Chapter 76 Just Partners 21
Thanks to the Alliance's continuous breakthroughs in medical advancements and humanity's self-repair capabilities, Ren Yi was able to successfully be discharged from the hospital before "Xinghe".
However, before he was discharged from the hospital, Marshal Tan, who had only made a brief appearance before leaving, came over in person again.
He wasn't wearing a military uniform, nor was he dressed in civilian clothes like last time; instead, he was wearing a solemn black suit. "Want to go see him together?"
The common ground between Tan Songxuan and Dahao is really limited, so it goes without saying who this "he" is.
Ren Yi remained silent for a long while before finally managing to squeeze out a very reluctant answer, "...Okay."
—Following the previous world, he once again achieved the feat of "going to his own grave".
*
The battle three years ago was so brutal that a martyrs' cemetery was built on the capital planet specifically for it. The group stopped in front of the central tombstone.
This monument is no different from the surrounding monuments, and even the characters on it are not larger than those next to it—they were originally no different, all warriors who slept in that sea of stars and lost the chance to return to their home planet—if there was any slight difference, it was that there were a lot more flowers in front of this monument.
Ren Yi stepped forward and placed the bouquet he had brought in the middle of the lush flowers.
After completing this step, he paused awkwardly. It was strange enough that he was talking to his own alternate identity, let alone the fact that there wasn't even an alternate identity in front of him, only a cenotaph.
Ren Yi could only remain in a squatting position, silently standing by to express his grief.
Tan Fengxuan, who was standing to the side, did not say anything. Ren Yi guessed that he had already said what he wanted to say.
When he was putting the flowers down, he saw another bouquet next to him. It was the kind of bouquet Tan Feng often chose when visiting "old friends," but this time it was placed here—this person must have already visited before coming with him.
Ren Yi struggled to manage the time for "mourning," but in the end, Tan Feng stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and gestured for him to leave.
*
The two did not continue on the same route and parted ways outside the cemetery.
But as they were saying goodbye, Tan Fengxuan suddenly said, "He probably also hopes that you can have a fresh start."
Ren Yi: ?
"He"? Who? Who hopes for a new beginning? What "beginning"?
Ren Yi looked back blankly and bewildered. The other person had already nodded, as if it were a sign of concern, a blessing, or simply a farewell. He turned and entered the hovercar. The hovercar quickly drove away, and Ren Yi looked in the direction Tan Fengxuan had indicated before leaving, and saw Zhou Kai and Duan Rui walking in this direction.
Ren Yi pondered: Did Tan Fengxuan mean for him to recognize a new "father"?
Duan Rui's age was obviously impossible. Ren Yi's gaze swept between the two of them, finally settling on Zhou Kai, his eyes becoming increasingly strange.
While he was observing them, Duan and Zhou had already approached. Ren Yi put away his chaotic thoughts, looked at the white bouquets they were each carrying, and asked, "Who are you going to see?"
Zhou Kai shook his head and said, "We're here to pick you up."
Noticing where Ren Yi's gaze was focused, he suddenly realized and muttered "I just bought it on the spur of the moment" as an explanation. The two of them did not continue to walk inside, but left the flowers in front of the huge stone wall at the very outside, which was engraved with names.
The three then left.
The atmosphere at the cemetery was so solemn that people couldn't help but lower their voices when talking. It wasn't until we drove a distance that the atmosphere in the car gradually relaxed.
He still went to the hospital, but this time, after returning home, Ren Yi would pack his bags and be officially discharged.
Zhou Kai glanced at Duan Rui, who looked like a saw-through gourd next to him, and couldn't help but feel anxious for him.
Even now, the kid next to me hasn't shown any sign of making a move.
You know, there's a reason to help take care of someone while they're in the hospital, but once they go home, there's really no chance to come.
Zhou Kai started to wink at Duan Rui, who was sitting in the back seat next to him, but the latter ignored him completely as if he hadn't seen it.
Zhou Kai: "..."
Damn! Where did all that taunting go? This kid's got no chance of ever getting anyone at this rate!
He glared at Duan Rui again, cleared his throat, and simply asked, "What are your plans after you're discharged from the hospital?"
Ren Yi had noticed the exchange of glances between Zhou Kai and Duan Rui earlier, and thought the two were about to say something, but he didn't expect that he would be the one being called out.
It's strange, but Duan Rui was initially hostile towards Zhou Kai. However, for some reason, their relationship progressed rapidly within a few days. By the time Ren Yi saw them again, they were already like "best buddies".
Ren Yi was completely baffled. Even if it was the protagonist's charisma, the two characters were still somewhat opposite.
Although he was unexpectedly brought up, Ren Yi did not hide his plans: "Return to Weisi Star."
He had nothing else to do, so he simply went home and waited for the Alliance to send the repaired Star River back. After reconnecting to the system, he would find a reason, such as a "long-term trip," to leave the small world.
Zhou Kai said, "If you don't have anything else to do, would you like to go to Yalan Star? My brother won two tickets to Yalan Star in a lottery on the StarNet. He doesn't like to go out, but when he heard I had a vacation, he gave them to me. Do you want to come with me?"
Duan Rui: ?!
He turned sharply to look at Zhou Kai, his face filled with disbelief. But the situation was completely reversed; this time, Zhou Kai didn't even glance at him.
Ren Yi didn't really care whether he went or not, but he saw Duan Rui's reaction earlier and guessed: Did he mean he wanted to go?
Ren Yi declined, saying, "I won't. There are two tickets available, so you and Duan Rui can go together."
Zhou Kai immediately chimed in, not giving Duan Rui a chance to speak: "I just asked, and Duan Rui said he didn't want to go. Besides, what's there for the two of us to do together?"
Ren Yi: ?
The three of them had been sitting in one car since they came out of the cemetery. When did they say that? How come he didn't know?
And why can't the two of them go? It's not like they're going on a vacation to pilot mechs. Are they going to fight each other, two mech pilots?
Before Ren Yi could even grasp the logic behind those words, Zhou Kai leaned forward, wrapped his arm around the seat, and rested it on Ren Yi's shoulder in a friendly manner. "I just escaped death, and now that I finally have a vacation, I need to calm my nerves."
Ren Yi: "..."
It took me so long to calm my nerves; my reaction time is really quite long.
Zhou Kai's excuse was so half-hearted that it was obvious to anyone that it was just a pretext. Ren Yi couldn't help but glance at Duan Rui again, wondering if the two of them had a falling out.
Although this "I'm not playing with you anymore" behavior is incredibly childish, Ren Yi deeply doubts the intelligence of the entire school's graduating class, considering that Duan Rui once stubbornly maintained a cool demeanor while competing with others in eating capacity until he vomited. Even though Zhou Kai is far beyond the reach of his peers, the fact that he and Duan Rui can hang out together is enough to say a lot.
Duan Rui was concentrating on trying to cut off the arm pressing on Ren Yi's shoulder with his eyes, but when Ren Yi saw him, he immediately sat up straight, keeping his eyes down. This series of actions made it impossible for Ren Yi to tell whether he wanted to go or not.
Ren Yi simply said directly, "If you want to go, don't worry about me."
Duan Rui: "I..."
He had barely uttered a word when Zhou Kai, who was standing next to him, forcefully subdued him. Relying on his years of experience from training, Zhou Kai easily countered a few moves and then effortlessly tackled Duan Rui in the cramped space of the back seat. He then answered very confidently, "He doesn't want to!"
Ren Yi: "..."
As if things weren't chaotic enough, Zhou Kai tightened his grip on Duan Rui's hand, then belatedly remarked, "So easy?"
Ren Yi swore that he saw with his own eyes that as soon as Zhou Kai finished speaking, the veins on Duan Rui's forehead bulged.
He couldn't help but look at Zhou Kai with a complicated expression. The first person you shouldn't mess with in this world is a chosen one who is still growing. For example, there's the well-known saying "Don't underestimate a young man's potential" or "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river." What will happen to people who do these things? The predecessors have already demonstrated it clearly and plainly.
Zhou Kai felt that his offhand remark was absolutely sincere and not at all meant to provoke anyone. To put it bluntly, just recently in Agab, when he first met Ren Yi, the latter had easily dodged his tackle.
Ren Yi was unaware of Zhou Kai's sincerity. He glanced at Duan Rui, whose expression was blank and clearly conveyed "I've got it," then looked at Zhou Kai, who was completely oblivious to the seriousness of the situation and still grinning foolishly...
Ren Yi: "..."
In the end, all he could do was give Zhou Kai a "good luck" look.
*
After much fuss, Ren Yi finally accepted Zhou Kai's invitation. He feared that if he refused again, Zhou Kai would be blacklisted by the chosen ones. Moreover, Yalan Star wasn't far from the star system where "Star River" was currently located, so if the timing was right, he could bring the system back.
However, when it came time to actually board the starship, it was Ren Yi and Duan Rui who were looking at each other in bewilderment at the starport.
Duan Rui's expression was tense. Before Ren Yi could ask, he explained, "Senior Zhou said he has an urgent mission."
His tone was somewhat stiff and awkward.
Ren Yi didn't pay much attention to Duan Rui's tone. He was initially surprised by Duan Rui's use of "senior." Judging from the way the two of them had been fooling around earlier, Duan Rui didn't seem like the type to obediently call someone "senior." He didn't know what had happened between the two of them, but Zhou Kai seemed to be covered in idiots.
But an urgent mission?
Ren Yi hesitated for a moment, and Duan Rui's expression became even more tense as he was scrutinized. He even clenched his fist on the side, clearly indicating that he was not yet good at lying through his teeth.
However, what Duan Rui said has actually become a fact.
Zhou Kai initially intended to use this excuse. However, as it turns out, one shouldn't do bad things. He was urgently recalled as soon as he came up with the excuse, and his precious vacation was completely ruined.
It's still because of the previous blockade of the planet.
Ren Yi didn't have time to send the chip he got from the Agab Sea Castle because of various accidents. However, after he woke up in the hospital, he told Zhou Kai the location of the chip. The Alliance Special Operations Group took over the rest, and it had nothing to do with Ren Yi, the enthusiastic citizen.
With the chip as evidence, Fritt, the owner of the sea castle, was successfully taken into custody by the Alliance.
The information obtained from the latter, along with the evidence and witnesses left behind at the blockade star base, proved that the Alliance had indeed located the headquarters of the organization that traded with Fritt.
But they were too late.
The concept of being "a step too late" doesn't mean being informed by the other side and leaving first; it means that the place... was massacred. When the relevant personnel arrived, all that remained was a bloody scene, littered with severed limbs, looking as if it were not even the work of a "human."
Such a serious incident occurred. Zhou Kai, who was still on vacation, was naturally recalled. As the person involved with Luo Daixing, he had more information than others, and being present was always more helpful than not being there.
Ren Yi was unaware of the details, but emergency missions don't always have a specific time frame. He accepted the explanation with some skepticism, then looked at Duan Rui, whose expression was extremely cold due to excessive tension, and hesitated: "If you don't want to go..." Never mind.
Duan Rui replied quickly but stiffly, "I want to go!"
Ren Yi: "..."
But your expression right now clearly looks like you're being threatened with a light gun pointed at your head!
Even the final of the nine-school joint simulation competition back then wasn't this tense.
Ren Yi couldn't help but wonder: Did Zhou Kai really not do anything outrageous? Like, coercion or something?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
