Su Yaoyao cleared her throat and announced the results. "Bai Lian gets the first night, Reg the second, and Pani the third. We’ll rotate in that order from now on."

The three men glanced at one another, then nodded in agreement. It was an undeniably fair arrangement—it didn’t favor any one of them and gave everyone something to look forward to.

Just then, the corners of Bai Lian’s lips curled up in the confident smile of a victor.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he extended his long, powerful arms and effortlessly swept the delicate Su Yaoyao up into a princess carry.

Suddenly swept off her feet, Su Yaoyao let out a small cry of surprise, her hands instinctively flying to wrap around Bai Lian’s neck for balance.

At the same time, Bai Lian’s unique scent flooded her senses, lingering stubbornly in the air.

"Well then, my dear Yaoyao, you’re all mine tonight," Bai Lian murmured, his voice low and magnetic.

Bai Lian’s passionate gaze, in particular, made Su Yaoyao’s face flush crimson.

She shyly lowered her head and mumbled, "We just... on the Flying Ship. You can’t do anything more to me tonight." Her voice was barely a whisper, laced with a mix of shyness and concern.

A faint smile touched Bai Lian’s lips as he replied tenderly, "Alright. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to." His voice was full of affection. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Carrying Su Yaoyao, Bai Lian walked with steady steps toward the sleeping quarters His Majesty had specially arranged for them.

He took each step with the utmost care, as if he were holding the world’s most precious treasure.

Reg and Pani followed behind them. They were staying in the same quarters, just in different rooms.

Their eyes never left Su Yaoyao. They were happy and content, as if they had returned to those peaceful days at the base, with the person they loved right beside them.

The moonlight stretched their shadows long across the garden path.

Once in the room, Bai Lian drew back the velvet bed curtains and gently placed Su Yaoyao on the large bed.

He gently pulled Su Yaoyao into his embrace, the candlelight casting an intimate glow over them.

He lowered his head slightly, gazing deeply into Su Yaoyao’s eyes. His voice, full of longing and concern, was slow and deliberate. "Yaoyao, I missed you like crazy while you were gone. Not a moment went by that I wasn’t thinking of you. How were things in Snake Scale City?"

Su Yaoyao looked up to meet Bai Lian’s passionate gaze. A warmth spread through her heart as she answered softly,

"In Snake Scale City... I was okay. Everything there was so new. I experienced a lot of things I never had before."

She paused, a flicker of worry in her eyes, and quickly asked, "And you? During the Flying Ship crash... I remember it so clearly. You shielded me with your body. Are your injuries all healed?"

A playful, affectionate smile touched Bai Lian’s lips. He gently pinched Su Yaoyao’s nose and teased, "What could be wrong with me? Weren’t we just... on the Flying Ship on the way back? You should know better than anyone how my body is, right?"

Su Yaoyao’s face instantly flushed as red as a ripe apple. She pouted. "Hey! Why do you always have to bring up the most embarrassing things?"

Bai Lian chuckled softly. Yaoyao looked utterly adorable when she blushed.

Bai Lian raised a hand, his fingertips tracing Su Yaoyao’s collarbone.

"Did Mingye destroy your Light Computer?" he asked. He clearly remembered that ever since Yaoyao returned, he hadn’t seen her wearing the Light Computer necklace he had given her.

Su Yaoyao hummed a soft "mhm," her expression darkening slightly.

Bai Lian’s heart clenched. His hands tightened on Yaoyao’s shoulders without him realizing it. He stared at her, his face taut with tension, and asked anxiously, "Did he do something to you? Did he hurt you?"

Yaoyao quickly shook her head, a hint of a smile in her eyes as she explained, "No, not at all. He threatened me with a knife at first, but he never actually did me any real harm. He’s a classic case of cold on the outside, warm on the inside. He even taught me how to shoot. The gun I’m using now? He made it himself."

As she spoke of Mingye, Su Yaoyao’s eyes lit up, and her tone carried an unmistakable note of admiration.

Seeing her like this, Bai Lian felt a strange bitterness in his heart. Jealousy began to quietly bubble up.

’Yaoyao is always surrounded by so many males,’ he thought to himself. ’But she really is like a sparkling gem. No matter where she goes, she’s so captivating that people can’t help but be drawn to her.’

Bai Lian sighed softly and held Yaoyao tighter, as if staking his claim. He planted a kiss on her forehead and whispered, "Yaoyao, you have no idea how terrified I am of losing you."

Su Yaoyao felt the tension and deep affection in his words. Moved, she hugged him back and said softly, "That could never happen. You’re so important to me."

Bai Lian was like a child begging for candy. His eyes twinkled with a sly, wheedling light as he said, "I don’t believe you... unless you give me a kiss."

He looked like a completely different person from the composed man he was in public, but the sight filled Su Yaoyao’s heart with tenderness.

Yaoyao gave a helpless little laugh, her eyes full of warmth. "Haven’t you had enough kisses yet?" she teased. "We were kissing in the garden for so long."

Bai Lian answered without hesitation, his tone firm and unyielding. "It’s not enough. With you, it’s never enough."

"Alright, alright. Come here, let me kiss my big baby," Su Yaoyao said, giving in with a smile as she slowly leaned toward Bai Lian.

She tilted her head back slightly, closed her eyes, and took the initiative to kiss his thin lips.

In that instant, it was as if a jolt of electricity passed between them, and the air seemed to heat up around them.

Bai Lian’s fingertips slid slowly down her collarbone, lingering at the edge of her slip dress. The faint, teasing touch sent a tingling sensation through Su Yaoyao, making her tremble slightly.

Meanwhile, his other hand gently cradled the back of her head, pulling her closer to deepen the kiss.

Su Yaoyao let out a soft moan, parting her lips slightly to allow his exploration to deepen.

Su Yaoyao felt as if she were adrift in a warm, fiery ocean, unable to pull herself free.

The corners of her eyes gradually flushed red, as if stained by the evening sunset, giving her a look of unique, shy allure.

The blush spread from her cheeks to her earlobes, and her breathing grew ragged. Her hands instinctively tightened their grip on Bai Lian’s clothes.

In the quiet room, their heartbeats intertwined, composing a symphony of love. It was as if time itself had stopped just for them, leaving only the two of them in the entire world.