Although Si Nuo had a faint inkling of Guan Xingchen’s intentions, he was still completely caught off guard when the marriage proposal actually happened.
Guan Xingchen looked down at the visibly stunned youth, choosing not to press him for an immediate answer.
Si Nuo blinked hard, then lifted his gaze to look at the man before him. “Do you… do you really think I’m suitable?”
It still felt deeply surreal.
To him, Guan Xingchen’s family background and status were far beyond his own reach, yet such a man was proposing to him. He wouldn’t have dared to dream of this.
“What about you? Do you think I’m suitable to be your future partner?”
Si Nuo blushed furiously. “You should know what I mean. I…”
“You are wonderful, Si Nuo, so don’t carry any psychological burden. I am just an ordinary person, after all. Will you agree? I will treat you with all my heart.”
Si Nuo found absolutely no reason to refuse him.
Nodding gently, his face burning, he murmured, “Alright.”
A warm smile reflected in Guan Xingchen’s eyes. He reached out and pulled the youth into his embrace. “Mm. Thank you, Si Nuo.”
Suddenly caught in a hug, Si Nuo felt his heart racing furiously. Leaning gently against the man’s chest, his senses were filled with the crisp, refreshing scent clinging to him. This was only the second time they had hugged. Even with the prior experience, his heart still fluttered with chaotic nervousness.
Fortunately, Guan Xingchen didn’t hold him for too long before letting go.
Si Nuo sat down, trying desperately to act composed, though he still didn’t dare to meet Guan Xingchen’s eyes. Even the soothing, gentle piano music playing in the background could not calm his current state of utter panic. He hadn’t done a single thing, yet his heart was thumping wildly.
Guan Xingchen observed Si Nuo, who sat with a flushed face and slightly bowed head, clearly failing to recover from the shock of the proposal. He looked exceptionally pure and innocent.
The amusement in Guan Xingchen’s eyes deepened. “Would you like some ice cream?”
Si Nuo tentatively raised his eyes to meet Guan Xingchen’s smiling dark gaze. Just a second ago, he hadn’t understood why the man was offering ice cream, but the moment he caught that specific smile, it clicked—Guan Xingchen was teasing him.
Clearing his throat in a bid to look natural, Si Nuo said, “Uh, okay, sure. I’ll have some.”
Guan Xingchen let out a soft chuckle and actually called the waiter over to serve a portion of strawberry ice cream.
Whether the ice cream truly worked or not, Si Nuo’s frantic heartbeat gradually steadied.
The rest of the dinner passed very pleasantly. When they stepped out of the restaurant, Guan Xingchen naturally took his hand. Si Nuo offered a small smile and squeezed back.
Waiting outside the restaurant, the adjutant caught sight of the two holding hands and immediately flashed a knowing grin, swiftly opening the car door. It seemed their Highness had successfully gotten his heart’s desire.
It really hadn’t been easy. Their Highness had finally found a partner. Truly a cause for celebration!
Back at the academy, just as Si Nuo pushed the car door open to step out, Guan Xingchen called him to a halt. Si Nuo turned back, looking into Guan Xingchen’s eyes with confusion.
“I will pick you up tomorrow morning,” Guan Xingchen said.
“Is there something else scheduled for tomorrow?” Si Nuo asked.
Hearing this, the adjutant in the front seat couldn’t help but interject, “Lord Si Nuo, tomorrow you and His Highness are going to register your marriage! Don’t tell me you aren’t willing to become His Highness’s legal spouse?”
Having completely forgotten that this was next on the agenda, Si Nuo’s face instantly flushed crimson. “No, no! I didn’t mean that! I… I get it now. I’ll wait for you tomorrow!”
Hurriedly blurting out those words, he dashed out of the car, his face burning.
Watching the youth disappear into the night, Guan Xingchen turned his gaze back to his thoroughly amused adjutant and raised an eyebrow. The adjutant instantly wiped the grin off his face, turned back around, and drove away with absolute solemnity.
When Zhang Yu saw Si Nuo return with a flaming red face, he blanked for a moment before teasing, “Why is your face so red, Si Nuo? His Highness brought you back, right? What did you two do at the entrance?”
“We didn’t do anything. He just dropped me off and left,” Si Nuo explained, trying his best to act natural as he opened his wardrobe to grab a change of clothes.
Zhang Yu looked at him with a beaming smile. “If you didn’t do anything, then why are you blushing like that?”
Holding his clothes, Si Nuo looked back at Zhang Yu and faked a calm demeanor. “Is my face red? Why can’t I feel it? Haha!”
Zhang Yu simply kept smiling without uttering a word, looking very much like a spectator silently watching a performance.
Under such an intense stare, Si Nuo ultimately cracked. He pressed the back of his hand against his burning cheek. “He proposed to me, and I agreed. He’s picking me up tomorrow morning to register our marriage.”
Zhang Yu never expected Si Nuo to confess so submissively, let alone drop such an explosive piece of news.
His mouth fell open in sheer shock. Finally, he managed to choke out, “Holy crap! You guys are getting hitched just like that? Does that mean I have to call you ‘Your Highness the Consort’ from now on?”
Stimulated by the title, Si Nuo’s face turned an even deeper shade of crimson. “Can… can you please not call me that?”
Seeing his awkwardness, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but laugh. “Even if I don’t call you that, it doesn’t change the fact. Right now, you’re the Prince Consort, and once His Highness ascends the throne, you’ll be the King Consort! Oh my god, my friend is the future King Consort!”
Damn, just thinking about it made him feel incredibly awesome by association!
Si Nuo, however, seemed to have only just realized this implication. The thought of being addressed as “Consort” or “King Consort” wherever he went in the future made him feel incredibly embarrassed. He wondered if he could negotiate with Guan Xingchen getting registered was fine, but could they keep his identity private for a while? At least give him some time to adapt.
The next morning, just as Si Nuo was preparing to leave, Zhang Yu suddenly seemed to have an epiphany and grabbed his arm. “I just realized something. Once you and His Highness register your marriage, you’ll be legally wed. Aren’t you going to move out of the dorms?”
If that happened, he would be left to guard an empty room all by himself. Suddenly, he felt a wave of self-pity.
Si Nuo froze. Evidently, he hadn’t considered this issue before either. He said uncertainly, “I probably don’t have to, right?”
Zhang Yu looked at him skeptically. “Are you sure? You’re literally legally married to His Highness. Do you really think he’ll let you keep living with another man?”
Putting himself in those shoes, if he got married and his partner chose to live with another guy instead of him, he would blow his top in a heartbeat.
Having interacted with Guan Xingchen before, Zhang Yu didn’t get the impression that the man was particularly magnanimous. Remembering the dangerous, piercing look Guan Xingchen had given him back then, Zhang Yu abruptly took a step back.
“Actually, since you’re registering, moving in together is great for nurturing your relationship. Let me wish you a happy marriage in advance!”
Looking at Zhang Yu’s sudden turnabout, Si Nuo tilted his head. “Why do I suddenly get the feeling that you’re quite happy about me leaving?”
Zhang Yu chuckled. “Hey, I’m just happy you’re starting a family! Go on, hurry up. Don’t keep His Highness waiting.”
Pushing Si Nuo out of the dorm, he didn’t forget to wave goodbye before mercilessly slamming the door shut.
Si Nuo shook his head, caught between tears and laughter. As he walked downstairs, he couldn’t help but think that he really had a lot of things to negotiate with Guan Xingchen today.
Stepping out of the academy gates, he immediately spotted the hovercar parked a short distance away. Guan Xingchen was dressed in a sharp, tailored black suit, standing tall beside the vehicle. When he saw Si Nuo walk out, a hint of a smile crept into his dark eyes.
For some reason, Si Nuo felt as though Guan Xingchen practically radiated light; whenever he was around, it was difficult to notice anyone else.
“Have you been waiting long?”
Guan Xingchen shook his head. “I arrived just as I sent you the message. Have you eaten breakfast?”
Si Nuo nodded. “What about you?”
“I’ve eaten too. Let’s go.” With that, he opened the car door for Si Nuo.
Upon entering, Si Nuo noticed that only he and Guan Xingchen were in the car today; the adjutant was nowhere to be seen.
“Is it just the two of us today?”
Guan Xingchen turned his head to look at him. “Nono, who else did you want?”
Suddenly being called “Nono” made Si Nuo’s cheeks burn. He stammered, “I didn’t want anyone else.”
Seeing the youth blush, Guan Xingchen spoke in an excellent mood, “We don’t need anyone else present for our registration.”
Si Nuo had learned his lesson this time and kept his mouth shut.
The place for registration was a bit different from what he had envisioned, but considering Guan Xingchen’s royal status, everything felt reasonable. It was the Central System Matching Hall, and Guan Xingchen took him directly through the VIP priority lane.
The official handling their marriage registration was an imperial dignitary responsible for protocol matters. The man had a head of white hair, wore a perfectly fitted suit, and possessed a warm, kindly smile. His aura was incredibly gentle, and every movement exuded an indescribable elegance just like a gentleman steps out of an ancient, aristocratic family.
With Chief Lindy’s assistance, Si Nuo and Guan Xingchen placed their right hands onto the Central System interface. As their fingerprint data was recorded, their personal files transitioned from “unmarried” to “married.”
The partner column in their personal dossiers finally bore a name.
Once the data entry concluded, the Central System Matching Hall ceremoniously presented them with two little red booklets. Looking at the marriage certificate in his hands, Si Nuo finally felt a tangible sense of reality settling in: he was truly married.
“Congratulations, Your Highness, Lord Consort. I am profoundly honored to witness this moment,” Lindy said with a respectful smile, presenting them with a pre-arranged bouquet of fresh flowers. “Regarding the public announcement of the Consort’s identity, I shall consult with the Council of Elders to select a fitting date…”
“You seem to have forgotten my status,” Guan Xingchen suddenly cut him off, causing the smile on Lindy’s face to instantly freeze.
“I have overstepped, Your Highness.” Lindy immediately bowed, offering an apologetic glance toward Si Nuo before turning to lead his subordinates away.
Si Nuo didn’t quite catch the meaning behind Lindy’s parting glance. He felt, oddly enough, as though he was being pitied.
Watching the official leave, Si Nuo turned to look at Guan Xingchen, whose expression had gone quite cool. “Should we leave too?”
Guan Xingchen gazed into the youth’s clear, translucent dark eyes. “My apologies. I might not be able to publicly announce your identity to the outside world just yet. But I assure you, this is only…”
“Really?” Si Nuo’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t even had the chance to bring it up, yet Guan Xingchen had taken the initiative to say it. Not announcing his identity was absolutely fantastic!
This meant he wouldn’t have to feel awkward about being called “Consort,” nor would he have to constantly worry about falling short and tarnishing the royal family’s reputation. He could just be himself.
Guan Xingchen was momentarily dazzled by the sudden brilliance of Si Nuo’s smile. Realizing the source of the youth’s joy, he let out a helpless laugh. “Do you really wish to hide your relationship with me that much?”
Si Nuo blushed, realizing he might have let his excitement show a bit too clearly. “It’s not that. It’s just that once it’s public, everyone will know about us. I’m worried I won’t do well enough and might embarrass you. Plus, hearing people call me ‘Consort’ makes me feel self-conscious. Keeping it private is perfect.”
The warmth in Guan Xingchen’s eyes deepened at Si Nuo’s earnest candor. “Even so, I still owe you an apology. As my partner, you deserve to be recognized by everyone, but now is simply not the right time. Si Nuo, I promise you that aside from the temporary secrecy, none of the rights you deserve will be withheld.”
Meeting Guan Xingchen’s earnest gaze, Si Nuo’s heart trembled slightly. “I really don’t mind those things.”
Guan Xingchen knew he didn’t mind, but he minded.
Without saying anything further, he reached out and gently patted Si Nuo’s head in a comforting gesture. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to see our new home.”
At the mention of a “new home,” Si Nuo suddenly remembered what he had forgotten to ask earlier.
“A new home… Are we going to live together?” Si Nuo’s voice trailed off into a tiny whisper on the last sentence.
Yet, Guan Xingchen caught it perfectly. The man looked down at him, an ambiguous, searching glint in his eyes. “Nono, you don’t want to make our relationship public, and you don’t want to live with me either. Are you committing marriage fraud?”
Hearing the phrase “marriage fraud,” Si Nuo completely panicked. He waved his hands frantically to deny it. “I—I just thought it was a bit sudden! Of course, since we’ve registered, it’s completely normal to live together!”