Su Yaoyao was lost in a swirl of confusion and panic over the hot spring incident when a sudden "KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK" came from the door to her chambers.

The abrupt sound made her jump, and her heart leaped into her throat.

In a panic, she hid Augustine’s clothes behind her back, her voice trembling slightly as she asked, "Who is it?"

An image of Augustine flashed through her mind. ’It can’t be His Majesty, can it?’ At the thought, her heart began to race, threatening to burst from her chest.

Just as she was feeling anxious, Bai Lian’s familiar, gentle voice came from outside the door. "Yaoyao, it’s us."

Hearing his voice, Su Yaoyao’s tense nerves immediately relaxed, and she let out a long sigh of relief.

’Thank goodness. Thank goodness it isn’t Augustine. I’m really not ready to face him again.’

Su Yaoyao had just started toward the door when her eyes inadvertently fell on the article of clothing in her hand, which carried Augustine’s scent.

Her heart skipped a beat. ’If Bai Lian and the others see this, there’s no telling how jealous they’ll get.’

"Wait a moment!" she called out urgently. She dashed to the bed, clumsily stuffed the clothes under the covers, and only after making sure they were hidden did she hurry to open the door.

"Coming," she said, composing herself before opening the door.

Bai Lian, Reg, and Pani were standing outside the door. Their faces were all tinged with sorrow, their brows furrowed and their eyes filled with solemnity.

A shiver went down Su Yaoyao’s spine. Her intuition told her they had something important to say.

"Come on in," she said softly, stepping aside to let the three of them into the room.

The four of them entered the room and sat down one by one on the soft sofa.

Bai Lian was the first to reach out, gently taking Su Yaoyao’s hand. His palm was warm and strong, and his grip was filled with deep affection and reluctance.

Reg, meanwhile, silently wrapped his arms around Su Yaoyao from behind, resting his head gently on her shoulder. He said nothing, but his clinging posture seemed to speak of endless dependence.

Pani’s eyes were even red-rimmed. The next second, he transformed into an adorable little rabbit and, with a SWOOSH, leaped into her lap, his furry body trembling slightly.

Su Yaoyao subconsciously raised her hand and gently stroked the little rabbit’s soft fur, trying to soothe him.

"What’s going on?"

Bai Lian looked at Su Yaoyao, his eyes full of deep affection and helplessness. He spoke slowly, "Yaoyao, we’ve been away from the military base for too long. Too many matters have piled up that urgently need to be handled. I’m afraid we’ll have to be apart from you for a while."

Su Yaoyao froze for a moment, her thoughts instantly drifting far away.

’That’s right,’ she thought. ’Thinking back, this journey has been full of twists and turns. We originally just came to the Imperial City to register my identity. Who could have expected that we’d later get caught up in all the trouble in Snake Scale City? Before I knew it, a very, very long time had passed since we left the military base.’

"Then let’s go back together," Su Yaoyao said without a second thought. Her voice was tinged with an urgency and longing; she really didn’t want to be separated from them.

Bai Lian smiled gently. He raised a hand to brush a stray strand of hair from her cheek, carefully tucking it behind her ear. His eyes were filled with adoration and tenderness.

"No, you’re a Holy Female now. You shoulder your own unique responsibilities, and you deserve to live here in the most prosperous city in the Empire, the Imperial City.

The military base is in a remote location, and the conditions there can’t compare to the Imperial City in any respect.

Besides, look at you now, living in the Imperial Palace. Not only is your safety guaranteed, but you also have servants to meticulously care for you. Only then can we be at ease."

"But, without you..." Su Yaoyao’s voice was choked with sobs. She buried her head in Bai Lian’s chest, feeling wronged, and tears couldn’t help but well up in her eyes.

Having spent these days with them from morning till night, she had long grown accustomed to their companionship and protection. The mere thought of being separated from them filled her heart with reluctance and sorrow.

"It’s only a temporary separation. We’ll be back as soon as we finish our business," Reg whispered comfortingly in her ear, his voice low and gentle, trying to soothe the pain in Su Yaoyao’s heart.

Pani, the little pink rabbit, also seemed to sense Su Yaoyao’s sadness. He gently nuzzled her palm, doing his best to comfort her.

The atmosphere in the room instantly grew heavy, thick with the sorrow of parting.

Su Yaoyao sobbed in Bai Lian’s arms for quite a while, her tears soaking his shirt.

The reluctance in her heart surged like a tide. Every time she thought about their impending separation, the heart-wrenching pain grew even more intense.

Bai Lian held Su Yaoyao tightly, resting his chin gently on the crown of her head as he soothed her. "Yaoyao, don’t cry. We don’t want to leave you either."

Reg also hugged her tighter, as if trying to brand her into his very bones. "Yaoyao, you have to take good care of yourself in the Imperial City while we’re gone. Don’t make us worry." His warm, concerned breath washed over the nape of her neck.

Pani transformed back into his human form. He squatted down, took Su Yaoyao’s hand, his voice also laced with sadness. "Yaoyao, don’t worry. We’ll definitely come back to you as soon as we can. If you miss us while we’re gone, just use the communicator to contact us." His eyes were full of sincerity and deep affection.

Filled with reluctance, Su Yaoyao asked with red-rimmed eyes, "So when are you leaving?" Her voice carried a slight tremor, as if she were afraid to hear the moment of their departure.

Bai Lian looked at her, his eyes full of affection, and said softly but firmly, "Tomorrow."

"So soon?!" Su Yaoyao couldn’t help but exclaim, a wave of disappointment and panic surging through her. She had been thinking she would have more time with them, but she never expected the separation to come so suddenly.

Bai Lian nodded helplessly and gently squeezed Su Yaoyao’s hand. "The sooner we go, the sooner we’ll be back," he said gently. His eyes revealed his sense of responsibility toward his work, but they were also brimming with a deep reluctance to leave Su Yaoyao.

Reg kissed the tears from Su Yaoyao’s cheeks. A trace of loneliness flickered in his eyes, yet there was also a hint of anticipation as he said, "So, let’s all sleep together tonight, Yaoyao." It was as if, in this moment before their separation, only clinging tightly to one another could offer some small relief from the sorrow of parting.

Su Yaoyao nodded slightly. How could she not want to spend this last night with them, creating more beautiful memories?

And so, they walked toward the large, soft bed together.

The room was filled with a complex mix of emotions: the melancholy of their impending separation, and the preciousness of this moment together.

They all got into bed. As Reg casually reached out to lift the covers, he was startled to discover the jacket Su Yaoyao had hidden.

"What’s this?" Reg frowned in confusion and picked up the garment. The crumpled piece of clothing slowly unfolded in his hands.

"Is this His Majesty’s jacket?!" Bai Lian, with his sharp eyes, was the first to recognize it. His expression instantly grew complicated, a mix of confusion and a faint, hidden worry.

Pani’s eyes widened in surprise as well. "Why would it be here with Yaoyao?" he asked.