The combat division of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division was on leave. Everyone went their separate ways: some to find their girlfriends, some to find their wives, some to visit their parents, and those with no one went off to enjoy their time alone.
Yang Hui, on the other hand, had come to the Demon Capital. Since he had the time, he thought he might as well go see Sayla. It had indeed been a long time since Yang Hui had seen her, and she still thought of him as her older brother.
"Hello, is Sera Mars in?" Yang Hui asked at the first-floor reception desk.
"Sera Mars... Yes, she is. And you are?" the receptionist inquired.
"I'm her brother," Yang Hui replied.
"Her brother? Not a suitor?"
"Hmm? What do you mean?" The receptionist's question stunned Yang Hui.
"Uh, my apologies. It's just that every day, Sayla's suitors come to the hospital looking for her, so..." The receptionist was embarrassed. She had seen that Yang Hui was very handsome and stylishly dressed, and subconsciously assumed he was one of Sera Mars's suitors.
"Oh? Is that so?" Yang Hui smiled. Sera Mars was a great beauty to begin with, and now that she was studying medicine, she was a highly educated intellectual. This added an intellectual charm to her beautiful appearance, so it was normal for her to be admired.
"Are you... really her brother?" the receptionist confirmed again, because Yang Hui and Sera Mars had no resemblance in appearance, skin tone, or hair color.
"Yes, I'm her brother."
"Alright, I'll contact her right away. She should be on her break now." Although Sera Mars was just an exchange student, her dazzling presence and personality meant she was on good terms with most of her colleagues at the hospital. The receptionist, in particular, was very familiar with her, as she encountered Sayla's suitors every day.
"Thank you for your trouble."
The receptionist dialed an internal line. "Sayla, someone's here to see you... No, not a suitor. He says he's your brother... His name is..."
"Yang Hui," Yang Hui offered, seeing the receptionist look at him.
"...He says his name is Yang Hui... Okay."
Hanging up the phone, the receptionist told Yang Hui, "Please wait a moment. She said she's coming down right away."
"Alright."
Before long, Yang Hui saw Sayla, now in casual clothes, running over like a butterfly and stopping right in front of him.
"It really is you!"
"Who else could it be?"
"No... I just... Didn't Lacus say you were very busy?"
"I'm done with my work. I have a short vacation. Are you off work now?"
"I took leave. I've already met my study quota for the month anyway."
"Then let's go."
In the eyes of the uninformed crowd, Sera Mars, who disdained all her suitors, walked out of the hospital laughing and chatting with a handsome, rugged man.
...
"How have you been lately?"
"Not good!"
"What's not good? Did someone bully you?"
"Yes! Someone bullied me!"
"Who bullied you? I'll go beat them up for you!"
"Who else but a certain irresponsible brother who dumped me in Granada and never looked back!"
"Er... Ahaha." Yang Hui scratched his hair awkwardly. There was truly nothing he could do about it. After seeing Sera Mars last time, he had begun his plan: meeting Char, welcoming back Revil, returning to Earth, collaborating with Revil and Gopp, joining the Federal Army, and forming the Twelfth Independent Technical Division, fighting across various war zones.
He had genuinely been busy until now, with this being his first break.
"Forget it. You're a busy man, I know," Sayla complained, pouting.
Yang Hui smiled faintly and suddenly said, "He came to see me..."
"Don't mention him!"
"...You have to understand him, too. After all, he's also your brother."
"I don't have a brother like him."
"Sigh."
Yang Hui sighed. Char had indeed been in the wrong back then, abandoning Sayla without a word. At that time, not long after Sayla received news of her mother's passing, her beloved cat, Lucifer, also passed away. Just when Sayla needed Char's companionship and comfort the most, he chose to leave her to begin his revenge.
But Yang Hui knew that deep down, Sayla still held concern and worry for her biological brother.
"Is he... doing okay?"
See? Sayla still asked about Char's situation.
"He should be doing pretty well." Yang Hui smiled knowingly and told Sayla what he knew. "I saw him once at the beginning of the year. We chatted, and then I taught him a lesson in space."
"Well done!" Sayla gave Yang Hui a thumbs-up. "And then?"
Seeing Sayla's mood brighten considerably, Yang Hui knew that the great weight in her heart had been lifted now that she knew Char was alive and well.
"He wanted to spar with me, but I ended up toying with him mercilessly before letting him go. The look on his face must have been priceless."
"Hahahaha..." Hearing that Char had been put in his place, Sayla clutched her stomach and laughed heartily. For her, just knowing he was doing alright was enough. As for anything else, Sayla would only gloat over his misfortune.
"Is he still... carrying out that plan?" After laughing her fill, Sayla's expression changed as if she were a Sichuan opera performer, suddenly turning dim.
"...Yes."
"And you'll help him, won't you?"
"Yes."
"Why... Can't you just be ordinary people?" Sayla asked. She had no interest in the blood flowing through her veins; in fact, she detested it. It was because of the Daikun Bloodline that she had suffered so many partings and so much sorrow.
"...Some things must be done," Yang Hui replied calmly.
"Why? A mission? A responsibility? Or is it bloodline? Identity?"
"Everyone has something they must bear, Sayla," Yang Hui comforted her gently. "I do, he does, and you do too."
"I do too..."
"Don't blame him, Sayla. Your share, he and I are carrying it for you, so you can be free to pursue the life you want."
"But if you're not here... it's not the life I want..."
"Home is a harbor for the soul. No matter how long a wanderer drifts, there will always be a day they return home."
"Really?"
"Of course. Have I ever lied to you?"
"No. When you can't answer, you just don't say anything."
"But I've never lied to you, have I?"
"That's true."
"By the way, I hear you have a lot of suitors?"
"Don't talk about it! It's so annoying!" Sayla complained with a look of disgust.
"Haha, the little princess has finally grown up. You even have suitors now."
"Hmph! Of course, I'm outstanding, you know!"
"Tell me, have you taken a liking to any of them? Do you want me to check them out for you?"
"Hmph, those scoundrels think they can pursue me? Impossible!"
"Whoa? Such high standards? Tell me, what's your ideal type?"
"He has to be more handsome and more capable than you."
"Then you'll die alone. A man more handsome and capable than me won't appear even if the solar system is destroyed."
"Tch, so narcissistic."
"I never lie." Yang Hui spread his hands, as if to say he was helpless in the face of his own excellence.
"Hmph! Lacus told me everything. You've found me another sister-in-law, haven't you?"
"Yes." Yang Hui wouldn't hide the matter with Cima. It was just that his relationship with Cima was different from that of a lover in the normal sense. It was more like... a pet? A possession?
But since something had happened between them, Yang Hui wouldn't deny it, so it wasn't wrong for Sayla to call Cima her sister-in-law.
"Hmph, scumbag!"
"You need capital to be a scumbag."
"Hmph!"
"Alright, why are you pouting all day? Trying to be a steamed bun?"
"You're the steamed bun! Let's go, start your plan."
"My plan?" Hearing Sayla tell him to go, Yang Hui stood up, but her words made him freeze halfway.
"Hmm? You came to see me after so long, and you didn't prepare any plans?" Sayla walked up to Yang Hui, her eyes glaring as she questioned him.
"Wh-what plan?" Yang Hui took two steps back, breaking into a sweat.
"The plan to take me out to have fun, of course!"
"This... no... I rushed over to see you as soon as my vacation started. Where would I have found the time to make any plans? I'm not familiar with the Demon Capital."
"You... Hmph!" Sayla was exasperated and turned to walk away.
"Ahaha." Yang Hui could only follow her helplessly.
Then, Sayla threw a tantrum like a child, dragging Yang Hui around to shop, watch movies, and indulge in all sorts of food and entertainment, all on his dime. She looked as if she wouldn't rest until his fortune was spent. Anyway, she knew he was rich, so she could spend as she pleased!
"Sayla... how about... we call it a day?" Yang Hui, laden with shopping bags from head to toe, a milk tea in one hand and snacks in the other, pleaded.
"No!"
"But... I can't carry anymore."
Sayla ignored him, swiped the card without hesitation, and then held a shopping bag in front of Yang Hui's face.
"Open your mouth."
"Huh?"
It was a question, but his action perfectly matched Sayla's command. He obediently opened his mouth, and then... as he closed it, he bit down on the handle of the shopping bag.
"Mm, so obedient." Sayla nodded in satisfaction, then skipped towards the next store with her hands behind her back, leaving a dumbfounded Yang Hui behind.
"Huh? Isn't that the Major? What a coinci... dence..."
A familiar voice made Yang Hui turn his head. His dazed eyes suddenly lit up. "Mmph? Mmph!"
"Ma... Major... what are you..." Ford Romfellow, Russ Kessel, Kowloon, and Liddell Wolf stared at Yang Hui in disbelief, trying to figure out what was happening, and then...
Swoosh~
Yang Hui's figure flashed, and in an instant, he was in front of the four of them, shoving the shopping bags hanging all over him into their hands.
"Phew~ I'm free."
"Major, what's the situation?" Kowloon asked blankly.
"I'm giving you guys a perk today. Accompany my little sister on her shopping trip."
"Little sister?" x4
"Yang Hui! What are you dawdling for!? Hurry up and follow me!"
Hearing the voice, the four men shifted slightly, their gazes bypassing Yang Hui. In an instant, their eyes were glued to the sight.
"Yes, ma'am!" x4