Pretending to be a genius starts with the civilization advancement assessment.

Chapter 262 That One Has Returned (5K)

After a few seconds of stillness, Nie Chang suddenly stood up, the chair sliding backward with a screeching sound due to the sudden movement, but he was completely unaware.

His eyes widened as he stared intently at the figure in the doorway, exclaiming in disbelief, "Principal...? What are you doing here?"

Seeing his old subordinate so flustered, Lin Yi smiled slightly.

He gently closed the door behind him, shutting out the sounds from outside.

"Come back and visit. Old Nie, have a seat."

Nie Chang took several deep breaths to barely suppress the turmoil in his heart, and slowly sat back down in his chair, but his gaze remained firmly fixed on Lin Yi, as if afraid that he would disappear in the blink of an eye.

"You came back to visit? When did you come back? Why haven't we heard anything? Does the higher-ups know?"

He fired off a barrage of questions, clearly still reeling from this sudden "attack."

"I just arrived recently. I'm just taking a look around privately, so this is a secret for now."

Lin Yi walked to the chair opposite the desk and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the pile of documents on the table and the fallen electronic pen. "It seems that the affairs of the military academy are more demanding than before."

Nie Chang then realized his lapse in composure, quickly picked up his electronic pen, and cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly: "Ah, yes, the third batch of reserve members is about to depart, and there's a lot to do."

He paused, looking at Lin Yi with a complicated expression, "Is there something important that you've come back for?"

"Nothing special, I just wanted to come back and see for myself."

Lin Yi smiled, then changed the subject, "Old Nie, I remember you have a habit of hiding some good stuff?"

He glanced meaningfully at an inconspicuous little cabinet under Nie Chang's desk.

Nie Chang was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled and shook his head.

He bent down helplessly and took out a small, flat metal flask from the cabinet; it had no label on it.

"There's only this much aged liquor left. I was originally saving it to secretly celebrate after these kids set off safely."

"Perfect timing," Lin Yi said with a smile. "The night is long, shall we chat? There are some things I'd like to hear your thoughts on."

Without hesitation, Nie Chang took out two clean metal cups and filled them.

The two clinked glasses lightly and drank it all in one gulp.

“Tell me,” Lin Yi put down his cup. “For the past hundred years, you’ve watched Blue Star and the Silver-Blue Community grow to where we are today. In your opinion, what is our newly launched starship like? I’d like to hear both the good and the bad.”

Nie Chang held his wine glass, pondered for a moment, and slowly spoke:
"Overall, it is on an upward trajectory with a strong momentum, which is beyond doubt. The cradle of the stars has inspired vitality, new technologies are constantly being introduced, and the vision and courage of young people far surpass those of us back then. The fact that Dongfeng Military Academy can attract the most outstanding talents in the entire civilization is proof of this."

Nie Chang first affirmed the achievements.

"but."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, "There are indeed quite a few problems, and many of them are ones we've never encountered before."

"Leaving aside external pressures, some 'friends' from Xinghai really don't respect us natives. They act erratically, and sometimes... sigh, for the sake of the bigger picture, we've been too tolerant, which has caused resentment among our subordinates," Nie Chang sighed.

"It's more complex internally."

He counted on his fingers, "Culturally, some young people are obsessed with alien things, wishing they could dye themselves into the Elven race, while quickly losing sight of our ancestors' traditions. Economically, subsidies are a good policy, but some people exploit loopholes, treating children as cash cows, and unscrupulous merchants inflate prices, distorting the good intentions! The social atmosphere is also somewhat restless, with comparisons and vanity, especially among certain groups."

He paused, without naming names directly, "...relying on their family connections, they act arrogantly and set a bad example."

Then, Nie Chang took a big gulp of wine and continued, "It's tough on management too! They're moving too fast, and many systems can't keep up, leaving loopholes everywhere. They want to manage, but sometimes they're afraid of stifling the vitality. If they don't manage, things will fall into chaos."

“Our military academy is considered to be the place with the best atmosphere, but it’s not a vacuum. Some of the bad influences from the outside will inevitably blow in.”

Lin Yi listened quietly without interrupting.

What Nie Chang said corroborated what he had seen and heard today, making it more specific and profound.

"but."

After venting his grievances, Nie Chang's tone became firm again, "I believe this is just growing pains! The general direction is correct, and the foundation is solid. Look at these kids at the military academy, most of them are good, hardworking, idealistic, and know why they are fighting. The authorities are also slowly adjusting their policies and cracking down on illegal activities. It just takes time, and it also needs a helmsman to stabilize the direction."

As he spoke, he looked at Lin Yi with burning eyes: "In the end, the backbone of a civilization cannot be upheld by praising some alien race. It must be built by our own hard work, one punch at a time, and by generations of people working diligently and steadily!"

Lin Yi nodded. Nie Chang's views were very pertinent, showing both concern and confidence, as well as a clear-headed understanding rooted in reality.

He then talked with Nie Chang about the specifics of the military academy, the qualities of the prospective members, and the challenges they might face in the future.

Finally, Lin Yi said, "This time, I will return to the Dongfeng Mercenary Group with the third batch of reserve members."

Upon hearing this, Nie Chang was taken aback at first, then laughed and said, "Great! Great! This is an incredible surprise for those kids. With you on the ship, their journey will be completely different."

He could almost see how excited and thrilled those young people would be when they heard the news.

They chatted for a while longer, and then the wine in the pot was all gone.

Lin Yi stood up: "It's getting late, I won't disturb you any longer. I should go back."

"Are you going home?" Nie Chang also stood up. "And what about your whereabouts?"

"Yes, I've seen what I needed to see and heard what I needed to hear. I'll go back and check on things. As for my whereabouts, now that I've come to see you, I don't intend to hide anything anymore," Lin Yi said frankly.

Nie Chang understood, "I understand. But don't worry, I won't let any unnecessary information get out."

Lin Yi smiled, patted Nie Chang on the shoulder, his figure slightly blurred, and disappeared from the office in the next moment, as if he had never been there.

Nie Chang stood there, feeling the lingering sensation on his shoulder, then looked at the empty wine glass and the empty chair opposite him, let out a long sigh of relief, and showed the most hearty smile he had shown in years.

Lin Yi's figure had already appeared in a quiet courtyard not far from the Dongfeng Military Academy.

This was the residence that Civilization had arranged for him, but he actually spent very few days living here.

The courtyard maintained its simple and elegant style, but the security measures around it were much tighter than before. Of course, with Lin Yi's deliberate concealment and Xuanji's cooperation, these defense measures were useless to him.

Soon, Lin Yi pushed open the unlocked front door and went inside.

In the living room, Lin Ruiming, the father, and Zhou Jinghua, the mother, were sitting on a comfortable sofa, engrossed in watching a currently popular interstellar family drama.

Sitting beside her mother, watching the film with her and occasionally whispering a few words about the plot, with cut fruit beside her, was Ye Qingyu.

Ye Qingyu seemed to be exceptionally sensitive to sounds, being the first to notice the movement at the door and instinctively turning her head to look.

Immediately, she froze as if she had been frozen in place, and the fruit fork she was about to hand to Zhou Jinghua landed on the crystal coffee table with a soft "clink".

The noise startled Lin Ruiming and Zhou Jinghua.

"Qingyu, what's wrong?" Zhou Jinghua asked with concern, following Ye Qingyu's blank gaze toward the door.

next moment.

"Xiao Yi?" Zhou Jinghua suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes instantly reddening, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

Lin Ruiming was also startled, and the smart controller in his hand slipped to the ground. He stood up abruptly, looked at the familiar face with a gentle smile at the door, his lips trembling, too excited to speak for a moment.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back."

Lin Yi walked into the living room, where he took the initiative to hug his emotional mother and then squeezed his father's hand tightly.

"You silly child! Why didn't you tell me you were coming back!"

Zhou Jinghua held Lin Yi's hand, looking him up and down. Lin Ruiming calmed himself down and said repeatedly, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

Lin Yi explained with a smile, "Nothing special, I just came back to visit."

Then, his gaze turned to Ye Qingyu, who had already stood up, her face filled with excitement, yet she was trying her best to maintain a proper smile. He nodded gently, "Qingyu, it's been a long time."

"Well, long time no see."

Ye Qingyu's voice was slightly choked, but she tried to make her smile more natural. "My aunt and uncle like having someone to talk to."

Lin Yi smiled, as if remembering something, and a delicate little box appeared out of thin air in his hand. He handed it to Ye Qingyu: "I was passing by a small market of the Spirit Clan and saw this. I thought it would suit you well. It's a little trinket."

Ye Qingyu was slightly taken aback, then a blush appeared on her face. She took the gift with both hands and said softly, "Thank you."

She didn't open it on the spot, but held it carefully in her hand.

Lin Ruiming smiled as he watched this scene, but then remembered something more important. He said to his personal terminal, "Contact Lin Yao for me!"

Ye Qingyu was a clever and perceptive woman. Seeing this scene, she knew that the Lin family would have an internal discussion next, and it would be inappropriate for her to be an outsider present.

She hesitated for a moment, then took the initiative to say, "Uncle, Aunt, your family has finally reunited, you must have a lot to talk about, so I won't disturb you any longer, I'll go back now."

Zhou Jinghua was a little reluctant and was about to ask him to stay when Lin Yi spoke first. He glanced at Ye Qingyu and nodded, "Alright, today was indeed a bit sudden. Be careful on the road."

After all, she would inevitably have to reprimand her younger siblings later, and with Ye Qingyu present, it would be even more embarrassing for both Lin Xuan and Lin Yao.

"I'll see Qingyu out," Zhou Jinghua said quickly, taking Ye Qingyu's hand as the two walked out of the living room together.

Meanwhile, inside the most upscale "Yuanxing Club" in Helu City, a "Yuan Energy Micro-Control Skills Salon" exclusively for talented young people and their friends in the industry is underway with elegant and soothing music.

Lin Yao, dressed in an elegant yet stylish preppy-style long dress, sat in the crowd, a perfectly measured smile on her lips, listening to the insights shared by the son of a representative from a trade alliance.

Next, it will be her turn to demonstrate a new technique for creating light and shadow effects using energy that she has recently developed.

Just then, her beautifully designed personal terminal on her wrist vibrated slightly, displaying that it was her father, Lin Ruiming.

Without thinking much, she directly connected the call.

Immediately, Lin Yao's pupils contracted slightly, and she stood up and apologized to the people around her, saying, "I'm sorry, everyone, there's an emergency at home that requires me to go back immediately."

Sitting diagonally opposite her, a young woman from a mining guild family who had always been secretly competing with her, smiled slightly upon hearing this and said in a cryptic tone:

"Yaoyao, if you're not fully prepared yet, it's okay to demonstrate next time. It would be a real shame to miss the feedback from the other participants."

Lin Yao paused, slightly annoyed, but maintained a perfect smile, though her tone became a bit harsher: "Thank you for your trouble. The techniques are ready, but... my brother is back and waiting at home, so I can only apologize."

"Your brother?" The woman was taken aback.

The salon fell silent for a moment, and all eyes were on Lin Yao.

Everyone present was from an ordinary background, so they naturally knew who Lin Yao was referring to as "brother".

The people behind her who were about to present immediately realized what was happening and quickly said:
"It's alright, it's alright, Miss Lin Yao, you should go back now!"

"The most important skills for family reunions can be demonstrated anytime."

"Yes, let's go back quickly, don't keep His Excellency the Commander waiting."

Sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, Lin Yao nodded gracefully to everyone again before turning and hurriedly leaving.

Meanwhile, on the other side, at a closed extreme racing track on the outskirts of the city, a nighttime race that sent adrenaline soaring had just ended.

Lin Xuan jumped out of his brightly painted anti-gravity flying car, took the drink handed to him by his henchman, and shouted triumphantly to his group of equally hip-hop-clad and flamboyant friends, "Let's go! At the top of the starry sky, we won't leave until we're drunk tonight!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Just then, Lin Xuan's customized terminal rang. He glanced at it, and a hint of impatience flashed across his face.

He answered the phone casually, his tone dismissive: "Hey Dad, I'm celebrating with some friends right now. We made plans, I'll be back in a bit."

"What are you celebrating! Get back here right now!" Lin Ruiming's voice was stern on the other end of the terminal.

Lin Xuan frowned, his tone becoming sharper: "I already said I'd be back soon! What's the rush?"

Lin Ruiming seemed too lazy to waste any more words on him and interrupted him directly, "Your brother is back."

Lin Xuan subconsciously replied, with a hint of annoyance, "What's Lin Ran doing here at this hour?"

But as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

The father said "You're back," not "You've arrived."

Lin Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and his voice changed: "Dad! Who are you talking about? My brother? Not Lin Ran, right?"

The playboys who had been laughing and joking around, waiting for Lin Xuan to finish his call so they could go have a blast, all fell silent the moment they heard Lin Xuan's sudden change in tone and his terrified question.

They knew all too well that Lin Xuan only had two people he could call "brother".

One is Lin Ran, the daughter of the vice mayor, and the other is...that one!
Just then, another voice came from the communicator in Lin Xuan's hand.

"Come back soon. But don't rush, be careful, and don't speed."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was clearly transmitted through the terminal to the ears of the spoiled brat who was listening intently nearby.

These people instantly turned pale, and cold sweat broke out on their foreheads.

Lin Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly spoke into the terminal in an unprecedentedly obedient tone: "I know, I know, brother! I'll be right back, and I definitely won't speed."

He almost frantically hung up the call.

The spoiled brats who were just clamoring to go partying now looked dejected and cautiously approached.

"Brother Xuanxuan, then, then you should go back quickly."

"Yes, yes, business is important, hehe, business is important."

"We...we...we're planning to go back too."

Lin Xuan had no time to care about them. He waved his hand haphazardly, jumped into his car, and this time he properly started the stable mode and drove home. He was fast, but he dared not be ostentatious at all.

Almost immediately after Lin Yao stepped out of the salon and Lin Xuan started the flying car, the personal terminals on their wrists began to flash at an unusual frequency.

After the initial shock, their respective "friends" immediately relayed this momentous news, which was enough to affect the entire world, back to their families or the forces behind them.

The woman who didn't get along with Lin Yao immediately left the lobby after the salon atmosphere returned to normal, using the excuse of touching up her makeup. She hid in the lounge and whispered urgently into her encrypted communicator:
"Father! Lin Yi, it's Lin Yi who's back! Lin Yao just told me herself that he was called home by a communicator! Yes, that's the one! The news is absolutely true."

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan's communications were almost completely disrupted shortly after he left the racing area.

One of his closest playboy friends sent a voice message, his voice trembling with tears: "Brother Xuan! No, Master Xuan. My dad just gave me a good scolding, telling me to stay away from you in the future—no, he told me to behave myself in front of you. Your older brother is back, why didn't you give us a heads-up? We're in deep trouble now."

Another member of the family, whose business involved trading in energy crystals, sent a message in an unusually formal tone, clearly out of character. “Brother Lin Xuan, my father just called urgently, instructing me to convey his sincerest greetings to you and your brother. Also, if possible, my father hopes to have the opportunity to visit your brother.”

These playboys who only know how to eat, drink, and have fun may not be very clear-headed, but the families behind them are able to establish themselves in the Star Sea, and their sense of smell is more and more acute than the last.

The news of Lin Yi's sudden return quickly stirred up the undercurrents of the upper class of the entire planet.

(End of this chapter)