Chapter 127: Dawn of the Proxima Colonists

In the blink of an eye, half a year had slipped by.

Now, on the vast coastal plains of Proxima Centauri V, a fledgling city was beginning to take shape.

Construction sites sprawled in every direction, workers and building robots bustling everywhere, the whole place alive with energy.

Not far away, the Space Elevator was a hive of activity, cargo pods constantly moving up and down in a non-stop rhythm.

Meanwhile, the spaceport connected to the Space Elevator in geosynchronous orbit had expanded to more than ten times its original size.

It was now large enough to dock hundreds of medium and large transport ships.

As for the Sixth Fleet and the rest of the fleet’s ships…

Well, they’d have to wait until the second planned spaceport and the Sixth Fleet’s Mother Port were up and running before that problem could be solved.

Over the last six months, Mu Qingxue had barely touched the ground—busier than ever, even compared to her days as Fleet Commander.

Still, she didn’t regret it.

Now, she had a home to return to every night, a chance to see her kids and her husband.

Life felt pretty fulfilling.

——

Aboard the Houyi, in the captain’s quarters.

Lying in bed, Mu Qingxue slept soundly in Lin Yu’s arms.

Suddenly, a gentle vibration buzzed from Lin Yu’s left wrist. He cracked his eyes open and, careful not to wake Mu Qingxue, slipped quietly out of bed.

He left the bedroom, crossed into the main hall, and answered the call.

“Lu Bo, what on earth are you doing calling me in the middle of the night?”

On the other end was Lu Bo, who had accompanied Lin Yu to Proxima—and who happened to lead the entire science team.

“What do you mean, middle of the night? It’s broad daylight here, you know!”

Lu Bo shot back, then spun his camera to show the outside view.

Sure enough…

It was bright as noon.

Lin Yu just sighed, his exasperation obvious.

Sure, you’re down on the ground while I’m floating in orbit.

And your lab’s on the other side of the planet—which means your day is my night, complete opposites with the central city.

What does your ‘broad daylight’ have to do with me and Qingxue anyway?

“Just spill it. What’s so urgent? I’d like to get back to sleep—besides, there’s nothing like dozing off with a beautiful woman in your arms. Not that a single guy like you would understand!”

Lin Yu teased.

Truth be told, Lu Bo wasn’t young, already in his forties.

He was sharp, and looked good for his age—rumor had it that he had at least eighty women chasing after him at the Far East First Research Institute.

But honestly…

He poured almost all his time into research. As for women…

“Sorry, but romance would only slow down my research.”

No wonder he was still single.

Lin Yu had even joked with Lu Bo once, warning that if he didn’t marry and have kids soon, the Federation’s new penalty laws might come into effect…

And how did Lu Bo respond back then?

“Let them enforce it. As long as I’ve got lab space, equipment, and funding…”

“Plus room and board, I’m good.”

As for a salary? Not a concern at all.

At that point, Lin Yu just gave up trying to convince him.

Total waste of breath!

“I’m calling about your daughter. Not interested?”

“Not inte—wait, who did you say?”

“Your daughter. Lin Yun!”

That got Lin Yu’s full attention—he sat up instantly.

If Lu Bo had said Lin Feng, Lin Yu wouldn’t have batted an eye, but Lin Yun…

That was his precious little girl.

Lin Yun was almost five now. Most kids her age would be getting ready for elementary school, but Lin Yu’s two children were anything but ordinary.

On Lu Bo’s advice, when they weren’t even two, Lin Yu and Mu Qingxue had them living in space and hired private tutors for their lessons at home.

That’s right. Not even two years old, and Lin Feng and Lin Yun were already studying elementary school material.

And within a month…

With their tutor left speechless, both kids declared the homework for little kids was way too simple and boring—they wanted something more challenging.

So they moved straight on to middle school.

By the time Lin Yu picked them up from Mars, Lin Yun had finished all her high school courses and even dabbled in college-level topics.

Hard to believe, right?

Remember, Lin Yun was just three back then!

“Little Lin Yun called me earlier. She said she’s finished her doctoral studies and wants to come work in my lab.”

“So I’m checking with you. If you’re okay with it, I’ll have her over.”

Lin Yu’s eyes widened.

Wait—a Ph.D. before five years old?

No, that’s not the craziest part. The real issue was…

A kid under five wanting to do scientific research in Lu Bo’s lab?

He couldn’t be serious, could he?

“Lu Bo, Lin Yun is only five years old. Isn’t that way too early?”

“I know. That’s why I’m asking. If I didn’t, I’d have picked her up already.”

“Um… let me talk to Qingxue first—”

“Let her go!”

Before Lin Yu could finish, Mu Qingxue’s voice sounded from behind.

At some point, she’d woken up and was now standing there in her pajamas.

“She knows what she wants, and we shouldn’t hold her back. If she loves science and has that kind of talent, let her follow her path!”

“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

After a brief pause, Lin Yu nodded.

He turned to face Lu Bo’s holographic projection.

“No need for you to pick her up, Lu Bo. Qingxue and I will bring her over tomorrow ourselves.”

“Sounds good.”

Lu Bo nodded in agreement.

The call ended soon after.

“Hey, Qingxue, do you think our kids might be…a little too extraordinary?”

“Even if Lin Feng isn’t as studious as Lin Yun, he’s obsessed with fleet command. Just a few days ago, George told me he played a simulated fleet battle with the boy…and guess what?”

“George said he nearly lost!”

“Sure, part of it was because he underestimated Lin Feng for being so young, but still…”

Mu Qingxue was amazed too.

After all, she’d served as Fleet Commander herself—and prior to Lin Yu’s arrival, was one of humanity’s best tactical minds.

Not to mention, she knew George, Lin Yu’s deputy, quite well.

Even assuming George took it easy, the idea that a kid not yet five could competently command a fleet was just absurd.

Could she have done that at five?

Absolutely not. Not a chance.

Forget five—even at ten, she couldn’t have dreamed of pulling that off.

Still, no matter how outrageous it all seemed, they were her children—her own flesh and blood.

Rather than feel uneasy, pride swelled in Mu Qingxue’s chest.

The more gifted her kids were, the happier she felt.

“See? These are my children. Pretty amazing, right?”