Chapter 6: He Is Not a Younger Brother, He Is a Servant

The expressions of those who had just been praising, sympathizing, and feeling moved froze instantly.

“What? She actually went through all that trouble treating Boss Chu just to sell him off?”

“No way! This woman is terrifying—enduring such pain just for money?”

“I know this. In some remote star systems, every so often, a gateway opens. Merchant ships bring rare goods to the indigenous inhabitants, and some traders look for children with good genes to adopt. This is the only chance for these native children to leave their planets. It’s truly a golden opportunity to get rich.”

“Oh my god! So young and yet so calculating. Boss Chu is good-looking—if his genes were enhanced, merchants would be very likely to adopt him.”

Star Ye said, “Boss Chu said there was a couple who wanted to adopt you, but they were stolen away by Xu Rui…”

“Now that I think about it, maybe that couple was more likely to want to adopt Xu Rui after all?”

Xu Chu replied calmly, “I’ve forgotten most things about Silver Frost Star, but this matter left a deep impression.”

“I met that couple in a bar and showed them the way. They liked me a lot and wanted to adopt me.”

Recalling this, his previously tense expression relaxed slightly, and a genuine smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“They were good people and treated me well, but later they still chose to adopt Xu Rui. I don’t know what happened to them afterward.”

That was the only happy memory he had left of Silver Frost Star.

The couple truly treated him like their son, awakening in him a longing for parental love.

The more beautiful that memory was, the deeper grew his hatred for Xu Rui.

If not for Xu Rui, perhaps his life would have been different.

Star Ye frowned. “But Xu Rui wasn’t adopted by that couple either. When I met her, she was only ten years old. That must have been years later. The one who brought her to Nevada Star was a man.”

Jiang Chen sneered, “Could it be that she schemed the foster mother away? After all, she’s done things like that before.”

Xu Chu took a deep breath. “Perhaps.”

He sincerely hoped that couple was doing well.

If Xu Rui really did something to them, then he wouldn’t hesitate to do something extreme to her soul.

…

In the following days, Xu Rui endured the torment of daily spinal fluid extractions.

After each procedure, she was too weak to even get out of bed. Thanks to the giant forcing medicine down her throat and her resilient constitution, she managed to survive.

After seven consecutive extractions, Xu Chu’s physical condition improved noticeably.

He felt lighter, his steps more agile; his speed in running and jumping had increased severalfold.

He could carry water tanks weighing over eighty pounds, no longer panting after just a few steps.

When Xu Rui taught him boxing, he swung his fists with vigorous power.

After finishing a set, Xu Chu would gleam with pride, eyes shining bright, waiting for praise.

Xu Rui, however, remained modest, merely patting his shoulder and humming softly, “Not as good as me yet, but already strong. That’s how our Qiongling clan should be.”

Though she said this, the corners of her mouth were nearly lifted to the heavens.

Not hearing praise, little Xu Chu looked a bit disappointed.

…

Watching Xu Chu’s rapid progress, a man in military uniform beside them was surprised.

“Boss Chu, was your genetic defect completely cured here?”

Xu Chu frowned thoughtfully and shook his head. “No. My genetic problem was cured when my foster father took me to Imperial Star. I was already ten then.”

He looked at the screen, seeing Xu Rui’s face alight with happiness over his progress, and felt a complex mix of emotions.

What was going through Xu Rui’s mind at that moment?

Probably calculating how much money he could fetch.

Xu Chu’s words were broadcast through the loudspeakers, stirring murmurs across the plaza.

“From the memory, Xu Rui must have been happy thinking her brother was cured. Such a pity…”

“What’s there to pity? She’s happy because she wants to negotiate a good price for Boss Chu. If he wasn’t cured, it’s just luck that he met his current foster father.”

“Exactly. Boss Chu’s foster father is the interstellar business tycoon Mr. Scott. Without Mr. Scott, Boss Chu wouldn’t be who he is today.”

…

Time quickly passed to the day the gateway would open.

Xu Rui rested a day in advance to recover her strength and eagerly took Xu Chu to the gateway the next day.

The gateway was mainly made of metal; the city inside was a dense stack of buildings, surrounded by heaps of metal scrap.

Normally, hardly anyone was here, but now various sizes and models of ships were docked chaotically.

As they stepped into the city entrance, they felt gravity lighten, their bodies as light as feathers, making walking somewhat unstable.

Xu Rui held Xu Chu’s hand, and like toddlers learning to walk, they cautiously took step after step.

Their unusual appearance drew many curious glances.

Xu Chu gripped his sister’s hand in fear. “Sister, I don’t like it here. I want to go back.”

Xu Rui glared at him sternly. “Your illness isn’t cured yet. I brought you here for treatment. Behave and don’t cause trouble!”

Xu Chu shook his head. “No, I don’t want treatment anymore. Sister, can we go back?”

Xu Rui grew impatient and roughly grabbed his arm, dragging him inside.

Under her insistence, they arrived in front of a small tavern.

A simple wooden sign hung loosely, nailed on and liable to fall at any moment.

…

Before the screen, Xu Chu’s eyes suddenly widened.

This was the place!

This was where he met that couple.

In his memory, they were gentle and gave him much warmth.

Because of missing memories, he had always thought the couple led him into the tavern; he hadn’t expected Xu Rui had forcibly dragged him there.

Terrified, his young face full of dread.

Xu Rui ignored his fear and pulled him inside, weaving through a crowd of towering adults to the bartender.

The bartender was a big-bearded man with dirty clothes.

Xu Rui pushed Xu Chu forward. “I have some business to take care of. Watch him and don’t let him run around.”

The big-bearded man nodded, “Okay, don’t worry. He’s in my care.”

He then shoved Xu Chu behind the counter, instructing him, “Stay put here and wait for Miss to come back.”

Xu Chu obediently nodded.

Everyone sensed something was off.

The big-bearded man’s attitude toward Xu Rui was strangely respectful.

He even called her “Miss.”

What was going on?

The footage continued.

Xu Rui wandered the city with practiced ease, purposefully passing through alleys until she reached a crowded street.

The people here looked fierce and malicious, clearly no good folk.

Yet they automatically parted to let Xu Rui pass.

She crossed the street unhindered and arrived at a repair shop at the end.

The shop owner stood up quickly upon seeing her, smiling warmly. “Miss, why didn’t you bring your servant today?”