Chapter 76 The Return Journey
A week has passed since the StarNet Mech Competition ended, and Zhou Jiu has become a celebrity. He is always recognized when he goes out, and people often ask for autographs and photos. He also receives many interview requests from the media. Since then, Zhou Jiu has tried to avoid going out as much as possible.
This was also a relatively leisurely week. During the time spent participating in the mecha competition, the Federation officially signed documents regarding the mining plan for the ancient blue planet's mineral resources. Of course, the official documents only mentioned the continued implementation of the ten-year plan for the ancient blue planet, the plan to rescue human settlements, and the plan to drive away alien beasts.
However, the news that she drew the runes on the energy stone and pretended it came from the ancient Blue Star was leaked by them. Zhou Jiu herself knew that it was only after the news that the ancient Blue Star had energy minerals that the subsequent related plans came about.
In the voting for the spokesperson of Ancient Blue Star, the official method of public election was adopted, and Zhou Jiu, as an adult, also had the corresponding rights, which was in line with Sun You's answer in a post-match interview about Zhou Jiu.
At this moment, Zhou Jiu was watching Sun You's interview in the room. In the video, Sun You said that Zhou Jiu was deeply attached to the ancient Blue Star and was one of the last ancient Blue Star people to travel through interstellar space. He also possessed some of the unique heritage of the ancient Blue Star people that had been preserved.
Zhou Jiu watched as Sun You showered her with praise, and the other team members also cooperated with her in an extremely cooperative manner. Zhou Jiu was speechless for a moment. She didn't understand what she could do as the spokesperson for Ancient Blue Star. She had neither military power nor political power. Holding this empty title didn't bring any real benefits. Then, she was called in by Xiao Wen for a formal conversation.
Just then, a message arrived on her personal computer: "We'll gather at 3 PM to return to the central star system." Immediately after this message arrived, another message appeared on her computer—an encrypted communication—which was automatically deleted immediately after she read it.
Zhou Jiu put down the snacks in his hand, tidied up his few pieces of clothing, and then made a call to Chu Zhao.
Chu Zhao: "Hello? Ajiu."
Zhou Jiu: "I'll arrive at Central Star this afternoon."
Chu Zhao: "They're coming back? I haven't seen the school's notice yet."
Zhou Jiu: "It might be a last-minute decision."
Zhou Jiu: "By the way, I don't have any classes tomorrow since it's the weekend. Does Auntie have time?"
Chu Zhao: "..."
Zhou Jiu: "Auntie, if you have time, we'll come to your house tomorrow, how about that?"
Chu Zhao: "...Don't you miss me at all?"
Zhou Jiu looked at Chu Zhao in the video, put his hand over his eyes, and made an inverted heart shape. "I miss you. Isn't this because I want to make things official with you one last time?"
Zhou Jiu was unaware that in Chu Zhao's eyes, her behavior was seen as a slight guilty conscience, which she used to cover up her misunderstanding. If she knew what Chu Zhao was thinking, she would definitely feel wronged.
Chu Zhao: "...Okay, I'll ask my mom. She said before that she also wants to see you."
Zhou Jiu raised an eyebrow: "What did Auntie say?"
Chu Zhao: "You'll know when you get here. There are some things I'll tell you when you arrive."
Zhou Jiu: "Okay, okay, get back to me after you've asked."
Chu Zhao: "Okay, I have to start my class now, so I'll talk to you later tonight."
Zhou Jiu made a waving goodbye gesture. She felt a bit distant from Chu Zhao during their chat, but she didn't know if it was because they hadn't seen each other for a long time or if she was just overthinking it.
"Zhou Jiu, are you all packed?" Sun You knocked on the door and asked.
Zhou Jiu closed the books with virtual transparent pages he had been reading recently and put them into his personal computer. He then typed his voiceprint into the doorway: "Come in."
Sun You walked in from outside the door. Zhou Jiu glanced at her slightly and asked in a calm tone, "Is there something wrong? It's only a little past one o'clock, and there's still a long time before the meeting time."
"The students from Spruce School are going to see us off. Do you want to come along?" Sun You didn't seem to care much about Zhou Jiu's attitude and continued speaking.
“…I don’t want to go.” Zhou Jiu glanced at Sun You again.
"What?" Sun You's tone was slightly surprised. "Why don't you go? Don't you usually like them?"
"Who knows what you're up to! I can't outsmart you, so I'll just avoid you, okay?" Zhou Jiu rolled his eyes.
"What, are you still angry?" Sun You asked with a smile in her eyes, taking Zhou Jiu's hand and shaking it.
"Don't think I'll forgive you just because you're showing weakness!" Zhou Jiu gently pulled Sun You's hand away after she finished swaying.
"Don't be angry, I promise I won't hide it from you anymore." Sun You's eyes were very serious.
Zhou Jiu turned his head and glanced towards the doorway. "Lin Xiu, what are you looking at? You're being so sneaky."
Lin Xiu's head peeked out from the door, which wasn't completely closed, and Zhou Jiu caught him red-handed.
"Hehe, you didn't lock the door?"
"Your eyes are so big, do you even realize they're closed?" Zhou Jiu said deliberately, his voice filled with annoyance.
"Ha, did Youyou upset you? Why are you taking it out on me?" Lin Xiu was a little helpless, as if he were the one being bullied.
"Hmph, you two came over together, what? Two against one, you lovebirds?" Zhou Jiu wasn't really angry at first, but then she suddenly remembered that Sun You had tricked her more than once or twice, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
"Haha, even two against one of us can't beat you. Look at your last move, it was absolutely brilliant, you took on two people at once, awesome!" Lin Xiu changed the subject, laughing it off.
Zhou Jiu glanced sideways, moved aside, and sat on the bed, saying, "Forget it, I don't want to get angry with you guys, it's a waste of energy. Lin Xiu, just tell me, do you believe Sun You's statement that he doesn't hide anything from me?"
"I believe you." Lin Xiu was quite certain of this.
"...I believe it too, but your Youyou doesn't need to hide it and just stay silent anyway, since in the end I'm the one who didn't ask."
As for why Sun You wanted to promote her to be the spokesperson, Zhou Jiu felt there were other reasons behind it, but she didn't want to ask any more about it. Zhou Jiu always felt that it was pointless to ask about things that were already certain and could not be changed.
"Let's go then, let's get together with the students from Spruce High School. I don't know if we'll have another chance next time." Sun You smiled slightly.
The three of them took all their belongings to the lobby and left them there, waiting to leave after the gathering was over.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly, but when Zhou Jiu finished saying goodbye to his roommates and returned to the dormitory, everything was different.
Suddenly, a lot of news broke online: about Zhou Jiu's unauthorized disclosure of a military leader's private affairs; the military affiliation of the two armies, whether she was a spy or there was another reason; Zhou Jiu, the spokesperson for Ancient Blue Star, was privately tyrannical and insane, followed by some fabricated photos that even she herself did not know about.
The news broke and the arrest seemed to happen at the same time. Zhou Jiu looked down at the people in police uniforms downstairs, quickly took out a dagger from the equipment cleaning and disinfection cabinet, cut his arm, hid the chip inside, and then strung the copper coins together and hung them back around Qi Qi's neck.
After completing a series of actions, Zhou Jiu put away the dagger, immediately started the cleaning and disinfection cabinet, and then lay down in the nutrient tank.
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