Chapter 112: Birthday Celebration

Chapter 112: Birthday Celebration

Xu Qingran made a 10-inch cake, vanilla-orange flavored, with two dollops of black and white syrup decorations nestled between the strawberries and orange slices in the middle.

"You might want to rethink your wording. What do you mean by 'two blobs'?"

At the dining table, Xu Qingran frowned at the clueless Shen Tingyu.

Two pups also joined the birthday celebration, their front paws on the edge of the table, curiously eyeing the large cake.

Shen Tingyu couldn’t help but smile.

The birthday cake Xu Qingran had personally made for him looked surprisingly decent. There were no extravagant designs, but it was a complete product that could easily be displayed in a shop window, and even the taste was quite good.

Except for the two lopsided wolf-dog decorations.

"Well, I just used the most straightforward description," Shen Tingyu said as he leaned in for a hug, his tone brimming with amusement. "But it’s very cute. I like it a lot. Thank you."

Most importantly, the cake was perfectly tailored to his taste.

Though it wasn’t made by a top-tier pastry chef or a famous brand, it was the most delicious and favorite cake Shen Tingyu had ever eaten in his two lifetimes.

The two of them and their dogs quickly polished off the cake.

During the conversation, Shen Tingyu casually asked, "Did you go to that shop just to make the cake for me?"

"You mean the bakery?" Xu Qingran was washing his hands by the sink. "Yeah, I’ve never made anything like this before, so I went to learn for a few days in advance."

He paused, turned off the faucet, and looked back in confusion. "Wait, you saw it?"

Xu Qingran thought it shouldn’t have been possible.

To keep Shen Tingyu from finding out, he had deliberately sought out a small shop in a galaxy far from Golden Wing territory. The dog man shouldn’t have had the time to go that far during this period to track his daily activities in Silver Dragon territory.

Shen Tingyu touched his nose.

Honestly, his electronic devices would push any news related to him based on big data.

Xu Qingran raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

He walked over, deliberately wiped his still-wet hands on Shen Tingyu’s pants, making the man stiffen, and then slowly pulled the phone from his pocket.

Shen Tingyu must have really cared about that news—he found it with just a few swipes.

Because he had specifically bookmarked the news page.

Xu Qingran chuckled. "Do news outlets really report on such trivial matters these days?"

Shen Tingyu stood in front of him, looking down at the casually taken photo, and pointed at it. "What were you talking about with them at this time?"

You looked so happy.

He didn’t say the last part out loud.

Xu Qingran stared at the picture, seemingly lost in thought.

The smile in his eyes deepened.

Before Shen Tingyu's jealousy could boil over, he replied, "I remember now."

Most of the staff at the bakery were very kind girls.

Everyone knew him and had the decency not to spill the beans about why he was there, so the tabloid photographers only managed to snap a photo of him wandering in front of the shop, thinking he was checking on the security in Silver Dragon City.

It was around the third day after he had finished his training at the bakery.

As he was about to leave, the staff, who had gotten to know him, asked out of curiosity why he had put so much effort into learning and who the cake was for.

Xu Qingran thought of Shen Tingyu and couldn't help but feel a little happy.

Without holding back, he said directly, "I want to give it to my partner."

After explaining, Xu Qingran looked up and met Shen Tingyu's astonished eyes.

He smirked and said, "Alright, we've met, and the birthday's done. Time to head back to Silver Dragon and get back to work."

"Damn Mu Ziyu, doesn't care if he works me to death."

Even though his reasons with Mu Ziyu were different from Shen Tingyu's, Xu Qingran still felt like cursing him.

Shen Tingyu grabbed his wrist and yanked him back.

He hugged him from behind, his deep voice coaxing, "How about a bath and a little rest before you go?"

Xu Qingran: "Too much trouble, I'm feeling too lazy to bathe."

Shen Tingyu, keeping a straight face, said, "I'll help you."

The person in his arms paused, turned back with a blank expression, and asked, "You'll help me?"

"Are you sure it's just a bath?"

Shen Tingyu seized the moment to kiss him on the lips and cheekily replied, "Yeah, just a bath."

—Of course, that wasn't going to happen.

Xu Qingran was still coaxed upstairs by him.

Soon, the sound of running water echoed from the spacious upstairs bathroom. On and off, it sounded like they had been in there all night.

Only when the sky began to lighten did Xu Qingran, smelling of shower gel, finally lie down on Shen Tingyu's large bed and fall into a deep sleep.

He was wearing new pajamas Shen Tingyu had grabbed from the closet, which were a bit too big, especially the loose collar. From his vantage point, he could still see the fresh marks on his skin left by someone.

Xu Qingran's body was overly sensitive.

A pinch left a mark, a squeeze had him crying buckets—enough to drive the other person mad.

Shen Tingyu reached out and softly stroked his hair.

The sleeping man, sensing the familiar spiritual energy, instinctively nuzzled against his hand a few times, as docile as a kitten.

On the bedside table, Xu Qingran's communicator emitted a warning light for an incoming call.

Shen Tingyu, worried that the alarm sound would wake the person who had just fallen asleep, took the initiative to answer it for him.

The person calling was Mu Ziyu.

As soon as the call connected, Mu Ziyu said, "Xu Qingran, when you go to the Neptune System tomorrow, could you stop by the outpost there for me?"

Shen Tingyu flatly replied, "No."

Mu Ziyu: "?"

He checked the communicator a few times, confirming that the frequency number belonged to Xu Qingran.

He hesitated before speaking, "...Shen Tingyu? Where is Xu Qingran?"

"He's asleep," Shen Tingyu replied.

"Oh," Mu Ziyu responded, "Then it's the same if I tell you. Just pass it on to him when he wakes up."

He didn't realize that Xu Qingran, who should have been at Silver Dragon Base, was with the Golden Wing Battalion's commander.

"No," Shen Tingyu refused.

He added, "Since you called, I’m asking for two days off for him."

Mu Ziyu: "?"

"Why does he need time off? Didn't he just have a break recently?"

Shen Tingyu said matter-of-factly, "It's my birthday today, and he's very tired."

Mu Ziyu: "...?"

What does Shen Tingyu's birthday have to do with Xu Qingran?

Did he throw him a birthday party? Otherwise, why would he be tired?

He wanted to ask more, but Shen Tingyu's indifferent voice cut in, "Also, interrupting someone's love life will curse you to a lonely life."

With that, he hung up before Mu Ziyu could respond.

Mu Ziyu instinctively wanted to curse, "Who does he think he is, hanging up on me?" But as the words reached his lips, he suddenly remembered something and swallowed them back.

He felt both annoyed and confused.

—Whose love life did he disturb?

Xu Qingran? Isn't Shen Tianyi still young? Are aristocratic engagements starting this early?

Mu Ziyu probably wouldn’t figure that out tonight.

As for Xu Qingran, he slept straight through to the next morning.

He was woken up by a kiss in his groggy state.

The curtains were slightly open, letting in enough sunlight to softly light the bedroom.

His soft pajamas were bunched up near his neck, most buttons undone, with only one or two clinging on to hide the mess. He opened his damp eyes, ready to curse, but only soft, weak sounds escaped his throat.

It sounded like a pampered cat being spoiled.

"...Tingyu."

Xu Qingran gritted his teeth, trying hard to restrain himself from uttering that name.

The black-haired man embracing him finally lifted his head from his chest.

His eyes, like deep-sea gems, were sharp and rational, his hair slightly disheveled, but his high-collared shirt was neatly worn. At first glance, he looked like a composed and steady elite—someone who wouldn't take advantage of someone sleeping to sneak around.

Shen Tingyu met his gaze and smiled just faintly.

Like frost melting, he gently curled the corners of his lips, seemingly aware that his actions were a bit shady, yet he still affectionately took Xu Qingran's marked hand and kissed it tenderly, sending a shiver through him.

But Shen Tingyu clearly only intended to wake him up this way, with no plans to go further.

He gently straightened Xu Qingran's clothes, buttoning them one by one, before helping him sit up. "Are you finally awake?"

Xu Qingran replied grumpily, "And whose fault is that?"

He casually picked up his phone, glanced at the time and date, and hesitated for a moment.

Until Shen Tingyu said, "Don't worry, I handled your leave."

Xu Qingran sighed in relief. "With you in charge, I'm not worried."

After sleeping so much, it was no wonder Shen Tingyu had to wake him.

Xu Qingran tilted his head slightly and said, "I'm hungry."

"I knew you'd say that," Shen Tingyu replied. "I've already prepared breakfast. You can come down to eat after you get ready."

Commander Shen was always so meticulous and thoughtful.

Xu Qingran was still feeling lazy. He leaned forward, leaning on Shen Tingyu for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Has Xu Qingyao been causing any trouble lately?"

This was the first time Xu Qingran had mentioned his younger sister since the second dream space.

He had been deliberately steering clear of the topic.

As if worried that asking too much would one day lead to a message from Xu Qingyao, saying she was leaving to start her mission and new life elsewhere.

Xu Qingran was relieved that Xu Qingyao wasn't going to disappear.

But after finally reuniting, they were about to part again, and he couldn't help but feel hesitant to face it.

"She has," Shen Tingyu said softly.

Mentioning Xu Qingyao, he even chuckled and said, "Your sister's personality is quite different from yours. She's pretty loud. Sometimes when she's with you, she even complains that I'm too careful with you."

Xu Qingran paused. That sounded just like Xu Qingyao.

He then thought of another question.

Hesitantly, he asked, "...Wait, are you saying she knows what we've been up to during this time?"

Shen Tingyu: "Probably?"

Xu Qingran's expression darkened. "So when we were... doing it, was she watching a live adult stream?"

Shen Tingyu: "..."

The intern system, just released from the black room: 「……」

002: 「.」

"Please inform Mr. Xu that the system has a shielding function and will not display any content harmful to children's physical and mental development."

Although Xu Qingyao has always insisted that she is as mature as Xu Qingran and considers herself an adult, such scenes would definitely not be shown to her.

Shen Tingyu relayed 002's message verbatim to Xu Qingran.

Xu Qingran felt relieved.

Shen Tingyu seemed to hear something else.

After a pause, he told him, "Xu Qingyao said she wants to wait until she sees you live through this life safely before she can leave with peace of mind."

Xu Qingran listened, but his reaction wasn't as joyful as one might expect.

He quietly leaned on him for a moment, then got up as if the topic had never been mentioned: "I'll wash my face, brush my teeth, and come down."

Shen Tingyu replied, "I'll wait for you."

Two days off were just enough for Xu Qingran to catch up on sleep and have a decent meal.

When Xu Qingran got dressed and was ready to leave, he noticed Shen Tingyu was also preparing for work. The two exchanged a knowing glance, left together, and shared a smile before boarding their respective aircraft.

Shen Tingyu's voice remained deep and magnetic: "Thank you for your hard work, Deputy Xu. I'm glad we had the chance to communicate and discuss over the past two days."

Xu Qingran nodded, his demeanor as aloof as ever: "Likewise, Commander Shen. Your supervision has been commendable. Your thinking and execution have improved significantly since our last discussion. I look forward to being surprised again next time."

He spoke with a straight face.

To an outsider, it might seem like they had engaged in some serious, high-level discussions during their two-day meeting.

After speaking, the two boarded their respective aircraft and headed off in different directions.

They gathered their thoughts and threw themselves back into work.

As the year ended, winter set in.

Everything entered a state of dormancy, greatly reducing the combat effectiveness of the demon tribe, which had lost its leader and slowed in action, reproduction, and aggression. It was the perfect time for humans to counterattack.

As a result, everyone in the military grew even busier.

The task clearance progress in both camps was smooth, making it easier to arrange and plan for the residents. The jurisdictions of both camps reopened, allowing residents to travel across camp galaxies once again. The national situation gradually returned to its previous state of calm under control.

By the end of February the following year, Xu Qingran, stationed in the Tianlong system, received a message.

Xu Qingan and Lu Cheng were finally ready to get married in the Andromeda system.

After all, Lu Cheng was a member of the Lu family. Even though Lu Wennian wasn't entirely satisfied with the wedding, it was still held with great pomp. However, it might also be due to Xu Qingan's deliberate control, or perhaps both he and Lu Cheng had different thoughts and just wanted to get this formality over with.

Lu Cheng originally just wanted to get a marriage certificate with Xu Qingan and live together casually.

However, the Lu family and Lu Wennian were quite concerned about face. Lu Wennian firmly disagreed with his precious son's marriage being so casual: "None of the many children of the Lu family have been so secretive. Not holding a wedding and quietly getting a marriage certificate, if our relatives and friends find out, they will definitely laugh at you behind your back and spread rumors that there is something wrong with your marriage!"

Lu Cheng didn't know what he was thinking.

At that time, he replied to Lu Wennian, "What they said is not incorrect."

Lu Wennian listened in silence.

He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and said sternly, "The invitations have already been distributed, the date and venue for the banquet have been arranged. Don't give me this attitude at this point. Lu Cheng, both your mother and I were against this marriage from the start, but you insisted on it."

"Now you're having second thoughts and regrets again, what exactly are you trying to do?!"

Lu Wennian was increasingly disappointed in his meticulously cultivated son: "Look at how down you are now! You've even lost the motivation to excel in the military!"

"Clearly, you were the pride of the Silver Dragon Battalion, the rising star of the Silver Dragon Battalion, the talented individual everyone had high hopes for, capable of becoming an outstanding officer like Shen Tingyu! But now, even Xu Qingran, who came in later, can trample you underfoot!"

"What do I want to do?"

As the wedding date approached, Lu Cheng's emotions seemed to be on the verge of collapse, venting years of accumulated resentment: "Isn't it because of you that I've ended up like this?"

"Back then, if you hadn't stopped me from being with Xu Qingran—"

Lu Cheng cried out in anguish, his head throbbing faintly once more: "You pushed me onto the wrong path..."

Lu Wennian's face turned grim.

He didn't deny that his initial opinion of Xu Qingran had indeed been too harsh, harboring many unwarranted misunderstandings, ruining his son's good match. But he didn't entirely agree with Lu Cheng's reproach.

"Was it also me who forced you to get involved with Xu Qingan?"

Lu Wennian had a tough temper, even when speaking to his own son, his words were blunt.

The room was filled with a tense and stiff atmosphere.

This sentence was like a thorn, deeply piercing Lu Cheng's heart.

Lu Wennian thought of that excellent D-type individual who almost became his other son, shook his head, and said, "The reason you're suffering so much now is simply because Xu Qingran has completely become the ideal partner you imagined."

"I think that kid was spot on with what he said back then."

"If you really liked someone, you wouldn't get swayed by small things or someone else. Even if it's just fleeting, a mistake is a mistake."

A hint of weariness gradually crept into Lu Wennian's voice.

He had no intention of arguing further with his son, simply saying, "Xu Qingan is the partner you chose yourself. I don't care why you came to me back then to continue the engagement with him, but now that things have reached this point, don't waver anymore."

"Although the Xu family has fallen, compared to those shady characters out there, Xu Qingan is still relatively clean."

"As long as he genuinely reforms and stops scheming like he used to, I'll look the other way," Lu Wennian said.

Ever since Xu Qingran spilled the beans about the affair and other stuff, Lu Cheng's reputation took a nosedive from the Silver Dragon's 'divine pedestal'.

If it weren't for his solid skills, making him a standout in the military, and later honestly leading and completing many tasks, especially contributing significantly to the Silver Dragon during the turbulent times, public opinion of him would have been much worse.

But there aren't many good matches for him now, especially since Lu Cheng is also very picky about his soulmate. Over the years, there have been few compatible matches, and then there's Xu Qingan, who's so devoted he'd sign away any claim to the Lu family's property just to marry him.

Lu Cheng should count himself lucky.

After giving Lu Cheng a piece of his mind, Lu Wennian left the room.

Only Lu Cheng was left, clutching his head in pain and regret, leaning against the cabinet.

Xu Qingan's concern for him and the genuine affection in his gaze were indeed part of the reason he felt pity and softened after his initial anger. However, the real reason he impulsively accepted Xu Qingan's 'proposal' was undeniably because of Xu Qingran.

Previously, he was only engaged to Xu Qingan, and Xu Qingran had already been so agitated.

Even though he now claims to have given up and says he won't love him anymore, he still clings to a sliver of hope for their over a decade of childhood camaraderie. He doesn't expect to win him back or revive their relationship, but he just wants to know if Xu Qingran will show up on his wedding day.

This time, even if he loses his mind, throws a tantrum, or threatens to end it all, he won't hold it against him.

Xu Qingran wasn't invited to Lu Cheng and Xu Qingan's wedding banquet.

But for such a significant day for Xu Qingan, he was bound to show up uninvited.

So, just as the Tianlong system had finally gotten their deputy officer back, Xu Qingran vanished again after just a few days.

When Colonel Mao, who had been promoted to lead the Tianlong sub-camp, came to his office, he only found a letter on the desk.

It said: Need to attend my brother's big life event, will be back soon, please keep it under wraps, thanks.

Colonel Mao: "..."

But he couldn't say a word. Mainly because Xu Qingran, with his endless energy and efficiency, had tackled in a week what usually takes others half a month.

Fairy System's Red Maple Star.

The familiar branch of the Four Seasons Hotel was where Lu Cheng and Xu Qingan's wedding took place.

In the backstage lounge, Xu Qingan, preparing for the ceremony, felt especially nervous.

Since then, he hadn't reached out to Xu Qingran, and Xu Qingran hadn't contacted him either. Recent news was all about Xu Qingran's daily grind of mopping up devil remnants across various star systems. His last news appearance mentioned his return to the Tianlong system.

Counting the days, it wasn't that long ago.

The jump stations linking the Tianlong system to other star systems were still being built. Given Xu Qingran's usual routine, such a long trip to a star system would keep him there for at least a month. The guests at this banquet were mostly Lu family relatives and friends, along with Lu Wennian's colleagues and students.

After the Xu family's decline, those relatives and friends had long since stopped keeping in touch. To avoid alerting Xu Qingran's friends, he didn't even inform the Qi family or anyone who might know Xu Qingran.

Including his childhood and school friends.

In the past, Xu Qingan would have wanted to shout it from the rooftops.

Now, he just hoped everything would go off without a hitch.

As soon as all the guests were seated, the wedding ceremony kicked off.

Lu Cheng and Xu Qingan, dressed in matching high-end suits, walked hand in hand from outside the hall along the red carpet towards the stage.

The former's face was as serious and cold as ever, appearing steady and calm in the eyes of others. Xu Qingan, on the other hand, had a bright smile on his face, his gentle and harmless features slightly relaxed, making the guests applaud and praise the handsome couple, quite a match.

However, at this moment, the gazes of the two newlyweds were actually focused on scanning the people seated at the banquet.

Although their purposes were different, the person they were looking for was the same.

Unfortunately, Xu Qingran did not appear.

The wedding proceeded quite smoothly. Lu Cheng and Xu Qingan stood on the stage in front, under the blessings and gazes of everyone, finished their wedding vows, exchanged rings, and even kissed under the host's lead.

Everything was perfect.

Xu Qingan, with a smile in his eyes, looked at Lu Cheng, feeling particularly dazed.

The moon he had been gazing at and yearning for since middle school had finally descended to his side, becoming his partner. Perhaps because the journey had been too arduous and filled with too many hardships, there was no expected joy, only a sense of relief.

Xu Qingan's body remained tense.

He and Lu Cheng walked down from the stage hand in hand. At the same time, the projection screen on the stage began to play their wedding photos, including moments from their meeting, acquaintance, and the memories they had created during their relationship.

Gentle, sweet melodies filled the banquet hall.

The guests began to enjoy the feast. Seeing that the video he had worried Xu Qingran might disrupt played so smoothly, Xu Qingan finally began to relax. He behaved very considerately and obediently, even thoughtfully serving food to Lu Cheng. Their interactions appeared quite affectionate in the eyes of the elders at their table.

Until all the videos finished playing, the last image on the projection screen—a photo of the two smiling hand in hand at the camera—slowly faded as the music ended.

The expensive orchestra was about to take the stage for the next performance when strange sounds suddenly echoed from the speakers around the banquet hall. The sounds were sultry and intoxicating, making everyone blush and their hearts race. All the guests were startled by the sudden "background music," immediately stopping their meal.

Then, the darkened screen lit up again.

The main figure in the video gradually synchronized with the sounds. The protagonist, who was reveling in pleasure with a group of people, turned out to be one of the newlyweds tonight! Drenched in sweat, vivid and sensual, his appearance was so immersed and pleasurable, and the words he uttered were shockingly crude, completely at odds with his pure exterior, leaving everyone stunned.

Lu Wennian, realizing what was happening, turned red with anger and glared at Xu Qingan in disbelief.

Xu Qingan's face instantly drained of color. The elders at the table, including Lu Cheng's parents, regarded him with disgust and shock. Just as he was about to explain, the voice in the video spoke again.

"Xu Qingan, I didn't expect you to be so open-minded!"

"What's going on? Didn't you say you were going to send your brother to us for some fun? Did you suddenly decide not to let him have this 'great experience' and take it upon yourself instead?"

"Although it's a pity we couldn't get your brother, given how cooperative you've been, we'll forgive you, hahahaha!"

"Yeah... uh... such a good thing, I wouldn't let him have it... haha..."

Xu Qingan turned to Lu Cheng beside him, reaching out to grasp his hand.

But the other man, shocked and furious, stood up and shoved his hand away, demanding incredulously, "Xu Qingan, what were you planning to do to your brother?!"

Lu Cheng was shaking with anger.

Although it was evident to everyone that the mental state of the people in the video was far from normal, likely under the influence of some illicit substance, the implication was that Xu Qingan had originally intended to use this drug on Xu Qingran?!

The tightly closed doors of the banquet hall were suddenly kicked open from outside.

A tall, brown-haired man in a white shirt and black trousers, his long legs and good physique on full display, walked in. His strikingly handsome face, which had grown even more radiant and attractive over the years under someone's care, exuded a presence that was impossible to ignore.

His mere presence captivated everyone.

When Xu Qingan saw Xu Qingran, he was instantly filled with rage.

Just as he was about to stand up and yell at him, the person beside him was quicker: "Qingran, you're here?!"

Xu Qingran glanced at the still-playing video, then at the two newlyweds with their mixed expressions, and smiled faintly: "Ah, as one of Xu Qingan's few remaining relatives, I'm here to congratulate you both on your wedding."

"Don't worry, I won't smash any tables or disrupt the feast today."

"I'm just here to present my former friend and my half-brother with a wedding gift."

With that, he turned his gaze back to the screen.

Then he added, "I hope you both enjoy it."

The scene Xu Qingan had most feared had finally unfolded.

He couldn’t understand. He had been so careful, meticulously checking all the photos and videos that were to be shown. Even the staff responsible for playing the videos were personally selected by him—people he knew well and trusted.

Why!

Why could Xu Qingran still pull it off? He was always like this. When did he gain such formidable abilities, becoming almost omnipotent?

Since his reputation was already ruined, Xu Qingan had nothing left to lose.

In a fit of emotional breakdown, he charged straight at Xu Qingran by the door, grabbing his collar and demanding, “Xu Qingran, what do you really want?! Why can’t you just let me go? I’ve already wanted to sever ties with you, so why do you still have to ruin me on this day?!”

Xu Qingran looked down at him and said, “Xu Qingan, you’ve got it all wrong.”

“You were the one who provoked me first, and I, as it happens, am a vengeful, petty, and unforgiving villain.”

“Whether in the past or the present.”

As Xu Qingan’s hand slipped weakly from his collar, Xu Qingran smirked, “I told you, since you’re determined to slander me for causing trouble and ruining your engagement banquet, I won’t miss any of your major life events from now on.”

“Originally, I could have just acted crazy like before, fully cementing my reputation as the empire’s mad villain.”

“Who would’ve thought you’d hand me more material on a silver platter?”

Xu Qingran’s smile gradually turned cold, his eyes icy. “When your plan to frame me fell apart and the evidence vanished, why didn’t you expect a day like this?”

“If I were you, I’d lay low and live a quiet life under a new name.”

“Instead of clinging to what was never yours in the first place.”

Xu Qingan snapped. He shouted at him uncontrollably, “Why isn’t it mine?! The Xu family, Lu Cheng—it was all supposed to be mine, all of it!”

In contrast to Xu Qingan’s breakdown, Xu Qingran remained calm and composed.

As if their roles had reversed, Xu Qingran played the caring older brother, stepping forward to half-embrace him and pat his back in a comforting gesture. “First, calm down. If you’ve done wrong, own up to it.”

“If you’re willing to change, I believe the world will give you another chance.”

This only fueled Xu Qingan’s anger even more.

Just as he was about to lash out, Xu Qingran whispered something only the two of them could hear, “Curious why I’m so different now—in personality and ability—from the old me?”

Xu Qingan glared at him fiercely.

Xu Qingran chuckled leisurely and added, “I told you, Xu Qingran died long ago in Red City’s South 13 District.”

Xu Qingan was stunned at first. Then, as if a light bulb had gone off in his head, he suddenly grasped the chilling meaning behind those words.

Just as shock was about to set in, a soft ‘pfft’ sound cut through the air between them.

In the spacious banquet hall, the sound was faint. But soon, Xu Qingran stepped back, his expression shifting to shock and surprise.

Xu Qingan instinctively looked down.

He looked down and saw he was holding a knife—a common, ordinary one—with blood staining its tip.

Xu Qingran stood ahead, frowning and clutching his injured abdomen as he looked at him, his face showing a hint of real vulnerability: "Qingan, you..."

"I just hope you won’t keep making mistakes..."

Xu Qingan’s hand loosened, and the knife instantly fell to the ground.

...It wasn’t him! This wasn’t his knife!!

He turned to the crowd, his eyes finally settling on Lu Cheng, and started to explain, "No, I didn’t..."

But as soon as he began, Lu Cheng, startled by his movement, pulled out a gun and fired a shot at his chest without hesitation.

The bullet, infused with psychic energy, shot out like a thin beam of light, piercing through his chest and into his heart. His legs gave out, and he crumpled to his knees in agony, tears filling his eyes as he looked pitifully at Lu Cheng, who was rushing toward him.

He reached out, trying to grab him.

But the man ignored his suffering and ran to Xu Qingran instead.

The pain in his chest seemed to grow sharper, and he finally collapsed, unable to hold on any longer.

The guests around him erupted in shocked chatter, the chaotic noise from all sides pounding in his head. He noticed people gathering, but no one actually came to help him.

They seemed more concerned about the 'innocent one' who hadn’t been fatally wounded.

Xu Qingan tried to speak, desperate to explain.

But the moment he opened his mouth, only more blood spilled from his throat, and no sound came out.

Tears blurred his vision.

Slowly fading into darkness.

"Qingran, are you okay?!"

Lu Cheng hurried over to check on Xu Qingran, but the injured man frowned and dodged: "Don’t touch me."

"Your smell will make my guy jealous."

Lu Cheng’s hand hung frozen in the air.

Xu Qingran, holding his bleeding wound, said calmly, "You should check on your partner. He needs attention more than I do."

·

Red Maple Star, Moon City Silver Dragon United Hospital.

Xu Qingran, who had just woken up and had some water, saw the ward door burst open.

Before he could set the cup down, he turned to see Shen Tingyu rushing in, dusty from the road.

His blue eyes burned with anger once more.

Xu Qingran quickly said, "Hey, I told you this time, so don’t be mad."

Shen Tingyu remained silent.

He grabbed the phone in his hand and glanced at their chat interface again.

The so-called heads-up was a message Xu Qingran sent before stirring up trouble—

"I'm going to crash Xu Qingan's wedding banquet. To make sure the plan goes off without a hitch, I might end up with a few scrapes and bruises. Don't worry, I have it under control—I won't die."

It's enough to make you cry and leave you speechless.

Xu Qingran also said, "Xu Qingan's got it worse than I do."

"Ruined and shot by the one he loves, I wonder if he survived."

Seeing Shen Tingyu still standing at the foot of the bed, looking at him like a sad, scolded puppy, both angry and heartbroken, he waved him over, saying, "Come here."

When Shen Tingyu approached the bedside, he had him bend down and wrapped him in a loose hug.

His eyes curved into a smile: "I got this injury when I grabbed Xu Qingan's hand. With all my experience, I know how to steer clear of the important bits."

"Just a scratch, it'll be fine in a couple of days."

Xu Qingran wasn't trying to comfort anyone.

He wasn't planning to go all out with Xu Qingan, so he indeed handled it well. Plus, as a tough D-type, he only needed to rest for a few days to mostly recover.

However, this injury did score him a little downtime.

Xu Qingran was brought back to the big villa on Fei Star by Shen Tingyu.

After returning from the hospital and resting at home for a few days, he was already up and about. However, Shen Tingyu was still worried and insisted that he not do any extra workouts or anything too crazy when he wasn't around.

Xu Qingran could only spend his days a little bored at home, watching TV, browsing his phone, and waiting for his boyfriend to return.

Life was a little boring.

During this time, he received some good news.

Word was that Xu Qingan didn't make it and died.

Riding the wave of his good mood, he went out to buy some groceries and fruits, planning to do a livestream for fun after a while.

Passing by P's bakery, he picked up some of Shen Tingyu's favorite little cakes. Thinking that Shen Tingyu always cooked delicious meals for him, he wanted to do something nice for a change. Before heading home, he also bought a bottle of red wine to set the mood.

It was afternoon.

Shen Tingyu wouldn't be back so soon, so he planned to throw together something quick for himself, have a little drink to unwind while he was feeling good, and whip up a midnight snack for Shen Tingyu in the evening.

"Little lunatic, I heard you got injured!"

"After getting the scoop, all I can say is I feel sorry for Young Master Xu. Xu Qingan's obsession with harming you is truly relentless."

"Sigh, now that the little lunatic has become a deputy, he's setting an example, taking care of his image, and not even hanging QR codes anymore."

Xu Qingran, busy preparing ingredients, happened to see this comment.

He hurried over to add: "Ah, no, don't think of me as so noble, I just forgot to hang it up."

"Mainly because someone has been taking care of me lately, so I'm not short on money, but that doesn't mean I don't love money."

"Please continue to be generous."

"..."

"Alright, alright, as expected of you, never letting me down."

"I've been enjoying the drama between uncle and niece-in-law again."

"I'm relieved to see how well the Shen family treats Young Master Xu."

"Looks like the little lunatic is in a great mood!"

Xu Qingran smiled, but said, "Yeah, I've been in a pretty good mood lately."

While cooking, the white and black dogs came into the kitchen to join the fun.

This made the comments flood in, with everyone virtually petting the dogs.

Xu Qingran made himself a bowl of noodles loaded with toppings.

He rarely kept the live stream going after finishing his meal, but this time he chatted with fans he hadn't seen in a while, even answering mundane questions. After finishing his noodles, he poured himself half a glass of wine and took a few sips.

Xu Qingran thought his alcohol tolerance had improved a bit after his training at Bishui Villa.

He leaned against the kitchen counter, sitting on a high stool, holding his wine glass with elegance.

After just a few sips, his face began to flush. His slight squint at the camera made the comments go wild.

"Little lunatic, you really can't hold your liquor."

"Nonsense, I'm still perfectly sober."

"Help, Young Master is too handsome, who gets it!!"

"I get it, I often admire my own beauty in the mirror."

"Confirmed, he's definitely drunk."

"I'm not drunk, I swear."

"Where's Commander Shen! Is he coming home today! If not, I'm afraid the little lunatic will go nuts and wreck the place!"

Xu Qingran shook his wine glass, propped his chin with his other hand, squinted at the camera, and said, "Yeah, I'm waiting for that dog man to come back."

"Dog man? You mean Commander Shen? What a unique nickname."

"Who gets my sense of humor? Such a mighty and serious commander, privately called that by Ranran?"

"I don't get it, because I don't find it funny, but rather kind of sweet."

Xu Qingran didn't pay attention to those comments.

He murmured with a half-smile, "Today I'm unusually happy, so I'll be merciful and let the dog man be happy too."

As soon as he finished speaking, the living room door opened.

Xu Qingran put down his wine glass, got up to greet Shen Tingyu, who, despite being busy all day, was still impeccably dressed and walked in from the living room.

Seeing him, before even noticing the wine glass, Shen Tingyu asked, "...Did you drink again?"

Xu Qingran leaned against the kitchen counter, spread his hands, and said, "Yeah, I'm happy. Is that not allowed?"

Shen Tingyu chuckled, "It's allowed."

Honestly, Shen Tingyu used to not want Xu Qingran to drink because he got overly clingy when drunk. Back then, he couldn't touch him, so it was tough. But now, things were different, and Shen Tingyu had to admit he absolutely loved this side of Xu Qingran.

"Come here, I’ll let you have a taste too."

Xu Qingran crooked his finger at him.

Shen Tingyu, unsuspecting, thought he was going to pour him a drink.

But as soon as he approached, Xu Qingran pulled him in and kissed him, tilting his head up.

He gently coaxed his mouth open, not rough in the slightest.

It was very much his style, a bit casual, and seemed to carry a hint of playfulness.

Shen Tingyu held his waist and responded with a deeper kiss.

When they finally pulled apart, Xu Qingran asked with hazy, satisfied eyes, "Was it good?"

The faint scent of red wine still lingered on his lips.

Shen Tingyu replied softly, "Very good."

Over by the kitchen, the live stream was still running.

The chat was eerily quiet for a long, long time.

It wasn’t until the two separated and started talking that a shaky comment finally appeared:

"...?"