It's not like I'd abandon you

After sending Luo Yuan away, Pei Ji returned to the covered walkway and was surprised to find Shen Que chatting with another familiar face.

"Dr. Li?"

He strode over to Shen Que and instinctively drew the Omega closer, releasing a trace of pheromones to envelop him.

"You're here so early?"

Charles Lee glanced at Pei Ji, finding the boy's childish territorial display beneath him, but still gave him a polite nod.

"Good afternoon, young lord. The lord said he suddenly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage last night and asked me to bring some medicine and come early to examine him."

"A cerebral hemorrhage?" Pei Ji frowned. "More like the old man's lost his mind."

He lowered his head and asked Shen Que, "What were you talking about?"

"Nothing much," Dr. Li volunteered. "I was asking about the Commander's recent health in preparation for his treatment."

"After all, I have his medical records, so he's already my patient."

Pei Ji immediately asked, "How is he doing? He's been taking his medicine properly, and his meals have all been prepared according to your recommendations."

Shen Que looked at Pei Ji, a faint light stirring in his eyes like the last rays of the setting sun.

He had only just learned that he even had a doctor.

When he was discharged from Messiah, the doctor on the Capital Star had advised him, "Medical pods and medication can only treat physical injuries and illnesses. For your mental power to recover, it would be best to receive treatment from an experienced doctor."

But the Brain Computer's matching results had just come out then, and negotiations between the Empress and White Sand Star had not gone smoothly.

Not wanting to cause the Empress any more trouble, Shen Que had not asked for a doctor as well.

Besides, across the entire galaxy, there were scarcely any precedents for recovery from damage to mental power.

It was like a gift from heaven.

Once it was gone, it was gone.

Yet his medical records had followed him to White Sand Star.

And they had been placed in the hands of the lord's personal physician.

Dr. Li's unhurried voice rang out. "The Commander has adapted fairly well to White Sand Star's environment, with no problems acclimatizing or stress reactions."

"Once this busy period is over, come to my clinic for further treatment. Don't neglect your medication or diet. Only when your body is in good condition will your mental power have a chance to recover."

Pei Ji nodded.

After Dr. Li left, Shen Que suddenly asked Pei Ji, "You knew my mental power was damaged?"

Pei Ji froze for a moment. "I didn't before."

"Before?"

Pei Ji paused. "That day, when you refused to pilot Devour Heaven, the more I thought about it, the more something felt wrong. So I contacted Dr. Li, then used his personal connections to get in touch with your attending physician at Messiah. That was how I finally confirmed it."

The vague "mental trauma" in Shen Que's medical records had actually meant that his mental power was completely damaged, leaving him unable to establish synaptic connections.

Countless questions had flooded Pei Ji's mind in that instant.

Why was he hurt so badly? He wasn't a Combat Soldier charging into the front lines, so why had his mental power been damaged so completely?

But in the end, all his doubts had turned into overwhelming worry.

Damn it.

A Commander without mental power-how was that any different from crippling him?

That was why he had summoned Safiya immediately.

The afternoon sunlight wrapped the two of them in its warmth.

Pei Ji lowered his head to look at Shen Que.

The man beside him had shown no reaction to his answer, not a flicker of emotion crossing his pale, calm face.

Just as he had countless times before, his Omega had once again wrapped himself and all his emotions tightly away.

"Don't overthink it."

A strong, solid arm suddenly pulled Shen Que forward.

Still lost in his thoughts, the Commander nearly stumbled.

Behind them, Demi and Anya gasped in alarm. "General!"

"Sorry, sorry."

Pei Ji continued hauling him forward with the same forceful motion, only easing his strength a little.

He lowered his head and leaned close to Shen Que's ear.

"Why do you look so miserable? It's not like I'd abandon you just because you don't have mental power."

"Your mission today isn't to go onto a battlefield. It's to step on my feet a little less during the opening dance."

"You don't need mental power to dance, do you?"

The corners of the Alpha's mouth lifted again, carrying the fearless swagger of youth.

In that instant, Shen Que suddenly had an absurd illusion.

As though having no mental power really was no big deal.

At the same time, he instinctively touched the corner of his mouth.

Did I... look miserable?

There were thirty minutes left until the banquet.

The lavishly dressed guests began making their way from Green Mo Garden to the largest banquet hall in the Moon Palace.

The crowd bustled with activity.

Old Hall stood at the lounge door, facing the three maids, and spoke solemnly.

"Next, we will face an exceptionally important banquet!"

"Lords, generals, merchants... and countless members of the Interstellar Paparazzi."

"It is a challenge! But it is also an opportunity."

"Every one of you must stay fully alert and help the General and his spouse bring this banquet to a flawless conclusion."

"Do you remember your duties for tonight?!"

The three maids nodded firmly.

Demi lifted her head. "Follow the General closely, keep an eye on everything he says and does, and make sure he talks less, drinks less, and doesn't run off!"

Anya clutched her skirt. "S-stay with his spouse at all times, m-make sure he and the General are never more than three meters apart, and never separated for more than three minutes."

Phil nodded with her arms folded. "Monitor all the Interstellar Paparazzi and make sure their cameras capture every affectionate moment between the General and his spouse, so we can crush those negative trending topics online!"

Old Hall nodded in satisfaction.

"Whether we can turn the General's reputation around depends on tonight-and on us!"

There was one minute left until the banquet.

Inside the banquet hall.

The lights abruptly went out, and the towering dome slowly opened, revealing the bright moon hanging in the sky.

The noisy crowd fell silent in an instant.

Moonlight poured through the dome like sheer gauze, spreading a luminous white circle across the gleaming marble floor to form a dance floor.

Crisp footsteps rang out.

Dressed in a black military dress uniform, Pei Ji led his Omega into the center of the circle.

Their joined fingertips parted. Pei Ji stepped back, placed his left hand behind his back, and opened his right palm, raising it above his head.

For the first time, that proud head bowed to someone other than the Empress or his parents.

Shen Que stood before him, the star insignia on his white military dress uniform glittering brilliantly in the moonlight.

His cool gaze looked down upon the Alpha bowing reverently before him.

His long lashes trembled slightly, along with the faint light in his eyes.

He gently lifted his chin and placed his hand in Pei Ji's outstretched palm.

The banquet began.