There were no direct star-liners from Planet B5 to the Central Star Sector. Bai Hao's journey necessitated first boarding a shuttle to H1 Migu Star, the capital planet of the Western Sector, before transferring to a proper interstellar vessel bound for the Core.
Yin Ya did not see him off. Bai Hao took no offense; such was simply the true nature of the self-styled "Little Lord." Three years of camaraderie had forged a bond deeper than mere friendship or brotherhood—they were kindred spirits. Yesterday's drinking session was, in its own way, the most fitting farewell.
As the shuttle ascended, Planet B5 gradually dwindled to insignificance. Bai Hao cast a final glance at the world that had borne and raised him, yet felt not a flicker of nostalgia. If possible, he wished never to return to this nearly forsaken rock.
Five days later, the shuttle arrived at H1 Migu Star. With a population approaching seven billion and countless cities, Migu's most compelling attraction for Bai Hao was not its prosperity, but the sunlight—tangible, radiant, and brilliant, like a maiden brimming with youthful vitality.
His stay on Migu lasted a single day.
The following day, he boarded the star-liner destined for S3 in the Central Sector. The Core was primarily composed of five super-planets: S1 Xingluo, S2 Dongqi, S3 Nanzhou, S4 Xiji, and S5 Beizhi, collectively forming the heart of the Starfall Empire. S3 Nanzhou was Bai Hao's final destination, the planet housing the headquarters of Pao Li Corporation.
The vessel to S3 was immense, an elliptical behemoth nearly a kilometer in length—the "Cosmic-class" star-liner, the pinnacle of civilian space travel in the Starfall Empire. Its interior was divided into three main sections: the Crew Zone, the Residential Quarter, and the Entertainment District. The Crew Zone, accessible only to personnel with specialized chip-cards, was strictly off-limits. The Residential Quarter accommodated passengers for dining and rest, with amenities varying drastically by price; a pauper from the hinterlands like Bai Hao was naturally relegated to the most modest of cabins. The Entertainment District offered diversions ranging from plebeian to aristocratic, assuming one possessed sufficient funds.
Guided by an attendant, Bai Hao located his room—a cubicle under ten square meters, containing merely a single bed and a small table. Little else could possibly fit. Bai Hao was satisfied. Though austere and cramped, a comfortable bed sufficed. After a cursory tidying, curiosity propelled him out. While he had seen images of such liners online, the visceral experience was utterly different. He felt like a country bumpkin in the big city, gawking left and right, his eyes feasting on the novelty.
The Residential Quarter was not expansive, occupying roughly a fifth of the ship's volume—a small, self-contained community. Beyond it lay a central plaza, a free-activity zone. Opposite the plaza sprawled the Entertainment District, larger than the residential area, boasting a swimming pool, basketball courts, gyms, and various other amusements. A distinctive three-story golden structure catered exclusively to the affluent.
'Truly worthy of the "Cosmic-class" designation,'Bai Hao mused, having toured all accessible areas. 'With that artificial sun overhead, the interior is practically a self-contained utopia. Though, this technologically-conjured sunlight cannot truly rival the genuine article.'He couldn't help but admire the ship's designers; it was nearly perfect.
The voyage from Migu to S3 would take approximately fifteen days. Bai Hao had anticipated a tedious journey, but he soon discovered a pastime of interest. Beyond sleep and physical exercise, his favorite activity became perching on a bench not far from the swimming pool, quietly observing the youthful, vibrant figures. Their graceful, alluring forms proved a constant visual magnet, plunging him into delightful reveries.
'Perhaps I really am a closeted fox,'he thought, squinting slightly as he enjoyed the inspiring scenery by the poolside, recalling Yin Ya's frequent jab—"You secretive fox!"—a faint smile touching his lips.
"Uncle, are you peeping?"
A crisp, childish voice sounded beside his ear, startling him from his trance. He turned to find a girl of about five or six seated next to him, whom he hadn't noticed before. She had neat black hair cropped at her ears, a doll-like face with a hint of baby fat, and wore a little black dress, clutching a brown stuffed bear. Her jet-black pupils were fixed on him.
'Just a kid,'Bai Hao thought, relaxing slightly. While this was a public area, a grown man sitting here did carry a whiff of impropriety. But with a child, there was little to worry about.
"Of course not," he replied with feigned earnestness. "Uncle is just admiring the view."
"The view?" The little girl looked puzzled, glancing around. "What view?"
"Well, the best views aren't always seen with the eyes, but felt with the heart," Bai Hao pontificated, smoothly changing the subject with a gentle smile. "Speaking of which, where are your parents, little one? It's not safe for children to wander alone. Aren't you afraid of bad people?"
"I'm not afraid of bad people! And I'm not a 'little one' either!" she retorted, pouting with apparent indignation.
Bai Hao felt a twinge of helplessness. Clearly a child, yet acting fearless. It was mildly headache-inducing. Maintaining his kindly facade—he needed to project a "good guy" image—he asked, "Alright then, what's your name?"
The girl studied him intently, as if gauging his trustworthiness. After a hesitant pause, she finally said, "My name is Yan Xiaoshi."
"Yan Xiaoshi... a lovely name. The character 'Shi' is particularly nice." Hearing it, Bai Hao was reminded of Su Shi'er; they shared that character.
"Why is 'Shi' special?" Xiaoshi inquired, tilting her head.
"Because the girl I admire has that character in her name too," Bai Hao explained with a smile.
"Oh." Xiaoshi swung her little legs, curiosity piqued. "Uncle, what's that big sister's name?"
Bai Hao's brow furrowed slightly. A serious issue had dawned on him: this child kept calling him 'Uncle' while referring to Su Shi'er as 'Sister'. His dream was to marry Su Shi'er; 'Uncle' and 'Sister' created an awkward dynamic. Besides, he didn't look thatold, did he?
"Alright, I'll tell you," he said with exaggerated seriousness. "But you have to call me 'Big Brother'."
Yan Xiaoshi blinked her large, bright eyes, pondering. After a moment's hesitation, she complied. "Big Brother."
Gazing at her adorable, cherubic face, a wave of affection washed over Bai Hao. It reminded him of his own sister, who must be a ten-year-old girl now. He hadn't seen her since their mother took her and left B5 three years ago.
Collecting himself, he said, "Good. Then I'll tell you: her name is Su Shi'er."
"Sister Shi'er! I like Sister Shi'er too! I want to be a mecha pilot like her when I grow up. No, I want to be an even betterpilot than Sister Shi'er!" Yan Xiaoshi declared earnestly, puffing her cheeks and clenching her tiny fists.
Bai Hao was pleasantly surprised. To stumble upon a fellow, albeit miniature, mecha enthusiast here felt like a stroke of serendipity.
Before he could respond, Xiaoshi changed tack. "Big Brother, do you want to be a mecha pilot like Sister Shi'er too?"
Bai Hao shook his head. "No. My dream is to be her mechanic—her technician, you could say."
"Mechanic? Technician?" Xiaoshi looked utterly confused.
Bai Hao offered a faint, wry smile. "To put it simply, I want to be the 'little man' standing behind her."
"Sister Shi'er's 'little man'?" The concept clearly eluded her.
"Yes," Bai Hao said, drawing a soft breath. "Your big brother is actually a—"
Suddenly, Yan Xiaoshi's face contorted with panic. Her small, plump hand clutched his sleeve. "B-Big Brother... b-bad people!" she stammered.
Bai Hao chuckled. "Xiaoshi, I thought you weren't afraid of bad people?"
"I am! They... they're here to take me!" Her large, dark eyes welled with tears, a picture of pitiful distress.
Bai Hao was taken aback. He quickly patted her small shoulder reassuringly. "Don't be afraid, Xiaoshi. Big Brother will protect you. No one is taking you anywhere. Now, tell me, where are these bad people?"
Xiaoshi pointed a chubby finger towards three men striding purposefully in their direction from about a hundred meters away. All three wore dark sunglasses and black suits, exuding an air not unlike that of mafiosi.