Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Hearing this, Lin Youhan didn't hesitate to kick him, shoving the pliers into his hand. "Get to work, Captain Si. There's still a long time until evening."

Si Muyun, inexplicably handed the pliers, was speechless.

Was Lin Youhan embarrassed?

The corner of his mouth lifted imperceptibly, but catching Lin Youhan's death glare from the corner of his eye, he quickly suppressed his smile.

-

After taking this call, Lin Youhan finally understood.

Cheng Xu's visit to Tangde City wasn't about Jiang Xun or the Anyang Street incident—it was purely to see him.

Lin Youhan had no idea how news of his relationship with Si Muyun had reached Cheng Xu's ears, but now that the Governor of Stellar City wanted to meet him, he had no choice but to go.

Seeing his furrowed brow, Si Muyun reassured him, "My mom won't try to talk you into breaking up with me."

Lin Youhan was exasperated. "Is that what you think I'm worried about?"

"Then what is it?" Si Muyun didn't understand Lin Youhan's nervousness.

"She probably already knows my identity," Lin Youhan sighed.

Si Muyun: "Isn't that a good thing? Saves her the trouble of guessing."

"It's different," Lin Youhan shook his head.

Cheng Xu was the Governor of Stellar City—in other words, its leader. Aside from the committee set up to curb the Governor's authority, no one held more sway in Stellar City than Cheng Xu.

His current identity was different from his past. If he met the Governor rashly, his background would inevitably cast suspicion on Cheng Xu from the committee, potentially destabilizing her authority.

-

Seeing Lin Youhan's downcast expression, Si Muyun clearly guessed his concerns.

He set down his tools, ruffled Lin Youhan's hair affectionately, and said gently, "Don't worry. The fact that my mom came to Tangde City without any media coverage means she's here quietly."

"Besides," Si Muyun lowered his eyes to look at him, "my dad didn't come."

Lin Youhan: "?"

Si Muyun explained, "My parents had an arranged marriage. Their engagement was decided before they even reached adulthood. Since they got married, they've always appeared together for major events in Stellar City. From what my mom said, my dad didn't come."

Lin Youhan was surprised, never having imagined that Cheng Xu and Si Weiyu had an arranged marriage. After all, Cheng Xu and Si Weiyu were known as the model couple in Stellar City—no one would have guessed their union was arranged.

"My dad was sent to the border planet to serve as a soldier when he was ten and didn't return to Floating Star until he was seventeen to enter Menglan for formal training. That same year, in October, he met my mom, who was also there to study at Menglan." Thinking of his parents' youth, a faint smile touched Si Muyun's eyes. "My mom was the committee chairman's daughter, raised to be spoiled and used to being in charge everywhere. It was no surprise she caused a stir at Menglan too."

"Back then, my dad was just a kid who'd been sun-beaten and grimy on the border planet. When he saw my mom, he couldn't help but stare a little longer because her fair complexion made her seem night and day compared to him. Too embarrassed to approach, he walked away from a distance."

"I vaguely remember my mom telling me that at the time, my dad's face was so dark from the sun that his eyelids seemed to have disappeared. Those extra glances came off as provocation. The next day, she had people corner him and demand to know if he looked down on her for being a 'nepo baby.' When my dad couldn't answer, she had them beat him up. But my dad had spent seven years as a soldier on the border—he ended up beating all of them instead."

Lin Youhan couldn't help but laugh at that. "I never would've guessed your mom was such a delinquent."

Si Muyun chuckled along, not finished yet. "My mom thought my dad had some skill in fighting, so she decided to recruit him as her henchman—someone to point at and have beat people up for her."

"Did your dad agree?"

"Of course not. He avoided her at every turn during that period. My mom was so pissed that she cornered him in a dark corner one night and kissed him."

Lin Youhan silently gave Cheng Xu a thumbs-up in his mind.

Who said this was an arranged marriage? Cheng Xu didn't even wait for an arrangement—she came onto General Si Weiyu strong.

Si Muyun continued, "Then the next day, my dad reported my mom to the military political commissar. Everyone there laughed their heads off when they heard—they couldn't understand how a soldier could get forced into a kiss by some young lady who'd just arrived at the military academy."

When he was young, he often heard Cheng Xu bring up this story, and Si Weiyu, holding him on the sofa, would chuckle in agreement.

Later, their arranged marriage came naturally.

But unlike Cheng Xu's forced kiss, the arranged marriage was proposed by Si Weiyu—when he was eighteen.

Everyone at the military academy was thrilled—handing out candy and flowers, pulling out all the "contraband" items. Even though the instructors confiscated everything the next day, everyone was still bubbling with excitement.

After all, the entire academy had watched them go from strangers to acquaintances to marriage—no one could help but be happy for them.

-

"Your parents have such a great relationship," Lin Youhan mused.

Si Muyun sighed inwardly. "They'll be your parents too someday."

Lin Youhan looked up at him in a daze, then smiled. "Thank you."

"Maybe somewhere I don't know about, my parents are very happy too."

"They will be."

Si Muyun had found out soon after meeting Lin Youhan that he was an orphan. He'd grown up alone until someone took him in and brought him to Floating Star, giving him a home and a chance to study at the Star Institute.

Lin Youhan cherished the opportunity to learn. Even though he slept in class, you had to admit his talent for building mechs. Rumor had it that the person who adopted him was an anonymous mech designer who, once Lin Youhan showed interest, began intentionally passing on everything he knew.

But after Lin Youhan entered the Star Institute, that mech designer vanished without a trace. The only connection was the Jiang Yu family.

Their mood was somber and complicated, but neither could find words of comfort. In silence, they picked up their tools and began assembling the Vermilion Bird's core power unit.

A week had passed, and the basic frame of the Vermilion Bird was already welded into place. This week, their main task was to assemble its parts and the core power unit. Next week would be about completing the external armor and programming the Vermilion Bird's systems.

Engrossed in building the Vermilion Bird, the two soon put their earlier concerns behind them.

As the time to meet Cheng Xu approached, Lin Youhan started getting nervous.

Si Muyun noticed his anxiety and took his hand.

Lin Youhan looked up at him, as if asking what he was doing.

Si Muyun said calmly, "I'm nervous."

Lin Youhan: "..."

He smiled helplessly but didn't pull his hand away. His nervousness instantly faded.

-

Cheng Xu had arranged to meet at Central Restaurant.

The name sounded impressive, but when Lin Youhan and Si Muyun arrived, they found it was a cramped little restaurant. However, the owner seemed to have considered the lack of space and acquired the second floor.

They went upstairs and saw a woman who looked clearly wealthy sitting elegantly, reviewing an electronic menu. She wore gold wire-rimmed glasses, and her lips were painted a perfect rosy pink that complemented the glasses beautifully.

She was also wearing a pale blue-green qipao, its shades varying in intensity, as if imprinting the misty Jiangnan rainscapes from ancient Earth onto the fabric. Under the warm yellow light, she exuded an aura of refined grace.

Seeing her like this, Lin Youhan found it hard to connect this classic Earth-style beauty with the woman who had forced a kiss on Si Weiyu.

Cheng Xu set down the electronic menu and looked over casually toward the staircase entrance. When she saw who had arrived, her eyes lit up.

Si Muyun tugged Lin Youhan along briskly and called out, "Mom."

Before Lin Youhan could speak, he noticed a pair of eyes sparkling as they looked at him, as if expecting something.

Lin Youhan hesitated for a good while: "...Mom."

"Yes!" Cheng Xu responded happily and invited them to sit down.

Lin Youhan felt uneasy under the stare and tried to slip his hand free from their clasped hands.

Si Muyun cleared his throat: "Mom, he's shy."

Cheng Xu snapped out of it and teased, "It's just that this is the first time I've seen you with a partner, and I'm so excited. How could you hide someone so good-looking?"

Lin Youhan: "..."

Although he had been praised for his looks countless times since childhood, hearing it from Cheng Xu made him feel on edge.

Cheng Xu had long noticed his reaction and said with a laugh, "Young Lin, don’t be nervous. Even though you’re good-looking, I still love your Uncle Si the most."

Lin Youhan fell silent again.

Auntie, are you sure you’re not a heartbreaker?

Si Muyun, standing by, was already used to his mother’s ways. It was no wonder his father always stuck to her like glue. Cheng Xu’s personality was naturally more outgoing than Si Weiyu’s. As a pampered *daxiaoje* (young lady from a prominent family), she had flirted with more guys than you could count on both hands, though it never went beyond flirting—except with his father, whom she straight up forced herself on.

No one would believe it wasn’t lust at first sight.

She, a young lady, had more strength than a soldier and always acted on whatever she felt like.

Si Muyun still remembered how, during his father’s cadet days, his mother had smothered him with so many kisses that his father ended up going on a mission with a senior for three months just to get some space. The first night he returned, his mother tied him to the bedposts and forced him to promise never to go on missions again or avoid her.

When Si Muyun heard this story from Si Weiyu’s former classmates, he could only think one thing—what a spineless guy.

Si Muyun comfortingly patted Lin Youhan’s hand.

Cheng Xu ignored their little exchange and, after having the robot bring out the food, said, "Your Uncle Si and I loved eating at this place back when we were in school. But technology wasn’t as advanced back then. We had to wait for a shuttle from Canglan City to Tangde City, and it always took two hours to get here."

-

"Now, though, technology has advanced, and everyone can afford their own self-driving shuttle. Travel is much more convenient. It only takes half an hour to get from Canglan to Tangde."

Cheng Xu was very talkative, and there was rarely a lull in conversation.

From her words, Lin Youhan could tell she thought highly of him. After all, no one would bring a stranger to their go-to spot on a first meeting.

Moreover, he noticed that Cheng Xu didn’t call him by his last name like she did with Si Muyun but kept calling him "Young Lin."

Cheng Xu looked into his bright eyes, her smile deepening. "Young Lin, I know your circumstances are unusual. I’m not here for any particular reason today—just to have a meal with you as Muyun’s mother and to let others know that you have people backing you up."

"If anyone dares to bully you, they’ll have to go through me and the military."

Cheng Xu made this promise in the most matter-of-fact tone.

For a moment, Lin Youhan felt a warmth spread through his chest. "Thank you, Auntie."

Cheng Xu didn’t say anything, just smiled at him.

Lin Youhan quickly corrected himself, "Thank you, Mom."

"So well-behaved." Cheng Xu grew more pleased the more she looked at him. "If only Yunyun were as well-behaved as you."

Si Muyun broke into a sweat.

Noticing Si Muyun’s dark look, Cheng Xu snorted without remorse and complained to Lin Youhan, "Young Lin, you have no idea. After he graduated from Menglan, he spent seven years up in Beifu without ever coming home. And now, on top of that, I just found out his father went behind my back to give away a scarf."

"Gave away a scarf?"

They asked in unison.

Lin Youhan didn’t know, but Cheng Xu, seeing Si Muyun’s confused and cold expression, grew even angrier. "It’s the scarf I knitted for you when you were little. Didn’t you say your father casually gave it away?"

Si Muyun was still totally lost: "...Did I say that?"

Cheng Xu: "???"

"Fine, both of you, father and son—if you don’t explain what happened to that scarf, don't even think about coming home." Then she turned to Lin Youhan with a smile. "Of course, Young Lin, you’re welcome back anytime."

Si Muyun: "..."

At that moment, far away in Beifu Jingyuan, Si Weiyu sneezed loudly.

His adjutant asked concernedly, "General, you should wear more clothes."

Si Weiyu sniffled, looking at the heavy snow outside, and said sternly, "I know that. But why did Beifu Jingyuan only report in September that it had been snowing since July? Don’t you know that weather changes need to be reported to headquarters immediately?"

He turned and glared coldly at the group of soldiers behind him.

They shrank back, not daring to make a sound.

After the meal, as the two were about to leave, Cheng Xu suddenly stopped Si Muyun and gave Lin Youhan a friendly smile. "Young Lin, why don’t you wait downstairs? I need to talk with Yunyun."

-

Lin Youhan agreed and went downstairs.

He waited outside the shop for a while before Si Muyun came down, though his expression was dark, like still, stagnant water.

"Did something happen?"

Si Muyun didn’t hide it from him. "My mom said something’s happened in Beifu Jingyuan."

Lin Youhan’s gaze froze, and his good mood plummeted.

As the border between two civilizations, Beifu Jingyuan hadn’t had any trouble since the agreement was signed. In these peaceful times, trouble in Beifu Jingyuan was a bad sign for everyone.

Si Muyun reassured him, "But my father is already there. It should be fine. It’s just…"

Beifu Jingyuan had always been his responsibility, which meant he might not have much time to spend with Lin Youhan.

Lin Youhan had already thought of this. He lowered his eyes, staring at his toes, and whispered, "Let’s change the psychic fusion to once every three days."

"You can’t handle that yet." Si Muyun frowned. No one understood Lin Youhan’s condition better than him, and no one knew better what increasing the frequency of psychic fusion meant.

At best, it would undo all their hard work; at worst, it could cause a spiritual collapse, leaving him without any spiritual power and turning him into a liability.

Lin Youhan understood this perfectly, but he had no other options. Zhang Yuanhang needed him, Gu Ci needed him, even the 150 households on Anyang Street…

He let out a low, bitter chuckle.

"Si Muyun, I’m running out of time."