[Parting Ways]

It didn't take long before Professor Qin Hui had already taken leave from the DRE Company and rushed back.

These were his teacher's own son and daughters.

Seeing them in this situation now, he was also deeply grieved.

But there was nothing to be done.

The matter had already happened, and he could only do his best to help them.

"Senior Brother."

Seeing Professor Qin Hui, Feiran and Qiya greeted him politely, saying, "We really are troubling you."

"Accept my condolences."

Professor Qin Hui wore a silver suit, a pair of black-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. Looking at the three children before him, none much older than his own daughter, his face was full of sorrow.

Without his teacher's guidance, he would never have become the world-renowned top scientist he was today.

And Feiran, Qiya, and Ye Yun were all children his teacher had in old age.

"Please, sit down, don't just stand. Coming to my place is like coming home, make yourselves at ease. I am also terribly sorry about Teacher's matter. Last night's Intelligent Being mutation left our company in a state of great anxiety as well."

After inviting the three to sit, Professor Qin Hui's face was full of apology as he said, "Xiao Yan, pour water for your aunts and uncles. By the way, Xiao Ran, when have you set Teacher's funeral for?"

After sitting down, Professor Qin Hui waved to his daughter, then looked at Feiran, Qiya, and the others.

He would never forget the kindness his teacher had shown in nurturing him.

"Professor Qin, we've decided to keep it simple. Cremation tomorrow, then burial at Heaven Valley." Feiran looked at Professor Qin Hui, no longer calling him Senior Brother but Professor Qin, and stated how they would handle their father's affairs.

"Buried at Heaven Valley? Good, good. Buried at Heaven Valley is good. But can't you wait a few more days? Teacher still has many old friends. If we don't notify those old professors, I'm afraid..."

Hearing that his teacher was to be buried at Heaven Valley, Qin Hui said "good" twice. His own wife was buried there, so when he visited her grave, he could conveniently stop by to see Teacher. But thinking of Teacher's old friends, he looked at the three siblings with some difficulty.

Many of Teacher's good friends were top-tier big shots in the world, even including academicians from the mainland.

If they weren't notified...

It wouldn't be proper.

"Professor Qin, this matter is settled. We have our own tasks, so we can only handle Father's funeral affairs simply."

As the eldest sister, Feiran naturally did the talking. She said, "Now that the Intelligent mutation has occurred and Intelligent Beings have developed their own self-awareness and logic, they pose a huge threat to humanity. Let's keep everything simple."

"Alright, all decisions are yours to make. If you run into any trouble, you must tell me. I will do everything I can to help you. As for Professor Jianjie, I'm afraid I must offer you her apologies on her behalf. Both of her daughters were killed yesterday, and her husband's fate is unknown. She may not be able to attend Teacher's funeral."

Professor Qin Hui nodded in understanding. Thinking of Professor Jianjie's situation, he spoke apologetically.

His relationship with Professor Jianjie's family was very good.

They were both Professor Hu Ming's most outstanding students and top experts in the field of Intelligent Beings.

A good relationship explained it.

"Mm, we know. We're just sorry to trouble you." Feiran nodded solemnly, not blaming anything. The other party had also lost their loved ones and needed understanding now.

"Come, Xiao Yan, let me introduce you."

Seeing Qin Yan coming over with water, Qin Hui quickly stood up from the sofa, grabbed his daughter by the shoulder, and said, "Junior siblings, this is my daughter, Qin Yan. She's a bit mischievous and doesn't know her manners. Please don't take offense. Xiao Yan, these three are Feiran, Qiya, and Ye Yun, your master's children."

"Hello."

Although Qin Yan was only fifteen years old, her development was impressive, already showing the makings of a stunning beauty. She greeted the three politely, her mischievous eyes full of curiosity. There was one thing she couldn't figure out.

Since they were all Professor Hu Ming's children, why did they have different surnames?

No one explained Qin Yan's confusion to her.

Feiran and Qiya both had the surname Hu, but calling them Feiran and Qiya sounded more pleasant. If you called them Hu Feiran, it wouldn't sound as nice.

Ye Yun?

Before being swallowed by the Black Hole, he was called Ye Yun. In this world, Professor Hu Ming found him at night, and since Dark Cloud covered the sky at the time, he simply named him Ye Yun.

"Hello."

The three politely returned Qin Yan's greeting.

If someone greets you, wouldn't you respond?

That would be very rude.

The next day.

Heaven Valley.

The weather was fine, the sun shining brightly.

Leaves slowly drifted down from the treetops, dancing in the wind before settling on the ground.

Before a gravestone.

Ye Yun, Feiran, Qiya, Professor Qin Hui, Qin Yan, and even Professor Jianjie, who had lost both her daughters, had arrived.

They looked at the gravestone before them and bowed deeply three times.

"Dad, rest in peace here. We all know you're tired." Feiran looked at the tombstone before her, her voice very gentle. "Thank you for giving me life, for letting me come into this world and see the beauty I never knew existed. I have no doubts about your decision."

"Dad, thank you. Don't worry, every Qingming Festival, I'll come sweep your grave."

Qiya stared at the tombstone before her, barely holding back the urge to cry.

This was their father, but from now on, he would sleep forever in Heaven Valley.

"Old Hu, I'm sorry."

For this.

Ye Yun expressed his apology. He could not give this man who had raised him for twenty-one years the title of father.

It wasn't an issue of age, but of identity.

"Hey, come on, Professor Hu Ming is your father, and you call him Old Hu? You don't have a shred of filial piety as a child!"

Hearing Ye Yun's address for Professor Hu Ming, Qin Yan stared at him in shock, puffing her cheeks angrily.

So rude.

"Xiao Yan, don't be disrespectful."

Professor Qin Hui scolded his daughter with displeasure, then looked at the tombstone, his thoughts unknown.

Ye Yun and the others walked toward the road in the distance, leaving the scene to the two students of Professor Hu Ming.

"Little girl, you might be pretty, but don't think about trying to catch my younger brother's attention. His standards are very high."

Qiya leaned against her motorcycle, looking at the girl wearing a cat-ear hair clip.

"Hmph, who would be interested in your brother? Look in a mirror. This Miss doesn't fancy him at all. I only like Brother Ran."

To this.

Qin Yan curled her lip dismissively, speaking carelessly.

The person she liked would always be Brother Zhuoran, no one else.

Even if this man was more handsome than Brother Yang and Brother Ran, and had more of an aristocratic air.

But her feelings for Zhuoran would never change.

"Alright, Older Sister, Little Brother, I'll take off now. Before I go, I think we three siblings should take a photo together, as a memento."

Qiya was just joking with Qin Yan, trying to lighten the sad atmosphere of parting.

"Okay, be careful. If you fall into the hands of the Intelligent Beings, we won't come to save you, and don't expect anyone else to, either."

Feiran nodded deeply, embracing Qiya, and whispered in her ear.

Because they each had their own missions.

"Mm, I know, Sister."

Qiya understood her and her older sister's tasks, nodding solemnly. "Take care of Little Brother. That kid's got a block of wood for a head."

"Mm, I understand."

Feiran nodded slightly. After pulling Ye Yun and Qiya together for a photo, she watched Qiya ride off on her motorcycle.

She didn't tell anyone where she was going.

No one asked where she was going, either.

Because it was an agreement.

If the matter of the Intelligent Beings wasn't resolved, they likely wouldn't meet again.

"Let's go too. I used my father's connections to smooth the way to Linji Island."

Watching her sister's retreating figure, Feiran closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A cold aura gradually settled over her as she turned to speak to Ye Yun.

"Wait, are you two going your separate ways? You're blood sisters."

Seeing the three part ways before her eyes, Qin Yan's innocent, beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Thanks for the hospitality, beauty. Stay safe."

Ye Yun got into Feiran's supercar. As the door closed, he said to Qin Yan outside the car, "Tell your father we siblings are sorry."

The engine roared. Under Qin Yan's stunned gaze, the car shot off like an afterimage, speeding toward the other end of Heaven Valley.

"What's all this about?"

Seeing herself left alone, Qin Yan pouted and muttered in dissatisfaction.

"Hey, Brother Zhuoran, what's up?"

Qin Yan's Smart Watch rang. Seeing it was Zhuoran calling, she had no time to dwell on Ye Yun or that girl so beautiful she made her a little jealous. She answered cheerfully and brightly.

"Xiang Mao, where are you? Why aren't you home? Come out and party. I passed the Special Police Force exam today. Excited? Get out here and celebrate with me. Today, Brother Yang is treating."

The communicator rang with Zhuoran's excited voice, excitement mixed with thrill.

"Brother Yang is treating? Really? The Young Master isn't crying poor anymore?"

Hearing it was Young Master Qi Yang treating, Qin Yan giggled and joked over the phone.

"Brat, what nonsense are you spouting? Don't make me make you foot the bill."

Through the phone came Qi Yang's irate, laughing scold: "Hurry up, where are you now? We'll come pick you up and celebrate for that kid Zhuo Ran."

"I'm at Heaven Valley, come pick me up from here."

Qin Yan told the truth about where she was.

"Heaven Valley? What are you doing at Heaven Valley?"

Hearing Qin Yan's words, Zhuo Ran asked curiously over the phone.

Couldn't figure it out.

"Professor Hu Ming was my dad's teacher. He was killed by an Intelligent Being. His children and I came to Heaven Valley to see him off on his final journey."