Chapter 40: Friends, Huh?

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Friends, Huh?

Having used her wit to get herself out of trouble, Shu Yao was now the center of attention.

Every gaze that fell upon her was filled with shock, surprise, and even disbelief.

This woman, so confident and composed she seemed to radiate light, bore no resemblance to the rabble from the Lower Star District. Her aloof, noble bearing seemed innate.

"This should just about wrap things up," Shu Yao said, brushing her bangs aside. "I won’t ask the Empress for justice or to clear my name. Nor will I use the media to retaliate against anyone. After all, unlike certain people who love to waste public resources, I much prefer to—

—defeat inferior, low-grade magic with truly Advanced Magic!"

She placed a silver fork in the glass of red wine in front of Lin Zhenxiang.

Handle down, tines up.

The outer two tines of the fork had been bent, leaving only the middle one standing straight and firm. The entire fork now resembled the crude gesture of a middle finger.

The gesture was aimed at Lin Zhenxiang, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Lin.

Lin Yaodong’s face turned livid with rage!

Zhen Zhen completely lost her composure, shrieking, "You say we colluded with an interstellar hacker? What proof do you have?! Stop right there! Explain yourself!"

Shu Yao paid her no mind. With a dismissive wave, she strode coolly through the crowd and made her exit without a backward glance.

Zhen Zhen started to chase after her, but was stopped by Yudola’s polite yet firm voice:

"Mrs. Lin, aren’t you and your daughter going to explain the matter of the hospital surveillance to everyone?"

Zhen Zhen froze in her tracks.

The inevitable had arrived.

The three members of the Lin Family could only remain silent.

Yudola pressed, "Why were the reflections of Mrs. Lin and Miss Lin visible on the monolith in front of the hospital? Didn’t you both claim you weren’t at the hospital on that day, at that specific time?"

Helpless, Zhen Zhen shot a pleading glance at Lin Yaodong, whose face was grim.

Neither of them knew how to respond.

Just then, tears began to stream down Lin Zhenxiang’s face.

Wiping away her tears, she choked out, "Your Majesty the Empress... my parents had nothing to do with this. It was all my idea from start to finish..."

Lin Yaodong remained silent, his gaze fixed on the direction Shu Yao had gone, his expression terrifyingly dark.

##

Once outside, Shu Yao didn’t see Shu Xin, so she started back the way they had come, looking for her.

As she passed a small door, a hand shot out and yanked her inside. The next thing she knew, she had crashed into a man’s chest, and something soft and furry was wrapping tightly around her waist.

A warm, strong tail.

The air smelled of a mixture of cleaning solution and disinfectant, along with the man’s cool, woody scent, reminiscent of pine.

Once she could see again, Shu Yao realized she and the man were in a storage closet. Beside them, two cleaning robots were plugged in and charging.

’To think he’s secretly hiding in some dusty corner... doesn’t he think that’s beneath his dignity as the First Commander?!’

"’Friends,’ hmm?"

The man seemed to be sulking, his rising inflection laced with displeasure. As a light punishment, he nipped her sensitive earlobe, leaving a faint mark. The gesture wasn’t rough, but it was far from gentle.

Shu Yao quickly realized that nothing from the dinner table had escaped this man’s notice. She also understood that he was displeased because, when she presented the purchase records, she had referred to him simply as—

—a "friend."

"Oh, come on. I’m just not used to you being my husband yet." After feeling for a disguise device on the back of his neck and finding none, Shu Yao boldly cupped his face. "Let me see that gorgeous face of yours!"

Forced back by her hands, Qin Shiwei could only look at her with a hint of resignation in his dark green eyes.

Her slender, fair fingers gently touched the bridge of his handsome nose, then brushed across the thin lips from which a sigh had just escaped. Shu Yao was shamelessly taking every advantage she could.

’Her husband is so damn handsome!’

’Who could have known? The big cat she’d randomly picked up in the Lower Star District was actually the symbol of the Interstellar Federation’s absolute authority and ultimate power. The man whose looks were considered the gold standard. He was the high and mighty First Commander, someone countless people could only dream of but never reach!’

"Heh heh heh—"

Lost in her reverie, Shu Yao broke into a dreamy, self-satisfied laugh.

For a moment, Qin Shiwei was mesmerized. His composure began to fray.

"Yaoyao..." His voice was low and raspy with restraint. He asked cautiously, "Can you... spend the rest of the night with me?"