Guan Xingchen silently watched the youth’s forced attempt at a natural explanation, then gave a slow nod. “You had better think so.”
Si Nuo: “…”
He felt that at this moment, Guan Xingchen seemed slightly dangerous.
Leaving the Matching Center, Si Nuo followed Guan Xingchen back to the vehicle, where the adjutant was now securely in the driver’s seat.
Si Nuo blinked, then smiled. “Adjutant, you’re back!”
The adjutant turned around with a beaming smile. “Congratulations, Your Highness! And congratulations, Si Nuo—oh, wait, I should call you Lord Consort…”
Si Nuo cut him off. “Please, just call me by my name.”
The adjutant instinctively glanced at Guan Xingchen through the rearview mirror, silently asking for permission.
Guan Xingchen let out a soft sigh. “Just do as he says.”
The adjutant immediately grinned. “Lord Si Nuo, congratulations to you and His Highness on your registration! I wish you a century of harmonious union and an early blessing of children!”
Si Nuo: “…” What on earth does “an early blessing of children” even mean for us?
Guan Xingchen, seemingly unable to stomach the adjutant’s bizarre blessings any longer, commanded, “Just drive.”
Shortly after they departed, a youth named Angie came running out of the center, dragging his companion along as he chased the departing hovercar for a few steps.
His friend was utterly baffled. “What are you doing, Angie? What’s wrong with that hovercar?”
Watching the car vanish into the sky, Angie stamped his foot in intense frustration. “Why did I hesitate just now? If I hadn’t hesitated, I could have met him!”
“Met who?” The friend looked at Angie as if he had lost his mind.
“Who else could it be? His Highness!” Angie gave him a disdainful look for being so clueless, which caused his friend’s eyes to widen in shock.
“Are you saying that hovercar belonged to His Highness?”
“Otherwise? Even though the vehicle didn’t display any royal insignia, I could never mistake it. That car definitely belongs to His Highness. If I knew he was coming to the Matching Center today, I would have arrived earlier. Maybe we could have crossed paths. It would have been amazing just to speak with him!” Angie was consumed by regret over the missed opportunity.
His friend couldn’t help but ask, “Why would His Highness come to the Central System Matching Center anyway?”
“What else would people come here for? It must be regarding a matched partner. His Highness has reached the age of mandatory matching, but the Central System hasn’t been able to find a compatible match for him all these years.” Angie insinuated pointedly, “If I could have spoken to him today, perhaps I would have had a chance.”
The friend finally understood Angie’s frustration. “Are you trying to be with His Highness?”
Hearing the disbelief in his friend’s voice, Angie raised an eyebrow. “What? Is it impossible for someone like me?” He belonged to the Murphy family one of the three great ducal houses, a status second only to the royal surname, Cecil. His background was entirely worthy of Guan Xingchen! So why shouldn’t he aspire to it? Even if the old King and that person were still around, they wouldn’t refuse him.
His friend looked at him like he was a lunatic. “Is this a question of status? Aren’t you terrified? Rumor has it that he is exceptionally brutal, and with his psychic power level being so high, his mental mania attacks must be horrific. Not to mention, he’s the sole survivor of the Cecil family. Aren’t you afraid that if you marry him, he might lose his mind and kill you too?”
Angie frowned, thoroughly displeased by his friend’s words. “You said it yourself—those are just rumors. And rumors are never entirely true. I believe he is different, and what we share would be different too… if only I could get the chance to know him!”
Friend: “…” Completely delusional.
Angie glanced back at the Matching Center, grabbing his friend’s hand. “Let’s go. I’ve changed my mind. Since His Highness is clearly intent on finding a suitable partner, I shouldn’t waste time on the automated system matches. I need to get to know him first.”
They would arrange things properly, come here together, and have the Central System personally execute their match ideally registering their marriage that very same day!
Si Nuo stepped out of the vehicle alongside Guan Xingchen, gazing at the detached villa and its private garden.
The adjutant introduced it with a wide smile: “This location is quite close to both your academy and His Highness’s base. You can commute together every day; it’s highly convenient.” He pushed the villa’s front doors open. “If there’s any flaw to speak of, it’s that this place is a bit too small. But fortunately, this is only temporary. Once Lord Si Nuo graduates, you can move into the Crown Palace with His Highness.” And if His Highness ascended the throne, they would move into the Royal Palace itself.
Si Nuo, however, felt the place was already magnificent. Small? In what world? There were only two of them, yet they were occupying a four-story luxury villa complete with a private garden. How was this small? It wasn’t small at all! In fact, he was worried that with so few people, their voices would echo.
Oblivious to Si Nuo’s inner thoughts, the adjutant dutifully gave him a complete tour of the pre-furnished villa from top to bottom. Once the tour concluded, the adjutant smiled warmly. “Lord Si Nuo, is there anything else you feel is lacking? I can have it prepared immediately.”
Si Nuo felt everything was already incredibly thorough; it was practically a turn-key property. “Nothing is lacking. I think it’s absolutely wonderful.”
The adjutant turned to Guan Xingchen, who hadn’t spoken a word. “What does Your Highness think?”
Guan Xingchen glanced around and nodded slightly. “It’ll do. We can add whatever is missing later.”
The adjutant immediately seized the opportunity. “In that case, why don’t you both stay here tonight? I can have your belongings packed and brought over right away.”
Si Nuo never anticipated that his cohabitation with Guan Xingchen would begin this very day. For a moment, he was entirely at a loss.
Guan Xingchen turned to him. “I have no objections. What about you?”
Si Nuo felt like this question was an absolute trap. Guan Xingchen had already agreed; if he refused, tying it back to their earlier conversation, the man would almost certainly accuse him of “marriage fraud” again.
“I don’t mind either. Whatever works.” Thinking it over carefully, it was bound to happen sooner or later anyway, so what was there to fear?
Guan Xingchen noted deadpan, “Is it really alright? You do know what living here with me implies, right?”
Si Nuo, who had just finished psyching himself up: “…” How could he not know?!
The adjutant stepped in right on cue, masterfully pretending he hadn’t heard his master’s teasing words. “Excellent. Then I shall arrange for personnel to retrieve your belongings. Lord Si Nuo, is there anything specific you absolutely need brought over?”
Not daring to look at the man beside him, Si Nuo stiffly shook his head. “There’s nothing specific. I’ll just sort through my things and bring them over gradually later on.”
“That works perfectly. Once you’ve sorted them out, I’ll send someone to transport them,” the adjutant replied.
“It’s getting late. Prepare dinner,” Guan Xingchen instructed, giving the adjutant a look that clearly signaled it was time for him to leave.
The adjutant took the hint instantly. “I’ll see to it immediately.”
Once the adjutant departed, the sprawling villa fell entirely silent, leaving just the two of them. Si Nuo asked rather awkwardly, “What should we do now?”
Guan Xingchen looked at the youth, who didn’t quite dare to meet his gaze but was trying desperately to appear casual. He found this awkward side of him incredibly endearing. “Why don’t we go upstairs and pick out a bedroom for tonight?”
Si Nuo shot a quick glance at the smiling man, trying to gauge if he was being serious. Even though selecting a bedroom felt intensely intimate, he forced himself to nod. “Okay.” He silently reminded himself that they were legally married now; certain things were inevitable sooner or later.
Amused by the sight of Si Nuo walking upstairs with stiff, uncoordinated steps, Guan Xingchen chose not to tease him further and simply followed behind.
The master bedroom was painfully obvious. Not only was it the largest room, but its interior decor was also exceptionally elegant. Most notably, it featured a breathtaking bathroom. Inside the transparent, temperature-regulated bathroom sat a massive, petal-shaped bathtub. Just looking at it made one imagine how incredibly relaxing a soak would be.
Noticing where the youth’s eyes had anchored, Guan Xingchen spoke up. “Want to take a bath here?”
Having his thoughts read so easily made Si Nuo’s cheeks flush. He shook his head hastily. “N-No.”
Guan Xingchen leaned in slightly, an eyebrow arched. “Is it that you don’t want to soak here, or you don’t dare to soak here?”
Si Nuo: “…” Why must you be so incredibly blunt? QAQ Are you incapable of playing nice?
“Could you please stop teasing me?” Si Nuo looked into Guan Xingchen’s eyes. If he couldn’t see by now that the man was merely messing with him, he would be a complete fool.
Caught in his little game, Guan Xingchen remained unbothered. He simply stared at him. “How do you know I’m teasing you, and that it isn’t what I truly intend?”
Si Nuo tilted his head. “If you were being serious, why haven’t you done anything?”
Once the words left his mouth, Si Nuo forced himself not to look away. As if trying to prove he wasn’t afraid, he stared directly into Guan Xingchen’s dark eyes. Little did he realize, his hands resting at his sides had unconsciously clenched into tight fists, completely betraying his internal panic.
Guan Xingchen suddenly straightened his posture. His commanding aura instantly made the vast bathroom feel incredibly cramped, his presence becoming overwhelming. Si Nuo instinctively took a step back, wanting to flee, but it was already too late.
The moment an arm securely locked around his waist, Si Nuo deeply regretted challenging Guan Xingchen. This man was dangerous he had known that from the very beginning, yet he had recklessly pushed the man’s boundaries anyway. Now, trapped in his embrace like a piece of prey, the unease in Si Nuo’s eyes was clear as day.
Guan Xingchen looked down at him, an unreadable expression in his eyes. “Know how to be afraid now?”
Si Nuo turned his head away, his ear tips flushing crimson as he stubbornly bluffed, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Guan Xingchen let out a soft laugh and planted a fleeting kiss right against that burning ear tip. Before pulling away, he murmured, “Next time, I won’t be kissing your ear.”
The restriction around his waist vanished. Guan Xingchen turned around and walked out of the bathroom. “Soak if you want to. I won’t look.” As if to prove his reliability, the man even remembered to pull the bathroom door shut behind him.
Once the man was gone, Si Nuo slowly slid down to a squat, reaching up to cover the exact spot that had just been touched. Good grief!
Guan Xingchen stepped out of the room in an excellent mood, just as the adjutant was having fresh ingredients delivered. Seeing him, the adjutant instinctively glanced behind him. “Lord Si Nuo isn’t coming down with you?”
Guan Xingchen shot him a look that clearly communicated ‘mind your own business.’ The adjutant understood instantly and smiled. “Your Highness, have you reviewed the wedding plans? If you have any feedback, please let me know.”
“Bring it tomorrow morning and ask him directly.”
The adjutant nodded promptly. “Understood. Also, Your Highness, would it be beneficial to convert one of the rooms on the second floor into an art exhibition room?”
“Handle it as you see fit. He won’t object.”
“Right away.”
After concluding their business, the adjutant turned to manage his team, ensuring that the painting tools, pigments, and other supplies were carefully moved into the second-floor studio.
Inside the bathroom, Si Nuo hesitated for a long while after Guan Xingchen left. Ultimately, he decided it would be a crying shame not to utilize such an incredible bathtub. After running the water, he found a set of clothes prepared for him in the wardrobe.
The moment he sank into the water, Si Nuo discovered that the bottom of the tub was equipped with integrated LED lights that cycled through various colors, lending an incredibly atmospheric vibe to a simple bath.
“Wow, this is sophisticated!”
The lighting design was perfect neither glaringly bright nor boring. Crucially, there were dozens of different pulsing modes. Si Nuo played around inside for ages, cycling through almost every single pattern before he finally felt satisfied.
Right then, the terminal on his wrist vibrated with a notification. It was a check-in message from Zhang Yu. Since Si Nuo had been out all day and darkness had now fallen with no sign of his return, Zhang Yu had sent a message of concern though the content was questionable.
Zhang Yu: [Si Nuo, are you just straight up not returning tonight?]
Si Nuo felt a sudden twinge of guilt, but guilt was useless; he was fated not to return tonight: [Yeah, don’t miss me too much ^_^]
Zhang Yu: [You say “yeah” so easily! This morning I felt you still had some lingering attachment to me. Tsk tsk, it’s only been a single day and you’ve already abandoned the old love for the new. Ah well, as long as you’re happy, I’m fine!]
Si Nuo: [Great, stay strong!]
Zhang Yu: [Don’t say your brother didn’t look out for you. Check out this link: LOVElustplus%&%&*9998… Password: 666666. You get it~]
Si Nuo stared at the string of garbled code-like link Zhang Yu had sent: [I don’t want to get it.]
Zhang Yu: [You have to get it! Strive to conquer him tonight. Brother, you’ve got this, I believe in you!]
Si Nuo: “…” No, I don’t got this!
Zhang Yu: [Oh, right, don’t forget to take some medication beforehand. I’m worried your fragile body won’t survive the night ^_^]
Si Nuo: […] Thank you so much, because of you, the world is a better place…
Feeling entirely relaxed after his bath, Si Nuo emerged from the room. A hot bath truly was the ultimate comfort.
Upstairs, Guan Xingchen had been wondering if Si Nuo had fallen asleep because he had been in there for quite a while, and was just about to go check on him. Instead, he saw the youth stepping downstairs, his skin flushed a delicate pink from the hot water.
“Perfect timing, dinner is ready.”
The adjutant had already set the dining table. Upon seeing Si Nuo, he immediately picked up on his fresh appearance and beamed. “Lord Si Nuo, did you try out the master bedroom’s bathtub? How was it? The salesperson mentioned it’s currently the most popular model among young people. It features an automated temperature control system and atmospheric mood lighting with dozens of modes to make bathing highly entertaining. Is that true?”
Si Nuo had no idea the bathtub had been procured by the adjutant, let alone that the man would explicitly bring up the multi-mode mood lighting. Having literally just sampled every single mode in the tub, Si Nuo: “…” How on earth am I supposed to answer that?
Guan Xingchen, seemingly fascinated by the topic, turned his gaze to Si Nuo. “Does it really have romantic mood lights?”
Si Nuo: “…Yes.”
Guan Xingchen smiled. “Is it fun?”
Si Nuo: “…Yes.”
Guan Xingchen’s smile deepened. “That sounds wonderful. I’d like to try it next time.”
Si Nuo: “…” Try it if you want, why are you staring at me like that?
The adjutant, completely oblivious to the double meaning in Guan Xingchen’s words, nodded enthusiastically. “I recall that tub is quite spacious. It wouldn’t feel crowded even if two people soaked together.”
Guan Xingchen: [ ^_^ ]
Si Nuo: “…” You truly have an exemplary subordinate!
Dinner was incredibly lavish. Having just taken a bath, Si Nuo was genuinely famished and kept his head down, eating heartily. Conversely, Guan Xingchen ate very little.
Noticing this, Si Nuo couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? You’ve eaten so little. Do you have no appetite?”
“I’m full. Take your time,” Guan Xingchen replied. Si Nuo looked at him skeptically; did anyone actually get full from eating that little? His intuition told him the man wasn’t telling the whole truth, but he could also tell Guan Xingchen didn’t wish to elaborate.
Following dinner, the adjutant tactfully led the staff away from the villa. The sudden silence made Si Nuo feel a bit self-conscious. Trying to break the quiet, he made small talk. “Do you want to take a shower?”
Guan Xingchen smiled at the youth, who was awkwardly playing with his own hair to look natural. “Mm, it is getting late. I’ll go wash up and wait for you in the room.”
Si Nuo froze mid-motion, snapping his head up to stare at Guan Xingchen’s retreating back as he walked upstairs. “…”
Why wait for him in the room? What is he planning to do? And why did he bring up showering just now, as if it were some sort of hint?! I definitely didn’t mean it like that!
Because of Guan Xingchen’s parting remark, Si Nuo loitered downstairs for a good while before finally steeling himself to head upstairs. He cautiously pushed the door open, poking his head into the room like a thief scouting a perimeter before a heist.
Finding no sign of Guan Xingchen, Si Nuo breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to step inside, a voice sounded from behind him: “What are you looking for at the doorway?”
The man who was supposed to be in the room had suddenly materialized right behind him. Si Nuo gasped in fright. “N-Nothing. Why are you out here?”
Guan Xingchen raised an eyebrow. “Where else should I be?” Clearly, he was playing dumb on purpose.
Si Nuo noticed the wine glass and red wine in his hands, realizing the man had left the room to fetch some alcohol. Why fetch wine?
Si Nuo followed him into the room. While closing the door, he couldn’t help but debate whether he should leave a tiny crack open just in case something happened and he needed to make a quick escape…
“Close the door completely.”
His little plan was punctured before it could even form. Si Nuo began to suspect Guan Xingchen had planted a surveillance chip in his brain; otherwise, how could he always tell exactly what he was plotting?
As Si Nuo resignedly shut the door, Guan Xingchen poured some of the decanted wine into a glass and swirled it gently. Seeing that the man had only poured a single glass, Si Nuo felt a slight longing. Back in his past life, he had loved having a glass of red wine before bed. It was just that since arriving here, he lacked the means, and his physical health hadn’t permitted it.
Guan Xingchen noticed the youth drifting over like a small, hungry animal that couldn’t pull its eyes away from food, his gaze fixed on the wine glass with pure yearning. Finding it highly amusing, he asked, “Want a drink?”
Hearing this, Si Nuo nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes!”
Yet, Guan Xingchen suddenly reached out, snatched the wine away from his reach, and placed it on the very top shelf of the cabinet. “You cannot drink alcohol.”
Si Nuo stared at the wine bottle resting high out of reach: “…” Why don’t you just fly to outer space while you’re at it!
Watching the youth huff and turn toward the bed in a huff, Guan Xingchen realized his penchant for mischief was getting out of hand he actually found Si Nuo incredibly cute even when he was throwing a tantrum.
Draining the glass of wine in one gulp, Guan Xingchen walked over to Si Nuo’s side. “Even though you can’t drink it, you can still catch a scent of it.”
Si Nuo was slightly bewildered. “Scent what?”
“Lean a bit closer.”
Si Nuo blanked for a moment, then hesitantly leaned toward him. Delighted by his compliance, Guan Xingchen suddenly bent down, instantly closing the distance between them to a hair’s breadth. If Si Nuo hadn’t halted in time, their lips would have collided.
Realizing what Guan Xingchen was about to do, Si Nuo’s heart hammered frantically against his ribs. His eyes widened involuntarily, completely filled with unconcealed panic. Because of their extreme proximity, their breaths mingled intimately. Si Nuo felt a strange, tingling sensation spread all the way to his fingertips.
In a moment like this, am I supposed to close my eyes? The thought flashed abruptly through his mind.
He felt as though the rich aroma of wine radiating from Guan Xingchen possessed an intoxicating effect, making his cheeks burn and his mind grow hazy. Under the intensity of the man’s gaze, he slowly closed his eyes.
Guan Xingchen was momentarily stunned by the youth’s reaction, but a wave of profound amusement and tender affection quickly flooded his eyes. Reaching out, he gently pinched the youth’s beautifully curved chin, straightened his posture, and spoke with absolute righteousness: “What exactly are you expecting?”
The casual words were laced with deep amusement, causing Si Nuo to snap his eyes open. In an instant, his face flushed so red it looked ready to burst. Just as he was dying of sheer embarrassment and at a total loss for what to do, his face was suddenly cupped and tilted upward.
Before he could hide his burning cheeks, they were captured plainly within the dark gaze of the man looking down at him.
“Heh. You’re a bit pitiful, little one.”
The moment the wicked words fell, his lips were gently pressed and parted by the man’s thumb…