Xiao Xuan’s gaze fell on the pink bobby pin that was about to fall from her hair.

Maybe it was because her hair was too soft and smooth, so it always slipped out slowly without her noticing.

Jiang Zheyu didn’t mind the lost bobby pin. After all, if one fell out, there would always be another to take its place. There was no need to get attached to any particular one.

Xiao Xuan quietly reached out, his small hand closing around the teetering bobby pin. He gently clasped it in his palm and tucked it away.

Jiang Zheyu blinked. She saw the little boy reach out and touch her hair. ’Does that mean he wants me to pat his head?’

It dawned on her. She smiled faintly and patted Xiao Xuan’s head. "Alright. Thank you for liking me. I like you very much too."

Xiao Xuan’s eyes curved into crescents. He gave her a hug, then turned and ran back to the Starship.

At the entrance to the Starship, he turned and waved goodbye to her again.

Jiang Zheyu smiled and waved goodbye back at him.

The Starship’s hatch closed. It lifted off the ground, departed from the Imperial Capital Star, and finally vanished into the starry expanse of the sky.

"Jiang Yuyu..." A voice seemed to drift into her ears from a distance.

Jiang Zheyu paused. It seemed only one person had ever called her that.

She turned around and saw Feng Qi. It really was him.

Feng Qi’s eyes were slightly red-rimmed. He walked up to Jiang Zheyu, reached out, and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Hey, what’s Captain Feng doing here?" Jiang Zheyu was also a little surprised. She felt like it had been a long time since she’d seen Feng Qi, so she reached out and hugged him back.

Hers was just a friendly return hug, but the man before her stiffened for a moment. A second later, he was hugging Jiang Zheyu back with force.

"Jiang Yuyu, I’ve missed you so much." A hint of bitterness laced Feng Qi’s soft laugh.

His unstable spiritual power made it impossible for him to leave the Imperial Capital Star to find Jiang Yuyu. On top of that, Su Yan had later gone himself, and he was still required to patrol the Imperial City’s sectors, giving him even less of a right to leave.

’It’s like I’m not good enough for her anymore...’

Feng Qi tasted a hint of bitterness. He felt like he wasn’t the same Feng Qi he used to be. After his spiritual power became unstable, he’d started to feel a faint sense of inferiority even when facing an increasingly excellent female like her.

The Imperial Capital Star had so many outstanding Beastmen who had a better chance of being liked by a female than a Beastman with unstable spiritual power like him.

Jiang Zheyu was unaware of Feng Qi’s thoughts and asked softly, "Where’s Su Yan?"

When Feng Qi heard her question, the air seemed to grow even more bitter.

But he still replied to Jiang Zheyu, "His spiritual power was damaged. He’s still recuperating in a treatment pod."

What Feng Qi didn’t mention was that Su Yan’s spiritual power was the only thing still damaged; his physical injuries were almost fully healed. Su Yan could have had the chance to come, but Feng Qi had deliberately intercepted the Beastman who was supposed to notify Su Yan to come pick up the female.

He hadn’t notified Su Yan and had come himself instead. This way, he would be the first person to see Jiang Yuyu again.

He felt despicable for doing it, yet he couldn’t stop himself.

"Is he okay?" Jiang Zheyu grew a little worried.

Feng Qi fell silent for a moment. "About the same as me."

’His spiritual power is damaged. Just like me, he can’t pilot a Mecha anymore.’

It was a terribly sad thing.

"His spiritual power is damaged? Is it serious?" Jiang Zheyu grabbed Feng Qi. "Quick, take me to see him."

Seeing how concerned Jiang Zheyu was for Su Yan, Feng Qi couldn’t stop a surge of hostility and jealousy from rising in his heart. ’Why can’t she pay more attention to me? Even a little bit would be nice.’

His heart filled with bitterness. He lowered his gaze slightly and answered, "Let’s go. I’ll take you to him."

The two got into a Hovercar, with Jiang Zheyu taking the front passenger seat.

She remembered that Feng Qi’s spiritual power was also unstable—a form of spiritual power damage. She had wanted to Purify it for him before, but the incident had happened so suddenly that she never got the chance.

Jiang Zheyu felt that with her S+++ Level spiritual power, and now that the "female lead" had developed a reagent that could Purify Beastification Value, she no longer needed to hide her abilities.

"My Purification Power can not only Purify Beastification Value, but also heal spiritual power." Jiang Zheyu glanced sideways at Feng Qi. "Later, let me help heal both your and Su Yan’s spiritual power."

Feng Qi froze. His cheeks seemed to grow warm, and his heart began to beat violently. He seemed to have forgotten that Jiang Zheyu didn’t need to use the mating-like method to Purify Beastification Value. He repeated softly, "Purify... Beastification Value..."

’Is she agreeing to my Beast Mate application?’

Jiang Zheyu knew he had misunderstood again. She leisurely added, "Have you forgotten? I’m a female with extremely high soothing abilities. I only need to hold your hand to help you Purify your Beastification Value."

A single sentence shattered Feng Qi’s fantasy.

"Then when are you going to approve my Beast Mate application?" Feng Qi gave Jiang Zheyu a forlorn look. His voice made it sound like a casual question, but his gaze was extremely serious as it swept over her face.

Jiang Zheyu blinked, unable to answer for a moment.

Logically speaking, she had already accepted this world’s setting of one female having multiple males, so she wouldn’t mind having a few more Beast Husbands.

However, when it came time to make a decision, she would grow hesitant. With too many Beast Husbands, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to give them all enough attention. If she accepted too many, she would be sad whenever any one of them was sad.

She also worried that she wouldn’t be able to love them all equally.

Because she was afraid she might unintentionally favor one person over the others at times.

Jiang Zheyu felt a little lost. The truth was, she did like Feng Qi. That incident with the Biorobot thugs was when she’d found him most charming. But she was also afraid that if she agreed to be with Feng Qi, Su Yan would be sad.

Jiang Zheyu: ...

’Whatever, I’ll stop thinking about this for now.’

’The priority is to help heal Su Yan’s and Feng Qi’s spiritual power first.’

’That said, what was Feng Qi’s beast form again?’

Jiang Zheyu looked at his black hair and black eyes. His entire being seemed to be a combination of black and white.

His fair, handsome features, combined with his jet-black eyes and pitch-black hair, created a stark and striking beauty, like a heavily inked black-and-white painting.

Jiang Zheyu wasn’t in a hurry. Once she helped Purify Feng Qi, she would find out what his beast form was.

"That mysterious person who can heal spiritual power... was that you?" Feng Qi said slowly.

Jiang Zheyu paused. "You figured that out too?"

"Oh, so it really was you." The only person Feng Qi knew of who could heal spiritual power was that mysterious figure in black.

And the Beastmen that mysterious figure in black had healed were, by a great coincidence, the very same ones Jiang Zheyu needed to compensate.