In the study, Zhou Junguo cracked the door open slightly, quietly standing by the entrance to listen to the conversation happening downstairs in the living room.
Upon hearing Gao Jing mention she wanted to help Zhou Hanxiang recuperate, he quickly returned to his desk, grabbed the phone, and made a call.
"Hello, connect me with a nutritionist. I'd like them to prepare a recovery plan for me."
"Should we arrange for someone to visit in person?" A young woman's voice came through the receiver.
Zhou Junguo pondered for a moment. "No need. Schedule a video consultation instead. With the S2 Flu situation being so severe right now, it's better not to have people moving around unnecessarily."
"Understood."
Hanging up, Zhou Junguo frowned in thought when Gao Jing's voice suddenly sounded from the doorway.
"All arranged?"
Startled, Zhou Junguo composed himself with a stern expression. "What? Who cares about that money-losing girl? Can't I want to recuperate for my own poor health?"
Gao Jing chuckled lightly. "Fine then, take good care of your poor health."
"You—!" Zhou Junguo sputtered angrily. "I—"
"I'm going out to buy an old hen to make soup for Hanxiang."
With that, she turned and left.
Cut off mid-sentence, Zhou Junguo could only huff in frustration before calling after Gao Jing's retreating figure, "Don't forget your mask! Be careful!"
Over the following days, Zhou Hanxiang remained confined at home to rest. Her complexion gradually regained some color, though years of chronic exhaustion meant she still looked rather pale.
One day, Zhou Hanxiang knocked on the study door.
"Come in."
Zhou Junguo glanced up briefly before returning his attention to the report on his computer. "What is it?"
Hanxiang stood with her hands clasped in front of her, fingers fidgeting nervously as her gaze darted about. "Dad... I need some money."
Zhou Junguo's eyes snapped up from the screen to fix on her, brows furrowing. "What for? How much?"
Hanxiang's voice was barely audible. "10 billion."
His eyes bulged. "What? How much?"
Slightly louder this time: "10 billion US dollars."
A vein pulsed at Zhou Junguo's temple as he took several deep breaths. "Debts? Loan sharks? Are you being blackmailed? Who's the creditor? I'll go talk to them."
"No." Hanxiang shook her head meekly. "I just want to buy a spaceship."
Blinking in surprise, Zhou Junguo's expression turned puzzled. "Why would you want that?"
Suddenly his gaze sharpened, voice dropping dangerously low. "You've never been interested in such things growing up. Who's this for? The kind of people who like spaceships are usually men. A boyfriend?"
Through gritted teeth: "Or a husband? I never should have listened to your mother. Should have dragged you back home years ago."
Hanxiang stared blankly. "No, it's not like that."
"Still not telling the truth?" Zhou Junguo's tone was icy. "Too cowardly to show his face, so he sends you as his mouthpiece. And you're still with such a spineless man?"
Zhou Hanxiang was about to explain when the melodious ringtone of her phone sounded from her pocket. She pulled it out—Zhou Tianming.
She was about to hang up.
Seeing her expression shift, Zhou Junguo swiftly strode over and snatched the phone from her hand.
His eyes narrowed as he read the name. "Also surnamed Zhou? What an insult to the family name. Let's see what kind of trash this man's elders raised, daring to swindle money through women."
He answered the call, drawing a deep breath to speak, when suddenly a childish voice came through: "Mom? How are you doing in East Asia? Is your health better?"
Zhou Junguo's breath caught in his throat, his face flushing red as he glared at Zhou Hanxiang and thrust the phone back at her.
Taking the phone, Zhou Hanxiang's face lit up with a smile. "Tianming, Mom's fine. Have you been behaving?"
"O-of course! Early to bed, early to rise, keeping a regular schedule."
"Hmm?" Her tone lifted in skepticism.
"I've just been... absorbed in my studies..."
"Zhou Tianming, if you're breaking our agreement, you're coming back."
"Absolutely, absolutely." The call ended.
Zhou Junguo's expression was grave, his voice solemn. "What's going on? Adopted?"
She shook her head. "Tianming is my child."
His eyes widened in shock.
Crash!
The sound of a ceramic plate shattering came from the study doorway.
Both turned to see Gao Jing standing there, her eyes shining with excitement.
After closing the door for a private discussion, Zhou Junguo and Gao Jing were stunned to learn of Zhou Tianming's origins.
"Are you certain all the technology was destroyed?" Zhou Junguo asked seriously. "This couldn't be worse timing. In peacetime it might be manageable, but as things stand, PLANT and Earth are bound to clash eventually."
Zhou Hanxiang's voice was subdued. "Professor Keller thought the same, which is why..."
"I see." Zhou Junguo sighed, his tone tinged with admiration. "A remarkable man, but his methods were unacceptable. Too many innocents were dragged into this."
Gao Jing, however, was focused on an entirely different matter. She bombarded Zhou Hanxiang with questions about Zhou Tianming, even complaining about why he hadn't been brought home.
Zhou Hanxiang looked helpless. "Tianming has his own ideas. He doesn't want to join either side—he wants to buy a spaceship."
"Truly a child of our Zhou family!" Gao Jing praised.
But Zhou Junguo slammed his hand on the table. "Nonsense! What sensible ideas can a five-year-old have? 'Not joining either side'—he's East Asian by birth!"
He shot Zhou Hanxiang a glare. "And you! You're twenty-five years old—old enough to know better. Bring him home immediately."
Zhou Hanxiang's voice was firm. "I promised Tianming I wouldn't interfere with his decisions."
Furious, Zhou Junguo's eyebrows shot up as he roared, "Then stay out of it! I'll have someone bring him back. Leaving a five-year-old on the Junk Guild—look at what you've done!"
"No!"
The atmosphere grew tense until Gao Jing hastily intervened, easing the situation slightly.
Changing the subject, Gao Jing asked, "Who's Tianming's father? Does he know about Tianming?"
"He doesn't know. I..." Pausing, Zhou Hanxiang turned away sheepishly. "I knocked him out and collected the sample while he was unconscious."
Gao Jing was also at a loss for words. Seeing Zhou Junguo's expression darken again, she quickly intervened, "It's fine, it's fine. Who is it? We'll go apologize. After all, he's the child's father—how deep could the grudge be?"
Zhou Junguo opened his mouth to speak, but Gao Jing pinched his arm and glared at him, mouthing the words—Shut up!
"It's Liu Che..."
Gao Jing's face stiffened. "I remember you had a crush on someone with that name back in school. Was it that kid from the Liu family in the Political Department?"
Zhou Hanxiang nodded.
Zhou Junguo and Gao Jing exchanged glances. Zhou Junguo's tone turned serious. "Tianming's origins must never be exposed."
Zhou Hanxiang froze, her face full of confusion.
"The nature of this is different now," Zhou Junguo said bitterly. "Liu Che died in an accident a few years ago."
Zhou Hanxiang still didn't understand.
Gao Jing added, "He had just gotten married. The Wei family's child hadn't even conceived yet."
Silence.
"This isn't just about an illegitimate child anymore. If Tianming's origins are exposed, where would that leave the Wei family's dignity? And with no way to verify the truth, Liu Che would be posthumously labeled as someone with a chaotic personal life."
Zhou Junguo sighed. "The Liu family from the Political Department, the Wei family from the Military Department, and our Zhou family from the Civil Department. Wonderful—three of the six departments tangled up in this. East Asia must not be thrown into chaos because of our personal issues."
His tone brooked no argument. "Tianming's origins cannot be exposed. Bury this deep in your heart."
Zhou Hanxiang nodded. "I don't care. Liu Che is already a stranger to me. Tianming is what matters most."
With a sigh, Zhou Junguo shook his head helplessly. "In this situation, it really isn't suitable for him to stay in East Asia. But he still needs to come back and recognize this family."
Then he glared at Zhou Hanxiang. "You caused such a huge mess the moment you returned. Get out."
Zhou Hanxiang lowered her head sheepishly and hurried out, while Gao Jing pinched Zhou Junguo's arm again before chasing after her.
Plopping into his chair, Zhou Junguo's lips curled up. "I have a grandson now, hehehe~"
After a while, his expression turned serious as he picked up the phone and started calling friends.
"Can you get me a 'Spaceship Purchase License'?"
"No? Alright, thanks."
"Can you lend me some money?"
"1 million RMB? That's a bit too little."
The phone erupted with angry curses before the call was abruptly hung up.
Zhou Junguo rolled his eyes at the phone and continued dialing.
Soon, he received some good news. "You want to buy a spaceship? A Spaceship Purchase License isn't easy to obtain, but as for the spaceship itself—Wei Jun's grandson is about to be born, and he's planning to retire and disband. Why don't you ask him?"
"Thanks."
"Wei Jun, huh..." Zhou Junguo leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as memories flooded in.