Yes, my wife is Yaoshi

With Yaoshi's arrival, Herta had to devote all her attention to watching her, so she did not go to Stelle and Himeko to ask that Stelle remain on the Space Station for her research.

Zhang Xiu took the opportunity to meet Welt alone.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Welt. My name is Zhang Xiu, a... Galaxy Ranger who wants to join the Astral Express with his wife."

"You look quite young, Mr. Zhang Xiu. You're married already?" Welt adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose, looking at Zhang Xiu with some surprise.

Hearing Welt address him as "Mr.," Zhang Xiu waved a hand, feeling pleased through and through. "Oh, well~ We only got married recently, actually~ Haha."

He had gone from a boy to a grown man, a married gentleman just like Welt! Though he had yet to make a recruitment animation with Yaoshi...

At the thought, Zhang Xiu straightened up, his nose practically pointing at the heavens.

Welt was rather bewildered by his reaction, unable to understand why Zhang Xiu was so happy.

"As for joining the Astral Express, I would be happy to travel with you, but everyone else will need to agree as well."

"Mm-hmm, don't worry. My wife and I are both good people." Zhang Xiu chuckled and waved goodbye to Welt. "See you shortly, Mr. Welt."

"Yes, see you shortly. I look forward to traveling with you."

After leaving Welt, Zhang Xiu went to find Dan Heng and discovered that he was talking to Stelle.

"You don't seem happy with me." Stelle blinked her innocent eyes.

Dan Heng's expression remained impassive. "If you mean my opinion on you boarding the Astral Express... you're overthinking it."

"My stance is simple: it makes no difference to me..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Xiu popped up. "Teacher Egg Yolk, after seven steps, your past self will become your enemy."

"It's you, Ranger. I don't know what you mean by that, but did you need something?"

Seeing that Dan Heng was still somewhat wary of him, Zhang Xiu spread his hands. "Is trust between people really so fragile?"

He walked toward them and continued, "My wife and I want to join the Astral Express. Mr. Welt has already agreed. What about you?"

"...It makes no difference to me." Dan Heng's face remained cold.

Knowing how the story would unfold, however, Zhang Xiu raised his eyebrows, looking ready to enjoy the show.

Himeko, who was beside the Astral Express, also heard their conversation below and stepped down from the platform where the train was docked. "It looks like we'll have three new members joining us."

"I've already notified Little March. Where's your wife?" She looked at Zhang Xiu with a soft chuckle.

A voice rang out from the distance, answering Himeko's question.

"She's here. Also, a word of advice: if you come to the Space Station again, you'd better make sure she stays on the train."

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw a spaceship landing on the platform.

Herta stepped out of the spaceship. After glancing at Stelle, she headed into the Space Station. "I still have things to do, so I'll be leaving."

Her words immediately piqued the interest of Himeko and the other two, and they all looked toward the spaceship.

A slender woman with pale golden hair, dressed in robes, stepped out through the hatch. Her appearance made Dan Heng's eyes widen.

A rich power of Abundance spread quietly outward, gentle yet faintly unsettling.

"Nameless of the Astral Express, I hope we shall get along well in the days to come." Yaoshi still wore a smile on her lips.

"Wifey~! Did you miss me?" Zhang Xiu waved at Yaoshi, then jogged over and pulled her into his arms.

"I am no child. Why would a brief separation from my husband leave me unable to stop pining for him?" Yaoshi naturally linked her arm through his right arm.

"Mr. Zhang Xiu, is your wife a Denizen of Abundance like you?" Himeko studied Yaoshi before turning her gaze to Zhang Xiu.

"That's not wrong. Once we're aboard the train, I'll introduce myself again." Zhang Xiu grinned. "Don't get too frightened then~"

Himeko shook her head gently. "Ha, you must be joking, Mr. Zhang Xiu. We've traveled aboard the train for years and encountered no shortage of strange things in the universe. Why would your identities frighten us?"

"You're saying that the person beside you is actually Yaoshi, the Aeon of [Abundance]?" The corner of Himeko's mouth twitched.

"Yes, my wife is Yaoshi."

Silence fell over everyone, while Zhang Xiu fought to keep himself from laughing, savoring their shock.

Where's the applause?!

Beside him, March 7th gave an awkward, disbelieving laugh and scratched her head. "Ha, haha, that's a really funny joke..."

"That's impossible. If she really is Yaoshi, why is the power of Abundance emanating from her so...?" Dan Heng frowned deeply, voicing his doubts.

"This body of mine is not my true form." Yaoshi elegantly picked up the coffee Himeko had offered her.

Seeing that she intended to try the coffee, which could practically qualify as poison, Zhang Xiu pulled faces at her, trying to warn her.

Puzzled, she offered him the coffee instead, frightening Zhang Xiu into waving his hands frantically.

This made Yaoshi even more confused. She even tilted her head before taking a small sip of the coffee.

The next instant, she stuck out her tongue, which had lost all sense of taste, and her features scrunched together. "Husband... what is this...?"

"Ah, even you can't withstand it...?" Zhang Xiu picked up the water he had prepared beforehand from a nearby table. Yaoshi hurriedly took it and poured it into her mouth.

The others still had not recovered from the revelation of Yaoshi's identity. Stelle, meanwhile, looked utterly lost; having only just awakened, she had no idea what an Aeon even was.

Seeing this, Zhang Xiu cleared his throat a few times and spoke in his wife's defense:

"Ahem, but don't worry, everyone. Although a bunch of Abominations of Abundance have ruined my wife's reputation, my wife herself is very easy to get along with."

Pom-Pom did not understand what had shocked everyone so much and spread both fluffy hands instead.

"There's no need to worry, everyone. There was an Aeon among the Astral Express's passengers back in the day, too. Although that awful fellow blew up half the train, I don't think this passenger will do anything like that, pom."

Everyone exchanged glances, but ultimately chose to accept them. Himeko handed the two of them a pair of train tickets.

"Welcome aboard the Astral Express, Mr. Zhang Xiu, and... Miss Yaoshi."

The gleaming gold metal train ticket felt cool to the touch. Zhang Xiu cradled it in his palm, inspecting it from every angle, his heart brimming with joy, before pinning it to his black overcoat.

After examining hers, Yaoshi likewise fastened it to the white silk wrapped around her body.

"Ace Nameless reporting for action!" He stood at attention and saluted Pom-Pom, radiating the words "Loyal! Devoted!" from head to toe.

"Though this is our first meeting, Pom-Pom thinks this passenger will become an excellent Nameless, pom."

"Oh~ Pom-Pom! My Pom-Pom!" Elated by the praise, Zhang Xiu scooped Pom-Pom up and nuzzled that fluffy little face.

"Passenger! Put the Conductor down right now, pom!" Pom-Pom flailed both short arms in protest, ears swaying back and forth.

Yaoshi also reached out to stroke Pom-Pom. A smile returned to her face, which had been twisted with bitterness by Himeko's coffee.

Their antics lightened the rather heavy atmosphere a little. March 7th exchanged a glance with Dan Heng, then put her hands on her hips and quipped:

"Hehe, looks like we probably can't go to the Xianzhou anymore..."