Chapter 69
In Dr. Anthony's laboratory, everyone held their breath. Final preparations were underway for Xinglan's consciousness transfer ritual.
"Neural network connection complete." Anthony's voice trembled slightly with nervousness. "Prepare to activate the holographic projection system."
Wen Ling stood at the control console, his deep green eyes watching the entire process intently. He wore a slim-fitting dark green military uniform that accentuated his slender waist. His golden hair shone softly under the lab light. Miao Weizhen stood beside him, his dark uniform emphasizing his broad shoulders. Their figures formed a beautiful contrast under the light.
"Start the transfer." Anthony pressed the start button.
The holographic projector in the center of the lab emitted a soft hum, and a stream of light rose from the container of consciousness, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. The light slowly condensed in the air, outlining the figure of a young woman—silver hair that reached her waist and flowed like moonlight. Her slender figure was faintly visible in a translucent white dress, the hem of which shimmered with stardust-like specks of light.
"Brother..." Xinglan landed gently, her silver-grey eyes filled with starlight. She extended a translucent hand, her fingertips gleaming softly.
Miao Weizhen took a step forward and carefully touched her hand. Although he couldn't feel the physical touch, Xinglan's consciousness was clearly transmitted.
"Welcome back, Xinglan." Wen Ling smiled and handed over a bouquet of moonflowers. As he leaned forward, his golden hair fell, and his slender figure curved gracefully.
Xinglan took the bouquet, and the flowers bloomed even more brilliantly in her hands.
"Your Highness Wen Ling," her eyes fell on him gently, "you look particularly beautiful today."
In the following days, Xinglan appeared freely in various places in the base in the form of holographic projection, and the place she stayed most often was the area where Wen Ling worked.
That afternoon, Wen Ling was browsing ancient books in the database. Xing Lan quietly appeared beside him, his silver hair gleaming softly under the database's blue light.
"What are you looking for?" she asked softly, tapping the bookshelf with her translucent fingertips.
"Records of ancient consciousness technology." Wen Ling rubbed his brow, the movement making him appear somewhat tired and fragile. "I'd like to see if there's any way to help you better maintain your projection form."
Xinglan's heart warmed slightly.
"Actually..." She waved her hand gently, pulling up an encrypted file, "There are some relevant research notes in my brother's private database."
Wen Ling looked up in surprise, her deep green eyes like emeralds under the light: "How did you know?"
"The holographic form can sense many subtle energy fluctuations." Xing Lan smiled mysteriously. "For example... someone who seems indifferent actually checks your health monitoring data every day."
Wen Ling's cheeks flushed slightly, and this expression made him look particularly charming.
"If we go now," Xing Lan checked the time, "he should be sorting out documents in his study."
When Wen Ling gently pushed open the study door, she saw Miao Weizhen standing in front of the bookshelf.
Seeing Wen Ling, Miao Weizhen's stern brows softened slightly: "What's the matter?"
"I would like to ask some questions about consciousness technology." Wen Ling said softly.
Miao Weizhen took an ancient book from the shelf, and the two of them sat side by side on the sofa to discuss it. Xinglan watched this scene from outside the door, a ripple of relief in his eyes.
A few days later, on the training grounds, Wen Ling was instructing new recruits. He wore a tight-fitting training suit, his blond hair stained by sweat plastered to his forehead, and his muscles flowed with every movement. Miao Weizhen stood on the observation deck, his eyes unconsciously following the figure.
Xinglan's figure appeared silently beside her brother.
"His Highness Wen Ling's fighting skills are superb," she said softly, "especially that turning movement, the power from his waist is very beautiful."
Miao Weizhen did not respond, but his brown eyes flickered slightly.
Xing Lan waved his hand gently, and the training ground's lighting system suddenly adjusted its angle, a beam of light striking Wen Ling. Confused, Wen Ling looked up, meeting Miao Weizhen's gaze. He was startled for a moment, then smiled brightly.
Han Zhong, who was standing on the observation deck, saw this and laughed gruffly, "This little girl is really good at bringing people together!"
Luo Yan appeared beside him at some point, his mechanical eye flickering slightly: "It's even more efficient than tactical deduction."
The most memorable night was the base celebration. To celebrate Xinglan's new form, the entire base was immersed in joy. Susie and Ye Lan took a rare break from their research, while Lao Lin and A Yuan prepared a sumptuous feast. Even the usually serious Han Zhong had a few extra drinks.
Xing Lan, wearing a dazzling holographic dress, moved lightly among the crowd. When she saw Wen Ling and Miao Weizhen standing at opposite ends of the venue, a bright light flashed in her eyes.
She first floated to Wen Ling's side: "Brother is on the terrace and seems to need help."
When Wen Ling walked to the terrace, she came to Miao Weizhen again and said, "Your Highness Wen Ling seems to be feeling unwell. Please take some fresh air on the terrace."
When the two met on the terrace, Xinglan quietly adjusted the venue's music system. A soft melody flowed out, and the lights on the terrace became hazy and dreamy.
"Are you okay?" they both asked in unison, then laughed.
Xing Lan watched from afar as the two figures approached on the terrace, tears of happiness welling in her eyes. Ah Yuan quietly handed her a cup of specially made energy drink and gave her a thumbs-up; even Luo Yan, who was passing by, nodded slightly.
The joy of the celebration continued into the next day. The morning sun streamed through the portholes, casting warm patches of light across the command center floor. Wen Ling arrived early to work, sorting through the data from the previous night. He was dressed in casual attire, his light-colored shirt accentuating his slender waist. His golden hair shone softly in the morning light.
Xing Lan's holographic figure appeared silently beside him: "Your Highness Wen Ling, good morning."
Her silver hair shone like pearls in the sunlight, and the look she gave Wen Ling was filled with an unconcealable intimacy.
"Good morning, Xinglan." Wen Ling looked up and smiled, her deep green eyes shining like new leaves in spring under the sunlight. "Did you have a good rest last night?"
"Excellent." Xinglan twirled lightly, her skirt dotting the surface like stardust. "It feels wonderful to be able to move freely."
Miao Weizhen walked into the command center and saw Xinglan leaning over Wen Ling, tapping the screen to explain some data. She was almost completely leaning on Wen Ling's shoulder, her silver and blonde hair interweaving in a harmonious scene in the morning light.
"Brother!" Xing Lan noticed his arrival and greeted him happily, but his body was still close to Wen Ling.
Miao Weizhen's gaze lingered for a moment on the overly close distance between the two, and his voice was even lower than usual: "What are you discussing?"
"Xing Lan is helping me optimize the energy distribution algorithm," Wen Ling explained, looking up, completely unaware of anything amiss. "Her calculation speed is three times faster than the system."
"Yes," Xing Lan deliberately leaned closer to Wen Ling, "His Highness Wen Ling praised me for my talent."
Miao Weizhen walked to the control console with an expressionless face, his fingertip swishing a cold light across the screen. "In that case, Xinglan will help Anthony process the data in the lab. The computational workload there is much greater."
Xinglan blinked, a sly glint flashing across his silver-grey eyes: "But I want to help His Highness Wen Ling complete it first..."
"Let's go now." Miao Weizhen's tone left no room for doubt.
After Xing Lan reluctantly left, the command center fell into a brief silence. Wen Ling finally noticed something was wrong and walked over to Miao Weizhen and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Miao Weizhen didn't answer, but reached out and gently grasped his wrist. This movement was more forceful than usual, and the warmth of his fingertips pierced through the fabric.
"You didn't come to ask me to have breakfast this morning."
Miao Weizhen's voice remained calm, but undercurrents surged in the depths of his brown eyes.
Wen Ling was slightly startled, then burst out laughing: "Because Xinglan came to me early this morning and said he wanted to try the newly cultivated moonlight fruit."
His words came to an abrupt end as Miao Weizhen suddenly pulled him closer. The distance between them instantly shortened, and Wen Ling could clearly see his reflection in the other's eyes.
"She likes you very much." Miao Weizhen whispered, her fingertips gently stroking the inside of his wrist.
Wen Ling finally understood something, and a gentle smile appeared on the corner of her lips: "But she is your sister."
"The way she looks at you," Miao Weizhen's voice was unusually tense, "is different from the way she looks at others."
At this moment, Xing Lan's voice came through the communicator: "Your Highness Wen Ling, I found some interesting data. Can you come to the lab?"
Miao Weizhen directly cut off the communication.
"Weizhen," Wen Ling called softly, a smile glittering in her deep green eyes, "Are you jealous?"
Miao Weizhen didn't deny it, but responded with action. He lowered his head and kissed Wen Ling. The kiss was forceful and undeniable, yet it became unusually gentle as it touched her. Wen Ling's eyes widened in surprise at first, then slowly closed them and reached out to wrap her arms around his neck.
When the kiss ended, both of them were breathing in a turbulent state. Miao Weizhen's fingers gently stroked Wen Ling's flushed cheeks, and his voice was low: "You are mine."
Wen Ling leaned against his chest and could hear his strong heartbeat.
"You too," he whispered back.
This scene happened to be seen by Ah Yuan who came to deliver a report. She covered her mouth in surprise, then quietly stepped back with a relieved smile on her face.
Later that afternoon, when Xing Lan reappeared at the command center, she was acutely aware of the shift in atmosphere. Wen Ling's lips were redder than usual, and her brother, though still expressionless, gazed at her with an unmistakable possessiveness.
"Brother," Xing Lan deliberately moved closer to Wen Ling, "I would like to ask His Highness Wen Ling to accompany me to the ecological zone..."
"No." Miao Weizhen interrupted her, "He and I are going to inspect the defense system this afternoon."
Xinglan tilted her head, her silver hair cascading down like flowing water: "But—"
"No buts." Miao Weizhen naturally put his arm around Wen Ling's waist and brought him closer to him. "You can find Anthony or Susie."
Wen Ling was amused by Miao Weizhen's unusually straightforward behavior, and his deep green eyes curved into a gentle arc. He winked quietly at Xing Lan, indicating that she didn't need to worry.
Xing Lan looked at her brother's hand on Wen Ling's waist, and finally realized what was going on. She sighed in mock disappointment, but a sly glint flashed in her eyes. "Okay, then I won't bother you anymore."
However, her "do not disturb" obviously had a deeper meaning. Ten minutes later, Wen Ling's private communicator received an encrypted message:
[Your Highness Wen Ling, on the top shelf of the third bookshelf in my brother's study, there is a collection of poems that he treasures. Page 37 has his mark. —Xing Lan]
Wen Ling couldn't help but chuckle. Miao Weizhen noticed his expression and raised an eyebrow to ask, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Wen Ling put away the communicator, a gentle light flashing in her deep green eyes. "I just think it's great to have a younger sister."
Miao Weizhen snorted softly, but his tightened arms betrayed his true thoughts.
After the inspection, Wen Ling went to Miao Weizhen's study alone, using the excuse of looking up information. Sure enough, he found a collection of ancient poems on the top shelf of the third bookshelf. He opened page 37, where a line of poetry was lightly underlined with a fountain pen:
My soul recognizes your soul among the stars.
There was another line of smaller writing in the margin, clearly of recent date:
[The color of his eyes is the last light after the stars go out.]
Wen Ling's fingers gently stroked the words, and a warm current surged in his heart. At this moment, a pair of familiar arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
"Sneak a peek at other people's private collections?" Miao Weizhen's low voice sounded in his ears.
Wen Ling leaned into his arms and held up the poetry collection: "'The last light after the stars go out'?"
Miao Weizhen said calmly, "Tell the truth."
They stood in front of the bookshelf, hugging each other. The setting sun shone through the porthole, gilding them with a warm golden edge. Xinglan's holographic figure flashed past the door, her silver-gray eyes filled with the triumph of a successful plan.
She had long discovered that the more she showed her affection for Wen Ling, the more her brother would actively close the distance between them. Wen Ling also quickly understood her intentions and cooperated with her "fueling the flames".
That evening, when Xing Lan once again "casually" mentioned wanting to have dinner with Wen Ling, Miao Weizhen simply put his arm around Wen Ling's shoulders and announced, "We have something to do tonight."
As for what was going on, looking at Wen Ling's slightly red cheeks and Miao Weizhen's rare gentle eyes, Xinglan felt that there was no need to ask any more questions.
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