It felt as though Xi Yujin himself had grown a beating heart as he gently hugged Gano back.

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Like carving off a piece of himself to make a diamond ring, or posting the good news on Blue Planet's official website. An immature impulse welled up inside him, making him want to show off to every living being in existence. All those tangled emotions eventually condensed into one sentence that burst out before he could stop it:

"I do!"

Gano hadn't grasped the Blue Planet meme yet. The moment Xi Yujin said it, he became embarrassed and hurriedly tried to rephrase it in the rational tone of a novelist:

"I'm also willing to share everything I have with you…"

Then he glanced at the asteroid Typing Machines along the road, either serving as typing laborers or background props, and immediately remembered the nonsense legend he had once made up. He said seriously:

"Even the armor core you gave me is my destined asteroid!"

Gano recalled how he had secretly swapped the asteroid order before. Ever since that sneaky switch, he had carefully observed the results and found that his asteroid always ranked first, which reassured him greatly. Now that Yujin suddenly brought it up again, he felt a little guilty… but also completely justified.

After all, he had fought for all of this himself. If he said it was destiny, then it was destiny!

Even the letter he had spent so long learning to write had managed to move Yujin.

Hard work really did pay off!

The two of them had taken completely different trains of thought, circling around in huge loops, yet somehow still arrived at the same destination.

"We can travel together. And whenever we get tired, we can settle down on some asteroid and build a house there…" Xi Yujin's imagination for the future seemed limitless. But after "build a house," his thoughts suddenly stalled. How was he supposed to continue? Sleep in the same bed together? Was that something he could actually say?

At that moment, Xi Yujin realized a very serious problem:

Neither of them had any dating experience!

Well… not entirely. At the very least, Xi Yujin was an expert in Blue Planet-style clickbait romance literature and was deeply familiar with emotional dramas like Thunderstorm, Meteor Shower, and Romance in the Rain.

He possessed extensive "paper knowledge." Surely that meant he could have a sweet romance with Gano!

So he softly continued:

"You can ask me for anything..."

Whoosh—

In an instant, Gano's spread bone wings completely blocked Xi Yujin's vision. He could clearly see the cyan-colored patterns running across them, carrying an eerie, inhuman beauty.

He remembered that the Zerg rarely exposed their bone wings. Was this some kind of custom?

Xi Yujin reached out and touched them. The bone wings immediately vibrated at high frequency, producing crisp metallic clashing sounds. But Xi Yujin knew Gano would never hurt him, so he boldly pressed his entire palm against them. They felt like smooth sheets of ice. Gano's arms around him instantly tightened before he forcibly relaxed himself and adjusted his posture to keep holding him.

"Gano," Xi Yujin asked worriedly, "what's wrong with your bone wings?" He carefully traced the transparent veins on them with his fingertips.

"Overloaded… Don't mind it, it's rebooting…"

Gano muttered softly.

He was experiencing the first benefit of being in love. In the past, whenever this happened, he had to cluelessly search the armor database, only to receive the same response every time: You do not have permission. But now, simply staying close to Yujin eased the strange heat source inside him, and he could even ask Yujin to stroke his bone wings.

Being in love was wonderful…

This alien couple still had countless unknown experiences waiting to be discovered!

Once Xi Yujin entered "relationship mode," everything looked pleasing to him. Everything seemed wrapped in pink bubbles of happiness. In his world, sadness simply wasn't allowed to exist.

Then he casually opened his optical computer and was shocked to discover just how many miserable readers existed in this universe.

Although most of that misery was indirectly caused by his own alternate accounts…

Back then, Xi Yujin hadn't understood how sweet love could be, which was why he had heartlessly made his readers cry. But today's Xi Yujin was completely different from yesterday's Xi Yujin. Today's Xi Yujin was a man with a lover. He wanted every reader to experience happiness!

What's that? This reader was crying because Qiongtian and Canghai had missed each other in this lifetime and could never reunite? Immediate reunion arc! Qiongtian would start writing again, Canghai's illness would improve, and the two would rekindle their old relationship. Blue Planet best friends must live in harmony and happiness!

What's that? This reader was worried that Xunming and Yongye had gradually drifted apart after once being inseparable? Immediate identity reveal after the Fisherman Cup! These two had never argued at all. All the readers' theories were wrong. Today was Blue Planet Reconciliation Day! No pair of best friends was allowed to fight today.

What's that? This reader hoped Feiniao could succeed in meeting her idol and become a good coworker with Jung? Immediate wholesome interactions! Feiniao and Jung were actually much closer than people thought. They used to be pen pals. Feiniao admired Jung deeply, while Jung had always cared for the younger writer.

Oh, and this reader wanted more interactions between Jung and Fuling? Fine, that would be arranged too. They'd commute together, and sometimes Fuling would invite Jung to ride her brown bear…

Xi Yujin studied the relationship chart between all his alternate identities and carefully drew another line between Feiniao and Fuling, arranging some interactions for them too.

After all…

Triangles were the most stable shape.

Finally, there was Mingxing. Strange, why didn't you have a best friend? Didn't you feel out of place among all these paired-up Blue Planet people?

But every love story needs an observer to make it seem more precious. So Mingxing would temporarily get some time off and serve as the narrator explaining all these Blue Planet friendships!

Xi Yujin enthusiastically planned out the grand pink romantic drama of the Blue Planet literary world. Then, all of a sudden, he found himself missing Gano. So he immediately hugged his draft papers and went looking for him.

Even though they had only been apart for fifteen minutes, and Gano had merely gone to the warehouse to find materials for making figurines, Xi Yujin still wanted to see him.

On the way there, Xi Yujin spotted the little Rust Clan members hopping around and froze.

The Rust Clan members, who had been happily admiring the wonders of the universe, were suddenly scooped up by Xi Yujin and arranged neatly into pairs. Their little spikes radiated confused shock, while Xi Yujin admired his handiwork with satisfaction before walking away.

Even the Rust Clan members had to come in pairs!

Meanwhile, in a region where Blue Planet's black-box delay had reached eighteen minutes, a group of beings headed toward "Bubble Sunshine Bar," a place similar to Blue Planet's oxygen bars.

They came from different galaxies and different spaceships, but they all shared one thing in common: during a gathering, someone shouted, "Blue Planet's website updated!" and suddenly, a huge crowd turned around at once.

That was when they realized that they all shared the same literary interests.

"I never thought I'd attend a gathering with beings I'd only met once," Saien said dreamily aboard the ship. "But literature has connected our hearts so tightly already. I have so many topics I want to discuss with them."

Then it glared at its companion resentfully.

"It's all your fault for never listening to my recommendations."

"I still think Wild Tyrannosaurus Rex is the best novelist," Bu Ti said while fixing its clothes. "And you never listen to my recommendations either. Dragon Witch's Secret Words is amazing. I think tyrannosaurs are the cutest creatures in the universe."

The two beings exchanged a glance and silently continued preparing themselves. They were already used to disagreeing with each other all the time. But what else could they do? They'd just make do and keep traveling together. Their white bodies wriggled as they headed out.

When they arrived at Bubble Sunshine Bar, a massive artificial stellar-light generator slowly rotated inside, instantly lifting everyone's mood. The bar had three separate entrances to accommodate beings of different sizes. Saien and Bu Ti entered through the underground entrance, ordered flaming liquor, and observed the guests around them.

"Do you remember which of these are the Blue Planet readers we met at the gathering?" Saien whispered. "There were too many beings there that day, I've forgotten who we met."

"Let me think…" Bu Ti narrowed its eyes. "That one looking at their optical computer seems like one."

Suddenly, a long-legged being strode forward and shouted: "Any Blue Planet readers here?!"

Every customer in the Sunshine Bar instantly turned around at once. The scene was somewhat terrifying until they all looked at each other in delighted surprise.

There were actually this many fans of Blue Planet literature here!

"They all are?!" Saien became excited enough to want to grab a random being on the spot and start passionately recommending its favorite authors.

The entire "Bubble Sunshine Bar" erupted into storm-like chatter.

There were detective fan clubs where even passing beings could jump in and contribute a few deductions.

There were poetry appreciation circles, where some creatures with beautiful voices stood on stage and passionately recited Blue Planet literature.

But most discussions revolved around plot analysis. The Blue Planet Fisherman Cup became the hottest topic.

"In Mechanical Frenzy, the robots revolted! I seriously can't figure out how they bypassed the First Principle! I'm convinced the manufacturer has some huge conspiracy going on. I want Eden to update already!"

"Did you read the newest chapter of Infinite Red Algae? The red algae kept pulling one scam after another, and that elite neighboring team got completely wiped out. It was insanely thrilling, I couldn't sleep afterward! I bet Wings That Shadow the Heavens is an incredible alien novelist. I'm not even sure they're from Blue Planet. Humans haven't appeared in the story at all."

"This is a Blue Planet literature discussion zone. For all we know, Wings That Shadow the Heavens could just be another Blue Planet author using an alternate identity."

Even the usually reserved Bu Ti found a creature hanging upside down from the ceiling and leisurely chatted with it about Dragon Witch's Secret Words.

Saien immediately said something completely out of nowhere to a newly acquainted reader:

"It has no idea how happy it is to be away from me."

"Finally rid of my annoying travel companion." Bu Ti waved its tiny legs and summoned its optical computer. Looking at the stranger before it, it said, "My optical computer says the Fisherman Cup just released another batch of reviewed submissions. Let's read them together."

On the Fisherman Cup page, a newly refreshed work appeared under the pen name "Gano."

Bu Ti only glanced at it before immediately closing the page and exclaiming in disbelief:

"This is way too direct! Doesn't Blue Planet Yujin supervise translations at all? Wait, Yujin is one of the judges. That means he definitely read this beforehand. And he still chose to share it publicly? What kind of boundless couple behavior is this?!"

"So sweet…" Saien quickly posted a congratulatory comment from afar. "My heart is melting… The translator and novelist switching identities, this is such a soulmate kind of love."

The alien creatures either smiled knowingly like indulgent aunties or typed blindly with their eyes shut:

"Read and approved! Wishing you a golden wedding anniversary!"

"A golden anniversary means the Blue Planet couple has already spent a very long time together," some readers explained proudly while basking in others' admiring gazes. "It's the more polite kind of blessing."

Other readers sighed wistfully.

"I take back what I said before. Blue Planet does have a sweet romance; it's just that it only happens to Yujin and Gano. The two of them should write some love stories sometime. I want to read Blue Planet-style romance."

By now, many beings had subconsciously accepted the truth that Blue Planet authors don't write romance. They only wrote soul-deep friendships.

Since Bu Ti and Saien once again disagreed on something, they glared at each other across the room as though sparks might start flying. Meanwhile, the new online friend Bu Ti had just met noticed another article on the Fisherman Cup page.

It rubbed its eyes and said in a dazed, astonished tone, "Qiongtian updated?"

Bu Ti immediately stopped paying attention to Saien and turned the optical computer screen toward itself. It rubbed its face and widened its bright yellow eyes.

Qiongtian really updated!

That meant they finally had a chance to learn the ending of the Three Kingdoms era! They wanted to read it immediately!

Some readers had already started reading on the spot, occasionally bursting into emotional tears and sighing deeply over the story's developments.

Bu Ti had never read Qiongtian's works before, but it had heard enough about the impact of Blue Planet history that it had basically spoiled the entire novel for itself just by reading forum thread titles. That was why it had never bothered reading the full text. Smiling faintly, it listened to the excited rambling of the stranger in front of it. In the distance, it saw Saien enthusiastically shaking the reader beside it so hard there were practically afterimages, and Bu Ti felt a strange mixture of embarrassment, helplessness, and fond resignation.

"It's not just Born Again with the Spring Wind that got updated, A Hundred Years Together did too! The author credits were added!"

The listed authors for A Hundred Years Together had changed to Canghai and Qiongtian, and the writing style now showed many noticeable differences.

An update was certainly good news, but what exactly had happened behind the scenes?

"If Qiongtian is continuing the story, then Canghai must have agreed to it…"

"Or maybe Canghai's condition got worse again?"

The readers present suddenly felt heavy-hearted.

Saien seemed to sense something and flipped through the Fisherman Cup page until it found a newly posted piece titled Essays of Mulberry Fields.

The author was listed as "Lonely Sail."

None of them had ever seen this pen name before, but anyone familiar with Blue Planet only needed to read the first paragraph to realize that this was Canghai.

The author's experiences in the essay exactly matched Canghai's life. Learning devastating news about his fate while still young, giving up the chance to become an Official Novelist, separating from old friends, studying unofficial histories, interpreting the mystical traces hidden within history through folklore…

A writer might hide their identity, but the weight of their knowledge was impossible to conceal, just like filling hidden inside a pie.

The readers continued nervously.

Lonely Sail, or rather, Canghai, only briefly described his life. He had no intention of writing an autobiography. Instead, he chose essays. He mentioned that he often took walks and chatted with Xunming, so parts of the writing might sound conversational.

Through this essay, readers encountered a very different side of Canghai. He was not optimistic and cheerful. In fact, the beginning of the piece carried a somewhat cynical bitterness:

"When the world treated me unfairly, I became disappointed in the world as well."

A writer's reflections on death slowly unfolded before the readers.

 

[

"When I receive my medical reports, sometimes I feel some kind of thin fear toward death. It's like a slingshot pulling me toward the world after my death. In those moments, my thoughts would stop. I will no longer witness what future this world may have. Time will completely abandon me.

The literary world often says, 'Write more, so your works can continue influencing the world after your death.' But that thought doesn't comfort me. How could I dare claim that my shallow words will survive a hundred years beyond my lifetime? And besides, in that future world, I myself remain frozen in place, unchanged forever.

Then I inevitably begin thinking about what suffering truly means. Why is it that after enduring hardship, people so often start searching for the meaning of life? So many writers produced world-shaking masterpieces only after enduring inhuman torment. Does that mean this illness is some kind of gift from heaven? Should I thank it for completing my path as a writer?

That logic is complete nonsense.

If I still had a long life ahead of me, if I still had enough strength to travel to every corner of the world and learn the histories of different places, then perhaps I could have written even better works."

]

 

The readers expected the essay to descend into helpless despair. Their hearts tightened painfully, and some could barely continue reading.

Even in the interstellar age, death remained literature's eternal subject.

Yet Canghai's writing was unexpectedly restrained. There was no screaming grief, no self-pity. Instead, there was only quiet contemplation.

It was as though illness would never become the protagonist of his life.

 

[

"No amount of thinking about death itself can stop death from coming. It is not like a math problem where thinking harder today peels away another layer of mystery.

Still, we must continue thinking about it, just not too urgently.

Because death is only an ending, while we possess a very, very long process before reaching it.

Our lives are usually a mess, but literature offers another possibility. Life cannot exist without literature. The spirit needs words as a place of refuge. Even knowing the body has an inevitable ending, I will still continue writing…"

]

 

Canghai never claimed he wanted to influence his readers, yet everyone present felt a solemn and gentle wisdom within his words.

Perhaps not every species valued this sort of thing, but inner growth was profoundly important. The depth of one's thoughts could broaden the breadth of one's life. Someone who had deeply reflected on the nature of existence would inevitably see the world differently from someone devoted only to pleasure. A mind tempered through struggle could face the unknown, sorrow, and fear with greater honesty and calm.

By the time they reached the end, every being there had been moved by the tranquility in Canghai's writing.

For the first time in their lives, they felt truly motivated to live, not out of selfish relief that they themselves had survived, but from a genuine desire to make each day meaningful.

And finally, there was one last line:

 

[

"By the way, I reunited with my high school classmates today, because today is Blue Planet Reconciliation Day."

 ]

 

Just one simple sentence contained the entirety of Canghai and Qiongtian's story.

Every being present was deeply moved. Whether they knew each other or not, they tearfully embraced one another.

Especially Saien and Bu Ti.

They had experienced countless little conflicts during their travels and had even considered parting ways more than once.

But now, through blurry, tear-filled eyes, they hugged each other tightly in excitement.

Because today was Blue Planet Reconciliation Day.