Lin Tianxue’s words were sincere and full of emotion, almost causing the listener to feel sorrow and the hearer to shed tears, but Fang Bai only furrowed his brow, saying nothing.

After a while, he shook his head.

"I don’t understand... I don’t understand why you’re doing these things. The current military, the current Human Race, the current Fang Yuqiong, you, me, the current Yanjing, everything is great. If it weren’t for your meddling, dad would have cleaned up the influence caused by the Ultimate Force Team long ago. Xiao Xue, let’s not do this anymore, stop now, apologize to dad, let the next generation decide their own future, wouldn’t that be better?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tianxue’s expression immediately darkened.

Her lips curled into a narrow arc, seemingly mocking, seemingly disappointed.

After a while, Lin Tianxue finally spoke.

"Fang Bai, you really are a waste..."

Fang Bai remained silent...

Love, it exists, but love is not the entirety of marriage. Five years is enough to change many things beyond recognition. Once united couples, now because of differences in ideals, have become strangers.

"Now, get out of my sight."

The frigid tone, like a dagger, pierced Fang Bai’s heart. Fortunately, being branded a "waste" by his wife wasn’t a first; if the word "waste" were a scar, Fang Bai’s heart would be scarred all over.

He nodded gently, turned around, and left.

Leaving her sitting alone in the hall, slowly narrowing her eyes, constantly calculating in her heart who might still side with her.

She thinks he’s a "waste," he thinks her ambition is too grand. She believes this is motherly love; he thinks this love is too twisted.

Now, there was nothing left to say between the couple.

...

The prosperity of the Yanjing Assembly Site is undeniable.

The core zone, inner city zone, outer city zone, and settlement zone (also known as the slums), together form the behemoth that is Yanjing. Counting the elites living in the Eternal Sky City, Yanjing accommodates nearly 2 billion people!

Having undergone constant expansion upon expansion, today’s Yanjing completely overshadows the former capital of Cathay from before the apocalypse, making it seem utterly insignificant. For non-professionists, attempting to walk across the entirety of Yanjing with their own feet is undoubtedly a vast undertaking. But where are there any non-professionists anymore...

In Yanjing, the core zone and inner city zone are under military jurisdiction, housing a colossal army and its affiliates, with various departmental authorities lined up in an endless row. Even the walls of the inner city zone stand a notch higher than those of the outer city zone.

Those familiar with military insiders are well aware that the inner city zone’s walls at the Yanjing Assembly Site are one of the military’s deadly weapons—the main body of the Xuanwu War God.

Fang Bai likes it here.

Sitting atop the inner city zone’s walls, hundreds of meters high, overlooking the brightly lit scene below, witnessing the bustle below, it is not just pride—pride in having followed Lin Haifeng and carved out such a vast territory amidst the end of the world. It’s also a form of self-reflection... reflecting on everything about himself.

Holding a bottle of liquor, munching on peanuts, basking in the cool breeze, watching the myriad lives in the outer city zone, and pondering over questions.

He was contemplating that daytime topic about "waste"...

As Lin Haifeng’s deputy, possessing a top ten rank, with physical attributes nearly reaching a hundred thousand points, his subordinates followed his words loyally and respectfully...

How did he become known as a waste by others.

Fang Bai didn’t understand it, couldn’t comprehend...

He truly couldn’t grasp his wife’s understanding of the term "waste."

Until, soft footsteps sounded behind him.

The steps gentle, quiet, becoming less and less audible the closer they came to Fang Bai’s vicinity—with Fang Bai’s strength, such poor concealment methods were utterly laughable, yet, for some reason, Fang Bai remained seated, even taking a big gulp of his drink.

Until the footsteps reached just behind him, a pair of small hands gently covered Fang Bai’s eyes, and a deliberately faltering voice sounded from behind.

"Guess who I am~~~"

"Hmm, I guess it’s Lord Demigod."

Fang Bai responded seriously.

"Wrong guess, try again..."

"Wow~~ It couldn’t be Commander Lin~~~"

"Guess again, guess again!"

The voice from behind could no longer hold a faltering tone, turning into laughter, filled with joy.

Fang Bai suddenly reached out, scooping the little one behind him into his arms, pinching the child’s face into a bun shape, his eyes brimming with laughter.

"Little thing, I knew it was you."

He said, while his two hands relentlessly tickled the child’s armpits, causing the child to erupt into a series of giggles.

The crisp laughter, unexpectedly, stirred ripples in Fang Bai’s heart, and his recent depression vanished completely. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The child, around six years old, was clean and neat, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, in whose features Lin Haifeng and Lin Kuangliu could vaguely be seen...

In a trance, Fang Bai seemed to see Kuangliu’s silhouette... recalling the times spent growing up, studying, living, playing, and frolicking together with Kuangliu.

Some things, like strong liquor, become even more potent and clear with the sedimentation of time...

...

Until the big and small pair grew tired from playing, and lay down on the steel wall. Fang Bai pulled out a cigarette from his space ring, was about to light it, but then suddenly thought of something, and put it back.

"How has your study been lately?"

"Not bad, it’s just that what the teacher teaches is quite boring, got a C in literature, a C+ in history, but an A+ in martial arts. Oh right, uncle, there was a class competition today, I came second, just a little behind my brother. How about that, pretty impressive, right?"

Filled with pride from the child’s words, Fang Bai lightly mentioned: "You should also study literature and history well, they are our cultural and spiritual pillars...," rattling off a long speech.

Finally, Fang Bai gave an embarrassed smile: "You’ll understand in the future."

A child shouldn’t be educated or criticized in a preachy manner—they don’t understand the significance of these things...

Since Lin Tianxue became pregnant, Fang Bai supplemented a lot of knowledge on these matters, though unfortunately...

"Oh right, uncle, today my brother and I ate grilled beef, at the shop near the school, my brother told me he hasn’t seen you for a long time, when will you visit him?"

Fang Bai fell silent...

Since Fang Yuqiong gained her senses, she continued on a steady path according to Lin Tianxue’s educational model—nicely termed as elite education, but plainly it’s Spartan. Coupled with Fang Bai’s busy work, meetings between father and son have been few and far between.

"I miss auntie too, is she still alright now?"

"Auntie is still like she used to, dressing up every day, going to various gatherings, in short, she seems quite lively."

A child doesn’t understand virtue or vice, nor does Lin Tianxue show her vicious side before Lin Que. In some ways, children truly are innocent, and the situation didn’t deteriorate to the extent of tearing each other apart completely.

"A few days ago, I saw Lord Demigod, his mask is really cool, although he’s a bit indifferent. Oh and grandpa said that later on, I should learn combat experience alongside Lord Demigod. I’m reluctant to go, almost told him that my uncle tutors me every night here... yesterday we had a new transfer student in class, a girl, my brother said she’s very pretty, but I don’t think she’s that good looking..."

Lin Que kept talking, on and on, while Fang Bai just listened, until Lin Que got tired of talking, Fang Bai then pulled the little guy up.

"Alright, chat time is over..."

Fang Bai stood up, seeing this, Lin Que immediately scrunched up his little face, reluctantly extending his hand, as the spark slowly floated, illuminating their two faces...