Leaving the hospital, Azalea Everest stood at the curb, ready to hail a taxi for her journey back home. However, her attention was abruptly seized by the sight of a sleek black car gliding to a graceful stop right in front of her. The emblem on the car bore Jupiter's unmistakable mark, its golden hues shimmering with elegance. In Jupiter Alliance, this emblem was reserved solely for government use, and its golden color indicated the highest echelons of power - a clear sign that the occupant inside held significant status.

For a moment, she contemplated making a discreet exit. However, her thoughts were interrupted when a voice came from the car's open window.

"Azalea?"

The voice, both familiar and elusive in its recognition, compelled her to turn on her heels. Facing her within the car was a young man whose features resembled Michelangelo's masterpieces, yet he possessed a magnetic allure that surpassed mere marble.

My, quite the handsome one!

[https://i.imgur.com/kgHMh32.png]

The pieces fell into place, and Azalea recognized the individual seated in the car.

"Granley Shaw?"

His name escaped her lips involuntarily, and her countenance shifted through a whirlwind of emotions: surprise, joy, confusion, sadness, ultimately settling into a warm and bittersweet smile.

"Yes, Little Snow, it's been far too long." Observing her smile, Granley's initial solemn demeanor gradually gave way to a soft, inviting warmth that sparkled in his eyes. "Where are you headed? Allow me to give you a ride."

Azalea didn't refuse. She gracefully entered the car and settled into the rear seat alongside him. With her destination entered into the car's navigation system, they set off.

Azalea couldn't help but wonder why Granley Shaw, a loyal and honored resident of the Solar Union, had suddenly appeared here.

Glancing discreetly at him, she observed the transformation that had taken place over the years. It seemed that he had joined the military, and the indigo uniform of the Solar Union's army complemented his tall and well-built frame. On his shoulder and chest were golden badges bearing the emblem of the burning sun, signifying the highest rank within the Solar Union. Even in the subdued lighting of the car's interior, these badges exuded an aura of authority and prestige that was impossible to ignore.

"So, the Union sent you here to sign the ceasefire agreement?" she inquired.

"Yes," he replied softly, adding, "I'm also here to take you home."

Azalea was taken aback. "How did you know I was here?"

"I didn't until this morning. There was a video of the skeleton incident at your medical school, and it went viral."

Azalea let out a sigh and rubbed her temples.

"These past years," he continued, his voice tender yet tinged with a touch of sadness, "I've missed you so, so much."

Unable to resist the depth of his emotions, Azalea accepted his extended arms. They held each other in a silent embrace, and Granley's presence carried the same comforting essence of white birch trees, just as it had ten years ago.

"Little Snow," he whispered, his voice a soft caress against her ear. "Come back home with me."

After a prolonged silence, Azalea gently pulled away from Granley's embrace. She looked into his eyes, her own reflecting a complex mix of emotions.

"Give me a compelling reason to return."

The two of them lapsed into silence.

After a while, he reached into the storage compartment and retrieved an envelope, extending it to Azalea.

"What's this?" she inquired.

"It's an invitation to this year's Lebon Awards ceremony. Would you like to accompany me?" he asked.

Lebon represented the Solar Union's most prestigious scientific gathering, held every seven years to celebrate the most remarkable research achievements within the Union. It was a coveted honor for countless researchers.

Granley continued, "Our involvement in the cosmic tunnel project from years ago has been nominated. The awards ceremony is in three months, and there's a good chance we might win."

"Cosmic tunnel?" Azalea furrowed her brow, puzzled. She delicately accepted the invitation, a luxuriously crafted blue card. One side bore the gilded emblem of the sun, while the other side displayed event details in golden lettering.

"Yeah, you probably wouldn't remember much… After the project concluded, the Union wiped the memories of many involved. But don’t worry, I've just filed an order to restore your identity, clearing all previous charges. When we return, I'll arrange for someone to assist you in recovering your memory." Granley remained gentle as he handed her a metallic-colored hard drive.

"Hmm, and what's this for?"

"You'll find out when you open it. The password is the combination of our birthdays. Remember?"

Azalea, believing that Granley wouldn't give her something pointless, quietly nodded.

"Good. Pack your things. We'll be heading back to the Union in three days."

"But I didn't say I want to go back…" Azalea quietly protested, gazing out the window. The car had slowly entered the faculty housing area and come to a stop beneath Azalea's apartment building.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

As the car halted, Granley cast a somewhat hesitant look at Azalea. "We've arrived."

"Yeah," she replied, flashing a sweet smile and began fumbling with her seatbelt. However, the car's contraptions proved rather awkward, and despite her best efforts, she couldn't seem to free herself.

Granley chuckled softly, leaning over to assist her. With his well-defined fingers, he effortlessly unclasped the seatbelt. Yet instead of retracting his hand, it lingered, gently tucking a strand of Azalea's hair behind her ear.

A serene atmosphere began to envelop them, with only the harmonious rhythm of their hearts filling the space.

He drew nearer, his deep, starry eyes locked onto her lips.

A warm breath caressed Azalea's face, carrying with it the scent of white birch trees.

"Kiss me," his voice was low, magnetic, and seductive.

She raised her hands, cradling his face as if they held a precious gem, and planted a soft kiss on his inviting lips.

"Satisfied?"

Granley wasn't content. In response, he gently lifted Azalea, and their lips met again... Azalea felt herself growing lightheaded, her breath stolen away by an invisible force.

Then, in an electrifying moment, she felt a hand caressing the sensitive skin at the nape of her neck.

"Stop!" she exclaimed.

Granley froze, a mixture of confusion and displeasure flickering in his eyes. After a moment, he distanced himself from her.

"Have you... been marked? "

Azalea hesitated, her gaze locked on him, feeling the paradox of his closeness and distance. In the depths of his eyes, she saw a turbulent blend of affection and longing, but there was something new—an unsettling undercurrent of doubt, a crack in the facade of trust.

“Smack!”

A few seconds later, the stinging sensation on her fingertips and the red palm print on his face made her realize what she had just done.

She lowered her head, her trembling fingers a testament to her inner turmoil. When she dared to meet Granley's frigid gaze, her teeth clenched, and her resolve solidified, pushing him further away, ready for confrontation.

"If all you desire is an omega obedient to your pheromone call, then return to the Solar Union. I won't be that omega for you."

This declaration hit a nerve within Granley Shaw. His obsidian eyes turned glacial, but he remained silent and averted his gaze. For a moment, Azalea glimpsed a hint of sorrow in his eyes, but soon, he regained his composure with a swift adjustment of his disheveled attire, his aloof facade back in place.

He flicked a switch, and the car door slid open with a soft, mechanical hum.

"Pack your belongings. I'll be back to pick you up in three days," he said, his tone devoid of anger, carrying only a gentle assurance.

Azalea didn't bid farewell; she simply grasped the hard drive and glided out of the car. From the corner of her eye, she followed the graceful retreat of the specialized black vehicle, a shadow vanishing into the enigmatic dark…

###

Upon returning home, Azalea settled at her desk, slid the hard drive into her computer, and began her exploration.

The folders' names were a bewildering labyrinth. Some were denoted by locations, like "Blue Star Sanctuary" or "Mars Research Base." Others followed a chronological sequence, such as "Cosmic Calendar 5821." And then there were those with whimsical labels like "La La La" or "Duh."

Her touch of OCD urged her to painstakingly organize the files by their creation dates, arranging them from the oldest to the most recent, before she delved into the first folder.

Inside, she discovered a video recording. It portrayed a younger version of herself, dressed in a lab coat and wearing medical gloves, cradling a test tube filled with a metallic-hued liquid that sparkled alluringly in the light.

In the background, a girl with a gentle and endearing voice encouraged her, saying, "Come on, Little Snow, say something!"

After a moment's contemplation, Azalea finally sought assistance, admitting, "I don't know what to say..."

The voice's owner chuckled, patiently guiding her, "Well... maybe you can tell people that your invention is a nanorobot capable of repairing DNA damage, designed to treat the diseases caused by nuclear radiation."

Azalea blinked. "Just that?"

"Umm... you can also mention that everyone in the lab worked tirelessly to design the tentacle structure of these nanorobots, and how overjoyed we were to witness patients recovering with the aid of our efforts!"

The Azalea in the video hesitated for a while, opened her mouth several times but could not speak a word. Finally, she gave up. "Too sentimental, not my style."

The other voice, tinged with both helplessness and indulgence, responded, "Alright then."

The video abruptly concluded.

Without hesitation, Azalea opened the next folder, revealing yet another video. Inside, her younger self was completely engrossed in her laptop screen, her fingers dancing deftly across the keyboard as she coded computer programs. Sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind her, enveloping her in a warm, radiant embrace.

Seated beside her was a girl of similar age, with a sweet and delicate appearance reminiscent of a Japanese doll. Her bright eyes held the innocent charm of a young deer, and her long, straight, jet-black hair cascaded down her back, shimmering like a waterfall.

Azalea, watching in front of the screen, couldn't help but softly utter the girl's name, "Mitori..."

In the video, Mitori was engrossed in reading the pages of a thick book. As her silky locks tumbled down, she raised her hands gracefully to gather them into a neat bundle. She then turned to the person behind the camera and sweetly requested, "Babe, could you pass me the hairpin, please?"

[https://i.imgur.com/TxdY9TK.png]

Without hesitation, the cameraman handed her a wooden hairpin, a simple yet exquisitely crafted piece.

"Thank you, Lumi babe. Always love you~" The girl's voice flowed like a gentle spring breeze. She took the hairpin with an endearing smile, expertly twisting her hair into an elegant bun, then returned her unwavering focus to her book.

The video came to an end, capturing her radiant profile bathed in the holy sunlight.

Azalea proceeded to click open the remaining folders one by one, discovering not videos but a treasure trove of cherished photos featuring her and Mitori. These snapshots immortalized moments of pure joy: birthdays celebrated side by side, hand-in-hand walks through the elementary school gate, …, culminating in a shared moment of pride as they received their doctoral degrees, and an array of other heartwarming scenes.

One particular photo triggered Azalea's laughter. It captured the aftermath of a successful prank she had played on Mitori, who appeared utterly startled. Then there were other pictures showcasing their adventures at a Martian research base, with a colossal tuna-shaped spaceship imposing itself in the background.

As Azalea gazed at these photos, memories of her time in the Solar Union surged back. She had once associated it solely with darkness and pain, but now she remembered that amidst all the challenges, there was Mitori—the angelic girl who had grown up with her as a sister, radiating warmth and light into her life.

Her thoughts again fixed upon that invitation. Initially, returning to the Solar Union hadn't crossed her mind, but now, because of Mitori, a sense of uncertainty crept in. Hopeful thoughts swirled in her mind as she wondered about Mitori's life during her years of absence.

Mitori's hair must have grown longer, and her love, Luminos, would probably have collected an array of beautiful, expensive hairpins to help her fashion elegant buns. With today's advanced ABO enhancement technology, maybe they had even welcomed a few precious babies into their lives. Perhaps, at the award ceremony, she could reunite with her beloved sister.

"Well then, Little Snow, it looks like you'll be going back," Azalea whispered to herself, feeling determined. Tomorrow morning, she would head to the Solar Union to find Mitori, before Granley came to collect her.