The smile on Allen’s face vanished instantly.
“So, there’s no need to keep pretending to be devoted to me,” Ye Shaohua said, finishing the so-called “drink” in her hand. She frowned slightly.
This planet had many advantages, but there was one glaring flaw—everything was optimized for maximum energy efficiency. For instance, culinary arts were disregarded, replaced by barely palatable nutrient solutions.
If time allowed, Ye Shaohua mused, she would definitely lead this planet’s inhabitants in rediscovering the joys of real food.
Allen’s gentle demeanor faded as he narrowed his eyes, studying her for a long moment.
Most people would crumble under his gaze, but Ye Shaohua remained unfazed. She had once stared down the barrel of a gun without flinching—compared to that, this was nothing.
“Are you upset because I didn’t tell you about Ye Junwei?” After a prolonged silence, Allen sighed. “I kept it from you to avoid misunderstandings. But it seems you found out anyway.”
He paused, then added, “I suppose… it was Major General An who told you? Perhaps he wanted to drive a wedge between us.”
Ye Shaohua set down her glass. “Also, my mother was right—I don’t want to hurt her anymore.”
With that, she gave Allen a curt nod and walked away, her expression unreadable.
Allen watched her go, struck by the calm in her eyes. It was so unsettling that he wondered if this was even the same Ye Shaohua.
That look was why he didn’t stop her.
Did he love Ye Shaohua? Not particularly. His parents had pushed for the marriage to strengthen ties with the royal family of Mo Planet—a politically advantageous match.
Ye Shaohua wasn’t much different from the other noblewomen he’d met, though she was slightly more impressive.
Meeting Ye Junwei had been an accident. Saving her had been impulsive.
What truly captivated Allen was Ye Junwei’s fiery resilience—a vitality he’d never seen before.
“Your Highness?” a subordinate prompted when Allen remained silent.
Allen glanced at him. “Why do you think An Tingyun told Ye Shaohua about this? To prevent the Ye family from siding with me?”
He was confident in his theory. Only he and two trusted aides knew about his rescue of Ye Junwei—not even his parents were aware. The only one capable of uncovering this was An Tingyun.
“That An Tingyun married Ye Shaohua proves his ambition,” the subordinate agreed.
“How is Ye Junwei doing?” Allen changed the subject.
From the moment he’d seen her standing fearlessly among the insectoids, Allen had recognized her potential. If she survived, she’d become a formidable leader. His gamble in saving her had paid off—she was thriving in the mecha division now.
As Ye Shaohua reached her aircraft, a hologram flickered to life on her wrist device.
“Shaohua, do you have time to come home today? Your cousin brought gemstones from a newly discovered planet,” Lü Xiang said warmly. Behind her, her eldest cousin was making exaggerated gestures, held back by the second cousin.
Though she had piles of work waiting, Ye Shaohua smiled. “Of course. I’ll be there soon.”
The king had always felt guilty about forcing Ye Shaohua into a marriage with Major General An after her fallout with Allen. Her cousins, who had doted on her since childhood, were especially furious—had they been on Mo Planet at the time, they would’ve stopped it.
Now, the entire Lü family went out of their way to compensate her. Their guilt had peaked when she was sent to rehab for drinking.
The original Ye Shaohua had understood this. Though she resented An Tingyun, she never protested, enduring silently.
That was why, upon transmigrating, Ye Shaohua hadn’t immediately left the An household.
Before boarding the aircraft, she cast one last glance at Allen, her eyes darkening.
In truth, Lü Xiang had never humiliated Ye Junwei. She’d even given her and her mother financial support.
Even if Ye Junwei’s S-grade psychic abilities had been known earlier, the Lü family would never have allowed her into the Ye household.
The original plot had barely mentioned Allen, but he was undeniably brilliant. Without An Tingyun, he would’ve been the star of the planet—his reputation well-earned.
Risking his life to save Ye Junwei, then secretly guiding her military career, Allen had played a pivotal role in her rise as the first female general in history.
And Ye Junwei had proven his judgment right. She shattered records, surpassing 99% of male soldiers. Her harsh upbringing had forged an unbreakable will, amplified by her mutated psychic powers.
But the original Ye Shaohua and the Lü family paid the price. Had Allen shown even a shred of mercy, he wouldn’t have stood by as Ye Junwei drove them to ruin.
The thought made Ye Shaohua’s lips curl into a cold smile.
Jimmy, the pilot, caught a glimpse of her eerie expression and stiffened. But when he looked again, she was calmly scribbling notes in a physical book, her face serene.
