Arthur placed the document he was holding onto the table and looked at Wei Qing. “Pause the investigation into the Zhou family and the Rose Research Institute for now. Let’s observe how things unfold.”
“Is the Zhou family on guard?” Wei Qing asked.
“The change in the engagement partner suggests something fishy.”
“Switching partners… you don’t think it’s a coincidence?”
Arthur smiled without replying. “It could also be a coincidence. Zhou Younan just came out of Research Institute 411. We can confirm he’s innocent.”
Wei Qing removed his black gloves, took out a snuff bottle, and inhaled its contents. “You know I despise anyone connected to the Research Institutes. And his sudden appearance… it disrupted your plans.”
Arthur paused thoughtfully. “It might not be a bad thing. At least he isn’t scheming against you.”
“Hey, don’t bring up old wounds,” Wei Qing said, signaling him to stop.
Arthur’s curiosity got the better of him. “Have you met him? Do you… like him?”
Wei Qing’s expression twisted into a mock smile, his face unreadable.
Arthur chuckled silently. “The wedding is in seven days.”
Without looking up, Wei Qing responded nonchalantly, “Mm, I know.”
The call ended. Wei Qing put away the snuff bottle and slipped his gloves back on. He stretched, then stepped forward, ready to leave.
The voices of the residents of Gongxing drifted faintly on the wind, and Wei Qing intended to join them in dancing.
“Marshal,” Henry called out.
“Now what?” Wei Qing replied, a hint of irritation in his voice.
“Your terminal.” Henry somehow produced Wei Qing’s personal terminal from somewhere.
Wei Qing frowned. “I don’t like this thing.”
“If you had it with you earlier, I wouldn’t have had to send Star to find you,” Henry said, standing firmly in front of him. His meaning was clear: Wei Qing needed to wear the terminal.
“Alright, alright.” Wei Qing took the terminal, but instead of strapping it to his wrist, he spun it around on his finger like a toy.
Turning the terminal and walking, Wei Qing was followed by Henry, who asked, “Are we heading back to Canberra next?”
“Why back to Canberra?” Wei Qing countered.
“Your wedding is in seven days. You should be with your fiancée, discussing the preparations. Even if the wedding is organized by the bride’s side, most couples participate in the planning together.”
Wei Qing’s gaze fixed on Henry, strange and unreadable.
After a moment, he repeated Henry’s words with an odd tone: “You should be with your fiancée, discussing the preparations for the wedding~”
Henry’s jaw twitched. He tried to maintain a stern expression. “Please… don’t do that.”
Wei Qing, with the same peculiar tone, repeated, “Please… don’t do that~”
“His Majesty also said Zhou Younan is innocent.”
“His Majesty also said Zhou Younan is innocent~”
Henry gritted his teeth, pressing his lips together.
Seeing this, Wei Qing squinted slightly and laughed heartily, slapping Henry on the shoulder. “Henry, how many times have you been married?”
Henry shook his head. He had never been married, so he didn’t reply.
Wei Qing extended two long fingers, the terminal spinning on them. “I’ve been married twice. Do you still think I need reminders about pre-wedding duties, little Henry?”
Henry was rendered speechless. When it came to marriage, he had no experience, zero, actually.
With both hands behind his back, Wei Qing strode forward, giving orders as he walked: “Continue clearing out the space pirates. Next, we’re heading to the Nuwa system.”
Standing still, Henry muttered quietly to himself, “I heard the Shennong family there grows a kind of herb that tastes like roasted meat. I have to try it.”
Henry didn’t approve of the Marshal’s decision. Thinking of Zhou Younan’s miserable expression, a twinge of sympathy arose in his heart.
If Zhou Younan became the Marshal’s fiancée, his future days would likely be harsh.
He’d probably anger the Marshal and end up looking worse than he already did, maybe not even surviving a month, just like the rumors circulating in the interstellar networks.
The Epli arrived at its destination: the southern port of Canberra.
Zhou Younan stepped off the ship. Following the crowd, he walked onto the automatic gangway. A quick glance revealed the massive blue imperial capital of Canberra not far away.
Canberra was said to resemble the ancient Earth, the origin of humanity in the stars.
A mechanical female voice broadcast from the southern port, clear and elegant: “The space elevator to Canberra will close in ten minutes. Current capacity remaining: 2,423 people.”
Beside Zhou Younan, Captain Fei Li touched his bald head. “Except for royal vessels, no other ships are allowed to dock directly on Canberra. All must stop at the spaceports.”
Fei Li was a seasoned veteran. Even though Zhou Younan had caught him cheating in a previous bet, he didn’t feel the slightest guilt.
Zhou Younan had dealt with shameless people before. He didn’t argue with Fei Li because he needed the money that Fei Li could provide. They continued as if nothing had happened.
Fei Li pointed out the window. “The traffic here is heavy. Canberra has thirty-three spaceports like this one.”
Following Fei Li’s gesture, Zhou Younan’s eyes swept across the scene.
White half-arc ports connected to the planet by massive space elevators, spectacular and beautiful.
At the end of the gangway, Zhou Younan walked deeper into the spaceport with Captain Fei Li. The further they went, the more crowded it became, the environment increasingly luxurious.
There were countless shops: some selling various terminals, some offering souvenirs, some lined with colorful nutrition supplements, and one filled with children crowding the entrance, it was a candy shop.
This was a level of prosperity Zhou Younan had never seen. Streets bustling with life, shops in neat rows, the sights overwhelming.
He remembered living on Trash Planet, where everything was dirty, chaotic, and competitive.
People fought over scraps just to survive. Being bought by the Director, he had been confined to the institute, never allowed outside.
Even on Yao Star, he had never seen streets so crowded.
This peaceful, bustling, vibrant scene suddenly overwhelmed his senses. For a moment, he forgot all his worries.
He looked around curiously, studying every detail before finally moving his gaze.
“Never seen anything like it, right?” Fei Li asked.
Zhou Younan nodded.
Fei Li let out a light chuckle. From his eyes, Zhou Younan caught a faint trace of disdain, and he almost heard the barely audible, condescending whisper of “country bumpkin.”
A wave of disappointment washed over him. He bit his lip and retracted his curious gaze, no longer glancing around recklessly.
A man approached them, a striking figure dressed in a crisp white high-collar suit, with pale blue hair, tall and handsome.
His appearance was so outstanding that people nearby kept turning their heads, and the ambient noise seemed to swell in response.
His black eyes glanced briefly at Captain Fei Li before settling on Zhou Younan.
He smiled softly. “Zhou Younan?”
“Young master.” Captain Fei Li greeted him politely from the side.
Zhou Younan was surprised. This exceptionally good-looking man in front of him… was the eldest son of the Zhou family, Zhou Mo.
Aside from a pair of black eyes, Zhou Younan couldn’t see a trace of Zhou Quan in him. No pheromones, nothing. Zhou Mo, like his mother, was a Beta.
After Fei Li spoke, Zhou Mo turned to him. “Captain Fei Li, thank you for your efforts along the way.”
“No trouble at all, no trouble at all. It’s my duty.” Fei Li replied, slightly nervous.
“You must be Nan Nan.”
Zhou Mo was half a head taller than Zhou Younan. He leaned slightly, studying Zhou Younan’s features with interest.
“I’m your brother, Zhou Mo. Do you remember me?”
Zhou Younan shook his head and whispered, “I have no memories from my childhood.”
A trace of melancholy crossed Zhou Mo’s face. He asked with concern, “Was the journey here smooth?”
Zhou Younan glanced at Captain Fei Li. Fei Li stiffened, shoulders taut, looking fearful.
Zhou Younan thought for a moment and answered, “It was relatively smooth. Captain Fei Li took me to the ship’s bar, it was lively there.”
“Relatively smooth?” Zhou Mo repeated the phrase, then laughed.
He reached out to ruffle Zhou Younan’s hair affectionately. “You use the same phrasing as your little dad.”
Zhou Younan wasn’t used to such intimate gestures. He stepped back, avoiding the touch.
Zhou Mo didn’t seem to mind. He straightened and addressed Captain Fei Li, “Well done. The Epli needs you.”
“Yes, sir.” Before leaving, Fei Li cast a complex glance at Zhou Younan. Zhou Younan wasn’t one to forget slights, he simply knew the game wasn’t over and still needed Fei Li.
“You resemble your uncle quite a bit.” Zhou Mo’s words pulled Zhou Younan’s attention back. He choked up slightly. “Your fathers… They were all good men.”
Zhou Younan lowered his gaze. During his time with the Zhou family, he hadn’t seen any photos of his fathers. He’d only heard that the accident that caused his amnesia, had taken their lives.
Zhou Mo’s hand rested gently on Zhou Younan’s shoulder. “I used to carry you when you were little. Back then, you always followed me around, calling me Brother Mo Mo.”
The warmth of Zhou Mo’s hand transferred to Zhou Younan’s shoulder.
It seemed to awaken a long-lost connection in his fragmented memory. His heart stirred at the gesture.
Meeting Zhou Mo’s expectant gaze, Zhou Younan opened his mouth and managed to say only one word: “Brother.”
Hearing this, Zhou Mo laughed heartily. “It’s fine. ‘Brother’ works. Come on, let’s go. We’ll head back to Canberra first.”
“Okay.” Zhou Younan smiled. From Zhou Mo, he felt the familial warmth he had longed for.
The brothers took the space elevator toward Canberra. Inside, Zhou Younan watched the planet draw closer and closer.
The vast blue ocean stretched beneath him. Streets were cut into orderly grids, forming the immense city of Torikis.
Every citizen of the empire knew: Canberra had only one city, Torikis.
The royal family, government departments, and a handful of powerful families with their industries occupied most of the land. Only a small portion was reserved for ordinary citizens.
Zhou Mo introduced himself as a member of the lower house, taking special leave today to receive Zhou Younan.
He mentioned that he was handling the preparations for Zhou Younan’s wedding with Wei Qing personally.
When the elevator doors opened, a spacious hall with a towering dome greeted them. The floor was pristine, and moving through the hall were not only humans but various forms of intelligent robots.
Spherical flying projectors equipped with anti-gravity devices zipped overhead, frequently projecting screens in front of travelers.
Multicolored advertisements floated in the air, showcasing all kinds of products.
Zhou Younan noticed someone tap a screen to buy a can of drink. Moments later, a flying drone delivered it directly into their hands.
“Want a drink? Buy a can?” Zhou Mo asked.
“No, I’m not thirsty,” Zhou Younan quickly refused.
In truth, he was very thirsty. But he hadn’t seen how the payment was made. If he tried to use it himself and failed, he would be the one embarrassed.
Stepping out of the space elevator, Zhou Younan faced a massive plaza. In the distance, towering skyscrapers stretched into the clouds.
Various small household flying vehicles weaved through the air with remarkable speed, yet moved silently.
Having encountered so many new wonders today, Zhou Younan had learned to remain composed, so as not to be laughed at as a “country bumpkin.” He quietly marveled, thinking, “So tall, so big, so fast…”
“Torikis is very different from Yao Star. Everything here is taller, bigger, and faster.”
Hearing Zhou Mo voice his thoughts aloud, Zhou Younan looked at him in surprise.
Sunlight warmed Zhou Mo’s pale blue hair. Zhou Younan noticed a small brown mole on his left cheek.
With a smile in his eyes, Zhou Mo tilted his head and asked Zhou Younan, “Isn’t it?”
Wei Qing imitating part made me realise that he’s not serious, stoic Marshal that we usually read 😂😂 I also hope Zhou Mo is actually decent guy! Not like his father
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ you know what to do
☕ 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