[Parting Ways]

Professor Qin Hui returned from DRE Company after taking leave with little delay.

They were his own teacher's children.

Seeing them in this situation made him terribly sad.

But there was nothing he could do.

It had already happened, and all he could do was help them as best he could.

"Senior Brother."

When they saw Professor Qin Hui, Feiran and Qiya greeted him politely. "We're really sorry to trouble you."

"My condolences."

Professor Qin Hui wore a silver suit, with black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. He looked at the three children standing before him, none much older than his own daughter, his face heavy with grief.

Without his teacher's guidance, he could never have become one of the world's top scientists.

Feiran, Qiya, and Ye Yun were all children their teacher had had late in life.

"Sit down, all of you. Don't just stand there. You're welcome to make yourselves at home. I'm deeply sorry about what happened to your teacher. The Intelligent Being mutation last night has left our company in a state of alarm, too."

After inviting the three of them to sit, Professor Qin Hui looked apologetic. "Xiao Yan, get your aunts and uncle some water. Oh, Xiao Ran, when have you decided to hold your teacher's funeral?"

Once they were seated, Professor Qin Hui beckoned to his daughter, then turned to Feiran and the others.

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

"Professor Qin, we've decided to keep things simple. We'll cremate him tomorrow and then bury him in Heaven Valley." Feiran looked at Professor Qin Hui. She no longer called him Senior Brother, addressing him as Professor Qin instead, and told him what they had decided to do for her father.

"Bury him in Heaven Valley? That's good, that's good. Heaven Valley is a good place. Couldn't you wait a few more days? Your teacher had many old friends. If we don't notify those senior professors, I'm afraid..."

When Qin Hui heard that his teacher would be buried in Heaven Valley, he said twice that it was a good choice. His own beloved had been buried there, so he could visit his teacher whenever he went to pay his respects. But then he thought of his teacher's friends and looked at the three siblings with some hesitation.

Many of his teacher's friends were among the most powerful people in the world. Some were even academicians from the mainland.

It would be inappropriate not to notify them.

"Professor Qin, we've made our decision. We have our own mission, so we can only handle our father's funeral as simply as possible."

As the eldest sister, Feiran spoke for them. "The Intelligent Being mutation is happening now, and Intelligent Beings have developed their own consciousness and logic. They pose a tremendous threat to humanity. Let's keep everything simple."

"Very well. You can decide everything. If you run into any trouble, be sure to tell me. I'll do everything I can to help. As for Professor Jianjie, I'm afraid I'll have to apologize on her behalf. Her two daughters were killed yesterday, and her husband is missing. She may not be able to attend your teacher's funeral."

Professor Qin Hui nodded in understanding. Thinking of Professor Jianjie, he apologized.

He had a very good relationship with Professor Jianjie and her family.

They were both Professor Hu Ming's most prized students, as well as leading experts in the field of Intelligent Beings.

It was no wonder they were close.

"Mm, we understand. Sorry to trouble you." Feiran nodded solemnly. She didn't blame them. They had also lost their loved ones, and what they needed now was understanding.

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

When Qin Hui saw his daughter bringing over the water, he quickly rose from the sofa and put a hand on her shoulder. "Junior Brother, Junior Sisters, this is my daughter, Qin Yan. She's a little mischievous and doesn't always know better, so please don't take offense. Xiao Yan, these three are Feiran, Qiya, and Ye Yun. They're your grand-teacher's children."

"Hello."

Though Qin Yan was only fifteen, she was already developing into a stunning beauty. She greeted the three politely, her lively eyes full of curiosity. There was one thing she couldn't figure out.

If they were Professor Hu Ming's children, why did they all go by different names?

No one explained Qin Yan's confusion to her.

Feiran and Qiya both had the surname Hu, but Feiran and Qiya sounded nicer. Calling her Hu Feiran didn't sound as good.

Ye Yun?

He had been called Ye Yun even before he was swallowed by the Black Hole. In this world, Professor Hu Ming had found him at night, and since dark clouds had covered the sky at the time, he had simply named him Ye Yun.

"Hello."

The three returned Qin Yan's greeting politely.

When someone greeted you, wasn't it only polite to respond?

Otherwise, you'd be very rude.

......

The next day.

Heaven Valley.

The weather was bright and sunny.

Leaves drifted slowly from the treetops, dancing in the breeze 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, were there.

They stood before the gravestone and bowed three times.

"Dad, rest here in peace. We know you were tired." Feiran looked at the gravestone, her voice very gentle. "Thank you for giving me life and bringing me into this world, where I could see so many wonderful things I'd never seen before. I won't question your decision."

"Dad, thank you. Don't worry. I'll come visit your grave every year during the Qingming Festival."

Qiya looked at the gravestone, fighting back tears.

He was their father, but now he would sleep forever in Heaven Valley.

"Old Hu, I'm sorry."

Ye Yun felt sorry about it.

He couldn't bring himself to call the man who had raised him for twenty-one years "Dad."

It wasn't because of their ages, but because of who they were.

"Hey, are you serious? Professor Hu Ming was your father, and you called him Old Hu? That's so unfilial!"

Hearing Ye Yun call Professor Hu Ming that, Qin Yan stared at him in shock and puffed out her cheeks as she scolded him.

That was so rude.

"Xiao Yan, don't be disrespectful."

Professor Qin Hui scolded his daughter displeasedly, then looked at the gravestone, lost in thought.

Ye Yun and the others headed toward the road in the distance, leaving the two students of Professor Hu Ming alone at the gravesite.

"Little girl, you're pretty, but don't think you can get my little brother's attention. He has very high standards."

Qiya leaned against her motorcycle and looked at the girl with the cat-ear hair clip.

"Please. As if I'd be interested in your brother. Take a look in the mirror. I'm not into him at all. I only like Brother Zhuoran."

Qin Yan curled her lip in disdain and said without a care.

The person she liked would always be Brother Zhuoran, never anyone else.

Even if this person were more handsome than Brother Yang or Brother Zhuoran, and had a more aristocratic air about him.

Her feelings for Zhuo Ran would never change.

"All right, Big Sis, Little Brother, I'll get going. Before I leave, I want the three of us to take a picture together as a keepsake."

Qiya had only been joking with Qin Yan to lighten the sadness of their impending farewell.

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

Feiran nodded firmly and embraced Qiya, whispering in her ear.

They each had their own mission.

"Mm, I know, Big Sis."

Qiya understood their missions and nodded solemnly. "Take care of our little brother. He's such a blockhead."

"Mm, I will."

Feiran nodded slightly. After taking a photo with Ye Yun and Qiya, she watched Qiya ride away on her motorcycle.

She hadn't told anyone where she was going.

And no one asked.

It was an unspoken agreement.

Until the crisis with the Intelligent Beings was over, they probably wouldn't see each other again.

"We should get going, too. I used our father's connections to arrange passage to Linji Island."

Watching her younger sister ride away, Feiran closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A cool, distant air gradually settled over her. She turned to Ye Yun. "Let's go."

"Wait, are you really parting ways? You're sisters!"

Seeing the three of them go their separate ways right in front of her, Qin Yan's innocent, beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

"Thanks for your hospitality, beautiful. Stay safe."

Ye Yun got into Feiran's supercar and spoke to Qin Yan outside as the door closed. "Tell your father we're sorry, from the three of us."

The car started. Under Qin Yan's stunned gaze, it shot toward the far end of Heaven Valley like a streak of light.

"What is going on?"

Left all alone, Qin Yan pouted and grumbled unhappily.

"Hello, Brother Zhuoran. What is it?"

Her Smart Watch rang. Seeing that Zhuo Ran was calling, she forgot all about Ye Yun and the beautiful girl she'd been a little jealous of, and answered cheerfully.

"Xiang Mao, where are you? Why aren't you home? Come out and hang out. I got into the Special Police Force today. Aren't you excited? Hurry over and celebrate with me. Your Brother Yang is treating."

Zhuo Ran's excited voice came through the communicator, brimming with enthusiasm.

"Brother Yang's treating? Really? The Young Master isn't complaining about being broke anymore?"

Hearing that Young Master Qi Yang was treating, Qin Yan joked with him over the phone.

"You little brat, what are you talking about? Keep it up and I'll make you pay for the meal."

Qi Yang's amused but annoyed voice came through the phone. "Hurry up. Where are you now? We'll come get you and celebrate for Zhuo Ran."

"I'm at Heaven Valley. Come pick me up."

Qin Yan answered honestly, telling them where she was.

"Heaven Valley? What are you doing there?"

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

He couldn't figure it out.

"Professor Hu Ming was my father's teacher. He was killed by an Intelligent Being, so we came to Heaven Valley with his children to see him off."