Limited Ambiguity Chapter 63

Chapter 63

After the battle, there always came a wonderfully relaxing leisure time. Magelyn, having managed to sleep through the night for once, strolled to the kitchen, hoping to find something other than nutritional supplements to satisfy her cravings.

The rooms of several ship captains were not far apart. She hadn’t walked far before encountering Wayne. Through years of tacit understanding, they confirmed each other’s destination with a glance and walked to the kitchen together.

There were only a few people moving about in the corridors, as most were either on duty, dispatched elsewhere, or still asleep.

Wayne asked Magelyn, “When are you setting off?”

With the annihilation of the rebel army’s 11th Corps, it was only natural for the front line to advance significantly. Lu Fenghan had already assigned each ship captain a sector of the starfield to patrol with their teams.

One task was to eliminate any stray remnants of the enemy, and another was to verify the starmaps, such as identifying new particle storms or signs of stellar activity. While patrolling, they could also adjust the defenses on-site. It wasn’t complicated, but it was still quite a bit of work.

“Let’s find something to eat before we go. My mouth is starting to taste like feathers from drinking nutritional supplements every day,” Magelyn said with a hint of irritation. “Last night, I was even thinking about applying to the Commander to see if, after I finish patrolling, I could take a detour to Southern Cross Region for a bit, find a place to land, and breathe some pure natural air.”

Wayne understood immediately. “You want to find a man to sleep with, don’t you?”

Magelyn touched her nose and then justified herself confidently, “Going into battle is so draining. Every nerve in my brain is stretched tight. I need relief! I need rest! I need to release the pressure!”

Wayne didn’t quite get it. “Just spend a couple of days holed up in the gravity training room?”

Magelyn couldn’t help but grimace. She had her own aesthetic standards. “Too much muscle is ugly and ruins the visual appeal in bed. I’m just perfect as I am.”

As they conversed, the kitchen doors slid open on both sides. Magelyn, catching sight of the scene inside, stumbled slightly and instinctively rubbed her eyes. “Did I forget to bring my eyeballs with me?”

Wayne was equally shocked. “Why is the Commander here? Did we take a wrong turn and end up in the command room?”

It was common knowledge throughout the command ship that Lu Fenghan had never been one for quality living. He rotated through nutrient pastes with little regard, content to subsist on them from January 1st to December 31st, without even bothering to heat up a can of mashed potatoes in the kitchen.

Magelyn muttered under her breath, “…Am I seeing a ghost?”

At the moment, the voice of Pojun cut through the air. “May I ask where you saw a ghost?”

Lu Fenghan reassured Pojun, “They’re just joking, no ghosts here.” Then, he turned to the two standing at the doorway, pointing upwards with a nod. “He’s scared.”

Magelyn was speechless for five seconds.

The commander appearing in the kitchen, and an artificial intelligence that’s afraid of ghosts?

Surprisingly, Wayne didn’t see any issue with this. “Pojun is only six months old, so it’s normal for him to be scared of ghosts!”

Taking a few steps closer, he couldn’t resist prying, “Commander, what brings you to the kitchen?”

Then, as he looked down, he saw Lu Fenghan holding a sharp small knife with a serious expression as he meticulously carved apple chunks into bunny shapes???

He had seen Lu Fenghan with guns, and he had seen Lu Fenghan hauling cannons, but never had he witnessed Lu Fenghan being so domesticated and skilled in the kitchen!

Lu Fenghan saw nothing amiss with his actions. “Qi Yan isn’t feeling well, so I’m preparing a plate of fruit for him.”

“Oh. Oh, I see…” Wayne suddenly recalled the image of someone sitting on Lu Fenghan’s lap. He was itching to ask questions, but he couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth.

After making V-shaped cuts on the skin and completing the final two apple bunnies, Lu Fenghan asked, “Has the distribution of the seized supplies been completed?”

Magelyn was busily tearing open a chocolate wrapper and responded to his question, “Dividing the spoils ranks among the Top Three Post-battle Priorities! We’ve already finished our share. The few of us split sixty percent, and the rest went to logistics. The Logistics Department was likely working overtime last night to inventory the supplies, so the report should be on your desk soon.”

The space military was far from romantic as imagined. After the swashbuckling on the battlefield, soldiers had to dutifully file reports, not to mention the shift rotations, public holiday schedules, and inventory checks. Especially after the fall of Leto, when the Alliance’s military and administrative center relocated to Odin, times became tough for everyone, making the stockpiling and management of supplies critically important.

That was also why they all lit up at the sight of enemy supply ships.

Over the years, they had developed a tacit understanding. After asking a question, Lu Fenghan didn’t linger and left the kitchen carrying a fruit platter.

Pojun opened the bedroom door, and as soon as Lu Fenghan stepped in, he was met with Qi Yan’s gaze.

Somehow, that look seemed a bit aggrieved, as if pitifully asking, “Where have you been?” Lu Fenghan quickly explained, “I went to the kitchen.”

As he spoke, he placed the fruit platter on the small table by Qi Yan’s bedside.

After taking the medication, Qi Yan quickly felt weak and lethargic, to the point that Lu Fenghan had to carry him to bed.

At this moment, his gaze fell upon the fruit platter, his eyes widening slightly. “Is… that a little bunny?”

“Mm, aren’t you tired of eating nutritional supplements every day? Try something different.” Lu Fenghan fed the apple slices to Qi Yan, who obediently opened his mouth.

Seeing him eat, Lu Fenghan smoothed the strands of hair from Qi Yan’s forehead with his fingers.

Qi Yan trembled slightly.

Lu Fenghan raised an eyebrow. “Does it hurt?”

Avoiding Lu Fenghan’s gaze, Qi Yan shook his head. “Not painful, just itchy.” His gaze flickered over Lu Fenghan’s fingertips. “You have calluses on your fingertips.”

Aware of Qi Yan’s sensitivity to pain, Lu Fenghan didn’t tease him further. Waiting until he finished the second piece, he asked softly, “Qi Yan, I’m real, can you be sure of that?”

Qi Yan lifted his eyes, his gaze serene.

Or perhaps, Qi Yan’s gaze had always been this way. Lu Fenghan didn’t know if it was the same for all those who dedicated their lives to scientific research and the pursuit of truth. Deep in their eyes, there was always a rare innocence and single-mindedness, unbothered by trivial matters or worldly concerns, always looking towards a distant horizon.

“I’m sure.”

Qi Yan understood Lu Fenghan’s intention.

Cutting the apple into bunny shapes was something the previous Lu Fenghan had never done. Naturally, it was also a fragment that did not exist in his memory.

It wasn’t fiction, but reality.

The man before him was a real existence.

In that moment, a faint crack appeared in Qi Yan’s heart, a thread of sadness seeping through.

Yet, because of the presence of the man beside him, this sorrow was completely dispelled by the wild winds.

He remembered something. “Ye Pei invited me to have mushroom sauce spaghetti.”

Understanding that Qi Yan was seeking confirmation, Lu Fenghan pinched his nose. “There’s no mushroom sauce on the command ship, only at Turan Academy.”

“I remembered wrong.”

Lu Fenghan fed Qi Yan another apple slice and, somewhat abruptly, said, “I’m very grateful.”

Qi Yan: “Grateful for what?”

Lu Fenghan’s tone was gentle. “Grateful that you still trust me.”

Whether it was Qi Yan’s lack of resistance to his proximity, the subtle displays of reliance, allowing his kisses, or even seeking confirmation of his memories at this moment—

Lu Fenghan was deeply grateful.

Qi Yan didn’t reject him, didn’t distance himself, and was still willing to believe in him.

He had feared that a barrier would rise between them. How could he overcome it then?

But it didn’t happen.

Even though he had caused Qi Yan so much pain.

Even when the pain was intense, there was no fear.

Qi Yan swallowed the apple. “Because no one knows when accidents might happen, and you saved me. You came back.”

After uttering the last three words, Qi Yan paused instinctively, hesitating, “I just felt… a little happy?”

He felt a bit bewildered. “I can’t be sure if that feeling was happiness.”

Lu Fenghan’s finger brushed against his lips. “It’s okay not to be sure.” He smoothly changed the subject. “What were you doing just now?”

“Remember I mentioned to you yesterday about disrupting the transmission frequency of Clairvoyants? I had some ideas and was experimenting with it. But I’m not sure about the frequency band decomposition of the Expeditionary Force, so I want to ask Lorenz.”

Lu Fenghan recalled the nights Qi Yan had stayed up in Leto and understood his meaning. “You want to go now?”

Qi Yan remembered the stack of maintenance requests submitted by Magelyn and the others. “Wouldn’t going now interfere with his work?”

“I guess Lorenz will have a sour face for the entire week anyway. Whether we go now or in seven days, it won’t make a difference. If we go in seven days, there might even be a higher chance of Lorenz exploding emotionally.” As Qi Yan got off the bed, Lu Fenghan helped him into a coat. “Let’s go, I’ll accompany you.”

The area of the Technical Department was filled with the rich aroma of coffee.

Ye Pei and Mondrian were being led by seniors to repair the power system of the Jiangling. The data inside was vast, and the two had spent the entire night inside. Now, they each held a cup of espresso to keep themselves going.

Pounding her head, Ye Pei spoke with a weary tone. “I feel like I’ve gone crazy. Which devil designed this power system? Is their brain wired differently from ours? But now I understand why the boss dislikes Captain Magelyn and Captain Duchamp so much! Those two are the ones who endlessly increase the workload!”

Mondrian took a sip of coffee, the bitter and stimulating taste awakening his senses. “I heard from the seniors that the power system was designed by someone from the White Tower a hundred years ago, and it’s been upgraded every year since, so it’s becoming more and more complex internally.”

“It’s the White Tower. ‘For the continuation of mankind.’” Reciting the motto of the White Tower, Ye Pei’s face lit up with admiration—

For anyone engaged in scientific research, this name was like a distant star in the sky.

The next moment, Ye Pei deflated again. “I only managed to jot down two-thirds of what the senior talked about just now. Let’s compare notes later and fill in the missing parts. I feel like today’s content is more than what Professor Fu would cover in a month!”

Mondrian agreed and then suddenly added, “Don’t you think they sound alike?”

Ye Pei blinked as if recognizing a secret code. “You think so too?”

They locked eyes, both understanding what the other was implying.

Mondrian continued, “I heard Lorenz mention that the Commander-in-Chief’s last name is Lu.”

Ye Pei gripped the cup handle, leaning forward slightly, speaking a bit faster. “Do you also think that voice sounds similar to Qi Yan’s bodyguard? Like when he said ‘Assemble’ yesterday, it immediately reminded me of him!”

After speaking, Ye Pei returned to her chair, overturning her earlier speculation. “But it’s impossible, the Commander is the Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force, and he’s also the youngest brigadier general in the Alliance. If not for his age, he would have been promoted to major general long ago based on his merits. It’s inconceivable that he would serve as a bodyguard in Leto.”

Mondrian, holding a nearly empty coffee cup, agreed with Ye Pei’s assessment.

“Yeah, with so many people in the Alliance, it’s normal for voices to sound similar, and ‘Lu’ isn’t an uncommon surname. Look, General Lu Jun also has the surname Lu.” Ye Pei recalled the events on the Foundation Day. “But if we ever meet him again, we should thank him in person.”

At that moment, there was movement from the direction of the main door. Ye Pei and Mondrian instinctively glanced over to see Qi Yan walking in.

She was about to get up when she noticed someone following behind Qi Yan.

Tall with long legs, sharp features, and a commanding presence, he stood half a step behind Qi Yan.

This scene was very familiar to Ye Pei. During their time at Turan Academy, she almost saw it every day.

Qi Yan and his bodyguard always moved together.

But this was the command ship of the Expeditionary Force.

Immediately, she noticed the members of the Technical Department getting up one by one, executing precise military salutes.

Ye Pei turned to Mondrian and murmured, “Am I hallucinating from staying up too late?”

Soon, Lorenz, who seemed to perpetually hold a cup of espresso, emerged, his tone not too friendly. “Is the Dingyuan malfunctioning?”

“No, I wanted to ask you about frequency decomposition.” Lu Fenghan noticed the dark circles under Lorenz’s eyes and thought that Magelyn and Duchamp’s decision to avoid the Technical Department was indeed the right one.

Lorenz’s gaze shifted precisely to Qi Yan, his expression somewhat probing, but he could sense Lu Fenghan’s instinctive protective stance toward the young man. However, after only three seconds, he withdrew his gaze. “Come to my workshop.”

Lorenz’s workshop was cluttered with various items, and a few whiteboards stood in the corners, covered in symbols and formulas.

Qi Yan halted. “Are you researching the transformation of Laplace formula?”

Lorenz followed his gaze to the messy sketches on the whiteboard. He hadn’t expected Qi Yan to discern anything from them.

“That’s right.”

Qi Yan approached the whiteboard and picked up a metal pen. “Do you mind if I write on it?”

Lorenz didn’t particularly care about that. “Feel free.”

With that permission, Qi Yan circled several lines of the analysis process on the whiteboard and began writing in the blank space. “Up to this point, everything was correct. Here, we need to use the first breakpoint to obtain a hyperbolic quantity.”

His writing speed was swift. In the workshop, amidst the background hum of the starship’s operation, the only sound was that of the metal pen scratching against the whiteboard.

“…Then, apply the Strouhal number to extract the correct quantity.”

Lorenz’s gaze remained fixed on the whiteboard, his eyes burning with curiosity. “How did you think of using the first breakpoint?”

Qi Yan didn’t quite know how to answer that question. After returning the metal pen to its place, he gave a response that wasn’t really an answer. “The first breakpoint is the only option here. Secondary separation would be incorrect.”

Lorenz scrutinized the content written by Qi Yan repeatedly.

Initially, he thought Qi Yan was on the command ship because he had saved Lu Fenghan’s life in Leto. But now, it was evident that there was more to it than that.

Here was someone who could easily pinpoint where he had gone wrong in the Laplace formula transformation and solve the problem that had been bothering him for almost half a month.

However, Lorenz didn’t press for further explanation. He simply expressed his gratitude sincerely.

Qi Yan shook his head. “I hope you don’t mind my boldness.”

Meanwhile, Lu Fenghan leaned against the edge of the table, adopting a relaxed stance, quietly waiting nearby.

It wasn’t until he heard Lorenz, who often displayed a sarcastic demeanor due to lack of sleep, ask Qi Yan, “Do you have some time today? I have a few questions I’d like to consult you on.”

Lu Fenghan’s gaze hardened slightly, sensing a hint of crisis.

Straightening up, he looked at Qi Yan and spoke in his usual soft tone, “After you finish discussing the frequency decomposition, shall we head back?”

Qi Yan glanced at Lorenz, who was waiting for his response, then turned to Lu Fenghan. “Sure.”

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