Chapter 70
Xing Lan's holographic integration into the base has brought unprecedented vitality to this military fortress. Her presence is like a beam of warm light, quietly changing everyone's daily life.
That morning, Wen Ling led his usual morning exercises at the training grounds. He wore a tight-fitting black training uniform that defined his slender yet powerful waistline, and each movement held a unique rhythmic beauty. Xing Lan sat on the side railing, his silver hair streaming in the morning light, intently watching Wen Ling demonstrate combat moves.
"Turn your wrist like this," Wen Ling patiently instructed a new recruit, "Pay attention to the strength of your waist..."
Before he could finish his words, Miao Weizhen strode into the training ground, stood naturally behind him, and gently held his waist with both hands. "Here," Miao Weizhen's low voice rang in Wen Ling's ears, "the point of force should be a little lower."
Wen Ling's ears blushed slightly, but he still adjusted his posture according to Miao Weizhen's instructions. Xing Lan smiled secretly on the sidelines. It seemed that the message she sent to her brother that morning, "His Highness Wen Ling is at the training ground, and several recruits are staring at him," had worked.
What made her even more delighted was that Miao Weizhen's "guidance" lasted a full ten minutes. During this time, his hands were always firmly on Wen Ling's waist, and occasionally "accidentally" slipped to her lower back, causing Wen Ling's ears to turn redder and redder.
"The Minister is particularly... enthusiastic today." Han Zhong was laughing from the side, and only stopped laughing after Luo Yan nudged him with his elbow.
After morning exercise, Wen Ling was dragged by Xing Lan to the ecological zone. A Yuan was tending to the newly cultivated fluorescent plants and immediately waved enthusiastically when he saw them.
"Xinglan, come and see," Ah Yuan pointed to a cluster of ferns emitting a faint blue light, "Doesn't the color of these fluorescent ferns resemble His Highness Wen Ling's eyes?"
Xinglan leaned in for a closer look, his silver hair almost touching the leaves. "Really?! Especially in dim light, this deep green..."
She was halfway through her words when she suddenly felt a surge of energy behind her and immediately changed the subject: "But it's still far inferior to my brother's eyes. My brother's dark brown eyes are the most special, like amber stained by time, or like the night sky with sparks."
Miao Weizhen, who had just walked over, raised an eyebrow at the words, obviously seeing through his sister's trick. But he still walked over to Wen Ling and naturally brushed away the non-existent dust on his shoulder.
"Did you sleep well last night?" he asked Wen Ling in a low voice, completely ignoring the two "light bulbs" next to him.
"Very good." Wen Ling smiled, her deep green eyes particularly charming under the illumination of the fluorescent plants. "Your calming tea is very effective."
Xing Lan and A Yuan exchanged a knowing look. It seemed the rumor that Miao Weizhen had personally delivered tranquilizing tea to Wen Ling's dorm room last night was true.
In the afternoon, Xinglan floated into the lab. Susie and Ye Lan were arguing over a technical issue, while Anthony shook his head helplessly.
"This question is very simple." Xinglan floated to the control console and tapped a finger to call up a set of data. "Just adjust the phase of the energy output."
Susie's eyes widened. "So simple? Why didn't we think of that?"
"Because you're too obsessed with conventional thinking." Xing Lan winked playfully. "Just like my brother, he clearly cares deeply about His Highness Wen Ling, but he always finds the most awkward ways to express it."
The lab fell silent, then burst into laughter. Even the usually serious Luo Yan couldn't help shaking his head as he passed by: "If the Minister heard this—"
"What did you hear?" Miao Weizhen's voice came from the door.
Everyone fell silent, except Xing Lan, who continued fearlessly, "Brother's way of expressing his concern is very unique. For example, he's clearly worried about His Highness Wen Ling staying up late, yet he uses the excuse of checking a work report to go to his room."
Wen Ling happened to be looking for Anthony, and blushed when she heard this: "Xing Lan!"
Miao Weizhen remained calm and said, "It seems you haven't been fully committed to debugging the defense system."
"I'll go right away!" Xing Lan immediately admitted his mistake, but before leaving, he did not forget to wink at Wen Ling.
At dinnertime, the cafeteria was particularly bustling. Lao Lin had specially prepared several dishes that Xing Lan could "perceive"—though she couldn't actually taste them, she could sense the energy fluctuations of the food through special equipment.
"The frequency of this braised energy is very warm," Xinglan closed his eyes and felt it, "like... the smell of home."
Wen Ling sat next to her and explained gently, "This is what Lao Lin adjusted according to the recipe your mother left behind."
Miao Weizhen paused, and a trace of fluctuation flashed in his dark brown eyes.
He silently pushed a plate of dish with the most stable energy fluctuations in front of Xinglan.
"Brother, do you still remember that I like stable energy frequencies?" Xinglan asked in surprise.
"Yeah." Miao Weizhen responded briefly, but the rhythm of his fingertips tapping on the table revealed his mood.
Han Zhong watched this scene and said to Lao Lin in a gruff voice, "It seems our cold-faced minister isn't so unkind after all."
"What do you know?" Old Lin said, smiling a rare smile. "This is called being cold on the outside but warm on the inside."
After dinner, Xing Lan followed Wen Ling to the library. Wen Ling was looking up records of ancient civilizations, and Xing Lan floated beside him, occasionally offering unique insights.
"The consciousness conversion technology recorded here," Xing Lan pointed at a passage in an ancient book, "can actually be achieved through quantum entanglement..."
She was so engrossed in her lecture that she didn't notice that her holographic image was almost completely glued to Wen Ling. That was until Miao Weizhen appeared at the library entrance.
"Xinglan," his voice was calm, "Luo Yan wants you to debug the new defense system."
"Now?" Xing Lan grumbled dissatisfiedly, "But I'm helping His Highness Wen Ling..."
"Now." Miao Weizhen's tone left no room for rejection.
After Xing Lan left, Wen Ling couldn't help laughing: "Your sister is just too enthusiastic."
"Too enthusiastic." Miao Weizhen sat down beside him and gently stroked the ends of his golden hair with her fingers.
The light from the library gently shone on the two of them, coating them with a layer of warm light. Wen Ling leaned on Miao Weizhen's shoulder and continued to look up ancient books, while Miao Weizhen quietly accompanied him, occasionally turning pages for him.
"Here," Wen Ling suddenly pointed to a passage, "it records the method of materializing consciousness."
Miao Weizhen read the text carefully, his silver-gray eyes gleaming slightly: "We need the energy core of the 'Heart Crown'."
"Is this the relic that the Federation is looking for in Saigong?" Wen Ling looked up at him.
Miao Weizhen nodded, his fingers unconsciously entwining a strand of Wen Ling's golden hair. "Once the Restoration Alliance is stable, we'll go get it."
Xinglan was working in the defense system control room, watching the scene in the library through the surveillance camera. When she read the lip recognition system's message, "Once the Restoration Alliance is stable, we will go get it," tears welled up in her silver-gray eyes.
Luo Yan silently handed over an energy tissue: "Wipe it off. Don't let your tears affect the system's operation."
"I'm happy." Xing Lan took the tissue, even though she had no use for it. "Brother is finally not alone anymore."
Late at night, Xinglan drifted back to his charging area and happened to meet Wen Ling and Miao Weizhen coming out of the command center. They walked side by side, their fingers gently touching in the shadows.
"See you tomorrow, Xinglan." Wen Ling said goodbye gently.
Miao Weizhen just nodded slightly, but when he passed by her, he said softly: "Thank you."
The meaning contained in this thank you made Xinglan immersed in happiness all night.
Starlight streamed through the dome, casting a silver veil over the base. On this ordinary night, everyone felt a long-lost warmth—the warmth of home, the light of love, and proof that hope still flickers tenaciously even in the darkest of times.
In the following days, Xing Lan's description of his brother's eyes quietly spread throughout the base. Even a rough guy like Han Zhong couldn't help but glance at Miao Weizhen's eyes a few more times during a meeting, which earned him a harsh kick from Luo Yan under the table.
That afternoon, Wen Ling was in the medical office for a routine checkup. Dr. Keith, while recording the data, shook his head: "Your Highness, you're still underweight. Have you been staying up late again?"
"Just studying some ancient books," Wen Ling hadn't finished speaking when the door of the medical room slid open and Miao Weizhen walked in with a tray of food.
"Finish this nutritious meal." He placed the plate in front of Wen Ling, his dark brown eyes fixed on him without letting anyone refuse. "I'll supervise."
Dr. Keith tactfully stepped aside to tidy up his equipment, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up. Xinglan's holographic image silently appeared in the corner, gesturing to Wen Ling, "Eat quickly!"
Wen Ling ate slowly under Miao Weizhen's gaze, his ears gradually turning pink. Miao Weizhen sat across from him, his fingers tapping gently on the table, a small movement he made when thinking.
"What are you looking at?" Wen Ling couldn't help asking.
"Look at you." Miao Weizhen's answer was so blunt that Wen Ling almost choked. "Xinglan is right, your eyes do resemble the color of fluorescent ferns."
Xing Lan covered her mouth in the corner, almost laughing out loud. She hadn't expected her brother to remember such a detail and bring it up in front of others.
Dr. Keith pretended to be arranging the equipment, but in reality, he was listening intently. Even Ah Yuan, who had come in to get some medical supplies, stepped softly and quietly gave Xing Lan a thumbs-up.
At that moment, the alarm suddenly sounded. Miao Weizhen immediately stood up, his dark brown eyes instantly sharp. "Everyone, get to your positions."
In the command center, the star map showed unusual energy fluctuations in the Saigong star field. Luo Yan quickly reported, "The Federation fleet has been detected gathering outside of Saigong, but... they seem to be avoiding something."
Xinglan floated to the main console, his silver hair swaying slightly due to the energy fluctuations. "They're not hiding, they're surrounding us. That energy signature... is the 'Heart Crown'!"
This statement stunned everyone. Anthony excitedly pulled up the data analysis: "Exactly! This energy frequency is exactly the same as what's recorded in the ancient texts!"
Wen Ling immediately understood: "The Federation has found the Heart Crown, but cannot control it."
"So they're trying to round us up," Miao Weizhen continued, his fingers tracing several routes on the star map. "We can take advantage of the chaos and strike."
Xinglan suddenly pointed to the center of the energy fluctuations: "Wait... there's a familiar signal there..." She closed her eyes, her silver hair moving without a breeze. "It's the old Prince of Saigong! He's trying to activate the 'Heart Crown'!"
The situation suddenly became complicated. Han Zhong rubbed his hands together and said, "What are we waiting for? Just charge over and grab the things!"
"No." Wen Ling and Miao Weizhen said in unison.
Wen Ling continued to explain: "The old prince is highly respected in Saigong. If we forcibly seize him, we will lose the support of the people of Saigong."
Miao Weizhen continued, "Besides, since he's trying to activate the Heart Crown, it means he might know the correct method."
Xinglan's energy body suddenly flickered. "Brother, let me go. I can communicate directly with the Heart Crown and convince the old prince."
This time, Miao Weizhen didn't object immediately. His dark brown eyes stared at his sister's holographic image, as if weighing the pros and cons.
"It's too dangerous." Wen Ling said softly, "Your consciousness is not stable enough."
"But this is the best opportunity." Xinglan's voice was unusually firm. "And... I believe my brother will protect me, right?"
The final plan was quickly finalized. Miao Weizhen led an elite team to infiltrate Saigong, Wen Ling commanded and coordinated from the rear, and Xing Lan served as the liaison officer, responsible for communicating with the "Heart Mian" and the old prince.
On the eve of departure, Xing Lan found Wen Ling alone on the observation deck, staring in a daze towards the direction of the Saigong star field.
"Are you worried about your brother?" She floated to Wen Ling.
Wen Ling nodded gently: "Every time he goes to war, I worry."
"But this time is different." Xinglan's image appeared particularly soft under the starlight. "This time, you will support him from the rear, and I will assist him from the front. The three of us are a whole."
As she spoke, she hummed an old lullaby. "This is what Mom used to sing. Every time my brother had a nightmare, she would sing it."
Wen Ling listened attentively, her deep green eyes like the most precious jade in the moonlight: "Can you teach me?"
So, on the night before departure, Xinglan taught Wen Ling word for word how to sing the lullaby. When Miao Weizhen came to find them, he happened to hear Wen Ling humming softly.
He stopped in the shadows, his dark brown eyes filled with complex emotions. The song awakened his deepest memories - his mother's tenderness, his sister's company, and those long-forgotten warm times.
"Brother?" Xinglan discovered him.
Wen Ling stopped humming, feeling a little embarrassed: "I'm learning a song from Xing Lan."
Miao Weizhen walked over to them and, unusually, said nothing. He simply shook Wen Ling's hand. This simple gesture was worth a thousand words.
When they set out the next day, the entire base came to see them off. Han Zhong patted Miao Weizhen's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, we'll be there to take care of you at home!"
A Yuan handed Xing Lan an energy storage device: "This contains all the known information about the 'Heart Crown'. It might be useful."
Even Lao Lin came specially and handed Miao Weizhen a small box: "Take this with you, it can save your life at the critical moment."
Before boarding the warship, Wen Ling suddenly called Miao Weizhen and hummed the lullaby in his ear. Miao Weizhen's dark brown eyes widened slightly, and then turned into a very faint smile.
"Wait until I come back," he said.
The warship slowly sailed away from the harbor. Wen Ling stood on the observation deck until the light completely disappeared into the sea of stars. He whispered to himself, as if making a promise:
"No matter where you go, I will wait for you to come back."
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