Chapter 4

The director's Light Brain buzzed. It was Ming Yu, the head of the Military Armory—and the commander's mother.

Director Xiang's scalp prickled as he answered, his expression grim.

"Director Xiang, first, I hope you can guarantee that the 99.99% marriage proposal is genuine. Second, don't try to use some so-called research spirit or dedication to persuade my son to accept it. Finally, I oppose this proposal and still question its existence."

Through the communicator, Ming Yu's beautiful but stern face made Xiang Lei's breath catch. He cursed inwardly—they were the same rank, so why was he such a coward in front of her?

"Ahem, I can absolutely guarantee the proposal is genuine, but I think you're mistaken about the rest. The final decision lies with the matched parties themselves—that's our institute's principle."

"It had better be."

Ming Yu snorted coldly and ended the call. How could she believe the proposal hadn't been tampered with? This was the first marriage proposal with a compatibility rate of 99%, and it had already sparked widespread debate internally. Even many who believed in genetic determinism expressed hope that Asher would accept it.

Asher was one of the few high-level mental power awakened individuals in the entire Sicel Family, even in the whole Federation. How could he possibly be genetically compatible with a mental power waste?

"Still can't get through to Asher?"

"No, but the message has been sent. The commander doesn't seem to care."

Ming Yu couldn't understand what her son was thinking. If he didn't want to accept, he should just refuse outright. Why drag it out, giving people false hope and stirring up trouble?

Yuanji Star α-22 was currently the most important border defense star.

The defensive line between Blue Star and the insect race extended to this point, currently guarded by the Fourth Military District, with Asher as the highest commander stationed at the line.

"Sir, General Shen from the military wants you to respond as soon as possible."

Adjutant Da Li·Lemont hung up the communicator and turned to report to the commander standing nearby. These calls couldn't reach the commander directly, so they all landed on him instead.

"I don't reply to personal communications during wartime."

Asher didn't turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the warship command panel before him, covered with various diagrams and numbers—highly technological, changing rapidly.

Asher·Sicel wore the black commander uniform, standing at least two meters tall. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, a powerful frame. He clasped his hands behind his back, a physique that radiated pure pressure.

He turned around—jet-black hair, dark eyes, exceptional bone structure, sharp and defined features. His phoenix eyes held a cold, steady gaze, as deep and unfathomable as the starry sea of the universe.

The adjutant lowered his head in apology. "Forgive me, sir."

Asher looked at him, thin lips pressed together, his voice low and cold as ice. "Don't let it happen again." He understood the adjutant's difficult position, but he considered himself a commander who could protect his people.

The adjutant almost volunteered for punishment. He had reported this matter to the commander after receiving the first call, but he still hadn't been able to resist the pressure.

The insect race's invasion had already lasted half a month. Based on the current battle situation, the conflict would end within three days.

Asher was forty years old this year—quite young in an interstellar era where average lifespan reached three hundred. Especially given his position at this age, his personal situation remained a constant focus of attention.

Interstellar marriage age wasn't limited to a specific range but was based on adulthood—when the body reached a condition suitable for marriage. With advances in various technologies, mental power, and genetic research, Blue Star humanity's youth period had been greatly extended, from adulthood to two hundred years old all counting as youth.

Asher had never considered marriage. He didn't accept the family-arranged political unions, so he had joined the matching database to take control of his own marriage decisions. Fortunately, no match had succeeded in over twenty years.

So what was this situation now?

Asher went to his private quarters and finally opened his Light Brain. It was full of messages. He quickly found the most important one—a marriage proposal from the Gene Research Center.

"Dear Mr. Sicel... May we ask whether you accept this marriage proposal?"

"Wu Ying?" Asher lightly tapped the name with his finger. He was somewhat surprised inwardly—99.99% was the first time this value had appeared in the entire Federation, wasn't it?

Like his mother, Asher began to suspect this was a move from political enemies.

Let's shelve it for now.

Three days later, Ming Yu finally got in touch with Asher. Looking at his silent, cold face, she didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to the core point. "I don't advise you to accept this marriage proposal. You're still young; there's no need to rush."

Asher didn't speak. Ming Yu continued, "The Gene Research Institute keeps trying to persuade you to accept, and even the military's opinion leans toward acceptance. For the sake of that compatibility rate, Asher, I hope you understand—they just want to use you as an experiment."

"Do you understand?"

Her tone was serious, with the same cold detachment as Asher's own.

"I'll decide for myself."

Asher had been independent since childhood. Once he decided something, no one could change it, and Ming Yu knew that well. She was momentarily at a loss for words. Looking at her grown son, she could only trust that he wouldn't like this proposal either.

Many people had been sending messages to ask about this over the past few days. Asher ignored them. This was his personal matter, yet so many seemed eager to interfere.

Asher replied to General Shen Si from the military and learned that the department had actually held a small meeting about it. Asher's brow furrowed slightly—he had underestimated the impact of this marriage proposal.

Finally, he received a call from the institute director. "Commander, we naturally respect your wishes, but we'd like to explain once more. This marriage proposal is the only one you've received since joining the gene database. Even if you refuse, you'll still need to undergo genetic matching tests for future marriages. Can you guarantee the compatibility rate will exceed 99.99%? Don't you want to meet the match who shares 99% compatibility with you? According to regulations, as long as she agrees, regardless of whether you agree, a meeting is required."

Xiang Lei feared Asher would act unilaterally and refuse the meeting outright. If he insisted, the institute had no way to refuse. Fortunately, the military leaned supportive.

"Has she agreed?"

Director Xiang fell silent. Wu Ying hadn't confirmed her agreement yet. The mere thought made his head ache with pain. How could both of them be so difficult to handle? Was this explosive marriage proposal only cared about by third parties like them?

The office door opened, and Ivy lightly tapped her Light Brain to signal him to check the message. Director Xiang looked down, and his eyes lit up instantly. "She agreed! Commander, a compatibility rate this high is a rare opportunity. I hope you'll consider it seriously."

"In three days, I'll return to Blue Star for a debriefing. I'll go to Yun 8 Star then. Arrange the meeting."

"Very well, we look forward to your arrival."

The Wu Family

"Did you agree? Wu Ying, show us your marriage proposal."

Xia Li grabbed her hand, desperately wanting to see Wu Ying's marriage proposal. Something was off with this daughter lately—she'd been rebellious and strange. She'd even kept something as major as a marriage proposal secret from them.

"I've already agreed. Everything else shouldn't matter, should it? Or is there something else you'd like to know?"

Wu Ying asked in return, a hint of emotion in her voice. This was the first time her family had gathered so completely since she'd transmigrated here. They all coincidentally cared about her marriage proposal, afraid she might refuse and affect their marriage fund.

"Wu Ying, are you angry? Why? I don't understand what you're angry about."

Wu Minggang asked in confusion, as if Wu Ying were throwing an unreasonable tantrum. Wu Ying tried to explain but fell silent the moment she met his unapologetic eyes.

How could she explain? Was she wronged? It seemed she didn't have that right either. Or did she just want to throw a tantrum? Because they were her nominal family, it didn't seem right either.

Wu Ying calmed down, suppressing the chaotic emotions inside her. "I'm not angry. I just want to know—what was your original intention in wanting me to accept this marriage proposal?"

The question stunned everyone in the room. Xia Li reacted quickly. Perhaps women understand women better. She thought Wu Ying was angry about the marriage fund, because that was what she cared about most.

"The marriage proposal from the institute is calculated based on the matched parties' genetic compatibility. Its original purpose is to help families avoid more conflict. I agree with the institute's proposal, so I hope you'll accept it. I think you have some needs you want us to fulfill, right?"

Wu Minggang didn't know why Wu Ying was angry, but he would provide a solution.

Xia Li was dumbfounded, seeming unable to understand, and Wu Qi, still in primary school, was even less able to participate.

"I think caring would be better." Wu Ying avoided his gaze and blurted out, "In three days, the institute will arrange for me to meet the other matched party, and we'll see the final result."

"Okay."

Wu Ying hurried back to her room, leaving the living room occupants staring at each other. Caring? That word seemed long unheard of, as if it only appeared in textbooks.

They didn't view Wu Ying purely as a tool for exploitation. In their minds, they were a family. It was just that no one had ever mentioned needing care, so everyone overlooked it. They hadn't received such things from their own parents, and even though textbooks mentioned it, they'd never thought about how to practice it.

Wu Minggang and Xia Li exchanged glances, then finally turned their gaze to their bewildered son.

"What am I doing?" Wu Ying slapped her own head hard, feeling so dramatic.

Her thinking was still stuck in her past social environment. If she wasn't careful, she'd forget that everyone here had forgotten about warmth. Wu Ying remembered trying to play the sympathy card when she'd looked for work, hoping for a lifeline, only to receive a strange, wary look from the boss instead.

"Stop thinking about it. I have things to do. What do I need to do? Asher—right, that name sounds familiar. I should have seen him before. Let me find his information."

Flustered, Wu Ying opened her Light Brain, momentarily confused by the serious interface. Finally, she went straight to the search bar and typed: Asher·Sicel.

Almost instantly, a flood of information appeared on the screen. Wu Ying's mind went blank. Was this really a celebrity?

Asher·Sicel, military district commander, 3S-level mental power, the most dazzling figure of the Sicel Family... Wu Ying began to seriously question this marriage proposal. As far as she knew, Blue Star people's obsession with mental power bordered on extreme. This man was 3S-level. Would he even look at her?

The research institute, considering that Wu Ying needed a mental power re-examination, deliberately scheduled her check-up on the same day as the meeting with Asher.

They even sent a car to pick her up with great ceremony. Wu Ying walked out of the protection zone gate and saw a flashy hovercar parked in front—sleek lines, a shell full of texture. Wu Ying's spirits lifted at the sight. She felt like an alien with two round horns on its head would come out of it at any moment.

The hovercar door opened from the inside, but it wasn't an alien who stepped out—it was researcher Ivy. Wearing a black coat and black combat boots, standing at about 175 centimeters, she looked quite sharp.

"I'm here to pick you up."

Wu Ying looked at her silently without asking why. After all, it couldn't be for her E-level mental power.

She leaned against the hovercar's window frame. As the vehicle soared into the air, the scenery outside changed instantly. The protection zone gate shrank in an instant. Wu Ying felt like she was so close to the sky. Looking down, a massive steel city stood below, with only a small patch of green at the center.

But Wu Ying knew those were just decorations. There were no plants on this planet.

Ivy secretly observed her expression, somewhat surprised inwardly. Wu Ying wasn't nervous at all. She knew the person Wu Ying was about to meet was the highest commander of the Fourth Military District—one of only three 3S mental power awakened individuals in the entire Federation. Just knowing she'd get to see him made Ivy excited, yet Wu Ying could stay so calm.

"Miss Wu, do you know you'll be meeting the commander this afternoon?"

Seeing Wu Ying nod calmly, Ivy continued, "If there's anything you'd like to know, you can ask me. Don't be afraid."

Wu Ying thought: Does it look like I'm afraid?

Seeing her shake her head calmly again, Ivy couldn't help but grow anxious. If Commander Asher's chances of accepting the marriage proposal were already low, then if Wu Ying didn't put in more effort, wouldn't it be even more hopeless?

"Miss Wu, your match is Lord Asher. Aren't you afraid this meeting might be ruined?"

Wu Ying saw the excitement in Ivy's eyes and thought, so she does have emotions after all. Earlier she was like a robot; now she looked much more pleasant.

Her tone was flat. "Why would it be ruined? The purpose of our meeting is for him to make a final decision. The decision lies with him. How could I ruin it?"

Hmph, she'd already agreed. Even if something went wrong, he'd be the one ruining it. What did it have to do with her?

Ivy wanted to say more, but they'd already arrived at the research institute.

Ivy led her in for a mental power test. The result was E. Wu Ying wasn't surprised—their testing system had never made a mistake. The re-examination was just for safety.

Besides, that wasn't the main purpose today.

"Miss Wu, Lord Asher will arrive at three this afternoon. Before that, we'd like to have a talk with you."

Ivy poured her a cup of tea, steam rising. Wu Ying's mind was full of question marks. Three in the afternoon? She widened her eyes slightly, trying to interrogate Ivy through the steam with her gaze. It was barely past eight in the morning now. So they expected her to wait all this time?

"Seems like what we need to discuss is very important." It better actually last until two in the afternoon, or she'd really be angry.

Ivy didn't see her look and instead handed her a stack of documents—information the institute had gathered about Asher·Sicel. It included his resume, hobbies, and photos. The content about him was pitifully sparse; the rest was all introductions to the Sicel Family.

"This is what we managed to gather. Hope it helps. Lord Asher isn't easy to please, but he's worth pleasing. You know, countless people would find it harder than reaching the sky to get close to him..."

Ivy took a sip of tea, speaking in an unhurried tone, but her output was endless, completely oblivious to the fact that the person across from her was already covered in black lines of frustration.

Wu Ying angrily pressed her hand to her heaving chest, slowly letting out a breath. "Does the institute really want our marriage proposal to succeed?"

"Of course. Our opinions are aligned. The institute has already tried to persuade the lord, but with little effect. His thoughts aren't something we can control."

Ivy answered regretfully, finally lifting her head from the documents to look at Wu Ying. Seeing her unpleasant expression, she even added a somewhat considerate consolation, "But overall, there are many people hoping the lord will accept the proposal. In the end, you'll have to put in the effort yourself."

Wu Ying was about to explode. Her mind buzzed with anger for a moment, dazed, wondering if it was her problem or Ivy's. After all, the person before her was so sincere—sincerely trampling her into the dust. No, wait—she simply hadn't acknowledged Wu Ying at all.

How could someone be so infuriating? From start to finish, every action and every word told Wu Ying: you don't deserve him, and everything you do is only right and proper.

Was she crazy? This proposal wasn't something she'd schemed to create. Why did she have to lower herself so much? And now she was expected to please him at the meeting to win herself a 'title' as his wife?

"Alright, you don't need to say any more. I'll handle it myself."

Wu Ying cut her off coldly. She really didn't want to hear this woman's so-called 'communication skills.'

She did want to get married, and she wanted to escape the protection zone environment through this means, but it absolutely wasn't by clinging to someone shamelessly.

Wu Ying didn't consider herself someone who could swallow all pride. If not for the shred of reason reminding her that times had changed, she might have started crying and spitting fire at the same time.

Wu Ying's cold voice brought Ivy back to her senses from her excitement. She realized Wu Ying was angry. Though she didn't quite understand why, her upbringing told her to give the woman some space.

She hesitated for a moment, then still advised, "This marriage proposal is also the lord's first one. You might start from that angle. Perhaps he doesn't want to wait any longer either."

"I understand. Is there a rest room here? I think I'll need one to wait for him."

Ivy vaguely felt Wu Ying's tone was off, but she couldn't quite describe how. Wu Ying was still too timid—even her passive-aggressiveness was so subtle it was nearly invisible.

"Alright, I'll take you there."

Wu Ying entered the rest room and immediately turned to close the door. The bewildered Ivy reached out to block it, handing her the printed documents. Who knew why she'd chosen to print them when they could have been sent to her Light Brain!

"Okay."