The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers-Chapter 828: The Old Man

No comparison, no harm.

When everyone was penny-pinching, pressing their calculators to figure out how to save money and still eat more delicious food, Teacher Mu Jianling wasn’t saving money; she eats as much and whenever she wants, whatever she wants...

Heartbreaking.

Too heartbreaking.

In the silence, Xuzhou said, "Now I understand why Teacher Mu is the supreme VIP of this restaurant." With such lavish spending, not treating credit points as money, how could she not be a supreme member?

As soon as Xuzhou finished speaking, Ji You said, "Now I understand why Teacher Mu doesn’t let us follow her; clearly, eating solo is tastier."

"Cough, cough..."

"Cough, cough..."

"Cough, cough..."

Sheng Qingyan rolled her eyes and said, "You’re not allowed to talk about Teacher Mu like that." Being so close, even if the soundproofing is excellent, if she wanted to eavesdrop, she could easily hear everything clearly.

Shen Changqing suddenly said, "By the way, aren’t you curious why Teacher Mu is a supreme VIP here?"

As a teacher, Mu Jianling spends most of her time at the Lanyue Star Military Academy, and Lanyue Star is far from Kite Space Station, so it’s basically impossible for her to come here for a meal.

Even like now, when she occasionally brings students for assessments and eats here, but the location for each year’s student assessment is not fixed. Shen Changqing specifically checked the records of past assessment locations before the end of the semester, and the last time first-year students came nearby for an assessment was 50 years ago...

So—

This is a question.

Everyone became very curious after Shen Changqing’s remark.

Ji You waved her hand, laughing: "That’s not strange. Did you forget Senior Chen Ke? He mentioned that after Teacher Mu graduated, she served at Eagle Space Station at the first checkpoint of the Sixth Star System."

Hmm?

Everyone suddenly understood.

The first checkpoint is the most border part of the Sixth Star System frontline and serves as the final defense line between humans and the Star Beasts. There are many warriors stationed there. It is furthest from the Star Beasts, yet there is no shortage of them attacking. It’s the most suitable training area for new recruits. Therefore, many new recruits come here to be stationed every year.

The commercial area closest to Eagle Space Station is Kite Space Station.

Whether new recruits or veteran warriors, they drive their mechas here during breaks to improve their meals, treat themselves...

Ji You laughed: "Teacher Mu, as a rookie, was unlucky enough to meet the stingy Captain Chen Ke. Probably she didn’t have good food usually, so she had to come here to feast once a week, and after eating here so often, she naturally became a supreme VIP."

All these VIP and supreme VIP memberships are just business tricks with the purpose of keeping you coming back to consume.

Shen Changqing said, "Probably that’s it."

Ji You said, "But I wonder how someone like Teacher Mu, who looks so clever, fell into the business trap."

No one else spoke, and Yue Qiguang loudly said, "What’s strange about that? Just dumb."

Upon hearing this, Mu Jianling, in the luxury private room, darkened her face and stopped her chopsticks.

Opposite her, an elderly man smiled and said, "Can’t eat anymore?"

Mu Jianling replied irritably, "I’m full of anger."

The elderly man had deep wrinkles on his face, and besides his face, his neck, hands, feet... all had age spots, signs of aging that even modern medical technology cannot change. Hearing Mu Jianling’s slightly childish words, the old man chuckled, his eyes weary as he gazed through the window of the private room at the chatting and youthful children in the hall, and he said, "Kids are always lively and cute."

Mu Jianling’s face sank, she didn’t respond.

Then.

Mu Jianling reached out again with her chopsticks and continued to pick up food.

Nom nom ~

Nom nom ~

Nom nom ~

Mu Jianling was absorbed in eating, not even sparing a glance at the elderly man opposite her, focusing only on the delicious food before her.

The atmosphere fell into oppressive silence once more, with the old man furrowing his brows, he sighed and said, "Jianling..."

Mu Jianling threw down her chopsticks, saying, "I’m full."

Having said that, she packed up a bag placed on the table and stored it in her Space Button. Then she tossed two small, rice-sized transparent crystals to the old man, stood up, and said, "I’m leaving!"

The corner of the old man’s mouth stiffened slightly, he said, "So many years, you’re the only one who’s ever turned your face at me."

Mu Jianling straightened her back, "So what?"

Without turning her head, she lifted her foot to leave.

The old man said, "Jianling, I know you’ve always opposed me, but what I’ve done has significant meaning for all humankind, maybe..."

Mu Jianling stopped abruptly, yet she didn’t turn back, only stood facing away from the old man, unmoving: "There’s no ’maybe’ in my dictionary, Mu Jianling. In my eyes, it’s all illusion."

"But—" Mu Jianling’s tone held obvious dislike as she said, "But everything you do is not just illusion but hypocrisy. Your purpose is nothing more than—"

She stopped and didn’t continue the last sentence.

Nonetheless, hearing her willing to acknowledge him, a glimmer of joy flashed on the old man’s face, he said, "Jianling, all this time, you haven’t supported me, you oppose me, you never seek me out proactively. Grandpa understands, comprehends... It’s fine if you dislike Grandpa, or whatever you say about him, Grandpa just hopes you can..."

"Stop." Mu Jianling raised her hand, saying, "My grandfather has long passed away."

The old man’s entire body jolted.

Mu Jianling unclenched her palm, then she pulled open the door handle, leaving without turning back.

Bang!

The door closed.

The old man’s weary eyes were full of suppressed, gloomy pain, he opened his mouth, then said, "Grandpa just wishes you could take a look at this old man who’s on the brink of demise."

After finishing words he hadn’t gotten to say earlier, the old man lowered his head gently, leaving only silence in the room, along with a table full of complete dishes, untouched...

Later, the door to the private room was pushed open from the outside, and a young man walked in. At first glance, he saw the emotionally downcast old man and hurried over, whispered, "Elder Mu, should we return now?"

The elderly man raised his eyelids upon hearing the voice, and after seeing it wasn’t Mu Jianling, his expression darkened slightly.

The young man felt pity upon seeing the old man’s demeanor, "Elder Mu, shall I go talk to Teacher Mu on your behalf?"

Elder Mu heard this and raised his hand, saying, "No need."

The young man, "But—"

Elder Mu replied with a wistful smile, "She’s really cold-hearted."

After speaking, Elder Mu smiled again, sighed, and said, "Let’s go. Let’s head back."

...

Mu Jianling exited the luxury private room, hugging her elbows, walking boldly towards the hall where Ji You and the others were. When she reached the table, without needing Ji You and the others to invite her, she sat down directly, picked up chopsticks, and began eating.

Ji You: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Ji You weakly asked, "Teacher, did you sit at the wrong place? You... you shouldn’t be here."

Mu Jianling glared at her, "Didn’t get it wrong."

Ji You pointed to her continuously picking chopsticks hand, "This..."

"Not full." Mu Jianling raised an eyebrow, "Got a problem?"