Extra 4

A Little Extra of the Ke-Bian Family, Ten Years Later

“Heaven and earth are vast, the universe boundless. And at the center of this world is you, no matter where you are.”

The one or two-year-old little young master Ke loved being pulled into his father’s arms. It was like they were dancing the tango in their spacious living room, spinning and moving around. The bigger the movement, the more excited the little one became. When Bian Yiqiu pretended to throw him, he would scream and laugh, swinging his little arms and nervously clutching his father’s sleeve without letting go.

Bian Yiqiu pulled him back into his arms, rubbing his chin against the soft little face, teasing him on purpose.

“Little mouse, you’re too scared, no more playing.”

Little Young Master Ke blinked his eyes, just like his father’s, big and beautiful, drooling as he tried to act cute.

“Play, I want to play, Daddy, play!”

Ten years later, the tall and graceful young boy was fiddling with the camera lens in his hands, accusing his father sitting across from him in a playful way.

“You get to play whenever you want, and don’t even worry about giving me a concussion,” Bian Yiqiu chuckled, casually flopping onto the soft bed. His long legs crossed in a way that seemed to almost make the VIP cabin too small for his tall frame.

“If it weren’t for the genius training I gave you since you were little, you’d probably be in Ushuaia with your dad right now, waving a little handkerchief and wiping away tears.”

Ke Yichen furrowed his brows, coolly replying, “The night before we boarded the ship, I think I heard something outside your room…”

“Hey!” Bian Yiqiu immediately straightened up, “What kind of kid eavesdrops on walls all the time? Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Ke Yīchen lifted his chin, his mouth tight, and a serious expression, much like Ke Míngxuan’s, appeared on his face: “You clearly told me to go get the itinerary and tickets for you. It’s not easy for a minor to handle such things, you know.”

“Uh…” Bian Yìqiu scratched his nose, quickly changing the subject, “At just ten years old, being able to take your old man on a long trip isn’t something just anyone can do, huh, young Mr. Ke.”

Ke Yīchen gave him a sideways glance, snorted through his nose, and was about to say something when the ship suddenly swayed. The camera in his hand nearly slipped out.

Bian Yìqiu shouted, “Here it comes!” and threw himself toward the window. A towering wave of deep blue and black was rushing straight at them! The intercom immediately crackled, repeating in both English and Spanish, “The storm is here!”

Most things in the cabin were firmly secured to the walls and floor, except for the father and son, who were now tossed around like meatballs.

Ke Yīchen had originally kept his lips tightly pressed together to resist the intense dizziness, but his face slowly turned pale. Bian Yìqiu, on the other hand, seemed unaffected, though he couldn’t help but lament the wine that had spilled out of the cup holder on the wall—half a glass was now completely lost. The entire cabin tilted almost 70 degrees before suddenly lurching to the other side.

“Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit—” Bian Yìqiu muttered under his breath. This was more thrilling than the highest setting on a pirate ship. The sound of the storm slamming against the hull, muffled just by a window, roared like a devil’s growl, and the world outside turned pitch black!

The ship tilted uncontrollably once again, and Ke Yīchen vomited loudly.

Bian Yìqiu was quick to react, grabbing a vomit bag and catching most of it. He quickly tightened the bag with one hand, then scooped his half-grown son into his arms, gently patting his back while pulling out a few wet wipes to hand to him.

Ke Yīchen was panting heavily, gritting his teeth as he gripped the handrail tightly.

“Old man…”

“I’m here,” Bian Yìqiu replied, holding Ke Yīchen tightly in his arms. With his other hand, he braced himself against the wall, using the bed and his body to create a relatively stable space.

Ke Yīchen tilted his head back and forced a smile.

“It was so thrilling.”

Bian Yìqiū couldn’t help but laugh, and after a moment, he lowered his head and kissed his forehead.

As they passed through the Drake Passage, the sky suddenly cleared.

The sea surface was as calm as a mirror, and the cruise ship glided across a vast expanse of dark blue silk. In the distance, the white horizon slowly became clear, revealing an endless stretch of glaciers.

Bian Yìqiu stood on the deck, taking deep breaths. The cold air filled his lungs, sharp and clean, almost painfully so. He gazed for a long time at the undulating snowline, watching as it drew closer, revealing the curves carved over hundreds of thousands of years.

Ke Yīchen slowly stepped out of the cabin without a word. Bian Yìqiu reached back with his hand, pulling his son’s head and neck gently into his embrace.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

Kè Yīchen nodded.

Bian Yìqiu smiled. “You brought your old man here.”

Ke Yīchen didn’t say anything but wrapped his arm around Bian Yìqiu’s waist.

After a moment, Bian Yiqiu suddenly spoke.“What did you hear outside the door?”

Ke Yīchen froze for a moment, then honestly confessed. “There wasn’t anything inappropriate.”

Without a word, Bian Yìqiu gave him a light smack on the head.

“Tell me.”

“Dad told you to eat well, dress warmly, and not to sneak up on the penguins!”

Bian Yiqiu silently rolled his eyes. “Does your dad think I’m three years old?”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

Ke Yīchen, looking like a miniature version of Ke Míngxuan, said seriously as he looked at his father.

Bian Yiqiu chuckled, pinched the kid’s cheek, and turned to answer the satellite phone.

“Mr. Ke, I’m thinking of catching a penguin to bring back.”

“…” Ke Míngxuan shuddered at the cold joke.

“It wasn’t as cold as I imagined, but the storm was definitely thrilling. If you were here, you’d probably be able to vomit from 1.85 meters down to just 0.85.”

“Are you happy?” Ke Míngxuan pretended not to hear the strange comparison, his voice gentle, transmitted through the receiver, converted into a digital signal, relayed from a satellite high above, and projected to the ship in the vast Antarctic seas—his two most cherished people.

Bian Yiqiu paused for a moment, his gaze distant as if lost in another world. The snow-covered wilderness stretched out before him, with a massive glacier blocking the horizon, and the sea lay still, as smooth as silk.

“The world is so vast, and I don’t know where the end is,”

Ke Míngxuan smiled silently, his eyes narrowing slightly. “It’s here, with me.”

Bian Yǐqiu couldn’t help but laugh. “Is there a penguin?”

“The universe is boundless, and its center is you, no matter where you are.”

“…What are you saying?” Bian Yiqiu didn’t quite understand.

Ke Míngxuan laughed heartily. In the southernmost city of the world, he poured himself a glass of wine, basking in sunlight that shone like gold. He raised his glass toward the sea, in the distance.

“When you come back, my precious one, I’ll tell you everything.”

-END-

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TN

Dear beloved reader,

Thank you so much for staying with me and reading this story all the way to the end. Your support has meant the world to me, and I truly appreciate every moment you’ve spent following the journey.
I’m deeply grateful for your patience, encouragement, and presence throughout the series. It’s been an incredible experience sharing this story with you.
I also want to sincerely apologize if there were any mistakes or awkward parts in the translation. I’ve done my best, but I know it may not be perfect. I welcome any feedback or comments you may have. They help me grow and improve.

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart.

Love ya!