"Zhao Chen?" Hearing the name, the boy was startled.
Looking carefully at the man's face before him—wasn't this the hero Zhao Chen who had saved the faculty and students of the two academies and become quite famous some time ago?
Most importantly, he was also the grandson-in-law acknowledged by Governor Chu He.
"Get lost." Zhao Chen couldn't be bothered to waste words on these two.
The boy and girl immediately left, though the girl couldn't help glancing back over her shoulder three times as she walked away, stealing looks at Zhao Chen's profile.
So handsome!
"Thank you, big brother." The little girl kept bowing to Zhao Chen in gratitude.
"It's nothing." Zhao Chen smiled as he looked at the little girl before him. Up close, he realized she looked very familiar.
"You… what's your relationship with Shen Bing?" Zhao Chen asked.
"Sister? You know my sister… Oh, right! I remember they just called you Zhao Chen. You're that Academy hero, Brother Zhao Chen!
I've often heard my sister talk about you!" The little girl's eyes sparkled with excitement as she stared at Zhao Chen.
So she was Shen Bing's younger sister. No wonder Zhao Chen had felt she looked familiar earlier.
Then the elderly woman before him must be the seriously ill grandmother Shen Bing had mentioned needing treatment.
Observing the old woman's condition, Zhao Chen frowned slightly.
Her current state didn't seem like someone who had recovered; her mental condition wasn't very good.
"Are you taking Grandma out for a walk? Where's your sister?" Zhao Chen asked.
"My sister is probably tutoring freshmen right now. That way she can earn a little tutoring fee," the little girl replied.
"What's your name?" Zhao Chen inquired.
"Shen Yan, like the little swallow's 'Yan,'" Shen Yan said with a smile.
Zhao Chen and Shen Yan strolled with the elderly woman in the park, and before they knew it, it was noon.
"Brother Zhao Chen, since you helped us out earlier, let me treat you to lunch," Shen Yan said, blinking at Zhao Chen.
"Sure, what are you planning to treat me to?" Zhao Chen asked with a smile.
Shen Yan pulled out a small folder from her pocket. Zhao Chen could see it contained several nutrition meal vouchers, each marked with a date.
For example, today was Monday. There were two vouchers for Monday morning, two for lunch, and two for dinner.
Shen Yan pulled out a voucher from tomorrow's lunch section, which read "Lunch · Yanzi."
It seemed she intended to use her own lunch for tomorrow to treat Zhao Chen.
"I can treat you to a nutrition meal."
Looking at Shen Yan's innocent, smiling face, Zhao Chen didn't refuse.
"Then, Brother Zhao Chen, could you please watch Grandma for me here while I go exchange the nutrition meal?" Shen Yan happily headed toward the distant nutrition meal exchange point.
Zhao Chen sat beside Grandma Shen, watching as the old woman kept touching the medal on her chest.
He asked, "Grandma, is this medal very important to you?"
Grandma Shen looked at Zhao Chen and murmured softly, "It… it… it was bought with my lover's life."
During his earlier chat with Shen Yan, Zhao Chen had learned that Grandma Shen's mind was sometimes clear, sometimes not.
He had only asked the question casually, never expecting Grandma Shen to actually respond.
Then, Grandma Shen continued murmuring to herself, "Back then, I was working at the galaxy command headquarters. The Stargate was damaged… we had to hold out for seven days."
The commander ordered me to relay the command to hold the line at all costs to the fleet at the frontline.
The first fleet I contacted at that time... was... the fleet where my beloved served.
The command I relayed... cost my beloved his life.
I thought I would die too, but in the end, I survived... In truth, I had already died back then... If it weren't for the child in my womb... I wouldn't have been able to cling to life until now."
As Grandma Shen said this, she clutched the medal tightly in her hand.
Zhao Chen opened his mouth to speak, but it felt as though something was stuck in his throat.
"Brother Zhao Chen, look, which Nutrition Meal would you like to eat? If... if it's not enough, Yanzi can share hers with Brother Zhao Chen." Shen Yan hurried over to Zhao Chen, holding three Nutrition Meals.
"It's fine, one box is enough for me," Zhao Chen said, taking one of the Nutrition Meals.
Shen Yan happily opened her Nutrition Meal but didn't eat it herself first. Instead, she began feeding Grandma Shen.
Zhao Chen ate his own Nutrition Meal beside them. The taste was no different from before, but for some reason, this time he finished every last grain.
"I remember your sister, Shen Bing, had saved up 100,000 Star Coins for surgery to treat Grandma Shen. Why is Grandma Shen still in this condition?" Zhao Chen asked.
Shen Yan replied somewhat dejectedly, "According to the doctor, my grandmother served in the Imperial Fleet when she was young, and her body was exposed to a certain radiation element for a long time. It even seeped into her brain.
The 100,000 Star Coins my sister saved up only alleviated Grandma's condition temporarily, but the lesion in her brain still couldn't be treated. Unless we use the most advanced medical equipment and undergo years of rehabilitation treatment...
But the cost of that treatment isn't as simple as 100,000 Star Coins. It would require nearly millions or even more Star Coins! It's a bottomless pit.
The doctor advised us to give up, but my sister has never been willing to."
Hearing this, Zhao Chen didn't press further.
"Yanzi, I might have a way to treat your grandmother's illness, but it will take a few days.
For now, please don't tell your sister, Shen Bing, that you've met me, okay?
We can give your sister a surprise later, alright?" Zhao Chen smiled as he looked at Shen Yan.
Shen Yan hesitated for a moment before nodding firmly. "Okay, I believe you, Brother Zhao Chen."
Shen Yan's thoughts were simple: since Grandma was already in such a condition, there was no reason for the big brother to lie to her.
Zhao Chen patted Shen Yan's head and stood up. "I'm full now. Oh, by the way, I have a bag of compressed biscuits here. I don't really like them, so could you help me finish them?
I have some things to take care of now. We'll meet again in a few days. Goodbye."
Zhao Chen took a small bag of compressed biscuits from his pocket, placed it on the wheelchair, and without waiting for Shen Yan to refuse, waved goodbye and left.
Shen Yan looked at the unopened bag of compressed biscuits, then at the spot where Zhao Chen had disappeared.
"I didn't even tell Brother Zhao Chen where I live... Will he be able to find me later?" Shen Yan muttered to herself.
After parting ways with Shen Yan, Zhao Chen continued wandering around the Academy.
As for Grandma Shen's situation, Zhao Chen planned to arrange for her to receive treatment once the T3 Andromeda-class Interstellar Medical Ship was commissioned.
Zhao Chen knew there were many pitiful people like Grandma Shen in this world. He was no great philanthropist; he couldn't save everyone.
But he simply wanted to do what little he could.
For that medal of extraordinary significance.
For a veteran of the past.