LSDWTWHA chapter 86

Chapter 85

Having not received permission to participate in starship simulation training, nor secured Admiral Qi Xingli’s assurance to support him in finding Qi Hanyi, Su Su walked out of the Qi family estate feeling like a salted fish that had been sunbathing for too long, completely deflated.

Although there was accommodation in the old Qi residence, Su Su insisted on returning to the home he shared with Qi Hanyi.

Admiral Qi Xingli was partly right; going into space in mermaid form, even if he could complete differentiation upon meeting Qi Hanyi, would still create some complications.

He needed to find a way to initiate his own differentiation, returning to the place where they used to live together, getting more familiar with the space and clothes he commonly used – it might prove useful.

The transport vehicle landed in front of the garden gate, and the butler, Li Shu, heard the commotion and rushed out to greet him. Upon seeing the fish tail beneath Su Su, he was momentarily stunned but didn’t ask too many questions, simply saying, “The young mistress has returned. The young master was worried about you before he left. Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it for you.”

“No need, I’m not hungry,” Su Su mumbled, feeling troubled and having no appetite at all.

“Ah, then you rest first; I’ll send some food to your room later.” Li Shu could see Su Su’s worries, but matters of the heart were something one had to ponder on their own.

“Li Shu,” Su Su raised his chin slightly, with a glimmer of hope in his eyes, “Did Qi Hanyi say anything about me before he left?”

“Well… he didn’t say anything special, just asked me to take good care of you. If he… if the young master doesn’t come back in the future, then everything in this house will be decided by you.”

The glimmer of hope in Su Su’s eyes dimmed. If Qi Hanyi didn’t come back, what was the point of having an empty house?

He pushed open the bedroom door, and the familiar space was immaculate, devoid of any warmth of daily life. Only an old shark plushie sat in the corner, adding a touch of warmth to the cold room.

Su Su had returned in the evening, and just as he was settling in, dinner was already prepared and sent upstairs.

Even though Su Su had no appetite, he still forced himself to eat enough to fill his stomach. While cleaning up the dishes, the butler seemed to remember something and paused: “Oh, right, I just recalled that the young master specifically mentioned for you to take care of his little shark, um, that should be the plush shark he has hugged since he was young…”

Ah Yin? Su Su thought it was strange; this didn’t seem like something Qi Hanyi would specifically mention.

Su Su squeezed the chip in his pocket, and suddenly remembered that he hadn’t told Qi Hanyi that he was, in fact, the Ah Yin he thought of.

Su Su lifted the little shark into his arms, resting his chin on its soft back, but was suddenly pricked by something.

Something was hidden inside!

Su Su’s heart began to race.

Is taking care of Ah Yin what this means?

Su Su guessed something and straightened his back like a spring. He examined the little shark closely and finally found an inconspicuous seam at the root of the shark’s dorsal fin.

Su Su used a small knife to open the seam and reached his hand into the plush toy’s stuffing. In no time, he pulled out a black circular chip the size of a coin along with a note.

In this day and age, very few people wrote with pen and paper. Qi Hanyi’s handwriting was vigorous and powerful, looking quite striking even to someone like Su Su, who wasn’t familiar with calligraphy:

When you read this, I presume you have safely arrived home.

Though I asked my grandfather to take good care of you, I still feel uneasy.

The chip contains my authorization; if you implant it into your personal terminal, you will be able to access most of my personal permissions. I can no longer watch over you, but I believe it will be more convenient for you to do what you want with this authorization.

If you wish to practice real starship piloting, the simulation training room at home is available. My training account contains all my training records and learning insights since entering the Imperial Military Academy, which might help you.

The finals of the starship piloting competition should be approaching soon. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to see you claim the championship. Prepare well for the competition. After you win, the White Ze will unlock permissions for you. The approval process will be handled by my grandfather; this is the last gift I have prepared for you.

Take good care of my little shark, remind him to eat well, suggest he go to bed, and don’t let him feel unhappy.

Su Su’s lips curled into a light smile. So Qi Hanyi, such a cool person, would also talk in a roundabout way, saying such sweet things.

Su Su raised the little shark to his face, muttering, “Thanks for your timely help. Keep the White Ze for yourself. Just wait, I’ll come to pick you up in a couple of days!”

The permissions granted by Qi Hanyi were immensely helpful; as Su Su attached the chip to the terminal, a plethora of functions popped up, which were previously limited to mermaids.

Su Su didn’t have time to explore the new permissions. He wheeled himself directly to the simulation training room.

He had seen Qi Hanyi enter and exit this place many times, but it was Su Su’s first time inside.

The simulation training room had multiple functional areas: changing rooms, theory study areas, physical training and combat areas, and starship piloting simulation zones.

Though it was his first time entering this room, Su Su felt a sense of familiarity. His keen sense of smell caught a few familiar scents, and following that scent led him to the changing room. There were several sets of Qi Hanyi’s training uniforms; Su Su got close to sniff one, noticing the scent of cleaning agent mixed with a hint of Qi Hanyi’s own fragrance, a refreshing and icy scent reminiscent of the deep sea glaciers.

On a whim, Su Su changed out of his clothes and put one of Qi Hanyi’s training uniforms on. He wanted to wear pants too, but unfortunately, his fish tail wouldn’t allow it.

After all this, Su Su slid his wheelchair into the simulation training cabin.

The starship piloting simulation area was a completely enclosed cabin. Using Qi Hanyi’s permissions, Su Su opened the door. The interior resembled the cockpit he used in games, the only difference being that in the game, he entered in a conscious state. Although virtual reality achieves a high degree of realism, it lacked some authenticity. Here, the screens, control sticks, buttons, displays, and especially the crucial mental force connection helmets were all real.

With his arm as support, he moved himself to the pilot seat. After successfully connecting, the teaching training module and the practical simulation module popped up. Su Su took a quick glance, and in the teaching training section, the various procedural actions of starship operation were thoroughly dissected. Just this section had thousands of lessons, and besides that, he saw a few special videos at the back, which were Qi Hanyi’s self-recorded course highlights.

As for the practical simulation module, it replicated every combat scenario with the insectoid species, providing trainers with opportunities for repeated training and review. Qi Hanyi had attached at least three strategic methods and a detailed summary for every operational map.

Su Su felt like he had opened a treasure trove and was momentarily at a loss about where to start. If he wanted to digest all this information, even with his quick learning ability, it would take more than a year. Considering his needs, Su Su decided to focus first on the operational section.

There was no time to follow along with the teaching lessons bit by bit; Su Su directly opened the lesson summary created by Qi Hanyi. The content here was much more concise, highlighting the key points with a clear and straightforward narrative.

Su Su focused especially on the mental force control section, reading while trying to practice. He got so engrossed that he didn’t notice the time pass into the night.

The prompt sound ended, and the screen in front of Su Su went black as the program was forcibly exited.

Hmm, Su Su instinctively checked the time and was astonished to find it was already 2 AM.

So late! He thought he had only used two or three hours.

He still needed to rush to the Qi residence in the morning and figure out how to differentiate. Even if he didn’t sleep, it seemed like time was still running short.

Differentiation… Su Su nestled in the pilot seat, his eyes gradually drooping. How exactly does one differentiate?

Several days without proper rest, combined with the taxing training that consumed a lot of his mental strength, meant Su Su barely lasted a few seconds before falling into a deep sleep.

The training uniform against his skin emanated a calming and familiar scent.

Su Su’s dreams were pulled along by this fragrance, and a familiar figure surfaced in his dream.

Qi Hanyi, dressed in black combat attire, raised his chin towards him with a cold, dignified demeanor: “You will battle me once, to check how well you learned today.”

“Is there a reward if I win?” Su Su bargained.

“What do you want as a reward?” Qi Hanyi asked coldly.

“I want you.”

With a shift, the scene transformed into a familiar game interface, where Su Su and Qi Hanyi were piloting their starships against each other. Dreams typically don’t adhere to logic, and in his dream, Su Su swiftly destroyed the launch bay of Qi Hanyi’s starship, then ran from his own cockpit into Qi Hanyi’s.

Qi Hanyi’s cockpit mirrored that of the simulation training cabin – a dark palette, a spacious pilot chair. Qi Hanyi wore a helmet, revealing only his strong nose and pale lips.

Su Su jumped into Qi Hanyi’s embrace, straddling his lap, and lifted his helmet: “I won; you have to fulfill your promise.”

“Alright.” With a swift motion, Qi Hanyi flipped Su Su down into the spacious chair, kissing him fiercely, imbued with a familiar aroma, making Su Su dizzy. In a low voice, Qi Hanyi asked, “Do you want to continue?”

“Yes!” Su Su didn’t back down this time.

Qi Hanyi chuckled softly, leaning over. The dream then shifted into a hazy realm as Su Su and Qi Hanyi pressed against each other, their ears brushing closely. However, he didn’t really know what they were doing, as his knowledge was limited, and he couldn’t invent details in his dreams. He just felt excited, thrilled, and comfortable… except for his aching back.

Su Su awoke satisfied, his lips still curled into a joyous smile. It wasn’t until he opened his eyes that he realized it had all been just a dream, the joy was false, but the ache was real; he had been asleep in the training chair for nearly five hours.

Feeling an unusual chill beneath him, Su Su looked down and saw two long legs extending from the hem of the training uniform. Before he could react, he suddenly noticed a sticky sensation from the seat as he moved.

Su Su jumped up from the chair with a “thud,” seeing some residual mess on it. He knew what it was; he had learned about that in class.

This incident itself didn’t make Su Su feel embarrassed; instead, he felt a sense of pride in growing up. However, he was a bit flustered about soiling the seat and Qi Hanyi’s training uniform.

Su Su hurriedly cleaned the seat, preparing to wash the uniform when his leg accidentally bumped into the wheelchair parked next to him, causing him to stop abruptly.

Awakening completely from the lingering effects of that peach-colored dream, Su Su realized he truly had not seen Qi Hanyi, but he had successfully differentiated thanks to that dream.

Realizing this, Su Su quickly checked the time. He feared he had slept too long and delayed his visit to Admiral Qi Xingli.

Fortunately, perhaps due to his prior experience with transformation, he didn’t feel too groggy. The time read 7:45 AM, and the morning assembly would start at 8:30; usually, Admiral Qi Xingli would leave around 8:10.

Su Su took a shower and changed as quickly as possible, not having time for breakfast before taking the transport vehicle to the Qi family estate.

As he got off the vehicle, he saw that the transport meant for Admiral Qi Xingli was just pulling up, and the Admiral was preparing to board.

“I did it!” Su Su stepped forward, blocking the door with his long leg.

Seeing Su Su standing in front of him, Admiral Qi Xingli’s expression momentarily froze, a flash of surprise in his eyes: “You’ve surprised me.”

“According to our agreement, you have to help me!” Su Su demanded loudly.

Admiral Qi Xingli didn’t answer, walking around Su Su straight into the vehicle. He turned his head, looking at Su Su standing by the door, “What are you dawdling for? Get in.”

“Am I going to the morning assembly too?” Su Su pointed to himself uncertainly.

“Of course, the Emperor wants to see you,” Admiral Qi Xingli said. “Don’t be nervous; just tell the truth if the Emperor asks you anything. I will do my best to help with the rest.”

Su Su didn’t feel nervous; instead, he was somewhat excited. It was great to go on his own. He should be able to hear something about Qi Hanyi at the assembly, and he could also seize the opportunity in front of the most powerful human to fight for a chance to save Qi Hanyi.

The transport vehicle sped towards the palace, and as Su Su looked at the palace’s décor, he didn’t find it particularly novel; it was just larger and more magnificent than the Qi house, surrounded by various incomprehensible sculptures and paintings.

The morning assembly was held in a hall that wasn’t particularly large, accommodating around a hundred people but ornately decorated with a sense of vintage charm.

The attendees were of high status, aside from Su Su. The seating was divided into two columns, with the left side belonging to the heads of various noble families and the right to officials holding key positions in the Empire.

As soon as Su Su arrived, he caught everyone’s attention; after all, he was the first mermaid to gain the Emperor’s permission to enter the assembly.

Su Su followed Admiral Qi Xingli to the front row, facing the center. Only three seats were available here, belonging to the Qi family, which managed the military, the Mo family, overseeing the nobility council, and the Yang family, which handled state affairs.

Su Su’s seat was a temporary addition, situated right next to Admiral Qi Xingli.

Not long after, the elderly Emperor appeared with his children, sitting alone on a high platform in the center. The eldest princess, who was the designated heir, seated herself to his right while Tang Zhuoxiong sat to his left at a lower position.

“Su Su.” The Emperor lowered his gaze towards Su Su.

Prompted by Admiral Qi Xingli’s hint, Su Su stood up to meet the Emperor’s eyes, his heart suddenly racing. He had initially looked down on the elderly man due to his age; after all, in sharks, aging symbolizes weakness. However, he found himself looking into a beast-like gaze—sharp, bright, and perceptive. Unlike the murderous aura that Qi Xingli exuded, this was a presence that commanded respect simply by being.

The Emperor looked at the exceedingly beautiful youth below: “I’ve heard you are a Mermaid Hybrid, who replaced a mermaid to marry Qi Hanyi due to some misunderstandings. Qi Hanyi explained everything to me before he left and expressed gratitude for this relationship despite the misunderstanding, requesting that I not hold your errors against you at this moment. Therefore, I have decided to respect his opinion.”

“Having promptly uncovered the hidden insectoids among the merfolk and resolved the undercurrents threatening the empire, you’ve done well.”

“Though you are a mermaid, you have contributed to the Empire and deserve a reward. Qi Hanyi said you dreamed of piloting a starship, so I present you with two options. First, I permit you to enter the Imperial Military Academy for further studies, and upon graduation, you may join the Imperial Expeditionary Force. As long as your performance is outstanding, you will receive the same treatment as Qi Hanyi; if you prove capable, you may even become the next general of the Imperial Expeditionary Force. Second, Qi Hanyi had earlier trained merfolk to participate in interstellar warfare; you can form a team composed of mermaids under your command. You can train with them and grow together, advancing based on your performance.”

The Emperor fixed his gaze on Su Su: “Have you considered this? Which would you choose?”

One path comes from a scientific background, following the path Qi Hanyi laid out towards a bright future, while the other offers more freedom to build his own team according to his desires. Both options were favorable, but how much had Qi Hanyi fought for him in this future plan?

“Can I pass on those two rewards? Please approve my immediate departure to space; I want to find Qi Hanyi and sing to him to heal him, as soon as possible.” Su Su blurted out without thinking.