Today was the day they were finally going to that legendary school. When 009-a came in first thing in the morning to pull back the covers, even Lian Qiguang was “very polite”—he didn’t kick him flying like he used to.
Exuding a gloomy aura, Lian Qiguang washed up expressionlessly, ate expressionlessly, and packed all his belongings expressionlessly.
“That’s strange. Why isn’t Big Brother coming down yet?” Having finished packing and leading 009-a out the door, Lian Xiaoru looked puzzled at Lian Yucheng’s tightly closed bedroom door. With her hands in her pockets, she leaned calmly against the doorway, staring expressionlessly at her toes, her mind wandering off somewhere again.
“Who cares? Otherwise, we’ll be late.” Lian Xiaoju tugged at the small pink backpack on her back, stepped forward to take Lian Qiguang’s hand, and looked at him intently: “Second Brother, you have to stay close to me, okay?” “Uh-huh.” Lian Qiguang replied expressionlessly, still staring at his toes, his mind wandering off into the distance.
“009-A, let’s go,” Lian Xiaoju said. “Yes, Miss,” he replied, bowing respectfully.
“Bang!” With a loud thud, Lian Yucheng’s door was flung open. Lian Yucheng, his clothes slightly disheveled, rushed out of the room and blocked Lian Qiguang’s path.
Lian Qiguang watched Lian Yucheng’s agitated expression impassively, calmly waiting for him to speak.
“Qiguang.” Lian Yucheng struggled to calm his inner turmoil, breathing heavily as he fixed his gaze on Lian Qiguang. “That book—did you write it?”
“What book?” His expression remained blank.
“*The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*?”
“It’s mine.” He nodded impassively. He’d seized it from a small bookstore while clearing out a town; once it fell into his hands, it belonged to him.
“You…………” Lian Yucheng lost his usual composure; his pounding heart and burning gaze betrayed his agitation. After thousands of years of catastrophe, the culture once unique to humanity had long since been buried in the ashes of that great disaster. Today, although humanity no longer had to worry about survival, it was still only taking its first steps in terms of civilization. As an employee of Star Entertainment, Lian Qiguang naturally understood the value of this book.
“We’re going to be late,” Lian Qiguang said, staring expressionlessly at Lian Yucheng as he offered a detached reminder. Lian Yucheng snapped back to reality, turned to look at Lian Xiaoju and 009-a, who were standing there frozen, and gradually regained some composure. Lian Qiguang withdrew his hand, slipped it back into his pocket, turned, and walked out with an expressionless face.
“Big Brother, I’m leaving,” Lian Xiaoju waved at Lian Yucheng and turned to follow him. “Second Brother, slow down—wait for me!”
Watching Lian Qiguang’s retreating figure, the intensity in Lian Yucheng’s eyes gradually faded, eventually replaced by calmness and confusion. He had watched this younger brother grow up from childhood; one could say he understood him better than Lian Qiguang understood himself. But ever since that injury, he had found it increasingly difficult to make sense of his younger brother. That extraordinary talent for supernatural abilities, and now this book. Supernatural abilities—he’d even accompanied his younger brother to the testing center back then. A failure at supernatural abilities, a failure at physical combat—it was precisely because of this that his younger brother had attempted suicide several times. Although he’d since let go of those thoughts, his personality had grown increasingly gloomy. But now……
What if he’d been hiding it all along? But then, why would he hide it?
He felt as though his younger brother had become a completely different person—no longer the same person he used to be… Wait a minute!! Lian Yucheng’s heart sank, and his gaze grew heavy.
A different person? Could it be…………
“No! That’s impossible. The hospital test results showed he’s still my younger brother. How could it be…………” Lian Yucheng shook his head, dismissing the thought. But he didn’t realize that once the seed of doubt was planted, it would take deep root, sprout, and grow ever larger.
Scene Break
About two hours later, the hovercar pulled up in front of a school. Lian Xiaoju obediently paid the fare, hopped out, and walked to the other side to open the door for Lian Qiguang. “Second Brother, we’re here.” Lian Qiguang, who had been staring blankly into space with his head down, got out of the car mechanically and gazed expressionlessly at the luxurious building before him. “Second Brother, let’s go! I’ll take you to see the dean first.” Lian Xiaoju stepped forward, took Lian Xiaoru’s hand, and obediently led her second brother—who suffered from a Level 17 social disorder—toward Qingdi Military Academy.
He reached up to pull the hood of his black hooded sweatshirt over his head, letting Lian Xiaoru lead him into the campus without so much as a flicker of emotion.
After registering their lightbrain IDs at the entrance, Lian Xiaoju successfully escorted Lian Qiguang into Qingdi Military Academy. Since it was the first day of school, the campus was somewhat crowded, with most of the people there being robots who had come to escort students.
The loose hood concealed half of Lian Qiguang’s face, and his tousled, choppy hair obscured his eyes, revealing only his small, delicate chin and slightly pursed lips—making it difficult to make out his features at first glance. Yet despite this, Lian Qiguang’s aloof yet unmistakable aura of authority—one that commanded attention—successfully drew the attention of half the people passing by; the other half were robots.
“Look at that guy—he’s so handsome!” The low murmur was barely audible amid the bustling crowd, but Lian Qiguang still heard it.
“He looks unfamiliar. He probably isn’t a student here, right?”
“Could he be a freshman?”
“I think he must be a noble. Look at the way he walks—so elegant.”
“No way. Why would a noble come to District 3? Besides, look at the robot behind him—it’s clearly just a standard household model.”
“Even if he’s not a noble, he’s definitely not just an ordinary commoner.”
“I can’t take it anymore! I’ve made up my mind—I’m going to hit on him…………”
……………………………………
“That’s the third time.” Lian Qiguang stopped in his tracks and stared expressionlessly at Lian Xiaozhu, who was holding his hand. “Huh?” Lian Xiaozhu stopped in a panic, looking at Lian Qiguang with a flustered expression. Her pale little face was now covered in sweat, and her anxious eyes fixed uneasily on him.
“You’ve repeated this part three times already,” he stated impassively. “I’m—I’m sorry!” Lian Xiaoju lowered her head in panic, timidly tugging at the hem of her shirt. “I, I………….” “ “You’re lost,” he stated matter-of-factly, his expression unreadable. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to,” Lian Xiaoju said, on the verge of tears. Lian Qiguang stared at her impassively, his eyes devoid of any emotion. After what seemed like an eternity—just as Lian Xiaoju was ready to atone with her life—Lian Qiguang blankly averted his gaze.
He stared blankly into the air before him, extended his right hand, and—without even looking—grabbed a chubby boy walking past him. He deftly pressed the boy’s head down in front of Lian Xiaoju and said calmly, “Ask for directions.”
“. …………………………….” Lian Xiaozhu
“…………………………….” Everyone