"Then when do I need to head to the front lines of Zone -1?" Jiang Zheyu looked up at the Star Emperor.

The Star Emperor watched her with a gentle and refined air. "There’s no rush. You can go after the Zerg swarm has receded."

"Zerg swarm?" Jiang Zheyu was a little confused again.

She remembered one of the great universal crises in the novel was when the Zerg Race gave birth to a new Zerg Mother, and then planets throughout the universe were overrun by them.

Jiang Zheyu didn’t know how that great crisis was resolved. During that time, the heroine was busy falling in love with other Beastmen while they were on the run together. True love was forged in hardship, which also created the opportunity for other villains to find their way into the heroine’s heart.

All she knew was that the great crisis was eventually resolved. Why was there still something like a Zerg swarm?

’Judging by the Star Emperor’s tone, these Zerg swarms seem to be a common occurrence.’

"Every three months, a major Zerg swarm and two minor ones break out in Zone -2," Su Yan explained from beside her. "That’s why those military Beastmen have to be stationed there permanently."

The Zerg swarms there were relentless, requiring Beastmen to be on long-term guard duty.

"I see." Jiang Zheyu understood now.

’Just as I thought. The novel only showed the heroine’s small world and never touched upon anything more.’

"There are still two months until the Zerg swarm passes. During this time, you can stay in the Imperial Palace, Zheyu. We’ll assign people to protect you." Jin Yu’s gentle voice, as smooth as fine jade, sounded beside them. "This time, we will do everything in our power to keep you safe."

Jiang Zheyu didn’t refuse. "Alright, but you can send a few Beastmen with spiritual power injuries to me for treatment every day. That way, I won’t be too bored just staying in the Imperial Palace."

"How many Beastmen can you heal in a day, Zheyu?" Jin Yu’s golden eyes were perfectly calm, as if he were merely asking how many Beastmen he should send to Jiang Zheyu for healing each day.

In truth, Jiang Zheyu could heal dozens a day without a problem.

"Five will be fine. No need for too many," Jiang Zheyu said with a smile.

"Okay," Jin Yu replied with a gentle smile.

The young man was strikingly handsome with deep-set features. His golden eyes were like a clear, warm sun, and combined with his short, choppy golden hair, he seemed like a great, warm sun himself. When he smiled, it felt like being enveloped in warmth.

Jiang Zheyu paused for a moment. ’No wonder the heroine always went to her main love interest, Jin Yu, whenever she was upset. He really is a warm, caring, and healing presence.’ 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Once things were settled, Jiang Zheyu went to the palace she had lived in before being captured. Naturally, Su Yan moved into the Imperial Palace with her as well.

Jin Yu escorted them to the palace entrance before politely bidding them farewell and leaving.

"Princess Zheyu, you’re finally back! It’s so wonderful that you’re safe." The butler, Xiao Luo, stood inside the palace, his pink eyes shimmering with joy as he looked at Jiang Zheyu.

"Mm-hmm," Jiang Zheyu said, smiling back.

She looked at the boy’s pink hair and his well-behaved demeanor, and was just about to reach out and pat his head.

Xiao Luo discreetly lowered his eyes, which held a mix of anticipation and hidden affection. ’I should dodge, but I really don’t want to.’

’Given our statuses, it’s impossible for me and Princess Zheyu to be together. I shouldn’t even dream of becoming her Beast Husband. But even if I can’t be her Beast Husband, let me just indulge in this little bit of gentleness.’

The day he learned Princess Zheyu had been taken by the Star Thieves, Xiao Luo’s thoughts had been in turmoil for a long time. His mind kept replaying her gentle, kind smile, the soft warmth of her hand in his, the heart-pounding Spiritual Comfort, and the pure affection for him in her eyes.

His heart had long been in disarray.

’But I am just a butler. I should only do my duty and not develop feelings for my mistress.’

However, the anticipated gentle touch of Princess Zheyu’s hand on his head never came.

Xiao Luo looked up.

Jiang Zheyu’s hand had been caught mid-air by Su Yan. She looked at him in surprise, pausing slightly. "Wh-What’s wrong?"

That pair of red eyes looked down at her.

"He’s a Beastman who’s over a hundred years old. He just looks young. He’s not a child, so don’t go around touching him," Su Yan’s calm voice stated flatly.

Jiang Zheyu silently withdrew her hand.

"Y-You’re over a hundred years old?" Jiang Zheyu asked Xiao Luo in astonishment.

’You can’t tell at all! He looks even younger and more delicate than Su Yan, just like a teenager.’

’Who knew he was comparable in age to the hundred-something-year-old Si Yu.’

Xiao Luo’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson. Commander Su’s icy gaze fell upon him, making it even harder to hide his thoughts.

"Yes, I am one hundred and thirty-five years old," Xiao Luo answered softly. "I’m a Rabbit Beastman of a small, long-haired breed, so not only is my beast form small, my human form isn’t very tall either. That’s why I look so young."

Jiang Zheyu had always doted on him and patted him like a little brother.

She never expected he was a whole generation older than her.

And here she was, treating him like a child and wanting to pat his head.

Jiang Zheyu’s cheeks also started to turn red. "Oh, oh, I see. I’m sorry."

"There’s no need to apologize, Princess Zheyu." Xiao Luo gently looked up at her, but quickly lowered his head again, hiding the bitterness in his eyes.

"Let’s go. We’re going to buy flowers." Before Jiang Zheyu could notice the Rabbit Beastman’s mood, Su Yan grabbed her hand and led her outside.

Jiang Zheyu’s mind was then preoccupied with the matter of buying flowers, so she didn’t notice the Rabbit Beastman’s dejected mood.

"Xiao Luo, we’re heading out for a bit!" Jiang Zheyu didn’t forget to turn back and wave to Xiao Luo. "We’ll be back later!"

Xiao Luo looked up and gave a small nod. "Okay, Princess Zheyu. I hope you have a good time."

Since Su Yan was with her, Jin Yu didn’t assign any extra guards to follow them.

「Inside the hovercar.」

"A Yuan, when are you heading out again to destroy that isolated island with the Beast Slave livestreams?" Jiang Zheyu asked, lounging in Su Yan’s arms and eating a sour fruit as she looked up at his well-defined jawline.

"No rush. I’ll tell you before I leave." Su Yan’s long fingers gently toyed with a lock of the girl’s hair.

The strands slipped through his fingers with a smooth coolness and a slight tickle, as if his heart was being tickled as well.

Su Yan noticed the juice at the corner of the girl’s lips, so he leaned down gently, his own lips brushing away the sour juice and tasting her sweet, red lips.

’Sweet and sour. Delicious.’

He held the back of her head, love surging and tingling in his chest, as he lowered his head and began to kiss the girl in his arms meticulously.

Jiang Zheyu hadn’t even finished her fruit before she was lost again in that suffocating, love-filled kiss.

Suggestive sounds filled the air.

It was enough to make one’s ears burn and heart race.

Su Yan wished he could meld his Yu Yu into his own body at every moment, so the two of them would never be apart.