Chapter Summaries

Pei Ji prepared an expensive wedding gift for Shen Que, then learned Shen Que had disappeared from his bedroom while in heat. He found Shen Que in the storeroom and carried him back, though Shen Que resisted the foul-smelling Alpha.

• Pei Ji gave Demi a costly symbiotic stone to have an artisan fashion into a wedding gift for Shen Que.
• A maid announced that Shen Que was missing, and Pei Ji detected his floral pheromones trailing from the empty bedroom.
• Pei Ji followed Shen Que’s scent to a storeroom, injected himself with a suppressant, and heard glass break inside.
• Pei Ji found Shen Que kneeling among broken glass and spilled suppressant, weakened by his heat.
• Pei Ji restrained Shen Que and carried him back to his room while Shen Que demanded that he let go.

Pei Ji tried to give Shen Que a temporary mark to ease his heat, but Shen Que cried out in pain whenever Pei Ji attempted to bite him. After examining Shen Que, Dr. Li revealed that the commander might never go into heat.

• Anya complained that her efforts to bathe Shen Que had gone to waste, and Demi told her to clean the floor.
• Pei Ji judged that Shen Que was entering the early stage of heat and decided a temporary mark was safer than suppressants or calming agents.
• Pei Ji tried twice to bite Shen Que, but Shen Que cried out in pain both times, forcing Pei Ji to stop.
• Dr. Li examined Shen Que and described his serious injuries, malnutrition, and psychological damage.
• Dr. Li told Pei Ji that Shen Que might never go into heat.

Dr. Lee explained that Shen Que’s injured gland and frail health kept him from entering true heat, making Pei Ji’s pheromones painful rather than helpful. After learning that controlled pheromones could soothe Shen Que during the onset phase, Pei Ji returned to his bedside and began studying how to care for him.

• Dr. Lee told Pei Ji that Shen Que’s pheromone levels could not reach the threshold for a true heat, and that his gland injury and irregular cycle made temporary marking painful.
• Dr. Lee advised Pei Ji to accept Shen Que’s condition or divorce him, but Pei Ji refused and asked the doctor to keep the matter from his father.
• Dr. Lee gave Pei Ji a preschool physiology booklet and explained that controlled pheromones could soothe Shen Que during the onset phase.
• Dr. Lee left after telling Pei Ji to shower, and Demi and Anya agreed that he smelled bad.
• Pei Ji returned to the bedroom, saw Shen Que still feverish and in pain, and began reading the booklet to learn how to soothe him.

Pei Ji struggled to learn how to release his pheromones gently, then spent the night soothing Shen Que until the commander slept peacefully. Exhausted but satisfied, Pei Ji headed to the training grounds to blow off steam.

• Pei Ji followed a preschool book’s instructions to regulate his pheromones, but his scent overwhelmed Shen Que and he had to stop himself by reciting an oath.
• Pei Ji spent the night experimenting until he stabilized his pheromones and helped Shen Que sleep comfortably.
• Anya told Pei Ji that she had been hired as Shen Que’s personal maid after winning an assessment.
• Pei Ji showed Anya the peacefully sleeping Shen Que, then told her to keep watch while he showered and went to the simulation room to blow off steam.

Shen Que woke after his heat and learned that Pei Ji had returned from an insectoid attack and used a soothing agent to handle it. He went to find Pei Ji at the simulation training grounds, still believing the general hated him, while recalling Pei Ji’s infamous exploits and the rumors about their marriage.

• Shen Que woke feeling unusually rested and asked Anya what had happened after he went into heat.
• Anya told Shen Que that Pei Ji had returned covered in foul yellow insectoid fluid and stayed up all night.
• Shen Que learned that Pei Ji had seen his heat and treated it with a soothing agent rather than giving him a temporary mark.
• Shen Que asked Anya to take him to Pei Ji at the simulation training grounds after he had changed.
• As he dressed, Shen Que recalled Pei Ji’s reckless military exploits and the latest rumors about his cold treatment of his new wife.

Shen Que visited Pei Ji’s training ground and watched him show off in his 3S-class mech, Devour Heaven. When Pei Ji asked for an assessment, Shen Que critiqued his tactics and pointed out a flaw in his evasive maneuvers.

• Shen Que asked Anya whether Pei Ji hated Omegas, and she described him as chauvinistic.
• Shen Que walked through the palace toward the training ground, reflecting on his arranged marriage and the Empress’s command that he stay alive.
• Shen Que watched Pei Ji pilot Devour Heaven through a simulated desert battle and judged his flashy use of ammunition wasteful.
• Pei Ji greeted Shen Que and asked whether he had eaten; Shen Que said he had waited for him.
• Pei Ji asked Shen Que to assess his performance, and Shen Que praised its smoothness before criticizing his ammunition use, aim, and evasive maneuver.

Pei Ji and Shen Que argued over Shen Que’s evaluation of Pei Ji’s piloting, then agreed to a three-minute mech match. Shen Que surprised Pei Ji with his skill, but Pei Ji’s counterattack sent Shen Que crashing down, leaving Pei Ji horrified that he had thrown his injured Omega.

• Pei Ji accused Shen Que and other commanders of being self-righteous and inexperienced on the front lines.
• Shen Que challenged Pei Ji to a three-minute mech match, and Pei Ji accepted after Shen Que taunted him.
• Shen Que refused to use Devour Heaven and requested a D-class training mech with a manual control console.
• Shen Que piloted his mech with practiced skill, dodging Pei Ji’s attack and striking his mech’s arm joint.
• Pei Ji caught Shen Que’s blade and threw his mech downward, then realized he had hurled his injured Omega.

After Shen Que collapsed from a second heat during his combat match with Pei Ji, Pei Ji carried him away and stayed nearby as he recovered. Shen Que woke after sleeping most of a day, wondering whether Pei Ji’s pheromones and their compatibility had helped him feel safe.

• The Control Console declared Shen Que the winner, but he collapsed as pain and a traumatic memory overwhelmed him.
• Pei Ji found Shen Que in heat, carried him from the cockpit, and heard him offer advice about Pei Ji’s fighting technique.
• Old Hall and Demi accused Pei Ji of mistreating Shen Que, while Pei Ji explained that they had fought a combat match; Shen Que then passed out.
• Shen Que slept through most of the day, soothed by Pei Ji’s lingering pheromone scent, and dreamed about their fight.
• Shen Que woke hungry and wondered if Pei Ji’s compatibility had helped him sleep, then checked that he still had no mark.

Shen Que ate the dinner Pei Ji had arranged while reflecting on his status as Pei Ji’s spouse, then declined an invitation to join him on the tower terrace. Pei Ji hurried to check on Shen Que and arranged care for him, while Safiya urged him to take Shen Que stargazing.

• Anya served Shen Que the meal Pei Ji had chosen and explained where the dishes came from.
• Shen Que praised Anya’s cookies but declined to visit Pei Ji, who was stargazing with a guest.
• After learning Shen Que was awake, Pei Ji rushed to leave the terrace and asked whether Shen Que had enjoyed dinner.
• Pei Ji told Demi to check on Shen Que, ensure he took his medicine, and have Anya bake more cookies.
• Safiya collected her deposit and suggested Pei Ji take Shen Que out to see the stars, but Pei Ji said Shen Que might catch a cold.

Pei Ji found Shen Que outside the Fallen Star Palace and learned that two doses of his medicine were missing, while Shen Que grew unsettled by the scent of Safiya on Pei Ji. Anya told Shen Que that White Sand Star was celebrating his wedding to Pei Ji, but the Empress's call interrupted him.

• Safiya warned Pei Ji that he would be welcome back at the tavern if he became single, just as Shen Que arrived with Demi and Anya.
• Pei Ji questioned Shen Que about his missing medicine, then sent Demi and Anya to search for it and contact Dr. Li.
• Pei Ji turned Shen Que's face away from Safiya, while Shen Que apologized and asked to return to his room.
• Anya told Shen Que that the lord had declared a weeklong holiday and celebrations for his wedding to Pei Ji.
• Shen Que received a call from the Empress on his terminal.

After Pei Ji worried that Shen Que was taking a secret call, Shen Que spoke with Empress Carolina, who asked whether Pei Ji had been abusing him. Pei Ji burst into the bedroom and discovered that the caller was the Empress, leaving him frozen and asking whether it was too late to kneel.

• Anya told Pei Ji that Shen Que had not taken his medicine but had asked about the banquet before a call came in.
• Shen Que greeted Empress Carolina, who questioned him about the wedding and whether Pei Ji had abused him.
• Shen Que told Carolina that Pei Ji treated him well but had not marked him, leaving him worried that Pei Ji might prefer someone else.
• Carolina was relieved that Shen Que remained unmarked and began suggesting he could divorce Pei Ji.
• Pei Ji crashed through the bedroom window, caught Shen Que when his legs gave out, and accused him of calling a lover.
• Pei Ji turned toward Carolina on the terminal screen, recognized the Empress, and asked if it was too late to kneel.

Pei Ji confronted Carolina when she questioned Shen Que, then clung to Shen Que after the Empress ended the call. Pei Ji soothed Shen Que’s pheromones but stopped short of biting him, and they prepared to sleep.

• Pei Ji complained that Carolina had no right to make Shen Que kneel, then dropped to one knee and told her she could not keep Shen Que occupied late at night.
• Carolina mocked Pei Ji’s reputation and asked whether Shen Que was so precious that she could not speak to him, and Pei Ji declared that Shen Que belonged to him.
• Carolina admitted she had been overly concerned, called Pei Ji a rabid pig, and ended the call.
• Shen Que found Pei Ji still kneeling and comforted him, and Pei Ji admitted that Carolina had frightened him.
• Pei Ji licked Shen Que’s scent gland and gathered up the released pheromones, but he did not bite him and instead told him to sleep.

Pei Ji and Shen Que shared breakfast while Pei Ji tried to shield his new husband from the Star Network’s gossip. A letter from Pei Li then reminded Pei Ji that their upcoming family banquet would formally introduce Shen Que and announce his share of the family property, and demanded payment for damages.

• Pei Ji read the trending posts mocking him and speculating about Shen Que, while Luo Yuan teased him about becoming a Star Network sensation.
• Pei Ji learned that Phil’s efforts to remove the posts had failed and that the General Affairs Office had taken over public relations.
• Pei Ji asked Shen Que what food he liked and told Demi to arrange fresh milk, while Shen Que wondered whether Pei Ji’s concern was genuine.
• Demi delivered Pei Li’s invitation to a private banquet where Pei Ji was expected to dance with Shen Que and formally introduce him.
• Demi told Pei Ji that Pei Li had also sent a personal message demanding payment for the damages.

Pei Ji and Shen Que struggled to learn the opening dance for an upcoming banquet, while Pei Ji faced a huge bill for keeping his trending topics online. After Shen Que’s fever returned, Pei Ji abandoned his dance practice to comfort him.

• Pei Ji learned that the Tree of Life had kept his trending topics online, leaving him with a bill of 7.2 million Starcoins that Hall planned to charge to the palace maintenance budget.
• Shen Que worried about dancing at the private banquet, and Pei Ji admitted that he did not know how to dance either.
• Demi arranged intensive dance training for Pei Ji and Shen Que, who spent the day stumbling through the steps together.
• After Shen Que went to rest, Pei Ji practiced alone until Anya told him Shen Que had become feverish again.
• Pei Ji found Shen Que trembling in bed, held him close until he calmed down, and fell asleep beside him.

Two days after leaving the Fallen Star Palace, Shen Que traveled with Pei Ji aboard an airship to the First Oasis. Pei Ji teased and embraced him in the observation cabin, leaving Shen Que flustered as he fled the room.

• Old Hall, Demi, Phil, and Anya boarded the airship with Pei Ji and Shen Que, while Old Hall promised the General would not embarrass White Sand Star and Phil begged him to stay off trending searches.
• Shen Que admired White Sand Star’s scenery and recognized the enormous spherical machines in the desert as sand gold mining facilities.
• Pei Ji offered Shen Que his lap, and Shen Que reflected that Pei Ji treated him attentively but relied on soothing agents during his heats rather than marking him.
• Pei Ji squeezed onto Shen Que’s seat, teased him, and pulled him into an embrace despite Shen Que’s protests that people were nearby.
• Pei Ji released Shen Que, fastened his undone buttons, and kissed his cheek, prompting Shen Que to escape the observation lounge.

Pei Ji and Shen Que arrived at the Moon Palace, where Pei Ji went to attend to early guests while Shen Que rested. After waking, Shen Que received an invitation to dinner from Lady Ai Fan, delivered by her maid Annie.

• Barry welcomed Pei Ji and Shen Que at the Moon Palace, and Hall explained that they had disagreed on the way there.
• Pei Ji asked Shen Que to rest in Zhiyue Garden while he greeted the guests, and Shen Que linked arms with him before they separated.
• Shen Que rode up through the palace and reflected on White Sand Star's water system and the Empress's warning that he had to stay alive.
• Shen Que woke after dreaming of an Insect Swarm, read Pei Ji's complaints about social obligations, and thanked him for his efforts.
• Annie arrived and told Shen Que that Lady Ai Fan had prepared dinner for him in the garden dining room.

Ai Fan invited Shen Que to dinner, challenged his view of his marriage to Pei Ji, and then revealed that he would receive assets and control of White Sand Star’s mineral business. The chapter ended with Shen Que learning that the sand gold trade was vital to the Imperial Fleet.

• Annie asked Shen Que to leave his Terminal behind before leading him to Ai Fan.
• Ai Fan questioned Shen Que about Pei Ji abandoning him at their wedding, and Shen Que said their marriage was his responsibility and their private matters were not open for discussion.
• Ai Fan agreed that responsibility and shared interests could sustain a marriage, then invited Shen Que to dinner and served him cookies.
• Ai Fan told Shen Que that he would receive a share of the family assets and be put in charge of White Sand Star’s mineral business.
• Ai Fan explained that sand gold was the planet’s most important mineral and the lifeblood of the Imperial Fleet.

Ai Fan appointed Shen Que to oversee White Sand Star’s sand gold production line after Pei Ji lost forty million managing it in a month. While waiting for Pei Ji to return, Shen Que discovered drunken messages from him, saved a backup before deleting them, and ended the night with a sweet cookie.

• Ai Fan told Shen Que that he would take charge of White Sand Star’s sand gold production line, which Pei Ji had temporarily managed and lost forty million on in one month.
• Shen Que returned to the bedroom, reflected on Ai Fan’s intentions, and worried about how Pei Ji would react to the responsibility passing to him.
• Shen Que opened his Terminal and found a flood of affectionate, embarrassing messages from Pei Ji.
• Shen Que read Demi’s warning that Pei Ji had been gotten drunk by eighteen bastards and realized the messages were sent while Pei Ji was intoxicated.
• Shen Que backed up Pei Ji’s messages to his Private Cloud, deleted the evidence, and ate another cookie.

Pei Ji woke hungover after a night of drinking with the Fourth Fleet and spoke with his father, Pei Li, about a Zerg nest near White Sand Star and his marriage to Shen Que. The conversation ended with Pei Ji defending Shen Que from Pei Li’s speculation, prompting Pei Li to question whether Pei Ji truly considered him his Omega.

• Pei Ji woke with scratches and a headache, then found Pei Li waiting in his room at Harmony Garden.
• Pei Ji told Pei Li that a small C-Class insect nest had appeared near White Sand Star and that he had reported it because the Empress could monitor the fleet’s detection devices.
• Pei Li ordered Pei Ji to stay out of the investigation and spend his remaining marriage leave at home trying to have children.
• Pei Li speculated that Shen Que could not have children and accused the Empress of sending him to undermine Pei Li’s control of the sand gold production lines.
• Pei Ji stopped Pei Li from speaking carelessly about Shen Que and said he did not like it, leading Pei Li to ask whether Shen Que was truly his Omega.

Pei Li warned Pei Ji that Shen Que might be tied to the Empress’s plans for White Sand Star, but Pei Ji defended him and said he would investigate his injury because he was worried. At dawn, Pei Ji returned to find Shen Que waiting for him, and the two shared a tender moment as Shen Que treated his wounds.

• Pei Li recited Shen Que’s military record and questioned whether his defeat by space pirates and subsequent injury were genuine.
• Pei Li warned Pei Ji that Shen Que was the Empress’s key to regaining control of sand gold and called him the Empress’s lapdog, prompting Pei Ji to tell him not to call Shen Que that.
• Pei Ji recalled asking Safiya to investigate every aspect of Shen Que’s past because he was worried about why Shen Que had lost.
• Pei Ji found Shen Que waiting in the cold at Zhiyue Garden and brought him inside, wrapped him in a coat and blanket, and gave him hot tea.
• Shen Que treated the cactus scratches on Pei Ji’s arm, and Pei Ji kissed him and told him he was beautiful.