Chapter 281: Elon Musks Observation Tower

This novel is translated and hosted only on Bca Translation

Lin Xian muttered curses under his breath, directing them at VV thirty-seven times before leaping out of bed.

“What about the Three Laws of Robotics?” he grumbled to himself. “Isn’t this against the first one? You’re not supposed to harm your master.”

Luckily, he had the habit of sleeping in his pajamas.

The door to his dormitory creaked open slowly, admitting a sliver of light from the hallway. As it widened, the silhouette of a girl in a nightgown appeared, framed by the light.

“Uh...”

Chu An Qing stood frozen, one hand clutching her nightgown’s neckline, her eyes blinking rapidly in surprise.

She had simply meant to say hello to Senior Lin Xian...

But now, here she was, being invited into his room for a chat.UppTodated from nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m

And he had even opened the door for her!

This was definitely not how she had expected things to go.

“The moonlight looks pretty nice tonight,” Lin Xian ventured, hoping to diffuse the awkwardness. He suggested they go for a walk outside, considering it wasn’t appropriate for them to be alone in his room so late at night at the astronaut training base.

He gestured toward the outside, searching for the moon, but his view was blocked by a thick blanket of clouds.

“I mean, the moonlight was nice earlier, but it seems to be hidden now. Did you see it earlier?”

Of course, even the moon was not on his side tonight.

“No, I didn’t...” Chu An Qing replied, scratching her head and giving a nervous laugh. “I was in the simulator room studying for a bit. Then, on my way back, I heard you on the phone and thought I’d drop by to say hi...”

The awkwardness in the air thickened palpably.

As she stood in the doorway, Chu An Qing loosened her grip on her nightgown and hesitantly pointed toward the coffee table inside the room.

“Um... Can I come in?”

Lin Xian sighed and nodded. “...Sure.”

He fully opened the door, switched on the lights, and gestured her inside.

“Thank you!” Chu An Qing said, her steps tentative as she moved to sit at the coffee table, her posture stiff and formal.

Lin Xian shut the door with a thud and turned to face her.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“Water! Water is fine!” Chu An Qing’s voice pitched up in her nervousness, and she laughed awkwardly. “I got a bit thirsty back in the training room.”

Lin Xian fetched two glasses of cool water and set them on the coffee table, then sat down opposite her.

Silence settled heavily between them.

This was unfamiliar territory for Lin Xian. Even in his wildest dreams, facing myriad challenges, or in real life, dodging assassins, he had never felt this level of discomfort. Unsure of what to say or do, he felt like ants were crawling all over his skin.

He could already imagine discussing this later with Liu Feng, who would likely smirk and raise an eyebrow in mock disbelief.

Breaking the silence, Chu An Qing took a cautious sip of water before looking up at Lin Xian with a serious expression.

“Senior Lin Xian, is the ‘space-time particle’ really that important to you?”

Lin Xian nodded solemnly.

“Did you know that the Alpha substance is actually a space-time particle?”

Chu An Qing nodded.

“I ran into Yellow Finch in the training room. She spent some time explaining the real plans and details to me. Whether it’s called the Alpha substance or space-time particle, I don’t really understand either. They seem the same to me.”

“Yellow Finch?”

“There must be something out there that is made for you, something only you can accomplish.”

“Besides you... no one else.”

She blinked, her eyes clear and bright.

“I believe that capturing the space-time particles is the most important thing in my life, something I must do, something I was born for.”

“Coach Wei Cheng also said I’m a natural astronaut. Hearing such praise makes me really happy! To be honest, I grew up being praised for everything I did. Everyone, including my father, always complimented me.”

“Remember our first meeting at MX’s celebration? My father was bragging about me, how I gave a speech as the new student representative at the military training opening ceremony and performed at the welcome party... He boasted to everyone about my small achievements. I knew these things weren’t remarkable. People praised and liked me because—”

Chu An Qing looked up at Lin Xian.

“Because Chu Shan He is my father, and I’m Chu Shan He’s daughter.”

“That’s it... In everyone’s eyes, I’m just Chu Shan He’s daughter.”

She rubbed the glass in her hands, then smiled again.

“But this astronaut training is different!”

Chu An Qing’s smile was radiant, her crescent eyes outshining any moonlight Lin Xian had ever praised. The dimples on her cheeks appeared like stars twinkling on a clear night.

“This astronaut training makes me truly happy! Yellow Finch didn’t choose me because I’m Chu Shan He’s daughter; Coach Wei Cheng didn’t praise me because of my father; and those centrifuges, rotating chairs, buoyancy tanks... they didn’t give me high scores because of my father!”

“You know, Senior Lin Xian, I’m genuinely happy here. For the first time, I feel my own value, that people praise me not because of my father, but because of my own abilities. I feel—”

She smiled, confident and proud.

“I have my own name! I am Chu An Qing!”

...

Lin Xian looked at the little princess, feeling like she was glowing under the bright lights.

“Well... that’s true.”

The aura around Chu An Qing vanished as she scratched her head and said shyly.

“I don’t know how I can help in capturing the space-time particles. So far, Professor Liu and Coach Wei are piloting the spacecraft; Senior Gao Yang is operating the robotic arm; you’re handling the passenger and equipment compartments; Yellow Finch is the mission commander; and me... Despite all my training, I don’t know what I can do. Yellow Finch just said I should handle logistics, which feels like an unnecessary addition.”

“So... don’t take what I said earlier to heart, Senior Lin Xian. I was just trying to sound impressive. You and the others will be the ones to capture the space-time particles. I’m just the helper. Honestly, I don’t understand why Yellow Finch brought me here.”

“She, well, she’s a mystery,” Lin Xian said, frustrated. “No one can understand her. She gave me a riddle last year that I still haven’t figured out. So you don’t need to take her words seriously. Just let them go in one ear and out the other.”

This novel is translated and hosted only on Bca Translation

Knock, knock.

Suddenly!

A sharp knock on the dormitory door startled them.

The digits on the electronic clock changed to ToT, then disappeared, returning to the normal time display.

Lin Xian and Chu An Qing exchanged puzzled looks.

Who could be visiting so late?

“Who is it?” Lin Xian called out.

“Why are the lights still on this late?” came a voice from outside.

It was Yellow Finch’s voice!

Lin Xian and Chu An Qing’s hearts raced.

“Lin Xian...” Yellow Finch’s voice pierced through the door, sharp and clear. “Aren’t you asleep yet?”

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation