I like this one

The Sea of Life was a mysterious region of the universe.

It provided graduation thesis material for over 80% of the students at the Life Sciences Academy.

It also provided research topics and funding for over 80% of its professors.

At its most extreme, that figure had reached 90%.

Apparently, a cult worshipping the Sea of Life had even sprung up within the academy for a time.

Before every exam, over a hundred students would gather in the Small Woods and chant devoutly:

"Thank you, Sea of Life! Grant us the power to pass!"

Though the academy had quickly shut it down after discovering it.

Shen Que was not a student of the academy. He was a fine young materialist raised on the Empire's rigorous military theories.

Yet when he woke that day, the first words in his mind were actually-

Thank you, Sea of Life.

A faint scent of sand drifted from the rough stone.

As long as he kept it beside him, that scent would envelop him.

Just like...

Like a mark.

"Is there anywhere on White Sand Star that makes custom necklaces?"

Shen Que asked the maids over breakfast.

The Pheromone Memory Stone lay obediently beside his bone china plate, its sandy scent tinged with the delicious aroma of steamed eggs.

"Preferably somewhere that can set the stone without drilling a hole," Shen Que said.

"Oh, there are plenty!"

Demi immediately perked up.

As the head maid responsible for all the decorations and furnishings in the Fallen Star Palace, she knew these things inside out.

"Stone-setting is very common. It depends on what style you prefer, my lady."

"The artisans in the Oasis lean toward the academic school, so their work is a little more conventional. Those out in the desert are more freewheeling and can accommodate all sorts of bizarre requests, though their taste might be a little... avant-garde?"

"The skilled artisans are usually around the First Oasis and the Desert Tavern. I happen to know an old craftsman who's right by..."

Shen Que lowered his head in thought, his slender fingers stroking the rough stone.

Demi abruptly stopped her stream of chatter.

Something suddenly occurred to her.

"My lady, surely you aren't planning to use this stone for the necklace?"

Shen Que glanced at her. "Is there a problem?"

"Um..."

Demi cast a disdainful glance at the rough-textured stone.

"My lady, although the General sent it back, it's still... far too ugly... It isn't translucent at all. People will laugh if you wear it."

Shen Que chuckled. "Will they?"

"Of course!" Demi said. "You're the Young Lord's wife. Only a gemstone graded S+ or higher could possibly suit your status!"

"There are still some gems left from those the General bought at the Golden Butterfly Auction. If you want a new necklace, I'll go get them for you right now..."

"No need." Shen Que declined calmly, his gaze fixed firmly on the stone in his hand. "I like this one."

Despite what he said.

After breakfast, Demi still refused to give up and brought out several gemstones, introducing them to Shen Que one by one.

"Look at this one. S++ pigeon blood red. It's a pair with the stone in the forehead pendant you wore before."

"Even under appraisal-grade artificial sunlight, you can't see a single impurity. It's definitely prettier than that ugly stone!"

"And this one, S+++ sea cloud mica. The Lord's Wife of Tianfu Star bid seventy million for it, but the General still outbid her."

"Even Lady Ai Fan doesn't have an S+++ gemstone!"

"Why did he buy so many gems?"

Shen Que suddenly grew a little curious.

The gems Demi had just introduced were worth his entire salary from ten years as Commander.

"To choose a wedding gift for you, of course," Demi said matter-of-factly.

Shen Que paused. "For me?"

His gaze finally settled seriously on the glittering gems.

"Yes."

Demi picked up the S+++ sea cloud mica worth seventy million Starcoins.

"This was originally meant to be made into earrings for you, but when we asked the Capital Star, they said your ears weren't pierced, so it was set aside."

"...I don't wear earrings." Shen Que took the translucent stone from Demi and held it up to the sunlight coming through the window.

Dust motes surrounded the flawless crystal.

Like ionized gas drifting slowly through a nebula, as though he could reach out and touch the light.

"So did he choose one in the end?" Shen Que asked.

"No!" Demi heaved a sigh. "He said none of them were worthy of you."

Shen Que suddenly smiled, the warmth of sunlight coloring his cool, clear eyes.

"These could buy ten of me."

The patter of footsteps drew closer, and Phil poked her head through the doorway.

"My lady, do you have a moment? People from the General Affairs Office are here. They say they have urgent business with you."

"A delay?"

Shen Que set down the report in his hands and laced his fingers together over his knees. His cool gaze swept over each of the visitors as he waited for an explanation.

"This shipment determines whether Master Blue Crane's new work can launch on schedule. We can't delay it!"

Gabi, who stood at the very front, was highly agitated.

"Messiah's Mecha Research Center is one of our major clients. We'll not only offend an important client but also have to pay a substantial penalty for breach of contract. It'll be a huge loss! The Lord will hold us accountable!"

"You don't want a problem this big right after taking over the Ore Trade, do you?"

"But there's a problem with the ore's appraisal results!"

Xingyao, standing a step behind Gabi, argued back.

He wore the General Affairs Office uniform that day: a wide-sleeved robe over a neat shirt and suit trousers, an emerald hanging from his bow tie, and earrings of vivid green cloud pine.

His long golden braid hung down to his waist.

He looked especially beautiful.

"We've run it through the instruments eight times since yesterday, and it passed every single time. Where exactly is the problem?" Gabi demanded angrily.

"Director." Xingyao clasped his hands nervously in front of him. "At least half of this shipment is below A+ grade. I don't know why the instruments say it passed. Something must have gone wrong."

Gabi said, "Nonsense! All you do is flap your lips. Will you take responsibility for the delay?!"

Xingyao said, "But, Minister..."

Gabi snapped, "But what? If you still recognize me as your minister, cross your name off the delay request!"

Xingyao gritted his teeth. "No. There is a problem!"

After listening to their argument, Shen Que offered no comment. Instead, he addressed Jin Yi, who had remained silent.

"What do you think, Deputy Minister Jin Yi?"

Jin Yi wore the same uniform as Xingyao, only without any gemstone adornments.

He glanced at the Omega beside him, who was watching him nervously.

He spoke impartially. "The instruments do indeed show that it passed."

"I've read every report. There are no issues with them."

"Then why did you sign the delay request?!" Gabi was furious.

The signatures of the Ore Department's two deputy ministers carried the same authority as the minister's.

As long as both Xingyao's and Jin Yi's names were on the delay request, Gabi's objection was useless.

That was precisely why he had insisted on bringing the dispute to Shen Que.

Jin Yi remained expressionless. "Since someone has raised a concern, there's no harm in being thorough."

Xingyao's nervous expression eased a little, and he cast Jin Yi a grateful look.

Gabi seethed helplessly.

"Fine, fine, fine. Neither of you has to take responsibility. I'm the one the Lord will yell at!"

"Director! We're the two who'll have to take the blame!"

Shen Que pressed a hand to his forehead.

He really disliked this minister, who dragged him down with him at every opportunity.

He looked at Xingyao. "Even the instruments say there's no problem. Why are you so certain the ore doesn't meet the grade?"

"I..." Xingyao lowered his head and gritted his teeth. "I could tell by looking..."