The day the Star Exam results were announced, Lin Ye sat beside his mother in the hospital, watching the holographic screen of her medical pod flicker with green data. Lin Shufen's complexion was rosier than last week—a "special medical quota" granted to prodigies by the Federation, a privilege for young talents.
"Xiao Ye, come here," his mother said, taking his hand. Her thumb brushed the watch on his wrist. "This watch… has it been acting strange lately?"
Lin Ye froze. Last night, when he'd synced with the Xingqiong, he'd noticed an extra blue light in the chest's energy core—synchronization rate now 30%. Stranger still, when he focused, fragments of images flashed through his mind: a shattered starship, a silver-haired warrior, a plaque engraved with *Guardian of the Galaxy*.
"Nothing, Mom," he said, forcing a smile as he tucked the watch into his sleeve. "The doctor said you'll be discharged next week."
His phone buzzed. A holographic projection unfolded in the room, emblazoned with the Federal Mecha Academy's golden crest: *"Congratulations, Lin Ye. With a Star Exam score of 987/1000, you've topped the 2077 Freshman Class. Report to Academy Headquarters in three days."*
Lin Shufen's eyes welled. "I knew… I knew my son…"
The door slammed open. Chen Mo stood in the doorway, flanked by two black-suited bodyguards. One held a silver briefcase; its metal clink echoed sharply. He dangled the case. "Lin Ye, you think acing that exam means you've turned the tables?"
"Chen Shao here to congratulate me?" Lin Ye helped his mother sit up, voice steady.
"Congratulate?" Chen Mo scoffed. "Do you know the Academy's admission list is reviewed by the Family Council? A nobody like you—even with a top score—"
*Click.*
The briefcase opened. Lin Ye's breath hitched. Inside lay a watch—identical to his: dark silver case, star pattern engravings, even the same edge wear.
"The Chen family's 'Twin Watch,'" Chen Mo said, tracing the star pattern. "Two centuries ago, my ancestor used it to summon the Xingqiong and Dark Hawk. Three days ago, my father found the second one in the old vault. And you…" He jabbed a finger at Lin Ye's wrist. "Stole yours."
Lin Ye's heart raced. He remembered the crumpled note under the rag in the junkyard: *"Twin as guide, Xingqiong returns."* He'd tossed it in his pocket, thinking it trash.
"So?" he challenged. "You're calling me a thief?"
"No." Chen Mo powered on the watch. The screen flared with the same star chart as the Xingqiong's sync interface. "I'm making a deal. Give me the watch, and I'll get your mother into the Federation's top medical center—lifetime care. Otherwise…" He pressed a button. The room's lights died; emergency red flooded the space, and the bodyguards' mechanical limbs glowed an eerie blue—the Chen family's "stellar core" drive mark.
Lin Ye's temples throbbed. The Xingqiong's power surged through him; synchronization rate spiked to 40%. The mecha's hologram materialized, particle beam cannon charging with a hum.
"Don't be rash!" Lin Shufen grabbed his wrist. "Xiao Ye, you promised me—you'll be good…"
Her voice cut through the haze like ice water. Lin Ye looked at Chen Mo's smug grin, then laughed. "Chen Shao, you know why the Xingqiong only shows 10% power?"
Chen Mo's face paled.
"Because it's waiting for its true master," Lin Ye said, removing the watch and laying it palm-up. "And that master is me."
He closed his eyes. The Xingqiong's power flooded his body. When he opened them, his pupils glowed with starlight. Chen Mo's bodyguards lunged—but invisible force hurled them into the wall. Chen Mo's watch vibrated wildly, blaring an alarm—the Twin Watches were resonating.
"What… what did you do?" Chen Mo staggered back.
"I just made the watches recognize their owner," Lin Ye said, tossing his watch into the air. The two timepieces collided, exploding in a blinding white light. "Now, say your last words."
The light faded. Chen Mo collapsed, his watch shattered to dust. Lin Ye picked up his own, noting a new crack across the dial—damage from the resonance.
"Lin Ye!"
The door burst open. Old Man Zhou barreled in, gasping, holding a tablet. "Look!" He thrust it forward. "The Academy called—they've canceled your admission!"
Lin Ye took the tablet. The screen read: *"Admission revoked due to suspected illegal acquisition of family heirlooms."* The seal: *Federation Mecha Association*, stamped with the Chen family's crest.
"I knew the Chens wouldn't let it go," Old Man Zhou growled, punching the wall. His mechanical fist sparked. "Back then, I worked on the Xingqiong project. They framed us as traitors to bury the truth…"
"The truth?" Lin Ye gripped his wrist. "Grandpa Zhou, who *are* you?"
Old Man Zhou took a deep breath, unbuttoning his collar. Below his collarbone glowed a pale blue star mark—identical to the one on Lin Ye's hand.
"I was the lead engineer at the Federation Mecha Research Center," he said, voice hoarse. "Twenty years ago, the Xingqiong found alien ruins beyond the galaxy. We brought back its core energy—but the Chens and their allies called us traitors. I lost my license. They erased me…"
Lin Ye's mind reeled. He thought of his mother's stories of his father "on a space mission," of the fuzzy photo he'd seen as a kid—a man in engineer's gear holding a baby by a starship. That man's profile… looked just like Old Man Zhou.
"So the Xingqiong was… *your* project? Not my father's?"
"No." Old Man Zhou shook his head. "The Xingqiong was *his* creation. Lin Yuan—your father—was the Federation's youngest mecha prodigy. He vanished during a mission twenty years ago. This watch… he left it for you."
Lin Ye's hands trembled. Now he understood: why the Xingqiong's eyes had glowed gold during their first sync—the genetic mark of his father.
*"Ding—"*
His phone buzzed again. A new message: *"Lin Ye, Professor's Office invites you for a private meeting. Address: Academy Bldg 307."*
Sender: *Guardians Alliance*.