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The ship has rooms in five different classes: Top class, first class, second class, third class, and standard rooms. Standard rooms are similar to regular hotel rooms, with two beds and a private bathroom. When Ryan took a civilian ship, he once stayed in a standard room, sharing it with a man who took off his shoes, pulled off his socks, and exposed a strong foot odor… Having lived for so long, it was the first time Ryan couldn’t help but want to hit someone. It happened when he returned to the Gamma Military Base after his vacation, preparing to report to the Xingtian battleship. He was late in buying tickets and could only get a standard room. Living with others was not a pleasant experience.
The environment in the first-class cabin is naturally incomparable to the standard room. The corridor is filled with the fresh scent of trees, precious flowers and plants are placed against the wall, and clean, bright windows are draped with sheer curtains that flow smoothly in the light. Outside the window is the vast and mysterious universe, offering the most beautiful cosmic scenery wherever you look.
Ryan and Auston’s room is number A16. As they are about to reach it under the guidance of a waiter, a familiar shout comes from behind, “Ryan.”
The voice is very familiar. Ryan’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he turned around and indeed saw Greydon Stark, with whom he had a connection in the Qinglong First Star of the Great Wall region. In Qinglong First Star, the four of them toured most of the Qin Feng Anderson Museum. When they parted ways, they exchanged names. The man with brown hair is Graydon Stark, and his wife is named Herman Fran. Upon meeting again, Herman’s arms now hold a not-so-small swaddle, containing a chubby and adorable little baby.
The powerful Stark family genes are passed down from generation to generation. You can already see it in a child who has just turned one month old. In the future, he will surely grow into a chubby teenager, young adult, middle-aged…
“Haha, didn’t expect to see you here.” Graydon waved to Ryan and Auston from afar, jogged over, and happily said, “You guys are here for tourism… Well, that’s a given since you’re on the Shakespearean cruise ship. Come on, let me introduce you to our new family member.”
Graydon turned around, and with him came Herman Fran, who looked very much like him, holding the child. He greeted Ryan and Auston with a smiling face, “Hello again, nice to see you. Last time we met, I mentioned that in a few months, our family would be a party of three, and here we are! Our baby, yet to be named until we get home, is now just Baby, Baby calling.”
The newborn baby in the swaddle looks like a pink dumpling. Weighing at least twelve to thirteen pounds, it is significantly larger than other children of the same age. It’s hard to tell whose features the baby has at this point, but the adorable sight of peacefully sleeping with closed eyes is unmistakable.
“I can hold…” Auston began to say but shook his head, retracting his words, “I’ve never held a baby before.”
“Go ahead, our baby is exceptionally well-behaved. Everyone has a first time, give it a try. Don’t be in a hurry, or you might end up nervous,” Herman approached Auston, taking a few steps and gesturing for him to take the baby, “Hold the baby and experience the joy of pregnancy.”
After a moment of hesitation, Auston reached out and received the small baby from Herman. The baby, weighing over twelve pounds, was still very much an infant—soft and fragrant. Auston wasn’t sure how to position his arms, fearing he might harm the child. As he saw the baby’s tender pink lips move slightly, his heart skipped a beat, afraid that his stiff movements might make the little one uncomfortable.
“Your posture is quite standard, just soften your body a bit more, and it’ll be even better,” Herman corrected Auston’s stance, then shook his tired arms with a hint of disdain and sweetness, “The baby is too heavy; after holding for a while, your arms will ache.”
Graydon immediately stepped forward to massage his partner’s arms and squeeze his hands, saying, “If holding the baby tires you out, just give it to me.”
Herman shot a glare at Graydon and retorted, “Then let the nanny robot take over.”
Graydon, looking sheepish, raised his hand in a pledge, “I won’t do that next time, I promise.”
Auston, holding the baby, tried a few times to hand the child over to Herman, but both Herman and Graydon were so engrossed in their conversation that they almost forgot they had a baby in someone else’s arms. Auston felt a sense of helplessness for the first time. He sought help from Ryan, who admitted, “I’ve never held a baby before, not even once.”
Ryan reached out to support the baby’s head, making it easier for Auston to hold without worrying too much.
Auston chuckled, “So, there are things you don’t know either.”
Ryan said, “There are many things I don’t know.” He leaned in towards Auston’s ear and whispered, “I might not know how to give birth, but I’ll definitely learn how to take care.”
A quick flicker of shy anticipation crossed Auston’s face, and he replied with a soft, “Hmm.”
Finally remembering they had a son, Herman and Graydon realized their neglect. Graydon hurriedly, with a hint of embarrassment, took the child from Auston’s arms. The little one pouted, seemingly accusing the two irresponsible dads.
As the primary star in the galaxy, Newnes has the best prenatal care facility in the entire Stormwind starfield and the Starks chose to go there to nurture their child. After citizens register their pregnancy with the local government’s welfare department, they can autonomously decide where to nurture the fetus. The government provides subsidies, reimbursing travel expenses, accommodation, and normal living expenses during the period. The imperial government spared no effort to encourage childbirth in the empire.
Since all expenses were reimbursed by the government, many couples opted for the best-conditioned primary stars. The Starks were no exception, waiting for their child’s birth at the nurturing facility. After the child was born, they learned how to care for the infant under the guidance of base doctors and nurses. Once all physiological indicators were confirmed normal after the baby’s first month, they could embark on the journey back home.
“Our home is in Beland, and that’s the midpoint of this trip. The cruise is slow, but the environment is excellent. We decided to take this one back home and enjoy some sightseeing. We’re in A17, and how about you?” Graydon asked.
Ryan replied, “Coincidentally, we’re in A16.”
“Haha, that’s great! We’re neighbors then. Let’s stick together for any activities; it’s more fun with familiar faces,” Graydon suggested.
Ryan and Auston readily agreed.
After passing a few more rooms, they reached A16. The Starks temporarily parted ways as they continued forward. Ryan opened the door using a personal terminal. As the door creaked open a bit, their eager pet Da Fu, who had been fluttering its wings in impatience, rushed in first. After a moment, a surprised “howl” echoed from inside, carrying both bewilderment and delight. Ryan and Auston exchanged glances, then entered, only to be stunned by the abundance of romantic red rose petals scattered everywhere—on the floor, the sofa, the bed, creating a captivating atmosphere.
The attendant, who entered with them, bowed and smiled, saying, “Welcome to the Romantic Suite. I am your room service, Martin. If you need anything, feel free to contact me; I’m at your service. Wishing you both a wonderful journey!”
“Thank you,” Ryan surveyed the room, finding an abundance of rose petals, almost making it challenging to walk. “Can the petals be cleared away?”
“Sir, only some of the petals in the room are real. Most of them are created using the latest holographic projection technology. You can turn it off,” Martin explained and provided detailed instructions, “Is there anything else you would like, sir?”
Ryan replied, “No, thank you.”
“You can reach me anytime you need, sir. Just tap on my profile on your personal terminal, and I’ll be there,” Martin’s facial muscles moved in near-perfect arcs, presenting a smile that exuded comfort and satisfaction. However, the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, revealing it as a professional facade.
A flicker passed through Auston’s eyes, and he turned his gaze towards the window. He was all too familiar with that kind of smile. Before meeting Ryan, he had been wearing that smile for almost every public occasion —maintaining that expression was quite exhausting.
“Alright, we’ll call you if we need anything,” Ryan said, dismissing Martin. After the room service left, instead of immediately turning off the holographic projection, Ryan changed its form. The petals, nearly indistinguishable in authenticity, floated, creating a falling flower effect— a cascade of blossoms.
Ryan embraced Auston from behind, and the two found themselves in a sea of flowers, savoring the romantic atmosphere. Da Fu, curious, blinked its eyes at the flowers, occasionally reaching out its paw to swipe at them. However, its attempts were in vain, leaving the creature perplexed as it withdrew its paw, licking it as if wondering why the flowers couldn’t be touched.
There were very few real petals scattered throughout the room—a flower wreath on the bed, sporadic petals on the sofa. These were easy to manage; activating the room’s cleaning robot would suffice. Temporarily ignoring these details, after turning off the holographic projection, Ryan and Auston stood side by side by the window. In their gaze, a patrol ship flew by, heading to the designated flight location above, indicating that everyone had boarded, and the Shakespearean cruise ship was ready to depart.
They would arrive at their first stop, Red Star, after one night, where they planned to enjoy the scenery. Before reaching there, they had two meals to go through—one evening and one morning. Ryan had read about the Shakespeare and learned that the cruise ship had three restaurants. Depending on the tour package, guests would dine at a specified restaurant.
At mealtime, the door of A16 was knocked open, and the stout Stark couple appeared at the doorway. They handed their child over to a nanny robot for care, choosing not to bring the baby to the meal.
“Hi, we’re heading to dinner,” Graydon and his partner Herman greeted with warm smiles. They had changed into a new set of clothes—white T-shirts, floral shorts, and large floral jackets, as if they were about to relax on a tropical beach and gaze at the sea.
In contrast, Ryan and Auston hadn’t changed at all. They wore casual white tops and black bottoms, looking more like people spending leisure time in a café.
“Just a moment,” Ryan, who opened the door, said before turning around. In less than a minute, they returned, saying, “Pour some dry food for Da Fu.” Initially, this could have been done by robots, but for some reason, Da fu didn’t like the cold touch of the robotic arms on its food and would rather go hungry than eat.
Closing the door behind them, the four of them headed to the ship’s restaurant. Inside, many people were already seated. The buffet-style allowed guests to choose food freely, and there were chefs preparing meals on-site—grilled steaks on hot plates, rotating roast chickens over charcoal, fish in stew pots with colorful sauces, and various freshly mixed drinks. Shortly after sitting down, a waiter approached to offer service, inquiring about their preferences and what they would like to have.
Ryan said, “We’ll help ourselves.”
The waiter replied, “Certainly, sir. If you need anything, please feel free to ask.”
Ryan nodded and looked at the Stark couple. “What about you?”
“We’ll sit for a while and decide later.”
“Alright.” Ryan stood up and went with Auston to get food. Surprisingly, not many people were personally getting their food; most were enjoying the meticulous service of the waitstaff. A very few, behaving poorly, even directed the waiters tirelessly, instructing them to fetch the ripest fruits from the furthest east fruit area and the softest bread from the far west bread section, all the while laughing at the waiter’s sweaty appearance.
Auston furrowed his brows, clearly disapproving of such behavior that disregarded others’ humanity. However, societal norms were such that those with money, power, and status could easily command employees and belittle ordinary people. The social atmosphere had shifted significantly from the positive, equal, and friendly times described in the history of the Great Emperor’s reign. Today, it seemed like a regression in history.
He sighed almost imperceptibly. “The situation is even worse in the capital star.” That was the political and cultural center of the empire, with numerous elites, and a more pronounced hierarchy.
Ryan’s eyes darkened a bit. “When I was in college, I was often bullied because I came from a remote star, the son of a farmer.” Even within the ivory tower, not to mention outside, the entire country was filled with power monopolies and resource imbalances. Advancement was slow, and only those with connections to the powerful could truly showcase their talents.
Qin Feng, in his political career, continuously broke down class barriers and weakened the influence of power on politics. By the time of his death, he had achieved some success. If he hadn’t died and continued to implement policies forcefully, he might have completely succeeded. Over a few hundred years, however, the results achieved were all in vain. The upper echelons of the empire loudly proclaimed the “freedom, equality, and friendliness” proposed by Qin Feng Anderson. When comparing this with the current situation, it was a tremendous irony.
Auston shook his head helplessly. “Now, even the military is only slightly better.”
“Sir, your Ice Orange Snow Drink is ready.” The bartender’s voice interrupted their conversation.
Ryan and Auston both turned their attention to the bartender. Two glasses of the drink, served in glass cups, were ready. The upper layer, made with freshly squeezed orange juice, gradually blended with the clear liquor below. Crushed ice at the bottom caused a light mist to condense on the surface of the glass, giving it a faint chill when touched. A slice of green lemon leaf adorned the rim, enhancing the overall aesthetics of the drink. Seeing others order it, Auston also opted for two glasses. The bartender mentioned that Ice Orange Snow Drink was a low-alcohol beverage, and one wouldn’t get drunk even after having several.
“It’s not good to drink on an empty stomach,” Ryan noticed mushroom spaghetti and beef eggplant noodles being prepared not far away. He patted Auston’s hand and said, “I’ll get some noodles. I’ll be right back.”
Auston nodded and sat by the bar, keeping an eye on their two glasses of drinks.
Without Ryan by his side, the surroundings seemed dull to Auston. A bit bored, he stared at the Ice Orange Snow Drink. The beautiful sweet orange color seemed enticing, and on a whim, he picked up the glass and took a sip. The initial taste was of the concentrated fruit juice, a bit too sweet for his liking. He frowned, not a fan of overly sweet drinks, but since he ordered it, he continued to drink, following the principle of not wasting. The subsequent flavors became progressively light and sweet, and the part with the Ice Orange Snow Drink had a refreshing, minty taste, leaving a slightly spicy aftertaste.
Unbeknownst to him, Auston finished the entire glass.
“Sir, do you find the Ice Orange Snow Drink to your liking?” The bartender struck up a conversation. He received a commission for each glass sold.
Auston replied, “It’s good. It has a rich layering of flavors.”
“Ice Snow Liquor can be used as a base to create several good-tasting fruit-flavored cocktails, sir. Would you like to try?” The bartender smiled pleasingly and pointed not far away where someone was enjoying a red cocktail. “That’s the Frostberry Snow Drink, with a slightly different taste. Would you like a glass, sir?”
A strawberry-flavored cocktail?
Auston felt a bit tempted and nodded, “Bring me a glass.”
The bartender happily acknowledged and took out five or six fresh strawberries from the fridge. One was cut into small pieces for garnish, while the rest were blended into a fruit puree. By using Ice Snow Liquor as the base and combining it with two or three other types of liquor, a rich and varied flavor could be achieved. Finally, strawberry chunks were added to the drink, and the top was covered with concentrated strawberry juice. A mint leaf was added for decoration. A romantic-looking Frostberry Snow Drink appeared in front of Auston.
“Thank you.”
This time, Auston didn’t quickly finish the drink. Instead, he savored it slowly, experiencing the layers of the cocktail—rich sweetness, light sweetness, a refreshing taste, and a slightly spicy aftertaste. After the aftertaste faded, a subtle fruity aroma lingered in his mouth.
The bartender blinked mysteriously and said, “It is said that after drinking this series of cocktails, kissing someone provides a unique experience.”
Auston glanced at the bartender, expressionless. His imposing aura, cultivated through extended periods in positions of authority, was unabated, and it was chilling. The bartender instinctively felt a chill down his spine, a strong sense of fear brewing in his mind. His face turned pale, and he dared not utter a word.
Auston finished the last bit of the drink in his glass and coldly said, “Bring me another one.”
The bartender nodded like a chick pecking at grains and, bowing his head, opened the fridge. He realized the customer hadn’t specified the flavor. After taking a couple of deep breaths and some mental preparation, he mustered the courage to ask, “Sir, what flavor would you like?”
“Orange.” Auston’s words were as concise as gold.
“Yeah yeah.” The bartender quickly buried his head, pretending to be extremely busy. He swiftly made the requested Ice Orange Snow Drink and respectfully served it in front of the customer. After taking away the empty glass, he remained silent, as if becoming invisible. This customer was truly terrifying when not smiling.
When Ryan returned with piping hot mushroom meat sauce noodles and diced fried rice, he saw Auston sitting at the bar expressionless, staring at the two glasses of wine in a daze. Ryan pulled a high stool over, sat down, and asked softly, “Are you hungry?”
Expressionless, Auston turned to look at Ryan, his black eyes revealing a hint of grievance. “You were gone for a long time.”
“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” Ryan said, holding Auston’s hand and noticing that the palm was a bit warm. “Drinking on an empty stomach?”
“No!” Auston’s eyes flickered, like a child who had done something and subconsciously denied it when asked by an adult.
Ryan couldn’t help but chuckle. He looked at the bartender who was pretending to be busy and asked in a low voice, “How many glasses?”
The bartender felt a tingling sensation on his head. Although he knew the question was directed at him, he cautiously lifted his head, met a pair of intimidating eyes. The flattering smile that had just appeared on his face froze and he stammered in response, “Two glasses.” Hastily adding, “The third glass for this gentleman is on the table.”
“Okay.”
Ryan withdrew his gaze from the somewhat vacant and expressionless Auston. Feeling a sense of helplessness, he realized that Auston couldn’t handle alcohol. Having spent most of their time together on the Xingtian spaceship, alcohol consumption was not allowed on board, except for low-alcohol fruit wines, which required inspection before being allowed on the ship. Bringing alcoholic beverages on board without authorization would result in severe punishment. After returning to the plantation star, they had a drink or two, mostly low-alcohol homemade wine. Auston was disciplined and restrained, only taking a sip or two, and Ryan had never seen him drunk.
Ryan picked up the glass and took a sip, his eyebrows slightly raised. “This isn’t Ice and Snow Wine!” Ice and Snow Wine was the most common beverage in the Stormwind starfield. It had a low alcohol content, a mild taste, and even those new to drinking could have a few bottles without getting drunk. It was brewed from a flower found on the ice field, giving it a unique flavor and often used for blending with other drinks. Ryan realized he had overlooked it—how could he forget that cocktails were mixed drinks?
The bartender at the counter noticed something off in Ryan’s voice and immediately cowered in fear, holding his head and muttering, “Forgive me, forgive me, it’s just a low-alcohol cocktail…”
Ryan: “Don’t be afraid. I didn’t mean to trouble you.” He had already confirmed that the drink was low-alcohol, but Auston’s tolerance was just too poor.
“Oh, okay.” The bartender breathed a sigh of relief but dared not continue serving Auston and Ryan. He’d rather be caught skipping work by his supervisor than risk serving them again.
Auston got drunk, his head feeling a bit empty, letting everything flow as it pleased. He wasn’t fond of smiling; the habitual, not genuinely heartfelt, smile he wore for so long made him resist the idea of lifting the corners of his mouth. Deep-seated fatigue surfaced, making him not want to move at all. Now he understood clearly – he wasn’t alone anymore. He had Ryan, the family on the plantation star, and most importantly, Ryan’s tolerance for his capriciousness.
So tired.
He didn’t want to wear the rigid mask of a rehearsed smile.
For once, he wanted to be willful. He didn’t feel like smiling.
“Auston, drinking on an empty stomach can upset your stomach.” Ryan placed a plate of diced meat fried rice with a mild flavor in front of Auston. He held a spoon and gently whispered, “Let’s have some food to fill our stomachs.”
Auston frowned, turned away, using his actions to convey to Ryan that he didn’t want to eat.
“Don’t want rice? How about some noodles, then?”
Auston’s eyebrows slightly furrowed as he turned back to look at Ryan, a hint of grievance in his eyes as if saying he didn’t want to eat.
Ryan continued holding Auston’s hand, feeling both concerned and tempted to tease him. Suppressing the playful urge, he softly asked, “Then, what does Auston want to eat? Let’s get it.”
Auston tilted his head, pondered for a moment, and hesitantly said, “Let’s just have the rice.”
Ryan almost couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He coughed lightly into his fist before saying, “Alright.”
“I don’t want to stay here.” Auston frowned with disgust, disliking the noisy sounds, disliking the unpleasant faces of some people, disliking… he wasn’t sure what exactly, but he just wanted to leave.
Ryan understood and followed his lead. He went back to the room, intending to have Martin from room service bring their meals. Opening his personal terminal, he sent a voice message to Graydon, letting him know that he was heading back first.
As they approached the restaurant’s exit, they had to pass by a small stage. Young musicians were passionately playing instruments on the stage, with one violinist, probably making their first stage appearance, nervously sweating. They accidentally played a wrong note, creating a jarring, discordant sound that displeased many in the audience.
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Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152