Even though he hadn’t eaten lunch yet, Xi Xiuran had already planned out his dinner menu—grilled fish!
Having decided what to eat for dinner, Xi Xiuran withdrew his gaze from the little temptresses in the aquarium and lowered his head to fiddle with his terminal.
This terminal was also given to him by Butler Wang yesterday. It was said to be a limited edition supplied internally within the military. It was fully functional with exceptional performance, capable of effortlessly running all games currently on the market. Xi Xiuran was extremely satisfied with this last point.
Xi Xiuran tinkered with it for a while and downloaded a racing game similar to Speed Drifters from the Star Network, playing it with great enthusiasm. As everyone knows, when playing this kind of game, the body quickly achieves a state of “man-and-vehicle unity” with the car in the game—whichever way the car turns, the person leans. Xi Xiuran was playing earnestly. Upon entering a sharp turn, his body continuously leaned, eventually accidentally bumping into Shi Xingzhou’s shoulder.
“Sor—” Xi Xiuran hastily tried to apologize, but seeing Shi Xingzhou with his eyes closed, breathing evenly, his brow furrowed with exhaustion, he immediately clamped his mouth shut.
Xi Xiuran didn’t know that the moment he started swaying side to side, Shi Xingzhou had noticed; he just couldn’t be bothered to open his eyes. As Xi Xiuran occasionally leaned toward him, Shi Xingzhou once again caught the sweet, crisp scent of apple blossoms on him. His constantly turbulent Mental Sea slowly began to calm down once more. He felt a long-lost sense of tranquility in both body and mind, and even a hint of drowsiness.
Since entering the Mental Riot Phase, how long has it been since I felt sleepy?
Carrying a trace of confusion, and breathing in the sweet fragrance, Shi Xingzhou uncharacteristically fell asleep.
The soft seats in the aircraft could be flattened out like beds. After finishing another round of his game, Xi Xiuran habitually shot Shi Xingzhou a glance. Having experienced the disastrous “rollover” from yesterday, Xi Xiuran observed him repeatedly this time. Only after confirming that Shi Xingzhou was truly asleep did he carefully lean over and flatten the soft seat, allowing Shi Xingzhou to rest a little better.
Comfort leveled up! √
I truly am a considerate, kind-hearted, and excellent employee.
Illuminated by the soft glow of the crystal lighting spheres, Shi Xingzhou’s pale complexion had warmed up considerably. He looked as though he were carved from cold jade, his thin lips a deep red, possessing an aesthetic beauty akin to an ink-wash painting. Paired with the sharp aura and oppressive presence of a high-ranking official he possessed when not smiling, he was incredibly breathtaking.
And incredibly captivating.
By the time Xi Xiuran snapped back to reality, his hand had already reached out toward Shi Xingzhou’s lips of its own volition.
He was just one tiny bit away from touching them.
Or perhaps he had touched them; he faintly felt something cold and soft.
Xi Xiuran: “!!!”
Realizing what he had just done, Xi Xiuran hastily yanked his paw back.
No, it wasn’t my fault. My paw developed a mind of its own.
But you still acted on it.
It’s because he’s too good-looking and bewitched me.
But you still acted on it.
Fine, Xi Xiuran admitted, I’m just a lecher. I’m a modern-day LSP[1]LSP / 老色批 (Lǎo Sè Pī): Chinese internet slang for an “old lecher” or someone who is openly and shamelessly horny/appreciative of good looks. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2022602_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2022602_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
Having aggressively justified it in his head, Xi Xiuran nonetheless completely lacked the confidence to match, his face turning entirely red. Feeling guilty, he switched the lighting to sleep mode, shrank back into his own soft seat, and didn’t dare spare Shi Xingzhou another glance. Finally, he simply closed his eyes to rest his mind as well.
Autism mode engaged.jpg[2]自闭 (Zìbì): Literally “autism,” but used in Chinese slang as a verb meaning to “shut down,” “hide away,” or “go into hiding” out of embarrassment … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2022602_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2022602_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });
Escaping is shameful, but useful.
The eyes-closed Xi Xiuran failed to notice that Shi Xingzhou’s fingertips twitched. Underneath his closed eyelids, dark currents surged. A transparent Mental Thread extended from his fingertip, first brushing against his own lips, and then quietly winding around the index finger Xi Xiuran had just used.
The very index finger that had just touched Shi Xingzhou’s lips.
After a long while, Shi Xingzhou retracted the Mental Thread. Just as he was about to sleep a bit longer, the aircraft came to a halt.
The personal guard said in a low voice, “Admiral, Consort, we have arrived at the royal palace.”
Shi Xingzhou kept his eyes closed and didn’t move.
Xi Xiuran, on the other hand, snapped his eyes wide open. We’re finally here. He cautiously leaned close to Shi Xingzhou and called out softly, “Admiral Shi, Big Boss Shi, we’ve arrived at the royal palace.”
Shi Xingzhou furrowed his brow, seemingly unwilling to wake up. His eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes.
Xi Xiuran leaned in closer to observe his complexion, noting that he seemed to have rested well. He immediately flashed him a bright smile. “A belated good morning. Good morning, Admiral Shi.”
Shi Xingzhou paused for a moment, then returned the smile: “Good morning, Admiral’s Consort.”
***
Unlike the Admiral’s manor—which exuded luxury through a low-key profile, its profound heritage revealed in the details—the style of the royal palace was simply magnificent, grand, gorgeous, and extravagant. Every corner proclaimed the nobility of imperial power.
The moment the two stepped out of the aircraft, the Captain of the Royal Guard, who had been waiting for a long time, stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Good day, Your Excellency the Admiral, Your Excellency the Consort. His Majesty has been waiting for some time. Please follow me.”
Xi Xiuran remembered the novel mentioning the position of the Captain of the Guard. Translated into Yan Kingdom terms, it was roughly equivalent to the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard plus the Chief Eunuch—he was the Emperor’s most trusted confidant and right-hand man.
“His Majesty noted that the sunlight is quite pleasant today, so he decided to have the meal in the Central Courtyard. He hopes the Admiral and the Consort do not mind.” The Captain enthusiastically guided the two into the royal palace, not forgetting to exchange a few pleasantries with Shi Xingzhou along the way.
Only then did Xi Xiuran learn that he and Shi Xingzhou were actually classmates from the First Imperial Military Academy. However, upon graduation, one had gone to the front lines, while the other remained on the Capital Star to join the Royal Guard.
They soon reached the Central Courtyard. From afar, Xi Xiuran could see the dining table set up by the lake and the bustling figures around it.
They were about to meet His Majesty the Emperor. Only then did Xi Xiuran remember he was supposed to be “on the clock.” He hastily asked Shi Xingzhou in a low voice, “Admiral, what should I do in a bit? I don’t really understand the rules here on the Capital Star.”
Shi Xingzhou glanced at him, smiled at whatever he was thinking, and said gently, “There’s no need to be nervous. It’s just an ordinary family banquet. His Majesty isn’t someone who cares about such things; you can be a bit more casual.”
Xi Xiuran: “?”
Do you know that when I get ‘casual,’ I cease to act like a human?
After all, it was only his second day on the job. Xi Xiuran barely managed to scrape together a meager sense of professionalism and wanted to continue asking Shi Xingzhou about what to watch out for, when the Captain of the Guard chimed in with a smile: “Please rest assured, Consort. His Majesty decided to hold the banquet in the Central Courtyard specifically hoping that you two could feel relaxed and casual.”
Xi Xiuran: “…”
Alright then. Since you both said so, then I’ll be casual.
Although they could see the Emperor and the others from afar, the Central Courtyard was simply too large. It would still take the group some time to walk over, so Xi Xiuran began recalling the plot related to the Emperor.
He was also a tool character, a massive chump[3]大怨种 (Dà yuànzhǒng): “Massive chump” or “unlucky fool.” Someone who constantly suffers grievances, takes the blame, or does the hard work while others reap the benefits jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2022602_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2022602_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. He could form a two-man boyband with Shi Xingzhou and debut as the “Chump Brothers.”
The Emperor’s name was Luther Augustus. He appeared exactly four times in the entire novel. The first two times, he basically acted as a matchmaker, having the Matching Center find a wife for Shi Xingzhou, and then having the Matching Center approve the marriage contract between the Protagonist Gong and Shou. His third appearance was to confer the rank of Lieutenant General upon the Protagonist Gong. His fourth appearance was straight-up picking up his boxed lunch[4]dying jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2022602_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2022602_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });; he died during the Zerg’s surprise attack on the Capital Star, and the Empire was ultimately taken over by the Protagonist Gong and Shou.
So what is this family gathering called? The Chump Brothers and their Cannon Fodder Wives?
Xi Xiuran couldn’t help but roast them, feeling as though he had forgotten something. Before he could think it through carefully, they had already arrived.
As a royal garden, the scenery in the Central Courtyard was naturally exquisite. The area chosen for the meal was especially beautiful, brimming with the vibrant colors of spring reflecting off the lake. Inside a pavilion by the lake sat a chessboard. The young man sitting in front of the board had handsome features, wore a pair of silver-rimmed non-prescription glasses, and exuded the refined and easygoing aura of a scholar.
The Captain of the Guard stopped a meter away and said softly, “Your Majesty, Your Excellency the Admiral and the Admiral’s Consort have arrived.”
The young man wearing non-prescription glasses turned his head. With a genial smile and a gentle voice, he greeted, “Cousin, I wish you a happy marriage.”
“Many thanks.” Shi Xingzhou nodded and introduced Xi Xiuran. “This is Xiuran, my Consort.”
Xi Xiuran put on his professional “customer service” smile. “Good day, Your Majesty.”
This smile of his actually made the Emperor pause for a moment.
The youth was very good-looking, but it wasn’t the kind of exquisite, practically sharp and aggressive beauty; rather, it was the kind of good looks that immediately made people feel a sense of goodwill upon seeing him. His features were elegant, his temperament ethereal. Those beautiful, emerald-like eyes looked as though the entire starry galaxy was contained within his pupils. When he smiled, his entire being exuded a brilliant vitality that made everyone else’s mood lift along with his.
Is this really the same person as the rumored eldest young master of the Xi family—the one raised on a remote planet who was supposedly unbearably vulgar, gloomy, and malicious?
“Hello, Cousin-in-law. We don’t have that many rules here. In private, you can just call me Luther, same as Cousin.” The Emperor smiled and raised a hand, gesturing for someone to bring over a chair for Xi Xiuran. “Cousin-in-law, please sit and rest for a moment. The Queen is still preparing pastries and tea with the head chef; she will be here shortly.”
“I am troubling the Queen.” Xi Xiuran gracefully sat down across from the Emperor, alongside Shi Xingzhou.
Once they were seated again, the Emperor enthusiastically invited Shi Xingzhou: “Cousin, hurry up and play a game with me.”
Xi Xiuran blinked, feeling that the Emperor acting like this made him seem very much like an internet-addicted teenager looking for someone to team up with in a game. He completely lacked the stereotypical imposing majesty of most emperors.
Shi Xingzhou’s expression was cold. “No. It’s too mentally exhausting.”
“You’re married now, why do you still have this icy appearance? Cousin-in-law will disdain you.” The Emperor turned to look at Xi Xiuran, his hint obvious. “Right, Cousin-in-law?”
Xi Xiuran originally wanted to be a bit polite and reserved, but remembering Shi Xingzhou telling him to be casual, he blinked innocently. “He wouldn’t. The Admiral is very gentle with me.”
“Gentle?” The Emperor was stunned. He looked at Xi Xiuran, then looked at Shi Xingzhou, and couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter. “True, true. You’re married now; Cousin should be a bit gentler to his partner.”
Amidst the joking, the chessboard was quickly set up.
Xi Xiuran knew a little bit about international chess. Leaning to the side to watch for a while, he realized that Shi Xingzhou truly lived up to his title as the “God of War of the Empire.” Step by step, he deployed his troops, anticipating the enemy’s moves, completely slaughtering the Emperor to the point where he basically had no ability to fight back. The Emperor, on the other hand, looked more and more like an internet-addicted teenager—incredibly bad at the game, but with a massive addiction to playing it.
Just as the chess game was about to conclude, the Captain of the Guard suddenly came to report: “Your Majesty, Major General Ying requests an audience.”
The surroundings instantly fell silent. The maids and attendants who were busy setting up the meal all slowed down their work, casting open or covert glances at Xi Xiuran. Even Shi Xingzhou, who was about to deliver a checkmate, paused his hand and lifted his eyes to look at him.
Xi Xiuran: “???”
It took Xi Xiuran two seconds to react, and he finally remembered what he had forgotten.
F\*\*k!
How did I forget about the Protagonist Gong, that piece of garbage?!
In the original novel, the Protagonist Gong had come exactly on this day—the very day after the Original Owner cracked his head open committing suicide—unable to wait a moment longer. He came to the royal palace to beg the Emperor for help, wanting the Matching Center to push through his and the Protagonist Shou’s marriage contract early, completely unwilling to wait the standard one-month review period.
No wonder a bunch of people were secretly looking over; they all wanted to watch a melodramatic, dog-blood Shura Field[5]a chaotic romantic confrontation jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2022602_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2022602_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
Truly, the temptation of eating melons[6]gossiping jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2022602_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2022602_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); is universal.
I love eating melons too, but the prerequisite is that I’m not the melon myself!
Crap!
According to the setting of the original novel, very few people knew the truth about the Original Owner’s marriage contract with Ying Huachi; only both sets of parents and a select few others were aware. Furthermore, due to the intentional guidance of his cheapskate scumbag father and vicious stepmother, many people even mistakenly believed that the person engaged to Ying Huachi was actually Xi Mengchen. Therefore, when the Original Owner came of age and was brought back to the Capital Star by the Matching Center to fulfill the marriage contract, the rumors spun it as the Original Owner being shameless and seducing his younger brother’s fiancé. For a time, everyone condemned him verbally and in writing.
And to make it even more melodramatic and full of conflict, the author had designed the Original Owner to be gloomy, paranoid, and completely “love-brained.” Relying on the fact that Omegas were protected by the Matching Center, making it impossible for Ying Huachi to unilaterally break the engagement, the Original Owner clung to Ying Huachi relentlessly, demanding that he marry him. Ying Huachi only had eyes for Xi Mengchen, so naturally, he was unwilling. The two of them remained deadlocked for over a month, right up until Xi Mengchen was reborn.
Later on, the Original Owner noticed that Ying Huachi and Xi Mengchen were together, and that the two were planning to swap his marriage to the mad Admiral Shi. His love turned to hate, and egged on by a maid, he poisoned Xi Mengchen and was caught red-handed.
When Xi Xiuran read this part of the plot, even if he tried to turn his brain off, his face still looked exactly like the “Subway, Old Man, Looking at Phone” meme[7] jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2022602_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2022602_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
Is this being love-brained?
This is fundamentally having a pig’s brain injected with water!
How much water has to be in your brain to trust a maid sent by your vicious stepmother, not only listening to her instigations but even asking her to help procure the poison?!
In short, regardless of the truth behind the scenes, the rumor that the Original Owner was infatuated with Ying Huachi was widely spread. This point was completely evident from the eager words “eating melons” written in the eyes of everyone present.
This godforsaken Protagonist Gong!
Can’t you wait for the damn one-month review period?! Why didn’t you ask around to see who was here before entering the palace?!
Xi Xiuran really wanted to put on his mask of agony, find an excuse, and avoid this. But he knew he couldn’t hide from this kind of situation; the more he avoided it, the more excited the melon-eating crowd would get. Moreover, if he ran away, what if outsiders thought he still had lingering feelings for Ying Huachi? Where would Shi Xingzhou put his face then?
Going bald from stress.jpg
Before Xi Xiuran could come up with a plan, the Emperor directly pushed the chessboard away, possessing an incredible talent for speaking at the perfect moment: “What is he doing here? Can’t he see I’m hosting a family banquet? Right, Cousin-in-law?”
Xi Xiuran: “…”
If you didn’t want to lose, then just flip the chessboard! Why do you have to drag this salted fish into it?!
Alarm bells instantly went off in Xi Xiuran’s heart. He turned his head and saw Shi Xingzhou leaning back in his chair, smiling leisurely: “I’m also curious about why he’s here. What do you think, Xiuran? Do you want to see him?”
What does the salted fish think? The salted fish has lost his dreams!
Xi Xiuran sat in the soft chair, but at this moment, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. The two Alphas with the most exalted statuses in the Empire were currently looking right at him.
One couldn’t hide the words “eating melons” in his eyes even behind his non-prescription glasses.
The other’s attitude was mild, even carrying a familiar smile, but it had absolutely nothing to do with being “gentle” anymore.
“…” Xi Xiuran suffocated slightly.
This damn dog-blood Shura Field!
T/n: You can support the original author here. Happy Reading 💅
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