Chapter Twenty: I promise, they will certainly return safely.

Several hours later.

A knock echoed at the door of the old courtyard where Su Wen lived.

“Are you still inside?” came a clear, cool voice of a young girl.

But no one responded.

Jiang Menghan felt a hint of worry, though it was imperceptible to others from her expression.

She pondered for a moment.

Reaching to the second old flowerpot on the left by the door, she took out a key.

Without hesitation, she inserted it and opened the door.

Inside, she followed the stairwell up to the second floor, where she heard faint snoring from Su Wen.

After a grueling day and night, he was utterly exhausted.

He had fallen into a deep sleep with the quilt wrapped around him, still fully clothed.

The air conditioner inside was set to 22 degrees Celsius.

After all, the late summer in Jiangnan still carried a lingering heat.

The young girl sat beside the bed, quietly observing his sleeping form.

For some reason, a faint smile appeared on her face.

“You fool,” she murmured softly.

She picked up the air conditioner remote left on the desk and silently adjusted the temperature to 26 degrees in mute mode.

Then, gently tugging at the edge of his quilt, she covered the parts most susceptible to the chill.

Before long, Su Wen sensed a strange fragrance in the room.

Awakening from his slumber, he heard the faint hum of the kitchen’s range hood downstairs.

He tidied his clothes and descended the stairs.

In the kitchen, Jiang Menghan was cooking, wearing an apron.

On the dining table were two exquisite dishes renowned in Jiangnan cuisine:

One was the fragrant and flavorful West Lake Vinegar Fish.

The other, the delicately scented Longjing Shrimp, free from any overpowering colors or smells.

The aroma that filled the dining room made Su Wen suddenly feel hungry.

He walked into the kitchen, rubbing his drowsy eyes, and asked the beautiful girl inside:

“How did you get in?”

“Of course, you tacitly allowed it,” the ice-cold girl replied calmly, lightly pointing to the old key resting on the dusty windowsill.

“You told me you left a spare key in the second flowerpot by the window to avoid being locked out.”

Su Wen chuckled softly.

“I told you that just to share my habits—nothing more.”

“Have you told anyone else?”

“No.”

“That’s good.”

A fleeting softness passed through the young girl’s cool voice before she quickly returned to normal.

She then said succinctly,

“Soy sauce.”

Su Wen instinctively handed her a bottle of soy sauce from the condiments.

It was a brand new, just-opened bottle.

As a modern young man living a carefree life, he usually ate at the cafeteria, so his soy sauce was mostly ornamental.

He was genuinely moved that it finally got used.

Soon, the last dish—Dongpo Pork—was ready.

Su Wen sat at the dining table, realizing it had been a long time since he tasted such delicious food.

He served himself rice, then watched Jiang Menghan remove her apron and hang it back, revealing her graceful figure as she took a seat.

He asked,

“Miss Jiang, when did you learn to cook? I remember your rice dumplings in high school were absolutely dreadful.”

Hearing this, Jiang Menghan gave him a playful glare.

“I learned specifically to poison a certain jerk who wouldn’t return my calls and worried me.”

Her tone mixed a hint of displeasure with a touch of coquettishness.

Su Wen smiled leisurely, adding a piece of meat to his bowl.

Unable to resist, he took a bite and mumbled,

“If this were really poisoned, then poison me.”

Seeing his expression, Jiang Menghan’s eyes softened with a faint smile.

“Is it really that good?”

“Of course. Otherwise, why not come work as my family chef?”

Su Wen joked.

“I promise, you’d be the head chef.”

“You wish.”

The young girl’s voice was cool as she looked at him.

“My father is planning to return in a few days.”

“Professor Jiang? Compared to my own parents who have vanished somewhere, Professor Jiang is indeed a respected scientist.”

Su Wen took two cans of cold cola from the fridge, opened one and handed it to Jiang Menghan before opening his own.

She accepted it naturally.

Their unspoken understanding was perfect in moments like these.

She continued,

“My father’s research missions are highly confidential. I only recently learned that the research vessel he is aboard, the ‘Voyager,’ is about to return to Binhai Port.”

The Voyager—

One of China’s highest-tier relic exploration ships.

Hearing that familiar name, Su Wen felt a mixture of clarity and relief.

He sipped his cola and comforted her,

“Professor Jiang will surely return safely.”

“You can’t even keep a reasonable schedule yourself.”

The girl looked at him earnestly with beautiful eyes.

Su Wen knew she cared.

His tone softened as he replied,

“On the day of his return, I’ll stay with you and watch the live broadcast.”

“Mm.”

She didn’t refuse.

Instead, she seemed reassured.

“Of course, I’ll leave lunch to you that day.”

For Su Wen,

caring for the ice-cold beauty’s emotions was important,

but he couldn’t let such delicious food go to waste either.

——————————————————————

Days passed.

Compared to the growing international discourse surrounding the Westminster Equality Act, proposed by the Duke of Bavaria, public attention gradually returned to normal.

Instead, the focus shifted to how extraordinary individuals were steadily advancing civilization.

At the same time,

the internet became filled with topics about relic exploration.

Especially in China’s Jiangnan region,

over 70% of the front-page headlines celebrated the upcoming return of the Voyager:

“Voyager Research Vessel Makes Major Breakthroughs, Partners with Aisia Life Technologies”

“Scientific Team Led by Professor Qi Ming Achieves Giant Strides in Paleobiology”

“Cambrian Explosion? Theories on Life Origins and Extraordinary Evolution”

“The Scientists Studying Extraordinary Relics—Heroes for All to Remember: Featuring Qi Ming and Jiang Xiuyuan”

Meanwhile,

the meteorological bureau began reporting on the super typhoon brewing over the Pacific—Typhoon Aiyunni:

(According to Yunzhou Meteorological Department, from 9 a.m. local time, “Aiyunni” was moving northwest-north at 35 kilometers per hour about 30 kilometers southeast off Yunzhou’s coast.

It may become a “dangerous typhoon never before experienced” in the Binhai-Yunzhou region.

The meteorological bureau forecasts record-breaking winds and rainstorms across Yunzhou, possibly issuing special heavy rain warnings and urging residents to take early evacuation measures.)

Eight days into the unfolding events of the game,

the future arrived as promised.

Su Wen was washing vegetables for the ice-cold beauty.

Gazing at the dark clouds looming in the distance,

Jiang Menghan spoke with concern,

“The Voyager’s route was planned with foresight, accounting for the typhoon’s possible expansion from Yunzhou to coastal Binhai. They’ve adjusted the course, so it should be fine.”

“Don’t worry,”

he said calmly, looking toward the horizon.

“I believe Professor Jiang will return safely.”

At that moment,

within the unattended control room of Lighthouse No. 43 in the BHX zone,

a mechanical alert sounded:

[First Light Path Test Run, Initiated]

Then,

a blinding burst of radiant light flashed briefly.

[Self-Check Complete]

[All Facilities at the Unmanned Island Shelter in Good Condition, Ready for Defense]

[Repeat, Ready for Defense]