First Interstellar Guide Chapter 110: Extra 11: Parallel World; Comfort

Chapter 110: Extra 11: Parallel World; Comfort

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Xie Ran forced a smile on his face, received the certificate of honor from the grade director, and was very close to Lu Zexuan. Under the bright lights of the stage, he could clearly see the restrained tears in Lu Zexuan’s reddened eyes.

Xie Ran, “…”

The grade director said, “Let’s applaud all the award-winning students!”

Once again, enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience, while Xie Ran wore a smile on his face, but his heart was in turmoil.

After all, he had lied first, deceiving Lu Zexuan for a whole half year. With Lu Zexuan’s straightforward temperament and simple mindset, would he think Xie Ran was deliberately teasing him, refuse to forgive him, or even avoid him from now on?

Just as he was thinking, the grade director said, “Please return to your seats, everyone.”

Several students descended from the stage one by one. In the dark aisle, Xie Ran softly called out, “Zexuan.”

Lu Zexuan stiffened his back, pretending not to hear, and hurried forward. He quickly reached the area where Class Six was located and returned to his seat expressionlessly. With so many students in the auditorium, Xie Ran couldn’t follow him to Class Six, so he reluctantly returned to his own seat.

“The first semester has ended, and the vacation officially begins now! Class monitors, please maintain order and lead your classmates out of the auditorium in an orderly manner.”

With the principal’s announcement, the concluding meeting finally ended, and the students left the venue in an orderly manner. After leaving the auditorium, Xie Ran immediately rushed to the dormitory building, knocked on the door of Lu Zexuan’s dormitory, and asked, “Is Lu Zexuan here?”

His roommate said, “Zexuan hasn’t come back.”

Xie Ran frowned and turned to the teaching building, cafeteria, gymnasium, library…He searched all the places Lu Zexuan usually frequented, but still couldn’t find Lu Zexuan’s figure. Standing on the school playground, Xie Ran anxiously looked around. Where could Lu Zexuan have gone? Was he sulking alone? Just as he inadvertently looked up, he suddenly saw a figure passing by on the rooftop of the opposite teaching building.

Xie Ran’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly climbed up to the rooftop. Pushing open the door to the rooftop, he saw Lu Zexuan sitting alone in a corner, his eyes red, with traces of tears still on his face.

Xie Ran, “…”

Lu Zexuan actually cried in anger, feeling too embarrassed to cry in front of his classmates, so he secretly hid to cry.

Xie Ran’s heart softened instantly. He took a step forward, then hesitated, softly saying, “I’m sorry.”

Lu Zexuan awkwardly wiped his eyes, his voice choked, “Why are you still here to mock me?”

Xie Ran hurriedly waved his hand, “No, I…”

Lu Zexuan interrupted him, “You’re the one named Qin Xiaoluo from General Qin’s family, gifted with sentinel abilities, ranking last in the class, and kept saying bad things about Xie Ran to me every day… So, you’re actually Xie Ran.” Six-year-old Lu Zexuan looked up, tears shimmering in his eyes, “You’re Xie Ran! I’ve always believed you, but you’ve been lying to me all along!”

Lu Zexuan’s voice was full of anger at being deceived. He stared at Xie Ran fiercely, his expression making Xie Ran even more guilty.

“Do you think I’m stupid and naive, fooled by you all the time?” Lu Zexuan took a deep breath, his eyes red, “I treated you as a friend, but you’ve been playing me…”

Lu Zexuan looked extremely aggrieved. Though he had been sensible since childhood, he was still a child after all. Finding out he had been deceived, he couldn’t help but feel hurt and upset.

Xie Ran took a step forward, cautiously reaching out to pat his shoulder. However, Lu Zexuan turned away, avoiding his hand. Xie Ran awkwardly withdrew his hand and said softly, “I didn’t mean to, I wasn’t trying to deceive you, I also considered you a friend, a very important one.”

Lu Zexuan turned his head, coldly saying, “From today on, I won’t believe a word you say.”

Xie Ran, “…”

Lu Zexuan stood up, ready to leave, but Xie Ran shamelessly blocked the door, preventing him from leaving.

Lu Zexuan’s eyes were red, “What do you want?”

Xie Ran gently pleaded, “I’m sorry, can I apologize to you properly?”

Lu Zexuan frowned, “I won’t accept your apology. I hate liars the most!”

Xie Ran earnestly said, “Then I’ll keep apologizing until you accept it?”

Lu Zexuan, “…” He had never seen someone with such thick skin.

Xie Ran explained, “At the military department’s annual meeting, when you found me hiding to eat, I was afraid you would report me to my parents, so I made up a random name. I really didn’t mean to deceive you back then. Later, when we met at school, I didn’t explain properly… I was wrong about this.”

Lu Zexuan didn’t speak, staring at him with a stiff expression.

Xie Ran raised his right hand, “I swear, I really didn’t mean to tease you. During the monthly exams, your grades were worse than Xie Ran’s, and I said a lot of bad things about Xie Ran to console you, to make you feel better.”

Lu Zexuan, “…” Is consoling someone supposed to be like this?

Xie Ran earnestly continued, “I promise I won’t lie to you again in the future. Can we still be friends?”

Lu Zexuan looked at the person in front of him with a complicated expression. Xie Ran’s eyes were beautiful, and when he looked at someone with a pleading gaze, it was easy to soften one’s heart. Lu Zexuan was also a bit softened, but thinking that this guy had deceived him for a whole half year, Lu Zexuan became more and more angry!

He trusted him so much, and all his words were lies! If he agreed to continue being friends with him today, he would become a laughingstock again after a while.

Lu Zexuan made up his mind, directly bypassing Xie Ran and coldly saying, “Xie Ran, pretend I never knew you.”

Watching Lu Zexuan’s stiff back as he walked away, Xie Ran scratched his head in frustration. Oh no, does this mean we’re breaking up?

Fire Fox’s voice echoed in his mind, “Master, it seems like you’ve messed up. He’s really angry.”

Xie Ran rubbed his temples, “How do you comfort an angry sentinel?”

Fire Fox said, “Didn’t you make plans to go to the amusement park with him this Saturday?”

Xie Ran sighed helplessly, “He definitely won’t go… Never mind, I won’t bother him for now. Let him cool down for a couple of days.”

***

Xie Ran didn’t go to find Lu Zexuan over the next two days. Qin Luo clearly noticed that his son had been absent-minded since returning home for the holiday. For instance, right now, he was supposed to be studying in the study, but he had the book upside down. Qin Luo wondered, “Ranran, you’ve been distracted these past two days. Did you get into trouble at school again?”

Other parents might suspect their child was being bullied if they saw them in a bad mood, but Qin Luo went straight to asking if Ranran had caused trouble at school. Truly “like father, like son.”

Xie Ran reluctantly put down the book and said, “Dad, I made a friend at school whom I really like. But I lied to him, and not just once… Now that he knows, he won’t forgive me.”

Qin Luo looked at his son reproachfully, “Why did you lie to him? He must be very upset.”

Xie Ran lowered his head and said gloomily, “It wasn’t intentional. Now he won’t talk to me. What should I do?”

Qin Luo asked, “Do you really want to mend your friendship with this friend?”

Xie Ran nodded decisively, “Yes! I really like being with him.”

Qin Luo smiled slightly and said, “Alright, making friends requires sincerity. Bring him some gifts, formally apologize to him, and see if he’s willing to forgive you and give you another chance? If you’re short on money, just tell me, I’ll give you some pocket money.”

Xie Ran hesitated for a moment. Would his friend refuse to open the door if he went to his house directly? Perhaps it would be better to ask his aunt to take him there. After all, as the son of General Lu, he had to give some face to General Xie’s sister. Thinking of this, Xie Ran smiled at Qin Luo, “Dad, can you give me a little more pocket money? I’ve already decided what gift to buy for him.”

Qin Luo generously transferred a five-digit starcoin sum to Xie Ran and said, “But don’t spend it recklessly!”

Xie Ran said, “Don’t worry!”

On Thursday, Xie Ran went out alone to a shop in the capital that specialized in selling mecha models. Lu Zexuan had mentioned before that he loved all kinds of mecha and starship models. Xie Ran found out that a limited edition starship model was being released today, which Zexuan would surely love. So, early in the morning, Xie Ran went to queue up.

When the shop opened, the owner saw a cute little boy at the front of the line and couldn’t help but ask, “Little guy, where are your parents?”

Xie Ran placed his wristband on the payment terminal and said, “My parents asked me to come and buy it. I want the limited edition starship model.”

Seeing that the balance on the card was enough, the owner didn’t say much and handed him the brand new model, saying, “Take care of it, don’t lose it!”

Xie Ran smiled and said, “Thank you, sir!”

After receiving the model, Xie Ran also prepared some fruits. The next day at noon, he called his aunt and went to Lu’s house to apologize.

Xie Chen looked puzzled. “Didn’t you say you were going to his house to study together? Why bring gifts and fruits? Isn’t it a bit too formal for just doing homework?”

Xie Ran guiltily touched his nose. “Auntie, it’s my first time going to his house. Isn’t it impolite to go empty-handed?”

Xie Chen sighed helplessly. “You’re just a kid, but you’re so considerate.”

Auntie drove the hovercar and stopped at the door of General Lu’s house.

Seeing Xie Chen coming to visit, General Lu Tingyu, who happened to be at home, came out to greet her. “Xie Chen, come in and have a seat.”

Xie Chen said, “General Lu, I won’t disturb you. Ranran came to find your Zexuan to study together.”

General Lu Tingyu looked at Xie Ran with a puzzled expression. “Is this… General Xie’s son?”

Xie Chen said, “Yes, he’s Ranran. He’s good friends with your Zexuan.”

Lu Tingyu, “I’ve never heard Zexuan mention him before.”

Xie Ran nervously averted his gaze. Of course, he wouldn’t mention that Zexuan was currently mad at him and wanted to end their friendship.

Seeing Xie Ran carrying a bunch of fruits and a gift box, Lu Tingyu couldn’t help but laugh. “Why did you bring so many things when you’re just coming to play?!”

Xie Ran obediently said, “Uncle Lu, these fruits are for you and Auntie, and this gift is for Zexuan.”

Lu Tingyu liked the child’s thoughtful and adorable appearance very much and hurriedly invited them in. “Come in, Zexuan is on vacation and bored. You can keep him company while doing homework.”

Xie Chen said, “Then I’ll go back to school. I’ll come pick up Ranran around 6 pm.”

Lu Tingyu said, “How about you come a little later, around 7 pm, and have dinner with us?”

Xie Chen thought about it and nodded, “Alright, then I’ll trouble General Lu.”

Lu Tingyu took Xie Ran into the house with a smile and poured him a glass of water. “Speaking of which, you and Zexuan were born on the same day. I didn’t expect you to become friends at school. It’s really fate.”

Xie Ran nervously said, “Yes, it’s quite a coincidence.”

Lu Tingyu said, “He’s in the small study upstairs. Should I go call him down?”

Xie Ran said, “Uncle, how about you take me to find him?”

Lu Tingyu took Xie Ran to the stairs, knocked on Lu Zexuan’s door, and smiled, “Zexuan, guess who’s here to see you?”

Lu Zexuan was sitting at his desk, absent-mindedly reading a book. When he heard the door opening, he turned around and then met a pair of familiar eyes.

Xie Ran smiled brightly, “Zexuan, I’ve come to see you. Let’s do our homework together.”

Lu Zexuan, “…” This big liar actually dares to come knocking on my door?