A Sudden Contact

Spring Festival is China's grandest traditional holiday. Over its long history, it has accumulated countless cultural layers. These added cultural meanings give Spring Festival a more special significance for Chinese people, making it not just a holiday, but a kind of "Year" culture. Various customs and Spring Festival activities make these few days each year a unique Chinese-style carnival that attracts worldwide attention. Although with the development of the times and changes in people's concepts, many young people no longer pay much attention to the various customs and rigid rules of celebrating the New Year, this does not affect the atmosphere of Spring Festival in the slightest.

Although I had already discussed traveling with Qian Qian during the New Year, I still had to spend New Year's Eve and the first day of the New Year with my family. As for the travel issue, we didn't have to worry at all. With Lin Xue's incredibly capable organization, the so-called Spring Festival travel rush simply didn't exist for us. If all else failed, I still had the Pandora Legion. I believe traveling across planes using the Legion Teleporter would definitely be an exciting experience—of course, then I would have a headache explaining it to Qian Qian and my sister.

Midnight on New Year's Eve is the prelude to the climax of the entire Spring Festival. I remember when I was little, this time of year was when I was most excited, just like Sandora is now.

With a "bang," a dazzling ball of fire shot into the sky, then exploded high up amidst the sound of firecrackers that sounded like applause from all around, making Sandora, who was experiencing this new thing for the first time, jump and shout with joy.

"Haha—Chen Jun!" Sandora excitedly rushed over and hung onto my neck. "This thing is so fun! I didn't expect you guys to come up with such interesting toys! It seems I need to change my view of Carbon-Based Lifeforms..."

At this moment, I heard a faint "click-click" sound from around me. Although these subtle sounds were hard to detect amidst the firecrackers, my body had been enhanced by Sandora in the Otherworld last time, so hearing these sounds was more than enough—speaking of which, this modification technology is really good stuff. If I get the chance, I must make those Empire Commanders who are idle all day study the modification technology of Carbon-Based Lifeforms properly. Maybe one day I really can become a superhero... cough cough, although with Shilin technology, I can already be considered a superhero.

As for the source of these sounds, needless to say, it was those dedicated reporters again. Ever since Sandora's astonishing actions at the banquet last time, she has become the focus of media attention. "Cold and aloof," "noble," "beautiful," and "intelligent" are the words most used to describe her. Of course, there are also some negative comments. Sandora's few words labeling Ding Bai as a political prisoner gave her the reputation of being "scheming" and "protective of her own," but not many people paid attention to these evaluations. Because as a public figure, negative evaluations are almost indispensable, and people have long lost interest in believing these comments. Moreover, the person Sandora messed with was Ding Bai. The vast majority of ordinary people wouldn't care about how a super-rich person who has nothing to do with them is doing. If Sandora had targeted an ordinary migrant worker, it might have caused more of a stir. Furthermore, during this time, Sandora has consistently shown a stance of being close to the people, even refusing the high-class residence arranged for her by the local government and insisting on living in an ordinary person's home. This series of actions has created the image of a sunny princess who is merciless towards the rich and friendly and loving towards ordinary people. The result is that Sandora's popularity among the Chinese people has soared, and she has also become the focus of media attention.

Thanks to this troublesome princess, my sister and I have also become key targets for the army of reporters, especially me. Sandora and I sticking together all day is simply excellent reporting material bestowed upon these reporters by heaven. All sorts of gossip can be mass-produced without even needing processing. Fortunately, due to Sandora's extreme behavior last time, these reporters didn't dare to openly come forward for interviews. They didn't have Ding Bai's power; being casually labeled a political criminal by Sandora would be enough to ruin them for life. Moreover, under the joint action of the Vengeance Legion and the Pandora Legion, not a single precious photo taken by these reporters could be saved, and our lives weren't disrupted by reporters everywhere. But being stared at by these people all day is really annoying!

"Chen Jun, what's wrong?" Seeing my expression wasn't very good, Sandora asked curiously.

"Those reporters are bothering me!" I replied irritably. This girl really has no self-awareness of being the culprit.

"Then I'll kill all the reporters on Earth," Sandora said with a brilliant smile, as if she were talking about swatting a few cockroaches.

I shivered and quickly replied, "No need for that. Just teach them a lesson. No need to be so extreme, right?"

Sandora cutely poked her lip with her index finger and said, "Teach them a lesson, let me think... Ah! I got it!"

Sandora shouted happily. Looking at the mischievous smile on her face, I couldn't help but feel a cold sweat down my back.

What kind of nasty trick did this girl come up with?

Sandora, who had helped me solve a troublesome matter, seemed very happy. She went off to play by herself with a large bag of various fireworks, leaving me standing there.

I looked around and saw my sister sitting with Pandora in an open space not far away, doing something.

When I walked closer, I saw that my sister was holding the calm-faced Pandora and quietly listening to the sound of firecrackers around them.

"What's wrong, Sis?" I smiled and sat down beside them, saying, "It's boring just sitting here."

"Lily can't see," my sister's spirits didn't seem very high. "She can only sit here and listen to the sounds of people celebrating..."

...So that's how it is.

I was a bit unsure how to explain this to my sister. To conceal Pandora's identity and her eye problem, I had casually come up with the idea of her being blind. Now it was really causing trouble.

In fact, I was already preparing to tell my sister and Qian Qian part of the truth. Even Lin Xue knew my identity as the Shilin Emperor. As the people closest to me, I really shouldn't continue to hide things from my sister and Qian Qian. Even if I didn't tell them about things for the time being, I should at least let my sister know about the existence of Espers. Otherwise, explaining Lin Xue's identity would be another big problem.

I bent down and pulled Pandora out of my sister's arms. The little one was already a bit impatient. As soon as I pulled her, she immediately slipped out and sat down next to me, hugging my arm tightly.

It seems my plan to raise a well-behaved Pandora has had some effect, although most of the time this little one sticks to me just to listen to me talk about the history of world wars or to tell me about the history of cosmic wars...

"Sis," I stroked Pandora's soft, long hair, "About Lily and me, there are some things I haven't told you..."

"Hmm?" My sister tilted her head curiously and asked, "What's wrong? You look strange."

"Sis, do you believe in the existence of Espers in this world?" I carefully chose my words.

My sister didn't expect me to bring this up. She was stunned for a moment, then couldn't hide her smile and said, "Hehe, why are you suddenly thinking about these things? You're a grown-up... Wait, you didn't go looking for those quacks to cure Lily's eyes, did you? Don't easily believe those kinds of people!"

Seeing my sister suddenly become nervous, I was both amused and touched. I quickly comforted her, "How could I! How could an adult like me be so easily fooled? I'm just asking."

"Espers," my sister fell into thought, then smiled brightly, "Although I haven't seen them, I think they should exist. After all, the world is so big, who can explain everything?"

I finally made up my mind and said, "Sis, actually I..."

A voice suddenly sounded in my mind, interrupting me: "Alaya requests connection."

At the same time, I felt a strong mental fluctuation coming from afar—another Shilin Apostle had arrived in this world!

"What's wrong?" My sister found it strange that I suddenly froze there.

"Nothing... I'll take Lily to the small square for a walk..."

My sister looked at me suspiciously and said, "Go to the small square? Didn't we just come back from there?"

I gave a dry laugh and said, "It was a sudden idea. I'll take Lily over to play..."

"And me!" Sandora's voice came from beside me. "I didn't get to play properly just now before you dragged me back. Now I want to go see people setting off fireworks!"

I looked into Sandora's eyes, and her voice sounded in my mind: It seems like your subordinate has arrived, but her situation is very strange. I'll go with you to take a look.

"Then I'll..." My sister was about to say she wanted to go too, but we quickly interrupted, "Sister, you just stay here and watch the house. We'll be back in a little while!"

"Ah—" My sister was startled by us, then hesitated and nodded, saying, "Then come back early, and be careful not to get hurt by the firecrackers..."

We hurriedly agreed and then quickly left.