NOVEL NEXT 37
Chapter 37: Morning
After resting for a night, when the new sunlight filled the room, Xi Tian woke up naturally, guided by his internal clock.
He went for a jog around this unfamiliar place, and at this time, the town was peaceful.
Breathing in the fresh air, Xi Tian truly felt that he had left Zerg Star.
According to the interstellar calendar, it was the end of December, but the weather here felt like late spring to early summer, with tender green everywhere.
There were many small shops with signs as he passed by, but they hadn’t opened yet. Some places had food stalls, but when Xi Tian sat down, he saw bowls that never seemed to get clean, felt disgusted, and walked away.
When he got back, Ellis was already up and had just finished washing up. He asked Xi Tian how he felt.
“The air is fresh, the sky is blue, but the streets are uneven, with weeds growing everywhere. It’s not as clean and tidy as the roads on our home planet.”
“That’s just how this town is.”
“Why did you choose this place while we were at home?”
Xi Tian was still bothered by the unsanitary food stalls, making him unable to bring breakfast back.
“You said you wanted a place with lots of people, I chose this, and you agreed.”
Ellis shrugged and took out some emergency bread from his luggage.
“Who knew the hygiene here would be like this… there are unsealed, unsorted garbage bins on the roadside, and there’s a smell. Since I was five, I haven’t seen a garbage bin that stinks.
I really don’t understand why you wanted to come here as an exchange student. Do we have any soup with us?”
“We brought some instant soup that needs hot water to make.
In my second year of high school, I had a bit of a wild streak and wanted to apply to an international school to avoid taking the college entrance exam. I looked around and saw that our school had a program specifically for students like me, so I signed up with a ‘why not’ attitude.”
An international school refers to a higher education institution established outside the Zerg Star. Back then, Ellis, being young and inexperienced, went to other planets, mostly to unknown schools, leading to a two-month exchange student experience.
“At this private school on Kenna Farm Planet, I, along with preparatory students from other planets, got a preview of life here. The school was in the countryside, with no other homes in sight, and the nearest town was this one.”
Ellis tore open the packaging, put it in a bowl, and poured in hot water.
“Eating breakfast in bed feels so strange,” Xi Tian said, looking at the bread he least wanted to eat.
“This town is actually quite nice, if you overlook the little details,” Ellis said, making oatmeal for himself.
“By the way, what made you consider trying an international school? You know, it costs a lot of money. You, like me, are an orphan, and at that age, you probably didn’t have the financial means,” Xi Tian realized he knew very little about Ellis’s past. When they were together, they either discussed daily life or Xi Tian’s past.
“Until sophomore year, I always thought my fathers were dead. I didn’t even have a surname. In my sophomore year, a lawyer found me, and I learned that my female father had passed away and left me some money. I had already lost hope in them, so there was no reason to refuse this windfall. I didn’t bother to dig into the past of the person who gave birth to me or any of their complicated stories. I just wanted to leave that place.”
“And then, you returned to Siming and went to military school.”
“Yes, Kenna Farm was fine, very relaxed, but I couldn’t stand the lack of internet, and the most terrifying part was the power outages at night. The inconvenience of living there made me not want to bother, so I went back to study and joined the military school. Then I discovered that the military school also cut off the internet and electricity.”
Ellis made a frustrated face.
“Ahem, why did you go to military school? As far as I know, the scores for military school aren’t low either.”
“Because the military school had early admissions, which didn’t affect regular college applications. At the time, I just wanted to get into any school.”
“And the result?”
“The result is what you see now.”
Ellis suddenly saluted and said loudly, “Reporting, Captain Ellis reporting to you!”
“Ahem!” Xi Tian laughed and patted the spot next to him. “Captain, come here and tell me what we should do after breakfast?”
“Shouldn’t planning be the responsibility of the male lord?” Ellis sat down next to him.
“I’m not familiar with this place, so of course, you should make the plans. In fact, there’s no need for a detailed plan, just tell me what we need to do next.”
“My idea is to start from Boulderville, rent a house as a base, look around for a month or two, and buy a place we like. If we’re not satisfied with this town, we’ll just pack up and move elsewhere.”
“Sounds good. That way, we have a chance to find a nicer, cleaner place.”
“The town isn’t that bad. It’s close to the school in Boulderville, and many facilities cater to the large number of children here.”
“No matter how you explain it, it won’t change my first impression of this place.”
Xi Tian laughed. “How many days did you book this inn for?”
“Three days, why?”
“That gives us enough time.”
“?”
“I want to see the school where you were an exchange student. I never thought of visiting it on the Zerg star, so this could make up for the regret.”
“… Master, can I be honest?”
“Go ahead.”
“If I tell the truth, promise not to hit me…” Ellis looked fearful.
“… Say it first, I’ll decide based on what you say.”
“Well, please be gentle if you do.”
“Stop joking around,” Xi Tian scolded with a smile.
“Master, I don’t think your stamina is enough to walk there.”
“Isn’t my stamina enough? It’s just walking, not a marathon. Why can’t I do it? I’ve been stronger than other males for a long time.”
Ellis intended to make a joke, but to his surprise, Xi Tian took it seriously.
“It’s not about strength, I mean endurance. You can take a car there, but it might be bumpy. I’m afraid your body won’t handle it well.”
“Oh, so you’re saying my stamina is still weaker than a female’s and I don’t have the adaptability, right?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Xi Tian sighed, letting his hands drop, looking dejected.
“Actually, you’re right. Males can’t compare to females. It’s my delusion. Maybe we should just look for rental listings nearby instead of going so far.”
Ellis tried to explain, but Xi Tian covered his mouth, making him instinctively swallow something.
Ellis’s face changed as he frantically searched for water.
Xi Tian calmly put another calcium tablet into his mouth.
“We’re still going to visit the school,” Xi Tian said lightly.
Author’s note:
Writing each chapter feels like making up a story on the spot = =
(T/N: Translating each chapter feels like we have no plot.( =_=) )