Warmth

Was this world parallel to the one I originally came from, or was it the future? Or had my soul crossed billions of light-years through the same spacetime, been reborn from Earth, and taken over the body of an alien called Third Prince Hua Zhen?

These were the three questions Hua Zhen had wanted to figure out over the past few years.

The first possibility was a parallel universe:

The Big Bang Theory had also been proposed by scientific practitioners in this world: the universe had formed through expansion after a massive explosion of a dense, scorching singularity 13.7 billion years ago!

That raised a question. After the singularity exploded, could it really have produced only this one universe? The very thought was impossible.

Take Earth as an example. At the very beginning, it had only one continent. Later, movements in the crust formed six major plates. Early humans scattered across different plates all believed the environment they lived in was the only one, unaware that there were other worlds beyond theirs. The existence of parallel universes followed the same logic.

Even the Angel Civilization, whose technology had advanced into the Gene Era, had failed to lift the veil of mystery surrounding the theory of parallel universes. So if Hua Zhen wanted to find his original world through this line of research, it would be unimaginably difficult!

The second possibility was the future world:

Researching that was no easier than the first possibility, because if he wanted to return home, he would have to study the legendary time-travel machine.

This thing was nothing like in science fiction movies, where one could hold a Time Navigation Instrument, appear at any point in the river of history, enter some quantum realm, and have everything work out.

Time was a unit of measurement artificially created to gauge changes in material space. Within the Known Universe, a moment in the past did not belong to just one person; it was a moment belonging to the entire universe. Thus, researching it in the real world involved questions of spacetime theory.

The final possibility, compared with the first two, only required developing a spaceship capable of extremely long-distance travel, finding a few trustworthy companions, forming a small group, and going off to find the damn One Piece. Seriously, it could not be any easier.

So, if he wanted to find a way home, he first had to determine which of these three possibilities was the right one. They involved three entirely different research directions, and it was obvious at a glance which was difficult and which was easy.

Although an upgraded gene allowed one to live for a very long time, there was a saying that made perfect sense: "Use good steel on the blade, and spend money where it counts!" Technology had to strike at the heart of the problem and seize the most important research direction. Otherwise, the detours would stretch endlessly ahead.

"Lieyang Civilization..."

Freezing the Light Energy Projection on the young man dressed in ancient-style clothing, Hua Zhen leaned heavily against the back of his chair, his brow tightly furrowed. This was the data backup he had obtained from Left Wing King Miller. There were only a few seconds of footage, along with some intelligence data on the Lieyang Civilization, yet he had spent the entire afternoon studying it.

When he had first seen this person, he had naturally thought of his second possibility. He had believed Lieyang might be a civilization formed after China on Earth developed technologically. But he quickly rejected that idea.

The intelligence Miller had uncovered mentioned that the Lieyang Civilization had a history spanning thirty thousand years and had been quietly developing within a stellar system called Tiandao, a place with an enormous density of stars. Earth, on the other hand, was in the Solar System, which had only one star: the Sun. The contradiction was far too great. In thirty thousand years, a star system could not possibly gain so many stars out of thin air.

?!!

What if it was interstellar migration?

"Ah!! This is so annoying..."

Hua Zhen yanked at his hair in frustration. Only after a long while did he stop. With his hair sticking up like a bird's nest, he looked at the young man in the projection and said dejectedly, "After all this guessing, it looks like I'll only learn what I want to know after making contact with the Lieyang Civilization!"

"That Old Stick insists on making me deal with some Fellinton Civilization. Isn't that just holding me up?" He looked irritated. "Damn it, once this shitty training is over, whether he agrees or not, I'm definitely taking a trip to the Western Territory!"

Just as he made his decision, a knock sounded outside the door. Hua Zhen glanced at the dial on his wrist, and a faint smile curled his lips. At this hour, there was only one person in the entire Bedroom Palace who would come to see him.

"Come in~"

Sure enough, Lian Xi was the one who pushed open the door. She gently closed it behind her, walked to Hua Zhen's side, and placed the tray she carried on the desk before him.

"Your Highness, have something to eat~"

Lian Xi stood there prettily. Her soft, soothing voice calmed Hua Zhen's previously restless mood considerably. She carried an air of refinement, and under the warm glow of the lights, her jade-white skin looked exquisitely translucent.

Elegant and serene, dignified in bearing, and accompanied by a naturally deep fragrance, perhaps no one could remain entirely composed in her presence.

After smiling at her for a moment, Hua Zhen shifted his gaze to the tray on the desk and praised her sincerely, "Wow, this looks really good~"

Looking at the pastries on the tray, he saw crisp oatmeal cookies filled with smooth, fresh fruit cream. Several adorable little flowers decorated the crumb-covered cakes, while translucent pearl candies around them gave off an enticing fruity aroma. Hua Zhen could not help taking a deep sniff, his appetite thoroughly stirred.

He blew away the crumbs clinging to the pastry and slowly placed it in his mouth. The instant softness and crispness that spread across his taste buds filled his entire body with sweetness. The tender cake carried a faint cheese fragrance, making it utterly delicious.

It had to be said that this girl's talent for cooking was no joke. Hua Zhen could make pastries, sure, but the things he made looked incredibly crude. A perfectly good cake would somehow end up looking like a lump of something indescribable. It was unbearable to look at.

Lian Xi, on the other hand, had only watched him make them a few times before learning the technique with remarkable skill. After several years, she had become a master. The student had surpassed the teacher completely.

She was clever with her hands, could cook, was gentle, thoughtful, and beautiful. With her by his side taking such close care of him, Hua Zhen felt happy enough to die. "Girl, you're amazing~" he praised again without holding back as he wolfed down the food.

"No, I'm not, Your Highness~~" Lian Xi's cheeks flushed red from his praise. Seeing her prince eat so happily, her eyes and brows were full of smiles.

After finishing all the food, Hua Zhen patted his stomach contentedly and looked up at Lian Xi. Just as he was about to say something, he noticed her hesitant expression. He paused, took her little hand, and asked softly, "What's wrong, girl?"

Even Hua Zhen himself had no idea how many times he had made that gesture. It came as naturally as breathing. Speaking of which, he had Xuan Ji to thank for that.

Lian Xi allowed him to hold her hand. After hesitating for a while, she finally said, "...Your Highness, why is it that whenever Consort Xin Yao sends someone to say she wants to see you, you always say you're busy and have no time? Clearly..."

Seeing his brow gradually tighten, she did not dare continue.

Hua Zhen's expression remained indifferent. In the past, because he feared Consort Xin Yao's suspicions would deepen and drive her to seek out the Angel King, he would visit her for a day or two every month even if he was unwilling.

But as he gradually grew older, the Old Angel King became increasingly "familiar" with him. Secure in that knowledge, Hua Zhen could no longer be bothered to play that loving mother-and-filial son game with that woman.

He visited Consort Xin Yao less and less, until now he did not go at all. Consort Xin Yao did not understand why. She had sent people many times to convey that she missed him and wished to see him, but Hua Zhen always dismissed them on the excuse that he had no time.

"I... I'm sorry, Your Highness..." Lian Xi thought she had angered him by speaking out of turn, so she bit her lip and apologized.

"What are you apologizing for~" Hua Zhen found it both amusing and exasperating. He tugged her closer, rubbed her head, and said gently, "I have my own reasons for not seeing Consort Xin Yao. I just can't tell you about them, girl..."

"But..."

"There's no but. Be good and don't bring it up again, okay?" Hua Zhen interrupted her.

"...Okay~" Lian Xi replied, looking a little aggrieved.

Her little expression made Hua Zhen laugh. With a pull of his arm, he drew her down beside him amid a startled cry, then bumped her with his shoulder. "Girl, in a couple of days, I'll be going to the Fellinton Civilization for training. Is there anything you want? I'll bring it back for you, hehe~"

Lian Xi shook her head. "I only want Your Highness to return safely..."

"I knew you'd say that~" Hua Zhen pretended to be angry as he lightly pinched her little nose.

"Hehe... Your Highness, stop teasing me..." Lian Xi let out a sweet laugh as he teased her.

The night gradually deepened. The two of them talked and laughed, their hands clasped tightly together. It had always been like this over the years—warm and sweet...