At 9 AM, sunlight crept through the gaps in the curtains into the dim room. The chirping of birds drifted in from outside.
Zhou Tianming got up, threw off the thin blanket, stretched, and walked to the window. Opening it, fresh air rushed in. Taking a deep breath, he felt instantly invigorated.
The air carried a peculiar scent—far worse than the utterly odorless atmosphere of the Satellite. But given the choice, he'd still pick Earth, for its air was filled with the fragrance of "life."
It was already late October, and the temperature was gradually cooling. Tianming rummaged through a pile of flashy children's clothes before finding a relatively normal tracksuit to wear as he left the room.
Still on the second-floor hallway, he heard a familiar loud voice from below. Descending the stairs, he saw Wei Jun sitting on the living room sofa chatting with Gao Jing.
Wei Jun was still tightly wrapped in bandages, only his eyes and mouth visible, his left arm in a sling—looking like he was on death's door, yet his spirits were oddly high.
Spotting Tianming, he immediately stood up and waved. "Come on, Tianming! Let me show you something amazing."
Gao Jing, meanwhile, hurried over and scrutinized Tianming before complaining, "Why aren't you wearing something nicer? Don't you like these? Tell me what you want, and I'll buy it for you."
Tianming waved his hands helplessly. "No, really, I prefer clothes with simple colors that are comfortable to wear."
Hearing this, Gao Jing crossed her arms, frowned in thought, then suddenly clapped her hands. "Wait here! I'll buy you new clothes—guaranteed you'll love them!" With that, she turned and left, pausing by Wei Jun to remind him, "Bring Tianming back early tonight. Hanxiang's being discharged from the hospital, and we're all getting together."
"Got it!"
As Gao Jing rushed off, Tianming approached Wei Jun. "Uncle Wei, shouldn't you really be resting in the hospital like this?"
Wei Jun thumped his chest. "These little injuries? As long as I didn't die on the spot, it's nothing serious."
Tianming could only stare speechlessly.
"Let's go!" Wei Jun slung an arm around Tianming's shoulders and steered him outside. "Time to see my gift for you."
A gift? Tianming wasn't impressed. He was, after all, a multimillionaire holding hundreds of millions of dollars.
Go ahead, try giving me a spaceship!
Two hours later, at a shipyard near the Kaohsiung Mass Driver...
Tianming gaped at the Black Tortoise before him. The ship's hull bore a massive wound at its center, nearly splitting it in two. The impact zone's engines and external armor were completely gone, exposing internal metal piping and wiring.
"F-for me?" Tianming pointed at the Black Tortoise in disbelief, turning to Wei Jun for confirmation. "Seriously?"
"Haha, of course it's true." Wei Jun stepped forward and patted the Black Tortoise's hull. "Don't let its current state fool you—this ship is tough as nails. With some repairs, it'll be battle-ready again."
Suddenly, a hoarse yet vigorous elderly voice rang out behind them: "Well said! My Black Tortoise won't be taken down by mere scratches like these!"
The two turned to look. Zhou Tianming blinked in surprise—the old man was none other than the one discussing current affairs at the teahouse earlier.
Wei Jun, however, exclaimed with delight: "You—Master Long! You're actually still alive!"
...The atmosphere instantly grew awkward.
Zhou Tianming shot Wei Jun a deadpan look. With a comment like that, he might as well find a block of tofu to commit seppuku.
The old man burst into laughter instead. "Hearing Wei Jun's thoughtless remarks again makes staying alive worthwhile."
"No, no, that's not what I meant!" Wei Jun floundered helplessly.
Zhou Tianming quietly stood by, enjoying the show.
After a while, the old man began circling the Black Tortoise, inspecting it closely—sometimes nodding, sometimes frowning, occasionally running his hands over its battered wounds.
Wei Jun and Zhou Tianming watched from the side.
"This is Master Long Ye," Wei Jun explained with reverence. "He built the Black Tortoise with his own hands—every screw, every plate of steel."
He added wistfully, "If not for your grandfather's intervention, I'd never have had the clout to bring Master Long out of retirement."
Zhou Tianming asked, "You're really giving me the Black Tortoise?"
"You don't want it?"
"I do!"
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
Within his consciousness space, the Mental Command [Friendship] glowed brightly—+74=302.
Wei Jun smiled at his response. "As long as you don't mind its condition. The repairs won't come cheap though—that'll be on your dime."
Zhou Tianming smirked. "I was just worrying about having nowhere to spend my money."
"Quite the confident youngster," Long Ye remarked as he approached. "Fully restoring this will cost a fortune. I doubt young Zhou here has that kind of clean money. I won't touch anything shady."
"Every cent is legitimately earned—my conscience is clear!"
Long Ye chuckled. "Good, very capable."
Over the following period, Long Ye briefed Zhou Tianming on the Black Tortoise's current state.
True to its builder, Long Ye identified over thirty major repair points just from visual inspection, along with a hundred-plus potential hidden flaws requiring detailed scans.
He also noted many outdated internal systems that should ideally be upgraded with modern replacements—budget permitting.
Zhou Tianming raised another consideration: current spaceships weren't designed to accommodate Humanoid Mobile Suits, so he hoped to expand the Black Tortoise accordingly.
Long Ye pondered briefly. "No idea what you're planning, kid, but if money's no object, neither am I."
"I have about 500 million USD in liquid assets." Zhou Tianming did quick mental calculations, accounting for living expenses. "It's fine if we use it all—I can always earn more."
Long Ye's eyes widened. "Where does a youngster like you get that kind of money?!"
He eyed Zhou Tianming suspiciously. "You didn't rob a bank, did you?"
Zhou Tianming pointed at his own nose, gestured at his slight frame, and gave a "are you serious?" expression.
Long Ye awkwardly looked away, shooting Wei Jun a glare.
Wei Jun looked utterly confused.
"Since—"
"Since you're being so generous, we'll just have to give it our absolute best!"
A rugged voice rang out from the distance as a brawny man in his fifties with streaks of gray at his temples strode forward briskly.
Behind him followed over a dozen men and women around 50-60 years old.
At their approach, the towering Wei Jun shrank back like a quail, ducking aside.
They drew near and bowed respectfully to Long Ye in unison: "Teacher, it's been too long."
Long Ye's face showed reminiscence as he sighed emotionally: "Indeed, we haven't met much since I retired."
After exchanging pleasantries, the group dispersed to inspect the Black Tortoise.
The middle-aged leader crouched down and introduced himself to Zhou Tianming: "I'm Li Chuang, chief designer of the Black Tortoise. Never thought I'd see it again after all these years."
"Zhou Tianming, future master of the Black Tortoise."
Li Chuang smiled: "Then could you share your thoughts?"
Over the following hours, Zhou Tianming articulated his ideas one by one to Li Chuang as they came to mind.
Li Chuang recorded everything on a tablet.
"This would essentially mean rebuilding the Black Tortoise except for its basic framework. Are you certain?"
Zhou Tianming nodded: "No problem. It's worth it as long as my vision can be realized."
Nodding, Li Chuang sketched on the tablet: "I'll draft a preliminary plan based on your ideas within two days. You can consider what else needs modification."
"Thank you."
Time flew by. The detailed repair list for the Black Tortoise was handed to Zhou Tianming. Glancing at the price—over 100 million USD.
Cheap.
With a flourish, he transferred the funds to the account of the person in charge of material and equipment procurement.
After several hours of continuous work, some of the older members began showing fatigue by 4 PM.
Learning his grandfather had only booked standard five-star hotel accommodations, Zhou Tianming promptly upgraded everyone to premium all-inclusive packages.
Immediately earning their praise.
Long Ye rolled his eyes while leaving: "Such a young age, yet already learning bad habits."
Then went off to enjoy himself.
By 7 PM, Zhou Tianming and Wei Jun returned home.
Gao Jing had prepared a table full of dishes.
Seeing Zhou Hanxiang sitting quietly on the living room sofa, Zhou Tianming approached to give her a hug before obediently settling beside her to chat.
Soon, everyone gathered around the dining table to enjoy the feast.
Basking in the warm atmosphere, Zhou Tianming smiled.
[Trust]×2—he blinked in surprise.
In that momentary lapse, Gao Jing and Zhou Hanxiang kept piling food into his bowl until it resembled a small mountain.
Under their expectant gazes, he had no choice but to stuff his mouth.
Late at night, Zhou Junguo remained awake in the study when Zhou Tianming entered in pajamas.
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