Chapter 005 Substitute Marriage 05

Chapter 005: The Stand-In Bride, Part 5

Marshal Wei Qing harbored deep malice toward him.

Clearly aware of this, Zhou Younan pondered the reason.

Was it because the Zhou family had replaced the marriage candidate, making Wei Qing feel that Zhou An was superior, thus losing face and taking his displeasure out on him?

The more he considered it, the more plausible it seemed.

If that were the case, would Wei Qing kill him just as he had killed his previous two spouses?

Anxiety and fear clung to his heart, refusing to dissipate.

After vomiting, Zhou Younan declined the attendant’s help; he simply wanted to be alone.

The *Aepril* was the Zhou family’s spaceship, and Zhou Younan was the young master of the Zhou family. Naturally, his room was on the top deck, the largest and most luxuriously appointed on the entire vessel.

Currently, Zhou Younan was on the VIP level. To return to his room, he needed to traverse this level and ascend the stairs.

Since boarding the *Aepril*, Zhou Younan had kept to himself, never exploring the ship. He now slowed his pace, allowing the evening breeze to caress his cheeks.

Zhou Younan was, in truth, indifferent to Wei Qing’s attitude. He wouldn’t have to endure the man’s company for long.

What truly mattered was Luo Luo, who remained with the Zhou family.

He couldn’t escape before the marriage. Would he have to flee afterward? And then rescue Luo Luo from Yaoxing?

This seemed to be the only viable plan for now.

“Hahaha…” Two children, around five or six years old, ran past Zhou Younan, laughing joyfully as they chased each other.

Their faces radiated innocent delight, causing Zhou Younan to pause.

He missed Luo Luo.

The two children stopped before a pair of double doors. One of them pushed the door open slightly, and the warm yellow light from within illuminated his small face.

“Wow! It’s so lively in here!” the child exclaimed.

The other child eagerly peered in. “Let me see too!”

“Wow!” Their faces were filled with astonishment, and after exchanging glances, their smiles widened even further.

Luo Luo often wore such expressions too.

Having grown up in Research Institute 411, Luo Luo had never truly experienced the outside world due to his unique upbringing.

At five years old, everything filled him with wonder.

The first time he saw the Short-Tailed Star Detention Center, he was amazed. The first time he saw the towering Zhou family mansion, he was amazed. The first time he met a group of children his own age at school, he was amazed too.

After each moment of astonishment, Luo Luo would burst into laughter, take Zhou Younan’s hand, and exclaim, “Brother, this place is so much fun!”

If Luo Luo had boarded the *Aepril* with him, he would likely be showing the same expression as these two children before him.

At this thought, the furrow in Zhou Younan’s brow smoothed, and a gentle warmth entered his dark eyes.

The two children huddled together, whispering for a moment, before pushing the door open wider and slipping inside, shoulders hunched.

Zhou Younan paused. In the dim light, he noticed their clothes were somewhat dirty and their faces weren’t clean. They likely weren’t the children of guests staying on this level.

The lower decks of the *Aepril* housed ordinary passengers, so these two must have snuck up from there. If children from the common deck were caught in a VIP room, they would surely face a severe beating.

Without hesitation, Zhou Younan walked to the double doors and stepped inside.

It was a bar. As the door swung open, the intoxicating scent of alcohol wafted toward him. The yellow crystal chandelier on the ceiling was shrouded in smoke, casting a dim, hazy light. Compared to the quiet outside, the place was incredibly noisy.

The bar was bustling with customers. Some danced in the open space in the center of the room, others chatted and drank at small tables, while a few casually surveyed the room from the bar counter.

The deafening noise made Zhou Younan’s head throb. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the two children who had snuck in earlier, now standing in a corner of the room.

Ignoring his discomfort, Zhou Younan approached and intercepted them. Kneeling, he leaned close to their ears and told them they shouldn’t be here. He firmly took their small hands, preparing to lead them out.

Suddenly, the bar’s blaring music ceased. A screen materialized on a small four-square-meter stage in the center of the room.

The blue screen, tinged greenish by the yellow light, displayed a bold title: “Will Young Master Zhou Younan Survive a Month?”

Below the title were two boxes. One, labeled “Yes” in large letters, was empty. The other, labeled “No,” was already filled with countless names, packed so densely they nearly overflowed.

Seeing the screen, Zhou Younan held his breath, his mind a blank.

Those pale names seemed like countless pairs of wide, staring eyes. Though they were complete strangers, their gazes now held an undeniable hunger, a fervent wish for his swift demise.

Captain Fei Li’s booming voice resonated through the speakers, filling the entire room: “I’m hosting this bet. Place your wagers under your real names. I stake my reputation, Fei Li, that I will deliver the money to each of you in full a month from now.”

The crowd erupted in a fervent cheer, but Zhou Younan felt a prickling scalp and a chill down his spine. To him, that jubilant cheering sounded like a death knell.

On the small stage, a holographic projection of the bald Captain Fei Li appeared.

“Oh, heavens, Fei Li, buy some hair tonic. Your bald head is blinding me,” a guest joked loudly.

Fei Li nonchalantly rubbed his bald head, chuckling good-naturedly.

“Baldness is my trademark! No tonics needed. Now, to help you make informed bets, let me briefly explain what happened in the VIP lounge today…”

Zhou Younan had always believed the *Aepril* would be a safe haven for him.

He was wrong again.

Amidst the occasional cheers around him, Zhou Younan couldn’t bear to stay a second longer.

He longed to rush forward, smash that damned projector, and scream at those people that they were strangers, demanding to know why they wished him dead.

But Zhou Younan knew such an act would be meaningless. Instead, he would simply become a laughingstock for those gamblers—a pathetic spectacle, raging impotently on stage, awaiting his inevitable death.

Zhou Younan didn’t want to die.

Gritting his teeth against the fury threatening to erupt, he hurriedly led the two children out of the bar.

Before leaving, he overheard Captain Fei Li repeatedly emphasizing that Wei Qing’s previous spouse had been killed by him in the second week of their marriage.

After summoning an attendant to escort the children, Zhou Younan walked back to his room with heavy steps.

The moment the door closed behind him, the stubborn tears he had held back finally welled up and spilled from his eyes.

Wei Qing’s malice, combined with the betting pool he had witnessed in the bar, momentarily stripped Zhou Younan of all hope for the future.

He instinctively covered his mouth and nose, stifling any sound.

What would happen to Luo Luo if he died?

The purple moonlight of Planet Gonggong streamed silently through the enormous window, bathing the room in a tranquil glow.

The question resurfaced in his mind.

Zhou Younan wiped away his tears—he couldn’t die.

He took out the candy box Luo Luo had given him, intending to eat some sweets to calm himself. His hands trembled slightly, too weak to exert much force, making the box difficult to open.

After a struggle, he finally managed to open it, only for the candies inside to spill out, clattering across the floor. Colorful candies scattered everywhere, and Zhou Younan quickly bent down to pick them up.

In his haste, the metal box also fell to the ground. It must have hit some hidden switch, for the seemingly ordinary box began to transform.

A small holographic projection of a researcher in a white lab coat appeared above the box.

This metal box was actually a hidden miniature projector!

Recognizing the projected figure, Zhou Younan instinctively froze, forgetting to move.

The person in the projection was someone he knew very well—the director of Research Institute 411, Xu Qi.

Xu Qi had reddish-brown hair, each strand standing distinctly upright. Despite being an Omega, his gaze was remarkably cold, like that of a powerful Alpha.

However, the Xu Qi in this projection looked much younger than the one Zhou Younan knew.

He adjusted his glasses and spoke, “Today is October 30, Star Calendar year 706.”

Today was July 10, Star Calendar year 718. Zhou Younan immediately realized this projection was a recording Xu Qi had made twelve years ago.

“I’ve developed an interesting little thing today,” Xu Qi said, holding up a tiny capsule for the camera.

The miniature projector displayed a high-definition image. The capsule was a pure green, and Zhou Younan could even discern the transparent liquid swirling within.

“Once an Alpha takes this drug, they will perceive the pheromones of any nearby Omega as their absolute favorite scent, for an entire month.”

Zhou Younan thought: *To develop a capsule with such an effect—as despicable as ever.*

As if hearing Zhou Younan’s thoughts, Xu Qi narrowed his eyes, a profound meaning in his slender gaze.

Xu Qi continued, “Their *absolute* favorite—the kind they can’t resist.”

Seemingly captivated by Xu Qi’s words, Zhou Younan stared unblinkingly at the tiny capsule.

If he had this capsule and gave it to Wei Qing…

A month was enough time to accomplish many things.

He could use his status as the Marshal’s wife to get Luo Luo out of the Zhou family.

He could even make a fortune from that gambling pool in the bar, using the money to secure Luo Luo’s future—ensuring he’d live comfortably even if Zhou Younan were no longer in this world.

As Zhou Younan pondered, the projector automatically shut off, and a hidden compartment at the bottom of the box slid open. Inside lay the very same small green capsule Xu Qi had held moments ago.

Moonlight glinted off the capsule, its transparent liquid shimmering with Planet Gonggong’s unique purple glow—hypnotic and alluring.

After gathering all the spilled candies, Zhou Younan went to find Captain Fei Li.

Using his status as Young Master Zhou and the future Marshal’s wife, he borrowed ten thousand starcoins from Captain Fei Li and placed his bet in the “Yes” square of the bar’s wager.

The frail Zhou Younan straightened his back, standing tall in the center of the bar’s stage like a flagpole.

He scanned the crowd and declared loudly, “I *will* survive this month.”

Between conscience and survival, Zhou Younan made his choice swiftly.

***

Outside the Blood Drop camp.

Having finished his delicious Red Phoenix, Wei Qing rose contentedly, stretching lazily before preparing to join the lively Gonggong locals dancing around the bonfire.

“Marshal, His Majesty wishes to see you,” reported the soldier with a lightning bolt tattoo at the corner of his mouth, standing beside Henry.

“Agh—” Wei Qing groaned, casting a reluctant glance at the singing and dancing locals before dragging his feet back to his tent.

Inside, Henry was giving a report to the Emperor.

Wei Qing straightened his clothes, putting on a serious face as he entered.

Passing Henry, he saw the holographic projection of the ninth emperor of the Tyrell Empire—Arthur Long.

Arthur was in his prime, a formidable Alpha—tall and bear-like in build. His thick, curly golden hair framed piercing golden eyes that always burned with intensity.

Even as a projection, Wei Qing could sense the danger radiating from him, like standing alone before a lion on the savanna. Trusting his beastly instincts, Wei Qing always tempered his demeanor in the Emperor’s presence.

Noticing Wei Qing’s arrival, Arthur—dressed in expensive silk sleepwear—chuckles. “Have you tasted the Red Phoenix? Was it good?”

“Average. Wild ones taste better. The ones bred by the Matt family are too greasy.”

Wei Qing answered honestly, thinking that Red Phoenixes weren’t even that rare on Planet Gonggong—yet the Matt family monopolized their export! How stingy!

Arthur asked again, “Did you send Zhou Younan a good one or a bad one?”

“Of course, I’d only send the bad—” Wei Qing caught himself mid-sentence, clicking his tongue in realization.

Arthur burst out laughing. “Oh, you.”

Having once fought side by side, Wei Qing and Arthur were familiar enough to speak casually.

Annoyed, Wei Qing dropped into a chair, glaring at Henry for tattling. Henry pointedly looked away, ignoring him.