Chapter 102: She Has Already Gone

PS: Thank you to Yin Wu for the pink gift that pulled me back from the brink of dropping off the rankings. Tentatively asking, does anyone else still have some?

The Star Network appeared unchanged on the surface, yet somehow everything felt different.

How could it transform so drastically in just half a day?

Standing at the entrance of the Pearl Pavilion, her steps faltered. She had come here before, in her current form, accompanying her father—only twice though. After a moment of hesitation, she stepped inside. The Pavilion was bustling as ever, but suddenly, Xuan Xuan found herself unsure of where to stand.

Glancing toward the far end, she wondered if Elder Ji and the others were still there. Since her "teacher" was no longer around, perhaps they had left as well.

Avoiding the crowd, she approached the old laboratory doorway, about to leave for the Herb Star, when a loud commotion inside caught her attention. Raising an eyebrow, she recognized Elder Ji’s voice.

Pushing open the lab door, she saw Shizishan wearing a troubled expression, speaking gently to his mentor, “Master Xuan truly has left.”

Elder Ji shot him a glare. “Who said Master Xuan left and won’t return? You’re just thinking about leaving. What if she comes back? There are still so many things I haven’t learned. How could she just leave?”

“It’s not about leaving,” Shizishan hurriedly explained, “Our current research focus is in the real world, isn’t it? Master Xuan also said that if there were any questions, we could ask Senior Uncle.”

“Senior Uncle?” Elder Ji suddenly thought of that child barely over ten years old. “How old is she?”

“Master Xuan isn’t very old either,” Shizishan replied.

Elder Ji glared again.

Shrinking his neck, Shizishan still defiantly said, “You didn’t mind Master Xuan’s youth back then, did you? Now the research focus is on you. If you don’t take charge, wouldn’t all of Master Xuan’s efforts be wasted?”

After confirming the news that her “teacher” had left, Wan Qi Lianhao felt compelled to shift all focus to reality. Elder Ji, who used to learn from Xuan Xuan daily, was now the priority. But Elder Ji refused to leave, insisting that Master Xuan would return.

Xuan Xuan felt a faint bitterness. If Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao knew she had left the Star Network, would they feel the same?

Without letting Shizishan see her, Xuan Xuan left the Pearl Pavilion and headed to the Herb Star. There was no one there, which left her a little disappointed. She called to Illusion Fox, who identified her by mental strength. After a brief hesitation, Illusion Fox leapt up, and Xuan Xuan hugged it, spinning around.

Checking the time, she realized her grandmother should be arriving soon, so she logged off. Exiting her bedroom, she immediately saw Wan Qi Lianhao’s stern face.

Her heart skipped a beat. How had she forgotten her father?

Wan Qi Lianhao had rushed back as soon as he heard the news and only felt at ease once he saw Xuan Xuan in front of him. “No going anywhere this summer vacation.”

She smirked, knowing full well. Kuang Shao, hurry back—that was the only hope.

Kuang Shao, who Xuan Xuan kept thinking of, was staring in surprise at Kuang Chi before him. “Who did you say left?”

“Miss Xuan Xuan from the Star Network,” Kuang Chi repeated.

“The girl in the Star Network?” Kuang Shao hesitated, then, seeing Kuang Chi nod, asked, “Where did she go?”

“I don’t know,” Kuang Chi replied. “Mr. Shizishan told me. He also asked me to inform Young Master Zhan Yu. It seems to be some kind of interstellar journey.”

“Travel, huh?” Kuang Shao patted his chest. “That’s good. When will she return?”

Kuang Chi hesitated before saying, “It seems she’s not coming back.”

“Not coming back? That’s impossible. How long could a trip take?” Kuang Shao waved his hand. Even interstellar travel would be just a few years, maybe decades. This is too soon.

“But Shizishan said she herself said she probably wouldn’t return,” Kuang Chi added. Having followed Kuang Shao for many years, he was well aware of the relationships between Kuang Shao, Zhan Yu, and that person over the past decade.

Kuang Shao still found it hard to believe. Isn’t the little chubby girl from the Wan Qi family still her disciple? How could she just abandon everything and not come back?

Thinking it impossible, Kuang Shao didn’t tell Zhan Yu. Since the travel from the Insectoid Gathering Ground to the Imperial Capital took longer and they weren’t on the same starship, Kuang Shao ignored the matter.

It wasn’t until a few days later that someone approached Kuang Shao, saying Zhan Yu’s mood had been off lately.

Kuang Shao shot Kuang Chi a sharp look. “How could you tell Zhan Yu without confirmation?”

Kuang Chi just shrank back; he was merely a messenger.

Zhan Yu’s side only said he had been off emotionally in recent days. Kuang Shao thought it was nothing serious, but upon arriving, he realized the problem was grave.

Zhan Yu was not usually so stubborn.

Looking at A-Zuo before him, Kuang Shao asked, “What’s going on?”

“The boss hasn’t left the Star Network,” A-Zuo replied, worry etched in his voice.

Kuang Shao noticed Zhan Yu’s face looked off. It was impossible for him to act like this inside the Star Network. “How long has it been?”

“Two and a half days,” A-Zuo said. At first, he hadn’t thought much of it. They often used the Star Network to pass time during dull interstellar travels, and Zhan Yu frequently went there too. No one noticed until a day ago when they realized Zhan Yu hadn’t logged off for a full day. They almost forced him off, but forced logout harms mental strength, so they dared not act rashly.

Hearing two and a half days, Kuang Shao knew the situation was serious. “Didn’t you try to find him on the Star Network?”

“We did, but the boss wouldn’t listen,” A-Zuo said. As soon as they noticed something was wrong, he went into the Star Network. There was no response. Then he went to Herb Star, where Zhan Yu was. But no matter what, he refused to leave.

“I’ll go see for myself,” Kuang Shao said.

Calling out, he entered the Star Network and went straight to Herb Star. From afar, he saw Zhan Yu dressed all in black, standing beside the illusion grass, Illusion Fox perched on his shoulder, his gaze unfocused.

Kuang Shao couldn’t understand it. Even if that girl had left, Zhan Yu shouldn’t be in such a state.

But seeing him like that, Kuang Shao felt a sour pang, an indescribable feeling. That girl was closest to him.

He also sensed that Zhan Yu might have feelings for her, yet neither had ever voiced anything. Was it because it was too soon? Or because they didn’t truly know Xuan Xuan’s real identity—her full name, where she lived?

He always felt Xuan Xuan was so far away, so close yet so distant.

He doubted Zhan Yu truly loved her. The Zhan family had strict rules: all members must be of the Huaxia ethnicity.

Just that rule alone made Kuang Shao think that even if Zhan Yu liked her, he wouldn’t dare act on it knowingly. That chestnut hair, those blue eyes—none suggested she was Huaxia. Kuang Shao even suspected she wasn’t from the Federation.

This might sound absurd, but Kuang Shao truly felt that way.

She often spoke of “you Federation people.”

Because of this, Kuang Shao believed that even if Zhan Yu liked her, he wouldn’t make a move. He pondered that the girl was so oblivious. Maybe one day, if the Zhan family arranged a marriage for Zhan Yu, then he could act?

Tilting his head back, Kuang Shao’s lips curled in a mocking smile—mocking himself. Despite the brotherly bond, he still thought about her.

Indeed, he wasn’t the only one. Not only had Zhan Yu fallen for her, but Kuang Shao himself had, too.

He knew nothing about her, not even what she looked like, yet he was drawn to her.

And he shared that feeling with his own brother.

He even secretly hoped that others wouldn’t get her first, so he could make his move.

Kuang Shao felt shameless.

Stepping forward, he pulled Zhan Yu down to sit beside him. “Are you planning to be a ‘Xuan Stone Watcher’?”

Zhan Yu’s eyes flickered with a faint spark. He glanced at Kuang Shao but said nothing, instead settling down and gently removing Illusion Fox from his shoulder as Kuang Shao playfully bared his teeth.

“She’s not really gone,” Kuang Shao said, his handsome peach blossom eyes filled with reminiscence. “She appeared so suddenly and left just as suddenly.”

Zhan Yu tightened his grip on Illusion Fox. His greatest fear was her sudden departure—that mysterious Xuan Xuan might never return.

He dared not think further. Standing there for two days straight, waiting, he wondered why she would leave quietly after investing so much effort here. He feared it was his own rashness that day that drove her away.

“You can’t have her anyway, so why torment yourself?” Kuang Shao smiled, “You’re freer than I am.”

Zhan Yu gave Kuang Shao a cold glance. Nothing was impossible. With effort, rules could be broken.

The Federation was so open now; his grandfather wouldn’t be so strict about ethnicity.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

“But she’s already gone—” Kuang Shao’s words were cut off by a punch from Zhan Yu, catching him completely off guard and knocking him to the ground.

Kuang Shao, furious, flipped over and retaliated, “You bastard!”

Zhan Yu didn’t care, grabbing Kuang Shao by the collar and throwing another punch.

Kuang Shao, now on guard, dodged the blow.

When Xuan Xuan arrived, she saw Kuang Shao and Zhan Yu rolling on the grass, with Illusion Fox cowering far away.

In broad daylight, weren’t they a bit too uninhibited?

She had thought that after her "teacher" disappeared, they might feel sad or search for her. But perhaps she had overthought it—they seemed to be having fun.

Xuan Xuan decided it was best not to disturb them.

Calling Illusion Fox to jump onto her shoulder, she watched as the two on the ground realized their awkward situation. Kuang Shao recognized the little girl from the Wan Qi family. “Little chubby, Xuan Xuan!”

Though Xuan Xuan wasn’t chubby anymore, Kuang Shao always called her that. His grandfather had scolded him several times, so he no longer dared to say it openly.

Xuan Xuan ignored them. With her “gone,” they showed no reaction. She needed some time to be upset.

Kuang Shao jumped up, straightened his clothes, and rubbed his swollen face. Damn it—if you’re going to hit me, don’t hit my face! Zhan Yu’s strikes always aimed at his face. Was it jealousy over his looks?