Chapter 92: Interlude

The expeditionary force disappeared beyond the horizon, yet Lin Yu remained standing by the window, gazing into the distance.

In his previous life, the news wasn’t made public until after the victory.

While it lacked some of the anticipated joy, this method was undoubtedly more secure.

Humanity needed a victory, but it also couldn’t withstand another defeat.

Strength and fragility represent opposite meanings, yet this was the true portrait of society now. It seemed contradictory, yet both existed simultaneously within every individual.

Checking the time, Lin Yu turned and left the room, intending to call his sister and the others for breakfast.

Just as he was about to raise his hand to knock, the door opened first.

“Xiao Yu? What’s up?”

Lin Mowei smiled, wearing her usual expression—or so she thought, at least.

Lin Yu, however, noticed immediately. There was a trace of fatigue and… worry between his sister’s brows.

After they had all parted ways yesterday morning, it was surprisingly quiet; no one had come looking for him. He naturally enjoyed the peace, turning a deaf ear to the world outside and having a good, restful day.

“What do you mean, what’s up with me? The question is, what’s up with you?”

He examined his sister carefully. It wasn’t just her expression; even her clothes today were off. One of the buttons on the collar of her dress was fastened incorrectly.

Hearing her brother’s counter-question, Lin Mowei was momentarily stunned, averting her gaze.

“I’m fine. Oh, right, you came to call me for breakfast, didn’t you? I was just about to go get you. Let’s go.”

She said it wasn’t appropriate for her current status, but how could she just ignore everything?

Yesterday, she went to Huanxing Town and talked a lot with Mu Qingqing. Combining that with the meeting situation, she used her experience to fill in some details and stayed there until evening before returning.

After coming back, her worries about the situation over there meant she didn’t sleep well.

But even if she didn’t say it, how could Lin Yu not see it?

“Elder Sister.”

“Hmm?” Lin Mowei turned back to look at her brother.

The next moment, her brother’s action made her breath catch, her heart skipping a beat.

Lin Yu wore a gentle, concerned smile as he slowly reached out and re-fastened the button on her collar properly, then patted her shoulder.

“Elder Sister, don’t worry. We will win.”

Lin Mowei’s arms hung stiffly at her sides, terrified that the next second she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from hugging him tightly.

This seemed to be the first time her brother had ever taken such an intimate initiative with her.

He had always maintained a safe distance between them, appropriate for a man and a woman. When they were younger and less familiar, there was some awkwardness. After growing up… well, it was even more so.

In contrast, that little girl Xia Yanran, from a certain day onward, suddenly became extremely close to him, even stubbornly insisting on bathing with him despite his objections.

“Xiao Yu…” The perfectly timed concern from her brother made Lin Mowei feel her heart was melting. “Thank you.”

This time, it was Lin Yu’s turn to be taken aback. He then chuckled softly. “Elder Sister, what are you saying? This is only natural. There’s nothing to thank me for. Wait a moment, I’ll go call Auntie Qin and Yanran.”

“Mm, okay.” Lin Mowei’s voice was soft as she responded, her gaze overflowing with attachment as she watched her brother’s retreating back.

In the dining hall.

Compared to yesterday, it was even emptier today. The entire hall held only the four of them and some intelligent robots busy with who-knows-what.

His sister was distracted, and Xia Yanran seemed lost in thought. Neither paid him any mind, finally allowing him to properly taste the food here.

Hmm, not bad.

Qin Wuyue saw his pleased expression, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. Then her gaze shifted to Lin Mowei’s face across the table. After a moment’s thought, she decided to speak.

“Mowei.”

“…”

Receiving no response, both Lin Yu and Xia Yanran looked at her.

Qin Wuyue slightly furrowed her brows and called again.

This time, Lin Mowei responded, snapping back to attention. “Huh? What is it, Teacher?”

What Lin Yu could see, Qin Wuyue naturally could see as well.

“You’re thinking about the situation over there.” She didn’t ask; she stated it as a certainty.

Lin Mowei hesitated for a moment, lowered her eyes, and nodded, unconsciously pushing the food around on her plate with her fork.

Qin Wuyue glanced at the other two and continued speaking to her. “If you’re worried, then go. I saw they transported your external armor here. I imagine if you had spoken up yesterday, no one would have objected.”

Lin Mowei’s hand stilled. A bitter smile appeared on her face.

“It’s better not to… If I go, it wouldn’t be in accordance with regulations.”

“Heh…” Qin Wuyue let out a disdainful laugh. “At a time like this, you still need to worry about that?”

“I do, Teacher. Don’t you understand as well? The more critical the time, the more important it is to adhere to regulations. If I don’t follow the rules, and others don’t either, everything will just descend into chaos.”

Lin Yu and Xia Yanran exchanged a glance beside them. He understood this reasoning. Xia Yanran, however, seemed not to fully grasp it, but she knew this wasn’t the time to speak.

Did Qin Wuyue understand?

She understood, but she didn’t accept it, nor did she want to. It was just like that order issued against her back then…

“Go. If there are any issues, I’ll handle them for you.”

She spoke calmly, her knife slicing through the soft-boiled egg on her plate.

Hearing this, not only Lin Mowei, but Lin Yu and Xia Yanran beside her all looked at her in unison.

“Teacher, you…” Lin Mowei’s eyes widened.

“Mm, I said it. Go.” After speaking, she frowned at the plate before her, her hand pausing. “Tsk, this plate really isn’t sturdy.”

The trio’s gazes fell upon the plate she had criticized, and they all wore expressions of horror.

Only then did they notice the egg yolk had seeped through a crack—who knew when it had appeared—and was now staining the tablecloth.

The knife in Qin Wuyue’s hand also seemed to have undergone a slight deformation.

Most importantly, this thing was ceramic, right? Not tofu, right?!

S-so terrifying… Was she angry just now? The three of them thought simultaneously, involuntarily swallowing hard.

“Hmm? Mowei, why are you still here?” Qin Wuyue tilted her head, looking at Lin Mowei. The tip of the knife in her hand pointed towards her, making Lin Mowei instinctively want to dodge.

“Then I’ll go. I’ll leave Xiao Yu in your care.” She let out a long breath, turned, and ruffled her brother’s hair. “Xiao Yu, wait for the good news of your sister’s victory.”

With that, she stood up and left quickly.

Lin Yu glanced to the side. Xia Yanran was also there, experimentally poking her plate with her knife, seemingly puzzled about how her mother had managed it.

He was just about to speak when Qin Wuyue beat him to it. “Xiao Yu, what do you think your sister’s shortcomings are?”

“Ah, that…” He hadn’t expected to be asked this now and couldn’t think of any shortcomings off the top of his head.

Qin Wuyue soon gave him the answer herself. She put down what was in her hand and looked at him with smiling eyes.

“Your sister… she’s too greedy. Too avaricious. She wants everything, yet is unwilling to pay the price for anything. She wants to hold onto everything.”

“Ah?” He blinked, truly not expecting that kind of answer.

They say everyone views things from a different angle, leading to different conclusions. But why would Auntie Qin come to this conclusion?

Xia Yanran also stopped struggling with her plate, turning to look at her mother, wanting to hear what explanation she would give.

“Do you know why she and Little Xi’er don’t get along at all?”

Lin Yu shook his head. He had always been a little curious about this, though not overly concerned. Everyone has people they get along with and don’t; it’s normal.

Qin Wuyue waved over an intelligent robot. As it began clearing the table, she slowly began recounting an incident from Lin Mowei’s school days.

“You’ll be entering Domed Academy soon too. Sooner or later, you’ll encounter the Five-School Joint Exercises. Let me start from there…”