Chapter 7: So He Was Forced into an Early Grave Just Like That?

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: So He Was Forced into an Early Grave Just Like That?

The father-daughter duo from the Lin Family took turns trying to make their presence known, but the unflustered Shu Yao shut them down with just a few words, leaving them pale with anger.

Shu Xin absolutely loved it!

"Darling, you’re amazing!"

She had worried that her daughter, after all she’d been through, would feel insecure coming to the Upper Star District. But now, it was clear her daughter was adapting very well.

"Mom, this gown I’m wearing... it must be very expensive, right?"

Shu Yao had a feeling the gown was incredibly valuable. Lin Zhenxiang’s reaction just now was proof enough.

"It’s not *that* expensive," Shu Xin laughed. "I just had a tailor make it using the leftover scraps from the Empress’s gown. Ohoho~"

’My mom’s totally humblebragging.’

Shu Xin adjusted the bow on Shu Yao’s chest. "My daughter is so beautiful. The most expensive, most stunning dress in the world would be fitting for you!"

A warm feeling spread through Shu Yao’s heart.

It had been a long time since anyone had made her feel this kind of warmth. Especially after she’d had to be both a mother and a father, she had all but forgotten that she, too, was once a child with parents.

Thinking of her little furball, a trace of unease pricked at Shu Yao’s heart.

’That little rascal better not cause any trouble at such an important event!’

"Mom, I’m going to check on Xiao Juzi."

’I have no idea where my uncle took the little guy.’

The mother and daughter split up to search.

Soon after, Shu Yao received a text message.

Shu Xin: "Xiao Juzi has an upset stomach. Your uncle took him to the restroom."

Shu Yao sighed like a weary mother.

’This little brat just can’t give me a moment’s peace!’

Realizing she was quite close to the restrooms, Shu Yao headed over.

Seeing a flash of orange at the end of the hallway, she quickened her pace and chased after it.

"Xiao Juzi!" Shu Yao called out in the direction the flash of orange had disappeared. "Didn’t Mommy tell you not to run around before we came?"

Around the corner of the hallway, there was no sign of Xiao Juzi.

There was only an exceptionally eye-catching man in a crisp military uniform.

Shu Yao couldn’t help but stare a little longer. For some reason, this incredibly handsome man felt vaguely familiar.

However, she was in a hurry to find her son, so she pushed the feeling aside.

Just as she was about to walk straight past him, she suddenly heard him speak:

"My Queen?"

"The universally invincible, super-charming little fairy?"

’For such cringey lines to come out of the mouth of such a handsome, masculine man?’

’He must be nuts!’

’What a waste of a pretty face!’

Shu Yao shot him a look of both pity and regret.

Qin Shiwei, in turn, registered the look of a stranger in her eyes.

"Yaoyao, do you really not remember me?" The man’s cool tone carried a hint of displeasure and dissatisfaction.

"Do we know each other?" Shu Yao asked, unconvinced.

The man was divinely handsome, but he carried an overbearing, oppressive aura. His dark, deep emerald eyes held a roguish charm and a chill that no fire could melt. The intimidating power he exuded seemed to be innate.

In short, the man had an unforgettable face.

’If they’d met before, she would’ve remembered—unless there was something wrong with her brain.’

Qin Shiwei pulled off his right white glove. His long fingers went to his collar and gently undid the prim and proper top button of his uniform.

Then the second.

’What is he trying to do?’

Shu Yao took a step back, drawing a firm line. "Let me tell you, I’m a decent person!"

"Perhaps..." Qin Shiwei pulled open his collar, revealing one side of his neck. "This might jog your memory."

Before he’d even finished speaking, Shu Yao saw a large patch of vibrant markings appear on his exposed skin.

Orange with black spots. It was leopard print!

This man was a Beastman!

As his Beastification deepened, his emerald eyes grew darker, deeper, and more captivating.

It was as if a single glance could steal your breath away.

Anyone without powerful spiritual power would be unable to withstand the oppressive aura he emanated.

But Shu Yao seemed unaffected.

"And you are... who, exactly?" She still couldn’t remember.

"..." Qin Shiwei realized his efforts had been useless.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.

Retracting his Beastification, Qin Shiwei narrowed his eyes and said, "You took it upon yourself to have my child, and this is all you remember of the father?"

Shu Yao: "..."

After a few seconds of silence, she raised a hand to block part of her view, carefully studying the lower half of the man’s face.

After a long moment, Shu Yao finally confirmed it.

"Oh, it’s you," she said, lowering her hand. "You’ve cleaned up so nicely I almost didn’t recognize you. After all, you were blind back then."

His embarrassing past brought up, Qin Shiwei grew annoyed, and a dangerous glint colored his emerald eyes.

"If I hadn’t been blind and had remembered what you looked like, it wouldn’t have taken me three years to find you!"

’Where did this guy get his confidence?’

’The Shu Family searched for her for thirteen years and never knew she was in Zone 9.’

The man seemed to see right through her, adding decisively at the end:

"Even hiding in Zone 9 would have been useless!"

’Hiding?’

Shu Yao hadn’t been trying to hide.

Housing prices in the Interstellar Federation were ridiculously high. She was flat broke; it was better to stay comfortably in Zone 9 where she didn’t have to worry about rent.

It was only after having a child that she’d started thinking about leaving Zone 9.

As Shu Yao sized up the man, she noticed he was wearing a high-ranking Commander’s uniform. She quickly put up a heavy mental guard against him, but her expression remained nonchalant.

"You seem like a man of status. You probably don’t want anyone to know you got involved with a woman from the junkyards," Shu Yao said, playing along. "Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul about us. If we meet in the future, we’ll pretend we’re strangers. I won’t say anything about the child, either. If anyone asks, I’ll just say his father passed away."

When she finished, she pressed her lips together and made a little zipping motion.

Qin Shiwei: "..."

’So he was being forced into an early grave?’

"In all these years, you never once thought of looking for me?"

"Nope."

Shu Yao’s unhesitating answer instantly extinguished the spark of hope in his heart, wounding the feelings of longing he had held for her all this time.

A tightness grew in Qin Shiwei’s chest, and his gaze on Shu Yao deepened. He had never had his emotions stirred so easily by anyone.

This woman was an exception!

And by the looks of it, she still didn’t know his true identity.

Qin Shiwei raised his smooth chin proudly. "Let me introduce myself. My surname is Qin."

"Which Qin?" ’In the Interstellar Federation, Qin is a major surname!’

"The one with the purest Beastman bloodline, who can also order the Mainframe to block your son’s residency application." Qin Shiwei raised a playful, deep-set eyebrow, seeming to eagerly await Shu Yao’s reaction. "You tell me, which Qin could that be!"

As expected, Shu Yao did not disappoint him.

"You’re kidding!" She jumped back in fright. "My son’s bloodline is that noble?! Then doesn’t that make you... the legendary heartless, unfeeling war machine who slaughters bugs like they’re nothing!?"

’The Federation’s First Commander... was *this* in her eyes?’

Qin Shiwei’s expression turned impossibly ugly.

"Oh my god!" Shu Yao slapped her forehead and wailed, "How could my son have a father like you!"