MORIC - Chapter 189
Chapter 189: Departing Together
Xi Zhoumeng was dragged upstairs by Chi Yueshan, having no choice but to go.
The maids bustling about all beamed at Chi Yueshan, but their smiles became somewhat perfunctory when they saw Xi Zhoumeng.
It wasn't that Xi Zhoumeng hadn't noticed this change. But when she had mentioned it to Chi Yueshan a few days ago, the other woman had laughed with great delight.
Pinching Xi Zhoumeng's nose, Chi Yueshan stated the blunt truth, "No matter how good-looking you are, with all the trouble you stir up, anyone would get a little temperamental, you know?"
Xi Zhoumeng pulled her hand away and huffed, "It's not like I don't pay their salaries."
Chi Yueshan said, "Have some self-awareness!"
Then she was roughly tousled by Xi Zhoumeng. "What kind of awareness?"
Now, maids passed by in groups, and even the AI robots looked so busy they seemed on the verge of a programming error. Perhaps the AIs had been programmed with human emotions, knowing to keep their distance from Xi Zhoumeng because she was a person who loved to stir up trouble.
Chi Yueshan was still holding a baby in her arms, so she didn't pull Xi Zhoumeng for long before letting go.
Xi Zhoumeng was still holding the pair of pants, muttering, "They're really not good-looking. The color is so dated, and this seam on the leg..."
She used to always say Chi Yueshan was talkative, but in reality, she was the one who talked more. It was just that, relying on her good looks, she could become the legendary cool and aloof protagonist simply by closing her mouth and offering a faint smile. The trouble was, her mouth was exceptionally harsh, finding fault with everything, living or inanimate.
Now, a pair of pants was being criticized by her from every angle, as if it should never have been manufactured in the first place.
Chi Yueshan had already learned to tune out this person's flamboyant nitpicking. It wasn't until they were back in the bedroom that she spoke. "What if I go with you?"
Her hair was much longer now. The messy, split-ended wolf cut from her freshman days at Guyun Academy was completely gone. Her long hair was gathered at the nape of her neck, with a silver bone clip holding a portion of it in place. But it was clear she had clipped it casually, as a few strands had escaped and hung loose.
As a result, with the small bedroom window left open, a breeze drifted in, lifting Chi Yueshan's fine hair. Paired with her glistening, jade-like eyes, the sight made all of Xi Zhoumeng's irritation vanish.
Just then, the sleeping child in her arms woke up and began to wave her little hands about. Having become desensitized, Xi Zhoumeng would now tease her a little. She reached out and caught Hunhun's fingers.
"Didn't we agree that you had your own great cause to work on, and that I came in second?"
She said this while looking at her child. Babies weren't particularly good-looking right after birth and even had a certain smell, but now she had been raised to be fair and clean, and wasn't too chubby.
Her eyes were the spitting image of Chi Yueshan's; it was just the blonde hair that was a bit of an eyesore.
Xi Zhoumeng thought, When she's a little older, I'll take her to get it dyed.
Chi Yueshan simply put the child aside to play on her own, then bent down to pick up the uniform pants from the bed without looking at Xi Zhoumeng. "Is your cause not considered a cause?"
In a way, they were indeed one and the same.
Chi Yueshan was staying on the Capital Star to drastically reform mecha technology, and the Expeditionary Force's mecha technicians were by no means unskilled. If Moon-Swallower were to be damaged, the necessary repair materials would be sent along on the ship, so there would be no issue of lacking supplies.
No matter how one weighed the options, defending the Capital Star was indeed the most important task.
After all, they had to hide a world-shaking secret, and this time, they had to ensure it was foolproof.
But... but.
Chi Yueshan stared at Xi Zhoumeng, feeling utterly pathetic for having the thought, I have to go with her.
Xi Zhoumeng had already put on the upper part of the Expeditionary Force Commander's uniform. The style was so different from her usual attire that she looked a bit unfamiliar at first glance. As a commander who had been "parachuted in," she didn't have a formal military rank, nor did she wear chest medals like Xi Mingguang used to during her speeches.
But it was precisely because she so rarely dressed this formally that it felt novel.
It was as if a wandering soul had been reined in. She now had people and things to protect, making the uniform her most striking adornment.
To put it bluntly.
Damn it, how could Xi Zhoumeng have moments where she looked this dashing?
It was a completely, completely different vibe.
Chi Yueshan shamefully recalled Xuan Ping's earlier joke: "Isn't it great to have a versatile Alpha? Like one of those dress-up games. Is your house called Miracle Zhoumeng?"
It made Chi Yueshan want to download one to play.
Xi Zhoumeng said, "Don't look at me like that. Be careful, or I might really take you with me."
She was still wearing a skirt on her lower half, making the overall look utterly incongruous. But because it was her, the oddity transformed into a kind of alternative beauty.
Chi Yueshan tossed the pants at Xi Zhoumeng. "Put them on and get going."
She quickly turned away, sniffled, and thought to herself, I'm so pathetic.
It wasn't a life-or-death parting, so why was she so reluctant?
Xi Zhoumeng and I have even crossed time and space before.
Xi Zhoumeng sighed. "I want to get them altered."
She still didn't like them and was muttering to herself. Before she could finish, she was shoved hard by Chi Yueshan, stumbling backward and falling onto the bed.
Xi Zhoumeng instinctively steadied Chi Yueshan by the waist. "What are you doing? I only have a few minutes. If we really start something, it won't be over this quickly."
She said that, but her eyes conveyed a completely different meaning.
How could someone who never liked to play by the rules let a time crunch spoil the mood? Even if they continued and she was delayed, the ship would wait for her.
After all, she was the commander newly appointed by Shen Yu, and the Expeditionary Force had no other suitable candidate to put forward.
The fear of being targeted by that Zerg had cast a heavy pall over the entire Expeditionary Force, which was in need of a new injection of strength.
Chi Yueshan said, "Don't."
She simply lay down on top of Xi Zhoumeng and took a deep sniff of her scent.
Xi Zhoumeng laughed out loud. "I've never seen you so clingy before. I guess distance really does create demand."
The next second, she lamented mournfully, "So I was just a service-oriented tool all along?"
Chi Yueshan said, "Can you not ruin the mood every time I'm trying to be sentimental?"
Xi Zhoumeng nodded. "Alright... What are you doing pulling off my skirt? This isn't right, our daughter is playing right over there."
Chi Yueshan pinched her waist. "Can you shut up? I'm putting your pants on for you."
Xi Zhoumeng let out an "oh," her voice tinged with disappointment.
Anyone else being dressed by another person might have felt a bit awkward, but Xi Zhoumeng was the type accustomed to being served. She even muttered that Chi Yueshan's touch wasn't gentle, which earned her a slap.
Chi Yueshan said, "Stop being so picky. This uniform looks much better than Senior Wen's."
It wasn't that the regular forces' uniform was unattractive, just that the stand-up collar was rather particular about the wearer. In any case, Chi Yueshan felt that if it were Xi Zhoumeng, even a stand-up collar wouldn't look bad on her.
Xi Zhoumeng went "ooh." "I'm going to record that and send it to Wen Xinghuo."
Chi Yueshan said, "You're so childish."
It was ultimately inconvenient to put the pants on while lying down, so in the end, Xi Zhoumeng stood up while Chi Yueshan pulled up the zipper and fastened the button for her.
Chi Yueshan kept her head down. She was supposed to officially report to the newly established Mecha Guild that afternoon, but she hadn't changed yet and was still in her loungewear.
The dress had been chosen by Xi Zhoumeng, and it had somewhat dispelled her former energetic schoolgirl vibe. The fabric clung to her increasingly exquisite figure, and the sight of her looking down was enough to make Xi Zhoumeng's heart race.
It was as if she had personally cultivated a pearl.
From a small clam, to the formation of the pearl, and finally, to opening the shell to retrieve it.
Chi Yueshan said, "This zipper is hard to pull. The quality feels a bit... mmph."
Unexpectedly, Xi Zhoumeng suddenly cupped her face and kissed her.
Chi Yueshan mumbled, "The pants..."
Xi Zhoumeng replied, "They're going to come off anyway."
Downstairs, Xi Li finally sat down. Xi Mingguang couldn't stand his slovenly way of dressing and reminded him, "Pull it up a bit."
Xi Li sighed, put down his fork, and gave his collar a perfunctory tug. "I know."
He was also a chatterbox. Glancing upstairs, he sighed and said, "I bet Zhoumeng is definitely going to be late."
Chu Jing finally tired of the game of feeding her Alpha and sent Xi Mingguang off to eat something else.
"She's definitely going to be late," she said. "She's never had much of a sense of time, ever since she was a child."
Xi Li nodded, then called over to Xi Chun, who was still playing a game, "Hurry up and eat. If you keep getting absorbed in that game, I'm telling your wife."
Xi Chun retorted, "You should worry about your own wife."
Xi Mingguang said, "Didn't Yueshan go up to persuade Zhoumeng? She probably won't be late, right?"
Her impression of Chi Yueshan was that the girl was diligent and conscientious, with an impeccable sense of time.
It must not be easy being with Xi Zhoumeng. After all, Chi Yueshan was impatient, while Xi Zhoumeng was slow and unhurried, the type to arrive at any gathering right on the dot—what others would call making a calculated, show-stopping entrance.
But whether she arrived early or late, she always stole the show, so she couldn't care less what others thought.
Xi Li said, "Mother, you're still too naive."
He took a sip of sweet soup and shook his head. "I'm telling you, with her personality as commander, won't your old subordinates be driven mad? Shouldn't we give them a heads-up or something?"
Xi Mingguang was silent for a long while before shaking her head. "Forget it. Let them adapt on their own..."
After all, when Chi Yueshan had returned with the child, Xi Zhoumeng—the unseen, twice-differentiated Alpha—had been like a miracle in their eyes. Who knew what stories they had concocted in their minds. This time, upon hearing that Xi Zhoumeng would be taking over as commander, they were all quite expectant.
Xi Mingguang hadn't been able to bring herself to ask Shen Yu directly. The other day, while sitting with Shen Yu in the stands, she had tactfully brought up the issue of military discipline.
This Alpha, who was both her junior and her superior, had smiled and said, "Everything for the sake of victory. Besides, once she takes the post, it won't be easy to shirk. I'm still hoping to enjoy my retirement, you know."
Sitting beside her was the person she had held in her heart since her youth. Their awakening from a long slumber had brought Shen Yu infinite hope for the future.
Even though she looked exhausted, when she smiled at Xi Mingguang, she still possessed the vibrant spirit of her youth.
Xi Li sighed, ultimately still worried. "But I still feel our Zhoumeng is so delicate. Can she really... It's too dangerous."
When he had given away their Omega father's relic, Xi Li had long been prepared to never get it back. He never expected Xi Zhoumeng to actually return it to him.
It was just that the signs of workmanship were obvious, and it wasn't hard to see that it had been split into several parts.
Just last night, Xi Li had been arguing with her about 32 missing grams and had been chased out of the study by Xi Zhoumeng with an AI robot.
Xi Mingguang said, "Some responsibilities cannot be shouldered by just anyone."
She rarely lectured; in her children's eyes, she was the silent head of the family.
At this, she shook her head again. "She is willing, so just let her be."
Xi Li wanted to say more, but Xi Chun, beside him, gave him an elbow jab. "If you're really that concerned, then just take care of things at home. Zhoumeng and her wife are busy protecting the nation. Big Brother, since you're idle at home, you might as well be the nanny."
Xi Li bared his teeth. "On what grounds! What about you?"
Xi Chun asked, "Do you have the heart to be harsh?"
Indeed, how could he be harsh with the second child? Xi Li felt as if he had punched a ball of cotton and could only listlessly resume eating his breakfast.
As expected, Xi Zhoumeng was late.
Ling Xun was also departing with her that day. Xi Shuang and her cousin had gotten ready early in the morning, only to end up waiting at the landing point for a full hour. After all, the commander hadn't arrived, so even though it was past the departure time, they couldn't possibly take off without her.
Xi Shuang gritted her teeth. "Xi Zhoumeng is putting on airs again."
Ling Xun wiped her glasses, a new pair Xi Shuang had given her. They were actually a bit heavy and ornate, and came with a chain that could be conveniently clipped to the chest of her uniform.
"It would be strange if Senior wasn't late," she said. "I told you we didn't need to eat so quickly. I'm still bloated."
Xi Shuang retorted irritably, "I thought she would at least have the self-awareness of a commander."
Ling Xun, however, was quite understanding. "After all, she's about to be separated from Yueshan. They're bound to need a moment for sweet nothings, right?"
The lights along the ship's track were on. It was a foggy day, and the base had activated its fog lights, which looked like strings of lanterns lit in the hazy air.
Wen Xinghuo wasn't there; she had been taken by Shen Yu to attend the Queen's succession ceremony.
The person who had returned from patrol at 4:30 in the morning had probably slept for less than an hour before heading to the training room again. When Xi Shuang ran into Wen Xinghuo after her shower, the other woman's face was completely expressionless, as if her wife had died.
Even though everyone was well aware that the future was still something of a gamble, being in the thick of it brought a hidden ache.
For example, this was the first time in Xi Shuang's life that she was about to be separated from Ling Xun by such a great distance.
The last time had been in her previous life.
But in her previous life, it had been Ling Xun who saw her off, watching as her hovercar departed.
Xi Shuang huffed. "Is having a wife such a big deal?"
Ling Xun pushed up her glasses and nodded. "Of course it's a big deal. They've both accomplished two of life's major events."
Xi Shuang said, "Oh, you mean that 'success in the imperial examinations' and 'the wedding night' stuff? Why are you always so fond of reading those old-fashioned, antiquated phrases?"
Ling Xun replied, "Because I'm envious, of course. It seems so blissful."
Xi Shuang said, "Well, after all this is over, you can find a girlfri—"
But Ling Xun quickly cut her off. "They're here."
A hovercar drove into the base and stopped in the distance. Moments later, an Alpha and an Omega emerged from the thick fog.
In the end, Xi Zhoumeng had put on the pants she was so dissatisfied with. However, she looked completely refreshed and in high spirits, her earlier irritability swept away. She even smiled at the two of them.
Xi Shuang rolled her eyes. "Do you have any idea how late you are?"
Chi Yueshan bowed deeply. "I'm so sorry!"
Xi Shuang immediately took a step back, seemingly startled. "No, no, no, there's no need for such a formal apology!!"
Ling Xun said, "Well then, Senior Xi, shall we get going?"
The track ahead lit up with blue floating lights, and the spaceship waited in the distance.
At this hour, the Capital Star was still quiet. Aerial patrol teams were still assisting ground officers in sniping Zerg.
Xi Zhoumeng put her arm around Chi Yueshan. "Let's go."
Xi Shuang asked, "Yueshan, aren't you staying behind?"
An AI robot had already delivered Xi Zhoumeng's luggage from the side. Xi Zhoumeng turned her head. "She's coming with me."
After speaking, the blonde Alpha sighed again, pretentiously straightening Chi Yueshan's collar and touching the embroidered brooch at her neckline. "What can I do? My Omega's love for me is as deep as the sea. She simply can't bear to be apart from me."
Xi Shuang: ...
What's there to show off about?
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