THIP Chapter 23 V2

Triple-S mental power. Double-S physique. Dual-element abilities—water and fire.

Other than Si Yibing, no one else in the entire interstellar world could compare.

The dean immediately approved her admission.

He even speculated that within a few years, Mu Liuyin could become the backbone of the Empire’s military—possibly the next person capable of killing a Zerg Queen.

Si Yibing herself had graduated from Saint Zenar. But her status as the Imperial Princess meant she couldn’t stay on the frontlines forever. Eventually, she would have to inherit the throne—she was the Empire’s future empress.

Saint Zenar was a fully closed-off campus. All students were required to live in dorms.

Si Yibing had never cared about this before.

Now, though? She thought the rule was completely unreasonable.

Because this meant… she wouldn’t get to sleep in the same bed as Little Shuyu anymore! QAQ

Mu Liuyin, on the other hand, was thrilled.

She’d planned to stay in the dorms anyway. This way, she wouldn’t have to keep waking up every night to throw a sneaky Si Yibing out of her room. It had been messing with her sleep schedule.

But the next day, Mu Liuyin realized she’d been far too naive.

The academy’s dorms were all two-person rooms—and her assigned roommate was… Si Yibing.

Mu Liuyin: ………

Speechless, she asked, “Why are you my roommate? If I remember correctly, didn’t you graduate six years ago?”

Si Yibing had originally planned to surprise her. She didn’t expect her Little Shuyu to look ready to punch someone.

Pouting a little, she explained, “I specially applied to come back and teach. That way, I could stay in the same dorm room as you.”

Mu Liuyin: ………

Si Yibing perked up. “And this way, I can give you one-on-one military lessons!”

Mu Liuyin gave her a sideways glance. “Didn’t you lose your memories? You still haven’t recovered everything, have you?”

Si Yibing replied confidently, “Even if some things are missing, I’m still amazing! I can teach you!”

Then she added proudly, “I graduated top of my class, with straight As!”

Mu Liuyin couldn’t help but laugh. Her rising anger melted away. In the end, everything Si Yibing did was for her sake.

Still, some boundaries had to be set.

Mu Liuyin said, “Fine, we can share a dorm. But you’re not allowed to sneak into my bed in the middle of the night anymore.”

Si Yibing: QAQ

Seeing her sulky face, Mu Liuyin sighed and decided it was time for a proper talk. Two Alphas really shouldn’t be acting this close.

Especially because this body of hers was only a fake Alpha.

Looking seriously at Si Yibing, Mu Liuyin said, “Xiao Bing, don’t you think we’re getting a little too close?”

Si Yibing was a bit confused. She raised her eyes to meet Mu Liuyin’s gaze.

“You’re an Alpha, and I’m an Alpha too. How can you keep sleeping in the same bed with me every night?” Mu Liuyin asked.

“But back on the Dark Star, we shared a bed too,” Si Yibing said.

“That was only because of the circumstances,” Mu Liuyin replied. “And you kept treating me like I was an Omega. But I’m a powerful Alpha, just like you. No two Alphas sleep in the same bed every night.”

Si Yibing opened her mouth to argue but stopped, realizing Mu Liuyin was right.

No two Alphas behave the way they did.

Looking back on how she interacted with Xiao Xuyu, she had to admit—it felt more like how lovers acted.

But Xiao Xuyu was an Alpha… and so was she.

Mu Liuyin saw her frozen in thought and softened her tone. “Xiao Bing, you have to understand—we’re just close friends.”

With that, she turned and walked back into her room, not wanting to dwell on how Si Yibing might be feeling.

Si Yibing stared blankly at her retreating figure before slowly lowering her head. Her beautiful face, usually so composed, now looked solemn and chilled. Suddenly, she understood something she had never been able to figure out.

Why did she insist on sleeping beside Xiao Xuyu?

Why did she worry so much about Xiao Xuyu getting hurt on the battlefield?

Why did she apply to teach at the academy the moment she found out Xiao Xuyu was boarding?

Listening to the sound of her heartbeat—once, twice…

She finally realized: she liked Xiao Xuyu.

She loved her, like a lover.

But Xiao Xuyu obviously wouldn’t accept her.

Because she was an Alpha too.

Thinking about what Xiao Xuyu had just told her, Si Yibing’s eyes turned slightly misty. She couldn’t believe she’d just realized her feelings… only to be rejected right away.

Still, Si Yibing quickly pulled herself together. After all, she knew she was different in Xiao Xuyu’s eyes—there was still hope.

Standing in front of the mirror, Si Yibing looked at the beautiful woman reflected and thought, I’m this pretty, this strong, and I’ve got so many admirers—there’s no way Xiao Xuyu won’t fall for me eventually.

Honestly, who could resist someone as amazing as me?

The star network was full of Omegas and Betas practically screaming that they wanted to have babies with her!

Even some Alphas joined in!

But Si Yibing had no interest in those clingy, always-crying Omegas. They weren’t worthy of Xiao Xuyu.

Brimming with inexplicable confidence, the imperial princess comforted herself and fell asleep in a much better mood.

Three days after Mu Liuyin officially enrolled, all of Saint Zernal’s students knew there was a new prodigy on campus.

Her talent ranked just under Si Yibing’s.

But this was a military academy—power spoke louder than potential. No matter how gifted you were, if you couldn’t hold your own in combat, it didn’t matter. Especially since Mu Liuyin had such delicate, stunning features and a slender frame. If not for the faint scent of Alpha pheromones on her, most people would’ve mistaken her for an Omega at first glance.

So, Mu Liuyin beat up every student who came to challenge her—without exception.

And she beat them all into submission.

Meanwhile, Si Yibing hid in the surveillance room, admiring her little Xiao Xuyu beating people up in the training room. She looked stunning doing it.

As for why she didn’t watch in person? Well, it was because Si Yibing was too popular. A 3S-level powerhouse, beautiful and terrifyingly strong, and the one who killed the Insect Emperor—every student at Saint Zernal was either her fanboy or fangirl.

Sigh, she thought. I’m just too beloved. I wonder if Xiao Xuyu will get jealous because of it someday.

She sighed gloomily, but before she could finish being mopey, the smart device on her wrist flashed. It was an encrypted message.

Seems like they’d found a lead on the person trying to kill her.

The truth was, ever since the first day she returned to the Empire, Si Yibing’s memory had gradually started coming back. By now, most of it had returned.

She had never forgotten what she and Mu Liuyin overheard from those two men they tracked on the Dark Star.

The one who wanted her dead had known she was there—and wanted to transform her into an Omega. Sure, the galaxy promoted equality for all genders, but did Omegas stand on equal footing with Alphas?

Let’s be real. An Alpha could pair with several Omegas. But an Omega? They could only bond with one Alpha in their entire life.

Trying to convert Si Yibing—someone with her strength and gifts—into an Omega was like breaking her pride in half. Worse, she’d likely be reduced to a toy for some Alphas to pass around.

To Si Yibing, death would’ve been preferable.

What kind of hatred runs that deep?

Her expression grew colder as she finished reading the message. All the evidence pointed to one person—her own younger brother, Si Yan.

After returning to the palace that day, she had quietly ordered her people to investigate the culprit. She trusted her strength, but it was always best to root out the threat early.

She had sensed something was off with Si Yan the moment she returned—the shock and hatred in his eyes were too obvious. So she had casually instructed her people to focus on him.

She wasn’t sure how to feel. When they were little, she and Si Yan had been close. But somewhere along the way, they drifted apart. She had tried to fix things, but being stationed in the army left her with little free time.

And then… she’d almost died in that battle against the Insect Emperor.

Staring at Si Yan’s name, her eyes frosted over like a frozen lake.

Why does he hate me so much?

He was her brother, yet he wanted her to fall from grace and be humiliated by others.

With a heavy heart, Si Yibing sent the evidence to the Emperor.

It was her final act of mercy. She knew her father wouldn’t take Si Yan’s life.

But if there was a next time—she wouldn’t hesitate to act herself.

Meanwhile, Si Yan had no clue that his attempt to assassinate Si Yibing on the Dark Star had already been exposed.

After dealing with the matter, Si Yibing quietly left the surveillance room and returned to the dorm.

When Mu Liuyin got back from class, the first thing she saw was Si Yibing rushing into her arms with a sorrowful expression.

Mu Liuyin twitched her lips. Everything she’d said the other night had gone in one ear and out the other. She gently pushed Si Yibing away, sat down, and asked, “What’s wrong now?”

Si Yibing’s smart assistant, Xiao Jiu, had already told Mu Liuyin that it was Si Yan who had tried to kill her. Still, Mu Liuyin didn’t find it satisfying that Si Yibing had only sent the evidence to the Emperor.

After all, in the original story, Si Yibing suffered terribly because of Si Yan. No matter how harsh the Emperor’s punishment was, it wouldn’t compare to what she had endured in that timeline.

“I found out who tried to kill me,” Si Yibing whispered as she buried her head into Mu Liuyin’s neck. “Xiao Xuyu… let me hold you for a bit.”

Mu Liuyin hesitated as she tried to push her off, then sighed. Forget it. Anyone would be devastated to learn their own family wanted them dead.

She lifted a hand and gently stroked Si Yibing’s hair.