Su Yanjing turned his head to look at Su Jiameng’s profile, murmuring, "If I had a cousin like this, it would feel pretty nice."

For some reason, families involved in military and politics seem to lack daughters, just like the Su Family, Qin Family, and Gu Family. The Su Family is relatively better off, with many female members in the collateral branches, but very few in the main line.

Su Yanjing thought that if he had a cousin like Su Jiameng, he would be quite happy. Although her personality and strength were somewhat intimidating, as an older brother, he should care for and pamper his younger sister, right? Su Qinwu and Su Qixin were also his sisters, but one was arrogant and the other ignorant, and Su Yanjing had no interest in confronting them and getting himself hurt.

Perhaps being a legitimate daughter of the Su Family Patriarch’s line, Su Qinwu understood that Su Yanjing would achieve something great in the future. Still, she knew that his ambitions weren’t in the Military Department, and someone who only tinkers with those dolls wouldn’t amount to much.

Therefore, Su Qinwu maintained an attitude that was neither too close nor too distant, neither offending nor befriending. Although Su Yanjing wasn’t as advanced as he would be in his thirties or forties, he still had the intelligence to perceive Su Qinwu’s attitude.

As for Su Qixin... she considered herself a transmigrator and felt that others should proactively make friends with her. Why would she lower herself to approach others for friendship? Su Yanjing wasn’t her only cousin, and she had other brothers who doted on her.

Besides, Su Yanjing wasn’t the Patriarch’s biological son, just her nominal older brother? Naturally, there was no need to deliberately get close.

Little did Su Qinwu know that, although Su Yanjing wasn’t the Patriarch’s son, the position he was to inherit in the Su Family was also quite exalted, and in terms of power, it wasn’t less than the Patriarch’s. Even the Patriarch had to be restricted and constrained.

Su Qinwu understood this, which is why she maintained such a neutral attitude, while Su Qixin remained oblivious, choosing to ignore him.

Su Yanjing didn’t know the various reasons and didn’t have the time to investigate. Although he had cousins, it was as if he didn’t for him. His mother often wanted him to get closer to Su Qinwu and her sister, but Su Yanjing treated such advice as mere noise and ignored it.

"If it were true, I guarantee you would cry," Su Jiameng responded with a smile, in a great mood, causing Su Yanjing to blush.

"I don’t think I would..." Su Yanjing retorted, recalling the thought of forming a sworn brotherhood after inadvertently reading Princess Fusu’s novel "Legend of the Condor Heroes" recently. But a novel is just a novel, and becoming sworn siblings in reality isn’t that easy.

Not to mention his own identity limitations, even if he disregarded those constraints, there was no guarantee that Su Jiameng would agree.

Su Yanjing indeed came from an aristocratic family, and having such a sworn brother in the future would undoubtedly be advantageous, but it would also bring many troubles. Given Su Jiameng’s personality and intelligence, she couldn’t be unaware of this, making her agreement highly unlikely.

Thus, the freedom and heroism depicted in novels could only be admired from afar; implementing it in reality was exceedingly difficult.

Su Jiameng looked at him with interest, while Su Yanjing avoided her gaze and said on a whim, "I remember there’s a shop with good desserts; do you want to try it?"

In every person who loves crafts, there exists a youthful and vibrant heart, and Su Yanjing was no exception. As a handcrafted emperor with a youthful heart, he had a particularly strong liking for sweets.

"Sure." Su Jiameng agreed, squinting her eyes, without finding anything peculiar about the invitation.

Su Yanjing was much more genial than that guy, Gu Ningzhi. Upon seeing the desserts brought by the attendant, Su Jiameng couldn’t help but recall the dark dishes she had in the Augustus Star System; the taste was truly unforgettable for a lifetime! To make food that unappetizing was quite a skill.

The two shared numerous common topics; whether mecha or food, they always had smooth conversations. As they were talking, a conversation nearby caught Su Jiameng’s attention, and Su Yanjing curiously asked her, "Did you meet someone familiar?"

"No, but I heard a familiar name..." Su Jiameng replied, stuffing a piece of cake into her mouth and listened intently to the conversation next door.

The familiar figure she had seen in the hospital seemed to be Liu Shiyi’s wife? Thinking of that mix-up of a scandal, Su Jiameng smiled wryly. Although she had heard numerous rumors of mistresses forcing the issue, it was her first time witnessing such audacity.

"Someone you know?" Su Yanjing peered over, but the view was obscured by floral plants, so he couldn’t see clearly. "Don’t you need to go over and say hello?"

"I don’t think it’s necessary..." Su Jiameng smiled lightly and said, "Going out at this moment might embarrass them."

"Oh, I see." Su Yanjing’s furrowed brow relaxed, but he still unconsciously paid attention to that spot, then understood why Su Jiameng said going out now would be very awkward. A mistress forcing the issue... even going so far as to poach an Alliance officer, isn’t that too audacious?

Zhu Mengtong wasn’t aware that Su Jiameng was seated at the nearby table, and she didn’t have the leisure to notice. The coffee in front of her had already gone cold. The woman opposite maintained a facade of calm, which seemed laughable to her. "Miss An, do you know the meaning of what you’re saying?"

"Of course I do!" An Xiangjiao appeared composed, but when truly facing Zhu Mengtong, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of fear.

After all, the other party was once a very promising Lieutenant in the Alliance, someone she had admired and chased after. If it weren’t for a major disaster that forced her to retire, she would have been one of the military’s brightest rising stars, openly fighting side by side with Lieutenant Liu Shiyi.

"Since you understand, why do you still have the courage to say this in front of me?" Zhu Mengtong genuinely couldn’t understand. Had her scatter-brained husband become so charming as to make the woman in front of her so devoted?

Ha... she’ll surely need to have a heartfelt conversation with him when she gets home...

Liu Shiyi, working in the military detachment on Qiming Star, sneezed a large one. His colleagues teased that his wife was probably thinking of him. Liu Shiyi merely smiled awkwardly, wholeheartedly agreeing with them! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)