How about we go up and make a table of three?

Night gradually fell.

The Space Launch Center was brightly lit.

At a time when most people were already planning their holidays and looking forward to the New Year, there was not the slightest hint of festive cheer here.

Ground crews bustled along the runway, carrying out final checks on the launch site and the Auspicious's hardware under the engineers' direction.

The launch plan had been finalized, with ignition scheduled for midnight.

According to the observational data provided by the meteorological department, this was the best time to carry out the launch.

Not just the astronauts, but every member of the launch center's staff had adjusted their sleep schedules for this moment, ensuring they could perform their duties in peak condition.

Inside the astronauts' preparation room.

The air was still.

Only three hours remained until launch. In another hour, they would begin boarding.

Nie Yun let out a long breath, breaking the silence.

"Are you ready?"

A smile tugged at Nie Han's lips, and she tapped her chest with her fist.

"I've been ready for ages."

Perhaps her optimism was infectious, because a faint smile appeared on Nie Yun's tense face as well.

But it lasted only a few seconds.

After a moment of silence, he spoke.

"...I still think you should give this some serious thought. This launch mission isn't like the last one. The risks are much higher. Once we're on the Moon, we'll be the only ones who know what's waiting for us there."

Nie Han teased him with a smile. "What's the point of saying that now? Are they going to replace me?"

"There's a backup," Nie Yun reminded her.

"Don't even think about it," Nie Han said without hesitation.

They had grown up together, and Nie Yun knew her all too well. Seeing that she had