“You two, turn around and look away.” Situ Linchen commanded.
Mu Ze and You Lingfei received the military order and immediately turned around with perfectly standard military posture.
“Go ahead and change.” He lifted his chin, gesturing toward the bed.
Ning Shuyin hugged the clothes to her chest and shuffled toward the bed.
She glanced in Situ Linchen’s direction.
The man showed no sign of turning away, his gaze fixed on her.
She could only venture a tentative question: “Would you… perhaps also turn around and look away?”
Before the words even faded, a faint sliding sound—
A seam appeared in the wall at the head of the bed, rapidly expanding into a door.
Ning Shuyin looked inside—it was a clean, bright dressing room.
That door had been completely hidden within the wall before, utterly undetectable.
At that moment, Situ Linchen tilted his head and swept her with a cold, condescending look as if she were an idiot.
Ning Shuyin’s mouth twitched in embarrassment. Clutching the clothes, she hurried into the dressing room.
The door closed behind her, sealing off that gaze that made her afraid.
Outside the door, the atmosphere in the Resonance Pod remained tense.
Situ Linchen had already re-donned his battle suit.
He stood like a silent iceberg, radiating frigid cold.
You Lingfei glanced at the seamlessly shut door and finally couldn’t hold back, stepping forward.
“Marshal, forgive my bluntness, but this Miss Ning is merely an unawakened ordinary person. For you to come into contact with an individual of such weak mental threshold and physical constitution is highly inadvisable.”
The entire fleet knew that You Lingfei had feelings for the Marshal.
Now, having been cut off by an ordinary person, she couldn’t swallow this indignation.
But Situ Linchen didn’t even lift an eyelid, as if he hadn’t heard.
You Lingfei’s resentment grew: “This Miss Ning’s background—she comes from no distinguished family, nor does she have sufficient wealth as collateral. A person like this, her loyalty…”
She continued to make an issue of Ning Shuyin’s commoner status, insinuating that she might betray the Alliance or be bought off by alien races.
The pressure radiating from Situ Linchen grew heavier and heavier.
You Lingfei was about to press further.
But Situ Linchen cut her off: “Are you done?”
His expression showed not a single ripple, yet his voice was chillingly cold: “You Lingfei, mind your place. My decisions are not yours to judge.”
You Lingfei was stunned into silence.
But Situ Linchen paid no attention to the look on her face.
His gaze was like a sharp blade as he looked down at the medical officer from above: “For the sake of your family’s generations of loyal service, I’ll let your careless words slide this time. But if there’s a next time—”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
The temperature inside the Resonance Pod dropped to freezing.
You Lingfei’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and she could only bow her head respectfully: “Yes, Marshal.”
Meanwhile, Ning Shuyin had finished her hot shower, dried her hair, and changed into the new clothes.
A coral-colored short cocktail dress with a strapless sweetheart neckline, an asymmetrical hem falling to the knees, and a delicate ruffle at the waist—elegant with a touch of playfulness. The fit was perfect for her figure.
The garment bag also contained shoes.
White stiletto heels adorned with crystal chains that accentuated the slenderness of Ning Shuyin’s ankles.
She tried taking a couple of steps.
The crystal ornaments swayed gently with each step, like starlight guiding the way at her feet.
She opened the door of the dressing room.
At that moment, Situ Lin glanced at You Lingfei and stated the purpose for which he had summoned her:
“Locate Dr. Luo Lan and have him come here as soon as possible. I have matters to discuss with him.”
“Dr. Luo Lan?” You Lingfei frowned.
She had always been averse to outside medical personnel getting involved with the fleet.
But Situ Linchen merely gave her a cold look. “I’m not asking for your opinion. I’m giving an order.”
Those words shut down whatever You Lingfei was about to say.
“Understood.” You Lingfei suppressed her displeasure and complied.
At that moment, her gaze swept across and landed on Ning Shuyin at the changing room door.
She had changed into a beautiful gown, freshly groomed and dressed—no trace of her earlier disheveled state.
You Lingfei was reluctant to leave this unawakened woman inside the Resonance Pod.
So she adjusted her tone, forced a smile, and gestured at Ning Shuyin. “Marshal, since Dr. Luo Lan is coming, would you like me to escort Miss Ning out? I can take her around for a bit.”
“The cinema and buffet here are quite good. Given Miss Ning’s status, she normally wouldn’t be qualified to visit Alice Space Station.”
A flicker of calculation passed through You Lingfei’s eyes.
As long as she could take Ning Shuyin away, the initiative would be in her hands.
There were far too many “accidents” that could happen in space.
Standing nearby, Mu Ze couldn’t help but frown.
You Lingfei’s schemes were practically written all over her face.
Situ Linchen followed You Lingfei’s gaze, a glint flashing in his eyes.
The girl who had been wearing the Rose Society staff uniform actually looked rather presentable in that gown.
“The date isn’t over yet,” he said.
The words seemed directed at You Lingfei, but also at Ning Shuyin.
The moment those words left his mouth, the expression on You Lingfei’s face froze.
Mu Ze quickly stepped forward. “Colonel You Lingfei, you should go attend to your duties. I’ll handle things here.”
He made a gesture toward the door.
You Lingfei came from a distinguished family and was used to getting what she wanted at all costs. Her colleagues often had plenty of complaints about her.
If not for her rare B-Class Navigator status, she would have been transferred out of the fleet long ago.
Mu Ze felt that if he didn’t step in now, Situ Linchen would probably be annoyed enough to draw his weapon.
Under Mu Ze’s “escort,” You Lingfei could only turn stiffly.
Her gaze swept viciously over Shuyin, her unwillingness barely concealed.
Ning Shuyin’s heart tightened.
She felt a sense of unease, though she couldn’t quite understand why.
But she had no time to dwell on it.
Mu Ze had already led her to the lounge area. “Miss Ning, this gown suits you very well.”
As he offered this sincere compliment, the man on the nearby sofa scrolling through his Light-brain didn’t even lift his eyelids—yet the pressure in the air around him dropped a few degrees lower.
Mu Ze was long accustomed to this atmosphere. He warmly handed Ning Shuyin a deep red drink.
“Thank you, Secretary Mu Ze.” Ning Shuyin accepted it somewhat awkwardly.
“Just call me Mu Ze.” The secretary blinked. “Have some of this special drink first. Replenish your energy.”
But Ning Shuyin was completely distracted.
Her mind was replaying the conversation she had just overheard.
“Locate Dr. Luo Lan and have him come here as soon as possible.”
Luo Lan!
The chief biologist of the Alliance Academy of Sciences, a top-tier medical genius.
And also… the other date she had been matched with.
He was coming here? Now?
Situ Linchen had just declared that their date wasn’t over, and now her other date was about to arrive?
If she were caught in the middle of a collision between these two men, with their strength, she feared she’d be torn to shreds on the spot.
Distractedly thinking of a countermeasure, Ning Shuyin held the cup and unconsciously took a sip.
“Pfft—”