My wife is super clingy

The Desert Tavern stood in the vast stretch of sand between the First Oasis and the Second Oasis.

Rolling dunes surrounded it on all sides.

The Desert Folk's little towns dotted the dunes like scattered handfuls of gems.

That night, bustle filled every corner, golden lights and red bonfires nearly drowning out the brilliant starlight.

Flying past the towns, Pei Ji parked the warship in the clearing outside the tavern, kicking up a small cloud of sand.

He climbed out of the cockpit and held out a hand to Shen Que.

"Come on! Let's get a drink."

When a glass of golden Sand Tangerine Juice was set before Shen Que,

the Commander raised an eyebrow.

"A drink?"

The tavern was so noisy, with mercenaries and merchants gathered in small groups playing drinking games, that he had to speak a little louder than usual.

"I drink booze, you drink juice," Pei Ji said matter-of-factly.

"Your Sand Beer!"

The bronze-skinned server slammed a brimming mug of beer onto the wooden table with a thud.

White foam splashed out, wetting the tabletop.

"It's the last day of the celebrations, so all drinks are half price! We've got the purest Desert Liquor and our special Lamb Chops. Want some... Pei Ji?!"

The server suddenly recognized him.

"Holy shit! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at the palace banquet?!"

Pei Ji snapped his fingers. "Benson, considering I gave up a palace feast to come support Safiya, how about ninety percent off?"

"Not a chance!"

Benson slapped the table.

"You still owe us three hundred Starcoins for drinks! You're settling your tab before you leave today!"

"Wow, is that any way to treat a regular?"

"Wow-you just inherited hundreds of millions, and you turn right around and bully our little business? Have you no shame?"

"Hey, hey, isn't that Pei Ji?"

Another passing server recognized Pei Ji too.

The young woman, whose skin was likewise bronze, squeezed up to the table, bumping Benson sideways.

"Pei Ji! We were just watching your livestream on the Star Network! We saw you leave the banquet, but then the stream cut out! Aaargh, I'm so mad!"

"Tell us, tell us! Did you and your wife actually fight over the ore?"

At that instant, Shen Que keenly noticed three or four young women nearby prick up their ears at once.

Pei Ji picked up a piece of dried fruit and tossed it into his mouth.

"You lot are unbelievable. Watching illegal streams out in the open is one thing, but asking the subject himself for gossip?"

"Life needs a little entertainment."

Pei Ji said, "I'm entertainment?"

The young woman said, "What else would you be?!"

Pei Ji reached over and pulled Shen Que into his arms, lifting his chin.

"See? My wife! He's so clingy he threatens to kill himself if I'm gone for a moment. How could he bear to fight with me?"

Shen Que planted a palm against his face.

The young woman opened her mouth, then suddenly realized something after a long pause.

"Ohhh-you're the Commander of the First Fleet!"

Her expression turned sympathetic.

"Marrying Pei Ji must be rough on you! Oh, wait right here!"

She hurried back to the bar and soon returned with a crudely made copper pitcher, setting it on the table.

"Sand Camel Milk, on the house! It's our tavern's special recipe, with wild fruit. You can't get this in Messiah!"

Shen Que froze for a moment, then nodded under her beaming smile. "...Thank you."

"You're welcome!"

Pei Ji protested, "Lulu, what's this supposed to mean? I've been here so many times, and you've never given me free Sand Camel Milk. That's fifty Starcoins a pitcher!"

"Get lost." Lulu pushed Pei Ji's head aside and went off with her tray to serve the next table.

Before leaving, she blew Shen Que a kiss.

"Commander, you're gorgeous. Welcome to the Desert Tavern!"

Pei Ji was left loudly protesting, "Who are you calling gorgeous?! I'm reporting you for flirting with customers!"

Benson chuckled and nudged him with an elbow.

"All right, want an order of our special Lamb Chops?"

Pei Ji said, "Yes!"

The servers' commotion drew more people's attention to Pei Ji.

Someone dressed as a mercenary called from a distance, "Pei Ji! Up for cards?"

Pei Ji waved a hand. "My wife's here. Not playing."

The mercenary said, "Chicken."

Pei Ji said, "Quit yapping, you single loser!"

He turned back and picked up a piece of dried fruit that looked much like a raisin, holding it to Shen Que's lips.

"White Thorn Dried Fruit. It usually grows in desert regions with sand gold deposits. Pretty rare. Want a taste?"

When Shen Que made no move, he added, "I just washed my hands. They're clean."

Propping his head on one hand, Shen Que suddenly spoke.

"General."

"What was that you just said about your wife?"

"So clingy?"

"Threatens to kill himself if you're gone for a moment?"

"Ha..." Pei Ji gave a dry laugh. "Wasn't I just... putting the rumors to rest?"

Shen Que gripped Pei Ji's jaw, looking up at him with cool eyes.

"You're the source of the rumors."

Pei Ji whined shamelessly, "I was wrong, honey. Go easy on me."

Shen Que's brow twitched. He released the shameless man, then lowered his head and took the dried fruit from Pei Ji's fingers with his teeth.

A sweet, tart flavor spread over his tongue.

After swallowing the fruit, he took the straw between his lips and sipped the Sand Tangerine Juice.

Very sour.

Shen Que frowned, but before he could say anything, a cup of Sand Camel Milk was already held out before him.

Pei Ji's lips curved.

"This one's sweet."

Laughter and clamor were the Desert Tavern's constant background noise.

Traditional candle lamps hung beneath the hemispherical dome. Though it lacked the Moon Palace's grandeur, it was spacious enough.

Servers bustled back and forth, attending to customers.

Mercenaries, merchants, travelers.

Many of them knew Pei Ji and came over to greet him warmly the moment they spotted him.

Some traded jokes; others asked how he was doing.

Shen Que suddenly realized that these Desert Folk seemed to address Pei Ji by name.

Not General, nor Young Lord.

To them, Pei Ji was simply Pei Ji.

Yellowed wanted posters issued by the Empire covered walls scarred with blade marks and bullet holes.

The peeling plaster and thick white sand underfoot bore witness to all the weathered years the tavern had endured.

But the Desert Folk, absorbed in good food, drink, and after-dinner gossip, paid no mind to life's weariness.

They were simply happy.

As the lamb chops arrived, fragrant with black pepper, the tavern's lights suddenly dimmed.

Floating screens sprang up together in a full circle at the tavern's center.

Safiya appeared beneath the hemispherical dome in a red dancing dress.

In an instant, screams and cheers nearly lifted the tavern's roof.

"She's here, she's here!" Lulu hugged her tray excitedly and pointed at the stage beneath the dome. "Tonight's final performance, and the last one of the celebrations!"

Safiya clapped her hands, and the boisterous tavern instantly fell silent.

Her alluring voice rang out.

"Friends, have you drunk us dry today?"

Cheers erupted.

"If you don't have your fun now, it's back to work tomorrow!"

The cheers turned to groans.

Safiya flashed a brilliant smile.

"All right! The work never ends! Whether you slack off or work tomorrow, today's happiness will always belong to today!"

"This final dance is dedicated to our lord, who generously gave us seven days off, and to our Young Lord, who generously sacrificed himself to earn us those seven days."

"And to our White Sand Star, shining like a jewel-"

"May prosperity always follow us!"

A lilting dance tune began, and Safiya glanced back with a smile.

Her gauzy dress flowed like water, her flying hair like soft brocade.

She was like a desert rose in full bloom.

Passionate, beautiful, vibrant.

Every glance tugged at the heartstrings; every movement inspired admiration.

Applause, screams, and cheers rang out without end.

And at that very moment,

the Young Lord at the heart of the celebrations was carefully cutting lamb chops into bite-sized pieces, coating them in rich sauce, and feeding them to his beloved Omega.

Pei Ji suddenly asked Shen Que, "Do you know what they're celebrating?"

Glancing at the expectant Alpha,

Shen Que shook his head, the faintest smile curving his lips.

Pei Ji immediately lifted his chin.

"They're celebrating our wedding."