She went from not caring, to caring.

In the beginning, Wen Yuncheng truly had no ambitions. She hadn’t even thought about reaching the max level. Being able to attend school, having the strength to protect herself, earning enough points to buy delicious food, and having her basic needs met—that was enough to satisfy her.

The face-slapping missions issued by 1947 made her pay attention to Lin Jinyu, and then she found herself drawn to her. Wen Yuncheng had never imagined she would fall for a girl; she had never even been in a relationship before. For a slacker like her, seriously falling for someone was too difficult and tiring… but she fell for her anyway.

As for being a Long Aotian? The Child of the Plane? Wen Yuncheng didn’t know what that timeline would have been like. If she hadn’t become a waste, perhaps she would have had a smooth journey, showered with praise and opportunities. And would she have been the one to propose breaking the engagement? After all… she probably wouldn’t have been willing to deceive the young girl.

But if that had been the case, she might never have gotten together with Lin Jinyu.

What was the point of hypothesizing about all this? It was too tiring.

“…I’m always making you cry. It seems I really am terrible.” Wen Yuncheng sighed. The moment she said this, Lin Jinyu shook her head repeatedly, all traces of the Little Ice Mountain gone. Seeing Lin Jinyu’s cheeks flush red, Wen Yuncheng took out a handkerchief to wipe her face. “Alright now, my Little Ice Mountain has turned into a little tear-streaked kitten.”

“How could you say that…”

“I’m not good, I’m bad,” Wen Yuncheng said softly. But as soon as she did, Lin Jinyu’s tears started flowing again. At that moment, Wen Yuncheng suddenly felt like she was seeing the childhood version of Lin Jinyu, as if… the protective shell Lin Jinyu had built around herself had been completely shattered by her, with no time to rebuild. She wasn’t the young sect master of the Flowing Cloud Sect, not the Little Ice Mountain, not the strong and proud Lin Jinyu… This was the side of Lin Jinyu that she kept hidden.

Soft, and adorable. So adorable that even though Wen Yuncheng’s own eyes were moist, she couldn’t help but want to smile and continue teasing her.

“Think about it, isn’t it great that you’ve become the Child of the Plane? The star that belongs to you will surely be the brightest in the entire continent. I’ll be able to see it just by looking up. And I can look at it for a lifetime.” Wen Yuncheng coaxed in a low voice, pulling the sobbing Lin Jinyu into her arms and comforting her gently. “My wife is the Child of the Plane, so I can bask in your glory too, can’t I? And you won’t bully me, right?”

“…Mhm.”

That thick, nasal sound made the corners of Wen Yuncheng’s mouth curl up again. She thought that sometimes, Lin Jinyu was just… so soft it made one want to bully her mischievously. Yet it also made it impossible for anyone to truly be cruel to her.

“Jinyu~” Wen Yuncheng sighed. All her hard work, her departure from her easy-going and easily satisfied nature, was all because of Lin Jinyu’s existence. From being pushed and tempted by 1947 to genuinely wanting to become stronger from the bottom of her heart… Why should Lin Jinyu feel sorry for her? If anyone should be apologizing, it shouldn’t be Lin Jinyu.

[…I’m sorry.]

Wen Yuncheng paused for a moment, then chuckled. Well, it’s okay?

[QvQ]

This was probably a truly special day. 1947 felt it would never forget this for its entire system life.

It took Lin Jinyu a while to recover, but once she did, she became shy again. It was only when Wen Yuncheng pretended to be aggrieved and tearfully complained, “Do you not want to see me anymore?” that Lin Jinyu didn’t leave her to be alone.

With everything about 1947 and the Plane Consciousness out in the open, there were no more secrets between Wen Yuncheng and Lin Jinyu. Wen Yuncheng was so honest that she even told Lin Jinyu about how she died in her past life by dropping her phone on her head… Although Lin Jinyu couldn’t quite imagine what a “phone” was, hearing that Wen Yuncheng had accidentally killed herself because she was too sleepy—well, well… it was best not to comment.

After understanding why the Baby Voice was so eager for her to grow stronger, Lin Jinyu became even more serious. Shouldering the responsibility for an entire plane? It might be difficult, but she was willing to try.

For the time being, there was no new movement from the Huanling Continent, so Wen Yuncheng and Lin Jinyu continued to temporarily “relax” in the Imperial Capital. Wen Yuncheng carried on crafting machinery, while Lin Jinyu focused on her cultivation. After connecting with the Plane Consciousness, her link to the Stars became much easier, and her cultivation speed was much faster than before.

After about three more days, Wen Yuncheng and Lin Jinyu went to Star Academy together. They wanted to visit the Celestial Fox King, see Xiao Shi’er, and check on how their two teachers were doing.

The Celestial Fox King was actually very much looking forward to seeing his precious Xiao Shi’er. As his youngest and most talented daughter, the Celestial Fox King had always doted on Xiao Shi’er, making his other children a little jealous. However, Xiao Shi’er was endearingly simple-minded, and her other fox siblings were also privately fond of her.

After arriving at Star Academy, the Celestial Fox King thought of Xiao Shi’er day and night! The Empire was in such chaos, and that Wen Yuncheng girl had fearlessly gone and blown up a Huanling fortress. He was sure his cub must have suffered a lot while following Wen Yuncheng. He didn’t know how thin she would have become; maybe she was just skin and bones. Her fur was probably no longer glossy, and its color might have even faded from white to gray.

The Celestial Fox King was so heartbroken he couldn’t sleep at night. His other sons and daughters at the academy were also listless. Especially when they heard that Wen Yuncheng had blown up the fortress—many of the foxes were secretly wiping away tears.

Until the “Xiao Shi’er” they had been longing for arrived at Star Academy.

The scene was, for a moment, extremely awkward.

The Celestial Fox King had received news early on that Wen Yuncheng and the others had returned to the Imperial Capital. The Empire’s Protector Mo had told him to wait at the entrance of Star Academy. On the day he got the news, he waited eagerly at the gate until the afternoon for Xiao Shi’er to return. However, when Xiao Shi’er appeared before him, the tears that the Celestial Fox King and her siblings had been brewing were all held back. They couldn’t even believe their eyes. “Xiao… Shi’er?”

“Daddy! Daddy, I missed you so much, boohoohoo…” Xiao Shi’er was exceptionally emotional at that moment and pounced directly at him.

Her eleven older brothers and sisters were so scared their ears shot straight up, and the fur on their tails stood on end as they all backed away. The Celestial Fox King was better off; he didn’t retreat, but his hands were trembling.

Where was his Xiao Shi’er? His petite and adorable Xiao Shi’er? His poor daughter who should have been starved to skin and bones? This… this… could the Celestial Fox race get this fat? Was there any precedent for this? Foxes weren’t supposed to get fat! How was his Xiao Shi’er even chubbier than the last time he saw her!?

Xiao Shi’er whimpered and cried in the Celestial Fox King’s arms. The King mechanically stroked her fur, his expression somewhat stiff, which soon turned into gritted teeth. That Wen Yuncheng—is she raising a fox like a pig?

Soon, Xiao Shi’er realized she had cried too early.

Coming to cry to the old fox was the biggest regret of her life, bar none!

After comforting her, this old fox dragged her directly to Star Academy’s combat hall and had her eleven brothers and sisters take turns “sparring” and “exchanging pointers” with her. He didn’t even let her eat her fill for dinner, giving her only one chicken, and then he even forced her to cultivate at night!

“Absorbing Star Power at night means you don’t need to sleep at all. Xiao Shi’er, you’ve been lazy for too long. I’m doing this for your own good. In the future, you’ll understand your father’s bitter but well-intentioned efforts.” The Celestial Fox King put on a benevolent fatherly face and spoke these profound words to a sniffling Xiao Shi’er before unceremoniously dragging her into a cultivation room. He sat right beside her, not cultivating himself, but specifically watching his little cub to make sure she didn’t get distracted.

On the day Wen Yuncheng and Lin Jinyu came to visit, Xiao Shi’er had already been tormented to the point where she was visibly thinner by a circle—a small circle.

The Celestial Fox King received Wen Yuncheng and Lin Jinyu with great enthusiasm, holding Xiao Shi’er in his arms. He used his Star Power to suppress Xiao Shi’er, preventing her from speaking. She could only stare at Wen Yuncheng in her fox form with teary eyes, hoping Wen Yuncheng would understand her meaning—Save me!

Wen Yuncheng met Xiao Shi’er’s gaze and smiled with relief. “As expected, the Celestial Fox King understands Xiao Shi’er best. It’s only been a few days, and Xiao Shi’er already has more of the air of a Fox King!”

“Haha, she still has a long way to go.” The Celestial Fox King was quite pleased to hear this. On second thought, Wen Yuncheng didn’t know much about the Celestial Fox clan, so it was normal that she didn’t know how to raise one. Making her chubby… that also showed that Wen Yuncheng cared for Xiao Shi’er! She never mistreated her. Thinking this, the Celestial Fox King’s attitude toward Wen Yuncheng improved. He chatted cordially with the two juniors, offering some pointers on the use of Star Power, before seeing them off.

Xiao Shi’er’s tears soaked the fur on her face. She closed her eyes in grief. Wen Yuncheng, you traitor!

Whether it was getting fat or becoming a good-luck mascot, it was all Wen Yuncheng’s doing. But now, now Wen Yuncheng was pretending not to understand her pleading gaze, ignoring her suffering? And that detestable old fox, how could he abuse her like this? She used to be the apple of his eye, cherished and spoiled. Why, why had everything changed? Ah! A fox’s life is hard.

“Now, run thirty laps around the academy with me.” The Celestial Fox King pinched the scruff of the chubby fox in his arms. Seeing Xiao Shi’er’s listless appearance, he was a bit speechless and added, “You’ll get a chicken leg when you’re done.”

“No problem!”

Xiao Shi’er, as always, forgot grudges as soon as there was food.

Teacher Yan Ling had reached the first layer of Star Venerate.

Wen Yuncheng and Lin Jinyu had also come to offer their congratulations, though Lin Jinyu felt a little embarrassed when she saw Teacher Qiu. After all, a large part of the reason Teacher Yan had broken through and surpassed Qiu Fei was because of the Life Transformation Fruit.

Wen Yuncheng, however, didn’t overthink it at all. She squeezed Lin Jinyu’s fingers and smilingly bought a case of ice-cold beer from the system store. 1947 said it was brewed from the spirit wheat of some continent, but Wen Yuncheng didn’t drink. It was a gift she had specially prepared, remembering that both teachers seemed to enjoy alcohol.

“Teacher, congratulations on advancing to Star Venerate~ And congratulations to Teacher Qiu on reaching the third layer of Star King~”

“Thank you.” Yan Ling accepted the case of alcohol and placed it on the table, then thanked her earnestly. Without that Life Transformation Fruit, she wouldn’t have reached the Star Venerate realm so quickly. Even someone like Qiu Fei, who had been stimulated by her to cultivate desperately, was only at the third layer of Star King now. The help of external items… was sometimes truly immense.

Qiu Fei: My fists are clenched. So clenched.