“Sun Zhan, I happen to have something that I need to talk to you about,” Xia Fei said to Sun Zhan with a genial smile. “I wonder if your Nanming Association has been affected by the insectoid invasion with the recent war?”
Sun Zhan quickly replied, “Nanming is but a small organization, and it’s located in quite a secluded corner of space. I tried getting in contact with my family a while back, and apparently the insectoid forces did not arrive on the planet where our Nanming Association is headquartered, so they managed to dodge a bullet there; it didn’t suffer any losses as a result, too. Too bad my father still wouldn’t forgive me, so I heard all that from my mother.”
Xia Fei nodded. “No need for you to be so nervous. In time, your father will change his mind when he learns about your achievement in the Adjudicator Union. After all, you’re born with a warrior’s spirit; becoming a full-fledged warrior is too big of a leap from studying pharmacology.”
“I hope so,” Sun Zhan said somewhat helplessly. Now that he was wearing the uniform of the Adjudicator Union, with a bronze insignia pinned on his chest, he was much stronger than that child Xia Fei had bumped into back then. This young man had even matured due to the recently ended war.
After a brief pause, Xia Fei continued speaking. “I ranked up, so White Dews and Snake Eye Berries have become somewhat incapable of aiding me. I’m currently looking for a fruit that will help me replenish the energy I expend in battle. While plenty of drugs can achieve that, they all unfortunately come with unwanted side effects. Natural fruits are still the way to go, and since Nanming specializes in the gathering and concoction of medicinal ingredients, I wonder if you know of any fruit that can fulfill my needs?”
Sun Zhan lowered his head and mulled over the question. “There’s a fruit called Snow Plum that has twelve times the effect of White Dew. Plus, it efficiently replenishes pure energy when consumed, but it’s extremely difficult to pick and few are produced. My father should have some in store. Crest Fruits aren’t bad, too, but they’re even harder to pick. Could big brother need such fruits?”
Before Xia Fei could even answer, it was the eavesdropping Monkey who interjected. “Sun Zhan, you’re really so clueless. Since big brother mentioned it, that means he of course needs them. What, do you expect big bro to beg for it?
“Quickly give your family a call and explain the situation clearly. If your old man learns that big brother Xia Fei is the one in need, he’ll surely give him some face. After all, with Xia Fei being the hero who saved the Panhuman Alliance, a few good words from him to your father may make your father happy that he will stop resenting you anymore.”
With that said, Monkey turned to Xia Fei with a raised brow. “What say you, big bro?”
Monkey was the most perceptive out of these lads, and what he had just perfectly aligned with Xia Fei’s intentions, so he nodded. “Then I will have to trouble you. I’ll definitely do my best to convince your father, though I can’t guarantee that he will have a change of heart.”
Sun Zhan was elated. Though he had made the leap from Nanming Association to the Adjudicator Union, he was still hung up on his state of affairs at home and had long been looking forward to when he could patch things up with his father. He was so excited when he heard that Xia Fei would help convince his father, especially given how famous Xia Fei was right now.
“I’ll give them a call right away!” Sun Zhan hurriedly got up and went walking out of the room clutching his microcomputer.
It was a little after midday when Pang Xing called for servants to send over some refreshments and fresh fruits, claiming that they were for everyone to snack on while also using this chance to inform Xia Fei that Avril’s father and grandfather were both requesting his presence for a meal.
“Ernst and Newman must’ve heard about your deed with Avril last night and plan to discuss the issue of marriage.” Phantom chuckled.
“Marriage?” Xia Fei was slightly surprised, a nervousness gripping him inside. This was a huge life event, after all.
However, he did not have any intention of backing out from the idea. He saw marriage as a responsibility, and Xia Fei had no intention of not taking responsibility for Avril.
Bean and Monkey were next to Xia Fei, and they more or less guessed what the invitation meant. As such, their unscrupulous teasing and ridicule increased even more, with several of them saying that they would like to give Xia Fei a huge wedding gift right now.
Mosquito had his head lowered, seemingly as if he had things on his mind. His eyes would occasionally flick over to Xia Fei, pursing his lips, but this was how he always looked, so Xia Fei paid him no heed.
Sun Zhan soon returned, a look of disappointment all over his face.
“What’s the matter with you?” Xia Fei could tell something was off with Sun Zhan, so he asked him about it.
“My call didn’t get through; nobody picked up on their end.” Sun Zhan sat down on the couch and said.
“Could everyone in your family be out?” Bean asked.
Sun Zhan shook his head. “There’s always someone in my family household twenty-four seven. Even if there’s no one, my mom should always be there.”
Xia Fei furrowed his brows. There was no such thing as a busy line in the interstellar age; it had been almost fifteen minutes since Sun Zhan left to make a call, so it showed that there was truly no one in Nanming, and he suddenly felt a sense of uneasiness in him. ‘Something couldn’t have happened, could it?’
Chuckling, Xia Fei said, “Sun Zhan, it’s been a long time since you went back home, too. Why don’t you and I make a trip out there and take a look for ourselves? I still have something on this afternoon, so we’ll set off before dusk.”
Sun Zhan had a troubled look. “The association is strict, and the journey from Sido to Nanming will take seventeen days; I’m afraid…”
“Afraid what? It’s just calling in a few vacation days; leave everything to me.” Bean puffed up his chest. “Monkey, contact your father and let Sun Zhan take a six-month sabbatical.”
Monkey turned and pointed to himself. “Why me? Why don’t you get your dad to do it?”
Bean smiled sinisterly. “It’s not like you don’t know about the temper of my father. Best if we approach your family for this matter.”
Monkey helplessly shrugged. “Fine, leave this to me.”
The ever simple and honest Hammer was evidently very excited, loudly proclaiming, “We boys don’t have anything to do right now, either, so why don’t we tag along?”
*Slap!*
Bean slapped the back of Hammer’s head. “Have you forgotten that we’re already grounded after being sprung out of jail last night? Forget Nanming, even leaving Sido will cause us to be apprehended by those old coots.”
Everyone sighed, evidently very dissatisfied with being grounded.
“Oh, you guys weren’t here last night? What have you all gotten yourselves into again?” Xia Fei laughed.
Mosquito quietly replied, “We did plan on coming last night, but we ended up bumping into the son of the Monastic Order’s vice-president, and they beat that guy up till he became a cripple.”
Monkey glared at Mosquito hatefully. “Don’t speak as if you’re not involved. Besides, that scoundrel provoked us first. Who knew that he’d be so weak, becoming a cripple without us even lifting too much of a finger?”
Who would have guessed that the refined-looking Mosquito would actually explode in anger!
He got up, sent a heavy kick to a chair, and yelled at Bean and the others, “It’s all your fault! It’s decided that we’d be coming to give big brother Xia Fei a warm welcome, but we ended up fighting and didn’t even make it in time! It’s all your fault! All of you!”
With that, Mosquito went running off, his hands shielding his face.
Everyone was speechless. All these years, these princlings had been playing with one another since they were young, and this was actually the first time they had witnessed Mosquito getting mad, and the reason for it was because they did not make it to Xia Fei’s ‘welcome back’ party?!
“What’s up with Mosquito?” Hammer scratched his head as he asked, puzzled.
Monkey sighed. Mosquito had been playing with them all since young, and everyone knew that she was actually a girl, but because they were all familiar with one another, no one had treated her like one at all.
Monkey poked at Bean, while flicking his eyes over to Xia Fei. Bean instantly understood and laughed. “Forget it. Mosquito has recently been a bit crazy, seemingly possessed. Let’s just leave him be and carry on chatting.”
…
Afternoon came and Pang Xing invited Xia Fei for lunch. Bean and his gang were of course treated well, though they did not share a meal with Xia Fei. These princelings were of outstanding backgrounds and the Jian family did not dare to slight them.
They had the meal in a circular room with a transparent glass for its ceiling. Fragrant flowers wafted and melodious birds chirped around them, giving them a comfortable and warm feeling as the sun rays hit them through the skylight. Everything around them made for an elegant view.
There was a round table where Avril, Ernst, and Newman were already seated. Pang Xing and Pang Hai waited on them from both sides, and no one else was around. Such an arrangement made it seem even more like a family dinner.
Avril saw Xia Fei walking over from afar, and she could not help but feel a bit feverish as she gazed at him. Her soft gaze met Xia Fei’s. For a woman like her, upon having skinship with a man, she would naturally treat him as part of her life, inseparable from here on out.
Xia Fei very naturally sat next to Avril, greeting Newman and Ernst. Avril reached out her hand and held Xia Fei’s own, a very loving gesture seen by all.
Ernst and Newman smiled at each other, seemingly very delighted with the state that Xia Fei and Avril were in today.
After some formalities were exchanged, food and drinks were served. There was hardly much conversation in between aside from coaxing Xia Fei to eat more and a simple introduction to each of the delicacies they were about to dine on.
With the meal done, Pang Xing and Pang Hai each took away the dishes. This meal was of course nothing comparable to what they served when they were in Venal Galaxy, but it did appear that the Jian family had spared no expense to show their thoughts; several of these dish names coincided with the meaning of auspicious celebration, with plenty of allegory within.
Tea was served following the meal, and after taking two sips of the drink, Xia Fei took out a memory chip from his spatial ring and solemnly handed it to Ernst.
“What is this thing here?” Ernst curiously asked.
Xia Fei chuckled as he gave a simple description. “The Black Bat Radar has quite a decent super long-range transmission function which I’ve further improved on so that it can be used as a data transference station. I already made calculations, and given the territory that the Alliance currently holds, as well as the rate at which data are being uploaded and downloaded, you’ll need 1700 relay stations, and six hundred spare stations to ensure the perfect operation of the interplanetary internet. This here will be a great improvement in terms of both cost of maintaining and safety of the network.”
Ernst took the memory chip in hand while uncontrollably shivering. This was a gift that many understood the importance of. The interplanetary internet had been badly damaged during this war, and rebuilding would be astronomical in both the monetary cost and effort required. If they could use this newly improved Black Bat radar station as an information relay, it would take them little time and lower funds to return the interplanetary internet back to its state before the war, and the resulting service would be even better than before!
The Black Bat radar system was a core secret of Quantum Holdings, and many would be willing to exchange their very life just to get a set of its blueprints. Xia Fei had very casually given these to the Jian family, which made this gift even more unimaginably significant! If Xia Fei wanted to, he could very easily replace Starlink Corporation with this technology of his!
Avril looked at Xia Fei with kindness and even a measure of gratitude. She slightly leaned to Xia Fei’s side and whispered, “Thank you. The Jian family could be saved now.”
Ernst and Newman knew very well that this was all because of Avril. If not for her, Xia Fei would not have cared how dire the state of Starlink Corporation was in. It was merely that the gravity of this gift had been of such value that the two were momentarily rendered speechless.
“Oh, that’s right; I have something on, so I’ll be leaving Sido in a few hours,” Xia Fei lightly added.
Avril was slightly stunned, and she asked dumbfoundedly, “You’re leaving again?”
The bed was still warm from last night’s passion, yet Xia Fei was about to leave. Though Avril did not wish to be a burden to Xia Fei, she still could not bear to see him leave.
With a smile, Xia Fei held Avril’s hand. “I’ll only be leaving to visit a friend. Would you like to join me?”
