Chapter 203

The seemingly peaceful yet secretly turbulent dinner in the Capital temporarily drew a clear line between the New Era and certain factions. Qin Feng earned superficial respect and compromise from them through his undeniable achievements in resisting natural disasters and his forceful stance.

Though both sides knew this "harmony" was fragile, at least the direct suppression and harassment from official circles vanished for now. The New Era gained a precious window for development.

Post-disaster reconstruction accelerated at full speed: damaged facilities were repaired or replaced, and new, more robust defense systems began to be planned. After this ordeal, the cohesion of the New Era rose instead of falling; every resident and researcher took pride in being a member of this miracle city.

Qin Feng's life also seemed to enter a relatively stable phase. He handled the vast affairs of the Wind Rising System daily, monitored the progress of the Rule Analysis team and Anomalous Phenomena Research, occasionally used Wealth Prediction to seize valuable opportunities, or applied Super Technology to overcome technical bottlenecks.

His strength and wealth continued to grow at an accelerating pace.

Yet just as everything appeared to be on track and Qin Feng focused on grander goals, a "mundane" issue he had never considered and believed unrelated to him arrived in a way that left him both exasperated and amused.

That day, he was at the Science Council of the New Era, discussing with several top scholars from different fields the theoretical possibility of using Quantum Entanglement to achieve faster-than-light information transmission—a mad idea capable of overturning existing physics.

During a break in the meeting, he returned to his temporary office to rest, and Su Wenqian entered carrying a cup of Ginseng Tea, her expression oddly hesitant.

"Sir, your tea." Su Wenqian gently placed the cup on the table.

"Mm." Qin Feng picked up the cup and asked casually, "Something wrong?"

Su Wenqian hesitated, then pulled up an encrypted communication record from her Tablet Computer and handed it to Qin Feng.

"Sir, this is… an encrypted message just sent from Old Madam." Su Wenqian's tone was cautious.

"Old Madam?" Qin Feng froze, then realized she meant his estranged biological mother—whom he had barely contacted since his father's early death and her remarriage. Since gaining the system and rising to prominence, their ties had nearly vanished. Why would she suddenly reach out now—and through Su Wenqian?

He took the Tablet Computer and scanned the message quickly.

The content was mundane: first, she inquired about his well-being, expressed concern for his health (she had clearly seen the news about the New Era's resistance to the tsunami), her tone carrying a long-absent, perhaps forced, warmth. But the latter half shifted abruptly into a rambling plea:

"…Little Feng, I'm glad you've achieved so much. But men, once they build their careers, must also settle down. You're not getting any younger (Qin Feng:???). You need someone to care for you, to share your life. I know a few nice girls—good families, beautiful and well-mannered. Would you… make time to meet one?"

The message ended with several carefully edited photos of young women.

Qin Feng stared at the message for several seconds, then wore an expression of utter absurdity mixed with helplessness.

Marriage pressure?

He had actually… been pressured to get married?

Just after he had withstood a world-ending tsunami, engaged in silent negotiations with national-level powers, and spent every day pondering how to break through World Rules and uncover cosmic mysteries… his nearly estranged mother was now asking him… when he would get married?!

The stark contrast left him momentarily speechless.

Su Wenqian, seeing Qin Feng's rare expression, couldn't help but smile faintly, then quickly suppressed it and asked softly, "Sir, how should we reply to Old Madam?"

Qin Feng handed the Tablet Computer back to her, rubbing his temples, feeling more exhausted than he had facing the tsunami or official suppression.

"Don't reply." He waved his hand. "Just pretend you never received it."

"But…" Su Wenqian hesitated, "Old Madam seems very insistent… she sent a few more messages asking what kind of girl you like, whether she should arrange a video meeting first…"

Qin Feng: "…"

He took a deep breath, feeling both exasperated and amused.

This is what ordinary people worry about? Truly, a thick dimensional wall separates me from their world.

"Sister Su," Qin Feng looked at Su Wenqian, a teasing tone in his voice, "do you think I'm in a position to consider… marriage right now?"

Su Wenqian looked at the man who controlled a vast Empire, wielded mysterious power, and whose gaze had already turned toward the Star Sea. She thought carefully, then shook her head.

"Sir's world… ordinary people can hardly understand or enter."

"Exactly." Qin Feng sighed, gazing out the window at the boundless sea. "My journey is the Star Sea—not domestic trivialities, rice, oil, salt, and vinegar."

He paused, then suddenly thought of something, turning to Su Wenqian with a mischievous grin:

"How about this? Reply to her and say… I already have someone in mind—an alien. I'm currently working on securing a Cosmic Visa and a Spaceship Bride Price. Tell her not to worry anymore."

Su Wenqian froze, then burst into laughter, quickly covering her mouth with her hand, her shoulders shaking.

"Sir… you… that reply will scare Old Madam to death…"

"Then let her be scared." Qin Feng shrugged indifferently. "Let her know her son's current work exists on a completely different dimension from her imagination."

Joking aside, Qin Feng grew serious and instructed Su Wenqian: "Find a suitable excuse to politely decline. Say I'm currently focused on my career and have no personal plans. Tell her to take care of her health and not to worry about me."

"Yes, Sir." Su Wenqian nodded.

To Qin Feng, this incident was merely a tiny ripple on the calm surface of his life—soon forgotten. He had far more important matters to ponder and handle.

Yet this small episode made him acutely aware of the unfathomable chasm now separating him from his former ordinary world.

Marriage? Children? Family bliss?

These steps ordinary people take for granted had become irrelevant—even inconvenient—to a Shenhou determined to reach the pinnacle of the system and uncover the universe's ultimate mysteries.

His companion might be eternal truth. His descendants might be the Civilization Fire scattered across the Star Sea. His destiny might lie beyond the rules—in infinite possibilities.

As for mundane marriage?

Qin Feng let out a light laugh and drained the now-cool Ginseng Tea in one gulp.

That thing? Far less interesting than analyzing a single World Rule.