"Hm? What…?"
Noticing the odd look on Ling Xue Luo's face, as the former stares at the thing that she is pushing forward, Ling Cang Xue says—
"They call this a wheelchair. So long as you sit on it, you'll be able to go outside."
Blinking her eyes, Ling Xue Luo asks—
"Elder sister, don't tell me you decided to take this wheelchair over cultivation resources?"
"…This is just a bonus."
Seeing Ling Cang Xue moving her eyes in a dodgy manner, Ling Xue Luo raises a frown, and says—
"…Elder sister, it would be best to not do something like this. In the future… It'd be best to focus on obtaining things that would benefit yourself. You should also just use the resources for yourself. It's not worth-"
"Xue Luo."
Forming an expression—that is both one of anger and helplessness, Ling Cang Xue releases her hands from the wheelchair, and walks over to the bedside.
Facing Ling Xue Luo, Ling Cang Xue says—
"The reason I'm willing to cultivate so hard is because of you. The caretakers and the other adults—regardless of how well they treat us… To them, we're nothing more than products. We're just… Items that are waiting to be picked up by the hands of a guardian."
As tears flow from Ling Cang Xue's eyes, she continues to say—
"You're my little sister, while I'm your elder sister. It's my responsibility to take care of you. We're family, and a family doesn't ask one another for repayment."
Reaching her hands out, Ling Cang Xue brings Ling Xue Luo into a hug, while saying—
"Regardless of the price, so long as you can live, it would all be worth it, so don't say that it isn't."
"Nh…"
As tears flow from her eyes as well, Ling Xue Luo closes them.
Hugging Ling Cang Xue back, the two sobs quietly.
...…
Eventually, the two wiped their tears, and upon doing so, Ling Cang Xue tosses the blanket aside, and says—
"Let's go for a stroll, you haven't been out of this room for almost a month now."
Saying this, Ling Cang Xue places her hands onto Ling Xue Luo's back and legs, and in an effortless manner, the former lifts the latter off the bed.
"Uh… Being held like this is a bit embarrassing."
"It's easier to put you onto the chair this way."
Placing Ling Xue Luo onto the wheelchair, Ling Cang Xue pushes the former out of the orphanage, and onto the hallway.
Being able to see something—other than the walls and ceilings of their bedroom, a subtle smile appears on Ling Xue Luo's face.
"Elder sister, do you even have a destination in mind?"
Continuing to push the wheelchair along, Ling Cang Xue replies—
"Apparently, they've started to make something called candy. I figured that we may as well try them. They should be selling them in the marketplace."
A year after the natural energies of Heaven and Earth's revival, the central part of Colony Three's vessel had been turned into a marketplace.
Right after the marketplace's establishment, the various rationing centers were shut down to convert them into living spaces.
"I see. I'm looking forward to it."
Turning her head to the side, Ling Xue Luo looks out the windows.
Similarly to an army of worker bees, numerous bodies moved throughout the other colony vessels—to carve magic arrays onto the masses of iron.
Glancing out the window, Ling Cang Xue remarks—
"They say in three years the selections event will begin."
"There's no point in our colony taking part in it is there?"
"The adults were saying that there might be a need for us to do so for…- For whatever reason that I couldn't get."
Momentary, the two arrive at the marketplace, and begin to look for the shop that sells candy.
...…
Within the marketplace, two figures walked side by side.
"I swear you're going to end up eating yourself to an early grave…"
"Better dead happy, than sad. Besides, at my cultivation base—it's impossible to die from a bad diet."
"Ai…"
Raising a sigh towards Sui Yan's reply, Xu Qingxiang says—
"I'm seriously concerned about leaving you to live alone because you only know how to prepare instant ramen…"
Unknowingly, a bit more than seven years have passed—since the revival of natural energy, which means Sui Yan and Xu Qingxiang have been living together for that long.
"Hmm, I don't mind just staying at your residence until the end of time."
"…"
Raising a frown, Xu Qingxiang remarks—
"…There was a family of four, they were asking for a residence that is closer to the marketplace. Coincidentally, yours happen to fit the bill."
Raising an eye, Sui Yan replies—
"Oh? Well, it is quite a waste of space for a single person to occupy an entire residence to themselves. So then, I guess this means that I'm stuck with you?"
"…Since you're not raising any objections, I suppose I'll give the go-ahead then?"
"Why not? I hardly ever leave my room most of the time."
Walking over to a butcher shop together, Xu Qingxiang looks at their offerings.
Recognizing the two, the butcher shop owner, who is a woman with a slightly chiseled body-build, remarks—
"Oh? Researcher Sui, and Colony Leader Xu. The fact that you two came out to buy ingredients together for dinner, I guess the news was true?"
"Hm?"
"…?"
As Sui Yan tilts her head, Xu Qingxiang raises a frown, and asks—
"What news?"
"The news that you two are already an item."
"…?"
"…"
Towards the butcher shop owner's reply, Xu Qingxiang's expression turns to one of bewilderment, while Sui Yan takes out her smartphone, and searches the news site.
[Shocking News! Over Seven Years of Cohabiting in the Same Residence Together, Doesn't This Mean That They Are Unofficially Married?]
[Was It Love That Saved the World? The Hidden Story of Researcher SUI and Colony Leader XU! Click the Link To Find Out How They Met!]
[Input From Those Who Are Positioned at the Frontlines! Curious To Know Who's the Dominant One and Who's the Submissive One in the Relationship Between a Certain Researcher and a Certain Colony Leader?]
"…"
Looking over at the screen of Sui Yan's smartphone, and reading the titles of the various articles, Xu Qingxiang twitches an eye, and mutters—
"Those bastards… Are they that bored? Because our current situation seem so hopeful, they can't help but want to spew nonsense, is that it?"
Shrugging a shoulder, Sui Yan remarks—
"Well, maintaining this hopeful outlook isn't a bad thing. I'm more curious to know when they'll start wine production. Hell, even beer would be fine."
"…I could go for a drink right now."
"A can of beer with your cooking would be nice."
Following Sui Yan's words, a new article appears on the site, titled—
["A Can of Beer With Your Cooking Would Be Nice," It Looks Like the Dominant One Is the Researcher After All! It's a Major Win for the Researcher Faction!]
"…"
Seeing the newly released article, Xu Qingxiang turns speechless.
"…"
Paying no heed to Xu Qingxiang's reaction, Sui Yan glances over to the side, and sees two children heading into the candy store.
Both children had magenta-colored eyes, and one of them was in a wheelchair.
Judging by their white one-piece dress, it's obvious that they are both children, who have yet to be adopted.