Xi Xiuran originally hadn’t wanted to pay attention to Landon.
First, arguing with an “elementary school chicken” was too boring. Second, in the original novel, Landon was just an elementary school chicken who livened up the atmosphere—a totally naive, straightforward guy with no scheming bone in his body. Xi Xiuran didn’t dislike him; in fact, he even found him somewhat amusing.
Because of this, his earlier attitude was purely a perfunctory one, like teasing a child.
But now this elementary school chicken actually wanted to break up his marriage with Admiral Shi? That was intolerable!
Anyone who stands in the way of my dream of becoming a wealthy, charming widow is the enemy!
Time to roast him!
Xi Xiuran stood up straight, looked at Landon—who had been completely bewildered by a casual “Little Third” comment—and scoffed, “Why did the Little Duke suddenly stop talking? Feeling guilty?”
Landon didn’t react at first. When he came to his senses, his face flushed red with anger, and he flew into a humiliated rage: “What nonsense are you spouting?! I’m not that kind of person! I merely want to expose your true colors in public! Someone with a venomous heart like yours is completely unworthy of Admiral Shi! Seducing your younger brother’s fiancé, poisoning to murder your brother…”
Xi Xiuran shot him a lazy glance. “Alright, enough. It’s just the same few sentences over and over. Even if you aren’t tired of saying them, I’m tired of hearing them.”
Landon choked. Just as he was about to say something else, Xi Xiuran suddenly flashed him a curving smile. Those emerald cat-eyes shimmered like spring water, instantly turning the tips of Landon’s ears entirely red.
Damn it, how is he so good-looking?!
Hmph, he truly is a venomous beauty!
Turning up his acting skills to a hundred and twenty percent, Xi Xiuran gathered his hair, exposing his pale neck, and teased, “The Little Duke keeps saying I’m unworthy of Admiral Shi. But why don’t you think about it: with Admiral Shi’s capabilities, would he not know about those things I’ve done? So what if I’m a venomous beauty? Admiral Shi just happens to like me exactly like this.”
Landon’s face flushed bright red as he accused, “You—you’re shameless! You have no face! Admiral Shi is as pure as the bright moon and the clear breeze; he would never like a vicious, bad Omega like you! Stop slandering him! Just you wait, I’m going to have someone expose all those trashy things you did on the Star Network right now! You seduced your brother’s fiancé…”
Twirling a strand of his hair, Xi Xiuran said leisurely, “Go ahead. Let’s see who will be the most embarrassed in the end… ‘The God of War of the Empire married a loose, fickle Omega?’ Mm, gossip news like that will definitely go viral across the entire interstellar space, right?”
Landon: “…”
Landon’s expression fractured on the spot.
He hadn’t thought about that angle at all! He had been single-mindedly focused on exposing Xi Xiuran’s vicious true colors, absolutely refusing to let this venomous beauty taint his idol’s innocence. He never considered that if this matter spread, it would also impact Admiral Shi’s image.
Ahhh! He’s going to die of anger! How could there be such a shameless, vicious Omega in this world!
Landon was momentarily at a loss for words. After a long while, he thought of a new strategy. Putting on a stern face, he said, “Alright, stop pretending, you country bumpkin. First you pestered Major General Ying, and now you’re pestering Admiral Shi. You just want money, right? I’ve seen plenty of Omegas like you. I’ll give you a hundred million Star Coins! Divorce Admiral Shi immediately and get out of the Capital Star!”
Xi Xiuran: “…”
Why did the script change again? Just what kind of trash is this elementary school chicken watching in his free time?
Xi Xiuran was utterly speechless and couldn’t be bothered to act anymore. The look he gave Landon was exactly the look one gives a complete idiot: “Little Duke, are you trying to compete in assets with Admiral Shi?”
Landon: “?”
What compete in assets?
Who in the entire Empire would dare compete in assets with Admiral Shi? As the family with the longest history in the Empire, the Shi family possessed wealth that could rival the entire royal family and controlled several of the Empire’s most important energy veins. If the Shi family weren’t staunch loyalists to the crown, no one would find it surprising if the Empire’s surname suddenly changed to “Shi” one day.
Xi Xiuran said faintly, “Wouldn’t it be nicer if I just obediently stay by Admiral Shi’s side, and in the future… become a widow and inherit all of his assets?”
The original novel had mentioned that Landon was one of the few people who knew about Shi Xingzhou’s true physical condition. For all these years, he had been constantly searching for a way to cure him.
Landon: “…?”
Inheritance?! Motherf\*\*ker, my idol is definitely going to live to a hundred!
At this moment, even the Heavenly Emperor himself couldn’t stop Landon from wanting to murder Xi Xiuran!
“You, you…” Landon stomped his feet in anger, but his remaining rationality told him he couldn’t make a loud fuss about this specific matter. He wanted to curse, but didn’t know what to say; he wanted to hit him, but felt too embarrassed to strike an Omega. He had strength but couldn’t use it, choking down a belly full of fire.
“Xi Xiuran, just you wait!” After holding it in for a long time, Landon squeezed this sentence out through gritted teeth, then finally slammed the door and left. He refused to believe he couldn’t find a way to take care of this vicious Omega!
Xi Xiuran yawned, thinking Landon was truly fun to mess with, and also really easy to fool.
Xi Xiuran tilted his head to look at Zhou Liu, who had appeared at some point, and asked, “Do you think he’ll run to Admiral Shi to tattle and say I bullied him?”
Zhou Liu suppressed a smile: “Rest assured, Consort. The Little Duke might tattle to anyone, but he would never tattle to the Admiral. In front of the Admiral, he has always been very…” Zhou Liu left the rest unsaid.
Xi Xiuran let out an “Oh” of understanding.
Landon was probably the typical “brain-dead fan” who was shy, nervous, and barely spoke in front of his idol, but could wildly blow a thousand words of rainbow farts behind his back without even panting.
Sigh, who doesn’t have two faces these days?
Xi Xiuran yawned, expertly tossed his scattered thoughts aside, and happily followed Zhou Liu back to find Shi Xingzhou.
Big Boss Shi, I’m back to hug your thigh!
***
When Landon arrived, he walked with a swagger, emanating an aura that said he could take on ten people. When he left, his head hung dejectedly, looking exactly like a defeated fighting rooster. He just couldn’t understand it. He had clearly planned everything out before going, and had even spent ages in front of the mirror adjusting his fierce expression. How was it that that country bumpkin wasn’t afraid of him in the slightest?
It ruined the entire series of countermeasures he had planned out! Coercion, bribery, using his status to suppress him—not a single trick worked!
Sob sob sob, I refuse to accept this!
When Landon’s assistant rushed over, he saw Landon angrily kicking a tree trunk all by himself. He softly consoled him, “The Little Duke doesn’t need to be so angry. There are plenty of ways to make someone make a fool of themselves; you don’t necessarily have to argue face-to-face. Have you forgotten? This is the First Imperial Research Institute. There are strict regulations for entering and exiting…”
To be able to serve as Landon’s assistant, even if he couldn’t be called a genius, he was still a top student who graduated from a prestigious university.
As a Beta, he had worked diligently for over a decade and pulled strings just to barely squeeze into the First Imperial Research Institute. And yet, Xi Xiuran—an empty-headed, good-for-nothing vase—was brought in so blatantly simply because he had married Admiral Shi.
This was practically lowering the standard of the entire First Imperial Research Institute.
The assistant looked down on Xi Xiuran from the bottom of his heart, so he was naturally happy to scheme and plot for Landon. It was also a perfect opportunity to curry favor with him.
Pausing for a moment, the assistant continued, “Speaking of which, since the Little Duke just came out of the lab, you might not know this, but Professor Zhou has been staying at the Institute recently. Would you like to go pay him a visit?”
Landon froze for a moment, instantly feeling a surge of joy.
Right! I might not be able to deal with Xi Xiuran, but Professor Zhou can!
The First Imperial Research Institute had extremely strict management and strictly forbade outsiders from entering. Normally, given Admiral Shi’s status, if he brought someone in, everyone would just pretend not to see it. But Professor Zhou was someone who couldn’t tolerate a single grain of sand in his eyes. Even if it was Admiral Shi, he absolutely wouldn’t give him any face!
Hehe. When the time comes, Professor Zhou will publicly kick that country bumpkin out of the Research Institute! Let’s see if he still has the face to stick around Admiral Shi after that!
It would be best if Admiral Shi found him embarrassing and divorced him on the spot…
The more Landon thought about it, the more excited he became. His anger vanished instantly. “Let’s go! We’re going to find Professor Zhou!”
***
Sector A.
The research hall where the Freedom Gundam was housed had transformed into an award ceremony venue in the blink of an eye. The central platform displaying the Freedom Gundam directly became the award podium, and the Freedom Gundam itself—wings spread and glowing—became a ridiculously cool background piece. The instruments that had originally surrounded it were entirely removed, replaced by rows upon rows of seats.
Beside the podium, a symphony orchestra was already rehearsing. Aside from that, numerous robots and staff members were busily working all around—some adjusting the lighting, others tweaking the camera lenses suspended in mid-air. As for the Emperor and Queen, they were surrounded by a massive crowd of people adjusting their ceremonial robes and placing their crowns…
Xi Xiuran: “…”
For a split second, Xi Xiuran thought he had accidentally stumbled onto the set of a documentary about the Queen of England conferring knighthoods.
This is too grand, too magnificent! Is this all prepared for me?
I just want to lie flat and be a salted fish!
Xi Xiuran returned to Shi Xingzhou’s side. Having learned his lesson from earlier, he mouthed soundlessly: “Is this really prepared for me? This spectacle…”
Reading his lips, Shi Xingzhou’s tone was gentle: “The ceremony is a bit rushed. I’ve wronged you.”
Xi Xiuran: “???”
This scene is practically comparable to the Queen of England knighting a Nobel Prize laureate, and this is considered rushed? Wronging him?
Just how exaggerated is a normal award ceremony in your Interstellar Empire?!
Xi Xiuran was incredibly shocked. He could never control his expressions in front of Shi Xingzhou; whatever he felt was written plain as day on his face. His large emerald eyes were full of confusion, making Shi Xingzhou’s hands itch a little, his fingertips rubbing together unconsciously.
At this moment, a tall, handsome gentleman wearing a monocle walked over, leading a group of attendants carrying various jewel bowties, brooches, and other jewelry on trays. This person was the royal family’s exclusive stylist—a top-tier stylist that countless socialites and noble ladies of the Capital Star would pay heavily to hire—and his secondary gender was Alpha.
Shi Xingzhou lifted his eyelids and shot him a glance.
His lips still carried a gentle, faint smile, but his eyes and brows were a field of freezing cold. Even though he had warm, orange-red eyes, they froze the stylist so thoroughly that he shivered. Rooted to the spot, he didn’t dare take another step forward. Like a soldier seeing his commanding officer, he stood at attention, not daring to look at Shi Xingzhou again.
The attendants following behind the stylist also froze in place, too afraid to approach.
Xi Xiuran snapped back to reality, only to see Shi Xingzhou crook a finger at him and say softly, “Come here.”
Come here it is. Xi Xiuran happily leaned over.
Time to get close and cuddly with the handsome guy~
Shi Xingzhou looked at him a few times, then raised his eyes to look at a certain maid holding a ruby bowtie. That maid immediately and respectfully brought the ruby bowtie over.
Before coming to the royal palace for the banquet, Xi Xiuran had dressed up grandly. His magnificent sea-blue formal suit and jeweled cufflinks had been carefully considered time and again by Butler Wang. But because it was ultimately a family banquet, Butler Wang hadn’t paired Xi Xiuran with a jeweled bowtie. However, in the Empire, for important occasions like an award ceremony that required going on stage, a jeweled bowtie was a must-have item.
“Do I need to wear this? Then…”
Before Xi Xiuran could finish, Shi Xingzhou took off his necktie and replaced it with the ruby bowtie himself.
While Shi Xingzhou was pinning the bowtie with his hands, his gaze fell on the youth’s earlobe. Contrasted by the ruby, the youth’s slightly pale skin revealed a bit of a suet jade-like luster.
He suddenly remembered the sensation of pinching it earlier when he couldn’t resist—soft, carrying a temperature that warmed the heart.
At the same time, because they were standing so close, the clear, sweet scent of the youth’s pheromones became even more distinct.
The agitated Mental Sea, which had flared up after the youth left earlier, slowly calmed down again. Shi Xingzhou suddenly felt a bit curious about just how high his compatibility with Xi Xiuran was.
“Admiral?” Xi Xiuran looked up blankly. Did he need to wear something else besides the bowtie?
The next moment, Shi Xingzhou let down the strands of hair Xi Xiuran had tucked behind his ears, covering those lustrous white ears. His fingertips intentionally or unintentionally brushed past the youth’s earlobe as he gave the youth’s hair a simple restyling.
Xi Xiuran: “???”
The sensation of those cold fingers sliding past his ear was simply too obvious. He stayed dazed for a good while, his slightly round green eyes widening.
Shi Xingzhou lowered his eyes to meet his gaze and said with his usual expression, “The Spatial Lock technology is a matter of utmost importance, and it’s not suitable for your identity to be fully exposed from all angles. Therefore, we can only wrong you by holding the award ceremony inside the Research Institute, rather than publicly hosting it in the royal palace and live-streaming it across the Star Network. Later, when the time is ripe, the First Research Institute will publicly release today’s recording and your contributions to the Empire.”
Xi Xiuran: “…Oh.”
Xi Xiuran belatedly realized what had happened, the tips of his ears turning red bit by bit. He thought to himself, Thank goodness my hair is down to cover it.
Shi Xingzhou retracted his hand and added, “I’ve already negotiated with the Research Institute on your behalf. From now on, you are an external member of the Research Institute and a specialized consultant for the Ancient Civilization Heritage. You only need to periodically help decipher and translate some documents; you don’t need to clock in and report here every day. The relevant allowances and bonuses will be issued to you as usual.”
Xi Xiuran was still in a daze: “…Okay.”
Shi Xingzhou raised his eyebrows slightly, chuckling softly. “Consort, do you have any other questions?”
Xi Xiuran snapped out of it and immediately shook his head. “No.”
What questions could a salted fish have? This salted fish’s inner feelings are very complicated right now.
The Crystal Oak Medal, plus an external translation consultant position at the First Imperial Research Institute.
Big Boss Shi was arranging an escape route for him, binding him together with the First Imperial Research Institute. This way, if Big Boss Shi was no longer around one day, people like the Eldest Princess wouldn’t dare make a move against him casually.
Sob sob… Big Boss Shi is truly a great person.
He was treating him too well. Not only did he not hold a grudge over the nonsense “hospice care” talk he had spouted, but he was also planning for his future so early on.
Thinking of this, Xi Xiuran suddenly lost all interest in this award ceremony.
Shi Xingzhou nodded. Ignoring the stylist who was secretly shooting him resentful glances, he only said to Xi Xiuran, “Let’s go. After receiving the medal, we’ll head back to the manor.”
Xi Xiuran asked, “Do we not need to return to the royal palace?”
Shi Xingzhou gave an “Mm,” lifting his foot to walk ahead first. Xi Xiuran hurriedly followed him.
Not far away, the stylist holding the tray wept silently. He really, really wanted to give the Admiral’s Consort a much better-looking hairstyle, but looking at Shi Xingzhou, the stylist simply didn’t dare to move. Seeing the two approaching, he hurriedly bowed and led his people to step back and make way.
Damn this Alpha possessiveness!
The Admiral’s Consort’s hair clearly could have been tied into a super pretty little braid!
T/n: Please Vote on NU to support the novel. You can support the original author here. Happy Reading 💅