When Guan Xingchen kissed him, Si Nuo was completely unprepared. The suddenness of the kiss caused him to instinctively hold his breath. He froze in place, utterly at a loss, letting the man have his way entirely.
It wasn’t until his lungs began to ache from a lack of oxygen that Si Nuo started to struggle.
Guan Xingchen finally released him. Looking down at Si Nuo whose cheeks were flushed crimson and whose dark eyes were misted with moisture he pulled the youth tight against his chest.
“You dummy, you’re supposed to breathe!”
Si Nuo leaned against the man’s chest to steady his chaotic breathing. Hearing his words, he complained softly, “You’re the one who kissed me without saying a word, yet you’re blaming me!”
Listening to the youth’s weak complaint, Guan Xingchen chuckled and stroked his hair. “Mm. I’ll remember to ask for your permission next time.”
Si Nuo remained silent. He felt that either scenario would be incredibly embarrassing. Was he really supposed to say “no” if Guan Xingchen asked him, “May I kiss you?” next time?
As if truly failing to understand what the youth’s silence implied, Guan Xingchen asked once more, “So, is it a deal? I’ll ask for your permission?”
Si Nuo shot him a bashful look. “I’m going to sleep!” He was absolutely not going to answer that.
Guan Xingchen let out a low chuckle. “Alright. Do you want to sleep on the inner side or the outer side of the bed?”
Si Nuo, who had already rolled himself into the inner side: “…” So I actually had a choice. You should have said so earlier.
Not only were they sharing a bed, but they also had to share a single blanket. Fortunately, their pillows were separate, which offered Si Nuo a small sense of comfort; otherwise, they would really be forced to press flat against each other.
Once they lay down, Guan Xingchen noticed that the youth was staying quite far away from him so far, in fact, that a single turn would send him tumbling off the mattress.
Amused yet exasperated, he looked at Si Nuo, who had turned his back to him and pulled the blanket completely taut between them. “Am I some sort of ferocious beast, Nono? Why must you stay so far away? Or is there someone else supposed to lie down between us?”
Si Nuo’s body stiffened. Rather reluctantly, he nudged himself a fraction closer to Guan Xingchen, and then stopped.
Guan Xingchen was thoroughly amused by the youth’s childish resistance. Without another word, he reached out and scooped him directly into his arms. “This is what the distance is supposed to look like, understand?”
Feeling the heavy arm slung over his waist and the burning heat radiating from the chest pressed flat against his back, the warmth that had just faded from Si Nuo’s face rushed back in full force. He didn’t dare move an inch, feeling as though the man behind him was a coiled spring waiting to snap.
Yet, sensing the youth in his embrace relax his body and lean against him without further resistance, Guan Xingchen oddly felt a slight wave of regret.
Si Nuo had initially assumed that changing locations and sharing a bed with a practical stranger would keep him awake. To his surprise, he enjoyed a rare, dreamless night of deep sleep.
When he woke up the following morning, he felt entirely refreshed.
As for the person beside him, he was already gone. Si Nuo had no idea when the man had left. Reaching out to touch the empty space next to him, the mattress was already cold to the touch; Guan Xingchen must have awakened very early.
Si Nuo checked the time. It was already 8:00 AM. He had classes to attend today. Realizing he was very likely on the verge of being late, he didn’t dare lounge in bed any longer and bolted into the bathroom to wash up.
By the time Si Nuo made his way downstairs, the adjutant was briefed by Guan Xingchen: “Duke Murphy stated that as long as Your Highness is willing to attend Angie Murphy’s coming-of-age banquet, he is prepared to donate a mining planet to the Empire.”
Having finished his report, the adjutant looked at Guan Xingchen, whose expression remained entirely indifferent, and awaited his orders.
Guan Xingchen lifted his eyes toward the staircase a short distance away. “How many mining planets does the Murphy family own in total?”
The adjutant recalled the data. “They have 138.”
The corner of Guan Xingchen’s lips curved slightly. “Tell him one is not enough.”
The adjutant instinctively asked, “Then how many do you want?”
Guan Xingchen stood up, his gaze tracking the youth currently making his way down the stairs. “All of them.”
Adjutant: “…” If Duke Murphy actually dares to surrender his entire planetary portfolio just to get Guan Xingchen to attend his youngest son’s banquet, I will respect him as a true madman.
Si Nuo hurried down the steps, spotting Guan Xingchen and the adjutant together. “Good morning! I have a class soon, so I’ll be heading out first.”
Just as he was about to dash for the front doors, Guan Xingchen spoke up: “I’ll drive you.”
Having a ride was naturally ideal. Si Nuo didn’t refuse, though he noticed Guan Xingchen was carrying a packed lunch bag as they walked out.
Once they got into the vehicle, the lunch bag was placed firmly into his lap. Si Nuo blinked. “Is this breakfast?”
Guan Xingchen hummed in affirmation. “Mm. Give me a copy of your class schedule later. I’ll pick you up this afternoon.”
Si Nuo opened the bag. “I can give you my schedule, but you don’t really need to pick me up. I can make my own way back.”
Guan Xingchen glanced at the youth, whose cheeks were puffed out like a little hamster as he munched on his food. “But I want to pick you up.”
Si Nuo froze mid-chew. He felt that ever since they registered their marriage, Guan Xingchen had become increasingly direct in his speech. He nodded. “Alright then. By the way, this sandwich is really delicious.”
“Is it? It’s my first time making one.”
Si Nuo looked up in surprise. “You made this yourself?”
Guan Xingchen raised an eyebrow slightly. “Doesn’t it look like it?”
Si Nuo shook his head. “It’s not about what it looks like. I just didn’t expect someone like you to know how to make a sandwich.”
Guan Xingchen looked at the genuine surprise in the youth’s eyes. “I can make more than just sandwiches; I know how to cook other dishes too. Would you like to taste my cooking sometime?”
Si Nuo’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued. He truly hadn’t expected someone of Guan Xingchen’s royal background to possess culinary skills. “Do I have that honor?”
Guan Xingchen was immensely pleased by his reaction. “No one has more right to it than you.”
Si Nuo arrived at the classroom precisely as the bell rang. The moment Zhang Yu spotted him, he scurried over. “I thought you straight up weren’t going to show today!”
Si Nuo explained, “I just overslept.”
No sooner had the words escaped his lips than Zhang Yu flashed him an incredibly suggestive, knowing grin.
Instantly catching the underlying meaning of that smile, Si Nuo flushed. “It’s not what you think!”
Amused by his sheer innocence, Zhang Yu played dumb. “Oh? And what exactly am I thinking?”
Si Nuo: “…”
Seeing him fall into a defeated silence, Zhang Yu said in an excellent mood, “Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Seeing that you two are getting along so well fills me with relief.” The look he gave Si Nuo at that moment was infused with the proud satisfaction of an old father.
Shortly after, Instructor Zhao Chunsheng entered the room, and the noisy classroom fell dead silent.
Zhao Chunsheng scanned the students. “I have an announcement. Next week, Master Bian Ru will be coming to our academy to deliver a public lecture, and there will also be a Q&A session. I expect everyone to prepare a personal portfolio beforehand. You’ll have the opportunity to show your work to Master Bian Ru. If you can secure even a brief critique from him, it will benefit you for a lifetime. Every single one of you had better take this opportunity seriously!”
“Master Bian Ru? The same Master Bian Ru who held a solo exhibition at the Red Cedar Gallery on the Imperial Planet, where a single painting sold for over ten million?”
Zhao Chunsheng replied, “Who else could it be? He is the man hailed by the Empire as a generational genius painter. That’s why I’m telling you this is a rare window of opportunity.”
Si Nuo had researched the prominent artists of the Empire before, and Bian Ru was undoubtedly the most prestigious figure among them. His artwork was not only deemed highly collectible but was also preserved in national museums. He was an undisputed grandmaster. Hearing that he would be visiting their school was exactly as Instructor Zhao had described a phenomenal opportunity.
Zhang Yu turned to Si Nuo. “I think this is your big break. If you catch the Master’s eye, your future will be limitless. Prepare well!”
Si Nuo smiled. “It’s a huge break for you too.”
Zhang Yu shook his head. “Count me out. I have a very realistic grasp of my own artistic limitations. Unless the Master plans on opening a kindergarten class, he won’t be looking at someone of my caliber.”
Amused by Zhang Yu’s self-awareness, Si Nuo chuckled. “You don’t need to put yourself down that hard.”
After class, Si Nuo and Zhang Yu grabbed lunch at the cafeteria before returning to the dormitory.
Si Nuo opened his wardrobe and began packing his belongings. Zhang Yu stood to the side, watching him. “So you’re officially moving out for real?”
Si Nuo turned back with a smile. “Are you going to miss me?”
Zhang Yu nodded solemnly. “Yeah, I will. But alas, a grown boy cannot be kept at home forever!”
Si Nuo laughingly tossed a pillow at him. “Don’t worry, your dad will come back to check on you from time to time. Don’t pine for me too much!”
After a bit of playful bantering, Si Nuo packed a small suitcase. He didn’t intend to move absolutely everything over; there were still three years left until graduation, and he would likely need to stay at the dorms during particularly hectic weeks.
Once his things were packed, a message from Guan Xingchen arrived. Zhang Yu escorted him down to the gates, advising him, “Take care of your health out there. Though with His Highness around, I doubt I need to worry about that.”
Si Nuo smiled. “You too. Remember to go to bed early.”
Zhang Yu nodded. “Got it. Go on, your man is waiting for you outside.”
Si Nuo waved goodbye and wheeled his suitcase toward Guan Xingchen, who was waiting by the car.
On his way back to the dorm, Zhang Yu ran into some classmates. Seeing him alone, one asked curiously, “Hey, didn’t I just see Si Nuo wheeling a suitcase out? Where’s he going? Is he not living on campus anymore?”
Zhang Yu confirmed, “Yeah, he moved in with his matched partner. Si Nuo is officially a married man now.”
The classmate was stunned. “Si Nuo registered his marriage already? That fast?”
Zhang Yu countered, “Is it fast? Seems pretty normal to me. If both parties find each other compatible, registration is just standard procedure, isn’t it?”
“True, it is standard procedure. I just didn’t expect Si Nuo to hit the jackpot on his very first match. I thought he’d be like Ren Ju, picking and choosing through multiple candidates.”
Zhang Yu let out a scoff. “Don’t compare Ren Ju to our Si Nuo. They aren’t even in the same league.” Leaving them with that remark, Zhang Yu dashed back to the dorm, unwilling to waste another second on meaningless gossip. Si Nuo’s path forward was bound to be entirely different from the rest of them.
Guan Xingchen helped him place the suitcase into the trunk. “Did something good happen today? You seem to be in an exceptionally great mood.”
Si Nuo eagerly shared the news about Master Bian Ru coming to deliver a public lecture at their academy.
Hearing this, Guan Xingchen paused to reflect. “Master Bian Ru’s paintings… I happen to have a few of them at my place. Would you like to see them?”
Si Nuo snapped his head around to stare at the man beside him. “A few?”
Master Bian Ru’s original works were practically impossible to acquire on the open market, yet Guan Xingchen spoke of owning a few as if it were nothing!