Chapter 357 - 366: Mr. Yuan

For this trip, they had sent someone specifically to pick them up.

Jiang Qiuqiu and Mrs. Ai’er got into a private Hovercar together.

The special vehicle had its own dedicated lane, and the driver was very skilled. The Hovercar remained perfectly steady, and about half an hour later, the two arrived at their destination.

This was a residential area, a bit more densely packed than Starry Sky Wander. The homes were mostly single-story houses or villas. Nearly every residence was a detached home with its own yard, and there were no high-rises in the entire community.

Before entering the community, Mrs. Ai’er and Jiang Qiuqiu underwent an AI scan to confirm their information was valid and that they weren’t carrying any illegal devices. Only then did the community’s main gate open.

The moment they entered, the atmosphere changed completely.

If the guards and prying eyes at Starry Sky Wander were hidden in the shadows, then in this community, everything was out in the open.

Soldiers in deep green military uniforms, holding Energy Guns, were immediately visible on patrol. Small cameras were mounted on various buildings and trees, and camera drones occasionally flew back and forth, covering any blind spots.

Jiang Qiuqiu followed Mrs. Ai’er along a small path. She seemed to come here often; they ran into three patrol squads, and each squad leader greeted her.

Mrs. Ai’er was very friendly as well, returning any greeting she received.

Soon, after navigating a few winding paths, the two arrived at their destination.

And then, Jiang Qiuqiu met today’s ’patient’.

He looked to be very old, but his spirits were remarkably high. He didn’t at all seem like the stubborn old fool on the brink that Mrs. Ai’er had described. On the contrary, he was hale and hearty, smiling cheerfully as he spoke to Mrs. Ai’er.

"Ai’er, you’re here!"

"If I didn’t come, would you have been stubborn enough to get yourself killed?" Mrs. Ai’er fired off three questions the moment she walked in, before even sitting down. "Have you finished the Spirit Nourishing Liquid I left for you last time? Have your mood swings been severe? And have you been piloting a Mecha in the simulator again?"

The old man immediately shot back a three-part answer: "Finished it, no swings, and I have not!"

Mrs. Ai’er shot him a glare.

"You just wait, let me check—"

To know if a patient had been following doctor’s orders, you just needed to check their condition. If it was up, they had probably restrained their usual habits. If it had dropped, they were clearly courting death.

Mrs. Ai’er used her Spiritual Perception for a moment. His condition hadn’t worsened, but it hadn’t improved in the slightest, either. It seemed he had done what she’d instructed, just not consistently every day.

"You still don’t take your own health seriously."

"Haha, I’m over a hundred years old. I just muddle along. Don’t you worry so much, Ai’er. Enough about me, let’s have a look at the young lady you brought." The old man glanced at Jiang Qiuqiu.

Even being stared at by such a prominent figure, Jiang Qiuqiu wasn’t the least bit afraid. Her gaze was clear and bright. As she met the old man’s eyes, her expression was composed and natural, neither servile nor overbearing.

The old man was pleasantly surprised. He praised her, "Is this the young lady you were telling me about?"

"What a fine young lady."

"Oh, so *now* you notice she’s a fine young lady?" Mrs. Ai’er pulled Jiang Qiuqiu to stand before the old man. "Let me introduce you. This is the Little Healer I went out of my way to invite for you, Jiang Qiuqiu."

"Qiuqiu, this is the old man I told you about who hates drinking Nutrient Liquid. You can call him Grandpa Yuan."

Yuan Jian Country: ???

His mustache bristled. "How did I suddenly become ’the old man who hates drinking Nutrient Liquid’???"

"What? Are you saying you love drinking it?"

"..."

’Who could possibly love drinking that stuff!’

’Besides, is the Nutrient Liquid the main point? The main point is being called an old man!’

Seeing the old man looking so thwarted but not daring to talk back, Jiang Qiuqiu couldn’t help but smile.