Chapter 49

Chapter 49

"I do like you."

A soft yet earnest voice whispered by his ear.

"I really do like you."

Jiang Shixu's ear tips tinged red. He wanted to rub them but feared letting go would cause Xie Hantang to fall, so he stood frozen in place.

"Xu Xu is the cutest Omega I've ever met."

"I like everything about Xu Xu."

Jiang Shixu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in that moment, he couldn't find the words.

The afternoon sun blazed, its scorching heat offering only slight relief in the shade of the grand trees around them. Yet Jiang Shixu felt an inner turmoil, perhaps because he never expected—

The answer he had longed for would be presented to him so simply, so effortlessly, laid bare before him.

Xie Hantang liked him.

In the distance, he could vaguely make out vast stretches of lush green orchards, a meandering stream adding splashes of contrasting color. Nearby stood a simple, rustic cabin with a rich, nostalgic charm. And the young man leaning on his shoulder, as if he had said nothing at all, simply rested with closed eyes, calm and peaceful.

Jiang Shixu withdrew his gaze, wanting to capture this moment—

Did Xie Hantang just confess to him?

Whether it was the scenery, the timing, or the sentiment… he wanted to remember it all.

"I-I like you too."

Could he hear him? Would he remember any of this after sobering up?

Jiang Shixu propped Xie Hantang against the cabin wall, studying the contours of his face, and spoke louder:

"Xie Hantang, I really like you too!"

"Even if you don't remember, I really like you!"

The humid breeze carried waves of heat, making Jiang Shixu nervous. He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and just as he was about to help Xie Hantang into the room, the young man who had been resting with closed eyes suddenly opened them. His sharp, narrow eyes were completely clear and alert.

Jiang Shixu froze.

He watched as the Alpha stood tall and poised, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He saw him speak softly:

"Xu Xu, I want to be your boyfriend. May I?"

May I?

In a daze, his mind drifted back to those initial nervous days, when he had anxiously messaged him and received the reply, "May I invite you out?"—

That message, he had kept it to this day, even saving a screenshot.

Jiang Shixu looked up, staring intently at the other, his clear voice trembling slightly. "Can you… say it one more time?"

With trembling hands, he activated the recording function on his device. "One more time, please?"

Without hesitation, Xie Hantang dropped to one knee, his palm suddenly blooming with a beautiful, elegant Blue Star Flower. The flower was delicate and ethereal, as if dancing in the wind, carrying a familiar fragrance that wafted toward him.

Jiang Shixu had seen that flower before.

After learning Xie Hantang's nickname, he had researched it, but this was the first time he had seen it in person. He didn't know when Xie Hantang had picked it, but its scent matched the perfume bottle the other had given him.

"Perhaps one isn't enough," Xie Hantang mused, as if remembering something. His other hand emerged from behind his back, and with a crisp snap of his fingers, a cluster of blooming flowers gathered together, their delicate petals like velvet, swaying and blossoming in the gentle breeze.

"Xu Xu, I like you. I want to be your boyfriend. May I?"

Xie Hantang's eyes seemed to shimmer, as if lost in thought, speaking slowly and softly:

"I liked you from the moment I first saw you."

He had once thought he would rely on military merits to earn a dating opportunity with an Alpha, then follow a conventional courtship like most Female Soldiers, gradually entering marriage.

But he had come to another place.

Out of place, yet diving in headfirst, the first person he met was also the one he liked the most.

Unlike what he had imagined, he didn't wait passively for an opportunity. He took the initiative, trying to leave an impression in the other's eyes.

He thought the path would be long and difficult.

But it had been much faster than he expected.

"Perhaps I have nothing now—no status, no wealth, no position."

Xie Hantang knew he wasn't worthy, whether in the eyes of the colossal Jiang family or by his own standards. He didn't deserve someone as wonderful as Xu Xu.

"But I don't want to miss this chance. Give me a year. Wealth, status, power—I will give you all of it."

Xie Hantang looked up. "Xu Xu, give me a trial period as your boyfriend. May I?"

Female Soldiers would embark on glorious expeditions and return victorious. They were invincible and indomitable, yet all their ambitions were for the one they cherished most.

Perhaps because he had waited too long for Jiang Shixu's response, Xie Hantang added hastily, "...I've been saving up some money. I'll give it all to you."

"Xiao Xiao is yours too."

My Spiritual Entity… is yours too.

Now, including myself.

Everything I have is yours.

Sunlight and shadows interlaced and danced on the ground, as if paving it with brilliance. Jiang Shixu's voice was gentle and calm, as if all his tension and anxiety had melted away in that moment. He looked at the young man kneeling before him and spoke slowly.

"Of course, my... new boyfriend."

Jiang Shixu quietly tucked away his device, took a few steps closer, and accepted the blooming cluster of Blue Star Flowers. "I…"

"This is the third time you've knelt before me."

Xie Hantang looked up in surprise, seeing the young man's eyes glistening with tears, as if he wanted to laugh but also to cry.

"The first time, you gave me a muzzle. I thought you were giving me a ring."

Xie Hantang raced through his memories…

Huh?

"The second time, you said you didn't mean it, thought my second sister was a bad person, and got down on your knees to apologize. I thought your second kneel would be reserved for giving me a ring."

Hmm...

Xie Hantang drifted into thought.

"The third time is this one."

Platinum brushed a stray lock behind his ear, his gaze fixed intently on him. "I thought... ah, forget it."

"The confession... it was alright, I guess."

"Next time, you have to tell me in advance! Let me prepare properly."

"No pictures, no keepsakes, nothing," Jiang Shixu complained, though his eyes sparkled with excitement and delight. "But... it's only a probation period~"

Jiang Shixu hugged the bouquet tightly. "I'm keeping the flowers."

And I'll take the person too.

No take-backs.

As if remembering something, Jiang Shixu pulled out his Light Brain and waved it in front of Xie Hantang. "I recorded it. If you dare take it back—"

"Of course, I won’t."

Xie Hantang quickly responded, his previously scattered thoughts snapping back into focus. "As for the ring... it's not time for that yet."

At the very least, he needed to make Major General first, to have a proper wedding into Jiang Shixu's family with dignity—so no one would talk down to him, and he’d be worthy of the other.

Even if Jiang Shixu loved him, he still wanted to give his best. He refused to let Xu Xu face gossip or feel wronged and hurt because of his own immaturity.

Xie Hantang said earnestly, "I will work hard."

Only then did Jiang Shixu break into a grin. He reached out and placed his hand in Xie Hantang’s palm. "Well then... boyfriend? Or maybe... Tang Tang?"

Jiang Shixu recalled how out of it someone had looked earlier—surely he couldn’t still be unaware of what just happened. Both annoyed and amused, he said, "Why were you pretending to be drunk?!"

And in the middle of the day, too!

But despite his words, Jiang Shixu was more thrilled than anything. Finally crossing that line, he was over the moon—though he tried not to get too ahead of himself, awkwardly changing the subject instead. "...You wasted a whole table of food I made."

"None of it's going to waste!"

Xie Hantang jumped up and rushed to the dining table. "I’ll finish it right now!"

"You d-don't have to go that far."

Jiang Shixu hurried after him. Whether it was due to all the excitement or simple carelessness, he stumbled over a pebble, teetering off balance. Just as he was about to fall, Xie Hantang swiftly pulled him close. The sudden nearness caught them off guard. Xie Hantang was the first to gently let go, asking reflexively, "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine."

Jiang Shixu glanced at Xie Hantang suspiciously. They were boyfriends now—shouldn’t he try something? Back in the mecha, they could use the excuse of not being close enough, but now...

Acting like it was nothing, he kicked a small stone away and sat down on the chair nearest Xie Hantang. "I’ll make you some sober-up soup instead."

Whether he was drunk or not, he’d definitely had a lot to drink.

With that thought, Jiang Shixu quickly headed to the kitchen, completely unaware of the spaced-out look in a certain young man’s eyes.

So warm and sweet...

Xie Hantang snapped back to reality. The reason he hadn’t held on longer was simple—he knew:

The man's supposed to make the first move.

As a female soldier, he needed to be reserved.

Even though they were in a trial period as boyfriends, it was better to hold back a little.

Despite telling himself this, Xie Hantang couldn’t help grinning. Not even ranking first at the Imperial Military Academy had made him this exhilarated.

Not even after becoming a Major General...

Desperate to distract himself, Xie Hantang noticed Xiao Xiao lurking around in the corner of his Light Brain interface. He tapped on it. "What are you doing?"

Xiao Xiao, who had just finished recording the entire confession scene: ...

Why is preparing a gift so difficult?!

It muttered, annoyed:

[You useless master! Do you even know what ‘strike while the iron's hot’ means!? Why are you bothering with me now instead of rushing to help him cook? Huh? I’ve searched all the guides—none of them mention someone as cocky and forgetful as you!]

It rarely talked back to Xie Hantang, but seeing him suddenly jump into action and hurry toward the kitchen, it cautiously transferred the recorded data to...

The Master Brain’s database.

The Master Brain, which had just returned: ...

[What are you doing?]

Xiao Xiao paused, spinning in place. "His hacking skills were taught by me, after all..."

Combined with the Imperial Hacking Program coursework, if Xie Hantang really wanted to investigate the Light Brain, he’d find out.

Xiao Xiao fumed. "If he finds out early, how is it still a gift or a surprise?!"

The Master Brain wasn’t sure what this had to do with itself. It silently shifted aside, watching as the egg-shaped AI dumped a pile of junk data into its database like it was moving house.

After a moment, as if struck by a thought, it carefully sorted through the database’s energy flow and cautiously said, "Stay away from their Light Brains these next few days."

According to big data, people in new relationships are emotionally volatile—new couples especially can be a mess.

The Master Brain added, "Have you seen Ji Wu? He’s a smart one. He’s been avoiding both of them lately."