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Character ListQiao Zhiya: Half-elf, half-dwarf MC.
Chu Rong: Marshal ML.
Fan Xiangnan: ML’s second-in-command.
Zhuang Yu: A doctor in ML’s army.
Chu Yan: ML’s younger brother. Is the same age as MC, currently attending intermediate college.
Lin Zhen: MC’s designated teacher during his stay in ML’s warship.
Chu Huai: ML’s older brother, he’s in politics.
Gu Yan’an: Chu Huai’s wife. She’s a doctor.
Ning Kongran: A fifth-grader at intermediate college.
Qiu Guangji: Ning Kongran’s best friend.
Chu Yan’s rented yard was located on the mountainside of the forest area, and there was a small and exquisite wooden cottage – it had two bedrooms and one living room, just big enough for two people to live in. There was a natural-looking pond that was the swimming pool in front of the house, a big tree planted beside the pool, and a double swing hung on the said tree.
“Yahhoo!”
Chu Yan climbed onto the swing as soon as he arrived, sat down and swung high, let go when he reached the highest point, and plunged directly into the swimming pool. He swam two laps comfortably, and then looked at the swing standing on the shore. He looked at Qiao Zhiya, who looked at him with excitement, and waved at the blond youth vigorously. “Take off your hat quickly, and take a swim to cool off.”
Seeing his happy look, Qiao Zhiya couldn’t help showing a smile. He took off his hat, but didn’t go into the water. Instead, he expertly climbed up the tree, and stood on the tallest branch and looked at the not-so-high hillside, squinting his eyes comfortably against the sun.
It’s been a long time, this feeling of being surrounded by nature.
Chu Yan was stunned by his agility in climbing the tree. Thinking of Qiao Zhiya’s identity as an Exoplanet Native, he suddenly became interested. He swam under the tree, looked up, and asked loudly, “Qiao! What is your hometown like? Are there many trees too?”
“Well, there are many, many trees.” Qiao Zhiya looked down at him, and the smile on his face gradually widened, smeared with a hint of nostalgia. “Everyone lives in the forest, and Dad likes to be surrounded by thick canopies the most. In the early morning,  he would sat on a tree branch and play the leaf flute, accompanying my mother who would play a small drum, and the sound was crisp and pleasant
 Xiao Yan, do you want to hear the sound of the leaf flute?”
Chu Yan looked at the blond youth’s blurred expression covered by the leaves. Listening to his soft and pleasant voice, he felt melancholic all of sudden. But he still raised his voice to reply, “Yes! Can you play?”
“Yes.” Qiao Zhiya nodded, raised his hand and took out a flute made of vines from his personal storage ring, and put it to his lips.
In the Magic Continent, the first musical instrument that every newborn elves learnt was the leaf flute. It was symbolic of their hometown and racial identity.
The sound of a flute as light as a bird’s chirping fluttered out, and Qiu Guangji, who was passing by the foot of the mountain in a sightseeing car, couldn’t help but look up at the place where the sound came from. He raised his arms to support his cheeks, and shook his head, “It’s so beautiful! The tune that is, but why does it sound so lonely
 Kongran, is this also a new holiday activity?”
“No.” Ning Kongran followed the sound and looked towards a small courtyard in the forest accommodation area. His eyes seemed to penetrate the trees, seeing the young man sitting on the highest branch playing with his eyes closed. Fell into a deep thought, Ning Kongran’s gaze slowly drifted away, and he murmured back, “This is the sound of a lost bird looking for a companion
 he wants to go home.”
“What?” Qiu Guangji didn’t hear his friend’s words clearly, so he leaned over and bumped into him again, and asked, “What did you just say? By the way, how are your family affairs going? Is your cousin really coming next year?”
Ning Kongran suddenly returned to his senses. Once he heard the mention of his family, he frowned and turned around as if to block the pure sound of the flute from the secular world, and replied, “It is confirmed that he will come, but the Federal Military Academy is not something he can easily enroll in. He will still have to take the exam after he comes here, but the admission requirements will be relaxed.”
“Tsk, it’s really unfair,” Qiu Guangji curled his lips in disgust, raised his hand to grab his messy curly hair, and asked again, “Then what major does your cousin want to study? His father is a general, so he should be a mecha pilot, yeah?”
“No.” Ning Kongran’s tone became lighter when he mentioned this, and he continued, “He wants to major in medicine and do pharmacy. I think he said he wanted to be a Pharmacy Professor or something.”
“Pharmacy?” Qiu Guangji was surprised, his expression immediately became indescribable. “It seems that he is determined to go to the Ning family. You tried your best not to learn medicine, but he
 tsk tsk , then it will be lively again.”
The sound of the flute was completely inaudible. Ning Kongran recalled the soft tune he had just heard, and strangely calmed down immediately. “The old man at home probably has other plans, and he may not be able to fulfill his wish. Let’s wait and see.”
Qiu Guangji nodded to express his understanding. He glanced at his friend’s overly calm expression, and sighed inwardly.
‘Such troubles
 the Ning family
.’
Chu Yan was keenly aware of Qiao Zhiya’s unhappiness, worried that he would continue to indulge in these emotions, he tidied himself up casually, and dragged Qiao Zhiya straight to the deep-sea recreation area next door.
Technology once again showed its power. Qiao Zhiya was led by Chu Yan, walking in the deep sea as if walking on land, looking at the surrounding deep-sea plants decorated with brilliant lights and the ornamental fish leisurely coming and going. He was full of amazement, and didn’t think of anything else.
Seeing this, Chu Yan was finally relieved. He reached out to help him adjust the protective clothing, and led him to go deeper.
Meanwhile, in the military department.
Chu Rong sent the president away with a cold face, and after hastily arranging a few words for his subordinates, he took out the hover car and drove directly to the Chu family’s branch house. His frowning face was full of anxiety.
It’s very strange that the Bald Chicken didn’t reply to his message or answer his communication all day.
Gu Yan’an opened the door, and seeing that it was Chu Rong, the surprise on her face disappeared. She sighed sadly, and said, “Xiao Rong, you came just in time. I was just about to contact you. Xiao Yan ran away from home again, this time he even took Qiao away with him.”
Chu Rong paused as he stepped into the door. His expression froze for a moment, then he frowned even deeper. There was a tinge of anger in his voice as he asked, “What? Running away from home? Qiao Zhiya?
His temper exploded.
“No need to try, I can’t locate their communicator. Xiao Yan is experienced in this, I bet he has taken care of it very well.” Gu Yan’an rubbed her temples because of an incoming headache. She glanced at Chu Rong, whose anger was clearly brewing, and kept trying to dial the youth’s communicator. She hesitated before continuing, “Xiao Rong, when you said you wanted to raise Qiao Zhiya, neither your Dage nor I objected. I also thought it would be nice to have someone to be close to you, but how could you be so irresponsible? Raising a child is not just a play, it’s a very tough responsibility. I’m actually a bit angry at you. You really just send him away the moment you become unhappy? Did you know that Qiao almost cried after you left today, and he said that you
”
“
crying?” Chu Rong paused. He looked at her with shock in his face. His brows relaxed, and he asked, “He really cried?”
Gu Yan’an nodded, and sighed again. “He didn’t cry, but his voice was clearly nasally. His eyes were also red. He probably was afraid he’ll worry others if he really cried, so he held back. Xiao Rong, teenagers like him are normally quite disobedient. They’re in a rebellious period. Plus, he isn’t like Xiao Yan, who has rough skin and a big heart. Qiao is rather sensitive. The moment you sent him here today, he immediately thought you abandoned him.”
Listening to her, Chu Rong remembered the message he received in the morning. He subconsciously rubbed the communicator with his fingers, and directly fell silent for a while with a cold expression on his eyes. His teeth clenched tightly, and he said, “I didn’t want to let him go, it’s just
” He trailed off, a trace of anxiety gradually appeared on his face. His fingers began to tap his communicator impatiently.
Seeing Chu Rong in this state made Gu Yan’an understand what he meant. She adjusted her expression to appear gentler, then poured water for him while comforting him, “I know you still want him around. Don’t worry much, I asked the immigration department, and there is no record of Xiao Yan’s appearance, which shows that he has a sense of propriety, and he didn’t take Qiao too far. He should still be near here. He probably wanted to cheer Qiao up, so he took him somewhere to relax. When hen Qiao feels better, he will come back naturally.”
“No, we must look for them!” Chu Rong directly refused. With a heavy expression, his words were full of turmoil and emotions. Gritting his teeth, he continued, “I must look for them! This habit of running away from home must be broken!1Lol, when the MC and ML both have abandonment issues
“
‘What if
 this becomes a habit? Then, one day, Qiao Zhiya leaves and never comes back to me? He hasn’t experienced life yet, so will he be able to thrive outside
?’
‘No.’
‘Even if he can, that Bald Chicken must always stay by my side!’
Gu Yan’an hadn’t seen Chu Rong lose his composure for many years. She became more and more sure of what happened last night, so she continued to add fuel to the flames unceremoniously. “So what if you find them? If you really don’t stop this habit from forming
 Qiao may run away from home next time! Though, I think it’s good for him to go out by himself like this. Sooner or later, you will get married and have your own children. Qiao is also about to grow up and reach the age of independence. He can’t stick to you forever in the future, and parting is a matter of time. In conclusion, it’s good for both of you to get used to this slowly from now on.”
“No! There will never be such a thing as parting!” Chu Rong denied this possibility without thinking.
“Why are you so sure? Erzi, you can’t be with Qiao for the rest of your life. Even if you don’t marry and have a child, then what about Qiao? I know that he’s someone who will want a family of his own in the future. Then, what identity do you want to use to refuse your separation from him? His father? His brother? Or just a legal guardian, who can be severed off at any given moment? If you throw the child out a few times so casually, with Qiao’s heart, he will leave sooner or later with a cold heart. In what capacity are you going to get him back?” Gu Yan’an continued to question without giving in.
“No next time, not at all, I—” Chu Rong’s thoughts became more jumbled. He subconsciously imagined the possible future of Qiao Zhiya growing up and left his side after getting married.
The more he became disturbed, the more his chaotic spiritual power became unruly. It directly broke off from his strict control, alerting the housework robot into making a shrill siren.
——The intensity of the spiritual riot in the room began to exceed the safe range.
1Lol, when the MC and ML both have abandonment issues