Chapter 84: An Old Acquaintance (3100+)

Three years later, within the Huo family's grand residence.

"Uncle, here you go."

Chen Chen handed over a small toy car, and Huo Lanjing reached out to take it, his gaze wandering.

Two years prior, Huo Lanjing had brought Chen Chen back for his education.

He enrolled Chen Chen in a prestigious school and, without pressuring him, exposed him to the unique education of the Huo family whenever possible.

Whenever he had spare time, he would take Chen Chen to the place where Luo Le had vanished.

Huo Lanjing had once sent a laboratory mouse, implanted with a biological microchip, into a black hole. Both its location and vital signs had subsequently disappeared.

Everyone was saying that Luo Le was dead and could never return.

Huo Lanjing neither refuted nor commented on these claims; he merely continued doing what he had been doing.

Before returning, he had arranged for someone to stay there, carrying out the same routine daily.

Yet, the outcomes were always similar.

Chen Chen stared at her uncle in a daze, reaching out to wave his hand. "Uncle, what are we doing back here today, Uncle?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Lanjing crouched down and tidied up the collar of Chen Chen's disheveled little gown.

"We're meeting someone."

Huo Lanjing had never corrected Chen Chen's way of addressing him nor allowed anyone to gossip about it in front of the child.

The reason was simple: Luo Le had never acknowledged Chen Chen as his child.

Whenever someone asked, he would say that Chen Chen was a friend's child, and he was merely helping to look after them while the friend was away.

Huo Fei couldn't comprehend. If Luo Le was already dead, did Huo Lanjing intend to keep Chen Chen by his side with this false identity?

Huo Lanjing maintained his usual expression, simply stating that Luo Le wasn't dead.

Huo Fei had no choice but to let him be.

Chen Chen asked, "Who are you meeting?"

Huo Lanjing snapped back to reality and was about to respond when Uncle Wang entered from outside, saying, "Young Master, Mr. Chen is here."

Huo Lanjing pulled Chen Chen down to sit and didn't even lift his head as he instructed, "Bring him in."

After a while, Chen Wuxing appeared at the door with Uncle Wang.

He smiled at Huo Lanjing and said, "General, it's been a long time."

Huo Lanjing gestured to a seat beside him.

Understanding, Chen Wuxing sat down and noticed the child staring at him with wide eyes. He couldn't help but inquire, "Who's this child?"

The kid didn't seem to be afraid of the General, and there was even a resemblance between them.

Could that be the child of the Admiral?

Huo Lanjing replied, "A friend's child."

Seeing that Huo Lanjing didn't seem keen on discussing the matter further, Chen Wuxing tactfully changed the subject. "Admiral, have you found the person yet?"

Huo Lanjing nodded and handed over a credential that could only be delivered in person.

Chen Wuxing took it and said, "Thank you, Admiral."

Huo Lanjing asked, "Have you set a time?"

Chen Wuxing answered, "Yes, tomorrow at ten in the morning."

After some more small talk, Chen Wuxing left.

Once he was gone, Chen Chen curiously asked, "Uncle, who was that brother?"

Huo Lanjing didn't want Chen Chen to get too close to him, considering Luo Le's previous dislike for Chen Wuxing.

"A comrade-in-arms of Uncle."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen lost interest.

Huo Lanjing said, "Let's go home."

Chen Chen nodded and held his hand. The two of them, one big and one small, left like that.

Huo Lanjing was referring to the house where Luo Le and Chen Chen used to live.

They had been living there for the past three years.

On the way back, as Chen Chen gazed at the fleeting scenery outside the car window, he suddenly spoke up, "Uncle, is my daddy dead?"

Taken aback by the question, Huo Lanjing gripped his shoulder and asked with a frown, "Who told you that?"

Despite the warnings, someone still couldn't keep their mouth shut?

Chen Chen shook his head. "No, Chen Chen guessed it on my own."

Then, he widened his eyes and asked, "Uncle, isn't it?"

Huo Lanjing inquired, "Do you know what death is?"

Chen Chen replied, "I do. Grandpa He told me that death means disappearing, never being able to see someone again." As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes.

Looking at those eyes that resembled Luo Le's, Huo Lanjing's gaze softened unconsciously. "I don't care who told you that, but it's not true. Luo Le is alive and well. You'll be able to meet him when you grow up."

Chen Chen wiped away his tears. "Really?"

Huo Lanjing affirmed, "Really."

Chen Chen extended his pinky finger, and Huo Lanjing reached out to hook it with his own. "I promise."

For some reason, he found this uncle's words particularly reassuring, and he couldn't help but believe them.

*

Inside the moving spaceship.

"Boss, isn't the Empire incredibly luxurious? Like gold is everywhere?"

Er Qing leaned closer, grinning as he asked his question.

Qing Yi pushed away Er Qing's intrusive presence, "Stay away from me, are you obsessed with money?"

Feeling wronged, Er Qing turned to San Qing who was standing by, "Can we enter without any proof?"

San Qing replied, "The host has already made arrangements."

Er Qing then addressed the person by the floor-to-ceiling window, "Si Qing, aren't you from the Empire? What's interesting there?"

The one called Si Qing glanced back at Er Qing, "I don't recall."

With that, he returned to his room.

Seeing this, Er Qing tried to follow, "Hey, Si Qing, don't be so heartless, just tell us."

San Qing, standing nearby, held back Er Qing's hand, "That's enough, don't hassle him."

"But he obviously remembers," Er Qing protested.

After Er Qing said this, he suddenly smiled and added, "Forget it. Anyway, this mission seems quite easy. We just have to protect two grooms, and it's within the Empire. Wow, we can enjoy the banquet and complete the mission at the same time. It's awesome!"

San Qing, seeing this, commented, "You're overthinking it. The reward for this job is two hundred million. How could it be that simple? Can't you change your habits a bit? This is a mission. If you act like that, I swear I won't hold back."

The next morning, after sending Chen Chen to school, Huo Lanjing went straight to the address Chen Wuxing had sent him.

Huo Lanjing's car was easily recognizable, and as soon as he arrived at the entrance, the security guard opened the gate for him.

He drove all the way up to the main gate and, upon stepping out of the car, spotted Chen Wuxing who had been waiting there for some time, accompanied by another person.

Chen Wuxing smiled and said, "General, you're here."

A male omega beside Chen Wuxing looped an arm around his.

This person, Huo Lanjing, had once met at a banquet. He is the most favored young master of the Xu family, named Xu Ming.

Xu Ming said with a smile, "Thank you, General, for helping us to support the scene for our Star."

Huo Lanjing waved it off. "It's alright."

Noticing the unease in the person beside him, Chen Wuxing soothingly patted his hand and gazed at him, his expression conveying the unspoken question: The general is here to assist us, why are you acting up?

Xu Ming glared at him.

Xu Ming was previously the regimental doctor of the First Army. Chen Wuxing often got injured, and he would always come to him for treatment.

Gradually, the two became acquainted.

Later, as they blossomed into adolescence, they secretly harbored affection for one another.

Rumors about Chen Wuxing and Admiral Huo's alleged affair spread like wildfire through the First Military Circuit.

In the ranks of warriors, the mightiest Alpha and the most potent Omega, a union unparalleled, inspire envy in all who witness it.

Xu Ming also had a dispute with Chen Wuxing for a while because of this. Later, after Chen Wuxing confessed his feelings and they got together, he realized that he had misunderstood.

Xu Ming, who had been doted upon since childhood, could not bear such grievances, and thus he began to harbor resentment towards Huo Lanjing.

Chen Wuxing stepped forward and said, "Admiral, let's go in. Xiao Ming's father and papa are waiting for us."

Huo Lanjing replied, "Mercenary."

Chen Wuxing understood the implication and replied, "I'll be there right away."

The trio ascended the stairs, stepping steadily upward.

Upon entering, Xu Ming's father approached and extended his hand, saying, "General Huo, I've heard so much about you for a long time."

Huo Lanjing extended his hand in return, "Nice to meet you."

He is not one for polite small talk, but fortunately, Xu Ming's father doesn't mind.

After a while of cordial conversation, the butler suddenly entered from outside to announce, "They've arrived."

Xu Ming's father: "Why don't you come in?"

The servant acknowledged and turned to lead the person inside.

With keen interest, Qing Er scanned their surroundings, only to be met with a harsh kick from Qing San.

Qing Yi strides ahead, relying on his composed demeanor, while Qing Si trails behind, his figure accentuated by the black garb. His face is concealed beneath a mask and cap, leaving no hint of his identity.

Huo Lanjing, initially disinterestedly studying the tea in his hand, lifted his gaze to see Qing Si.

Xu Ming also noticed and whispered to Chen Wuxing, "Isn't it hot today? Doesn't this person feel hot wearing so much?"

Chen Wuxing wished he could cover the man's mouth, but given the current situation, he could only hush him with a chuckle.

Qing Yi approached and said, "Hello, may I ask which of you are Chen Wuxing and Xu Ming?"

Chen Wuxing agreed and introduced Xu Ming.

"Very well, from now on, we'll be attending to your personal protection. If I may ask, do you have a date set for your wedding?"

Chen Wuxing had a look of inexpressible concern. Since Xu Ming's parents hadn't fully agreed yet, he didn't feel it was appropriate for him to speak up prematurely.

Chen Wuxing brought Huo Lanjing along, not to exert pressure on Xu Ming's father and grandfather, but simply to add a touch of elegance to the occasion.

Chen Wuxing was an orphan from birth, nurtured by an elderly scavenger even before he was weaned.

When he was eight, the old man passed away, and he began foraging for food in garbage heaps. When others bullied him, he fought back on his own.

As he grew older, he sustained himself by collecting protection fees and providing support to others in their endeavors.

However, on that backward planet, while it may not be considered a respectable profession, it is not illegal.

Thus, he had no criminal record.

Later on, he was taken in by a mercenary group, and after a few years as a mercenary, he found himself on the Fifth Planet.

Through a series of serendipitous events, he found himself enlisted in the First Army.

As time passed by, Xu Ming noticed that his father remained silent, so he gave his father a meaningful look.

His father instantly understood and nudged the person beside him.

Xu Ming's father smiled and said, "I'm sorry, I was just calculating the dates, and it seems that next month's today is a good day. How about we set the date for that day?"

No one voiced any objection.

And so the day was set.

Huo Lanjing remained silent throughout, while Qing Si, during their conversation, barely spared them a glance, lost in his own world as he gazed out the window.

Chen Wuxing was making assurances to Xu Ming's father and offering some words.

With that, I bid them farewell.

Huo Lanjing led the way at the forefront, followed by Chen Wuxing, Xu Ming, and the mercenary group.

As they were on the verge of parting, Huo Lanjing unexpectedly approached the mercenary group.

Confusion spread across their faces, but Qing Si quietly stepped back, hiding behind Qing San.

Qing Yi watched as Huo Lanjing drew near and asked, "Is there something you need?"

Huo Lanjing ignored him, brushing past and swiftly removing Qing Si's mask.

Qing Si's hat fell off, revealing his entire face.

Qing Er: "What the hell are you doing?"

As he spoke, Qing San stepped in and held him back.

Qing Yi approached, his expression somewhat grim. "Admiral, what are you doing? This isn't appropriate, is it?"

Huo Lanjing didn't respond, a faint flicker of emotion crossing his eyes as his hand tightened subtly.

Chen Wuxing also noticed, approaching step by step with his lips slightly parted. "Luo Le?"