Chapter 259: Unsettling Truths

Lu Xin remained silent his expression somewhat vacant.

Truthfully he’d sensed Teacher Xiao Lu’s fear long before but he hadn’t wanted to dwell on it.

But seeing the fear plain on her face now still saddened him.

Even he couldn’t quite pinpoint why he felt sad. Was it because Teacher Xiao Lu was afraid of him or was it seeing her force herself to try and comfort him despite her fear?

He didn’t understand why Teacher Xiao Lu’s fear of him seemed even greater than her fear of the Orphanage Director.

This was the question he really wanted to ask but now…

Data flickered across the lens of his left eye showing her intense mental fluctuations.

An ordinary person’s psychic power hovers around 10 points. Normally their mental radiation is almost undetectable. But for these glasses to react meant only one thing: she was experiencing extreme emotional turmoil. Perhaps just a little more pressure would cause her to break down completely…

How could he possibly push her further?

…

Lu Xin forced a smile onto his face though it probably looked stiff.

“I always knew I looked pretty fierce and scary when I lost my temper…”

He tried to keep his voice light and humorous. “Look I even scared you.”

“Y-yes.”

Teacher Xiao Lu also tried hard wanting to play along with Lu Xin.

But no matter how hard she tried her smile couldn’t return to how it was before anything had happened.

Two people trying desperately to convince the other they were fine ended up clumsy and awkward.

“Forget it…”

Lu Xin sighed softly slowly standing up. He said to Teacher Xiao Lu “I have to go to work this afternoon. I’ll head out first.”

“You’ll probably have to wash the bowl yourself though…”

…

Teacher Xiao Lu looked like she wanted to say something but in the end she could only manage a nod.

Picking up his bag Lu Xin slowly left the office a heavy feeling pressing down on him.

Glancing up he saw pairs of small eyes watching him from the corridor and the nearby classroom clutching their lunch pails.

Children have sharp ears; they had probably heard Teacher Xiao Lu crying.

“Brother Zhuang what happened?”

A sniffling child secretly asked the red-nosed child.

The red-nosed child gave Lu Xin a long look and said meaningfully “They argued.”

“Huh?”

The sniffling child was startled a look of pleasant surprise appearing. “Does that mean I have a chance?”

“You don’t.”

The red-nosed child glanced at him. “You can’t even afford candy.”

Lu Xin walked through the crowd of whispering curious gazes slowly went downstairs and reached the third-floor corner. The old man guard had a small table set up in front of him with a plate of shredded potatoes a salted duck egg and his small wine cup in hand.

He sipped slowly without looking up speaking in a low voice as if not talking to Lu Xin at all:

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not you she’s afraid of.”

…

Lu Xin glanced back at the old man nodded and continued downstairs.

Walking down the street pale sunlight spilled from above. Lu Xin felt a sense of emptiness.

He first went to the Security Hall retrieved his motorcycle parked there and rode aimlessly through the streets.

Motorcycles run on fuel after all so he rarely indulged in such luxurious aimless rides. But today was different. For a moment he didn’t even feel like saving money anymore. However he quickly stopped in a plaza…

…because motorcycles run on fuel after all.

He sat on a plaza bench slowly smoking a cigarette.

On a bench nearby sat a couple looking extremely affectionate practically glued together.

The boy had hidden a rose in the satchel behind him apparently preparing a magic trick.

Lu Xin glanced at them feeling a bit envious.

But his envy quickly faded because he saw a third person appear between the two.

It was Sister. She was squatting on the back of the bench watching the couple.

Soon her eyes lit up and with a mischievous grin she tore off all the petals from the boy’s rose.

“Ta-da…”

The boy dramatically waved his arms presenting a bare stem right in the girl’s face.

He froze. The girl also stared in shock.

Then one stormed off angrily while the other scrambled after her desperately trying to explain.

Lu Xin’s mood instantly improved considerably.

…

“Sister I didn’t get the answer I wanted.”

When Sister came over and squatted beside him Lu Xin exhaled a thick cloud of smoke and said softly “Actually when I came to ask Teacher Xiao Lu the answer I most wanted was for her to tell me the Director was actually a good person and those things were just my imagination. But in the end I didn’t get the best answer nor did I get a moderately bad one. I got the worst answer…”

“Turns out she was that… afraid.”

Sister hugged Lu Xin’s arm rubbing her little head against him. “I’m not afraid of you.”

Lu Xin smiled slightly not pointing out her fib.

“Want to go out and play again?”

After pondering for a while Lu Xin suddenly asked Sister with a smile.

Sister paused tilting her head at him in confusion.

Lu Xin looked up towards the direction outside the Satellite City wall. “There are still people alive from the orphanage isn’t that a good thing?”

“And those materials said even the Old Director might still be alive…”

“I really do have a lot of questions. I want to know what happened back then I want to know if all the people who deserved to die are dead… Of course if they aren’t all dead I don’t mind making them go through what they should again…”

…

His face was calm as he said this as if narrating a trivial matter.

But Sister hugging his arm looked up at Lu Xin’s expression alertly her eyes unblinking.

Lu Xin paused slightly seeming to feel his state wasn’t quite right.

After a moment a smile returned to his face very gentle. “All in all I’m actually very happy right now. The orphanage back then was like a big family so everyone in the orphanage is our family. It didn’t matter when I didn’t know but now that I know there are still people alive in this family how can I not go see if they’re doing well?”

“As for these questions in my heart…”

A brilliant smile spread across his face. “When I greet him face-to-face he should be happy to tell me right?”

…

Listening to him Sister’s eyes gradually brightened.

She suddenly hugged Lu Xin’s neck tightly. “Brother brother did you know?”

“Actually we’ve been waiting for you to make this decision for a long time…”

…

Hearing Sister’s words Lu Xin finally broke into a happy smile too.

Looking up he saw Mom nodding and smiling at him from a high-end restaurant on the second floor next to the plaza.

Even his own shadow beside the bench seemed to twitch slightly abnormally.

A deep chuckle echoed softly.

…

Undertaking a major task that required going out should normally involve a family meeting for discussion. But hearing Sister’s words just now he knew that this time the decision could be finalized without even waiting for a meeting.

The first step to doing this was naturally: ask for leave.

Lu Xin took his satellite phone out of the bag and dialed Chen Jing.

Chen Jing answered quickly her voice calm. “What is it?”

Lu Xin was in a good mood greeting her with a smile “Team Leader good afternoon.”

“…Mm.”

Chen Jing paused her voice softening slightly. Then she asked again “What is it?”

“Well…”

Lu Xin guessed she might actually be busy but had immediately stopped everything she was doing the moment she saw his call to listen to what he wanted to say. He felt a bit embarrassed partly because of this and partly because of what he was about to ask. He quickly composed himself before saying “Um I’m calling because I wanted to… ask for some leave.”

“Leave?”

Chen Jing sounded surprised. “Aren’t you currently on your standard post-mission vacation?”

“Yes yes.”

Lu Xin had to think carefully again to explain “But these few days probably won’t be enough. I need… to ask for more days.”

Chen Jing seemed to frown slightly. “How many days?”

“…Something like that.”

This question was difficult for Lu Xin to answer again. He could only say “It’s hard to say right now.”

Chen Jing paused. “Why are you taking leave?”

“This…”

Lu Xin thought for a moment. “Personal matters.”

Hearing his brief reply Chen Jing’s voice softened a bit. After a moment she said:

“You made significant contributions during the incident helping Qinggang resist the attack from the Sea Country. Based on contribution points you qualify for a direct promotion to Qinggang Level 4 Special Talent under any circumstances. And Level 4 Special Talents are already entitled to special consideration from Qinggang. So even for personal matters you can submit a request. The Special Cleaning Department will assist you as much as possible.”

“I’m afraid that won’t work.”

Lu Xin sighed softly. “Because for this personal matter I need to leave the city.”

Chen Jing sounded somewhat surprised. “Go where?”

Lu Xin thought for a moment. “The Central City.”

“Central City…”

There was a clear moment of commotion and panic on Chen Jing’s end; it seemed many people gasped in surprise.

This surprised Lu Xin: So many people over there?

After a moment Chen Jing’s voice became stable again. “Can you tell us why you’re going to the Central City?”

“That’s… not very convenient.”

Lu Xin felt awkward refusing his leader and could only tentatively ask “It is my personal business after all. Is it okay if I don’t say?”

“Of course. It was inappropriate for me to ask in the first place.”

Chen Jing responded quickly apologizing slightly before resuming her calm professional mode.

“Regarding your leave request theoretically it can be approved.”

“However you haven’t submitted your mission report for this time yet. The corresponding changes after you entered the Second Stage haven’t been accurately recorded either. Also you are now effectively a Level 4 Special Talent. According to regulations wherever you plan to go or whatever you plan to do you should submit a paper application. The Special Cleaning Department should also provide you with certain safety guarantees and information support.”

“Ah this…”

Lu Xin felt the leader had a point and felt a bit bad for making such an abrupt call.

After a long pause he whispered “So I’ll go back write this mission report and then… submit an application to leave the city?”

“Yes.”

Chen Jing chuckled slightly. “On the application materials you’ll need to roughly state how far you need to go the duration of your trip outside the city the supplies you need to request etc. Because many places outside the wall are still in chaos it’s very dangerous for someone like you with only one brief experience outside. Therefore it’s best to have someone specialized help you plan or even provide training.”

“Of course this also helps us arrange for someone else to take over your work in the Second Satellite City.”

…

After saying all this in one breath Chen Jing pondered for a moment:

“By the way besides what we’ve just discussed do you need a driver arranged in advance?”

She added with a smile “After all the driver temporarily assigned last time had strong opinions upon returning so this time…”

“…we can notify him beforehand.”