Li Zhiyu and the others stood in place, watching Ji Mian and Chu Shiye walk away. During their stroll, Ji Mian occasionally turned his face to Chu Shiye, who immediately lowered his head to speak with him.
Out of nowhere, Li Zhiyu remarked, “Do you think Ji Mian would actually stay with us?”
Parker replied, “Didn’t they say he’s already broken ties with his family? That family sounds like trash. If it were me, I’d have left too.”
Li Zhiyu added, “Even if he’s estranged from his family, can we be sure he’d stand on our side? I wonder if our boss’s ‘beauty trap’ will work on him.”
Linda chimed in, “Honestly, I think Ji Mian’s ‘beauty trap’ might be even more effective. Who knows, maybe it’s our boss who’ll get snatched away.”
The three fell into silence, each lost in their thoughts.
—
Meanwhile, Ji Mian held onto Chu Shiye’s hand as they wandered aimlessly through the ship.
After a while, Chu Shiye quietly asked, “Are you feeling unwell? Do you want to rest?”
Ji Mian shook his head. A moment later, he spoke calmly, “We’ve already crossed the border into the Empire, haven’t we?”
The Federation and the Empire, once bitter adversaries, had reached a truce decades ago. They now existed in a state of neutral coexistence, neither interfering with the other.
Chu Shiye’s steps faltered slightly.
Ji Mian continued in an even tone, “Why didn’t you tell me? Was it your plan all along to take me to the Empire?”
Chu Shiye froze.
His first instinct was panic. Did Ah Mian figure everything out? Would he be angry?
Tension crept into Chu Shiye’s features. But to his surprise, Ji Mian didn’t seem upset. Instead, he moved closer, pulling Chu Shiye into an embrace.
“The Federation is still chasing us,” Chu Shiye said softly. “I didn’t want them to take you back—or force you into a marriage with someone else.”
Ji Mian replied, “Hmm, that’s one reason.”
He tilted his head slightly, a knowing look in his eyes. “The people who saved you, they’re from the Empire, aren’t they?”
Chu Shiye stiffened again.
Ji Mian continued, “And I’m guessing that after they saved you, you found out something about your past. Maybe… your parents are from the Empire?”
Chu Shiye remained silent.
From what Kane had shared about Chu Shiye’s past, Ji Mian had already speculated that his abandonment could have ties either to the Federation’s Seventh System or to the Empire beyond it.
Now, as Ji Mian’s words landed squarely on the truth, Chu Shiye had no response.
Ah Mian is so clever.
…How does he always know everything?
Chu Shiye glanced at Ji Mian’s face, only to find his expression calm and composed. Ji Mian spoke again, his voice steady. “You came to the Empire because you thought I’d be safer here, didn’t you?”
Chu Shiye immediately nodded.
That was indeed his reasoning.
Ji Mian asked, “Do you plan to join the Empire?”
Chu Shiye shook his head without hesitation.
“The man who raised me lived in the Federation. That’s where I grew up,” he said. “Besides…”
His voice trailed off as memories surfaced. The family in the Empire who had saved him was kind enough, but their desire to “protect” him was suffocating. They wanted to keep him confined to their estate under the guise of safety.
He couldn’t accept that.
“I want to stay here for now, at least until the trouble blows over,” Chu Shiye continued. “After that, I’ll join the Mercenary Guild with you. Wherever you want to go, I’ll follow.”
Ji Mian replied, “You know, if you really wanted to stay here, I’d be willing to stay with you.”
Chu Shiye looked at him in surprise. “I thought… you wouldn’t like the Empire.”
That had been the reason he’d avoided telling Ji Mian.
Ji Mian chuckled softly. “I’ve been here a few times before. I don’t have a bad impression of this place.”
Besides, the Federation… wasn’t his home anymore.
Chu Shiye mulled it over but ultimately shook his head. “If I had to settle down somewhere, I’d prefer the Seventh System.”
The Seventh System, and specifically the small E-13 planet, held a special place in his heart. To him, it felt like home.
Ji Mian didn’t object. He gently swayed Chu Shiye’s hand as they walked. “When everything’s over, let’s go back to E-13 and visit.”
They couldn’t return just yet. The troubles chasing them needed to be dealt with first; going back now would only bring danger to the small planet.
Chu Shiye replied softly, “Okay.”
—
After touring the spaceship, the two of them retraced their steps. Ji Mian asked, “Did you meet your family?”
Chu Shiye: “Maybe, if they weren’t lying to me.”
Hearing his tone, Ji Mian asked, “What’s wrong? Are they difficult to get along with?”
Chu Shiye was silent for a few seconds before replying, “A little.”
Ji Mian hummed thoughtfully. “Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, I won’t let them bully you.”
A faint smile appeared in Chu Shiye’s eyes. “Okay.”
The two returned to their room, where the white snake lay by the bed, a beautiful Morpho butterfly resting on its head. The butterfly’s silver-thread-like antennae drooped lazily, looking drowsy.
The white snake’s dark golden eyes stared unblinkingly at the sleepy little butterfly, its tail wagging happily.
Chu Shiye glanced at their two spirit companions, then at Ji Mian.
Ji Mian blinked at him. “Do you have something you want to say to me?”
Chu Shiye: “…Yes.”
He gently took Ji Mian’s hand, and the two sat down by the bed.
Chu Shiye stared at Ji Mian without blinking, feeling inexplicably nervous.
Ji Mian didn’t speak, just quietly gazed back at him.
*Ah Mian is waiting for me.*
This thought popped into Chu Shiye’s mind.
*Ah Mian has been waiting for me.*
This thought, along with Ji Mian’s gaze, gave Chu Shiye immense courage. He tightened his grip on Ji Mian’s hand and softly began, “I—”
*Beep—*
A sharp alarm shattered the calm air, and red lights flooded the entire spaceship. Linda’s voice came through the broadcast: “Boss! Bad news! We’ve been surrounded by a fleet out of nowhere!”
Ji Mian: “…”
Chu Shiye: “……”
Linda continued, “Ah! The lead ship has a family crest… it looks like the Berlon family!”
Chu Shiye’s brow furrowed.
Ji Mian had heard of the Berlon family—one of the oldest families in the Empire, existing even before the current Empire was established.
That family had come to pick up Chu Shiye.
So, this Alpha was from the Berlon family.
Ji Mian’s expression remained unchanged. “They probably came prepared. Since we can’t avoid it, let’s go see what they want.”
He wasn’t surprised, just a little regretful.
He still hadn’t heard what this Alpha wanted to say.
Ji Mian stood up, pulling Chu Shiye with him, but Chu Shiye suddenly grabbed his arm and said, “Ah Mian.”
Ji Mian: “Hmm?”
Chu Shiye: “I like you.”
Ji Mian: “…”
Ji Mian: “…Oh.”
Chu Shiye fell silent.
Why was that the reaction?
Was Ah Mian not happy?
The alarms blared, and red lights flashed in the corridor. Ji Mian noticed Chu Shiye’s expression and blinked. “I just think… this setting doesn’t really match.”
Chu Shiye instantly wilted.
If only he had said it earlier.
He should have said it sooner, back on Planet E-13…
Ji Mian hooked his finger around Chu Shiye’s, a slight smile on his lips. “Let’s go meet your family.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
He stood still, unmoving.
Why hadn’t Ah Mian responded to what he just said?
Did Ah Mian not want to accept him?
…Did Ah Mian not like him?
It felt like a bucket of icy water had been dumped over his head in the middle of winter, the cold piercing his bones and freezing his limbs.
Chu Shiye didn’t move. Ji Mian turned back to look at this Alpha.
Chu Shiye gazed at him pitifully, sad and a little aggrieved.
Was he really not going to accept it?
Ji Mian: *Oh dear.*
Alright, this was a clueless Alpha. He needed to spell things out clearly for him to understand.
So, Ji Mian leaned in and planted a kiss on Chu Shiye’s cheek.
Chu Shiye: “!!!”
A warm sensation touched his face—it was Ji Mian.
Ah Mian kissed him.
Ah Mian… to him…
Ji Mian’s eyes curved into a smile. “Are we going or not?”
Chu Shiye: “…”
Chu Shiye felt like he was in a dream. Ji Mian tugged at his sleeve.
Chu Shiye immediately wrapped his arms around Ji Mian, refusing to let go.
Ji Mian: “…”
Oh no, he’s overjoyed to the point of being silly.
Not looking very bright right now.
Ji Mian tugged at Chu Shiye’s sleeve again.
Chu Shiye stayed silent, just holding on tighter.
Ji Mian: “……”
Alright then.
With no other choice, Ji Mian dragged the dazed Alpha along, step by step, inch by inch, until they slowly made their way forward.
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