Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

In the antique-styled room, the aroma of tea filled the air. The water in the kettle was gurgling, just on the verge of boiling, rattling the lid as it threatened to pop off.

In Qiu Yue’s eyes, the file on the table was like a dozing monster. Touching it would bring unforeseeable consequences.

Qiu Yue didn’t move. Jiang Xia didn’t rush her.

The whistle of the boiling kettle was the first to break the silence between them.

”Ms. Qiu Yue, whether you look at this or not, you can’t stop the truth about Xiao Xian from being exposed.”

Jiang Xia spoke calmly, delivering the most threatening of words in the most placid tone.

”And you have two children.”

’My children?’

Qiu Yue’s head snapped up. She stared at the tea-sipping Jiang Xia, her gaze wavering as she appeared to be making a choice.

The decision came quickly. Qiu Yue wanted to laugh mockingly at herself. If it weren’t for her children, she would have stopped playing along with Xiao Xian ages ago.

Qiu Yue picked up the folder from the table, opened it, and began to read.

She understood every word. She had even mentally prepared herself, but now that the news was confirmed beyond a doubt, she began to feel sick to her stomach.

”RETCH— GAG—”

Qiu Yue covered her mouth, dry-heaving audibly. The churning in her stomach made her laugh in self-mockery.

”I’m a joke, HAHAHAHAHAHA... I, Qiu Yue, am a fucking joke!”

As Qiu Yue’s emotions poured out, Jiang Xia did not disturb her, giving her all the space she needed.

A few minutes later, Qiu Yue wiped the corner of her mouth with a silk handkerchief and sat up straight. She was still the very picture of a virtuous wife and loving mother, only this time, she was done with the act.

”Xiao Xian has a secret account. The name on it isn’t his.”

Qiu Yue played her card, looking at Jiang Xia. ”Don’t expose the incestuous affair between those two wretches. That is my only demand.”

Jiang Xia sat up straight and, to Qiu Yue’s expectant gaze, shook his head.

”I’m sorry, Ms. Qiu Yue, but you don’t get to decide whether or not I conceal this information.”

”With your help, taking down Xiao Xian will be significantly easier. Without it, it will just take a little more time. After all, I’m not in a rush.”

Across from him, Qiu Yue’s breathing grew ragged. She slammed her hands on the table and pushed herself to her feet, her eyes burning as she stared at Jiang Xia.

”What is it you really want?”

Jiang Xia shook his head again and countered, ”What do *you* want?”

’What do *I* want?’

Qiu Yue’s clenched fingers gradually relaxed. ”I just want my children. I don’t want them to be affected by Xiao Xian. I want them to be able to live openly, with their heads held high, instead of constantly suffering the slander and scorn of others.”

Meeting her gaze, Jiang Xia nodded.

”You...?”

”Not so fast. I have a proposal, I wonder if you might be interested, Ms. Qiu Yue?”

Jiang Xia made a placating gesture, encouraging Qiu Yue to sit back down.

Once they were facing each other again, Jiang Xia produced another file and pushed it toward her.

”This is information about studying in Hong Kong. I can arrange for your two children to go there. Once they’re in Hong Kong, I can arrange for them to go abroad from there. I promise you, this news won’t get out before your children leave. As for what I want... you should know.”

Qiu Yue was silent for a long moment, her mind racing.

’Going abroad? It’s actually a great option, but...’

”Xiao Xian won’t let the children go abroad.”

”Oh, he will.”

Jiang Xia’s confident three words made Qiu Yue hesitate, but she opened the folder anyway and looked at the documents inside.

”If Xiao Xian brings up sending them abroad himself, then we have a deal. If he doesn’t, well...”

Qiu Yue said no more. Jiang Xia, understanding perfectly, stood up and smiled at her. ”Naturally.”

With no further pressure from him, no more threats or enticements, Qiu Yue put the folder down, slung her bag over her shoulder, and prepared to leave.

Pausing at the door, Qiu Yue glanced back at him. ”Jiang Xia, has anyone ever told you that you’re actually a terrifying person?”

”Not yet, but thank you for the compliment, Ms. Qiu Yue. I admire resourceful people like us. At the very least, we have the power to protect those we want to protect, don’t we?”

Qiu Yue’s face relaxed into a smile at his words.

”You’re right.”

”CREAK—”

Qiu Yue opened the door and left. Jiang Xia remained seated, tapping a finger on the tabletop, the very picture of confidence.

When Jiang Xia returned to the An family’s home after concluding his business, it was already past ten o’clock at night. He tiptoed back to his room without disturbing a soul.

Recognizing the newcomer was Jiang Xia, Da Huang didn’t even open his eyes and continued to sleep.

While things were peaceful on his end, Qiu Yue gave nothing away upon returning home. She remained the perfect wife.

「That night, at the Xiao family’s home.」

Qiu Yue opened the door and stepped into the dim, yellow-lit living room, startling at the sight of a shadow on the sofa. When she saw it was Xiao Xian, she greeted him calmly.

”I’m back late. I’m heading up.”

Qiu Yue turned to leave, her attitude as business-like as ever.

”Wait a moment.”

Xiao Xian called out to her, a file folder in his hand. He fell into step behind her, his tone like he was speaking to a business client. ”There’s something we need to discuss. Let’s talk upstairs.”

Qiu Yue stared at the folder, Jiang Xia’s words echoing in her mind. ’Oh, he will. He will.’

Sensing her gaze on the folder, Xiao Xian held it up. ”Relax, it’s not divorce papers.”

For some reason, his words almost made her laugh. ’Does he really think I care about a divorce?’

”As long as it’s not, that’s fine. Let’s go upstairs.”

Qiu Yue walked ahead, with Xiao Xian following behind her.

With a soft click of the closing door, Qiu Yue switched on the bedroom light.

”Is it urgent?”

Qiu Yue, preparing to wash up for the night, began to take off her clothes. Xiao Xian, however, sat with his body turned away, his gaze averted.

This sort of scene should have been perfectly ordinary between a husband and wife, but tonight, waves of nausea and revulsion washed over Qiu Yue.

In just her underwear, she deliberately walked to stand in front of him. She placed a hand on his shoulder and asked in a seductive tone, ”Xiao Xian, am I beautiful?”

Xiao Xian, who had been looking down, immediately recoiled from her touch. He gave a dismissive nod. ”Beautiful. Are you done? This is urgent.”

His avoidance wasn’t born of shyness; it was more like disgust—a deep, visceral disgust.

Qiu Yue straightened up, a darkness gradually consuming her heart.

Recklessly, she stripped off her remaining clothes and threw herself into his arms.

”Xiao Xian—”

”You... are crossing a line.”

Xiao Xian shoved her away forcefully. Qiu Yue fell, naked, onto the cold floor, a frantic energy gathering in her eyes.

”Xiao Xian, you’ve never loved me, have you?”

”You can’t stand any intimacy between us, can you?”

”Then why did you have children with me?”

Her questions were met with no answer. Instead, Xiao Xian picked up a blanket from the bed and threw it over her.

For the first time, he looked directly at her, but the iciness in his eyes was enough to make her burning rationality slowly return.

’He was Xiao Xian, after all.’

’She should have known all along.’