Jun Ya picked up the painting, her curiosity piqued as she examined it closely.
Even though this painting had been seen countless times, many experts in the field of art had studied it, and they could tell that it wasn't the work of a child's hand. The strokes appeared simple, but the brushwork was incredibly skillful, almost as if it had been hastily completed in a matter of minutes. Yet, beyond this observation, there was nothing more to discern.
The paper used was the kind commonly used in schools. Perhaps someone had taken the opportunity after a heated discussion in the office to make a few strokes, or maybe it was hastily drawn by someone who had taken the paper with them, leaving behind a few hints?
But this reasoning didn't make sense. At present, it seemed that this wasn't a significant matter. Any speculation could simply be conveyed to the management. Or perhaps leaving a note would be even better? No matter how she thought about it, the logic just didn't add up.
"If you can't make sense of something, it's best not to dwell on it," Jin Lao glanced at his daughter, his tone akin to 'a father knows best.' "Let others ponder over it. Right now, we have plenty of survival issues to address."
"Right," Jun Ya set down the painting. She didn't believe she possessed any special ability to uncover extraordinary clues within minutes. She just felt that it would be nice if she could personally go out and explore.
"Dad, you know, it would be great if we had a few more folks like that simple-minded Yunqi, flying around and exploring."
"Yes, indeed. Not just flying, but also the ability to control insects. Currently, he's the only one capable of that. I've even hinted to him before, if there's some secret technique, he shouldn't keep it to himself. Because sooner or later, someone else will discover it again, and by then, it won't be easy for him."
"With his character, he won't keep something like that to himself," Jun Ya quickly interjected.
"You seem quite anxious about it," Jin Lao glanced at his daughter, "If I didn't trust his character, would I have told everyone that he's my student after he returned? Is there any doubt about his character?"
"Well, of course not. Dad's judgment has always been spot-on," Jun Ya smiled.
"Is that so? Then what about my judgment when it comes to picking a son-in-law?" Jin Lao looked at Jun Ya with a half-smile that seemed to hold a hidden meaning.
This question caught Jun Ya off guard, sensing that there was more beneath the surface. Lately, her father hadn't been getting along well with Liu Xing, and she herself had noticed some behind-the-scenes actions from Liu Xing that seemed a bit underhanded. Though she lacked concrete evidence, she could still sense his attempts at forming alliances and factions, the way his expressions shifted differently during meetings.
At this point, her father probably wasn't keen on her marrying Liu Xing right away. Since arriving in this world, the scholars from the scientific group had discussed countless times when and how they would return. Although the discussions never led to concrete answers, most of them chose not to get married at this time. After all, the changing survival environment and the potential changes in their bodies made it an inopportune time for marriage.
With these factors in mind, her father's sudden question naturally held a different meaning.
"Dad, can I ask you a question?" When talking with her father, Jun Ya felt free to be open, so she asked directly.
"Sure, go ahead," Jin Lao looked up.
"Why don't you want me to marry Liu Xing right now?"
Jin Lao visibly paused. Jun Ya's question was both unexpected and comforting in its directness.
Between father and daughter, there should be no barriers. Jun Ya's direct question had caught Jin Lao off guard; he felt he might have been overthinking things earlier. He looked at his charming and lovely daughter, a touch of self-reproach in his eyes, and then a dazed expression as he pondered.
Her beautiful face remained untouched by makeup, and her whole being lacked any excess ornamentation. Wearing only a verdant dress, she exuded unparalleled elegance. Jin Lao nodded approvingly to himself – indeed, he had a daughter!
Seeing Jin Lao's appreciative expression that resembled an elder admiring a younger one, Jun Ya naturally understood what was on this old man's mind. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she raised her voice with a hint of coquettishness.
"Dad, I asked you a question. You better be honest today. What medicine are you selling in your gourd?"
"Honest confession? Alright then, Dad will definitely confess honestly."
"Dad—" Jun Ya walked over and grabbed Jin Lao's arm, "Aren't you afraid I'll run away from home for love? If you don't talk, I might really run away!"
"Hahaha, okay, okay, I'll talk, I'll talk!"
Jin Lao lifted his cup with his other hand and took a sip of water. Jun Ya immediately went to fetch the water jug and refilled his cup.
Down at the foot of the cliff, a detachment of about dozens of sharpshooters had just returned to the base for rest and recuperation.
One of the officers handed over a neatly folded piece of paper to the personnel at the base's reception area.
"This is a letter delivered by Comrade Xiao Guang for Senior Jin. Please pass it on to him."
"Alright, we'll deliver it right away. You've worked hard. Rest up quickly, hot meals are ready in the barracks."
The officer saluted with a snap and led the team away to rest. Patrolling outside was a tough and hazardous job; often, they would be gone for half a month before returning.
The letter courier jogged all the way, catching up with the cable car at the aerial platform. Along with a few others, he took the lift up to the administrative center.
The cable car carried four or five individuals, including two young girls. One of them seemed more lively. She was the younger sister of Xu De Kai, whom Xiao Guang had rescued. Her name was Zhenzi.
With sharp eyes, Zhenzi glanced at the sealed letter. It was addressed to Senior Jin, and the signature was from a student with the initials "✘✘." Though the name was partially obscured, she could still guess it. Did Senior Jin's disciple need to send a letter? Wasn't that Xiao Guang?
That big boy?
Images of that day flashed through Zhenzi's mind – his unfailing sincerity and courage. She hadn't seen him in a long time. The most recent encounter had been nearly half a year ago; he had come and gone in a hurry. By the time she had finished her tasks and hurried over, she had only managed to catch a glimpse of him in the crowd before he disappeared.
After that, she hadn't seen him at all. But she had heard stories about how he had saved many people since then. Like the protagonist of a fairy tale, he always seemed to be in danger but managed to turn the situation around. He would bring the rescued back home.
From the accounts of those who had been saved, most of whom were girls, she had gathered that he had a deep and resonant voice, gentle and carrying a perpetual sense of melancholy. He was tenacious and genuine in his demeanor, behaving naturally without pretense. But hearing these descriptions, it hardly sounded like the Xiao Guang she had known. Could it be real? Had he changed this much, turned into such a charismatic figure? Or had he become a legend spun by infatuated young girls, growing more exaggerated as it spread?
Whatever Zhenzi's thoughts were, back in the room, Jin Lao and Jun Ya had been chatting for quite some time, engaging in a remarkably open exchange of their respective viewpoints.
At the beginning, Jun Ya shared her perspective, leading to a back-and-forth discussion with her father. Gradually, the conversation shifted as Jin Lao began to speak, and Jun Ya nodded frequently. It seemed that Jin Lao's reasons had taken the forefront, not necessarily persuading Jun Ya entirely, but prompting her to reflect.
"How can you distinguish between a soldier and an ordinary person?" Jin Lao asked Jun Ya.
"Aura. Just spend a year on the frontline as a soldier, and you'll develop that unique masculine charm!" Jun Ya used straightforward language in front of her father.
"Yes, the charm of a resilient man," Jin Lao smiled. "Just like our sharpshooters. Young recruits who join become different men in less than a year."
"Then what's Xiao Guang doing out there every day?" Jin Lao asked Jun Ya.
"Him?" Jun Ya began to answer but then fell silent.
"Facing unknown dangers every day, wandering alone on the line between life and death," Jin Lao answered on Jun Ya's behalf.
"Dad, I understand Xiao Guang's feelings for me," Jun Ya bit her lip and said, "It's just that, initially, I didn't feel the same way about him. Now, I'm officially with Liu Xing... he proposed marriage, which is reasonable. What should I do?"
"Foolish child, Dad doesn't blame you. No one blames you," Jin Lao smiled. "When neither man nor woman is married, follow your heart."
"Listen to me, perhaps Xiao Guang initially had feelings for you because he liked you. But he knew his inadequacies back then. Although everyone is equal, he, in those days, wasn't particularly outstanding except in his character. After he learned about Liu Xing, he felt inferior. If he followed you to the base, it would only have been awkward. That's why he chose to stay on the other side. As for his decision to embark on the path of rescue, it's entirely due to his exceptional character."
"But now, the circumstances are entirely different. He's survived life-and-death rescues, witnessed the emotions of reunions, and has become more mature. I believe that in his heart, you're now like the girl he secretly admired in his naive years—a distant dream and the most beautiful memory. He hasn't come to confess his feelings to you now, not because there's something wrong with you or because he's had a change of heart. It's because he has grown more responsible and has grander ambitions."
"Perhaps even he himself doesn't realize how attractive a man devoted to his goals can be. Moreover, he's devoted his life to a noble cause. I haven't seen him for over a year, but I'm certain his transformation has been revolutionary."
"Whether it's the people he's rescued or those who are grateful to him, or even those waiting for him to find their loved ones, they all regard him as someone they can rely on."
"Wherever he goes, he meticulously records terrain details, collects various samples, and creates maps. Over half of our detailed geographical maps are generated from his raw data. While the sharpshooters are fearless, human limitations remain. We can't compare to Xiao Guang, who can fly."
"I believe that even the exploration of the forest on the cliff in the future will be led by Xiao Guang. There was debate about this because the scientific group predicts a high possibility of metal ore fields within the forest on the cliff. The administrative department hopes Xiao Guang can explore it. Liu Xing is particularly supportive of this since they believe only through exploring and extracting metal ore fields can technology advance further."
"Lastly, as you know, the exploration plan has been temporarily shelved for external reasons, with the official explanation being continued search for known forests. In reality, you and I both know that Xiao Guang never really paid any attention to the administrative department of the base. He firmly believes that searching for survivors is more important."
"Long ago, Dad discussed with you that in a sealed environment, the existing order and hierarchy would be broken. In the current circumstances, if we can't return to our original world, then a large number of elite professionals' skills will become obsolete. If civilization and technology don't develop as they did in our original world, or if it will take many years for them to reach the level of our original world, then what role do contemporary elites play?"
"Perhaps they won't even be needed to teach children. The best outcome would be to compile their knowledge into books, waiting for the day when civilization advances to that stage for reference." Jun Ya continued.
Jin Lao nodded. "Yes, that's why many people in the various industrial and production departments are in a hurry. Those possessing survival skills and practical knowledge have truly become leaders, while a large number of administrative personnel have become decoration and burdens. They're unwilling to set aside their pride and engage in practical work."
"If this continues, it will inevitably lead to discontent and controversy. The practices and statements of the administrative department can only uphold the official facade, but this can't fool everyone. In fact, everyone is well aware; everyone is intelligent. So, even though Xiao Guang has never come to the base, he holds significant weight in everyone's hearts. He might not even know it, but on this island, he has truly become the Crownless King."