Side Story

After the last incident, Zi Yi would call and check on them from time to time, it was as if she feared that Runge would do something to her son. Her actions made Runge feel upset, therefore he adopted an uncaring attitude toward Tangtang.

Ever since the last incident, Runge never appeared before the two children again.

However, due to his indifference, the other people around him started talking about the two children even more enthusiastically.

“Guoguo is too adorable. She’s so young and yet, she is capable of reciting so many world-renowned books. She would even tell us stories!”

!!

“Tangtang is the amazing one. At such a young age, his mental energy is stronger than ours. If not for the fact that we’re afraid of allowing him to touch the mecha, I would totally let him try out our leader’s mecha.”

“You better not have such thoughts. If the leader were to learn of it, he would punish you for sure.”

“Aren’t I just thinking? Obviously, I wouldn’t dare to let him touch the mecha. However, why does the leader show an aloof expression whenever he sees the two cuties? It is simply a blessing for us to have such adorable little children accompany us during the journey. If I was the leader, I would surely spoil them rotten.”

“Isn’t this how leader treats everyone? Have you ever seen him smiling at anyone?”

“You’re right.”

Runge was standing at the corner and listening in to their conversation with a dark expression.

In the past, he would go to them and silence them with his gaze. However, after hearing similar words repeatedly, he had grown numb to such words.

He turned around and walked back to where he came from.

After walking for some time, he just so happened to see a small figure running across.

Ever since Guoguo came on board the ship, be it men or women in the logistics department, their greatest joy right now was to make all sorts of beautiful dresses for her to wear. Runge noticed that she would wear a different dress every time he saw her.

At this rate, he felt that the people on the ship would most probably be lacking in new clothes to wear for the following months.

“Ouch~”

The sudden sound of someone tripping pulled Runge back to his senses.

By the time he realized that he had reacted, he had already walked to Guoguo who was lying on the ground in large strides.

Guoguo was wearing a fluffy skirt and a big butterfly bow on her head. She resembled a Barbie doll that was displayed behind a glass panel.

Perhaps she was too excited, so she had been jumping around when she walked, which led to her tripping on the floor.

It was evident that her fall was rather serious as she had scraped her knees.

She was currently lying on the ground while sniffling. Tears could be seen around the rim of her eyes.

At the sight of Runge, she pouted and the tears in the rims of her eyes spilled out.

“Uncle Runge.”

Runge felt his heart constrict. He squatted down to check her knees and with a taut expression, he asked, “Does it hurt?”

Guoguo originally wanted to nod, but she hastily changed her mind at the sight of his expression. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Runge looked at her with a sharp gaze.

“You’re lying.”

Guoguo felt as though she was wronged. “Will you scold me if I said it hurts?”

“Why would I scold you?”

“All of them said that you are very fierce.”

It has been over a month since Guoguo saw Runge. Even when she woke up at night, she did not see him either. In addition, she often heard others mention how strict Runge was during training. Therefore, she automatically imagined the scene of Runge beating people up. At the sight of him now, she feared that she would be beaten up.

In particular, Runge’s expression turned colder at that moment, and Guoguo felt that she would get a beating in the very next second.

She hastily said, “Don’t hit me, or else I’ll tell Mom.”

Runge looked at the little girl before him. The slight reluctance he felt immediately disappeared when he heard Zi Yi’s name. He got on his feet and lifted her up from the ground before holding her in one hand and walking away.

“AHH-”

Guoguo got a fright. By the time she recovered her senses, she was hugging Runge’s neck. She sat on his arm without moving, for fear that he would throw her on the floor.

Runge pursed his lips and continued walking in large strides with Guoguo in his arms.

Guoguo secretly looked at him.

Sometime later, she could not resist herself and asked carefully, “Uncle Runge, do you dislike Guoguo and Brother?”

Runge glanced at her for a second before he looked away and continued walking.

Guoguo felt that her guess was right. She tightened her grip on his neck and said, “I knew it, you must dislike us very much, therefore you get angry at the sight of Guoguo and Brother.”

In fact, these were just her guesses after hearing what others told her. As she said that, she glanced in his direction. When she saw no change in his expression, she planned to use the tricks she used on the elders back at home.

She rubbed her tender cheeks against his cheeks.

She clearly felt the arm holding onto her stiffening from her action.

She hastily said, “Uncle Runge, don’t be angry at Guoguo and Brother anymore. We are very obedient.”

Runge took a deep breath. The soft and tender cheeks rubbing against his face produced a strange feeling from deep down inside.

He said in a stiff voice, “I’m not angry.”

“You are angry.” Guoguo was very certain. “If you aren’t angry, why haven’t you come to put Guoguo to sleep for so many nights?”

“You are the same age as your Brother. He doesn’t need anyone to coddle him to sleep.”

“But I’m a girl. Grandma and Aunts all said that girls should be coddled.”

“…”

Runge had nothing to say in response.

Guoguo suddenly gasped.

...

“What’s the matter?”

“It hurts.”

While she said that, she moved the knee that was scrapped.

Runge immediately increased his pace. Soon, he brought Guoguo to the infirmary.

At the sight of Runge carrying Guoguo inside, the doctors rushed over.

Runge said, “She fell down and scraped her knees.”

“Oh my! Little sweetheart, why are you so careless? Does it hurt? Quick, come and let me have a look.”

“Guoguo, you’re really brave. You didn’t even cry after falling down and scraping your knees.”

“Gosh, how did you get such a big injury? My little sweetheart, you’re making me feel heartache.”

…

Runge, who had been pushed to the back, looked on coldly as the medical staff crowded around Guoguo. She only had a minor scrape and they made it sound as though she had a terminal illness.

...

Several medical staff surrounded her to clean her wound, apply medicine, and bandage it. In the end, they reminded her of many things to take care of.

By the time Runge carried Guoguo out, he was carrying a large bag of medicine in his other hand.

After sending Guoguo to her room, Runge said, “Since your knees hurt, stay here and don’t run around.”

“But Guoguo feels bored.”

Guoguo looked at Runge who was about to leave. She pulled his sleeves and stopped him from leaving.

“Uncle Runge, stay and accompany Guoguo.”

Runge had a cold expression on his face, but he could not utter any words of rejection.

Just like this, he remained there until Guoguo fell asleep.

After training ended at night, the first thing he did was check up on Guoguo.

She had already fallen asleep by the time he came.

In the end, he sat by her side and looked after her.

When the little child was curled up, she looked even smaller.

Runge originally wanted to check if the dressing on her knees was changed. When he reached out his hand, Guoguo grabbed onto it.

“Dad, help!”

Runge’s expression turned cold and was about to retract his hand.

Just then, Guoguo suddenly opened her eyes. With a teary gaze, she looked at Runge and called out, “Uncle Runge.”

Runge’s heart instantly softened.

Guoguo said with a pout, “Guoguo had a nightmare just now. I dreamt that all of us were captured by bad guys.”

Runge said, “We won’t be captured by bad guys. Dreams are all fake.”

Guoguo looked at his cold and serious expression for some time. In the end, she breathed a sigh of relief as though she believed in his words. She then held his fingers and said, “Uncle Runge, can you accompany Guoguo to sleep? Guoguo is afraid.”

Runge looked at her tear-stained face and eventually nodded.

Guoguo looked at him with her eyes wide open.

Runge made eye contact with her. The purity in her eyes was as beautiful as black agate.

Just then, Guoguo suddenly asked, “Uncle Runge, why don’t you ever smile?”

Runge did not know how to answer her. He said with a taut expression, “You should sleep.”

Guoguo pouted, seemingly a little unhappy with his response. “Even without you telling me, I know why. You’re the same as my Uncle, both of you are expressionless. However, Aunt knows what my Uncle is thinking… Uncle Runge, do you have someone like my Aunt by your side?”

“No. Go to sleep.”

Guoguo looked at Runge. A short while later, she said, “Uncle Runge, you’re very pitiful.”

Runge: “…”

Guoguo added and said, “But don’t be too upset. They say that Guoguo is a lucky star. Guoguo will find someone who knows what you are thinking!”

Runge: “…”

Runge only treated it as a child’s conversation and did not pay much heed to it. However, in the following period of time, the little girl talked to every single female on the ship.

She would boast about how great Runge was before them and asked if they wanted to like Uncle Runge or not.

By the time Runge learned of this matter, a few days had already passed.

It was one of his subordinates who could not hold back any longer. When everyone was heading outside after training ended, he moved to Runge’s side and asked timidly, “Leader, if you are looking for a woman, you can just pick anyone and call them to your room.”

Runge’s cold gaze looked at him and he asked coldly, “Are you trying to seek death?”

His subordinate trembled and quickly shook his head. “No, I’m not!”

He then acted fearless and continued asking, “Didn’t you ask Guoguo to ask who was willing to be with you?”

He felt that the Leader was wasting time asking around. It would be more efficient if he designated someone.

If he continued with the current approach of asking around, it was obvious that no women would be willing. He was indeed handsome, but he was too cold. Who would be willing to sleep next to him who was like an ice block?

When Runge heard what he said, his expression turned colder.

The subordinate also noticed the change in Runge’s expression. He swallowed his saliva and asked, “Don’t tell me you weren’t the one who asked Guoguo to ask around?”

Runge said, “Do you think I would be that bored?”

Having said that, he walked away quickly.

The subordinate continued swallowing his saliva as he looked at Runge’s back view. He thought to himself: “Could it be that Guoguo was acting recklessly and helping the Leader find a partner on her own accord?”

At the thought of this, he muttered, “Even a child can’t stand your cold attitude and is trying to find a woman to warm you up. You’re the only one who doesn’t realize this.”

…

Runge went straight to the mental training room.

The spacecraft was only half a month away from the space jump location.

The moment they arrived at the third space, there would be a danger of encountering space pirates. He had to increase his mental training. In the past, he didn’t think much of going to the third space. However, there were two additional children tagging along and he had to ensure their safety.

Today’s mental training did not progress smoothly. When Runge was increasing his mental energy, he suddenly felt that his mental energy was going out of control.

The outbursts of mental energies were very powerful and destructive.

When many people were injured, an alarm sounded throughout the spacecraft.

“Brother, what’s wrong?”

Someone brought Tangtang and Guoguo to a safe house. After instructing them not to run around, they quickly left.

Guoguo stood next to Tangtang and pulled his sleeves with a worried expression.

Tangtang did not know what was going on either. He then made a guess. “Perhaps something happened.”

“Did the space pirates attack us?”

At the thought of space pirates, Guoguo’s small body started trembling.

Tangtang held her in his arms and said, “Don’t be afraid.”

“Why don’t we get in touch with Dad and Mom? Mom would surely have a way.”

Guoguo thought of their parents at first instance.

Tangtang thought for a moment and nodded his head. He then sent Zi Yi a video call.

Zi Yi answered their call very quickly. She was currently standing in front of a mecha as she asked, “Baby Tangtang, what’s wrong?”

Guoguo rushed to speak first. “Mom, someone told us to hide inside this room just now. Did we encounter space pirates? Guoguo is very scared.”

Zi Yi furrowed her brows and hastily reassured her. “Baby Guoguo, don’t be scared. Mom will contact Runge right away. There are powerful weapons on the spaceship to deal with pirates and nothing will happen.”

Having said that, she hung up the call with them.

Tangtang and Guoguo stood there and waited. Both of them were a little nervous.

Not long after, Zi Yi’s video call arrived.

She had a serious expression as she said, “Tangtang, Guoguo, Mom needs you to use your mental energy to help Runge.”