"No, I am one hundred percent certain you are my sister." Tang Wen’s insistence was surprisingly firm. "All the tests were just procedure."

Ziye knew perfectly well that agreeing to Tang Wen meant this day, sooner or later, would arrive.

After several days of mental preparation, she no longer felt the initial psychological resistance to the idea.

Because she had already resolved not to let the Tang Clan interfere with her life.

So, she didn't pay much mind to Tang Wen's answer. She cheerfully shrugged at him. "Let's go. I haven't seen the Tang Clan yet. You can be my guide tomorrow for a 'Tang Clan Day Trip,' how wonderful would that be!"

She relaxed, and Tang Wen did too. Just as he was about to speak, Ziye added, "Oh, mighty wealthy Tang, I beg you to treat me to a huge meal."

Tang Wen chuckled and poked her cheek. "Done."

Back in the shuttle, Ziye woke up Tang Wan, dragged her out, and took her to the restaurant reputed to be the most expensive in the galaxy to fleece Tang Wen for a massive dinner. Afterwards, the two girls happily linked hands and went back to Tang Wan’s home.

Tang Wen: "..."

Although Tang Wen returned home alone, the news that she had brought Ziye back spread throughout the Tang Clan headquarters within mere minutes.

All relevant personnel took their positions, preparing welcome gifts for Ziye.

Since meeting people late at night was considered improper, everything was set for the following morning.

That night, many people couldn't sleep.

Perhaps the person happiest about Ziye’s arrival was Tang Wan.

Tang Wan had three older brothers at home, but they were all away. Her parents were off touring space, leaving her utterly alone. Having Ziye’s company was a rare treat, and she was completely unwilling to sleep, filling the time before midnight completely.

The first thing they did upon arriving home was swim.

Tang Wan didn't just swim herself; she dragged Ziye into the pool too.

What was even more amusing was that Tang Wan's swimming skills were absolutely terrible.

She would drown every two or three minutes, staying underwater for two or three minutes each time. Her ability to drown far surpassed her ability to swim.

Ziye was initially worried. Every time she couldn't see Tang Wan on the surface, she’d rush into the water to find her. After locating her and pulling her up, after doing this three or five times, Ziye found herself panting, exhausted, while Tang Wan acted as if nothing had happened, happier than any fish.

Frustrated, Ziye went to the side to rest.

Tang Wan, tired from drowning, climbed over to Ziye and tugged at her swimsuit, causing water to slosh out.

She called a robot to bring two glasses of juice, grabbed one, and chugged it down. She turned to Ziye and said, "Little Yezi, why do I feel like you’re so gentle?"

Ziye’s face darkened. "...Do I look like a gentle person?"

Tang Wan scooped juice into her mouth while replying, "Very gentle, just like Brother Tang Wen. I didn't believe it when Brother Tang Wen used to say he had a sister. Now seeing you, you really are family."

Ziye was even more surprised. "I resemble him?"

She felt there wasn't a single aspect of herself that was like Tang Wen.

One, Tang Wen always maintained a fashionable and elegant exterior, while she was the complete opposite, often looking so disheveled that even Red Hair couldn't recognize her.

Two, Tang Wen always acted willfully and recklessly, disregarding everyone else’s feelings. She, however, always trod lightly, terrified of taking a single wrong step.

Three, Tang Wen was tall and handsome; she couldn't be called beautiful.

Tang Wan looked her up and down. "Your eyes are very similar, your lip shape is similar, and your personalities are too—you’re both very easygoing."

Ziye could only conclude that Tang Wan's taste was quite different from hers.

She crossed her legs, picked up the other glass of juice, and took a slow sip. Regardless of whether she resembled Tang Wen or not, enjoying juice so calmly and happily was quite excellent.

The people of the Tang Clan truly knew how to enjoy life.

Before she could swallow the juice, Tang Wan suddenly leaned in and asked, "Little Yezi, do you like Brother Tang Wen?"

Ziye froze. The juice went down the wrong pipe, choking her into a fit of coughing that turned her face bright red. She put the juice down, forcefully hacking up the liquid from her trachea, and patted her chest. "Tang Wen isn't a good brother. I only like good brothers."

Tang Wan sat back down, slightly disappointed, pouting her lips. "But I think Brother Tang Wen is really great. I like him a lot."

Ziye blinked, picked up the juice again, and took a careful sip, ensuring she wouldn't choke again. Then she asked, "What kind of liking are you talking about? Do you see him as a brother? Or as...?"

Tang Wan laughed and playfully smacked Ziye's arm, mischief glinting in her eyes. "Not as a brother."

Ziye’s mind supplied the alternative. If Tang Wen were her brother, and Tang Wan somehow ended up with him, Tang Wan would become her sister-in-law?

Suddenly, the world felt profoundly strange.

Ziye patted Tang Wan's hand. "Way to go! Keep at it!"

Tang Wan jumped up happily, threw her arms around Ziye, and exclaimed, "Little Yezi, you are the best! I’m sleeping with you tonight!"

(⊙o⊙)...

Ziye thought for a moment, deciding to consider her a stand-in for Douzai for now.

That little guy often slept with her.

Once they were in bed, Tang Wan’s chatterbox tendency was reactivated. She insisted on whispering secrets to Ziye.

Lately, Ziye had been so battered by war that she could only sleep four or five hours a night, but at this moment, she wasn't too sleepy, so she indulged her.

In a way, Tang Wan was her first true 'best friend.'

Before, she was quite familiar with Shuangzi and Lingyin, but sharing intimate things? Never. She was closer to Red Hair, but sleeping in the same bed as Red Hair? Heavens, she was afraid Red Hair might silently eliminate her in the middle of the night!

Ziye was immersed in the joy of this burgeoning friendship when she suddenly heard Tang Wan ask, "Hey, Little Yezi, do you have someone you like?"

Ziye answered without hesitation, "Yes, An Junlie."

Tang Wan looked momentarily blank. "Don't know him."

Ziye explained, "An Junlie, Commander of the Angel Legion."

Tang Wan said, "Oh," then, "Still don't know him. Sounds very distant. But is he handsome?"

Ziye nodded. "Handsome."

Tang Wan pressed, "Is he as handsome as Tang Wen?"

Ziye paused to consider. "He's more handsome than Tang Wen, but Tang Wen is better looking than him."

Tang Wan looked displeased. "You're brushing me off! You can't compare them like that. Show me a picture."

Ziye closed her mouth, looking at Tang Wan with deep melancholy, refusing to speak.

Tang Wan nudged her. "Let me see!"

Ziye felt profoundly annoyed. "You reminded me; it’s only now I realize I don't have a single picture of him."

Tang Wan: "...I have pictures of Brother Tang Wen."

Ziye understood her implication. "I used to have some too." They were pictures of An Junlie bathing, secretly taken by Little Sprout when she snuck into the Angel Domain. Later, during the Bicycle Planet Cup kidnapping, her optical computer was gone, her HyperCom was gone, her SilverCom was gone—and so were the photos.

She sighed. "If I ever see him, I'll take his picture and show it to you."

Tang Wan was confused. "Aren't you together most of the time?"

This unintentional remark struck Ziye like a fresh wound.

Except for that period on Silver Rune Star, she had barely spent a solid week with An Junlie; three days was usually the maximum. Too many tears to count.

Ziye buried her head in the new pillow Tang Wan had prepared for her, grumbling, "Once I finish setting up the Air Force Assembly Workshop, I'll spend a few days with him."

Tang Wan replied, "The Space Assembly Workshop takes ages to finish. My eldest brother is in charge of that sector. Every day it’s 'report this, analyze that, survey this, measure that'—so troublesome!"

Ziye sat up in bed. "Then would you be willing to help me with it?"

Tang Wan hesitated briefly. "Fine. Considering I'm on vacation, I suppose I can reluctantly help you once."

Ziye secretly grinned. She’d landed an assistant! Oh yeah!

And so, she drifted off to sleep quite happily.

At seven in the morning, Ziye quietly got out of bed.

Without the immediate worry of war, she had reverted to her usual routine of running in the morning.

Tang Wan was clearly a deep sleeper; she wouldn't wake up before noon, so Ziye didn't rouse her. She changed clothes and went out for her run alone.

Tang Wan’s house was on a planet in the Kakala star system, which offered excellent scenery. After running for half an hour, just as Ziye was turning back, a skyship landed precisely one meter away from her.

A young woman was piloting the skyship.

Ziye glanced at the woman and kept running.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind her: "Ziye."

Ziye jumped in alarm.

On Kakala Planet, she only knew three people: Tang Wen, Blane, and Tang Wan.

This woman looked somewhat unfamiliar.

Ziye turned around, finally taking in the woman's true appearance.

Calling her a 'young woman' wasn't quite right.

Her face and skin resembled a young woman's, perhaps appearing a few years older than Tang Wan. She was very beautiful, but her eyes held an indescribable maturity.

She wore a crisp, short blazer and stood still, showing neither approval nor displeasure.

Ziye suppressed her surprise. "Did you call me?"

"Yes." The woman walked toward Ziye and offered a slight smile. "Hello, I am—"

Before she could finish, Ziye knew who she was.

The way her mouth moved when she smiled was identical to Tang Wen’s.

Tang Wan was mistaken; in fact, her lip shape didn't resemble Tang Wen’s at all. This woman here was the true masterpiece of beauty matching Tang Wen.

However, Ziye didn't know her intentions, so she didn't interrupt, listening quietly as the woman slowly finished her sentence: "Tang Wen’s mother."

A bolt of celestial lightning struck Ziye, stunning her into silence.

It turned out this wasn't a young woman at all, but an older lady!

Interstellar beauty parlors were terrifying; someone forty or fifty years old could look exactly like a twenty-year-old.

She felt thankful she hadn't spoken up earlier; saying the wrong thing might have led to embarrassment spreading to the Garbage Planet.

Just as Ziye felt relieved, a sudden thought struck her. This person was Tang Wen's mother, which meant... her mother? No, her stepmother!

Oh dear, the stepmother had come knocking. What to do?

Ziye instantly regretted her decision to go for a run.

Fortunately, Ziye had picked up a few techniques for maintaining a calm demeanor recently. She responded with a faint smile: "Hello, Madam Tang."