Ever since Liu Hui married Hu Xian’er, he moved into their new place, separating from his parents. It was Liu Hui’s parents who suggested it, understanding the delicate privacy a newly married couple needed.

Though Liu Hui and Hu Xian’er lived in the new place, it was still company housing provided by the Starry Sky Group. This new home was very close to his parents' house—just a few minutes’ walk. Later, Hu Xian’er’s father also moved into Starry Sky Group staff quarters, his residence only a few minutes from Liu Hui’s new home.

Because everyone lived so near, they often gathered for meals, which naturally deepened the bonds between the two families.

That afternoon, Liu Hui’s mother came over to their house. She and Hu Xian’er were busy preparing vegetables and cooking, waiting for Liu Hui to come home for lunch.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted casually while they cooked.

Hu Xian’er said with admiration, “Mom, how is it that your skin seems to be getting fairer and smoother lately? What brand of cosmetics are you using? Your skin is better than mine!”

Liu Hui’s mother proudly touched her cheek and laughed, “Is my skin really that good?”

Hu Xian’er laughed, “Mom’s skin is truly excellent! Do you know, if we walked out together now, anyone who didn't know our relationship would absolutely think we were sisters. You have to tell me your beauty secrets!”

Two years prior, Liu Hui had injected his parents with the Rejuvenation Fluid. Over the last two years, the fluid had fully manifested its unique effects, restoring their internal bodily functions to the prime state of a twenty-five-year-old man. In essence, Liu Hui’s mother's current physical vitality was nearly the same as Hu Xian’er’s, meaning Hu Xian’er wasn't exaggerating when she called them sisters.

Liu Hui’s parents had also realized they were growing progressively younger. Not wanting to cause too much alarm, they deliberately dressed and made up to look much older than their true age. However, even with these efforts, a natural aura of youthfulness emanated from them, an anomaly Hu Xian’er, seeing them often, had noticed through repeated observation.

Liu Hui’s mother wasn't sure if Liu Hui had ever mentioned the Rejuvenation Substance to Hu Xian’er, so she dared not speak carelessly, fearing that letting the secret out might cause trouble for Liu Hui. Seeing Hu Xian’er asking about her beauty and skincare tips, she began to playfully mislead her, offering what she claimed were her maintenance methods, which Hu Xian’er immediately believed without question.

After chatting with Hu Xian’er for a while, Liu Hui’s mother asked hesitantly, “Xian’er, I wanted to ask, when are you two planning to have children?”

Hu Xian’er paused, saying, “I don’t know either!”

Liu Hui’s mother looked puzzled, “When are you planning to have a child, how can you not know?”

Hu Xian’er lowered her voice, “Ah Hui and I want a child right away, but we haven’t been able to conceive, so I genuinely don’t know when that will happen!”

Liu Hui’s mother leaned in and whispered, “Do you two... engage often? And when you do, are you using protection?”

Hu Xian’er blushed, replying, “Well… we do it… quite often, and we haven’t been using… protection. It’s just that we don’t know why I’m not getting pregnant!”

Liu Hui’s mother’s face showed a flicker of concern, “Then you need to step up your efforts. You two aren't getting any younger, you should really hurry up and have a baby. Otherwise, when you get older, you’ll become advanced maternal age mothers, and childbirth can be dangerous.”

Hu Xian’er murmured quietly, “We will, I’ll talk to Ah Hui about this.”

Only then did Liu Hui’s mother smile, “It’s not that we’re pressuring you. Look around you; people your age usually have children who can already run errands. A complete family absolutely needs a child; they are the emotional thread connecting the family. Forget others, look at Mei Peng’s family; his child is already a year old and can call out names. That little thing is just so lovable! You don't need to worry at all. If you have a child and then don’t want to raise it, just hand it over to us completely. We promise not to add any trouble to your lives.”

Liu Hui’s mother had always assumed that Liu Hui and Hu Xian’er were delaying having children because they didn't want their lives constrained by a baby. Seeing the children of their neighbors, she and Liu Hui's father had long desired Liu Hui to have a child for them to care for. So, she deliberately found a time to talk to Hu Xian’er about it, urging them to conceive sooner.

Hu Xian’er forced a smile, “Mom, I understand, we will work hard.”

Having achieved her goal, Liu Hui’s mother helped finish preparing lunch before returning to her own home.

Hu Xian’er was left alone, contemplating her mother-in-law’s words about children. The more she thought, the more worried she became. In her previous life, as He Sumei, she had naturally conceived shortly after being with Wang Jin. Though that child was lost in a blaze along with her and never born, the feeling of carrying a child had allowed her to taste the happiness of motherhood.

So, in this life, after marrying Liu Hui, Hu Xian’er naturally began to look forward to having a child, hoping to fulfill the dream from her past life. They used no protection when making love at night, simply hoping to conceive quickly. Liu Hui also understood her desire and wanted a child too. But nearly a year of marriage had passed, and there was still no sign of a baby.

Thus, Hu Xian’er’s attitude toward children had shifted from casual acceptance to outright anxiety, and after receiving the urging from Liu Hui’s mother today, her impatience grew even stronger.

But it was strange; in her past life, Hu Xian’er had conceived easily and quickly. Why did it feel so difficult in this life? Could it be that there was a physical problem with either her or Liu Hui, leading to infertility? The thought made Hu Xian’er’s heart plummet. If infertility was the case, she truly didn't know how she would face that reality.

Liu Hui, meanwhile, was completely unaware of Hu Xian’er's inner turmoil. He was in his office talking to Mei Peng.

“Mei Second, you seem quite relaxed these days!” Liu Hui asked with a grin.

“Boss, didn't you tell me to rest more during this period? You called it my bonus for getting married and having a child,” Mei Peng replied.

“Haha, true, I told you to rest up. Your previous work was only to come up with some unique secret recipes for my new products, help me install the real production lines, and while you were at it, inject Old Man He in Macau with the Rejuvenation Fluid,” Liu Hui nodded.

Mei Peng’s heart sank, “Boss, you remember everything I did so clearly. Are you saying I didn’t work enough and you’re going to dock my pay?”

Liu Hui laughed, but before he could speak, Mei Peng cried out, “Boss, don’t! I might have rested a bit too much lately and worked less, causing my internal company rank to drop slightly. But I still have a family to feed! You can’t cut my wages; your nephew is waiting for me to buy milk powder for him!”

Liu Hui said sternly, “I see you’ve become quite smooth-tongued after a short break. Alright, let’s get down to serious business now.”

Mei Peng’s expression immediately changed, “Boss, just say it, what do you need me to do?”

Liu Hui turned, looking toward the northwest, and said, “Second, do you remember how we got our start?”

Mei Peng replied, “I remember. You sweet-talked a rich foreign sucker on the streets of Ba Shan, brought him to my clinic, squeezed two million US dollars out of him, and that’s how you started Starry Sky Group.”

Liu Hui frowned, immediately picking up a book from his desk and tossing it, but Mei Peng dodged it. Liu Hui laughed and scolded, “Why do you phrase it so crudely? I was helping a sick patient relieve his suffering and restore his health! Haven't you seen the gossip news about Johnson chasing girls last month?”

Mei Peng laughed, “Then what are you trying to say, Boss? Just tell me directly; I find my IQ can’t keep up with your train of thought!”

Liu Hui’s face softened with nostalgic reflection as he slowly spoke, “What I mean is, I truly miss the place where we had our first job—that was Han Tang Hospital in Ba Shan City.”

Mei Peng’s expression turned serious, “I miss that time too. That was arguably the happiest time of my life. Later, after moving to Hong Kong, the things you asked me to do made me feel restless, like something was missing. It seems hospital work suits me best.”

Liu Hui nodded, “It seems you are only interested in running a hospital. If I were to open another hospital now, would you be willing to manage it for me?”

Mei Peng was overjoyed and jumped up from the sofa, his voice trembling, “Boss, have you really decided to reopen a hospital?”

Liu Hui nodded, “Yes, I’ve decided to reestablish a hospital. But we won't call it Han Tang Hospital anymore; I plan to name it the ‘Starry Sky Terminal Illness Hospital.’”

Mei Peng said, “Boss, I really like the name ‘Starry Sky Terminal Illness Hospital.’ But there are many types of human terminal illnesses. Isn't this name a bit too bold? Have we reached a point where we can cure every terminal illness?”

Liu Hui laughed, “At least for now, any terminal illness discovered by humanity, I have a way to treat it.”

Mei Peng gasped, asking, “Boss, no way! Are you really a Celestial Immortal like those employees claim? I’ve been with you all along, I know your background—when did you become an Immortal?”

Liu Hui chuckled, “I’m no Celestial Immortal. I just had a little bit of luck. But you don’t need to know the specifics. Just know that you are about to manage the world’s largest terminal illness hospital, a place where all of humanity’s intractable diseases can be cured. I will handle everything else.”

Mei Peng suddenly laughed, “Forget it. Even if you really did become an Immortal, you’re still my brother, and that benefits me, doesn’t it? I might as well stick to this promising career as a hospital director!”

Liu Hui smiled in satisfaction, “That’s more like it. Third Brother has gone off to Africa to run a mercenary group. You are all I have left beside me, so you must help me make this ‘Starry Sky Terminal Illness Hospital’ a success.”

Mei Peng asked curiously, “Boss, you said this hospital will be the largest in the world, but our Starry Sky Group site is only this small patch of land. Where will we get the vast area needed to build the world's largest hospital? Besides, the hospital will undoubtedly involve many secrets; how will we protect them?”

Liu Hui smiled, stood up, and with a "swish," pulled open the curtains. Out over the ocean beyond the glass, a colossal offshore platform was under construction. Liu Hui looked at this largest marine structure ever built, his eyes blazing with fervor.

Mei Peng was stunned, “Boss, you can’t be serious! Are you planning to build the ‘Starry Sky Terminal Illness Hospital’ on that platform?”

Liu Hui laughed, “Why shouldn't we build it there?”

Mei Peng said, “But you publicly announced that you were building an offshore park, a large tourist center for visitors once it’s finished. Why are you building a hospital there now?”

Liu Hui laughed, “Second, when did you become so naive? Do you really think I’m spending a fortune to build this offshore platform just for future tourist viewing?”

Mei Peng asked, “Do you have another purpose?”

Liu Hui laughed, “There are other purposes, but the inside story isn't ready to be public yet. Just know that the hospital you will manage will begin construction there.”

Mei Peng considered it, then laughed, “I thought a terminal illness hospital was already unimaginable, but now it’s an offshore one. Things are getting more interesting, Boss. Tell me, what do I need to do next?”

Liu Hui smiled, “I’ve already designed the main structure of this hospital; construction is about to start. Go find Chen Changsheng at the Scientific Research Institute; he will give you a detailed briefing. This hospital will be huge, and you’ll need to figure out how to source doctors and equipment for all the necessary departments yourself. You are the expert in this area, so I won't say more. Just remember, our hospital will eventually treat everything, and you can configure the medical equipment and personnel based on that standard.”

Mei Peng thought for a moment and said, “Boss, rest assured, I won't disappoint you.”

The two brothers were discussing the establishment of the “Starry Sky Terminal Illness Hospital” in the office when Liu Hui’s secretary, Li Lian, pushed the door open. She walked up to Liu Hui and whispered, “Boss, Manager Wu from the Security Company just called. He said there are some demonstrators near the offshore platform we are building, and they call themselves ‘Guardians of the Earth.’”

Liu Hui was startled. He was just discussing Starry Sky City with Mei Peng, and suddenly there were protesters near the Starry Sky City. Surely building this offshore platform didn't provoke anyone? Why would people be demonstrating?

Wait, the name ‘Guardians of the Earth’ sounded familiar… Yes, this was that radical environmental protection group! After the nuclear detonation in the Indian Ocean last time, they held demonstrations in the capitals of all nuclear-armed countries, which later escalated into widespread conflict. This organization had been blacklisted by governments worldwide, and since then, their activities had become much lower-key. Why were they suddenly targeting the Starry Sky Group now?

Liu Hui was naturally concerned by this news and immediately went to the seaside. Mei Peng hurried after him to learn the situation, as he was now aware of Starry Sky City's purpose and cared deeply about it.

At the sea’s edge, Liu Hui and Mei Peng boarded a speedboat. Piloted by Huang Huali, the speed boat headed out toward Starry Sky City on the open sea. Before their boat could get close, Liu Hui spotted a civilian vessel confronting Starry Sky City in the surrounding waters. Twenty or thirty people stood on the vessel, white cloths wrapped around their heads. One leader was broadcasting their demands to Starry Sky City through a loudspeaker, while the others shouted support.

“Stop construction of the large offshore platform immediately and protect marine fishery resources!”

“Do not destroy the Earth’s harmonious ecology!”

“Ban the construction of large floating islands to prevent sea-level rise and bring disaster to humanity!”

“Starry Sky Group, a black-hearted enterprise, heartless and heedless of people’s welfare—stop destroying the Earth now!”

“Give us back the Earth’s harmony! We firmly condemn the Starry Sky Group for destroying the natural ecology and will defend our Earth!”

Liu Hui listened to the cacophony of slogans and the banners they held, asking, “When did these people arrive?”

Huang Huali said, “Boss, they’ve been here for half an hour. They arrived and have been shouting slogans and protesting next to our floating island. However, they haven’t disrupted the construction progress of our large platform. Some reporters from the major news outlets in Hong Kong have also arrived; see that small yacht over there? Those are reporters from the major media outlets.”

Liu Hui glanced over and indeed spotted reporters from television stations, newspapers, and websites on a small yacht. Armed with cameras and recording equipment, they were excitedly documenting everything happening at the Starry Sky Group, sending the news back to their headquarters. The Starry Sky Group was now the most famous company globally, so any news about it would draw attention, causing these reporters to rush over regardless of obstacles.

Soon, Liu Hui’s speedboat docked at Starry Sky City’s pier, and Liu Hui and Mei Peng stepped onto the massive floating island. The island’s area had already reached eleven square kilometers. Standing on it, the island stretched out toward the distance, its end completely invisible; humans appeared utterly minuscule in comparison. On the island, countless giant machines and construction workers were diligently working to ensure the project’s smooth completion.

Wu Yuanjia was waiting at the pier with a team of security personnel. They immediately greeted Liu Hui’s boat upon docking.

“Manager Wu, what’s the situation?” Liu Hui asked.

“Boss, the situation is a bit troubling. This ‘Guardians of the Earth’ group is the radical faction among environmental organizations. They were established after the nuclear incident last year, but they have grown extremely fast worldwide, often resorting to extreme tactics, which causes a lot of headaches,” Wu Yuanjia explained.

“Oh? They resort to extreme measures?” Liu Hui asked.

“Yes, Boss, please look. This is news footage from a confrontation they had with a Japanese whaling ship in the Pacific a few days ago.” Wu Yuanjia gestured, and a security staff member immediately brought over a laptop.

Liu Hui opened the laptop and clicked on a news video website. The footage immediately began playing—the bloody battle between the ‘Guardians of the Earth’ organization and the Japanese whaling vessel in the Pacific Ocean.

On this news video, a vessel belonging to the "Sea Shepherd" organization had intercepted the Japanese whaling fleet, and the Japanese ships were visibly carrying two blood-soaked whales. The "Sea Shepherd" crew launched a protest and voiced their condemnation of the Japanese whaling operations right from their own ship. Then, the two sides devolved into mutual verbal abuse, escalating quickly until the conflict intensified. Both sides began dousing the other with green paint, followed by a barrage from the water cannons mounted on their respective vessels. Several individuals on both sides sustained injuries during this water fight. Perhaps the Japanese whaling ships possessed superior equipment, as the "Sea Shepherd" contingent's water assault was suppressed. In a shocking turn, the "Sea Shepherd" ship then deliberately rammed the whaling vessel, tearing a massive breach in the hull and causing the whale ship to begin sinking rapidly. The "Sea Shepherd" vessel also sustained grave damage and started taking on water. Fortunately, the whaling ship managed to quickly signal for assistance, and another whaling vessel nearby arrived to rescue the crew members who had fallen into the water, thus narrowly averting a major tragedy.

Liu Hui shut his laptop. In that news video, the "Sea Shepherd" organization had resorted to such extreme measures; it seemed this group was indeed unlike the others. He absolutely needed to proceed with extreme caution.

Thanks to the reader, 'Seven Cups of Tea,' for the review ticket! A