[Xiao Yi,] Jiang Lijin spoke slowly in her mind, [what do you think those three scumbags will do when they find out I'm an S-rank?]
[I don't know either.] Xiao Yi seemed to think for a moment before replying, [But I think your list of matched partners will undergo a major change, and there might even be higher-quality candidates.]
"Higher-quality candidates." Jiang Lijin repeated the phrase and laughed out loud.
[Xiao Yi, listen to yourself. Doesn't that sound like we're picking out breeding pigs?]
Xiao Yi fell silent for two seconds: [Host, although this analogy is crude, it makes some sense. The matching mechanism of this world is indeed based on mental strength and genetics as the core considerations.]
"Alright," she said. "Then let's go get tested. I really want to see the expressions on their faces when they realize their trash of an ex-wife is actually an S-rank."
She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow, her voice muffled: "But if I go to the hospital now, won't I bump into them? Don't they run over there every other day to bring warmth to their Goddess Felwin or whatever?"
[You are right, Host. I suggest you avoid their regular visiting hours.]
"Regular visiting hours?"
[Correct. According to my analysis of their movement trajectories, Rex is usually at the military headquarters from 9 to 10 AM and only goes to the hospital in the afternoon. Kieran has irregular working hours, but for the past week, he has appeared in the hospital library every day at 3 PM. Arden doesn't have a fixed routine either, but for the last three days, he has gone to the hospital cafeteria for lunch at 12 PM.]
Jiang Lijin was stunned: "How do you even know all this? Is this also part of the book's setting?"
[Of course not!] Xiao Yi's tone carried a hint of smugness. [I can access the capital planet's public surveillance network. As long as it doesn't involve private areas, I can retrieve the data. After all, the first step to exploring a world is mastering information.]
Jiang Lijin stayed silent for two seconds, then immediately burst into laughter. "Not bad, Xiao Yi! With you around, what do I have to fear from now on?"
Hearing Jiang Lijin's words, Xiao Yi became even more proud: [I will do my utmost to assist you, Host!]
She caught sight of the words psychological counseling in the email from the Marriage Administration Bureau and squinted at them for a long time.
[Xiao Yi, what is this psychological counseling for?]
[According to the description, it should be to help females adjust their emotions after a divorce to prevent psychological issues.]
Jiang Lijin scoffed, her mouth twitching: "Getting matched with a new partner within three or four days is more likely to cause psychological issues, isn't it?"
"Fine, I'll go," she said. "I have nothing better to do right now anyway. I'll go listen to how they counsel me; maybe I can even learn a few new lines to roast people with."
Xiao Yi fell silent for a moment, its tone very sincere: [Host, you are already very strong at roasting people. You really don't need to learn anymore.]
"I love hearing that." Jiang Lijin was amused. "Say it again."
[Host, you are already very strong at roasting people. You really don't need to learn anymore.] Xiao Yi said a little louder.
"Hahahahaha—"
Laughter echoed in the room. The light from the artificial sun outside the window shone right on her face, making her bright, smiling face look even more vibrant.
At 2:30 PM, Jiang Lijin stood at the entrance of the Capital Planet Central Hospital. Looking up at the ultra-modern, magnificent silver-white building in front of her, she couldn't help but be shocked. This interstellar beastman world was vastly different from the world she originally lived in and the worlds she had transmigrated into before. Thank goodness she still had some memory fragments of the original owner left in her mind, otherwise she wouldn't have even known how to get here.
"Whoa, it's huge," she muttered.
[Host, the psychological counseling center is on the third floor of Building 7. Your current location is Building 3. You need to walk 300 meters to the east.]
"Got it."
She walked slowly following the signs. People were coming and going in the hospital, but whether they were family members of patients or medical staff in white coats, they were all very tall. Only she was thin and small, weaving through the crowd, looking somewhat out of place. Some beastmen even stared at her with confused looks for a moment, but quickly looked away.
Jiang Lijin estimated she had walked 300 meters. She looked up at the floor in front of her, which didn't have a sign hanging, so she wasn't sure exactly which building this was. But she figured that with Xiao Yi around, it would remind her if she went the wrong way.
The elevator doors opened, and she poked her head out to glance at the door plates on both sides of the corridor: Psychological Counseling Room A, Psychological Counseling Room B, Group Therapy Room... They were all uniformly labeled with just numbers; there wasn't a single name.
"Which one is it?" she frowned.
[It should be in Zone C. Turn left.]
Jiang Lijin turned left, walked a few steps, and saw a half-open door with a plaque that read C-07. Without thinking, she pushed the door open and walked in, only to freeze.
The room was large, with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. Sunlight spilled in through the glass, shining on the light gray carpet. The furnishings inside were very simple: just a single sofa and a wide office desk.
But what made Jiang Lijin freeze was not the room, but the person sitting behind the office desk.
He leaned back in his chair, holding a document in his hand, looking down at something. Hearing the door open, he looked up, his gaze sweeping over with a hint of displeasure.
The moment their eyes met, Jiang Lijin's breath hitched.
It was a face... she didn't know how to describe. His facial features were so deep they looked carved, with a high brow bone and a straight nose. His thin lips were slightly pursed, carrying a trace of careless detachment. The most fatal part was his eyes—light gray, as if covered by a layer of mist, yet making it impossible to look away.
He wore a black shirt that matched his black hair, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing smooth, well-defined forearms. The collar of his shirt had one button undone, and from Jiang Lijin's angle, she could just see a hint of his exposed collarbone.
[Holy crap!] Xiao Yi's voice exploded in her mind. This was the first time Jiang Lijin had heard Xiao Yi swear. [Host, this person's appearance data is off the charts! My system's aesthetic module is lagging; all I can see right now is a glitching screen!]
Jiang Lijin fell silent in her heart, suddenly feeling that this system wasn't as advanced as she had imagined. It was lagging just from this?
She ignored it, steadied herself, walked in, and pulled out the chair opposite the desk to sit down.
"Are you the psychological counselor?" she asked straightforwardly.
The man looked at her and didn't speak, just giving a slight nod.
"Alright." Jiang Lijin leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "Then let me make this clear to you first. I don't have any psychological illnesses; I am very healthy. In fact, I am very happy about divorcing those three scumbags, and I absolutely do not need any divorce counseling."
The man still didn't speak. He just looked at her, his gaze having shifted from initial displeasure to something indescribably complex.
Jiang Lijin felt a little uncomfortable under his stare, but she continued, "However, since this is part of the rules and regulations, we'll just go through the motions. I'll come sit here for an hour every day, you sign my form when the time is up, and we won't bother each other. How does that sound?"
The man finally showed a reaction. He lightly raised an eyebrow, the gesture carrying a faint, almost imperceptible hint of disdain. Then, Jiang Lijin felt an inexplicable pressure. It was incredibly light, like a gentle breeze brushing past the tips of her hair, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
She blinked. "What's wrong?"
The man stared at her, something new suddenly flickering in his eyes. That trace of disdain faded away, replaced by confusion, curiosity, and a sliver of something she couldn't quite decipher.
He didn't answer her question. Instead, he leaned back and spoke in a mild, indifferent tone. "You just said you divorced those three... and you're very happy about it?"
"Yeah." Jiang Lijin nodded. "Thrilled, actually. It's been three years, and I'm finally free."
"Three years?"
"Yes."
The man fell silent for a few more seconds before suddenly asking, "You are a C-rank?"
Jiang Lijin rolled her eyes inwardly. Even though the man in front of her was incredibly handsome, he was exactly like those other scumbags—always harping on about being a C-rank. She fought back the urge to snap at him, keeping her expression perfectly composed. "Yeah, C-rank. Is there a problem?"
The man didn't speak again; he merely watched her. His gaze made Jiang Lijin's skin prickle, but not in an oppressive, scrutinizing way. Rather... she couldn't explain it. It was as if he were looking at something absolutely fascinating.
