"The inauguration ceremony for the new Star Commander of Garbage Star? And I’m invited to attend?"

At this moment, inside the villa, Yu Lan never would have imagined she would be lucky enough to receive such an invitation.

Her gaze shifted to the men gathered around her, some sitting and some standing. A question appeared on her pretty face:

"Did you all get invitations too?"

Huo Zhanting shook his head, a hint of realization on his face as he gently explained to Yu Lan:

"Across the entire Central Star, you’re likely the only one who received this invitation."

"I’ve made inquiries about the new Star Commander. From what I hear, it’s that middle-aged man who reacted so quickly on the tribunal stage that day. His name is Barnes."

Hearing Huo Zhanting mention his name, Yu Lan nodded in agreement.

"He’s a smart man."

"With someone like him leading Garbage Star, Gu Deming can rest easy."

"Yes," Huo Zhanting nodded.

"If this invitation had been sent to any other noble in the Empire, very few would have attended. After all, Garbage Star is just a useless planet with nothing to exploit."

"But Lanlan, you’re different."

His golden eyes, like molten gold, gazed quietly at Yu Lan, a light more brilliant than gold itself swirling within them.

After a moment of silence, Yu Lan nodded.

"I did want to make a trip to Garbage Star. I can’t rest easy about it."

She couldn’t rest easy just relying on the data from Huo Zhanting and the others; she hadn’t seen the situation on Garbage Star with her own eyes.

She wanted to go see for herself and find out what more she could do to help.

Shen Zueran closed the research file he was reading. He turned his head, and as the sunlight fell upon his calm, composed face, it softened his features with a gentle, indulgent warmth.

The man in the white shirt spoke:

"Then you should go."

’How could anyone not be moved by this lovely young female’s heart, a kindness more precious than gold?’

Yu Lan’s eyes instantly curved into happy crescents. "That’s wonderful!"

However, Huo Zhanting, Su Xingye, Li Yucheng, and Jun Lin Yuan all sighed in unison.

They spoke with regret:

"Sigh, it’s a shame we can’t go with you."

"We really envy you two, Shen Zueran, Pei Shiyi."

"Hm?"

Yu Lan tilted her head back, looking up at the four men with a puzzled expression on her small face.

"Why can’t you go with me?"

’It wasn’t that she needed someone with her for everything she did.’

’It was just that the desperate ’please ask us why’ look on their faces was practically bursting out, impossible to hold back.’

’Fine.’

Yu Lan decided to play along with their little act, asking the question softly.

And then, several eager male voices answered in unison.

Huo Zhanting: "I’m going to handle the recruitment of First Legion soldiers on Garbage Star."

Su Xingye: "I’ll be busy training them."

Li Yucheng: "I’ll arrange for my trade caravans to visit Garbage Star and see what kind of business we can develop."

Jun Lin Yuan: "I’ll have people from Jade Star establish diplomatic relations with Garbage Star and provide some materials on urban development planning."

’It was the classic difference between giving a man a fish and teaching him how to fish.’

Before Yu Lan could even suggest it, the men had already thought everything through.

Though they regretted not being able to explore Garbage Star with Yu Lan...

...the tasks they were undertaking were all aimed at bringing her vision to life.

’As long as they were walking the same path together, they would never feel alone.’

Just as they finished speaking, a deeply moved expression washed over Yu Lan’s face.

The lovely young female was so touched that her eyes grew misty.

By quietly taking on these tasks, they were inadvertently making Shen Zueran and Pei Shiyi—the two who were actually accompanying Yu Lan to Garbage Star—seem idle by comparison.

Shen Zueran spoke up:

"I’ve donated several schools on Garbage Star and will regularly dispatch researchers from the Science Research Institute to teach classes there."

"If we find any promising candidates, they’ll receive special training for future employment at the Science Research Institute."

A position at the Central Star’s First Research Institute was something countless males would fight over.

The fact that Shen Zueran was opening up this pathway was a tremendous boon for the people of Garbage Star.

’Just imagine: as these people from Garbage Star rise through the ranks, wouldn’t they want to give back to their home planet?’

’Garbage Star would only get better from here.’

Now, only Pei Shiyi had yet to say anything.

Feeling the subtle, sidelong glances of the other men, a rare look of bewilderment appeared on Pei Shiyi’s cold, handsome face.

The Lord of the Deep Sea quickly racked his brain, trying to think of how he could help Garbage Star.

Finally, he tentatively said:

"I could have someone send them some seafood?"

HAHAHAHA

What a riot.

To be fair, there wasn’t much else Pei Shiyi could offer.

Deep Sea Star didn’t maintain diplomatic relations with outsiders.

To preserve the purity of its oceans, it rarely even allowed trade ships to pass through.

Though he presided over the ocean, a natural treasure trove filled with countless rare and exotic wonders...

...it wasn’t like Pei Shiyi could just have people dig up some centuries-old or millennia-old coral to send over.

It would be completely useless to the people of Garbage Star right now.

Seafood, on the other hand, was perfect.

It was practical, and you could eat it.

And the ocean had a virtually endless supply.

With a single order from Pei Shiyi, several Starships could be loaded in the blink of an eye.

He could guarantee that everyone on Garbage Star would get a taste of seafood from Deep Sea Star.

Whether in a stew or steamed, it’s all delicious~

Yu Lan also let out a soft laugh.

She reached out and took Pei Shiyi’s hand. Her beautiful amber eyes gazed at the man, who was clearly still a bit disgruntled, and she soothed him gently:

"No matter what, Pei Shiyi, the fact that you’re willing to help is already wonderful."

"That’s already more than what most would do."

’Some things can’t be measured by monetary value alone.’

’Just think about Belina and Louisa.’

As the main culprits, they were still sitting pretty, completely untouched by the consequences.

Other than a few words of comfort from high up on their pedestals, they made no other gesture.

If not for the ceaseless outcry on the Star Network, Belina probably would have never brought herself to open the Imperial Palace treasury and allocate funds for Garbage Star’s reconstruction.

And the consequence, as Yu Lan had heard, was another tightening of the First Legion’s budget.

"By the way, Zhan Ting, your funding now..."

Before Yu Lan could finish asking, Huo Zhanting waved his hand dismissively.

"The First Legion is fine, don’t worry."

"The First Legion has been left to fend for itself for many years now."

"The funds the Royal Family provides have always been more or less irrelevant."

"Not to mention, now we have Li Yucheng’s investments and Pei Shiyi’s seafood sponsorship. When you do the math, the First Legion is actually doing better than ever."

’At times like this, Huo Zhanting would even find himself thinking that maybe it wasn’t so bad for Lanlan to have so many Beast Husbands.’

’Aside from having less time with Lanlan, and the occasional urge to beat up the other males one by one when he saw them with her...’

’But aside from the romantic rivalries...’

’...they were natural allies.’

’For their Female Master, they would never betray each other and would always work together with all their strength!’