Chapter 45

"For example, that Duo Lili you watched the other day—if she turns on interactive mode for an online concert, she can randomly select Asteroid users to shake hands with her or even take photos with her across galaxies. Some holographic game streamers can also invite fans to play with them directly, and food streamers can share flavors too."

"That's because it has an option to connect to the user's soul and Mental Power, so it can transmit information from all five senses to the user that way."

Shen Tianyi walked over to him and hesitated again before handing him another fifth-generation Asteroid he had fetched. "This is my youngest uncle's Asteroid. I can lend it to you, but be careful, okay? If you break it, he'll beat me to death!"

Xu Qingran was surprised.

The kid even dared to bring out Shen Tingyu's things for him. He really was thoughtful.

So Xu Qingran decided that once he was done and had time, he would erase all the wrong answers on the kid's math homework and make him do them again.

Xu Qingran took the little ball. It was surprisingly heavy, weighing about two jin. There was a tiny black dot in the middle, probably a camera.

He held it for a long while without figuring out how to turn it on, so he asked Shen Tianyi how to use it.

Shen Tingyu's personal information was registered on his Asteroid, so normally it shouldn't have been possible to turn it on. But Shen Tianyi was his little nephew, who lived with him and had practically been raised by him, so his information was registered on everything in the house too.

So Shen Tianyi helped Xu Qingran turn on the AS.

He put his own on the table and frowned like a little adult as he adjusted the device. "You want to livestream? You need a theme, then. What are you planning to stream?"

Xu Qingran glanced around the room, finally settling on the kitchen.

It happened to be the day Sister-in-law Song went out shopping, and there should still have been some unused ingredients left in the fridge. If they sat there unused for too long, they would just spoil and go to waste, so after some thought, he decided, "I'll make food, then."

Meanwhile, on Red Maple Star in the FR Andromeda Galaxy.

The Xu Family's front door stood slightly ajar. Xu Qing'an sat on the sofa, the mobile version of the Star's Edge Forum displayed on his screen.

[...L: How is it impossible? Someone as awful as Xu Qingran is only suited to someone like Boss Chen!]

A slender, delicate finger rested on the screen over the comment he had just posted.

Coming back to his senses, Xu Qing'an realized with a start that after looking at the candid photos passersby kept posting in the thread, as well as the comments that sounded more and more convincing, he had angrily replied to the post using his gossip alt account.

Xu Qing'an's other hand, held against his mouth, tightened slightly, and his expression was unpleasant.

He would have recognized Xu Qingran from behind even if he were reduced to ashes. In the photos posted by those passersby, the person getting out of Shen Tingyu's car really was his dear older brother. What on earth was going on? He had clearly watched Zhang Hongyan alter the matching data that day, and had also confirmed that the data code on the sample chip belonged to Chen Shengfei.

But how had Xu Qingran suddenly become involved with that admiral from Golden Wing Camp? He had never heard that they knew each other before. Had Xu Qingran gone to him for help over the matching, or made some kind of deal?

While Xu Qing'an pondered, the news on the television in front of him suddenly drew his attention.

"With the help of Golden Wing Camp's troops, the fighting in Red City's South District 13 has finally ceased, and the Type I Devils have temporarily withdrawn from the district. Silver Dragon troops are actively taking over the aftermath in the area. Several everyday aircraft still capable of operating were found at the scene. After verification, they were confirmed to belong to several people reported missing in Red City some time ago..."

The photos of the missing people showed the very men he had hired to seize Xu Qingran.

"Military personnel did not find their bodies at the scene. The possibility that they entered the area before the Type I Devils were cleared out has not been ruled out, and it is highly likely they have already been killed..."

Xu Qing'an's expression grew even graver.

So how had Xu Qingran escaped that day? There had been five or six adult men; with his feeble abilities, he couldn't possibly have done it!

He suddenly remembered that Golden Wing Camp's raid had taken place that very night, and Shen Tingyu had been the overall commander of the operation to clear the area. Had Shen Tingyu saved Xu Qingran that day?

Then... did Shen Tingyu also know that Xu Qingran had been framed?

A noise at the front door interrupted Xu Qing'an's various speculations.

Seeing Lu Cheng come in, he discreetly exited the forum.

Lu Cheng walked over to the sofa and patted his head. "Is there anything else you need to bring? If not, once your dad gets back, we'll go to the hospital together to pick up your mom."

Xu Qing'an nodded and smiled sweetly. "Thank you. On top of your official duties, you've had to worry about moving into the new house and my family's affairs these past few days."

Lu Cheng smiled back. "It's all right. You're my future partner. These things are my responsibility."

After Xu Qingran left the Xu Family home that day, the atmosphere in the house had been far from good. Lu Cheng had explained why he had gone to see Xu Qingran, and although Xu Qing'an felt resentful, he had still put on a magnanimous front and helped him explain to the two elders.

Lu Cheng might also have realized his behavior had been inappropriate, because he had treated Xu Qing'an especially well since then.

Xu Qing'an remembered that he had gone to find Xu Qingran in Golden Wing territory, so he asked, "By the way, Lu Cheng, it's been so many days, and my brother still hasn't contacted the family. When you went to Boss Chen's place to find him last time, how was he? Was he being mistreated?"

Lu Cheng paused, sounding puzzled. "Boss Chen?"

He was just about to continue when the front door was suddenly swiped open.

Father Xu came in from outside, having made time in his busy schedule to travel alone to the Empire's principal star. After not seeing him for several days, his face looked more haggard, as though he had gained a few more wrinkles. His eyes were vacant, as if he had suffered a tremendous shock and fright.

Xu Qing'an knew why Father Xu had gone out, and he sprang anxiously to his feet. "Dad, what happened?"

"Did the Empire really summon you there because of Brother and Boss Chen?"

Only when he spoke did Father Xu come somewhat back to his senses. He walked dazedly over to an armchair, braced both hands on his thighs, and sat down heavily.

After a long while, he replied, "...Ah, yes, it was about your brother."

The more he said, the more he questioned his life. "But it wasn't about Boss Chen. It was... about the Shen Family over in Golden Wing."