In the faint hum of weak electrical machinery, the curtains of the fixed window slowly opened, allowing the clear starlight outside the spaceship to spill in. Xu Le, who was earnestly chewing on synthesized beef, raised his head in surprise and saw the watermelon-haired little girl peacefully gazing out the window, her lips curled into a slight smile, radiating an enviable innocence through her young features.
Xu Le realized that the girl's eyes weren't particularly big, but they were exceptionally bright. As she smiled with narrowed eyes, she looked incredibly adorable. This sight brought a smile to Xu Le's face, and he couldn't help but think that perhaps this warmth he had encountered before originated from those eyes. He followed the direction of her gaze out the window and, slowly putting down his chopsticks, let out a gentle sigh.
In the distance beyond the window was his hometown, Eastwood Star. He pondered over the fact that once he embarked on this journey, his status would change, and he wasn't sure if he would ever be able to return in his lifetime. No matter how optimistic he was, his mood couldn't help but be dampened. Trying to avoid burdening the little girl with his emotions, he forced a smile and pointed at the star, saying, "I never thought of seeing it from this angle. The pictures I saw in the school's picture album were perhaps more captivating than the actual view."
The peaceful stars floated in the vastness of outer space, and the blue seas and green wilderness were clearly visible. Even the prominent white mining tunnels on the spaceship could be seen, resembling old scars that told the star's long history. At the outermost edge of the star's atmosphere, there was a dusky hue emanating from the reddish dust, giving these sights a veil-like appearance. Observing this scene at this moment, Xu Le couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort.
"That's the initial heritage of star development," the watermelon-haired girl said, scratching her head adorably. She knew what Xu Le was referring to and naively explained, "In the three major federal galaxies, the star density is too high due to the near-collapse of silver nuclei. Although the creators arranged the three galaxies in a mysterious manner to prevent them from being torn apart by gravitational forces, light pollution remains a serious issue. Especially with Eastwood Star being so close, without this red soil particle belt camouflaging the beams, it would be very difficult for humans to survive there."
"Elder Brother, although this dust is ugly, it's actually very useful," the little girl looked at Xu Le and nodded earnestly.
"Are you saying that this dust was man-made?" Xu Le asked in surprise.
"Yes, historically, there was probably a massive group explosion, and it precisely passed through five groups of people to achieve the desired effect," the girl explained matter-of-factly.
Xu Le was stunned for a long time. It wasn't until now that he understood why the sky in Bell Tower Street, the mining tunnels, and the natural reserves of the green wilderness were always dimly lit, even during the day. It was all due to this dust blocking out the light. Reflecting on the efforts made by humans tens of thousands of years ago when they first arrived in Eastwood from the central zone of the federation, struggling to develop the desolate star, he couldn't help but feel a deep respect for those ancient pioneers.
He watched as the girl with watermelon-like curls shook her head and smiled wryly. He realized that another reason for his surprise was that this six-year-old girl seemed to know so much more than him. While he hadn't completed his compulsory education, he couldn't help but feel a sense of embarrassment.
The little girl took the paper that Xu Le handed to her and wiped her mouth. Sensing Xu Le's discomfort, she sweetly smiled and said, "These things are not in the history textbooks, but my father told me about them. Our ancestors were among the first settlers in Eastwood, and to honor their achievements, I've been learning about these things since I was young."
Upon hearing her explanation, Xu Le's mood improved slightly. However, he noticed another peculiar detail—despite being descendants of the ancient Eastwood settlers, why was the little girl's family now living in Westwood? Yet, this wasn't a matter he needed to ponder at the moment, so he didn't delve into it.
"As we leave the atmosphere, we'll see how bright the starlight is in the vast universe," Xu Le said, lowering his head. He thought about how his previous life goal of becoming an auxiliary officer on a federal battleship had now become uncertain. Staying on a battleship day after day, he feared that he would become like a stray cat in a mining tunnel, frozen in place when exposed to such bright light.
"Elder Brother Xu Le, what happens to stray cats?" the girl asked.
"Stray cats in the mining tunnels, when they're illuminated by a headlamp, they become stunned and stand motionless on the track. It's probably because they've never seen such bright light before," Xu Le explained, but another voice echoed in his heart—one that reminded him that a new life awaited him. Even if he didn't seek revenge for his boss or try to rectify the injustice he had suffered at the hands of the federation, he couldn't possibly work himself to death for them.
...
...
At 6 a.m. local time the next day, Xu Le, lying on the floor in a pile of clothes, was awakened by a loud rumble. He lifted a corner of the curtain and looked out, realizing that Eastwood Star, enveloped in historical dust, was gradually moving farther away from him. Mixed emotions welled up within him, and he couldn't find the right words to describe this feeling.
A month ago, he was just an orphan living a safe life on the ground of Eastwood. His life goal was to take the exam to become a Ministry of Defense machine repair officer and join the army or pursue further studies in the Capital Star Circle, eventually securing a respectable position in a large company. Back then, he had only ridden in electric cars, never even been on an airplane, and aside from the 17 blocks of the capital city of Hexi Province, he hadn't been to any other place—typical of a country bumpkin. However, a month later, he left Hexi Province, flew on an airplane, and traveled to the remote Jizhou through the federal's finest commercial spaceship, venturing into the vastness of outer space, on his way to the even more remote Capital Star Circle.
Encounters in life were always strange and dazzling, leaving one unsure of what lay ahead. Xu Le, feeling somewhat frustrated, ran his hand through his slightly disheveled hair. He then noticed the little girl who had fallen asleep on the bed and his heart tightened. Dealing with the issue of her presence was still awaiting his attention, but he believed that the little girl hadn't lied to him. However, he couldn't understand why these strange occurrences seemed to keep happening to him.
He didn't view the little girl as a nuisance or burden, as that wasn't his nature. Whenever someone in genuine need required his help, he was always willing to lend his full strength. Besides, this pitiful child was no exception.
Within half an hour, the rumbling ceased, and after a long period of silence that left people on edge, the ancient Zhonghao commercial spaceship departed from Eastwood Star. Quietly and forlornly, it set off into the depths of the universe like a drifting bottle. Its speed increased, but the passengers on the ship didn't notice, as the concept of speed had lost its meaning in the vastness of space. Only that sense of bewilderment remained, shrouding the giant alloy spaceship.
In the following days, Xu Le maintained a low profile on the spaceship. Other than going to the cafeteria to get food, he had minimal contact with the other passengers and crew members. Few people took notice of this unremarkable figure, occupied as they were with their own duties. Despite keeping a low profile, Xu Le continued his search for the little girl's family or any leads. However, his efforts yielded no results, and after a few inquiries, he couldn't find any relevant information.
Xu Le had no choice. He hadn't actually opposed the little girl's desire, and in a way, he had grown accustomed to her presence in the room. Her presence made his escape journey less cold and lonely. Surprisingly, Xu Le discovered that this young girl had knowledge far beyond what a six-year-old would typically possess. It seemed that her family had provided her with an intellectually stimulating environment, nurturing her with knowledge from a young age. Despite spending years in the university library without attending school, Xu Le's breadth of knowledge and profound understanding still didn't compare to the unexpected surprises this little girl brought him.
Through conversation, games, and shared moments, people grow closer, fostering trust. During the endless journey through space, there wasn't much time needed for Xu Le and the young girl to establish a bond of trust. Their mutual reliance on each other accelerated the process.
"Small watermelon, do you remember where you crawled out from the room?" Xu Le asked, hoping to gather information. He didn't have high expectations since the ancient Zhonghao spaceship was vast, and it seemed unlikely that a six-year-old girl would remember the exact location.
To his surprise, the girl blinked and then raised her finger, pointing at the ceiling of the room. Xu Le stood there, stunned, for a long time before reacting. In the past few days, his inquiries had given him some insight into the ancient Zhonghao spaceship. The residential area was divided into two sections, and the upper level was inhabited by staff members, including those mysterious figures no one ever saw... the high-ranking individuals.
"Are you sure?" Xu Le asked, looking into her eyes.
The girl nodded, her voice fluttering as she said, "But I don't want to go back."
"Tell me where it is, and I'll find out."
With her head bowed, clutching her doll, the girl whispered, "Elder Brother Xu Le, I only dare to go to places that you take me to crawl."
...
...
Covered in dust, Xu Le stared dumbfoundedly as he pulled the small girl along. He couldn't understand how this little child could navigate the complex atmosphere control system pipelines of the spaceship and lead them directly to an unfamiliar place. He dusted himself off and carefully pushed open the heavy cabin door, revealing an army-green canvas underneath. Xu Le curiously lifted the canvas and discovered an old, tattered mechanical arm. It seemed like it had been left there for many years, covered in the dust of history.