Chapter 27
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Qi Yan only took one puff before setting it down. Lu Fenghan asked him, “Why did you snatch my cigarette?”
Qi Yan replied earnestly, “I wanted to taste what you like.”
He remembered that at the previous Qi family’s celebration banquet, when Lu Fenghan had gone out to meet Meng Ge, he came back with a very faint smell of smoke on him. It was not at all unpleasant.
Lu Fenghan wondered if Qi Yan’s cleanliness fetish had disappeared. There was a natural smile in his voice as he asked, “How did it taste?”
“Not good.” Qi Yan returned the cigarette to Lu Fenghan, recalling the feeling just now. “It’s a bit cold. After inhaling it, it felt like my nerves were suddenly immersed in icy water.”
“Hmm, taking a puff makes one instantly sober.” Lu Fenghan flicked the cigarette with his fingertips. “This type of cigarette was initially used to calm emotions. In sudden emergencies, adrenaline levels rise rapidly. To prevent impulsive judgments due to excessive excitement, smoking this kind of cigarette helps one to quickly calm down.”
It was a habit he developed on the front line.
At first, he didn’t understand why such a thing was included in the military supply list. Later, when he went to battle and personally pressed the launch button, blasting a small starship to smithereens, he realized that his fingers would tremble.
Most people were not born to adapt to the battlefield.
Since then, he had taken to keeping such cigarettes nearby, as advised by those seasoned veterans. Wary of becoming dependent, he only allowed himself to smoke one or two at a time.
Later, when he ascended to the command ship, where a single command could sway the fate of countless lives, he found himself still reaching for a cigarette from time to time. Despite his familiarity with the battlefield, he used these moments to remind himself of the importance of maintaining constant calm and restraint.
Curious, Qi Yan asked, “Do you have a smoking habit?”
“Sort of, but not an addiction. Only light up when needed.”
Upon hearing this, Qi Yan pondered thoughtfully. “Then you must frequently encounter sudden emergencies.”
Seeing his conviction, Lu Fenghan laughed lightly. “You’re laying the trap too obviously.” He continued, “These cigarettes offer only mild calming effects. They’re non-addictive. For me, it’s more of a psychological suggestion, reminding myself to stay composed and rational. There’s another type, much stronger. If you smoke a little bit, you won’t feel strong emotions like fear or anxiety for a period of time. However, that type is harmful to the nervous system, hence its considered a contraband.”
Qi Yan mulled over this. “So Lu Fenghan is a semi-contraband.”
Lu Fenghan, a law-abiding citizen, was unknowingly labeled as a “contraband.” He arched an eyebrow. “How did I become semi-contraband?”
Because around you, I no longer feel intense fear.
But Qi Yan refrained from vocalizing his response. Instead, he rose to his feet. “Shall we go then?”
This visit to the café was a spontaneous arrangement. Vincent suddenly sought a meeting with Lu Fenghan, leading the two to this spot.
Though Qi Yan remained silent, Lu Fenghan faintly grasped his meaning. Without pressing further, he simply acquiesced to Qi Yan’s lead. “As you wish, you’re the boss.”
Exiting the café, the two strolled for a while until they reached the edge of the Diamond Sky Plaza. As usual, numerous tourists wandered about, while areas cordoned off by layers of people were where wandering bards were “preaching.”
Lu Fenghan, typically resolute and difficult to sway, brushed off various opinions, letting them enter one ear and exit the other without taking root. He regarded listening as a waste of time. Qi Yan, averse to crowds, didn’t wish to jostle through. So, the two tacitly avoided those areas, opting instead to stroll along the tree-lined path.
Faintly catching snippets of the bards recounting humanity’s history of expansion in the universe, Lu Fenghan suddenly grew curious about Qi Yan’s perspective. “What’s your view on the rebels?”
“In what aspect?”
“Their core propaganda, the divine authority they claim.”
“Utterly illogical,” Qi Yan offered a succinct evaluation in just two words.
A sleek patrol aircraft cruised overhead as Qi Yan walked beneath the tree canopy, casting his figure in elongated shadows amidst the subdued light.
“The so-called ‘divine authority’ of the rebels is merely a facade, a means for humanity to attribute scientific achievements to the guise of ‘gods.’ If a technological advancement repeats the mistakes of the spatial source, then humans can claim it as ‘divine punishment.’ Both successes and failures, negligence—all can be ascribed to this ‘god’.”
Lu Fenghan found this perspective intriguing. “Humans cannot bear the consequences of technological catastrophe, so they fabricate a nonexistent ‘god’ to shoulder it?”
“Hmm, human nature tends to be weak. If a person spills the last cup of water in the desert, they might blame themselves and fall apart. But if there were two people, then the first thing they’d think of is…”
“Blaming the other? Just to ease their own conscience?”
“Exactly. If in this world there are humans and gods, then when that cup of water is spilled, humans can blame the gods. The spatial source is that cup of water. When the spatial source causes countless planets to explode, countless humans to die, humans can avoid regret and self-reflection. They simply attribute it to divine punishment.” Qi Yan gazed at his own shadow. “But science doesn’t tolerate weakness or shifting blame. If it’s wrong, it’s wrong; if it’s right, it’s right. Only through continuous introspection and correction can ‘wrong’ be transformed into ‘right.'”
Lu Fenghan nodded in agreement. “But not everyone has the courage to face mistakes and their consequences.”
“That’s why we must strive to prevent errors from occurring.” Qi Yan circled back to the earlier discussion. “At the time, there was an urgent need for a scapegoat to bear the consequences of technological catastrophe. In the era of Earth, in Jewish rituals, a lamb bore the sins of the people. Now, it’s reversed. The gods are becoming the scapegoats for humanity. This is the original reason behind the rebels’ so-called ‘divine authority.’ But ultimately, the surface ‘divine authority’ of the rebels is nothing more than a guise for personal dictatorship in the name of gods.”
Lu Fenghan concurred. “The so-called rebellion against the Alliance’s technological advancements offending the realm of gods is just a pretext to deceive people. In reality, it’s about overthrowing the Alliance’s rule. Ambition always dresses itself in noble excuses.”
Qi Yan sensed that Lu Fenghan’s mood wasn’t quite right.
As he spoke, Lu Fenghan’s lips pressed tightly together, a hint of sharpness barely perceptible.
He speculated that during their recent meeting, Vincent had discussed the rebels with Lu Fenghan.
So when Lu Fenghan wanted to chat, Qi Yan obliged him.
The two meandered around the Diamond Sky Plaza, pausing intermittently, lingering until the fountain performance concluded before departing. As their car traveled along the expressway, Qi Yan’s personal terminal chimed.
“Xia Zhiyang?”
“Qi Yan, do you have time? If so, come join us for some fun?” Xia Zhiyang’s surroundings sounded noisy. “It’s finally a day off from school. It’d be a waste not to enjoy ourselves after all the hard work!”
As soon as he spoke, Qi Yan heard laughter nearby, likely from Chen Mingxuan. There were also voices conversing, a few sounding familiar from their classmates.
Qi Yan didn’t refuse. “Where are you guys? I’ll come over now.”
The club lounge was filled with several people. Xia Zhiyang and Chen Mingxuan had initially invited a few acquaintances from their circle to hang out together. Unexpectedly, as they reached the entrance, they ran into Jiang Qi, who had his own group. Eventually, they all ended up in a large private room together.
Given that Qi Yan had been in the limelight recently, and several of the people present were Turan’s students, the conversation naturally turned to Qi Yan.
Jiang Qi’s veiled remark, “My brother has never returned home,” subtly implied Qi Yan’s lack of filial piety. Then, “It’s normal for my brother not to feel close to family just after returning,” suggested that Qi Yan, who spent over a decade away, had a distant relationship with his family.
These words, coupled with Jiang Qi’s expression and tone, gave Xia Zhiyang a headache.
“Jiang Qi, among us, you’re the most impressive! Getting into Turan solely based on your own merits, without spending a cent! You have no idea how many times your dad has praised you. Every time he does, my dad comes to hassle me, complaining that I’m embarrassing him.”
Someone nearby seconded, “Exactly! Compared to those who bought their way into Turan, you’re way more impressive!”
Xia Zhiyang kept a straight face as he quietly spoke to Chen Mingxuan, who was engrossed in a game. “Jiang Qi only scored two points higher than the Turan admission cutoff. He barely made it. Why is he so proud of himself? Qi Yan initiated two open-source projects within the first month of school, but he’s not showing off like Jiang Qi.”
Chen Mingxuan glanced at him. “The point isn’t the two-point difference. It’s that his dad threw him a celebration banquet. Wouldn’t he boast? Haven’t you heard? His dad keeps praising him all the time.”
Xia Zhiyang pondered this.
Maybe because Jiang Qi felt insecure about his position, he always tried to show off, trying to prove how much he was valued. Ironically, he ended up making the truly deserving one seem like an outsider.
Before long, the door to the private room swung open, and the first to enter was Qi Yan, followed by the quietly imposing Lu Fenghan.
Xia Zhiyang broke into a smile and waved. “Qi Yan, over here!”
Instantly, everyone in the room turned their gaze toward Qi Yan.
It was happening again.
Jiang Qi’s gaze darkened as he watched Qi Yan take a seat next to Xia Zhiyang.
No matter the occasion, whenever Qi Yan appeared, he would draw almost everyone’s gaze, becoming the center of attention.
It had been that way at Turan, and it was no different here.
He overheard someone who had just been praising him turn to someone else and whisper, “Is that Qi Yan? I thought all the high achievers were just ordinary-looking nerds. I didn’t expect him to be so handsome!”
“He doesn’t really resemble Uncle Qi. He must take after his mother. My mom said his mother was also a Turan graduate, very beautiful, and exceptionally smart. Uncle Qi seemed to have fallen in love at first sight and pursued her for two or three years before winning her over!”
“For that long? I thought he grew up on some remote planet. He should have had a rough edge to him, but looking at him, wouldn’t you believe he grew up in Leto?”
Jiang Qi had almost left indentations on the sofa with his fingers before he managed to compose his expression and called out to Qi Yan, “Brother.”
But Qi Yan acted as if he hadn’t heard, not even lifting his eyes. Only Chen Mingxuan glanced at him, his gaze tinged with mockery.
The smile on Jiang Qi’s face froze.
Xia Zhiyang, playing a game, chatted with Qi Yan. “Come to think of it, I also think you don’t resemble Uncle Qi at all. Your eyes, nose, nothing looks like his. Honestly, Jiang Qi looks more like Uncle Qi than you!”
Qi Yan: “I take after my mom.”
Xia Zhiyang carefully examined Qi Yan’s features and genuinely remarked, “Your mom must have been exceptionally beautiful.” Then he casually asked, “Is Auntie still residing in the Messier Region?”
“No.” Qi Yan’s hand, which was controlling the game character, froze for a moment. “She passed away.”
Xia Zhiyang didn’t expect to receive this answer. “I didn’t know… I’m sorry!”
Qi Yan shook his head. “It’s okay.”
Xia Zhiyang didn’t dare to inquire further. Recalling the fragments he had heard from elders over the years, he remembered that Qi Yan had been taken to the Messier Region by his mother at the age of three to live with his grandparents. Eight years ago, Qi Wenshao married Jiang Yunyue, and Jiang Qi also entered the Qi family. Surprisingly, there had been no news about Qi Yan and his mother.
Could it be… Qi Yan’s mother passed away eight years ago?
Guesses kept going back and forth in his mind. Xia Zhiyang knew it was not good to pry into someone’s past, so he kept quiet and continued chatting about the game.
Yet, he couldn’t help feeling sorry for Qi Yan— if Qi Yan’s mother had indeed passed away eight years ago, Qi Yan would have been only eleven at the time. So young.
Feeling the stuffiness in the private room, Qi Yan didn’t stay long before leaving early, only to be stopped in the corridor by Jiang Qi.
This time, Jiang Qi didn’t call out to him with a smiling face. He spoke directly, “The school caught some spies colluding with the rebels a few days ago. I was telling Dad that Leto and Turan aren’t very safe right now.”
Qi Yan waited for him to continue.
Jiang Qi’s gaze lingered on Lu Fenghan, who was half a step behind Qi Yan. “Is this bodyguard Dad’s arrangement for you?” With a smirk on his lips, he asked Qi Yan as if negotiating, “Do you think Dad would agree if I told him I also want a bodyguard for my safety and asked him to replace your bodyguard with mine?”
He knew he shouldn’t have come to provoke Qi Yan so early. He should have continued to play the submissive younger brother, making Dad feel even more sorry for him and more biased toward him.
But he couldn’t bear it anymore.
Qi Yan stood still.
Elisa had once said he was emotionally indifferent, without any particular desires or attachments, including life itself.
But at this moment, knowing that Jiang Qi was trying to provoke him, Qi Yan still felt a kind of irritation he had never experienced before.
Someone was trying to take Lu Fenghan away.
Qi Yan’s gaze turned colder by an inch.
He took a step forward towards Jiang Qi.
Instinctively, Jiang Qi hastily stepped back.
Qi Yan’s voice was soft, his eyes calmly fixed on Jiang Qi. There was no obvious emotion on his face, yet he uttered the words that Jiang Qi feared the most.
“So, you want everyone to know that you’re the child of Qi Wenshao and Jiang Yunyue, but actually only three months younger than me?”
How did he know?
Sensing the strong warning in Qi Yan’s words, Jiang Qi’s heart pounded heavily, his fingers clenched suddenly, his voice dry, “What do you want?”
Qi Yan took a step back, remaining silent.
Jiang Qi’s breath hitched, avoiding Qi Yan’s chilling gaze. “What I said just now… No, I didn’t say anything just now!”
Only then did Qi Yan turn to Lu Fenghan, who was waiting beside him. “Let’s go.”
Exiting the clubhouse, Lu Fenghan descended the steps, unable to help but glance at Qi Yan.
It was evident that Qi Yan had just been angry, even warning Jiang Qi.
Yet, because of Qi Yan’s rare display of sharpness, Lu Fenghan inexplicably felt a sense of pleasure.
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Thanks for the update