Chapter 46 – Cooperation 合作

Half a year passed slowly. During these six months, Lin Yuan's life was both fulfilling and oppressive. During the day, he studied the control and application of his spiritual power, and at night, he would stay alone in his room poring over the documents of his father's company. Those documents seemed ordinary on the surface, but there were always some veiled details that made him feel uneasy.

"Life is quite peaceful like this," Lin Yuan lay on the bed, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, a self-deprecating smile on his lips. "But my father has been looking at me differently lately... There seems to be more scrutiny in his eyes."

He turned over and sat up. Outside the window was a dazzling future city full of flowing lights. Lin Yuan clenched his fists and whispered softly, "Dad, what exactly are you hiding from me? And am I about to get involved in some troublesome matter again?"

In the past six months, Lin Yuan hadn't had many conversations with his father. But every time they talked, Lin Tiance's imposing manner always made him feel extremely pressured.

After dinner, Lin Yuan purposely mentioned the "accident".

"Dad," he asked hesitantly, "is there an issue with the company's recent energy project?"

Lin Tiance glanced at him, put down his cutlery, and said in an unhurried tone, "What do you want to know?"

Lin Yuan smiled. "It's nothing. I just heard some rumors that it seems the accident wasn't an accident."

Lin Tiance didn't answer directly but said indifferently, "You're still young. For some things, the less you know, the better. Focusing on your own research is more important than anything else."

These words left Lin Yuan helpless. His father clearly wouldn't disclose more information. But Lin Yuan noticed a hidden meaning in Lin Tiance's eyes, like he was either testing or warning him.

In contrast to his father's sternness, Lin Yuan's mother, Ye Qingxuan, was much gentler. Although she was also very busy with her work every day, she would always set aside one evening each week to have a chat with Lin Yuan alone.

During one such conversation, the two of them sat on the balcony, looking at the three moons of Kepler-4b hanging in the night sky.

"Mom, do you think life choices are important?" Lin Yuan suddenly asked.

Ye Qingxuan smiled gently, her eyes tender. "Sure they are. But being responsible for a choice is more important than the choice itself."

She paused, and her tone became a bit more determined. "Whether it's for work, family, or myself, I've never regretted my choices. Because I know that all my decisions are made to make us go further."

Lin Yuan nodded, lost in thought. He suddenly realized he had always lacked his mother's decisiveness and calmness.

...

Lin Yuan gradually got familiar with his spiritual power. He found that his ability was not just about controlling water flow. It was more like a comprehensive mastery of the "liquid state", including condensing, purifying, and even a small-scale transformation.

In an experiment, he successfully purified some highly polluted wastewater with his spiritual power. This discovery surprised him and also made him see the greater potential of his ability.

But at the same time, his intuition told him that there seemed to be a bigger secret behind the accident in his father's company.

Lin Yuan's life seemed calm on the surface in the following days, but vaguely, the situation was changing. Lin Tiance's company was gradually speeding up an energy project. Also, Ye Qingxuan's department got a special commendation because of a new Federation policy.

Looking at his parents' busy figures, Lin Yuan felt both admiration and more questions in his heart. Although the Jiuchong Ring would sometimes mock him, it never gave more explicit clues about the "Star Spirit Dew".

Then, one day, a small event disrupted Lin Yuan's peaceful life again...

...

One day, during an ordinary company meeting, Lin Yuan had a brief cooperation with Li Xingchen's department. After the meeting ended, Li Xingchen deliberately stayed behind and looked at Lin Yuan with a meaningful gaze.

"Lin Yuan," she said, "I've heard a rumor recently that might be related to something you're interested in."

Lin Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly. "What rumor?"

Li Xingchen smiled and said slowly, "The Star Spirit Dew's real location is linked to an ancient battle team base. And it hasn't been peaceful there recently."

When Lin Yuan heard "Star Spirit Dew", he immediately perked up, but he pretended to be calm and said, "What are you getting at?"

Li Xingchen put away her smile and her tone became more serious. "I need your help. The accelerated trajectory of the Insect Stars isn't just a simple natural phenomenon. Their forces are secretly infiltrating the Federation, and they might even have entered the Mecha Gundam Battle Team. I need you to join the team and help me find out the identity of the mole."

Lin Yuan squinted and said softly, "This sounds really dangerous. Extremely dangerous. And how do you know I'll help you?"

Li Xingchen raised her eyebrows and the corner of her mouth curled into a meaningful smile. "Because you need the Star Spirit Dew, and I know its exact location."

The two of them looked at each other for a while. Finally, Lin Yuan let out a sigh. "All right, I'll help you find the mole. But you have to promise that no matter what the result is, you'll tell me the location of the Star Spirit Dew."

Li Xingchen smiled slightly and held out her hand. "It's a deal."

A few days after Lin Yuan decided to join the Mecha Gundam Battle Team, the Federation's highest government made an important decision. It would give special honors to those who had done great work in interstellar energy research. This included the department where Lin Yuan's mother, Ye Qingxuan, worked.

At the award ceremony, Ye Qingxuan, wearing a dignified dress, stepped onto the stage gracefully and confidently to receive the award. Her speech was brief and powerful: "I've never regretted my choices because I'm responsible for myself. And every choice is made for the future of our planet."

Lin Yuan watched with his family in the audience, and a sense of pride welled up in his heart for no apparent reason. However, he saw that on the other side of the audience, Li Xingchen was also quietly looking at the stage. Her eyes were full of complexity, as if she was thinking hard.

=======================

时间不紧不慢得来到半年后.这6个月,林远过得既充实又压抑.他白天在研究精神力的控制和应用,晚上则独自在房间翻看父亲公司的资料.那些文件表面看起来普通,却总有一些隐晦的细节让他感到不安.

"这日子,还算安稳." 林远躺在床上,目光盯着天花板,嘴角挂着一丝自嘲的笑意,"可父亲最近看我的眼神... 好像多了点审视的味道."

他翻身坐起,窗外是一片流光溢彩的未来都市.林远握紧手心,轻声道: "老爹啊,你到底瞒着我什么?还有,我是不是又要卷进什么麻烦事了?"

半年里,林远和父亲的交流并不算多,但每次谈话,林天策的气场总让他感到压力倍增.

一次晚餐后,林远故意提起那场 "事故".

"爸," 他试探着问道, "公司最近的能源项目...是不是出了点什么问题?"

林天策抬眼看了他一眼,放下餐具,语气不疾不徐: "你想知道什么?"

林远笑了笑: "也没什么,就是听到了一些传闻,似乎事故并非意外."

林天策没有正面回答,而是淡淡说道: "你现在还年轻,有些事,知道得越少越好.专注于你自己的研究,比什么都重要."

这番话让林远感到无力,父亲果然是不会轻易透露更多.但他注意到,林天策的眼中多了一丝深意,像是在试探他,又像是在警告他.

相比于父亲的冷峻,林远的母亲叶青璇则显得温和许多.尽管她每天的工作也非常繁忙,但每周总会抽出一个晚上和林远单独聊一会儿.

在一次聊天中,两人坐在阳台上,看着开普勒4b的三个月亮挂在夜空中.

"妈,你觉得人生的选择重要吗?" 林远突然问.

叶青璇轻轻一笑,目光柔和:"当然重要.但比选择更重要的是,为选择负责."

她顿了顿,语气多了一丝坚定: "无论是对工作,对家庭,还是对自己,我从不后悔我的选择.因为我知道,所有的决定,都是为了让我们走得更远."

林远点点头,若有所思.他突然觉得,母亲的果断和冷静,或许是自己一直缺少的东西.

...

林远逐渐熟悉了自己的精神力.他发现,他的能力并不仅仅是控制水流那么简单,更像是一种对 "液体状态" 的全面掌控,包括凝聚,净化,甚至微小范围的转化.

在实验中,他成功用精神力净化了一些高污染的废水,这个发现让他感到惊喜,也让他看到了能力更大的潜力.

但与此同时,他的直觉告诉他,父亲的公司那场事故背后,似乎隐藏着更大的秘密.

林远接下来的生活看似风平浪静,但隐约之间,局势正在发生变化.林天策的公司似乎逐步加快了某个能源项目的进度,而叶青璇所在的部门,也因联邦的一项新政策而获得了特别表彰.

林远看着父母忙碌的身影,心中一边充满敬佩,一边涌起更多的疑问.九重戒虽然偶尔冷嘲热讽,但始终没有给出关于 "星灵露" 更明确的线索.

直到某一天,一个小小的契机,让林远的平静生活再次被打破...

...

一天,林远在一次普通的公司会议中,与黎星辰的部门有了一次短暂的合作.会议结束后,黎星辰故意留了下来,用一种意味深长的眼神看着林远.

"林远," 她开口, "我最近听说了一个传闻,和你可能感兴趣的东西有关."

林远微微挑眉: "什么传闻?"

黎星辰笑了笑,缓缓说道: "星灵露的真正位置,和一个古老的战队基地有关.而且,那里最近闹得不太平."

林远听到 "星灵露",瞬间来了精神,但他故作镇定地说道:"你想说什么?"

黎星辰收起了笑容,语气认真了几分: "我要你的帮忙.虫星的轨迹加速,并不是简单的自然现象,它们的势力在暗中渗透联邦,甚至可能进入了机甲高达战队.我需要你进入战队,帮我查出内奸的身份."

林远眯起眼睛,低声说道: "这听起来像是一场危险的事,而且是非常非常,非常危险那种.还有,你怎么知道,我会帮你?"

黎星辰挑了挑眉,嘴角勾起一抹意味深长的笑容: "因为你需要星灵露,而我,知道它的确切位置."

两人对视了一会儿,林远最终轻叹一声: "好吧,我帮你查出内奸.但你得保证,不管结果如何,你都要告诉我星灵露的位置."

黎星辰微微一笑,伸出手说道:"成交."

在林远决定加入机甲高达战队的几天后,联邦最高政府发布了一项重要决定:给予在星际能源研究中有杰出贡献的人员和团队特别表彰,其中包括林远的母亲叶青璇所在的部门.

在颁奖仪式上,叶青璇一身端庄的礼服,优雅而自信地登台领奖.她的发言简短而有力:"我从不后悔我的选择,因为我为自己负责.而每一个选择,都为了我们星球的未来."

林远和家人一起在台下观看,心中莫名升起一种自豪感.然而,他注意到在观众席的另一边,黎星辰也在默默注视着舞台.她的眼神复杂,似乎在思考着什么.