Chapter 2: Two Slaps

Decision Center.

This was a unique planet, belonging to no star system, yet it was the most important place in the entire Interstellar Federation.

For it was here that the Supreme Intelligence of the Federation resided. It was also the home of the three Administrators.

Though each Administrator originally hailed from a different star system, once they assumed the role, they no longer belonged to any world.

Now, Yuelü set foot on this planet. It was the first time since her husband became an Administrator that she had used her family privileges to come here.

The other two Administrators were surprised to see Yuelü. As the Governor of the Central Star System, she had always been careful about her public image. Yet now, she stood within the Decision Center.

“Yuelü, it’s been a long time,” said Arbiter A-892, nodding in greeting.

“It has indeed,” Yuelü replied with a nod. “Is Arbiter Chen Yun here?”

“He’s in the innermost room,” Arbiter A-892 answered.

“Thank you.” Yuelü had only taken two steps before turning back with a smile. “Forgive me, but in a moment, we’ll be discussing some private matters between husband and wife, so…”

“I’ll inform Arbiter Heng Chuan,” Arbiter A-892 said, understanding at once.

“Thank you very much.” Yuelü hurried to the innermost room.

Only after Yuelü’s figure had disappeared from view did Arbiter A-892 leave.

·

Yuelü pushed open the door and saw her husband at a glance.

Arbiter Chen Yun stared at his wife in astonishment; it was his first time meeting her here in the Decision Center.

Yuelü closed the door, locked it behind her, and walked up to her husband.

“You—” Arbiter Chen Yun barely got the word out before a sharp slap landed across his face. The blow took him by surprise; he nearly lost his balance, staggering back several steps.

He steadied himself, staring at his wife in disbelief.

“You—” Another slap struck the other side of his face.

Arbiter Chen Yun glared at his wife, only to see her face streaked with tears.

“Does it hurt? But does this pain compare to the agony of losing my child?!” Yuelü’s final words erupted in a hoarse scream. “When you signed off on the decision to blockade Earth’s culture, did you ever think of our child?! Did you realize you were stripping away the happiness that should have been theirs by right?! Arbiter Chen Yun, tell me—do you even know what you have done?!”

The anger vanished from Arbiter Chen Yun’s face. He looked away, his lips moved, and at last he said, “Earth refused the emotional monitoring devices. Their emotions were unstable. We… we couldn’t take the risk…”

“Couldn’t take the risk? So you just locked them away?” Yuelü laughed, not with anger but with bitter irony. “Should I thank you on behalf of those Short-Life Disease patients and their families? Thank you for your mistaken decision, which forced them to spend nearly a century in fear and pain?”

Arbiter Chen Yun opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“Was it really about risk, or was it fear of the unknown? You know the answer in your heart.” Yuelü sent a file from her terminal to Arbiter Chen Yun. “This is my divorce application. When you’ve finished what you need to do, and I’ve finished what I need to do, there will be no reason for us to meet again.”

“Yuelü…” Arbiter Chen Yun stepped forward, wanting to take her hand, but she evaded him with a touch of psychic force.

“You know my character well enough, Arbiter Chen Yun,” Yuelü’s eyes were cold with hatred. “Once I make a decision, I never look back.”

Slowly, Arbiter Chen Yun let his hand fall and bowed his head.

“Goodbye, Arbiter Chen Yun.” Without a backward glance, Yuelü left the room.

At the entrance to the Decision Center, she saw Arbiter A-892 and the previously absent Arbiter Heng Chuan.

Arbiter Heng Chuan tried to greet Yuelü, but her cold, disdainful gaze stopped him in his tracks. The two Arbiters sensed something was wrong, but could not detain Yuelü to ask; they could only watch as she departed.

·

Yuhui received a communication request from Shu.

“Senior Sister, Aunt has left Central Star.”

Yuhui was taken aback. “So soon?”

“Yes, and she even applied for the express route,” Shu replied.

Yuhui lowered her eyes. “Shu, if your aunt and uncle have a huge argument because of me, will you hate me?”

Shu was puzzled. “This was Aunt’s choice. Why would I hate you?”

“They’ve always been close. Because of my selfishness, I…” Yuhui trailed off.

“Senior Sister, whatever your reasons, I believe Aunt deserved to know the truth. Uncle deliberately kept it from her, letting her suffer and blame herself for Cousin’s death all these years. The way she is now, this is the aunt I know.” Shu finished with a small smile. “Senior Sister, don’t make that face. This isn’t the Demon King Yuhui I know.”

Yuhui lifted her eyes, a smirk tugging at her lips. “So you’ve finally said what you really think. Demon King? So you’re the one who started that nickname?”

Shu immediately pleaded for mercy. “Senior Sister, it wasn’t me! One day, someone just started calling you that.”

“All right, when I get back, I’ll show you what a real ‘Demon King’ is.” Yuhui made a threatening gesture.

“Senior Sister, I was wrong…” Shu looked as if he might cry.

·

Cen Lan stood at the door of Yu Huaiyin’s home. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and pressed the visitor’s button.

The door opened quickly, and it was not S-77 or the smart housekeeper who stood behind it, but Yu Huaiyin himself.

“Cen Lan? Come in, have a seat,” Yu Huaiyin said, leading her to the living room.

Cen Lan sat down on the sofa, glanced around, and waited until Yu Huaiyin personally handed her a cup of milk tea before speaking. “I’ll skip the pleasantries. Huaiyin, is 77 here? I have something I’d like to discuss with him.”

Yu Huaiyin sat across from her, smiling. “You’ve come at the wrong time. 77 has already left Earth.”

“Left Earth?” Cen Lan, rarely caught off guard, looked genuinely surprised. “Where did he go?”

“The Decision Center—the place where the Administrators live,” Yu Huaiyin replied.

Cen Lan was silent for a moment before saying, “Huaiyin, do you and 77 know something?”

Yu Huaiyin shook his head. “I’m not sure, but 77 seems to know something. He received a communication a few days ago, and then he left.”

“A communication?” Cen Lan’s mind raced. “Could it have been… from the Administrators?”

Yu Huaiyin said nothing, simply watching Cen Lan quietly.

When her thoughts had settled, Cen Lan realized her lapse in manners and apologized to Yu Huaiyin. “Sorry, I was lost in thought just now.”

Yu Huaiyin shook his head. “It’s all right, Cen Lan. I don’t know what you and the government are planning, but if you need my help, just say so. Don’t hesitate. No matter what, I’m part of Earth too.”

Cen Lan felt a pang of warmth in her heart and smiled. “Thank you, Huaiyin. But this is the government’s job. You just need to live your life well.”

Yu Huaiyin nodded. “I trust you, Cen Lan.”

They chatted for a while longer before Cen Lan took her leave.

·

ST 2029-027:100:294. On the official StarNet homepage of Youjian Entertainment, the final season of the animated series *Journey to the West* was released.

The *Journey to the West* animation, produced by Youjian Entertainment, had brought Earth an unprecedented level of attention. From the beginning, it had been promoted as “a story of the Long-Lived as seen through the eyes of the Short-Lived,” drawing countless aliens to watch.

But after the outcry from the Short-Life Disease patients, aliens watching the series now found their feelings utterly changed.

[When I rewatched the first season, I noticed a scene: after the Great Sage left Five Finger Mountain, he met the child who had given him fruit decades before. The child was now an old man, unable to remember the Great Sage, but the Sage remembered him perfectly. Watching it now, I suddenly burst into tears.]

[I get you, upstairs. I thought of that scene too. For people living in different time systems, such a reunion is truly heartbreaking.]

[That scene reminded me of Yu7. For so many years afterward, Lord S-77 could only get through life by clinging to those memories. I couldn’t help but sob.]

[Earthlings are truly clear-eyed. They’ve written countless novels about immortality, and they saw through it long ago.]

[I really admire Earthlings. Even though they are the Short-Lived, their stories about the Long-Lived never feel out of place. They have always been pondering what immortality really brings.]

[Perhaps we should reevaluate Earth’s culture. That 10% figure really is an insult to them.]

[Agreed!]

[+1!]

·

Bugar entered Revi Gatz’s office and found him sitting in the dark, absorbed in the *Journey to the West* animation.

“Sir, I just saw a communication request—it was from Earth,” Bugar announced with a bow.

“Oh, that.” Revi Gatz turned off the animation, switched on the lights, and smiled. “I saw it myself and answered it directly.”

“My apologies for not connecting you in time,” Bugar said, lowering his head.

“No matter. I just had an interesting conversation with Deputy Minister Cen,” Revi Gatz replied, unconcerned.

“An interesting conversation?” Bugar looked up.

“I don’t know how Earth learned of the emergency protocol, but they want my vote to ensure their proposal passes,” Revi Gatz said with amusement. “Bugar, do you know what the Earthlings are proposing?”

Bugar thought for a moment, uncertain. “It’s… something to do with the civilization recognition rate?”

Revi Gatz nodded approvingly. “Correct. They want a recalculation of the civilization recognition rate.”

“A recalculation?” Bugar’s face showed his astonishment. “Are the Earthlings… questioning the rules that have governed us for so many years?”

“Questioning? Isn’t it more like overturning?” Revi Gatz’s smile was full of intrigue. “I never expected Earthlings to come this far. They’ve truly surprised me.”

“So, you’ve agreed?” Bugar asked.

“If they had come to me before the Short-Life Disease patients’ holographic video was released, I might have hesitated. But now…” Revi Gatz’s smile deepened. “A battle with a foregone conclusion, and a chance to offer help when it’s needed most. It’s a bargain I can’t refuse.”