Greetings, Governor!

At the Governor's Mansion in Storm Port, the 888th-floor sky restaurant hovered above the clouds; beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay the brilliant interstellar shipping lanes, where starships streaked past like ribbons of light.

Inside the restaurant, crystal chandeliers refracted a warm, golden glow. The long table was draped in a silver-edged cloth with dark patterns, and beside the exquisite alien tableware sat exotic flowers emitting a faint, bioluminescent light. Even the air was filled with the aroma of a blend of top-tier nutrient solutions and rare ingredients.

Tang Ping stood by the dining table himself, watching as Liu Hui and his family of three took their seats with reserved caution.

Since stepping into the interstellar era, this was the first time he had felt such pure trust. Liu Hui had brought his wife and child across more than ten thousand light-years to join him without a moment's hesitation; this heavy burden of reliance warmed his heart.

So, this was what the great human powerhouses meant by "bonds"?

He suddenly understood. Those warriors who sacrificed their lives for their race were not born fearless; they simply had too many people behind them they wished to protect.

"Come, come, we're all family here, don't be so formal!" Tang Ping waved his hand to dismiss the standby maid robots. He picked up the serving chopsticks himself to place a piece of interstellar beast steak, glistening with an amber luster, onto the plate of Liu Hui's wife, and poured a glass of pink-purple Nebula Juice for their six-year-old daughter.

"This beast steak was just shipped in from Bull Star yesterday. It was slow-roasted at a low temperature to preserve the freshest texture. Give it a try."

Afterward, he kept refilling Liu Hui's glass throughout the meal, listening to the man recount his two and a half years of drifting through the stars. From the thrill of being hijacked by space pirates to the excitement of accidentally stumbling onto a primitive planet and facing off against giant insectoids, and then the strange people and events encountered at interstellar transit stations.

Clearly, having experienced so much firsthand, Liu Hui's storytelling was at times impassioned and at others humorous, even drawing Tang Ping in completely.

Interesting.

Just as the conversation was in full swing, light footsteps sounded at the entrance of the restaurant.

Luo Xiaoyu was dressed in a moon-white cultivation suit, her long hair tied up with a jade hairpin. Her cold, aloof temperament instantly quieted the boisterous atmosphere.

She walked up to Liu Hui holding a wine glass, her voice flat but sincere: "Brother Hui, Sister-in-law, I am Tang Ping's wife, Luo Xiaoyu. You've had a hard journey coming from so far away; I toast to you both."

Liu Hui and his wife froze in place, not knowing where to put their hands.

The prestige and dominance of the Luo Family were already well-known throughout the Earth sphere. They hadn't even been qualified to look at the family from afar before, yet now, the direct descendant of the Luo Family was personally toasting them.

Liu Hui's wife was so nervous her fingertips turned white. It wasn't until Luo Xiaoyu finished her drink and turned to leave that she quietly let out a breath, whispering to Liu Hui: "I was so afraid I'd say the wrong thing and cause trouble for Governor Tang."

Seeing their tense expressions, Tang Ping smiled to smooth things over: "Xiaoyu just has a cold temperament, don't mind her. Come, try this 'Stardust Cake', children should like it."

Liu Hui watched as his daughter, with her mother's help, ate the cake until her face was covered in it. With silver sugar frosting on her chubby cheeks and her eyes squinted into crescents, a long-lost sense of stability suddenly welled up in his heart.

He set down his chopsticks, took a deep breath, and stood up with his wine glass: "Brother Ping, I won't say any polite nonsense; it's all in this glass. I want to work for you. From now on, I'll go wherever you point, and I won't hesitate even if it means climbing a mountain of blades or diving into a sea of fire.

I only ask that if I ever meet with an accident, you look after my wife and child. I'll repay you in the next life, even if I have to be your beast of burden!"

As he finished speaking, he tilted his head back and downed the wine in one gulp. The spicy liquid made him cough repeatedly, his face flushing bright red.

Tang Ping, however, suddenly sighed and finished his own drink as well, his brows slightly furrowed: "Brother Hui, there's a piece of good news and a piece of bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Liu Hui was stunned for a moment, then gave a wry smile: "I've endured all kinds of hardships these past few years; let's hear the bad news first. Save the good news for the finale."

"Xiaoyu's talent was recognized by the Ganwu Universe Kingdom, and she has been selected for the Ganwu Secret Realm—a place only the top geniuses can enter. I have to accompany her there in a few days. I've already submitted my resignation to the family, so logically, this Storm Port won't be under our jurisdiction for much longer." Tang Ping's voice was light, but it hit Liu Hui's heart like a giant boulder.

Liu Hui's face turned deathly pale in an instant. He instinctively looked at his wife, whose eyes were filled with confusion and loss.

The hope that had just been ignited was doused with a bucket of cold water in the blink of an eye. This feeling of falling from the clouds was even more painful than being hijacked by space pirates back then.

"Then... what's the good news?" He swallowed, his voice trembling slightly.

Tang Ping suddenly smiled, a flash of mischief in his eyes: "The family rejected our resignation and handed the management of the surrounding two hundred star systems—an area of nearly 200 light-years—to me and Xiaoyu.

There are three habitable life planets within that territory, and we are allowed to appoint someone to manage them on our behalf. So, Governor Liu, welcome to the job! From now on, you are the 'uncrowned king' of these two hundred star systems—under one person, above hundreds of billions, with an annual salary of 1 million Black Dragon Coins!"

"Ah?" Liu Hui's eyes widened, and the wine glass in his hand clattered onto the table, spilling liquid everywhere.

The ups and downs of life were happening a bit too fast.

And it seemed he had been played? But, this was a good play, a wonderful play!

However...

He stood stunned for a full half-minute, considering far too many things at once. Finally, his body began to tremble uncontrollably, and tears welled up without warning: "Brother Ping, I... I've never even been a team leader since I was a child, how can I manage two hundred star systems? What if I mess it up and implicate you? You'd better find someone else."

"You silly brother, who manages things personally these days?" Tang Ping patted his shoulder, his tone relaxed. "Xiaoyu and I have been in Storm Port for over a decade and barely handled any trivial matters; it's all managed by artificial intelligence.

All you have to do is report to the family in time if there are any accidents like pirate attacks or cosmic disasters. Besides, I'm leaving the guard detachment to you—one Universe Level powerhouse, ten Star Rank, and hundreds of Planetary Rank guards to ensure your safety.

You just need to take good care of your wife and child and enjoy life."

Liu Hui could no longer hold back. He stood up, walked around the table, and hugged Tang Ping, his voice choked with emotion: "Brother Ping, meeting you in this life is my greatest fortune. If you ever need anything in the future, I, Liu Hui, will not hesitate even at the cost of my life!"

The family banquet lasted until late at night. Seeing the exhaustion in the eyes of Liu Hui's family, Tang Ping called for a servant: "Take them to the presidential suite that has already been prepared. Also, they will live in this Governor's Mansion from now on; clear out the vacant rooms."

After the Liu family left, Tang Ping pressed his communicator: "Demolish everything in the 888th floor where Xiaoyu and I lived, and send the materials to the incinerator to be converted into basic energy.

Also, give all the Governor's Mansion staff and guards a red envelope equivalent to two years' salary, and notify them about the new acting governor."

After finishing all this, he leaned back on the sofa, looking at the starry sky outside the window, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

A life without worries is a light one.

This is what it means to be a hands-off manager—comfortable.