11 Please, I beg you.
Stan Star, Huimin City.
The moment they landed, the three of them collectively exhaled in relief.
They were courteously settled into a reception room, where a slender, refined middle-aged man exchanged polite greetings. Casually, he brought up the incident on the Abyssal Star. The two men spoke honestly, straightforwardly recounting everything and were then released. Only Bu Hui was asked to stay behind.
Turning back anxiously, they saw Bu Hui waving at them with a radiant smile.
“Wait for me back home; you still owe me a meal.”
“...”
Leit pressed his lips together and pulled Wen Luer away from the reception room.
Bu Hui turned back.
Now the real conversation was about to begin, and she dared not relax for even a moment.
The man before her was someone she had seen before—when the mayor visited the logistics department, he followed right behind, appearing no more than an ordinary assistant, yet his gaze was sharp and unwavering.
He was the mayor’s secretary, and this conversation was certainly under the mayor’s directive.
“Let me get straight to the point.”
The secretary pulled out a chair and sat directly opposite her, his smile gentle.
“You’ve met Xin Chi, haven’t you?”
Bu Hui nodded. “I haven’t told anyone about this.”
Earlier, the secretary had probed Leit and the others several times to confirm their genuine ignorance before letting them go. Had Bu Hui been careless and revealed the truth then, they would never have been allowed back into Huimin City for the rest of their lives.
They still didn’t know that Bu Hui had saved their lives twice.
“On behalf of the government, we deeply appreciate your discretion,” the secretary admired this clever and quick-witted woman before him. “I’m afraid this matter must remain confidential for quite some time. We are actively pursuing Xin Chi, and any leaks would jeopardize the operation.”
“I understand.” Bu Hui nodded.
“May I ask about what happened after you saw Xin Chi?”
She recounted the carefully rehearsed version, exactly as Wen Baxi had told her: how pirates captured her, interrogated her about being a government spy, and how she took advantage of their drunken revelry to sneak into the rear cabin, steal a ship, reprogram it, and escape.
The secretary was skeptical and questioned her on several details, each of which Bu Hui answered consistently.
The pirates suspected her of being a spy but, unable to extract anything, deliberately created an opportunity to release her as a test to gauge the official response.
It all made perfect sense and reflected their known modus operandi.
The secretary scrutinized Bu Hui’s expressions carefully.
Her words were clear and clever—though how clever exactly—
Suddenly, Bu Hui raised her hand.
“There’s a question I’ve wanted to ask for a long time. Do you have the authority to make promises?”
The secretary was momentarily taken aback, then smiled.
“That depends on what you want.”
Her previously clever disguise suddenly shattered, revealing naked desire in her eyes.
“Help me dissolve the match with Xin Chi—I want no further ties to that damned criminal. Also, help me get promoted to the Maintenance Department. I want a stable and prosperous life.”
Such base, petty desires from such a lowly civilization were almost laughable.
The secretary’s suspicion ran deep but was finally filled with the truth she exposed, and he raised an eyebrow in delight.
“Though your requests are many, fortunately, the honorable mayor is generous and kind; perhaps he can fulfill these conditions.”
They had planned all along to use these benefits to silence her.
The mismatch in her pairing with that fellow was also something they were working to resolve.
The secretary was nearly amused by her foolish presumption. His throat tickled, and after a few soft coughs, he assumed a stern tone.
“You should know what you must do, then.”
Bu Hui smiled ingratiatingly.
“Rest assured, sir! I’m very tight-lipped!”
The deal concluded satisfactorily, the secretary finally summoned the guards and told her to patiently await the outcome at home in a few days.
Her expression relaxed slightly as she thanked them.
As she stood up, pushing her chair back, the secretary suddenly spoke with concern.
“That large-scale assault must have frightened you terribly. Be sure to rest well at home.”
Bu Hui looked surprised.
“What?”
“...”
Seeing the genuine shock and confusion on her face, the secretary smiled.
“It’s nothing. It’s good you weren’t caught up in it.”
***
Bu Hui scratched her head in puzzlement, quickly recovering a cheerful expression. She grabbed the secretary’s sleeve, tearfully thanking him with a torrent of meaningless words. The secretary barely concealed his impatience and called the guards to escort her away.
After she left, the secretary turned and entered the office behind the door.
The mayor sat regally, reclining on an expensive black leather sofa, smoking a cigar and deep in thought.
“Well?”
The secretary gave a candid report.
“She truly wasn’t involved in that battle. The general’s dealings remain undisclosed. A lowly civilization, but with some ability and courage—though inexperienced, a little knowledge is enough to satisfy.”
The mayor snorted coldly, exhaling a smoke ring.
“Such crude methods were enough to fool my foolish son completely. He even boldly vouched for her! Absurd. He has no idea of the value of his promise!”
“Sir... Master Baxi is still young and needs experience.”
“...”
After a moment’s silence, he ordered,
“It will take some time to fix the matching error. Meanwhile, expedite her requests.”
***
Bu Hui was escorted home by the guards. After sitting for a while, an unbearable dryness suddenly seized her throat. She took a sip of water and realized her hands were trembling.
The cup quivered slightly, splashing water onto her wrist.
“... Damn!”
She was nearly scared to death!
After acting all along, Bu Hui admired her own acting skills, rivaling that of a professional. Especially the secretary’s casual but deadly question at the end—at that instant, she truly thought she was about to die today, never to walk out that door again.
Luckily, she was quick-witted.
Bu Hui wiped away the nonexistent cold sweat with lingering dread.
The mayor and secretary—the masterminds behind that massive extermination—were probably all in cahoots. They wanted Xin Chi’s life, and she was the unfortunate soul inadvertently caught in the storm’s center.
She wanted to live healthily and happily and cared not at all about these schemes.
The mayor was set to be promoted and leave next year; her matching would be dissolved then, and with a large fortune, she could enjoy a comfortable life.
Bu Hui told herself to relax.
In her daydream, her eyes slowly closed, sinking into a baby-like sleep.
She slept soundly through the night.
In the following days, Bu Hui resumed her normal life: working, writing, and after receiving her royalties, she split half with Yuli, sharing the good news that they could move together into Peace City as neighbors.
Yuli hugged her joyfully, tears streaming.
“My dear friend, I’ll serve you loyally for life! Boohoo!”
Across from them, Chen Luo couldn’t help but feel touched for the two. She was grateful to Bu Hui too—when Bu Hui chose her, she stood out among peers and was now editor-in-chief of Huimin Weekend, with greater freedom to select material.
But the priority now was Bu Hui’s new book.
“How’s your ‘Can Cyber Widowhood Produce Virtual Love?’ going? Readers who finished ‘Trouble at the Widow’s Door’ are eagerly awaiting the sequel. The publisher has hyped it up and is just waiting for your final draft!”
“Preparing for proofreading,” Bu Hui said, refreshed after a few days’ rest.
Her boss must have heard the news and suddenly treated her warmly—she reported a work injury, was given a week of paid leave, and promised a promotion to the Maintenance Department upon return.
Everything was going well lately, and with nothing else to do, she wrote fervently.
“That’s wonderful. My year-end bonus depends on you!” Chen Luo clasped her hands happily.
Unfortunately, the Abyssal Star trip was required to remain confidential and couldn’t be made into a novel. Her “Final Act: My First Intimate Encounter with Pirates” truly became her swan song.
Back in Huimin City, Bu Hui found her fanbase had surged again.
She activated her personal account, posting daily updates, hoping to capitalize on the momentum.
Bu Hui raised a finger, ready to announce her big plan.
“I have a new book planned, called—”
[Ding Dong!]
The long-dormant, sinister system alert sounded in her mind.
[It has been one month since your first meeting with your partner. Please proceed to the Civil Affairs Hall to register your marriage.]
[Before registration, to strengthen your bond, the companion system will be forcibly activated. You must pay closer attention to your partner’s feelings and life to ensure a sweeter marriage.]
[Kind reminder: appropriate communication, conversation, hugs, and kisses will enhance your relationship!]
Bu Hui: “...”
Forget it.
Since the match was about to be canceled, she couldn’t be bothered. As for that Xin Chi fellow, he’d probably just choose to throw away his neural implant.
[Kind reminder: daily tasks must be completed. Failure to do so will deduct your credit score, affecting your work, housing, and benefits.]
Bu Hui: “...”
She knew exactly what the credit score meant.
Without enough points, she couldn’t use transportation, and the house she just moved into would be repossessed.
Chen Luo, eager for her new book plan, pressed her impatiently.
“What? Don’t keep me in suspense. Give me good news!”
“I’m going to the restroom first. I’ll tell you when I get back.” Her tone was vague as she drifted away like a ghost.
***
Sin City.
The roar of artillery, the crash of collapsing buildings—the casino was utterly smashed.
Screams of panicked nobles pleading for mercy filled the air, and their men rushed inside seeking their target.
The half-naked casino owner silently dragged himself across the floor, only to have his gem-encrusted hand brutally stomped on by a black military boot.
Looking up, he recognized his assailant’s attire and shrieked in terror, begging for his life.
While pleading, his other hefty hand stealthily moved toward his waist, his eyes flashing with malice.
“Bang!”
A single shot, and blood splattered.
The scene was gruesome and terrifying.
The man tossed aside his expensive leather coat, revealing a sleek silver-gray mech suit hugging his superior figure. Removing transparent goggles and black gloves, his golden eyes narrowed. Amid the chaotic battlefield ruins, his restless expression was as mesmerizing as a demon born of hell.
Despite shutting down his neural implant’s connection to the star network, he still received notifications from the Federation’s matching system, which irritated him greatly.
He was about to destroy the implant with a gunshot.
Suddenly, a communication request from the matching system arrived.
The caller ID read: “Spouse.”
“...”
Xin Chi coldly ignored five or six calls before finally answering.
He expected the Blue Star woman to babble nonsense, trying to persuade him to cooperate—an absurd notion.
She’d better be sensible.
Upon connection, Bu Hui’s desperate pleas poured out.
“W-w-w I admit I lied—I’m a liar, a cunning Blue Starer—I lied. Kind Mr. Xin, please help me, save my life! I repent and apologize to you every day! Please show mercy! You’re the most generous and understanding pirate I’ve ever met!”
She choked up, flattering him, promising, begging him not to destroy the implant.
The fierceness with which she confronted him that day was now replaced by weakness.
He despised traps and blackmail above all, but now, for some unknown reason, his irritation at rounding up traitors was subtly eased by her pleading, even stirring a strange sense of pleasure.
“...”
Anything goes?
Xin Chi sneered coldly.
Then sheI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.