After leaving the Levis Royal Hotel, Zhou Mo took Zhou Younan out for a salad that weekend.
Once the salad was prepared, he placed it in front of Zhou Younan.
“Last time I took you to eat steak, you barely touched it. I’m guessing you prefer lighter flavors,” Zhou Mo said. “Maybe this salad will suit your taste. Give it a try.”
Zhou Younan lowered his head and looked at the salad in front of him. The vegetables were fresh and green, the fruits a vibrant red, and tender boiled white meat lay atop the bed of greens.
His stomach was just starting to grumble. Picking up his fork, he took a bite. Sweetness and freshness mingled in his mouth, and it indeed suited his palate.
“Is it good?” Zhou Mo asked.
“Mm,” Zhou Younan nodded.
“Eat more. You’re too thin,” Zhou Mo said, his eyes filled with care.
“Mm,” Zhou Younan replied, pretending to focus on the salad. Secretly, he stole a glance at the suit hanging on the coat rack.
The card Lance had slipped into the pocket peeked out in a deep, almost hypnotic blue. It was conspicuous, almost glaring.
He glanced at Zhou Mo, who was busily mixing his salad dressing. The way he wielded his fork was measured and graceful, like a conductor leading a television orchestra, utterly aesthetic.
Zhou Mo picked out some purple cabbage and sprinkled a little sugar on it.
Noticing Zhou Younan’s gaze, he smiled and said, “I don’t like purple.”
Zhou Younan asked, “The Noval family… are they powerful?”
“Very powerful,” Zhou Mo replied.
“The Noval family is one of the five founding families of the Tyren Empire. Their holdings are mostly in military weaponry, not light industry. That’s why most people outside of Torquis aren’t aware of their influence.”
“But anyone in the military industry or anyone who has been to Torquis knows that the Novals are a super family.”
A super family… In the empire, everything was controlled by families. Naturally, the royal family held the most power, followed by the five founding families, then newly wealthy families, small families and enterprises, and finally ordinary citizens.
Lately, though, some forces seemed to be challenging the empire’s rule. Zhou Younan didn’t understand.
The Federation, which governed in an entirely different way, didn’t have universal happiness either. To him, peaceful development was the only thing worth pursuing.
Unable to stay silent, he asked Zhou Mo, “Why did Lance Noval want you to go meet him?”
Zhou Mo paused in his motion of mixing the salad, lowered his eyes, and said, “This has nothing to do with you.”
“But he threatened you using the hall! How can that have nothing to do with me?”
Zhou Younan explained his thoughts to Zhou Mo.
“I don’t like the Levis Royal Hotel and I don’t want to hold the wedding there. Brother, we’ll find another place.”
Zhou Mo didn’t respond to Zhou Younan’s suggestion. Calmly, he said, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t like it. What matters is that Wei Qing likes it. His last wedding was held in the Stellar Hall. Although your wedding is being arranged by the Zhou family, for your future, we have to cater to his preferences.”
Recalling Wei Qing’s malice toward him, Zhou Younan said, “Following his preferences for the dress and hall won’t do any good.”
Zhou Mo slammed his fork onto the table with force. “What do you mean, it won’t do any good?”
Zhou Mo’s sudden anger left Zhou Younan unaccustomed to arguing. He bit his lip and remained silent.
Zhou Mo let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping helplessly. “The emperor arranged the marriage, your father forced it… I can’t stop it.”
He lowered his head, as if apologizing. “The Zhou family didn’t treat you well. It’s the family’s fault. But marriage is about creating another family, a chance to have relatives who care about you. I hope you can be happy.”
“So I want to put all my effort into organizing this wedding. I want Wei Qing to know how much the Zhou family values you, so he won’t belittle you. I truly hope you’ll have a good life after marriage.”
Zhou Mo’s demeanor seemed a little dejected as he spoke. Zhou Younan’s eyes widened in surprise. Zhou Mo wasn’t trying to please Wei Qing; he was thinking of him.
While Zhou Quan and Zhou An couldn’t wait for him to marry Wei Qing, and outsiders were waiting for the drama, Zhou Mo was trying, in his own way, to protect him.
A warm current ran through Zhou Younan’s chest. Zhou Mo’s words about marriage were probably correct, yet he didn’t believe in love.
Love certainly existed, but it would never come to someone like him. And yet… someone genuinely wished for his happiness.
Zhou Younan’s lips curved into a faint smile; his eyes glistened slightly.
Seeing this, Zhou Mo’s expression darkened further. “The Stellar Hall… I guarantee, I’ll get it back for you.”
“Brother, your promise is enough. I don’t want the hall.” Moved though he was, Zhou Younan still refused Zhou Mo. He didn’t want him to be constrained by Lance Navel on his account.
“Do as I say. You don’t need to worry about this, just focus on the wedding.”
“I won’t!” Zhou Younan repeated firmly.
Seeing him remain obstinate, Zhou Mo became firm too. “I insist on giving it!”
Zhou Younan grew anxious. Zhou Mo was a good person, a good person shouldn’t get hurt because of him. Yet a thought struck him. With a tone of disbelief, he asked, “You… like someone like Lance Noval?!”
“Of course not!” Zhou Mo hurriedly denied.
“Then why insist on meeting him? Don’t use me as an excuse.” Zhou Younan pursed his lips. “I’ve made my refusal clear.”
Zhou Mo chuckled. “I won’t fall for that.”
Zhou Younan didn’t speak further. He quietly finished his salad.
After the meal, Zhou Mo summoned the waiter to settle the bill. Zhou Younan attentively took the suit from the coat rack and handed it to him.
Zhou Mo accepted the suit and sent Zhou Younan back to his hotel room. Before leaving, he said, “I’ve met Wei Qing a few times. He is rather sinister, but he won’t harm innocents. As long as you follow his preferences, he won’t hold many grudges. Don’t worry too much.”
But the Zhou family hadn’t followed him from the start. Zhou Younan thought this internally but only said “Okay” aloud.
After Zhou Mo left, Zhou Younan closed the door, pulled the deep blue card from his pocket, and threw it down the drain. Watching it disappear, he recalled his emotions during the journey to the Zhou family with Lolo.
He had felt nervous, excited, and happy. He had longed for a family, for relatives who cared about each other. But the Zhou family wasn’t what he imagined.
Now, Zhou Mo had given him a sliver of warmth. He already regarded him as a brother, which was why he had taken the card.
Returning to the table, Zhou Younan picked up the iron box and checked its contents. The pills were still inside.
He had considered carrying the iron box with him but decided it was safer to leave it in the hotel rather than risk taking it outside. So every time he returned from outings, checking the box was his first priority.
After confirming the pills were safe, Zhou Younan used the terminal to contact General Henry. Ten minutes later, Zhou Mo appeared outside his door, panting. “The card?”
Zhou Younan said calmly, “I threw it away.”
Zhou Mo was fuming. “You! You—”
“Brother, don’t worry. Marshal Wei Qing doesn’t care about the hall.”
“How do you know?”
“I called to ask.” Zhou Younan tapped the terminal, playing back the recording of his conversation with General Henry.
The communication connected, and General Henry saluted. “Madam, greetings.”
Zhou Younan got straight to the point. “The hall my brother reserved at the Levis Royal Hotel was taken by the Novals. Holding the wedding elsewhere, will the Marshal mind?”
“I need to consult the Marshal. Please wait.”
Three minutes later, Henry responded: “The Marshal does not mind.”
The communication ended. Zhou Younan looked at Zhou Mo. “The person I spoke with was General Henry Grey, an aide to Marshal Wei Qing.”
Zhou Mo was slightly irritated that Zhou Younan had solved this before he had taken any action. Stubborn yet decisive.
“You have the same stubborn streak as your uncle,” Zhou Mo said.
Lance Noval was ushered into a private room at the club, surrounded by his younger followers.
Just as he sat down, a line of beauties, each unique in their own way, followed the manager inside. But Lance was uninterested. He was still regretting that Zhou Mo had given up the hall instead of obediently coming to see him.
“Master Lance, are you still not satisfied?” The manager’s face carried a forced, flattering smile.
Lance beckoned with a finger. “Do you have anyone with blue hair? Tall, slender, and good-looking?”
The manager hesitated, shaking his head.
Jack, one of Lance’s younger followers, kicked the manager lightly. “If you don’t, then go find someone!”
The manager scurried away with his subordinates.
Jack had a scar across his cheek. He poured a drink and set it in front of Lance. “Third Young Master, are you thinking about Zhou Mo?”
At home, Lance ranked as the third in the family hierarchy, and in the underworld, he was respectfully called the Third Young Master.
Lance gave a small nod, acknowledging the question.
“The Third Young Master is still too gentlemanly, and doesn’t like to force things. I heard Zhou Mo looks like his Beta mother. Her family name is Hepburn. I’ll check the Hepburn household. Surely we’ll find someone to your liking.”
“Not bad, not bad. Good idea,” Lance said, clearly pleased.
Receiving the praise, Jack beamed with pride. “It’s my honor to help the Third Young Master relieve his worries.”
Lance took a sip of wine and thought of the thin, fragile Omega that Zhou Mo had been protecting today.
He pulled up the photos he had taken of Zhou Younan and showed them to his younger followers. “Who is this Omega? Do any of you recognize him? Zhou Mo seems to be protecting him.”
“No,” one replied.
“Don’t know,” another said.
…
“Wait! I know! I know!” A burly younger follower, John, squeezed closer to Lance, nervously rubbing his nose. “This is the little master of the Zhou family. Isn’t the emperor arranging a marriage between the Zhou family and Marshal Wei Qing? Judging by the timing, the wedding will be soon.”
Halfway through John’s sentence, Lance’s entire body trembled violently.
Jack kicked John sharply. “Why did you have to bring up Wei Qing just now?!”
Lance trembled even more.
Jack slapped his own face. “Third Young Master, I was wrong!”
John, the burly one who had been kicked down, hurriedly scrambled up, kneeling at Lance’s feet. “Third Young Master, I was wrong, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have mentioned Wei Qing!”
Lance trembled even more violently, spilling much of the wine in his glass.
“You still talk?!” Jack kicked John again.
After a while, Lance finally began to recover. Exasperated, he told Jack, “I took the Stellar Hall that Zhou Mo had reserved.”
John, still recovering from being kicked, froze in shock. “Ah?! Third Young Master, you didn’t… take the wedding hall?”
Lance kicked him directly. “You talk too much!”
Jack was also startled but quickly reassured Lance. “Third Young Master, it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll make some calls and check the situation.”
After a while, Jack returned, beaming. He recounted the story of Wei Qing teasing Zhou Younan, though he cleverly replaced Wei Qing’s name with “Long Hair” for discretion.
Several of the followers listening couldn’t help but gag at the tale.
Jack told Lance, “Long Hair is still in the Nuwa system and has no intention of returning. Clearly, he hasn’t thought about the little master at all. You don’t need to worry about taking the hall.”
“Good, good.” Lance finally relaxed.
The dim light of the private room concealed Jack’s unwavering vigilance. Lance Nael had two people he feared the most: his second brother and Marshal Wei Qing.
Fear of his brother, Jack understood. But why fear Wei Qing?
Lance didn’t explain, only telling Jack that Wei Qing was insane. Jack thought Lance was too timid; he touched the scar on his own cheek. After all, only by meeting someone face to face could one truly compare who was crazier.
General Henry was surprised to receive a communication from Zhou Younan. That boy, who always kept his head down and avoided eye contact, was actually contacting him. Something urgent?
With this in mind, Henry pressed the connect button.
Seeing Zhou Younan, Henry saluted. “Madam, greetings.”
Zhou Younan immediately explained the change of the wedding hall.
“I need to check with the Marshal. Please wait,” Henry replied.
Henry went to the penthouse, where Wei Qing lay sprawled lazily on a lounge chair, basking in the sun with his eyes closed. Henry explained the situation regarding the hall.
He couldn’t resist adding a pinch of commentary: “This wouldn’t have happened if you had intervened before the wedding.”
Wei Qing lazily scratched his ear, replying perfunctorily: “Mm hmm, mm hmm…”
He propped himself up, slowly opening his eyes, and, with a spectator’s attitude, asked, “The Zhou kid… did he cry?”
“No,” Henry replied.
“Oh.”
Bored, Wei Qing lay back down and slowly turned, continuing to soak up the sun.
“What is your answer?” Henry asked, leaning closer.
Wei Qing clicked his tongue and lowered his voice. “Stay away from me. Collect the pheromones.”
The Marshal disliked AOs getting too close; he didn’t like smelling pheromones. It was a matter of principle, and Henry had made a mistake by approaching too closely. He immediately stepped back several paces.
Wei Qing stretched lazily. “Handle these trivial matters as you see fit.”
After getting his answer, Henry was about to leave when Wei Qing called after him.
“Have you seen my snuff bottle? I can’t find it! Help me look. This is important!”
Henry’s forehead throbbed. “If it’s so important, why do you always carry it around and play with it? Why do you keep forgetting where it is?!”
Angrily, he stormed out.
Wei Qing lifted one eyelid, scratching his nose and trying to dispel the faint scent of seawater clinging to him.
“So much fuss…? Snuff bottle… I can’t be without my snuff bottle…”
“I wonder if the old king would even give me another one…”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
Statistically speaking, coffee would be appreciated.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
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