Across Deep Space: Four Men and a Play

After finishing my work, Xia Yizhou still hasn't come back. It seems that tonight's cleaning operation will be a bit difficult~

Xia Jiumeng fell asleep in bed without knowing when. When she opened her eyes again, the sky outside the window was already bright.

The blurry vision gradually became clear. Looking at the snow-white ceiling above my head, my head was still a little dizzy, but fortunately it didn't have much impact.

He stood up while rubbing his brows, and the moment he picked up his phone, he saw many missed calls from Li Shen on the unlocking screen.

She suddenly remembered the agreement she had made with Li Shen yesterday, and hurriedly called back while putting on a piece of clothing and walking towards the door.

[The number you dialed is currently unanswered. Please try again later.]

The call didn't go through, probably because Li Shen was busy, so she went to the WeChat interface, edited a message and sent it.

The moment she pushed open the bedroom door, she heard some noisy sounds from the news. She subconsciously walked towards the living room but suddenly bumped into a hard chest.

"woke up?"

Xia Yizhuo was still damp from his shower. When he saw his sister bump into him, he subconsciously reached out to hold her to prevent her from falling.

"Brother....when did you come back?" She found that it was quite natural for her to call him brother.

"In the early morning hours," he said, wiping his hair.

Looking at Xia Jiumeng's crooked coat, he asked, "Where are you going so early in the morning?"

"I'm out for something, so I might not be back in time for lunch. You don't have to wait for me."

"Do you want me to take you there?" Xia Yizhuo asked as he picked up the toast on the table and ate it.

"Don't bother. I'll just take the cruise train."

As soon as she finished speaking, the news broadcast on TV started

[Next is a brief news item: The boy who went missing in the Liuyun District explosion was successfully rescued by the Far Space Fleet last night and sent to the Wino Treatment Center for treatment.]

The boy's vital signs are currently stable, and he is currently receiving further examination and treatment at the hospital. The fleet's statement regarding this incident is as follows...

Xia Jiumeng frowned slightly. As expected, her guess was correct. The fleet's action yesterday was to clean up in public but to look for someone in secret.

It was natural for Xiaosen, a child, to escape this city-wide search and rescue. To be on the safe side, she did not go to find Xiaosen after she came out yesterday, but went to find Miaomiao.

Now everyone’s target is Xiaosen, but there is no guarantee that someone will not attack Miaomiao.

"Did you find the child?"

Xia Yizhou looked at his sister's questioning expression and walked over to her side. He pretended to glance at the TV casually and replied, "Yeah."

"During yesterday's cleanup operation, the child was hiding not far from the blockade area and was discovered by the fleet."

"In addition, they also found fragments of what appeared to be an ether core on him."

"He's fine now. The fragments have been handed over to the fleet for safekeeping."

"If you're really worried, I'll help you keep an eye on his condition later."

Xia Jiumeng nodded and asked, "Can I visit Xiao Sen after he calms down?"

"Okay, but why do you look a little weird? Are you still feeling uncomfortable?"

Contrary to his usual behavior, Xia Yizhuo did not refuse her involvement in matters related to the explosion.

"No, I just woke up."

As Xia Jiumeng explained, a faint smell of blood passed by her nose. Although it was covered by the smell of shower gel, she could still smell some of it.

He immediately took Xia Yizhou's hand and glanced at him. "Were you injured during the mission last night?"

"I am fine."

"Really?" Xia Jiumeng checked around and found no wounds, so she felt relieved.

"I'm really fine." Xia Yizhou also cooperated obediently with his sister's "check".

"Compared to this..." He put his hand on Xia Jiumeng's forehead, "It's okay, the fever is gone."

"I have a fever?"

"Well, when I came back I heard you humming in your room, so I went to check it out."

"Well, maybe it's a little warm from holding it in."

Xia Yizhuo smiled and didn't say anything. He just turned around, picked up a denim jacket, and put his other hand around her shoulder and said.

"Go wash up, I'll take you there. When you're done, I'll take you out to play. Is there anywhere you want to go?"

Seeing that he was determined to go with her, Xia Jiumeng nodded without refusing. Just as she was about to turn around, she heard Xia Yizhuo's phone vibrating.

Xia Yizhou immediately picked up the phone. "It's me. What's up?"

I don't know what was said on the other end of the phone, which made his originally relaxed brows frown instantly, and the smile on the corners of his mouth also disappeared instantly.

"I understand." He hung up the phone with a surprised and unnatural look on his face.

Xia Jiumeng keenly sensed that something was wrong and asked softly, "What happened?"

Xia Yizhou "..."

He sighed softly and said with a slightly heavy voice, "Miaomiao passed away."

In an instant, the room fell into a long silence. Even the sunlight falling at the feet could not dispel the sudden chill.

.....

She and Xia Yizhuo still couldn't go out.

The next day, because of the attention the explosion received, many people attended Miaomiao's funeral. Xia Yizhuo sent her to the cemetery and went to deal with the fleet's affairs first.

She spoke to Li Shen on the phone before entering the cemetery.

Li Shen: "Your guess is correct."

"Miaomiao is indeed in trouble. The inspection was done by the fleet."

"But later I checked the records and found that Miaomiao died of shock caused by sepsis after the burns."

"It's the same as what the fleet has made public."

"Fortunately, you took precautions in advance."

"I'm just guessing." Xia Jiumeng was not sure that someone would attack Miaomiao.

"Miaomiao, have you taken her away?" Li Shen didn't know how she managed to replace the person among the people from the fleet and the medical center.

"Well, I'll explain it to you later."

"it is good."

"I have to go back first. You are alone in Tianxing. Please be safe."

Li Shen’s exchange meeting is over and he needs to leave first.

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Xia Jiumeng looked at the latest message.

The fleet's investigation discovered that the compartment of the small ship that Qiao Zhen had moved secretly contained the remains of the siblings' parents, which once again became evidence of his conviction.

The fleet came forward to answer the public's questions, took charge of the funeral for Miaomiao and his parents, and quickly arranged a family to adopt Xiaosen. Everything progressed incredibly fast, as if it were a chess game that had been arranged in advance.

Outside the isolation zone not far away, many reporters came over after hearing the noise and continued to interview the fleet members not far away.

Compared to the bustling scene over there with all the guns and cannons, Miaomiao's place is quite deserted.

The funeral had come to an end by now, and the crowd had dispersed, leaving only Komori standing in front of the tombstone.

His little face was tender and smooth at this moment, without any crystallization or sadness.

Xia Jiumeng walked forward and asked, "Xiao Sen, are you okay?"

The boy raised his head and looked at her carefully for a long time before slowly smiling.

"Well, I'm fine. The professor will take care of me and I will move into my new home."

Xia Jiumeng frowned. There was something wrong with the way this child spoke. And professor?

Is it the person arranged by the fleet to adopt Komori?

"Xiao Sen, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cancel the appointment that night..."

This was indeed her problem. On the night of martial law, she did promise to go find Xiaosen first, but she broke her promise in the end.

Komori shook his head. "It doesn't matter. The brothers and sisters in the fleet found me. It's all the same."

His words were very calm, not even like what a child of his age should say.

Xia Jiumeng observed Xiaosen carefully. He was completely different from the Lingdong she met that night. He had a calm expression, a flat tone, and was as dull as a robot. What happened to this kid in just two days?

She thought for a moment and took out the doll Xia Yizhou had given her and handed it to Xiao Sen. "This is a toy Miaomiao gave me. Now it's back to its original owner."

This was what Xia Yizhuo gave her this morning, saying that he picked it up at the place where Xiaosen was found. She recognized it as Lucyka at a glance.

Komori frowned and turned to stare at the photo on the tombstone surrounded by flowers and toys, as if trying to identify something.

"I don't like toys." Even so, he reached out and took the Lucy card from Xia Jiumeng's hand. "But I will accept it if it's a gift from my sister."

A smile appeared on Komori's face, but a hint of confusion flashed across his eyes.

Within minutes, Komori was taken away by someone, supposedly his 'new family'.

Xia Jiumeng was still standing there looking at Miaomiao's tombstone.

"Jiu Meng." Xia Yizhuo's voice sounded from behind.

He took off his hat and gently placed a bouquet of white flowers in front of Miaomiao's tombstone.

"Sorry, the fleet was delayed."

"It's okay. I'm your adjutant, so it's the same as showing up for you."

"Is Xiaosen okay?" Xia Yizhuo asked after a moment of silence.

"He seems calm, so he should be fine."

Xia Yizhou lowered his eyes and said softly, "That might just be an illusion. Perhaps he hasn't realized that his parents and sister are no longer alive."

"Maybe. This is a little hard for adults to accept, let alone a child."

Xia Yizhuo understood the hidden meaning in Xia Jiumeng's words and gently hugged her shoulders.

She seemed to want to say something but pursed her lips, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes.

"Don't be too sad."

"kindness."

Xia Jiumeng didn't ask any further questions.

From the explosion until now, everything has gone too smoothly, as if it was a chess game that had been set in advance.

She couldn't tell exactly where Xia Yizhou stood in this matter, and she didn't want to doubt him before she had solid evidence.

But she also didn't want Xia Yizhuo to be the one standing opposite her, because he was different to her.

"Let's go, I'll take you to rest." Xia Yizhuo took her hand and said.

"Report to the captain!" His watch vibrated, he frowned and picked up the phone and heard the non-commissioned officer's words.

"what's up?"

Sergeant, "A group of reporters gathered outside and refused to leave, disrupting order at the scene."

Xia Yizhou's face darkened and he said in an unhappy tone, "I'll go take a look."

"Yes!"

Seeing this, Xia Jiumeng said, "You go ahead. I'll keep Miaomiao company."

Xia Yizhou hesitated for a moment and said, "..Okay, I'll be back soon."

Xia Yizhou had just taken two steps when she called out, "Xia Yizhou."

"Can I trust you no matter what happens?" She looked at Xia Yizhuo's familiar eyes and asked seriously.

"Of course." Xia Yizhuo answered without hesitation.

He reached out and ruffled the top of her hair. "Wait until I come back."

"it is good."