Chapter 120.1

By noon that day, Deputy Director Liu had already left. Arrogant’s keeper brought lunch to Director Mu and Mr. Xiang, and the three of them sat in the car, watching the Black Claw Ferocious Badger’s courtship while eating their meals.

Halfway through lunch, a young assistant from the film crew came over, telling Mu Ling that Teacher Bai had invited her to join him for lunch.

Mu Ling raised her nearly empty meal box and said, “But I’m almost done.”

The assistant looked awkward, shuffled in place, but didn’t leave. He still insisted that Teacher Bai wanted her to come over for lunch.

Not wanting to make things difficult for a working person, Mu Ling turned to Xiang Bie and said, “I’ll just go say hello.”

With that, she got out of the car.

Xiang Bie watched her walk away, then closed the lid of his lunchbox, having lost his appetite.

The film crew had just started their meal as well. They had a buffet-style setup that looked quite lavish. By the time Mu Ling arrived, someone had already prepared food for Mr. Bai.

The assistant, having completed his mission, dropped Mu Ling off in front of Bai Su and scurried away.

Bai Su sat in a wide chair. He glanced at Mu Ling first, then placed an empty bowl and chopsticks across from him and said, “Sit.”

Mu Ling looked at him, then at the chair opposite, before sitting down.

Soon, the table was filled with delicacies, and the staff quietly dispersed.

Once they were alone, Bai Su picked up his chopsticks to start eating.

Just then, Mu Ling spoke up: “Are you a relative of my grandfather?”

Bai Su’s handsome face wore a gentle smile. He picked up some shredded meat and placed it in his bowl, asking, “Do you think we look alike?”

Mu Ling studied Mr. Bai but couldn’t find any resemblance to her grandfather in his features.

But Bai Su said, “Yes.”

Mu Ling was taken aback.

Bai Su motioned for her to eat while continuing his meal.

Mu Ling said directly, “I’ve already eaten.”

Bai Su paused, then said with a gentle sigh, “Then have some soup, at least.”

Mu Ling picked up the soup bowl beside her, scooped a spoonful, and took a sip.

Only then did Bai Su continue, “Your grandfather and I are related. By generational seniority, I would be considered your older cousin.”

Mu Ling looked at him. “But last time, you didn’t speak to me.”

The “last time” she referred to was during a cold spring four years ago.

The Mu family was holding a funeral then. Mu Ling stood before her grandfather’s memorial tablet in mourning clothes, her eyes red from crying.

Her grandfather had passed away when she was sixteen. Many people had come to pay their respects, and Mu Ling bowed mechanically to each one, her vision blurred from excessive crying.

Later, a stranger walked in—a young man in his early twenties, clearly an adult.

His presence was striking, his demeanor refined, every gesture brimming with nobility, completely out of place on their rural Planet 877.

He wasn’t a neighbor, not a teacher, not a classmate—he wasn’t anyone they knew. Yet he came in, bowed, lit incense, and left behind an extraordinarily generous condolence gift.

Though he didn’t leave his name, Mu Ling never forgot him because of that exceptionally generous offering.

“That time…” Bai Su sighed. “I actually didn’t know I was paying respects to my grand-uncle. My grandmother was waiting outside—she was the one who told me to go in. By the way, my grandmother is your Grandaunt, the one who gave you the zoo.”

Mu Ling remained silent for a while before asking, “Why didn’t Grandaunt come in to offer incense? Did she have a falling-out with Grandpa?”

Bai Su shook his head. “I don’t know the details of what happened between the elders. Neither do my parents. We only know that your grandfather and my grandmother were siblings. But twenty years ago, your grandfather left the Bai family, changed his surname, and from then on, the two families lost contact.”

Then Bai Su added, “Our Bai family is originally from Ancient Blue Star. Your grandfather too. He must have mentioned that to you?”

Actually, he hadn’t. Her grandfather had never mentioned where he was originally from. For as long as Mu Ling could remember, they’d lived on Planet 877.

But he had told her countless stories about Ancient Blue Star—so many that even though she had never been there before, when she finally arrived, nothing felt unfamiliar. In fact, everything felt strangely familiar and warm.

Bai Su continued, “Now that both elders have passed away, they never gave us a chance to meet formally before they left. I suppose they were still holding onto old grudges and didn’t want us to get close. But after my grandmother passed, she left you a Zoo. So I think, deep down, she still acknowledged you as her grandniece. My parents would also like to meet you. Since you’re already on Ancient Blue Star, why not come home with me tonight and have dinner with us?”

Mu Ling paused, then gently put down her soup bowl and shook her head.

Bai Su was surprised. “You don’t want to have dinner with us?”

Mu Ling pressed her lips together and was quiet for a moment before saying, “I’m here on a work trip. I don’t really have time…”

It was clearly just an excuse. She simply didn’t want to have dinner with his family.

Bai Su looked at her for a moment, then said, “I won’t force you. But we are family. How about this—take my contact information. If you ever need help with anything, you can reach out.”

In the end, Mu Ling and Bai Su exchanged contact information. After that, Mu Ling said she had other matters to attend to and left.

Bai Su didn’t try to keep her.

When Mu Ling returned to the Black Claw Ferocious Badger’s area, she saw from a distance that Brother Xiang was leaning against the car, waiting for her.

For some reason, the stifled feeling she’d had while talking to Bai Su seemed to ease when she saw Brother Xiang. She quickened her pace and called out, “Brother Xiang!”

Xiang Bie looked at her expression, his brows furrowing slightly.

She was smiling, but her clear eyes held traces of sorrow.

Xiang Bie asked coldly, “Did he upset you?”

Mu Ling blinked. “You mean Mr. Bai? No, how could he?”

Xiang Bie noticed the sadness in her eyes disappear as she put on a composed front…

His expression grew even colder.

Mu Ling opened the car door and got back in.

Inside the vehicle, Arrogant’s keeper was still there, and the surveillance feed continued to show Butcher and Arrogant’s budding romance.

On screen, Butcher was lying next to the hive, having completely won Arrogant’s favor.

Arrogant ran to a rocky cave in the woods, and Butcher followed. When Arrogant, full and content, wanted to take a nap, Butcher lay down right beside it, wrapping its little paws gently around Arrogant’s neck, cuddling close.

They were still in the bonding phase, not yet truly intimate, but from the looks of it, success was only a matter of time!

Mu Ling was delighted, and so was Arrogant’s keeper. Xiang Bie, however, was not.

Looking at Mu Ling, who was clearly preoccupied with something, Xiang Bie thought for a moment, then suddenly said, “Let’s go for a walk.”