Although using the scandals as a diversion was highly effective, and everyone had already forgotten to press the issue of Lina illegally learning spiritual power attacks,

it also caused many people to come to hate her.

After all, her move had ruined multiple artists in the entertainment industry.

Among them were even stars from the Myriad Races.

In this Interstellar society where entertainment reigned supreme, one could only imagine how many people’s dreams she had shattered.

Although the scandals might have been true, many fans didn’t want others to shatter their illusions.

Because as long as the illusion wasn’t shattered, they could continue to be ardent fans. But once it was, they could no longer openly support a tainted artist.

This circle had its own pecking order.

So, this segment of fans placed all the blame on Lina.

After all, if it weren’t to shield her, their idols wouldn’t have been sacrificed.

But she was an S-level female, so they didn’t dare to publicly insult her on the Star Network. They could only resort to indirect insults online, creating a toxic atmosphere.

...

What surprised Jiang Qin was that Long Hao, who was always at odds with Cang Hong, didn’t take the opportunity to kick him while he was down this time.

He even comforted her, saying, "That dumb lion is an idiot, it’s obvious just by looking at him. He’s usually so devoted he’d be happy to be your dog. He was definitely framed in those photos."

"But the fact that he could even get framed just shows how useless he is.

When we get back to the Federation, hand him over to me for two months of training. I guarantee I’ll return a proper scout to you."

Jiang Qin was amused. "Is it really two months of training, or are you just using it as an excuse to beat him up and settle a personal score?"

"Beating him is just a necessary part of training. It has nothing to do with personal grudges," Long Hao said with a look of stern righteousness.

"In that case, let’s just forget it. I’d feel bad if you beat him, and I’d feel bad for you, too."

"Oh, I know. It’s because he’d cry, right?"

Jiang Qin quickly shook her head. "No, I’d be worried about your hands."

Hearing this, Long Hao couldn’t suppress the smile forming at the corners of his mouth.

"Ahem, don’t let that dumb lion hear you say that, or he’ll probably flood our house with his tears."

"Then I won’t tell him."

Jiang Qin had no intention of telling him anyway. ’Of course, I feel bad for both of them.’

’After all, Long Hao can’t even use his beast form right now. It’s hard to say who would really be beating up whom.’

’It’s just that Cang Hong is a rather simple person. He looks cold and stoic, but he’s really just an awkward fool who isn’t good with words.’

’He hasn’t even thought of taking this chance to beat up Long Hao a few times to vent his own frustration.’

***

「Soon, the day of the banquet arrived.」

Jiang Qin woke up early, and the makeup team arranged by the Association arrived.

She didn’t refuse their help and put on a rather dazzling, champagne-colored evening gown.

Yun Xie and the others had also dressed up. They looked exceptionally handsome today, causing her to sneak frequent glances.

’Although I can openly look at my own partners, with so many of them, I have to sneak my glances. After all, the balance of these jealous men is easily tipped.’

"Let’s go."

Under Qi Yi’s arrangements, the group rode in a luxury car driven by Lu Yan and headed toward the seaside dock.

The venue for this banquet was a luxury cruise ship, and the event would last for three whole days.

There would be an auction every afternoon starting tomorrow, but tonight was a grand banquet.

To be precise, it was a grand matchmaking banquet.

Any male with a modicum of power, money, status, or a high Level could potentially be invited onto the cruise ship.

The banquet merely provided an opportunity for both sides to meet. The final outcome would depend on the individuals themselves.

To add a touch of mystery, everyone boarding the ship tonight had to wear a mask that concealed their face, revealing only their eyes, nose, and mouth.

The mask Jiang Qin wore was gold.

It wasn’t an overly complex design, just simple engravings of three-dimensional vines inlaid with diamonds.

The partners by her side had also each donned suits of different colors and put on their masks.

Their masks all incorporated some features of their respective beast forms.

All males attending tonight were required to wear these kinds of masks, as they were the ones being chosen by the females.

Therefore, their beast forms couldn’t be completely concealed.

After all, some females had personal preferences. They might not be able to accept males with certain Genes, such as those with scales, or they might have a phobia of fluffy creatures.

Additionally, each female wore a fake flower pinned to her chest.

A red flower signified she was married, while a pink one signified she was single.

...

At the dock, many people were already lined up to board the cruise ship.

Without exception, all were dressed in lavish attire.

As Jiang Qin’s accompanying butler for the event, Qi Yi would also board the cruise ship, still dressed in his tailcoat.

Because everyone was wearing masks, Jiang Qin couldn’t recognize a single person.

There was one other person who was also miserable.

That person was Jiang Qingfeng, who suffered from face blindness. To make matters worse, he was also colorblind.

The combination of these two conditions meant that everyone present looked the same to him, as if in black and white.

After his pale cyan eyes swept across the room, he decisively gave up. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to find a partner, but he was afraid that if he got married today, he wouldn’t be able to recognize his own female master on the street tomorrow.

’So, it’s better to just forget it.’

Consequently, he rejected everyone who invited him to dance.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin was taking turns dancing with her own partners.

She was probably the only female at the banquet wearing flat shoes, but she wasn’t the only pregnant one.

On the dance floor, quite a few females with obviously bulging bellies were partner dancing in the center of the room.

The female who appeared before Mo Chen happened to be one with a pregnant belly.

When he first saw this pregnant female slowly approaching him, his heart had begun to race, because for a moment he mistook her for *her*.

But as soon as the female spoke, he completely lost interest.

"Sir, would you care to dance with me?"

"I’m sorry, miss. I’m waiting for someone."

’It’s not her.’

The pregnant female frowned. "What’s your problem? If you’re taken, why aren’t you making it obvious? Wasting my time."

Then she walked away indignantly.

Mo Chen paid her no mind, his eyes searching for something unknown.

If anyone had been paying attention, they would have noticed that his gaze was fixed on the abdomens of the females.

Whenever he saw a pregnant female, his gaze would linger for a moment longer before moving away in disappointment.

Just then, a male wearing a mask with a water-ripple pattern walked over. Sounding exasperated, he said, "You can’t just sit here and wait for something to fall into your lap.

Come on, I’ll take you to meet some of the High-level females. Otherwise, when are you ever going to get back from that goddamn Prison Star?"

’I’m not going back,’ Mo Chen thought.

’The punishment was just a pretext.’

’If the guest list for this banquet hadn’t been decided by the Female Protection Association at the beginning of the year, he probably wouldn’t have even been chosen to attend.’

’He hadn’t actually wanted to come, but he couldn’t suppress the urge to come and see.’

’As for what he wanted to see, he didn’t dare admit it to himself.’

However, despite his thoughts, he didn’t resist when Si Xu pulled him along.

He even began to wonder who Si Xu would take him to meet.

’After all, Si Xu only knew a handful of females, and she... was one of them.’