Chapter 20: Central Star System Governor

Central Star System · Governor’s Residence.

Today was February 6, 5208, Earth time, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. Youjian Entertainment’s special variety show, “Spring Festival with Earthlings,” had entered its fourth day. The current broadcast was a special episode—The Yu Family’s New Year Concert.

Every Spring Festival, the Yu family held a New Year concert, with the focus each year determined by the preferences of the younger generation.

Now that Yu Huaiyin was the Yu family’s future heir, the concerts in recent years had leaned toward pop music. With S-77 joining in, the style had subtly shifted as well.

This was the first time the Yu family’s New Year concert was broadcast live to the Interstellar Federation, and it allowed alien audiences to experience the charm of Earth’s music for the first time.

Yuelü watched in immersive mode, a smile on her face as she looked at Yu Huaiyin and S-77 performing on stage, her heart brimming with contentment and happiness.

Of course, she knew the so-called Yu7 CP was something Earth’s side had deliberately created, but the fact that the parties involved were happy to play along only made it more delightful to follow.

One had to admit, Earthlings truly had a masterful grasp of human nature.

Yuelü listened to the entire concert, her smile never fading.

Because the concert had been in do-not-disturb mode, her terminal switched back to normal mode and reminded her that her home quantum compilation terminal had received something—the sender was Wordweaver Star Anchor.

·

Yuelü signaled the smart butler to bring the item over. Seeing the exquisitely packaged transmission box, her anticipation for the gift grew even higher.

“Looks like they’re having a great time on Earth—sending something over every day.” Yuelü unwrapped the package and saw a small card box marked with Youjian Entertainment’s logo.

She’d seen these card boxes at Wordweaver Star Anchor’s home, filled with many cards of Cheng Wangshu, but why would Wordweaver send her cards?

Opening the box, even Yuelü let out a small gasp.

Inside were all Yu Huaiyin and S-77 duo cards, each one autographed.

“As expected of my old friend—what a wonderful surprise.” Yuelü carefully picked up the cards and had the smart butler coat them with a protective film.

The transmission box was quite large, so there was more inside than just the cards. Yuelü took out a transparent box with a note from the Minister:

“Prize from the neighborhood fair’s riddle contest.”

Yuelü gazed in wonder at the item in the box—a revolving lantern, painted with the silhouettes of ancient Chinese women dancing.

Following the instructions, Yuelü lit the candle, and the silhouettes began to move, casting shadows on the lantern’s shade, as if real beauties were dancing inside.

Yuelü watched the lantern spin round and round, her smile tinged with a faint sadness.

If she were still alive, she would surely love these things just as much as I do.

·

On February 9, 5208, as the seventh day of the Lunar New Year arrived, the grand celebration of “Spring Festival with Earthlings” came to a perfect close.

While the alien public was still immersed in the lingering joy of Earth’s Lunar New Year, on Earth itself, another grand event was quietly beginning.

·

Earth · Huaxia Esports Training Base.

As soon as Zhou Tong logged into the game, he couldn’t wait to share the latest news he’d heard with his teammates.

“I heard those alien teams are about to arrive on Earth. The PR department has already gone to meet them. They’re so eager—coming right after the Lantern Festival.”

“Oh, they’re arriving pretty fast,” Gao Tiankai said, eyes never leaving the screen.

“Hey, should we go greet them?” Zhou Tong, sitting to Gao Tiankai’s right, pressed the power button on his computer.

“Federation Showdown” faithfully recreated the keyboard-and-mouse era, with every detail meticulously reproduced—even the simulated computer boot time was carefully designed.

“No way. They’d never let us show up for something like that.” The teammate on Zhou Tong’s right, Yuan Ziyi, was staring at a gray screen, flexing his fingers as he spoke casually.

“I am a bit curious… Oh well, we’ll see them eventually.” Yan Zhen started another match.

“Zhou Tong, just focus on training. This isn’t something you need to worry about.” He Zhen, seated to Gao Tiankai’s left, turned to the person on his left. “Right, Captain Yun?”

Only then did the person addressed turn around. Her expression was calm, betraying no emotion.

This was the captain of the Huaxia Esports Team—the nineteen-year-old genius girl, Gu Qingyun.

“Focus on training. Our allied team sent over their practice footage yesterday—their progress is nothing short of miraculous. If we lose because we underestimated them, we’ll never live it down in this circle.” Gu Qingyun tapped the table. “In three hours, we’ll review in the data room.”

“Yes.”

·

After training, the team exited the game and were about to head to the data room when the assistant coach hurriedly stopped them.

“Captain Yun, please keep Saturday open. Some members of the alien teams will be coming to visit.”

Gu Qingyun frowned slightly. “Our training schedule is already tight. Why are we expected to host visitors? I’ve already arranged scrims with other clubs that day.”

The assistant coach looked helpless. “Captain Yun, this was arranged by higher-ups. Could you maybe reschedule?”

“No.” Gu Qingyun was firm. “We’re under no obligation to host tours.” With that, she turned and left, the rest of the team following without hesitation.

The assistant coach tried to stop them, but while he hesitated, the team had already entered the data room and locked the door behind them.

Left out in the cold, the assistant coach had no choice but to leave.

Inside the data room, Gu Qingyun contacted the head coach, briefly explaining what had just happened. “Coach, what’s going on? Why was this arranged?”

On the other end of the virtual call, the head coach exploded. “That bastard! Just got promoted to assistant coach and already pulling this crap! Don’t worry, I’ll fire him today! Who do they think they are, trying to sneak people in here—just wait till I give them a piece of my mind!”

“Good luck, Coach. I’m hanging up now.” Gu Qingyun ended the call, glanced at her snickering teammates, and cleared her throat. “All right, let’s start our review.”

·

Xiao He’s terminal received a text message. After reading it, his expression changed. He went to Cen Lan’s office and knocked three times.

With permission, he entered. “Deputy Minister, I just got word that someone at the esports base arranged a tour, but Captain Gu Qingyun of the esports team refused.”

Cen Lan paused her writing. “Details.”

“For the Federation Cup, the base selected several new assistant coaches. One of them, for reasons unknown, decided on his own to have the newly arrived alien teams tour the base and asked the esports team to keep Saturday open. Captain Gu Qingyun pushed back.”

Cen Lan’s expression darkened. “Did this tour go through proper channels?”

“No. It seems the assistant coach wanted Captain Gu to agree first, then process the paperwork.”

“Quite the schemer—trying to get Captain Gu to endorse him.” Cen Lan’s calm tone carried a hint of anger. “Does Minister Li know?”

“He should. I heard he stormed out of his office.”

At this, Cen Lan’s tense posture relaxed a bit. “Since the Minister is involved, we just need to wait for the outcome.”

“This concerns our civilization’s approval rating. The Minister will probably give Minister Zhang a serious scolding,” Xiao He guessed.

“Don’t gossip about the leadership behind their backs,” Cen Lan said, then laughed herself.

·

The next day, when Gu Qingyun arrived at the training base, she found all the assistant coaches had been replaced with new faces.

When they saw Gu Qingyun, they spoke to her cautiously, afraid of stepping on the captain’s toes.

Gu Qingyun paid them little attention. After a simple greeting, she went straight into the holographic game pod.

After ten minutes of repeated training, the others gradually joined the game.

“Captain, they really replaced everyone,” Zhou Tong marveled. “Never seen them act so fast.”

“Isn’t efficiency a good thing?” Yuan Ziyi’s first move after booting up was a round of finger exercises. “I was sick of those guys—always using us for favors.”

“Same here. Ten autographs today, ten group photos tomorrow. We’ve complained to the higher-ups so many times, but they just played dead.” Yan Zhen pressed the power button.

He Zheng sneered, “If they hadn’t overstepped this time and interfered with our training, they’d probably still be here.”

Gao Tiankai put on his headphones. “If it were any other tournament, people would just turn a blind eye. Too bad… they didn’t get it.”

Gu Qingyun exited the game and happened to run into the head coach coming into the training room.

“Everyone’s been replaced. Feels better, doesn’t it?” the head coach asked with a grin.

“Coach, can we use this opportunity to take back the right to select our own staff?” Gu Qingyun asked, her tone light but the question pointed.

The head coach was almost caught off guard, stumbling over his words.

“Select staff? What kind of staff?”

“Assistant coaches, data analysts, psychologists… all the positions closely tied to us. I don’t want people holding us back. Since the assistant coaches were replaced, everyone’s mood has improved.”

The head coach’s expression grew serious. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I understand what you mean. All right, I’ll do my best.”

“Good luck, Coach.” Gu Qingyun offered a flat word of encouragement, then dove back into the game.