The pirate gang’s underlings weren’t far away to begin with. They’d just heard their boss’s voice when they turned to look—whoa, the boss got knocked down!

“Boss!” Several burly underlings rushed over.

The bald male beta scrambled up with his butt in the air, covering his swollen face and pointing at Chi Yao: “Grab him!”

The burly underlings: “Yes!”

Chi Yao looked at the group of muscular underlings surrounding him and smiled: “Want to get beaten up together with your boss?”

One of the underlings looked him up and down mockingly: “Just you, you bean sprout?”

Chi Yao tilted his head toward Jing Xi: “He called me a bean sprout.”

Jing Xi had originally wanted to blend in and pretend to be a hijacked passenger. Going from here to N110 wouldn’t raise suspicion, and even if someone investigated later, it would be difficult to track their information.

But that was just a thought.

A long leg swept over, but Chi Yao didn’t move an inch.

A triumphant smile appeared at the corner of the underling’s lips.

But just as his foot was about to sweep Chi Yao’s face, intense pain suddenly shot through his calf.

“Ah—!”

Jing Xi withdrew his leg expressionlessly: “Speak nicely. Don’t get physical.”

The underling clutched his leg, rolling on the ground in pain.

Seeing this, the others silently stepped back half a step.

“What are you all doing?! Attack!” the bald male beta shouted.

The underlings steeled themselves and charged forward.

Five minutes later, a group of pirate gang underlings were running for their lives in the space station’s lobby.

Behind the group followed two crazed patrol AIs.

Xiao Hong: “I knocked down three!”

Little Wolf Head: “I knocked down three and a half! I’m better!”

Chi Yao sat casually in the waiting room, looking down at the bald male beta sitting on the ground, trussed up tightly.

“Little Seedling Brave Warriors Group King?” Chi Yao’s gaze swept over the name tag on his chest and he sneered.

The bald male beta’s face turned red: “My real name is Jin Dawang. What’s wrong with calling myself Dawang for short?!” (Wang means King)

Seeing the two words “Dawang,” Chi Yao suddenly remembered Li Yuan had mentioned this group before.

These days, pirate gangs that could survive all had good resources in some field. This Seedling Group was originally a rights protection organization formed by farmers from third-level fringe planets.

Because the rice they grew was so delicious, it attracted pirates who occupied their territory. Later, somehow, they themselves became pirates too.

However, this group might have been born with farming genes. After becoming pirates, they went crazy planting rice on various planets.

Other pirate gangs robbed money and energy; they robbed land, planting it full of rice before leaving satisfied.

If Extreme Shadow was the most controversial pirate gang, then this Seedling Group was definitely the most beloved by civilians.

This group’s strength was very weak. Basically, eight out of ten robberies failed, and the other two times the victims’ losses were so small they were negligible and not pursued.

That they’d survived until now was probably the result of both the underworld and authorities turning a blind eye.

After all, the rice they grew was really delicious.

Chi Yao: “Pretty bold, daring to cause trouble in the Cetus constellation?”

Jin Dawang smiled proudly: “I heard the garrison commander in Cetus was replaced. The handover is the perfect time to make a haul! The rice seeds just released from the research lab—I won’t allow our group not to have them!”

Chi Yao: “…”

Jing Xi looked at his foolish smiling face and turned away. He really couldn’t bear to watch.

Chi Yao: “Whoever told you this news was probably fooling you. Everyone knows the newly stationed military group is strong, a hundred times stronger than the original. Causing trouble at this time is suicide.”

Jin Dawang was shocked: “Impossible!”

Chi Yao: “Don’t believe it? In a few more minutes, when the garrison comes to arrest you, you’ll see whether you’ll be imprisoned for life.”

Seeing Jin Dawang frown, Chi Yao said seriously: “I heard that Officer Jing looks like the King of Hell and is especially difficult to deal with. Prisoners he locks up not only have to do hard labor every day but also can’t farm. It’s absolutely unconscionable.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Jin Dawang said angrily: “Not letting people farm is too much! Are there no human rights?!”

Chi Yao smiled: “Right, but you’ve already committed a crime. It’s too late to turn back. Ah, you can forget about farming for the rest of your life.”

The underlings who’d been chased by the two AIs and were hiding in the waiting room were shocked at these words.

“Boss, I want to farm!”

“If I can’t farm, I might as well die!”

“I’m going to break down, waaah—”

Only then did Jin Dawang realize something was wrong. His expression changed drastically, and even his lips turned white.

“Then, can we negotiate with Officer Jing to let us plant once every three days? Once a week would work too!”

Chi Yao held back his laughter and glanced at Jing Xi.

“I don’t know about that, but I heard he really likes vinegar—”

“I can do that!”

Jin Dawang’s eyes lit up: “I’m not bragging, but my vinegar brewing skills are unmatched! If I use the rice I grow to brew it, it’ll be more fragrant than tribute vinegar!”

Jing Xi listened and unconsciously swallowed.

Chi Yao almost couldn’t keep a straight face.

“Then bring this up with the military officer who comes to arrest you. Maybe there’s a tiny chance. Other than that, I can’t help you.” He shook his head and sighed.

“Thank you! You’re such a good person!”

Jin Dawang’s eyes brimmed with tears. He was almost moved to tears.

After they left, he sat on the ground, gradually realizing something.

Wait, if it weren’t for those two people, they wouldn’t need to be arrested and imprisoned at all!

Soon, military ships surrounded Space Station No. 11.

Chi Yao and Jing Xi had long since crouched among the crowd, watching the Seedling Group being taken away.

Jing Xi saw Chi Yao using his terminal to send messages. He leaned over for a glance and suddenly didn’t know what to say.

The message was to Jiang Feng. The content was simple—Contact the garrison’s 11th district branch immediately and have them hand the Seedling Group over to you. Have someone secretly send them to N0520.

The reply came quickly.

[Jiang Feng: The group that grows really delicious rice?! How did you catch them? So lucky hahaha—]

Jing Xi: “…”

Chi Yao replied.

[Remember, send them secretly.]

[Jiang Feng: Understood! If others find out, they’ll be snatched away.]

Chi Yao: [Mm, very thorough understanding.]

Jing Xi: “…”

What a mess.

After the Seedling Group was taken away, passengers needed to be screened before being released from lockdown.

Chi Yao and Jing Xi took the lazy route and directly used the identities they’d disguised themselves with last time. They were released easily.

Sitting on the ship to N110, Jing Xi’s feelings were complicated.

“The Cetus constellation’s screening system still needs improvement.”

Chi Yao was already accustomed to his rigid personality.

“Even if a few Seedlings slip through to Cetus, they can only secretly plant rice in your fields.”

Jing Xi looked up at him: “You know this group well?”

Chi Yao: “You’re in the military and don’t know?”

Jing Xi’s eyes flickered as he looked away: “I never pay attention to these things.”

Chi Yao sat down and sent a message to Lu Meng.

Jing Xi: “You’re really taking them to N0520?”

“Who can refuse delicious rice?” Chi Yao looked at him and smiled. “Don’t you want to try the vinegar they brew?”

Jing Xi: “…”

Suddenly really wanted to eat sweet and sour pork ribs.

The virtual screen in midair flashed as Lu Meng replied.

[Holy crap! I’ll have people below start clearing wasteland right away! Braised chicken with rice is delicious, heart emoji]

Chi Yao: “…”

Jing Xi: “…”

Forget about the chickens.

Arriving at N110’s western landing pad, Chi Yao casually rented a hover car and took Jing Xi on a big loop before heading to the medical research base.

Called a base, this place was comparable to a small city—a highly functional area within the Cetus constellation.

The two spent half a day touring the entire base, integrating the data into a holographic map.

In the evening, the two sat in the hotel suite’s living room, organizing until midnight.

“This area can be ruled out.” Jing Xi marked a region on the holographic map in green.

“This area is pending.” Chi Yao marked another area in yellow.

They divided the entire base into over a hundred small blocks, each marked with a different color.

Jing Xi counted—there were three places marked yellow and two marked red.

These were judged based on the on-site geographical conditions and historical information about those organizations.

“Five places, one per day means five days.” Chi Yao rubbed his brow, slightly irritated. “I hate this kind of thing most.”

Jing Xi extracted the five areas and carefully examined the detailed situation of each.

“If it’s so annoying, why do it? Doesn’t seem like your style.”

Chi Yao: “What’s my style?”

Jing Xi didn’t answer but asked seemingly casually: “Who commissioned you?”

Chi Yao’s gaze shifted over: “Why are you asking this?”

Jing Xi thought of that message and said flatly: “That D?”

Chi Yao frowned but quickly relaxed.

This wasn’t the first time Jing Xi had used his body. It was possible he happened to encounter D sending a message.

Seeing he didn’t deny it, Jing Xi felt inexplicably pleased.

“Did he promise you many benefits?”

If it were before, Chi Yao definitely wouldn’t have mentioned it.

But ever since learning that the person Jing Xi had been desperately searching for was already dead, he’d softened a bit.

If only the people he’d encountered could be like Jing Xi.

Probably out of this mentality.

“I owe him a life.” Chi Yao leaned against the sofa armrest, looking at the starry sky outside the floor-to-ceiling window. “I don’t like owing people.”

Jing Xi’s heart suddenly leaped, as if gripped tightly by a hand. The pain made his fingertips numb.

“He saved you?”

Chi Yao sneered: “Not me, that stupid dog.”

Jing Xi breathed a heavy sigh of relief. His heartbeat belatedly accelerated, his mind buzzing.

“However, the stupid dog saved my life, so rounding up, this life is what I owe him.” Chi Yao turned to look at him. “My life can’t be that cheap.”

Jing Xi’s voice was tight: “What happened?”

Seeing him press the question, Chi Yao realized what was happening. He walked over and leaned close across the low table: “What, you’re this interested in my affairs?”

Jing Xi: “Just asking casually.”

Chi Yao: “I don’t believe you.”

Jing Xi’s finger on the low table twitched slightly, but his face showed no expression.

“Aren’t you yaoyao’s substitute now? Isn’t it normal for me to care about my childhood friend’s matters?”

“That makes so much sense.” Chi Yao nodded deliberately. “Understanding even a substitute’s past—are you picking a partner?”

The two were close. Jing Xi could clearly see the teasing in his eyes. Somehow, words just slipped out.

“Yes, you’re both an alpha and yaoyao’s substitute. You perfectly meet my partner selection criteria.”

While the other could see his expression, Chi Yao could also see the seriousness in his eyes: “…”

Is this guy joking or serious?

Jing Xi’s hand moved up along his: “How about it, want to consider it?”

Chi Yao silently withdrew: “I sell my skills, not my body.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Chi Yao stood up. After walking a few steps, he looked back with an extremely subtle expression.

“Being confessed to by yourself is truly a marvelous experience. You win today.”

Jing Xi said nothing. The corner of his lips curved slightly—one smile said everything.

After he returned to the bedroom, Jing Xi’s smile faded: “But I’m serious—”