NOVEL NEXT 28
Chapter 28 – What it needs is evolution.
The system finished its calculations thoroughly and it was already the next morning. Taking advantage of Qi Yao’s leisure time, it came to him to apologize and admit its mistakes.
After clearing the cache last night, it went through the entire process of Qi Yao triggering good feelings towards Yi Er again and discovered there was indeed a major problem. It had missed recording several instances.
The system directly reported to Qi Yao: “Host, I can now confidently tell you that, using a percentage-based calculation method, General Yi Er’s current good feeling towards you is 58.”
Qi Yao muttered to himself, “58, just 2 points shy of passing.”
However, it was beyond his expectations, at least it wasn’t the frustrating 6.3.
The number 58 was higher than he had imagined. He could reluctantly overlook the discrepancy with the system.
The system was still regretful, “I was terrified last night. After careful verification, I found that the main events triggering high bursts of good feelings were…”
Qi Yao interrupted calmly, “Kissing.”
“Huh?” The system was surprised. “How did you know, Host?”
Qi Yao almost wanted to roll his eyes. Even if he was slow, he could tell from Yi Er’s non-resistance during the kisses that Yi Er was accepting. Moreover, kissing was the most direct way for organisms to express affection.
The system corrected its mistake and felt like it had cracked a code, proudly teasing Qi Yao, “Each time you kiss, the good feeling value is different.”
Seeing through the system’s tricks, Qi Yao said, “Was the time Yi Er initiated it last night the most?”
“How did you know again, Host?”
Qi Yao smiled without saying a word. It was only when Yi Er initiated it that he felt there was a bug in the system. How could he not know that was the key point of the good feeling outbreak?
As their consciousnesses were connected, Qi Yao’s thoughts were presented to the system in a straightforward manner. Feeling a bit embarrassed, the system quickly offered a way out, “Host, would you like to see the details?”
Qi Yao no longer needed to see the details. He had already come to terms with it yesterday. He treated Yi Er well, and Yi Er treated him well in return. Mutual consent was enough. Why bother quantifying their feelings with numbers?
If another bug came along, and they had to clear the cache again, wouldn’t that lead to more suspicions and discomfort?
The system listened attentively to Qi Yao’s thoughts, but it wasn’t discouraged. It was eager to give Qi Yao a boost, “Host, in my opinion, General Yi Er’s second molting is coming soon. Seize this opportunity to completely conquer General Yi Er and skyrocket his good feeling percentage!”
Qi Yao wanted to report: “Since when did we become like this? Using such a crude method to boost good feelings?”
“…It’s because this method is quick,” the system replied.
Qi Yao didn’t want to bother with the system, now reduced to yellow waste after clearing the cache. He tidied up and left.
Yi Er’s busy schedule didn’t decrease with Dai Na’s arrival. When he wasn’t around, Qi Yao had nothing to do. Following Teacher Nos’s instructions, even on leave, he couldn’t stop studying. So, he greeted his friend Yalman, who was assigned here, and asked him to temporarily look after Qi Yao.
As Qi Yao left to find Yalman to arrange his work, he couldn’t help but think about the border star system’s lingering issues. The reason for the delay was that the Glassy Star System had improved their starships, making the Empire’s latest starships unable to resist their power, thus prolonging the frontline time.
Qi Yao also wanted to do his part to help lighten the load for the starship department here.
Adjacent to the starship area was the mech area, where technicians were busy. Qi Yao passed through the mech department and encountered Locke, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.
Locke carried a toolbox, his hair had grown long, and the silver dye mixed with the newly grown gold created an indescribable gradient. He took off his contact lenses, revealing tired hazel eyes. When he saw Qi Yao, a hint of surprise flashed across his haggard face.
“The lord of General Yi Er? What are you doing here?” Since the news of Dai Na bringing Qi Yao to the border star system hadn’t reached the logistics department yet, it wasn’t surprising that Locke didn’t know he was here.
Qi Yao smiled, “I’m here to assist you and share some of your workload.”
Locke felt both sour and envious. He had thought that the lord of General Yi Er was the type who wouldn’t endure hardship, yet here he was, willing to come to such a place. It was unbelievable.
“Then whose mech are you in charge of?” Locke asked reluctantly.
“I forgot to tell you earlier, but I’m no longer studying mechs. Um… to be precise, I’m now part of the starship department,” Qi Yao explained.
“The starship department?” Locke was surprised again. Since General Yi Er came here, he had been piloting starships during battles and hadn’t used mechs yet. He hadn’t had the chance to get in touch with General Yi Er’s mechs.
Now hearing that Qi Yao had transferred to the starship department, those starship technicians would definitely give him preferential treatment since he was the lord of Yi Er. They would let him prioritize getting in touch with General Yi Er’s starship.
Locke felt bitter and jealous. The mech repairs under General Ais’s command couldn’t be finished. He didn’t have the time or opportunity to come into contact with the idol’s starship.
Seeing him hesitate to leave, Qi Yao comforted him, “Go ahead and get busy. The organization needs you. I’ll make sure to maintain General Yi Er’s starship if I encounter it.”
After saying this, he patted Locke, who had turned into a lemon, on the shoulder and headed to the starship area.
In the starship area, Qi Yao briefly explained his purpose, and the officer led him to a starship.
Yalman was sitting in the pilot’s seat. When he saw Qi Yao coming in, he just glanced at him and continued his testing work.
Qi Yao waited for a while, remembering the scene when Russell took him to see Teacher Nos for the first time. It was similar to the current situation.
They were really good friends.
Yalman quickly finished his work. He relaxed his furrowed brows and called Qi Yao over, leaning half of his body on the starship console, and looked him over, saying, “Qi Yao? General Yi Er’s male lord?”
Just from his tone, Qi Yao already guessed what Yalman was going to ask next. Sure enough, he heard him say, “When Teacher Nos told me, I didn’t believe it. With General Yi Er as your support, you’re still willing to come to a place like this.”
“…”
Qi Yao was tired of explaining his reasons for doing this for the 800th time.
Yalman didn’t expect him to answer anyway. He waved for Qi Yao to come over and said, “Tell me, what did Teacher Nos teach you?”
Qi Yao straightforwardly told Yalman everything Teacher Nos had taught him.
After listening, Yalman shrugged, “As you can see, most of the requirements here involve hands-on work. What Teacher Nos taught you isn’t enough to handle complex situations. So during your time under me, I’ll be strict and won’t relax the requirements just because you’re General Yi Er’s male lord.”
This meant he was the second Teacher Nos, and Qi Yao had no problem with that.
Yalman briefly introduced the situation here to him, then assigned him some repair tasks that he could handle and demanded that he hand them over for inspection once completed.
Without further ado, Qi Yao threw himself into the work, making every second count.
By mid-morning, Qi Yao had single-handedly completed the repair work on three starships.
When he finished the task on the third starship, he went to find Yalman for inspection. Along the way, he casually glanced to his left and was drawn to a deep blue color not far away.
Separated by the distance of two starships, a deep blue starship exuded a subtle wildness, standing out silently and overshadowing the brilliance of the other starships around it.
In Qi Yao’s mind appeared the model of that deep blue starship that had once been dismantled like the dawn breaking.
He knew every detail, every inch of its structure.
They were identical, only differing in size.
He couldn’t help but approach, wanting to get a closer look.
The ship’s beak-like bow slept with closed eyes, its streamlined wings folded on both sides, and its hull immaculately parked before him, as if waiting for a capable individual to awaken it.
Qi Yao looked at it for a long time. Teacher Nos told him about such a starship, but he didn’t know it was here.
Who was its master?
Unbeknownst to him, Yalman stood behind him, “Are you interested in it?”
Qi Yao’s thoughts were brought back, and he turned his head to look at Yalman.
Yalman looked up at the starship and asked without asking anything else, directly pouring cold water on Yao, “With your current level, you’re not yet qualified to touch it.”
Qi Yao’s heart tightened upon hearing Yalman continue, “It has no problems, it’s just old.”
“What it needs is evolution.”