No matter when or where, one must never drag an innocent child into the dark world of adults. Especially in darker times like this, such things must be guarded against even more strictly.
Not all adults were like her, holding a filtered, idealized view of children and refusing to harm them. There were many who, whenever things didn’t go their way, would take their frustrations out on the weak.
Children’s physical condition already meant they were not in a dominant position. This required even more effort from them to climb up toward the ranks of the strong.
【Please Take Your Seat, Princess: @Earth is Too Dangerous, I Want to Go Back to Mars, sorry, little guy. Sister shouldn’t have acted impulsively and pushed you into the spotlight.】
【Earth is Too Dangerous, I Want to Go Back to Mars: Sister, what are you saying? Baby isn’t ungrateful. I won’t misunderstand your good intentions.】
Lu Yuelan felt that the child’s words were a bit strange, so she checked the regional channel again, and her face darkened like ink.
【I Am the Real Winner in Life: Hmph, sounds nice, but isn’t it just using the excuse of “for the child’s good” to gain personal benefits? Don’t even think about it, how innocent is the child, and you’re using them as a tool.】
【The Goddess Descends: Exactly. Our Brother Wan is such a good person, just trying to help a weak and helpless kid, but you start talking nonsense and say he’s in the wrong. Now you’ve made the kid look pitiful and alone, this is really too much.】
【One Two Three Four Five: Seriously, how are kids these days so shameless? Clearly it was that boy who did something wrong and refused to contribute, yet he immediately tried to demand other people’s valuable supplies. Now it’s turned into the kind-hearted girl’s fault for speaking up?】
【Watch Me Punch the Bull From Afar: That’s just too much. If those shameless troublemakers showed up in front of me acting like that, I’d beat them until they couldn’t get up.】
【Officially Certified by the State: Ahem, quiet down, quiet down. This is a public space. Do not spread or incite negativity, or distort the facts.】
After the first two or three people kept targeting Lu Yuelan, the later commenters became more rational and began speaking up for her. Even an official account stepped in, which eased much of her anger.
After all, good people still existed in the world, especially within their country’s official states, which had always been responsible and diligent, unlike some foreign governments that were more perfunctory. If there was a problem, they could be relied upon for help.
Feeling guilty about unintentionally pushing the child into the center of attention, Lu Yuelan thought it over and gave a suggestion.
【Please Take Your Seat, Princess: @Earth is Too Dangerous, I Want to Go Back to Mars, little guy, your current situation isn’t good. Those people have been spreading everywhere that you’ve been to shops and can purchase gasoline and electricity. There’s no guarantee that someone with tracking devices or location cards won’t come after you, to kill you or detain you and use you.】
【Earth is Too Dangerous, I Want to Go Back to Mars: @Please Take Your Seat, Princess, big sister, is it really that serious?】
【Please Take Your Seat, Princess: Sister isn’t a god; I can’t know everyone’s thoughts. But it’s better to be cautious than careless. Don’t have malicious intent toward others, but also don’t be defenseless. Baby, go find the person with the nickname “Officially Certified by the State” and see if they can help you. Wait, let me first test whether they’re trustworthy.】
【Earth is Too Dangerous, I Want to Go Back to Mars: Would that be too much trouble for big sister? I can go check myself. It should be fine though, right? The system already gave an explanation.】
The child trusted the other party completely, which made Lu Yuelan hesitate and feel it was difficult to say more.
Even though there was a golden system badge, it only indicated that the person was part of a government institution. But who could guarantee that someone in such a position truly had good character, just based on a few lines of chat?
There are simply too many people in the world who are good at pretending, so one has to be on guard.
If it were an adult, Lu Yuelan wouldn’t worry too much. Precisely because this was a child, she needed to think more comprehensively and avoid, through even a moment of carelessness, bringing trouble to the little one.
With that in mind, Lu Yuelan quickly sent a private message to “Watch Me Punch the Bull From Afar,” asking about the person known as “Officially Certified by the State.”
【Watch Me Punch the Bull From Afar: @Please Take Your Seat, Princess, you mean that person? Their character is pretty good. Like today, my luck was ridiculously bad all day, I kept getting green boxes, and my combat power is weak, so I couldn’t beat the monsters. Instead, I was hunted down and ended up covered in injuries. If it weren’t for that “Officially Certified by the State” person lending me medicine, I would’ve been in real trouble.】
【Please Take Your Seat, Princess: @Watch Me Punch the Bull From Afar, thanks. I’ll ask a few more people.】
【Watch Me Punch the Bull From Afar: No problem. Next time if you get a fuel card, remember to save one for me. I still have to repay the “Officially Certified by the State” guy in installments, it’ll take a while, but don’t worry, I will definitely pay for the fuel. Just remember to keep one for me. Much appreciated.】
【Please Take Your Seat, Princess: OK, got it. I won’t forget you.】
Lu Yuelan then sent private messages to “One Two Three Four Five” and “You Damn Bastard Bucket.” These two were people she had observed while lurking in the channel, both seemed reliable, highly active, and likely more trustworthy than others.
Just like her earlier conversation with “Watch Me Punch the Bull From Afar,” these were people she had already interacted with at least once and judged to have decent character, not the type to deliberately lie and trick a young girl.
【You Damn Bastard Bucket: Pretty good. That person is very responsible, and also gentle and polite in how they deal with others. If you want to do business with them, they’ll give you a pretty fair trading price.】
【One Two Three Four Five: Are you trying to find a backer for the kid? I think the “Officially Certified by the State” person is pretty decent and worth considering. But if it’s about finding a backer for the kid, that person feels a bit too saintly. You should be more careful, don’t let the kid get led astray by such an overly “saint-like” person.】
After reading the chat logs from “You Damn Bastard Bucket” and “One Two Three Four Five,” Lu Yuelan felt that experience really did matter. Most people thought the “Officially Certified by the State” person was good and suitable for interaction, but she felt that the person might be kind to an excessive degree.
For business dealings that might be fine, but as a friend or long-term partner, there was a risk of being dragged down by that excessive kindness.
Of course, this conclusion from “One Two Three Four Five” was also based on incomplete information, since they didn’t know the full situation.
Lu Yuelan also had her own concerns. From her repeated observations in the channel, the “Officially Certified by the State” person consistently presented a positive and upright image. She couldn’t yet tell whether they were genuinely a good person or not, but they did seem overly kind.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t casually lend medicine to a complete stranger like “Watch Me Punch the Bull From Afar,” and even allow installment payments without demanding full upfront payment.
To avoid other people developing too strong or biased impressions, whether overly positive or otherwise, Lu Yuelan decided to communicate directly with the person herself. Relying on hearsay alone from either side was not good; she needed to find a reliable guardian-type contact for the child.
If not for the fact that Lu Yuelan herself was weak in combat and practically useless in ability, she would have preferred to personally take care of the child, the cute little boy who reminded her of her own nephew.