Chapter 2

After calming himself down, Yan Mao sat up on his bed and held his forehead when he felt dizziness. He closed his eyes and familiar yet unfamiliar memories flooded his mind.

He saw his father's face, the legal wife, and his half-brother but the memories including them in these memories are odd. A memory where he was sent to a research facility when he was only six years old, before that was a memory where he was constantly oppressed by his half-brother and the legal wife behind his father's knowledge. He was send to that facility because those two suggested it. Now, ten years passed, he was send back. The reason was that even though he has an SS class spiritual strength, after so much research and experimentation was not worth of anything. He was sure smart but that is only when it comes to memorizing things. His body strength is B-class, it's above than normal C-class almost anyone has, but even if he's B-class, his combat is hopeless.

Yan Mao doesn't understand these memories. What do you mean spiritual strength and body strength? What's with this classification? Something is also different, in those memories; it seems he is the legitimate son of his father while his half-brother and his mother appear to be the illegitimate son and the mistress. What is this? In addition, those places in his head were pretty modern and sci-fi looking, too. He even saw a hovercraft. He seems to be not in a place where he was supposed to be. Where is he? Information floated in his head: Exalial Empire, Sataha Capital Star.

What…?

Where that information came from? Moreover, another information floated in his mind different from the first one: Yan Mao's hatred towards the mistress and the illegitimate son grew more when he found out that he was sent in the research facility because of them. Growing up inside the facility, his hatred became enormous whenever he was being experimented and when the research made no further progress, he was send back home and when he saw that pair of mother and son, a plan of destroying them. However, because his nature is not hateful, his entireplan failed every time. Resulting of his half-brother meeting the cold as ice General Qin Yohan who became the youngest to ever get the title of General for being able to win against the Zerg whenever an invasion happen, as well as how he was able to suppress an enemy empire in a war of conquest. Who would disagree of him getting such high title? Upon meeting the "damsel-in-distress" half-brother of his, the General fell for his brother and save him from Yan Mao. Yan Mao was killed by Qin Yohan the last time he tried to harm his brother.

This information… is this telling Yan Mao that he was going against those two scary mother-son pair?Why? Sure, he hates them but there is no way he could kill or even hurt anyone. More than anything, what he wants to do is to get away from them and live a simple and normal life without being hated by anyone.Moreover, is his brother gay? As far as he knows, his brother likes girls. Well, whatever floats his boat.

Looking around the room, the parallel world theory came up in his mind. No matter how you think of it, he is in a parallel world. Look how his place was exchange with that mother-son pair but they are still related. Even their name and faces are the same. It's just Yan Mao's face and body looks like a young boy despite being sixteen years old already. He looks thirteen. He can't help but ask, why? All he can think of was because of being raised inside a research facility where 80% of the time he was locked inside a room and 20% was lying down on an operating table, that's why his growth was way too slow than normal. That put him in a bad mood all of a sudden.

He thought it wasn't enough that he was already oppressed not just by those two, even his own mother and father. In addition to that, in this alternate reality, he was sent to such place. Speaking of his mother, why is there no memory of her or information about her? He thought and thought about it but there isn't one. Somehow, that made him feels better. He doesn't need a mother. Actually, it's fine even if he was alone. He wonders, was he being a bad person for thinking that way?

He frowned at the idea. It's fine even if he was seen as such. It's better than having such mother by his side.

Yan Mao got off the bed and went to the bathroom to take a bath and ready for the day. It seems yesterday was the day and he returned, he thought as he tried to fill the tub with water. He leaned down to fill the tub but stopped just before he could when a memory of himself lying on a bed convulsing nonstop popped up in his head.

So, that was it. He was wondering why he came to this alternate reality and it was because the 'him' in this world died yesterday on that bed. He looked at the back of his pale cream hand and saw countless scars made from constant injection done on him…even his arms has it. Isn't he more pitiful here? Yan Mao cannot blame the original owner of this body for becoming a person full of hate. He was sorry because he can't take revenge for him. He shook his head to stop thinking about it, instead he thought, "I can't take revenge on your behalf but I won't let anyone wrong you any further."

Well, no matter if it's the original owner or him, they are the same person, anyway. He won't let anyonedo anything to him. Yan Mao continued what he was doing but he can't find the faucet for the bath. How will he take a bath? Right after standing straight a screen popped up in front of him, it says:

[Warm] or [Cold] bath?

He froze at the sight. His eyes twinkled with interest. H wasn't smiling but his eyes are shining as if he's a kid who saw a new toy. He slowly raised his hand and tappedthe word 'warm." He looked at the tub and water started flowing from the edges. He leaned down and touched it and it's warm.

What is this? So cool. How do I open that again? He's not wearing any device. He touched his neck and felt a collar-type necklace. He went to the mirror in the bathroom and saw a black collar on him with a square ocean-colored gem attached to the middle. After touching it, a screen popped up in front of him.

[Quantum computer account activated. Proceeds to do a body scan for binding.]

Then, a blue light started surrounding his body.

[Yan Mao's genetic code found, binding complete.]

Another screen pop up, it was like a computer screen with applications installed in it. Well, with a different user interface than what you can see on Windows on Earth.

He tapped on the search bar around the screen and a keyboard showed up with different characters than what he was used to but he could read and understand it. Good. It would be bad if he doesn't understand the language here.

After know that this quantum computer on him is resistant to water, he proceed on bathing while fiddling in his newfound toy. What does he needs to know?

He was only able to finish bathing after an hour or so because of so much researching of what he needs to know. Such as it seems the average life span of people here are around 250 years old. Does that mean he can live up to that age? He finds that cool and uncool as well. That's cool if he could live peacefully, but he doesn't want a long life if there are people around who makes his life miserable. In addition, it seems they could travel outside the planet with spaceships, like a normal vehicle, too. There are AI robots that do the daily chores like cleaning or even cooking. There are hovercrafts and suspension cars where you can ride across the sky.

There are those others, too but other than being technologically advanced ten times that of Earth, the people here are much stronger, too. He finally understood that spiritual strength somehow. It appears to be an energy wave you can use in combat; it can also affect the mind and/or your surroundings depending on how you use it. Some of the people can even develop some kind of elemental power.

He also looked into the information of General Qin Yohan just to make sure, even though he knows that as long as he doesn't do anything to his half-brother, he won't be killed by Qin Yohan. The information he got in his mind says that he is as cold as ice of a person, but he doesn't seem to be that cold. He was even smiling in the pictures he found online, even though it's a small smile, he looks fine. Actually, isn't his face worse since he was always told he has dead-like eyes? Yeah, this Qin Yohan is much better than him.

Just to make sure, he should try meeting this person just so he could show him that he's not a bad person. He doesn't want to die yet. That should one of my priorities.

For now, he decided to go out and explore this place: Capital star called Sataha

He searched for the most crowded place in the capital and he chose the Sky Island Shopping Center. It took his interest because the information says it's a very big island suspended in the air. Isn't that cool? Even people living outside Sataha goes there for shopping because of this fact other than the items sold there are all good quality products.

After brushing his teeth with smart toothbrush and drying his hair with smart towel, he went to the closet and chose a casual outfit to wear. By the way, that toothbrush cleaned his tooth with even moving his muscle, you know. He just opened his mouth to brush his teeth but the brush moved on its own, he almost got scared. Then, that smart towel. Was it made by the heavens? He only put it on his head to dry his hair but it wrapped around his head on its own and heat came out drying his hair in few minutes.

This place is better. There are interesting things he could explore. He should make sure he lives a peaceful life here.

When he looked into his quantum computer, it was only around 7 am. It's perfect for a stroll. He looked in the mirror and then opened the door of the room once he was satisfied of his look.

That was also the time when someone was about to knock but stopped halfway when he saw the person inside open the door.

Yan Mao looked up and saw a tall middle-aged looking man in a black suit when he opened the door. He sure looks like a middle-aged person but you can't deny his looks, he sure could still pass as a model if this is Earth. Is every person in this place good looking? He should look into it later. That middle-aged man dropped his hand and bowed his head saying, "Good morning, Young Master Yan Mao."

Yan Mao froze for a second seeing a person he doesn't know and then slowly asked, "…You are?" He tried recalling the memories he got but this person never came up.

The middle-aged man lifted his head and gave him a warm smile before saying, "It seems the Young Master forgot about me already. It can't be helped since you were too young back then. My name is Lu Nian, Master Yan Zheng's butler and assistant."

Yan Zheng…that cheap father of his? Yan Mao frowned slightlybefore returning to a solemn face. "Sorry if I don't remember... Is there anything I can help you?"

It seems the Young Master doesn't like his father seeing his frown. He can't blame the child, who would like a father who send his own child to such place? Lu Nian thought while observing Yan Mao's reaction before answering, "The breakfast is served, Young Master. I came to wake you up, in case you were still sleeping. Seeing you're already up and lively, we should go to the dining hall. Everyone is already there."

Everyone, huh… First thing in the morning and those people are the ones he meets first. He doesn't like it one bit. "Actually, I want to go and eat outside."

"I understand. Then, follow me to the dining hall so you can ask Master Yan Zheng for permission, personally."

Yan Mao hesitated at the words but he didn't show his aversion towards what Lu Nian. He still needs to see them? "Can you tell them in my stead?"

Lu Nian sighed silently. The Young Master isn't showing his aversion but just those words are enough to tell him how much he hates the idea of meeting his own father. Poor child. "I understand. Do you want someone to escort you while you are outside, Young Master?"

Yan Mao shook his head no, "It's okay, Mr. Lu. I can manage on my own. I want to explore the place around alone."

"I understand, then, let's get you a suspension car you can use. Moreover, please, call me Uncle Lu. Young Master is too cold to me. Am I that hateful?" Lu Nian said the last sentence, faking a sad look before smiling as if saying he was only joking.

Yan Mao was a little shocked with Lu Nian's remark because he didn't think that his father's people couldbe that approachable. Or only this man is like this? Well, he doesn't mind. It was rare to meet kind people for him. Who is he to hate them?

He gave a small smile, not knowing his cheeks has a pale pink blush, "…No, I don't hate you. I'm sorry…, Uncle Lu. I'm just not used to being close with others. You're a nice person, Uncle Lu. There is no way I hate you."

"That's good to know. You can tell me whenever you need help; I'll help as much as I can, seeing how Young Master grew up well, I need to make sure you are well taken care of."

"Thank you, Uncle Lu."

Once Yan Mao was inside a suspension car, Uncle Lu taught him how to activate the Autopilot mode and how to input the places he wants to go before sending him off with a smile.

When the car flew off, Yan Mao looked outside the car window and saw buildings after buildings as well as different suspension cars going back and forth in the sky. This is so cool! His eyes are twinkling yet again.