurements and asked in disbelief, “Young Master, whose is this?”

“Oh, this? It is for Tuovis. He is coming with me, so he cannot show up without a decent outfit.”

Lotte felt a surge of gratification. His young master finally knew how to care for his Lord Consort, and the Old Master’s spirit could finally rest in peace. He smiled. “Yes, indeed.”

“He is in the courtyard; call him in to try it on.”

As luck would have it, Tuovis walked in with Arie just as Ivan finished speaking.

Children have short memories. Arie had already forgotten the unpleasantness from the beginning and was gradually getting used to Ivan. Upon seeing him, his little face—previously gloomy from being unable to go outside—immediately brightened.

“Big Brother!”

Arie let go of Tuovis’s hand and ran toward Ivan. “Big Brother, what are you doing?” He hugged Ivan’s calf, tilted his head, and looked up at Ivan with sparkling golden eyes.

Ivan put down the clothes and picked Arie up, explaining with a smile, “Trying on clothes. Your brother and I are going out to play tomorrow, so we have to wear beautiful clothes.”

“Going out to play? Can you take Arie with you?” Arie’s small face was full of longing.

The smile in Ivan’s eyes deepened, but he said slowly, “No, you cannot.”

Arie had been full of anticipation, but upon hearing this answer, he felt wronged and his mouth pouted instantly. “Wuuu, why?”

With Ivan’s prankish intent satisfied, he went to rub the child’s soft golden hair, but Tuovis immediately scooped Arie up.

Tuovis had been on guard the moment Ivan picked up Arie. When the child started to fuss, he immediately took him into his arms. Seeing the look of surprise on Ivan’s face, Tuovis held Arie against his chest, lowered his head, and apologized, “Master, Arie is ignorant. Please do not hold it against him.”

Ivan looked at Tuovis’s tense expression and said helplessly, “I was just teasing him.”

Whether Tuovis believed him or not, Ivan picked up his own suit and pointed to the remaining one. “Go try it on. If it does not fit, have Uncle Lotte take it to be tailored. Arie has been in the house for so long, he must be stifled. We are going to the auction tomorrow, so let Uncle Lotte take him out to play while we are there.”

With that, he walked away.

Tuovis stood in the center of the living room holding Arie, his expression unreadable. Lotte nodded slightly to Tuovis and went to prepare lunch.

“Brother, can I go out and play tomorrow, then?” Arie, unaware of the complexities between the adults, heard that he could go out and blinked back his tears. He asked softly while tucked in Tuovis’s arms.

Tuovis stroked Arie’s back, staring at the expensive suit by the sofa, and nodded. “Mm.”