313: Chapter 313 needs to be rushed.

The Spatial Rift appeared as a distorted point of light in the Scanning Array, the surrounding space like crumpled paper, with folds extending in all directions.

That was the proof of the existence of dimensional fragment; every time space was torn and then healed, small fragments would be left behind, like the residue after porcelain shatters.

The The Ark came to a halt at a safe distance from the Spatial Rift.

It wasn't that it didn't want to get closer, but that it couldn't.

The System warned that the gravitational field around the rift was unstable, and the spacetime curvature exceeded the safety range; any matter entering that area would be torn apart.

However, dimensional fragment would drift outward with the spatial fluctuations, so the The Ark only needed to collect them from a safe distance.

[Initiate dimensional fragment collection]

[Estimated time: 24 hours]

[Current dimensional fragment: 0/10]

Qin Lin leaned back in the command chair and closed his eyes.

The The Ark's Life Support System emitted a faint humming sound, like a monotonous lullaby.

He slowly fell asleep to this sound, dreaming of the Peach Blossom Spring, the Flower Garden, and Li Ran standing in front of the chinese rose wall watering the flowers.

The sunlight was warm, the wind was light, and the flowers were fragrant.

Li Ran turned her head to look at him and smiled—not a reserved or restrained smile, but a very relaxed and natural one, like an ordinary woman smiling at the man she loves.

He wanted to walk over, but his feet wouldn't move.

Li Ran didn't wait for him either; she turned back to continue watering, her back growing more distant and smaller until she finally turned into a flower in the Flower Garden.

Qin Lin opened his eyes, sweat on his forehead.

Twenty-three hours later, the dimensional fragments were all collected.

[dimensional fragment: 12/10]

[Lv9 upgrade Materials are complete]

Qin Lin looked at this line of text but didn't click upgrade immediately.

He needed time to think. After the The Ark upgraded to Lv9, the second stage of the Survival Mission would begin, the System Shop would be completely updated, and the use of blessing points would change entirely. Before that, he needed to do one thing: get Su Yuling, Li Ran, and Han Qing pregnant.

The three of them were the only remaining women on the The Ark who had never given birth.

Han Qing had been with him earlier than the others, but she had never conceived.

It wasn't because of physical problems; the System had checked many times and everything was normal, it was just that the timing wasn't right.

Now, the time had come.

Qin Lin walked out of the Bridge, stood in the corridor for a while, and then turned to go to Su Yuling's room.

Su Yuling was sitting by the bed reading a book, while Qin An was asleep in the Crib beside her.

Seeing Qin Lin enter, Su Yuling put down the book and tilted her head to look at him: "Brother Lin, why are you here?"

Qin Lin sat down beside her and looked at her.

Su Yuling's eyes were very bright, her skin had a faint luster under the light, her hair was loose, and she was wearing light blue loungewear.

She was still young, but she was already the "Auntie" to many children.

"Yuling," Qin Lin called her.

"Mhm."

"Do you remember the matter of the blessing points?"

Su Yuling was stunned for a moment, and then her face slowly, slowly turned red.

She certainly remembered.

She had known from the beginning how blessing points were obtained.

It just hadn't been her turn yet because she had conceived late and given birth last, so she hadn't been a priority.

"Is it going to start now?" her voice was very soft.

Qin Lin nodded.

Su Yuling lowered her head, her fingers drawing circles on the bedsheet.

After a long while, she looked up, her eyes sparkling and the corners of her mouth curling up as she said: "Then come to my room tonight."

Qin Lin looked at her; Su Yuling's face was as red as an apple, but her gaze did not flinch.

Qin Lin reached out and patted her head; Su Yuling smiled and buried her face in his chest.

The next night, Qin Lin went to Han Qing's room.

Han Qing was sitting at her desk reading a Medical Report; hearing the knock, she didn't turn around and just said "Come in."

Qin Lin pushed the door open and stood behind her.

Han Qing didn't put down her pen until she finished writing the last word, then she turned around to look at him.

"What is it?" her voice was very calm.

Qin Lin sat opposite her and looked at her.

Han Qing's face looked very soft in the light of the desk lamp, with a relaxation after exhaustion between her brows.

She was the busiest person on the The Ark and the one who slept the least, but she never showed her fatigue in front of others.

"Aunt Qing," Qin Lin called her.

"Mhm."

"About the blessing points, you know."

Han Qing's fingers paused for a moment, then she continued to twirl the pen.

"I know."

Qin Lin looked at her; her expression didn't change, but her fingers twirled the pen faster.

"You are mine now."

Han Qing stopped twirling the pen and looked at him.

The light from the desk lamp reflected two small points of light in her pupils, like two distant stars.

"I know."

Her voice was very soft, and the corners of her mouth curled slightly.

Qin Lin stood up, walked over to her, and reached out his hand.

Han Qing looked at that hand, hesitated for a moment, and then placed her own hand on it.

Qin Lin grasped her hand—her fingers were cool, her knuckles distinct, with thin calluses on her fingertips—and pulled her up from the chair.

Han Qing stood before him, half a head shorter than him, needing to look up slightly to see his eyes.

"Aunt Qing," Qin Lin looked down at her.

"From today on, you don't need to look at others anymore."

Han Qing's tears fell—not the kind of torrential, uncontrollable crying, but a very quiet, drop-by-drop sliding from the corners of her eyes, like pearls from a broken string.

She didn't wipe them or hide; she just stood there, looking up at Qin Lin as the tears continued to flow.

Qin Lin reached out, his thumb brushing over her cheekbone to wipe away the tears.

"Don't cry."

Han Qing grasped his hand and pressed her face into his palm, closing her eyes.

After a long time, she let go of his hand, wiped her face, and Recovery her usual calm expression.

But she didn't let go of his other hand.

"Don't leave tonight," she said, her voice still a bit raspy.

Qin Lin nodded.

Han Qing turned around, tidied up the Medical Reports on the desk, and turned off the lamp.

Only the light leaking in from the corridor remained in the room, making it very dim.

Qin Lin didn't say anything; he reached out and pulled Han Qing into his arms. She leaned against his chest, not heavy, but very light.

Qin Lin leaned down and kissed the top of her head; her hair still smelled faintly of disinfectant.

On the third night, Qin Lin went to Li Ran's room.

Su Yuling was also there; it wasn't a coincidence, Su Yuling had called her over.

When Qin Lin pushed the door open, the mother and daughter were sitting by the bed. Su Yuling was wearing a milky white nightgown, and Li Ran was wearing a light purple one. Their hair was loose, the light was dim, and a bouquet of freshly picked chinese roses—red, pink, and yellow—was crowded into a vase on the nightstand.

"Mom, Brother Lin is here."

Li Ran looked up at Qin Lin, her face flushing slightly.

Qin Lin walked over and sat between the mother and daughter. Su Yuling leaned over and pressed her face against his shoulder, while Li Ran sat still, but her fingers were slightly curled on her knees.

Qin Lin reached out and grasped Li Ran's hand.

Li Ran's fingers trembled for a moment, then slowly relaxed and grasped his hand back.

"Aunt Ran," Qin Lin called her.

"Mhm."

"It wasn't fast before, should we speed up now?"

Li Ran knew what Qin Lin was talking about. She shook her head and said: "Mhm, it's time to speed up."