IEMOJ 40

Chapter 40

After finishing breakfast, the three of them set out, heading straight for the newly opened West City Cubs’ Amusement Park. Due to the weekend, there were an unusually large number of parents taking their cubs out for a day of fun, and they had to endure a half-hour traffic jam before finally reaching the entrance of the amusement park.

Just an hour after they arrived, there was already a long line at the entrance. Initially, Zong Ye wanted to quietly wait in line, but after half an hour with no sign of the line moving, he couldn’t take it any longer and sent a communication to his deputy, asking him to find a way for them to enter the park immediately.

Five minutes later, park staff arrived and led them into the park via the VIP channel in their hovercraft.

Inside the park, it was a sea of cubs. At first glance, all you could see were cubs of various colors—white, black, gray—each with a different appearance, some furry and others smooth. It was easy to lose sight of one’s own cub in the crowd. The park had provided each cub with a collar worn around their necks, which displayed different colored halos above their heads. Parents could identify their children in the cub piles based on these colors.

Tuan Tuan had a golden halo above his head, making him stand out among the cubs. Many of the park activities didn’t require parental participation, so Zong Ye and Jian Ning sat on nearby benches, watching Tuan Tuan play with the other cubs.

There were many parents around, and Zong Ye didn’t want to be recognized. He sat discreetly with sunglasses and a hat. The bench was wide enough, and he and Jian Ning weren’t sitting close together; there was enough space for another person between them.

Since the incident on the spacecraft where Zong Ye had saved Jian Ning, their relationship had improved somewhat. However, Jian Ning still held some resentment. Zong Yue had claimed they were the same person, but Jian Ning couldn’t feel any similarity between them, except for that one fleeting moment when their hands had touched at the birthday party. Jian Ning glanced at Zong Ye, realizing it had been a while since he had seen the second personality and couldn’t help but miss it, regretfully thinking it would be nice if the second personality were here.

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Jian Ning’s bag contained milk and jerky that Abel, the butler, had prepared for Tuan Tuan. Seeing the little bat’s actions, Jian Ning didn’t say anything. He took out a piece of jerky from the bag and handed it to the little bat.

The little bat enjoyed the jerky with relish and continued to rummage through Jian Ning’s bag, pulling out another piece of jerky to snack on. The nearby parent noticed this and, while browsing the star network, casually cautioned, “Baby, take it slow, don’t choke.”

Jian Ning withdrew his gaze from Tuan Tuan and couldn’t help but furrowed his brows. He didn’t want to say anything, so he put away his bag on his own lap. However, unexpectedly, the little bat crawled onto his leg after finishing the jerky, showing no reservation, and continued to rummage through his bag.

Jian Ning was astonished. He wanted to take the bag back, but the little bat boldly waved its wings, refusing to let him have it.

“Take your kid away,” Zong Ye turned to see what was happening and bluntly told the nearby parent, “or else don’t blame me for taking action.”

“What’s wrong? It’s just a few pieces of jerky from your stash,” the parent finally tore their attention away from the star network, shrugged, and casually coaxed the little bat, “Baby, come here, don’t eat their stuff.”

The little bat seemed to be pampered at home, holding onto the bag stubbornly.

Zong Ye lost patience, his face turning stern. He leaned slightly towards Jian Ning. The parent was intimidated by his demeanor and nervously threatened, “What do you want to do? Interstellar regulations state that adults cannot harm cubs. If you dare to touch my baby, I’ll report you and have you thrown in jail.”

Zong Ye gave the parent a cold glance, then turned and whistled.

Tuan Tuan, who had been happily playing with the other cubs, heard the whistle and looked over. He saw an ugly little bat lying on a nearby bench with its dad, and both the dad and the big white wolf seemed very unhappy.

Tuan Tuan scampered over, and Zong Ye succinctly said, “He stole your snacks, teach him a lesson.”

What? Dare to steal his snacks? Tuan Tuan perked up his ears, stiffened his little body, and glared fiercely at the little bat. Like a little cannonball, he pounced.

Tuan Tuan’s combat prowess was astonishing. He pinned the little bat to the ground, and the little bat cried and begged for mercy. Zong Ye glanced at the horrified parent and said coldly, “Interstellar regulations state that adults cannot harm cubs, but they don’t say anything about two cubs fighting.”

The parent was infuriated and threatened to call the authorities. Zong Ye sent a message to his deputy, and soon enough, amusement park staff came to escort the parent away.

“Not bad,” Zong Ye praised as he affectionately patted Tuan Tuan’s little head. He continued, “I’ll buy you ice cream when we get back.”

Upon hearing the mention of ice cream, Tuan Tuan nestled in Jian Ning’s arms and happily wagged his little tail.

Jian Ning checked to ensure Tuan Tuan wasn’t hurt and felt relieved that he had no injuries. He was worried to see that the little bat was bigger than Tuan Tuan, and that Tuan Tuan might not win the fight.

They stayed at the amusement park until the afternoon before leaving. On the way back, they spotted an ice cream shop on the roadside. Zong Ye stopped the car and got out to buy ice cream for Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan lay by the window, eagerly watching Zong Ye’s figure. Suddenly, he raised his body and let out an angry “howl” from his throat.

“What’s wrong?” 

Abel, the butler, messaged them, asking if they had returned. Jian Ning was busy replying to the message when he heard Tuan Tuan’s cry. He turned his head to look out the window, his gaze freezing, his fingers clenched tightly. He saw the original owner’s stepmother and younger brother.

“Tiantian, this family was introduced by your aunt. Both the husband and wife are military officers, and they’re well-off. They’re paying us well and even letting us stay in their house. They have a son about your age studying at Saint Academy. You better get along with him. Next year, when Mom saves enough money, we’ll send you to Saint Academy too,” Zhang Wen advised her son as they walked.

“I understand,” Fang Tian replied absentmindedly. When he saw an ice cream shop up ahead, he said, “Mom, I want ice cream.”

“Sure, I’ll buy it for you.” Thinking about the job they would have shortly, Zhang Wen patted her son’s head. They were about to head to the ice cream shop when she suddenly paused. Wait, why did that man look somewhat familiar?

“Mom, why did you stop?” Fang Tian asked when he noticed his mother suddenly halted.

Watching the man getting into a hovercraft by the roadside, Zhang Wen finally snapped out of it and asked her son, “Tiantian, doesn’t that man look like Jian Ning’s friend?”

Hearing Jian Ning’s name, Fang Tian’s face twisted with disgust. He grumbled, “Why are you mentioning him? If it weren’t for him, our family wouldn’t have ended up like this. I’m already attending Saint Academy.”

“Okay, okay, I won’t bring him up again,” Zhang Wen quickly hugged her son and continued walking towards the ice cream shop. She must have been mistaken; that man just now looked like a wealthy local from the Emperor Star. How could he possibly have any connection with Jian Ning?

Once Zong Ye got back into the car, he handed an ice cream to Jian Ning, who took it absentmindedly and fed it to the eagerly waiting Tuan Tuan.

“It’s for you.” Zong Ye handed another ice cream to Jian Ning. Initially, he had only intended to buy one for Tuan Tuan, but then he thought of Lan Nuo, who also enjoyed ice cream. Since Jian Ning was around the same age as Lan Nuo, he probably liked it too, so he bought an extra one.

“Thank you,” Jian Ning accepted it with a brief thank you. He hesitated for a moment, about to say something, when Zong Ye’s communicator rang. After he finished the call, he started the hovercar and said, “I need to go to the military headquarters for something. Buckle up; I’ll drop you off first.”

Jian Ning had no choice but to hold back what he wanted to say.

Zong Ye dropped them off at the villa and hurriedly left for the military headquarters. He didn’t return even by the time Jian Ning finished dinner and was about to take Tuan Tuan back to the academy.

Zong Ming, who was stood up for a date, was home early. Before leaving, Jian Ning hesitated and found Zong Ming. “Could you do me a favor?”

Zong Ming put down his holopad and nodded, saying, “What’s the matter? Tell me.”

Jian Ning said, “Please help me check the situation at my family home, whether my father and stepmother have come to Emperor Star.”

Since leaving Blue Star under a false identity, he had never thought about the situation at home. For both him and the original owner, that place could no longer be called home. If it weren’t for seeing his stepmother and younger brother on the street today, he would have forgotten about them completely.

Zong Ming was aware of Jian Ning’s use of a false identity to enter Saint Academy and had a general idea of his strained relationship with his family back on Blue Star. Zong Ming asked in puzzlement, “Why do you suddenly want to check on them?”

Jian Ning replied honestly, “I saw them on the street today.”

“I see. I’ll help you with the investigation.” Zong Ming nodded.

By the time Zong Ye finished his business at the military headquarters and returned home, it was late at night. The butler and the servants were already asleep. He went upstairs and noticed that the light in the study was still on. He could hear Zong Ming talking to someone through the door.

He pushed the door open and found Zong Ming in a conversation. Once Zong Ming hung up the communicator, Zong Ye asked, “Why are you still up so late?”

Zong Ming stretched and said, “I was checking on Jian Ning’s family.”

Zong Ye raised an eyebrow, “Why are you investigating his family?”

Zong Ming explained, “He asked me to. He mentioned that he saw his family on the street today and wanted me to find out if they’ve come to Emperor Star.”

Today on the street… Zong Ye’s fingers clenched around the door frame.

“By the way, weren’t you the one who went out with him and Tuan Tuan today? Why didn’t he ask you to check?” Zong Ming suddenly remembered.

Zong Ye replied calmly, “He probably forgot to mention it to me. Did you find out?”

Zong Ming answered, “Yes, I did. His family members have indeed come to Emperor Star. It’s too late now; I’ll inform him at the academy tomorrow.”

Saying this, he stood up from behind his desk, intending to go back to his room to sleep. However, he noticed that Zong Ye was blocking the doorway and asked in confusion, “Brother, do you have something else to discuss?”

Zong Ye replied lightly, “No, nothing. Are you going to Saint Academy tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I have nothing to do tomorrow,” Zong Ming said.

Zong Ye replied, “I don’t have any plans either.”

Zong Ming thought for a moment and then asked, “…What do you mean by that?”

Zong Ye’s comment left him puzzled. Why was his brother blocking the doorway and preventing him from going to sleep? Suddenly, it dawned on him, and he tentatively suggested, “How about… you help me by going to Saint Academy tomorrow and informing Jian Ning?”

Zong Ye agreed, saying, “Sure, I’ll do you this favor.”

With that settled, he casually moved aside and went back to his own room, leaving Zong Ming rolling his eyes in exasperation. Why did his brother have to be so indirect? If he wanted to see someone, he could have just said it straightforwardly. Zong Ye’s communication style was truly enigmatic.