Chapter 3: Parting Ways

“Not really, uh!”

Song Mingchen quickly covered Tang Miao’s mouth, dropped to one knee, and pulled the crouching Tang Miao into his embrace.

He whispered a warning, “Miaomiao, just listen to them.”

Someone inside the RV tossed a tomato toward the person called the boss. “Boss, here! Have a tomato!”

The so-called boss caught it steadily, his gaze flickering over Tang Miao.

Tang Miao remained alert, using her psychic senses to survey their numbers—nine people in total, three guns among them, and their stored food only sufficient for nine people for half a day.

No wonder—they didn’t have enough to eat, so they resorted to robbing others.

Curled up in Song Mingchen’s arms, Tang Miao stared intently at the boss.

This boss had a peculiar style—sporting a rooster comb haircut and a thick gold chain around his neck.

These people were no different from interstellar bandits, and according to interstellar law, they should be sent to the bug race’s homeworld to serve as front-line shields.

“Oh? Try glaring at me again? What, are you unhappy I ate your tomato?”

At those words, Song Mingchen quickly covered Tang Miao’s eyes again.

Lin Chaofeng and Zhang Xinrou noticed something was off and exchanged glances.

Since when did Tang Miao become so bold?

“Let go of her hands, stop covering her eyes! I’ll let her watch me eat!”

Rooster Comb Guy bit fiercely into the tomato, juice bursting forth and dripping down his chin.

After swallowing a couple of bites, his expression turned thoughtful, and he began chewing very slowly.

The others waited for him to finish first; only then would they be allowed to eat.

“Ugh!”

His stomach churned violently, causing him to vomit the instant noodles he had eaten earlier that morning.

His face scrunched up like a steamed bun. “Damn it, why does this tomato taste so weird? You all try it!”

Without exception, those who ate the tomato clutched their stomachs, doubled over, convulsing and vomiting one after another.

Tang Miao’s eyes widened slowly—what was the meaning of this? Did they dislike the tomatoes she had grown?

Seeing his men all retching, Rooster Comb Guy was certain it was the tomatoes that were the problem. He swung his gun around and pointed it at the four of them.

“How dare you trick me with rotten tomatoes! If you don’t finish all these rotten tomatoes, you four won’t get away unscathed!”

Smack! Smack!

The group threw the half-bitten tomatoes in front of Tang Miao and the others.

Tang Miao’s heart bled as she held her tomato, tears welling but no tears to shed.

This was a tomato she had grown with her psychic powers; how could it be treated so wastefully!

The moment she put it into her mouth, her eyes brightened, and she began devouring it ravenously.

“So delicious, *sniff* ugh! Delicious, delicious, ugh—”

This was a flavor Tang Miao had never tasted anywhere in the galaxy!

She spat it out, then shoved a few more bites in quickly, determined to swallow it no matter what!

“Really good, ugh!”

Everyone was stunned.

Rooster Comb Guy’s mouth twitched—was this woman crazy?

“Boss! Trouble!” One of the underlings rushed in, “Heizi and his gang are chasing us!”

Rooster Comb Guy scratched his head impatiently.

Unbelievable—they just borrowed some of their food and a few vehicles in the middle of the night, yet they were being relentlessly pursued?

“Hurry, hurry! Get these four on the vehicle. Let’s retreat together!”

“Wait.” Song Mingchen spoke up, releasing Tang Miao from his embrace. “Leave her behind. Let her attract their attention and buy us time to escape.”

“Chen! What nonsense are you talking about? Tang Miao is your girlfriend! You’re even engaged!”

Lin Chaofeng was incredulous; he couldn’t believe Song Mingchen would say such a thing willingly.

Rooster Comb Guy pondered briefly and thought it made sense—Heizi was lecherous, and Tang Miao looked fair-skinned. Leaving her behind was a good idea.

But...

“Do you really think she’ll obey if you leave her? She’s no fool. Won’t she just run away?”

Song Mingchen’s voice was hoarse. “We grew up together. I even almost got killed protecting her from thugs.”

He turned to Tang Miao. “Miaomiao, consider this repaying a favor.”

Tang Miao caught the message in Song Mingchen’s eyes and nodded firmly.

After violent vomiting and muscle spasms, Tang Miao’s eyes were bloodshot, the whites reddened, and her lips numb.

In Rooster Comb Guy’s eyes, this was the look of someone in excruciating pain yet willing to risk everything to save her man.

“Tsk.” He pointed his gun at Tang Miao. “Your man wants you to stay and delay those guys. If we get caught in half an hour, your man won’t survive.”

This girl was mistaken—sincerity was worthless in this world.

Song Mingchen gave Tang Miao one last embrace, his eyes shimmering with tears as he locked gazes with her in bewilderment for a long moment.

Rooster Comb Guy lost patience. “Quit dawdling! Move it!”

“Wait!” Zhang Xinrou suddenly spoke up, trembling as she raised her hand. “I want to stay too. Two people delaying will work better.”

Song Mingchen wanted to stop her but forced himself to endure it.

Lin Chaofeng jumped up boldly. “I’ll stay as well!”

Rooster Comb Guy kicked fiercely. “Stay? No way! You two come with me as laborers!”

The two girls looked delicate and weak, useless as fighters and only dead weight. Leaving them behind suited him perfectly.

Pressed by guns, Lin Chaofeng had no choice but to comply and board the vehicle.

He preserved his life, hoping to escape later and rescue Tang Miao and Zhang Xinrou.

Inside the RV, Lin Chaofeng’s expression was complicated as he deliberately kept his distance from Song Mingchen.

Song Mingchen had always been the acknowledged leader—calm, capable, and a strong fighter.

But now Lin Chaofeng felt he was like the rotten tomatoes in Tang Miao’s hands—completely useless.

Song Mingchen lowered his voice to explain, “I warned Tang Miao earlier to seize the chance to run. We will definitely be caught by Heizi’s gang.”

Lin Chaofeng’s pupils trembled.

“Chaofeng, don’t blame me. We have advantages over them in many ways. If we get caught, we’ll find a way to escape and come back for them. Even if we don’t...”

Lin Chaofeng slapped Song Mingchen’s shoulder. “Chen, stop talking. I get it. I misunderstood you.”

Even if they didn’t escape, they preserved Tang Miao and Zhang Xinrou for the short term.

Song Mingchen remained as brave and resourceful as ever; Lin Chaofeng had been too focused on his own anger to see the plan.

Song Mingchen smiled resignedly. “It’s okay.”

Then his gaze darkened as he looked through the window at Tang Miao by the roadside.

Though he couldn’t explain the current situation, he guessed Tang Miao either had amnesia or had changed completely.

If this Tang Miao could survive, he would have a fiercely loyal, powerful bodyguard for free when he came to join her later.

Tang Miao held the tomato, watching everyone disappear from sight.

When Song Mingchen hugged her, he whispered in her ear:

“Protect your body well.”

A strange, indescribable feeling stirred in his heart.

This man truly loved the original owner of the body, which made Tang Miao, now inhabiting it, feel guilty.

Forget it—next time they meet, she’ll be his faithful shield.

For now, the mission was paramount.

“Ptoo! Ptoo!”

She wiped her mouth clean and began collecting frying pans from each room.

“Hey, Tang Miao! What’s your deal? Aren’t you going to care about me? I stayed behind for you!”

Tang Miao rolled her eyes at Zhang Xinrou. “I never asked you to stay.”

Zhang Xinrou stomped her foot in frustration and pursued Tang Miao. “Tell me the truth! Are you hiding something from me?”