The hovercar traveled for a long time, and Lu Wanqing was so sleepy that her head drooped. She snapped awake with a jolt, glancing around nervously, and saw the young Zhong Li Yi sitting beside her, his back still ramrod straight, his posture impeccably upright.
Lu Wanqing’s mind buzzed. She hesitated for a moment, then cautiously stole a glance at Zhong Li Fei Yu sitting on her other side. To her surprise, Zhong Li Fei Yu’s posture and expression were almost identical to young Zhong Li Yi’s.
No, that wasn’t quite right. It was more like young Zhong Li Yi was a carbon copy of his father, Zhong Li Fei Yu. Their posture and expressions were so alike!
Lu Wanqing was genuinely tired.
She had spent most of the previous day with Cui Cui.
That evening, she accompanied Mu Lan to play on a simulated barren planet on the star network.
Later, unwilling to part with little Mu Lan, she had stayed up much too late before finally falling asleep.
The next morning, she had woken up so early, solely to prepare a final breakfast for little Mu Lan before their farewell.
The result was that her eyelids felt heavy, and she desperately wanted to sleep.
There were beds in the hovercar; they could be pulled out for sleeping.
If she were still at the Mu family home, with Mu Si Jie and little Lan Lan, Lu Wanqing would have unfailingly pulled out a bed and slept soundly. But now…
Lu Wanqing looked at the rigidly seated Zhong Li Fei Yu and young Zhong Li Yi. She subtly tensed and forced herself to keep her eyelids open, sitting up straighter, her posture more upright.
But she couldn’t maintain it for long. Lu Wanqing felt the drowsiness creeping back, her head uncontrollably, powerlessly, drooping again.
Lu Wanqing jolted awake once more, turning her head to the side. As expected, she saw the impeccably upright Zhong Li Fei Yu and young Zhong Li Yi.
Lu Wanqing’s heart tightened. She hesitated, then secretly pinched herself in a spot no one could see, hoping this would keep her awake and prevent her from dozing off again.
As it turned out, pinching herself worked. Lu Wanqing managed to stay awake until their destination, as the hovercar finally pulled into the Seventh Legion’s family residential area.
Upon arriving, Lu Wanqing dared not doze off. She instinctively observed the military compound’s courtyards through the car window. She noticed that even in residential areas, most passersby were soldiers, all standing tall and exuding a commanding presence.
The hovercar stopped in front of the tallest and most imposing villa, where two soldiers, resembling guards, stood at attention in front of the grand entrance.
Seeing their hovercar approach, the two soldiers quickly moved to the car door, welcoming them out with perfect military posture.
Lu Wanqing swallowed nervously, feeling even more apprehensive. Were military family residential areas in the interstellar era this strict? With dedicated soldiers on guard duty?
Zhong Li Fei Yu stood up from his seat. He looked at Lu Wanqing, his demeanor gentle, yet his every word and action carried the inherent authority of a soldier. "Let's get off."
"Mm-hmm," Lu Wanqing nodded quickly.
Accustomed to looking after little Mu Lan, Lu Wanqing turned to the young Zhong Li Yi beside her and said, "Little Yi, come on, let's get off."
After saying this, Lu Wanqing saw the young boy’s stern, upright little face. She felt…
"I know," Zhong Li Yi replied, standing up.
Zhong Li Fei Yu exited the hovercar. Lu Wanqing instinctively reached out to take young Zhong Li Yi’s hand, but seeing the boy’s serious expression, she inexplicably felt that he didn’t need it. Perhaps… little Yi had already learned independence?
Lu Wanqing paused for a moment, and young Zhong Li Yi had already passed her by.
Lu Wanqing snapped back to attention and hurried to follow them, alighting from the car.
Zhong Li Fei Yu’s villa also had a courtyard, but its layout was much simpler than the Mu family’s. Every flower and tree, every rock and stream, carried a natural aura, appearing more authentic.
Zhong Li Fei Yu and young Zhong Li Yi walked towards the house. Lu Wanqing quickly followed.
Only after entering the living room did Zhong Li Fei Yu turn to Lu Wanqing and ask, "Would you prefer to stay in the guest room or the side bedroom?"
Huh?
Could she really choose between the side bedroom and the guest room?
Lu Wanqing blinked in surprise, then hastily replied politely, "The guest room is fine, no need for the side bedroom."
After all, it was someone else’s home; moving directly into the side bedroom didn't seem appropriate. The guest room would be better, wouldn't it?
Zhong Li Fei Yu glanced at young Zhong Li Yi at her words, then reminded her, "The side bedroom is right next to Little Yi’s room."
Lu Wanqing was taken aback again, but she quickly processed this, her eyes lighting up. She turned her gaze towards young Zhong Li Yi.
Young Zhong Li Yi frowned and looked at his father, confused.
"Alright, I can do that! I'll stay in the side bedroom!" Lu Wanqing agreed immediately. Zhong Li Fei Yu meant for her to stay in the side bedroom, didn’t he? And it was right next to Little Yi’s room, which did seem more convenient?
Zhong Li Fei Yu’s lips curved into a fleeting smile. He nodded at Lu Wanqing and said, "Then for the next year, I’ll have to trouble you to take care of Little Yi."
"It's no trouble, no trouble at all. Little Yi is my child too, I should take care of him. And…" Lu Wanqing quickly explained, fearing she sounded too distant and might upset the child. She added, "And I'm also very happy to come and care for Little Yi."
As she spoke the last sentence, Lu Wanqing looked at young Zhong Li Yi, her eyes gentle.
Young Zhong Li Yi frowned, seemingly perplexed as to why his father had made such arrangements. However, since it was his father’s decision, he had no objections. Obedience was the duty of a soldier; in the army, subordinates obeyed superiors, and at home, a son naturally followed his father’s commands.
"I’ll show you to your room," Zhong Li Fei Yu said.
"Mm-hmm, thank you," Lu Wanqing replied gratefully.
As she followed Zhong Li Fei Yu upstairs, Lu Wanqing felt a faint sense of returning to her normal life. She couldn’t help but recall the few days she had spent living with Zhong Li Fei Yu on the barren planet. It seemed… Zhong Li Fei Yu wasn't as stern and unapproachable as she had imagined?
She wasn't a soldier, so she wouldn't need to be as strict about the details of daily life as they were, would she?
And Zhong Li Fei Yu hadn’t imposed such demands on her.
Lu Wanqing mused, and by the time she reached the room, her heart had settled. Her mood had likely returned to its usual natural state.
Zhong Li Fei Yu pushed open the door to the side bedroom and turned to Lu Wanqing, saying, "This is the room. You can take a look inside. If anything is inconvenient, please let me know, and I'll have someone prepare it immediately."
Lu Wanqing looked into the room with curiosity. She soon noticed a dedicated vanity table for women and a star network pod.
"Everything in the room is brand new, including the star network pod. These were prepared specifically for you; feel free to use them," Zhong Li Fei Yu explained from behind her.
Lu Wanqing: "…" So, from the very beginning, Zhong Li Fei Yu had intended for her to stay in the side bedroom, hadn't he?