The news of the insectoid race appearing on Alpha Star spread across the StarNet for two straight days, and the topic showed no signs of cooling down. Countless netizens were intensely fascinated by the incident.
“Has the origin of that insectoid been figured out yet? Is there any chance I might randomly run into one too?”
“I heard it escaped from some laboratory. The odds of a random encounter are practically zero. If insectoids start appearing on Alpha Star too, then the Alliance isn’t far from extinction.”
“No, I heard it sneaked in aboard a starship.”
“Am I the only one curious about which absolute legend sliced it up? That thing was a gigantic monster, but it got cut into strips of meat, scattered all over the ground in pieces. How the hell did they do that?”
“Could’ve been a woman too. Women get even crazier when they’re ruthless.”
“Reported for sexism.”
“I sincerely apologize. What I actually meant was that women are terrifyingly strong too. Slicing up an insectoid would be effortless for them, easy as breathing, no less capable than our male comrades. So seriously, who carved up that giant monster? Hurry up and claim the credit so we can worship you properly.”
“………”
Inside the villa where Yuan Mu lived alone, within the Yuan family estate.
“They just finished the engagement banquet a few days ago, and now they’re already holding the wedding banquet. Isn’t this way too rushed?” Li Jing complained as he sprawled across the sofa without the slightest concern for appearances.
“Old Liu only gave us one day off. We have to head back to school tomorrow night.” Wen Zhao waggled his brows at Yuan Mu. “Brother, how about we throw a bachelor party tonight?”
Yuan Mu’s gaze never left his smart terminal. “You guys really didn’t see who made the move that day?”
Li Jing abruptly sat upright and stared at Yuan Mu with wounded eyes. “Ah Mu, do you really think I’m the kind of person who’d lie to the police officers?”
A dark look crossed Yuan Mu’s face. “Stop making that eye-burning expression.”
Wen Zhao burst out laughing, and even Song Yulan could not hold back his amusement.
When Cheng Li was informed that the wedding would be tomorrow, her entire mind went blank. It all felt unreal. She was getting married just like that?
Across both her lifetimes combined, she had never even dated before. She had never held hands with anyone, never given away her first kiss, and had absolutely no idea what a first night was supposed to feel like.
Only now did it hit her that this marriage was moving a little too fast.
But she did not regret it in the slightest. If anything, her heart surged with excitement and anticipation. After all, an entire mining planet was waiting for her ahead.
Although both of them were abandoned children of their respective families, the Yuan family and Cheng family were still major clans. Appearances had to be maintained. The wedding was held on an exceptionally grand scale, with every influential figure on Alpha Star invited.
Cheng Li wore a magnificent champagne-colored wedding gown and light makeup. She was so beautiful it was breathtaking. Even Li Jing, who had always been dissatisfied with her, found his eyes lighting up as he silently closed his mouth.
Yuan Mu still sat in his wheelchair, dressed in a white formal suit. His sharply defined, exquisite features did not lose out to the bride in the slightest. Standing together, the two of them became the most dazzling sight at the wedding.
Under the witness of the crowd, Cheng Li and Yuan Mu opened their smart terminals and registered their marriage on the spot, officially receiving their marriage certificate. The moment the certificate was generated, all of their assets were immediately merged, making them the two people most closely tied to each other in this world.
As Cheng Li stared at the extra zeros that had appeared in her account, several properties, and the planet she had dreamed about day and night, her entire mind went blank.
She actually owned a planet now!!!
Cheng Li froze for several minutes before turning toward Yuan Mu. She crouched down, grabbed his hand, and said with complete sincerity, “Thank you.”
Yuan Mu forcefully pulled his hand free. “You’re welcome.” After a pause, he added, “You can go get a prosthetic arm implanted.”
Cheng Li shook her head. “I don’t need one.”
She was telling the truth, but Yuan Mu assumed she was reluctant to spend the money. He tried persuading her again. “You can always earn more star coins. A prosthetic arm would make your life more convenient.”
Cheng Li still shook her head. “I really don’t need one. What about you, then? Aren’t you going to get prosthetic legs? Are you planning to stay in a wheelchair forever?”
Yuan Mu pressed his lips together. “No rush.”
Cheng Li stared straight at him. From the stubborn expression on his face, she seemed to understand why he had always refused prosthetics. Most likely, he still had not accepted the fact that he had lost both his legs, nor could he accept that they would never grow back.
As two disabled newlyweds, Cheng Li and Yuan Mu were exempted from the customary toast-making rounds. Even though it was their wedding, everyone else seemed to be the ones having all the fun. Their table was quiet and deserted, accompanied only by Wen Zhao, Li Jing, and Song Yulan.
Cheng Li did not feel the slightest bit upset by the situation and leisurely enjoyed the food instead. Meanwhile, Yuan Mu chatted quietly with Wen Zhao and the other two.
As the banquet came to an end, Father Cheng called Cheng Li aside before leaving. He informed her that her belongings had already been moved to the Yuan family residence and instructed her to live properly with Yuan Mu.
Seeing Father Cheng putting on the solemn demeanor of a loving father, Cheng Li could not help blurting out, “Father, do I have a dowry?”
The atmosphere instantly stiffened.
Father Cheng’s handsome face froze for several seconds before he gritted his teeth and said, “I already raised you to adulthood. I never expected you to repay me in the future, but you shouldn’t be coveting your father’s possessions either.”
An enlightened look appeared on Cheng Li’s face. “So Father means that a married daughter is like water poured out, and from now on, Daughter and Father have nothing to do with each other anymore?”
Father Cheng replied coldly, “You may understand it that way.”
Cheng Li pressed on, “So Daughter also won’t need to support Father in his old age?”
Father Cheng sneered. “Just take care of yourself.”
Completely satisfied, Cheng Li nodded. “I’ll remember Father’s words well. I hope Father remembers them too. In the future, don’t go coveting Daughter’s possessions either.”
Father Cheng laughed in anger. “Rest assured. Even if the Cheng family collapses, I won’t take a single coin from you.”
Cheng Li let out a sigh of relief. “That’s for the best. I’ve already recorded today’s conversation. Even if Father wants to deny it in the future, he won’t be able to.”
Father Cheng’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot as he spat out viciously, “Likewise. From now on, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me as your father.”
Father Cheng stormed off in a fury. Cheng Li watched him leave, and when she turned around, she saw Yuan Mu standing several meters away, looking at her with a complicated expression.
“Ahem.” Cheng Li gave two fake coughs. Not a trace of embarrassment could be seen on her face. Instead, she shamelessly tried to act cute. “From now on, you’re my only family left. Don’t kick me out of the house, okay?”
“I have no authority to kick you out,” Yuan Mu replied calmly. “After all, from the moment you became my legal partner, half of everything I own became yours as well.”
“Tsk tsk, that actually sounded a little romantic.” Cheng Li muttered.
Yuan Mu’s face darkened. “Other than money, don’t fantasize about getting anything else from me. Especially not feelings.”
Cheng Li curled her lips. Relax, aside from the mining planet, she wanted absolutely nothing else.
After returning to the Yuan family estate with Yuan Mu, Cheng Li discovered that he actually lived alone in an entire villa. She felt deeply envious.
“Stop looking. Before long, this place won’t belong to us anymore.” Yuan Mu’s face carried a trace of mockery, along with faint loneliness.
Cheng Li looked completely unconcerned. “It was never under our names to begin with. So what if we can’t live here anymore? It’s not like I care.” She would much rather live on the mining planet.
Yuan Mu had not expected her to be so open-minded, so he added, “We’ll probably be arranged to leave Alpha Star.”
Cheng Li’s eyes instantly lit up. “Are we going to live on our own planet?”
Yuan Mu nodded, unable to understand why she looked so happy. It was merely a planet that had already been mined halfway dry and no longer held much value.
After getting the answer she wanted, Cheng Li broke into a grin and said eagerly, “Then what are we waiting for? When are we leaving?”
“Tomorrow, or maybe the day after.” His stepmother was probably wishing they would leave immediately.
“Hahahahaha!” Cheng Li burst into loud laughter. “Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and pack!”
Yuan Mu was dumbfounded. There was definitely something wrong with this woman’s brain.
Cheng Li pushed Yuan Mu through the door, planning to help him pack his luggage. As for her own belongings, she only had a small suitcase brought over from the Cheng family, which currently sat in the corner of the living room.