Chapter 1037 - 1037 Side Story 2
1037 Side Story 2
Runge did not expect that there would come a day when two kids could make him feel powerless.
Especially since the kids belonged to that woman.
Guoguo resembled Zi Yi a lot. When he saw the fear in her eyes, Runge was at a loss.
“You…”
!!
The moment he opened his mouth, Guoguo went a little closer to Tangtang.
Tangtang also put down the tablet. He looked at Runge with a maturity far beyond his years.
Runge and Tangtang looked at each other for a few seconds before they both veered their eyes away. Runge stopped suppressing his voice and spoke in a normal tone. “Since you are on the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p, you have to stay on board. Once the craft has been activated, it won’t dock until it reaches its destination. Otherwise, it will waste fuel. Not every planet has the energy sources we need.
“You can play on board the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p, but you can’t go anywhere dangerous, especially the control room. Don’t touch anything in there.
“I’ll send people to take care of you. If you need anything, just let them know.
“The s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p will travel in s.p.a.ce for half a year. When it reaches Planet B in the third s.p.a.ce, it will stop there for some time. Your parents will pick you up then.
“Also…”
Runge had never talked so much in one go. He looked at the kids looking at him intently. For a moment, he did not know what else to say.
He paused briefly and pursed his lips before he added and said, “If you need anything, you can come to me directly. I stay at block B123..”
The moment he finished his sentence, he turned to leave.
“Uncle.”
The crisp voice of a little girl could be heard.
Runge looked at Guoguo.
Guoguo said, “I’m scared.”
“What are you scared of?”
“I… I’m scared of s.p.a.ce pirates.”
Guoguo got off the stool and walked up in front of him. She tugged his clothes with her head raised. He looked like a giant to her.
After all, they were just kids. Even though Guoguo found Runge’s coldness scary at first, someone in their family had an imposing aura as well, so Guoguo stopped feeling scared quickly.
She looked at him miserably with her beautiful eyes and looked particularly adorable.
Runge’s hands moved unknowingly as they hung from the sides of his body. In the end, he raised his hand and said, “We won’t run into any s.p.a.ce pirates. Even if we do, I’ll keep you safe.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes.”
Guoguo finally felt relieved. She smiled sweetly at him. “Thanks, Uncle.”
Runge sensed an inexplicable itch in his heart but he could not put a finger on what it was.
He acknowledged her and turned to walk off. As he walked, he said, “I will get someone to take you to your room.”
Guoguo looked at him from behind and shouted, “I want to live closer to you, Uncle.”
Runge finally answered when he was nearly at the door, “Okay.”
Life on the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p was very dry. Regardless of gender, everyone had to adhere to strict training and studies. Also, they had to carry out mental energy training.
The moment Tangtang entered the bedroom, he used the tablet and started practicing.
Guoguo was unable to stay put. A few hours ago, she had already started missing her family.
When it was bedtime, Zi Yi and the others sent video calls to them telling them to be good while they were on the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p.
As Mrs. Lu spoke, she wiped tears from her eyes. Guoguo finally could not contain herself and tears trickled from her eyes.
Guoguo said, “Granny, I miss everyone. I want to go home.”
Mrs. Lu answered, “You rascal. It doesn’t matter if you’re usually mischievous, but did you have to board the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p? Now that you’re gone, it’s going to take a year for you to return. Are you trying to make me die of worry?”
Lu Yunxiao’s son, Lu Zixiang, also known as Lele sat beside Mrs. Lu. He resembled Lu Yunxiao a lot. As he wiped the tears from Mrs. Lu’s face, he asked expressionlessly, “Sister Guoguo, are you sorry about what you’ve done?”
Guoguo hurriedly nodded. “Yes, I am.”
Lele said, “Then you have to call us every day. Also, you need to train hard with Brother Tangtang. You can’t keep fooling around, okay?”
“Got it.”
Guoguo looked very demoralized. Usually, if Lele said something like this, she would educate Lele as his older sister.
Mrs. Lu felt sad for Guoguo. She said, “Be good. It’s your bedtime, so go to sleep. When you miss me, you can give me a video call.”
“Okay. Grandma, Lele, see you again.”
After hanging up the phone, Guoguo turned to look at Tangtang.
The two of them had already started to sleep separately. Tangtang glanced at Guoguo, hinting at her to go back to her room.
Guoguo was a little reluctant to leave. “Brother, I want to sleep with you. I’m scared of sleeping alone.”
“You’re grown up, so you can’t sleep with me.”
“Why not?”
“We already stopped sleeping together. Boys can’t sleep with girls.”
“But… I’m scared.”
“Don’t be afraid.”
Tangtang held Guoguo’s hand and walked her to her bedroom. After she was done was.h.i.+ng up, he made her lie down in bed. He patted her shoulder through the blanket and said, “Go to sleep. I will leave after you fall asleep.”
Guoguo looked at him with her eyes wide open.
Since she refused to sleep after some time, Tangtang pulled out the virtual screen and said, “If you can’t sleep, let me read you some questions.”
The moment she heard the questions, Guoguo promptly closed her eyes and said, “I’m already sleeping.”
Tangtang looked at her as she lay there with her eyes closed. He knew she was not sleeping, so he continued reading.
After reading for some time, he stopped.
Guoguo had already fallen asleep.
Tangtang finally closed the virtual screen, quietly walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him.
Three hours later, Runge walked out of the training room. As he walked, he asked his subordinate, “Have they gone to bed?”
The subordinate paused briefly before he realized Runge was referring to the twins.
He hurriedly replied, “The people taking care of them said they went to bed three hours ago.”
“Uh huh.”
Runge strode to his room.
He encountered lots of people on his way back who greeted him.
After walking for slightly over ten minutes, he got to his block.
The twins lived downstairs while he resided upstairs. When he got to the block, he halted briefly. In the end, he went to the twins’ rooms.
Their rooms were facing each other. Tangtang stayed in the room on the left while Guoguo stayed in the room on the right.
Runge glanced at both of the tightly shut doors. After a minute, he finally turned to go upstairs.
However, the door on the left opened at this moment.
Runge turned to look over.
Children’s clothes were not available on board the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p and no one had the time to make any yet, so they were given adult cotton T-s.h.i.+rts by their caretakers.
She was only slightly over one meter tall. Since she was wearing oversized clothes, she looked even tinier.
Guoguo looked groggy. As she wiped the tears from her eyes, her shoulders trembled making her look very vulnerable.
She saw Runge as well, so she raised her head to look at him openly.
Her dark round eyes looked watery and a tear hung from the corner of her eye.
“Uncle.”
Runge automatically walked up in front of her when he heard her soft adorable voice.
“What’s the matter?”
“I miss Mom and Dad.”
Runge pursed his lips and did not know what to say.
Guoguo looked at him miserably.
After some time, Runge said, “You can have a video call with them.”
Guoguo hurriedly shook her head. “No way. I promised Dad to be good. I was wrong to run here, so I shouldn’t make them worry.”
Runge suddenly felt sorry for her.
After approaching her, he bent over looking at her eyes, and asked, “Then what do you want?”
“I am afraid to sleep by myself. Brother says I’m grown-up now, so I can’t sleep with him.”
Runge turned his head sideways looking at Tangtang’s room feeling a little angry.
They were only five years old. How could they be considered to be grown-ups?
He had the urge to kick open Tangtang’s room door.
Guoguo took a step closer toward him, pulled his finger, and said, “Uncle, can you watch me sleep? If you do, I won’t be scared.”
Runge went stiff. He did not like physical contact with others, but he did not dare to move a muscle now out of fear he might scare the girl and make her cry.
Guoguo pulled his finger again when he showed no intention of moving.
Runge stood up and pulled Guoguo into her room.
All the rooms were identical. Other than a simple bed, it contained a wardrobe, stool, and nothing else.
Guoguo climbed onto the bed and lay down. She made Runge sit down on the stool to watch her sleep.
After Runge sat down, Guoguo started telling him about her family.
Guoguo was always an extroverted child. Since her parents were not around, she was already scared, so she wanted to talk a little more.
Guoguo told him about her studies and the mischievous things she had done along with her brother and cousins. Also, she told him about the two of them running to Metropolis University.
As a child, she was not very good at expressing herself yet, so she said whatever came to mind.
“My parents always watch me fall asleep at night before leaving. Dad even tells me bedtime stories.
“I have a set of bunny and kitty pajamas. Granny made them for me and they are super cute.”
…
Runge stayed quiet as she chatted with him.
The more Guoguo spoke, the sadder she felt. She pulled his clothes and said, “Uncle, can you tell me a bedtime story as well? Otherwise, I’ll have trouble sleeping.”
Runge replied, “I don’t know any.”
Guoguo pouted dejectedly.
Runge said stiffly, “Don’t cry.”
Guoguo got startled by the expression on his face. She pulled up the blanket and covered her little face so that only her eyes could be seen.
Runge parted his lips. In reality, he did not want to scare her.
However, he genuinely did not know how to tell bedtime stories.
Runge inexplicably felt frustrated. He said in a domineering tone, “Go to bed.”
Guoguo blinked and pulled the blanket over her entire head. She said in a stifled tone under the blanket, “Uncle, you’re so mean.”
Runge, “…”
Guoguo’s miserable voice could be heard. “I want my bunny pajamas. I want my kitty pajamas. I miss Mom and Dad. I miss Grandpa and Granny. I miss Great Grandpa. I miss…”
The little girl lay in bed thinking about everyone she knew before she finally quietened down.
Runge reached his hand out wanting to pull the blanket off her face. However, he was afraid she might cry the moment he did since she was still awake.
Runge’s hand went stiff for some time until he could hear the sound of an even breathing. He finally reached his hand out and pulled down the blanket from Guoguo’s head.
Tears could still be seen on Guoguo’s face.
Runge looked at her little face for some time before he stood up and left.
After returning to his room and was.h.i.+ng up, he sent orders to the logistics department. They were to prepare two sets of kids’ pajamas in a bunny and kitty design before tomorrow night.
He finally went to bed after sending out the order.
Guoguo was beside herself with joy when she received the pajamas the next day.
She said to Tangtang, “Even though the uncle looks scary, he’s nice inside. He’s kind of like our uncle.”
Tangtang touched her head and said to her, “From now on, stop hiding in the corner crying. You’ll only make people worry.”
“I miss Mom and Dad.”
…
Their long voyage in s.p.a.ce continued.
There were day and night settings on the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p, so everyone’s lives were well-routined.
During the day, Tangtang and Guoguo could walk around the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p looking around to pa.s.s their time.
At night, she would video call Zi Yi and the others inside Tangtang’s room. During the conversation, she acted well-behaved.
Before she slept at night, she missed them a lot.
She would wake up in the middle of the night. The moment she woke up, she could see Runge.
Runge would stay with her until she fell asleep before heading back to his room.
Before they knew it, over ten days had pa.s.sed.
The twins were already very familiar with everyone on board the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p.
Tangtang was a gentleman and Guoguo was sweet. The two of them politely greeted everyone they encountered.
Everyone adored them.
“I used to think Miss Zi’s children would have the airs of privileged children. They are unexpectedly obedient. I hope my kids will be as well-behaved as them.”
“They were brought up well. It really comes down to their upbringing.”
“That’s true. They are only slightly over five years old, but they know so much. When I was five, I didn’t know anything.”
“Tangtang is awesome. He’s able to create such complicated codes. Also, he trains with us every day.”
“He already knows so much at such a tender age. He lives up to his name as a member of the Lu family.”
“Guoguo is super cute. Little girls like her should be raised like princesses.”
“I heard Guoguo is not used to taking nutrient supplements. If I knew she was coming, I would’ve secretly prepared more snacks for her.”
“Me too.”
…
Runge realized lots of people were talking about Guoguo and Tangtang recently everywhere he went.
He thought about Tangtang who bore a striking resemblance to Lu Jingye. His eyes lit up coldly as he headed to the training room.
A lot of training rooms were available on board. Runge had gone to the training room intended for people with more powerful mental energy.
Tangtang happened to be in the room watching people train. Everything about him resembled Lu Jingye.
Runge walked up in front of him and looked down at him.
Tangtang also looked at him.
After making eye contact for a few seconds, Runge said, “I can take you for training.”
Tangtang replied, “Thanks.”
Runge said, “You are not allowed to complain during training.”
“Sure thing.”
…
When Guoguo found Tangtang, she saw him drenched in sweat lying there motionlessly from exhaustion.
Guoguo was startled. She hurriedly ran over and lay p.r.o.ne beside Tangtang as she asked, “Brother, are you okay?”
Runge pursed his lips standing by the side. He felt he might have been too tough on training a five-year-old boy.
Tangtang did not take it to heart. “I’m fine. I’m just a little tired and need a break.”
Runge looked at Tangtang in surprise on hearing his words.
Guoguo frowned and said, “Didn’t Mom already plan our training? Why are you doing extra training?”
Runge stood there without saying a word.
Guoguo was very protective of Tangtang, so she called Zi Yi immediately.
Guoguo got anxious. As she cried, she spoke. Runge stood there coldly. Zi Yi frowned, asking him, “Runge, what did you make my son do?”
Runge parted his lips wanting to speak, but he ended up saying, “It is what it is.”
Zi Yi said, “He’s only five and a half years old. The training I’ve arranged for him is sufficient.”
Runge stopped talking.
Zi Yi said to him, “By doing this, you are rus.h.i.+ng things for him. It will only hurt him one day.”
Runge still remained quiet.
Tangtang unexpectedly defended Runge as he lay there. “Mom, don’t be mad. I promised to let Uncle Runge teach me.”
Runge looked at Tangtang in surprise.
Tangtang also looked at Runge and said, “Uncle Runge’s very good.”
When Guoguo heard Tangtang’s words, she also added and said, “Uncle Runge also gave me a lot of cute bunny and kitty pajamas.”
Runge stood by the side speechlessly with his face stiff.
Did kids have to say everything?