In the blink of an eye, a week had passed, but the seriously injured and unconscious person had still not woken up.
The original owner of the body used to survive by scavenging trash, barely managing to feed herself. So, Mu Liuyin decisively chose a new profession.
After cleaning up, Mu Liuyin realized that although this body’s looks weren’t on the level of Si Yibing’s unparalleled beauty, it was still refined and handsome. Her peach blossom eyes sparkled with life and charm, making her undeniably attractive.
So, it wasn’t hard for Mu Liuyin to land a job as a bartender at a bar.
She chose to work at this particular bar, Wudia Lais, because it was owned by the South Cross Pirate Crew—second on the Empire’s most-wanted list. Though Dark Star was full of chaos and crime, not many dared to cause trouble at Wudia Lais.
Of course, the main reason she chose it was the high pay, ease of getting hired, and the fact that it was close to her home.
Mu Liuyin didn’t originally know how to bartend, but with Xiao Jiu collecting all the methods and recipes, she learned easily.
Wudia Lais operated from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., and by the time Mu Liuyin got home after her shift, it was already 3:20.
She hadn’t expected that the moment she opened the door, she’d be grabbed by the throat and pinned against the wall by someone hiding in the dark. The voice that demanded answers was cold and clear, like jade:
“Where is this? Who are you?”
Mu Liuyin raised an eyebrow. She didn’t need Xiao Jiu to tell her who it was—this had to be Si Yibing. What surprised her, though, was that even with amnesia, Si Yibing still retained her reflexes and alertness. Mu Liuyin coughed twice, gesturing that she needed her throat released in order to speak.
Si Yibing loosened her grip slightly but didn’t let go, maintaining the same position.
She had just woken up not long ago, only to find her memory completely blank. But she hadn’t given it much thought—her body had acted on instinct the moment Mu Liuyin walked in.
Mu Liuyin sighed. It was a bit much to be greeted like this by someone she had taken care of for days. Thinking about all her efforts, she said in a frustrated tone, “This is my home. My name is Su Yu. As for you,” she added, “I pulled you out of a trash heap. Now that you’re awake, how about paying me back?”
Si Yibing looked confused. “…Pay you back?”
Mu Liuyin replied, “I took you in and cared for you for a whole week. Not to mention the nutrient solutions I fed you—just the high-grade healing serum alone cost 100,000 credits per dose. Do you know how many I used? Ten doses. That’s a full million credits.”
She spoke so convincingly that Si Yibing actually let her go. After a moment of silence, she said, “I don’t have any money.”
Seeing how easily she bought the story, Mu Liuyin almost laughed. Asking for repayment was, of course, a lie. When she had found Si Yibing, the woman had nothing on her but a tattered outfit and a mecha storage unit fashioned into a necklace. Mu Liuyin had only said all that because she wanted to keep her close.
Adjusting her expression, Mu Liuyin said, “Of course I know you don’t have money. But you can contact your family.”
Si Yibing looked lost, as if trying to remember if she even had a family, but came up with nothing. She remembered absolutely nothing. The realization made her visibly discouraged. She murmured, “I lost my memory.”
Mu Liuyin: “…”
When she said that, Mu Liuyin noticed that although Si Yibing’s face was still as cold and beautiful as ever, her blank expression gave her a strangely pitiful look.
“Fine, I did save your life,” Mu Liuyin sighed dramatically. “But since you’re awake, come to work with me tomorrow.”
After a beat, she asked, “Do you remember your name?”
Si Yibing shook her head, looking even more pitiful.
Mu Liuyin said, “Well, I can’t just keep calling you ‘hey you.’ Since you look so cold and expressionless… how about I call you Little Bing?”
“Little Bing?” she tested the name out loud.
Si Yibing gave a soft “Mm.” Somehow, she sounded obedient.
Since it was already late at night, the two of them went to bed. When Si Yibing saw that Mu Liuyin was getting into the same bed, she looked a little flustered.
Mu Liuyin chuckled. “There’s only one bed in the room, and we’re both Alphas. Are you really worried I’ll try something?”
After hearing that, Si Yibing hesitated, then quietly asked, “You’re an Alpha too?”
Mu Liuyin: “…”
【Xiao Jiu!!! Why would she ask that?!?】 Mu Liuyin mentally freaked out.
【Xiao Jiu doesn’t know either QAQ】 Xiao Jiu whined, 【I clearly masked your scent to smell like an Alpha QAQ】
Mu Liuyin took a breath and calmly responded, “Of course I’m an Alpha! Now go to sleep!”
An Alpha?
Logically, when two Alphas were in close contact, their pheromones should repel each other. But as Si Yibing breathed in the clean, forest-like scent so close to her, she didn’t feel any resistance. Instead, she felt… drawn in.
Seeing the delicate and handsome youth already asleep, Si Yibing stopped overthinking it and closed her eyes.
The next day, around noon, Mu Liuyin woke up in Si Yibing’s arms. Looking at the woman who had just opened her eyes while still holding her, Mu Liuyin was briefly stunned.
Si Yibing explained, “You were moving around too much in your sleep, kept crawling into my arms.”
Mu Liuyin: “…”
I really didn’t need that explanation, thanks.
She got dressed and climbed out of bed. Without a hint of embarrassment, she used her ability to fill a basin with water and started washing up.
Si Yibing watched her summon the water and asked, “Is that an ability?”
Mu Liuyin nodded. “Xiao Bing, come over and wash up.”
Si Yibing suddenly asked, “Do I have an ability?”
Mu Liuyin replied, “How would I know if you do? But considering how badly you were injured, I’d guess probably not.”
Si Yibing walked over and began washing up. With a serious face, she said, “I feel like I do have an ability.”
Mu Liuyin let out a soft “Oh?” and couldn’t help but laugh. She thought it was kind of cute that someone who’d lost all their memories could still be this confident.
Seeing her laugh, Si Yibing looked a little annoyed. She tried to activate her ability, but nothing happened—not even a flicker.
Mu Liuyin laughed even harder.
Si Yibing: “…”
After trying for over ten minutes with no success, Si Yibing had to face the fact: she might actually not have an ability after all.
Mu Liuyin, of course, knew Si Yibing did have an ability—but in her current role, there was no way she could admit it. The reason Si Yibing couldn’t use hers was because, although her physical wounds were healed, she had completely drained her mental energy when she fought the Insect Emperor. That kind of depletion takes serious time to recover from.
Up until last night, Mu Liuyin had been secretly using her own mental power to stimulate Si Yibing’s almost-dried-out mindscape. But now that Si Yibing was awake, there wasn’t really an excuse to keep treating her.
After Si Yibing finished washing up and eating, Mu Liuyin gave her a brief explanation of the chaotic power structure in the Dark Star sector. Then she pulled up the sector’s general-use AI terminal and messaged Udyales Bar’s manager, Deborah, to ask if they could take on a new server.
Hearing it was someone Mu Liuyin personally recommended, Deborah didn’t even hesitate before saying yes.
Clearly, Mu Liuyin had a good reputation at Udyales.
With the job settled, Mu Liuyin took Si Yibing out to buy some basic necessities and clothes using her advanced wages.
The reason she dared to bring Si Yibing out so openly was because hardly anyone actually knew what the Imperial Princess looked like. After Si Yan’s people failed to find her that night, they didn’t bother searching this area again—after all, this was South Cross Pirate territory.
Plus, Si Yan’s men were all being tracked by Xiao Jiu, so Mu Liuyin wasn’t worried. Even if they did find Si Yibing, Mu Liuyin was confident enough in her combat skills to handle it.
Not to mention, with how complex and tangled the powers on Dark Star were, Si Yan wouldn’t dare make a scene just knowing that Si Yibing was still alive. And if worst came to worst, and she was discovered, Mu Liuyin could use it as an opportunity to catch one of Si Yan’s agents and force out the truth. That way, once Si Yibing regained her memory and returned to the Empire, she wouldn’t be caught off guard again.
At 8 PM sharp, Mu Liuyin brought Si Yibing with her to start their shift at Udyales. They’d just entered through the side door when a surprised voice called out.
“Wow! What a stunner!”
Mu Liuyin turned to see who it was—it was Gegil, another bartender at the bar. He was a male Alpha whose favorite pastime was admiring good-looking people. Basically, he was a total looks-first kind of guy.
“Xiao Su Yu, where’d you find this beauty?” Gegil said, eyeing Si Yibing with blatant admiration. “He’s even prettier than you.”
“…Is he okay?” Si Yibing asked Mu Liuyin in a low voice. Anyone with half a brain knew you don’t call an Alpha pretty.
Mu Liuyin: “…”
After a short moment of silence, Mu Liuyin said to Gegil, “Her name’s Xiao Bing. She’s an Alpha. Gegil, wipe that lovesick expression off your face!”
Once he picked up on her Alpha scent, Gegil looked crushed. “Great. I’m heartbroken again.”
Si Yibing gave Mu Liuyin a confused look. Mu Liuyin tried not to laugh and muttered, “Don’t pay him any mind.”
The reason Gegil said “again” was because when Mu Liuyin first started working there, he’d mistaken her for an Omega and tried to hit on her. Never in a million years did he expect to misread another Alpha—Si Yibing this time. He really did only go by appearances.
Mu Liuyin quickly explained to Si Yibing what her duties would be and then went to change into her uniform and get to work.
The bar, Udyales, was already buzzing with people even though it had just opened.
Deborah, the manager, was sitting at the bar sipping a drink. She was drop-dead gorgeous with a seductive charm—but she was also an S-class Alpha and a member of the South Cross Pirate Group. When she saw Mu Liuyin arrive, she set down her glass and asked her to mix a drink.
Her eyes landed on Si Yibing, and a flicker of surprise and admiration crossed her face. “So this is the friend you mentioned?”
She was even more stunning than most Omegas, and yet without a doubt, she was a real Alpha.
Loveguy On CFRFGC Chapter 1