Jiyuan: Little Sister, You Won't Listen to Me, and You're Dating Already?!

As they talked, the people around them had long since left after finding the place boring. Only the four of them remained.

Seeing this, Sushang looked around in a panic.

"Sorry, I thought our performance could draw some attention to the show." Sushang apologized to Ginevere. "I'm really, truly sorry."

As she spoke, she shot Ji Yuan a fierce glare.

"Don't worry. Accidents during a performance are perfectly normal. And isn't it normal for an older brother to worry about his younger sister?" Ginevere patted Sushang's clothes and said with a smile, "If you want to repay me, help me come up with a catchy Xianzhou name."

"This?" Sushang put on a thoughtful expression.

Very quickly, she clapped her hands. "I've got it. Ginevere, how about Guinaifen as your Xianzhou name? Gui is a fine tree, nai means 'is,' and fen means fragrance."

"Guinaifen?" Ginevere repeated it a few times. "What a great name. From now on, my Xianzhou name will be Guinaifen!"

Ginevere—oh, no, Guinaifen now—was extremely happy.

Meanwhile, Ji Yuan and Tingyun stared at Sushang in astonishment.

"Are you really my sister?"

After a moment of silence, Ji Yuan asked Sushang that question.

With your level of education, you could come up with a name like that?

"Hmph, you don't believe in my cultural literacy?"

Sushang said indignantly.

"I've never thought you had any."

Ji Yuan muttered dryly.

"You..." Sushang was left speechless with anger.

Tingyun spoke up then. "All right, there's a small restaurant not far from here. I remember the food being fairly good. Shall we go try it?"

"Sure."

Sushang nodded.

Ginevere—no, Guinaifen—also nodded in agreement.

The four of them headed for the nearest restaurant. Along the way, Tingyun casually bought a newspaper.

"Hm? Isn't there news on your phone? Why buy one separately?"

"Because there are many things you can't find through searches. The Xianzhou won't publicize them so openly." Tingyun pointed at an article. "For example, look at this. The Astral Express, which follows the Path of Trailblaze, will soon arrive at Herta Space Station. That's why I buy newspapers—to find news that can't be searched for."

Astral Express?

Wasn't that where the game took place?

Although he had never played the game, he at least knew its name. So he knew the people on that train should be the legendary protagonist group.

Ji Yuan's eyes lit up with excitement.

If I get the chance, I definitely need to get to know them properly.

They were the legendary protagonist group. Their potential for growth was the greatest of all. In another hundred years, they might even be able to kill an Aeon.

Seeing Ji Yuan's expression, Tingyun smiled faintly. "Ji Yuan, our Xianzhou has a fairly good relationship with those Nameless. How about transferring to the Trading Company? There's a good chance you'll get to meet the Nameless then."

They were both members of the Maritime Trade Office. As long as he proved capable enough, arranging a transfer would not be difficult.

"I'll pass."

Ji Yuan refused without even thinking.

He wanted to see the protagonist group, but he had no intention of risking being alone with Tingyun.

Tingyun tightened her grip on her fan.

Watching from the side, Guinaifen quietly patted Sushang's arm and whispered, "Changchang, what exactly is going on between your brother and Miss Tingyun?"

"What do you mean, what's going on? Sister Tingyun is a good friend."

Sushang did not understand what Guinaifen was trying to ask.

"A good friend? Haven't you noticed that Miss Tingyun likes your brother and wants to be his girlfriend?"

"Huh!?"

Sushang let out an exaggerated cry.

Her cry immediately drew Ji Yuan and Tingyun's attention.

"What happened?"

Sushang hurriedly waved her hands. "N-Nothing. Little Gui just told me something really bizarre."

"Oh."

Ji Yuan and Tingyun went back to considering where would be best to eat.

Sushang anxiously whispered to Guinaifen, "How could you tell?"

"Changchang, anyone who isn't blind can tell. Don't tell me you really didn't notice?"

Sushang blinked her clear eyes.

Guinaifen covered her forehead speechlessly.

Sushang secretly studied Tingyun, looking at her expression while rubbing her chin and trying hard to appear thoughtful.

"Can you tell now?"

"No." Sushang shook her head forcefully.

Then, seeing Guinaifen's expression, she immediately said, "It's mainly because I really can't imagine my brother falling in love. He isn't even two hundred yet."

In her mind, Ji Yuan falling in love had never even been an option.

Only after Guinaifen pointed it out did she finally become aware of it.

She looked at Tingyun and Ji Yuan with a rather troubled expression.

They found a decent restaurant and went inside.

While Tingyun went to order, Sushang pulled Ji Yuan into a corner of the restaurant.

Though Ji Yuan was confused, he went along with Sushang.

"Brother, I need to tell you something."

Sushang said to Ji Yuan.

"What is it?"

Ji Yuan looked at Sushang in confusion.

Sushang raised her head and asked curiously, "Brother, are you going to start dating early?"

If she did not get a clear answer, she would not even be able to eat comfortably.

Ji Yuan looked utterly speechless.

"First, I already have a job. Dating is normal. Second, I still have other things to do right now, so I genuinely don't want to date for the time being."

So he would not hold anyone else up...

"Oh!" Hearing Ji Yuan say that, Sushang inexplicably felt relieved. Still, she reminded her brother, "But don't you go around playing with people's feelings! If you do anything like some playboy, I'll definitely tell Mother."

Sushang received another chop to the head.

"But you..." Before Sushang could finish, Ji Yuan caught the issue with her instead and said, "You're still a child. You absolutely cannot start dating early."

Hearing Ji Yuan warn her like that, Sushang rolled her eyes.

"Me, date early? Don't worry, I absolutely won't."

"You promise?"

"Definitely!"

"If you lie to me, I'll break that boy's legs."

"Mm-hm."

Sushang nodded indifferently.

The two returned, and Tingyun had finished ordering as well.

As the food arrived, Ji Yuan and Tingyun told Sushang about their next operation.

The Cloud Knights' next operation was not confidential. Since the Orion Trading Company had acted like this, the Xianzhou's retaliation was inevitable. Every force connected to the Abundance Followers had been issued a kill-on-sight order by the Xianzhou, and attacks would be launched as quickly as possible.

It seemed like a waste of military force, but the Xianzhou's ruthless actions made many forces afraid to have any contact with the Abundance Followers, saving them a great deal of trouble instead.

Ji Yuan reminded Sushang, "When the time comes, make sure you stay close to Tingyun and me."

"Brother, I'm already a mature Cloud Knight. I can protect myself."

Sushang said unhappily to Ji Yuan.

She thought Ji Yuan wanted to protect her.

After all, judging by what happened yesterday, Sushang felt that her swordsmanship was still inferior to Ji Yuan's.

"I'm not asking to protect you. I'm asking you to protect me."

Ji Yuan said irritably.

If you aren't there, Tingyun and I being together would be far too dangerous.

"Oh."

Sushang nodded.

But deep down, she still did not quite believe that her brother truly intended for her to protect him.

The four of them finished their meal together.

As they were paying the bill, Ji Yuan immediately felt the system refresh again.

He glanced at the system.

You had lunch with a legendary acrobat...

You had lunch with a corpse...

You had lunch with a widow...

Seeing the last line, Ji Yuan shot Sushang a fierce glare.

Well, well, little sister. You actually dared to deceive your brother.

No, he would have to give her a proper lesson later and make sure she understood that she absolutely could not start dating early.

His little sister needed some love in the form of a feather duster.

The Orion Trading Company's base.

A famous interstellar trading company, its headquarters was an entire planet.

At that moment, the company guards were patrolling the headquarters nervously. Various defensive installations were also being erected continuously. Most importantly, many Buli Ren were openly present among them.

They had also prepared themselves for a battle against the Luofu Starfaring Vessel.

And at this tense, critical moment before the war with the Xianzhou—

A "Fox Folk" appeared on the street.

She had brown hair, a fluffy tail behind her, and a folding fan in her hand. Her movements were graceful, and her beauty was breathtaking.

If anyone else from the Luofu Starfaring Vessel saw her, they would recognize at a glance that she looked exactly like Tingyun.