ETR | Chapter 114

After marriage, President Xiao worked hard to earn money, while Qin Lou strived for promotion. He couldn’t tolerate being a low-ranking soldier forever. For convenience, they moved out of their house near the school and into a new home after getting married.

The new home had a bigger yard. Xiao Xueman liked planting flowers, grass, and fruit trees there.

By the second year, they could eat the fruits they grew themselves. There was a big lounge chair in the flower garden, and when Qin Lou and Xiao Xueman had free time, they would lie there, surrounded by the fragrance of flowers, feeling comfortable with their loved one by their side.

A short nap at this time would be filled with sweet dreams.

No matter where they lived or how much time passed, they remained as sweet and loving as they were at the beginning, with no room for anyone else to come between them.

However, after Qin Lou’s promotion, he couldn’t stay on Imperial Star all the time. As a soldier, he had to follow orders. Although the issue of the insect invasion was resolved during General Qin’s time and hadn’t occurred in recent years, there were still many natural disasters in the Starry World that required military intervention.

Similarly, Xiao Xueman’s company had grown and required him to travel frequently.

Both of them worked hard to maintain a balance between work and life. For instance, if a task wasn’t highly confidential, Xiao Xueman, as a family member, could apply to accompany Qin Lou.

For example, this time, the Rose Star System was going to experience a prolonged starburst, and Qin Lou had to be stationed there for several months to prevent emergencies.

Coincidentally, Xiao Xueman had just established a subsidiary in the Rose Star System, specializing in military supplies, responsible for part of the resource supply for this event. So, Xiao Xueman rightfully accompanied him.

After arriving in the Rose Star System, Xiao Xueman first went to the company for some preliminary arrangements, so he and Qin Lou were temporarily apart for a few days.

Qin Lou was the chief commander of this operation, responsible for setting up protective shields and emergency supplies before the starburst.

Starbursts were a common natural disaster here, varying in size. They involved large meteors falling from the sky, sometimes colliding and creating fireworks-like scenes.

However, humanity in this world had developed countermeasures. For ordinary starbursts, each planet’s built-in shield could handle it. For stronger ones, they would reinforce the shield or even build an additional layer.

The starburst in the Rose Star System was predicted to be the most severe in recent years, with various starburst activities expected over the coming months. Qin Lou needed to build at least three layers of protective shields here.

The tasks proceeded in an orderly manner, but because the initial days were crucial for setup, Qin Lou had to be apart from Xiao Xueman to focus on his work. Initially, it was fine, but after a few days without seeing each other, Qin Lou felt uneasy.

Ah, I miss my wife.

Does my wife miss me?

Definitely misses me a lot.

Due to confidentiality requirements, communication with Xiao Xueman's military company was strictly controlled, and Qin Lou hadn't received any updates during this time.

It was truly pitiful.

Qin Lou hugged himself in loneliness, unable to sleep without his wife's embrace.

He even heard about Xiao Xueman from others later on.

There were local officials in the Rose Star System coordinating with them. Today, they had a short meeting to discuss the current progress.

Qin Lou and Xiao Xueman were well-known on Imperial Star, but after marriage, they kept a low profile and didn’t want their lives to be scrutinized on social media.

Now, after nearly ten years of marriage, they were no longer in the public eye, and the Rose Star System was far from Imperial Star. Some local officials weren’t familiar with the power dynamics on Imperial Star, so it was normal for them not to know that Xiao Xueman and Qin Lou were a couple.

After the work meeting, it was lunchtime, and both sides sat together for some casual chat. A young local official across from them mentioned someone.

He didn’t even know that Xiao Xueman was the president of the factory’s parent company. Perhaps because Xiao Xueman was reticent and handled everything personally, the official had only seen him a few times and thought he was just a technical engineer at the factory.

"…Is it Xiao Xueman?" He showed admiration and a bit of longing on his face. "He's really an impressive person."

In this matter, the factory took on a military task, so Xiao Xueman naturally represented the military in local dealings. However, he was a man of few words outside of work, and asking about personal matters was nearly impossible.

So, this official, having met the military leader, naturally wanted to inquire about this person, as the factory was tight-lipped and wouldn't reveal anything no matter how much he asked.

Qin Lou: ???

He used to be happy when others praised Xiao Xueman, but what do you mean by asking about my wife in front of me?

What do you want?

Those familiar with Qin Lou could see that his expression had changed, indicating that his soft spot had been touched.

"It's just that he's a bit cold," the other person, unaware, continued discussing the unforgettable beauty, "and sometimes a bit fierce, but it's understandable, after all…"

Qin Lou's knife and fork made a dull sound as they pierced into his iron plate.

"Well, you asked the right person," Qin Lou said. "I've known Xiao Xueman for twelve years."

"That's quite a coincidence…"

"Love at first sight, dated for twelve years, married for ten years. Do you have any more questions about my wife?" Qin Lou stared at him. "Hmm?"

The other person hadn't expected this turn of events and was stunned. After blushing, he quickly apologized and found an excuse to slip away.

Qin Lou wouldn't really be aggressive over such a small matter. He and Xiao Xueman had been together for so many years, and their mutual trust was strong enough. He was just frustrated from not seeing his wife for a while.

After the person left, Qin Lou pulled the knife and fork out of the plate, still in a bad mood.

His adjutant was caught by him and listened to his rambling.

"…He even said Xueman was fierce, oh my," Qin Lou said incredulously. "My wife is the gentlest person in the world!"

The adjutant outwardly agreed, but inwardly thought, "Your wife is only gentle to you."

In ten years of marriage, they had never had a fight, which was quite rare. Xiao Xueman was known for his principled and stern approach, especially in managing the company, where he was famous for his strictness and fairness.

But seeing Qin Lou in this state, they hoped Xiao Xueman would quickly finish his work and come back.

The factory had strict communication controls, and Xiao Xueman also wanted to finish his tasks quickly. Some technical issues required his personal attention, and no one in the factory knew them better than he did. So sometimes, he represented the technical team in direct dealings.

Now that the work was mostly done, he could go find Qin Lou. So that evening, he arrived at the station.

Qin Lou was, of course, delighted and happy to see him, but Xiao Xueman noticed he seemed hesitant.

"What's wrong? Did something happen while I was away that made you unhappy?"

Xiao Xueman couldn't help but pinch his nose, a clear smile on his face. He knew Qin Lou too well; this expression usually meant he was jealous.

Qin Lou hugged his wife, feeling a bit wronged, and told Xiao Xueman about the incident.

After hearing it, Xiao Xueman was also puzzled and said, "I have no impression of that person at all. You, stop overthinking things."

Qin Lou probably knew this deep down, and the incident had already passed. His jealousy had long subsided, and with Xiao Xueman back, those people didn't matter at all.

His current behavior was just to seek some affection and playfulness with Xiao Xueman, to have him comfort him, adding to their marital fun.

After all, Xiao Xueman was easily soft-hearted in front of him, and this softness extended to the bedroom.

This was Qin Lou's advantage.

Fortunately, Xiao Xueman had mostly finished his work, so he could sleep in a bit the next day. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and he let Qin Lou have his way.

Qin Lou’s double-S physique always played a significant role at times like this. The next day, Xiao Xueman got up a bit late, and Qin Lou had already left for his mission. Breakfast was on the nearby table, still warm.

This place was just a temporary stay for Qin Lou. In a few days, he would move to a new location. It was just a portable compression cabin, but it was neatly organized. Xiao Xueman walked around and found some odds and ends on a shelf, things Qin Lou had collected in the Rose Star System.

There were some dried fruits, which he knew Xiao Xueman liked.

The Rose Star System had some unique dried fruits, and Qin Lou would buy some while on missions. He had done his homework, knowing which ones were tasty and had categorized them simply.

Some were sweet and sour, some were lightly sweet, and some were richly sweet, waiting for Xiao Xueman to enjoy.

There were also two small flowers, not sure if he bought them or dug them up from somewhere, kept in nutrient solution, growing well. A small note was attached, saying to plant them in the upper right corner of the garden’s glasshouse.

There were also some gifts for Xiao Xueman, for parents, or for the family, some interesting household items, and some Rose Star System-style decorations.

These things brought a touch of warmth and life to Qin Lou’s orderly room.

Later, Xiao Xueman followed Qin Lou around the Rose Star System, setting up stations. Although the military was organized and followed orders during missions, many tasks required communication with local residents to gain their understanding and cooperation.

Qin Lou had grown a lot from a low-ranking soldier to his current position. The eighteen-year-old young master of the Qin family was long gone. He remained confident but was more humane, no longer arrogant and dismissive.

This was evident in his smooth interactions with outsiders and strangers, as he had a certain charm that made people willing to listen to him. The small gifts he prepared in the room were probably one manifestation of this change.

When Xiao Xueman first met Qin Lou, he felt happy and blessed to be with him, but he couldn't quite understand why he fell in love at first sight. Back then, he had only seen a photo on the star network and was already willing to come to Imperial Star for him.

But in their subsequent life together, Xiao Xueman constantly realized why he loved Qin Lou through various experiences.

Their love was no longer a mysterious love at first sight because Qin Lou had so many lovable qualities. Every time he discovered one, he fell in love with him all over again.

Their mutual love at first sight was no longer worth dwelling on. It was a beautiful beginning that allowed them to fall in love with each other repeatedly during their time together, becoming inseparable.

The starburst in the Rose Star System had already begun, and fortunately, the early precautions were strong, and the preparations were sufficient. Most planets in the star system were unaffected. However, the starburst's development gradually exceeded their expectations.

Due to this emergency, Qin Lou and Xiao Xueman became extremely busy. The situation had changed, and they couldn’t proceed as planned.

Today was the largest starburst, occurring on the most populous planet in the Rose Star System. Despite their best efforts, some meteor fragments slipped through and attacked parts of the city.

Qin Lou was at the forefront, rescuing people, while Xiao Xueman, as a technical advisor, continuously repaired and reinforced the current barriers. But ever since Qin Lou went out, Xiao Xueman's mood had been unstable, filled with unprecedented anxiety.

He was extremely afraid of Qin Lou being in danger.

When Qin Lou's communication was cut off, the thing Xiao Xueman feared most happened. It was something he had invented, a connection between him and Qin Lou, now barely audible.

At this point, the starburst was nearing its end, and Xiao Xueman, unable to bear it any longer, handed over his system to a colleague and went to find Qin Lou with some protective gear.

The meteors had stopped falling, but the danger now lay in the previously attacked, half-collapsed buildings and large equipment. The military personnel were barely enough to rescue civilians, so Xiao Xueman went on his own.

He was also a military academy graduate, though from the technical department, but physically fit like a standard soldier.

He quickly found the place where Qin Lou’s communication had disappeared. It was a large base, just hit by a meteor, and the situation was chaotic. Rescue robots and fully armed robots moved within.

Qin Lou’s adjutant saw Xiao Xueman and hurried over, asking, “Why are you here?”

"Where's Qin Lou?"

“He just went in and hasn’t come out,” the adjutant said. “This building houses extremely important databases and mechanical brains, not only related to the Rose Star System. If damaged, half the alliance would be affected. If those data were lost, the loss would be immeasurable, so the commander went in.”

The severity of this starburst exceeded expectations, and even with their preparations, it wasn’t enough. A large meteor fragment had hit the base, an unfortunate event no one anticipated. The situation inside was complex and urgent, so Qin Lou formed a small team and went in.

“The connection might have been disrupted by the chaotic magnetic field inside,” the adjutant reassured him. “The commander will be fine.”

The database and mechanical brain management department was checking the situation inside. Normally, the data would automatically back up and transmit when attacked, but the sudden incident caused this function to jam and not fully succeed, requiring manual operation.

The mechanical brain had been attacked from outside, triggering its self-protection program. Inside, it now had sound and light wave attacks. Although the military had protective measures, it required excellent physical fitness to withstand.

Technology had its specialties, and Xiao Xueman wasn't all-knowing. He didn't understand the database and mechanical brain aspects, and only learned that Qin Lou was helping them urgently repair the emergency backup function to preserve those precious data and materials.

At this time, Xiao Xueman listened and didn't go in to cause trouble for Qin Lou. But as the management department exclaimed in surprise, "It's successful," the base suddenly exploded and collapsed.

If it were just an ordinary building, Qin Lou could have safely escaped with his abilities and protection. But this base was a high-security area, with too many protective settings out of control in such chaos.

"Qin Lou!"

At this moment, Qin Lou seemed to hear Xiao Xueman's cry from outside. He was trying hard to get out, knowing Xiao Xueman was waiting for him outside, as they had agreed.

But the situation inside the base was too complex. Completing his previous task had already been challenging and exhausting.

When he finally couldn’t hold on and fainted, all he could think of was Xiao Xueman’s face. He couldn’t hold on any longer, but even as he lay on the ground, he was still trying to crawl out.

No, I can't leave Xueman alone. He'll be scared, lonely, and won't take care of himself.

I must get out to find him.

But…

With this thought, Qin Lou woke up after being unconscious for a long time. Through the glass of the hospital room, he saw Xiao Xueman in the adjacent room, also lying there, unconscious.

The adjutant told him that everyone thought Qin Lou was doomed, even the rescue robots had given up. It was Xiao Xueman who, relying on their faint communication link, found him in the rubble with his invention and, with others, dug him out.

Xiao Xueman was in this state because he was injured by the base's residual self-protection program at the time. However, the hospital assured them they would do their best to treat him, and he would wake up in the future.

Qin Lou was willing to wait.

Half a month later, when Xiao Xueman opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Qin Lou by his bedside.

His physique was much better, and his injuries healed faster. Seeing his beloved open his eyes, he held back tears, touched his cheek, and said, "Welcome back, baby."

After being discharged, they returned home, and the two small flowers Qin Lou had brought back from the Rose Star System were already planted in the garden, growing well. The home returned to its usual happiness and tranquility.

Having endured hardships, their relationship became even more unbreakable, a widely known exemplary couple on Imperial Star. Qin Lou and Xiao Xueman grew old together there, always holding each other's hands until they bid farewell to this place.

…

After experiencing this life and returning to the Cosmic Tree, Xiao Xueman and Qin Lou embraced again, both feeling indescribable emotions.

Indeed, even if they forgot everything, they would still find each other.

However, even though they were back, Xiao Xueman still couldn't let go of the danger Qin Lou had faced.

"At that time, I thought I absolutely couldn't let you leave me," Xiao Xueman sighed. "I don't know where the strength came from. Looking back now, it was probably because of the obsession in my heart."

Having almost lost him once, he couldn't allow it to happen again. It was an obsession engraved in his bones.

Qin Lou also had different feelings in his heart.

When Xiao Xueman ascended, he didn't know he had a chance to be reborn. He thought of letting go, as long as Xueman was well.

But after they truly experienced a period of genuine love, he wouldn't let go easily again. He would always strive to survive and stay by his side. This was the courage of love.

They were each other's greatest happiness and most important part, forever accompanying each other in the endless river of life, never to be separated again.

Xiao Xueman and Qin Lou later tried many worlds, many without memories, yet they could still find each other precisely.

When Xiao Wan ascended later, the family always had an unspoken understanding, even in new worlds without memories, they could gather together.

Of course, Xiao Wan had his own life, and most of the time was still left to the two of them.

Every moment of happiness from then on was like a star, forever etched in each other's hearts, shining with an inextinguishable light.

Author's Note:

The extras are finished, so this is officially the end. Thank you all for your companionship and encouragement. I'm really grateful, and I'll keep working hard to write better stories [fist pump]