JFWCM Chapter 72

Quietly Leaving

In the dreamlike interstellar campus, the lovers Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan, along with Ji Chuan and Zhang Yao, wove memories full of laughter and exploration. They had just won an award in the Interstellar Energy Innovation Competition, the trophy’s gleam seemingly still shining before their eyes, and the scroll of the future was slowly unfolding with magnificent colors. However, the shadows of fate quietly descended.

Jiang Wan’yuan’s father, a top expert in the field of interstellar machinery, took on a seemingly ordinary project to improve the engine of an interstellar transport ship. But as he delved deeper into the research, he discovered that a huge conspiracy was hidden behind the project. Some interstellar black market forces were attempting to use the improved engine to create an illegal plundering fleet with super maneuverability, threatening the security of the entire interstellar trade routes. Her father resolutely refused to continue participating in this conspiracy, but his resistance provoked the black market forces’ crazed retaliation.

They first spread rumors, slandering Jiang Wan’yuan’s father for cutting corners in the project, leading to multiple interstellar transport accidents, which caused her father’s reputation to plummet. Then, they bribed some interstellar law enforcement personnel to issue a false arrest warrant for Jiang Wan’yuan’s father. Faced with such a desperate situation, Jiang Wan’yuan knew that she and her father had fallen into a huge trap, and she was powerless to clear her father’s name in a short period of time.

What worried Jiang Wan’yuan even more was that she was afraid that Yi Shang, Ji Chuan, and Zhang Yao would be implicated because of her and her father’s affairs. Although Yi Shang was talented in scientific research, she was cold and not good at socializing. Faced with these complex conspiracies and forces, she might be in danger for protecting her. Ji Chuan and Zhang Yao were equally kind and simple, and Jiang Wan’yuan didn’t want them to be swept into this dark storm.

On a quiet and somewhat oppressive night, Jiang Wan’yuan wandered alone in the campus’s interstellar garden. The breeze gently blew, and the interstellar flowers twinkled with dreamlike light, but Jiang Wan’yuan had no heart to appreciate it. Her mind constantly flashed back to the moments she had spent with Yi Shang – they focused on research together in the laboratory, Yi Shang’s cold face appearing exceptionally moving in the faint light of the instruments; they strolled together on the campus paths, and Yi Shang would inadvertently take her hand, at that moment, the world seemed to stop turning. And the happy times spent with Ji Chuan and Zhang Yao, those days full of laughter, had now become memories that stung her heart.

Tears fell silently, wetting Jiang Wan’yuan’s cheeks. She knew it was time to make a decision. Returning home, looking at her tired and helpless father, Jiang Wan’yuan said softly, “Dad, let’s leave here and find a place where no one can find us.” Her father nodded silently, understanding that his daughter’s decision was for the good of everyone.

Jiang Wan’yuan quickly packed some essential items, including some of her father’s important research notes and their only savings. She carefully avoided all surveillance equipment that might expose their whereabouts and quietly left home with her father.

They boarded an old, small interstellar spaceship, which Jiang Wan’yuan’s father had collected in his early years. Although its performance was not advanced, it was enough for them to escape. The spaceship slowly took off, and Jiang Wan’yuan looked through the window, gazing at this campus full of memories for the last time. She saw the scientific research building where Yi Shang was located, imagining that Yi Shang might still be working intently in the laboratory at this moment, her cold face without a trace of expression, only slightly raising her eyebrows when she saw interesting research data.

“Yi Shang, I’m sorry, I can’t implicate you. I hope you’ll be well, maybe one day, when everything is over, we can meet again.” Jiang Wan’yuan murmured to herself, tears blurring her eyes again.

The spaceship sped through the vast interstellar space, and Jiang Wan’yuan set an extremely remote destination – a barren planet on the edge of the asteroid belt. The asteroid belt was full of various dangerous interstellar fragments and unstable energy fields, and few spaceships were willing to approach it, and the barren planet was even less known, making it an excellent choice for them to evade capture.

On the spaceship, Jiang Wan’yuan and her father were silent. Her father’s eyes were filled with guilt and helplessness, while Jiang Wan’yuan tried to remain calm. She knew that from now on, everything would depend on herself.

After a long and arduous voyage, the spaceship finally arrived at the barren planet. The surface of the planet was desolate, with dark gray rocks exposed, and a howling wind swept across it. Jiang Wan’yuan and her father found a relatively hidden cave in a valley as their temporary shelter.

Jiang Wan’yuan stepped out of the spaceship, took a deep breath, and looked at this strange and challenging land, vowing silently in her heart that she would protect her father and one day uncover the truth and clear her father’s name. At this time, in the distant interstellar campus, Yi Shang, Ji Chuan, and Zhang Yao were still immersed in their daily studies and scientific research, unaware that Jiang Wan’yuan had quietly left, and their world was about to undergo earth-shattering changes because of the disappearance of this girl.

Yi Shang was still busy in the laboratory, her slender fingers skillfully operating on the instruments, thinking about new scientific research projects in her mind. Occasionally, she would stop what she was doing and look out the window, a sense of inexplicable unease welling up in her heart, but she didn’t know that the source of this unease was that Jiang Wan’yuan, whom she deeply loved, had embarked on a road of escape filled with unknowns.

Ji Chuan and Zhang Yao were planning the next scientific research exchange activity in the campus’s activity center, excitedly discussing which experts to invite to share their experiences, and laughter echoed in the room. However, none of them realized that Jiang Wan’yuan, who always brought them joy and vitality, was gradually drifting away in the vast interstellar space.

As the days passed, Jiang Wan’yuan and her father began a difficult life on the barren planet. Jiang Wan’yuan used the limited tools on the spaceship to try to transform the cave so that it could provide shelter from the wind and rain. Her father used his professional knowledge to try to extract usable energy and materials from the planet’s ore, providing a guarantee for their survival.

Jiang Wan’yuan would take some time every day to look at the starry sky, thinking of Yi Shang, Ji Chuan, and Zhang Yao. She imagined Yi Shang’s appearance when she made new breakthroughs in scientific research, Ji Chuan’s witty remarks at the activities, and Zhang Yao’s warm smile. But she knew that until the truth came to light, she could only bury this longing deep in her heart.

And in the interstellar campus, Yi Shang gradually found that Jiang Wan’yuan’s absence was becoming more and more obvious. She began to frequently check her communication devices, hoping for news from Jiang Wan’yuan, but each time she could only return disappointed. “Zhang Yao, have you heard from Jiang Wan’yuan recently? I haven’t been able to contact her for several days.” Yi Shang found Zhang Yao during class, her brows slightly furrowed, and a hint of worry in her eyes.

“No, I think it’s strange too. It’s like she suddenly disappeared.” Zhang Yao was also confused.

Ji Chuan, who was next to them, heard their conversation and chimed in, “Could something have happened? Why don’t we go to her house and take a look?”

Yi Shang nodded, her worry growing stronger. The three immediately went to Jiang Wan’yuan’s house, only to find the house door tightly closed and the surroundings silent. Yi Shang knocked hard on the door, shouting Jiang Wan’yuan’s name loudly, but the only response was an empty echo. They realized that Jiang Wan’yuan might have encountered a major event and had left this place. An unprecedented fear welled up in Yi Shang’s heart, and she secretly vowed to find Jiang Wan’yuan, no matter the cost.

On the barren planet, Jiang Wan’yuan and her father continued their difficult life. Jiang Wan’yuan learned how to find water sources in the harsh environment and how to use the materials on the planet to make simple tools. Her father succeeded in using ore to create some simple energy devices, bringing light and warmth to their cave.

However, the difficulties of life did not defeat Jiang Wan’yuan. She always held hope for the future in her heart, and her longing for Yi Shang became the motivation for her to persevere. She looked forward to one day being able to see Yi Shang again, telling her about her experiences over the years, and sharing with her the joys and sorrows of life.

And in the interstellar campus, Yi Shang, Ji Chuan, and Zhang Yao began a difficult search. They inquired about Jiang Wan’yuan’s whereabouts everywhere, asking everyone who knew Jiang Wan’yuan, but they didn’t get any useful clues. Yi Shang used her connections in the scientific research community to send help requests to scientific research institutions on various planets, hoping someone could provide news about Jiang Wan’yuan. Ji Chuan, through his friends in the interstellar adventure club, posted a large number of missing person notices on the interstellar network. Zhang Yao carefully sorted out the various clues they had collected, trying to find the direction Jiang Wan’yuan might have gone.