Part 3
Eustace’s eyes were dark. “I’ve already agreed. What else do you want?”
The Head: “Isn’t this for the Herman family? When the position of family head is given to you, in other words, isn’t it for your own sake?”
“You really know how to shift concepts. Since you brought it up, I do remember—didn’t you say you’d hand over half of the management power to me? When do I start? I remember the Herman family doesn’t get involved in military affairs, but we handle more than half of the royal family’s business, right? I’ll take charge of that part first.” Eustace squinted his eyes, taking an interest. He couldn’t go empty-handed; Mr. Bai would surely be happy with this news.
The Head choked. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t give it to you. We need to follow the procedure, and His Highness still needs to be informed. Besides, things haven’t progressed that fast with Mr. Bai; there’s no rush.”
Eustace gave a “tsk-tsk.” “What do you mean there’s no rush? Do you know what I’m about to do?”
The Head: “What?”
Eustace straightened the vermilion robe on his body. “Go to the Ning house to see Mr. Bai and his son. I guess it counts as meeting the junior.”
Others would need to meet the parents, but reportedly Mr. Bai was an orphan and currently only had a six-year-old son.
So meeting the junior was equivalent to a formal meeting.
The Head: “Are you serious?”
Eustace mimicked Ning Yunyi’s tone perfectly: “Otherwise?”
Ning Yunyi originally thought that since Eustace was so impatient, he would surely arrive within an hour.
As it turned out, there was still no sign of him after two hours.
Before Eustace arrived, Clyde’s message came first.
[!!!]
[Holy crap, are you for real? You didn’t really fall in love with Eustace at first sight, get smitten at second, and want to marry him at third, did you?]
[I’m impressed!! I was joking last time. May you… have a centenary union!]
Ning Yunyi was completely confused. “??” What on earth?
That was just the beginning; soon, Ichi’s message arrived as well.
At the same time, there were countless IDs requesting to be added to his contact list, all from the same person.
[ID Zong requests to add you as a contact (12)]
In the blink of an eye, it became 15.
Ning Yunyi opened Ichi’s message; it was just a single question mark.
Before Ning Yunyi could ask, a trending topic on the Star Network popped up.
[Shocking! Is the Young Head of the Herman family, one of the three major noble families on the Capital Star, about to get engaged? Is he the fiancé? Is the fiancé also a widower with a kid?]
Ning Yunyi was choked by the words “widower with a kid.” This title couldn’t possibly refer to him, could it?
He was getting engaged, and he didn’t even know it himself?
Eustace probably got the news too and sent over a guilty expression.
[One good news and one bad news.]
[The bad news is the old man knew I was going to the Ning house to see your son and made a huge announcement about it.]
[The good news is that I used this excuse to get the management rights for most of the palace business controlled by the Herman family, which means I can enter the palace at any time (and can bring you in with me).]
[So, my dear fiancé, should I… still be able to eat my Braised Pork, Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs, and Big Plate Chicken?]
Ning Yunyi squinted at the good news. It had to be said that this was indeed good news.
If Marshal Zong wanted to enter the palace, especially if he did so frequently, the Crown Prince would be suspicious.
But when Eustace entered the palace for the Herman family’s sake, the Crown Prince, wanting to test him, wouldn’t be overly suspicious.
After all, Eustace’s public image could never be associated with the Shifter Alliance.
[Bai Yanyu: You can eat. This matter has its merits.]
[Eustace: Got it. Be there in ten minutes.]
Ning Yunyi was in a good mood. He had been worried about how to get in touch with His Majesty. To make the Prince and His Majesty fight each other, he first had to make His Majesty wake up.
But they couldn’t enter the palace, so naturally, they had no way to get in touch.
Now, however, it was different.
He exited the app and suddenly saw the add requests had become 25. He was so angry he laughed.
Ning Yunyi directly accepted.
A message was sent from the other side instantly.
[Zong: Are you really going to get engaged to Eustace? Why?]
[Bai Yanyu: Why wouldn’t I? The Prince wants the Herman family to win me over. I’m too lazy to deal with the Prince, and Eustace is on my side. A strong-strong alliance is a permanent solution.]
The other side finally quieted down. Just as Ning Yunyi thought the other had given up, a sentence suddenly came through.
[Zong: I’ll do a fake engagement with you.]
[Bai Yanyu: ??]
Is there something wrong with him? At this juncture, two people under suspicion getting engaged? Besides, why should I get engaged to him?
[Zong: We will share all of each other’s secrets, keep each other in check, and never betray one another. Also, I could sacrifice myself at any time. Once I fall in battle, all the honors and the entire Zong family’s inheritance will go to you and the cub.]
Ning Yunyi had already gotten up to meet Eustace. Suddenly seeing the word “sacrifice,” his brow furrowed deeply.
He took a deep breath before he refrained from replying immediately. He stared at the screen with a frown and finally just turned off his bracelet and strode out.
He had never seen someone curse themselves to death like that.
Had he known, he wouldn’t have accepted the request.
Ning Yunyi went down from the study. Ning Xiaomiao, clutching his silk ball, came hopping and skipping over to hug his leg. “Father.”
Ning Yunyi picked him up. “Want to go see someone with Father later, okay?”
Ning Xiaomiao tilted his head. “Who?”
“Just an uncle coming for a meal.” Ning Yunyi planned to explain later that he and Eustace were only acting out an engagement and wouldn’t really get married, so the little guy and Eustace wouldn’t be spending much time together.
Hearing this, Ning Xiaomiao wasn’t worried anymore and nodded obediently. “Okay.” Then he thought for a moment. “Father, when is the Big Cat coming back?”
Ning Yunyi stroked his head. “Are you bored because you have no one to play with?”
Ning Xiaomiao did miss him. He used to see the Big Cat all the time, and now that he was suddenly gone, he felt empty inside.
But he didn’t know how to express these feelings, so he just gave a nod.
Ning Yunyi didn’t answer, thinking he would wait to see if Eustace had found any shifter cats. If they found one, the little guy would have a playmate.
Furthermore, even if this matter didn’t exist, as Marshal Zong, the Big Cat couldn’t keep playing with the little guy forever.
He was supposed to leave from the beginning anyway.
When Eustace arrived, only Ning Yunyi, Mother Ning, and Ning Xiaomiao were at home.
It wasn’t convenient for Mother Ning to show her face, so she stayed in the glass flower room in the attic.
Ning Yunyi went to the front yard alone to receive Eustace.
A butler accompanied Eustace. Seeing Mr. Bai, he immediately moved all the gifts into the mansion, then asked hesitantly, “Should we bring them inside?”
Ning Yunyi shook his head. “No need. This is considered the Ning house; I’m only staying here temporarily, so it’s not convenient to let outsiders in.”
The butler was very respectful toward this future other master. “Yes, yes, Mr. Bai is right.”
Ning Yunyi led Eustace into the small building behind the Ning house.
He and Eustace carried the gifts in together.
Eustace uncomfortably straightened his clothes. “The old man insisted I wear this; I’m only doing it for the sake of the management rights. But he sure is generous; more than half of the gifts are for your son. Never mind if the things are good or not, but they’re expensive.”
Ning Yunyi: “I can see that. After all, a single fleece was fifty million star coins, so he is indeed quite generous.”
The Herman family worked for the royal family. Since he could be this generous, it seemed the assets in the palace’s hands were definitely not a small amount.
Now that they were in the Prince’s control, if they weren’t resolved soon, it would be a major hidden danger sooner or later.
Eustace hadn’t thought much of it at first, but with the Family Head making such a big deal, it felt like he was really coming to meet the family. “Is your son easy to get along with? He doesn’t already know about our relationship, does he?”
Recommended Reads
thank you for the chapter!