Chapter 134: The Day the Code Fell in Love (4)

He lowered his voice and asked, "Is something wrong?"

Seeing Bai Yao appear here didn't surprise him. Perhaps, like many others assumed, since he was Ruan Jiaojiao’s "younger brother," it was only natural that she would come looking for trouble.

Moreover, Bai Yao was exquisitely beautiful, so strikingly pretty that she unconsciously imposed a kind of unapproachable pressure.

Bai Yao’s eyes curved into a smile as she held out a bag and said, “Hello, we’re practically neighbors now. This is a gift for you.”

Inside the paper bag adorned with tiny floral patterns was a small portable flowerpot. A plant with fresh green leaves grew within it. The vibrant color made it clear the little potted plant had been carefully tended.

Shi Jiu’s gaze settled on the fresh green leaves. “Moonstone,” he said.

Bai Yao looked slightly surprised. “It hasn’t bloomed yet, and you can already recognize it’s a moonstone?”

Shi Jiu lowered his eyes and remained silent.

The seedling Bai Yao brought was indeed a Moonstone rose, a variety of rose whose blossoms resemble white jade gemstones glowing with pure light under the moon.

This was the only kind of gift Bai Yao could bring with her this time—flowers and plants. Her specialty was a small branch of Earth’s biological sciences.

Over the years, Earth’s environment had deteriorated rapidly. According to AI projections, in at most a hundred years, Earth would become uninhabitable for humans due to polluted soil and air.

Hence, countries worldwide had formed an alliance called “Second Earth,” dedicated to finding a habitable planet to replace Earth.

Bai Yao’s future work involved seeking other planets suitable for Earth’s flora and fauna. Like her classmates, she almost always carried seeds and seedlings wherever she went.

Bai Yao didn’t want to chat much with Shi Jiu. She placed the bag on the floor. “I’m going back to rest now. Goodbye.”

She entered the adjacent room and closed the door behind her.

Shi Jiu picked up the paper bag and stared at the fresh green leaves in the pot. He extended his finger and gently touched the leaf’s surface.

The leaves were thin, with slightly uneven veins. The plant was fragile.

So this was how Earth’s plants felt to the touch.

Shi Jiu stored this piece of knowledge in his mind. He withdrew his hand and his gaze rested on a red glass tube behind the small flowerpot.

It was Nutrient Agent No. 7—the very thing he had been searching for a long time.

Shi Jiu looked up again but could only see the closed door.

---

Although everything was convenient in this era, even eating—humans could simply take nutrient tablets or agents to replenish energy—meals were still for enjoyment.

Unless pressed for time, people preferred to spend time in the cafeteria eating a proper meal.

Bai Yao was used to sleeping late. She thought she was late arriving at the cafeteria, only to find someone even later.

Ruan Jiaojiao walked awkwardly, as if her back ached and her legs felt weak. A delicate scarf was wrapped around her neck.

She appeared tense, casting a shy yet angry glare at the tall man beside her.

Li Shenjue was in a good mood, a charming smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Someone exclaimed in surprise, “Good heavens, the commander is actually smiling!”

Another was shocked: “This is the first time I’ve seen the commander smile!”

Ruan Jiaojiao blushed deeply, her soft face becoming even more endearing. She stepped aside, seemingly wanting to put distance between herself and Li Shenjue.

Li Shenjue possessively pulled her back with one hand and lowered his voice, “Looks like I wasn’t hard enough last night. You still have the strength to run away today. Jiaojiao, I’ll have to try harder tonight.”

Jiaojiao raised a startled face, looking like a frightened little white rabbit, her rosy lips slightly parted, inviting a kiss.

Li Shenjue’s eyes darkened. He gripped her tightly and said in a hoarse voice, “Jiaojiao, you won’t go anywhere but under me.”

Jiaojiao’s cheeks flushed as she called out, “It hurts.”

Her soft, sweet voice carried a hint of coquettish charm, capable of melting even the hardest heart, turning any man into her devoted subject, cherishing her like a delicate princess.

Li Shenjue quickly released her hand. Just from that small grip, a red mark had appeared on her delicate wrist.

This little Jiaojiao was truly fragile. When she cried, her soft voice was even more enchanting.

His eyes reddened as he pinched her waist. “Jiaojiao, say ‘husband,’ and I’d give you my life.”

Jiaojiao’s heart pounded fiercely.

Suddenly, loud coughing interrupted the tender moment.

Jiaojiao saw Bai Yao and froze. She quickly stepped away from Li Shenjue, refusing to glance at him again.

Hmph, he already had a fiancée yet kept provoking her—why?

---

Jiaojiao was angry.

Li Shenjue shot a dark look at Bai Yao, who had silently appeared nearby. “Bai Yao, do you enjoy eavesdropping?”

Bai Yao put on an innocent face. “This is a public place; anyone can walk by.”

Who else was so oblivious to social cues?

Everyone else in the cafeteria had kept their distance from Li Shenjue and Ruan Jiaojiao the moment they entered.

No one dared disturb the commander and Jiaojiao’s romantic moments—except Bai Yao. Not only did she disturb them, but she also stood there refusing to leave!

Li Shenjue’s voice turned cold. “I thought after all these years in university, you’d have learned some manners.”

Bai Yao smiled brightly, her expression proudly defiant. “I’ve been standing here holding my tray for a long time, and you haven’t moved aside even once. Seems like you, as commander, haven’t learned manners either. What am I, an ordinary college student, to you?”

It turned out the place where Li Shenjue and Ruan Jiaojiao performed their “red-eyed, command-giving” drama was exactly where people put their trays after eating. They had been blocking the spot for so long that Bai Yao couldn’t even put down her tray.

Li Shenjue was being mocked like this for the first time and his face darkened.

Ruan Jiaojiao bit her lip. Although she always said she disliked Li Shenjue, she couldn’t help but defend him now. She stepped forward and faced Bai Yao. “Miss Bai.”

But the moment she spoke, she noticed the leftover fish on Bai Yao’s tray and suddenly felt nauseous. She covered her mouth and dry-heaved twice.

Li Shenjue steadied her. “Jiaojiao, what’s wrong?”

Jiaojiao said, “I—I suddenly feel a bit sick...”

Suddenly, the ship shook violently. Red alarm lights flashed as the empty hall echoed with the system’s warning: “Starboard under fire! Hull compromised! Warning: hull breach!”

Li Shenjue frowned deeply. “What’s going on?”

Van Gogh rushed over. “Commander, it’s space pirates!”