He reached out to gently stir the purple glutinous rice with a spoon, revealing a small pumpkin hidden within. It looked tender and soft, with a lovely pink hue.
After taking a bite with a frown, Huo Ting confirmed his suspicion once again.
This porridge was really pure, nearly devoid of any radiation impurities.
Such food quality far exceeded the standard daily meal specifications.
After all, in the interstellar era, the heightened cosmic radiation had caused various plants and animals to mutate, leading to a significant surge in the cost of regular food.
As a result, nutrient solution became the mainstream food choice. It wasn’t because people enjoyed drinking them but because they were cheap, safe, and convenient.
Having access to such radiation-free food on a daily basis was considered an extreme luxury in this era.
Even at home, Huo Ting had only instructed that the food provided to little Huo Yan be ensured to be the highest-grade, low-radiation products.
While Huo Ting frowned, a knock came from the door.
“Hmm, it smells so good…”
As soon as Secretary Hals entered, he immediately caught the aroma of the porridge on the table.
The higher a person’s mental strength, the sharper their perception of their surroundings. This high-purity, radiation-free “clean” food was irresistibly enticing in the current environment.
“Did they make such a nice late night snack tonight? You should finish it while you’re at it.”
“After all, if the Empire found out you were always drinking nutrient solution with the rest of us, they might think the Federation government was on the verge of bankruptcy.”
Secretary Hals joked, clearly aware that Huo Ting typically didn’t bother with such meals.
However, this time, Huo Ting only remained silent for a moment, then he ate the porridge spoonful by spoonful.
After all, wasting such a dish would indeed be inappropriate.
But as he left the study after finishing his tasks, Huo Ting glanced at Secretary Hals next to him and spoke up.
“Tell Qiao Ni and the others not to make anything like this again in the future.”
“Understood.”
Although Secretary Hals verbally agreed, he rarely considered defying orders. In fact, he thought it might be a good idea to have Qiao Ni and the others prepare more dishes like this and send them over daily.
After all, now that they were home, why should things remain as rough as in the front-line military camps?
Meanwhile, Yu Mian and the system burst into cheers as they watched Huo Ting and Secretary Hals leave.
[Ahhh, we did it again! Host, the task is truly complete!]
[Ding—Daily task completion confirmed!]
[This task’s reward can cover 30 days of rent and internet fees!]
[The quality of the props made by the tasker are rated S-grade! Side task unlocked: Have the target consume your cooking three times to receive a random lucky bag reward!]
Unexpectedly, another side task was triggered this time.
“What does ‘S-grade quality’ mean?”
Yu Mian looked at the task prompt with some confusion.
[Maybe it means the food you made was really delicious! Even the secretary commented on how fragrant it smelled!]
And back in the kitchen, little Huo Yan had eaten three bowls in a row, his stomach practically bulging.
“Hmph, my cooking skills are still pretty good.”
Seeing his work so highly praised by the system, Yu Mian couldn’t help but feel elated.
In his past life, whenever he cooked, it had always been a pity there was no one to share it with. At most, he’d take photos and post them online.
Now, having so many admirers made him feel pretty good.
[Shall we try completing the side task?]
The system was eager, but Yu Mian recognized the potential risks.
“Isn’t there a big chance we might get caught?”
Completing this task had already involved significant risks.
But compared to the risk of being forcibly removed from the plot if the task failed, trying to complete it was definitely the better option.
[Uh… that does seem reasonable. Should we skip it, then?]
The system reconsidered the issue after hearing Yu Mian’s point.
“Maybe we can try later? After all, the side task doesn’t seem to have a time limit.”
Yu Mian thought it over and finally made a decision.
He was a little tempted by the random reward.
But for now, it was unnecessary to take further risks by completing the task too frequently. Doing so would significantly increase the chances of being exposed.
Although, even if he were discovered, it wasn’t like Huo Ting would do anything drastic…
After all, he’d never harmed him in any way. Every task he completed could even be considered a “good deed”.
The more Yu Mian thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. He felt that his life was really hard
So, the next day, when Huo Ting subconsciously glanced at the late night snack on the desk, he found that the food had indeed reverted to its usual standard.
The fragrant porridge from last night seemed like nothing more than a fleeting illusion.
Upon realizing this, Secretary Hals sighed internally.
Surely, it wasn’t because he had neglected to pass the word to Qiao Ni, so the boss personally issued the command again?
He really left no room for compromise.
Nonetheless, the workload quickly drew Secretary Hals’s attention away.
“This mission may not be dangerous, but it’s particularly sensitive. When the two representatives tour the central star’s famous landmarks and buildings, special care must be taken to avoid causing panic among the residents…”
After all, the armed escorts accompanying the representatives weren’t just there to protect the two Bart Clan representatives. Instead, their presence was to prevent anyone from accidentally provoking those two calamities, which might lead to some unforeseen catastrophe.
The visit and exchange with the Bart clan this time were, in fact, still being kept confidential from the general public.
Huo Ting nodded slightly at the words, clearly agreeing with Hals’ perspective.
Although, by convention, this type of task would not typically be assigned to Huo Ting.
However, after temporarily picking up Huo Ying and his wife on their last return, Huo Ting had remained the only legion commander stationed on the central star. Thus, he voluntarily took on this assignment as part of his routine patrols.
But for some reason, Huo Ting subconsciously glanced toward the aquarium not far away.
The golden conch shell still lay quietly on the creamy-white fine sand, and the little fish inside, unsurprisingly, stayed hidden, seemingly resting peacefully.
Its gauze-like tail swayed gently with the rippling water.
“Ah, it must be nice to be a fish—no need for work, just lying in a tank and sleeping all day,” Hals commented when he noticed Huo Ting’s gaze and, seeing the sleeping Yu Mian, couldn’t help but smile and sigh.
Huo Ting said nothing in response, simply closing the file in his hand and handing it to Hals beside him.
In fact, Yu Mian was merely conserving energy for the day he could finally leave the aquarium. He had decided that, for as long as Huo Ting was home and he couldn’t write, he’d spend his time sleeping in the aquarium.
This was undoubtedly the best way to minimize unnecessary mental power consumption.
How could he not look forward to getting out, even if it meant missing out on some news?
Had Yu Mian been awake, he would’ve realized that the day Huo Ting was set to accompany the Bart clan to tour the central star coincided perfectly with Huo Yan’s parent-teacher meeting!
Meanwhile, on the star network, the recently unveiled guest list for the Huanyu Rising Star Project had sparked growing excitement among readers across the galaxy.
[This year’s event content is so rich, and the prizes are incredible. Is Huanyu going all out this time?]
[Exactly! I must grab a spot in the online Q&A session!]
[Ugh, me too! I really want to ask if Caesar can really keep Gu Bai at the graduation ceremony! I can’t stand the idea of those lovebirds being separated [crying]. Caesar, this stupid bastard, it’s so miserable planning a doomed proposal it’s was heartbreaking!]
In the comment section of the Huanyu Platform official account, countless readers of “Contract Marriage” eagerly awaited a special feature for Yu Mian’s pen name.
After all, as a debut author, Yu Mian’s success had been unparalleled among this year’s newcomers, leaving no doubt in readers’ minds that he would attend the event.
Naturally, readers began debating the plot when they gathered together, leading to inevitable disagreements.
[The one above, I don’t think you should waste your Q&A opportunity. If Caesar actually hinders Gu Bai’s career, he’ll be scolded to death. I fully support Gu Bai chasing his dreams!]
[Exactly! And he only has himself to blame. Where was this consideration when he was being hurtful before? I’m mad!]
[That said, Caesar’s impending downfall is kind of tragic. My second-hand embarrassment is flaring up…]
Since the last reader torture plot where Caesar was misunderstood, the interstellar readers have sensed a foreboding escalation in the drama, leaving them both excited and anxious.
The climax of the book—when the couple’s contract officially ends and they divorce—had been anticipated for countless chapters since the very beginning.
No one had expected Caesar, initially an arrogant and overbearing figure, to develop into such a richly complex character. Readers found themselves loving and hating him simultaneously.
Even after discovering the truth behind the million star coins misunderstanding, Caesar’s attempts to make amends were hindered by his inability to express himself. He tragically lost his rightful recognition, with the credit stolen by a supporting character.
These developments gradually shifted readers’ perception of Caesar. Though they still found him infuriating, many also found him pitiful and, strangely, endearing.
Was Caesar detestable? Absolutely. There were plenty of moments where he was exasperating.
But was it really necessary for him to suffer complete heartbreak at Gu Bai’s decision to study abroad as would be revealed during the graduation ceremony?
Well… that did seem a bit harsh. QAQ
Moreover, the pleas of countless “Caesar stans” in the comment sections—begging the author to quickly address Caesar’s injustice—had not only not only failed to affect the plot written by the author, but made the situation take a turn for the worse.
Because one night, Gu Bai finally decided to reply to his mentor’s star-mail, confirming his acceptance to the program. Yet he still struggled with how to break the news to Caesar.
He wondered if his hesitation was unnecessary, suspecting Caesar wouldn’t care about his post-contract plans.
He might even sneer and say, “What does that have to do with me?”
In truth, Caesar had been busy and mysteriously lately because he was preparing a surprise for the graduation ceremony.
He envisioned turning the occasion into a celebration of their one-year wedding anniversary.
He had even meticulously planned a luxurious starship candlelight dinner in advance! Not only was the private starship adorned with flowers and various decorations, a renowned chef was invited and asked to tailor the menu to Gu Bai’s tastes.
On the big day, the spaceship would land directly in the large square in front of the auditorium under the watchful eyes of everyone, ready to whisk him and Gu Bai away into the galaxy’s sparkling depths.
Under the witness of countless stars, Caesar would pledge eternal companionship.
This extremely domineering and extravagant gesture of a classic domineering CEO character stunned interstellar readers unfamiliar with such tropes.
Caesar’s extremely exaggerated and domineering methods in the book stunned the interstellar readers who had never read any serious novels about domineering bosses.
Who expected that a proposal between two protagonists of a novel could be so dramatically grand and breathtaking?
It could only be only said that this was simply too domineering, too bold, and too Caesar-like.
During the fiery serialization of “Contract Marriage” , the name “Caesar” became a buzzword among young people across the galaxy, even evolving into a metaphor of sorts.
But precisely because of this, the more readers with an omniscient perspective watched Caesar’s painstaking preparations, the more their emotions became more conflicted, strange and restless.
After all, his wife Gu Bai was planning to leave for further studies in a distant galaxy right after the graduation performance. What a fool!
One was planning a wedding anniversary celebration, while the other was preparing for the end of their contract and a divorce.
This intense clash of perspectives had readers caught in the middle, unable to stop reading despite the heartache.
It was for this reason that the Rising Star Project, launched by Huanyu Reading Platform just as the climax of the plot was approaching, undoubtedly became an activity that readers were extremely looking forward to.
Many wished they could directly ask the author what would happen next.
[Caesar spent so much money—is it all going to waste? And if Gu Bai really leaves, wouldn’t Caesar end up with nothing? Not even his wife?]
[And will Gu Bai ever come back? Or will he end up with another male supporting character?]
A flood of such questions could fill Huanyu’s inbox in mere seconds!
Yet, as Huanyu Reading Platform continued to reveal its guest list, Yu Mian’s pen name remained conspicuously absent. Frustrated, the waiting readers became restless.
[I’m desperate! I’ve been waiting for days. Why haven’t you released “Contract Marriage”? Are you planning to make it the finale?]
[Same here! My legs are going numb from squatting qwq. Huanyu, hurry up! I’ve already written hundreds of words for the author, and you won’t even post them?!]
[Could it be that Huanyu, this crappy company, missed our author’s name on the list?!]
“Deputy Editor, it’s happening again. Readers are calling to ask if Contract Marriage’s author is attending or not. How should we respond?”
The fighting power of Contract Marriage’s fanbase was legendary within Huanyu’s editorial department. It was relentless and persistent.
“Just tell them to wait a little longer. Say the announcements are being released gradually…”
The deputy editor sighed, deeply troubled by the situation. Because the editor responsible for contacting the author, Shax, insisted that confirmation of the author’s attendance would only come later that afternoon.
“Shax, can’t you persuade the author to attend? Who wouldn’t want to appear at an awards ceremony? The exposure alone is priceless!”
Seeing the eager readers online, the deputy editor couldn’t help but hope Shax could convince the author to make an appearance.
Even just showing up could cause a significant surge in popularity.
After all, “Contract Marriage” played an indispensable role in generating the buzz surrounding this year’s Rising Star Project.
If both the book and its author were absent, the event would undoubtedly lose some of its shine.
“I promise, I’ll have an answer for you this afternoon. I’ll do my best one last time,” Shax replied, clutching his carefully prepared gift box with nervousness and excitement.
A few weeks ago, he had received an unexpected meeting request, and was more shocked than anyone.
To his astonishment, the mysterious “Fish Soup Noodles” would actually make a big move and show up in person near the Huanyu Tower.
And so, during today’s lunch break, he would sneak out to the nearby cafe downstairs and finally meet his elusive author for the first time.
However, the other party had specifically instructed him not to inform anyone about this meeting.
“Does this mean Fish Soup Noodles still refuses to attend the award ceremony and live broadcast?”
“Could there really be a change after today’s meeting?”
Among the editorial team, discussions about Yu Mian’s reluctance to attend had become even more heated than among the readers.
Rumors swirled—some speculated that the author, hailing from a remote star system, was naturally timid and afraid of public appearances, so he couldn’t step on the award podium
Others suggested that their image might not align with readers’ expectations, and they didn’t want to ruin the fantasy.
Shax felt uncomfortable as he overheard these baseless rumors. Although it goes without saying that the source of these negative rumors must be those sour senior editors.
Even so, he couldn’t entirely refute them.
After all, he himself found it puzzling why his author would reject such a golden opportunity.
It was such a wonderful chance, with readers eagerly anticipating it. Why refuse?
Perhaps the answers would come during the lunch meeting.
Clutching his carefully prepared gift box, Shax anxiously watched the clock, feeling as though time had never moved so slowly.
Meanwhile, Yu Mian, after being led out of the old estate by Huo Yan, had changed clothes in the restroom and carefully knocked on the door.
“I’m ready to come out now.”
“That was quick! Are you all set?”
Huo Yan, who was keeping watch outside, jumped to his feet excitedly at the sound. A moment later, the door creaked open.
“How do I look? Does it seem strange?”
Yu Mian still felt a bit out of place—it had been so long since he’d worn such normal clothing. He adjusted his hat self-consciously.
As he hadn’t had a haircut in a long time, his slightly overgrown bangs down beside his ears, making his already delicate facial features under the brim of the hat even more androgynous.
Under the long lashes, his amber eyes shimmered faintly, as though touched by soft moonlight.
Meeting his gaze, it was hard not to be mesmerized.
“Not strange at all! You look amazing. Can I hold your hand when we go to school?”
After being stunned for several seconds, Huo Yan could barely contain his joy. It was almost as if flowers were blooming all over his body. Holding onto his backpack strap with one hand, he solemnly took Yu Mian’s hand with the other.
He hadn’t expected Yu Mian to look this good even in human clothing.
Even his scent was so good!
“Ahem… it’s not that exaggerated,” Yu Mian felt a little embarrassed by Huo Yan’s endless praise as they squeezed past each other.
In the morning, he would attend the parent-teacher conference, and in the afternoon, he would finally be free to meet the editor.
“So, I’m pretending to be a distant cousin?”
On the way out of the restroom, Yu Mian subconsciously confirmed with Huo Yan again.
“Yes, yes, cousin!”
‘Ah, if only Yu Mian were really my cousin.’
‘He is so handsome, has such a great personality, and can even cook delicious meals. How nice it would be to have such a cousin!’
Huo Yan held onto Yu Mian’s hand, getting more excited with each thought and bouncing along the way.
Watching the cheerful little bundle by his side, Yu Mian couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle Huo Yan’s hair.
“By the way, why didn’t your cousin come today?”
“Oh, today’s our lucky day! My cousin got called away on a mission! Then I begged my parents to let Qiao Ni, who’s been wanting to visit her hometown, take time off, so we switched to a new nanny I’m not very familiar with.”
Huo Yan couldn’t resist sharing his genius plan with Yu Mian.
‘So he is on a mission…’ Yu Mian pondered. ‘What a coincidence.’
But as the two of them approached the school gate, a sudden scream rang out from the distance.
Looking over, it turned out that a mischievous little boy had climbed up to the rooftop while his parents weren’t looking. But he lost his footing and suddenly plummeted downward!
Yu Mian subconsciously tried to rush forward to catch him, but no matter how hard he tried, the distance was too great. He could only watch helplessly as the figure fell right before his eyes!
“Whoosh…”
At that critical moment, a shadow swept through the air and caught the little boy just in time.
“Thank goodness, he’s safe! Wait, wings?!”
Yu Mian exhaled in relief, but after a moment of shock, he realized he seemed to have seen a mysterious scene.
Someone was flying in mid-air?!
No, he had traveled through time. He was in an interstellar era. Maybe some species had black wings!
Yu Mian, who once again intuitively realized that he was no longer on Earth, once again looked at the figure who caught the child not far away.
“Wah—”
The little boy, obviously terrified, was bawling his eyes out, while the small figure who saved him seemed unsure of how to handle the situation.
“Oh my goodness, black wings!? Angel, are you alright?!”
The boy’s parents finally noticed the commotion, and the scene immediately caused an uproar of everyone around
After all, the striking black bat-like wings spread wide in the air made Lilith impossible to ignore.
“A… Bart Clan?! A Bart Clan member is here on the central star to eat kids?! Oh my god!”
The terrified screams shattered the peace of the campus.
And Lilith’s childish appearance, paired with her mature and composed demeanor, created an eerie contradiction that only heightened the unease around her.
It was as if an antique doll from the medieval era had suddenly come to life!
Yet, despite the panic, blame, and hostility surrounding her, Lilith remained expressionless as she observed it all.
But it was precisely this extraordinary calmness that unsettled the crowd even more.
“Wait a minute! She saved the boy. Calm down, everyone!”
Yu Mian, who had seen everything unfold, couldn’t understand the hostility. He grabbed Lilith, shielding her from being shoved around, and held her protectively in his arms.
But as soon as he touched her, Yu Mian shivered violently.
Her body felt ice-cold, as if she had no warmth at all!
‘It really was a bit creepy…’
O皿O
‘What on earth am I holding onto?’
‘Wait, did those people just scream something about a Bart Clan?!’
“Yes, yes, I saw it too! This little sister with wings saved the boy!”
Huo Yan, who was running over at a rapid speed, also realized the problem instantly and explained it to the crowd in a very loud voice.
“Hey, can you stop crying! Speak up and explain what happened!”
Pointing at the boy still bawling in his parents’ arms, Huo Yan was on the verge of exploding with frustration.
However, being scolded by Huo Yan, the boy wailed even louder.
But seeing Huo Yan, a kid of similar age, boldly standing by Lilith’s side and completely unafraid, the agitated adults were suddenly a little doubtful.
Just as the chaos threatened to spiral to a larger area, several strong mental powers swept over the area, instantly sealing it off.
“Oh my goodness, Miss, how could you run off like this?”
The Bart Clan butler arrived in a panic.
Huo Yan looked up on hearing the butler’s voice but suddenly froze in terror when he saw a familiar figure.
“Cousin?!”
Meanwhile, Yu Mian already felt his brain short-circuiting.
What was happening? How could things go so wrong the moment he stepped outside…
—
A few minutes later—
Inside the school’s conference room, after the school leader and the escort team resolved the incident, Huo Ting finally had a moment to glance at the two people, one adult and one child, who were sitting on pins and needles.
To be precise, it was now three people, including Lilith.
Lilith, who was pulled into Yu Mian’s arms in the chaos, seemed to be quite intrigued by her newfound position.
She had completely taken over Huo Yan’s favorite spot by Yu Mian’s left hand and was sitting quietly beside him.
As a result, Huo Yan, who was watching from a distance, was fuming but was too scared to protest. It felt as if he’d invited a wolf into the house.
‘I helped this person to prove her innocence, so why is she trying to take his place?’
Not only did Yu Mian’s attempts to lower the brim of his hat and avoid attention fail, but he also became the undeniable focus of everyone in the room.
Huo Ting, Secretary Hals, the school leaders, and even Lilith’s butler couldn’t stop staring at him.
“Sign the confidentiality agreement.”
Before Yu Mian could think of an escape plan, Huo Ting handed over a document with a serious expression.
Huo Ting lowered his eyes and looked at the young man in front of him who didn’t even dare to raise his head, and frowned slightly. There was always an indescribable sense of familiarity.
“Don’t worry, this is just a protocol due to the unusual circumstances today. Witnesses are required to sign and abide by related regulations,” Secretary Hals couldn’t help but explain as if to smooth things over, thinking that Yu Mian’s reaction was because he was frightened.
“Also, thank you for speaking up earlier. It prevented things from escalating further.”
Had any of the overreacting parents gotten too close to Lilith, they might’ve lost more than just their nerve.
You know, had any of the overreacting parents on seeing the Bart clan really touched Lilith, their hands would have been lost directly.
“Alright, understood.”
As for Yu Mian, who had no way to escape, he could only resign himself to his fate and reach out to take the documents and pen, praying frantically that after signing the formalities he could slip away without being noticed.
But the moment he looked up to take the pen with a helpless expression, everyone froze in place.
Because…
In the earlier chaos, no one had noticed that this “startled bystander” was so good-looking?!
