"Yes!" Xing Yuan nodded sincerely, her expression seeming a little hurt.
Her voice lowered, "Sister Xiyue, I only just realized now that some people have been using me from the very beginning."
Xing Yuan choked back a sob, tears welling in her eyes, her shoulders shaking.
She was genuinely upset. She had only intended to feign pitifulness, but as soon as the thought arose, her true emotions surged forth.
She couldn't understand. Were the years of affection all fake? She had treated that person like her own father, but he had only seen her as a useful tool.
"Don't, don't cry," Xiyue handed her tissues, her expression flustered and her movements clumsy.
She had observed Xing Yuan for so long, and had never seen her cry.
Xing Yuan used a pile of tissues, finally releasing her pent-up emotions. Her expression became calm again.
"I'm sorry! I couldn't help it." Xing Yuan's eyes, slightly red from crying, were cast down, making her look pitiful and endearing.
"It's okay." Xiyue pursed her lips and turned to get a bag of ice. "Put this on first! Otherwise, you won't be able to open your eyes tomorrow."
"Okay." Xing Yuan obediently placed the ice pack on her face.
"What exactly happened?" Xiyue asked seriously.
"Simply put, someone wanted to kill me and then have someone else impersonate me." Xing Yuan summarized concisely.
"How is that possible? Everyone's genes are different. They couldn't possibly do that." Xiyue was skeptical.
"It's true!" Xing Yuan rummaged in her backpack and handed Xiyue the main board of Weiguang, like a child complaining to a parent, recounting their crimes to Xiyue.
"Look, they've done this to Weiguang. If I hadn't been lucky, I wouldn't have made it back."
Weiguang: Actually, is there a possibility that it could have been repaired, but you just lacked the skills?
Xiyue's gaze became complicated. "Weiguang, only the main board is left? What about the other parts?"
"They're still on the garbage planet. There was too much to bring back," Xing Yuan answered honestly, sheepishly rubbing her head.
This was the first time Xiyue had seen Xing Yuan like this, and she was momentarily speechless.
After a moment of quiet reflection, Xiyue figured it out and said, "I don't believe you."
If she could return without much injury, with her personality, how could she possibly leave mecha materials worth hundreds of millions of star credits on that garbage planet?
Xing Yuan: (o'w'o)? Why is the elder sister in this world not easily fooled anymore?
"Fine! I did it on purpose," Xing Yuan said slowly.
"That mecha was a gift from him. It never had any problems before. Even if those people attacked me simultaneously, I wouldn't have been pushed to this point, but the mecha suddenly malfunctioned."
Xiyue understood and looked at the main board in her hand, hinting, "Are you sure this one is okay?"
Xing Yuan nodded, firmly stating, "Of course! It's been with me since it first gained sentience. In a way, I'm its mother. And it became like this protecting me this time. I believe it."
Xiyue sighed and asked, "What do you want to do?"
"I haven't figured that out yet, but can Sister Xiyue help me with something first? My smart brain is broken, and I need a new one."
"Consider the money for the smart brain a loan. I'll pay you back after I deal with those ill-intentioned people in a few days."
Xing Yuan felt a little embarrassed. As a Federal General, she naturally had savings, but those savings were currently inaccessible, as using them might reveal some clues.
"Okay!" Xiyue nodded with a complex expression.
She seemed to be wondering why this person suddenly had a brain. Was this the legendary late bloomer? If they don't bloom, they don't bloom, but when they do, they're excessively talented.
However, in the next second, Xing Yuan's words shattered the image Xiyue had of her.
Xing Yuan yawned, her face showing fatigue. "I'm so tired! Which room here can I rest in, Sister Xiyue?"
Xiyue: Confirmed the look in her eyes, it's still the same General as before.
Before Xiyue could answer, Xing Yuan went upstairs on her own and found Xiyue's room.
"Sister Xiyue's house seems to only have this one room tidied up. Do you mind if I rest here for a bit?" Xing Yuan's eyes twinkled as she looked at Xiyue.
"Okay, then you can stay here for tonight. I'll change the sheets." Xiyue, having spent a long time in the military camp, didn't find Xing Yuan's behavior problematic.
"Thank you, Sister Xiyue!" Xing Yuan smiled, but couldn't help but yawn a few more times.
"Mhm." Xiyue nodded, efficiently finding a brand-new bedsheet from the wardrobe and changing it, then closed the door and left.
As soon as Xiyue left, Xing Yuan took off her jacket and lay down on the bed. She'd deal with wooing her later. She'd sleep first, then deal with those ill-intentioned people.
Xing Yuan slept until the next evening. She groggily washed her face with cold water, feeling slightly more awake. She "pitter-pattered" downstairs and saw Xiyue sitting on the sofa reading a book.
She smiled, two dimples appearing on her cheeks, but alas, no one saw her adorable expression.
Xiyue heard the sound and slowly looked up. "You're awake. Have some nutrient solution."
Xiyue calmly handed over the nutrient solution from the table.
Xing Yuan frowned slightly, then hesitantly picked up the nutrient solution and took a sip. Huh, this nutrient solution actually had flavor, and it was strawberry flavored. Sweet, Xing Yuan's eyes narrowed in enjoyment.
Xiyue looked at her in surprise, then lowered her head and rubbed her eyes, her hands trembling slightly, almost dropping the newly bought smart brain.
Was she hallucinating? This person could actually smile.
"Do you like it?" Xiyue raised an eyebrow and asked indifferently.
"Hmm... it's okay!" Xing Yuan said haughtily.
Xiyue looked at Xing Yuan's feigned refusal despite clearly liking it, and burst out laughing.
"You didn't want to drink it before, always preferring the tasteless kind. I don't know how you managed." Xiyue complained.
Although the war was intense before, it wasn't difficult to bring a few more flavors of nutrient solution. But this person, claiming to want to temper her will, specifically brought those that were very filling but not tasty. Xiyue knew Xing Yuan was actually doing this to save money, but that didn't stop her from complaining!
Xing Yuan: No, that's not me.
The good deeds she did were hers, but all the foolish things were unrelated to her current self. (*≧▽≦)
"Yeah, maybe my taste buds were malfunctioning before. Sister Xiyue, is the smart brain you're holding for me?" Xing Yuan employed the topic-shifting tactic.
"Oh, this!" Xiyue handed the smart brain to Xing Yuan.
"Use this for now. It's definitely not as good as your previous one, but that one was military-grade, requiring a report, and I can't get it for you anytime soon."