Nathan Lockwood walked down the corridor toward his room. As he approached the main hall, he caught a glimpse of three silent figures.

His arrival was enough to make them look up.

It was impossible to ignore Nathan Lockwood’s conspicuous presence.

Nathan Lockwood offered no explanation. He simply walked straight back to his own room, leaving them to their own imaginations.

’He could tell what they were thinking, of course. They were waiting for him to emerge so they could confirm how long he’d stayed in her room. If they want to wait, then let them wait.’

In the bathroom, a stream of hot water cascaded over his head. The man’s pale skin, soaked by the heat, flushed a light shade of red.

The red mole in the webbing of his thumb stood out starkly as the water rushed over it.

He closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting to Zoe Pierce’s expression.

His lean, fair muscles tensed as he pressed a palm against the specially made metal wall.

The stark temperature difference between the ice-cold wall and his steaming body was palpable.

Thick steam filled the entire bathroom. A single drop of water traced a path down his handsome cheek. His eyes were half-lidded, his gaze unfocused as he stared blankly ahead.

Nathan Lockwood chuckled softly.

*

「The next day.」

Officers from the Federation Police arrived on Planet F187.

Their arrival was a massive, overwhelming force, their ships nearly blacking out the sky.

The inhabitants of Planet F187 had never seen such a spectacle. The officials surrounded Zoe Pierce’s Starship, filling every inch of available space.

When Zoe Pierce woke up, she saw a message from Nathan Lockwood.

He’d asked her to let him know when she was awake.

The memory of their intimacy in her room last night was still vivid. Zoe Pierce licked her slightly dry lips and sent him a simple "1."

’I don’t know what else to say. If Nathan doesn’t get it, so be it.’

She got up to wash.

Just as she was about to tie up her hair, she heard a knock at the door.

Zoe Pierce guessed it was probably Nathan. She let go of her hair and opened the door.

Sure enough.

The man was dressed in the academy’s standard-issue training uniform, holding a wooden tray laden with food.

He had only entered her room for the first time last night, yet today he was already coming and going as if he owned the place.

Placing the tray on the table, Nathan Lockwood looked at her. "I brought you some breakfast."

Zoe Pierce finished tying her hair back into a neat ponytail, revealing her porcelain-white face.

She sat at the table and looked at the lavish breakfast spread, a stark contrast to the meals of the past few days. She looked up and asked, "Where did you get this?"

Zoe Pierce didn’t think food like this could be found on Planet F187.

Nathan Lockwood rested his chin on his hand, watching her take small bites. "The police are here," he said. "After you finish eating, you’ll probably have to do an interview."

An interview?

Zoe Pierce looked up completely, her expression full of confusion as she stared at Nathan Lockwood.

"The media came with the police. They’re here to report on the kidnapping and interview us."

The kidnapping report was just a pretext; the real reason they were here was to interview them.

Nathan Lockwood could see the disgust on the reporters’ faces when they arrived on Gorbog.

"Erin Xavier should be doing her interview now, and then there’s Chase Shaw. No rush." Nathan said nonchalantly. "They’ll just ask us questions like whether we’re confident about the upcoming training and how we’re preparing."

"And they’ll probably commend us for saving that family."

Zoe Pierce didn’t eat much. She wasn’t very hungry.

Her gaze drifted to the window. "What will happen to Planet F187?"

Nathan Lockwood answered, "They’re hunting down Leon Grove and his men. It shouldn’t take long." The incident’s impact was too widespread to be covered up now.

"However, if you want to save them, Zoe, you could think about what you want to say to the media." Nathan Lockwood knew she wasn’t talking about Leon Grove’s men. She had seen the other children on Gorbog—the ones around the same age as Ian Sullivan and his friends.

They had hidden fearfully behind sharp-tongued, radical adults, or trembled alongside their own terrified, cowering parents.

Zoe Pierce turned her head.

She watched Nathan Lockwood, who was sitting in his chair and smiling at her. "Want to know what to say?"

From the look on his face, she knew he wouldn’t tell her that easily.

When it came to things like this, Nathan Lockwood always knew best.

After a few seconds of silence, Zoe Pierce gave a reluctant nod.

Nathan Lockwood’s voice was laced with obvious delight. "Zoe, come here."

Zoe Pierce knew it.

Before she even reached him, she saw him open his arms, clearly intending to pull her into an embrace.

"Zoe, give me a kiss, and I’ll tell you everything. How about it?"

’See? Give him an inch, and he’d take a mile.’

His usually calm and composed face was now wreathed in a smile as he watched her.

He’d been like this since last night.

All smiles and overflowing with emotion.

As if he were truly, as they say, satisfied and happy.

Zoe Pierce lowered her head. Just as Nathan Lockwood thought he was about to taste her soft lips again, he felt a warm touch on his forehead instead.

She had kissed his forehead.

’Sly.’

Nathan Lockwood narrowed his eyes, but Zoe Pierce had already said, "Now, talk."

’No need to rush.’ A flicker of emotion flashed in his eyes before he said, "As long as you show compassion for these children, countless people will rally to support their future."

He pulled Zoe Pierce onto his lap, his fingers curling around her slender waist. "Zoe, don’t underestimate your own influence."

"After reviving the Pierce Family from the brink of collapse in just two months, you’ve already become a major person of interest."

"This is a good thing. The media will be desperate to promote your positive image. You say a little, they’ll report a lot, and leave the rest for the public to imagine."

Nathan Lockwood continued, "The media has always been a double-edged sword. Right now, you’ve got the wind at your back. No one will dare to oppose you; they’ll only follow your lead."

But the moment Zoe Pierce failed, she would be met with an overwhelming flood of doubt and slander.

Zoe Pierce had already experienced that after her last livestream.

"The media here doesn’t have the backing of the outlets on the Capital Star. We’ll record the entire interview and keep a copy of the manuscript, so don’t worry." To put it bluntly, they weren’t powerful enough to try anything shady.

Zoe Pierce understood.

However...

"How long are you going to hold me?"

Nathan Lockwood rested his head on her shoulder. "Getting tired of me already?"

"I haven’t had my fill yet. Once we go outside, I’ll have to go back to being just your teammate." ’It’s so hard to keep my distance from her with everyone watching.’

He breathed in the sweet fragrance of Zoe Pierce’s hair. It was so comforting.

Where she couldn’t see, his expression cooled as something came to mind.

’I want to smell her true scent...’

’But right now, her glands are still covered in Erin Xavier’s pheromones. It’s so disgusting.’

He suddenly tightened his embrace, sinking deeper into the moment, but Zoe Pierce slapped the back of his hand. "Let go."

’You’re squeezing me to death.’

Nathan Lockwood abruptly loosened his grip, a muffled laugh escaping him.

’This isn’t so bad either.’

He watched with great interest as Zoe Pierce frowned and got off his lap. This time, Nathan Lockwood didn’t stop her. As she stood up and smoothed the wrinkles from her clothes, he idly rubbed his own knuckles, a meaningless gesture, yet his gaze was rapt.