Chapter 61 Devoted Fans in Meltdown.

Chapter 61: The Hardcore Fan's Meltdown.

"What exactly happened?"

Bai Yizhou, usually all smiles and easygoing, now wore a grim expression. His eyes swept around, noting his younger brother Bai Yin's visibly distressed state—a mix of embarrassment, disbelief, and bewilderment playing across his meticulously sculpted face.

Bai Yizhou's gaze settled on He Chu: "You tell me."

He Chu hesitated, glancing at Bai Yin, then took a deep breath: "It's like this, Attendant Bai..."

He recounted the entire incident. Bai Yizhou's frown deepened, his lips pressed into a thin line. Only after He Chu finished did he speak: "The rest of you may leave. Bai Yin, come with me."

The two brothers found a secluded spot. Bai Yizhou looked at his red-eyed younger brother: "What were you thinking? Don't you understand why General Ji kept you at the base? Why did you send Yu Xin to live in the Red Building?"

"I'd like to ask the same thing—what's so precious about that Yu Xin that you're all fawning over him? He's just a hired cook! Why does he deserve so much attention?" Bai Yin's head snapped up, his emotions teetering on the brink of collapse. All because of Yu Xin, General Ji had publicly humiliated him today, and now even his own brother was questioning him.

He had merely arranged accommodation for Yu Xin. Yu Xin hadn't suffered any loss, so why was everyone blaming him on Yu Xin's behalf?

"How did we receive Master Mo last time? You haven't forgotten, have you? And all those other culinary masters we invited before—by your logic, they're just hired cooks like Yu Xin. Why treat Yu Xin differently?"

"Master Mo was the former Royal Executive Chef! Yu Xin is just an outcast kicked out of the Yu family. I wouldn't even care if the entire Yu family showed up, let alone him. How can he compare to those other masters?"

"Because General Ji can only eat what he makes. Don't you know what that means to General Ji? It's been three whole years. General Ji only sees hope in Yu Xin. For that alone, we could practically worship Yu Xin. Now that General Ji has finally brought him to the base, you sent him to live in the Red Building. What were you thinking, Bai Yin?"

"I just don't understand—what's so special about Yu Xin? The things he makes seem pretty ordinary to me. What kind of extraordinary delicacies can you make under those wilderness conditions anyway? Maybe General Ji was already recovering, and Yu Xin just got lucky with the timing..."

"Are you stupid? If Yu Xin weren't special, would General Ji have bothered joining that variety show for him?" Bai Yizhou wished he could grab Bai Yin’s shoulders and shake some sense into him. "And I don't believe you haven't noticed how differently General Ji treats Yu Xin. When have you ever seen General Ji set aside official duties just to personally pick someone up—"

And that wasn't all—General Ji had even started livestreaming, something he'd never done before, spent a fortune on donations, and rewatched Yu Xin's recorded streams over and over. Not just the cooking ones—Bai Yizhou had even caught General Ji watching Yu Xin's gaming streams.

General Ji had never even played that game before; Bai Yizhou had no idea what was so interesting about it.

"That's exactly what I can't stand!"

Bai Yin's eyes were red, his emotions intensely turbulent as he cut off Bai Yizhou mid-sentence. His whole body trembled slightly, veins bulging on his neck: "What right does Yu Xin have—what right does he have to receive special treatment from General Ji? They'd never even met before, yet General Ji was willing to join some trashy show for him!"

Bai Yizhou's words had struck the darkest, most unbalanced part of his heart. Of course he knew General Ji treated Yu Xin differently—no one knew better than he did.

Bai Yin couldn't even say how long he had been looking up to Ji Yixing from behind. It seemed like from the moment he could remember, he was accustomed to watching Ji Yixing’s back. There had never been a shortage of people who admired Ji Yixing, and he was one of the luckier ones—able to follow by his side, watching him rise from an unknown newcomer in the military to the renowned General of the entire star system. Bai Yin had had his fantasies too, but the closer he got, the clearer he saw: General Ji would never belong to anyone. He was born for greater, nobler things. He belonged to the Empire, to the people—but never to any specific individual, no matter who.

General Ji should forever be the bright moon hanging high in the distant sky—how could the moon shine for just one person?

Even if it could, the person most qualified to occupy that position should be him, Bai Yin.

He would never allow some nobody who crawled out of some obscure corner—someone who was still despised across the entire star network just two months ago—to steal all this away.

"Bai Yin, you—"

Bai Yizhou looked at him as if seeing him for the first time. He knew his younger brother had admired Ji Yixing since childhood, but he never imagined Bai Yin’s devotion had reached such an obsessive level.

Irritated, he pushed his hair back and paced in place, deeply regretting not discovering Bai Yin’s feelings sooner.

"Bai Yin, you've crossed a line, you know that? General Ji is a person. He has his own preferences and emotions—he can't live according to your expectations forever. No one but him has the right to dictate what he should be like."

"I know all that, but Yu Xin... his character isn't even proper. He doesn't deserve General Ji's attention..."

"Enough. Stop right there. This ends today." Bai Yizhou’s head was starting to ache. He waved a hand to cut off the still-agitated Bai Yin. "I won't let General Ji know about all this nonsense you said today, but you are not to speak another word against Yu Xin—especially in front of General Ji."

"And," he looked straight into Bai Yin’s eyes, making sure he heard every word clearly, "sort out those excessive thoughts of yours. If you bring personal emotions into work again, I will reassess whether you're still suitable to work beside General Ji."

"Brother, you can't do this! I've been by General Ji's side since graduating university. You can't send me away because of some outsider..."

"I can," Bai Yizhou said coldly. "Bai Yin, remember this: first and foremost, I am Imperial General Ji's attendant. Only after that am I your older brother. To me, General Ji's priorities will always come before yours."

Ji Yixing found Yu Xin’s door using the room number He Chu had provided.

Before knocking, he actually hesitated, unsure what Yu Xin’s reaction would be upon seeing him.

Would he be disappointed? Invited with sincerity only to receive such cold treatment—completely unlike what had been promised. Would he think he was all talk, that he’d tricked him into coming to the base only to neglect him?

Neither outcome was what Ji Yixing wanted, but he had to face it. He knocked on Yu Xin’s door.

A moment later, light footsteps sounded from behind the door. It opened, revealing the face he hadn’t seen in two days.

"Who is it—Brother Ji?"

Yu Xin had likely just showered before answering the door. He still carried a fresh, damp scent, his black hair blown soft and fluffy, making his pale face appear even smaller. At first glance, he almost looked like a high school student who hadn’t yet come of age.

He carried a fragrance familiar to Ji Yixing—the base’s standard-issue shower gel. A long-familiar scent that now felt unusually appealing. When Yu Xin saw him, those usually emotionless eyes widened slightly—

Even more like a cat, Ji Yixing thought.

Yu Xin truly hadn’t expected Ji Yixing to suddenly appear outside his room after two days apart—and in military uniform, no less, as if he’d just returned from some important occasion.

It was the sight of that uniform that made Yu Xin realize his blurted out "Brother Ji" was no longer appropriate. He pressed his post-shower, unusually red lips together and addressed him again as: "General Ji."

"Aren't you going to invite me in?" Ji Yixing stood tall and graceful at his doorway, asking lightly.

"Of course, please come in. It might be a bit messy inside." Yu Xin pulled the door fully open, and Ji Yixing followed him in.

The entire room could be taken in at a glance—kept very tidy by Yu Xin, with no sign of mess anywhere. The "mess" Yu Xin mentioned was probably the clothes he’d changed out of before showering, though even those were neatly draped over the chair back.

Ji Yixing looked around, his gaze returning to Yu Xin: "So, how are you settling in here? Do you need me to find you another place?"

"Hm?" Yu Xin was slightly distracted and didn’t catch what Ji Yixing said, reflexively making a questioning sound.

Ji Yixing found this curious: "Were you just spacing out? That's not like you."

Yu Xin was one of the most focused people he’d ever met, rivaling even the top-ranked snipers in the legion in training.

Yu Xin indeed rarely spaced out. His past experiences had taught him to maintain constant vigilance—after all, anything could happen in the wilderness.

But just now... he was still caught up in the surprise of Ji Yixing’s sudden appearance. Mainly because this was the first time he’d seen Ji Yixing in military uniform.

How to put it... very different from the Ji Yixing in his impression, yet perfectly suited. Yu Xin had seen many people in military uniforms, but Ji Yixing was undoubtedly the best fit.

Coldly dominant, controlling, and aloof—yet deeply captivating.

If Cheng Zikun were here, he definitely wouldn't mistake this version of Ji Yixing for some perverted old man—though he might attract creeps instead...

Yu Xin didn’t realize his gaze had lingered on Ji Yixing a little too long. When teased, he didn’t take offense: "What did you say just now? I really didn't catch it, sorry."

"I said," Ji Yixing paused, then rephrased, "I've decided to move you to another place."

"Why?" Yu Xin asked, genuinely puzzled. Why did everyone seem to dislike this room? "I'm quite comfortable here. There's no need to move."

Ji Yixing could tell Yu Xin wasn’t being polite—he truly thought the place was fine.

He found it somewhat amused: "No particular reason. If there's a better room available, why not take it? Start packing now—I'll help you move later. Consider this your employer's first directive. Be good."

What else could Yu Xin say? Since there was a better option, refusing to move would just be foolish.

But... doesn't the General have his own responsibilities? With such a large base to manage, he actually has time to help him move luggage.

It seems the Empire has indeed been quite peaceful these years...

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Author's note: My apologies, everyone, for being so late with this update.

Tomorrow I'll return to food content, heehee.

Thank you all so much for your support—I'll keep working hard!