Wen Jing had originally come to Randolph regarding her routine intelligence work, but the moment she opened the door and saw his displeasure, a jolt of alarm went through her. She surveyed Randolph from head to toe and asked,

“Uncle Randolph, I recall you were scheduled to contact Yang Ying today about the firing sequence for the 'Ao Missile,' so you must have just finished your communication, right? Did you fail to get the answer you needed? But weren't you already mentally prepared for the possibility of not getting an answer? You even told me that if something like that happened, you would try your best to put in a good word for Yang Ying with the military brass. So why are you so agitated now? Did Yang Ying give you trouble?”

Randolph deeply felt that his niece’s perception was astonishingly sharp; she had guessed more than half of it immediately. However, telling Wen Jing right then that he had been dumped—that the beacon of hope, Yang Ying, already had a girlfriend—was something he simply couldn't do. His heart felt like fifteen buckets being hauled up and down a well; he couldn't utter a word, only stammering vaguely. His eyes darted around, desperately seeking a diversion.

Seeing Randolph’s reaction, Wen Jing’s expression gradually grew serious. She said, “Is the trouble Yang Ying gave you something you can’t tell me? Is it related to me? Yang Ying, he… Yang Ying, he…” Wen Jing repeated “Yang Ying, he” twice but dared not continue, staring fixedly at Randolph’s sweat-beaded face.

Randolph no longer dared to search for random topics; if he acted improperly now, it would only confirm his guilt. He could only continue to sweat, stare blankly, and leave it to fate.

“Did Yang Ying Xian say he doesn’t like me?” Wen Jing’s complexion began to worsen, and her voice grew softer and softer.

Smack!

Randolph slammed his palm onto the desk. “What do I, an old man, have to do with the affairs of young people? Niece, if anyone is to blame, blame me. That boy Yang Ying has a girlfriend.”

A pang of pain struck Wen Jing’s heart, and she involuntarily stepped back, bumping against the doorframe.

Randolph felt terrible seeing her reaction. He mentally cursed Yang Ying up and down, while outwardly trying to comfort her: “Little Jing, you two never even started anything. Why don’t we just pretend this never happened? Like a dream that has just ended.”

“A dream?” Wen Jing was lost in thought. “The very first dream I’ve ever had in my life, and it’s over just like that?”

She began to fight frantically, as if trying to expel every stray thought from her head. Gradually, her focus returned. “No, I can’t let this happen. I have to pull myself together!”

Randolph was stumped now. He was overjoyed that his niece had regained her composure so quickly, but something about her expression seemed strange.

“Jing, what are you thinking about?” Randolph asked tentatively.

“Uncle Randolph, have you met Yang Ying’s girlfriend?” Wen Jing instantly reverted to her image as a sharp, capable female officer. She straightened her slightly disheveled hair, her gaze becoming piercing and resolute.

“I have. She’s an ethereal figure, her temperament as gentle as water. She looks like the model of a good wife,” Randolph paused. “Of course, compared to you, my niece, she still falls a bit short.”

Wen Jing offered no opinion, merely nodding, then asked, “Did Yang Ying explicitly say he doesn't like me?”

Randolph nearly jumped when he heard this. He looked at his niece in astonishment, having already grasped her likely decision. His tone immediately became hesitant: “I… I don’t think so. But I cut the communication link immediately. I don’t know what his exact thoughts were…”

Wen Jing smiled faintly. “If that’s the case, my dream isn’t over yet!”

Seeing his unspoken fears materialize, Randolph was struck with acute distress. “Little Jing, this, this, this… Getting that close is too risky.”

“Uncle Randolph, just as you said, you shouldn't worry about us young people. I intend to keep this dream going, even if it turns into a nightmare.”

With that, she pulled a file from her coat and handed it to Randolph. “This is the intelligence summary from the last few days. Since the Caesar family high command suffered a devastating blow, the Asteroid Belt has been significantly affected. The Caesar Mercenary Group, in particular—Lloyd was assassinated, and Commissioner Andre is working hard to consolidate the Caesar forces.”

Randolph took the file, looked deeply at his niece, and sighed. “I know your nature. Once you set your mind on something, you never turn back. I can’t stop you, so I can only wish you a good dream.”

“Thank you, Uncle Randolph.” Wen Jing nodded gratefully and turned to leave the room.

Randolph walked over to his desk and reached for the communicator, stopping halfway, as if wrestling with indecision. After taking a couple of deep breaths, he snorted and pulled his hand back. “Forget it. I won’t meddle in this. Yang Ying, oh Yang Ying, what can I even say?”

As a secret base, this small asteroid had been largely developed over the past few months. It consisted of eighteen major levels, each over fifty meters high, crisscrossed with countless structures—eighteen small towns, miniature in size but complete in function. Jiang followed Katerina to the medical detachment area, which occupied the center of the base’s eighteenth level. It was filled with white buildings, each about ten stories tall, mostly marked with red characters or symbols. Inside were advanced medical instruments unavailable elsewhere.

A faint, almost imperceptible fragrance permeated the clean, tidy streets and alleys, invigorating and refreshing. The artificial lighting overhead shifted in brightness according to the time, synchronized with the human biological clock.

Medical personnel in white coats were frequently seen in groups of three or five on the streets, some chatting, others deep in thought. Upon seeing Jiang and Katerina arrive, they gathered around to greet them.

They walked to the end of the avenue until they reached a white building that looked similar to its neighbors. The building had twelve stories, each with about twenty windows. Katerina’s steps seemed lighter as she led Jiang inside.

Upon entering, Jiang’s nose detected a refreshing air, completely devoid of the antiseptic smell common in twenty-first-century hospitals.

In fact, even on Earth, disinfectant was rarely used anymore; many substitutes existed.

This building was clearly far busier than the outside. Medical personnel ran through the corridors in tense but orderly fashion, carrying various instruments, seemingly engaged in some kind of experiment.

Katerina led Jiang directly into a small room. In one corner stood a multi-functional sickbed. The little girl with white hair was sleeping soundly, her blanket slightly rumpled, likely from tossing and turning in her sleep. Furthermore, a dark-colored eye mask covered her face.

The Templar Knight guarding the bedside performed a Protoss salute upon seeing Jiang arrive. “Commander, she has been napping for two hours. According to her schedule yesterday, she should be waking up now.”

As the words ended, the girl stretched and sat up.

“Is… someone… here?”

Her voice emerged clear and melodious, though clearly strained from long disuse, making the pitch sound somewhat strange.

“Yes. You can take the mask off today.” Katerina sat by the bed, taking the little girl’s hands.

“Is it Kata… Cata… Sister Katerina?” The girl’s tongue struggled to wrap around the name, repeating it three times before finally saying Katerina correctly. “Is it true? I can see things again?”

“Yes!” Katerina exclaimed with joy. She lifted her hand and gently removed the eye mask from the girl’s face, then held her breath, watching the girl’s expression.

The little girl’s eyes remained closed for a moment, then slowly cracked open just a sliver. Jiang’s heart stirred, and he waved, sending the Templar Knight back to the Floating Continent.

“Can you see light?” Katerina waved her hand in front of the girl’s eyes and asked softly.

The little girl paused, then a look of surprise flashed across her face, followed by a beaming smile. She nodded. “I can see! I can see the light!”

Her eyes opened wider and wider, revealing a pair of shimmering, gray irises. Her pupils moved cleverly as she looked at Katerina. “You must be Sister Katerina. You are so beautiful!”

“Speaking so eloquently at such a young age, you certainly won’t be at a disadvantage when you grow up,” Jiang said, coming to the bedside.

The little girl tilted her head, looked at Jiang, and presented a sweetly confused expression, asking uncertainly, “Are you, uh, maybe Brother Yang Ying?”

“How did you know?” Jiang asked with a smile. Children evoke an innate tenderness; loving and protecting children is an instinct forged over countless years of human evolution. Those who can bear to harm children are not human.

“The voice that stayed with me, talking to me even when my ears couldn't hear, told me. It said the first person to speak to me was called Brother Yang Ying,” the little girl replied guilelessly.

“Can you come a little closer? I can’t see clearly.”

“Her eyes will need some time to recuperate before they fully recover; right now, it’s like being severely nearsighted,” Katerina explained from the side.

Jiang leaned closer. The little girl blinked, pushed herself up with her hands, sprang forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, gave him a quick kiss, and then tumbled back onto the bed, pulling the edge of the blanket up to cover the lower half of her face, whispering timidly, “Thank you.”

Jiang smiled faintly. “You’re welcome.”

Then the little girl threw the blanket down again and held out her hands to Katerina. “I want a hug!”

Katerina reached out and lifted her up, and the little girl’s hands naturally settled on the crests of Katerina’s chest.

“You greedy thing, not satisfied with just one hug,” Katerina said, lightly swatting at her two unruly hands.

The little girl covered her hands, looking up at Katerina with teary eyes, seemingly launching a silent accusation. Katerina’s heart softened, and she let the matter drop.