The central lawn.
The driver had been waiting by the aircraft early on. By the time Xi Xiuran was escorted onto the aircraft by Butler Wang, Shi Xingzhou was already seated, resting with his eyes closed.
Just as Butler Wang had said, Shi Xingzhou was uncharacteristically wearing an ocean-blue suit today. The tailored suit perfectly wrapped around his excellent figure—broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs—with a prominent Adam’s apple faintly visible above his black tie. A pocket square was tucked into his breast pocket, making him look exactly like a restrained, aloof, and handsome gentleman from a British drama. The sharp, formidable, murderous aura of an Interstellar Admiral from their first meeting was completely gone.
Hearing the movement, Shi Xingzhou lifted his eyelids, his expression languid and tired. “Did you rest well?”
Xi Xiuran subconsciously assumed Shi Xingzhou was still apologizing for waking him up last night. He sighed in his heart: Admiral Shi truly is a good person. Because Xiuran had accidentally worked overtime for him last night, he hadn’t let anyone disturb him this morning. Not only had he let him sleep until he naturally woke up, but he had also prepared a bunch of delicious food and good-looking clothes for him.
Sob, sob, an employer with such a good conscience is truly too hard to find.
Deeply moved, Xi Xiuran replied, “I slept very well. I haven’t slept until I naturally woke up like this in a long time. Did you rest well after returning last night, Your Excellency?”
Shi Xingzhou gave a nonchalant “Mm” and looked him over a few times.
Compared to the ordinary suit from yesterday—which looked cheap and relied entirely on Xi Xiuran’s own facial value and temperament to hold up—the ocean-blue formal suit he wore today exceptionally accentuated his aura. The ocean-blue suit perfectly complemented his deep blue hair color. Paired with the youth’s clear, bright, emerald-like eyes, he looked like a precious mermaid emerging from the deep sea.
A mermaid...
Shi Xingzhou recalled how a certain someone had fallen asleep the moment his head hit the pillow last night and scoffed silently. More like a salted fish.
He glanced at the youth’s clean, empty hands. As if remembering something, he asked, “Where is the ‘Heart of Jade’?”
Didn’t he like it very much yesterday? He had secretly taken several extra glances at it.
The Heart of Jade?
Oh, the Eldest Princess’s favorite jade ring that is worth an entire planet.
Whenever he recalled the agonizing expression on the Princess’s face when Shi Xingzhou “snatched” it away yesterday, he found it incredibly satisfying.
Serves you right for trying to harm me!
“It’s right here.” Xi Xiuran hastily pulled the ring out of his pocket. He knew this jade ring was definitely some sort of hidden item. Admiral Shi had deliberately snatched it yesterday, and specifically had him bring it along before heading out today.
Does he want me to wear the ring at the family banquet later and show off in front of the Eldest Princess? Hmm… Admiral Shi shouldn’t be the type to do something so boring.
Snatching someone’s beloved item and deliberately wearing it to show off in front of them…
What kind of open and covert scheming between wealthy noblewomen is this?
It’s so cliché!
But it feels really good… Xi Xiuran had already vividly imagined how he would elegantly and gracefully “accidentally” show off the ring on his hand in front of the Eldest Princess.
Having enjoyed the fantasy in his head, Xi Xiuran handed the jade ring over to Shi Xingzhou without the slightest trace of reluctance.
He handed it over far too readily. His eyes were pure, without a hint of greed. Toying with the ring, Shi Xingzhou asked him, “You’re just giving it to me like this? Do you not like it?”
Xi Xiuran didn’t understand why he was suddenly bringing up the topic of liking it or not, but he answered honestly, “I like it. Who doesn’t like jade?”
But no matter how much he liked it, it was still Shi Xingzhou’s property. He could hold onto it for safekeeping, but claiming it as his own would be going too far. Besides, this ring was far too valuable; a salted fish like him wasn’t worthy of it. If he accidentally bumped or scratched it somewhere, selling himself wouldn’t even be enough to pay for it.
Shi Xingzhou raised an eyebrow slightly and asked again, “Among the pile of wedding gifts from yesterday, were there any you liked?”
At the mention of that pile of incredibly precious wedding gifts from yesterday, Xi Xiuran’s expression changed. He hurriedly sat up straight and promised, “I was truly just too exhausted yesterday. Once we return from the banquet, I will definitely hurry up and finish inventorying the rest. Rest assured!”
Xi Xiuran widened his round cat eyes, looking at Shi Xingzhou pitifully. Please, I will definitely finish it today. I absolutely will not slack off!
“…”
Shi Xingzhou’s hand, which had been toying with the ring, paused. After a long moment, he began to laugh.
This person was truly interesting in all sorts of unexpected ways.
Seeing Shi Xingzhou laugh, Xi Xiuran knew he had successfully bluffed his way through again. While secretly rejoicing, he also quietly admired Shi Xingzhou’s facial value.
He really is so good-looking. When he smiles, it dances wildly all over my aesthetic preferences (XP).
However, this beautiful moment didn’t last long. Shortly after he started smiling, Shi Xingzhou suddenly raised his hand, tiredly rubbing his temples as his smile faded. Seeing his discomfort, Xi Xiuran softly suggested, “Would you like to close your eyes and rest a bit more, Your Excellency? I’ll call you when we arrive.”
Shi Xingzhou lifted his eyelids to look at him, giving a faint “Mm.”
Observing his pale complexion, Xi Xiuran thought to himself: With his Mental Power rioting so frequently, his condition really is getting more and more severe.
Xi Xiuran couldn’t bear it and wanted to remind Shi Xingzhou, but ultimately, he said nothing. There weren’t many descriptions of Shi Xingzhou in the original novel, but it stated very clearly that Shi Xingzhou wasn’t suffering from simple Mental Sea trauma. Rather, due to an accident, he had prematurely entered an Alpha’s Mental Riot Phase. According to the setting of this world, he had contracted an incurable, terminal illness and could only wait for death.
Under these circumstances, what use would his reminder be? Tell Shi Xingzhou, ‘You only have 29 days left to live, hurry up and complete any regrets you have’?
That would be asking for a beating.
Recalling the changes that occurred to the Admiral’s manor and the Empire in the original plot after Shi Xingzhou’s death, Xi Xiuran felt that Shi Xingzhou must be very clear about his own condition and had been making arrangements for his afterlife early on.
Thinking of this, Xi Xiuran decided not to speak out of turn. He leaned against the window, curiously observing the outside world.
The aircraft was very fast. During the time they had been speaking, it had already flown into the incredibly bustling city center.
Xi Xiuran had played all sorts of sci-fi AAA game masterpieces and watched countless sci-fi movies, so he considered himself quite knowledgeable. But seeing it with his own eyes now, he still felt like a country bumpkin entering the city. Everything looked novel to him; there were bizarre new things he had never seen before everywhere. For instance, the signboard of a flower shop on the side of the road was a holographic projection of a blooming flower he had never seen before. The moment the flower slowly blossomed was simply magnificent and dazzling, so beautiful he couldn’t bear to blink. Floating along the street were streetlights shaped like jellyfish, but it turned out they were actually alive—they could open their mouths like pitcher plants and eat flying insects.
Xi Xiuran was dazzled and mesmerized, wishing he could go out and wander around right this second.
Even a gaming otaku needed to go outside periodically to get some fresh air, bask in the sun, and feel the hustle and bustle of human life. Plus, since he was already out, wouldn’t it be a pity not to take a stroll?
At some point, Shi Xingzhou had opened his eyes. He said languidly, “If you like it, we can take a stroll on our way back.”
Xi Xiuran turned his head, his eyes sparkling. “Really?!”
Shi Xingzhou nodded. “Mm.”
Having received the big boss’s promise, Xi Xiuran smiled until his eyes curved. His pale lips curled up, revealing two small canine teeth. His clear green eyes lit up, shining brighter than emeralds.
Watching him, Shi Xingzhou couldn’t help but lightly tap his knuckle against the armrest. Suddenly, he said, “You prefer to eat.”
Xi Xiuran’s attention had just been drawn away by a massive aquarium outside the window, so he didn’t hear clearly. He asked blankly, “Ah? Prefer what?”
Shi Xingzhou had absolutely no intention of explaining. He closed his eyes again and said flatly, “Nothing.”
Xi Xiuran let out an “Oh” and turned his head back to continue staring at the massive aquarium outside the window, specifically at the—
Fish.
All sorts of fish he had never seen before, but which looked delicious at first glance.
Xi Xiuran secretly swallowed his saliva.
Fish!
Such big fish!
Tiger-striped sharks… fish meant for barbecuing.
He wanted to eat grilled fish now. OvO
T/n: You can support the original author here. Happy Reading 💅