Chapter 76: Chapter Seventy-Eight: See You Again, Chén Chén

On the phone.

Xuxin: "Luofeng, is everything settled?"

""

"Hmm"

Luofeng replied in a deep voice.

When going to Dragon Gate, it was because I had a heartfelt conversation with the Chen Yang siblings, and also because I bore the dual mission of inheriting the Meteorite Star Inheritance, or simply to find out what was there.

Choosing to join the Explorer Program was a choice that was both emotional and rational.

But when receiving Xuxin's call again, Luofeng had to face this unavoidable problem. No matter how calm and rational Luofeng was, he could not perfectly solve it.

Such is the choice: gaining something while also losing something.

————

After riding in the intelligent combat aircraft for over ten minutes, I returned to South of the River; arriving at Bright Moon Community just in time for dinner.

Returning home.

"Brother, you're back!"

The one who opened the door was my younger brother Luo Hua; after his legs were healed, his personality became more cheerful, and while he daily practiced martial arts to strengthen his body, he was also planning to start his own company.

After entering the house, however, I saw several unexpected figures.

In the living room, Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan sat on the sofa chatting with a young man about everyday trifles, the two elders speaking one after another, saying more than they would when chatting with their own son.

All that can be said is that he is quite adept at getting along well.

Naturally sitting in the living room was Chén Chén, whose social adaptability was maxed out.

Chén Chén's high social skills were not without reason.

First, Chén Chén designed a perfect body for himself; living beings naturally favor excellent genes of their own kind. Chén Chén possesses the theoretically perfect genes on Earth, granting humanity a positive affinity buff.

Second, Chén Chén's life link causes all life on Earth to naturally feel affection for him, adding another layer of positive affinity buff from Earth's life.

Lastly, it was Chén Chén's own slight social skill; after all, in his previous life he rose to a high position without support, being both capable and a social terror.

In the kitchen, Jiāng Jiāng naturally came together with Chén Chén.

Before, when Chén Chén and Jiāng Jiāng still lived in Bright Moon Community, they often dropped by; Jiāng Jiāng had also cooked at Luofeng's house more than once.

Beside Jiāng Jiāng, lending a hand, was another familiar figure—the one who had just spoken with me on the phone, Xuxin.

Jiāng Jiāng multitasked, cooking while explaining techniques and correcting mistakes for Xuxin, who was studying attentively on the side; neither noticed that Luofeng had already returned.

Xuxin not noticing Jiāng Jiāng was natural; in fact, as soon as Luofeng's intelligent combat aircraft entered Bright Moon Community, Jiāng Jiāng had already sensed it.

Maintaining full coverage of mental power detection is an excellent quality; fine control over the surrounding environment is key to ensuring one's survival.

After all, no one can guarantee that Bright Moon Community won't suddenly suffer an alien attack or something similar.

"Xuxin sis, help me get the double-layer pot."

"Oh oh, okay."

Xuxin "happened" to have free hands, turned to help Jiāng Jiāng get the double-layer pot, and her moving gaze happened to catch Luofeng over there.

"Luofeng, you're back!" Xuxin exclaimed happily.

Luofeng looked at Xuxin, gave a gentle smile, and said, "Hmm, I'm back."

Xuxin's face turned red: "Um… I'm cooking with Jiāng Jiāng; you go first to the living room to keep Chén Chén brother and uncle and aunt company."

After saying that, Xuxin pretended to be anxious, looked away, and went to one side to search for the double-layer pot Jiāng Jiāng mentioned, in order to hide her already flushed face.

"Hmm"

Luofeng smiled sweetly, answered with an affirmative, but in his mind he recalled the scene of parting with Xuxin in the illusion.

In the living room, Chén Chén was chatting with the two elders about some amusing incidents of Luofeng at Dragon Gate; the elders also occasionally mentioned Luofeng's childhood, and when they talked about funny things they laughed until their eyes crinkled and they held their stomachs.

Luofeng also admired how Chén Chén, the top leader of the World Tree, managed to chat so engagingly with two ordinary folks from his own family.

Setting aside the various doubts he had originally held in his heart, Luofeng also joined the casual talk between himself and Chén Chén.

The topic mostly concerned how Luofeng and Chén Chén met, as well as their various experiences at the martial hall and Dragon Gate. The elders' cultural knowledge was limited; they didn't know many details about Chén Chén's whereabouts, only feeling that the two youths had accomplished something in just two years, making them happy and causing their smiles to stretch uncontrollably.

As they chatted, Luofeng learned from several people that the Time Tree had just announced a counteroffensive; Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan still thought their son had gone out to handle matters related to that.

And the reason Xuxin was called over today for a gathering was largely to see off Luofeng, Chén Chén, and Jiāng Jiāng.

After all, Chén Chén, Luofeng, and Jiāng Jiāng are renowned heroes abroad; as the families of heroes, Luo Hongguo, Gong Xinlan, Luo Hua, and Xuxin all share in the honor, yet they also feel some reluctance.

After all, Luofeng had barely been home a few days before having to leave again.

Moreover, such a scene was not limited to Luofeng's family alone; that night, countless heroes were destined to leave home and head to the battlefield of humanity's final war.

After a while, as Luo Hua came in holding tea, the topic gradually turned to urging him on.

Luo Hua greatly admired his two elder brothers, but being bombarded by his parents left him somewhat unable to bear it, and he suddenly regretted sitting here.

Several people were chatting when suddenly they heard someone shout from the kitchen:

"Dinner… is ready!"

The voice, not loud but clearly lacking strength, came from Xuxin, but it was obviously prompted by Jiāng Jiāng's urging.

"Here I am, sister-in-law! I'll help!"

Watching Luo Hua's embarrassed retreating figure, Luofeng gave a grudging smile.

I never had high expectations for my younger brother; as long as he could live happily, that was fine. After moving to Bright Moon Community and getting to know Chén Chén, although his leg hadn't healed, his confident and optimistic attitude had already eased the family's past oppression somewhat.

Nowadays, his leg has been healed and he has his own dreams; Luofeng no longer has any expectations for his younger brother, or rather, the scale in his heart has finally been set down.

In the future, my younger brother will have his own life, his own family, his own dreams; I no longer need to worry about him.

As for my parents, after enduring hardship for so many years, living in Bright Moon Community these past two years has left them somewhat bored with idleness; however, my father also intends to keep up with the times, recently truly playing the first public test of the virtual game Dream World, and he even wants to drag my mother into it as well.

As for Xuxin……

Luofeng picked up a bite of Xuxin's dish, put it in his mouth, chewed slowly, swallowed, and then took another bite.

Although the taste indeed differed from that of a certain professional chef, Luofeng just couldn't get enough of it, and the more he ate, the more he liked it.

After dinner, Chén Chén gave a look, and Jiāng Jiāng pulled Xuxin to wash the dishes together; Luofeng gave a look, and Luo Hua took the two elders for a stroll.

Only Luofeng and Chén Chén remained in the courtyard, and Luofeng's pent-up resentment and problems finally condensed into a single sentence:

"Chén Chén, you little bastard."