In the center of the station, a train emerged from the central tunnel and soared into the sky in the blink of an eye.
Accompanied by the rumbling sound of its passage, Xie Jianxun finished touring the campus and returned to the station.
He lowered his head and messaged Gu Xuning on his Light Brain: “Mr. Gu, I have something I might need to trouble you with.”
The reply came instantly: “It might take a little while. I’m in class right now and will ask the professor for leave to come out.”
Xie Jianxun: “……No, no need. We can just talk over Light Brain.”
He clutched his Light Brain and paced back and forth a couple of steps, carefully selecting more polite wording.
“I have a rather difficult mechanical project here and would like to ask Mr. Idis to take it on. Could you check if Mr. Idis has any availability?”
After typing it out, Xie Jianxun breathed a sigh of relief. He read it over twice to ensure it was phrased correctly, then hit send.
This time, Gu Xuning was silent for a moment and didn’t reply right away.
Xie Jianxun’s heart suddenly leaped into his throat, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed the cold surface of his Light Brain.
Was he hesitating over something? Or was it just inconvenient to reply because of class?
After a while, the response finally came: “No problem. Wait a bit; I’ll go ask the professor.”
There was no further word for the next half hour.
But since he’d said that, it probably meant he could make it happen. With one matter settled, Xie Jianxun simply boarded the train back to the hotel first.
He sat in the carriage as the maglev train leaped along the elevated rail. Casually, he added: “No rush. I can wait for whenever Professor Idis has an opening.”
The next second, a new message arrived.
He opened it to find a voice message from the young man, likely sent during a break amid noisy background sounds.
Gu Xuning hurriedly explained: “It’s just that the professor hasn’t been feeling well lately. He even used an avatar to teach class today, so he might not take on your project.”
In the background, the faint voice of the curly-haired guy wailed.
“It’s not even as good as the professor teaching in person! How is there so much homework today? Aaaah, three full sets—this’ll take me hours! I get it; tonight’s an all-nighter!”
Xie Jianxun was a bit surprised. He recalled the brief glimpse he’d caught last time: Mr. Idis seated in a wheelchair, his posture dignified and relaxed, showing no signs of being gravely ill.
He latched onto one detail: “Mr. Idis was at school today?”
Gu Xuning: “Yes, the professor just finished class.”
Xie Jianxun froze, a sudden impulse rising to take the train back the other way and rush to the school to intercept Idis.
But the thought quickly dissipated because Gu Xuning casually added: “The professor left in a bit of a hurry today. His condition might not be great.”
A little claw scratched at Xie Jianxun’s heart, making it itch unbearably.
He held back and finally swallowed the utterly rude question of “What serious illness does Mr. Idis have?”
The train arrived at the station, and Xie Jianxun returned to the hotel.
Gu Xuning’s message arrived belatedly: “I asked the professor. He initially refused, but after I mentioned your name and description, he finally agreed. Just come back in half a month.”
Xie Jianxun was puzzled: “Half a month?”
What kind of timing was that?
Gu Xuning: “By then, the professor should have mostly recovered.”
Out of respect for his elders and teachers, Xie Jianxun typed earnestly: “I hope Mr. Idis recovers soon and takes good care of his health.”
He set down his Light Brain with a sigh.
Sure enough, the heavens were fair to all. A once-in-a-lifetime genius mechanic had suffered an accident that cost him both legs, and now he bore a serious illness requiring constant care. Few could endure such burdens.
His Light Brain lit up again. Thinking it was Gu Xuning with more to say, Xie Jianxun was surprised to see it was from Seles.
As expected of a director’s son from some major group—his connections were vast. In just a few hours, he’d thoroughly investigated Xun Jia’s philandering fiancé.
The man’s name was Emory, the third son of Mande Technology Company’s CEO. He’d moved to Silver Watchtower years ago, put down roots, and developed his trade there.
In the past two years, the unscrupulous Mr. Emory had dated five or six women, breaking up with them as quickly as drinking water.
More than one had shown up demanding answers after discovering he’d been two-timing… So the gate guards were all too familiar with shooing Xun Jia away, probably treating him as just another jilted lover.
But surprisingly, in the last half year, he hadn’t been juggling multiple partners.
That was, until half a month ago, when he’d officially announced his relationship with the eldest miss of Nevi Group on his personal Star Net account.
“Next next week is Miss Nevi’s birthday banquet. It’ll invite a bunch of Silver Watchtower’s upper crust, and he’ll be there too.”
Seles: “Jianxun, want to go with Xun Jia and crash the party? My family got an invite too. I can bring you both along.”
Xie Jianxun was a bit surprised: “You can bring two people at once?”
Seles: “My brother won’t mind me sneaking one in for him.”
Xie Jianxun chuckled and sent an emoji: “No word from Xun Jia yet. This plan still needs his confirmation.”
It was indeed a great opportunity—to meet the scumbag openly, infiltrate his circle, and later tear off that thick-skinned mask of his.
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Xun Jia messaged.
No pleasantries, just a simple few words: “Jianxun, I’ve made up my mind.”
Followed by his current address.
Clearly, he’d steeled his resolve.
Xie Jianxun bolted upright from the bed, swiftly slipped on his shoes, ruffled his hair twice, and headed out.
Down in the hotel lobby, he ran straight into Seles.
The Little Adventurer squinted its eyes and greeted him loudly: “Good afternoon, Seles. I’m heading to Xun Jia’s. Coming along?”
Like a young fox on the cusp of adulthood, its eyes gleamed with excitement over the imminent goal, vibrant and full of life—even its fur strands caught the light.
Seles stared at him blankly, almost failing to process: “Oh god, Xunxun… no, Jianxun, you mean?”
Xie Jianxun said loudly: “Xun Jia says he’s ready!”
“……”
“……When did I say that? There’s a limit to how much you can twist my words!”
Xun Jia sat cross-legged on the bed, yielding the room’s only wooden chair to Xie Jianxun.
The teen’s face was expressionless: “I only said I can do this plan. That’s it.”
The cramped rental room still lingered with the scent of roasting spices that hadn’t fully dissipated.
Seles leaned against the wall by the door, tapping away on his Light Brain, not idle either.
Xie Jianxun obediently sat in the chair, sniffed around the room, and asked puzzledly: “Xun Jia, you ate yesterday’s barbecue all the way till now?”
Xun Jia started to deny it—barbecue made of gold? No way it lasted that long.
But then he realized the smell came from his unwashed night market server uniform, likely stained with corn juice, cumin, soy sauce, chili, and more. He went silent, not wanting his friends to know his predicament.
He mumbled: “Uh, yeah… I eat slow…”
Seeing Xie Jianxun sniffing about to turn toward the clothes rack, Xun Jia quickly changed the subject: “I think your idea is pretty good.”
Xie Jianxun turned his head back, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Besides, by then, even if we confront him face-to-face, I’ll have the confidence to demand why he… did what he did.” Xun Jia’s face dimmed briefly as some memory surfaced. “Though the plan sounds kinda unreliable.”
Xie Jianxun muttered: “It’s just an initial draft; it needs polishing.”
“Anyway, as long as you have your own ideas, that’s for the best.” He grinned. “We’re just support, helping you reach your goal.”
Xun Jia said impatiently: “I just want to see what kind of person he really is… But now there’s a problem.”
Xie Jianxun: “What?”
Xun Jia: “I’m dirt poor and clueless where to start… What do you think my first step should be?”
The boys paused for a moment, then both turned to Seles leaning against the door.
Seles’s tapping stopped. Suddenly, his tie felt suffocating.
He loosened it with a hand behind his neck, puzzled: “What’s up?”
Xie Jianxun: “Mr. Seles, you’re the one who knows Silver Watchtower best. Any insights on this?”
When he smiled like that, there was a sly glint to it.
But his voice was soft and sweet, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing pretending to be an innocent lamb.
When he’d first left home, the Little Adventurer had been somewhat timid, wary of the unfamiliar world.
Now it was growing bolder—or rather, it had always been gutsy deep down. Otherwise, it wouldn’t crave adventure.
Seles sighed and raised his hands in mock surrender: “Young masters, I’ll be your bodyguard and scout intel on Mr. Emory—but brainwork? That’s not my forte.”
Now both pairs of eyes turned to Xie Jianxun.
He pondered for a moment, then analyzed slowly: “First off, we can’t base it on thin air. A foundation in the clouds is the easiest to debunk.”
Xun Jia nodded vigorously: “You’re right.”
Xie Jianxun: “So the best way is to find a real big shot and impersonate him.”
Xun Jia kept nodding until that point, then his head slowed to a stop.
He said in shock: “That… that won’t get us exposed?!” It seemed even riskier than thin air!
Xie Jianxun shook his head: “Not in the short term. The Federation is huge, divided even into the Southeast Northwest Four Borders. How could Emory check intel that far away? Impossible!”
Seles mused: “You mean, disguise as a tycoon from a distant planet… or something more secretive and prestigious.”
Xun Jia wore a face full of “Are you serious? Don’t scam a country bumpkin like me” confusion.
He raised his hand: “What if that prestigious… uh, big shot suddenly shows up in Silver Watchtower? We’d bump into the real deal and blow our cover!”
Xie Jianxun: “Oh, right. Then what?”
Xun Jia: “……”
He roared: “How the hell should I know!!!”
Give me a solid plan!!!
Seles walked over and sat on the floor beside Xie Jianxun’s chair. His suit pants stretched taut, but he didn’t mind the dirt.
He offered: “Then pick a safe enough identity.”
Xun Jia: “But I’m from a backwater planet. How do I know which big shots definitely won’t come to Silver Watchtower… I don’t even know many big shots.”
Xie Jianxun: “I’ve met a few, but not many… Hmm, let me think.”
He sat in the chair, deep in thought for several minutes, then analyzed reliably: “First, Silver Watchtower is in Western Border territory, so we pick from another lord’s domain.”
Seles glanced at Xun Jia, then Xie Jianxun: “East Territory? You both have that typical East Territory look. Claiming to be from there would be believable.”
Xie Jianxun crossed his arms, mulling: “Second, it has to be a secretive identity—someone ordinary people never see.”
Xun Jia deadpanned: “True. If anyone could spot him on Star Net, I’d be busted on the spot.”
Xie Jianxun: “Finally, he has to be about your age.”
Xun Jia: “Damn right. Can’t pull out some old guy’s photo and claim it’s me!”
Xie Jianxun: “Let me think… anyone I’ve heard of before…”
He suddenly stopped.
The Little Adventurer froze, its eyes wide and round, making those golden pupils gleam even more translucently under the dim light.
As if mesmerized by its beautiful eyes, Seles and Xun Jia both leaned forward, drawn closer involuntarily.
Xie Jianxun said slowly: “I got it. There’s one absolutely safe identity that guarantees no slip-ups.”
Truly foolproof—nothing was safer than “it.”
Xun Jia’s heart pounded like he’d glimpsed dawn before sunrise: “What?”
“The East Border Lord’s youngest son.”
Himself.
