Chapter 88: Jealousy Brewing

Chapter 88: Jealousy Brewing

Xu Qingran and Shen Tingyu filed their applications just ten minutes after the official imperial announcement was made.

They actually filed them on the spot at the space station's office, probably making them the fastest in the nation.

Their reason for the application was simple: visiting family.

What a reason for a family visit.

The staff observing nearby couldn't help but think that this reason was too casual. Would the government office really approve it?

As for the timing of the policy adjustment, Xu Qingran truly had no prior agreement with the empire.

At most, he had brought it up briefly during his meeting with Mu Mingrui at the palace.

Did Mu Mingrui really take his words to heart?

Xu Qingran suddenly felt some regret.

If he had known Mu Mingrui was so open-minded, he should have made more suggestions that day.

—For example, abolishing the rule that the highest command of a camp could only be inherited by direct royal lineage.

"Xu Qingran, you're really amazing."

Qi Heqian, who had been concerned for him for a long time, finally breathed a sigh of relief, walked over to his desk, and shook his head in disbelief.

Xu Qingran looked past Qi Heqian: "Where's Lu Cheng?"

"He's already left." Thinking of Lu Cheng's expression before leaving, Qi Heqian couldn't help but laugh. "He looked furious. Before leaving, he collected the records of the Golden Wing Battalion's General Shen's recent injuries and public property damage."

"It seems he plans to request a review."

As Qi Heqian spoke, he glanced at Shen Tingyu beside Xu Qingran, who seemed indifferent to the upcoming situation: "Most likely, pay if compensation is needed, deduct merits if necessary."

"Including the possibility of being taken away for 'ideological education.'"

Shen Tingyu gave a faint smile.

Clearly, he wasn't very concerned about Lu Cheng's actions.

Xu Qingran's fingers started tapping lightly on the table again.

Clearly, he was starting to think about something again.

However, Qi Heqian didn't know him well enough now to notice the hidden thoughts in his heart and started a new topic: "By the way, after your birthday this year, you can officially claim the assets your mother left for you at the legal affairs office."

"Find some time to handle them?"

Xu Qingran nodded: "Alright."

With the new regulations in place, Lu Cheng could no longer trouble him and Shen Tingyu for the time being.

When leaving, he withdrew most of the Silver Dragon guards, leaving only a small portion still stationed at the space station. Although they weren't arresting them anymore, until the permit was officially issued, they were temporarily not allowed to leave the surveillance area.

After all, there was still the possibility that the application might not be approved.

If that happened, they would still have to be arrested.

Regarding this, both Xu Qingran and Shen Tingyu had no issues and were very cooperative.

The space station checkpoint was over ten times larger than the land-based ones.

Inside, besides a canteen, there were libraries, various sports halls, science museums, observatories, gaming venues... and even hotels for lodging. If you couldn’t think of where to go during the holidays, you could stay at the space station for a few days.

So during the time they were stuck, Xu Qingran and Shen Tingyu were not bored at all.

Then the people from the Silver Dragon Battalion gradually discovered:

Their Colonel Xu and General Shen from the opposing battalion really got along well.

Xu Qingran couldn’t stay idle and said he wanted to visit every place, so Shen Tingyu was happy to join him to explore all the spots they could.

The two were inseparable. No matter what they came across, they had endless topics to discuss—even a single star could be talked about for half an hour.

When they went to the cafeteria to eat, Shen Tingyu would even share the food and drinks on his plate with him.

You have to understand, he’s an E-type!

The kind of E-type who’s super selfish, super protective of their stuff, and never shares!

Soon enough, everyone at the space station knew they were there.

No matter where they went, they were constantly the center of attention. There were also Silver Dragon guards and passersby who were big fans of Xu Qingran. After meeting him, they’d ask for photos, and Shen Tingyu would even help out as a free photographer to make it happen.

He was always so calm and patient.

Over time, he actually gained a good reputation in the Silver Dragon Battalion.

— The General Shen from the Golden Wing Battalion is indeed a very gentle and kind person!

Later, someone spotted the two in the quiet library.

Not making a sound, just sitting quietly in a corner chair on the ground floor.

The person who said he wanted to visit the entire space station looked worn out, leaning on Shen Tingyu’s shoulder and sleeping peacefully.

Shen Tingyu sat back in the chair, totally relaxed, letting Xu Qingran lean close. He held a book he’d grabbed off the shelf, quietly flipping through the pages.

Wait... this is an E-type!

An E-type who usually keeps everyone at arm’s length!

Oh, right—Xu Qingran’s a D.

It makes sense for an E-type to accept him.

A passerby snapped this peaceful moment and posted it online.

Others who ran into them at the space station also shared photos and quick videos they’d taken.

Hashtags with their names shot to the top of the trending list, turning ordinary daily moments into viral content.

"Look at you all bickering nonstop—why can’t you be more like Xu Qingran and Shen Tingyu, getting along so well?"

"Wow, I only heard that they had a good relationship but never saw it with my own eyes. I thought it was for hype. With Shen Tingyu’s temper, if he couldn’t stand it, he would definitely throw out the person who frequently touched him, right?"

"OMG, this is too perfect! How can their soul compatibility be just 0.01%? I refuse to believe it!"

"Don't even mention 0.01% compatibility, my dad and the uncle across the street have a compatibility rate of only 5.6%, and they've been rivals since childhood! From elementary school to university, and now in their sixties and seventies, they still can't stand each other. So Xu and Shen's situation is really something else."

"Could there be a mistake in the data? Let them test again..."

"Wait, am I the only one curious why General Shen Tingyu from the Golden Wing Battalion is appearing at the Silver Dragon-Serpentis system space station? Isn't this a period of heightened security?"

"Didn't the Empire just announce a new ban this afternoon? Shen Tingyu is one of the key figures in the Golden Wing military, so if he applied, he'd definitely get the green light."

"...But that's the Serpentis system? The closest galaxy to the Golden Wing, even the fastest ship would take at least two or three days to get there, right?"

As everyone was heatedly discussing, the official account of the Silver Dragon military suddenly released a new announcement.

The content is as follows:

After thorough investigation and verification, the individual who violated the ban and forcibly broke through the space stations and land checkpoints of both the Golden Wing and Silver Dragon camps half a month ago has been confirmed to be Mr. Shen Tingyu, a citizen of the Golden Wing Battalion.

Mr. Shen didn't hesitate to confess to his crimes.

Today, the following penalties are imposed on Mr. Shen:

— Compensation for all damages to both Golden Wing and Silver Dragon camps.

— A demotion in rank and merit.

— A severe reprimand.

Netizens who were just soaking up the drama a second ago: "..."

Everyone was collectively dumbfounded.

What on earth?

They had speculated about tons of people, even dragging out non-E-type criminals for suspicion—even helping the police from both camps crack several cases.

But they never suspected Shen Tingyu!

You can't really blame the folks from both camps.

Since graduating, Shen Tingyu's record has been spotless. Early in his career, before he rose to such a high rank, there were many eyes in management watching him, eager to dig up dirt to bring him down.

They spent nearly a decade trying.

Came up empty-handed.

So not only the people of the Golden Wing, but even the rival Silver Dragon folks never thought it would be Shen Tingyu.

Moreover, the guy who brazenly broke the rules just knocked out the cops trying to stop him, making them unconscious for a while! Such a soft approach—who'd have guessed it was a cold-blooded E-type!

Thus, after the announcement, most folks in both camps were just stunned and soaking up the drama.

There weren't many who scolded Shen Tingyu, and some even believed that it was because of his bold move that the ban was adjusted.

As the news spread, some staff working at the Serpentis system space station took advantage of the chaos to share more gossip.

"Hey, this is nothing. If you knew the reason Shen Tingyu went through so much trouble to break through the checkpoint, you'd be even more shocked."

Netizens catching a whiff of the gossip were going wild in the comments, begging the blogger to spill the beans.

When the post hit the trending list, the blogger finally said:

"Actually, I heard this from a military guard friend at Tian She Station 8, but I can't vouch for its accuracy."

"When Shen Tingyu was questioned, he told the interrogators that his main reason for coming to Yin Long was to celebrate Colonel Xu's birthday."

Netizens were puzzled: "...?"

People were indeed shocked.

But few believed it.

"Move along, another delusional CP fan."

"Enough already! Colonel Xu is taken, and even though Tian Yi is young, you can't bully him like this!!"

"Alright, alright, you CP fans just have to push it, huh? Taboos are always a crowd-pleaser."

The blogger was taken aback by the criticism: "???"

"I heard it from a friend too. I just thought it was exaggerated and wanted to highlight how close they are. Why are you coming at me?"

"Don't mind them, 'i crazy' types are always like this—overly cautious and sensitive."

"Damn, I'm walking on eggshells for the little lunatic, and it's all because of you haters! Always targeting him!"

"Actually, their friendship is pretty endearing! Regardless of the truth, General Shen is such a rational and unique E-type, and his personality seems perfectly suited for Young Master Xu, a wild and unconventional D-type."

The online debate was heated, and Xu Qingran caught wind of the gossip too.

Only one comment stood out: "Shen Tingyu, what a masterstroke."

It has to be said, Shen Tingyu's persona is rock-solid.

When Xu Qingran saw the news, he didn't immediately suspect Shen Tingyu, mainly because the methods used were too mild.

In Xu Qingran's mind, Shen Tingyu, when ruthless, leaves no survivors.

Now, seeing the online buzz and Shen Tingyu's calm demeanor, Xu Qingran realized he was setting a trap. Now, no one would blame or suspect his E-type temperament of becoming uncontrollable.

Shen Tingyu smiled and replied, "Thank you for the compliment."

As they chatted, they walked past the platform and ran into Qi Heqian.

He waved them over and said, "The application results are in. No issues—the Empire's General Administration approved it. You two now have clearance for cross-faction operations."

Qi Heqian sounded a bit resigned as he delivered the news: "Your IDs have been logged into the national checkpoint system."

"The electronic permit has been sent to you. If law enforcement questions you at checkpoints, just show them the document—it has the Empire's official verification QR code."

Xu Qingran and Shen Tingyu pulled out their phones to check.

Sure enough, the official document was there.

The process was surprisingly quick—they were likely the first applicants.

"Alright, so we're free to go now, right?"

Qi Heqian gestured for them to go ahead.

He appeared to be the deputy leader of the operation, instructing the team via headset to stand down. Xu Qingran thanked Qi Heqian, then returned to the aircraft with Shen Tingyu.

The white dog was already waiting in the car.

Xu Qingran took his place in the driver's seat. After the system at the passage confirmed his and Shen Tingyu's IDs, it started opening the long-sealed checkpoint gate.

The man behind the wheel suddenly smiled.

Then, he activated the built-in cannon of his aircraft, firing at the Sky Snake checkpoint's surroundings and the partially opened gate.

The checkpoint guards were caught off guard, utterly confused.

—Why on earth?!

Weren't we already cleared to pass? Why did Xu Qingran have to pull this stunt?!

Colonel Xu, the notorious officer from the Silver Dragon Battalion.

He arrived with a grand entrance and left with an even grander exit.

The Sky Snake guards could only watch, stunned, as his aircraft made its dramatic exit.

They hesitated, unsure whether to report the incident to their superiors.

Ten minutes later, Xu Qingran posted an update on social media.

He shared the Silver Dragon military's official announcement about Shen Tingyu, along with photos of his recent 'handiwork' at the Sky Snake space station, with the caption—"Go ahead, punish me too."

A brief sentence, but it perfectly captured his smug tone.

Netizens were speechless: "..."

We get it, you two are tight!

Mu Ziyu, who also saw the post, was livid: "..."

When the ban was announced, he was shocked Xu Qingran wasn't the first to rebel.

Now, faced with this predictable yet shocking move, he tried to stay calm... but failed!

Xu Qingran, you absolute menace!

Do you even respect the Silver Dragon or me as your commander?!

He was furious—did Xu think repairs were instant?!

With their travel permit in hand, Xu Qingran and Shen Tingyu skipped the Blue Water Villa.

Instead, they detoured to Shen Tingyu's place in Sky Wolf.

He hadn't been back for a long time, but all his personal belongings were still kept in the house, and the room was cleaned spotlessly, clearly prepared by the homeowner for his possible return at any time.

"So tired."

The house still had the familiar setup. Xu Qingran walked in and immediately slumped on the sofa, relaxing his body.

Shen Tingyu's home was now empty.

I heard that Little Tianyi has an exam coming up, so before Shen Tingyu left that day, he instructed him to stay with Shen Tianheng first and pick him up after the exam is over.

It was the white dog's first time here, and he was wandering around the house out of habit.

Sniffing around, checking for any signs of danger.

Shen Tingyu poured Xu Qingran a glass of water, and as soon as he walked over, he saw Xu Qingran squinted and said, "I don't want to move."

"How about you give me a bath?"

Shen Tingyu paused.

Gradually accustomed to his shocking remarks, he smiled and said, "No."

"I can drive you the next time you go out."

"That way, you won't get tired."

Xu Qingran let out a soft snort.

On the first day back home, the two chose to rest and sleep, recharging after the mental strain of the journey.

After resting enough, they sat in the living room, using a light board to plan out the next few days.

Then they received a call from Xie Nanjun, who asked Shen Tingyu urgently, "No, I just came back from a mission and heard about your reckless move... Where are you now?"

"At home," Shen Tingyu calmly replied.

"In a few days, I'll go to headquarters to pay the fine."

Although Xie Nanjun's expression couldn't be seen, Xu Qingran, who was listening nearby, felt that he must have rolled his eyes on the other end of the communication.

"You should be grateful; all you have to do is pay a fine!"

"I heard that after that trash Mu Ziyue found out about this, he tried every excuse to get you sent back to the Tower of Evil. It was the management who stopped him... Oh, and I also heard that Mu Ziyu from Silver Dragon argued with his faction for a long time, and in the end, you got such a light punishment."

"Be more careful; don't give Mu Ziyue another chance to catch you out."

Shen Tingyu thought of his spirit pool.

He chuckled, "It's fine. Even if he gets the chance, he can't kill me."

Xu Qingran has been putting in a lot of effort to help with the recovery.

The injuries are mostly taken care of, and the inhibitor's effectiveness seems to have been extended to six months.

It should be fully healed soon.

Mu Ziyue probably doesn't know about this yet, right?

A faint smile flickered in Shen Tingyu's eyes.

Xie Nanjun on the other end of the communicator cursed a bit more, and later, upon learning that Xu Qingran was also there, he asked when they would come by for a meal.

Xu Qingran said, "No time like the present; we'll head out tonight."

"It should only take a day to reach you, right? Perfect, we can have dinner together."

Xie Nanjun: "...So efficient. Back then, it took forever just to set up a meal with Shen Tingyu."

"Hey, I heard you’ve got a big dog too!" Xie Nanjun's tone suddenly perked up.

Xu Qingran raised an eyebrow: "Why do you ask?"

"Is it a boy or a girl? If it’s a girl, maybe we could set up a playdate with my dog!"

Xie Nanjun also had a dog at home, which sounded like a Husky.

Xu Qingran glanced at the white dog, which was easily several times the size of a Husky.

Before he could refuse, Shen Tingyu, overhearing, chuckled and cut in, "Forget it, his white dog’s already taken."

Xie Nanjun: "What?"

"Well, the good ones are always spoken for."

"Anyway, I just got home and need to rest up to deal with you two tomorrow. Catch you later."

Xie Nanjun, ever impulsive, ended the call just as quickly as he started it.

Xu Qingran handed the communicator back and asked, "How’d you know my dog’s got a mate?"

Shen Tingyu replied, "Back in West City, I overheard poachers saying they used her pups to trap her, which got her hurt and caught. If she’s got pups, she must’ve had a mate, right?"

Xu Qingran thought for a moment and said, "But when I got back to Tianguang Mountain, her mate was nowhere to be seen."

"Maybe he’s gone?" Finding a new mate isn’t off the table.

Shen Tingyu’s eyes drifted away.

He paused, thinking, then said, "The wolf dogs up in North City are fiercely loyal."

"They mate for life—once they choose, that’s it."

"Even if their mate dies, they won’t move on. They’ll carry that love to the grave."

This was news to Xu Qingran.

He remembered his dream where Shen Tingyu had been to North City and met his white dog.

Xu Qingran stared at him and said, "You sure know your stuff."

Shen Tingyu smiled naturally and replied, "What kind of boyfriend would I be otherwise?"

After their chat, they prepared to pack up and head to Xie's place.

But then, an unexpected new call to Shen Tingyu disrupted their plans.

It was from Su Wenxu.

He informed Shen Tingyu that it was time to return and assist with their work, apparently an order from their Commander-in-Chief.

Probably unable to get to him, they resorted to burdening him with work to make themselves feel better.

Just like before, always ordering him to patrol the Tower of Evil, trying to humiliate him with tasks that were beneath his rank.

But Shen Tingyu was exceptionally patient.

Xu Qingran knew what he was enduring.

The matter of Shen Tingyu being called to assist Su Wenxu also had some connection to Xu Qingan, so Xu Qingran didn’t have much dissatisfaction: "Alright, let’s talk after you finish your work."

"Make sure to keep me in the loop about Xu Qingan."

Shen Tingyu: "...Okay."

During the days Shen Tingyu was away on his mission, Xu Qingran continued his daily training routine.

During this period, he also received an urgent summoning task from the Silver Dragon Battalion, asking him to help lead and command operations in some tense areas.

Xu Qingran went.

After clearing several areas intermittently, victory reports kept pouring in, making the Silver Dragon folks cheer every day.

The number of people who blackened him decreased a bit.

The more principled critics said they could no longer bring themselves to criticize and attack a great officer who worked hard to defend the country.

Xu Qingran’s string of successes made those who had doubted his abilities gradually come to believe and respect him.

After several rounds, his standing in the camp was nearly on par with Lu Cheng’s, and his reputation had long surpassed his. Now, he could even be compared to Shen Tingyu, the star of the opposing camp, and the Silver Dragon Battalion was proud to have him.

During the time Shen Tingyu was on his mission, he had been keeping in touch with him.

Just the usual daily updates.

Telling him where he was dragged off to today—which bar or hotel—and what he did there.

Mu Ziyue really had it in for him and landed him with an outrageous assignment.

—He had to play the part of a gay enthusiast, acting as a decoy for law enforcement to enter those places and help them collect important information.

Xu Qingan acted as his introducer, pretending he was a regular customer, gradually earning the trust of the insiders to pave the way for further moves.

Before long, word got around in their circle.

Rumors spread that Xu Qingan and Shen Tingyu had hooked up.

"Shen Tingyu: ...All of the above are Golden Wing Battalion’s plans, nothing to do with me."

Xu Qingran got all this from Shen Tingyu.

He glanced at the last message with a smirk, choosing not to reply.

At that moment, Xu Qingran was heading to a police station in Tianshen.

He had tracked Boss Chen Shengfei’s movements and learned that he had just wrapped up a lawsuit and was slated to be sent to the Tower of Evil for re-education.

He decided to have a word with him before he was shipped off.

"Colonel Xu, right this way."

The police officer led him to the interrogation room.

Chen Shengfei, shackled hand and foot, was already seated inside, waiting for him.

However, he seemed a bit off.

His eyes were glazed, slightly downcast, fixed blankly on the table, as if he wasn’t all there.

The officer escorted him in, politely closed the door for him, and retreated outside the interrogation room.

Xu Qingran walked towards Chen Shengfei, waved a hand in front of his eyes, and asked casually, "Chen Shengfei, do you still remember me?"

Chen Shengfei, upon hearing the voice, looked up blankly.

In a daze, he mumbled, "Yes, yes..."

After a while, it seemed he really remembered who Xu Qingran was.

Suddenly, he clutched his head and struggled, "Don't hit me, don't hit me, I won't bother you anymore, I won't bother you anymore!"

From someone who always acted arrogantly, he had become a sniveling mess.

Xu Qingran, however, wasn’t in the mood to humor him and directly asked, "I came today to ask you about Xu Qingan."

"Did you know him long ago?"

During this period, Shen Tingyu had filled him in on a lot about Xu Qingan.

This included his network of connections and his familiarity with those nightclubs.

According to Shen Tingyu, he was so experienced that he seemed even more like the real owner of these places than Chen Shengfei.

—Even though he had tried hard to play the part of an ordinary worker.

However, the name Xu Qingan struck a deep chord of fear in Chen Shengfei.

Just hearing it, he hunched over and shook uncontrollably, the intensity of his shaking making Xu Qingran suspect he might pass out at any moment.

Xu Qingran used his psychic abilities to probe him.

He quickly discovered that his mental pool had been affected by external forces, thrown into disarray.

There was clearly something suspicious about Xu Qingan's affairs.

He thought for a moment, then deliberately moved closer to Chen Shengfei.

He raised his hand and firmly grasped the top of the man's head, his eyes gradually glowing with psychic light, using his power to restore order in his mental pool.

This took a full twenty minutes.

By the time he withdrew his psychic power, a quarter of the reserves in his mental pool had been drained.

—What a pain.

After receiving the mental adjustment, Chen Shengfei, though still somewhat dazed, seemed more lucid.

Finally realizing where he was, he looked up and said in surprise, "Xu Qingran?"

Xu Qingran, casually with one hand in his pocket, looked at him coldly.

He asked, "Can you talk straight now?"

"Alright, I want to know what your relationship with Xu Qingan is?"

Hearing this name, Chen Shengfei's oily face contorted, his features all scrunching together.

He first balled his fists in anger, then said to Xu Qingran, "Xu Qingan is not some naive kid!"

"The dealings in my nightclubs, some of the business partners and connections back then were managed by him, and he took a share from me. Otherwise, how could he have so much spare money to win people over?"

"Hasn't he done plenty of bad stuff?"

Chen Shengfei was trembling with anger: "Those prostitution-related cases I was accused of, weren't those people all brought to me by him?"

Xu Qingan was also a jealous individual.

Whenever someone more attractive or attention-grabbing appeared in his surroundings or social circle, regardless of gender, he would ruin them using such despicable methods.

"...Yes, including Zhang Hongyan's daughter!"

"Ha, she trusted Xu Qingan a lot, and to this day, she still doesn't know that it was Xu Qingan who pushed her to me and sold out the location of her Spirit Mark, allowing my people to successfully use the potion!"

"Only your Xu family and Lu Cheng would consider him an innocent young man."

Xu Qingran thought to himself, he knew Xu Qingan wasn't innocent.

But he never expected him to be so corrupt inside.

Chen Shengfei was getting worked up: "He can't pin all the blame on me. Why should he get away clean?!"

"Young Master Xu, please, help me plead with the police and the interrogators. I want to appeal!"

He tried to grab Xu Qingran's hand in a plea, but Xu Qingran dodged it.

Xu Qingran regarded him with disdain.

Xu Qingan started all this, but didn't Chen Shengfei gladly go along with it?

Now that the truth was out, and Xu Qingan had teamed up with Mu Ziyue to betray him, he was just trying to make himself feel better by saying these things.

Xu Qingran thought for a moment and said to him, "Then let's see how genuine you are."

Hearing this, Chen Shengfei looked up and met his gaze.

Xu Qingran said, "I'm currently investigating Xu Qingan."

"Didn't you know? Mu Ziyue handed over all your businesses to him, and he's doing quite well now."

Chen Shengfei was shocked and cursed, "That shameless dog!"

"Mu Ziyue... is also a treacherous piece of trash!"

Chen Shengfei said that Mu Ziyue was fully aware of the underground activities in their nightclubs.

Actually, he was the main investor behind these places, and many of the illegal drugs were brought in by him. Through this method, he enticed people from both sides to rake in huge profits, while also conducting experiments on them.

Once the drugs were deemed safe, they were sold overseas through special channels.

There were quite a few people in the Kayan Empire who indulged in such activities privately.

Mu Ziyue also used this method to gain leverage over those people, making them obediently do his bidding.

"My... most of our entertainment venues, and the special underground floors."

"Only top-tier members can enter and access those areas. The lowest floor... has a lot of illegal activities. If you investigate, you'll definitely find out! Mu Ziyue and Xu Qingan know all about these things!"

"It's not entirely my fault!"

After hearing this, Xu Qingran remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he said, "Thanks for sharing this with me."

Chen Shengfei, hearing his calm tone of gratitude, saw a glimmer of hope, thinking that Xu Qingran might help him because of this.

The next second, however, he saw Xu Qingran pull out the psychic gun from his waist, its cold muzzle pressing against his forehead.

Chen Shengfei's eyes quivered slightly, darting to the side in shock and anger.

"But scum like you should stay in chaos forever."

Xu Qingran said coldly, then without hesitation, fired a shot into Chen Shengfei's psychic pool.

Chen Shengfei, who had just regained some semblance of normalcy, was once again plunged into chaos by the powerful impact.

He toppled from his chair to the floor, his obese body convulsing violently like someone in the throes of an epileptic seizure.

The shooter, however, dragged a chair over and sat down about a meter away.

Crossing his legs, he morbidly relished watching Chen Shengfei suffer, not bothering to call for help.

He watched for what felt like an eternity.

Until Chen Shengfei blacked out from the pain.

Only then did he rise regretfully, as if the performance had concluded, and walked out.

He told the guard outside, "Chen Shengfei's had a bit of a mental shock. Let him rest, and he'll be fine."

"Y-yes, sir."

Compared to the calm demeanor when they had escorted him in earlier, the guards outside now dared not look him in the eye, their submissive tone tinged with a hint of fear.

There were surveillance cameras in the interrogation room.

From their reactions, Xu Qingran surmised that they must have witnessed the entire ordeal from the adjacent room.

He spoke softly, asking calmly, "I fixed him up, got what I needed, and then put him back the way he was when we first met. That's not a problem, is it?"

The young officer was petrified by his question.

He bowed his head even lower, shaking it frantically, "No problem, no problem at all!"

"He... he was already a convicted criminal destined for the Tower of Evil, Colonel... Colonel didn't inflict any extra harm, so it's fine."

Only then did Xu Qingran smile, "Good."

"Thank you for your cooperation, I'll take my leave now."

It wasn't until Xu Qingran was out of sight that the two guards outside finally felt their legs give way, nearly collapsing.

So scary.

Is this the infamous Colonel Xu from the Silver Dragon Battalion?

Despite being the most approachable D-type, his aura was like that of an E-type, exuding pressure and fear.

The companion shook his head, pushed open the door of the interrogation room, and called out, "Wake him up and take him back to the cell for lockup."

"But Chen Shengfei had it coming."

"He’s done so many vile things, ruining the lives of countless innocent kids. It’s such a relief to see him get what he deserves today..."

·

When Xu Qingran came out of the police station, he received a message from Xu Qingan.

"You can’t hide true charm, no matter how you dress. Shen Tingyu is just as impressive as you, bro. Even when he tries to look rough, he still ends up turning heads."

The message came with a few photos.

The main figures in the photos were all Shen Tingyu—some taken from a distance, some closer, and some with him and Xu Qingan together.

Xu Qingran couldn’t resist zooming in to admire the man, who looked so different from his usual self.

He was dressed like a flashy street thug, his eye color changed with contacts, and his appearance slightly altered with makeup. In that dim, chaotic lighting, you’d never guess it was Shen Tingyu unless you knew him well.

Xu Qingan sat beside him, posing for a photo like they were old buddies.

There were other people around too.

Xu Qingran’s eyes curved.

He thought, ‘Pretty obedient.’

After the ban was lifted, Xu Qingan was called back to the Golden Wing region to help with the mission. During this time, he occasionally shared updates with Xu Qingran.

Mostly because he knew Xu Qingran was familiar with Shen Tingyu, so he felt the need to ‘report’ to him. He said he was worried Xu Qingran might mistake his little uncle for some shady character if he didn’t know the full story.

The style of Xu Qingan’s messages was like this—

"Bro, your future uncle is seriously awesome! He took down over a dozen guys all by himself and helped Officer Su and the team nab the target!"

"[Photo] Bro, General Shen wanted me to let you know he was only here for the mission today—no funny business!"

"Just realized Shen Tingyu’s a great actor—he totally nails the scumbag look, haha!"

"Bro, your uncle’s so good-looking—just like you! I’m so jealous you’ll get to join the Shen family and see that gorgeous face every day!"

The messages came at random times, a mix of truth and exaggeration.

Sometimes Xu Qingran replied with an emoji; other times, he acted too busy to respond.

After going through the messages, Xu Qingran was sure of one thing.

Xu Qingan was insanely jealous that he could join the Shen family and even wished he could become his future aunt to one-up him.

The system asked him, "Host, aren’t you worried the mission target might fall for this little schemer like Lu Cheng did?"

"I really can't stand it! His words are so full of tea! How dare he!"

Xu Qingran said, "It doesn’t matter."

"If they can be swayed, they’re not worth holding onto."

When it comes to relationships, he can be very devoted if he likes someone.

Of course, if betrayed, he could cut ties completely and show the other person what it means to mess with someone they shouldn’t have.

Xu Qingran was leaving Tian Shen and on his way back to Tian Lang.

Out of boredom, he skimmed through the list of personnel Shen Tingyu had mentioned to him.

According to Chen Shengfei, among the people Xu Qingan was now helping to deal with were his connections and old clients?

This operation, originally orchestrated behind the scenes by Mu Ziyue, was now actively cooperating with military and police investigations—among those arrested, Xu Qingran could understand the Silver Dragon personnel, but there were also quite a few from the Golden Wing Battalion.

Logically, Mu Ziyue shouldn’t have been so eager to dismantle everything he had built.

As he pondered, Xu Qingran suddenly recalled what Xie Nanjun had complained about to Shen Tingyu in a call that day.

He said it was thanks to the Golden Wing management’s efforts that Shen Tingyu was protected.

And not just this time.

Like when Shen Tingyu wanted to resign, many had also stood up to speak for him and protested to Mu Ziyue.

Xu Qingran had a sudden realization.

Mu Ziyue wanted to use this move to clear himself of suspicion as a behind-the-scenes operator, while also taking the chance to weed out some... disobedient personnel.

He saw Shen Tingyu as a threat.

So he wanted to seize control of the Golden Wing Battalion, making the faction entirely his.

But what about Xu Qingan’s role in all this?

There must have been some under-the-table deals between them, which is why Xu Qingan was so eager to cooperate. Could it simply be the condition for getting him out of the Tower of Evil?

Xu Qingran narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

No, Mu Ziyue wasn’t the type to team up with Xu Qingan just because of his ties to Boss Chen. Letting Xu Qingan out to strike a deal with him, whatever Xu Qingan achieved must also benefit Mu Ziyue in some way.

Whether material or psychological benefits.

Two days later, just before Xu Qingran returned to Fei Star, he got another message from Xu Qingan.

"Bro, what do I do? I’m freaking out."

"Today, as part of their plan, I have to pretend to be dating Shen Tingyu and go into the bar that’s under investigation."

"Your uncle’s so awesome—what if I end up holding him back? [fingers crossed]"

Xu Qingran stared at the messages for a while, then suddenly burst out laughing.

Finally, it all clicked.

Chen Shengfei had described Xu Qingan as a jealous and petty individual.

What he loved most was tearing down anyone around him who outshone him or stole the spotlight.

So, all those messages Xu Qingan had been sending recently, with such tea-like words, were deliberate.

He had once taken a man from the original host and knew what kind of rhetoric could inadvertently stir up his unease and anger. Even though he didn't know that Shen Tingyu was now in a relationship with him, he wanted to make him feel threatened by trying to become his aunt.

To trick him into meddling with their mission.

Perhaps out of curiosity, he couldn't help but sneak into their mission site.

This way, Xu Qingan would have the opportunity to ruin him.

Perhaps, this was part of the agreement he made with Mu Ziyue. Mu Ziyue knew that Xu Qingan wanted to target him, and since he was the other person he hated the most besides Shen Tingyu, he would definitely be happy to see Xu Qingan deal with him.

So, he gave Xu Qingan the chance to assist him.

The system was confused: "Wow, Host, how did you suddenly figure it out?"

Xu Qingran didn't answer immediately, but looked down at the messages Xu Qingan had sent him.

Because he was indeed jealous.

The moment he realized this emotion, he finally understood the effect Xu Qingan's recent actions were aiming for.

Shortly after Xu Qingran received Xu Qingan's message, Shen Tingyu also sent one.

It was pretty much the same as what Xu Qingan had said.

The upside was that whenever Shen Tingyu updated him, he always included the exact location.

Perhaps concerned about emergencies, he could rush to his aid immediately.

The stronghold they were going to tonight seemed to be a pretty big operation.

Su Wenxu and his team had been surveilling it for a while, even sending undercover agents, but they couldn't find a way to penetrate further.

The address was on a planet in the Sirius system.

Coincidentally, it was close to Xu Qingran's current location, just an hour away.

Xu Qingran's lips twitched into a faint smile.

Well then, let’s grant Xu Qingan his wish.

·

"Hey there, handsome, can I get your contact info?"

In the dimly lit bar.

Jazz music was playing in the background, and many people were happily dancing on the dance floor.

Shen Tingyu sat in the corner, his expression so cold it seemed like ice could form at any moment.

His attire today was very elegant, with an overall scholarly demeanor, his hair neatly combed, wearing gold-rimmed glasses—a very standard gentleman rogue.

In disguise, no one could recognize him, and Shen Tingyu slipped back into his true self.

His gaze was icy and irritable, devoid of emotion, yet he blended seamlessly into the environment, becoming a predator here solely to vent.

When another person approached to flirt, he didn’t even glance their way.

He left it to Xu Qingan, seated beside him as his partner for the night, to deal with.

His coldness was genuine, as was his irritation.

Shen Tingyu unlocked his phone again and opened his chat with Xu Qingran.

It had been several days since he last received a reply from Xu Qingran.

Suddenly, he understood how Xu Qingran must have felt when he turned off his phone and couldn't receive any messages.

Shen Tingyu lowered his head to take another look.

He thought to himself, "Little liar, you promised not to be angry."

Just as he sullenly put away his phone, a commotion suddenly arose at the entrance of the bar.

Those near the entrance seemed to be drawn by something or someone, all turning their gazes to the same spot.

There were looks of appraisal, admiration, and even some who were pleasantly surprised, their faces lighting up.

Then, a tall figure slowly walked in, surrounded by a sea of gazes.

Shen Tingyu casually raised his eyes.

But with just one glance, he couldn't look away, and a faint shock slowly spread across his eyes.

The newcomer was dressed in dark attire.

He also sported a long black coat, dark trousers, and black boots, all exquisitely crafted and clearly high-end.

Most importantly, his presence was very unique.

Cold yet flamboyant, aloof yet composed and steady, exuding an imposing presence, as if he were a natural-born leader standing at the pinnacle.

Whenever he appeared, he commanded the attention of most of the crowd.

His hair was jet black, and his eyes were equally dark.

On his ears, he wore silver studs, and when his icy gaze swept past, those caught by his glance couldn't help but let out low gasps.

Besides his presence, he also had a strikingly handsome face.

His features were finely chiseled, coldly handsome, and undeniably dashing.

The man, watched by everyone, inadvertently swept his gaze past Shen Tingyu.

When their eyes met, it lingered for an extra second, then a faint, mischievous smile flashed across.

Shen Tingyu instinctively clenched his fist.

Just as the other could accurately spot him in the crowd despite his disguise, he too could instantly recognize Xu Qingran, even in his altered appearance.

Most importantly, Xu Qingran's current attire and made-up face were striking.

At first glance, they bore a striking resemblance to another version of him from his deepest memories.

Shen Tingyu's eyes darkened slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing.

His current emotions were very complex.

Honestly, every time he sent Xu Qingran his location, it was mainly in the hope that one day Xu Qingran might not resist coming to find him.

...But definitely not like this.

Xu Qingran clearly intended to stir up trouble again.

The man dressed in all black finally sat down not far from Shen Tingyu.

It was a spacious armchair.

As soon as he took his seat, someone had already ordered a drink for him, which was brought to him on the house.

There was also the most handsome young man in the venue, who had previously been too proud to look at anyone.

He wasted no time approaching him, his gaze as alluring as if it could ensnare, and asked, "Big bro, are you alone?"

"Would you like me to have a few drinks with you and chat?"

Xu Qingran chuckled coolly.

His voice was quite magnetic.

He reached out and pinched the young man's chin, pulling him closer for a moment to examine him, then replied with a smile, "Sure, with looks like yours, I'm the lucky one."

His naturally seductive peach blossom eyes, with just a casual glance, could make anyone drown in their depth.

Murmurs of envy and jealousy rippled through the crowd.

Today, Xu Qingran looked anything but delicate, as if completely overlapping with the true form of his soul.

He was practically a walking charisma, a highly coveted and dominant '1' in the eyes of many.

Inside the venue, even more people were eyeing this prized catch.

They wished he could be even more wild, able to handle multiple at once.

Shen Tingyu: "..."

Now he really felt like killing someone—what should he do?