Chapter 487: Day 15 into the Alien War Story

Chapter 487: Day Fifteen Inside an Alien War Novel

An Qionglan led the way.

She wore cream-colored wide-leg pants with a light blue silk blouse today, a trench coat draped over her shoulders. Her sunglasses perched on top of her head, revealing a youthful, well-cared-for face.

She kept glancing back, her eyes full of smiles: "Xiao Cheng, Xiao Yi, come on, keep up."

An Cheng murmured in acknowledgment, his voice steady.

He pushed a suitcase and carried both An Yi's backpack and his own—even though An Yi said he could handle it, An Cheng insisted on taking them.

The young man was dressed casually today, already nearly 1.9 meters tall, standing tall with broad shoulders.

The childishness on his face had faded, replaced by defined brow bones, a high nose bridge, and a clean, sharp jawline.

When he wasn't speaking, he exuded a composure beyond his years.

And An Yi, walking next to him...

In the departure lounge, many people's gazes drifted subtly in that direction.

The seventeen-year-old tilted his head slightly, listening to An Cheng talk. His profile was as refined as a meticulously crafted work of art—a full forehead, a smooth, graceful line from brow to nose, softly curved lips, and a clean jawline.

His eyelashes were long, trembling gently with each blink.

But what stood out most was his presence.

Gentle, serene, like the morning mist drifting through a forest—almost within reach, yet ready to dissolve into the sunlight at any moment.

He walked quietly, and the noise around him seemed to fade away, creating an invisible barrier.

Holy crap, he's gorgeous!

"...You really don't want to move out and get a place with me?" An Cheng repeated his earlier question in a low voice, his brow furrowing slightly. "Dorm life isn't convenient."

He couldn't look after Xiao Yi all the time.

"It's fine," An Yi said with a smile. "I like it this way."

An Cheng looked at him, those ever-steady eyes filled with unspoken words—worry, concern, and deeper emotions he dared not examine too closely.

He looked at him for a few seconds, then just nodded, his voice low: "Mm, as long as you like it, that's all that matters."

So they wouldn't be living together...

This meant that starting next month, he could no longer wake Xiao Yi up each morning, share meals with him, or check on him at night to make sure he was resting well.

University dorms had curfews, roommates, and a life of Xiao Yi's own that he couldn't intrude on.

An Cheng's hand tightened unconsciously around the suitcase handle.

"Come on, let's go through security!" An Qionglan finished checking in and waved them over with a bright smile.

This was the An family's trip.

The justification was solid—An Yi had skipped ahead to enter the top university's mathematics and physics program, and to study the Riftborn from both scientific and metaphysical perspectives, An Cheng had also gained admission to the same school's finance department thanks to his excellent grades.

Both kids were about to start college, and An Qionglan felt that before officially stepping into this new chapter, they should have a family trip—as a way to commemorate the occasion and unwind.

The destination was Haiqi City, a coastal city in the south, where they'd stay for half a month.

"Mom booked us a beachfront villa!" An Qionglan said cheerfully as she tucked their boarding passes and IDs into her wallet. "It has a private pool, and you can watch the sunrise right from the villa in the morning. I also booked scuba diving and jet skiing... Xiao Cheng can stay on the beach and take photos for us if he's scared of water."

An Cheng paused for two seconds: "I'm not afraid of water."

"Really?" An Qionglan raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes. "Then who was that kid clinging to a float board at the beach three years ago, refusing to let go? For a solid half hour, the lifeguard came by three times to ask if he needed help."

"...That was in the past," An Cheng said, his ears turning slightly red.

An Yi couldn't help but burst out laughing.

An Cheng turned to look at him and saw the young man's eyes crinkle into crescents, joy spilling out of them.

In that instant, An Cheng's embarrassment melted away completely, leaving only tenderness.

His gaze softened without him realizing it, and the tips of his ears grew even redder.

Security check completed.

After boarding, An Qionglan took the window seat, with An Cheng and An Yi sitting in the row behind her.

The plane taxied, picked up speed, and lifted off.

The moment the feeling of weightlessness hit, An Cheng instinctively glanced at An Yi beside him—the young man was gazing out the window, his profile bathed in the sunlight streaming through the small window, as if dusted with a soft golden glow.

An Qionglan also looked out the window.

The city shrank below, buildings turning into toy blocks and roads into thin lines. A wave of emotion washed over her.

Time really flies.

She still remembered the first time she met An Cheng—a little boy whose mother had died of illness and whose father had gone abroad. When he was brought to her, he had a stern little face, his eyes holding a stubbornness and wariness beyond his years.

She also remembered the day she brought An Yi home with her.

The six-year-old sat quietly on the living room sofa, back ramrod straight, speaking with the clarity of a little adult.

But when she crouched down to meet his eyes, she found no fear or unease that a child should have—only a sort of... gentle calm.

Ten years.

Both kids had grown up and excelled so much that she was the envy of her friends.

An Cheng had outstanding grades, was steady and dependable, and had started helping her with simple company matters in high school.

An Yi had skipped grades to enter the top university's flagship program, won numerous awards in international competitions, and had top universities both at home and abroad vying for him.

Everything was going great.

An Qionglan looked away and closed her eyes to rest.

But a few seconds later, she opened her eyes again.

A vague sense of unease made her tilt her head slightly and glance at the two kids in the row behind her out of the corner of her eye.

An Cheng was adjusting An Yi's seatbelt—even though the buckle was already fastened and An Yi had done it correctly, An Cheng still reached over, checked the clasp carefully, and tugged the shoulder strap to make sure it was snug.

An Yi looked down at the book in his hands—a thick physics textbook in English. The young man's fingers were long and slender, turning a page gently, his gaze calm and focused.

A very harmonious scene.

Just like countless similar scenes over the past ten years: the older brother caring for the younger, who accepted it.

Natural, in sync, and taken for granted.

But...

An Qionglan frowned slightly.

Something was off.

She couldn't pinpoint what it was—just a gut feeling.

It just felt like something was missing.

She tried to recall.

Lately, Xiao Yi seemed to be saying "thank you" to Xiao Cheng more often.

And the way Xiao Cheng gazed at Xiao Yi.

Before, it was pure, simple care and a sense of duty.

But now... An Qionglan couldn't quite describe it; she only felt that the gaze was too focused, so focused that it made her heart tighten in a way she couldn't explain.