Sitting on the floor, Zoe Pierce offered an awkward greeting. Miles Sherman’s expression didn’t falter as he listened; he simply nodded and said, "Hello."

’So serious, so formal.’

’She didn’t even know what to say next.’

Miles Sherman walked over from the doorway and extended his hand to her. Flattered, Zoe Pierce placed her hand in his. Miles Sherman pulled her up and guided her to a soft chair on the side, meant for resting.

Zoe Pierce looked even more disheveled now than he had ever seen her.

Sweat soaked through her ink-black hair, and large, bead-like drops trickled down her cheeks and forehead. The damp, sticky sweat made her clothes cling to her body.

Due to over-training, a rouge-like flush colored her fair cheeks. Her small lips were a deep red, and she gasped for breath like a fish deprived of oxygen.

It was clear she had been training intensely for a long time, so much so that when he had helped her walk those few steps just now, she had leaned almost all of her weight on him.

"What’s your daily training routine now?" Miles Sherman asked after taking everything in.

Zoe Pierce didn’t know what Miles Sherman was getting at, but she obediently described her daily workout regimen, from her time with the Pierce Family up to the present.

"Do you mind if I see your medical report?"

Zoe Pierce immediately pulled up her medical report for Miles Sherman to see. After carefully examining a few data points, Miles Sherman turned to her and asked, "What level are you trying to train to?"

’She already looks much better than when we first met. At the very least, she’s no longer startlingly thin, and her features have filled out and softened considerably.’

"At least... enough to not hold you all back." Zoe Pierce didn’t really know what level she was aiming for; she was just constantly pushing herself forward.

But she had underestimated the impact her words would have on Miles Sherman.

Miles Sherman froze for a second. Now he understood why Erin Xavier had said Zoe Pierce didn’t seem like an Omega.

’What normal Omega would be worried about holding them back? Most just want to be protected.’

’That was an Alpha’s duty.’

’And they were all used to it.’

The Intelligent Brain’s projection hovered in midair. Miles Sherman pointed at the data display. "Your muscle mass here is a little low, and your abdominal core needs more training..."

’Of course, her overall stats were pathetic compared to an Alpha’s. Many of her indicators were at a level that was just barely considered viable for life.’

Miles Sherman pointed out a few more issues, then found some areas to praise. "But your muscle flexibility is excellent, and you’ve shown clear improvement."

Whether offering criticism or praise, Miles Sherman was exceptionally earnest.

Zoe Pierce quickly committed the weak points he mentioned to memory and listened as he recommended several training exercises.

As they were talking, Miles Sherman’s Intelligent Brain suddenly chimed.

The conversation halted. Miles Sherman paused, then took out his Intelligent Brain.

It wasn’t the one issued by the school; this was clearly his personal device.

Miles Sherman’s gaze flickered over to Zoe Pierce. Zoe knew this was her cue to get up and leave, but as she rose, she swayed as if she were about to stumble. Miles Sherman’s hand immediately pressed down on her shoulder. "Just rest."

He glanced at the caller ID on the Intelligent Brain, walked to the side, and answered the video call.

"Brother~"

"Brother~"

The two sweet, childlike voices preceded their appearance.

Zoe Pierce immediately looked up. From her angle, she could only see the blue light of the projection, not the image it displayed.

But she could see Miles Sherman’s expression. His usually stern, icy face seemed to soften, the corners of his lips turning up slightly. "Ewan Sherman, Hope Sherman, sit still."

On the other end, it was clearly one boy and one girl. Hearing Miles Sherman’s command, they replied obediently in unison, "We’re sitting still~"

’Their voices are just too adorable.’

’Zoe herself felt it was almost too much to handle.’

"Brother, when are you coming back~? We miss you~"

Miles Sherman’s voice remained steady. "In another month."

They weren’t allowed to leave the academy right now, and the joint examination had only just started.

The voice on the other end was tinged with undisguised disappointment. "Okay~"

"Alright, you two, stop bothering your brother." A gentle female voice came through next. "Miles, your father has something to discuss with you. We’ll let you go for now."

Zoe Pierce saw Miles Sherman’s face instantly turn grave. After a long moment, he grunted in acknowledgment. "Okay, Mom."

The relaxed expression was gone from his face, replaced by an even sterner, colder look.

As if he’d caught her gaze, he looked over. Zoe Pierce quickly lowered her head, pretending she hadn’t heard a thing.

But they both knew perfectly well that even if she couldn’t see the person in the projection, the conversation was clearly audible.

Soon, a middle-aged man who bore a strong resemblance to Miles Sherman appeared on the other end of the Intelligent Brain call. The average lifespan of Interstellans was 150 years, and they could maintain a middle-aged appearance until they were around 100.

"Miles Sherman, I am very disappointed in you." The moment Miles Sherman’s father spoke, Zoe Pierce wanted to curl into a ball, wishing she hadn’t heard him.

’What do I do? I really want to get out of here.’

She hadn’t expected Miles Sherman’s father to open with something like that.

Miles Sherman remained silent.

"You should have stopped them immediately, not let them die," the voice scolded. "If this were the military, you would have completely failed this mission."

"I’m sorry, Father."

"Miles Sherman, you must remember that you are an S-Class Alpha. You must hold yourself to the strictest standards. You’ve received military training since you were a child; you are not like an ordinary Alpha." The voice on the other end softened slightly. "Dad is only doing this for your own good. Do you understand?"

Miles Sherman: "I understand."

"Hmph. That’s all. I hope I don’t hear about any more of your unprofessional conduct from the academy." With that, the person on the other end hung up without waiting for a response.

Zoe Pierce kept her head buried, trying her best to be invisible.

’She really, really didn’t want to hear any of this.’

The sound of footsteps approached from a short distance away. Zoe Pierce braced herself for Miles Sherman to lash out at her, but after a long moment, all she heard was the whir of a machine starting up. She cautiously lifted her gaze to see that Miles Sherman hadn’t come over to her; instead, he had selected a piece of equipment and started training.

Zoe Pierce breathed a sigh of relief.

Now she was starting to doubt whether she could continue to just lie low and get by in the team. First, she’d found out Erin Xavier had a half-brother, and now she had overheard Miles Sherman being berated by his father.

Based on the content of the call, Zoe Pierce guessed it was about the deaths of the two people he and Nathan Lockwood had discovered.

She just never imagined Miles Sherman’s father would blame him for those two deaths, as if it were his fault for not doing a good enough job.

Zoe Pierce rested for a while longer, feeling the strength gradually return to her legs. Just as she was debating how to tell Miles Sherman she was leaving, the sound of the door opening echoed through the room again.

The two people in the room looked toward the sound. The door was pushed open, and Zoe Pierce’s gaze met a pair of cool, elegant, almond-shaped eyes.

"Zoe Pierce," he called out first.

His gaze then noted the other person in the training room. He looked over. "Miles Sherman."

Nathan Lockwood’s gaze shifted between the two of them before finally landing on Zoe Pierce, his eyes seeming to ask, ’What are you two doing together?’