Marshal Kevin had an incorrigible habit - he preferred sitting directly on the floor rather than on chairs or sofas. This peculiarity found its perfect match in Xiu Jun's home, where every room, save for the stairs, was covered in a thick, plush carpet. Even the bathrooms boasted this luxurious flooring.

The carpets were made of a special material - water-resistant, dust-repellent, with a lifespan of over seventy years. Xiu Jun's parents had installed them to prevent accidental falls and injuries. Little did they know that their precautionary measure would not only serve its intended purpose but also attract a certain Marshal Kevin like a moth to a flame.

At this moment, Marshal Kevin was sitting cross-legged on the soft carpet, with Yue'an beside him. In his hands, he held a children's educational book, patiently demonstrating proper pronunciation to the young man. The Marshal's demeanor was a far cry from his usual stern military bearing. His infinite patience, gentle tone, and impeccable pronunciation examples were so uncharacteristic that one might suspect he had been replaced by an impostor.

In reality, Marshal Kevin was facing a unique challenge. The youth before him was unlike any ordinary child. While children naturally learn language through instinctive imitation of sounds around them, Yue'an lacked this innate ability. He wasn't human, after all, and had no inherent understanding of how to control human vocal cords and tongue to produce sounds.

It had taken a grueling forty minutes just to teach Yue'an how to pronounce "Papa." After finally helping him master the technique of using his vocal cords, another half hour was spent teaching him to control his tongue and lips to produce standard human language.

Prior to this linguistic lesson, Marshal Kevin had spent over an hour teaching Yue'an how to walk and control his muscle movements to ensure normal actions and gait. This clone was a blank slate in many aspects. Apart from decent physical attributes, he was even less developed than a newborn human child in other areas.

Human babies are born with the ability to cry, make sounds, and express emotions, gradually growing into perfect, independent individuals. This clone, however, lacked these innate capabilities. Perhaps he once possessed them, but they had been forgotten during his long period of darkness.

Marshal Kevin's certainty that Yue'an was a clone rather than his student's young lover stemmed from two factors. Firstly, the beautiful youth exuded an otherworldly aura and awkwardness that screamed "I'm not a normal human." Secondly, and more importantly, he knew Xiu Jun well enough to be certain that his former student was not the type to keep a secret lover.

If anyone in the world claimed to know Xiu Jun best, Marshal Kevin would confidently assert that no one could surpass his understanding of his former student. He was acutely aware of Xiu Jun's aversion to finding a bedmate, and he understood the reasons behind it. Xiu Jun's unique genetic makeup meant that any intimate encounter could potentially lead to a series of unforeseen consequences. Given Xiu Jun's status and special genetic rank, such matters required extensive consideration.

Marshal Kevin fully comprehended and empathized with his student's predicament. This understanding led him to the firm conclusion that the youth could not possibly be Xiu Jun's secret lover. The young man hadn't been present during his last visit, only appearing after Xiu Jun's raid on the research department. It was almost certain that he was one of the rescued clones.

To protect the lives of these rescued clones, their information was kept strictly confidential. Even someone of Marshal Kevin's rank would need to apply to the research department with a valid reason to access their files. Thus, Marshal Kevin had ample reason to assume Yue'an was a rescued clone. While he wasn't sure why Xiu Jun had brought a clone home, he trusted his student's judgment. If Xiu Jun didn't have everything under control, he would never allow anyone to get close, let alone have them emerge from his private quarters.

As he continued his lesson, Marshal Kevin contemplated whether he should conduct a genetic test. If the results were favorable, he was considering adopting Yue'an himself. He even sent a message to his wife, seeking her opinion on the matter.

Marshal Kevin wasn't deterred by the possibility that Yue'an might not be human. After millennia of struggle, humanity had finally secured its place in the universe and established its governance. In the peaceful years that followed, it wasn't uncommon for humans to adopt the young of other intelligent species, and vice versa.

He knew that Xiu Jun's stay on the Imperial Star would likely only last a few more months. The redesign plans for the Silver Blade had already been drafted by the Empire's top mecha manufacturing master, the same person who had created the original Silver Blade. Once Xiu Jun reviewed and approved the plans, detailed design and component manufacturing could begin.

While Xiu Jun was content to wander the cosmos, treating his Marshal-class warship as his home, others might not adapt so easily to such a lifestyle. To maintain his deterrent effect on surrounding star systems and cosmic criminals, Xiu Jun spent years navigating the silent vastness of space. He and his fleet only briefly landed on planets for supplies or to suppress rebellions. The rest of the time was spent hiding among various star systems, tracking down and pursuing space pirates.

This lifestyle, spanning years, was beyond the endurance of even the most mentally resilient soldiers. Thus, the troops on Xiu Jun's ship rotated every six months. Barring unforeseen circumstances, every half year, the soldiers who had endured long periods of interstellar travel would switch positions with the garrison troops under Xiu Jun's command.

Even the legion commanders under him alternated between space travel and garrison duty every six months. Only Xiu Jun himself could tolerate years of life aboard a spaceship without setting foot on solid ground.

Considering that this clone had just been rescued from darkness, long-term space travel would be unsuitable for both psychological and physiological reasons. Therefore, Marshal Kevin believed that his plan to adopt and nurture the child at this juncture had a high probability of success.

Marshal Kevin looked up at Xiu Jun, who was standing nearby, trying to chase him away with his gaze. In response, the Marshal reached out and pulled his former student down to sit with them.

Now that Yue'an had learned how to vocalize, he didn't really need Marshal Kevin anymore. He could slowly learn on his own using the words in the children's book. However, having someone to correct and teach him would undoubtedly speed up the process.

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Yue'an wasn't fooled. He knew Marshal Kevin was taking advantage of the situation. After all, Yue'an considered himself the world's most clever little cat! If it weren't for the fact that the Marshal had taught him how to walk, he would have already put him in a sack and scratched him to death for tricking a cat into calling him "Papa."

Yue'an turned his head to look at Xiu Jun, who had just sat down. In his hands, Xiu Jun held a box of pastries - the same ones that Yue'an had missed out on eating the day before due to that beautiful accident. Xiu Jun had made a special trip to buy them again on his way back.

Tilting his head slightly, Yue'an reached out towards Xiu Jun. Marshal Xiu finally understood how others felt when they couldn't read his emotions - because now, he too couldn't decipher what Yue'an was thinking. However, Yue'an's gesture of reaching out for the pastries came across perfectly clear.

Marshal Xiu handed the box of pastries to Yue'an, watching as the young man instinctively moved to use his hands directly. Quickly, Xiu Jun reached out to stop those delicate-looking hands, placing cutlery into them instead.

Yue'an stared at the fork in his hand, bewildered for a moment. Then, gripping it in his fist, he attempted to stab at the pastry. Marshal Xiu intercepted once more, patiently demonstrating how to hold the fork properly before releasing Yue'an's hand. He also pushed the box closer to Yue'an, hoping to prevent any accidents involving pastries falling onto the carpet due to Yue'an's lack of cutlery skills.

Yue'an's thoughts were clear: "Why are humans so fussy about eating? Isn't it easier to just use your mouth directly?"

But as it turned out, humans did indeed have particular ways of eating. After Marshal Xiu had corrected Yue'an's technique, he turned to face Marshal Kevin. Although his expression remained impassive, every fiber of his being seemed to radiate a "Why haven't you left yet?" energy.

Marshal Kevin, misinterpreting the situation entirely, assumed Xiu Jun was merely embarrassed at being caught harboring someone in his home. With a knowing look, he asked his student, "Have you given him a name yet?"

At these words, Yue'an paused mid-bite. Xiu Jun's face remained as impassive as ever, showing no reaction.

Yue'an took a bite of the pastry and turned to look at Xiu Jun. His thoughts were clear: "Isn't this the person you called to teach me how to be human?"

Marshal Xiu glanced at him but failed to receive the message Yue'an was trying to convey. In truth, Xiu Jun was hesitant about whether to tell his former teacher that this young man was actually Yue'an. After all, Xiu Jun had accepted the situation quickly because he was well aware of Yue'an's unique nature. From the beginning, he had known that Yue'an wasn't an ordinary cat, so he had mentally prepared himself for any strange occurrences involving Yue'an. Although the transformation into a human had completely exceeded his expectations, after the initial shock, Xiu Jun had developed an almost mysterious calmness about the odd things that happened to Yue'an.

Xiu Jun remained silent.

Taking his silence as confirmation, Marshal Kevin assumed Xiu Jun hadn't named the young man. "This won't do, Xiu Jun," Marshal Kevin said gravely, displaying a gentleness before the quietly munching Yue'an that made even Xiu Jun's skin crawl. "Even if he's a clone, you should give him a name."

Yue'an, who had been peacefully eating his pastry, choked at these words. He turned his head, covering his mouth as he coughed, his face turning bright red. Despite this, his other hand still gripped the fork tightly, gently placing the pastry back on the plate. The taste was just too good to waste.

Xiu Jun moved to pat Yue'an's back, but his former teacher beat him to it. Xiu Jun froze, thinking to himself, "Such quick reflexes, such attentiveness! As expected of Marshal Kevin, who managed to marry the Interstellar Beauty!"

Xiu Jun's face remained wooden as he stood up to pour a glass of water. As he brought it over, Marshal Kevin naturally took it from him, carefully helping Yue'an take a few sips. He then gently patted the young man's back, looking every bit like he was soothing a baby.

Xiu Jun's internal monologue continued: "Aren't you getting into character a bit too quickly? You want to treat our Yue'an as your child, but did you ask me first?"

As if on cue, Marshal Kevin proceeded to do just that.

"Xiu Jun, it's like this," Marshal Kevin began, looking at the young man who had now caught his breath and was sporting an alluring blush. He withdrew his hand and very properly averted his gaze. "You'll only be staying on the Imperial Star until the Silver Blade is rebuilt. It's not convenient for you to take him with you. If you don't mind, I'd like to adopt this child."

Xiu Jun's mind raced: "No, he's supposed to come with me. You can forget about that idea."

But Xiu Jun remained silent, curious to hear what else Marshal Kevin had conjured up in his imagination.

He turned his head to look at Yue'an. The young man's skin, so pale it was almost transparent, was now flushed with color from the coughing fit. The blush didn't detract from his beauty; rather, it made him even more captivating. He looked like a vibrant red plum blossom against snow, exuding a crisp, clear, and subtly intoxicating aroma.

Those upturned blue cat-like eyes were misty with unshed tears. He was sniffling slightly, not fully recovered, but already eyeing the pastries on the plate longingly.

"My wife and I never planned on having children, and we're approaching the end of our optimal childbearing years," Marshal Kevin explained.

Xiu Jun knew this to be true. In fact, both Marshal Kevin and his wife were quite fond of children, but due to their demanding careers, they had never seriously considered having their own. Mrs. Ellie's career was at its peak, flourishing brilliantly. And while Marshal Kevin was stationed on the Imperial Star, his duties were far from light - it was only because Xiu Jun had returned and caused a series of distractions that he found himself with so much free time lately.

The couple had agreed that without sufficient time to provide warmth and affection to a child, they wouldn't have one. But a grown clone like this was different. Marshal Kevin had spent a day with Yue'an and could sense that the young man had his own consciousness, even if it seemed suppressed and unexpressed.

With basic motor skills already in place, Kevin believed he could keep such a young man by his side, teaching him step by step. It would be like taking on another student, much easier than raising an infant, and he would have enough time to accompany him.

"I've noticed that this child has excellent physical qualities, and his identity is a blank slate," Marshal Kevin continued, mental gears turning rapidly. "If nurtured properly, and assuming he harbors gratitude towards those who rescued him, who knows? He might become a second you. The only question is whether his original genetic donor is still alive."

Xiu Jun hadn't expected his former teacher to have such plans. He suspected that Marshal Kevin had spent too much time dealing with politicians on the Imperial Star and had been infected by their out-of-this-world ability to jump to conclusions. It was like a terminal illness - highly contagious and utterly incurable.

Xiu Jun turned to look at Yue'an and asked, "Can I tell him?"

Marshal Kevin froze, his gaze darting between Xiu Jun and Yue'an.

Yue'an, having finished all the pastries on his plate, heard Xiu Jun's question and nodded decisively.

In truth, Yue'an had zero interest in what the two humans were discussing. He was far more inclined to transform back into a little cat to groom himself or sprawl out for a nap.

Xiu Jun turned back to his former teacher and said calmly, "Teacher, this is Yue'an."

Marshal Kevin's mind went blank.

Marshal Kevin: ???

Marshal Kevin was incredulous. His thoughts raced: "I'm an educated man, you can't pull the wool over my eyes!"

Yue'an glanced at Marshal Kevin and, under his bewildered gaze, transformed back into an adorable ball of fur with lightning speed. A small head poked out from the pile of clothes, ears twitching. He let out a soft "Meow" towards Marshal Kevin.

Marshal Kevin felt the world spin around him. His internal monologue reached a fever pitch:

"But what about my child? What about the child I wanted to adopt? I spent a whole day teaching him, thinking about him, even messaged my wife about him! She said we could meet him if Xiu Jun agreed! Who's going to compensate me for losing a child? Such a beautiful, well-behaved, grown-up child! He was right here just a moment ago! How did he turn into a cat?!"