But there was a twist: the female from the Star Network he’d fallen for was the one with the infamous reputation.

Feng Qi wanted to convince himself to give up, but he couldn’t stop himself from watching her dance videos every night.

And no one knew the way his heart trembled when the masked girl from the Star Network took off her mask and appeared before him for the first time.

And no one knew that the only photos and videos of a female hidden on his Light Brain were all of Jiang Zheyu.

Feng Qi lay awake all night, knowing full well that even with her scandalous history, his heart still couldn’t help but be drawn to her.

Besides, from his interactions with her, it was clear she wasn’t the wicked person the Star Network made her out to be.

So, Feng Qi decided to just follow his heart.

He watched Jiang Zheyu for a long time, but the girl’s hazel eyes only glimmered placidly. "Captain Qi, you must be joking."

A hint of cold frustration seemed to color Feng Qi’s ink-black eyes. He’d been so serious when he said he liked her, yet she didn’t believe him.

’He hadn’t planned on saying it so soon. That damned Su Yan had ruined his plans...’

He watched her quietly. Remembering she still had to visit him to offer her formal thanks, his tone became level. "Weren’t you saying it’s time to go? Let’s go, then."

But then he quietly added, "My Beast Mate matching application was delivered to your Light Brain inbox this morning, Miss Jiang. You can consider me at any time."

Submitting a Beast Mate matching application was definitely not a simple joke.

Jiang Zheyu froze for a moment. She truly had no romantic interest in Feng Qi, so it would have been much better if he were just kidding.

Now, she was starting to feel awkward.

"We should get going," Jiang Zheyu said, quickly changing the subject.

The three of them walked out of the shopping mall.

Even though Jiang Zheyu had indirectly rejected him by changing the subject, Feng Qi wasn’t one to give up easily.

So when they reached the Hovercar, Feng Qi zipped past like a gust of wind, plopped right into the back seat, and gave Jiang Zheyu a lazy smile. "Come on, Miss Jiang."

Su Yan stepped in front of Jiang Zheyu, blocking her view of Feng Qi, and then walked toward the open door of the car.

"You dare get in?" Feng Qi shot Su Yan a threatening look.

Meeting his murderous gaze, Su Yan simply pulled the car door wider and turned his head to look at Jiang Zheyu. "Yu Yu, get in and have a seat."

’The Hovercar will be at our destination soon. He couldn’t be bothered to waste the Female Master’s time by arguing with Feng Qi over this.’

Jiang Zheyu paused for a moment before obediently taking a seat in the back.

Su Yan went and sat in the front passenger seat, but the atmosphere around him grew heavy.

From the driver’s seat, Xiao Yuan could feel the tension in the air, thick as gunpowder smoke.

He started the Hovercar, trembling with apprehension.

Soon, the Hovercar came to a stop.

"Captain Qi, the Hovercar can’t fly inside the residential complex," Xiao Yuan said, looking to Feng Qi.

"Mm," Feng Qi responded lazily, then tilted his head slightly to look at Jiang Zheyu beside him. "Looks like we’ll have to walk from here, Miss Jiang."

"All right." Jiang Zheyu had no objections.

The three of them got out of the Hovercar. Jiang Zheyu stepped out and followed the directions on her Light Brain to find the first household.

Unlike the skyscrapers outside, the buildings in this complex were rather similar to the crowded, dilapidated apartment blocks from her past life.

The dirt ground was uneven and rutted, mixed with sewage and sludge.

Jiang Zheyu instantly knew she had worn the wrong clothes. She had assumed that in this advanced interstellar age, especially with Beastmen living in the Imperial City, there wouldn’t be any particularly run-down areas.

But the reality was that even beneath the glitter of the prosperous Imperial Capital Star, poverty still lurked in the shadows.

It was just like how, under the laws of the Imperial City, females possessed supreme privileges, yet there were still villains who flouted the law, secretly keeping females in captivity, treating them as little more than cargo.

Where there is black, there is white; where there is light, darkness breeds.

Her pristine white dress seemed completely out of place here.

Filthy Beastmen were huddled by the side of the street, seeming to melt into the gloomy surroundings.

Passing Beastmen shot furtive glances at Jiang Zheyu. Their gazes weren’t friendly, but because of the two tall males at her side, they only stared for a moment before daring not to look again.

’So this is why Su Yan and Feng Qi had insisted on coming with her.’

Jiang Zheyu crossed the somewhat filthy street and found a house according to the address.

Feng Qi went over and knocked on the door for her. Soon, an Old Beastman opened it. He seemed to startle upon seeing Feng Qi, then stepped back to open the door wider, assuming he was there on business. "Captain Qi, are you here for a routine inspection?"

"No," Feng Qi said succinctly. "You’ve probably already received notice about the punishment for the female who abused you. Now, she has come to apologize."

The moment Feng Qi finished speaking, the Old Beastman seemed to realize who had come. His expression soured. He said flatly, "We’ll accept the apology, but we won’t offer our forgiveness."

"That’s your business," Feng Qi replied, offering no judgment on the man’s words.

With that, he stepped aside, revealing Jiang Zheyu to the Old Beastman.

Jiang Zheyu slowly stepped forward, offered the gift with both hands, and then bowed ninety degrees. "I’m sorry," she said with sincerity. "My past self was deeply sinful and acted wrongly."

’The original owner really deserved to die. She really, really did.’

The Old Beastman was first surprised at how beautiful Jiang Zheyu was—not at all the ugly person depicted on the Star Network. But even that couldn’t conceal the fact of her viciousness.

His heart hardened. He took the gift, but only because it was valuable, not because he accepted her apology. He waved his hand dismissively. "All right, this is just a formality. Just remember to send the reparations from now on. My son and I have no desire to see you."

Even if Jiang Zheyu wasn’t the one who had directly crippled his son and left him bedridden, he still had no favorable impression of her, as she had been an accomplice of Bai Ruo.

Jiang Zheyu fell silent for a moment. Without saying anything more, she simply replied, "All right."

CRASH!

It was the loud sound of things being swept to the floor.

"AAAAHHH! It hurts! It hurts so much!"

A sudden, heart-wrenching scream of pain erupted from the room, as if someone were enduring the cruelest torture in the world.

The sudden scream pierced her ears.

Jiang Zheyu jumped, her body trembling slightly, but her gaze turned with worry toward the inside of the room.

’She remembered reading about this family’s case in the files. Because of Bai Ruo’s torture, a Beastman had not only been left with a lifelong disability, but his spiritual power had also been severely damaged...’

"Oh no." Deep worry flashed in the Old Beastman’s eyes. He dropped the gift right on the ground and, forgetting everything else, rushed into the room.