Chapter 2: Accepting Reality
"Hey, catch!"
Even though a week had passed since his arrival in this world, Chris was still somewhat shocked when the white Labrador stood up on two legs and threw a baseball at him.
However, his body instinctively reached out and caught the baseball, then assumed a perfect throwing stance.
Just as Chris was about to throw the ball back to Brian, Lois poked her head out the kitchen window and shouted, "Chris, stop playing! Come inside and try my strawberry pie!"
Lois's piercing voice rang out. Chris obediently stopped, and Brian shrugged and said, "Alright, looks like we'll have to finish our game next time."
Chris was amazed at how a dog could perform such human-like actions, but on his face he showed a similar expression of disappointment and said, "Three more points and I would've won. Lois's strawberry pie just saved your wallet."
"Oh, ha! Doesn't that just prove Lois is my lady luck!"
When Brian heard Chris's complaint, he not only refused to admit defeat but shamelessly started gloating.
However, Chris was too lazy to argue. After all, while this dog wasn't quite as bad as in the cartoons, he wasn't exactly a model pet either.
Putting away the baseball and glove, he followed his old habit and went to the bathroom to wash his hands before Chris walked to his seat at the dining table.
A piping hot strawberry pie sat waiting on the table.
The sickeningly sweet smell made Chris's throat constrict, instantly triggering his body's instincts, and a strange voice in his mind urged him to devour this food immediately.
However, his transplanted consciousness recoiled. After all, this thing was simply too sweet for his taste.
For someone who in his previous life got a toothache from drinking a can of Mountain Dew, this calorie bomb that looked and smelled like it had off-the-charts sugar content was truly hard to stomach.
But the other members of this family apparently didn't share his concern. Brian and Meg had already cleared their plates.
Although he wondered how Brian could eat such sweet things, seeing him eagerly eyeing the strawberry pie in front of him, Chris knew he couldn't view things in this world through his old perspective anymore.
Taking a deep breath, Chris suppressed the discomfort in his heart, then picked up his knife and fork and prepared to eat.
The food, once in his mouth, wasn't as difficult to accept as Chris had imagined, but the sense of satisfaction from his genes told Chris that its calorie content was indeed off the charts.
No wonder this family had two severely obese individuals—Peter and Chris himself.
Of course, the others weren't exactly fitness models either.
Stewie on the side watched Chris's strange behavior, an interesting thought flashing in his eyes, and his curious gaze caught Brian's attention.
However, seeing that Stewie made no other moves, and after Chris finished the strawberry pie, Brian regretfully eyed the empty table before walking to the living room to watch TV.
Lois saw her son finish eating and began clearing the table. While doing so, she also inquired about Chris's injury.
"Chris, how have you been feeling these past couple days? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
The sudden concern made Chris pause. He had originally given up hope on most members of this dysfunctional family, but from Lois, he still felt genuine parental affection.
This was no different from his family in his previous life.
It was from Lois that Chris discovered this world wasn't truly as depicted in the cartoons—completely devoid of ethics or morals, a totally dysfunctional household.
Of course, this feeling was currently limited to Lois.
At least during the week he'd been recuperating at home, Peter had never once shown him any concern.
He hadn't even offered a single word of comfort. At most, he just didn't drink at home and was out early and back late every day.
However, considering Peter's outrageous behavior in the cartoons, his ability to refrain from drinking and causing chaos at home might already be a rare display of consideration.
Chris, thinking about various things, also got up to help Lois clean up, his mouth not idle as he replied, "Oh! No, I'm feeling great. I feel like I can go back to school tomorrow."
Seeing Chris actively helping her clear the table, Lois was surprised. She hadn't expected Chris, who was usually fond of snacking and lounging around, to have such a helpful side.
This made Lois somewhat taken aback for a moment, and she quickly took the dishes Chris handed over, then continued the conversation. "It's good that you're okay, but I got you two weeks off from school. Are you sure you don't want to take this chance to relax a bit longer?"
Lois, being straightforward and direct like most Americans, didn't engage in subtle communication. If Chris said he was fine, she genuinely believed he was fine.
Instead, she brought up that Chris could still rest for another week.
However, for Chris, as early as the day he was discharged from the hospital, he was already recovered. This week of recuperation was merely for him to adjust to his environment and absorb memories, which was why he hadn't said much.
And now that he was fully adjusted and had received all of the original body's memories, there was naturally no need to waste any more time.
Returning to class early, familiarizing himself with the American education system, and planning for the future was the right move.
After all, with Lois's wealthy father Carter Pewterschmidt's connections and the help of Stewie, this genius infant, he might even have a shot at becoming a future political leader someday.
So he should be even more diligent.
However, he couldn't tell Lois these plans directly, so Chris could only deflect. "Nah, Mom. If I goof off for another week, I'll never be able to leave class on time again. I don't want to be stuck in detention!"
Such a responsible answer made Lois pause, and then she burst out laughing. "Oh hahaha, looks like my little meatball is growing up!"
Saying this, Lois reached out and pinched Chris's chin. Just a slight squeeze made the fat on Chris's entire face jiggle, which amused Lois even more.
"Alright, you boys play! Mom's gonna wash the dishes."
Watching Lois walk into the kitchen, Chris dropped the facade from his face, then turned to look at Stewie.
This diabolical infant revealed a knowing smile, staring at Chris with an expression that saw right through everything.
"Talk?"
Chris proactively extended an invitation to Stewie, this genius infant who made no secret of his expression, clearly indicating he saw through everything.
And Stewie adopting such a posture clearly meant he also wanted to talk to his suddenly changed older brother.
Therefore, Stewie smiled and said, "Of course! Should we go somewhere more private?"
Following Stewie's gaze, Chris looked toward the living room. Meg was watching TV with focused attention, but Brian's perked ears indicated that the dog was very interested in their conversation.
Although he had no intention of keeping his identity completely secret, Chris understood that loose lips sink ships.
Before knowing Stewie's specific thoughts, Chris decided it was better to keep things confidential.
"Your secret lair or somewhere else?"
Listening to Chris's words, Stewie's eyebrows twitched, then he said, "It seems you know quite a lot!"
Chris smiled mysteriously in response, not planning to say anything more.
And Stewie didn't press further. He just climbed down from his seat and, with his short little legs, said, "Follow me!"
Watching Stewie and Chris go upstairs, Brian's tail wagged so fast it was practically a blur, but after a moment of thought, he ultimately decided not to follow.
Brian, as an aspiring novelist, understood the principle of self-preservation very well.
These two clearly had some secret business to discuss, and it was better for him, a simple dog, not to know about it.
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