The dim, crowded Starship cabin was filled with a cacophony of noise, making one’s ears ring as if they were in the middle of a bustling market.

A suit jacket blocked out the jumble of smells, as did the tall, slender figure standing before her.

Gu Tao, on the other hand, had a faint, pleasant scent.

Jiang Zheyu: ...

’It’s probably just the contrast with our surroundings that makes him smell so much better.’

’Gu Tao...’

Jiang Zheyu leaned against the corner, unsure of what to do as her thoughts began to drift.

And as they drifted, the name Gu Tao began to ring a bell.

Jiang Zheyu: ...

She frowned, thinking for another moment, and then it hit her.

’This Gu Tao is a major Star Thief!’

In the interstellar expanse, there’s a Star Thief Organization called the Lonely Wanderer Star Thief Group.

This Lonely Wanderer Star Thief Group roamed the cosmos, their movements always erratic and unpredictable.

The Star Thief Organization had very few members—only five—but every single one of them was dangerously unhinged.

Each member was extraordinarily capable, able to disguise themselves as anyone and assume any identity.

They were classic villains. They’d rob the Imperial Bank, but not before leaving a message announcing their intent to do so. They blew up the Empire’s Female Matching Center, deliberately planting several bombs and then telling the Imperial Army exactly how much time was left until detonation. They even unleashed the Zerg Race and informed the Imperial Army, but without revealing the specific location...

Another time, they captured the novel’s heroine, gave the Imperial Army a few clues, and set a time limit. If the army failed to find her in time, she would fall into some elaborate trap.

Each one was sick in their own way. It was as if their only goal was to create panic and make the world revolve around them. They loved the feeling of having everyone in the palm of their hands.

Gu Sui, Gu Han, Gu Tao, Gu Yao, and Gu Ying.

Jiang Zheyu only knew about this organization from the novel. In the story’s later stages, the group kidnapped the heroine several times to play a few ’games’.

The five members of the Lonely Wanderer Group played a game amongst themselves.

The five of them each took a turn kidnapping the heroine, giving clues to the Imperial Army. The one whose captive was rescued the fastest would be the loser.

They were a Star Thief Gang that seemed to be looking for fun, thrills, and a death wish.

And so, the novel had a ’five captures, five releases’ plotline.

Of course, the heroine always ended up unharmed.

Her harem would go through hell and back, pulling off a thrilling, last-minute rescue every time.

In the end, it was as if the author forgot the organization existed, because they were never mentioned again.

’Still, the members of that Star Thief Organization were definitely twisted. It felt like they just had too much time on their hands.’

Gu Tao, as one of the later villains from the Lonely Wanderer Star Thief Group, played a ’romantic’ game with the heroine.

He had a penchant for committing the most deranged, blood-soaked acts in the most beautiful and magnificent settings.

In that game where the five of them kidnapped the heroine, Gu Tao came in last.

He lost because he’d tied the heroine inside the most conspicuous place possible: an ancient divine statue, surrounded by a vast sea of pink roses.

After the heroine was rescued and the bomb was thrown clear, it exploded not with a bang, but with a shower of thousands of pink roses that filled the sky.

Jiang Zheyu: ...

’No matter how you slice it, he’s a notorious Star Thief.’

’Which makes this situation even more tragic.’

Jiang Zheyu felt completely numb.

She felt something sticky and wet on her fingers, as if something slick was slowly licking them. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Jiang Zheyu went completely rigid.

’It looks like this pervert doesn’t want to play a game *with* me, he wants to *play* me!’

Gu Tao obsessively licked the young woman’s slender, beautiful fingers...

Jiang Zheyu snatched her hand back with a violent jerk and frantically wiped it on his suit jacket.

’I can’t take this. It’s too disgusting.’

"Baby, don’t be mad," Gu Tao’s voice was hoarse and urgent. He sounded excited, yet terrified that she was angry with him.

"Don’t touch me again," Jiang Zheyu said, her brows furrowing.

"Why, baby?" Gu Tao gripped her hand tightly, his voice laced with the wounded innocence of a young boy. "Baby, please don’t hate me, okay? Please don’t hate me."

’Who’s the one who should feel wronged here?’

Gu Tao was like a stubborn child. When Jiang Zheyu didn’t answer, he just kept repeating himself, relentlessly, waiting for her to respond.

"Baby, talk to me."

"Baby, don’t ignore me."

"Baby, don’t hate me."

"Baby, please talk to me."

"Baby, I’m begging you..."

...

Jiang Zheyu listened as his clear, youthful voice called her ’baby’ over and over again, each word dripping with grievance.

It was a nice-sounding voice, but after hearing the word ’baby’ so many times, she felt like she was about to forget what it even meant.

"Stop calling me baby," Jiang Zheyu finally said, grabbing his wrist and leaning in close to hiss through gritted teeth.

Gu Tao’s eyes lit up instantly. He leaned closer to Jiang Zheyu, his breath ghosting over the surface of the suit jacket between them.

"Okay, baby." The moment Gu Tao felt her move toward him, his blood began to sing with excitement. It was like an electric current was coursing through him, leaving him trembling and thrilled.

As if unable to restrain himself, he pressed his cheek against hers, the fabric of the suit jacket the only thing separating them.

Jiang Zheyu felt the pressure of another cheek against her own.

Realizing what was happening, she scrambled backward, planting her palm firmly on the chest that pursued her. "Stay away from me."

"Baby, why?" Gu Tao covered the back of her hand with both of his, pressing it gently against his chest. "I like you, baby. Don’t hate me."

Jiang Zheyu: ...

’It’s like we’re on completely different wavelengths.’ Whatever she said, he seemed to twist into something else entirely.

Jiang Zheyu was both exasperated and disheartened.

Suddenly, the entire Starship lurched violently. Gu Tao immediately pulled Jiang Zheyu’s head into his chest, shielding her.

’The Starship is under attack by the Imperial Army!’

"The Imperial Army’s caught up to us!"

"The Starship is damaged! We have to make an emergency landing on the nearest planet!"

"AAAAAHHH!"

As the Starship shook violently, shrill alarms blared. Red lights flashed erratically. The cacophony was now punctuated by screams as the entire ship seemed to lose gravity.

Gu Tao held Jiang Zheyu’s head against his chest, hovering over her to shield her from being jostled by the crowd or getting hurt in the chaos.

Feeling the warmth of his body as he held her tightly, Jiang Zheyu’s chaotic thoughts paused for just a moment.

After a period of rapid acceleration, the ship came to a sudden, jarring halt.

Inertia threw everyone to one side. Jiang Zheyu was no exception, flung away from the wall. But Gu Tao, shielding her, didn’t budge an inch, and her face was pressed even deeper into his chest.