What do I have?
Taliya went speechless.
Her best bargaining chip was that sausage…
Before she met him, she’d treated it like treasure.
After meeting him…
Even his cat turned up his nose.
What was there to trade?
When she fell silent, Jing Yuan didn’t press—just flipped his pork in peace.
The air went awkward.
In Yanjing’s command center, General Zhang and staff had been living on cots since the Zone opened, glued to the screen 24/7.
They still couldn’t contact Jing Yuan—no way to feed him advice—but they could at least react instantly to national penalties and such.
Worst-case thinking, but given the kid’s current performance, not urgent.
“Sleep alright, sir?” the secretary asked, offering a mug of strong tea.
As supreme coordinator, the old general carried the heaviest load.
He worried constantly, catnapping only when Jing Yuan did.
Last night they’d finally pushed him to a bed, and even then he rose at dawn.
“I’m fine.” He sipped and waved it off.
“How’s Little Jing?
Any incidents overnight?”
“A couple—but nothing serious,” the secretary smiled.
The general’s brows creased.
“Let’s hear it.”
When he learned Jing Yuan had crossed paths with Bear Nation’s Trailblazer, his expression turned wry.
“I remember that girl—two years older than Little Jing.
Pretty, too…”
Know yourself and know your opponent—he’d ordered dossiers on every Trailblazer from the moment they hit the screen, especially the great powers.
A female pick, and from Bear Nation?
Memorable.
He just hadn’t expected them to meet so soon.
Hearing the undertone, the secretary probed, “You’re worried Jing Yuan will… with her…”
General Zhang nodded.
They were young.
Alone together.
Even with a cat—ahem, lion—sparks happen.
He wasn’t against cross-border romance; he just didn’t want two kids to forget the whole world was watching.
That could get messy.
The secretary chuckled.
“No need to worry, sir.
I’m confident that fear is… misplaced.”
“Oh?”
Their “conversation” was short; the clip ended quickly.
With this morning’s exchange, the general had the whole picture.
He squinted.
“Seems normal to me.
Why are they calling that ‘steel straight’?”
He knew the term—he wasn’t that out of touch.
“Maybe because she’s a girl, they expected extra care,” the secretary offered.
“Care enough already, isn’t it?” The general’s brows rose.
“Letting her stay on the strength of our nations’ ties is generous.”
“This is the National Fate Zone—danger everywhere.
Who can promise a stranger won’t bring trouble?
What do they want—him to play nanny, hands-delivering food and drink?”
“Bah.”
“Young people these days abuse themselves chasing favor, thinking it’ll win a girl’s heart.
It’s usually the opposite.
The lower you stoop, the worse it goes.”
“What’s that word…?”
“Uh—’simp’?” the secretary supplied.
“Right—simp!” He slapped the desk.
“They’re bullying our honest boy—demanding he be a simp to please them?”
The secretary teased, “Didn’t expect you to have so much field experience, sir.
Enlightening.”
“Ahem.
We were all young once.” He cleared his throat.
“Anyway, I say he handled it well—cautious without losing national grace.
Excellent.”
“Agreed,” the secretary said, both men turning back to the screen.
On it, the Bear girl had been silent a long time, still unable to think of anything to trade.
Pork aroma teased her nose; she gulped.
Finally she bit down and said, “I don’t have tradable supplies right now.
But… if you don’t mind… I—I can…”
Jing Yuan’s skewer paused.
Foreign girls had a reputation for boldness; was she about to offer herself for meat?
Absolutely not.
He’d gone quiet earlier to let her back off—he wouldn’t bend just because she’s a girl.
Letting her rest was already a favor.
If you try to get handsy on top of that—not polite.
Before his thought finished, Taliya blurted, “I can be your subordinate.
Afraid he’d refuse, she added, “Any order.
As long as it’s from you.”
It was a last resort.
Three days in, her rations were low.
Who knew what they’d find in that city?
Jing Yuan was a literal lifeline—anyone who could hunt snowboars was worth following.
And a man who fed his pet first wouldn’t starve his people.
Subordinate sounded a lot like safe.
Jing Yuan exhaled in relief.
Not what he’d feared.
Meanwhile, chat exploded:
[Bro my pants were already off and you give me this?]
[Thought we’d get a different kind of plot.
Free content really is boring (eyeroll.jpg).]
[I know you’re thirsty.
But wait.
She said, “Any order,” didn’t she?
You don’t get it?]
[We get it we get it.
Front-row seat—bookmarking (cool.jpg).]
[Nooo, I believe in Little Jing.
He’s not that guy!]
“Sure you’ll take any command?”
“Including any?”
“Yes,” she nodded hard.
“Deal.
This one’s yours.” He smiled and passed her a fresh-grilled steak of snowboar.
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