One Child, Four Dads

Ling Xue, the foremost of the Empire's Eight Sons, was killed fighting space pirates on Planet E-37 while visiting family a year ago. His mech, Jichuan, disassembled itself, leaving only its core to guard his body and keep everyone away. It then began wandering, flashing at random between planets.

His death was confirmed by medical records documenting abnormal bleeding shortly before Jichuan disassembled. The entire Empire mourned him, and some supported sending him off in a star burial. But rumors circulated that four of the other Eight Sons had been secretly trying to capture Jichuan and retrieve Ling Xue's body.

Then one day, a year later, a man appeared on a matchmaking and family-reunion show in a remote star system. He had snow-white skin, silver hair, pale eyes, and a faint golden star-shaped mark at the corner of his right eye. Holding a child, he said he was looking for the child's other father.

Silver hair caused by radiation mutation, and a teardrop-shaped birthmark at the corner of his right eye.

Who else could it be but Ling Xue, the divine temple's greatest warrior, the Empire's spiritual leader, and the idol of its civilian Omega population?

Their idol was pure, sacred, and aloof! What kind of beast had gotten him pregnant? And he'd even given birth himself!

Host: "...Why are you looking for the child's father?"

Ling Xue held the child awkwardly and tried to soothe them. Looking troubled, he said, "It's obvious I'm not very good at taking care of a child. Until a month ago, the child was looked after by robots. That's when I woke up and discovered I'd lost my memories. I've pieced together who I am from some information, but my own affairs are secondary. The child is what matters. I think it's better for a child to grow up in a stable family."

"So, if the child's father sees this program, please contact me. For the child's healthy development, I think we should make a complete family."

So the abnormal bleeding diagnosis that confirmed Ling Xue's death a year ago actually meant that he'd given birth to a child.

Four of the Eight Sons who saw the news all rushed into action.

*

General Director of the Staff Department Di Lin: "Sorry, the child is mine. Ling Xue and I have been dating in secret."

Commander of the First Expeditionary Army, Ge Ang, who'd always been at odds with Ling Xue: "Di Lin, go to hell! I slept with Ling Xue just before going to battle a year ago. The child has to be mine!"

Director of the Interstellar Intelligence Bureau He Fuyuan: "There's no need to argue. The child is mine. Just look how much her nose resembles mine."

Director of the Xingyuan Technology Research Institute Zhong Hua: "It should be mine. Ling Xue and I pledged ourselves to each other when we were at the Imperial Military Academy."

Onlookers enjoying the drama: That's a lot to take in.

Ling Xue: ...Was my private life that messy before?

Later, the paternity test matched none of them, which was rather awkward.

All four said, "I'm perfectly fine being the stepdad."

The first episode ended with a fight breaking out, so the program was taken off the air. No one dared report what happened afterward. A year later, someone followed up: the child may or may not have a biological father, but has four formidable godfathers, and is destined to become the Empire's future princess.

A cute, stoic bottom.

Here's a recommendation for my upcoming story, Fixing Cats, Dogs, and the CEO.

Tu Zhi is a rabbit spirit who works as a veterinary assistant in Heping Town. He helps treat cats and dogs and assists the doctor, usually studying from an encyclopedia of animals. He isn't very good at medicine, really. He relies on an uncanny instinct to pinpoint the source of an illness.

Tu Zhi isn't very professional, but he does have plenty of experience.

Many plants and animals in this little town have gained sentience, and the ecosystem is thriving. Then one day, an extremely wealthy developer arrives, announcing plans to develop their town. Even the forest where the animals love to go is included in his plans. Somehow, this wicked developer is attacked in the middle of the night by a resentful animal and brought to Tu Zhi's clinic.

Tu Zhi is used to fixing animals, and has no idea how to fix a person.

People usually come to the clinic with their pets, so Tu Zhi can only treat the half-dead man as if he were alive. The man wakes up, but loses his memory and mistakes Tu Zhi for his wife.

To save his home, Tu Zhi has no choice but to pretend to be the developer's wife and persuade him not to go through with the project. He tells him to lay down his weapons, turn over a new leaf, and make the land an ecological reserve instead.

Lou Xi agrees.

*

Lou Xi has married a beautiful veterinary assistant. His wife is sweet and adorable, and loves to act cute, though he can be a bit temperamental sometimes. He's tried many times to convince his wife to move with him to the big city, but his wife doesn't want to leave home. So Lou Xi is happy to travel back and forth between the two places.

They have a sweet life together. Whenever he comes back, his wife even puts work on hold for him and sticks close to his side.

Then one time, Lou Xi returns early with flowers and a present to surprise his wife. He sees someone go in, and suddenly a snake crawls out from under a pile of clothes. His wife starts talking to it.

Tu Zhi: "...You must be close to shedding. If your skin itches, go rub against a tree."

Snake: "I see! Thanks, Doctor Tu."

Tu Zhi, embarrassed: "I'm not a doctor yet. I'm still studying."

Lou Xi faints on the spot. When he wakes up, his memory has returned, and he realizes his wife wasn't actually his wife to begin with.

*

Realizing his wife isn't his wife isn't even the most devastating part. Worse, it seems his wife might not be human either.

After much indecision, Lou Xi decides to pretend he doesn't know. Then one day, his wife runs away from home, leaving a letter saying he's figured out that Lou Xi has recovered his memories. He's pregnant now, and humans and demons belong to different worlds. Still, he'll raise the baby on his own, so Lou Xi doesn't need to look for him.

Lou Xi: …

Lou Xi looks at the decor in their home, which is covered in carrots, and decides that his wife must be a rabbit spirit. He searches online and learns that rabbits can experience false pregnancies and are in the mood for mating all year round.

Unfortunately, his wife's animal encyclopedia hasn't covered that chapter yet.

Theme: When faced with something you can't understand, be sure to stay calm and think it through.