Chapter 45: Stay at Du Xun’s / A Long-Planned Love
Just as Shen Zhuo was leisurely preparing to see how this Queen Consort would handle the situation.
He saw Xun Qing struggling to breathe, slowly kneeling on the ground.
His face was agonized, and then he fainted.
Shen Zhuo: “…”
Ai Li: “…”
Ai Li: “Hey, don’t try to pull a stunt like that.”
The medical staff rushed forward, pushing aside the media.
Shen Zhuo crouched in front of Xun Qing, quickly pulling off the key from his chest.
This way he could maintain his own image, without being directly reprimanded.
Later he could make some excuses about his young age, not considering things thoroughly, and so on.
And with Xun Qing’s identity as the Second Prince Consort.
He could actually suppress the public opinion.
“But you underestimated me, Xun Qing.”
He said to the unconscious omega:
“This is only the beginning.”
After everything was over, Shen Zhuo sent a message to Du Xun.
【Later, have Ji Weishen send you home, but he says he has something very important to do, so it might be a bit late.】
【If you’re tired, I can have someone else send you.】
Shen Zhuo replied: 【No need, I can wait.】
He naturally knew what Adjutant Ji’s “very important thing” was.
He quickly messaged his childhood friend: 【Where are you two going to meet?】
【Lizhi: Downstairs in the dorm, why, do you want to come?】
Shen Zhuo didn’t know if this childhood friend of his was just an idiot or what, so he turned off his phone and secretly headed towards the dorm building.
He went up the back stairway to the third-floor corridor.
From the window ledge, he could clearly see Ji Weishen pacing back and forth, biting his lip.
The examinees had already left for the most part.
There was no one passing by the dorm building.
It was obvious that Ji Weishen was very nervous.
The serious and steady demeanor he had at work was long gone.
After waiting for five minutes, he saw Ai Li coming from the other side of the dorm building, carrying something.
It was a… gift box?
When Ai Li arrived, Ji Weishen was clearing his throat, facing the other way.
“Um… I’m here to tell you, I have an alpha I like, I’m planning to pursue him.”
Ai Li was always bold and straightforward:
“This is for you, as an apology…”
When Ji Weishen turned around, his face was flushed, and he coughed a couple of times.
“Sorry, I just zoned out for a moment, could you… repeat that?”
He hadn’t heard clearly.
Just now, he had been lost in thought, ignoring Ai Li’s voice.
Shen Zhuo bit his lip, trying hard not to laugh out loud.
Because when Ai Li saw Ji Weishen’s face.
For a moment.
His pupils dilated.
“You are… Ji Weishen?”
Ai Li discretely pinched himself with his hand behind his back:
“Stinky tofu…?”
Ji Weishen scratched his head: “Yeah.”
The alpha was too shy to look at him, his voice very soft:
“You’re really, even more beautiful than in the photos.”
“Oh right, what were you saying just now? Could you repeat it?”
Ai Li: “…”
Ai Li: “………….”
Damn it!
How can it be the same person?!!
“Ahem, I said I really like you, why don’t we give it a try? This is for you.”
The look of disbelief on Ji Weishen’s face instantly turned to delight.
Happily accepting it, he also took out a small box from his pocket:
“This is for you, I don’t know what you like, so I just picked one I thought was the prettiest from home.”
Ai Li opened it.
Ai Li froze.
Ai Li looked up.
The omega was extremely serious:
“I think you’re my ideal type.”
Shen Zhuo upstairs facepalmed.
Ji Weishen seemed a bit slow, but he had unexpectedly hit all of Ai Li’s sweet spots.
Ai Li’s preferences were similar to those of aristocratic omegas.
What he liked most were sports cars and gemstones.
And the gift Ji Weishen gave him was a pigeon’s blood red ruby, rumored to be worth 30 million at auction.
Shen Zhuo didn’t bother looking further, and sent Du Xun a message:
【Let Adjutant Ji be busy, I can have Xia Dao come pick me up.】
The other side sent back a cartoon “okay” emoticon, followed by an address.
This time Xia Dao came to pick him up by herself, and seeing the headlines, she was excited like a little sparrow.
“I knew my young master is the coolest!”
The car drove on the smooth pine forest road.
A rich aroma of rosemary wafted out from the pine forest, exuding a comforting scent.
Black fences surrounded the vast pine forest, and the neatly trimmed trees on the thousand-meter lawn were like soldiers.
The large European-style manor building was in an arc shape.
In the sunlight, the white jade-colored walls reflected a faint luster.
“It’s even bigger than the General’s residence, young master.”
Xia Dao was stunned.
“Do you want to stay here with me?”
As the car drove into the wide central avenue, all the people in the manor bowed to them.
“I’ll just stay and take care of Grandaunt and the Mistress,” Xia Dao stuck out her tongue playfully.
Xia Dao had been by Shen Zhuo’s side since he was little.
Shen Yuyin and Jiang Yuening treated her like a second daughter.
She was the most outstanding among the battle maids.
Shen Zhuo respected her choice, “Then come in with me to take a look?”
The car stopped at the manor gate, and immediately a group of people lined up to approach.
They were all uniformly dressed in black tailcoats and white gloves.
Leading them was a young man in his twenties, with some silver mixed into the tailcoat color, and a pocket watch hanging on his chest.
“Greetings, Madam, I’m An, the manor butler.”
An bowed deeply, his hand over his heart, very reverently.
Shen Zhuo nodded: “Hello, I’ll leave it to you from here on.”
“Madam is too kind.” An stood up, looking at Xia Dao, “And who is this?”
Shen Zhuo: “The head maid from the General’s residence, Xia Dao.”
The young girl curtsied.
Mysteriously, Shen Zhuo felt those people seemed to stand even straighter.
An’s eyes were smoldering as he looked at Xia Dao.
“Delighted to meet you, please join us for a meal, I’ve instructed the kitchen to prepare according to the Madam’s and this young lady’s tastes.”
Xia Dao obviously didn’t know what they were competing about.
She whispered in Shen Zhuo’s ear:
“The garden here isn’t as nice as the one at home.”
The garden in front of the General’s residence always had seasonal fresh flowers, because Jiang Yuening loved flowers.
An’s ear twitched, and he immediately started introducing:
“This garden uses precious Angelus cedars, so even in summer there is a cool atmosphere.”
Xia Dao gave him a strange look.
Secretly whispering to Shen Zhuo:
“But it’s still not as nice as at home.”
An: “The Master has prepared a greenhouse for the Madam, if you like you can go take a look after the meal.”
Xia Dao: “Young master, they didn’t even put a swing in the garden.”
An: “The Madam can change the layout anytime as you wish.”
Xia Dao: “Young master, these stairs are so wide, why not add some decorations?”
An: “… Does Maid Xia not quite approve of the Commander’s manor?”
Xia Dao tilted her head, quickly waving her hands:
“No, that’s not it, I just think it’s not as nice as the General’s residence.”
An: “… Madam, whatever style you like, the Master said it can be redecorated according to your preferences.”
Shen Zhuo stood on the steps, gazing into the distance.
Everything in the General’s residence was what Shen Yuyin had made for Jiang Yuening.
But this place was a bit different.
Actually, he really liked it here.
Somehow, every inch of it seemed to be designed according to his preferences.
“No need to change anything, I really like it, thank you, Commander.”
Shen Zhuo inclined his head in gratitude.
Lunch was mobilized at the highest level, the people from the Commander’s manor seemed to be competing against something, using all their skills.
Finally, after Shen Zhuo expressed great satisfaction, An again looked at Xia Dao.
“Ah? I’m not in charge of the General’s residence’s cuisine, I don’t have any opinions.”
At Shen Zhuo’s indication, Xia Dao had her meal together with the young man.
The young girl smiled obliviously:
“Thank you, I’m full.”
The well-prepared An, who was ready to deal with criticism, now seemed to be choked, unable to go up or down.
The contest between the highest-ranking manor’s butler and the head maid, with Xia Dao completely unaware, came to an end.
Before leaving, the young girl took out a notebook she always carried and went to the side with An:
“These are the young master’s usual preferences, you can make a note of them.”
An sighed: “Most grateful.”
After recording everything, An realized –
It was almost exactly the same as what the Master had laid out.
After Xia Dao left, Shen Zhuo looked at An: “Can I walk around freely here?”
“Of course, Madam, this is your home.”
An followed behind Shen Zhuo: “If you don’t mind, I can give you an introduction.”
This was Shen Zhuo’s first time setting foot here.
The rosemary scent was not strong, mostly coming from the garden outside the windows.
Indicating that Du Xun hadn’t been living here for long.
“The Master generally lives at the military headquarters, and with the recent rampant insect race, the Master often stays at the headquarters for a month at a time.”
“But everything here, the Master arranged bit by bit when he had free time.”
An’s voice was calm and soothing, making one feel comfortable.
Shen Zhuo remembered the pajamas he had seen in the command post during the simulation battle.
“When did Du Xun start preparing all this?”
An thought for a moment.
“Seven years ago.”
Seven years ago? At that time he was only 11 years old.
He hadn’t even met Du Xun.
Perhaps sensing Shen Zhuo’s puzzlement, An smiled at him:
“The Master has liked you for a long time.”
“Long enough that since I first came here as the butler, I’ve been learning everything related to you.”
“Including your tastes, preferred colors, clothing fabrics and styles, various interests and habits.”
“The Master’s living habits are very simple.”
“And everyone in the manor is here for your arrival.”
An gradually stopped at the end of the first-floor corridor, in front of a two-story tall door.
“This is the armory, you can freely use any item here.”
The exquisite and magnificent bas-relief on the door slowly opened to the sides.
Shen Zhuo had expected to see many paintings and antiques.
But that was not the case.
What he saw were various weapons.
Knives, swords, sticks, whips and other cold weapons, handguns, rifles, sniper rifles, shotguns and other modern weapons, all neatly categorized and displayed on the walls.
The sheer number was dazzling.
Shen Zhuo’s eyes widened slightly.
He walked up to a black knife.
He remembered this knife, forged by a master craftsman.
Able to cut through iron like tofu.
There was only one in the world.
“These are all rare treasures the Master has sought out from around the world.”
Shen Zhuo’s fingertips trembled slightly.
He opened the vibrating phone.
【From: My Alpha】
【I prepared three gifts, you should have seen the first one, right?】
【Do you still like it?】
The young master of the Shen General’s family had been different from other omegas since childhood.
While other omegas loved flowers and jewels.
What he loved most were the ice-cold weapons.
Therefore, he was also talked about behind his back by some snobbish aristocrats, saying that omegas who liked these were freaks.
Of course, Feng Ming was among them.
【I like it, thank you.】
【That’s good. You can like anything you want, and likewise, dislike anything you want.】
【No need to thank me, we don’t need to say such things between us.】
The other side seemed to know what Shen Zhuo was thinking.
Shen Zhuo didn’t know how to describe the warmth welling up in his heart.
Like a disturbance brought by the summer monsoon winds.
Enveloping the scents of pine and rosemary.
In his previous life, he had once been denied and rejected.
But here, there was someone telling him –
Just be yourself.
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