After a long while, Zhang Xiao seemed to surface from a memory. He offered an apology, "Pardon me, I've been rambling on and haven't gotten to the main point."

In truth, he had used the distraction to vent his emotions. Now, he had composed himself: This is his brother's woman; don't let your thoughts stray.

He grew serious. "Zhong Yun—he didn't die."

"Ah!" Liu Yunqi looked at him with eyes slightly red and swollen, disbelief warring with sudden, intense joy that instantly captured her entire being. Her lips parted slightly, and her trembling body betrayed the excitement she couldn't suppress.

"But I don't know where he is now." Zhang Xiao, knowing what she wanted to ask most, shrugged. "That guy, he was incredibly irresponsible, dumping me on Freedom Star, claiming he had urgent business, and then leaving all by himself."

All the strength seemed to drain from Liu Yunqi; she had to grip the edge of the sofa to remain standing.

Seeing her like this, Zhang Xiao felt a pang of sympathy and soothed her gently, "But I think he'll be back soon."

"Really?" Liu Yunqi had lost the haughty, icy demeanor she possessed upon entering. Now, she was just a fragile woman consumed with worry for the man she loved.

"Really," Zhang Xiao affirmed confidently. "Because there are people here he cannot bear to leave behind."

No sooner had he spoken than the door was knocked upon again. Zhang Xiao went to open it, revealing a group of people standing outside, led by a young man around thirty. "Big Brother," Zhang Xiao exclaimed in surprise.

"Little Third, you really do keep people constantly worried," the young man said, his words laced with complaint, though his face was beaming with happiness. He glanced into the room and, seeing Liu Yunqi composed again, a flash of striking admiration crossed his eyes.

Zhang Xiao clapped him on the shoulder, blocking his view. "Big Brother, why did it take you so long?"

Before his older brother could reply, Zhang Xiao pulled him out of the doorway. As he left, Zhang Xiao waved to Liu Yunqi inside as a farewell gesture.

"What did that Zhang kid say?" In the Minister's office, Yang Yunrong questioned the Major who had escorted Zhang Xiao from the border all the way to Vol.

The Major first saluted the Military Minister seated centrally before answering. "Zhang Xiao doesn't know much. He said when the Tongguang Star had its incident, they were preparing for an evacuation drill. If his account is true, the accident must have been very sudden..."

"Did he mention any other survivors?" Yang Yunrong interrupted. He didn't care how the Tongguang Star was lost; his concern was the fate of a specific person.

"Well..." The Major hesitated. "He didn't mention any."

Yang Yunrong was furious. "How do you people operate? Didn't you even clarify if there were survivors?"

The Major lowered his head. They had asked, but Zhang Xiao was vague, always deflecting whenever the subject arose. Given his special status, if he insisted on concealing information, they were powerless to force it out.

What infuriated Yang Yunrong even more was that the Zhang kid had already been collected by the Zhang family. Now, there was no one left to question.

Outside the Military Department, Zhang Xiao followed his Big Brother onto an awaiting shuttle, flanked by several other shuttles of the same model providing escort.

"Do you know who that woman was?" Zhang Xiao's older brother, Zhang Chi, asked as if casually.

"You know her?" Zhang Xiao asked, surprised.

Zhang Chi curled his lips into a strange smile, seemingly mocking his ignorance. "You don't even recognize the genius princess of the Yang family? You, the Third Young Master of the Zhang family, are seriously lacking in your duties."

"The Yang family's princess?" Zhang Xiao was startled, then realization dawned. Indeed, only the legendary genius princess could possess such unparalleled grace.

Zhong Yun, to have the Yang family princess so infatuated with you—your life hasn't been lived in vain, he thought to himself.

"I need to go somewhere else," Zhang Xiao suddenly stated after a period of silence.

"Where do you want to go?" Zhang Chi was always deeply fond of this younger brother. He was overjoyed that the person presumed dead had 'resurrected' after five months. Although the family had strictly ordered him to bring the Third Brother home immediately, what was breaking a small rule to celebrate his brother's 'return from the dead'? Even if his brother said he wanted to visit the 'Pleasure District,' he would accompany him.

"Mingzhou City. I need to report that I am safe to my friend's parents." Zhang Xiao had not forgotten Zhong Yun's instructions.

Eight days later, Zhong Yun returned to Vol Star, managing to avoid alerting anyone.

Since it was broad daylight, he did not land in his home courtyard. Instead, he materialized in a deserted grove east of Mingzhou and ran through the dense foliage.

Including the two months at the base, he had been away from home for over seven months now. Hearing about the spaceship disaster, his parents must have been terribly worried.

Damn it, why didn't the 'Mars' have a communication line to home? he grumbled internally. So advanced, advanced my foot.

His communication gear had been handed in before boarding the Tongguang Star; he couldn't even contact home first.

Finally reaching an inhabited area, he managed to flag down a shuttle. Under Zhong Yun’s anxious urging, the vehicle flew toward Mingzhou City at maximum speed.

Stopping before the familiar courtyard that haunted his dreams, Zhong Yun felt his chest pounding violently.

He was finally home. He took a deep breath; everything felt so real. He had truly returned home.

The door to the house was locked; no one was inside. The entry code hadn't changed. He entered the sequence, opened the door, took off his shoes, and stepped onto the dark red patterned wooden floor. Zhong Yun felt his entire being settle instantly.

"Welcome home, Young Master," the pleasant female voice of the domestic AI, one he had heard since childhood, sounded in his ear again.

Her name was YY. His mother had named her that. Apparently, his parents had intended to have another daughter and had already prepared the nickname 'YY.' When that didn't materialize, they changed the domestic AI's name to YY after moving here.

"YY, please connect me to Father's phone." Zhong Yun's heart hammered faster. The thought of hearing his father's voice momentarily overwhelmed him with emotion.

"I apologize, Master is currently in an emergency meeting and is rejecting all calls," YY replied apologetically.

"And Mother?" Zhong Yun frowned slightly.

"The Mistress is also in the meeting," YY stated.

Zhong Yun sighed. Something serious must have happened. Otherwise, if Zhang Xiao had reported him safe, there would be no reason for his parents not to wait for him at home.

"Notify me the moment their meeting concludes," Zhong Yun instructed, heading upstairs.

"Yes, Young Master."

He connected ZER to the computer and took a shower, but still hadn't received any notification from YY. He guessed his parents' meeting would run for a while longer.

After lying on his bed for a while, Zhong Yun began to consider who he should call first.

Pah, another two thousand characters. Ugh. I’ll try to aim for three thousand per chapter going forward. Starting tomorrow, I will dedicate more time to writing. Thank you all for your support.