7: Chapter 7 Evening

"Sigh..."

The clock had just struck eight. After finishing his shower, Li Ming returned to his Lounge and collapsed dejectedly onto the bed, as if the energy he had managed to muster earlier was all just an act.

In fact, that was exactly the case. His mind was filled with thoughts of that ring.

Without a doubt, he wasn't entirely unmoved by Hu Jian. She called him Commander, but whose ring was that on her hand? Li Ming had no prior memory of her, so it was impossible that he had been the one to give it to her.

So, was it NTR? And who was NTRing whom? Caught in a rabbit hole of his own making, Li Ming couldn't figure it out.

He couldn't sleep even if he wanted to. Messy thoughts constantly lingered in his mind, along with her guarded expression when she had been startled awake and that momentary, irrepressible look of fatigue...

"Knock, knock, knock..."

In other words, am I really just a generic Commander from that game? Or...

"Commander? Can I come in? ...Commander? Are you there?"

The knocking and calling pulled Li Ming out of his messy thoughts. He quickly pinched his cheeks and put on a lazy expression.

"I'm here..." he replied in a muffled voice. "Come in."

The door opened, and Hu Jian, having just finished her shower, poked half her body in. "Commander, can you help me blow-dry my hair? It's so long, it's a real hassle to deal with..."

"Coming..." Li Ming struggled to get up to find the hairdryer, then pointed to the office chair in front of the desk. "Have a seat first."

"Oh..." Fujian sat on the chair watching Li Ming search high and low for the hairdryer, when something suddenly occurred to her.

"Your hairdryer probably wouldn't be kept in your room, would it?"

"Oh, right..." Li Ming thought for a moment. "Wait a second, I'll go get one."

Li Ming never used a hairdryer; he usually just let his hair air-dry, which resulted in his hair sticking up no matter how short it was.

While Li Ming was out getting the hairdryer, she cast her gaze around the room.

Messy as always, she thought, though the interior decorations seemed much fewer than in her memory.

Looking back at the desk, there was a screen, and books and notes spread out across the surface.

The notes were disorganized and the books were pristine; it was quite obvious that it was unlikely Li Ming would be able to absorb any of it even if he tried to study.

What should I do? Fujian thought to herself. The current Li Ming didn't show even a hint of ambition; he seemed more like he was being manipulated to complete tasks.

She turned on the monitor... it was naturally connected to the computer, and she checked if he had conducted any Simulated Battles over the past few months.

Simulation count: 0.

As expected.

This won't do... even if there are no immediate threats, this world can hardly be called peaceful. He lacks social experience and command ability, and has a severe lack of perseverance and determination...

He's a far cry from him, Fujian thought. This won't do. If he can't grow up quickly, Li Ming won't just have no future—he won't even survive the near future...

The sound of the automatic door opening interrupted her thoughts. Li Ming appeared in the room, carrying a new hairdryer from the ship's Large Bathroom.

"How do I do this?" Li Ming asked while plugging it in. "I mean, how should I blow-dry it?"

At this moment, Hu Jian was only wearing one of Li Ming's T-shirts and summer shorts. Her perfect figure made Li Ming almost afraid to look her way.

"Just be a little gentle. Remember to run your fingers through it, otherwise it won't dry easily."

Hu Jian felt Li Ming's clumsy yet careful service. It seemed like he was quite attentive when it came to certain things...

Was it because of her? Or something else? Fujian wasn't quite sure. She closed her eyes and carefully felt Li Ming's gaze.

He seems to always be looking at my right hand? Is it because of... the ring?

"Commander?" Fujian asked tentatively. "Is there something strange about my hand?"

"...No."

"You keep looking at my right hand." Fujian tilted her head and then turned to look at him... "Ouch! That hurts..."

"Don't just turn your head!" Li Ming quickly let go and turned off the hairdryer with his other hand.

"QAQ"

"Don't act cute..." Li Ming's tone immediately softened again. "...Yes."

"Because of this ring?"

"Yeah."

"You gave it to me."

"Yeah... Huh?"

Li Ming's eyes, which weren't very large to begin with, widened into circles. "What?"

"What are you thinking?" Hu Jian was amused. "You're my Commander. If you didn't give it to me, then who else could have?"

"..." Li Ming fell silent. "Why... me?"

"There is no 'why.' After all... you are my—our—Commander. If it weren't for you, I might never have existed. It was because of your expectations and wishes that I was born. Even if it weren't now, we would have met one day eventually."

"...I mean... why me? Why am I the Commander?"

"A Commander is a Commander. Why are there so many 'whys'?" Hu Jian was puzzled. "Ever since I was born, the Commander has been the Commander. You shouldn't have such doubts..."

"...Is that so?" Li Ming nodded and didn't bring up the topic again. "I understand."

The two continued taking care of her hair, while Hu Jian started revving her CPU to think.

She was thinking about how to make this still-naive Commander grow up quickly.

"Commander."

"Hmm?"

"Commander?"

"What is it?"

"Just felt like calling you."

"Oh..." Li Ming didn't think much of it and honestly went about his task.

"Do you like me?"

"Uh..." Li Ming paused. "Why ask that?"

"I just want to know..."

"I guess... I do?" Li Ming hesitated for a moment but still answered honestly. "I'm just like that; I like it whenever I see a pretty girl."

"Well, the Commander is a boy, after all."

"I'm not a child anymore..."

"You're not even eighteen yet, so how are you not a child?"

"Almost eighteen."

"Then do you want to try 'that'?"

"Which one?"

"The thing between men and women."

"...L-Let's not." Li Ming shook his head in refusal. "I'm not that familiar with you yet, and it's not like I absolutely have to... do that."

He's so dishonest with himself. Through the reflection of the screen, Hu Jian could see his dodging eyes. She thought for a bit and asked again:

"Then Commander, what do you plan to do in the future?"

"I don't know." Li Ming shook his head. "Probably just continue developing and then explore outwards. If you have a better way, I'll listen to you."

He doesn't really know how to plan, and he doesn't have much of a mind of his own.

These weren't good traits, but...

Fujian understood what she had to do.

"Let me help you with some planning, Commander..."

"Sure?" Li Ming didn't object. He looked her up and down. "That should be about done, right?"

"Hmm? Is it finished?" Fujian shook her head. "Mm-hmm, that's fine. Thanks, Commander. Do you want a reward?"

"What reward?" Li Ming was leaning down to wind up the hairdryer's cord. When he straightened up, he found Hu Jian right in front of him, eye to eye.

Then she leaned in close to Li Ming's face and gave his earlobe a kiss. Instantly, Li Ming's earlobe began to burn up.

"Sweet dreams, Commander~"

Hu Jian left, leaving Li Ming standing there in a daze.

...

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