When Baby turned three, Cheng Jin received another invitation to the Orange Blossom Gala. Over the past three years, humanity had successfully thwarted the invasions of the Bug race and the Werewolf race, and the “Chimera” experimental incident had finally been concluded. The hottest topic at the moment was “equal rights.”

The issue of equal rights among various planets had always been controversial, especially the entrance policies of the Imperial Planet, which were not particularly friendly to commoners. Thus, a group was proposing to redraft some of the laws. During this period, there had been several significant conflicts, one of which had injured Ai Xue.

Fortunately, the most intense conflicts had subsided.

As Suki was the Minister of Criminal Law, she had been extremely busy these past two years, which resulted in the Orange Blossom Gala being skipped twice. This year, it was expected to be particularly lively as it resumed.

However, Cheng Jin’s familiar faces were nearly absent.

His good friend Eureka had gone on an interplanetary trip, having just sent a postcard from Planet 68 the previous week. The photo showed him tanned and smiling brilliantly, clearly enjoying his journey. His brother Cheng Xu was still on Planet Geothermal with Yan Qi.

Just last month, Cheng Jin had returned from Planet Geothermal with Baby. In just three years, the planet had undergone significant changes. It had become a popular tourist destination with natural hot springs, the world’s largest ski resort, a beautiful animal ice city, and a hot movie shooting base. What was once a monotonously white planet now burst with vibrant colors, making even the cold weather enjoyable.

Cheng Jin flipped the invitation over and realized he wasn’t as interested in such galas anymore, unlike his younger days when he would rush out to shop and wear the most beautiful and fashionable outfits to bask in the admiration of others. But now, he was the one preparing appropriate attire for others.

Cheng Jin had made a name for himself as a bespoke tailor, though his online shop wasn’t very busy since handmade items were more expensive. However, he was well-known in the wealthy circles of the Imperial Planet, as his designs were always featured at every gala.

He was overwhelmed with custom orders, so Cheng Jin could only select which ones to take. He had dreamt of creating his own brand and selling worldwide, allowing ordinary people to wear his designs. However, this plan hadn’t been very successful due to the diversity of the star system.

As Yan Qi put it, “In a world where not everyone likes the same type of adult film, what makes you think they’ll all agree with your aesthetics?”

Cheng Jin had no words in response and retorted, “Aren’t your films sold across the entire star system?”

“That’s because I cover a variety of genres; there’s something for everyone. Your designs always emphasize a sense of luxury that most can’t pull off, so stick to being a bespoke tailor.”

His idea of starting his own fashion brand was dismissed, but soon Cheng Jin felt that this was fine too. He enjoyed a flexible schedule and liked what he did, feeling a deep sense of achievement whenever he saw his creations worn.

This time, he had received an order to make a gown for Suki’s granddaughter, Su Xia, who was newly married to a member of one of the top indigenous families, the Hui family. They had already announced their marriage and registered it, just not held the ceremony yet. This gala was sort of a rehearsal as their wedding was scheduled for the following month.

Cheng Jin designed a gown for her that resembled a wedding dress, using similar materials but lighter, adorned with vivid roses and a matching rose headband. It looked dignified and beautiful.

During the fitting, Su Xia seemed pleased, though she was always emotionally subdued, so she just smiled lightly. Cheng Jin, slightly anxious, asked, “A-Xia, are you not pleased?”

“No, no, it’s beautiful. I’m very satisfied,” Su Xia said as she touched the wide skirt. “I’m just not used to wearing something like this.”

Cheng Jin, remembering her usual attire, relaxed and said, “I thought you didn’t like my design. This dress isn’t hard to wear. Your waist is so slender; it fits perfectly without being tight. The hoop skirt is a bit tricky, and you have to be careful when sitting down, but the material is very soft, so it shouldn’t be uncomfortable.”

“You’ve gone to a lot of trouble,” Su Xia said as she adjusted her dress and suddenly asked, “Xiao Jin, are you planning to compete in any games this year?”

Cheng Jin was surprised, “Are there games this year?”

“Yes, but there’s no knitting contest. There’s an embroidery contest you could enter.”

Cheng Jin smiled, “I’ll see. I wonder what the prizes are. What about you? You’ll surely be in the glider race again? You were amazing that year.”

Su Xia laughed, amused, “That year? Were you really watching me?”

Cheng Jin’s eyes widened, and Su Xia teased, “Or were you just watching General Lu Tao?”

Cheng Jin blushed, not knowing what to say. Su Xia added, “It was surprising he won that year. I remember he wasn’t very strong in that area.”

Cheng Jin paused, “He’s not strong in gliding?”

“No, not really. His micro-control abilities aren’t that great. Ai Xue Riegel was always the stronger competitor,” Su Xia said regretfully. “I’ve always seen her as my rival in that field. Unfortunately, we can’t compete this year. I heard she got injured.”

“Oh, she did,” Cheng Jin said, puzzled, “Why can’t you compete?”

“For the wedding next month. I need to avoid any accidents, so I’m forbidden from participating in dangerous sports.”

On the day of the Orange Blossom Gala, since Lu Tao had just returned, he could accompany Cheng Jin, and they left Baby at home. The little one was already running, jumping, and talking. Not only did he look like Cheng Jin, but his personality was similar too. Fortunately, he had a higher IQ than Cheng Jin. He was very well-behaved; when he learned he would stay home, he was a bit moody but didn’t cry, just asking, “Why can’t I go too?”

Cheng Jin gently explained, “Because this is an adult’s gala, other babies won’t attend either.” He ruffled his son’s hair, “Can you stay here with Cheng Cheng? We’ll be back in a few hours.”

“How many hours?” Baby persisted.

Cheng Jin was still calculating how long the gala would take when Lu Tao accurately said, “Eight hours later.”

Baby then stopped asking and went to play with his toys and the robot.

On the drive, Cheng Jin couldn’t help but turn to look at his husband. Lu Tao, dressed in a simple black suit that wasn’t a high-end brand, looked exceptionally handsome. Over the years, his demeanor had become even more composed, exuding the charm of a mature man.

Cheng Jin’s heartbeat quickened.

This man seemed to always make his heart race wildly, whether it was his youthful exuberance, his past cold aloofness, or even during his phase of split personality—Cheng Jin had loved it all.

This love felt as if it were etched into his bones.

He didn’t expect an equal measure of love in return, sometimes thinking he might be too intensely invested, so a little affection from Lu Tao was enough for him.

But when his feelings were reciprocated, he felt overjoyed.

He had been noticed while “peeping,” then held on Lu Tao’s lap and kissed for a long while. Upon arriving at the Su family’s door, Cheng Jin came back to his senses, shyly saying, “Husband, how did you know… I just… wanted to be kissed?”

Lu Tao smiled faintly, “It’s easy to see what you’re thinking by your expression.”

Cheng Jin blushed and was about to say more when the car stopped. He had to compose himself and follow his husband out.

Upon entering the gala center, Cheng Jin was a bit stunned as he watched people in maid outfits pass by. He asked uncertainly, “Are there that many people being punished this year?”

“Probably not,” Lu Tao replied. “It’s likely a trend.”

Cheng Jin soon realized it indeed might be a “trend,” as there were many men and women dressed as maids, all appearing very open and unashamed.

This Orange Blossom Gala was indeed lively, with nearly twice the attendees as the last time Cheng Jin participated. There were many novel and fun games, although Cheng Jin didn’t join any.

Seeing him peeking around for competition events, Lu Tao couldn’t help asking, “What are you looking for?”

“The glider race.” Cheng Jin blurted out, then felt a bit regretful, but soon calmed down and smiled, “I heard from Ah Xiu that there’s this competition this year. Are you… participating?”

Lu Tao looked at him, “Do you want me to?”

Cheng Jin nodded eagerly.

“Glider racing” was a challenging sport, so the participants were almost always familiar faces. When signing up, Cheng Jin saw several acquaintances from the last race, including Qi Kong Kong, who had fallen before. Lu Tao had to change clothes in the room before the race. Before leaving, he touched Cheng Jin’s face and said, “Wait for me to come back with a prize.”

Cheng Jin nodded, not caring about the bystanders, and tiptoed to give him a kiss.

The glider race was undoubtedly the most anticipated event at the gala, with even more spectators than last time. Cheng Jin barely managed to squeeze into the stands and was struggling when an arm reached out and pulled him into a breathable space. Cheng Jin looked up to see a handsome face smiling at him.

“Ai Xue,” Cheng Jin exclaimed in relief, “Thank you, I was almost crushed.”

Ai Xue smiled pleasantly, “You should be more comfortable standing next to me. Everyone sees me as injured now, so they feel bad about crowding me.” He had suffered a gunshot wound that passed through his shoulder, so his left shoulder was visibly bandaged.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Much better, thank you for asking.”

They didn’t chat long before the contestants emerged. This time there were a few women competing, and Su Xia was notably absent. The sight of semi-naked men triggered a wave of screams, and Cheng Jin looked for his husband among them. When he found him, his heart started racing again.

“This guy, gliding used to be his weak point. After the personality merger, he got a bit of a bargain,” Ai Xue commented with a light laugh.

Cheng Jin gripped the railing, his eyes glued to his husband. From before the race started until it ended, his gaze never left him. When his husband won, Cheng Jin felt a subtle sense of fulfillment that had been missing filled at last.

Then he started to cheer.

The prize was a beautiful jade necklace. When Lu Tao handed it to Cheng Jin, he seemed a bit troubled. “Unfortunately, it’s not a sapphire.”

“No regrets,” Cheng Jin said, gazing intently at him, a radiant smile on his face, “I’ve already received the most precious gift.”

His lover, whether in the past or the future, would always be by his side.

Together, they would share a lifetime of happiness.