“Wow, did Sweetie pop all this? Sweetie is so amazing! Not only can she protect our Little He, but she can also provide such delicious popcorn! Without you, we might never have gotten to eat something so tasty in our whole lives!”
Granny Lin showered Sweetie with praise.
Sweetie was just a naive little newborn; where had she ever experienced such sweet talk before?
Her corn kernels gradually took on a hint of pink.
Grandpa Lin laughed, the wrinkles on his face deepening. “Sweetie has reached maturity now, she’s a big sister! She did a good job protecting her younger siblings.”
Lin Chiyang glanced at Dou Dou. Its vines had formed shapes like two arms, crossed over its chest, its whole body exuding an aura of [“I’m not convinced, I’m not satisfied”].
The soft and adorable Lin Chiyang said sincerely, “Dou Dou is super capable! It knocked over so many mechas. I’ve never seen a pea more impressive than Dou Dou in my whole life!”
Dou Dou went “hehehe,” its vines softening just a bit.
[You know how to talk. Keep talking, I love listening.]
Lin Chiyang couldn’t hear Dou Dou’s words, but he understood its gestures.
He smiled until his eyes curved into crescents, showering Dou Dou with all sorts of sweet compliments until the little pea was practically dizzy.
Lin Jingqiu gently stroked Xin Bao.
The little satchel she had knitted for Xin Bao was unfortunately lost during the fight, and Xin Bao was feeling a bit sad.
Lin Jingqiu simply took Xin Bao back to the bedroom to pick out a piece of fabric it liked, planning to make a new little satchel for it.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Jingqiu decided she shouldn’t play favorites. She needed to make one for Little Sister, Dou Dou, and Sweetie too.
In the living room, Lin Xiaohe was sprawled on the sofa. Dad Lin stayed by her side, feeding her popcorn and purified water.
“Xiaohe worked hard. Xiaohe is the family’s great hero! What would you like to eat? Let your brother go buy it.”
Lin Xiaohe felt not one bit guilty about having a person with a disability wait on her.
That person with a disability was her own dad!
What’s wrong with a dad taking care of his daughter?!
Lying on the soft sofa, Lin Xiaohe grew drowsy.
In her half-asleep state, she saw Xin Bao, Dou Dou, and Sweetie being praised by the Lin family until they were all grinning from ear to ear.
Hmph, so spineless, no willpower, can’t resist temptation…
When she woke up again, she found herself in bed. Neatly folded on the bedside was a large satchel.
It was a white woven bag with a soft texture.
On the front was a cartoon drawing. The first row showed Grandpa Lin, Granny Lin, and Dad Lin.
Dad Lin was holding Mom Lin, who was in a wheelchair, both smiling with crinkled eyes.
The second row showed the three Lin siblings.
Lin Chiyang looked cool, hands in pockets, gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle.
Lin Jingqiu was holding onto Dad Lin’s wheelchair.
Lin Xiaohe had Xin Bao on her left shoulder, Dou Dou on her right, and was holding Sweetie in her hands.
With just a few strokes, the characteristics of each person were captured, vivid and lively.
At the very top were seven bold black characters: “One Loving Family.”
Lin Xiaohe rolled over in bed once before getting up.
Xin Bao, Dou Dou, and Sweetie were all sunbathing on the balcony, each wearing a matching satchel.
Seeing Lin Xiaohe awake, Xin Bao said excitedly, [Xiaohe, do you like this satchel? I chose the fabric, Big Brother drew the picture, Second Sister made the bag.]
“Xiao Bao, your taste is excellent. I absolutely love it,” Lin Xiaohe praised casually.
Xiao Bao was delighted. It knew Xiaohe would like it.
Because it showed the whole family, together and complete!
Yawning, Lin Xiaohe walked out of the bedroom.
No one was home; she didn’t know where they had gone.
Lin Xiaohe sat at the dining table, where a tube of nutrient fluid and a note were placed.
The note was from Dad Lin.
It said they had already given Xin Bao, Dou Dou, and Sweetie purified water, and they had gone to the government service hall to pay taxes, and would be back before noon.
Lin Xiaohe sighed softly. On the surface, Dad and the others seemed to have returned to normal, but in reality, they were still shaken by what happened last time.
After finishing the nutrient fluid, she went to the bedroom to check on Mom Lin, who had her eyes closed, her face peaceful.
Lin Xiaohe quietly retreated and sat on the sofa, reviewing her accounts.
“Sigh, am I possessed by the God of Poverty?”
Account balance: 98,400 credits.
Melancholy.
Lin Xiaohe rubbed her face, remembering she hadn’t thanked Brother Thunderbolt and Old Hei yet. She dialed Brother Thunderbolt’s number. “Brother Thunderbolt, what are you guys up to?”
Brother Thunderbolt rubbed his hands awkwardly. “Xiaohe, what made you think to call me?”
Lin Xiaohe raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong? Are we strangers now?”
Brother Thunderbolt’s expression turned peculiar.
Come on, he was part of the Iron Meteor Raiders, a space pirate! Lin Xiaohe was going to be a military officer in the future.
A mouse seeing a cat—keeping a distance was normal, right?
Lin Xiaohe hadn’t even thought of that.
In her heart, Brother Thunderbolt and Old Hei were the ones who had lent a helping hand when she was at her most desperate.
“My funds are a bit tight recently. I’ll pay you back the money I owe later.”
“Ah? It’s fine, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
The two fell into silence.
Lin Xiaohe sensed something and felt a bit down. “Are you leaving the Wasteland Star?”
“Ah? Well… yes.” Brother Thunderbolt hesitated for a moment but finally nodded in confirmation.
Whether it was that important person or Lin Xiaohe, the special admit, Iron Meteor wanted nothing to do with them.
They were supposed to be three parallel lines that should never have intersected.
The mood was somewhat somber. Brother Thunderbolt’s nose felt a bit sore. He truly hadn’t expected Lin Xiaohe to call him.
“For the upcoming exams, you must study hard! This is a special admission to the Central Military Academy! Just getting in means you’ll soar to great heights! As for that so-called mysterious organization, it’s completely unreliable! You mustn’t believe them! Why live like a rat in the sewer when you can live honorably and openly?”
These words were truly spoken from the heart.
Lin Xiaohe felt a pang. She had fabricated that mysterious organization and swindled a million starcoins from them, yet Brother Thunderbolt still cared so much about her.
She sniffed and made a solemn promise. “Brother Thunderbolt, when I make something of myself, you and Old Hei leave the crew and come work with me. I’ll make sure you live the high life.”
Brother Thunderbolt’s eyes grew moist. He nodded heavily. “Alright! Old Hei and I will do our best to stay alive, waiting for you to take us to the top.”
Old Hei had been listening quietly nearby. After Brother Thunderbolt hung up, he took out a handkerchief for him to wipe his tears. “Don’t cry. Look on the bright side. The mountains are high and the rivers long, but our paths may never cross again. We’re just not from the same world. Let’s go. The crew has a new mission!”
After hanging up, Lin Xiaohe felt terrible, really terrible, in an indescribable way.
She had just included Brother Thunderbolt and Old Hei in her circle of “her people,” and now they had to part. Who knew when they would meet again.
…
At the entrance of Hengshan Village, the six members of Broken Blade hesitated.
“Boss, are you sure the person the Dong family wants us to find is really here?”
“Boss, isn’t this Lin Xiaohe’s place?”
“Boss, how about we forget it? That Lin Xiaohe is too… unnerving.”
Fang Tu’nan’s heart was also pounding. All their mechas had been destroyed in the Grand Theater.
If they didn’t earn the commission fee from the Dong family, this mission would be a devastating loss, the kind that makes your grandmother cry.
But what if the person the Dong family was looking for knew Lin Xiaohe, or worse, was Lin Xiaohe herself?!
Fang Tu’nan rubbed his face, strode towards the end of the village, and knocked on the Lin family’s door.
Lin Xiaohe thought it was Dad Lin and the others returning. She opened the door to see Fang Tu’nan’s face, smiling with all eight teeth showing.
“Excuse me, is this the residence of Master Dong Yuxuan?”
