Chapter 8: Meeting Bernd Again
A few minutes later.
Jiang Xu looked at the shadow looming over his newspaper and raised his head in confusion. “Is there something else?”
“N-no, nothing.” For no apparent reason, Fei began to stutter. Looking flustered, he clutched the signed document and fled the second floor as if he were escaping a fire.
Once back in his own bedroom, he flipped through the document several times, his fingers tracing over Jiang Xu’s signature.
Only now did a sense of reality finally sink in.
He really could return to his post.
He stood up and changed into his combat uniform. He couldn’t wait another second; he wanted to submit this paperwork immediately.
The heart that had been hanging in suspense for days finally settled.
Soon after, Jiang Xu, who was still reading the paper, was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fei, now dressed in a sharp, form-fitting outfit.
Unlike the domestic loungewear from before, he now carried an aura of piercing sharpness—cold, elegant, and refined.
It suits him quite well, Jiang Xu thought to himself.
The other bug seemed to be in a great hurry. He paused just as he reached the door, seemingly remembering there was someone else in the house.
Jiang Xu watched as Fei walked toward him. His pace was no longer as frantic as before, becoming much more steady and composed.
“Xiongzhu.”
Fei stopped about ten feet away from Jiang Xu.
Jiang Xu arched an eyebrow. Seeing the three-meter gap between them, he wondered if the man was afraid he would regret his decision and snatch the document back.
“Mm.” A trace of a smile colored his voice.
It was faint and subtle.
Yet, Fei still caught it. His face flushed red for no reason; his little schemes had been seen through.
Having received an affirmative answer, Fei didn’t linger for a moment. He turned and walked out the door.
Jiang Xu watched the door close before finally setting down the newspaper.
Since the other had gone to the military district, perhaps he should take this opportunity to go out and look around.
After all, he had been cooped up in this house for several days. His entire understanding of the outside world came from books and the internet; it didn’t feel real at all.
With that thought, he didn’t hesitate to change his clothes and head out.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw a neighbor looking at him in horror.
“You… you… who are you?” The neighbor looked around the vicinity. “How could you come out of Major General Fei’s house?”
His expression shifted as if he had thought of something scandalous, looking at Jiang Xu with dread: A bed-climber?
Major General Fei had only just left, so how could a Cichong have already crawled into his Xiongzhu’s bed?
At this thought, the neighbor’s brow furrowed further, feeling a wave of pity for Major General Fei.
“……..” Jiang Xu was speechless. He didn’t know what kind of mental drama the other was concocting, but it certainly wasn’t anything good. Seeing the neighbor’s rapidly shifting expressions, he felt quite exasperated.
“I am the head of this household.” Technically, that was true, though Jiang Xu felt a bit guilty saying it, considering the house had been forcibly transferred into his name.
“Pah, shameless.” Cole sized up the bug across from him. Although he was bundled up tightly, those eyes were the very definition of a “seductress.”
He was even wearing Major General Fei’s clothes. Did he think Cole wouldn’t notice?
“……..” Jiang Xu was at a loss for words. How exactly was he being shameless?
He couldn’t be bothered to argue and started walking toward the more bustling area.
However, the other was full of self-righteousness: “Little hussy, nothing but a bed-climbing skill. What? Guilt-stricken now that you’re caught?”
The voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for the nearby bugs to hear everything.
Jiang Xu endured the pointing and whispering with weary patience, but he found it beneath him to bicker with these bugs.
Only when the gossiping voices finally faded did he stop his pace.
The area he was in now was crowded; it seemed to be a bustling market hub where locals gathered.
The further in he went, the more bugs there were, and the variety of goods being hawked increased.
There were quite a few interesting trinkets.
It wasn’t much different from a human street.
He looked around, hesitating over which shop to enter, when a spherical flying vehicle pulled up beside him.
This was the first time Jiang Xu had seen a flyer up close. It truly flew in the air, yet it had no propellers or wings. It was quite magical.
The flyer’s door opened, and a bug’s head suddenly popped out to look at Jiang Xu.
Upon seeing Jiang Xu’s eyes, the bug laughed and greeted him enthusiastically: “I knew that silhouette looked like you! I didn’t expect it to actually be you, Young Master Jiang.”
I’ve run into a ghost, was Jiang Xu’s first reaction upon seeing the other’s face.
“Bernd,” Jiang Xu responded expressionlessly.
“Yo, yo, yo, it’s been so many days and you haven’t contacted me. What’s the matter—did you finally have your fill of fun today?” As he spoke, he turned his head to look behind Jiang Xu, not seeing the bug he expected.
“You came out alone? Where’s your Cishi?”
“……..” Noisy. Jiang Xu felt a headache coming on. He ignored the question and asked directly, “Is something the matter?”
“Nothing much.” Bernd looked a bit disappointed at not seeing Fei, but then an idea struck him. “Young Master Jiang, does our bet still stand?”
“……..” Now he wasn’t just noisy; he was annoying. “It stands.”
Jiang Xu didn’t know what bet the other was talking about, but from the look of things, it wasn’t something he could easily back out of.
“As long as it stands.” Bernd straightened up and stepped out of the flyer. “Where’s your flyer?”
He suddenly realized the other really had walked here. “Wait, you walked?”
He remembered that the housing provided for military soldiers wasn’t far, but it was still a twenty to thirty-minute walk.
To a Xiongchong, that was practically an insurmountable distance.
Jiang Xu said nothing, just looking at him, unsure of why the other was so shocked.
Bernd frowned. This shouldn’t be right—could this bug have learned to endure hardship after getting married?
“I’ve been lying down for a few days, so I’m taking a stroll for some exercise,” Jiang Xu made up a random excuse.
Bernd had a sudden realization, his face breaking into a suggestive grin. “So that’s it. Was he that vigorous? A whole week… I didn’t expect Major General Fei to be so… wild.”
Jiang Xu had had enough. He couldn’t be bothered to deal with him and headed straight for the shopping mall behind them.
Once again, he cursed the original owner—what kind of friends did he keep?
“Hey, where are you going?” Bernd grabbed Jiang Xu’s arm. “Our bet. We’re going right now.”
Jiang Xu glanced sideways at the hand on his arm and gave Bernd a cold, sweeping look.
The other retracted his hand as if he’d been electrocuted, stammering, “What’s wrong with a little touch? It’s not like I’m going to do anything to you.”
Bernd felt as though he’d been frosted over. Why had he become even colder after not seeing him for a few days?
“Let’s go.” What must come would eventually come. Jiang Xu asked, “How are we getting there?”
“In my flyer, of course.” Speaking of this, Bernd tilted his chin up boastfully. “Let me introduce you to my new ride, the M1. Limited edition, planet-wide.”
He walked beside Jiang Xu, his face full of anticipation for an envious look.
However, the other’s expression remained as calm as ever. Bernd asked insistently, “Well, what do you think?”
“As long as you like it.” Jiang Xu had zero interest in such things.
Right now, he was more interested in finding out what exactly the bet between them was.
He followed Bernd and boarded the flyer.
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