Xiao Zhong Li Yi's hand, placed by his side, suddenly tightened. Had she almost died before? And here?
"But it's a good thing Mommy is strong, and your interstellar medicine was so effective that Mommy recovered quickly."
"Mommy also met your Daddy here later, and rescued your Daddy on a desolate planet."
Lu Wan Qing chattered on, walking forward with the child. She led him to the place where they had crashed, to the grape trellis, and then to the bamboo house. She told Xiao Yi that this was where she had saved his father, and also the riverside...
Lu Wan Qing bought two virtual fishing hooks, dug up some earthworms, and took the little one fishing in the river.
Lu Wan Qing played on the interstellar net with Xiao Yi, and also quietly sent a message to Zhong Li Fei Yu, telling him about taking Xiao Yi to the desolate planet on the net and asking about his return time after work.
Zhong Li Fei Yu would likely be home around dinner time. She and Xiao Yi hadn't eaten dinner yet. When the time came, they would have to log off the interstellar net; meals were important.
At the military department, Zhong Li Fei Yu's optical brain vibrated slightly. He opened it and saw Lu Wan Qing's message.
Lu Wan Qing had taken Xiao Yi to play on the interstellar net? He was a little surprised.
However, seeing the desolate planet, Zhong Li Fei Yu's uneasy heart settled. The desolate planet was fine; it was good for Xiao Yi to see it.
"I get off work at 6 PM and will be home by 6:30 PM," Zhong Li Fei Yu replied.
Lu Wan Qing quickly saw Zhong Li Fei Yu's reply. He only sent the time, nothing else. He must have agreed to her taking Xiao Yi to the interstellar net, right?
Lu Wan Qing's mood suddenly improved. She noted the time and replied to Zhong Li Fei Yu again: "Okay, I'll take Xiao Yi offline at 6 o'clock."
"Mm," Zhong Li Fei Yu replied.
Lu Wan Qing looked at the single word Zhong Li Fei Yu had replied with. For some unknown reason, she couldn't help but send another message: "Will you be unhappy if I take Xiao Yi to play on the interstellar net?"
At the military department, Zhong Li Fei Yu saw the new message pop up in the chat window. He paused for a moment, then replied: "I'm not unhappy. Just make your arrangements."
This simple sentence completely brightened Lu Wan Qing's mood. She couldn't help but pull Xiao Yi's hand, open her optical brain's permissions, and share it with Xiao Yi, letting him see his father's reply.
"Xiao Yi, look, your Daddy agreed," Lu Wan Qing happily opened the chat history to show the little one.
After reading the message, Xiao Yi's eyes slowly widened. He looked up, staring at Lu Wan Qing in shock.
Lu Wan Qing's eyes were also sparkling. She looked at the child and said happily, "Daddy agrees with me taking you to play on the interstellar net. You don't have to worry about him being unhappy anymore!"
Xiao Yi's tightly drawn lips involuntarily revealed a hint of a smile, and a spark of starlight gleamed in his eyes. He nodded, "Yes!"
Lu Wan Qing looked at the light in his eyes, her lips curving slightly. She couldn't help but reach out and gently hug the child.
Lu Wan Qing's embrace was brief. Xiao Yi hadn't even registered it properly, but he didn't dislike it; in fact, he felt a sense of longing...
Being held by his mother felt good, warm.
"Let's go fishing again," Lu Wan Qing said with a smile.
"Yes!" Xiao Yi nodded heavily. Though it was the same word, the child's tone was much more spirited than before.
Lu Wan Qing and the little one fished for an hour. Calculating the time, she felt it was about right and took the child away.
The virtual desolate planet sold bows and arrows. She took the child to the archery stall and bought two virtual bows and arrows, handing one to Xiao Yi and keeping one for herself.
"Xiao Yi, this is a bow and arrow, a cold weapon from ancient Earth. Humans used these weapons for hunting a long, long time ago," Lu Wan Qing explained as she led the child into the forest.
"This is a weapon?" Xiao Yi asked, surprised.
Lu Wan Qing lowered her gaze to Xiao Yi and nodded with a smile. "Yes. When Mommy was surviving on the desolate planet last time, I hunted with a bow and arrow, so we had meat to eat. Mommy and Lan Lan didn't starve to death."
As Lu Wan Qing spoke, her gaze softened as she looked at Xiao Yi. She smiled and asked, "Do you want to learn?"
Xiao Yi immediately nodded, "Yes!"
Lu Wan Qing smiled, "Then Mommy will teach you."
"Yes!" Xiao Yi nodded again.
With an hour left until six o'clock, Lu Wan Qing walked with the child in the forest of the "desolate planet," occasionally taking out her bow and arrow to hunt birds in the trees.
Lu Wan Qing was quite proficient with her bow and arrow. Although not every shot was a bullseye, most of the arrows she shot hit their target.
Xiao Zhong Li Yi's gaze towards her also changed. Before, he was only curious about her, but now, there was a trace of admiration in his eyes as he looked at her.
"Xiao Yi, do you want to try?" After consecutively shooting down ten birds, Lu Wan Qing turned back and asked Xiao Yi with a smile.
Xiao Yi immediately nodded, "Okay!"
Xiao Yi had been observing for a while. He quickly found a target, imitated Lu Wan Qing's posture, drew his bow, and aimed...
However, it was his first time using a bow and arrow, and he made a mistake. The arrow flew wide.
"It's okay, let's try again!" Lu Wan Qing said to Xiao Yi with a smile.
Xiao Yi looked at his mother's encouraging gaze, his confidence returning. He nodded, "Yes!"
Lu Wan Qing stayed with the child to practice. Seeing his bow-drawing posture was not standard, she personally intervened to teach him. Xiao Yi was already very smart, and with her guidance, he learned even faster.
His second arrow, although it still didn't hit the prey, was at least shot farther and higher, and in the direction of the prey.
Boys perhaps are naturally more fond of weapons. Xiao Yi became addicted to practicing with the bow and arrow. Without Lu Wan Qing's prompting, he could find prey himself and practiced continuously.
Lu Wan Qing also felt relaxed. Watching the child's unforced vitality when he was concentrating on practicing archery, she felt very good.
When Zhong Li Fei Yu logged into the interstellar net and entered the desolate planet, he followed Xiao Yi's parental positioning to find them, and saw this scene.
Lu Wan Qing and Xiao Yi were both wearing skins, and Zhong Li Fei Yu couldn't recognize them just by their appearance. However, he was Xiao Yi's father. When Xiao Yi logged into the interstellar net before, his optical brain had been bound to Xiao Yi's, so as long as they were on the net, his optical brain could accurately lock onto Xiao Yi's location, which is why he quickly recognized Lu Wan Qing and Xiao Yi.
Looking at the two people not far away, especially the unforced vitality that radiated from Xiao Yi when he was with Lu Wan Qing, Zhong Li Fei Yu was slightly lost in thought.
Zhong Li Fei Yu couldn't help but lighten his footsteps and approach quietly.
As Zhong Li Fei Yu got closer, Lu Wan Qing seemed to sense it. She turned her head and looked curiously at the person approaching behind her, but upon seeing him, she froze, "You..."
Zhong Li Fei Yu raised a finger to his lips and made a shushing gesture, then looked at Xiao Yi.
Lu Wan Qing quickly nodded and also looked at Xiao Yi.
Compared to his usual self, Xiao Yi was much happier now. Although the child wasn't speaking, there was light in his eyes as he held up his bow and arrow, aiming at his prey.