Fleeing the scene of the "biochemical hazard" as if for their lives, Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran stepped out of the hotel lobby. Both let out a long, synchronized sigh of relief. For a fleeting moment, even the overwhelming sea of pink outside seemed significantly more pleasing to the eye.
They would much rather face an endless barrage of pink than return to that site of olfactory devastation.
The question now was which restaurant to choose for breakfast.
As a honeymoon destination, Planet M88 had no shortage of dining options. Feng Zhixi scanned the area, picked the sign that looked most appealing, and beckoned Ji Yeran to follow.
Ji Yeran didn't care much for the pleasures of the palate. To him, food was merely fuel; as long as it was edible and filling, he had no special requirements for taste. If it weren't for Feng Zhixi’s presence, he would have been perfectly content solving every meal with nutrient solutions.
Thus, he had no objections to Feng Zhixi’s choice and followed him inside.
The restaurant Feng Zhixi selected specialized in local M88 cuisine, emphasizing "original flavors." This philosophy was reflected not only in their cooking methods but also in the fact that they still used rare, physical paper menus.
Upon seeing the waiter bring over the paper menu, Feng Zhixi decisively abandoned the automated ordering system on the table. He flipped through the menu—a rarity elsewhere—with great interest.
The beautifully rendered photos showcased the dishes perfectly. Feng Zhixi’s eyes lit up particularly when he noticed the wide variety of desserts.
Seeing the Omega’s sparkling eyes, Ji Yeran shook his head with a faint smile. He chose to turn a blind eye for the moment; an occasional treat wouldn't hurt. With that thought, Ji Yeran pointedly looked the other way.
Without supervision, Feng Zhixi ordered with even more gusto. However, just as he was about to order a third dessert, Ji Yeran was forced to turn back. He reached out and snatched the menu from the hands of the oblivious "patient."
"That will be all," Ji Yeran said politely, handing the menu back to the waiter.
"!" Feng Zhixi, having had his "prey" snatched away, glared coldly at the menu in the waiter's hand.
He wasn't finished yet!
The waiter caught the menu, looking caught in the middle. He glanced at the firm Alpha, then at the fuming Omega, unsure of whose lead to follow.
"That’s all, thank you." Ji Yeran placed a hand over Feng Zhixi’s hand on the table, remaining perfectly composed and utterly ignoring the death stare being directed at him.
"O-Of course." Not wanting to offend either side, the waiter took two steps back and hurried away, leaving the "bickering couple" to themselves.
*Are you looking for trouble?!*
Watching his dessert feast fly away, Feng Zhixi glared at Ji Yeran. Had he been too good-tempered lately, giving this Alpha some sort of delusional confidence?
Faced with this fury, Ji Yeran remained calm. He withdrew his hand from the back of Feng Zhixi’s and smoothly changed the subject. "Since we’ve arrived on M88 and the star map still hasn't reacted, we might need to investigate from the source."
This sentence successfully pulled Feng Zhixi’s attention away from the food.
Feng Zhixi gave Ji Yeran a silent look, temporarily suppressing his grudge over the stolen food but making a mental note of it in his "little black book."
Refocusing, Feng Zhixi looked into Ji Yeran’s eyes. Almost in unison, they said:
"The Planet Archives."
Having reached the same conclusion, they looked at each other and couldn't help but smile.
Since the star map pointed to Planet M88, it had to be connected to the planet itself. Whoever left these three map fragments, and whenever they were left, the key to unlocking their secret wouldn't be something fleeting.
They surmised that this mysterious key must be linked to the planet’s origins—something that wouldn't change despite the passage of time or the shifting of eras.
To find the answer, the first place they thought of was the Planet Archives.
After a few words to finalize their next move, the food they ordered arrived.
The table was nearly covered in delicacies, the most eye-catching being a series of M88’s famous local desserts.
Seeing Feng Zhixi’s hand reach unhesitatingly for a dessert, Ji Yeran acted quickly, snatching one away first.
"?!" Having his favorite stolen because he wasn't fast enough, Feng Zhixi’s temper flared instantly. He glared at the "thief," his eyes full of accusation.
*Is this never going to end?!*
Enduring the Omega’s reproachful gaze, Ji Yeran moved the dessert to a spot far out of Feng Zhixi’s reach without changing his expression.
"After the meal," the solemn Alpha declared. He felt he was being quite lenient by not confiscating both portions. He reminded the other not to forget he was still a recovering patient and shouldn't ignore medical advice.
Keeping the school doctor’s long list of precautions firmly in mind, Ji Yeran decided the little patient had better behave, or he wouldn't hesitate to use "unconventional means."
*It’s all that quack doctor’s fault!*
After cursing the school doctor a hundred times in his head, Feng Zhixi reluctantly withdrew his hand.
Whether he followed those ridiculous precautions or not, he was destined to go from "partially disabled" to "fully disabled" in the future anyway, so what was the point? The more Feng Zhixi thought about it, the unhappier he became.
It could be said that if the future Feng Zhixi managed to earn the highest rank of disability, it was entirely due to his own "efforts."
Not far away, Xu Yi—Captain of the First Legion and the designated receptionist for the joint military exercise—witnessed this scene and marveled at it.
The receptionist had come out for breakfast, leaving his little shop in the care of a robot. He had wandered out to enjoy some good food, figuring that no cadet would likely find him on the first day anyway.
Out of professional habit, the thick-skinned captain kept an eye on his surroundings while he ate. It was through this casual observation that he caught the daily interactions of the "young couple" nearby.
He couldn't be blamed for eavesdropping; the interaction between these two good-looking youngsters was simply too entertaining!
As Xu Yi listened, he found it hilarious and couldn't help but sigh about the beauty of youth.
Meanwhile, the struggle between Feng Zhixi and Ji Yeran ended with the "Warden" emerging victorious. Truly a cause for celebration.
With the battle over, a sulking Feng Zhixi picked up his utensils and ate his breakfast in silence, though he didn't forget to use Ji Yeran’s face as a "side dish" to help his appetite.
Thus, a bizarre scene unfolded at the table: two people eating in silence, one serene and composed, the other radiating hostility.
Xu Yi, having enjoyed the little show, chuckled to himself, finding it more amusing the longer he watched.
While focusing on his meal, Feng Zhixi gave Ji Yeran a poke with his finger.
The man nearby had been stealing glances at them the whole time. Although he was wearing the most common local M88 attire—beach sandals and oversized shorts—he couldn't hide his distinct military aura.
Who was he?
Feng Zhixi was certain he had never met the man. But since the stranger had been watching them for so long, there had to be a connection. If it wasn't to him, it was to Ji Yeran.
*It’s all because of you, you trouble magnet!*
The force with which Feng Zhixi poked the back of Ji Yeran’s hand was thick with indignation.
Ji Yeran caught the Omega’s restless finger in his palm, feeling helpless. Although he was certain the man watching them wasn't there for him *now*, he did indeed know him... in the future.
In the future, Xu Yi—currently a Captain and the top candidate for the next Commander of the First Legion—would be exiled to a fringe system to "eat dirt" by Ji Wei immediately after the latter was elected Federal Marshal.
The first time Ji Yeran had met this reputedly crude and brainless Alpha was in his office at the Interstellar Heavy Security Prison.
At the time, the Alpha, reeking of gunpowder, had burst in recklessly and grabbed the data officer Ji Yeran had just promoted from within the prison, sobbing uncontrollably.
The officer, after having a significant amount of snot and tears wiped onto his uniform, finally lost his patience and peeled the "large dog" off his body.
In that future, having found his lover safe and sound, Xu Yi had sworn to the Interstellar Warden—who was nearly ten years his junior—"My life is yours, sir! Just point me where to strike!"
In that future, Interstellar Warden Ji Yeran had slowly adjusted his cufflinks, concealing all his warmth and sentiment behind a black military uniform. The cold Warden had simply replied: "Fine. Now get lost."
Ji Yeran had released the high-profile convict and the newly appointed data officer, his only requirement being that they stay as far away as possible.
Recalling the scene of their future meeting, Ji Yeran really didn't want to admit he knew Xu Yi.
The current Xu Yi had no idea what the future held. His entire attention was fixed on the "young couple."
Because they were such a valuable learning resource!
He wondered when he would be able to tease the one at his own home as freely as that Alpha did, and still come out unscathed.
Xu Yi had no clue that Ji Yeran, whom he viewed as a role model, had absolutely no desire to know him.
The meal ended in this strange atmosphere. Once the satisfied Captain of the First Legion left the restaurant and returned to his post, he saw an Omega sitting bored on a small stool.
Xu Yi: "?!"
Seeing him arrive, the Omega—Amir, the leader from the "Perennial Third-Place" Academy—stood up, her long ponytail swinging. She gave a crisp, standard military salute and reported loudly, "Reporting, sir! Cadet reporting for duty!"
Xu Yi: "!" Are cadets these days really this capable?!
Though slightly shocked internally, Xu Yi didn't let it show. He nodded calmly and handed her the first identification number.
He had ten numbers in total, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. This girl was the first; quite impressive.
Amir was delighted to receive her number. Then, she watched as the officer began packing up to move.
Amir: "?" What’s happening?
Xu Yi, deftly operating a robot to pack his things, saw the young Omega’s confusion. While directing the robot, he explained, "I only take one person per location."
Since he had already received someone here, he had to move to the next spot to prevent any cadets from exploiting a loophole.
Amir nodded in realization.
Having finished packing, the officer waved her off, telling the "Number One" cadet to leave and meet him at the starport in ten days.
Having secured her official entry code for the joint military exercise, Amir walked away quite happily. She was the first!
Being ahead of the dual-top candidates from Benn Military Academy proved she was still very formidable.
The cheerful Omega ran off.
The officer left behind looked around. Where should he go next?
As he pondered, he spotted a hot-air balloon floating in the air.
*Hmm, that looks good. An aerial dessert shop.*
Having found a good spot, the receptionist happily decided on his next stakeout location—the Planet Archives.
Inside the Planet Archives, Feng Zhixi glanced back at Ji Yeran. The Alpha was looking down, reviewing holographic data. Seeing that he was focused on his work, Feng Zhixi quietly edged toward the exit.
Having successfully snuck out, Feng Zhixi’s lips curled into a silent smile. He had noticed several aerial dessert shops before coming in, all parked outside the skywalks extending from the upper levels of the Archives!
***
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Starry Rebirth: The Warden and the Outlaw’s Interstellar Revenge | Chapter 36 | A Sweet Escape | Novela.app | Novela.app
