Time seemed to stand still in that moment.

His soul seemed to leave his body, floating high in the sky.

But he still couldn’t catch a glimpse of the pretty little female’s figure.

Sheng Yiqing’s heart beat faster and faster, THUMP-THUMP-THUMPING, swelling in his chest without pause.

He was so full of anticipation that he even forgot to breathe.

’Look over here.’

’Quick, look at me.’

He had already prepared himself, ready to meet the female’s gaze in his most handsome and spirited state.

And so, in that moment, driven by a male’s innate instinct when facing a competitor, Shen Zueran’s expression shifted slightly as he noticed the scene.

He shifted his body again, hiding even the tiny corner of her clothing that had been faintly visible behind his tall frame.

Sheng Yiqing’s gaze on Shen Zueran was practically spitting fire.

Right then, in Sheng Yiqing’s eyes, Shen Zueran was the single greatest obstacle preventing him from becoming Yu Lan’s Beast Husband.

’I really want to fight him!’

’But the pretty little female probably wouldn’t like a crude male who’s only good for picking fights.’

Sheng Yiqing’s heart was torn. His grip on the tree trunk tightened, and soon, a series of sharp CRACKING sounds filled the air.

As the two men’s gazes locked and the atmosphere grew unprecedentedly tense and heavy,

Yu Lan, who was hidden behind Shen Zueran, finally moved.

She had no idea what was happening.

She just felt that she and Shen Zueran were the ones in the wrong to begin with.

Kissing outdoors in broad daylight, it was only normal to be seen by someone.

’How could we brazenly confront them about it?’

At that moment, Yu Lan, still hidden behind Shen Zueran with a beet-red face, reached out and tugged gently on a corner of the man’s shirt.

Her soft voice sounded.

"Zhuoran, don’t be like this. Let’s just go upstairs."

"We were the ones in the wrong here, anyway."

Hearing the pretty little female’s sweet, soft voice—as if it were coated in honey—Sheng Yiqing’s eyes widened and lit up. He even shot to his feet on the treetop.

He craned his neck wildly, desperate to see what Yu Lan looked like.

But unfortunately for him, Shen Zueran’s tall figure was like an unyielding wall, rigidly blocking Yu Lan from view and cutting off Sheng Yiqing’s eager, expectant gaze.

Sensing Sheng Yiqing’s intentions, Shen Zueran sneered. He turned, took Yu Lan’s hand, and led her straight upstairs.

"Lanlan, you’re right. He’s just an irrelevant person."

Shen Zueran turned his head, his sharp black eyes locking with Sheng Yiqing’s unabashedly. His thin lips moved without a sound, a mocking curve playing on their corners as he silently mouthed the taunt, ’All you can do is hide in the shadows and watch.’

"Let’s go upstairs."

"I’m sure Pei Shiyi is getting impatient."

Sure enough, after not seeing Shen Zueran and Yu Lan for so long, Pei Shiyi—who was no fool—quickly realized something was amiss.

He came clattering down the stairs, his eyes lighting up when he saw the two of them. He rushed forward, possessively hugging Yu Lan and muttering a complaint:

"Lanlan, what were you and Shen Zueran just doing? I was waiting for you upstairs for so long."

’What were we doing?’

’Does secretly kissing behind your back count?’

The thought of what they had just done—and the fact that someone else had seen them—made Yu Lan’s face flush a deep crimson. She mumbled evasively:

"It was nothing. We were just enjoying the view of the courtyard for a bit."

"Did you see anything interesting when you went up?"

Yu Lan quickly changed the subject.

At the mention of that, Pei Shiyi instantly grew excited.

He began to babble eagerly:

"Come, come, Lanlan! I just saw a super cute photo."

"Can you give it to me? I saw it first."

Pei Shiyi carefully opened his tightly clenched fist in front of Yu Lan.

Resting quietly in his palm was a photo of Yu Lan as a child. She was wearing a pale yellow dress with a matching bucket hat and a cute little crossbody bag. She was so cute it was explosive.

The moment Pei Shiyi saw the photo, it was as if he’d been struck by a bullet.

’Cute. She was just too cute.’

’It would be even better if he and Lanlan could have a beautiful, adorable baby just like that someday.’

With a SWOOSH, as if he were a thief, Pei Shiyi had instantly ripped the photo from the album and was now clutching it tightly.

Now he was staring at Yu Lan with burning eyes, waiting for her approval, while also watching Shen Zueran with extreme vigilance, terrified this cunning male would try to snatch it from him.

Shen Zueran, however, had just kissed Yu Lan and was in a state of pleasant satisfaction.

Although he wanted the photo too, he merely gave Pei Shiyi a faint glance before lowering his eyes and saying nothing.

Meanwhile, up in the treetop, the completely ignored Sheng Yiqing was perking his ears up high.

He faintly heard a few words like "cute" and "photo," and his eyes lit up instantly.

’A childhood photo of the pretty little female?’

’That must be explosively cute.’

’I want it, I want it, I want it!’

Sheng Yiqing craned his neck and leaned forward, trying to see past the overlapping figures to get a look at what the cute little photo looked like.

But he was doomed to disappointment.

Having gotten Yu Lan’s affirmative reply, Pei Shiyi immediately hid the little photo. He wouldn’t even let Shen Zueran have a second look, let alone Sheng Yiqing, who had popped up from who-knows-where.

「Over half an hour later.」

When Yu Lan, Shen Zueran, and Pei Shiyi emerged from the room after reliving old memories,

as they walked down the stairs, Shen Zueran glanced up at the treetop in the courtyard. Sheng Yiqing was nowhere to be seen.

The treetop was now empty, with only the crisp chirping of birds remaining.

"What’s wrong?"

Yu Lan noticed Shen Zueran’s sudden pause and looked up in confusion, following his gaze to the treetop.

She instantly realized something, and her face flushed slightly. She couldn’t help but give Shen Zueran a little push.

"Stop looking."

"Hurry up and get to the civic center. The Star Commander’s inauguration banquet is about to start."

"Alright, alright."

Shen Zueran reverted to his usual refined and gentle demeanor, warmly and indulgently agreeing to everything Yu Lan said.

The two of them set off toward the banquet venue.

As Pei Shiyi, who was walking behind them, passed the century-old tree, his curiosity piqued by their strange behavior earlier, he couldn’t resist glancing up as well.

He didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

But thanks to the sensitivity to land innate to an ocean male beast, he could sharply sense that another male had been up there not long ago.

’Were those an adult male’s fingerprints indented into the hard tree trunk?’

’What exactly happened just now when I wasn’t here?’

’That damn Shen Zueran!’

Pei Shiyi’s eyes darkened. Before he could fall deep into thought, Yu Lan’s voice called out from a short distance away.

"Pei Shiyi, hurry up and catch up."

"Let’s get there early so we’re not late."

Pei Shiyi paused his contemplation. He stood still for a moment before starting to walk again.

"Okay."

*

After the three of them left, Qingti slowly let the orphanage children out to play in the courtyard.

Sheng Yiqing emerged languidly from a corner, the half of his face hidden in shadow appearing all the more captivating and soul-stealing.

"The Star Commander’s inauguration celebration banquet, is it?"