The Strongest Brain in the Interstellar

“How did you figure it out?” Well, of course she had figured it out, but explaining how was tricky. She just… knew. But saying it out loud would probably be hard for anyone to believe. In the end, Jiang Hui could only laugh it off and say she just had a feeling. After all, feelings are hard to explain, and no one could really keep questioning that.

Nie Erqi fell silent for a moment; it was hard to tell if he believed her or not. Jiang Hui, unsure of what else to say, stood there quietly, almost as if she’d gone mute.

After a while, Nie Erqi seemed to snap out of his thoughts, and with a slightly puzzled look, he asked, “Do you have any other questions?”

Uh… well, yes, there was something. But the person she was waiting for still hadn’t found the time to come over. Jiang Hui’s gaze drifted toward someone nearby who had just finished up some trivial tasks and was now looking back at them.

“She’s here to see me,” Stark said, glancing briefly at the two who had been chatting for a while. A barely noticeable hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.

Nie Erqi: ?!!!

“Alright, let’s go.” Stark interjected into the slightly awkward conversation, though it was unclear to whom he was speaking.

Before Nie Erqi could respond instinctively, the girl nodded, agreeing, and naturally followed Stark.

As he watched them leave together without a second thought, Nie Erqi suddenly realized he’d been left behind. Wait, so that kid came here looking for Stark from the start…? Had he totally misread the situation?

Though he wanted to play it cool and just turn away, his curiosity got the better of him. Unable to hold himself back, he found his feet taking him after them without quite knowing why.

Why did he even follow them? Was it just to clear up his own misunderstanding? Though a bit embarrassing, he had at least uncovered some amusing information.

Seated behind Jiang Hui in the aircraft, he turned slightly to look at her, obediently seated behind him, and said, “I thought you looked vaguely familiar. So you’re Captain Jiang’s kid.”

Jiang Hui: ???

When her parents had sacrificed their lives, she was old enough to understand some things, but there hadn’t been much they’d shared about their military lives. Perhaps they’d planned to teach her more when she was older, but their passing had been too sudden.

If the original Jiang Hui hadn’t known about certain relationships her parents had, then this Jiang Hui knew even less. Stark, for example, was only someone she’d identified by comparing his face to keepsakes her father had left behind.

This guy… he must be another acquaintance of her parents.

“You’re all grown up now. Not quite what I imagined…”

He looked her over for a moment, then seemed to drift off, as though his mind was elsewhere, despite his gaze resting on her.

Stark, overhearing, glanced back at the two in the back seat and said to Jiang Hui, “Ignore this guy. All these years, and he still hasn’t learned to keep his mouth shut, rambling nonsense. What does it matter if she resembles someone or not? Jiang Hui is Jiang Hui, and Jiang Yilin was Jiang Yilin. They’re their own people, so why bring it up?”

“Don’t forget, you’re supposed to be setting an example now. Show some respect in front of the kid. If Captain Jiang were here, you wouldn’t walk away from this unscathed.”

Upon hearing this, Nie Erqi froze, clearly struck by something that made him instantly more compliant.

Jiang Hui glanced at him with curiosity—it was her turn to be intrigued now. He seemed to have had some connection with her mother, and not just a superficial one. Could they have been friends?

Though they were technically the “original” Jiang Hui’s parents, Jiang Hui, who had inherited this body, considered them her parents too. She was genuinely curious about these two people whom she’d never truly met but could sense, from scattered memories, deeply loved their child.

Her father’s image was easier to piece together. He had been someone who drew a clear line between work and family, a “silly dad” figure in his daughter’s eyes.

In her memories, he was rarely home but always cheerful, almost like a big kid. He loved taking her out to all kinds of fun places and indulging her with gifts. From his behavior, it was easy to tell he had enjoyed a carefree childhood, typical of someone from a wealthy family.

Yet, when Jiang Hui looked through the records he left behind, she found glimpses of a father her younger self had never known. These thin pages revealed a confident, steady, and powerful soldier with a strong sense of justice and a fearlessness that stood out. Even through the faint text, his dedication to country, family, and kin was palpable.

Her mother’s image was more complex. In her younger self’s memories, her mother came across as cold, strict, and somewhat distant, even intimidating.

But despite this, it was undeniable that Jiang Hui had felt a deeply hidden love from her mother, something that set her apart from others. It was an absolute favoritism, a primal love that all mothers instinctively have for their children.

The original Jiang Hui had always wanted to get closer to her mother but felt a bit too intimidated to be too bold. Deep down, however, she admired her powerful mother immensely.

It was hard to imagine that such a proud and distant figure could have a lively friend like this. Well, maybe not exactly a friend… but given the familiar tone in his voice, Jiang Hui decided to assume as much.

Though her thoughtful expression wasn’t too obvious, the curiosity on her face was clear. Stark immediately sensed what she was wondering, but he chose not to explain further; otherwise, the currently relaxed atmosphere might quickly turn awkward.

That famous “flower of the military” had always preferred to be on her own, keeping others at arm’s length. Even her relationship with Jiang Hui’s father had been one-sided at first, with him pursuing her for ages before they eventually ended up together. So, where would she have found the time for any friends?

Nie Erqi did, in fact, know Jiang Yilin quite well—but in a one-sided way. Back in the day, he’d been one of the “admirers” of this aloof beauty.

Though he’d ultimately failed, he’d been so persistent that, over time, she got used to his presence, almost recognizing him on sight.

But now that Jiang Yilin was gone, it would hardly be appropriate to introduce himself to her daughter as “your mother’s former admirer,” right? It was probably better to let the kid assume he’d been her mother’s friend.

Stark glanced back at the flight path and sighed, regretting that he’d allowed Nie Erqi to tag along. Now that he knew Jiang Hui’s identity, perhaps he could offer her more connections in the future, but it also felt like they’d gained a new headache—not just for Stark, but potentially for Jiang Hui as well.