That evening, Jiang Qin asked Zhan Xiao to help her upload her novel, as usual.

His expression faltered for a moment before he took it. "Come to think of it," he asked in a level voice, "I still don’t know what planet you were from before."

"Just an ordinary citizen from a First-class Planet."

"Then... how many partners do you have?"

"Six and a half."

"Half?"

Jiang Qin explained, "Six are ones I’m already married to. The ’half’ is a prospect."

Zhan Xiao nodded and said no more. After all, for an S-level female to have so few partners was already somewhat surprising to him.

But the small number also implied that these six and a half men must hold some weight in her heart.

Females who took a dozen, or even dozens, of partners at once probably couldn’t even remember all their males’ names.

’No wonder...’

After uploading the novel, Zhan Xiao read through it as usual.

The content of today’s Chapters was mostly about the differences between the two young masters.

The fake young master had received an aristocratic education in a wealthy family. Whether in character, ability, or emotional intelligence, he was a standout among his peers and already had the makings of a leader who could stand on his own.

The real young master, however, could only risk his life, fighting and struggling, whenever he faced a problem.

Success meant being battered and bruised; failure meant plunging into an endless abyss.

Although many people admired the real young master, a wildflower growing on a cliffside, what would his family think?

Jiang Qin put herself in their shoes. ’If it were my child, I’d rather he be a delicate flower in a greenhouse than a wildflower on a cliff, battered by wind and rain.’

Because she herself had always been just a weed.

She never felt it was bitter, tiring, or even painful.

But if her child had to walk the same path she had, she would be heartbroken.

’So if possible, I hope my child can be like the fake young master.’

’To grow into an adult amid luxury and doting parents.’

This was also her overt scheme.

Just as Zhan Xiao had thought, she was a veteran in the game of love. She could distinguish affection from genuine romantic feeling.

A crack had already formed in Zhan Xiao’s heart for her, and now she wanted to widen it.

And though he was clearly aware of her objective, he still read the novels she wrote with great attention.

...

Some members of the Golden Sand Gang also saw the hidden meaning.

Because readers naturally empathize with the protagonist’s perspective.

So when they felt for the protagonist, they couldn’t help but connect it to reality, especially since Jiang Qin was often seen walking around the city.

Everyone placed great hope in the cub in her womb.

If her cub wasn’t going to be the Gang Leader’s cub, they would have all volunteered to be its godfather.

Unfortunately, this was the Gang Leader’s cub. They wouldn’t dare covet it.

Inside the gang’s tavern.

Someone asked in a low voice, "Have you guys been reading the novel the Gang Leader’s wife is writing?"

"Of course we have. Our Light Computers can only log into a few apps. It’s rare to get a novel on the internal network, so it’s a good way to pass the time."

They were afraid that outsiders could use their Light Computers to locate the Golden Sand Gang’s hideout.

So, the Light Computers used by the Golden Sand Gang members were all made by scientists on the Dark Web. They could only use a specific network domain and log into the few apps created by those same scientists.

Their daily lives were pretty boring. If they wanted to watch or read something for entertainment, they could only buy file packages on the apps.

These file packages contained pre-selected entertainment works from the Star Network, which they could download after purchase.

But the contents were entirely decided by the person selling the package.

Some of the content was even repetitive, and sometimes included works from decades ago.

So, a novel with a plot like the "real and fake young master" was something they had truly never heard of before.

Especially since the two male leads became rivals at a military academy.

One was the leader of the students from wealthy families, the other was the leader of the students from humble backgrounds.

Every clash between the two groups was so thrilling.

As a group of Star Thieves, their favorite was, of course, the real young master who had been cast into the slums. They both admired and pitied him.

Their pity reached its peak, especially when the two young masters, as if by fate, fell in love with the same female.

"Who do you think Miss Jiaojiao will choose in the end?"

"Probably Young Master Fu. After all, wealthy families care about marrying into equal social standing, and they also prioritize the passing on of noble Genes.

"Haven’t you seen how those High-level females from poor backgrounds get ostracized by the naturally high-born, High-level females, even after they enter elite circles?

"So, in their eyes, both background and talent are indispensable."

Hearing this, many of them were reminded of their own childhoods.

"Speaking of which, it seems we went through days like that when we were young, too."

"Yeah. Before I became a Star Thief, I went with my father to a big city to turn in a mission. I’ll never forget the way those kids in their fancy clothes looked at me."

Their gazes held pity, contempt, disgust, and also curiosity.

It was as if they’d never seen a child in such tattered clothes, looking so dirty.

He was just an ordinary B-level Beastman male, born in the slums. Of course he had never worn a stylish Combat Suit like theirs.

The embarrassment and inferiority he felt at that moment were still fresh in his mind, even after thirty years.

"Maybe I’m just petty, but after that, I never wanted to go into the city again. I just stuck with my father, roughing it in the wilds.

"Later, I joined the boss’s gang, and I’ve been living like this ever since."

"Isn’t that true for all of us? If we could’ve survived out there, who would want to be a Star Thief?"

"But even though we had no choice, I still wouldn’t join one of those gangs that murders, commits arson, and does all sorts of evil."

"Our gang is pretty good. We only take jobs finding materials or doing escort missions. We don’t do things like trafficking, murder, arson, or hijacking ships."

"But... no matter how you put it, aren’t we still Star Thieves?"

Everyone fell silent again. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

After a long while, someone said, "I heard the Gang Leader’s wife’s cub has very high talent. It needs Special Level Nutrient Liquid every day just to be sustained."

"Yeah. If they were born on a High-level Planet, they would grow up to be an Admiral at the very least, right?"

"Maybe it’ll be a little lady, you never know."

"If it’s a little lady, she should be living in a large manor with dozens of servants, and have male cubs from all the major factions as playmates, right?"

But if they were born in a Star Thief den, when they grew up, they’d just be a wanted criminal.

A male would become part of a Star Thief Gang.

A female might be pacified and recruited by the authorities, exchanging some token placatory work for citizenship.

And she’d have to accept all the undesirable rejects the major powers force on her.

CRASH—

Thinking of this, one of the males crushed his glass in anger.

"No way! I will absolutely not let anyone bully the Gang Leader’s cub!!"

"That’s right! Not unless they step over my dead body!"