"Have something to eat," Su Pei handed a piece of dried fish to Xiao Guang, who was lost in thought at the bow of the ship.
"Thank you!" Xiao Guang took the fish jerky that Su Pei offered.
He took a bite.
"Hmm?" The taste was pretty good. Xiao Guang looked at Su Pei with a smile.
"Of course," Su Pei proudly chuckled, "All we had left was fish jerky. How else could we have managed to get by this past year without making something tasty?"
"Oh, I feel so silly!" Xiao Guang slapped his forehead.
He had been on the brink of life and death the entire day and had forgotten about eating.
"Check these out. They might not be enough, but you can have a taste. We'll reach the land the day after tomorrow, and I'll get you fresh supplies then."
Xiao Guang took down a large bag of provisions hanging on Dou Dou's body.
"Wow, there's so much to eat! What is this? Is it the legendary base's biscuits?"
"What kind of fruit is this?"
"And there's fruit juice?"
"And this... it looks like egg crisps!"
"What kind of meat is this? I'm not eating rat meat, am I? You don't know either? Should I not eat it then? Let me try it, it's quite tasty!"
"What's this, and this?"
"Is it all for me?"
"Aren't you hungry? Can you just eat these little fish jerky?"
"Thank you!"
"Dad! Uncle Li! Xiao Guang has some delicious food here!"
"Little Huang, Old Li! Come over here quickly!"
Before Su Pei could enthusiastically call out, the nearby resting people had already learned from Xiao Su Pei's excited bounces and jumps. Their expressions were full of smiles.
"Did you ask Xiao Guang?" Old Su grinned.
"Of course, Xiao Guang said we'll have plenty to eat the day after tomorrow, so we'll have a taste today."
"Is that so? Then I won't stand on ceremony." Li Ji, who came from a military background, chuckled and was the most straightforward. He picked up a small piece of dried fruit.
Xiao Guang chewed on the fish jerky and nodded with a smile.
The "Little Huang" and "Old Li" Su Pei mentioned were two deputy commanders among them. They were standing nearby now, smiling and using their fingertips to pick up some food. There was also another deputy commander, Shi Xiao Fang, who was injured and in the cabin.
"Xiao Guang, can I take some for the wounded?" Su Pei held up a fruit juice.
"Of course, go ahead." Xiao Guang smiled while holding the fish jerky. "My negligence, I should have done this sooner!"
With a smile, Little Su Pei tried to pick up the big bag and leave, but she couldn't lift it.
Two young soldiers nearby immediately lifted it for her. They nodded at Li Ji and followed Su Pei into the cabin.
Xiao Guang glanced at Old Su, who smiled back. Li Ji and a few others sat down next to Xiao Guang.
"Ah, comfortable!" Old Su sighed in relief as he sat down.
"Hehehe," Xiao Guang knew Old Su's feelings. They had finally left Crab Island behind.
"We can finally return to the mainland." Li Ji sighed.
"There's a memorial monument at the base. The sacrifices of the warriors will be inscribed on it, never to be forgotten!"
"Tell me about the situation at the base." After a moment of silence, Old Su changed the subject and asked Xiao Guang.
With ample time and calm seas, the people who had been on the brink of life and death relaxed. Xiao Guang's voice wasn't loud or deep, but it had a magnetic tone that carried through the sea breeze and mist. On the tranquil sea surface, his voice traveled far, covering the entire small boat.
Xiao Guang elaborated on the base's reconstruction and the routines of their lives. The people on the boat admired Dean's sacrifice and felt relieved for their loved ones' reunions. At this moment, they awaited the same reunion with their families on the shores.
Old Su noticed Xiao Guang's concerns.
"What are you worried about?"
"There's something about the base that I've just received, and I haven't had time to deal with it. Could you analyze it for me?"
"Don't worry, there's no danger for the moment. Or rather, there's no immediate danger." After hearing Xiao Guang's account, Old Su comforted him.
Old Su continued, "We can't determine the exact situation, but we need to go to the base to find out. But rest assured, their safety isn't compromised."
Seeing Xiao Guang looking somewhat puzzled, Old Su continued, "In the absence of significant external disasters, the people at the base are free for a considerable period of time, and each person has their own freedom. They can choose their way of life freely, and even move to other bases. There's no need to worry about this."
"Old Jin is just being cautious. Society is changing, and her position is special. Her daughter's identity is also unique." Old Su glanced at Xiao Guang, who was looking at him silently, and decided to explain further, "In a closed environment, society is bound to undergo transformation. Once the old system is shattered, Jin Ya, that girl, will become like a princess from a bygone era—easily prone to trouble."
Seeing Xiao Guang's tension, Old Su continued.
"However, the quality of these people is quite high," Old Su pointed at the young people on the ship. "Reformation doesn't necessarily lead to bloodshed and violent conflicts, but political reform and involuntary events will inevitably be present."
"At that time, Old Jin and Jun Ya will undoubtedly be at the heart of the storm." Old Su naturally knew about the situation between Old Jin's daughter and Liu Xing. Even though they were focused on their research, some news would still reach them. Throughout history, political marriages were not uncommon, especially in such unique circumstances.
"Indeed, Old Jin has a long-term vision. If it were me, I'd probably be considering Pei's future too. While it's not deeply ingrained in people's hearts yet, she should delegate authority and step away from the center. As long as we, the first generation, are around, at least we can ensure the safety and well-being of the next generation."
"After we return to the base, remember not to be too anxious. You can discuss it with Old Jin and use scientific research or the pretext of creating an interesting environment to gently guide her into retirement. In fact, as long as Old Jin retires early, over time, Jun Ya will also have peace of mind."
"But, Old Jin, sigh, she must be holding onto certain principles that she's unwilling to let go of. Doing what's known to be impossible, going against the tide. Ah, the inevitable societal change, why cling to the maintenance of the original system?"
"The most important thing is that the base's construction is still ongoing. At this stage, the main tasks are all about building and searching. There won't be any major issues."
Old Su didn't say anything further, he waited for a while and then patted Xiao Guang's shoulder. "Get some rest soon. I'm an old fossil, and I can't stay up any longer. I need to sleep."
"Alright." Xiao Guang nodded with a smile. He had already analyzed some aspects on his own, but concern can easily lead to confusion. After talking with Old Su, although he still had some worries, they weren't as distressing as before.
Still, how is Jun Ya doing?
After Old Su and Li Ji left, Xiao Guang sat at the bow of the ship, hugging his knees, and gazed at the sea with a vacant expression.
"Do you like Sister Jun Ya, don't you?" Xiao Pei's voice sounded from behind.
Xiao Guang remained silent.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." Su Pei apologized. Seeing Xiao Guang not responding, Su Pei regretted her impulsive question.
The two of them remained silent for a while without speaking. Eventually, the young girl couldn't hold back and cautiously glanced at Xiao Guang beside her. He didn't seem angry, just lost in thought, staring into the distance.
"Um, I'm really curious. Because many people like Sister Jun Ya," the young girl said softly, "She's beautiful and talented. It'd be abnormal not to like her."
Seeing that Xiao Guang didn't reply, the young girl continued, "It's perfectly normal if you like her too."
"Mhm." Unexpectedly, Xiao Guang nodded.
The young girl gathered her courage further, "Brother Yun Qi, do you think Sister Jun Ya is exceptional, like a princess? Are you afraid you're not worthy?"
The words slipped out, and she immediately regretted it. It was too straightforward.
Seeing Xiao Guang remain silent once again, the young girl thought for a moment and then whispered, "It's perfectly normal. Many people worry that they're not worthy of her. After all, there aren't many boys as outstanding as her."
"I truly am not worthy of her," Xiao Guang said pensively.
The young girl, not expecting an answer, heard him reply and hurriedly said, "That's not true. You're amazing, you're a legend now. You're absolutely worthy."
"Moreover, you're not just a hero, you're also a genuinely good person, a good boy." The young girl added with certainty.
After speaking, she looked at Xiao Guang, who still remained silent.
After a long while, the quietly sitting young girl accompanied the speechless Xiao Guang at the bow of the ship, feeling somewhat lonely.
"I'm not a good person, and I don't even know if I should be one." After sitting for a while, Xiao Guang, who had been gazing at the distant sea, suddenly spoke up.
The young girl looked at Xiao Guang with surprise, not understanding why he would say that. However, Xiao Guang's slow narrative gradually pulled her into the story.
"A long time ago, I lived with my father, and I never met my mother."
"Later, as I grew up, I learned that my mother left my father, meaning they divorced. But that didn't make me sad, considering I'd grown up without a mother. My father had always treated me well, very well. He pampered me and always had time to play with me. Everyone said I had a great dad."
"One year, my homeroom teacher suddenly came into the classroom and said she wanted to take me somewhere."
"When I got there, it was the police station, and the person I was going to meet was my father. That's when I found out that my dad was a well-known habitual thief in town, a leader among thieves. For all these years, I had been raised with money he stole."
"I felt extremely embarrassed and angry. During his prison sentence, I even skipped classes, took a train to another city, and got involved in all sorts of shady activities, including theft. Finally, I got caught, arrested, and sent back to our town."
"I saw him in the detention center and looked down on him, hated him, ignored him. In the end, he swore that as long as I went back to studying, he'd completely change his ways, never stealing again."
"For the first time, I saw my dad cry. So I believed him. After that, I lived in a welfare institution, relying on their support while studying and waiting for his release from prison."
"Not long after his release, he told me he had found a job. He worked on the highway, driving trucks. Sometimes he'd be gone for days, only coming back occasionally. He told me to study hard when I was home alone."
"Although I believed him, I still went to the police station when he was away to ask the police officers. They knew me and told me it was true, my dad had truly changed."
"The years that followed were the happiest for me."
"My dad worked really hard. Sometimes he'd only come back once in half a month, but he'd call me every day."
"When he was back, I'd prepare a meal in advance and watch him eat and then sleep for a whole day. I thought, no matter how tough things got, as long as I could get into college, everything would be alright. I just had to endure it."
"One day, when I was in class, my homeroom teacher found me and said she wanted to take me somewhere."
"This time, it was the funeral home. I saw him covered in a white cloth. The truck had overturned on the highway. He died, and there was nothing left of his body."
"I used the compensation I received in exchange for his life, 300,000 yuan, to finish college."
"Until today, I'm still conflicted. I wonder if I should've pushed my dad to become a good person. If he had continued to be a thief leader and hadn't taken that job on the highway, would he still be with me?"
Su Pei really wanted to comfort the young man in front of her, to tell him that things weren't as he thought. But somehow, every word felt inadequate, so she could only remain silent and look at him.
"I once read a passage, 'The wind passes, aging a lifetime. People leave, sorrowing a lifetime. Tea cools, sighing a lifetime. Dreams awaken, perplexed a lifetime.'"
"You know, I'm well aware that she means no harm, she's innocent, she treats me as a friend. I should be content, so why can't I forget her?"
"I think this is probably true love." Su Pei sympathetically looked at him.
"Love? It's more like pitiable unrequited love," Xiao Guang chuckled softly.
"I can ride the gentle breeze and fly over the jungle, but there's the river of forgetfulness separating us. On the smooth branches polished by hands, I'm still the person who refuses to cross the Lethe River."
"She's the warmth in my life. Every smile, every glance, stirs my heart."
"In this life, perhaps we won't have the chance to be together again, but I'm still grateful to fate for allowing me to journey alongside her..."
Xiao Guang seemed to have aged decades, slowly standing up and walking alone, step by step.