First Interstellar Guide Chapter 111: Extra 12: Parallel World; Gift

Chapter 111: Extra 12: Parallel World; Gift

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Lu Zexuan had been feeling very down these past few days, to the point where he couldn’t sleep well, and there were obvious dark circles under his eyes.

Ever since he met “Qin Xiaoluo” at the annual meeting, he had been concerned about Qin Xiaoluo. His thoughts were very simple: he liked playing with the other person and considered them his best friend. However, Qin Xiaoluo had been deceiving him all along, with a fake name, identity, and even fake achievements!

Lu Zexuan was both angry and upset. He had treated the other person sincerely, but they had been mocking him and treating him like a fool. Thinking about this, Lu Zexuan’s expression immediately turned ugly as he stared at Xie Ran and said coldly, “Why are you still coming to see me?”

Lu Tingyu was taken aback. He thought his son would be happy if a friend came to see him, but Lu Zexuan had a stern expression on his face, his eyes even reddened with anger. He looked at his son in confusion, then at Xie Ran, and his gossip-loving soul quickly ignited, “Are you two… quarreling?”

Xie Ran lowered his head and said softly, “Uncle Lu, I’m sorry to Zexuan. I came here today to apologize.”

It seemed like the two kids had a falling out. Lu Tingyu smiled and said, “You guys talk, I’ll go busy myself with work.”

Although he wanted to eavesdrop on the gossip, seeing Lu Zexuan’s unpleasant expression, Lu Tingyu tactfully left, leaving the third-floor study to the two children. Their affairs were for them to resolve; parents didn’t need to interfere. After Lu Tingyu left, Xie Ran entered the study and closed the door behind him.

Lu Zexuan looked coldly at Xie Ran, his eyes full of vigilance, as if Xie Ran would harm him.

Xie Ran felt a bit sad under such a gaze. Previously, Lu Zexuan had looked at him with trust, but it was understandable that Lu Zexuan would hate him after finding out the truth. Children’s feelings were so straightforward.

Xie Ran approached reluctantly and, at a distance of one meter from Lu Zexuan, earnestly said, “Zexuan, I’m here to apologize. This is a gift for you.” 

He took out an exquisite gift box from his bag and handed it to Lu Zexuan.

Lu Zexuan sneakily glanced at it—was it a limited edition starship model?

Xie Ran said, “You mentioned before that you liked starships and mecha models the most. I queued up at the store early yesterday morning and bought this starship model. I heard it’s limited to 100 units nationwide and hard to get. I bought it for you. Can you forgive me now?”

Lu Zexuan stiffly turned his head—trying to buy someone’s forgiveness with a gift? He wouldn’t fall for that!

Seeing that he didn’t accept the gift, Xie Ran continued, “This model requires manual assembly. It simulates the manufacturing process of a starship, with thousands of parts. It’s especially difficult to assemble. Do you think you can do it?”

Lu Zexuan blurted out, “Of course, I often play with these.”

After saying that, he realized he might have fallen for it again. Lu Zexuan’s ears turned slightly red, and he said with a stiff face, “I don’t want your gift.”

Xie Ran softly said, “I’ve already bought it. If you don’t want it, and I don’t like playing with it, should I just throw it away?”

Lu Zexuan, “…”

Xie Ran continued coaxing, “Take it, it’s specially bought for you. From now on, I’ll buy you a model every week, okay?”

Lu Zexuan, “??”

Buy a model every week? This… this offer seemed a bit tempting.

Seeing Lu Zexuan’s expression starting to waver, Xie Ran seized the opportunity and solemnly raised his right hand, “I was wrong to lie to you before. I promise I won’t lie to you again. Can we still be friends? I really enjoy playing with you.”

Lu Zexuan gradually softened. Initially, at the annual meeting, he caught Xie Ran stealing a chicken leg. Xie Ran, fearing he would tell on him, hastily made up a fake name. That was understandable. But later, in school, being lied to for a whole semester was too much. Now that Xie Ran had come to apologize in person and bought him a gift… should he forgive him? Xie Ran’s attitude was so good, and the gift was sincere. If he directly refused, he’d seem too petty…

Lu Zexuan frowned, feeling conflicted for the first time in his life.

Xie Ran placed the gift in front of Lu Zexuan, “Don’t be angry, forgive me this time, let’s start over.”

Lu Zexuan stiffly said, “In the future, you’re not allowed to lie to me, not even once.”

Xie Ran felt relieved, “I promise not to lie to you!”

Lu Zexuan said, “What if you lie again?”

Xie Ran raised his hand and swore, “Then you can do whatever you want to punish me.”

Lu Zexuan was finally satisfied. He took the starship model from Xie Ran, his ears turning slightly red, “Th-thank you for the gift.”

Xie Ran looked at him blushing and couldn’t help but find little Lu adorable. In the end, he softened. Despite Xie Ran’s fake identity for the past half year, the bond they had developed was real. Xie Ran didn’t want to lose this friend, and neither did Lu Zexuan.

A little misunderstanding, clarified face-to-face, with a sincere apology, and it was all in the past.

Xie Ran moved a chair next to Lu Zexuan and said, “Let’s open it and take a look. I’ve never played with this kind of assembly model before. Can you teach me?”

Lu Zexuan skillfully opened the model and cleared the table of everything on it. Then he poured out the model’s parts onto the tabletop and said, “Assembling it is actually quite simple. Just follow the instructions step by step. First, assemble the engine system, then the gravity system…”

Lu Zexuan patiently explained, and Xie Ran sat beside him, listening curiously. Soon, he remembered it all. “So, we simulate the process of making a starship by assembling each system, connecting them together, and then putting the shell of the ship over it and fixing it?”

Lu Zexuan said, “Yes, the process must be precise, or the finished starship won’t start properly.”

Xie Ran looked at the parts in amazement, “After assembly, can it still start?”

Lu Zexuan said, “Yes, it can simulate the process of a starship taking off and landing.”

Xie Ran said interestedly, “Why don’t we assemble it together? I can help you!”

Lu Zexuan was puzzled, “But aren’t you not interested in these toys?”

Xie Ran said, “The model we assemble together will have more sentimental value. And, it’s interesting to assemble it with you.”

Lu Zexuan, “…”

Xie Ran, this guy, was as sly as a fox. Lu Zexuan never knew how much of what he said was true and how much was false, but every time he looked into Xie Ran’s clear and beautiful eyes, Lu Zexuan couldn’t help but soften. Perhaps, this person was his nemesis? He had initially resolved to cut ties with him, but then he gave a gift and said a few comforting words, and all his anger dissipated…

Lu Zexuan looked at the parts on the table with mixed feelings. Since he had voluntarily asked to assemble it together, Lu Zexuan generously handed him some of the parts. “This is your first time playing with this. Start with the simpler balancing and gravity systems, and I’ll do the engine.”

Xie Ran agreed straightforwardly, “Okay, teach me how to assemble.”

The two children began to earnestly assemble the parts. Lu Zexuan patiently taught Xie Ran how to assemble them. The parts were much more complex than Xie Ran had imagined. Some looked exactly alike, and they had to be distinguished by subtle differences in color and internal structure. It was Xie Ran’s first time assembling this type of model, so his progress was a bit slow.

But Lu Zexuan was very skilled. His fingers moved like magic, fast and accurate. In his hands, the parts on the table gradually took the shape of a complete engine. Watching this, Xie Ran couldn’t help but praise, “Sentinel’s manual dexterity is indeed impressive. You finished assembling it so quickly!”

Guides were more adept at knowledge retention and emotional perception, while sentinels had stronger manual dexterity. Excellent students in federal mech manufacturing programs were almost all sentinels. Their fingers could easily perceive the subtle differences in each part and create the most precise instruments.

Xie Ran took the completed engine that Lu Zexuan had assembled and observed it carefully for a moment. “You’re really amazing. Is this what a starship’s engine looks like?”

Praised, Lu Zexuan felt pleased and said seriously, “The model’s parts are simplified. A real starship would be much more complex.”

Xie Ran asked, “Have you ever seen a real starship?”

Lu Zexuan shook his head lightly. “I’m too young. My father wouldn’t take me to see it.”

Xie Ran smiled and said, “It’s okay. You’re General Lu’s son. When you grow up, you’ll have your own starship.”

Lu Zexuan looked forward eagerly. “I like black. I’ll paint the starship black when I have one, okay?”

Xie Ran said, “That would be cool.”

As the two assembled the model and chatted, the past unpleasantness had long been forgotten. Lu Zexuan wasn’t one to hold grudges. Once he chose to forgive, he would let go of Xie Ran’s deception and not pursue it further. If Xie Ran lied to him again in the future, then he would completely sever ties with him. That was how simple his thinking was.

The two spent the whole afternoon assembling the model until six o’clock in the evening when Lu Tingyu came to knock on the door. “Kids, it’s time for dinner!”

Lu Zexuan packed up the unfinished parts. “There are too many parts. It’ll probably take a week to finish.”

Xie Ran smiled and said, “Then I’ll come back tomorrow to continue with you.”

Lu Zexuan said, “Tomorrow is Saturday, right? Aren’t you going to the amusement park?”

Despite being angry for a few days, he still remembered their previous agreement. Xie Ran felt warm inside and said, “I can reschedule the amusement park ticket. Let’s finish the model first, and we can go to the amusement park next week, okay?”

Lu Zexuan cleared his throat. “Okay.”

Lu Tingyu was unusually in a good mood today and personally cooked a sumptuous dinner. He smiled and invited Xie Ran to sit down. “Ranran, you’re Zexuan’s first friend to visit our home. Uncle has cooked some dishes. Try them and come often in the future!”

Xie Ran politely said, “Thank you, Uncle Lu. I’ll come to see Zexuan tomorrow?”

Lu Tingyu smiled, “Of course. Zexuan is bored at home alone. You coming to accompany him is something he’ll be happy about, right, Zexuan?”

Lu Zexuan’s ears reddened slightly, and he softly said, “Yeah.”

Watching his son’s awkward expression, Lu Tingyu couldn’t help but find it amusing—It seemed that the two children had resolved their conflicts, and Xie Ran had successfully placated Lu Zexuan.

As they enjoyed the meal together, Xie Ran praised, “Uncle Lu, your cooking is so delicious.”

This child was particularly likable when he smiled. Lu Tingyu was delighted and said, “Then eat more. You’re at the age to grow, so whatever dishes you like, Uncle will cook for you in the future.”

Xie Ran proactively picked up a chicken wing and handed it to Lu Zexuan. “Zexuan, you should eat more too.”

Watching the two children happily interacting, Lu Tingyu’s mood was complicated. The heirs of the various federations couldn’t marry each other; this was an unspoken rule that had been followed for two hundred years, and the legion commanders all consciously adhered to it. However, children’s minds were simple, and they certainly didn’t think that much. Since the two children had become friends, it wouldn’t be right for parents to forcefully stop their interactions.

He hoped these two children were just pure friends. Childhood friends, growing up together, becoming close brothers who could talk about anything, would be great. Lu Tingyu silently prayed in his heart: But please, don’t fall in love with each other!