Free Web NovelZhao Chen and Annie walked out of the tea restaurant, Annie cautiously following behind Zhao Chen.
Annie had no intention of escaping. Not to mention what would happen if she escaped, the slave collar on her neck allowed the owner to find her at any time, and it also had an electric current switch inside.
Zhao Chen didn't dare to walk too fast, because if he walked at a normal pace, Annie behind him would have to jog, and he was really worried that she would be too weak to fall to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Can't the price be a bit cheaper? We bought a hundred energy blocks in total, can the price be a bit cheaper!"
Zhao Chen heard a familiar voice, and he turned his head to look.
He saw Shen Bing and a female crew member negotiating with a merchant at a weapons and ammunition sales point in a port.
They were purchasing Starship energy raw materials, energy blocks.
For dozens of star coins, Shen Bing argued with the other party for a long time.
It was hard to believe that the girl who was haggling with someone until she was flustered was the usually aloof class monitor.
"Miss, the price for these energy blocks is fixed. It's the same price throughout the entire Third Star System. Take it or leave it." The merchant became annoyed and his face darkened.
Shen Bing's expression was a bit complex. She bit her lip lightly and finally took out her Imperial Card to pay for the energy blocks.
"Xiao Li, wait here. I'll go see the ammunition needed for other Starships." Shen Bing walked towards another counter.
The female crew member was left waiting in place for the energy blocks to be delivered.
"I remember you're Liu Lili from Class Nine, right?"
Suddenly, the voice from behind startled Liu Lili.
Liu Lili looked around nervously and vigilantly, surprised to find that the person was actually Student Zhao Chen: "Student Zhao Chen, why are you here?"
"I've accepted the same escort mission as you," Zhao Chen explained.
"That's great! Then we can look out for each other. I was worried about something unexpected happening with this mission," Liu Lili said happily.
Previously, the students in the academy didn't have a very good impression of Zhao Chen, but because Zhao Chen defeated Zhang Haoran at the end of last year's term.
Everyone's opinion of this once-useless baron changed greatly.
Strength is always a person's best calling card.
"Are you procuring military supplies?" Zhao Chen looked at Shen Bing in the distance, who was discussing prices with the boss on her own.
"Yes." Liu Lili nodded. She noticed a timid little girl behind Zhao Chen but didn't ask further.
Nobles all had some special quirks.
"Why did you accept this mission?" Zhao Chen asked curiously.
Liu Lili hesitated, unsure whether she should say anything.
Zhao Chen immediately transferred five star coins to her: "It's rare to see a classmate here. Consider this my treat for a drink."
Five star coins! ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
That's not just for a drink, that's a month's worth of food expenses.
Liu Lili thought about it and decided it wasn't a big secret, so she started chatting with Zhao Chen directly.
Zhao Chen also understood why Shen Bing was here.
The purpose was money!
Shen Bing's grandmother's old illness relapsed before the New Year. All her organs had died, and only her brain was still in a frozen state, but if she didn't receive treatment within half a year, she would surely die.
And Shen Bing's grandmother's illness required the use of the highest-grade medical pod, costing as much as one hundred thousand star coins!
"If it weren't for the academy's rule that Starships exchanged with academy points cannot be sold, Shen Bing would probably have sold the Starship directly!" Liu Lili sighed: "And ordinary missions simply can't accumulate so much money in a short time.
They could only choose military missions.
And when they learned that Shen Bing was going to undertake a military mission this time, half of the crew members disagreed and chose to leave.
Now, our T2 Hyena-class Medium Interstellar Destroyer only has half of its standard crew, and everyone is doing multiple jobs.
Everyone sympathized with Shen Bing, or had been helped by Shen Bing or her parents, which is why they were willing to come and carry out this mission together."
"Shen Bing's grandmother is seriously ill, don't Shen Bing's parents care?" Zhao Chen asked.
"Shen Bing's parents passed away long ago. Both of Shen Bing's parents were Imperial Army soldiers and sacrificed themselves in a battle.
But that battle... for some reason, the Empire did not issue pensions.
Only Shen Bing, her younger sister, and their elderly grandmother were left.
When Shen Bing's parents were alive, they often helped others. Our family was once helped by their family, so... I came along this time.
My taking these five star coins isn't betraying Shen Bing... After all, this isn't a big secret, and these five star coins can buy many servings of synthetic food.
During this time, to save expenses, Shen Bing only eats one meal a day, just to save those pitiful few star coins," Liu Lili said with a pained expression.
So Shen Bing had this story.
"Then why has she never mentioned it before?" Zhao Chen asked.
Liu Lili said: "That girl, Shen Bing, is a strong-willed person. She never shows her soft side to outsiders and carries everything on her own.
To be honest, I'm really worried she won't be able to bear it one day."
Zhao Chen was deep in thought.
"Um... I'll go transport these things back to the Starship first. Later, during the escort mission, I'll trouble Student Zhao Chen to take care of us." Liu Lili took the opportunity to strengthen their relationship.
After bidding farewell to Liu Lili, Zhao Chen glanced at the class beauty who was still verbally sparring with the merchant over thousands of rounds of close-in weapon system ammunition.
He silently led Annie back to the t2 bee queen-class heavy carrier starship.
Upon entering such a large Starship, Annie immediately became reserved, cautiously following behind Zhao Chen.
And Lilith was already waiting at the hatch.
When Annie saw the charming woman in front of her, she lowered her head even more self-consciously, and without realizing it, she bumped directly into Zhao Chen, who had stopped.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to." Annie apologized hurriedly, tears already welling up in her eyes.
"Lilith, first take her to shower, then take her to the cafeteria to eat; let her get familiar with the Starship's environment first." Zhao Chen asked Lilith to settle Annie.
As both were female and had similar backgrounds, they should be able to communicate well.
"Okay." Lilith looked at the little girl in front of her and said ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) with a smile: "I'll take you to shower first and change into clean clothes."
Grumble grumble.
Annie's stomach rumbled again at this moment. Annie's face flushed as she lowered her head.
Lilith looked at Annie sympathetically. She seemed to see her own tribesmen who had once wandered with her.
"Then I'll take you to eat first, and we'll shower after we eat," Lilith suggested.
Annie nodded proactively this time, because she could eat...
"I'm going to run some errands. She's in your care." Zhao Chen entrusted Annie to Lilith.
Lilith then took Annie to the Starship cafeteria.
When Annie entered the Starship cafeteria, she unexpectedly smelled a very, very fragrant scent, a scent she had never smelled before.
"What would you like to eat?" Lilith asked Annie.
"I... I can eat anything..." Annie didn't dare to lift her head, much less look at the food and menus on the counter.
"Then I'll order my favorite." Lilith ordered two portions of fried rice and led Annie to a clean spot to sit down.
When Lilith sat down, she found that Annie had directly sat on the floor next to the chair, her arms wrapped around her legs, curled into a ball, her eyes never leaving her already torn shoes.
Lilith felt a pang of sadness and directly picked up Annie, making Annie sit on the chair.
"Annie... body is dirty... will get... the chair dirty..." Annie said nervously, trying to get off the chair.
Lilith, however, looked directly at Annie and said seriously: "Annie, remember, here you can sit on a chair! You don't have to sit on the floor anymore, and no one will hit you or bully you!
From now on, this is your home!"
