Xie Guanning’s fingers twitched at his side. Seeing his hesitation, the First Prince spoke with a smile, “It’s hard to catch a taxi here. We’ll give you a lift.”
After a moment of thought, Xie Guanning nodded slightly. “Then I shall trouble Your Highness.”
The First Prince’s fox-like eyes curved with pleasure. “No trouble at all.”
Xie Guanning opened the passenger door and slid inside. After providing his address, the driver silently started the engine.
He had worried that the awkward silence from the banquet hall would return, but the First Prince proved to be an expert socialite. He seemed strangely interested in Xie Guanning, and as they chatted back and forth, the youth gradually relaxed. Growing up in tough conditions and dealing with all sorts of characters in the underground arena had given him a decent handle on social interaction—even if his history with Jiang Yan was “complicated,” to say the least.
The First Prince leaned his chin on his hand, looking at him with interest. “By the way, when you stood up to Mrs. Zhou earlier… you looked absolutely stunning.”
Xie Guanning paused. “You saw that?”
The Prince laughed. “I did. It was quite a show.”
Seeing no displeasure on the Prince’s face, Xie Guanning relaxed. He gave a self-deprecating smile. “I was just running my mouth. If she had actually agreed to the dance, I would have been the one losing face.”
“That’s why they say to ‘hit a snake at its seven-inch mark’ (its heart). You grabbed her weakness, leaving her no room to maneuver,” the Prince praised, before adding curiously, “But since you knew she was dissatisfied with you and would target you, why did you come?”
Xie Guanning let out a dry laugh. “Whether I come or not isn’t exactly up to me.”
The Xie family wouldn’t let a chance to connect with the Zhous slip away. Even if he were dying in bed, they probably would have carried him there on a stretcher.
The First Prince fell silent for a moment. Seeing the youth’s frankness through the rearview mirror, his liking for him grew.
“Are you eighteen this year?”
A deep voice suddenly broke the silence. Xie Guanning startled, meeting the man’s calm gaze in the mirror. After a beat, he nodded. “Yes. My birthday was three months ago.”
The man gave a brief “Mhm” and said nothing more. Xie Guanning found it odd, but the First Prince caught Jiang Yan’s eye and shared a teasing, knowing look.
The Prince turned back to Xie Guanning. “Three months ago? A March birthday?”
“Yes.”
“Which day?”
“The fourth.”
The Prince’s eyebrows shot up, his smile deepening. “I have a younger brother who was also born in March, though he’s a few days older than you.” He beamed at Xie Guanning. “He was born on the first of March, right at midnight.”
Beside him, Jiang Yan’s hand stiffened slightly.
The Prince continued, “The original due date was February 29th. The adults said he’d only get a birthday once every four years, but he was stubborn—he held out until the next day.”
Xie Guanning was confused, as he hadn’t heard of a second prince in the Royal Family, but the story made him smile. “That’s quite lucky then.”
“It is,” the Prince whispered, looking out the window with a dazed expression. “I only hope that luck has stayed with him.”
Jiang Yan glanced at the Prince and slowly looked away, but he didn’t return to his work. Xie Guanning sensed the shift in atmosphere. Looking at the two silent men in the back, he said firmly, “It will.”
The car moved smoothly through the night. After a while, the Prince regained his composure. “So, if you’re classmates with Zhou Hengyuan… you just finished the College Entrance Exams?”
Xie Guanning nodded.
“Any idea which school you’re heading to?”
“The First Imperial Military Academy.”
“A military academy?” The Prince looked at Xie Guanning’s somewhat thin frame with surprise.
Xie Guanning smiled, sensing the Prince’s thoughts. “Mecha Design.”
A strange look crossed the Prince’s face. “The score requirements for the Military Academy are quite high. Are you confident?”
Xie Guanning leaned back against the seat, looking relaxed. “It’s alright. Getting a first-class entrance scholarship shouldn’t be an issue.”
The Prince’s eyes lit up. “It seems I underestimated you.”
Even Jiang Yan couldn’t help but spare him a glance. The First Imperial Military Academy was prestigious; an entrance scholarship there was no small feat. In truth, Xie Guanning was being modest his scores were likely high enough that the academy would offer him much more than just a standard scholarship.
“Then you’re my future junior!” The Prince was enthusiastic. “Ask away if you have questions; that’s my alma mater.”
Xie Guanning didn’t stand on ceremony and asked about campus management.
“The management is strict. Command and Mecha Pilot majors aren’t allowed off-campus except on holidays, but since you’re in Design, it should be more relaxed.”
Xie Guanning felt relieved. He didn’t want to give up his work at the underground arena; having a place to practice real-world repairs was vital.
The Prince poked Jiang Yan. “Your aunt told you to come out and relax, so stop burying yourself in work. You’re a graduate of the First Academy too. Give our junior some advice.”
Jiang Yan looked at the delicate, fair skin of the youth in the front seat. He remembered the drama from earlier. “If you truly want to focus on mecha research,” he said, his voice low, “it’s best to resolve those ‘messy troubles’ as soon as possible.”
Xie Guanning was stunned, instantly knowing the Marshal was referring to his family drama. He bit his lip and whispered, “I know. It will be over soon.”
The car stopped near the Xie estate. Xie Guanning thanked them and stepped out.
“Wait!” The Prince poked his head out the window, his fox eyes sparkling. He waved his wrist. “Let’s add each other. We can hang out sometime.”
Though surprised, Xie Guanning saw no reason to refuse such a powerful connection. He added the Prince, waved goodbye, and disappeared into the villa grounds.
Inside the car, the lights were dim. Jiang Yan was staring at the Prince. “Ji Qingshi,” he said, using the Prince’s name.
“You talked a lot today,” Jiang Yan noted calmly.
“I always talk a lot,” Ji Qingshi replied lazily. “Besides, that kid is interesting. Can’t I make a friend?”
Jiang Yan didn’t speak.
Ji Qingshi leaned back. “Don’t be like that, Jiang Yan. When the Research Institute talked to you, you said you weren’t interested. Now you’re paying attention?”
“You know what I’m talking about,” Jiang Yan said firmly. “You’re paying him too much attention.”
Ji Qingshi clicked his tongue. “You really are… don’t you think he looks like Xie Zheng?”
Jiang Yan looked confused. “Who?”
“Xie Zheng.”
Jiang Yan went silent for a long time. “If your eyes are failing, I can book you an appointment at the Imperial Hospital’s ophthalmology department. I won’t tell anyone.”
Ji Qingshi kicked his seat. “Get lost! I’m serious. It’s not just the looks… it’s the vibe. That cold, sharp energy when he was dealing with Mrs. Zhou? Exactly like Xie Zheng.”
Jiang Yan rubbed his temples. “Xie Zheng hasn’t returned to the Capital in years. But if I recall, you’ve visited Planet Z0823 a few times.”
Ji Qingshi shrugged. “Fine, take it as a joke. I just think it’s a coincidence. They have the same surname, born in the same month, same age, same vibe… and he’s in a tough spot.”
“Call it my good deed for the day,” Ji Qingshi smiled sadly. “Isn’t that why Xie Zheng’s family stayed on that border planet? To find that child? They work so hard to make life better for every child of that age, hoping that maybe, somewhere, someone is doing the same for theirs.”
“Are we certain the space pirates were telling the truth back then?” Jiang Yan asked after a long pause.
“The satellite logs and ship recorders don’t lie,” the Prince sighed. “Those pirates only stopped at Z0823.”
When Xie Guanning returned to the villa, the family was already asleep. The butler ignored him like a stranger, which suited him fine. He went to his room, which was covered in a thin layer of dust. He hadn’t lived here in a long time, preferring his rented place near the arena. He only returned today because he didn’t want to give Mrs. Xie an excuse to hunt him down if she couldn’t find him tomorrow.
He cleaned the bed slightly and, exhausted from the day, fell into a deep sleep.