T/N: Thank you to VC3 and FynnGi for the Kofi! I appreciate your support! Here’s the regular chapter and your two bonus chapters!

Early the next morning.

The hungover Pei Yi endured his headache and sat obediently at the dining table, so guilty that he dared not even look Bo Yueming in the face.

Although he was still drunk to pieces after waking up, he understood what had happened from Bo Yueming’s brief description—

Last night, he was so drunk that he fell asleep in the bathtub, and if not for the fact that Bo Yueming had returned home and sensed that something was wrong, he would probably have had an accident.

And early in the morning, Uncle Kai found the wine bottle in the bedside cabinet.

En, the thief was caught with the stolen goods, and awaited sentencing.

Pei Yi grasped the spoon and stirred the millet porridge in the bowl over and over, complaining endlessly in his heart.

The lychee milk wine was not stimulating at all, but its stamina was so great!

Was this reasonable? It was not reasonable!

Bo Yueming glanced at the millet porridge in the bowl that was about to be smashed by Pei Yi, and said helplessly, “Pei Yi, are you finished?”

“…….”

How could Pei Yi have the appetite to eat? He cautiously probed, “Er-ge.”

Did he go crazy after drinking last night, ah? Did he talk nonsense, ah? Had he revealed anything, ah?

Uncle Kai brought the hangover soup and some medicine from the hotel to Pei Yi.

He took a glance at Bo Yueming, and knowingly helped shield him, “Little Sir, drink, ba. You can’t do such nonsense in the future.”

“Fortunately, Second Young Master came back in time last night. You are quiet when you’re drunk, and Second Young Master’s eyesight is inconvenient, so he really can’t take care of you.”

“…….”

Bo Yueming made a soft sound of agreement.

“……..”

If he went crazy when drunk last night and said the wrong thing or pitted himself, would the other party still be this calm? Impossible.

Pei Yi repeatedly confirmed Bo Yueming’s reaction, and relaxed slightly. He picked up the hangover soup on the table and gulped it down in one go with a hint of obedience.

There was a little bit left on his moist-looking lips.

Bo Yueming suddenly thought of the impulsive kiss last night, and his Adam’s apple rolled slightly. He restrained himself and lowered his eyes, not mentioning the true story of the night before.

“Pei Yi, without my permission and confirmation in the future, you cannot drink casually.”

It was okay to have a drink, but after several observations, the kitten’s drinking capacity was ridiculously poor.

If he was not right under his nose at home, but went somewhere else, what if he met someone as disreputable as Sun Yelong again?

Pei Yi knew he was in the wrong, and was appropriately pitiful and well-behaved.

After what happened last night, who would dare to drink indiscriminately, ah? He completely understood—

Now that his body couldn’t hold alcohol, he had truly lost his title of “King of Drinking Capacity!”

Even if he wanted to exercise his drinking ability, he would have to wait until he left Bo Yueming. After transmigrating, he had “played the fool” until now, and he couldn’t let it be in vain!

Pei Yi gave a small sigh, and when he lowered his head, he caught a glimpse of the bathrobe on his body from the corner of his eye. His chaotic brain suddenly remembered an important thing—

He, he came out of the bathtub last night, right?!

Bo Yueming couldn’t see, so how did he change the bathrobe for him? Like he usually did……by, by feeling around?

He didn’t touch anywhere he shouldn’t have, right? No matter how he thought about it, it made him feel a bit sour.

There was heat on Pei Yi’s cheeks, and the roots of his ears were as red as if they were about to bleed.

Uncle Kai was the first to notice Pei Yi’s abnormality. “Little Sir, what is the matter? Is it hot?”

“……..”

Pei Yi didn’t speak, burying his red face even lower.

Bo Yueming took a second look while he wasn’t paying attention, and as if he had guessed something, the corners of his mouth curled up as he drank his coffee.

Lin Zhong returned. “Mr. Bo, the driver is waiting downstairs.”

“En.”

Bo Yueming set down the coffee cup in his hand and stood up calmly. “Uncle Kai, prepare something light for Pei Yi at noon. I made an appointment with the leaders of the relevant departments to understand the situation tonight, so I won’t come back for dinner.”

Uncle Kai responded, “All right. Second Young Master, please be careful.”

Pei Yi raised his eyes to look at Bo Yueming with a touch of unnaturalness. “Er-ge, bye-bye.”

“En.”

Bo Yueming paused, then added some exclusive advice, “Be good.”

“…….”

Pei Yi didn’t answer. After confirming that Bo Yueming and Lin Zhong had left, he took two perfunctory mouthfuls of millet porridge and returned to the room.

His headache wasn’t completely gone.

The residual alcohol continued to ferment its powerful effects, and the quilt-wrapped Pei Yi fell asleep not long after. The scene of being drunk the night before appeared clearly in his dreams—

Bo Yueming set him on the sink, and kissed him when he was unprepared.

It was a pity that the clearer the dream, the harder it was to remember after waking up.

. . . . . . .

For the next week, Bo Yueming left early and returned late every day.

And Pei Yi also didn’t let his work slide. After comparing the popularity of the two games, he confirmed that suspense and supernatural games were still more popular among the public.

Therefore, Pei Yi wrote another game based on his framework, called “Tracking Pros and Cons”—

The game environment was set at the scenes of various suspenseful cases.

Players could choose to look for clues at the crime scenes from the different perspectives of either the “policeman” or the “murderer.”

The former needed to collect all the traces of evidence and piece together the truth to solve the case, while the latter needed to eliminate every last trace and escape.

You could choose the standalone time-limited mode, and the player would win if they found the truth or destroyed it within the specified time, or you could choose the two-player battle mode. This matched one policeman and one murderer to search for traces at any time. The former searched and the latter destroyed, and when all the traces were found, the game would decide the winner.

Pei Yi would compile a total of eight cases, with the difficulty of each one gradually increasing.

Of course, the party who purchased the copyright could pay him for more, or find another game writer to plan more case levels.

It took Pei Yi a week to efficiently complete the creation of the core plots of two levels.

Before peak traffic in the evening, he uploaded the game concept and general plot of the first copy of “Tracking Pros and Cons” to the Youtu website, and opened the original copyright certification.

This time, he did not open private chat bidding, but started a three-day original IP auction.

This method was very simple – the highest bidder would win.

In addition, he also spent a lot of money to buy the top position on the auction page to promote it.

A corresponding price must be paid for benefits, and without spending money, how could you get more traffic? Last time he had no money, but this time he had to get the right exposure!

As soon as Pei Yi finished all of this, a message came in the private chat interface.

Li Yuan had immediately messaged, “I see that you’ve launched a new game. Why did you choose to auction it?”

Pei Yi raised his eyebrows. “Little Boss Li, aren’t you paying me too much attention? Do you have a crush on me?”

“……..”

Li Yuan sent a series of ellipses, then responded jokingly, “Fuck off, I’ve been a face-con since university, but I’m not interested in shameless people like you.”

Pei Yi had long been accustomed to Li Yuan’s way of speaking, and responded with a chuckle, “En, right now I don’t have the energy to deal with buyers in private chats one by one. It’s better to clarify all the requirements at once, and sell to whoever bids the highest.”

After looking at the game settings, Li Yuan returned and said, “I see that your game can be made with a wave of medium-sized IPs? Why not set up guaranteed shares? You might continue to earn more.”

For Chinese original game IPs, they were generally divided into two modes—

The buyout method, or guaranteed shares.

Pei Yi said bluntly, “Too much trouble. I’m currently trying to make quick money.”

With a one-time buyout, the money was more straightforward.

What if Party A was an unreliable person and didn’t pay the dividends later?

Li Yuan in front of his screen heard this reason and said, “Wait, I’ll join in on the fun with you first.”

Pei Yi raised his eyebrows.

In less than half a minute, he received a system message—

[User Pear Garden (Pear Logo) has participated in the auction of your work, and the quote is 200,000.]

Seeing this quote, Pei Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “Little Boss Li, are you rich, ah?”

“Let’s play, your game IP is worth more than this price, there will be a Party A vying for it.”

“After the auction is over in three days, the system will have to return the money to me. If I didn’t only have the copyright fee to buy the mini-game, I would definitely spend more.”

Pei Yi teased, “You’re not afraid of screwing up? What if the game really falls into your hands in the end?”

Li Yuan replied confidently, “No way, I saw a Party A follow suit as soon as I refreshed.”

In the next second, Pei Yi received two more system messages—

[User Chengfeng Studios has participated in the auction of your work, and the quote is 250,000.]

[User LN has participated in the auction of your work, and the quote is 280,000.]

In just two rounds of bidding, the amount had increased by 80,000.

Pei Yi’s lips curved up. He was already very satisfied with the current bidding process. He was not creating a first-line game at the moment, but the reasonable price for this game was around 500,000 or 600,000.

After all, in addition to the quality of the original game IP, the reputation of the architect was equally important. Although Pei Yi was confident in the work itself, he also knew that his game path in this world had not fully opened up yet.

There was a knock on the door.

Uncle Kai’s voice came from outside the study. “Little Sir.”

“En?”

Pei Yi and Li Yuan exchanged words and then he quickly went offline. He switched the webpage to a video site again, and then rushed over to open the door.

Uncle Kai stood outside the study and glanced at the computer screen with a smile. “Little Sir, Second Young Master just called and said that he is free tonight and wants to take you out for dinner.”

Out?

Pei Yi had been immersed in game creation for the past few days, and had thought about getting some fresh air.

Uncle Kai could see the interest on his face. “Then, does Little Sir want to change clothes? Shall we go down together in half an hour?”

Pei Yi put on a show of obedience, and nodded in response.

. . . . . .

Night fell.

Pei Yi followed by Bo Yueming’s side, watching as the elevator went all the way up. The World Trade Center was the most representative landmark in Wencheng, with a total of 73 floors, and Linshui Pavilion on the 63rd floor was the highest-standard dining place in the local area.

The location, restaurant, environment, and service were all top-notch.

Pei Yi covertly glanced at the person beside him and thought to himself—

He had known they would eat well, but didn’t expect it to be this well. Wouldn’t this meal be expensive tonight?

Bo Yueming noticed Pei Yi’s scrutiny, and pretended to look straight ahead, disclosing, “I heard that this restaurant is famous for their desserts, so order more if you like them.”

When Pei Yi heard about the desserts, which were his favorite, his interest level rose like the number of floors.

He could no longer drink, so he could only rely on desserts to reward his hard work.

— Ding-dong.

The elevator safely stopped at the 63rd floor and opened in response.

After confirming their identities, the manager of the restaurant who had been waiting by the door showed a standard welcoming smile. “Good evening, Mr. Bo, welcome to our Linshui Pavilion. The A3 window seat has been reserved for you. Please follow me.”

The behind-the-scenes boss of the restaurant had rented out the entire floor as a restaurant, with large panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows that occupied one side of the view no matter where you sat. 

Although there was no special private box format, the overall atmosphere of the restaurant was quiet and comfortable because only eight tables of guests were received at a time, and they were quite a distance apart.

In the center of the restaurant was a delicate, slowly-rotating stage, where members of a specially hired orchestra were playing live.

Pei Yi looked around and had to sigh: in the realm of the rich, people really played in style.

At the restaurant manager’s direction, the group was seated smoothly.

Pei Yi and Bo Yueming sat opposite each other by the window, and Uncle Kai and Lin Zhong chose to sit on the outside without dissatisfaction.

If it weren’t for Second Young Master and Little Sir bringing them along, where would they have the spare money to enter such a high-end establishment?

The restaurant manager handed over electronic menus, one for each person. “Good evening, everyone. You can take a look at our limited menu for today. All ingredients are airlifted from across the globe on the same day.”

Pei Yi pretended not to understand as he scrolled through the menu. All the dishes in sight were up to three digits, and some of them directly exceeded four.

Well, what could he say?

It was obviously a money grab, but this restaurant at least let you fill your stomach.

“……..”

Bo Yueming “couldn’t see,” and Pei Yi “couldn’t understand.” Uncle Kai and Lin Zhong looked at each other in blank dismay and didn’t order their own food. The four of them made no moves for the time being.

The manager noticed Bo Yueming’s inconvenience at the core of the group, and prompted gently, “Mr. Bo, if necessary, I can introduce each dish to you in detail.”

As soon as the words fell, a thick, heavy voice suddenly sounded, “Excuse me, Mr. Bo from Bo Dichuang?”

Bo Dichuang was the name of the Bo Group branch in Wencheng.

When Pei Yi heard this strange voice, he automatically looked over—

A middle-aged man in a dark blue shirt was approaching. His appearance was average, but he was imposing, calm, and experienced. The watch on his wrist was worth millions, and there was a lit cigar in one gold ring-adorned hand.

At this moment, there was a trace of uncertain scrutiny in the visitor’s smiling eyes.

The restaurant manager was the first to react, and nodded. “Chairman Chen.”

Lin Zhong also recognized this person, and hurriedly whispered to Bo Yueming next to him, “Mr. Bo, it’s Chairman Chen Shun of Shuntian Group.”

Shuntian Group was the strongest competitor for this “Wencheng Sports Center” project.

Bo Yueming naturally recognized Chen Shun at first sight. He got up slowly, deliberately shifting the direction of his hand. “Chairman Chen, I’ve heard about you for a long time. Please forgive me for not being able to greet you right away, as my eyes are inconvenient.”

No matter in the Imperial Capital or in Wencheng, he couldn’t show weakness in front of others.

“I heard a while ago that the Bo family had sent a new person from their headquarters in the Imperial Capital.” Chen Shun looked at Bo Yueming’s outstretched hand, smiling as he shook hands with him. “Mr. Bo is able to take over the bidding of this level of project at such a young age. It’s really admirable.”

“Chairman Chen overpraises me.”

Their hands loosened as soon as they were clasped.

“I had originally wanted to find an opportunity to meet Mr. Bo, but I didn’t expect there to be such a coincidence today. I just saw Mr. Bo and his party come in.” Chen Shun took a drag of his cigar and let out a light puff. “Thanks to my great eyes, I didn’t recognize the wrong person.”

When Pei Yi heard that last sentence, his fingers on the menu tablet tightened for a moment.

For some reason, he felt that Chen Shun was no good, and there was a subtle ill feeling between the lines.

“Apologies.” 

Chen Shun seemed to have just noticed the guide glasses that Bo Yueming was wearing, and there was an uncertain apology on his face. “Mr. Bo’s eyes are……”

“There was a car accident three or four months ago, and I was blinded,” Bo Yueming spoke frankly, guessing the other person’s intention. “I brought the family to dinner tonight. Since we’ve met, why doesn’t Chairman Chen sit down and eat with us together?”

Lin Zhong heard this and tactfully gave up his seat.

“I came earlier than Mr. Bo, and I’ve already eaten,” Chen Shun declined.

However, he smiled and glanced at Lin Zhong who had given up his seat, and sat down calmly. “Since we met by fate, does Mr. Bo mind if we have a brief chat?”

Bo Yueming sat down, and there was an implication in his words, “If Chairman Chen doesn’t mind talking in front of my family and assistants, I certainly don’t mind.”

Chen Shun looked at Pei Yi and Uncle Kai on the opposite side, and the contempt in his eyes was completely blocked by the smoke of the cigar.

This big Wencheng Sports Center project was the top priority of Shuntian Group this year, and he paid special attention to all the competitors and people in charge.

Some time ago, he managed to get rid of that leader, Feng Zheng, with difficulty. Unexpectedly, the Bo family didn’t give up, but sent another person over.

However, as early as the first day Bo Yueming took over the project, Chen Shun sent someone to thoroughly investigate him—

He was young and capable, but it was a pity he had a bad family background and had gone blind some time ago.

It was said that his grandmother who was his only backer had fallen, so the Bo elders used him as a marriage tool, and even his marriage partner was a well-known fool in the Imperial Capital circle.

As for being sent to take over this project, to put it nicely, he was “valued,” and to put it bluntly, he was “exiled.” He had no future to speak of, and was just a joke among outsiders.

Chen Shun was very confident that his group could win the project, but wouldn’t it be more worry-free if he could lose an opponent before the bidding?

Even if there was no way to repel him with one move, he had to at least know the real situation and frustrate his opponent.

Chen Shun did not easily reveal his shrewdness and meanness, prompting him gently, “Mr. Bo, the Wencheng Sports Center project is not easy, ah. Even if your Bo family wants to enter the coastal market, you shouldn’t start with this project.”

He was clearly the most cunning old fox in the real estate development market in Wencheng, so the “kindness” of the moment naturally had ulterior motives.

Bo Yueming knew this, and showed a little weakness in his tone. “I’ve only been in Wencheng for a few days, and I really don’t know the situation of this project. What does Chairman Chen mean by saying this? Do you have another suggestion?”

He was still a little younger, after all, and he lost his aura with just a few words.

Chen Shun ‘kindly’ instructed, “Mr. Bo, start with small or medium-sized projects and work steadily. This is better than such provincial-level large-scale projects. If Bo Group wants to swallow such a big cake the moment they come, it is difficult to guard against hidden arrows.”

There were implications in the last half of the sentence.

Bo Yueming smiled, replying lightly, “Chairman Chen, there are only three companies left to participate in the bidding.”

Excluding the Bo family from outside, there were only Shuntian and the You family left, so whose family would attack covertly? Whose family would stab them in the back?

“……..”

Chen Shun was stunned for two seconds, but then he smiled. “Mr. Bo, let me tell you the truth. My Shuntian Group is determined to win this project, and I don’t bother with those dirty tricks.”

“I just feel like I am connected by fate to Mr. Bo, so I warn you—”

“Compared to me, that You Qinian who broke the siege at the beginning of the year and took over his own business not long ago, is a real viper, a ruthless character.”

Chen Shun took another deep puff of the cigar and exhaled a deeper and heavier cloud to cover up the sinister depths in his eyes.

“Last month, the relevant departments held a project introduction meeting. I remember that your project leader, Feng Zheng, had a lot of contact with Director You, ah.”

Pei Yi on the opposite side frowned.

He didn’t like this Chen Shun who had appeared suddenly, and he didn’t like his smoking. It smelled terrible!

Bo Yueming noticed Pei Yi’s feelings, and his original “weakened” aura instantly recovered. “Chairman Chen, excuse me, I really can’t stand the smell of smoke.”

“…….”

Chen Shun didn’t expect that his implications would be met with such a sentence.

He was stunned for a rare two seconds before he resumed an old fox’s usual tact, and handed the cigar to the restaurant manager to dispose of. “It was my own lack of thought, ba. Mr. Bo, what are you going to eat tonight? Everything you order can be put on my account.”

“I hope that in the future, we, Shuntian and Bo, can cooperate if there is an opportunity.”

In a word, he meant for Bo Group and Bo Yueming to give up the bidding.

There was a hint of coldness in Bo Yueming’s eyes hidden beneath the glasses. He was just about to reject Chen Shun’s offer to treat them, when he heard Pei Yi , who was cutely pretending to be well-behaved on the opposite side, say, “Eat anything?”

No one at the table expected Pei Yi to suddenly speak.

Chen Shun nodded happily, showing off his imposing wealth. “Of course you can.”

He had guessed Pei Yi’s identity and didn’t take him seriously. He was just a little fool, what tricks could he come up with?

Chen Shun’s affirmation was just what Pei Yi wanted.

He poked randomly at the blacked-out electronic screen, and when the screen turned on, everyone discovered that his page had stopped at the wine category at some point.

The behind-the-scenes owner of  Linshui Pavilion was also a wine lover. There were many types of wine in the restaurant, almost all of which were expensive wines from around the world that were second-tier and up, and the lowest price was “5999.”

Pei Yi acted like he didn’t know how to switch the page, and when he saw the screen turn on, he started to “poke blindly”—

“This one, this one, this one!”

While randomly ticking expensive wines that cost tens of thousands, he continued to talk foolishly. When he stopped, his nonsense cost at least a few hundred thousand.

“……..”

Chen Shun, having witnessed this scene, was at a loss for words.

The manager of the restaurant, who had watched the whole process, wished that so much consumption would be generated tonight so that he could get an easy commission, but he still maintained the most basic professionalism and said nonsense with a smile.

“So much wine at this time? You won’t be able to finish it.”

Pei Yi’s look grew more innocent. “Take home.”

Anyway, the wine wouldn’t be wasted, so it was fine to get more. He had secretly drunk a bottle of Bo Yueming’s Lafite last time, and thought to take this opportunity to “return” it to the other party.

Of course, if Chen Shun disagreed, then forget it.

Anyone who took their word back in public would be ashamed, anyway.

Pei Yi thought of this and looked more expectantly at the silent Chen Shun. “…….Ah? You don’t have money?”

A little polite, but not too much.

Uncle Kai covered his lips and coughed, and Lin Zhong, who was standing at the back, tried so hard to suppress his smile that the corners of his mouth almost twitched.

As expected of Little Sir, he always had a way to inadvertently anger people!

Bo Yueming guessed the cunning intentions of his family’s kitten, and pretended not to see the exorbitant wine price list. “Chairman Chen, my family’s Pei Yi is used to being childish, we’ve made you laugh.”

When Pei Yi heard the words “my family’s” in front of his name, his heart felt a little warm.

“…….”

You call it childish for a fool to order randomly off the menu?

The tone sounded embarrassed, but you never said ‘forget it,’ ah!

At last, a crack appeared in Chen Shun’s expression, and he suddenly felt that he might be mistaken—

What fool? What blind man?

One was naturally wicked, and the other hid his wickedness on the inside, they were a perfect fucking match!

A few gazes followed from a nearby dining table. Chen Shun prided himself on being a big man with a reputation in Wencheng, so he didn’t want to lose face, and could afford this unspoken grievance. 

It was fine, he said it was his treat, so it would be charged to his account.

When the restaurant manager saw that the commission was going to happen, he was even faster than Pei Yi. “Okay, Chairman Chen.”

Chen Shun didn’t care much about the money, but just felt inexplicably aggrieved with nowhere to vent it. “Mr. Bo, I have something to do, so I will leave first. I hope you can think about what I said, then we will have many opportunities to cooperate in the future.”

Bo Yueming gave a slight nod. “Thank you for your advice, Chairman Chen. Leave slowly. I will treat you back when I have a chance.”

“……..” 

Chen Shun choked speechlessly and left with restraint.

Lin Zhong returned to his original seat and excitedly picked up the menu. “Mr. Bo, shall I read it to you? What do you want to eat?”

“Okay.”

Uncle Kai also motioned to Pei Yi, “Little Sir, what do you want to eat? Look at the pictures.”

Pei Yi did not expect that Chen Shun would still stubbornly treat guests. The corners of his mouth twitched, and he raised his head to take credit in front of Bo Yueming, but he feared that his thoughts would be too obvious.

Thus, he had no choice but to change his mind to his appetite, and checked several more items on the dessert column.

An hour and a half later, dinner was over.

The manager of the restaurant personally pushed a small trolley filled with more than a dozen bottles of wine that had already been packaged. “Mr. Bo, all of your wine is here.”

Lin Zhong was a bit stunned when he saw the quantity.

God!

Little Sir, how is this dinner, ah?

He was simply here to purchase goods for Second Young Master!

---

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Chapter Forty <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-Two

The cable car resumed operation, and the fireworks continued to explode one by one.

Lucas gazed at Luo Ran’s face as fireworks flickered over it, and suddenly understood why he had taken a picture of Luo Ran while watching the fireworks with him.

Lucas opened his terminal.

The only photo in his terminal was taken by him after he and Luo Ran went to the racecourse to play and watched fireworks while dining on a restaurant balcony.

The photo was a profile shot of Luo Ran. He was watching the fireworks with the gorgeous sky in the background.

Lucas had never been interested in fireworks, but Luo Ran under the fireworks was very beautiful.

The car returned to the high platform and landed.

Lucas put away the terminal and disembarked the cable car with Luo Ran.

Luo Ran had just been injected with a sedative, and his mind was also unstable. Coming down from a high altitude, he was naturally off balance.

Lucas embraced Luo Ran’s waist from behind, calmly supporting him.

Luo Ran could feel the pheromones gently enveloping him, as if telling him that he had entered a safe space.

After the two came down from the elevated platform, they saw that Lu Bei had come down and was drinking the water provided by Zhou Mingkai. 

Zhou Mingkai said helplessly: “I’ve been waiting here for a long time, and the water isn’t cold anymore. It’s so coincidental……it just happened to malfunction when you went up.”

Lu Bei smiled and said; “It doesn’t matter. It was actually pretty good. We got to watch fireworks twice, which is equal to the price of two tickets. 

“En.” Luo Ran smiled, and was about to reach out to take the milk tea Zhou Mingkai handed to him, when Lucas grabbed it first.

Luo Ran: “…….?”

Lucas frowned and said to Luo Ran: “Don’t drink it cold.”

Shen Xiluo had told him that Luo Ran was weak now, and shouldn’t touch cold or stimulating things.

“Ah.” Luo Ran paused. Anyway, it wasn’t necessary to drink, so he retracted his hand.

“The admiral knows about this?”

“How could I not know?”

Zhou Mingkai and Lu Bei watched their meaningless conversation and exchanged glances.

Huh.

The two couldn’t laugh or cry.

It seemed that these two had settled their differences.

Zhou Mingkai didn’t know what had happened between Lucas and Luo Ran, but at the end of the day, the two could sense the strange atmosphere between them.

The group went to eat something afterwards, and then left after playing around at the game booths.

When only Lu Bei and Zhou Mingkai were left alone, Lu Bei smiled and said: “It seems that the admiral and the secretary have reconciled, one more benefit of today’s trip.”

Zhou Mingkai nodded, saying bitterly: “It was too difficult for me today. You know, when Luo Ran and I were sitting in the back, the admiral almost killed me with his eyes!”

Zhou Mingkai walked toward the aircraft with Lu Bei and said: “Really, those two, one is attacking like a chicken and the other is hiding like hell.”

Lu Bei said: “Secretary Luo has always been professional and calm, and can solve any problem perfectly, and only in front of the admiral does he sidestep helplessly. This is because he likes him, and if he likes him, he could lose his position.”

Zhou Mingkai looked at the indifferent Lu Bei, who wore thin-rimmed glasses and looked like a bookworm, and tutted.

“It shouldn’t happen like that, ba.”

Lu Bei raised his eyebrows: “Who knows.”

. . . . . .

The next weekend, Lucas went back to his hometown, but he took Luo Ran with him this time.

“Why is the admiral bringing me home?” Lou Ran asked anxiously inside the aircraft. “I’m not part of the Aldor family.”

“I don’t want to go back alone.”

Luo Ran paused and said nothing.

The original Aldor family home was a manor located in the suburbs, and had a very understated style. Although the brick and stone house was large and dignified, it looked a little worn down, and there was a bit of moss on the walls.

The military family’s home in the capital had always been low-key.

The aircraft landed, and the captain of the marshal’s guard stepped forward to give a military salute: “Admiral! Welcome back.”

The entire manor was patrolling, and the captain gestured for everyone to disperse so as not to block Lucas’s view.

Lucas had a bad temper, especially since he was not at ease with his family, and everyone knew it.

Lucas led Luo Ran down the long, Chinese-style corridor to the dining room.

“Lucas is back…..! Aiya, Ranran is here too.” The marshal’s wife smiled and pulled Luo Ran to sit down.

“Today I specially asked the kitchen to prepare more dishes. Ranran needs to eat more, he is too thin.”

Luo Ran nodded.

Sure enough, Cyril was also there, sitting to the side with a gentle, harmless smile. He said to Lucas: “It’s a rare opportunity for us to have dinner together.”

“Yes, ah, it almost makes me nauseous.” Lucas crossed his arms in front of his chest and sat there with a cold expression.

“Just eat at mealtime, don’t talk about other things.” The marshal had also been on the battlefield when he was young, and his aura was undiminished. He had a fierce, cold face, just like a middle-aged version of Lucas.

“Ai, Lucas, eat more.” At the dinner table, the marshal’s wife focused her entire being on Lucas, and kept picking up meat and vegetables for him.

Lucas expressionlessly picked out the food given to him by the marshal’s wife with other chopsticks, setting it aside without eating it.

The marshal’s wife was a bit sad, but tried not to show it, and the marshal frowned.

“It’s okay,” Cyril smoothed things over with a smile and picked them up from Lucas’s extra plate. “Mom, just give them to me.”

In fact, Lucas didn’t mean to provoke or target on purpose, he was just a clean freak and felt very disgusted.

This obsession with cleanliness was not about being clean or anything else, but about people. He felt nauseous after even touching someone else.

After finally finishing their meal, there was no way for the family to sit down and talk together, so they could only go back to their rooms to rest.

Lucas asked Cyril to talk on the balcony.

Luo Ran paused, and was about to go to the balcony with Lucas, when the marshal’s wife came to hold him back.

“Come, Ranran, speak a few words with me.”

Firstly, the marshal and his wife truly liked Luo Ran, and secondly, they wanted to use Luo Ran’s hand to repair their relationship with Lucas, so they cared about him very much.

Luo Ran wore a slight frown as he watched Lucas walk toward the balcony.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” Luo Ran smiled.

. . . . . .

The balcony was very spacious, with tables and chairs to the side.

“What is it?” After going up, Cyril sat down in front of Lucas and asked with a smile: “What can I do for my brother?”

—Snap.

Without saying a word, Lucas threw a folder onto the table.

Cyril frowned. He picked it up to glance through it, and the smile on his face froze for a moment.

“Where did you find this? This is false content, it’s slander!” Cyril said, “How could I harm my little brother!”

“I don’t have the patience to argue with you. Just tell me directly that you were ordered by someone, and I won’t have to pursue it.” Lucas crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked down at Cyril.

He led troops into battle, and couldn’t be bothered with a gutter rat like Cyril.

“I told you, it wasn’t me.” Cyril frowned and said, “It really wasn’t me, I don’t know how to defend myself.”

“One, two…..”

Lucas looked at Cyril with a dark expression.

Cyril said anxiously: “Lucas, if you want to fight with me and target me, you don’t have to find excuses to pour dirty water on me!”

“Three.”

Lucas took out his pistol and pointed it directly at Cyril.

“Speak honestly and answer my question.”

“You…..!” Cyril’s face paled, and he could no longer maintain his expression. “I’m your brother, this is our home! What are you doing!”

Lucas pulled back the hammer, and the gun made a crisp sound.

“Three.”

“Two……”

Lucas began to count down again.

Take swift and decisive action, and as long as there was an answer, there would be no opportunity for redundant explanations at all.

Cyril believed that Lucas was really capable of shooting him.

It was only that he didn’t know if he would aim at his heart or other parts.

Cyril took a deep breath and smashed the already broken jar.

—Crash.

Cyril got up and rushed toward Lucas.

The table was thrown down and fell from the balcony, and the large commotion immediately attracted the attention of the guards below.

On the other end, the marshal’s wife had taken Luo Ran to the living room to sit down.

“Ranran, ah,” the marshal’s wife said anxiously, “Tell me, if Lucas was willing to come back to have dinner with us, does that mean he is willing to reconcile with us?”

“Madam.” Luo Ran attempted to organize his words. “Madam, do you want to hear the truth? It might be a little uncomfortable.”

“En? Tell me, I’ll be fine.”

Luo Ran said: “The admiral will never reconcile with you in this life. If you missed it back then, then you missed it. The admiral is naturally irascible and serious. For him, everything is black and white. Love is love, and not loving is not loving.”

The marshal’s wife paled: “We’re working hard now……”

The marshal’s wife had been attempting to integrate into Lucas’s life, surfing the internet, delivering soup, and so on, but perhaps she didn’t know what was wrong.

Luo Ran explained: “At this point, it’s useless to work hard.”

The two were about to speak further when they heard a gunshot from the balcony.

They were immediately startled.

The marshal heard as well, and had a guess in mind. What everyone saw when they went upstairs was—

Lucas stood aside with a face like the king of hell, while Cyril crouched there and convulsed, clutching his shoulder.

The material over Cyril’s shoulder was stained red, and blood flowed between his fingers.

“God……!” The marshal’s wife’s eyes widened.

With a calm expression, the marshal said to a guard: “Call the doctor.”

Lucas took Luo Ran to stride away, ignoring the others.

“Lucas!” The marshal’s expression became even uglier.

Lucas, however, was already gone.

. . . . . .

In the aircraft, Lucas crossed his legs and pillowed his head on his arm, saying: “I asked, and he behaved after I fired a shot. He said he found the reporters himself.”

Luo Ran paused, then nodded.

“He said that, but I can confirm that it was ordered by someone. It was most likely the dog’s owner, the First Prince.” Lucas sneered. “What he said was certainly ironic. Next, we must focus on investigating the negotiations between him and the First Prince to see if there are any clues.”

“En, whether it is the First Prince or not, Cyril and the First Prince are the ones we need to guard against.” Luo Ran sighed and said, “The grievances have already been formed.”

The old king’s health was getting worse and worse. In the future, if it was true…..then there would be even more blood.

“I won’t go back in the future, it’s boring.” Lucas sneered.

“En.” Luo Ran lowered his eyes and said: “Everything depends on the admiral’s wishes.”

Lucas said: “I’ve been very busy recently too.”

Luo Ran was a little puzzled: “Isn’t the admiral on vacation? Why so busy?”

He was the one who was busy.

Lucas sat up and said with a serious face: “I’m busy thinking about you.”

Luo Ran: “……..”

Luo Ran: “? ? ? ?”

Lucas said: “Have you been teased?”

Lu Ran: “…….”

Lucas said: “I searched the internet for methods of pursuing people, and this is a cheesy pick-up line.”

…….A cheesy pick-up line.

Luo Ran said with a smile: “The admiral should talk less.”

Lucas scoffed coldly: “It’s your fault, you’re guilty!”

Luo Ran: “ ? ”

Lucas pointed to his heart and said: “Not only did you break into my heart, you stole it!”

When Lucas spoke this sentence, his face was as serious as if he was at war, and his voice was powerful and sonorous.

Luo Ran: “…………..”

He wanted to get out of the vehicle.

Luo Ran looked down at the official documents and feigned ignorance, not paying attention to anything that was going on in the world.

. . . . . .

The next day, the marshal and his wife came to the capital to find Lucas.

They said they wanted to talk about what happened the night before.

Lucas, of course, was nowhere to be seen.

Luo Ran couldn’t let the couple wait in the reception room, so he had to go see them.

He also brought some official documents.

“Ranran.” The marshal’s wife smiled and asked, “Where is Lucas?”

“The admiral is busy with official documents, so I will do the same.” Luo Ran smiled, asking, “What do you two want with Lucas?”

“To talk about last night.” The marshal said with a very long face. “I think he should give an explanation for shooting his brother in the manor.”

Luo Ran sat down in front of the two and said: “But up to now, the admiral has not received an explanation about his brother poisoning him.”

Luo Ran was always gentle and elegant, but at this moment, the two of them could feel the spirit in him.

The marshal said: “It happened more than ten years ago! They were both young at the time, and after we found out about it, we punished Cyril severely! We understand that Cyril was a weak-willed boy, and so far he hasn’t been able to get a single point in the military department.”

Luo Ran paused, then gently placed one of the official documents in front of the two of them.

It was Lucas’s annual health report.

The two frowned, opened it to take a look, and were stunned.

—Lucas Aldor

—Spiritual strength: SSS

—Spiritual status rating: S-level danger, remnants of trauma, must take xn12, df1, uyy8

“This is the medicine the admiral takes every day, and these are the calming incense and sleeping pills he uses.” Luo Ran pointed to the pictures on the document.

“The admiral has always wanted to save face, and won’t tell outsiders about his mental state.”

After that, Luo Ran gave the two another official document.

“This is the report from the investigation team, about negotiations between Cyril and a reporter. A nine-year-old child poisoning someone can be said to be the result of a lack of mental development, but now that Cyril is twenty-nine years old, I think he should have completed his development.”

Luo Ran lowered his eyes and said with a smile: “This is what was explained last night. I think the marshal will understand everything after reading this information, including the dispute. The admiral did not do it for himself, but for the Empire.”

“Everything the admiral does is for the Empire. He will not use his public office to take private revenge on Cyril. Therefore, I hope the marshal and his wife will not just take Cyril’s side, but realize that the admiral is an ordinary person who can also be hurt, and that what he does for the Empire should not be taken for granted.”

Luo Ran spoke slowly and gently, and his posture was very low, but he didn’t have the slightest fear.

“I’m finished speaking. I apologize that the admiral is unable to come down and see you, and I apologize for what I just said.” Luo Ran bowed deeply.

The faces of the marshal and his wife paled, and they were at a loss for words upon seeing the two official documents.

After speaking, Luo Ran left.

When he stepped out the office door, he turned and met Lucas head-on.

“Admiral……” Luo Ran was taken aback.

Did he……hear that?

Lucas gazed at Luo Ran fixedly.

Luo Ran was a little anxious: “Admiral?”

“En.”

Lucas suddenly reached out and gently rubbed the top of Luo Ran’s hair.

Luo Ran was surprised for a moment, and held the official documents, not daring to move.

Lucas rubbed for a moment, and then lightly tapped Luo Ran’s nose. “Let’s go, ba.”

“Oh……”

Lucas stopped suddenly, turned back to Luo Ran, and said: “Do you have a lighter?”

Luo Ran thought that Lucas was in a bad mood and needed one, but he usually didn’t smoke, so he was completely unprepared.

“Sorry, I don’t have one……”

Lucas turned and earnestly threw out his online study results, adding: “Then how did you set fire to my heart?”

Luo Ran: “………”

Oh.

---

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Chapter Fifty-Nine << Table of Contents >> Chapter 61

Huang Wangxiang followed his gaze and looked over.

The people outside the city had heard the news that the Yan army was about to attack, and became increasingly anxious. They all crowded around the guards in charge of registration, crushing forward in the darkness and demanding to enter the city as soon as possible. The guards pulled out glinting swords and reprimanded them loudly, but failed to deter them, so they hurriedly sent people to the city wall to ask how to deal with the turmoil.

“Your Majesty,” Yuan Zong said, “we can’t let them in! Firstly, there is not enough food in the city, and secondly, the identities of these thousands of people have not been investigated. If they are the Yan army disguised as refugees, the consequences will be disastrous.”

What he said was reasonable, but Liu Xian’an asked: “What if they really are refugees?”

If they were really refugees and were left on the battlefield where two armies were battling, what would happen was obvious. It was also because it was so obvious that Yuan Zong and the other generals chose not to talk about it, and only spoke of the danger of letting people into the city, but now this matter was directly brought to the table by Liu Xian’an.

Yuan Zong said angrily: “The emperor doesn’t need to see a doctor now, you can go back!”

Liu Xian’an ignored him, and looked at Huang Wangxiang: “The people at the city gate are all like me and my brother, they believe that as long as they enter the city, they will be able to eat. That’s why they all came here, because they want to live.”

A look of pain appeared on Huang Wangxiang’s face. The headache accumulated from days of insomnia rushed up at this moment, and he couldn’t even stand firmly.

The people next to him hurried forward to support him, and Yuan Zong drew his sword, pointing it at Liu Xian’an: “Deceitful thing, no matter whether you are a spy or not, you will not be able to survive today.”

“Is it because I told the truth?” Liu Xian’an raised his voice. “I am a doctor, and a doctor should save people. And General Yuan is a general, so his natural mission should be to save people. Why do you want to kill me now because I want to save lives?”

When he said this, he was neither humble nor overbearing, and stood with his hands behind his back, truly intending to petition for the people. Huang Wangxiang commanded: “Lao Yuan, put down your sword!”

Yuan Zong shouted: “Your Majesty, don’t listen to his nonsense. The purpose of not letting the refugees outside the city to enter is to protect the people already inside the city. It is not a departure from the original intention!”

Liu Xian’an asked: “The purpose of not letting the refugees outside the city enter is to protect the people already inside the city. General Yuan said it himself. How is this statement different from those of Dayan’s officials? What is the difference between Sanshui City and those cities with closed gates along the Bai River?”

Yuan Zong grew angry from embarrassment. He believed that Liu Xian’an was here to shake the morale of the army, and raised his sword to strike without a word, but was stopped by someone. The old general Miao Changqing blocked him and said: “Lao Yuan, calm down!”

Huang Wangxiang’s face also flushed, partly because of the chaos in the city, and partly because of Liu Xian’an’s accusations and Yuan Zong’s sudden savage act. There was a shrill ringing in his ears. War was coming soon, and this was bound to be a bloody battle. No matter if they won or lost, it would bring great casualties. If they lost, they lost. If they won, they would attack all the way to the royal city, and he probably wouldn’t be able to achieve the slogan “everyone has something to eat” that he carried in his heart.

Yuan Zong had already loudly ordered people to drive away the refugees outside the city and close Sanshui City’s gate. The news exploded like a bomb, sending out more shrill cries and pleading. Just as Liu Xian’an said, Sanshui City had also become like the cities along the Bai River. There was no difference.

At this thought, Huang Wangxiang held himself up against the city wall. His throat was faintly sweet, and he said with bloodshot eyes: “Lao Yuan, let them in.”

“Your Majesty!” Yuan Zong said, “How can we let them in without verifying their identities? The Yan army has already slaughtered Qingyang City. Should we let them slaughter Sanshui City as well?”

“How does the general know that Qingyang City was slaughtered by the Yan army?” Liu Xian’an looked at him. “Which warring party does not want to win the hearts of the people on both sides of the war? Since the Yan army won a complete victory, why would they massacre the city? Apart from gaining a reputation of brutality and pushing more people to the enemy camp, can there be any other purpose for this move?”

“Liang Shu has killed countless people, and massacring cities is not uncommon! Where is there a good thing about the Yan Dynasty’s dog official!” Yuan Zong said, “Desist, everyone is unable to see through your false appearance as a spy today, so I won’t kill you, I’ll torture you carefully in two days instead. Someone, drag him down and imprison him!”

Liu Xian’an retorted: “Which of your two eyes saw Liang Shu killing countless people? Can this unreasonable act of massacring a city be condemned with the words, ‘dog official?’” The person was dragged down by two soldiers, still shouting back, “Who was the general who stayed behind in Qingyang City? Did the emperor really know him?”

This question caused Huang Wangxiang’s hands and feet to go cold. He didn’t know him, not at all. He only listened to the other party’s rhetoric at the time and was so impassioned and deeply moved that he handed over the entire city.

Yuan Zong took two steps forward: “Your Majesty, prepare for battle!”

Huang Wangxiang gazed toward the outside of the city again. The Yan army cavalry was in the distance, refugees fleeing nearby.

The two soldiers escorting Liu Xian’an walked faster and faster, but they didn’t go to the prison, and instead turned into an alleyway. Liu Xian’an said: “What were you doing, going so fast just now? I could have said a few more words.”

The Wang family brothers disguised as soldiers said: “Second Young Master Liu, it is better not to speak. I think Yuan Zong is like a mad dog. He can only bare his teeth, and can’t talk any sense.”

“I wasn’t reasoning with Yuan Zong, but with Huang Wangxiang,” Liu Xian’an said. “He’s not a bad person. Perhaps if I stayed longer, the war could be avoided.”

“But the people around him would not allow the young master to continue talking. The situation just now is already very dangerous,” Wang Fan said. “Although Huang Wangxiang assumed the title of ruler, he is unlike the prince, who has supreme authority over the army. Every so-called ‘general’ there has his own ideas, and they will never surrender.”

Liu Xian’an stopped in his tracks: “But I think I convinced Huang Wangxiang eighty or ninety percent just now.”

Wang Fan said: “Then he can either rely on the remaining one or two percent of his determination to fight, or……”

Liu Xian’an swiftly turned his head to look at the tower.

And there was a riot going on.

Huang Wangxiang staggered to the ground, clutching his belly with blood spilling between his fingers. Miao Changqing supported him in disbelief: “Lao Yuan, you are mad!”

Yuan Zong brandished the sword, its blade still covered in blood. There were many other generals standing behind him, and although some showed hesitation, they did not speak in the end.

Just now, Huang Wangxiang had ordered the refugees to be allowed into the city, and Yuan Zong tried his best to stop him. Huang Wangxiang drew his sword and scolded him furiously, the two fought, and during the struggle, General Yuan’s sword pierced the new emperor’s belly. As for whether it was intentional or unintentional, no one saw it clearly, but intentional or not, it didn’t matter much, because everyone other than Miao Changqing chose to stand behind Yuan Zong.

They didn’t understand. It was clear that the original route was the way to great victory, and now was a good time to take advantage of the victory and go north. Why did the emperor become confused all of a sudden and insist on taking risks for thousands of refugees? If they had known this, they might as well have elected General Yuan to sit on the dragon chair.

Huang Wangxiang was carried off the city wall.

In a dimly lit room, Liu Xian’an bandaged his wound, his fingertips stained with blood. Huang Wangxiang listened to the noise outside for a while, then asked, panting: “Was it really my people who massacred the city?”

Liu Xian’an said: “Yes. I heard from the surviving people that when the Yan army broke through the city, the defenders did not fight hard, but aimed their swords at the common people. They slaughtered the city first, then killed themselves, and cursed, ‘In the next life, I will be a wolf or a tiger.’ There was no other resistance. They were not greedy for life, but only had an ignorant and savage courage.”

Huang Wangxiang murmured: “You aren’t a doctor, are you?”

“I am a doctor, but not entirely a doctor.” Liu Xian’an put pressure on the wound.

Huang Wangxiang’s eyes clouded with tears: “I was wrong.”

“If you cannot live on and have to beg for a bite to eat, if you want to kill all corrupt officials, there is nothing wrong with that,” Liu Xian’an said. “However, there are some things that cannot be done just by thinking about them. A society where everyone has food cannot be achieved by just one person or dynasty. It requires the effort of tens of thousands, or hundreds of millions of people.”

“And I don’t have the ability to manage tens of thousands or hundreds of millions of people,” Huang Wangxiang said. “I also won’t see that day.”

“But there are always people who will see it.” Liu Xian’an slowed his voice. “Brother Huang, everything you have done today, even if you lose, even if you are wrong, it is not completely meaningless. At least it is a kind of attempt. And isn’t that what history is? Many people and many attempts, pushing the great wheel of time forward.”

Huang Wangxiang looked at him and smiled dryly. “Little brother, thank you.”

Liu Xian’an said: “No need for thanks.”

Huang Wangxiang struggled to grasp his sword with his blood-stained hands. “You go, ba, take this sword. The guard at the northwest gate is mine. If he recognizes the sword, he will let you go. Lao Yuan has already become suspicious of you, so it is not advisable to stay here for long. When you leave, take Lao Miao with you.”

As soon as these words fell, Miao Changqing’s scolding came from outside the courtyard: “Audacious! The Emperor is still inside, who told you to come!”

A-Ning ran in to report: “Ge, many people have come outside, saying they want to arrest us and send us to prison.”

Huang Wangxiang pushed himself up and shouted: “All of you, get out!”

Although he was weak, he was the “Emperor” who had not abdicated. Yuan Zong had not yet ascended the throne, so his subordinates didn’t dare to be too presumptuous. Miao Changqing was also guarding the door with a sword, white-haired and glowering, which was quite frightening, so they just surrounded this courtyard without stepping inside.

And Huang Wangxiang was dying. He felt exhausted, but at the same time, there was a sort of tranquility. He was about to let go and see his wife and children. He did not want to be an emperor in the next life, but wished to continue being a farmer, rely on his own hands for food and clothing, and raise a pair of children to study. So he smiled a little, and then completely entered the darkness.

Liu Xian’an gently covered his eyes for him.

A-Ning was also in a heavy mood. He stood by the bed and asked: “Young Master, what shall we do next?”

“Let’s go to the ruined temple,” Liu Xian’an said. “The prince is about to attack.”

“But there are still many of Yuan Zong’s people outside, and they have already identified us as spies.”

“We are not on the same side as them.”

Liu Xian’an picked up Huang Wangxiang’s sword and stepped out of the room. When Miao Changqing saw the sword, he asked tremblingly: “The Emperor…..”

“He died of his mortal wound. My condolences.” Liu Xian’an said, “General Miao, how many people do you have under your command?”

Miao Changqing hadn’t come out of his grief yet, and said: “One hundred.”

“Good, one hundred.” Liu Xian’an said, “Yuan Zong seems to be completely insane, and I don’t know if he will also order people to massacre the city when he is at the end of the road. General Miao, we must protect the common people.”

“All right.” Miao Changqing nodded. “We’ll just do this.”

Outside the city, all of the refugees had been expelled to the dense forest. Yuan Zong had ordered the gates to be closed and defensive weapons were set up along the city walls. Some, with a wink, already called him “Emperor” in advance. Yuan Zong didn’t refute, and was quite willing to accept it, so everyone began to shout long live. When the Yan army was about to approach the city, they wholeheartedly embraced the new emperor, and he ascended the throne.

Zhou Yi had disguised himself among the soldiers surrounding him, always ready to hear what new orders this person would issue so that he could inform Second Young Master Liu ahead of time. He was really amazed, and didn’t understand why this person was still in such a good mood at this time.

Yuan Zong wore a bright yellow cloak, standing majestically on the high wall.

Gao Lin handed the looking glass to Xiao Bing, and rode his horse to walk side by side with Liang Shu, wondering: “That is Huang Wangxiang? What is he doing in the cold wind, wrapped in such a big cloak? Is he not afraid of being blown away?”

“You take care of him,” Liang Shu said. “Prepare your bow and arrow. You go down and command that the city will be broken through in three days!”

T/N: Lol at Yuan Zong posing on the wall within arrow range. He actually thinks he’s not cannon-fodder.

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Chapter Forty-Seven << Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-Nine

A rich breakfast was served.

Pei Yi enjoyed it slowly by the window while pricking up his ears to listen to the business conversation not far away.

Bo Yueming asked him from the beginning, “How many companies are participating in the bidding?”

What he received from Old Mr. Bo was only the most basic bidding information for the initial stage of the project of “Wencheng Sports Center,” and he didn’t know anything about the specific situation.

Song Yuanyuan replied, “In the beginning, apart from the Bo family, there was also a foreign-funded enterprise in Haishi, and five local enterprises in Wencheng.”

“…….”

Lin Zhong was taken aback. “That many?”

Song Yuanyuan nodded. “This sort of international construction project has always been favored, and this is the calculated number.”

In the early stages, there were still some small enterprises who wanted to share a piece of the pie, but once they heard that so many leading enterprises had gathered, their eagerness to make a move was naturally drained.

Bo Yueming asked directly, “What about now?”

Four months had passed since the original bidding invitation, and the situation was likely to have changed.

Song Yuanyuan spoke truthfully, “The foreign-funded enterprise in Haishi has nnounced its withdrawal, and three other local enterprises in Wencheng chose to withdraw one after another. Now, including our Bo Group, there are only three left.”

Pei Yi took a sip of soy milk and frowned slightly.

Before the first round of bidding, more than half of the original seven companies had given up. Wasn’t this a “sweet pastry” with “impressive results after winning the project?” What was this situation? 

Lin Zhong also considered this aspect, and asked on his boss’s behalf, “Have you found out what’s going on?”

“It’s not clear.”

Song Yuanyuan shook his head, and could only guess, “Perhaps the opponents are too strong,  the competition is too fierce, or there are problems with the companies, so they can’t afford this project?”

Not to mention other companies, but even their Bo project team—

The original person in charge, Feng Zheng, fled “quietly” and may have even taken away and leaked all kinds of bidding data that they had calculated before.

Almost all of the members of the project team who learned about this fell apart.

Song Yuanyuan had reported the matter to headquarters in the Imperial Capital, but there was no news after waiting for nearly a week. If Bo Yueming hadn’t come, they had all planned to pack their bags and leave.

“Do we know the whereabouts of Feng Zheng?” Bo Yueming felt that it was not easy for this man to give up halfway.

Song Yuanyuan nodded. “We called the police, but we don’t have any solid evidence on hand, and it can only be regarded as a private case of resignation. The police will not file the case. I even found a private investigator at my own expense. If there is any news, I will be notified at once.”

Pei Yi stuffed the last bite of poached egg into his mouth, feeling that Song Yuanyuan’s ability to handle things was not bad.

At least after Feng Zheng quit and disappeared, the other party’s follow-up solutions were very reliable.

In the next second, Bo Yueming said affirmatively, “Well done. I will reimburse you for Feng Zheng’s expenses, and you will meet with Lin Zhong later.”

Song Yuanyuan was overjoyed. “Thank you, Boss!”

Bo Yueming nodded. It went without saying. “Moving on, tell me in detail about the two local companies in Wencheng who are also participating in the bidding.”

“One is Shuntian Group, a leading company in Wencheng’s real estate industry. Back then, it took advantage of the development of Wencheng and firmly established its foothold. At present, nearly forty percent of the real estate development involves their shares.”

“Currently, the director with the most right to speak in the company is named Chen Shun. He is in his early fifties, and is all smiles.”

“The other is You Group, a family business of three generations, and it has been extending its industry chain.” Song Yuanyuan paused and explained briefly, “The chairman who has currently taken over the company is named You Qinian.”

You Qinian?

When Pei Yi heard this somewhat important name, a hint of interest flickered in his heart.

“Mr. Bo, he just turned thirty and took over at the beginning of the year.”

Song Yuanyuan thought about the Bo Group’s situation and mentioned a lot to Bo Yueming. “According to the gossip, the power struggle within the You clan is very serious.”

If You Qinian was able to break out of the siege in the intricate chain of family interests, it was likely that his methods would not be simple.

The bidding for the Wencheng Sports Center was his first large-scale project after taking over the You family.

Bo Yueming was silent for a few seconds, then said in a low voice, “Lin Zhong, find someone to check on Shuntian and You Group in detail. Whether it is new about public changes or private gossip, the more detailed, the better.”

Only by knowing oneself and the enemy could one make the most necessary and accurate judgments.

Lin Zhong immediately took out his tablet to write on it. “Yes.”

Bo Yueming was not a person who liked to waste time, and he made decisions with a clear mind. “Deputy Team Leader Song, keep in mind that the entire project team will meet at two o’clock this afternoon. The original bidding plan may have been leaked, so we need to overturn it and start over.”

Song Yuanyuan was unsure. “Mr. Bo, if we overturn and start over, will the time……”

Bo Yueming ordered, “Do it! I have my own measures.”

Song Yuanyuan had heard about this boss’s abilities before. The other party won a big project worth 500 million within two months, gaining a firm foothold in the Imperial Capital circle after that first battle.

Song Yuanyuan immediately put a stop to his premature objections. “Okay. Mr. Bo, I’ll notify you right away!”

This was the first time Pei Yi had seen Bo Yueming’s swift and resolute work, and his eyes were unknowingly fixed on him—

The light coming in hit his profile almost perfectly, making his jawline more distinct, and his protruding Adam’s apple rolled subtly as he spoke. He was indifferent and steady, but also a little bewitchingly attractive.

Tsk.

Why did this person look better and better?

Sure enough, after this “book character” was visualized, could he ever grow tired of watching him?

Pei Yi was in a daze, and caught Bo Yueming’s gaze unexpectedly—

The drifting sunlight passed over his dark blue eyes, cleaning away the grayness of the past. They were just like dusty blue gemstones that had regained their brilliance, so beautiful that it made one’s heart pound.

“……..”

Pei Yi forgot to breathe for a moment. The sound of his heartbeat was wrapped in an unprecedented tension, and even gave rise to the feeling that “the other party’s eyes were already healed.”

But he immediately decided that it was his own illusion.

Because within three seconds of looking at each other, Bo Yueming frowned uncertainly and asked, “Pei Yi, have you finished eating?”

If he could see, why would he need to ask such questions?

The blame could only be laid on the lethality of Bo Yueming’s eyes. According to his recollection of the plot and timeline in the book, the other party was still far away from recovery.

Pei Yi restrained his thoughts and gulped down the last bit of soy milk. “Er-ge, done.”

“I’ll be a bit busy today, you and Uncle Kai stay at the hotel and rest.”

Bo Yueming eased the cold, hard aura he had at work, and his tone was unconsciously gentle. “After a few days, I will find time to take you around Wencheng, okay?”

Pei Yi gave the appropriate “En.”

Perfect.

He recently had to share the master bedroom with Bo Yueming at night, so he could only start to deal with his game and work matters during the day.

Bo Yueming thought about the kitten getting up to no good when he was alone and coaxed teasingly, “Then be good.”

“……..”

Lin Zhong and Song Yuanyuan on the side lowered their heads slightly at the same time, minimizing their presences. 

Pei Yi caught sight of the two, and his cheeks became faintly hot—

Why did he say this in front of outsiders? What was wrong with him? Shame!

Pei Yi was not convinced. “Oh.”

“Okay, let’s go.” Bo Yueming stood up with a smile and raised his voice. “Uncle Kai, I will leave this place to you.”

Uncle Kai, who had been sitting a distance away without saying a word, responded, “Ai, don’t worry, Second Young Master. I promise to take good care of Little Sir, just call if you need anything.”

“En.”

. . . . . .

After Bo Yueming left, Pei Yi went back to the room and slept until noon. After lunch, he maintained the clumsy excuse of “watching cartoons” to gain access to the small study room in the suite.

The scale of the facilities in the suite were top-notch, worthy of the highest star hotel in Wencheng.

The main table in the study faced an uncut glass window. The view from the high-rise was very good, and the computer was equipped with the highest configurations.

Pei Yi confirmed that Uncle Kai had gone back to his room for an afternoon nap, then locked the door and turned on the computer, immediately logging into the “Youtu” website.

A notification was sent to the small three-person group. It was news from Lou Yang.

“God Will, you’re finally willing to go online? I have squatted here to look for you 800 times per day.”

Pei Yi had Qin Yishun, Bo Yueming, and others on WeChat. He feared that adding too many people would reveal his secrets, so he put all of his work content in the small Youtu group.

In any case, the copyright facilities of the website were very strict, and there was no fear of work chats being leaked.

Pei Yi smiled and quickly typed, “Sister Yang, stop teasing me. I had some personal matters to deal with these two days. What do you need from me?”

Lou Yang at the other end replied, “I want to confirm something with you. Wait a moment.”

Not long after this line of words was typed, Pei Yi received a large “loading” picture—

“The image of the ‘human zombie’ in The Last Fog is only the initial version, and it has not been refined yet. You can see if it meets the visual requirements you have in mind.”

Pei Yi clicked on the loaded picture and was instantly amazed by the other party’s design.

This level could be reached in less than a week?

Lou Yang was not only excellent in modeling design and technology, but was also outstanding in graphic image design. The character image on the screen perfectly fit Pei Yi’s vision.

The human zombie on the screen had red eyes and white skin, and there was a string of small, mysterious characters at the corners of the eyes, making them even more strange and cold.

The white lining he wore before death was riddled with holes, revealing the material underneath. His bony hands were slightly spread, and there was a blood-stained hole in his palm, which had a strong visual impact—

Ding.

Li Yuan jumped out first to vote in favor of it. “I’ll say it first, I don’t think there is a problem.”

Pei Yi followed up, saying, “En, I think it’s good too.”

“No rush, I’m just letting you get a sense of it, it’s not the final version.”

Lou Yang lightly explained her own plan. “I just took over the art team of Dawn Games, and I need to recruit more people. Once the division of labor in the group is clear, further composition of clothing, weapons, and even appearance will be carried out.”

Modeling would not proceed until all of this was determined.

Of course, this was a long and tedious process.

Although “The Last Fog 1.0” did not need such a fine version of the image, everything Lou Yang did was for the finer 2.0 version.

Pei Yi pursed his lips in satisfaction. “Sister Yang is in charge.”

Doing things with like-minded people was truly smooth and worry-free.

The matter of the character image was unanimously approved, and Li Yuan took the opportunity to say, “By the way, if nothing else happens, the investment agreement with G.M. will be signed next week.”

“Will, although The Last Fog borrowed Dawn’s venue to begin preparations, we still have to think of a studio name for future publishing and distribution before the official signing.”

The studio could be under the banner of Dawn Games, but externally, it had to have a brand new name.

Li Yuan, who had proposed this matter, said truthfully, “I’m a name waste, you come up with one.”

After all, even his forum screen name directly adopted the same pronunciation of ‘Li Yuan’ (黎于安) as ‘Pear Garden’ (梨园), so there was really no talent for naming things.

“…….”

Pei Yi’s fingertips rested on the keyboard, and it took a moment for him to confess truthfully, “What a coincidence, so am I.”

In the beginning, he even racked his brains for Inspector’s name, but in the end, he chose it under Bo Yueming’s teasing.

The lively screen suddenly froze.

Immediately afterwards, Pei Yi and Li Yuan typed at the same time, “Sister Yang, why don’t you come up with one?”

“……..”

Lou Yang was speechless in front of her screen.

They actually gave up struggling on such an important matter as the studio name?

Are you two sure you are collaborators of the studio? Is this appropriate?

. . . . . .

The matter of choosing the studio name had to be reconsidered, and the three chatted for a while before going offline to work separately.

“The Last Fog” was still in the early stages of preparation, and the two mini-games “Joyful Spirit” and “Cloud Realm” had been delivered.

Pei Yi searched his mind and began to create a new mini-game. Right now, making money could not stop for the time being.

Entering a working state, Pei Yi continued to concentrate until evening. Bo Yueming still did not return from outside.

Pei Yi and Uncle Kai ate a little, and when they were finished, Pei Yi sat back in front of the computer and found that there were more unread messages in the Youtu private chat box.

Clicking into it, Pei Yi saw that the other party was the party who bought “Cloud Realm.”

“Teacher Will, are you there?”

It was sent five minutes ago.

Pei Yi typed quickly, “Hello, I’m here. Is there a problem with the game?”

The other party replied immediately, “No, I just wanted to inform Teacher that we will launch the first round of publicity at the end of the month. In order to show respect for originality, your signature and Weibo account will be attached at that time.”

This was a necessary matter written into the contract between the two parties.

Pei Yi wanted to use mini-games to expand his popularity in this world and in the Chinese game circle, and among the current most popular platforms, Weibo was certainly among the top three.

Pei Yi was a little surprised. “So fast?”

The other party said, “The framework of this game is relatively simple, and it is progressing smoothly. We want to create heat in advance through drawing samples, animations, and the like, so that we can follow up later.”

The game had already been sold, so Pei Yi naturally didn’t have to worry about after-sales.

Another message came. “Teacher, do you have a Weibo account?”

“Hold on.”

Pei Yi had not registered any extra social accounts at this point, but in consideration for the future, he opened the corresponding software and quickly registered.

After a lot of basic default information came the naming part that he hated the most.

For the sake of convenience, Pei entered his current name, “Will,” but the platform indicated that it had already been registered.

“……..”

Pei Yi was stuck for a long time before a “self-affirming” ID popped into his mind—

King of Drinking Capacity Will.

Type, click, success.

Looking at the ID, Pei Yi seemed to have regained his former drinking confidence. He contentedly sent it to the other party.

. . . . . .

Just after seven o’clock, Pei Yi officially ended his work and turned off the computer, walking out of the study.

The living room was empty and the light in the second bedroom was on. Uncle Kai had probably gone to take a shower.

Pei Yi quickly approached the tea bar and opened the fridge below. He had originally only intended to grab a small bottle of mineral water, but when he saw the dazzling array of alcohol inside, he couldn’t move away.

His love of drinking was about to come out to play again, and he gulped unconsciously. “So much? Is drinking one bottle not okay?”

Pei Yi glanced around—

The red wine and champagne he dared not drink for now, but he could take a few sips of fruit wine to enjoy himself and practice his drinking capacity at the same time.

The possibility of getting drunk was definitely not high. At worst, he would fall asleep later, and even if Bo Yueming found out when he got home, couldn’t he still use “milk” as an excuse?

Pei Yi glanced at the early time, and then remembered the Weibo name he had just chosen. Since he had the nerve to say it, he had to do it!

Before Uncle Kai could find out, he slipped away with a bottle of lychee milk wine.

. . . . . .

It was almost nine o’clock when Bo Yueming and Lin Zhong returned to the suite.

Uncle Kai, who was waiting in the living room, quickly approached and offered warm water. “Second Young Master, why were you so busy on the first day? Be careful with your eyes.”

“It’s fine.”

In order to catch up with the progress of the project, the project team held a meeting that lasted nearly four hours today. After the others got off work, Bo Yueming stayed back to study the data for a while.

Bo Yueming drank half a glass of warm water and gestured to Lin Zhong beside him, “You’ve worked hard today. Go back to your room early and rest, and sort out today’s key information tomorrow morning.”

“Boss, I’m not tired.”

Lin Zhong’s salary was quite high, and he had always been used to such work intensity. “It can be sorted out tonight.”

Bo Yueming nodded, feeling strange. It was odd that Pei Yi wasn’t waiting to greet him when he entered the door today.

“Where is Pei Yi? What did he do today?”

Uncle Kai briefly reported the situation, saying, “Little Sir watched cartoons all afternoon, and went back to the bedroom not long after eating.”

“Ten minutes ago, I knocked on the door to inquire, and he said he wanted to take a shower and go to bed.”

Cartoons?

He was likely using the computer to get up to something.

Bo Yueming had his suspicions, and handed back the glass of water in his hand. “Got it.”

. . . . . .

Five minutes later.

Returning to the master bedroom, Bo Yueming closed the door lightly and silently looked around the room—

The big bed was empty, the desk lamp was turned to the lowest setting, and the small ventilation window was open. The cool wind on the upper floors made the curtains flutter, and there seemed to be a faint sweet smell in the air.

“……..”

Bo Yueming narrowed his eyes slightly as a certain guess popped up in his mind. He walked toward the brightly lit bathroom and knocked on the door twice.

— Knock, knock.

No response.

Bo Yueming called out, “Pei Yi?”

There was the sound of running water in the bathroom, but no response.

“…….”

Bo Yueming suddenly thought of his own experience of accidentally falling in the bathroom, and his heart tightened. He raised his volume, “Pei Yi? Are you in there?”

As he spoke, he subconsciously pressed the doorknob.

The bathroom door was locked and did not open, so there was obviously someone inside.

Bo Yueming was concerned by the continuous silence, and immediately searched the cabinet next to the bathroom door. As expected, he found the spare key.

Bo Yueming quickly unlocked it, not bothering with his so-called gentlemanly demeanor for the moment.

“Pei Yi? I’m coming in!”

A moment later, he decisively pushed open the bathroom door.

In the hot, steamy bathroom, the oversized bathtub was filled with running water. Pei Yi had his hands propped up on the sides, his eyes closed as he lay down against the soft rubber pillow that came with it.

A layer of essential oil foam floated on the surface of the water, obscuring his figure.

His gleaming cheek was pressed to his shoulder, revealing an attractive swath of pink, and the mole on the back of his neck was particularly obvious.

“…….”

Bo Yueming was enveloped in the bathroom heat. Risking the possibility of “revealing his secret,” he approached and whispered, “Pei Yi? Are you awake?”

Pei Yi had his eyes closed tight, frowning deeply.

His arm resting on the bathtub was lightly patted, and his subconscious mind caused him to turn around warily, but he forgot the environment he was in and almost instantly slipped down into the tub.

“Pei Yi!”

Bo Yueming was shocked.

Uncaring of his right hand that shouldn’t get wet, he quickly picked Pei Yi up from the bathtub.

Warm water had poured into Pei Yi’s nose, even if just for a moment—

Pei Yi suddenly opened his eyes and instinctively grabbed the hands of the person in front of him as if asking for help, coughing with a flushed face. “Wu! Cough, cough, cough!”

“…….”

Bo Yueming was distressed and angry.

Uncaring of his wet clothes, he picked up a thick bath towel and wrapped Pei Yi in it, half-embracing the person in his arms to place him on the sink.

He opened the small window on the side to ventilate the stuffy heat in the bathroom.

Although Pei Yi had opened his eyes due to the stimulation, he was still confused.

Bo Yueming took a deep breath and exhorted him in a rare heavy tone, “What is the matter with you! Can you just sleep in the bath alone? You know how dangerous that is!”

“……..”

Pei Yi’s brain was muddled by the alcohol.

He blinked his stinging eyes, but didn’t listen to the scolding at all.

Not long ago, Pei Yi had brought the “stolen” lychee milk wine into the master bedroom and opened the bottle to take two or three sips.

The flavor of milk and lychee was very strong, and the taste of alcohol was extremely light. Drinking it was purely for the taste.

Embracing the idea of “drink it if it’s open,” Pei Yi drank all 500 milliliters. After drinking, he hid the wine bottle and planned to wait until Bo Yueming left tomorrow to secretly find a way to throw it out.

Pei Yi didn’t feel drunk at all after drinking a whole bottle, and even played games on his phone for half an hour.

Seeing that the time was approaching nine o’clock, he thought that after working all afternoon, he should take a light bath and rest.

But what Pei Yi didn’t expect was that the bottle of lychee milk wine that he was casually holding looked mild and harmless, but it had surprisingly strong stamina.

He only closed his eyes for a little while, and the drunkenness lurking in his body quickened its pace and emerged vigorously.

Latent for two hours, then down in five minutes.

The King of Alcohol Capacity was gone forever.

Even though Pei Yi was awake now, he was still in a drunken state.

He paused blankly for a while, then suddenly clutched the bath towel to his body as the redness of his cheeks rose another degree. “You, you, you! Don’t look!”

He didn’t listen to a word of the lesson just now, and dared to talk back when he could barely speak?

Bo Yueming ground his teeth, angrily amused. “Haven’t you seen mine? Now we’re even.”

Having said that, he feared that Pei Yi would catch a cold after suddenly getting out of the water, so he considerately put a thick bathrobe on him.

“……..”

Pei Yi didn’t understand what he said, and muttered to himself, “So dizzy.”

“How much alcohol did you drink?”

Bo Yueming could do nothing about this little greedy kitten who stole wine again and again. Would speaking nicely work better?

Pei Yi persisted even after getting drunk, “I didn’t drink.”

Bo Yueming changed his method and didn’t mention the word alcohol. “Where is the bottle hidden?”

The drunken Pei Yi said clearly, “The drawer of the bedside table.”

After speaking, he shook his head a few beats later and changed his words with a little temper after being teased. “I didn’t drink!”

Fearing that he would fall off the sink, Bo Yueming placed his hands on the other’s sides. “Then what did you drink? Milk?”

Hearing the answer he wanted, Pei Yi confidently said, “En!”

Bo Yueming was amused and angry. “Really? Then what is your situation now? You’re drunk on milk?”

“……..”

Pei Yi didn’t answer, vaguely feeling that he shouldn’t stay here any longer.

“I, I won’t talk to you. Er-ge is coming back, I’m going to sleep!”

As he spoke, he struggled to jump down.

Bo Yueming didn’t intend to let him go, and locked him in tightly. “Wait a minute, was the wine good? I won’t tell your Er-ge.”

Pei Yi heard this and calmed down a bit.

Seeing that the person in front of him looked pretty good, he leaned closer and nodded honestly. “Delicious.”

The distance between the two drew close, and with the idea that “one must share with a drinking buddy,” Pei Yi breathed out an invitation, “Do you want some? I’ll give you a taste too, okay?”

His eyes were pure and sincere, but with a breathtaking bewitchment.

Pei Yi’s warm breath fell on the tip of his nose as he spoke, not with the scent of wine, but with the sweetness of milk.

A trace of desire instantly burst into Bo Yueming’s eyes, and he opened his teeth and claws with a change of tone. “You’ll give me a taste?”

Pei Yi subconsciously sensed a hint of crisis, and shook his head like a rattle. “No, I, I seem to have finished drinking it……”

“Hmm!”

There was a sudden change to his voice.

Bo Yueming had grabbed the back of his head resolutely and kissed him on impulse.

The soft wine-coated lips were firmly grasped, and after a little taste, the sweet flavor spread over.

Bo Yueming’s chest was hot, but he had to suppress his deeper impulses. “En, I tried it. It’s good.”

“You, I……”

Pei Yi’s eyes were wide in disbelief, his breathing unsteady.

He tightened his grip on Bo Yueming’s sleeves, and after hesitating for a long time, he couldn’t say a complete sentence.

Bo Yueming looked at this little fool Pei Yi and knew that this person would fall apart when drunk, but he still bit the kitten’s ear, taking advantage of the situation.

“If I catch you drunk again in the future, I will ‘taste’ you just like I did tonight.”

---

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Chapter Thirty-Nine <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-One

T/N: Hello, everyone, I’m Neon Dragonfly, and I’ll be taking over the translation of this story after the previous translator made it clear they have dropped it indefinitely. I hope to do the story justice. For those of you who haven’t read my translations, I’m a pretty regular updater, so you should expect at least one or two chapters per week. Also, I will include an additional bonus chapter for any donation! That said, I hope you all continue to enjoy this great story.

Just a few minutes before Lucas said he was going on a blind date, Luo Ran had received a call from home.

Wang Zitong had met a matchmaker who gave her the contact information of three Alphas, and asked Luo Ran if he wanted to give it a try.

In the past, Luo Ran naturally would have no objection.

But now……

Luo Ran refused.

Wang Zitong: Why did you refuse?

Luo Ran refusing so decisively made Wang Zitong a little curious.

Luo Ran paused for a moment, and only replied that he was busy with his work and would not go on blind dates in the future.

At this time, Lucas also sent him a message.

Lucas: I’m going on a blind date with Lu Bei.

Luo Ran: “? ? ?”

Luo Ran froze for a moment, dumbfounded.

Lucas, that childish devil, was he trying to take revenge on him? Why did he drag Lu Bei into this? Had Lu Bei been tricked by Zhou Mingkai?

Luo Ran raised his eyebrows and replied with his congratulations, then searched for Lu Bei’s name in the address book and sent him a message.

Luo Ran: I apologize, the admiral seems to have caused you some trouble. I hope you can pay this no mind.

Lu Bei replied quickly.

Lu Bei: It’s fine. His Royal Highness the Third Prince told me that it’s fine to treat this as everyone hanging out together. Secretary Luo doesn’t need to worry about it.

After speaking, Lu Bei sent him an e-ticket to the opera house.

Lou Ran: “…….”

He had thought it was Lucas who was going to hang out with Lu Bei.

He didn’t expect that it was a foursome?

Luo Ran rubbed his temples with a headache.

. . . . . .

The weekend, at the opera house.

“Secretary Luo is here.” Zhou Mingkai smiled and said, “Let’s sit together.”

Zhou Mingkai and Luo Ran would sit on one side, and Lucas and Lu Bei would sit on the other in a different row of seats.

Luo Ran nodded.

Lucas gave Luo Ran a distant look.

Zhou Mingkai waved his hand and said, “Let’s go, let’s go, it’s starting.”

When entering the theater, Lucas looked for an opportunity to turn his head and say to Luo Ran fiercely: “Didn’t you want me to find other Betas and Omegas to try, and to see more of the world? I’m trying now.”

“……En.” Luo Ran raised his head. “Admiral, remember to hold Mr. Lu’s hand since you’re on a date.”

“ ? ”

Luo Ran said with a smile: “Isn’t it a date? One should hold hands on a date. Go quickly, Admiral.”

“…….”

Lucas immediately choked on his own breath as he experienced the feeling of lifting a rock and dropping it on his own foot.

Afterward, the four of them sat down. Zhou Mingkai glanced at Luo Ran, who was really concentrating on watching the opera while completely ignoring Lucas, and was dumbfounded. 

“That……Secretary Luo, don’t you feel unhappy that the admiral is on a date with someone else? Are you jealous or…….” Zhou Mingkai scratched his head and said with a dry smile, “Jealousy is not only between couples. There can even be jealousy among friends.”

“Why should I be jealous?” Luo Ran pointed to Lucas, who was sitting not far to the front, “He’s even more reluctant than I am.”

Luo Ran wanted to speak with Lucas, of course, but it wasn’t necessary.

He couldn’t be stopped.

He loved to make trouble for himself.

Zhou Mingkai: “…….”

Zhou Mingkai subconsciously glanced at Lucas.

At this moment, Lucas stubbornly wanted to show off his intimacy with Lu Bei, and sat quite close to him.

Then Lucas began to feel uncomfortable and awkward, frowning as he tried to move away.

Watching the opera seemed to torment him very much.

Zhou Mingkai: “…….”

Zhou Mingkai: “That makes sense, only a fool would be jealous.”

— Only a fool would be jealous.

Lucas turned his head and saw Zhou Mingkai and Luo Ran sitting together and whispering, and felt like the lion fur all over his body was about to puff up.

Little bastard!

Zhou Mingkai felt cold all over, and when he lowered his head, he caught Lucas’ sharp gaze.

If looks could kill, he’d have died a hundred times.

Zhou Mingkai: “…….”

Zhou Mingkai’s original proposal was just to come out with Lu Bei and spend time together in order to support him, and contribute to the progress of the outstanding heir to the empire along the way.

Unexpectedly, the roof tile fell and hit him on the head.

Zhou Mingkai wanted to cry but had no tears.

The opera singers on stage sang, and the treble was sonorous and resounding.

The script was about a sunny, youthful boy who naively pursued a beautiful and wealthy girl, the classic poor boy and young lady story. At this moment, the boy was holding a rose.

When it was finally over, next on the itinerary was the classic holy location for a date — the amusement park.

Revisiting an old haunt.

Zhou Mingkai took a look at the amusement park map and asked, “Shall we go and do the escape room?”

“No.” Lucas donned a cold expression.

“Then go to the horror tunnel?”

“No.”

“Hey, how about the cable car firework experience for two? There are roses.”

Fireworks? For two?

Lucas glanced at Zhou Mingkai and Luo Ran, and his expression soured even more. “That won’t work!”

“…….”

Luo Ran picked up the conversation and smoothed things over with a smile: “Why would the cable car not work? It’s very relaxing, and you can enjoy the scenery. Let’s go do that.”

Having spoken, he simply went to buy the tickets.

Lucas’s face immediately sank.

After Lucas and Lu Bei went up, Luo Ran and Zhou Mingkai, who were following behind, had just reached the door when Zhou Mingkai’s desire to survive burst out.

“I’m afraid of admirals……ah, no, I’m afraid of heights.” Zhou Mingkai gave a dry laugh and said, “Secretary Luo, go up by yourself, it’s only five minutes anyway. How about I buy water for the three of you to quench your thirst?”

Luo Ran paused. “No need to go to such trouble……”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, you’re all my big brothers! Running errands is what I should do!” Zhou Mingkai broke away and fled.

“Sir? Are you still going up?” The staff member to the side asked. “It’s your turn.”

“Yes.”

The ticket is already bought, Luo Ran thought to himself. He had a chance to sit and rest, and the fireworks would not be in vain.

The cable car slowly lifted into the air, the metal creaking where the parts rubbed against each other.

Luo Ran watched the cable car gradually leave the ground, rising higher and higher before circling the amusement park.

They had made it just in time for the event, and there would now be a fireworks show that would be set off in conjunction with the ascent of the cable cars.

Seeing that the fireworks hadn’t started yet, Luo Ran seized this time to take out some official documents for review.

Hiss……

Luo Ran frowned slightly.

When he read the first line, he felt a deep, stabbing pain in his head.

Luo Ran gripped the terminal and bent over slightly, pressing his temples with his hands.

He knew what was probably going on.

His mental wounds were still not healed. Shen Xiluo and Xia Zhi had repeatedly advised him not to work too much, and to get enough sleep every day.

Lucas actually didn’t want him to work overtime, and chewed him out when he found that he hadn’t taken a break.

But there was so much work recently, and these two months were a critical period. Luo Ran was not at ease entrusting so many things to others, and had to personally look them over with care.

So last night, Luo Ran couldn’t help staying up late.

Perhaps it was because of this that his brain was protesting.

Boom—!

At this time, the fireworks were in full bloom.

The experience of watching fireworks at a high altitude was excellent — after all, the distance was very close, almost at the same level.

At the same time, the sound was very loud.

Although the Empire’s fireworks had been developed so that there was no smoke, the sound still made Luo Ran tremble.

Luo Ran rubbed his temples and tried his utmost to sit upright and maintain the blood circulation in his head and body. He reached into his pocket to take out his medicine. 

Hmm?

There were no pockets.

It happened that his trousers had no pockets, so he had put the medicine in his coat pocket. And the coat……was still in the aircraft. After all, the temperature difference between the opera house and the amusement park was so great.

Never mind.

Luo Ran sighed and silently closed his eyes, waiting for the cable car to descend.

The next moment, he heard an electronic female voice come from the cable car.

{Very sorry, Cable Car No.1 is out of order……Very sorry, Cable Car No.1 is out of order…..}

At the same time, there was a metallic sound, and Luo Ran saw that the door of the cable car had been sealed.

{For safety, the system will automatically close the exits in order to ensure the safety of the passengers……}

Luo Ran was dumbstruck.

The cable car……broke down?

There was such a coincidence?

{Passengers, please stay calm and refrain from panicking. Maintenance personnel will restore the cable car to operation within ten minutes……}

Luo Ran felt that his head hurt even more.

This really was……luck, ah.

Luo Ran was unable to sit up straight anymore. The pain and weightlessness caused him to bend over and hug his knees, biting his lower lip as he dripped with cold sweat.

Not wanting to see hallucinations here, Luo Ran closed his eyes tightly.

Ding-dong.

Luo Ran’s terminal rang.

He took a deep breath and pulled it out, tapping to unlock the screen.

Lucas: Open the door.

Luo Ran: “…….?”

Luo Ran: The cable car door automatically sealed, and I may not be able to jump right now.

Luo Ran: What jump, who’s making you jump?

Lucas: There’s an emergency door opening button at the corner of the cable car. Power will be cut off after pressing it for three seconds.

Luo Ran didn’t respond yet.

What the……?

The next moment, he saw it — a tall figure jumped out of the cable car in front and bounded toward his car.

……..! !

Luo Ran was so frightened that he hurriedly pressed the button.

The cable car door opened. Lucas gripped the cable car track with his hands and swung his body, easily breaking into Luo Ran’s cable car.

The cable car swayed as Luo Ran watched Lucas descend from the sky and crouch in front of him.

Luo Ran: “…….”

“Admiral……!”

This was too……

“What are you afraid of? I won’t die if I fall.” Lucas rolled his eyes.

Below the cable car was either the ferris wheel or roller coaster track, and there were many places to break a fall.

Seeing that the cable car had stopped, Lu Bei took out the official documents and reviewed them himself without speaking to Lucas. And Lucas seemed to have a fit when he saw that Luo Ran couldn’t even sit upright. Even if it was a sea of swords and fire, Lucas would jump over it right now.

The people down below only saw a swift black shadow and a swaying cable car, and wondered what had happened.

As soon as Lucas came, he took the pale-faced Luo Ran into his arms.

Gently rubbing the back of Luo Ran’s head, he released his pheromones.

It was the same as when he released pheromones on the battleship to tease Luo Ran before, but this time it was for a different purpose.

Luo Ran was completely stunned.

“Good……” Lucas embraced Luo Ran, letting him rest against his shoulder.

Pheromones could be better absorbed at such a close distance.

“Admiral……?”

Luo Ran said tremblingly: “You……?”

“Hush.” Lucas took Luo Ran’s medicine out of his pocket and grabbed his wrist, saying: “Pheromones plus the lowest level of drugs should be fine.”

Then, Luo Ran slowly recovered.

“Admiral, you know….?” Luo Ran’s face was still pale. “Since when?”

“From the time you tried to pilot Lion One. I wanted to hide it, but seeing you like this, I forgot.” Lucas scoffed coldly. “Just say it, so that it’s convenient for you and me to ask for pheromones in the future.”

“…….”

Luo Ran touched the back of his neck and said shakily: “It was you……who temporarily marked me?”

“Yes.”

“…….”

This, this……

“So the Admiral deliberately teased me in the battleship that day.” Luo Ran recalled this weakly.

Lucas did it on purpose……!

He was really crazy!

“Why can’t I tease you? You are none other than my Omega, my secretary, can’t I tease you?” Lucas was bold and self-confident.

“An Alpha teasing an Omega is, is enjoyable?” Luo Ran was a little angry and resentful.

“Why can’t an Alpha tease an Omega? If you want to tease me back, you can force me into rut too. We’re equal!”

Luo Ran’s mind was a mess, as well as his speech. “An A teasing an O……is wrong.”

“Why? Do you think Omegas are inferior to Alphas?” Lucas said with a smile, “You, an Omega, are much stronger than many Alphas. Tsk, you pretended so well that I would have thought you were an Alpha if you didn’t tell me otherwise.”

Lucas said: “I protect you not because you’re an Omega, but because you are the person I like.”

Luo Ran was stunned.

The doubts and fears that had just arisen due to his Omega identity being exposed vanished just like that.

After a long pause, Luo Ran straightened up and sat opposite Lucas. He said earnestly, “Thank you, Admiral.”

Thank you for your willingness to temporarily mark me for my protection.

Thank you for never underestimating me.

Thank you……

Luo Ran glanced at Lucas’s pocket.

It had never occurred to him that, with a heart as big as Lucas’s, he would carry his medicine with him and keep it in his pocket.

“You’re welcome.” Lucas grinned, and then said, “Why did you lie to me?”

He got right to settling accounts.

“……..” Luo Ran turned his head and said, “Back then you only wanted a Beta.”

And he needed the job.

Lucas touched his nose.

Hiss, this was another good thing he did before.

Being at a high altitude isolated the noise, and the sounds of the amusement park could only faintly be heard.

It was just the two of them.

Luo Ran was enveloped in the smell of tobacco. It was very warm.

Luo Ran hesitated, then said: “Admiral, let me tell you another secret.”

“ ? ”

Luo Ran lowered his eyes and said: “I am not a child born by my parents. It’s just that I was sick with a fever after being adopted from the orphanage and forgot the past. They thought that since I didn’t know, they should keep it from me. In fact, as I grew older, I gradually remembered the days when I lived in the orphanage and the scene of when they found me.”

Lucas froze for a moment, saying nothing.

In fact, Lucas knew. 

When Luo Ran applied for the secretary job, the military department dug up his background, but Lucas didn’t say anything about it.

Because he, like Luo Ran’s parents, didn’t want Luo Ran to be sad.

Luo Ran smiled and said: “But they are very good to me, because love is even better than having a biological child. What I want to say is……”

Luo Ran seemed to be organizing his words.

Then he said: “I didn’t have anything at first. A happy family wasn’t something that belonged to me, but something that was given to me. I also owned few things that were mine. Then I met the admiral, and everything I had was given by the admiral. My first regular job, my first savings account, my first small apartment that I saved up for……because of the admiral, I started to own many, many things.”

Luo Ran’s tone was still gentle and mild. This was the first time he had said such words to an outsider.

“I have you, and I have friends. I’ve learned to fight and protect myself.”

“The admiral taught me to be confident, to be brave, and not to fear anything.”

Lucas interrupted with anxious clumsiness: “You will be given more in the future. I can give you everything I have, all of it.”

Luo Ran smiled and said: “I don’t need it, I am very satisfied now. Admiral, you are……”

Perhaps because the next words were a little embarrassing, Luo Ran paused for a long time.

“What am I?” Lucas was a bit nervous.

“You are the first person in this world to bring me a sense of security.” Luo Ran turned his head.

Lucas’s body froze from head to foot.

“Do you understand?” Luo Ran put it all out in the open, grabbing the corner of his clothes as he said nervously, “You make me feel at ease. I like the life I have now very much, and I like how we are now. I know my experience is not worth mentioning compared to the admiral’s, but I……I really don’t want to lose this.”

Lucas gazed at Luo Ran for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice: “Promise to be with me, and you won’t lose me and what you have now.”

“Admiral, after getting along for such a long time, someone would even develop feelings for their dog. How do you know someone better won’t come along in the future? How do you know this is ‘liking someone?’ You never even had the concept of feelings. You didn’t understand, and I understood that about you.”

Without falling in love, he and Lucas could go on like this forever, and it would be so good.

There would be no breakups, no farewells, no emotional entanglement, and no giving up the old for the new.

Luo Ran didn’t know what the alternative would be like, but he couldn’t bear to let go of this moment.

At this moment, he had experienced gritting his teeth to learn, countless arguments with Lucas, and crying and begging for a week with an application in hand.

This moment was very good.

Lucas was silent for a moment.

{Attention passengers, the cable car system will resume operation in four minutes. Everyone please remain calm……}

The cable car was about to be repaired.

Lucas said: “Zhou Mingkai said that I was in too much of a hurry, and I thought it over. I want to apologize to you. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bully you. I’m just pursuing someone for the first time and relatively inexperienced. I’ve never done anything other than fight wars, and it’s clear that the quick victory preemptive strategy has failed. I will improve and continue to learn.”

Luo Ran was taken aback.

Ah……?

Lucas said: “Then I will formally pursue you from now on. Let’s do it again. This time I will make a good confession, with a pursuit method like ordinary people, the kind you can refuse.”

Lucas took the rose that Luo Ran had set aside.

This was the flower that was left in the cable car as a love item for two people. Lucas forgot his in the other cable car, so he could only use Luo Ran’s.

Lucas held up the rose and handed it out toward Luo Ran, saying solemnly, “I like you, and I want to pursue you.”

Lucas thought to himself that he had forgotten the sentences he’d copied from the internet that day.

He could only improvise.

“I like how you look, I like your silver hair, I like your personality, I like when you smile at me, I like when you work, I like it all.”

“I want to join your life and buy a house with you. You can take all my salary and property, and the household registration book.”

Lucas held the rose up stiffly and said: “I just wanted to let you know. From now on, I will pursue you well, and not force you or cause you trouble. I hope you will consider me one day.”

Sincere, and very……unsophisticated.

Luo Ran stared blankly at Lucas.

Then he couldn’t help but laugh out loud with a “Pfft!”

At the same time, the fireworks show started up again, and inside the cable car, Luo Ran’s eyes sparkled with fireworks.

Lucas’s did as well.

The tension and anxiety that had been lingering between the two of them seemed to disappear in an instant.

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Table of Contents >> Chapter 60

—Breaking News! Admiral Lucas of the Empire has dispatched his men, reportedly to find his date from the hotel last night!

The reporter excitedly asked a question: What would you do once you find them?

Lucas’ eyes glinted coldly: Kill them.

The crowd: ???

Why does he seem different from everyone else…

Gong’s perspective →

There’s nothing the short-tempered Admiral Lucas looks down on more than the whiny and annoying omegas in his life.

A significant other? Will never happen in this lifetime.

However, if he is forced to elaborate… He much prefers the gentle and honest beta secretary, skilled in both combat and academia, who can brew coffee and match clothes for him.

Shou’s perspective →

Luo Ran is Lucas’ secretary, and what he does is the most inhumane job in the entire empire.

He has to wait on the nit-pickiest superior who sits above him, and below him, he has to deal with the entire empire who dare not interact with the admiral, the admiral’s subordinates, coworkers, admirers… etc.

Not only that, but he also has to carefully hide the fact that he’s an omega, as well as his identity as the admiral’s “one night stand”… constantly facing the imminent threat of getting killed at any moment.

Until one day, he accidentally went into heat in front of Lucas, the sweet and lovely pheromone an exact match with the pheromone of the person from that night.

It’s over, he’s about to be killed now.

“How brave of you.” Lucas held the back of Luo Ran’s head, the other arm looped around his waist as he smiled, “Now… I’m going to kill you.”

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To read chapters 1-58, follow this link to Novel Updates, where the previous two translators have listed their works.

Chapter 59	Chapter 73	Chapter 87
Chapter 60	Chapter 74	Chapter 88
Chapter 61	Chapter 75	Chapter 89
Chapter 62	Chapter 76	Chapter 90
Chapter 63	Chapter 77	Chapter 91
Chapter 64	Chapter 78	Chapter 92
Chapter 65	Chapter 79	Chapter 93
Chapter 66	Chapter 80	Chapter 94
Chapter 67	Chapter 81	Chapter 95
Chapter 68	Chapter 82	Extra 1
Chapter 69	Chapter 83	Extra 2
Chapter 70	Chapter 84	Extra 3
Chapter 71	Chapter 85	Extra 4
Chapter 72	Chapter 86	Extra 5

The two people were surrounded by bright torches. A-Ning looked at the group of rebels holding long swords in front of him, and stammered to explain: “My…..my brother and I just entered the city today, and we don’t know the way, so we came here. It’s not that we want to steal anything.”

“If you just entered the city, why didn’t you just stay in your residence? What can you come out and do?” The leader brought the torch closer to the two of them, trying to see their faces clearly, and Liu Xian’an took two steps back away from the wave of heat, protecting A-Ning behind him as he explained, “My younger brother and I are both doctors, and many people in the temple have fallen ill. We heard that we can receive medicine at the granary, so we wanted to go out and look for it.”

As he spoke, he gently waved his hand behind his back, signaling the three guards in the shadows not to step forward. A-Ning was still holding onto his young master’s sleeve tightly, looking at the weapons with a foolish expression. One of them was thin and small, and the other was frail. It seemed like they couldn’t cause any big problems, so a rebel said: “General Yuan, if they’re really doctors, let them look at Lao Miao so that you don’t have to ask for Doctor Zhang again.”

The person he called “General Yuan” was named Yuan Zong. He was tall and strong, and really looked like a general on a stage. Yuan Zong looked Liu Xian’an up and down: “How are you medical skills?”

“Fair.”

“Let’s go.” Yuan Zong turned around. “Go and help my Dage’s injury.”

The three guards followed Liu Xian’an not too far away, until they saw the brightly lit “Jinluan Palace.” The manor was surrounded by patrolling rebels, but for the three of them, who were as light as hawks, this was obviously not an obstacle, and they still snuck in easily.

Liu Xian’an was taken to a large courtyard, and just as he entered the door, he bumped into someone who was announcing a decree to promote the bedridden Lao Miao from adjutant to general. Yuan Zong hurriedly stepped forward to congratulate him, and the people outside the courtyard also came to do the same. There was General Li on the left and General Zhao on the right. A-Ning had never seen so many generals in his life. He was dazzled for a while, and couldn’t remember who was who for a long time.

But Liu Xian’an remembered. Not only did he remember, but also relied on their words to roughly rank the generals in the courtyard. As number one, Yuan Zong’s status was not low, and General Miao was also quite authoritative because of his meritorious service.

General Miao’s name was Miao Changqing – Evergreen Grass – and he had indeed been diligently planting crops for most of his life. Due to the perennial toil, his legs and feet would fall ill every time this season came. He casually asked: “Have you been seen by a doctor before?”

“No, I couldn’t even eat enough, so I didn’t have enough money to see a doctor,” Miao Changqing said. “If you take a look, you might not be optimistic about it.”

Liu Xian’an pulled out the needle. “Does it still hurt?”

Miao Changqing tried to move a few times, and said in surprise: “It really doesn’t hurt much.”

The generals hadn’t all left the room yet, and when they heard this, they flocked forward to see. Liu Xian’an spoke again: “These few needles alone won’t cure the pain, and can only temporarily relieve it. You still need to rest more. I will write a prescription, and General Miao will try it for ten days.”

Miao Changqing, of course, didn’t listen to the doctor’s advice. He couldn’t wait to get out of bed, walking back and forth a few times before saying with approval: “Miracle Doctor. Little brother, you are a Miracle Doctor, ah!”

“That’s right, this looks much better than Imperial Doctor Zhang,” the others also said.

“Little brother, what’s your name, can my wrist pain be cured?” 

“I’m about to give birth, I mean, my wife is about to give birth, will the doctor also take a look?”

Liu Xian’an and A-Ning were surrounded by the group, and their ears were buzzing: “We can, we can, everyone, take it easy.”

The next day, the dilapidated temple was turned into a temporary medical center. There was a long queue in front of the door, all of them people who were waiting to see a doctor.

And the city’s security also became tighter, because the Yan army had already crossed Mianshan mountain.

On this day, Liang Shu received a secret report, and Gao Lin joined in to read it together. After reading it, he gave a thumbs up. Capable, and worthy of being someone the prince likes. I think this happy event might as well be held next month. It saves us from having to go to Baihe Mountain Village to pick that person up if there is another war in the future.

“You only see what is in front of you.” Liang Shu lit a fire and burned the secret report. “You can’t open your mouth without talking about war, why can’t you think about peaceful and prosperous times?”

“I do, ah, why wouldn’t I want to?” Gao Lin said, “Who doesn’t want to live in peace. When I don’t have to fight anymore, I will also set up a small courtyard opposite the palace and spend a few months idling about, wandering around the dream capital Wangcheng.”

“I forbid it.” Liang Shu mounted his horse. “Seeing your face, it’s easy to think of the hard days in the northwest where there is no tomorrow, which affects my mood.”

Gao Lin also galloped to catch up, saying cheerfully: “Okay, then I’ll live far away. It is enough for the prince to give me a little more money. WIth the money, I promise to stay as far away as possible and never disturb the prince when he’s seeing Second Young Master Liu.”

The “seeing” he spoke of was more poetic, just like lovers on a stage gazing at each other and holding hands, very pure and clean, but the picture that Liang Shu thought of at these words was much more vivid. There was a large back courtyard in Xiao Wang Palace, which was presently deserted. In the future, it could be used to build a waterside pavilion similar to the one in Baihe Mountain Village. There were ice blocks in the summer and a heater in the winter, plants and flowers all around. Big, comfortable reclining couches would be placed everywhere, so that no matter when he went home, he was sure to find a soft, sleepy, and warm forty-eight thousand year-old lazy egg under a blanket.

“Cough!” Gao Lin was beside him. “Cough, cough!”

Liang Shu: “…….”

“Your Highness, Your Highness,” Gao Lin reminded earnestly, “Put away that expression. War is ahead, think about it a little bit. There is no need to be so affectionate, I just got goosebumps when I saw it, but eighty percent of other people who see it will think the general is bewitched, which is really not conducive to stabilizing the morale of the army.”

Liang Shu said: “Scram.”

Gao Lin scrammed very cooperatively, scramming to the front to command the soldiers.

Birds in spring knew how to flare their gorgeous tails up in courtship. If the prince was courting a mate, why not win the battle and show off his skills to the fullest?

“Line up!” He ordered loudly.

“Triumph in every battle!” There was a uniform shout all over the mountain.

It seemed like thousands of troops were working hard for the lifelong event of His Royal Highness Xiao Wang.

And Liu Xian’an in the city had also become a moderate celebrity. He had superb medical skills, a pleasant voice, and was soft-spoken. No matter how rough a patient was, he didn’t seem to have any temper. On the contrary, when others saw it, they would always come forward to help him maintain order. Once people got to know each other well, they would also talk a lot. The most frequently discussed topic was the upcoming war, because it was said that the Yan army was already attacking outside the city.

A little girl suddenly cried out with a “wah,” and a woman quickly hugged her into her arms. After comforting her, she explained apologetically: “In the past few days, there are always naughty boys scaring her about the Yan army killing people, and she will cry when she hears it.”

“That is no joke,” one person said. “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard about Qingyang City?”

When the words “Qingyang City” were mentioned, everyone at the scene fell silent. Only the little girl’s sobs and long sighs could be heard: “How did we come across this troubled world?”

“I heard that elsewhere, there are cities that are not close to the Bai River” A-Ning said, grinding medicine without raising his head. “The people there are living well, and if we hadn’t happened to be going to visit relatives in Qingyang City, we would have been transferred to Wanhe City by the government, and the situation there is not bad.”

“Other places are good, so those of us who are close to the Bai River deserve to be unlucky?”

“No one deserves to be unlucky,” Liu Xian’an said. “It is because they don’t want to be unlucky that everyone gathers here, hoping to live a good life. I’ve heard that our new emperor is very capable, and I wonder if he can cure the flooding next year.”

“Next year, how can it be so fast?” An educated person in the crowd retorted loudly. “That’s the Bai River, at least tens of thousands of zhang long. No, hundreds of thousands of zhang. It is said that its widest width is more distant than the sea.”

“So the Bai River is so long, ah.” Liu Xian’an set down his brush and said doubtfully, “Then how long will it take to manage such a river?”

All the common people were questioned, and for many of them, the longest road they had had traveled in their lives was from their villages to Sanshui City. The rushing river of tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of zhang was truly unimaginable. Liu Xian’an said again: “Five years should be enough.”

Five years was also not enough, really not enough. Everyone just asked and answered like this, ten years, fifty years, one hundred years, and finally came to a conclusion. It might take another hundred years, and after tens of thousands of river workers labored day and night, the Bai River could be successfully diverted.

This answer was already grave, because everyone present could not wait a hundred years, and if the Bai River was not properly governed, the people on both sides of the banks would be threatened another day. Even if the emperor was changed, the emperor was not the river god, so wasn’t Baihe still the same in the end?

At this time, a group of patrolling soldiers happened to pass by outside. Liu Xian’an saw them, and stopped them to ask: “General Li, do you know when the emperor plans to start governing the Bai River?”

General Li, who was inexplicably questioned by him: “Who told you that the emperor was going to govern the Bai River?”

“Not now, certainly not now.” A-Ning added, “My brother says it will be in the future, after the emperor fights all the way to Wangcheng.”

“Fighting to Wangcheng has nothing to do with the Bai River,” General Li said. “Such a long river is difficult for the gods to rule. When they fight all the way to Wangcheng, all the followers will be heroes, and they’ll only care about eating delicious food and drinking hard liquor, not about the Bai River.”

He said so, and really thought so, but after he left, Liu Xian’an said: “From Sanshui City to Wangcheng, there are at least a dozen separate cities. Fighting all the way, the troop will only get bigger and bigger. Can Wangcheng really hold so many people? Not to mention that there are millions of people living there. If we went in, what about them?”

One question made the temple become more and more silent. Many people had come here simply because they could no longer live in their hometowns, had no food to eat, and had no way of making a living. They were actually unwilling to fight, not to mention that there were many old, weak, and sick among them who couldn’t fight either. Although Sanshui City had food to eat right now, the newly enthroned emperor would not stay here forever. He would continue to go north, and when the army pulled out of the camp, it would certainly take away the food.

There were only two paths left before everyone. Either join Huang Wangxiang’s team and fight with him, or wander to the next city.

A-Ning said: “Then we will become military doctors, Brother. In any case, five members of our family can work for the emperor.”

Liu Xian’an agreed: “Okay.”

He was all right, but there were many who were not all right, and the woman with several children was the first to cry, not knowing when this long night would end. An old man was next, and the temple was filled with sobs. A-Ning comforted: “Everyone, don’t be quick to cry. Let’s ask the emperor, if the man of the family goes to fight, can his family stay in Sanshui City and share some grain and land?”

“Where is there any surplus food in this city?” A young man said. “We used to be able to receive three cornmeal loaves every day, but now we can only receive two. It’s even hard to feed half the children. A few days ago, I went to help the doctor retrieve medicine, and the granary was almost bottomed out.”

Without food, it meant that the next round of hunger was coming. Coupled with the Yan army approaching outside the city, everyone’s hearts were suspended.

Many people also found that whether this battle was won or lost, it seemed to have no meaning to them.

Liang Shu led his army forward. On the horizon, the walls of Sanshui City and the bright yellow flag of the rebels appeared faintly.

The Dayan iron cavalry’s black armor glinted coldly, and their long swords refracted a harsh light. Huang Wangxiang stood at a high place and looked at the black tide in the distance, wearing an ill-fitting dragon robe and holding a sword in his hand.

He had heard the stories of Liang Shu, Dayan’s first-class general, young, brutal, and invincible.

At that time, he was just a farmer in the fields, holding a bowl and listening to legends from thousands of li away.

Huang Wangxiang coughed twice. He was really too tired recently. The whole of Sanshui City was so smoky, dirty, and smelly, far from the ideal kingdom of heaven. Every day seemed to contain endless trivial matters, pushing the situation toward a worse direction.

There was a sound from downstairs, and then Liu Xian’an was brought up. He volunteered to see the new emperor. Although the ministers felt that more should be known when it came to the selection of Imperial physicians, the conditions in the city were limited, and there was indeed no room to pick and choose.

This was the first time Liu Xian’an had seen Huang Wangxiang. He was a dark-skinned, middle-aged man with no murderous aura, and even with a sword in his hand, he looked more like he was holding a hoe. Liu Xian’an could also see the Dayan army in the distance, so at this moment, his heartstrings couldn’t help but twitch slightly.

“Audacious!” Someone reprimanded. “Seeing the emperor and still not kneeling down!”

“No need,” Huang Wangxiang said. “I hear you are a miracle doctor with excellent medical skills. Can you cure insomnia?”

“Yes, insomnia is what I know best.” Liu Xian’an asked, “Your Majesty cannot sleep well?”

Huang Wangxiang sighed deeply: “Yes.”

Liu Xian’an said: “Because I need to make a diagnosis, I must ask everything clearly.”

Huang Wangxiang nodded: “All right, you ask.”

“Is the emperor’s insomnia due to the Yan army in the distance?”

“Not entirely.” Huang Wangxiang said, “I have fought against the Yan army many times and slept very well.”

“Then it is because of the commander of the Yan army.”

“That is also not it.”

Liu Xian’an: “Truly?”

Huang Wangxiang looked at him, puzzled.

Liu Xian’an explained: “I hear that he is victorious in every battle.”

Huang Wangxiang shook his head: “My insomnia started on the day I was enthroned, and there was no news of Liang Shu at that time.”

“So the emperor was too happy to sleep?”

“Presumptuous!”

Before Huang Wangxiang could speak, the generals next to him shouted angrily first, and General Yuan was the loudest among them. Being so happy that you couldn’t sleep after ascending the throne, what an embarrassing image of a humble low-status person putting on airs. Some even pointed at Liu Xian’an’s nose and cursed: “He has long talked nonsense in the ruined temple to shake the morale of the army. Looking at him now, he dared to talk strangely to the emperor. Perhaps he is a spy sent by the Yan army!”

During war, the word “spy” could make everyone’s nerves tense. Long swords were promptly drawn out of their sheaths with a shing. Ordinary people’s legs may have gone soft, but Second Young Master Liu was a person who disregarded life and death, so he seemed very calm, so calm that Huang Wangxiang asked, “You’re not afraid?”

Liu Xian’an said: “I’m not a spy, so naturally I am not afraid.”

Huang Wangxiang asked the man who had just shouted: “How did he shake the morale of the army?”

The other party replied: “When seeing the doctor in the temple, people were told that it is useless to keep fighting.”

“I didn’t say that fighting was useless. My original words were to encourage young and middle-aged people to join the army and go all the way north, so that they can have a meal in the future,” Liu Xian’an said. “But most young and middle-aged people have parents, wives, and children. They can’t join the army, and can only stay in Sanshui City or go to other cities. That day, I asked two generals who were passing by if there were any resettlement measures, but they said nothing in the end. In the future, whoever wants to eat must perform meritorious deeds, otherwise they will starve. But when we entered the city, we clearly heard the officers say that as long as we take refuge with the emperor, everyone will be able to eat.”

Huang Wangxiang looked at the group of generals.

Someone gritted his teeth and said: “Your Majesty, there is not much food left in the city, and new refugees are still being let in every day. We’ve slowed down as much as possible, but……there are still too many people who need to eat.”

In fact, it didn’t need to be stated by him. Huang Wangxiang also knew this. Let everyone have enough to eat – this was what he had proposed. Before, it was just a slogan during the war and didn’t carry much weight, but since becoming the emperor in Sanshui City, this slogan had become an Imperial decree, a task that must be completed.

He spent most of his life’s wisdom ruling this new capital and learning how to be an emperor. Previously, he had thought this matter would not be too difficult. As long as he had the nation in his heart, and was kind and just, he would certainly gain support and create a peaceful and prosperous world. But the reality was in front of him. Sanshui City was becoming more and more chaotic and getting worse under his various new policies.

And the original residents of Sanshui City seemed to hate him far more than they hated the Yan army. No one was enthusiastic about spilling their blood on behalf of hatred, which was indeed too different from what he had thought before.

At this moment, Liu Xian’an still asked: “Why does the emperor want to slow down the speed of the refugees entering the city? They all came here with hope, and have no other extravagant demands. They only want to have a meal. Is this difficult?”

Was it difficult?

In the past, Huang Wangxiang felt that it would not be difficult at all. He believed that the reason he was starving was because corrupt officials in his hometown were rampant and would not distribute food to the people. As long as one was honest, the problem would be solved. But now, he found that trying to feed everyone was really too difficult.

As for the Bai River, it was even more like a wide-mouthed beast. Even if he resembled the rumors and could easily transform into hundreds or thousands of Huang Wangxiangs and throw himself into the river, it would be difficult to make any impact.

It was impossible for him to manage the Bai River well in his lifetime.

Just like it was impossible for him to be a good emperor.

Liu Xian’an gazed at the city: “The Yan army is almost here.”

He asked Huang Wangxiang: “What does the emperor plan to do with the thousands of people gathered outside the city gate?”

T/N: LXA spitting some straight facts.

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Chapter Forty-Six << Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-Eight

After a few more winter snowfalls, it was New Year’s Day, and the next day was Zhao Yelan’s birthday.

This was Zhao Yelan and Yan Mingting’s second birthday together.

Since a month ago, Yan Mingting had been anxious about the gift.

Last year’s birthday had set the standard too high, which made it difficult to surpass this year. If the preparations were too simple, it could not be justified.

He began to observe whether Zhao Yelan had any new favorite things recently, and whenever Zhao Yelan was doing something, he quietly went over to take a look.

“What are you looking at?” Zhao Yelan turned to ask him.

“I’m looking at what you’re drawing.” Yan Mingting had just approached but was spotted by the other party, so he had to look up at the sky.

“Drawing a waterway map.” After the drought, Zhao Yelan always had the idea in mind to open a canal near Huaizhou and Zhizhou. He happened to be free recently, so he began to draw the terrain from memory. He pointed to one of the rivers and asked, “Do you remember what was by this river?”

“You’re asking the right person. I was very impressed with the situation at that time,” Yan Mingting said. “There was a peerless beauty beside this river with a frown, asking me when it would rain, and his appearance of worrying about the country and the people was truly beautiful.”

“…….” Zhao Yelan drove him out of the study.

Yan Mingting did not give up observing. This time, he went with him to the streets and followed secretly to see if there was anything he liked, preferably something he liked but was reluctant to buy.

However, he forgot that the other party was Zhao Yelan, ah, what could he be reluctant to buy?

He watched Zhao Yelan walk into Jinxuan, buy a bunch of things, and come out after a while. Then he turned around and went to the calligraphy shop, where he bought two expensive inkstones, and then went to the gold shop, where he spent a lot of money. Thousands of taels were tossed out in one afternoon.

At night, he looked through these things and inadvertently found a gold hairpin. He was so shocked that he rushed around the screen to ask the person who was bathing: “What is this? Which woman did you buy it for?”

“It’s for Yue’er, I heard she started talking recently,” Zhao Yelan replied.

Kan Xinyue was Kan Chuan’s daughter and Zhao Yelan’s goddaughter, and now that she was growing up, she was even cuter. It was only that she still loved to cry, and besides her mother, her favorite was Zhao Yelan. She would smile whenever she saw him, which once made Kan Chuan very jealous.

But Kan Chuan was not the only one who was jealous. Yan Mingting was even worse.

Thinking that every time he wanted Zhao Yelan to show him that kind of gentle and doting gaze, he had to spend a lot of effort, but the girl only had to smile at him for him to smile with that gentle expression, as if offering all his tenderness, Yan Minging really felt a little resentful.

Every time the two families met, Kan Chuan and Yan Mingting would huddle together to drink and pour out their grievances.

“Are you planning to take her the hairpin to coax her into calling you Godfather?” Yan Mingting asked.

“En, and clothes.”

Yan Mingting went to open the bag of clothes bought at Jinxuan. They were all children’s clothes, very small. They looked cute, and the material was also good, very expensive at first glance. He said: “She just started talking, and you’ve prepared so much. When she marries, how many boxes of dowry will you carry over there?”

“You’ve reminded me.” Zhao Yelan stood up with the sound of splashing water. “Let’s store away those accessories we don’t use when we have the time, she will grow up soon.”

“Be careful of catching a cold.” Yan Mingting immediately rushed in and wiped his body off with a towel, then carried him to bed and buried him up to his neck. He said with a groan, “I’m jealous.”

“You’re jealous of me catching a cold?” Zhao Yelan didn’t understand.

“No, of Yue’er.”

“What are you jealous of her for? Do you also want to be a woman in the next life?”

“…….” Yan Mingting laughed, raising his head and squeezing his nose. “You treat her so well, I’m jealous.”

“I don’t treat you well?” Zhao Yelan asked cooly.

Yan Mingting choked, saying after a moment: “It would be great if you could be more gentle to me.”

“I’m not gentle to you?” Zhao Yelan asked.

“……Put the knife down first before you speak,” Yan Mingting said in a cold sweat.

. . . . . .

After a few days of observation, Zhao Yelan didn’t seem to have any new hobbies recently, so Yan Mingting thought that it would be fine if he cultivated a few.

He took Zhao Yelan to the training grounds and waved his hand: “Choose any of the weapons here, and I will teach you.”

Zhao Yelan took a long time to choose, and picked out a whip.

Yan Mingting carefully taught him how to swing the whip for two days, but was unsuccessful. It was not until he almost hurt himself that Yan Mingting changed his methods and taught him how to bind people with the whip.

“If you learn from my technique, no one will be able to escape.”

“Really?”

“En!”

Zhao Yelan was physically weak, but his brain power was pretty good. After watching him demonstrate once, he understood the key points, found Xiao Gao, and tied him up.

Xiao Gao: “ ? ”

“Now break free,” Zhao Yelan said.

Xiao Gao struggled a few times, but couldn’t escape. He was obviously anxious: “My lord, are you going to sell me?”

Zhao Yelan was very satisfied, so he untied him. “Go on.”

Xiao Gao knelt down with a plop and hugged him, crying: “My lord, I was wrong. I will never steal the tanghulu you bought for the General again, or secretly tell Housekeeper Qin that you were bullied by the General in the middle of the night and cried.”

Zhao Yelan: “ ? ”

A moment later, Yan Mingting hugged Zhao Yelan’s waist from behind and carried him back to the room. Zhao Yelan kicked twice in the air: “You put me down, I want to sell him!”

Xiao Gao: “Wuwuwuwu.”

It was already dark out, and when Zhao Yelan was put on the bed, he said: “He stole your tanghulu and you’re still helping him?”

“It’s just a few tanghulu, let him eat as he pleases, and he won’t know the consequences until he has a toothache.” Yan Mingting laughed.

Zhao Yelan gritted his teeth and said: “No wonder Housekeeper Qin is always ordering the kitchen to cook chicken soup recently.”

“He’s just doing it for your own good,” Yan Mingting coaxed.

Zhao Yelan covered himself with the quilt, and when he felt his hand stretch in, he said: “You promised me just last night that we would rest tonight!”

“I’ll just touch and not do anything else,” Yan Mingting said in a natural tone.

After a while, Zhao Yelan said in a low voice: “What are you doing?”

“I’m just rubbing against you, nothing else.” Yan Mingting’s tone became unnatural.

Zhao Yelan promptly lifted the quilt and got out of bed.

“What are you doing?” Yan Mingting asked.

Zhao Yelan took out the whip without saying a word and tied his hands up as he had been taught. Yan Mingting struggled twice, but couldn’t break free. 

“Sleep, ba.” Zhao Yelan lay down and turned sideways, admiring Yan Mingting’s dissatisfied and aggrieved expression. He reached out, asking, “Shall I come over?”

Yan Mingting nodded fiercely, but Zhao Yelan didn’t move. Seeing his expression change from great joy to sorrow, he smiled and moved over slowly to kiss him little by little, like a fearless lord, and rolled onto him to dominate everything. The sense of conquest pleased him, and he enjoyed this fellow’s body language and emotions. No one else could make Yan Mingting surrender easily, but he could.

After a round of play, Zhao Yelan lay on top of him contentedly, and was about to move away when a pair of hands unexpectedly pressed down on his shoulders.

Zhao Yelan scoffed and looked down at the hands, wondering: “Didn’t you say that no one could escape?”

“If you want to be able to tie me up, you still need practice.” Yan Mingting hugged him and said, “But if you like this, you can come and tie me up any day.”

Zhao Yelan: “…….”

Half a month later, Yan Mingting still couldn’t think of what gift to give him, so he had to ask Zhao Xuan.

After court that day, he specially stayed behind, and Zhao Xuan took him to the side hall to ask what the matter was.

He asked: “What was the happiest time in Mengting’s life?”

Zhao Xuan said: “The day my father died.”

Yan Mingting: “……..”

Zhao Xuan smiled, and drank a bowl of medicine served by Eunuch Gao before saying: “Is that all you’re asking?”

“Then let me change the question. Was there anything he liked when he was a child?”

Zhao Xuan thought carefully for a moment, then said: “He used to enjoy buying candles very much.”

“Candles?” Yan Mingting asked in surprise.

“Yes, the second he had money, he loved to buy things like scented candles. I saw many candles in his room, of various kinds, often burning all night long.”

This was not something Yan Mingting had expected. The other party never showed any preference for candles after they married, although he did know about the incense.

In the blink of an eye, it was his birthday, and Zhao Yelan woke up as soon as the sky was bright. He didn’t want to admit that he couldn’t sleep due to being curious about how Yan Mingting would celebrate his birthday.

Xiao Gao came in to change his clothes, and chose a new set that Zhao Yelan had never seen before. After asking, he found out that Yan Mingting had specially prepared them for him. He was dressed in a green robe without complicated patterns, and the style was very simple, but Zhao Yelan felt that he had seen it somewhere before.

It wasn’t until he saw Yan Mingting’s clothing in the hallway that he remembered where this sense of familiarity came from.

Yan Mingting wore a set of white robes. He seldom wore white clothing, and had only done so when his parents died and when he returned to Beijing to recuperate.

This was the scene from when they met for the first time.

Yan Mingting turned around and smiled at him: “Is this the young master of the Zhao family?”

After a moment, Zhao Yelan smiled back: “Yes.”

“What is the young master doing in my General’s Mansion?”

“I heard that the young general is brave and invincible, with an admirable and heroic demeanor, so I wanted to come and see him.”

“I see that you are well-pleased too. Since we are in love, how about I go to the door to propose marriage someday?” Yan Mingting stretched out his hand.

Zhao Yelan laughed and took it: “Okay, ah, but my mother may not like a male daughter-in-law.”

“Young Master, don’t worry, I’m the best at coaxing older ladies. If I can’t coax her in one year, I’ll coax her for ten years.”

When the two came to the front hall, their friends were already sitting at the table and waiting to eat.

After Zhao Yelan sat down, the longevity noodles were served. The noodles were made by these friends, but this time they switched it up and insisted that Zhao Yelan guess who made the fire, who served the noodles, and who sprinkled the green onions.

After a lively breakfast, Kan Chuan and Ruan Xian’s families also came. Zuo Ran and Yin Pinglu also loved Kan Xingyue very much, so they followed Zhao Yelan to play with the child.

“Didn’t I say you should come later?” Yan Mingting stood aside and whispered to Kan Chuan.

“I couldn’t help it. As soon as the child heard she was going to see her godfather, she stared at me eagerly all morning,” Kan Chuan said.

Kan Xingyue had just learned to say simple addresses, and within a few days of calling for her parents, she called out to Zhao Yelan: “Yifu.”

Everyone laughed, including Zhao Yelan, and he carried her back to the bedroom to fetch the gold hairpin and new clothes. Feeling that it wasn’t enough, he carried her to go out and buy her something to eat, but was stopped by others.

“It’s a good thing you don’t have children. If you want to have a child, I’m afraid you will only be able to sleep in the study for the rest of your life,” Kan Chuan teased Yan Mingting, who laughed helplessly.

In the afternoon, the friends all had their own business to attend to. Just as the mansion was idle for a while, someone came again from the palace. It was Zhao Xuan and the Sun Muyun mother and son.

Sun Muyun had heard that Zhao Xuan planned to come to the General’s Mansion in person, and wanted to come along, saying that she was bored in the palace and wanted to come and have a look.

This frightened the servants in the General’s Mansion, and they hurriedly entertained them to the highest standards.

Several adults sat in the front hall chatting as Zhao Sui was learning to walk. Under the watchful eyes of the servants, he walked and stopped all the way until he hugged Zhao Yelan’s calf, trying to climb up.

Zhao Yelan was already an expert at holding babies, and picked him up, holding him skillfully in his arms. Zhao Sui immediately became happy.

Sun Muyun laughed loudly: “I heard that Zhao-daren has an affinity for children, but I didn’t expect it to be true.”

“Yes, ah,” Zhao Xuan said enviously. “Sui’er, come to Emperor Father.”

Zhao Sui glanced at him, then turned his head and continued to lay against Zhao Yelan, making everyone laugh.

The three of them didn’t stay very long, leaving some gifts before returning to the palace.

“What’s the matter with you?” Zhao Yelan noticed that Yan Minting had been staring sulkily at the gifts for a long time.

“He gave you so many good things, it’s hard for me to take out my gift,” Yan Mingting said.

“Oh?” Zhao Yelan leaned over and asked, “So what is your gift?” 

Yan Mingting led him to a deserted place on the outskirts of the city. Looking in this direction, he seemed to know where they were going. The closer they got, the slower Zhao Yelan walked, until they came to a small courtyard and Zhao Yelan touched the courtyard door with wet eyes: “When was it repaired? Who is living in it?”

“Don’t you know? It’s the Zhao family, ah.”

As soon as Yan Mingting finished speaking, tears fell from Zhao Yelan’s eyes.

This used to be the home of their family of three, but it was burned down by the fire, and everything was reduced to ashes. As a criminal, he couldn’t return, and later on, he didn’t want to. In any case, his family was gone, and there was no meaning here.

“Go in and have a look.” Yan Mingting pushed open the courtyard door. There was a vegetable field surrounded by a fence. “You said that your mother planted some vegetables in the courtyard.”

Zhao Yelan gazed at it for a while, then turned his head to look at the plum blossom and peach trees inside the courtyard wall.

“Didn’t your mother want to plant flowers in the courtyard? Right now only the plum blossoms can be seen, but we can see peach blossoms in the spring and look at them together,” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Yelan walked into the house, and the furnishings inside were exactly the same as what he revealed in his occasional words. Everywhere he looked, he seemed to be able to see the shadow of his childhood self running around this humble house.

“Since I want to propose marriage, of course I must come to the Zhao residence.” Yan Mingting raised his hand and wiped his tears away before pulling him into his arms. “Is Young Master Zhao willing to spend the rest of his life with me?”

Zhao Yelan nodded, clutching his sleeves with both hands, and cried quietly.

They ate dinner there. Yan Mingting had not only restored the furnishings at that time, but made it directly liveable.

Yan Mingting opened the cupboard, took out the flour, and began kneading dough. He said: “It seems you still must come to light the fire.”

Zhao Yelan sat in front of the stove, and it was as if he had returned to his childhood, sitting there holding the poker and reading a book while lighting the fire. Because he was so invested in reading, he had almost burned the book.

He told Yan Mingting these interesting things, and Yan Mingting said with a smile: “Aiya, I really regret that I didn’t know you earlier. You must have been cute when you were little.”

The birthday dinner was just simple steamed buns, but Yan Mingting’s skills could be said to have advanced by leaps and bounds. According to him, he specially went to learn from the shopkeeper of Mingji and practiced for five days.

After dinner, Zhao Yelan was taken aback when the other took out some blankets to make the bed, saying: “When did you prepare these?”

In fact, it had been almost a year since he prepared them. He had planned to bring him here for his birthday last year, but the time was tight, and he was too late.

“Come here and see if it’s warm,” Yan Mingting said while touching the thick quilt.

Zhao Yelan walked over and carefully touched the quilt, then suddenly noticed his vision brighten, then become brighter and brighter. He turned around suspiciously and saw red candles burning all over the room, tall and short, thick and thin.

“This is……” Zhao Yelan was stunned.

“Don’t you like candles?” Yan Mingting stepped forward to hold his hand, smiling. “These are wedding candles. Let’s have another wedding night here.”

Zhao Yelan raised his head, his eyes tinged with red: “You really are……”

Before he could finish speaking, he choked up and kissed him.

Under the moonlight, beside the wedding candles, blue silk became entangled.

Married as husband and wife, there was no doubt about their love.

“Actually, I never liked candles.” Lying in his arms, Zhao Yelan looked at the burning candles and said, “I was just afraid of dark places and loved the light they brought me.”

The closer a person was to hell, the greedier they would be for light.

“Then do you like them now?” Yan Mingting asked.

Zhao Yelan’s expression changed slightly, and he looked at him intently: “They are just candles to me now, because……I haven’t been afraid of the dark since we married. That is to say, I found a new light, and he is brighter and more eternal.”

---

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Chapter Ninety-Two <<Table of Contents >> Extra 2: Relatives

STS Risk Advisory.

Qin Yishun, who always had a poker face, took a bunch of snacks and desserts from the staff rest area and walked back to his office quickly with a smile on his face.

An assistant who had just finished handling external work saw this unusual scene, and her eyes widened with astonishment.

She slowly moved to the side of secretary Ai Ling. “Sister Ai Ling, I came back late, which person is Mr. Qin receiving, ah? Why do I feel that he is entirely different from before?”

Ai Ling took a long sip of her coffee and whispered, “Boss Qin’s little brother is inside, and he brought a big man with him.”

“Little brother?”

“It’s the little boy that was brought up by Boss Qin some time ago.” Ai Ling shook her head and teased, “Unexpected, right? Our Boss Qin looks so serious, but he’s still a little brother-con in private.”

He even had to choose the snacks and desserts for his little brother in person, so cute~

Inside the general manager’s office.

Pei Yi sat beside his older brother, staring intently at the snowball cake in his hands.

Seeing this little greedy cat, Qin Yishun revealed a faint smile and tore open the outer package before handing it over. “Eat slowly, don’t choke.”

Pei Yi took it with both hands, nodding perfunctorily.

Bo Yueming, who was sitting alone across from him, watching this scene covertly and was suddenly not satisfied with the sitting arrangement. He knew he shouldn’t have brought the kitten here.

How could he be coaxed away willingly with sweets?

“Second Young Master Bo.”

Only after settling his brother in did Qin Yishun restrain himself and deal with business as usual. “Would you like to elaborate on your needs here?”

Bo Yueming’s eyes dropped quickly under the cover of his glasses, and missed the other party’s gaze.

He knew that Qin Yishun was a veteran, so he must have strong observation skills. If he wanted to pretend to be blind and act with the kitten, he had to hide his “ability to see” from this cousin.

“I need at least six professional security personnel, including one who knows medicine, to be responsible for the security of my grandmother’s convalescent villa. Cost is not a problem.”

When he was in Mingxi Manor just now, Pei Yi had deliberately approached him, and Bo Yueming took his hint to heart.

For this sort of thing, no one was more responsible than Qin Yishun.

STS was one of the best risk consulting agencies in China, and because of Pei Yi, the two of them were more or less related “in name.”

In terms of arranging manpower, Qin Yishun would definitely not be negligent.

Old Mrs. Bo was not fully conscious yet, and Aunt Song was just an ordinary caretaker. The security measures in Mingxi Manor seemed to be good, but after all, they were not under Bo Yueming’s control.

In case his suspicions came true, and someone with malicious intentions took the opportunity to bribe the security or medical staff……Bo Yueming must put an end to this possibility!

“During the time I’m not in the Imperial Capital, no one is allowed to enter the convalescent villa without my permission. Once someone breaks in maliciously, the necessary enforcement measures can be taken, and I must be notified at once.”

Qin Yishun nodded upon hearing Bo Yueming’s request. “No problem. If Mr. Bo is in a hurry, I’ll send someone to arrange the contract and deployment of personnel, and we can sign it before the end of the day.”

Bo Yueming desired just this sort of efficiency. “All right.”

The two confirmed their intention to cooperate in just a handful of sentences. Pei Yi, who had finished eating a snack, couldn’t help but sigh—

The efficiency among intelligent people was really quite speedy.

Qin Yishun left with a business-like attitude. As soon as the door closed, Pei Yi heard the other person ask, “Pei Yi, what are you eating?”

“Snack.”

Naturally, Pei Yi would not report such specific words as “snowball cake.”

Bo Yueming spoke again, “You bring me some too, I’m a little hungry.”

“Ah?”

Pei Yi made a sound of incomprehension, looking up at assistant Lin Zhong to the side.

Bo Yueming didn’t like sweet things very much.

And he usually called his assistant for help, so why was it his turn to be called?

Lin Zhong met Pei Yi’s gaze and feigned ignorance, taking out cell phone that hadn’t vibrated at all. “Boss, there’s a call coming in. Should I go out and answer it first?”

“En.”

Bo Yueming was very satisfied with his assistant’s tact and discreteness.

Once the frosted glass door had opened and closed, only Bo Yueming and Pei Yi were left in the office.

Bo Yueming suddenly rubbed his left hand, which had been rebandaged after the dressing was changed, and gave a pained frown. “I didn’t eat much at noon today.”

“……..”

Pei Yi came to an abrupt realization.

Bo Yueming’s scalded right hand was still not fully healed, and the individual blisters looked even more festering after they burst. His eyes were also inconvenient, so his daily eating speed was even slower.

Today, before he could finish lunch, Old Mr. Bo had called him over.

At this point in time, he should be hungry.

Thinking of this, Pei Yi picked up two salted meat buns and got up, walking around the table to hand them to Bo Yueming. “Er-ge, here.”

Bo Yueming took them and said casually, “Sit.”

Pei Yi looked at the long sofa that could sit two people and didn’t think much of it at all. On the contrary, he feared that it would be inconvenient for Bo Yueming, so he personally tore open the outer bag of the small bread for him, then handed it over again.

Bo Yueming deliberately didn’t catch it with his hand, and lowered his head to look for the food, somewhat confused.

“………”

Pei Yi only paused for a second or two before feeding the bun to his mouth. “Here, ah—”

Bo Yueming bit down in response, and there was a bit of joy in his eyes.

. . . . . .

Ten minutes later.

When Qin Yishun returned to the office, he found Pei Yi sitting next to Bo Yueming, and the corners of his originally relaxed mouth tightened unconsciously—

How long had he been out?

How did Bo Yueming deceive this person to his side? This man really knew some tricks.

“Brother!”

Pei Yi was unaware of his brother’s inner fluctuations, so he called out with a smile.

At the same time, Secretary Ai Ling walked in with a tablet.

“Boss Qin, the electronic version of the exclusive contract has been released. Mr. Bo must confirm its content again. If there is no problem with the final confirmation, we can prepare the paper version for signing at any time.”

In front of employees, he still had to maintain his professional status, and Qin Yishun could only suppress the little concerns in his heart. “Okay.”

Lin Zhong then approached and said, “Thank you, leave it to me.”

Ever since Bo Yueming’s eyesight became inconvenient, he needed the content of such texts read out to him. 

Lin Zhong sat back behind Bo Yueming and accurately read the contents in a low voice. After two or three small revisions, the two parties successfully completed the cooperation signing.

“The specific team members will be in place on time before eight o’clock tomorrow,” Qin Yishun explained. “Rest assured, Second Young Master Bo, everything will be to the highest standards, and I will be checking in regularly.”

Bo Yueming replied, “Since that is the case, then I will trouble Boss Qin.”

Qin Yishun sent Ai Ling and the other staff out with a look.

After closing the door, he asked another question from a personal perspective, “Mr. Bo, you are leaving for Wencheng tomorrow, so what is Xiao Yi going to do?”

Pei Yi, who was quietly thinking about the plot of a game, heard his name and raised his head slowly. “…..Huh?”

Qin Yishun looked at his little brother’s confused little eyes, anxious. “Since Xiao Yi lives in Bo Manor, I have privately inquired about the relationships between everyone in the Bo family.”

They were extremely complicated and messy.

“When Xiao Yi was by your side, at least you could still protect him, but what about the next few months? Can you rest assured with him living amongst a pack of wolves, tigers, and leopards?”

“……..”

Pei Yi fully returned to his senses at last.

In the eyes of outsiders, Bo Yueming was going on a business trip to Wencheng for work. If not for the special circumstances, as a “family member” or “marriage partner,” there would be absolutely no need for him to follow the other party on his trip.

When Bo Yueming heard Qin Yishun’s question, his jaw tensed for a moment.

Speaking of selfishness, Bo Yueming of course wanted Pei Yi to be by his side, because only in this way could the relationship between the two grow closer. But a person could not just think about himself, he had to respect Pei Yi’s personal wishes.

Bo Yueming’s eyes shifted slightly, and he spoke the truth, “How about letting Pei Yi decide for himself? I’m uncertain of the work situation in Wencheng for the time being, so I’m not going to hastily decide to take him.”

Qin Yishun cut to the chase, “I don’t agree with Pei Yi staying at Bo Manor without anyone looking after him.”

In his opinion, his little brother was a little white rabbit, a little sheep, pure, kind, and harmless. How could he stand against the calculating eyes of the Bo family?

At this thought, Qin Yishun asked more actively, “Xiao Yi, do you want to stay with Brother for a while? Or move back to live with Auntie? If I have free time, I’ll go there to accompany you.”

Perhaps as time went on, his little brother would stop thinking about Bo Yueming, and live with his relatives willingly.

“……..”

Hearing the statements of the two, Pei Yi felt an unprecedented entanglement in his heart.

To tell the truth that no outsider knew, he suddenly realized that he subconsciously wanted to leave the Imperial Capital together with Bo Yueming and go to Wencheng.

Pei Yi turned his head and thought carefully of his original purpose of coming to Bo Manor —

One reason was that it was difficult to take his “own” identity documents that were in the hands of the Pei family, the second was to have a relatively “home-like” creative environment, and the third was to take care of the relatives of the original owner.

Pei Yi was the most typical type of game producer. He liked a relatively fixed creative environment and didn’t like running around.

But he didn’t know since when—

He could actually tacitly stay by Bo Yueming’s side with peace of mind? No matter where it was that they were going.

Qin Yishun looked at Pei Yi’s unusually knit brows, and expressed concern, “Xiao Yi? What’s wrong?”

Pei Yi shook his head slightly, and his gaze unconsciously turned towards Bo Yueming.

The reason the other party blackened in the original text was because he suffered so much humiliation and bullying while he was blind. 

Bo Yueming still couldn’t see now, so it was hard for him to do things.

If he met another shameless person like Bo Guancheng in Wencheng, plotting against and bullying him openly and in secret, what would he do?

Perhaps because Pei Yi’s gaze was fixed for so long, Bo Yueming thought that the other party wanted to stay.

He inconspicuously pressed the blisters under the gauze, trying to use the pain to cover up the loss in his heart. “Pei Yi, stay if you want to, ba.”

Pei hummed softly. “I want……to go with Er-ge.”

No matter how rational his planning was, he still failed to divert his real feelings. He wanted to block or fight back against those malicious intentions on Bo Yueming’s behalf as much as he could.

He wanted to protect him in his blindness, if only for a while.

Even though he would leave the Bo family in the future, Pei Yi didn’t want the other party to fall to the same tragic end as in the original text.

Having made up his mind, Pei Yi repeated, “Go with Er-ge.”

Bo Yueming’s heart stabilized at once, and a trace of warmth appeared on his lips. “Okay, you stay with me.”

“……..”

When Qin Yishun heard Pei Yi’s choice, he thought for a moment, “it really is so.”

Perhaps because he was prepared, he no longer felt the loss he had felt the first time, and just spoke from the perspective of family, “Second Young Master, since Xiao Yi is willing to follow you, please take good care of him no matter what.”

“As for Old Mrs. Bo and my auntie, I will do my best to take care of them. You and Xiao Yi don’t need to worry too much.”

Pei Yi was moved by Qin Yishun’s answer.

He ran back to the other’s side and picked up the untouched dessert to offer as a bribe, “Brother! Here!”

Only this time, Bo Yueming didn’t feel sour enough to stop him. “Thank you, Mr. Qin.”

Qin Yishun took the food handed to him by his little brother, and when he looked at the opposite side, he took out his brother-in-law attitude again, “I’m doing this for Xiao Yi, and I hope that Second Young Master will keep my entrustment in mind.”

“Naturally.”

. . . . . .

When Bo Yueming returned home, Pei Yi was no longer with him.

Uncle Kai, who had stayed at home to pack luggage, found this strange and asked, “Second Young Master, where is Little Sir?”

Lin Zhong nearby understood the situation, and explained, “Little Sir will go with Second Young Master to Wencheng tomorrow, and he is with Mr. Qin tonight to accompany Ms. Shu for dinner.”

They were leaving tomorrow, after all, and it was only natural to have dinner with the family tonight.

Uncle Kai was taken aback. “Little Sir is going with you?”

“En, if he wants to follow, I’ll let him follow, ba.” Bo Yueming relaxed with a smile, saying, “Uncle Kai, help Pei Yi pack his luggage later.”

“All right.”

The group booked a flight for 3:30 p.m. the next day.

When they arrived at the hotel in Wencheng, it was already past eight o’clock.

The person in charge of receiving them was named Song Yuanyuan, and he was the deputy member of the project team that the Bo family sent to Wencheng four months ago. Because Feng Zheng, the core leader, set down the burden halfway, he could only take over temporarily.

“Mr. Bo, according to the number of people in our entourage reported by Assistant Lin, I have reserved the highest-standard general suite for you here, with a double master bedroom and two second bedrooms. The three rooms are relatively spread out, so you will not disturb each other at night.”

Double master bedroom?

Didn’t this situation sound a little familiar?

Pei Yi thought about it and grabbed the shoulder strap of his backpack casually. “Ah.”

“……..”

Song Yuanyuan didn’t expect Pei Yi to be the first to respond, and was a little confused for a moment.

“Mr., Mr. Bo, is there something wrong with this arrangement?”

Wasn’t the reservation made after speaking with Lin Zhong?

A housekeeper in charge of daily life, an assistant in charge of work, and Mr. Bo’s partner. Wasn’t this arrangement correct?

Song Yuanyuan inwardly confirmed this and quickly added, “Oh, I’ve already asked the agency about Mr. Bo’s short-term housing in Wencheng, and I’ll try to arrange it within three days.”

“En, since you’ve already made the reservation, let’s just do this first.”

Bo Yueming nodded slightly . “It’s late today, and I’m tired from the plane. Regarding the bidding project, you will report the detailed progress to me tomorrow morning.”

Song Yuanyuan replied, “Okay.”

Bo Yueming put the matter to rest. “All right, let’s go up and look at the rooms.”

. . . . . . 

Three minutes later.

Pei Yi gazed at the overly luxurious master bedroom and sighed silently—

Because he feared that the cat would be stressed from the flight, before leaving this time, Pei Yi had specially handed Inspector over to Qin Yishun to take care of.

He didn’t have the cute and lovely Inspector to accompany him to sleep tonight, and was lying on a completely unfamiliar bed and bedding. No matter how big the bed was or how far away Bo Yueming was, he reckoned that he was destined to suffer from insomnia.

Sitting on the back sofa, Bo Yueming looked at Pei Yi’s “cute” head and motioned, “Uncle Kai, take out Pei Yi’s things.”

Uncle Kai responded, “Okay, Second Young Master.”

Hearing his name, Pei Yi quickly turned to check on the situation—

Uncle Kai found the corresponding large suitcase and took out a stack of thick compressed bags from it, which contained the bedding set he used back at the villa.

Uncle Kai took the bedding from the compression bag and shook it twice. “Little Sir.”

Pei Yi quickly ran to take the quilt. He buried his head to sniff it, and breathed in the scent he was familiar with. 

He opened his eyes in surprise and disbelief—

What the hell? 

When was this brought here?

Why didn’t he know anything about it!

Seeing Pei Yi’s childish reaction, Uncle Kai couldn’t restrain his smile. 

He paid no mind to how much Pei Yi could understand, telling him in detail, “Last night, Second Young Master specifically instructed me as soon as he came home. He was afraid that Little Sir would not sleep well when he got here, and asked me to pack it up and bring it with us today.”

Bo Yueming didn’t like to travel back and forth with a lot of luggage. In the past, when he was on short business trips, he bought everything that he could buy locally.

This time, he didn’t bring much luggage, and the bedding only took up a big suitcase.

When Pei Yi heard Uncle Kai’s explanation, the warmth in his heart bloomed into flowers.

Because of the small habits created by his childhood environment growing up, plus the usual daily work that was mentally exhausting, Pei Yi was somewhat picky about “recognizing” the bed he was sleeping in, although it sounded a bit childish.

At the time he had just transmigrated, Pei Yi had to toss and turn almost every night until three or four o’clock in the morning before he could fall asleep. As far as he was concerned, it was rare to sleep peacefully like he had when they went to the recuperation resort last time.

After finally getting used to the bed at Bo Manor, then suddenly agreeing to change where he stayed, he was secretly worried about his quality of sleep these few days.

Unexpectedly, Bo Yueming took this into consideration?

Was he really taking care of him like he was a fool? 

Pei Yi considered this silently, his heart still filled with soft joy. “Er-ge, good!”

On the sofa, Bo Yueming pretended to be calm and took a sip of water. “Okay, put the quilt aside first and hurry to take a shower.”

“Little Sir, here is your change of clothes.” Uncle Kai handed them over.

Pei Yi nodded in response. He turned around and rushed back to the master bedroom, completely forgetting the fact that he would be ‘sharing a bed’ with Bo Yueming.

. . . . . .

At 10:30 in the evening, Bo Yueming walked out of the bathroom after washing up.

“Pei Yi? Are you asleep?”

Even though he knew the layout of the master bedroom well, he pretended to be cautious, as if he was not familiar with the room.

Pei Yi was playing with the mobile phone in his hands. After hearing this question, he quickly pretended to yawn a little, and asked in a dazed tone, “Er-ge?”

“…….”

Bo Yueming was overwhelmed by the kitten’s superb acting skills, and endured for a few seconds before failing. “Come and help me.”

Pei Yi had guessed that Bo Yueming would ask him for help, and showed a look of “so it’s true,” before hiding under his mask of cuteness in an instant.

Before long, the two of them occupied the two sides of the big bed and lay down.

Bo Yueming questioned, “Is the light still on? Turn it off before going to sleep.”

It was not time for Pei Yi to go to sleep, but he was afraid of affecting Bo Yueming, so he honestly put down the phone and turned off the lights.

The room was plunged into darkness.

Pei Yi knew that Bo Yueming would get up early tomorrow to deal with business, so he didn’t dare to disturb him. He just forced himself to close his eyes and fall asleep.

Time passed quietly.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of light, overlapping breathing stabilized.

Bo Yueming opened his eyes in the dark and cautiously turned sideways, staring at the person before him in the faint light—

Pei Yi had himself wrapped up in the quilt, only revealing a small part of his sleeping face, giving people the illusion of a well-behaved sleeping posture.

“…….”

Ever since falling asleep with Pei Yi in his arms the last two times, Bo Yueming had unexpectedly fallen in love with that feeling, so before booking the hotel last night, he specifically explained to Lin Zhong that they only needed a master bedroom and two extra bedrooms.

Lin Zhong was clever. He knew that his secrets could easily be revealed here, so he deliberately reported this to Song Yuanyuan, his liaison in these parts. 

Of course, Bo Yueming would not force him to do anything for his own selfish desires.

He was waiting for Pei Yi to be “dishonest” and take the initiative to stick to him.

Even if his waiting was in vain, it was good to watch the kitten sleep like this.

Just as he thought this, Pei Yi changed his sleeping position in his sleep—

He moved to the middle of the bed, and after finding Bo Yueming, he seemed to have found a large pillow and stuck to it defenselessly with his hands and feet.

Most of the quilt wrapped around his body fell away.

Sure enough. Having waited for the kitten to throw himself into his arms, Bo Yueming smiled silently and gently rubbed the neck of the person in his arms to lull him to sleep.

It wasn’t until Pei Yi was completely asleep that he relaxed entirely. He lowered his head and rubbed his lightly scented hair, warm lips brushing a soft and delicate ear.

“Good night, Kitten.”

. . . . . .

The next morning, Bo Yueming was the first to wake up.

Song Yuanyuan, who was in charge of reporting his work, arrived on time together with assistant Lin Zhong. The three sat in the living room, preparing to carry out the preliminary alignment of the project.

Before giving the official report, Song Yuanyuan first mentioned  housing matters. “Mr. Bo, the agency has found a suitable house. It is a well-decorated empty villa with a total of four bedrooms, one master and three others, with full amenities.”

This project would take at least two months, and staying in a hotel for a long time was not as comfortable as living in a “house.”

Song Yuanyuan continued, “If you don’t want to live in a hotel, we can always find an intermediary to sign a housing contract.”

Bo Yueming took a sip of his coffee. “En, Lin Zhong will help take a look at it later, and we’ll sign it if there is no problem. But there is no need to hurry and move for now, we’ll talk about it in a week.”

Song Yuanyuan was taken aback, not quite understanding.

Why continue to live in a hotel when a suitable house had been found?

Before he could figure out what the issue was, the door of the master bedroom opened.

Pei Yi came out drowsily. Even after washing up, the sleepiness had not completely left his face.

Lin Zhong greeted, “Hey, Little Sir is up?”

Pei Yi looked around and instinctively walked toward Bo Yueming on the sofa with a bit of dependence that even he didn’t realize. “Er-ge.”

The just-woken up voice was soft.

Bo Yueming asked Lin Zhong to get up and pour a glass of water, and said, “Did you sleep well last night? If you didn’t sleep well, I’ll change the type of hotel suite and let you sleep alone.”

Bo Yueming paused and showed no trace of his actual thoughts. “It’s hard to find a house here in Wencheng, we may have to live here for a few more days.”

“…….”

Hard to find a house?

Want to change the type of hotel suite?

The drowsiness and awakeness in Pei Yi’s head were still at odds, and after listening to such a long paragraph, he felt it was troublesome and shook his head. “Sleep well, no change.”

Bo Yueming got the answer he wanted, and a glimmer of light flickered in his eyes. “En.”

“……..”

Lin Zhong on the side was not surprised.

Song Yuanyuan, who was meeting them for the first time, was fully taken aback and almost couldn’t hold back his expression. 

No? Mr. Bo!

This all went around in a big circle, are you doing it to trick your family’s own Little Sir?

---

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Chapter Thirty-Eight <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty

Three days later, at the main house.

Bo Yueminng stood calmly outside the study, accompanied by assistant Lin Zhong. Half an hour ago, they received notice from Old Mr. Bo that he had something to talk about.

Lin Zhong looked at the still-closed study door, agitated. “Mr. Bo, what do you think the old man wants?”

The last time the old man said “I have something to talk about,” Mr. Bo was forcibly dismissed from his position in the group, and all the fast-developing plans were handed over to Bo Guancheng. During this period of time, Mr. Bo hadn’t been involved with the group anymore, right, ah?

Could it be that news of the joint investment company with Mr. Yan had reached the ears of the old man, making him dissatisfied? But this wasn’t a new matter, so there was no need to bring it up now, right?

Lin Zhong couldn’t understand, but Bo Yueming appeared calm. “We’ll know when we go in, don’t jump to conclusions.”

As soon as he spoke, the door of the study suddenly opened in response.

Bo Guancheng emerged, but this time he looked different from before—

His left cheek bore an obvious bruise and a scratch that seemed to have just healed, and even the corners of his eyes had clear bruises.

Bo Yueming’s eyes hidden under the black glasses took this sight in, but he didn’t say anything, and pretended not to know who the other party was.

Lin Zhong, who was standing beside him, was stunned for a moment and held back his surprise. “Eldest Young Master.”

Bo Guancheng nodded slightly, and the corners of his mouth no longer showed his usual fake smile.

Three days ago, he had been attacked outside the on the forest path behind the manor, and by the time he tore through the stinking garbage bag and managed to barely get up, the other party had already disappeared.

Bo Guancheng believed that it was the servant A-Kai who was harboring a grudge and impulsively got revenge, but because of the “transaction relationship” between the two, he didn’t dare to raise his voice about it, lest the other party smash the pot in public and make the issue even more unsightly.

After all, now that damn girl Bo Jiao was back.

If everyone knew about his secret targeting of Bo Yueming, perhaps the second branch would make a fuss under the other party’s instigation.

Considering many factors, Bo Guancheng had no choice but to admit that he was unlucky, and use the excuse that he had accidentally fallen while walking at night.

Of course, once he found that servant A-Kai, he would definitely not go easy on him!

Bo Guancheng looked at Bo Yueming, and opened his mouth perfunctorily, “Yueming, Grandpa happens to have something for you, so just go in.”

After speaking, he endured the pain and slowly walked away.

The injuries to his face were secondary, and the more serious ones were at the joints of his knees, hands, and feet. Having been beaten hard that day, they swelled so badly that he had to bear the pain even in his daily work and when walking.

Bo Guancheng was only thankful that Bo Yueming couldn’t see his disgraceful state at the moment. Little did he know that his every move had already fallen into the eyes of the other party.

There was a subtle arc to Bo Yueming’s thin lips, which he quickly hid—

It seemed that his own family’s kitten was moving his hands in secret.

Just as he was thinking, Old Mr. Bo’s voice sounded from the study. “Is that Yueming outside? Come in.”

Bo Yueming restrained his thoughts, and pretended to use Lin Zhong’s help to step into the study. “Grandpa.”

Old Mr. Bo was sitting behind a sandalwood desk, leisurely drinking the tea made by the steward, Lao Shen. He took a few sips and then casually tossed down the document in his hand, gesturing to it—

“There is a project I plan to let you take over. I’ll ask the assistant to tell you the details later.”

Lin Zhong conscientiously stepped forward to take the document, then returned to Bo Yueming, opening it to can through it. “Wencheng New Olympic Sports?”

Bo Yueming heard the name of this relatively unfamiliar project and frowned.

Wencheng?

Not a project in the Imperial Capital?

Old Mr. Bo seemed to have noticed his doubts, and exhibited a rare moment of patience as he took the initiative to explain, “Wencheng will hold an international youth competition at the end of the year, and intends to take the opportunity to expand construction funds and build a new integrated sports center.”

In the previous bidding plan, the sports center covered an area of about 80,000 square meters, with an investment budget of 1.2 billion. If they could successfully cooperate with relevant departments and enter a cooperative contract with this project, the future profits were self-evident.

“Your grandma always planned to expand the Bo family to the coastal areas, and the general manager and core team of this project were sent to Wencheng by her four months ago.”

Not long after, Bo Peizhi had an accident and was now lying in a hospital bed.

“A week ago, the original general manager left the job suddenly and quit. Now that there are only two months left before the public bidding, it is not worthwhile to give up, but it is true that not just anyone is capable of taking on such a big project.”

Old Mr. Bo took another sip of hot tea, speaking earnestly, “Your sister is right, you are capable, and shouldn’t just stay at home because of your eyes, lest outsiders say I am partial to the main branch and despise the second branch.”

“I’ve thought about it, and only when this project is handed over to you can I rest assured, and so can your grandma.”

Old Mr. Bo added with apparent lenience, “Of course, you don’t need to stress yourself. If this project can be completed, then you will be the biggest contributor. If it cannot be completed, the costs incurred in the early stages will be counted as those of the group.”

“…….”

Bo Yueming remained silent.

Only two months left for him to take over a major engineering project that was likely to have turned into a mess? And the location was far away in Wencheng? It was clear that he intended to drive him out.

But if he deliberately turned it down, it was likely that the rumors outside would change direction—

It wasn’t that Old Mr. Bo was deliberately biased, as he had clearly given the other a large project with considerable profits, but the Second Young Master of the Bo family turned his face and was unwilling to accept it.

Old Mr. Bo looked directly at him. “Yueming, what do you think?”

Bo Yueming smiled. “Grandpa, when do you want me to leave?”

“Naturally, the sooner the better. If there are no other matters, perhaps tomorrow?”

Old Mr. Bo seemed to be asking, but had actually made up his mind for him. “An extra day’s delay may affect the final result. When you arrive in Wencheng, someone will connect with you.”

Li Zhong frowned slightly, feeling aggrieved for his boss.

Bo Yueming beside him continued to respond calmly, “Okay, then I’ll go back and get ready.”

Not long after, the study door closed again.

Only then did the steward, Lao Shen, come up to refill Old Mr. Bo’s cup of tea. “Old Sir, leaving such a large project in Wencheng to the Second Young Master, if he succeeds, wouldn’t it be…..”

“Succeeds?”

Shrewdness flashed through Old Mr. Bo’s muddy eyes. “A strong dragon can not overwhelm a local snake. Do you think the local companies that are also participating in the bidding will give opportunities to an outside group?”

“There are eight out of ten chances that the reason the person in charge of this project ran away was because he encountered unavoidable troubles, and used this project to go to Wencheng to stay for two or three months in order to make enough space for the Lihui and Guancheng father and son.”

As for the people in the second branch—

The second son was long gone, the youngest grandson liked to play around, and the only one with a sharp mind was Bo Jiao. If she wanted a position in the group, then he would give her one. After all, she was a little girl, what kind of storm could she withstand?

When the main branch father and son completely controlled all the shareholders of the group and gathered together the former employees of Bo Peizhi, then this family and group should follow his surname.

His surname was Cheng, Cheng Yangshan. He would no longer be “Old Mr. Bo” to the outside world!

. . . . . .

“Meow, meow-wu~”

Inspector smelled the aroma of egg tarts and tugged its master’s arm vigorously, wanting to get a little bit of sweetness. 

It was a pity that Pei Yi’s attention was not on it at all. He continuously looked in the direction of the villa’s gate, muttering internally—

It’s been almost an hour since Old Mr. Bo called Bo Yueming over, why hasn’t he come back yet?

Could it be that his beating of Bo Guancheng had been exposed? Was the other party taking the old man’s scolding for him?

The more Pei Yi thought about it, the more he felt that there was such a possibility. Even the egg tarts that he used to eat happily were not appetizing now.

Suddenly, two familiar figures appeared outside the window. Pei Yi quickly stuffed the remaining half of the egg tart into his mouth, patted the crumbs from his hands, and rushed over.

“Mm, mm!”

Upon stepping through the gate, Bo Yueming met Pei Yi’s eager face, his food-stuffed cheeks bulging cutely.

Bo Yueming was helpless. “What was that?”

Pei Yi quickly swallowed the egg tart in his mouth and called out obediently again, “Er-ge.”

Bo Yueming’s cold, hard aura gradually dispersed. “What is it?”

Uncle Kai walked up with a smile. “Second Young Master, Little Sir was definitely worried about you. Since you were called away by the Old Sir, he has been waiting anxiously for your return.”

“…….”

Pei Yi was called out, and his cheeks were a little hot.

Anxiously?

He hadn’t been waiting for too long, wasn’t that an exaggeration?

Bo Yueming caught Pei Yi’s fleeting expression, and suddenly felt that his mood was not so bad.

Uncle Kai asked, “Second Young Master, why was the Old Sir looking for you?”

Lin Zhong, who could no longer hold back his words, patted the document in his hand. “What did he want, ah? He is clearly conspiring to throw Boss Bo into a pit!”

In the end, wasn’t this his grandchild?

The old man was completely wicked! There was no end to his partiality!

When they heard this, Pei Yi and Uncle Kai felt that something was wrong, and the latter hurriedly asked, “What is the matter?”

“The old man left me a troublesome project in another province. I’m leaving for Wencheng tomorrow. Uncle Kai, you can help me pack a bag later.”

Uncle Kai nodded, once again surprised. “……Why so sudden?”

Pei Yi remained silent, also feeling the same suddenness—

There didn’t seem to be such a plot point in the original text, did there? Could it be that because Bo Yueming was not the main character, some unimportant plot points were omitted? Or perhaps what Bo Jiao said at the family dinner changed the direction of the plot?

In any case, Old Mr. Bo suddenly dispatched Bo Yueming to Wenchang? It was definitely not for a good job!

Bo Yueming instructed again, “By the way, have Lao Fu prepare a car, I’m going to Minxi Manor.”

Uncle Kai’s expression shifted, and he went to prepare in a hurry.

“…….”

Mingxi Manor?

Pei Yi’s attention was distracted for a moment.

He thought the place sounded familiar, but couldn’t remember where he had heard it before.

Bo Yueming suddenly asked, “Pei Yi, do you want to go with me?”

Pei Yi had already thought about this, and nodded in a well-behaved manner. “En!”

. . . . . .

An hour later, the car arrived at its destination.

Pei Yi stared at the building in front of him, and finally remembered—

Mingxi Manor was a high-end private hospital. In the original text, after Old Mrs. Bo fell into a coma due to a cerebral hemorrhage, she lived in this place for medical treatment and recuperation.

Bo Yueming took Pei Yi to an independent villa, and the security personnel at the door immediately came to greet him, “Second Young Master.”

“Where is Aunt Song?”

“Taking care of the Old Lady inside.” The security guard opened the door for them and took the initiative to report, “The nutritional supplements were just changed for the Old Lady.”

They stepped into the residence.

Although the exterior looked like a villa, internal medical facilities were readily available.

Aunt Song, who was in charge of caring for Old Mrs. Bo, saw Bo Yueming and approached him quickly. “Second Young Master, why did you suddenly decide to come today?”

She caught sight of the well-behaved unfamiliar face beside him, and guessed Pei Yi’s identity. “This is the ‘Little Sir’ that A-Kai^[1] spoke of, right? He looks very fresh.”

“Yes.”

Bo Yueming took advantage of the situation to grasp Pei Yi’s hand that was holding onto the corner of his clothes, not revealing the condition of his eyes. “Aunt Song, I want to take him to see Grandma first.”

“All right.”

Aunt Song led them into the “ward.”

As soon as Pei Yi entered the door, he saw Old Mrs. Bo lying on the bed—

Due to being bedridden in a long-term coma, both cheeks were practically sunken. Her face was even more bloodless and pale, and her short-cropped hair was mixed with white, making her look very old.

Even so, Old Mrs. Bo’s facial features were still outstanding.

In her seventies, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were much less than her peers, and one could catch a vague glimpse of her youthful demeanor.

Bo Yueming and Pei Yi sat to the side of the bed.

Aunt Song and assistant Lin Zhong exchanged glances and both walked out, gently closing the door of the “ward.”

Through the dark glasses, Bo Yueming took Old Mrs. Bo’s hand gingerly, and told her softly, “Grandma, I came to see you.”

One simple sentence exuded a never before seen heaviness.

Only in front of Old Mrs. Bo, who had raised him since he was a child, would he let down his guard and stop pretending to be indifferent to what had happened.

“…….”

Pei Yi noticed the sudden change in Bo Yueming, and quietly accompanied him.

About a minute passed.

Only then did Bo Yueming speak slowly and calmly, “Pei Yi, I was ‘sent’ to the Bo family when I was six years old.”

He knew that Pei Yi could understand, and even though he knew the other party was still pretending to be obedient and foolish, he was willing to take this opportunity to tell of his life experience that was not known by outsiders.

Bo Yueming would always remember the day he was taken by his nominal “auntie” and forced before the eyes of everyone in the Bo family—

That day, his appearance completely disrupted the joyful atmosphere of the banquet.

Bo Lihong didn’t recognize this son at all, and before the security guards arrived, he grabbed his hand in full view and tried to drag him out of the banquet hall.

Facing her husband’s sudden “illegitimate child,” Xue Min shouted and questioned hysterically.

She mistook that “auntie” for the mistress, and lost control. A tussle broke out on the spot, and she even slapped Bo Yueming by mistake.

Bo Wang, who was two years younger than him, was influenced by his parents and rushed up to hit him with a toy.

As for the main branch family, on the surface, they tried to persuade them not to quarrel, but they were actually watching a show—

It was precisely because of Bo Lihui’s instigation that the “aunt friend” was able to bring him into the banquet scene smoothly.

Bo Yueming, who was only six years old at the time, already sensed the intricate relationship of the family just by this scene.

Abandoned by his biological mother, denied by his biological father, and abused and attacked by the latter’s wife and child.

“I could see that I was not welcome in this family, but I didn’t know Mandarin at the time, so I couldn’t express my own wishes.”

Bo Yueming didn’t like this luxurious-looking place. He wanted to go back to his little home abroad. Even though his mother had long since vanished, he still had a kitten to keep him company.

At least the kitten wouldn’t hit him.

“Grandma had been resting in the VIP room, and soon rushed back after hearing the news. With a single command, she easily put a stop to this chaotic farce.”

In Bo Yueming’s impression, Old Mrs. Bo was strong, rational, and calm, with a majesty that everyone in the audience feared.

At that time, she only gave Bo Yueming a look and directly asked her assistant, Gao Kai, to take a sample for a paternity test. As for the test results, they went without saying.

“Later, the aunt who took me back to China was given a sum of money by the Bo family and easily walked away. I was placed in an unfamiliar room, and the person I met with most often was a bilingual teacher who taught me regularly.”

In addition to this, for three meals a day, only the servants delivered food to Bo Yueming.

“Once, the servants forgot to lock the door, and I snuck out and heard them talking. They ridiculed me as an ‘illegitimate child,’ and a ‘foreign bastard that nobody wanted.’”

That was the first time Bo Yueming realized what his identity was in front of outsiders, and also the first time he understood—-

Even though he couldn’t choose his origins, his birth was destined to be ridiculed as the original sin.

“…….”

Hearing Bo Yueming’s calm statement, Pei Yi’s heart felt more and more complicated.

This was a story he didn’t know and wasn’t mentioned in the original text, but was the real personal experience of Bo Yueming when he was growing up.

“Later, I gradually learned the relationship chain in this family. I knew that Bo Jiao and Bo Wang were my half-sister and half-brother in name, and understood that my appearance had destroyed the state of their original family of four.”

The love and grievances of his parents had created him, and Bo Yueming dared not say that his background was correct, but only minimized his sense of existence as much as possible and refrained from doing things to hurt others.

From then on, no matter how Bo Wang hated and picked on him, he endured it without saying a word.

In about two months, Bo Yueming mastered the Chinese language at top speed, and then once again saw Old Mrs. Bo, the head of the family.

“I thought Grandma would hate me and treat me just like the rest of the Bo family did, but she said that she had already investigated thoroughly, and it was Bo Lihong who made all these mistakes.”

It was his reckless abandonment and concealment that had led to such a result.

Old Mrs. Bo said that if she had known that Bo Lihong had a girlfriend and a child when he was studying abroad, she would never have allowed the other party to “harm” the daughter of the Xue family.

“She knew that I couldn’t forcibly integrate into the lives of the second branch family of four, so she decided to take me by her side and raise me personally.”

All these years, Bo Yueming’s efforts were aimed at not disappointing the old lady, and he was never greedy for profit in the projects he handled.

Of course, others never believed this.

Because in their eyes, Bo Yueming, who was favored by the old lady, was the biggest beneficiary.

A trace of disapproval flickered in Pei Yi’s eyes upon hearing this. In the eyes of an outsider like him—

Old Mrs. Bo had been strong for a lifetime. How could she not see the quality and abilities of these children and grandchildren? 

During her tenure as Executive Director, her two sons each owned a branch company, and the two older grandsons worked as general managers of the group after graduation. Was this not fair treatment?

As for the number of projects and actual performance, wasn’t this based on personal ability?

Bo Yueming revealed a very wry smile. “They would always speculate on my behavior with the worst intentions, using a magnifying glass to find fault, and spared no effort to pull me down.”

At the moment Bo Yueming lost his sight, as relatives, they probably laughed louder than anyone behind his back.

“…….”

Pei Yi saw that Bo Yueming’s mood was getting lower and lower, and his heart inexplicably ached.

He didn’t have much experience consoling others, and was afraid of revealing too much, so he patted Bo Yueming’s wrist lightly. “Grandma is good. Er-ge is good too.”

Word by word, very earnest, as he had once said: 

—Don’t be sad, your eyes will be fine.

—Don’t be afraid, Er-ge is the best person in the world.

These comforts all became a warm current quietly injected into Bo Yueming’s cold blood, beating along with his heart. He knew that Pei Yi would understand and tolerate everything about him.

Bo Yueming’s azure blue eyes hidden under the glasses finally showed a complete smile, and he patted him back. “You are the best.”

“…….”

There was a hint of never before seen pampering in the gentle tone.

Pei Yi didn’t expect that Bo Yueming would affirm him in turn, and suddenly couldn’t react.

His eyelashes fluttered, and an unnoticed blush appeared from the base of his ears to his neck, so cute that it made people want to stroke it.

Bo Yueming barely managed to resist the impulse, and sighed softly. “Go out to play for a while? Ask Aunt Song to get you something to eat.”

He had to go to another province tomorrow, and he wanted to stay a little longer with Old Mrs. Bo.

Hearing this, Pei Yi quickly disregarded his out of tune shyness, and slipped out with a nod.

The “ward” door closed again.

After Bo Yueming confirmed that Pei Yi would not come back, he took off his disguise glasses—

Nearly four months ago, when he was working in the group, he suddenly received a call from Uncle Kai saying that Old Mrs. Bo had a sudden cerebral hemorrhage and was in the process of being rescued at the hospital.

Fortunately, she was rescued on time, and the other party was able to survive. However, she remained unconscious after the operation.

The longer these days dragged on, the less optimistic the situation became.

Regardless of Old Mr. Bo’s objections, Bo Yueming forcibly transferred Old Mrs. Bo to this place to continue her treatment and care.

As for the most fundamental reason, he had a strange feeling — Old Mrs. Bo’s body was regularly checked out every year, and all indicators were always healthy. How could she fall down at home for no reason?

But before further investigation could happen, a car accident suddenly took away Bo Yueming’s eyesight.

Fortunately, heaven never barred one’s way.

A month and a half ago, the unconscious Old Mrs. Bo was able to open her eyes, and although she couldn’t speak, she could express something with a slight blink and the movement of her fingertips.

It was when she learned that Bo Yueming’s eyes were damaged that her reaction fluctuated the most.

The only downside was that Old Mrs. Bo could not stay awake long each time. Half a month ago, Aunt Song asked her when she was awake—

“Is it true that someone deliberately harmed you?”

Old Mrs. Bo clearly reacted.

Bo Yueming learned about this over the phone. As for the target of his suspicion, it was obvious.

“Grandma, you have to be strong forever, you can’t lose here.” Bo Yueming held Old Mrs. Bo’s skinny hand again. “I swear, their fates will not be easy.”

“Also, my eyes are already healed, and now there are people by my side, so don’t be concerned for me.”

“…….”

Lying on the hospital bed, Old Mrs. Bo still did not awaken. Only her fingertips moved slightly.

. . . . . .

Pei Yi sat on the sofa outside, holding a bowl of fruit salad specially prepared for him by Aunt Song. He had just found out—

Uncle Kai and Aunt Song were husband and wife, and they used to work with Old Mrs. Bo. To put it bluntly, they felt for Bo Yueming the way parents and elders felt about their children.

Uncle Kai had privately said a lot of good things about Pei Yi, and when Aunt Song met him for the first time today, she also liked him.

“Little Sir, eat more. You came quickly today and I didn’t have time to prepare. Wait until next time, Aunt Song will bake you a personal small cake. Our Lao Kai stole some of his skills from me.”

Pei Yi’s eyes lit up, and he took a bite of an apple slice. “En!”

As soon as he answered, Bo Yueming came out of the ward. “Lin Zhong.”

The three people sitting in the room saw that it was inconvenient for him to move as he cautiously fumbled, so they got up at the same time.

“Er-ge.”

Lin Zhong, whose name was called, was the first to give him a hand.

“Look for a reliable private security team immediately. Money is not an issue, but it must be confirmed that there is no chance of betrayal. From today on, the surroundings of the manor and the villa must be strictly guarded.”

He would leave for Wencheng tomorrow, and Bo Yueming must ensure that no one would take advantage of this time to hurt Old Mrs. Bo while he was away from the Imperial Capital.

Pei Yi could roughly guess Bo Yueming’s thoughts, and a person suddenly popped up in his mind.

He hurriedly raised his head and approached, trying to give a hint. “Er-ge!”

“What is it?”

The second his voice fell, Bo Yueming caught the brain wave that the kitten wanted to express.

He also thought of that person.

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[1] Referring to Uncle Kai, rather than that cannon fodder servant who spilled tea on BYM. Just in case there was any confusion. ⮐

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Chapter Thirty-Seven <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Thirty-Nine