Chapter 332: You

The leak sparked by Xiao Bao's "looser-than-a-belt" mouth initially threw the New Era's high command into chaos, but under Mo Yu's argument that "muddy water is good for fishing" and Qin Feng's silent approval, the crisis swiftly transformed into a peculiar strategic initiative.

Lei Dong quickly readjusted his deployment, abandoning efforts to suppress the news and instead began deliberately releasing a mixture of true and false information about the Guixu ruins, like a skilled angler casting bait into murky waters, waiting for reactions from all sides. Meanwhile, preparations for exploring the ruins accelerated at an unprecedented pace and efficiency; the construction of the Deep Space Mothership was sped up again, and personnel selection and training entered a fever pitch.

The entire Base functioned like a high-speed war machine, every gear roaring in preparation for the unknown journey to Guixu.

Amid this bustle and clamor, Xia Wan, as the Tiankong Guardian and absolute core of the exploration team, had her training schedule packed to capacity. In addition to deepening her control and application of her own power, she also needed to learn interstellar navigation, survival in alien environments, and strategies for handling various unknown cosmic phenomena.

That day, after finishing a tactical drill simulating extreme gravity, her muscles ached all over. She was about to return to her quarters for a medicinal bath when a middle-aged man, slightly overweight, dressed in an elegant suit, and smiling warmly, blocked her path in the corridor leading to the living area.

"Miss Xia Wan! Hello hello! I'm Qian Fugui, Deputy Director of the Base's Logistics Support and Special Resource Allocation Department—call me Old Qian!" The man extended his hand enthusiastically, his face beaming with almost fawning smiles.

Xia Wan vaguely recognized the name—he was the official responsible for some external procurement and material coordination. She politely shook his hand: "Director Qian, hello. What can I do for you?"

"Oh, nothing major, just… I've admired you for a long time! Finally got a chance to speak with you!" Qian Fugui rubbed his hands, his eyes squinting into slits. "You're the pride of our New Era, the hope of all humanity! Seeing you work so hard for the greater good, our logistics department watches with admiration and worries in our hearts!"

Xia Wan frowned slightly, unused to such excessive flattery, and merely nodded faintly: "It's my duty, Director Qian. You overpraise me."

"Not overpraising! Not at all!" Qian Fugui waved his hands quickly, then lowered his voice, leaning closer, speaking in a conspiratorial tone: "Miss Xia Wan, I know you hold high rank and immense power, and might look down on such mundane things. But you're still young, and a woman—you must have some… ah, personal savings, or favorite trinkets, right?"

He pulled out a sleek, metallic-lustered flat box, exquisitely crafted, and offered it to Xia Wan with both hands, wearing a look of "you know what I mean":

"This is the latest limited-edition 'Tears of the Stars' wrist optical computer. Not only does it pack powerful functions with the newest quantum communication and holographic projection modules, it's also handcrafted by a master, inlaid with twelve ultra-pure Energy Crystal Diamonds—both practical and collectible, only 99 units worldwide! I believe only someone of your status deserves such equipment!"

Xia Wan glanced at the box—it was indeed exquisite—but she had no interest in it, and was about to politely refuse.

But Qian Fugui preempted her, shoving the box into her hands, his tone even warmer: "You absolutely mustn't refuse! This is just a small token from our logistics department! To be honest, we occasionally prepare such 'special benefits' for key members who've made outstanding contributions to the Base—to boost morale and… happiness, you know?"

He winked, heavy with implication: "Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. A little creative resource allocation can maximize utility and make everyone feel the organization's warmth—don't you agree?"

Xia Wan looked at the box in her hand, then at Qian Fugui's slick, worldly smile, and understood. This was, in effect, a kind of "gray benefit"—using official position to "flexibly" allocate premium resources to select individuals.

She straightened her expression: "Director Qian, thank you for your kindness. But Base resources should go where they're most needed. I cannot accept this kind of 'benefit.'"

She handed the box back.

Qian Fugui's smile froze for a moment, then quickly returned, but he didn't take the box. Instead, he pleaded earnestly: "Miss Xia Wan, you're too serious! This really isn't a big deal! Do you know how much resource flows through our Base annually? Even a drop leaking from our fingers would be enough to support an ordinary person's family for generations! We're all insiders—why not enjoy a little?"

He pointed toward the end of the corridor, where the distant rumble of engineering teams at work could be faintly heard: "Take the Deep Space Mothership—its cost is astronomical! Who'd notice if we added or subtracted one alloy plate? Our logistics department works tirelessly, saving and 'planning' resources reasonably—why not use them to reward true contributors?"

Xia Wan's frown deepened. Qian Fugui's words had crossed her line. She was about to refuse sharply and consider reporting him to Lei Dong.

A calm voice suddenly sounded behind them:

"Oh?"

"Saved?"

Qian Fugui jolted violently, whirled around—and upon seeing the speaker, his face drained of all color; his legs buckled, nearly collapsing to the ground!

Qin Feng had appeared like a ghost behind them, still holding that cup of Clear Tea, seemingly endless, his gaze calm as he looked at Qian Fugui, then glanced at the exquisite box in Xia Wan's hand.

"M-Mr. Qin!" Qian Fugui's voice trembled, sweat pouring like a waterfall from his forehead, his tongue stumbling: "I… I… I was just… just joking with Miss Xia Wan! Yes! Joking!"

Qin Feng ignored his excuses, stepped forward, took the box from Xia Wan's hand, and opened it casually.

Inside, the wrist optical computer, inlaid with Energy Crystal Diamonds and shimmering with radiant light, glowed luxuriously under the corridor's bright lights.

Qin Feng picked up the device, weighed it in his hand, and looked at Qian Fugui's ashen face, his tone still utterly flat:

"How much did this cost?"

Qian Fugui's teeth chattered; he dared not hide anything, and stammered out a figure.

Qin Feng nodded, then asked:

"How much did you 'plan'?"

Qian Fugui dropped to his knees, tears and snot streaming down his face: "Mr. Qin, spare me! I… I was foolish! I'll never do it again!"

Qin Feng looked at him, expressionless, and said simply:

"You're also my employee."

Qian Fugui froze, not understanding the meaning.

Xia Wan also looked at Qin Feng, puzzled.

Qin Feng casually tossed the expensive limited-edition optical computer back into Qian Fugui's lap, then, facing an invisible surveillance camera above the corridor, gave a flat order, as if speaking to himself:

"Check it."

"Everything he 'planned'—liquidate it."

"Then,"

he paused, his gaze settling on Qian Fugui, now limp as mud,

"send him to the Mothership assembly workshop. Move alloy plates."

"Stop when he's moved the equivalent value."

With that, he didn't look at Qian Fugui again, and turned to walk down the other end of the corridor.

Xia Wan stood still, watching the broken man slumped on the floor, then glanced at Qin Feng's retreating back, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Mr. Qin… he hadn't been completely indifferent to these "mundane affairs."

He was simply maintaining a certain… order, in his own way.

"You're also my employee…"

The words sounded plain, yet carried undeniable authority and rule.

In Qin Feng's eyes, perhaps the entire New Era, even this Starfield, was his "enterprise" to oversee.

Any "employee" who tried to play tricks within his "enterprise" would receive the most direct, merciless "treatment."

Xia Wan shook her head, ignoring the pile of filth behind her, and hurried to catch up with Qin Feng.

The Base's parasites needed cleaning.

And ahead, the starry sea demanded her conquest.