Chapter 132: A Bright Future Ahead

(Page 1 of 3)

“Hmm?”

Zhang Lingfei reached for it, only to find that she could not pull it free.

Ji Cheng picked up the glass of water Zhang Jing'e had pushed toward him and moistened his lips before continuing. “I suggest that you two not read it.”

“Why?” the sisters asked in unison. Luo Rao turned to look as well.

What was the point of taking it out if he would not let them see it?

“Because some of the contents may be rather cruel.”

Ji Cheng carefully chose his words. “First, let me apologize. In order to investigate the truth behind the South Harbor incident, I read your father’s private diary without permission. What I want to say is that there was a reason for the changes in him over the past few years.”

“He wasn’t deliberately neglecting you, nor was he devoting all his attention to South Harbor. The reason he spoke with you less and less was simply that every time he tried to talk, he wanted to cough up blood.”

“You should also be able to understand that, as a father, he did not want to show his weakness in front of his daughters.”

Zhang Lingfei and Zhang Jing'e fell silent.

His words explained one of the great questions that had troubled them for years.

At the same time, a measure of guilt began to rise within them.

Ji Cheng watched their expressions and moods. Seeing no obvious problems, he felt relieved and continued spinning his tale.

“He wrote in his diary that he felt deeply guilty toward you and had always wanted to make it up to you. Ever since you became ability users, he has never really had the chance to spend time with you, while the various mining missions have been extremely demanding.”

“Chairman Zhang very much hopes to earn your understanding. He has his own difficulties as well.”

“Also, I visited your grandfather’s home. Like the homes of the other ability users in the city, it was empty. You must have guessed that long ago.”

…

Zhang Lingfei and Zhang Jing'e left. Before going, they merely embraced each other and wept bitterly. They said nothing more, nor did they ask to see the diary again.

For the people of White Mountain Star, life-and-death separations were commonplace. What mattered most was for the living to wipe away their tears and go on living well.

They had obtained what they wanted. As for the other secrets, they did not truly care that much. Since Ji Cheng had advised them not to read the diary, they decided not to.

“Cheng,” Luo Rao murmured beside his ear, her cheek brushing against his as she spoke in a whisper. “Were you lying to them just now?”

“Yes. But it was for their own good. The contents of that diary really are quite insane. And since things have already come to this, it was better to leave them with a somewhat better impression of Chairman Zhang.”

Based on what he knew of the sisters and the contents of the diary, he had roughly pieced together the situation between father and daughters, then improvised a few lines befitting a loving father.

(Page 1 of 3)

(Page 2 of 3)

In his view, the story behind everything was obvious enough to guess without even using one’s brain. Because of that genetic progenitor, Zhang Sheng’s mind and body had both been affected, causing him to neglect the sisters considerably in recent years.

After becoming ability users, they were already under immense pressure, burdened with countless mining missions and dangers without end. That was precisely when they needed comfort and encouragement most, yet Zhang Sheng, as their father, had failed to fulfill his proper responsibility.

As a result, one sister had become lazy and terrified of death, while the other had grown exceptionally withdrawn. They were utterly different from the lively, cheerful girls in their childhood photographs.

Just as Zhang Lingfei had said back then, ability users all suffered from one psychological problem or another.

Swish—

Ji Cheng spun the diary on the table with two fingers. Its hard cover slid unusually smoothly across the tabletop.

“They’ve already given the diary to me. If you’re curious, you can take a look.”

He glanced at Luo Rao.

“I’m not reading it. I have no interest in that sort of thing.”

“I thought you might be interested.”

“I’m only interested in you~”

Luo Rao lightly bit Ji Cheng’s earlobe, then sprang away with a quick laugh.

“Oh, right, Cheng. I’ve just realized that you actually know how to comfort girls!”

“Could you stop being so childish?” Ji Cheng waved a hand.

Knock, knock, knock.

A moment later, someone knocked on the door.

“It’s time to leave, Boss.” Chen Qian’s voice came from outside.

“All right. Go downstairs first. We’ll be there shortly.”

When Ji Cheng came downstairs with Luo Rao’s hand in his, everyone had already assembled.

The ability users stood in neat lines with their family members, while Councilors Zhou and Huang were seated beside a tea table.

Zhou Ze was holding the jellyfish and speaking to it in a low voice. Huang Long, meanwhile, was making small talk with a middle-aged man in his fifties or sixties. At the sound of approaching footsteps, they both turned and greeted him.

“Xiao Cheng,” the middle-aged man said with a smile and a nod.

His name was Hu Ping, Hu Xian’s father. He was also an old friend of Huang Long’s from before Huang Long became an ability user. After they moved to New City, Huang Long had secretly used his authority to arrange a specially modified house for them.

Though it could not compare with an underground safe house in terms of defense, it still offered a certain degree of protection against low-level mutated animals.

(Page 2 of 3)

(Page 3 of 3)

That was why, when Ji Cheng followed the map and found them in the Silver District, they had not suffered the slightest injury—only a fright.

“We really have to thank you this time. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even dare imagine what might have happened.” Hu Ping still wore the joy of a man who had been rescued.

When the mutated animals had stormed into the city, he had thought himself certain to die. Unexpectedly, the house he had bought on a whim concealed a hidden feature: once the windows were drawn shut, those flea-like mutated animals could not get inside at all.

He had spent several days living in terror when, out of nowhere, a single-soldier aircraft landed outside his door.

The person who stepped out of it astonished him even more.

It was not his old friend Huang Long, as he had expected, but Ji Cheng—the young man who often came to his house for free meals.

He had indeed recommended Ji Cheng to Huang Long and had received an affirmative reply, but he had never imagined that in less than a month, Ji Cheng would go from an ordinary person to an ability user, then pilot a single-soldier aircraft of unimaginable value to rescue them.

At that moment, Ji Cheng became a beacon of light in the old man’s heart.

Hu Xian had been crouching behind the tea table. When he saw Ji Cheng arrive, he moved out from behind it as though finally freed and hurried over.

“Boss.” Hu Xian grinned broadly, clearly in an excellent mood.

Although New City had been destroyed, he had grown up in Old City and had lived here for less than a month. He had never developed much of a sense of belonging. Now that he had been successfully rescued—and his brother had become a lofty ability user—how could he not be happy?

“Councilor Zhou, Councilor Huang, Uncle Hu.”

Ji Cheng laughingly slapped Hu Xian aside, then addressed the seated men first. “Everyone’s here. Shall we get ready to leave?”

“Yes, good. Let’s go.” Huang Long was extremely pleased. This time, Ji Cheng had not called him Brother Huang, sparing him the embarrassment of seeming junior in front of his old friend.

“Agreed. Let’s go.” Zhou Ze gave a slight nod.

“Everyone—”

Ji Cheng’s resonant voice reached every ear.

“Form an orderly line, take your luggage, and board in sequence. Prepare to depart for South Harbor City!”

The line, which had already been arranged in perfect order, surged out through the doors of the combat command room at Ji Cheng’s command.

Hu Xian and Hu Ping looked at the suddenly empty surroundings and exchanged a smile.

It seemed Ji Cheng was doing remarkably well. Even the two councilors held him in high regard. At present, he appeared to have become their mouthpiece.

This was no small matter. His future was clearly bright.