The manual operations teacher was completely unaware of how absurd he looked at that moment, let alone mindful of the instructor’s good intentions. Before the other could finish speaking, he abruptly shouldered his way forward, forcibly squeezing into and occupying most of the screen.
A face brimming with concern, he asked in a tender voice, “Cheng Feng, how long have you been learning pilot codes? Got any tips? Would you be willing to share them with the students from the UFU?”
Xiang Yunjian and the others felt a wave of discomfort rise straight from the soles of their feet, a tingling, itchy sensation akin to ants crawling over them, jolting them into a collective shiver.
Although they had never taken this teacher’s classes, they had heard numerous rumors about his stern and cold demeanor; they simply couldn’t reconcile with this image of him.
Squinting eyes, a forced smile, unnaturally tugging at the muscles in his face.
Any snapshot taken could be hung up as a promotional poster for a horror film.
Sure enough, Cheng Feng took a step back.
This small step backward was a giant leap backward for her in the human world.
The manual operations teacher asked with puzzled concern, “What’s wrong? Is there something confusing that you need me to explain?”
Cheng Feng shook her head.
Xiang Yunjian walked up behind her, stepping in to help, “He’s tired after running around all day. Let’s wait for the UFU admissions team to arrive before discussing anything professional. Anyway, there’s still plenty of time.”
The instructor finally found a chance to speak, pushing the man aside and interjecting, “My colleagues from UFU have already set off. They should be arriving on the post-war planet soon. You can report any issues to us, and we’ll follow up promptly.”
As he spoke, he winked ambiguously, with a look of tacit understanding. “Don’t worry, the people coming are all on our side.”
He sure had a way of making “pulling strings” sound so refreshingly unconventional.
…Just as suspected, a trafficker indeed.
Afraid that the burly, 1.9-meter-tall man might crowd in and frighten her again, the instructor spoke rapidly, “Also, you can start packing your things tonight. It’s best to find a place to store any valuables. UFU’s holiday schedule is quite tight; there might not be time to return to the post-war planet. Get some good rest. If you have any problems, ask your classmates – everyone here is happy to help…”
Before he could finish his rushed speech, his optical computer was moved away again. This time, it was propped up on the table, the screen zoomed out to encompass the entire conference table. A quick glance showed fifteen to twenty people, all with varied expressions.
An elderly man at the head gave Cheng Feng a slight smile and was about to speak when Cheng Feng stepped forward and directly terminated the video call.
The world fell silent. Cheng Feng let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Jiang Linxia and Yan Shen were both stunned. Seeing her turn around, they gave her a thumbs-up, admiringly exclaiming, “What a brave soul!”
So this is the robot who had never experienced the harshness of human society.
…
Staring at the dark screen, the head of the admissions office smiled helplessly, not taking it to heart. He pulled up the academic records of all the students and began discussing potential recruitment candidates with the other teachers.
The middle-aged man beside him, scanning the scores at lightning speed, muttered without looking up, “Although he doesn’t seem very sociable, he certainly has charisma.”
Charisma, of this sort, is partly innate – especially the allure of a commander.
Its manifestations can be vastly different.
Take Lian Sheng, for instance. Her commanding style is passionate and fervent; being her soldier feels the surging power of a tidal wave.
Cheng Feng, on the other hand, embodies ultimate calm. It’s as if a chunk of the sky could split open and fall right in front of her, and she would only state coldly, “Congestion ahead, take a detour.”
What they share is the ability to inspire a sense of security. There’s really nothing wrong with that.
“Mhm.” The old man smiled. “I’m very much looking forward to the changes he’ll bring us.”
…
The afternoon was free.
Xiang Yunjian and his three companions went back to organize their equipment, while Cheng Feng decided to harvest and sell her cabbages. After all, she had just over two hundred dollars left in her wallet.
The market on the post-war planet remained sluggish these past two days. Cabbages were too expensive; people preferred cheap, instant food.
Cheng Feng set up her stall by the roadside for the whole afternoon, but her earnings totaled only twelve dollars. One of her cabbages even got torn and ruined.
There really were a lot of unpleasant people in this place.
Hugging her knees, Cheng Feng watched the crowds of people walking by in groups. After some inner struggle, she slightly revised her assessment.
Actually, it wasn’t particularly bad. It was just that she wasn’t doing particularly well.
After darkness fell, Cheng Feng carried her bamboo basket to the city’s orphanage and placed the items by the entrance.
The director, leaning against the window sill, spotted her and called out in surprise, “Cheng Feng?”
Hearing her name, Cheng Feng looked up and met his gaze silently. When he failed to speak, she simply turned and walked away on her own.
The director urgently called out again, “Cheng Feng! Ye Guicheng! Wait!”
When Cheng Feng stopped once more, the director still hadn’t figured out what to say. The wrinkles on his face deepened as he strained to lean half his body out the window and asked, “Where are you going?”
Cheng Feng said, “Going home.”
After a moment’s thought, she added, “I’m not coming back.”
The director muttered blankly, “Ah…”
To this person, the only one who had bid her farewell, Cheng Feng reluctantly added one more sentence: “Goodbye.”
Pulling her hat down lower, she turned and dashed all the way back.
…
Cheng Feng didn’t have many belongings.
The only things she couldn’t part with were a single box and a discarded combat robot. She was ready to set sail at any moment.
The next morning, students with optical computers received notifications of the meeting point; for those without, UFU students manually confirmed the details.
Xiang Yunjian was responsible for picking her up. To help transport her things, he had even specially borrowed a small truck.
As it turned out, Cheng Feng simply emerged dragging her robot companion along, with a box balanced on top of her head.
She was still dressed in her peculiar outfit. Xiang Yunjian laughed as soon as he saw her and asked, “Is this all you have?”
Cheng Feng nodded.
The lock on the small leather box perched on her head was already broken and had been roughly repaired with metal. It looked rather fragile, incapable of holding too much.
Xiang Yunjian helped her lift it down and placed it in the back seat of the truck, asking, “What do you have in here? Flammable or explosive items aren’t allowed; they have to go through security.”
“Nothing much,” Cheng Feng said. “Just bringing my father home.”
She opened the box for Xiang Yunjian to inspect.
Inside was only a set of military dress uniforms, washed until they looked brand new and folded neatly. On the left side lay several unsent letters, and on the right were various medals.
A few of the medals bore the emblem of the Alliance, while several others displayed the insignia of the post-war planet.
Xiang Yunjian roughly understood.
The post-war planet’s military capabilities had always been relatively weak, so it maintained regular collaboration with the Alliance for academic exchanges.
Cheng Feng’s father must have been a specially recruited student back then. After graduating, he served in the Alliance for a few years, and when war broke out, he returned to his homeland.
“He was actually raised in the Alliance,” Cheng Feng said.
She couldn’t quite articulate it. The concepts of “home” or “homeland” were too vague for someone who had spent their life moving from place to place. Her father himself couldn’t distinguish them clearly.
But her father had wanted to go back. He just couldn’t find his own way home.
Cheng Feng said, “I’m taking him back.”
Xiang Yunjian closed the lid of the box and said, “Let’s go.”
…
Since several rounds of selection by military universities had already taken place, the quality of the remaining students was generally average. However, during the previous exercises, the admissions team still spotted some potential.
In the end, United Federation University recruited a total of ten students, including Cheng Feng.
By the time Cheng Feng arrived, the other students were almost all gathered.
They were mostly loaded with large bags and small parcels, their faces beaming with excitement they could barely hide. They were bidding farewell to their families, chatting noisily amongst themselves.
Jiang Linxia waved at her, signaling her to come over. He fished two bags of chicken drumsticks from a supply box behind him and tempted her, “Call me brother, and these are yours.”
Xin Kuang slapped his hand away, handed the snacks to Cheng Feng, and said, “Eat as much as you want. Don’t mind him, just help yourself.”
As Cheng Feng was about to take them, Xiang Yunjian stopped her.
“Don’t give it to him.”
Hearing this, Jiang Linxia protested loudly, “Never skimp on education, no matter how poor; never let the children suffer, no matter how hard the times! Why are you such a killjoy?”
“Do you have any idea how much he ate in the car!” Xiang Yunjian grabbed the back of Cheng Feng’s neck. “Look how small he is. Do you think his stomach can handle any more?”
Cheng Feng broke free, looking rather displeased. She set her combat robot down on the ground and crouched beside it, waiting for the spaceship.
Xiang Yunjian crouched down next to her, eyeing the hat she had pulled down firmly. He tried to strike up a conversation again. “Can I ask you a question?”
Cheng Feng tilted her head to look at him.
“You shaved your head… is it because the robot doesn’t have any hair?” Xiang Yunjian gently touched her head. “But why do you like wearing hats so much?”
Cheng Feng swatted his hand away. Though she didn’t say a word, the aura around her noticeably darkened.
Xiang Yunjian felt he might have stumbled upon some kind of secret.
He asked, “So, what happened to your hair?”
Cheng Feng patted the shiny, bald head of her combat robot and emphasized, “I am not bald.”
To be precise, she did have some hair; it was just very short.
Yan Shen leaned in and asked, “So, did you mess it up cutting it?”
Jiang Linxia exclaimed in surprise, “It’s not natural baldness, is it?”
Xin Kuang was also shocked. “At your age? That can’t be right!”
“I’m NOT bald!” Cheng Feng, exasperated by their incessant chatter, shouted, “It was cold at night, no heating. I was using a brazier for warmth and wasn’t paying attention – it got burned!”
The four of them were momentarily stunned. They found it a bit pitiful, yet also a bit funny. In the end, joy overpowered their conscience, and they burst out laughing heartily.
Cheng Feng had guessed it – guessed that this group of unkind people would laugh at her. But she hadn’t anticipated they would be so utterly unrestrained about it.
She was angry.
Their laughter didn’t last long. A gigantic shadow drifted across the horizon, floating above the thick clouds.
Red and white lights flashed intermittently, warning the nearby crowd of the impending landing.
Xiang Yunjian immediately suppressed his smile, lifted his chin, and said, “Here it comes.”
