Shadows of the Deep Space Chapter 1595: 521: Not Forcing It_4
Previously on Shadows of the Deep Space...
Su Ming caught sight of Zhao Ning's look, and the edge of his lips curved just a bit.
His mother spoke up firmly. “Son, you're wrong about this. Regardless of how occupied you get with your duties, you've got to find moments for family.”
Zhao Ning joined in with a sharp rebuke as well.
“Fine!”
“They seldom come to Starlight City, so you have to spend time with them this visit and guide them through the sights!”
“Eh?”
“Eh, what do you mean?”
“Ah~ okay then.”
Su Ming responded with a sense of resignation.
Socializing wasn't his strong suit; he excelled far more in combat situations and similar pursuits. Hosting Hilis and her friends seemed tougher than facing off against Asya's crew.
Right then, Vivian spotted Su Ming's reluctant face and grinned teasingly.
“Perhaps we ought to skip it. Mr. Su Ming appears to be pushing himself too hard!”
Zhao Ning's face turned fierce in an instant, her eyes fixing on Su Ming with a deadly stare.
Startled, Su Ming hurried to clarify.
“I'm not forcing it, really not.”
Hilis and the rest couldn't hold back their chuckles at the sight.
Zhao Ning then turned a warm smile toward Hilis and her group.
“Enjoy yourselves now; we'll head out first!”
“Farewell, Uncle and Aunt.”
Hilis and her friends answered politely.
Delighted, Zhao Ning tugged Su Yuan away, abandoning Su Ming alone with the visitors.
Vivian grinned and commented.
“Mr. Su Ming, why the distressed look? Is it because you don't wish to join us?”
“Exactly, if that's how you feel, don't strain yourself—we promise not to mention it to Auntie.”
Helena chimed in.
“Absolutely not, nothing like that.”
Su Ming denied it swiftly.
“In that case, off we go. I haven't truly wandered Starlight City before.”
Hilis said with a light laugh.
Security concerns kept them from venturing out much on their own, yet Su Ming's presence erased any fears.
“Sure.”
Su Ming geared up to lead them out, then halted abruptly.
“What's the matter?”
Hilis inquired, eyeing him with interest.
“Hilis, should I grab you a scarf, shades, and a cap? Stepping out like that would spark a huge stir, turning your shopping trip into headline news instead.”
Su Ming suggested with a wry grin.
“Good idea; I nearly overlooked it.”
Hilis replied cheerfully.
…
Shortly afterward, Su Ming and the trio donned simple disguises and blended quietly into Starlight City's bustling shopping district.
The whole avenue buzzed with energy, crowds thronging every spot.
Towering structures flashed virtual ads nonstop, broadcasting clips of Saint Joex's integration into the Federation.
Street-side stores blasted massive discount banners, drawing shoppers in droves.
Hilis gazed around the vibrant chaos with wide-eyed wonder. Saint Joex had its own liveliness, but it paled against Starlight City's unique vibe.
This city's energy felt light and vibrant, mixing students with everyday folks for an even more electric atmosphere.
“Su Ming, is it okay if we pick up a few items?”
Hilis pointed at some appealing goods.
“Naturally, I'll handle all the bags for you.”
Su Ming offered courteously.
“Great, we'll keep it light then.”
Hilis and the others agreed with nods.
“Don't hold back; shop as you like.”
Su Ming had no clue about the implications of his casual assurance.
“Uh-huh.”
With that, Hilis and her companions dove into their spree.
Su Ming trailed behind, lugging their finds.
One, two….
Before long, Su Ming juggled more than ten bags.
Onlookers shot him curious glances.
“What's with that fellow hauling all that stuff?”
“Save your sympathy. Check out those three ladies beside him—even disguised, they're clearly stunners.”
“True enough.”
…
Su Ming's lips quirked at the chatter, yet he endured, sticking by Hilis and her pals through their outing.
…
As evening descended.
Having bid Hilis and the group goodbye, a drained Su Ming dragged himself back to his quarters and collapsed onto the mattress.
Exhaustion consumed him completely! It was as if he'd just endured a fierce skirmish.
Still, after a brief rest, Su Ming roused himself for a quick rinse and crawled back under the covers.
Su Ming activated his wrist device to access the Star Cluster Forum.
He saw that the Star Cluster Forum had undergone an update, displaying a notification window.
“Esteemed user, the Star Cluster Forum now removes all communication limits, granting open entry to users from Tidal Star Sea, Danube Star Sea, Land of Lost, Dark Star Empire, and Heavenly Revelation Divine Country. Remember, forum content serves purely for amusement; verify facts independently.”
The message caught Su Ming off guard, leaving him impressed by the Federation's swift action.
He promptly reloaded the page to explore.
Suddenly, a torrent of threads poured in, packed with heated debates.
Su Ming clicked on a trending one.
This thread came from a Heavenly Revelation Divine Country member, though replies varied wildly.
“Federation scum, stay smug—divine retribution awaits you.”
“Spit, are you addled, donkey-kicked or something? We're in the Interstellar Age, and you cling to gods? What a fried mind!”
“Keep your pride in check!”
“And if we don't? Try stopping us!”
“Ignore these idiots; they're sour over Saint Joex allying with us. Bet they're weeping right now.”
“Hell, back in the horse-and-cart days, you'd go a lifetime without spotting a madman. Now with tech leaps, these crazies are everywhere.”
…
Su Ming chuckled, shaking his head over the fiery exchanges.
He shut the debate thread and moved on to scan some tamer posts.