Chapter 5: Convince Me with Your Logic

“Finally finished writing all the lyrics…” Feng Jingyu tossed her pen aside, let herself fall backward onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as she let out a long sigh. “I feel completely drained…”

Her terminal chimed with a virtual call request. Feng Jingyu glanced at it and answered immediately.

Cen Lan’s holographic image appeared beside the bed. Seeing Feng Jingyu sprawled out in a giant “X” on the mattress, Cen Lan couldn’t help but laugh.

“What are you doing?”

“Just got exploited by the capitalist Yu Huaiyin,” Feng Jingyu replied weakly. “Cen Lan, how are things on your end?”

“We’ve finished negotiations with the Painted Realm Star System and are preparing to head to the next one,” Cen Lan said with a smile.

“Negotiations finished?” Feng Jingyu shot upright on the bed. “That’s an auspicious start!”

“Yes, but honestly, if it weren’t for you, it probably wouldn’t have gone so smoothly,” Cen Lan said, a note of emotion in her voice.

“Huh?” Confusion and bewilderment were written all over Feng Jingyu’s face.

“Qing Lan’s mother is the Governor of the Painted Realm Star System,” Cen Lan explained.

Realization dawned on Feng Jingyu. “No wonder—so Qing Lan’s a second-generation official.”

“And her mother introduced us to someone else. If all goes well, we might even secure a vote from the Zhao Xing Star System.”

“Zhao Xing Star System? What rank is that?” Feng Jingyu asked.

“Zhao Xing is ranked tenth among the star systems,” Cen Lan’s expression turned serious. “Jingyu, for the matter Zhao Xing has entrusted, you’re the only one who can handle it.”

·

ST 2029-042:070:396. The Decision Center welcomed its second guest of the year—S-77.

As he stepped off the ship, S-77 glanced one last time at his terminal, at Cen Lan’s reply.

[Emergency protocol. Recalculate recognition rate.]

He also recalled the Governor’s nearly blunt words before his departure.

“Governor Yuelü of the Central Star System seems interested in cooperating with Earth to build a large community for Short-Life Disease patients on Earth. She’s listed Earth as one of Central Star’s friendly partners… S-77, you’ve convinced me… But you’ll need to convince more than just me…”

Now, S-77 stood at a crossroads in his life. Whichever path he chose could determine the future of a people, or even an entire civilization.

With unwavering resolve, S-77 walked through the doors of the Decision Center. He would be the one to hold fate in his hands.

·

Arbiter A-892 waited for S-77 in his private quarters. When he saw his most favored successor appear before him, his gaze softened noticeably.

“Sit,” Arbiter A-892 said.

S-77 took his usual seat, waiting for Arbiter A-892 to speak.

“Do you know why I called you here?”

“I do,” S-77 replied.

“It seems you’re prepared.” Arbiter A-892 nodded in approval. “Then, S-77, my successor, persuade me with your logic.”

·

S-77 sat there, his gaze gradually lowering. After who knew how many units of synchronized perception, he finally spoke.

“On my way from the Third Star System, I kept thinking about what reason, or rather, what logic I could use to persuade you. When I entered here and saw you, that vague idea finally took shape. I want to use a phrase I learned during my years on Earth as the basis for my argument.” S-77 looked up, his gaze meeting Arbiter A-892’s. “That phrase is: ‘seeking common ground while reserving differences.’”

Seeking common ground while reserving differences? Arbiter A-892’s brows twitched, but he did not interrupt.

“The Interstellar Federation is made up of countless star systems, large and small, each with its own civilization, language, and appearance; this is ‘difference.’ But we all use a unified time, unified laws, unified names; this is ‘commonality.’ We respect and tolerate each other’s differences, while also seeking what we share.

Earth’s time is based on the rotation of their planet; it is the way they have existed since birth, the foundation of their survival. This time system determines their lifespan, shapes their view of the world, and defines their cosmic order. This is Earth’s ‘difference’ from the Federation.

The Federation’s ‘commonality’ with Earth lies in the rules we have chosen together, the order established for coexistence. Earth’s difference is not a choice, but the essence of their existence. Demanding that they abandon their essence to adapt to our rules is just as impossible as them asking us to give up our rules to accommodate their essence.

Their time determines their lifespan; their lifespan shapes their way of seeing the world. We cannot measure their lives by our own temporal yardstick, just as we cannot expect them to breathe to our rhythm. This is ‘incompatibility’—because our essences are different.

But we can use the same rules to protect each other’s existence. They use their efficiency to create things we never could; we use our stability to safeguard an order they may never live to see. This is ‘coexistence’—because our goals are the same.

I believe that the time of the Long-Lived and the time of the Short-Lived cannot be made compatible, but they can coexist.” S-77 looked straight at Arbiter A-892, his eyes swirling with countless emotions. “Arbiter A-892, that is my logic.”

·

Zhao Xing Star System · Capital Planet.

ST 2029-042:120:000. Lan Yang punctually opened her terminal and selected a virtual call request for a name in her contacts she did not yet know.

The other party answered quickly. The holographic projection showed the face of an Earth girl.

“Hello, Ms. Feng Jingyu. I am Lan Yang, head of Zhao Xing Company and developer of the ‘Suxin’ skincare line.”

“Hello, Ms. Lan Yang.” Feng Jingyu greeted her with a friendly smile. “I’ve heard the general outline of things, but I’d like to know your real expectations. That way, we can make this collaboration a success. Don’t you agree?”

Lan Yang nodded. “I’m glad we’re on the same page. To be honest, I chose you because I’ve seen the Earthlings’ pursuit of ultimate efficiency, and your own keen grasp of human nature. Having you promote my skincare line is partly to help the product quickly break into the market, and partly… it’s a promise I made to my father.”

“A promise?”

“My father didn’t want me to go into business, so I made a deal with him: if my ‘Suxin’ line succeeds, he’ll stop opposing me and let me do what I want.”

Feng Jingyu laughed brightly.

“I really like that reason. Ms. Lan Yang, I hope I can give wings to your dream.”

Lan Yang smiled as well.

“Then, let’s wish our collaboration every success, Ms. Feng Jingyu.”

·

After the call ended, Lan Yang flicked her tail—a long, blue fishtail traced an arc through the water.

The blue of her tail was like a wash of sky, and as Lan Yang swam and the light shifted, it looked like a drop of blue ink dissolving in water—so beautiful it seemed unreal.

Pity there was no one around to witness it. Lan Yang made her way to another room, where her good friend and business partner, Qin, was waiting.

“How did it go?” Qin asked, a little anxiously.

“Very well.” Lan Yang took Qin’s hand, unable to hide her joy.

“Really?!” Qin grew excited too. “That’s wonderful. By the way, did you send over the product quality report, user experience report, and ingredient analysis?”

“Don’t worry, I gave her all the materials.” Lan Yang patted Qin’s hand. “Let’s just wait for her response. Youjian Entertainment has never let anyone down in this field.”

“Yes, yes.” Qin calmed herself, then suddenly smiled again. “What should I do, Lan Yang? I can already picture the ‘Suxin’ series being a huge hit.”

“It’s all right. The moment the call ended, I was already imagining it,” Lan Yang replied, just as happy.

·

ST 2029-044:030:795. Lan Yang’s terminal received the promotional plan from Feng Jingyu.

Lan Yang hadn’t expected Youjian Entertainment to finish the plan so quickly. Even though she’d been prepared, she was still inevitably shocked when it arrived.

She hurried to find Qin so they could study the proposal together.

But after reading just the first two pages, both Lan Yang and Qin were left bewildered. It wasn’t until they finished the last page that they had even a vague idea of what it all meant.

“Lan Yang, this way of promoting is so unique—it’s never been done in the Federation. Didn’t Youjian Entertainment say they’d give us a detailed explanation? Should we get in touch?” Qin asked uncertainly.

Lan Yang pondered for a moment, then said to Qin, “I think I should go to Earth and meet Feng Jingyu in person, to talk face-to-face.”

“In person? That’s a good idea.” Qin thought for a moment and agreed. “But you’ll have to make the trip alone.”

“Mm, I’ll leave the company to you.” Lan Yang hugged Qin tightly. “I’ll bring back good news.”