“My father… is he really that stubborn?” Zhou Younan asked Zhou Mo.
“Yes,” Zhou Mo replied, a trace of helplessness in his eyes. “He once sponsored a student. That student even wrote to refuse his help, but Father insisted the boy must be facing difficulties and went to visit him in person.”
Zhou Younan tried to dig through his memory, but nothing came up, “He sounds like a good man.”
“He is. A very good man.” Zhou Mo tugged lightly at his tie, then asked, “Can I come in for a glass of water?”
Zhou Younan stepped aside and let him in. After pouring him a glass, he heard Zhou Mo call softly, “Nannan.”
He turned his head. Zhou Mo sat down on the sofa, looking a little uneasy. “You solved the Lance problem,” he said,
“Can I take that as your way of acknowledging me as your brother?”
“You’re my cousin,” Zhou Younan replied.
Zhou Mo sighed. “That’s not what I mean. I’m not talking about blood relations, I’m asking about what you feel in your heart.”
“When you were found and brought back, I advised Father to treat you kindly. Clearly, he didn’t listen. Since the first day we met, you’ve been wary of me.”
Seeing that Zhou Younan was about to speak, Zhou Mo quickly added, “Don’t deny it. I can tell.”
It was true, Zhou Younan had been on guard against Zhou Mo, simply because he was Zhou Quan’s son.
Zhou Mo took a sip of water and lowered his gaze. “It’s been six years. I haven’t gone back to the Zhou family home in all that time. Even though I’m the eldest young master, I’m just a Beta.”
His tone carried quiet bitterness and helplessness. Zhou Younan understood then that although Zhou Mo held the title of eldest son, his Beta status made him someone Zhou Quan never truly valued.
Zhou Mo forced a smile. “Don’t hold my father’s sins against me. I’m not like him.”
In his dark eyes was a careful, almost fragile hope.
Zhou Younan could sense it, the cautious look was hiding a hand reaching out, wanting to be held. His heart softened.
“You’re the only one in the Zhou family who’s ever shown me kindness,” he said gently. “That’s worth calling you ‘brother.’”
Zhou Mo’s face lit up with a smile, his eyes misting slightly. “Thank you. Could you tell me what happened during the month you stayed with the Zhou family?”
Zhou Younan shook his head. “I don’t want to remember those things.”
“I’m sorry,” Zhou Mo said softly. “On their behalf, I apologize to you.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Zhou Younan replied, “You don’t need to apologize.”
“You’re right,” Zhou Mo murmured, “Sorry isn’t enough. Then… Can I do something to make it up to you?”
Zhou Younan almost refused, but then he thought of Luoluo, now all alone. “Luoluo,” he said. “I want you to assign someone to protect him.”
“The boy you brought with you?”
“Yes. I’ve watched him grow up since he was little.”
“Then he’s my younger brother too,” Zhou Mo said with a gentle smile, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he’s well protected.”
Zhou Younan gave a quiet word of thanks.
“How did you live all these years?” Zhou Mo asked softly, “And why were you at the detention facility on Shorttail Star?”
His voice carried genuine concern, his gaze filled with visible pain.
Under that gaze, a pang of emotion welled up in Zhou Younan’s chest.
Those years couldn’t be summed up in a few sentences but having someone to care for made him deeply moved.
Afraid Zhou Mo would look down on him for having scavenged trash to survive, he only spoke of what had happened in the 411 Research Institute and what he had witnessed in the detention center.
Zhou Mo listened intently, occasionally showing worry and sympathy.
“So someone must’ve discovered the research facility,” Zhou Mo said thoughtfully, “From your description, it sounds like the people who rescued you were from the military.”
“It was nighttime, the power had gone out, and they all wore masks. No one knew who they were. I must’ve fallen asleep by accident… When I woke up, I was already in the detention center.”
Zhou Mo nodded in understanding, then smiled gently, “You’ve suffered too much these years. The old Zhou family residence is still standing, we never tore it down. When we go back someday, I’ll take you to see it.”
Zhou Younan was surprised. He’d never even heard of an old family residence; he had assumed that a tall modern building was their home.
“Your father and your stepdad used to live there,” Zhou Mo continued.
“Maybe if you visit, you’ll remember something from the past.”
Zhou Younan nodded, accepting his suggestion.
Time passed quickly, it was suddenly the night before the wedding.
At 8 p.m., Henry Gray arrived with Wei Qing and followed him into the house.
By 10 p.m., Henry reluctantly left, looking back with every step.
“Marshal, tomorrow’s the wedding. Please don’t forget,” he urged anxiously.
“You said you wouldn’t wear formal attire, so I pressed your uniform and left it on the bed. Please, make sure you wear it.”
“I’ll come pick you up at nine-thirty sharp in the morning. Please don’t oversleep.”
“Alright, alright,” Wei Qing said, frowning as he ushered him toward the door, “You’ve been nagging about this since we left Nuwa Star, my ears are going numb.”
“Marshal!” Henry called, a sense of dread creeping up on him. He stopped at the doorway and suggested, “Maybe I should stay here tonight, just in case?”
“Get out.”
The door shut firmly with a loud bang before Henry could say another word.
He stared at the door for a moment, repeating what he’d just said, then raised his voice, “Marshal, did you hear me? Just say something if you did!”
No response came from inside.
Fine, he thought, he’d just come earlier tomorrow, nine o’clock, not nine-thirty.
The next morning, on the wedding day, Henry knocked on Wei Qing’s door.
It was opened by the household robot, Wuhuarou, a bulky, slow, and rather clumsy-looking machine.
Henry’s eyelid twitched. “Is the Marshal awake?”
“Yes,” came the stiff mechanical voice of the old model.
Henry breathed a sigh of relief. Good, at least he was up.
“Has he put on his uniform?” Henry asked.
“Yes.”
Perfect! Awake, dressed, everything was going smoothly. All that was left was to head to the ceremony hall and hold the wedding.
The event was scheduled for eleven in the morning. The Marshal had grumbled plenty, but in the end, his actions spoke louder than words.
After all, no matter how many times he’d been married, this being his third, it wasn’t possible for a man like him not to care about marrying his bride.
Henry had imagined everything would go smoothly but the moment he stepped into the house, he searched up and down, inside and out, three full times, and still didn’t see a trace of Wei Qing.
“Where is he?!” Henry snapped, glaring at the household robot.
Wuhuarou replied in its flat, mechanical tone, “The Master left ten minutes ago.”
“What the!” Henry couldn’t help but curse. He had arrived exactly ten minutes ago, which meant he and Wei Qing had just missed each other by mere minutes.
He turned his frustration on the robot. “Why didn’t you say that earlier?”
“You did not ask,” Wuhuarou answered calmly.
Henry had no time to argue with an outdated hunk of metal. He dashed out the door in a hurry.
Thankfully, he had been cautious the day before and secretly placed a tracker in Wei Qing’s uniform.
Checking the signal now, he found the marshal’s current location, People’s Road, No. 400, Jiande District, retired Grand Marshal Wang Han’s residence.
Wang Han, one hundred and twenty years old, was a decorated retired marshal of the Empire. His favorite hobby was collecting old trinkets and antiques, especially snuff bottles.
“What on earth is the Marshal doing there?” Henry muttered. Then a realization hit him, and his expression froze.
The Marshal’s snuff bottle had gone missing recently, and he’d been in a foul mood ever since.
“Don’t tell me… he went there to scam another snuff bottle out of the old man!” Henry groaned.
Snuff bottles were relics of ancient Earth, long out of fashion in the interstellar age. Though advanced 3D printers could easily replicate their shapes, Wei Qing was strangely traditional about them.
He didn’t like printed ones, only the real, handcrafted bottles that Wang Han collected: porcelain, carved wood, glass, each with delicate designs.
Inside Wang Han’s sprawling estate, the old marshal was entertaining a guest in his study. The antique mechanical clock on the wall ticked toward ten o’clock.
With a tuft of white goatee, Wang Han scooped a pinch of snuff and took a long inhale, closing his eyes in satisfaction as the bitter, chocolatey scent filled his sinuses.
When he opened them again, he saw his old friend Wei Qing sitting casually in front of him, tossing one of his prized snuff bottles into the air like a toy.
Wei Qing, as always, wore his black gloves. The bottle spun gracefully through the air, turning a clean 180 degrees before landing neatly in his palm.
Watching that, Wang Han’s blood pressure spiked. Memories of all the snuff bottles Wei Qing had “borrowed” over the years flashed before his eyes. He slammed his hand on the armrest and pointed furiously,
“What are you doing?! Trying the grip? Didn’t you say you weren’t here for my bottles today, just to sample my new blend?”
Wei Qing caught the bottle with ease, entirely unbothered at being caught red-handed. “Ah, habit. Sorry, bad habit.”
Seeing him admit it so readily, Wang Han’s anger eased a bit. His tone softened. “You’d better fix that bad habit.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Wei Qing uncapped the snuff bottle, brought it close to his nose, and inhaled lightly. Then he gave a thumbs-up. “Smells great. Really rich.”
“Smells great?” Wang Han frowned, unimpressed.
He mimicked Wei Qing, holding the bottle under his nose and sniffing. The faintest whiff of scent reached him.
“You’re just sniffing?!” Wang Han barked.
“How many times have I told you! snuff is meant to be inhaled, not smelled like perfume! How can you taste the quality like that?”
“I’ve got a sharp sense of smell,” Wei Qing replied calmly. “If I inhale it like you, I’ll pass out from the strength.”
“Pass out from sniffing snuff? Who are you kidding?” Wang Han scoffed. He’d heard that excuse a dozen times before.
Normally, he wouldn’t have bothered arguing, but he had just quarreled with his daughter that morning about his grandson, and his mood was terrible.
Annoyed, he huffed, “Fine, then prove it. Take one proper sniff my way. Let’s see if you really faint.”
Wei Qing hesitated for a moment. “And if I actually do?”
Wang Han smirked. “If you really faint, I’ll give you the snuff bottle you’re holding.”
Wei Qing tossed the bottle up and caught it neatly again. It fit perfectly in his hand. His lips curved in amusement, “Deal.”
“Deal.”
Wang Han scooped a grain-sized amount of snuff and held it to Wei Qing’s nose.
Wei Qing inhaled. His eyes fluttered shut, and a look of bliss crossed his face.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Wang Han chuckled. “See? Much better than your silly way of sniffing.”
Wei Qing didn’t respond.
“Eh? Well?” Wang Han leaned over and patted his shoulder.
The next second, Wei Qing’s head tilted to the side and he slumped in the chair, completely motionless.
“Huh?!” Wang Han blinked, certain the man was teasing him, “Oh, come on, pretending to faint now?”
Wei Qing didn’t move.
“Hey.” Wang Han tapped his cheek lightly. “Still acting? Want me to get rough?”
He cracked his knuckles, ready to “wake” his prankster friend with a few playful jabs when the door suddenly burst open.
Henry rushed in, took one look at his unconscious Marshal, and let out a bloodcurdling scream, “Aaaahhh! Marshal!!”
Wang Han covered his ears, looking thoroughly disgusted. “What are you yelling for? He’s pretending to faint.”
“Pretending?” Henry quickly checked on Wei Qingand his stomach dropped. Red blotches were already spreading up the Marshal’s hands, like an allergic rash.
“Pretending my ass!” Henry wailed again, “He’s not faking! he’s allergic to chocolate! Did he just eat chocolate?!”
Wang Han froze, “Wei Qing’s allergic to chocolate?!”
He subtly hid the snuff bottle behind his back, the one that, unfortunately, was filled with cocoa powder.
When he spoke again, his tone was guilty and uncertain, “He didn’t eat it… just, uh, inhaled a little.”
“His whole arm’s breaking out!” Henry was nearly hysterical.
“Stop shouting!” Wang Han bellowed. “It’s just an allergy! Give him an antihistamine shot and he’ll be fine!”
Cowardly under the old man’s command voice, Henry muttered, “But… the wedding’s about to start.”
“Wedding? What wedding?” Wang Han blinked, confused.
“The Marshal’s wedding to the Zhou family’s young master!” Henry said miserably.
“What?!” Wang Han shouted, eyes wide. “It’s today?!”
“Yes,” Henry said through clenched teeth. The same old man who’d just told him to stop panicking was now panicking even harder.
Wang Han looked at Wei Qing, who was lying unconscious yet dressed unusually well today, his uniform crisp and spotless.
No wonder he’d looked so formal this morning. So that’s why.
“He’s getting married today and he still ycame here?!” Wang Han groaned, clutching his head, “What kind of lunatic faints from snuff on his wedding day?!”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The chapter is finished. The chaos is not.
☕ 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