Across Deep Space: Four Men and a Play

Xia Jiumeng sat in the small garden downstairs of the inpatient department, watching the cool mist rising from the distant lawn, blurring the outline of the tall white building.

Playing with the 'gift' he just received.

It was soft yet slightly scratchy to the touch, and although it was charred, it still looked adorable. She couldn't help but wonder, "Is this just a gift?"

She looked at this thing several times and found nothing unusual. It seemed to be just an ordinary toy.

But Miaomiao suddenly gave her this thing, so it must be more than just a gift.

"Anything gained?"

Li Shen came over and sat beside her without her knowing and immediately handed her a drink.

"what is this?"

"Warm water."

Li Shen looked down at the doll on her lap and poked it with his hand.

"It's a bit cold when it's foggy, so drinking some warm water can replenish your body temperature."

"Thank you."

"Yeah." Li Shen looked at the doll and said, "Miaomiao has been holding it from the explosion to the hospital. She has never let it go during this time."

Xia Jiumeng was stunned for a moment. "She said she gave it to me."

"What were you talking about?"

"Nothing was said. I wanted to ask her if she saw anything before the explosion, but I was interrupted and didn't ask."

"However, I promised to help her find her brother."

"Komori?"

"His disappearance is very strange. I'm afraid there are many people looking for him. If you get involved, you will probably run into them."

"I know, but I think this explosion case is not as simple as it seems. Maybe they are involved."

Hearing this, Li Shen turned to look at her, with a hint of seriousness between his brows.

Xia Jiumeng continued, "Although the instigator was caught, Tianxing is a power center city, and Miaomiao's home is in the protection zone of the Far Space Fleet. Ordinary people don't have the ability to bypass the heavy guards and blow up the place."

What's more, he is a retired "former commander" who is mentally ill. The security of the fleet must have changed after his retirement. How did he bypass those arrangements and blow up Miaomiao's house so smoothly?

There must be helpers behind this, and Qiao Zhen is just a poor scapegoat.

"you mean...."

"This is most likely Ever's doing."

"Based on the residual energy fluctuations at the explosion site, I suspect there might be something on Komori that those people want. I want to know what they want."

Li Shen frowned, "But if you intervene rashly, you might end up in danger."

Xia Jiumeng looked at Li Shen and chuckled, "Li Shen, I may not have no chance of winning against them now."

"Moreover, they are not the type to give up easily. If they do it once, they will do it a second time, a third time, and countless times until they achieve their goal."

"It's better to be open than to hide."

Xia Jiumeng lightly touched her fingertips and an ice flower quietly appeared in the palm of her hand.

Li Shen smiled helplessly upon seeing this and said, "Okay, but you have to be careful and don't be careless."

"of course."

Li Shen always supports her decisions unconditionally.

"Besides Ever, there's something a little off here too." Li Shen suddenly spoke up. "I studied at Tianxing and also interned at Willow for a while, so I'm pretty familiar with this place."

"But after coming here this time, I found that the atmosphere of Tianxing has become very different."

"what you mean?"

"The fleet." Li Shen pushed up his glasses and continued, "The fleet was already very important at that time, but they spent most of their time conducting exploration missions in the tunnels."

"Many people have worked here for years and have never even seen a ship."

"But recently, the fleet has been returning home in large numbers, contrary to its usual practice, and has completely blocked the ground."

Xia Jiumeng met Li Shen's eyes and felt a little guilty for some reason. "I will pay attention to the fleet, but for now we have to find Xiao Sen first."

"Do you have any idea?" Li Shen looked at her.

"No, it's been seven days since the explosion. The fleet has been searching the explosion site and the surrounding area, but they haven't found him. Either Komori was taken away long ago, or... he's hiding somewhere more secret."

She was more inclined to the latter because she saw a hand passing by that day.

She is not old enough to be presbyopic yet.

But how to find the person is a problem. After all, he has hidden himself and will definitely not come out easily.

Xia Jiumeng's gaze fell on the doll in her hand. "Li Shen, do you think this could be the clue Miaomiao left for me?"

"Let me see."

Xia Jiumeng handed Lucy to Li Shen. He took it, looked at it for a while, and suddenly pulled the doll's tail. After a burst of noise, a clear conversation came from the doll.

Miaomiao: Brother, where are you hiding? I can’t find you! I don’t want to play anymore!

Xiao Sen: Hehehe, Miaomiao is so stupid, I’m in the secret base!

Miaomiao: ...We agreed not to hide in the secret base! You're cheating! I don't want to play with you anymore!

.....】

Xia Jiumeng “........”6.

She felt around for a long time but didn't find anything. Li Shen found it right away.

Li Shen placed the doll back on her lap, stroked its head, and explained softly, "I've seen many similar toys around sick children."

"Awesome!" Xia Jiumeng gave him a thumbs up.

"Thanks...."

Just as he opened his mouth to thank him, he was interrupted by Li Shen.

"Don't say it, I'm tired of hearing it."

Xia Jiumeng took back her words and thought about it. Li Shen likes sweets...

"When we get back to Rinku, I'll treat you to something delicious. You'll definitely like it."

He's sure to like that.

"When are you free?" Xia Jiumeng asked. She remembered that Li Shen's schedule this month seemed very tight and he might not be able to take a vacation.

"If not, I'll send it to your office then?"

"This is the first time I've heard someone who proactively invites someone out for dinner complain that they're not available."

"I'm just afraid that you'll be busy." Xia Jiumeng giggled.

Li Shen slowly leaned back on the bench, glanced at her, and reached out to take the warm water from her hand. "It seems that you are not lacking water but zinc."

Xia Jiumeng: "...I didn't." Is this guy saying that she is stupid?

Li Shen smiled helplessly. "We are all very busy, busy solving one problem after another. But no matter how busy we are, as long as we want to meet, we will always find time to sit together like this."

I'm almost saying it directly, I'm always available whenever you want.

"Wait until you have fulfilled your agreement with Miaomiao before considering what you want to eat with me." Li Shen stood up and rubbed her head.

He still has work to do and has to go first.

Xia Jiumeng also got up and left the hospital and strolled around Tianxing. She had a casual dinner and asked the waiter to bring a portion to Li Shenwai.

[Xia Jiumeng: Remember to eat. I sent you a meal, it should be here soon.]

【Li Shen: Okay, have you eaten? 】

[Xia Jiumeng: Fat cat pats its belly, jgp. Of course.]

[Li Shen: Snowman drinking tea emoji. Looks like you're very full.]

[Xia Jiumeng: Hehe, my appetite is as good as ever. Go to bed early after get off work. Don't worry about me, I'm very strong. Kitten showing off his muscles, jgp.]

[Li Shen: Okay, good night. Snowman quilt, jgp.]

Li Shen also seems to like sending emoticons, perhaps he was infected by her.

Actually, it’s a bit early to say good night. It’s just getting dark now, around eight or nine o’clock.

It’s still early, let’s wait.

She put away her phone and found a corner to squat until around 10 o'clock in the evening before she got up and sneaked into the scene of the explosion.

The fleet is no longer stationed here. Perhaps it is because they blocked off this area a week after the explosion and checked one by one but did not find any trace of Komori, so they gave up on this place.

However, looking at the many footprints left on the smoky ground, I'm afraid many people have been here.

I have to say that this kid is quite patient and has been hiding and never coming out.

But it’s a good thing that he was able to keep his composure, otherwise he would have been arrested long ago.

"Komori..."

"Komori...can you hear me?"

"I'm not a bad person. I came to find you on Miaomiao's behalf..."

Xia Jiumeng shouted several times but there was no response.