Outside, the pitch-black universe and the city lights like scattered stars contrasted with the bright illumination of the room.
On the mahogany table sat white porcelain plates, each delicately holding a small portion of food: meat chunks in sauce, chocolate pastries, and glistening stir-fried greens.
Jiang Ye and Cen Yemeng sat close together, feeling each other’s warmth through their thin clothes as they ate and chatted.
Sitting with his wife from forty years in the future gave Jiang Ye a feeling that was both familiar and somewhat strange, like lovers reunited after a long separation.
“The age revision surgery might affect memory a bit; I can’t recall the details from forty years ago clearly. What are you busy with now, husband?” Cen Yemeng asked.
“I’m juggling three major tasks simultaneously,” Jiang Ye said, picking up a mushroom with his chopsticks. “Our troops on Pingdao Star are fighting giant lizards, the economic war on Wheeler Star is ongoing, and Rongping Star is engaged in cyber warfare.”
“You call these major tasks?” Cen Yemeng chuckled dismissively. “Just three planets.”
“What? Those are three planets!” Jiang Ye exclaimed, surprised. “Wife, your tone is terrifyingly bold. What scale have we developed to in forty years?”
“We directly control thirty-six planets, indirectly control two hundred and eighteen, and exert significant influence over thousands,” Cen Yemeng stated nonchalantly. “We’ve also invested in many space cities, inter-stellar civilization corporations, and key projects of the Galactic Empire.”
Jiang Ye was stunned.
He almost dropped his chopsticks.
In just forty years, their power had exploded!
“Those three planets you just mentioned,” Cen Yemeng mused, “Pingdao Star was later sold to Zhang Qiongshi at a very high price. Wheeler Star is under our effective control, and Rao Cheng Zhou eventually broke through the formation and became the planetary governor of Wheeler. Rongping Star still belongs to Zhang Qiongshi, but we have stationed troops there and control many economic lifelines.”
The information was a bit overwhelming. Jiang Ye took a few seconds to process it, then nodded. “It’s largely in line with my plans. I intended to develop Pingdao Star, and if there was no profit, I’d sell it.”
“Pingdao Star was quite profitable. Right after it was taken, a space route opened nearby, with cargo ships coming and going. The daily cargo volume passing through was equivalent to that of a planet,” Cen Yemeng said. “But at that time, you had already set your sights on three more promising mining planets, so we sold Pingdao Star and went for those three.”
“After all, I started my career with mining,” Jiang Ye smiled. “No matter how advanced technology gets, mining is still essential. The more advanced the technology, the more mining occurs.”
“So, husband, you’re actually a mining magnate, aren’t you?” Cen Yemeng giggled.
“Why did only you come? Why didn’t the me from forty years later come to see me?” Jiang Ye abruptly changed the subject, his expression suddenly tense, his voice unconsciously lowering. “Forty years later… are we still doing well in our relationship?”
“We’re as close as ever,” Cen Yemeng replied, her tone tinged with a hint of melancholy. “The only downside is that we don’t see each other enough.”
“Don’t see each other enough?”
“You’re busy with work, and I’m busy with work, so we only get to see each other one day every two weeks on average,” Cen Yemeng pouted. “I missed you so much that I came up with a different idea. If I can’t see the you of now, why not meet the you from decades ago? That’s why I’m here today.”
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder. If couples are always together, the novelty can wear off. Seeing each other every few days actually keeps the relationship fresh,” Jiang Ye said. “But seeing each other only once every two weeks is indeed too infrequent. We see each other every four or five days now.”
“That’s not right, husband!” Cen Yemeng playfully punched him with her fist. “Maintaining a relationship isn’t about being apart for a few days! We’re even better when we’re always together! You need to correct your wrong ideas!”
“Is our son doing well forty years later?” Jiang Ye asked.
“Which son are you asking about?” Cen Yemeng countered.
“How many sons? How many daughters?” Jiang Ye asked, his voice filled with surprise and joy.
“Over the years, I’ve given birth to two sons and one daughter with you in total,” Cen Yemeng said, reaching out to take her husband’s hand and placing it on her lower abdomen. “There’s a new one here, and we don’t know if it’s a son or daughter yet.”
“Four children in forty years, one child every ten years?” Jiang Ye began calculating.
“It should be four children in over fifty years; Jiang Senlin was born early,” Cen Yemeng said. “I wanted to have more, but you were unwilling, and I had to beg you every time.”
“What are their names, these children?” Jiang Ye asked. “How are they developing?”
“The eldest, Jiang Senlin, after graduating from high school, went into mathematics and became a second-rate mathematician, solving some rather famous conjectures and winning numerous math awards. After seven or eight years of mathematical research, Jiang Senlin started trying to manage a city, then a continent. Oh, the cities and continents I’m referring to here are all on Zhang Qiongshi’s planet,” Cen Yemeng explained.
“On Zhang Qiongshi’s planet?” Jiang Ye was surprised.
“Yes, Zhang Qiongshi is your student, and later became my best friend, so we felt at ease leaving our son with her for a few years,” Cen Yemeng said. “Now Jiang Senlin is responsible for managing two planets. He’s fascinated by academic research and has gathered a group of cutting-edge scientists for research.”
“That’s good,” Jiang Ye nodded. “That boy has indeed become accomplished. Has he stopped painting?”
“He still paints occasionally, but very rarely now.”
“Has he found a wife?”
“Not yet,” Cen Yemeng shook her head. “Many girls are interested in our son, but he doesn’t fancy any of them, deciding to find a wife later. He might arrange a marriage alliance with a female head of state from another planet.”
“What’s the second child’s name?” Jiang Ye asked.
“The second child, Jiang Wanliu, is a daughter,” Cen Yemeng’s expression suddenly turned proud. “Wanliu inherited my looks and is quite beautiful. Her personality is like yours; she’s very intelligent. At four years old, she started reading a thirty-volume encyclopedia, and by five, she had memorized most of it. She was consistently in the top three in her school during middle and high school.”
“Oh, that’s excellent,” Jiang Ye said happily. “Do you have any photos?”
“Yes, yes,” Cen Yemeng quickly took out her phone and opened her photo album.
A family photo appeared, everyone wearing fluffy pajamas, with a cute and adorable style.
Jiang Ye and Cen Yemeng sat in the middle of the sofa. Next to Jiang Ye was Jiang Senlin, looking to be in his thirties, with a more steady gaze and a neat short haircut. Next to Cen Yemeng was a young woman with features resembling her mother, sporting a short ear-length haircut and an intellectual aura – this must be Jiang Wanliu.
Jiang Wanliu was holding their younger brother, who looked about two years old, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Very nice,” a warm current surged through Jiang Ye. “Everyone in the family looks in good spirits.”
“That’s just on the surface,” Cen Yemeng sighed. “Before taking the photo, Jiang Senlin and Jiang Wanliu were arguing. These two siblings don’t get along well and always bicker when they meet.”
“What were they arguing about?” Jiang Ye asked curiously.
“Differences in planetary development,” Cen Yemeng said. “Jiang Senlin favors direct military expansion to acquire more planets. Jiang Wanliu, on the other hand, prefers to harvest other planets through technology, economy, and culture. There are also many detailed disagreements, but in short, their ideas are completely opposite.”
“Our daughter manages planets too?” Jiang Ye asked, astonished.