After Lin Zhongchuan finished all the arrangements, Helian Jue took Qiao You's hand, opened the door to the lounge, and led the group outside.
Aside from that time when Lan Shuixing secretly went out, this was the first time she had walked openly beside Helian Jue.
“Brother, Sol Star…” Qiao You hadn’t forgotten the real reason Helian Jue came here; his brother was injured because of fighting with the Alliance army.
Helian Jue's fingers rubbed against Qiao You's hand. "It's nothing serious."
"But my brother is injured," Qiao You muttered. "They're all bad guys!"
Helian Jue was amused by Qiao You's childish words, "How does Xiaoyu know they are bad guys?"
"They hurt my brother, so they're bad guys," Qiao You said angrily.
Helian Jue particularly liked Qiao You speaking up for him like this, as it made him feel that Xiaoyu's heart and eyes were full of him.
Soon, the two walked hand in hand along the cold corridor of the main ship. Qiao You didn't like colors like black and silver, always feeling that they were somewhat cold and gloomy, but the Empire's warships were mostly these colors.
Qiao You moved closer to Helian Jue, who noticed Xiao Yu shivering and pulled her into his arms. "What's wrong? Are you cold?"
Xiaoyu's shoulders did seem a bit cold, so Helian Jue stopped, took off his coat, and thoughtfully put it back on Xiaoyu.
Qiao You wanted to say he wasn't cold, but the coat, which smelled of his brother, made him reluctant to refuse.
Xiao Yu was slender, and Helian Jue's coat, which was already large, covered her completely. "Brother, your coat is so big!"
Helian Jue put his arm around Xiaoyu's shoulder and said, "Xiaoyu, please bear with it for the next few days. We'll buy you some clothes that fit when we get back to the capital planet."
Qiao You nodded perfunctorily, "Wearing my brother's clothes is fine too."
Helian Jue led Qiao You to the portico of the main ship, which was located at the very top of the entire ship. It was completely transparent, as if he were in the vast universe, surrounded by nothingness and darkness.
Seeing this, Qiao You was frightened and quickly took two steps back. "Brother, I'm scared..."
Helian Jue supported Qiao You's lower back at just the right moment, "Don't be afraid, your brother is here."
"Wait a minute, there's a shooting star, it's beautiful."
Qiao You clung tightly to Helian Jue, unwilling to move. "Then let's watch from here."
Helian Jue sat down on the ground, and Qiao You automatically found a seat in front of him and sat down next to him.
The two sat quietly for a while. Helian Jue looked into the distance and saw a glimmer of light. He reminded Xiaoyu, "It's coming soon."
Qiao You looked up and saw five or six shooting stars streak across the sky. A look of amazement flashed in her eyes. "Brother, quickly make a wish!"
"What do you mean?" Helian Jue asked, looking at the suddenly excited little fish in front of him.
"In my hometown, if you make a wish upon seeing a shooting star, it will definitely come true." Qiao You's tone was filled with deep nostalgia; he missed everything about ancient Earth.
Helian Jue raised his finger and brushed it across the corner of Qiao You's eye. "Then I hope Xiaoyu will always be happy."
Qiao Youyi followed suit, saying, "Then I hope my brother will always be healthy and safe."
His little fish.
The first five or six shooting stars were just the beginning. What followed was a stunning visual feast as countless shooting stars streaked across the sky like raindrops, a spectacle that lasted for nearly ten minutes.
Such scenes are common in space, and Helian Jue has seen them countless times, but never before has he been so captivated and nostalgic that he was unwilling to leave.
He was captivated by every smile, frown, and anger of the little fish. The little fish was admiring the beautiful scenery, but he was always watching the little fish.
After the feast, Qiao You remained silent for a few seconds, then turned to look at Helian Jue. "Brother, my hometown is not here."
"I mean not in interstellar space."
Helian Jue grasped Qiao You's hand and said firmly, "But you will always be my little fish."
“I am my brother’s little fish!” Qiao You said with a smile. “I come from Earth from who knows how many years ago.”
"The Earth back then was different from the ancient Earth we know today. There were oceans, plains, plateaus... all kinds of beautiful scenery, mountains, lakes, snow-capped mountains..."
"There are four seasons in a year, and different scenery every month, every day."
"That tiny planet has nurtured billions of people, including our mermaid race."
"I am the last cub of the mermaid race. My father often says that I have brought hope to the mermaid race and that I bear the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the mermaid race."
“Brother, I don’t know why I brought hope, and I don’t know how to save the mermaid race. I’ve asked Father and Mother countless times, and they just say that I’ll understand when I grow up.”
Qiao You was lost in his memories, his expression sad and his eyes empty. Helian Jue felt as if a sharp blade was cutting into his heart. Such emotions should not appear on Xiao Yu's face.
"It was a beautiful afternoon. I sneaked out to play with Xiaohu. The sunset was shining on the sea, making it look golden and very beautiful."
"I was carrying the coral I had pulled from the sea, intending to appease my mother and avoid punishment. Just as I reached the palace gate, my father and his guards rushed towards me."
"Let me stay far away and never come back."
"I don't know the reason, I asked my father what was wrong..."
Qiao You recounted the story while tears streamed down her face, "That was the last time my father touched my head, and it was also the first time I saw him cry..."
“My father’s guards took me away from the Mermaid Palace.”
"I hadn't gone far when I was hit by a tsunami. When I opened my eyes again, I was in the swimming pool of the Spirit Pet Pavilion."
After Qiao You finished her sobbing story, she looked up at Helian Jue with tears streaming down her face: "Brother, do you think my father and mother are..."
The words were left unsaid, but the meaning was clear: thousands of years have passed, and no matter what the merfolk went through back then, they could not possibly have survived to this day.
Helian Jue hugged Xiaoyu tightly and patted her shoulder gently, "Brother's here."
"My brother will always be here."
Qiao You buried herself in Helian Jue's arms and cried her heart out, finally releasing all the emotions she had been suppressing and hiding.
Helian Jue let Xiaoyu vent her emotions, and in a secluded place, he restrained himself and kissed Xiaoyu's hair. He would always love and protect Xiaoyu.
Half an hour later, Qiao You finally calmed down and looked up from Helian Jue's arms, feeling embarrassed.
Helian Jue's military uniform was completely soaked. Qiao You said apologetically, "Brother, I'm sorry..."
Her little hand reached out to touch Helian Jue's chest, trying to wipe it off. It was already embarrassing enough to cry in front of her brother, but she had also gotten his clothes wet. It was so shameful!
"It's nothing." Helian Jue held Qiao You's outstretched hand tightly in his palm.
"So Xiaoyu wants to go to the ancient Earth to take a look?" Helian Jue recalled that Qiao You had been obsessed with the ancient Earth from the very beginning, probably because he wanted to find any trace of his parents.
"Brother promises Xiaoyu that he will definitely find a way to enter the ancient Earth," Helian Jue promised, word by word, his eyes filled with determination as he looked at Qiao You.
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