On the third day after the battle ended, the Second Corps’ pioneering mission was finally complete.

After his shift in the control room, Rong Shi walked out, intending to return to the quarters first and then have dinner with Song Yu.

Passing the training hall, he faintly heard singing coming from inside.

For some reason, he stopped in his tracks.

The metal doors slid open after scanning his iris, and the singing burst out, loud and unrestrained.

The training hall was built in a sunken circular structure, five tiers deep. Entering from the top floor, each level contained hundreds of function rooms, while the central floor hosted a vast platform where soldiers sparred.

Right now, thousands of people crowded the central platform and ringed the corridors above, all singing the military anthem in unison.

Faces red, veins bulging, voices cracked and broken—some shouting, some sobbing. Not a single note was in tune.

“Brother Yong! Rest well on your journey! Waaaaah—!”

An A8 squad member standing near the doors suddenly broke down mid-song, wailing uncontrollably.

They were sending off their fallen comrade, but also venting all the grief and pressure burning in their hearts.

Rong Shi removed his cap and stood in silence. After a respectful moment, he replaced it and turned away.

In his last life… he wondered if anyone had ever sung for him when he died.

Back at the rest cabin, the sweet, heavy fragrance of milk filled the air.

The heaviness pressing on Rong Shi’s chest eased instantly.

In the small open kitchen, chaos reigned. Song Yu, wielding the biggest ladle he owned, was dumping sugar into the mixer.

Rong Shi stood silently at the door.

Watching: half a spoon, peering in, another half spoon, peering again. Three times. Finally Song Yu just hoisted the entire sugar tin and poured it straight in.

Rong Shi: “……”

His kidneys were already twitching in alarm.

The sugar vanished once stirred into the batter. Song Yu lifted the tin to add more—but a hand pressed down on his.

Rong Shi stepped up behind him, wrapping his arms around Song Yu’s waist.

“You might as well just eat sugar out of the jar.”

Song Yu tilted his head back. Batter streaked his cheeks in two messy smears.

“The cookies taste better.”

Rong Shi arched a brow. “…So you have licked the jar? Open your mouth; let me see if you’ve got cavities.”

Song Yu: “……”

The mixer beeped for the next step.

Rong Shi watched him dump dried fruit and other ingredients in clumsily, half of it spilling everywhere. Then Song Yu jabbed repeatedly at the control panel.

Rong Shi sighed: “This is something you like eating. Can’t you have a little more patience?”

Brows drawn tight, Song Yu cycled through every mode before returning to the first one. His answer was offhand, but edged with pride:

“All my patience got spent chasing you. I don’t have any left for other things.”

This teasing kitten.

Rong Shi kissed the sensitive spot just behind his ear and whispered low: “Dr. Jiang is stopping by later. Have you decided what to ask him?”

The kiss tickled. Song Yu flinched sideways, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Why is that man haunting us like a ghost?”

Rong Shi: “……”

---

In the infirmary, Jiang Huai gathered tools and medicine for wound cleaning.

Another military doctor at a desk glanced up. “Couldn’t you just have them come in for bandaging? Why go personally?”

Facing the cabinet, Jiang Huai smiled faintly as he packed the kit. “They were injured protecting me. I ought to take responsibility to the end.”

The doctor’s eyes flicked to the items slipping into the kit. When the lid closed, he looked away again.

“Strange. That Song Yu seems arrogant and willful, but he protected you?”

Jiang Huai chuckled, tossing back words he had once heard.

“He just has a sharp tongue. He’s truly a good-hearted kid.”

The doctor’s eyes narrowed slightly, his smile curling with hidden meaning. “You sound very familiar with him.”

“It’s not much. I simply helped bring them back from the battlefield last time. They trust me.” Jiang Huai secured the box and started toward the door. “I’ll be gone twenty minutes at most.”

“Go, go—slack off all you want; I’ll cover.”

Jiang Huai grinned, waved, and left.

As soon as the door closed, the doctor’s expression hardened.

He opened his terminal, switched to private mode, and typed a report:

[Ji Yuxin is gradually gaining Song Yu’s trust. No abnormalities found for now.]

---

The cookies had just finished baking when the doorbell chimed.

Rong Shi took Song Yu’s hand to answer it—better to prevent him from breaking appliances again.

Jiang Huai entered, settled on the sofa, and set the medical box on the low table.

“Ten minutes, no more.”

Exchanging a look, the two sat across from him.

Rong Shi’s face was grim, his voice low. “What’s the truth about J001?”

Jiang Huai took a cigarette from his pocket and twirled it in his fingers, though he didn’t light it.

“I don’t know his exact situation.”

“You don’t either?” Rong Shi frowned.

“Not my department,” Jiang Huai said evenly, leaning against the couch. “But… you could ask someone else.”

Noticing Rong Shi’s fists clenching, Song Yu spoke coldly: “Someone else?”

“I can’t guarantee he’ll see you.” The cigarette turned slowly between Jiang Huai’s fingers. “But if you insist, I could inquire first.”

Rong Shi’s mouth tightened. His eyes darkened. “Another… with the surname Rong?”

With a light smile, he said, “No comment.”

Rong Shi stayed silent for some time, then nodded. “…Ask for me.”

Seeing time running, Rong Shi shifted topics. “Do you know of Ji Ming? Does he have ties with the organization?”

For one instant, Jiang Huai’s hand slipped—the cigarette almost fell.

His sharp gaze settled on Rong Shi. “Where’d you get that information?”

“Don’t worry about the source. It’s secure. I only want to know what role he plays.”

“From what I control,” Jiang Huai said slowly, “Ji Ming isn’t part of the organization. Never set foot there. But his research subject is connected to omega pheromone modification.”

“He’s the Queen’s father.” Rong Shi’s voice sank. “That alone makes him hard to clear of suspicion.”

Jiang Huai’s eyes narrowed further. “…I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Rong Shi pulled a tiny pill bottle from his pocket—the one Mian Mian had given before departure.

“I want this tested.”

Jiang Huai turned the bottle in his hand. “Who gave it to you?”

“An elder I deeply respect.”

Listening, Song Yu’s frown deepened. Rong Shi trusted this man more than Song Yu would have liked.

An alarm buzzed on Jiang Huai’s terminal. He turned it off, pocketed the vial, and rose. “…Alright. That’s all for now. I can’t stay.”

“Wait.”

Rong Shi darted into the kitchen, returned with a freshly packed box of cookies, and handed it over. “My wife baked these. Unique flavor—can’t buy them anywhere.”

Song Yu’s fury maxed instantly. “Not for him!” He lunged to snatch them back, only for Rong Shi to intercept him.

Jiang Huai, caught off-guard, quickly grabbed the box and escaped.

“…Teach him to fix that temper,” he said at the door.

“You old fossil, what the f—” Song Yu’s curse was smothered as Rong Shi covered his mouth.

Jiang Huai paused, blank. Old fossil?!

Cradling his furious spouse, Rong Shi just chuckled: “No need. I like him just like this.”

Song Yu: “……”
(…Maybe that soothed him a little.)

Jiang Huai: “……”
(One day these two brats will send me to an early grave.)

---

Later…

Song Yu jerked Rong Shi’s hand from his mouth with a scoff. “Didn’t you swear once that even if my cookies were failures, they belonged only to you?”

Rong Shi: “…… I said I wouldn’t give them to others. He’s an exception.”

“Exception?!” Song Yu snapped. “Tell me why he’s so special!”

Rationally, Song Yu knew there was nothing between them. Emotionally, though, anyone close to Rong Shi was an enemy in his eyes.

“He holds the same place as my father,” Rong Shi said seriously.

Song Yu blinked, startled. “What’s his connection to your father?”

“…A close one.” Relative by marriage.

Even so, Song Yu’s face remained dark.

“I didn’t even get a bite yet…” he grumbled.

That hemorrhoid doctor—did he deserve cookies baked by a prince himself?

Rong Shi laughed softly and kissed his sulking lips. “The cookies are his. I’m yours. Do you want me?”

The rabbit had gotten shameless with sweet talk.

Song Yu’s eyes flickered, and he leaned in, kissing back. “…You tell me.”

---

When the Second Corps’ fleet docked at Andromeda Station, it was time for transfer. Rong Shi and Song Yu would board the military academy ship back to school.

Qing Song, Qiu Tianhao, and Old Lin all escorted them to the hall.

“Really won’t consider joining us?” Qing Song asked.

“Yeah, what’s wrong with us?” Old Lin added, reluctant to let them go. “We’ve come to see you as comrades.”

The others quickly joined the chorus:

“Right, Daddy Rong—stick with our commander; your future’s limitless!”

“Never thought I’d hate to see trainees leave. Wish you’d been partnered with us long-term.”

“If another bunch of trainees comes next, it’ll feel all wrong.”

“Daddy Rong, don’t go! It’s way more fun in corps than at school. Plus we can roast meat together!”

Rong Shi swept his gaze across their earnest faces.

Just a month ago, at this very station, he and Song Yu had been given cold shoulders and petty bullying. Now, these same people treated them like brothers.

“I’m still only first year.” Rong Shi’s voice was steady and cool. “I can’t enlist until I graduate.”

The boisterous group froze. Slowly, it sank in—First year. This prodigy, this all-rounder… was just a fresh sprout.

Old Lin wailed on the spot. “I’ll be dead before you join us!!”

Rong Shi patted his shoulder, amused. “Look on the bright side. By our next meeting, perhaps you’ll already have a promotion.”

Old Lin scrubbed tears from his cheeks, suddenly fierce: “For those words—I’ll get promoted if it kills me! Then I’ll make your son call me master!”

Rong Shi: “……”
Son? Who’s giving birth?

Song Yu: “……”
What a fool.

Qiu Tianhao produced two military blades, presenting them. “A gift from the brothers. A keepsake.”

“Thanks.” Rong Shi inspected them—top quality, army-limited issue, engraved with the Second Corps name.

“Next time I visit the academy, let’s spar,” Qiu Tianhao said.

“Agreed.”

Just then, eyes turned behind them. Rong Shi glanced back—to see Jin Dazhao.

“What’s with all this racket? Get lost!”

One bark, and the soldiers scattered cheerfully.

Jin Dazhao looked at Rong Shi, brow deeply set. “…You really don’t want to switch masters?”

“……”

Seeing his silence, Jin didn’t push. “I knew your father. He was a fine warrior. You’re like him.”

Rong Shi’s eyes flickered. “You knew my father? He—”

Jin Dazhao cut him off, glancing around, and lowered his voice: “I don’t believe he deserted. All these years, I’ve never stopped searching for the truth. I swear I’ll clear his name. If you face difficulties, you can always come to me.”

In his past life, Rong Shi had almost no connection with Jin Dazhao. He had never known of this tie to his father.

“…Alright.” Rong Shi accepted.

Jin Dazhao glanced at Song Yu, murmuring, “You know my stance. I give you room. I hope you won’t be too hard on me.”

Song Yu snorted. “You call it a favor. I call it two MAX811-class warships.”

“……”
Hard to fool this one.

At the gangway, Jin Dazhao remembered something. He looked back at Rong Shi.

“Twenty years from now I’ll be at least a lieutenant general. Then I’ll qualify to take your son as my apprentice.”

Rong Shi: “……”

Song Yu: “……” Another idiot.

__

Once rested, the Second Corps set out again.

In the medical bay, with most doctors gone, Jiang Huai sat alone by a window. A box of cookies rested in his hands.

“…Impressive,” he chuckled to himself, cheeks softening involuntarily.

He could hardly picture it—that kid baking cookies.

He picked one up and bit in—then froze.

“…Sh*t!”

These were edible?!

---

Author’s Note:

Cat Dad: Hey, Rabbit brat, check if my boy still has all his teeth.

Rong Bunny: Relax. That box was father-in-law designated.

Cat Dad: …… [You’ll be the death of me.]

---

Rabbit Dad: Son, I owe too many sons out there. You’ll have to pay them back.

Rong Bunny: Brother, I owe too many sons out there. You’ll have to pay them back.

Mian Mian: ???