Chapter 54: Go on, I just love to watch you dogs tear each other apart

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Go on, I just love to watch you dogs tear each other apart

Subordinates came to report one by one.

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, no anomalies!"

"Commander-in-Chief, no anomalies!"

"No anomalies!"

No anomalies...

A suspicious look crossed Yerman’s face as he murmured, "This can’t be right. Did we receive false intelligence?"

One or two reports would be one thing, but over a thousand people reported sightings of Star Thieves in Luoxing Port at virtually the same time.

The Federation’s First Commander had personally led his most elite team here to investigate, yet they hadn’t found a single trace of any Star Thieves.

This was all just too strange!

Qin Shiwei’s thin lips were pressed into a firm line, his gaze dark and his expression chillingly cold.

Yerman felt a sudden sense of foreboding at the sight.

After so many years at the Commander-in-Chief’s side, he knew that there was nothing the man despised more than faulty intelligence.

It was a false military report during the Battle of Ice City that had led to the Federation Army suffering such devastating casualties...

"Search thoroughly."

The simple command carried an unseen pressure, making the Star Warriors of the armed forces tense up, not daring to relax for even a moment.

In addition to the laborers from the Outer Star System, the Federation citizens visiting Luoxing Port for leisure also became subjects of the investigation.

Shu Yao and her son stood in line together to register.

In line, the little bun raised a small hand and pointed, his childish voice tinged with confusion.

"Mama, that stinky, arrogant guy smells just like that nasty person!"

Shu Yao quickly pulled his hand down.

She knew who the "stinky, arrogant guy" her little bun meant was, and she also knew who he meant by the "nasty person."

But it seemed her little Zaizai hadn’t realized that the two he was talking about were actually the same person!

Shu Yao sighed like a world-weary mother.

’This little guy’s intelligence is a bit concerning,’ she thought. ’I’m starting to suspect he was a freebie I got for topping up my phone plan, not my actual biological son...’

"Sweetie, I think your nose might be broken," Shu Yao said, trying to throw him off. "Let Mama take a look."

She took the opportunity to wipe the fishy smell from her hands onto her son’s nose.

’My baby, please forgive Mama!’

’Mama just doesn’t want you to know yet that your dad is a very important man!’

To prove there was nothing wrong with his nose, Xiao Juzi leaned in close to his mother and sniffed her vigorously.

"You still smell the best, Mama!"

Shu Yao pinched his cheek. The little bun had gotten so thin after being sick; the baby fat on his face was nearly gone.

Shu Yao’s heart ached a little.

"When we get back, Mama will make you something delicious! You have to eat up, okay?"

"And get all plump!" Xiao Juzi beamed, his face as round and happy as a fluffy steamed bun.

"Sister Shu, I didn’t know you could cook!" a clear voice rang out from nearby, sounding very surprised.

Shu Yao looked over and saw it was Lin Zhenxiang. She wasn’t surprised in the least.

The girl next to Lin Zhenxiang, Zhang Xiaoxiao, scoffed. "Xiangxiang, don’t make me laugh! How could *she* possibly know how to cook? An abandoned girl who grew up in a junkyard—what would she cook with? Garbage?"

Her words were met with a wave of derisive laughter.

Xiao Juzi huffed angrily, "Don’t you laugh at my mama! My mama’s cooking is super yummy!"

Zhang Xiaoxiao laughed. "How could food made from trash possibly taste good? Anyone who thinks trash is delicious has clearly never tasted a real delicacy!"

Lin Zhenxiang smiled. "Sister Shu, when I have time, I can make a few of my signature dishes for you and your son."

She acted as if her cooking were the most exquisite cuisine in the world.

Shu Yao refused with a cold smile. "There’s no need. I’m afraid your food might upset my son’s stomach again."

Lin Zhenxiang’s expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly recovered and explained with composure, "Sister Shu, I have already made a promise to the Empress. I will give everyone an explanation about the food ingredients very soon."

’What does her promise to the Empress have to do with me and my son!’

"That’s completely irrelevant," Shu Yao scoffed, turning away from her.

’I see now,’ Shu Yao realized. ’This so-called young miss of the Lin Family loves putting herself on a pedestal and looking down on everyone and everything she deems beneath her.’

"Bleh!" Xiao Juzi stuck out his tongue and made a face.

At this, Lin Zhenxiang’s expression soured again.

Zhang Xiaoxiao deliberately raised her voice. "The lowlifes from the Lower Star District have no class!"

"You think we people from the Lower Star District are smelly and dirty? Then what does that make you, who love buzzing around us, desperate for attention? Flies?"

Shu Yao sneered.

’She could tolerate them insulting her, but insulting her son was out of the question!’

Zhang Xiaoxiao glared at her. "Who are you calling a fly!?"

"Buzzing again, are we? Worried people won’t know there are maggots breeding in your mouth?" With that, Shu Yao shot her a glance, ignored her reaction, and, holding her son, moved up with the line.

"You..." Zhang Xiaoxiao started to go after her, but stopped the next second, suddenly realizing that chasing after them really did make her no different from a fly that likes to lay eggs in trash.

She gritted her teeth and glared daggers at the backs of the mother and son.

Seeing her reaction, Lin Zhenxiang hid the glint of delight in her eyes and stepped forward, feigning consolation. "Xiaoxiao, just forget it. There’s no need to stoop to her level. It makes it look like we’re targeting her and might give people the wrong idea."

"The wrong idea?" Zhang Xiaoxiao found that hilarious. "Does she think she’s some kind of big shot now just because she’s schmoozing with the elite?"

She didn’t notice Lin Zhenxiang’s expression become slightly unnatural upon hearing her words.

A careless word can prick a guilty conscience.

Even though she knew Zhang Xiaoxiao’s barb wasn’t aimed at her, Lin Zhenxiang still felt a pang of discomfort.

A calculating glint flashed in Zhang Xiaoxiao’s eyes.

She vowed, "Just you wait! I’ll make sure everyone sees that woman’s true colors!"

Lin Zhenxiang could already imagine how miserably that trashy woman would be tormented by her new sycophant. A flicker of malicious glee flashed in her seemingly pure and harmless eyes.

When Zhang Xiaoxiao wasn’t looking, Lin Zhenxiang approached Shu Yao and asked with feigned timidity and curiosity,

"Sister Shu, have you done something to offend Xiaoxiao? You should be careful." She pressed her lips together, her voice laced with feigned uncertainty. "She might... do something to hurt you."

Shu Yao let out a dry laugh.

"You tried so hard and couldn’t do a thing to me. You really think she’s in a higher league than you?"

Lin Zhenxiang’s expression immediately darkened.

Shu Yao gave her a knowing smile, then bypassed her and called out loudly to Zhang Xiaoxiao, "Zhang Xiaoxiao, right? This Miss Lin here just told me to watch out for you. I thought you two were such good friends. I guess you’re just ’plastic friends,’ huh!"

Zhang Xiaoxiao stared at Lin Zhenxiang in disbelief.

Lin Zhenxiang’s expression right now was a sight to behold.

Neither of them spoke, but the tension between them was clearly about to snap.

Shu Yao gave the sullen Lin Zhenxiang a look that clearly said, ’Off you go.’

"Go on. I love watching you two tear each other apart."

Lin Zhenxiang’s face went pale with fury.

Her fingers dug into her palm.

’Why does this trashy woman... refuse to play by the script!?’

"Xiangxiang, what is the meaning of this!?" Zhang Xiaoxiao grabbed Lin Zhenxiang’s shoulder, her face contorted with the fury of betrayal. "I only targeted that trashy woman because of you! And you turn around and play the saint!?"

"Will you stop talking nonsense!" Lin Zhenxiang was furious, and her voice was strained from trying to control it. "We can talk about this later. Don’t make a scene here!"

With that, she glanced in a certain direction.

Zhang Xiaoxiao’s gaze followed, and when it landed on a tall, imposing figure, her eyes instantly burned with a fervent, almost crazed, intensity.

’The Federation’s First Commander is here!’

’She couldn’t lose her composure in front of the man she desired!’

Soon, it was Shu Yao’s and Xiao Juzi’s turn to register.

But the registration officer said, "Beastmen and Purebreds must register separately."

Shu Yao said, "Then I’ll take my son to register first."

"You may," the registration officer informed her coolly, "but you are a Purebred. After you exit the temporary registration area for Beastmen, you will have to get back in line to complete your own registration."

"Huh?" Shu Yao grumbled, then pleaded, "Officer, can’t you make an exception?"

She and her son had already been waiting in line for a very long time.

Besides, her younger uncle was still waiting for them outside Luoxing Port. He was probably getting anxious by now.

The deadpan registration officer refused in a formulaic tone, "Sorry, those are the rules."

Xiao Juzi patted Shu Yao’s hand. "Mama, I can go by myself!"

"Are you sure?" Shu Yao had little faith in his ability to be independent.

"Yep!" The little guy put on a serious face like a tiny adult and gave a solemn nod.

"Alright then," Shu Yao said, still apprehensive. "After the officers finish your registration, you wait for Mama right at the entrance to that office. Don’t go anywhere, understand?"

The little furball wagged his fluffy tail a couple of times, and his little mouth split into a devastatingly cute grin.

"I got it!"