Two months ago, the news that the young master of the Zhou family was to be wedded to Marshal Wei Qing by imperial decree had once caused quite a stir across the interstellar network.
But the internet of the stars was ever-changing; news burned bright for a moment and vanished the next. Soon enough, everyone had forgotten about it.
Then, a month ago, the whole business about the Zhou family’s real and fake young masters once again shot to the top of the trending lists.
The idea that the marshal’s intended marriage partner had been switched, something that practically screamed gossip, kept the bored netizens entertained for quite a while.
Today was the day of Wei Qing and Zhou Younan’s wedding.
Captain Philip of the Aprilis touched his shiny bald head and cheerfully updated the gambling website early that morning, “Place your bets! Click to watch the live broadcast of the wedding!”
The live feed opened with a high-angle shot. The spacious hall was decorated with flowers and streamers; a handful of parliament members, journalists, and guests milled about in small groups.
At a glance, the venue looked rather empty and cold, and though not many people were watching the stream, the comments were lively enough.
Most of them were asking:
【When does the wedding start?】
The reporter from Prometheus Gossip Network, Dunn, replied:
【At eleven in the morning.】
Some people started to chat about the wedding hall.
CasualPause: 【Eh? Where’s this place?】
BitterGrapefruit: 【It’s the Golden Triangle Hotel’s ceremonial hall. I was there just last month.】
CasualPause: 【Wait, Golden Triangle? But I heard the Zhou family’s eldest young master booked the Levi’s Royal Hotel’s Stellar Hall last month!】
His comment quickly disappeared under the flood of new messages, no one answered him.
Meanwhile, at the grandest and most luxurious Stellar Hall of the Levi’s Royal Hotel, a lavish ball was in full swing.
It had been Jack’s idea, Lance’s younger follower, to host a ball there, invite some media and guests, and deliberately snatch attention away from the Zhou family’s wedding.
Lance Noval had initially refused, uneasy for several days. But when he found out that, even after the “stolen venue” incident, Wei Qing hadn’t bothered to return to Canberra, he relaxed.
If Wei Qing wasn’t angry, it meant he didn’t care about the Zhou family at all.
So Lance finally agreed to the ball.
The music was elegant, the dance floor full of people in dazzling attire. The food at the rest area looked exquisite and tempting.
But Jack, whose face bore a scar, wasn’t really interested in the festivities. He’d only suggested the idea to please Lance.
Now, lounging on a sofa, he was far more entertained watching the live stream of the wedding.
When he saw that question about the hall, he immediately typed a reply:
【The Stellar Hall at Levi’s Royal Hotel is currently hosting the Noval family’s ball.】
The barrage of comments froze for a few seconds, then exploded.
【Whoa, that’s a lot of drama!】
【So the Zhou family’s getting bullied by the Novals?】
【Levi’s Royal Hotel really has no shame~】
Because of Jack’s one sentence, the entire chat began speculating about it. He couldn’t help feeling a smug sense of pride.
CasualPause: 【Aren’t the Novals afraid of offending Marshal Wei Qing by doing this?】
BitterGrapefruit: 【Looks like there’s no one from the military at the scene.】
WitheredVine: 【He didn’t even invite his own people?!】
NightIsBlack: 【Spread the word, Marshal Wei Qing doesn’t give a damn about the Zhou family.】
Soon the whole chat was flooded with comments mocking the Zhous, some also talking about the Noval’s power, others cursing the Levi’s Royal Hotel for its lack of integrity.
Time slipped by, and before long, it was eleven o’clock, the appointed start of the ceremony.
Yet neither Wei Qing nor the Zhou family’s little young master appeared. The live chat was filled with question marks.
Reporter Dunn soon posted an announcement:
【The wedding has been postponed to 2 PM. Venue changed to the residence of Elder Marshal Wang Han.】
In the interstellar world, weddings were usually held in hotel halls. If not, there was only one other acceptable place, a ceremony held at the residence of a respected elder.
A wedding hosted by an elder signified that the union was blessed and supported by them. In meaning and prestige, it surpassed any hotel event.
The comment section erupted with shock.
FlyingPants: 【What the, what’s going on?!】
Sleepless: 【Didn’t everyone just say Wei Qing didn’t support the Zhous? Well, guess who’s eating their words now!】
BitterGrapefruit: 【From what I know, Marshal Wang’s eldest daughter used to be friends with the Zhou family’s eldest young master. Maybe he wasn’t invited by Wei Qing.】
Sleepless: 【Come on, everyone knows that genius mecha engineer and the old marshal don’t get along. No way he came for the Zhous, Wei Qing must’ve invited him!】
LoveNeverDies: 【Obviously! Wei Qing must’ve found out the Nabels tried to humiliate the Zhous and asked Marshal Wang to preside over the wedding, to stand up for the Zhous, for his newly wedded little spouse!】
FlyingPants: 【Ugh, I’m gonna puke. Wei Qing’s been married three times! Stop calling it ‘newlyweds,’ you hopeless romantics!】
Jack’s face darkened as he read the chat.
He’d exposed the whole “stolen venue” mess to make sure Zhou Younan’s wedding became a laughingstock. Now it looked like his plan had backfired completely.
He wasn’t the only one feeling sour.
Across the stars, in front of another screen, Zhou An was also watching the broadcast.
At first, when he saw the comments about the venue, he had felt gleeful.
Good thing I didn’t go through with that wedding myself, he thought. Let Zhou Younan take my place and be the one to marry Wei Qing instead.
The Golden Triangle Hotel? Even the name reeked of cheapness, utterly unworthy of someone with his elegant “ephemeral blossom” pheromones.
By eleven, when the ceremony still hadn’t begun, Zhou An’s mood improved further.
He guessed that Wei Qing must have refused to attend, and Zhou Younan, humiliated, was too embarrassed to show up.
Serves him right! Zhou An sneered inwardly. He deserves every bit of it for suddenly showing up and stealing what was rightfully mine!
Running his fingers through the long strands of hair falling over his chest, he gazed into the mirror.
I am the Zhou family’s young master. Not some illegitimate brat.
Zhou Younan should never have existed. He should’ve died out there.
And if he ended up dying at Wei Qing’s hands instead, well, that was just as satisfying.
But when the next notice popped up saying the wedding was postponed until the afternoon, and that the new location was Marshal Wang Han’s estate, Zhou An’s expression twisted.
The Zhou family and the Wang family have ties? Why don’t I know about it?
That shouldn’t be possible. Unless… unless Wei Qing had asked the marshal for help, for Zhou Younan’s sake?
Ridiculous!
He immediately dismissed the thought.
That scrawny bamboo pole with his bland plant-scented pheromones? As if Wei Qing would ever like someone like him. Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
At one o’clock, the broadcast resumed.
The camera angle was still from above, capturing a much smaller hall now filled with rows of chairs. With so many guests inside, the place looked almost crowded.
The hall was warmly decorated, ribbons of color draped over the tables, windows, even the ceiling.
In the interstellar world, color symbolized light, and light was considered the essence of life itself.
Used in weddings, it meant that one saw their partner as a part of their own life, someone irreplaceable.
The camera panned outside the hall, where tables were set up under the open sky. Most of the guests there were military officers in uniform, upright, disciplined, radiating power.
Though the ceremony was held in a private residence, the grandeur of the event far outshone the one at the Golden Triangle Hotel earlier.
By now, viewership had soared. It was clear that many of the new viewers were fans of Marshal Wang Han.
【I heard General Su Xi will also be there, she’s a legend from the frontier.】
【Yeah, the one from the Garbage Star! I love her!】
The chat buzzed with talk of Su Xi for a while before the camera cut back to Wei Qing.
Then, it focused on the great doors of the hall, now shut.
The host’s voice rang out:
“Please welcome the other newlywed into the hall!”
The heavy doors opened.
Zhou Younan stepped into the light.
His attire was stunningly ornate, the fabric catching and scattering light in dazzling shimmers.
His black hair was long enough to cover his eyes, left completely unstyled, hanging straight and neat. Normally, it might not have looked strange, but paired with such a luxurious outfit, it made him seem almost childish, like a boy playing dress-up in adult clothes.
The livestream camera gave him a full shot from bottom to top, finally zooming in on his face, half-hidden under the shadow of his bangs.
The comments exploded.
【Staring too closely at an ugly face should be a crime!】
【That’s the Zhou family’s young master? I thought they said he was beautiful?】
【You’re out of the loop, that was the old young master. This one’s the one they just found.】
【Why didn’t he at least fix his hair? I don’t get it.】
【I’m his stylist. He refused to let anyone touch his head.】
On screen, Zhou Younan swept his gaze across the hall, then stopped.
The camera panned to show who he was looking at.
Wei Qing.
And Wei Qing was looking back at him.
Without hesitation, Zhou Younan began walking straight toward him.
【Wow, bold of him, marching right up to the marshal.】
【Guess some people really like courting disaster.】
【Oh my god, I can’t breathe, this is so intense!】
Wei Qing rose and walked toward him as well.
【Here we go. Showtime.】
【Something’s about to happen.】
【My heart can’t take this!】
They stopped, face to face. Wei Qing said something, too quiet for the mic to catch, then Zhou Younan leaned forward and kissed him.
The live chat froze for a beat before detonating.
Streams of “WTF,” “HOLY, ,” “NO WAY,” “!!!” flooded the screen.
Gamblers who had bet on disaster stared, mouths agape.
Across the stars, Zhou An, still admiring his reflection, was waiting gleefully for Wei Qing to punch Zhou Younan across the room.
And at the Levi’s Royal Hotel, Jack leaned forward, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
A madman, he thought. Let’s see how a madman reacts.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
You made it to the end. The translator would like a tiny coffee. ☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Escape from Zhou familyChapter 2 · Bride To BeChapter 3 · Attacked on SpaceshipChapter 4 · FiancéChapter 5 · Wild one Tastes betterChapter 6 · Cousin, Zhou MoChapter 7 · Wedding DressChapter 8 · Wedding Hall disputeChapter 9 · Marshal Fainted!Chapter 10 · CATNIP!Chapter 11 · His Pheromone is Catnip!Chapter 12 · The show beginsChapter 13 · He likes me!Chapter 14 · He is crazy!Chapter 15 · Auditorium, I brought it. Do you like it?Chapter 16 · Only I can bite your lipsChapter 17 · Wei Qing grabbed his wristChapter 18 · Your posture just now was perfect for kissingChapter 19 · This is… Wei Qing’s leopard?Chapter 20 · Let’s do what newlyweds should do.Chapter 21 · Release your pheromones and overwhelm meChapter 22 · Zhou Younan, I miss you.Chapter 23 · The promise to bite your lip isn’t just for yesterdayChapter 24 · You beast! You enormous beastChapter 25 · My patience is almost at its limitChapter 26 · Touch Wei San? Pluck its feathers?Chapter 27 · Doesn’t Wei Qing like you a lot?Chapter 28 · You’re the dog, your whole family are dogsChapter 29 · How did things turn out like this?!Chapter 30 · Zhou Younan, I love everything about youChapter 31 · Cheetahs do react to catnip.Chapter 32 · Second PrinceChapter 33 · Immersed in the fluffy touchChapter 34 · What can you do to help if you stay?Chapter 35 · Sand WormChapter 36 · I gave Wei Qing a capsuleChapter 37 · His vulnerable period has arrivedChapter 38 · Reason has long since been burned awayChapter 39 · I can’t believe I did that! I’m insane!Chapter 40 · The person I want to protect is my wifeChapter 41 · Zhou Younan, you can only be mineChapter 42 · Until the last star in the universe is annihilated.Chapter 43 · The light in Wei Qing’s eyes dimmed.Chapter 44 · Family?Chapter 45 · The green capsule was in his palmChapter 46 · Zhou Younan was filled with fearChapter 47 · Brother won’t abandon youChapter 48 · What a piece of trash!Chapter 49 · Zhou Younan, are you looking at me?Chapter 50 · Zhou Younan feared Xu QiChapter 51 · Zhou Younan, you’re such a foolChapter 52 · You really don’t want to marry me?Chapter 53 · My braceletChapter 54 · Zhou Younan, I can’t mark youChapter 55 · A symbol of brotherhoodChapter 56 · How old are you?Chapter 57 · Abnormal!Chapter 58 · Did you give Wei Qing the capsules from the tin box?Chapter 59 · Brother, I’ve made up my mindChapter 60 · Doing things for you is my wishChapter 61 · You’re the first person I’ve ever liked, Wei Qing.Chapter 62 · Childhood sweetheartChapter 63 · He can’t live without youChapter 64 · Teacher RigenChapter 65 · Were they running togetherChapter 66 · You two kidnappersChapter 67 · GiftChapter 68 · Don’t look back, just carry onChapter 69 · Maurice Jin is already a thing of the past for meChapter 70 · I finally found youChapter 71 · Who’s your wife?Chapter 72 · How would he interpret his leaving?Chapter 73 · Wei Qing was Wei San?Chapter 74 · Maurice Jin had been assassinated?!Chapter 75 · Turn your face towards the sunChapter 76 · Wei Qing’s eyes were brightChapter 77 · Pheromones are a double edged swordChapter 78 · Don’t stareChapter 79 · He’s the Empire’s MarshalChapter 80 · So WeakChapter 81 · Are you alright?Chapter 82 · Was he really that kind of person?Chapter 83 · He remembered his forgotten goalsChapter 84 · Come on, shoot me in the heartChapter 85 · Why are you unhappy again when I touch you?Chapter 86 · Don’t you even like me anymore?Chapter 87 · Wei Qing transformed into Wei San.Chapter 88 · I’ll give you my love, and I’ll give you my lifeChapter 89 · Just do it for me, okay?Chapter 90 · Don’t bother me until you explain clearlyChapter 91 · I want to stop your time when you still love meChapter 92 · Damn it! Zhou Younan! You just waitChapter 93 · From the very beginning, I had no choiceChapter 94 · From the very beginning, I had no choiceChapter 95 · A gunshot rang outChapter 96 · I grew up in the research instituteChapter 97 · You complete liar! You’re despicableChapter 98 · You will always be the only one in my heartChapter 99 · You are actually the same as meChapter 100 · Zhou Younan, I’m leavingChapter 101 · How could a big cat possibly resist the allure of catnip?Chapter 102 · The EndChapter 103 · Extra: 1