Chapter 29: Twenty-Ninth Day of Being a Salted Fish

“Picked him up yesterday,” Lu Yuan said, glancing toward the corner. “Don’t know where he flew in from.”

“Flew?”

“Well… more accurately, he was blown here?” Lu Yuan sounded a bit uncertain.

“The wind was exceptionally strong yesterday,” Siming took over the explanation. “Honestly, the wind here in winter is unexpectedly fierce. I’ve never seen such a violent gale anywhere else…”

Goudan looked at him with disdain. “This is nothing. It’s only the first snow. Just you wait until the end of the year; the wind gets so strong then that you won’t even be able to step out the door.”

“Yesterday wasn’t exactly a good day for going out either. It might be fine for us, but if kids like Zhu Rong want to go out, they’d probably have to carry a block of iron. If you don’t have enough weight on you, it’s easy to get blown away. Just like this fellow here,” Siming said.

“…I wouldn’t,” Zhu Rong countered.

“Really?” Siming arched an eyebrow.

“Find the gaps in the wind,” Zhu Rong said. “Slip through them. You won’t get blown away.”

It was a description that only she could truly understand. At the very least, Goudan was completely lost. Lu Yuan, however, gave her an appreciative look.

Goudan turned back to study the uninvited guest on the floor.

It was a youth who looked to be about fourteen or fifteen years old. He had a very slender build and indeed looked a bit fragile, as if a gust of wind could knock him over.

“Tsk, he’s actually quite good-looking,” Goudan suddenly digressed. “That hair color is very rare.”

The boy’s hair was a pure, brilliant reddish-gold. The lights in the small shop were warm-toned, and as they hit those golden strands, they seemed to carry the warmth of the sun.

“Lu Yuan’s hair color is even rarer,” Siming joined in the tangent. “And Lu Yuan’s color looks a bit better.”

Goudan looked at Lu Yuan. “Hmm…”

“I have to say,” he nodded, “true!”

Lu Yuan shot the two of them a speechless look.

Goudan grinned and dragged the topic back. “So, this guy was blown here by the wind?”

“Yes,” Siming nodded. “No idea where he came from or how he managed to bypass all those complex obstacles to crash precisely into this building…

“It was pretty terrifying at the time. There was a massive bang, and the whole house shook three times. I thought the place was going to collapse.”

“It wouldn’t collapse,” Lu Yuan said lazily. “If it were going to fall, I would have intercepted him halfway. I wouldn’t actually let him knock the house down.”

“And then you just picked him up and brought him inside?”

“Yeah, he’s already here, we couldn’t just leave him out there. But… tsk,” Siming clicked his tongue. “Who knows what he went through on the way. He’s been lying here for a whole day and hasn’t woken up. I wonder if he ever will.”

“Well, wish him luck then.” Goudan shook his head. Rubbing his stomach, he started walking toward the kitchen, asking, “By the way, did you guys give him anything to eat? Don’t let him starve to death… I’m hungry, anyway. Is there anything to eat?”

“Nothing, make something yourself,” Siming replied. “We poured a tube of Nutrient Solution¹ down his throat.”

“Does it taste good?” Goudan’s voice drifted back from the kitchen, accompanied by the clattering of items bumping into each other. “I brought some but never used them, so I don’t know what they taste like.”

The Nutrient Solution had also been scavenged from the Garbage Ship; it was the emergency rations that originally belonged to the Captain and his crew. There wasn’t much, only thirty-five tubes in total, which was enough for five people to survive for a week.

For something so rare, Goudan and the others were naturally reluctant to open one just to satisfy their curiosity. They had saved them all, thinking they might be useful in a critical moment.

Goudan had taken about ten tubes with him on this trash-dumping trip. Although he didn’t know what use they would be, he figured they might come in handy.

As it turned out, they really weren’t needed. Especially after Lu Yuan intervened, they had returned in just a few days. They hadn’t even finished the regular food they brought, let alone the Nutrient Solution.

“No flavor. Feels just like water,” Siming replied succinctly.

When he opened the Nutrient Solution to feed the youth, he had taken a sip himself.

Even though Lu Yuan had told him the stuff really didn’t have any taste, practice brings true knowledge. Given the chance, Siming naturally wanted to taste it for himself.

Goudan knew this well, which was why he asked.

“I’m surprised you didn’t try it on the road, though,” Siming remarked.

“It was only a few days, I didn’t find the right opportunity.” Goudan let out a regretful sigh, then suddenly said, “By the way, I almost forgot to ask,”

The sudden appearance of the youth had caused a distraction, pushing aside the question he cared about most.

“What happened with you guys?” he asked curiously. “Why did Lu Yuan suddenly become so invested in your business?”

–

Regarding the fact that Lu Yuan had suddenly stepped in to pilot the Starship for Goudan just to save some energy to send him off the Desolate Planet, Siming might not have realized it immediately, but after a few days, he certainly knew.

But as for the specific reason why…

To be honest, Siming couldn’t figure it out himself.

Lu Yuan hadn’t said much, only mentioning that helping him out wasn’t particularly troublesome.

Only then did Siming realize that Lu Yuan could be so “tsundere².” He had put in all that effort to help, and even though he had clearly been flagging these past two days—curled up on the sofa not wanting to lift a finger—he still insisted it wasn’t a bother.

He actually really wanted to discuss this with Goudan. But discussing it right in front of Lu Yuan seemed inappropriate. So, Siming didn’t say much, only giving a brief description of the previous events in a few sentences.

By the time he finished, Goudan had already prepared his extra meal. Carrying his plate out, he called to the other “fleet” members who hadn’t eaten because of the journey to go to the kitchen for food. He then exchanged a look with Siming; both understood what the other meant.

We’ll talk tonight.

The information Lu Yuan had revealed about his past that night, along with his subsequent clearly abnormal behavior, was definitely worth a good discussion.

It wasn’t that they were determined to pry into Lu Yuan’s privacy or dig into emotions he didn’t want to voice. It was just…

Whether it was out of concern or curiosity, both of them couldn’t help but care about Lu Yuan.

They wanted to understand him better. They wanted to know what he had experienced in the past and what he needed. While receiving his various forms of help, they also wanted to be able to help him a little in return.

The collision of their gazes lasted only an instant; no one noticed the information exchanged between them.

Only Lu Yuan seemed to sense a slight abnormality in the atmosphere. He subconsciously frowned and looked over.

“…” Goudan quickly set his plate on the table. “Want some?” he asked.

Lu Yuan shook his head.

“Actually, you could just open a tube of Nutrient Solution and try it,” Siming chimed in nonchalantly to lower Lu Yuan’s guard. “Though there’s really nothing to taste.”

“True,” Goudan slapped his forehead. “Forgot. Pity I already made my food.”

“It’s fine,” Siming said. “Since you’re back, the task of feeding him Nutrient Solution tomorrow is yours. You can taste it then.”

“Works for me.” Goudan thought about it and saw nothing wrong with the plan.

However, the very next second after he said those words-

“He’s awake.”

Zhu Rong’s voice suddenly rang out.

Goudan froze and looked toward the corner by the door.

Siming chuckled. “Well, there goes your chance to taste the Nutrient Solution tomorrow.”

“…” Goudan glared at him. “You’re the one who set the flag³.”

Siming laughed loudly.

On the sofa, Lu Yuan shifted his position. Ignoring their bickering, he looked toward the door with a hint of curiosity.

By the door, the youth moved slightly and then opened his eyes.

After a moment of confusion, he scrambled up quickly, hissing in pain as the soreness throughout his body flared up. Despite the pain, he looked around warily, assessing his surroundings.

Lu Yuan’s gaze suddenly locked with his.

“?”

“!”

Lu Yuan froze, then practically bounced off the sofa.

“Holy crap?” The people of the Desolate Planet who knew Lu Yuan well, and those like the Captain who didn’t, were all stunned.

But Lu Yuan had no time to mind them.

He stared into the youth’s eyes.

The boy’s eyes were beautiful—deep blue orbs with a faint hint of purple. They looked like the western horizon at the junction of day and night, where the last rays of sunlight barely illuminated the sky, yet the azure was inevitably stained with the depth and mystery of the coming night.

However, Lu Yuan wasn’t staring at these eyes because he thought they were pretty.

They were too familiar.

Eyes like these belonged only to one of the Empire’s greatest families, the Geshu Family. And Lu Yuan happened to know someone from the Geshu Family, and he was very well-acquainted with her.

Lu Yuan stared at the youth for a long time. After a long silence, he finally spoke: “How has Geshu Ming been lately?”

“…Huh?” The youth looked over with a face full of bewilderment.

“Huh?” Lu Yuan’s eyes also widened in surprise.

Translator’s Notes