FMLB Chapter 122

Ruanruan’s Letter

 

When He Ruge carried the young treasure-hunting mouse into the Eternal Tower, its golden tail tip swayed gently. Little Zhi Zhi’s eyes hadn’t opened yet, but his golden tail was already lively, wagging back and forth.

 

Treasure-hunting mice have an innate sensitivity to treasures, much like how a food lover might wake up from a nap smelling something delicious. Zhi Zhi’s golden tail shook, and he slowly opened his eyes to behold the magnificent Eternal Tower.

 

“Wow—” Zhi Zhi exclaimed in awe, as if he had never seen anything like it.

 

A tall figure emerged from the stairs, apparently preparing to leave the Eternal Tower. It was a middle-aged man dressed in deep blue attire, with a single eyepiece and large earlobes—a trait often associated with good fortune in Chinese culture.

 

Upon seeing this man, He Ruge couldn’t help but feel that he resembled a Buddha, albeit a slimmer version in formal wear. His presence exuded a Buddha-like aura that left He Ruge momentarily stunned.

 

Supporting his eyepiece, the man’s smile lines appeared at the corners of his eyes. His voice was deep yet gentle, easily winning others over. 

 

“Good evening, Mr. He. I am Xiang Zhongzheng.”

 

He then bent down to look at Zhi Zhi in He Ruge’s palm. 

 

“Young man, do you also like the Eternal Tower? When you grow up, you’ll have the opportunity to come here and admire it. Its beauty will not fade with time, just like the eternal truth.”

 

Zhi Zhi’s small eyes timidly gazed at Xiang Zhongzheng. He seemed afraid yet shy, burying his face into He Ruge’s palm, and his golden tail nervously tucked under his bottom.

 

“Hello, Your Honor,” He Ruge explained with both hands cradling the treasure-hunting mouse, his gaze fixed on Xiang Zhongzheng’s serene face, inadvertently using a respectful tone.

 

“Treasure-hunting mouse pups are like shy flowers in a greenhouse,” Xiang Zhongzheng spoke wisely. 

 

“They need protection under federal law, but no matter how stringent the laws are, they cannot deter those driven purely by profit. This child likes you. Please take good care of him until the family of treasure-hunting mice arrives.”

 

“Are Zhi Zhi’s parents coming?” He Ruge asked.

 

“No, we haven’t found this child’s parents yet,” Xiang Zhongzheng shook his head. 

 

“No treasure-hunting mouse has reported a missing child, but it’s okay. Tomorrow morning, representatives of the treasure-hunting mouse family will come to take this child away.”

 

“How could this be?” He Ruge felt incredulous. 

 

How could a child go missing without their parents noticing? Could Zhi Zhi have been abandoned? But Zhi Zhi was a precious treasure-hunting mouse pup, appearing healthy without any issues.

 

Xiang Zhongzheng’s smile faded, “In the face of immense interests, criminal methods can surpass our imagination.”

 

Restlessly scratching He Ruge’s palm with his small claws, Zhi Zhi seemed anxious. He Ruge guessed Zhi Zhi must fear strangers, so after a brief conversation with Xiang Zhongzheng, they returned to the top floor.

 

Upon reaching the room, He Ruge placed the treasure-hunting mouse pup on the bed. Zhi Zhi breathed a long sigh of relief, as if wanting to express something to He Ruge. 

 

However, Zhi Zhi didn’t speak much; he only knew a few simple words: “Hungry,” “Eat,” “Hug,” “Sleep.”

 

It seemed no one had taught him to speak.

 

Zhi Zhi jumped onto He Ruge’s lap, chirping softly. However, He Ruge couldn’t understand a word. He felt the inconvenience of their language barrier.

 

“Zhi Zhi, I’m He Ruge,” He Ruge said softly.

 

Zhi Zhi’s dark eyes shone brightly. 

 

“He?” he whispered.

 

He Ruge smiled and cradled Zhi Zhi in his palm, preparing a late-night snack for both himself and Zhi Zhi. 

 

“The food in the Eternal Tower is delicious. I promised Zhi Zhi earlier that I’d give him something tasty.”

 

The treasure-hunting mouse pup stuffed food into his cheeks eagerly, his mouth bulging like two small balloons. He climbed from He Ruge’s palm onto his clothes, carefully slipping into his pocket.

 

He Ruge opened the pocket with his fingers and saw Zhi Zhi reluctantly spit out a small biscuit, followed by a nut. With a crackling sound, the pocket quickly filled with provisions. Zhi Zhi lifted his head, meeting He Ruge’s gaze. 

 

His eyes sparkled as he held up a tiny biscuit—truly minuscule, perfect for a treasure-hunting mouse pup to nibble on. 

 

He whispered softly, “Eat.”

 

He Ruge took the biscuit, barely larger than his own fingernail, thinking it was indeed the kind of biscuit “too small even to floss with.”

 

Looking at the tiny biscuit, He Ruge sighed.

 

He wanted to see the Big White Tiger. He wanted to take this tiny biscuit to floss Big White Tiger’s teeth.

 

It seemed Zhi Zhi only felt safe in his pocket. He Ruge took off his coat and placed it on the bed, and Zhi Zhi nestled inside, nibbling contentedly.

 

In his smart brain, there were many new messages. He Ruge automatically ignored the notifications urging him to update his novel and clicked on the private message from the new teacher of Land Class 1’s cubs:

 

Dear Ruge, Guican, good evening! I’m Ruanruan~

 

I found out everyone really wants to see you, so I asked the new teacher if she could let me message you using her smart brain, and she agreed.

 

Tonight at six, the new teacher hosted a live broadcast for us. Xiong Xinhao envied Big White Tiger for being so large—(-^〇^-) —. Gugu said the Eternal Tower is very beautiful, and they also want to visit someday. Lala and Qiugu listened to the broadcast with their eyes closed. Lala is too lazy; he doesn’t even bother to open his eyes, but he looks cute when he smiles~ Huahua told Lulu ten times how pretty you are. Huahua really likes you, Ruge…

 

I like you a lot too~

 

–by Ruanruan

 

Ruanruan’s learning ability was very strong, and he has achieved excellent results in the recent quizzes. Even when Xiong Xinhao stuttered, he can now easily write short essays.

 

The overachiever aura has earned Ruanruan the affection of the two ground chickens, and those two mischievous Gugus who often bully Xiong Xinhao were now showing kindness to Ruanruan, hoping to get perks like copying homework. Wherever he went, Ruanruan could quickly make friends with those around him.

 

After finishing reading Ruanruan’s message, He Ruge’s gaze softened. He secretly took a photo of Zhi Zhi in his pocket and replied:

 

Dear Ruanruan,

 

Good evening. I miss you all very much too. Guican and I should be able to return in a couple of days. 

 

By then, we’ll go to Seventeen Stars to build a new home where everyone can live together. 

 

By the way, I have a new little friend with me now. His name is Zhi Zhi. Zhi Zhi is very timid and easily shy, but his vocabulary is limited. 

 

It would be great if you could teach Zhi Zhi the interstellar common language. Unfortunately, Zhi Zhi will be taken away by his people tomorrow, so he won’t be able to meet you.

 

After sending out Zhi Zhi’s photo, He Ruge felt a bit weary and somewhat lost as he lay on the large bed. The absence of Xi Guican made the bed seem even larger. 

 

He could hear the faint movements of the treasure-hunting mouse pup nearby. He Ruge sighed heavily, logged into the game, and saw that the progress bar for Merit Completion was already at 78%.

 

All of this would soon pass. 

 

He Ruge closed his eyes, trying to stop himself from overthinking. He had to believe in Xi Guican.

 

Turning off the lights, He Ruge softly hummed a lullaby in the darkness. Zhi Zhi, restless and uneasy, listened to the song and gradually closed his eyes, curling up into a ball before falling asleep.

 

Meanwhile, a tall, slightly chubby middle-aged man walked into the Federal Court under respectful gazes from others. He was dressed in deep blue formal attire, a faint smile of spring breeze on his lips, and a glint of wisdom in his eyes.

 

The Honorable Judge always had little time to rest, rarely going home at night, treating the courthouse almost like his second home. Even when invited to reside in the Eternal Tower as a federal senator, the Honorable Judge still often returned to work at the courthouse, remarked one of Xiang Zhongzheng’s admirers. 

 

Little did anyone know, the Honorable Judge, whose heart was as selfless and righteous as a saint’s, was now walking in the darkness, deep beneath the Federal Court.

 

In the basement of the White Palace-like Federal Court lay a pitch-black prison cage that could shock the world.

 

The slightly chubby middle-aged man unfastened his buttons and removed the sash wrapped around his waist, revealing a ring of keys hanging inside the sash. In the interstellar age where fingerprint locks and high-tech locks were prevalent, few still used traditional metal keys.

 

As the Honorable Judge walked through the darkness, the keys on his sash jingled together, making a clinking sound.

 

In the darkness, someone heard the clinking sound and let out a fearful cry, a piercing scream that echoed like lightning tearing through the night sky. Xiang Zhongzheng furrowed his brow upon hearing this. If there were light in the underground now, one could see the usually smiling Honorable Judge with an expression so cold it lacked any warmth.

 

His amber eyes, always warm and deep like those of a sage or elder, were now covered with a thin layer of ice, devoid of any warmth.

 

It was as if he was staring at improperly handled garbage.

 

“Silence!” 

 

The deep voice echoed in the cell, and the chaotic noises in the darkness immediately ceased. The people inside were like chickens with their necks wrung, unable to utter a single word.

 

Xiang Zhongzheng took out the Good and Evil Meter from his pocket, his face solemn yet benevolent. He approached a metal cage, aiming the Good and Evil Meter at a person inside—emaciated, with a blank stare.

 

No one would believe that the person locked in this cage was once a ruthless serial killer. This was the same person who, upon learning of his death sentence, had insulted the families of his victims with a smile.

 

“You are guilty,” the Honorable Judge pressed the switch on the Good and Evil Meter.

 

Upon hearing the sound, the person in the cage slowly turned his eyes, as if a rusty machine, stiffly lifting his head. He saw the large earlobes and seemed to see a terrifying presence. 

 

He trembled in fear and muttered, “I am guilty, I repent, I am guilty, I repent, please forgive me…”

 

The numbers on the Ethics Meter appeared, showing “71”. 

 

Xiang Zhongzheng looked at the number with a condemning tone. 

 

“You have not truly repented.” He reached for the keys on his sash.

 

When the person in the cage heard the keys jingling, he snapped out of his trance-like state, his pupils contracted, and he let out a desperate scream, “No—!!!”