The Most Powerful Brain in the Interstellar Space

Chapter 371 Sharp Questions (Part 1)
But Zhou Xiuwen still remembers that the other party wasn't so honest at first.

I don't know if it's because the world is too big in his eyes, and there are too many people and things to consider and shoulder, so the feelings and energy he can devote to his family are limited.

As a child, Zhou Xiuwen vaguely felt that his father's image was somewhat hazy, as if there was always an invisible veil between them, preventing him from truly seeing the other side of him.

He had asked his mother if his father disliked them, otherwise why wouldn't his father stay by his side like other fathers, take him out to play, or touch him intimately like other fathers would.

Zhou Xiuwen's mother didn't answer at the time, but gently held him in her arms and murmured soothing words, saying many things he didn't understand at the time. When he woke up the next day, although he had forgotten most of it, he never asked such questions again in the years that followed.

This routine continued for a long time, until one day—

On the day his father was supposed to return from battle, Zhou Xiuwen was dressed up early by his mother and waited at the door for the return of the master of the house. However, this time, what he saw was not the tall and majestic general of the past, but a "stranger" who was weak and limp and seemed to only have the face of his father.

Everything changed after that day.

Time passed quickly afterward, so quickly that young Zhou Xiuwen did not know how to distinguish those complicated people and things. He only remembered that one day after attending a grand ceremony, his father was calmly pushed into the upper echelons of the Supreme Court in the capital. After he came out, he had completely lost both of his legs.

Not long after, Zhou Xiuwen bid farewell to his mother and maternal grandfather and accompanied his father away from the bustling central star region, arriving at Star 732.

Zhou Xiuwen's father stayed by his side from then on.

Perhaps because he had experienced life-and-death hardships, Zhou Yuanjing had become more at ease and began to show his son love and affection without reservation. But Zhou Xiuwen was not so happy; instead, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

Because it was him who started leaving frequently. When he went to school, Zhou Yuanjing stayed at home; when he went out to study military affairs, the other party was still at home; later, when he went to live at school, the other party was still waiting for him at home. His father, who was once full of glory and stood at the pinnacle of the empire, could now only shrink into a small world.

How must the other person be feeling?
So, in order not to make the other person feel lonely, and not to bring more trouble to this crumbling family, he repeatedly refused his mother's summons from the capital and rarely made friends with outsiders.

He was actually quite apprehensive about bringing Jiang Hui and the others to see Zhou Yuanjing. He was afraid that Zhou Yuanjing wouldn't like his friends, and he would have to choose between his father and his friends. Even if that outcome was certain, he would still feel extremely pained by it.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yuanjing reacted in this way. The fact that the other party came out in person made a statement. At this moment, he was not appearing in front of his child's friend as the commander of the empire, but as a father, and he was not afraid of anyone's gaze.

Zhou Xiuwen felt a surge of emotion in his chest, a torrent of feelings churning within him, leaving him speechless for a moment.

"Alright, get up. What kind of behavior is this in front of your friends? These are Xiaowen's friends, right? Hello, I am this child's father, Zhou Yuanjing."

The group hadn't quite recovered from the other party's situation when they heard Commander Zhou greet them, and they hurriedly returned the greeting.

Huan Xian was better off; the other party was probably used to it and naturally gave a humble military salute.

Then, Jiang Hui and Hillman, the two idiots, were left clueless about how to react, and could only awkwardly return the same courtesy. The other party seemed amused by the children's flustered appearance, a faint smile appearing on his bony face, his cheekbones trembling slightly, revealing a touch of gentle elegance, very similar to Zhou Xiuwen's usual appearance; it was obvious at a glance that this child resembled his father.

"They're all good kids. You don't need to be too nervous, or my child will blame me for making things difficult for you."

Zhou Xiuwen was inexplicably caught off guard and was a little unhappy. He couldn't possibly have thought that way, could he? The boy was somewhat dissatisfied, completely unaware that this was probably a common tactic used by all parents in the world, who always liked to use their child's little whims in small talk to shorten the distance between them.

Jiang Hui and the others couldn't help but exchange bewildered glances. How could this former imperial military commander be so mild-mannered?!

Since his appearance, the only quality he has displayed in every word and action can be summed up in two words: gentle. It's hard to imagine that he was once such a powerful figure, and he doesn't seem to have any pretense at all.

They finally understood where Zhou Xiuwen had learned his good temper.

Of course, none of them believed that this was the true face of this legendary figure, after all, gentleness alone could not convince the entire army. Considering his invitation to dinner and his personal greeting, the other party was probably deliberately presenting a gentle image to them for Zhou Xiuwen.

The other party then inquired about the names and ages of the others. However, unlike the other high-ranking individuals Jiang Hui had encountered in the past, he did not delve into their circumstances; he only touched upon the points briefly.

Compared to him, Hillman, whose family was incredibly wealthy, seemed to come from an ordinary family, Huan Xian, whose identity was shrouded in mystery, was just an ordinary young man, and Jiang Hui, who truly had an ordinary background, was no different from the two mentioned above.

Jiang Hui believed that the other party couldn't possibly be unaware of the background of his son's friends. Given their status and position, their information was likely already on their desks when they first met Zhou Xiuwen. This was a realistic and undeniable fact.

However, when the other party met them, they still acted as if they were meeting them for the first time, and came to get to know them in a very serious manner.

Yes, the other party was very serious... Jiang Hui did have that subtle feeling. Considering the other party's status, the fact that they asked for their names one by one and carefully wrote them down to greet them warmly was already unbelievable to them.

It is estimated that many high-ranking people in the empire, not to mention whether they could meet this head of state in person, even if they did, might not have the same kind of interaction with him as they have.

Even Jiang Hui, who is usually quite calm, was somewhat at a loss.

The elder seemed oblivious to the children's awkwardness and personally led them into the west hall, though none of them dared to look around carelessly along the way.

Unlike the long tables that Jiang Hui had been used to in her daily life these past few days, this unusual dinner was served at a round table. Several people of vastly different identities, statuses, and experiences took their seats.

This special dinner thus officially began.

(End of this chapter)