Chapter 34: 33 Reversing the Big Dipper

Qi Ming firmly refused Star Group’s request.

He felt that at this point, one should let go of the savior complex and respect others’ destinies.

“He has parents—surely school administrators and his actual teachers have already tried reaching him.”

“If they couldn’t succeed, why should I bother?”

It was said that in earlier times, some teachers in Shenzhou would go to internet cafés to drag students back to class, but that was certainly not Qi Ming’s style.

Within his duties, he would do everything perfectly.

Outside his responsibilities, less is better, and doing nothing is best.

If you want to learn, come learn; if not, he won’t force you. After all, everyone has their own dreams, and each life shines in its own way.

Star Group thought Qi Ming’s attitude was mere lip service, a sign of negligence that could ruin a child’s bright future.

He was lazy and passive; he’d just help a little more himself.

After getting the student’s home address from the head of discipline, he hobbled off with his cane to find him.

“I’m so sorry to trouble you,” Ming Nan’s mother said upon opening the door and seeing Star Group, just like the head of discipline, thinking it was absurd to send the leader of Victory Team over such a trivial matter.

Star Group: “This was originally my subordinate’s duty, but he’s unavailable today, so I’m taking care of it myself.”

Ming Nan, locked in his room, immediately became excited upon seeing the Victory Team leader he’d only ever seen on TV.

The thirteen-year-old boy exclaimed excitedly: “Team Leader, you’re the leader of Victory Team—you must know which planet I’m from!”

Star Group studied him carefully and confirmed he was just an ordinary Earth boy: “Child, you’re an Earthling—you should be proud of that.”

Ming Nan refused to believe it: “No, I’m from beyond Earth—tell me the truth, or I’ll be heartbroken.”

The firmness in his voice and gaze made Star Group momentarily doubt himself—had he misjudged him?

He examined the boy again, carefully and thoroughly—this was unquestionably a genuine Earthling.

His words left Ming Nan despondent: “Team Leader Star Group doesn’t understand my heart—you’re Earth-born, but I’m a cosmic being.”

At this, Star Group’s expression turned utterly bewildered.

Ming Nan continued: “One day I’ll return to my planet—my happiness isn’t on this Earth.”

Hearing this, Star Group could only offer an awkward yet polite smile.

This kid wasn’t his subordinate—he couldn’t just slap him to snap him out of it—and his own eloquence was failing him now…

It seemed only the articulate Qi Ming could make this child face reality.

On the other side, Qi Ming finished two classes and waved goodbye to students reluctant to let him go.

“Teacher, can we take a photo together?” asked the bespectacled student known as “Doctor.”

Qi Ming: “Of course, but you don’t need to start taking commemorative photos yet.”

“We haven’t finished today’s lesson, and your math teacher has taken leave to visit family—someone else is covering for him.”

“If no monster destroys the city tomorrow, and no alien invades, I’ll come back for two more classes.”

Since the lesson was already prepared, he might as well finish it.

As he spoke, applause erupted—female students reacted as if Christmas had arrived.

Qi Ming stepped out of the classroom to find a group of female teachers waiting around the corner, avoiding his gaze, stealing glances instead.

“Go on, Akiho-sensei—you’re the only one who might win him over!”

“Get him!”

Encouraged by the female teachers, Akiho Aki covered her face and walked up to Qi Ming.

She said she had two tickets to a Chris Maya concert and asked if Qi Ming would accompany her.

Chris Maya… the female singer from Ultraman Tiga’s 29th episode, “Memories of the Blue Night”?

Qi Ming: “I’m sorry… my favorite singer is Hatsune Miku.”

A blunt refusal would be rude, so he gave a reason that left all the teachers speechless.

“Oh my god, this new teacher is a weaboo!”

Amid the teachers’ stunned stares, Qi Ming walked away calmly.

Back at TPC’s offshore base, he lay on his bed and began scrolling through news.

“This place is better,” Qi Ming sighed.

Since turning fourteen, he’d rarely had peace.

At home, his father’s colleagues and superiors would always bring their daughters or granddaughters to visit.

Then, “The adults chat in the living room, while the kids go to the room to play together.”

Play what? Do you even understand “Dream Journey to the West 3”?

For Qi Ming, only when accompanying Professor Sima Hui to archaeological sites or visiting the British old knight’s sanatorium could he find quiet.

Now, this place—his room at the base—had joined that list.

Although Victory Team had two female members, Nishijo Nagi was a stone, and Emi was extremely self-disciplined.

TPC was a quasi-military organization; even if female staff were interested, they wouldn’t chase him to his dorm.

“There are some advantages here,” Qi Ming said, scrolling through his phone and noticing a surge in recent disappearances.

Is it starting again…

Soon, Star Group returned to the base and came to find Qi Ming, telling him about the boy named Ming Nan.

Hearing this, Qi Ming remembered—the boy originated from Ultraman 80’s sixth episode, “The Boy from Another Planet.”

Qi Ming: “He’s just a year early with his middle-school delusions—ignore him.”

In his memory, the boy was exactly as the head of discipline described: simply escaping reality by imagining himself an alien.

But later, he came to believe his own lies and became obsessed.

Even as the monster released by the spaceship blasted him with lasers, he kept yelling to Ushio: “It’s me, Ming Nan, your partner! Let me board your UFO, take me to your planet!”

He was asking for death—and made Ushio scramble in panic.

In the original plot, Ushio went to great lengths to convince him to return to reality.

But Ushio came to Earth voluntarily, driven by passion to save it; Qi Ming was dragged here passively.

Star Group said seriously: “This child needs help.”

Qi Ming: “There are countless people who need help—smoking harms health, and in America, drugs are legal. Why don’t you go persuade them to quit for their health?”

Star Group fell silent, then finally muttered: “We can’t ignore the person right in front of us. Yes, Qi Ming—you’re definitely capable of convincing him.”

Qi Ming was speechless. Wasn’t the rule that Ultramen don’t interfere with human choices? Why are you so obsessed, Seven?

“Fine. After tomorrow’s classes, I’ll drop by and talk to the student.”

For the sake of peace and quiet, Qi Ming agreed—he’d show the boy what his own middle-school teachers had done.

But that night, something “miraculous” happened.

(End of Chapter)