Chapter 89: Who Was Abandoned?
Yan Gui Xing watched the young couple nestled together happily, then looked at Wen Si’erte and Qi Nian, who were standing side-by-side, clearly exceeding the bounds of normal social distance, displaying a special relationship.
Fine, out of five people, he was the only one alone. Who else was he going to be jealous of?
Jealousy twisted Yan Gui Xing’s features, but he forced a smile.
He didn’t bother beating around the bush with Desimo, getting straight to the point: “General Desimo, actually, I came to ask for your help.”
Surprise flickered in Desimo’s emerald eyes. He and Yan Gui Xing had become generals in the same year, and he had a certain understanding of this colleague with the striking features.
Although his actions were often flamboyant and reckless, he was extremely capable, and the word “request” rarely left his lips.
To be honest, Desimo was quite curious about what Yan Gui Xing wanted.
Noticing people nearby hadn’t left yet and were curiously looking at them, Desimo suppressed his curiosity and suggested, “This isn’t the place to talk. General Yan, do you enjoy drinking? My brother has a few good bottles; perhaps we could go and sample them?”
The “brother” Desimo referred to was Qi Nian, Qi Chu’s twin brother, and the place was Qi Nian’s private club.
Yan Gui Xing also didn’t like discussing private matters in public and had intended to suggest finding a place to sit down and talk.
However, his assets in the Capital Star were originally under the Yan name. After wresting them from Yan Wangbei’s control, he’d largely replaced management, but hadn’t paid much attention to the subsequent management.
For Yan Gui Xing, those assets were merely machines that generated star credits; he didn’t trust them.
Regarding his broken engagement with the Mi family, Yan Wangbei had somehow gotten wind of it and called him via video to inquire.
Upon learning it was true and that the date was being discussed, Yan Wangbei strongly opposed it. He bombarded Yan Gui Xing with video calls, morning, noon, evening, afternoon tea, and supper, urging him not to break off the engagement.
Yan Wangbei had his own logic: arranged marriages were simply a matter of each family getting what they needed. After the wedding, everyone went their own way—that’s how it worked.
Yan Gui Xing simply replied, “I won’t be as disgusting as you,” and hung up. After that, he ignored all communications from the Yan family.
Unwilling to lose the Mi family alliance, Yan Wangbei, realizing he couldn’t reason with Yan Gui Xing, directly visited Minister Mi. After repeated persuasion, he only received the reply, “Let the children decide.”
Yan Wangbei was like an ant on a hot plate, frantically worried. He firmly believed Yan Gui Xing wouldn’t break off the engagement without a significant reason. He wanted to find that reason and resolve it before the engagement was officially broken.
As a victim of Yan Wangbei’s numerous past offenses, Yan Gui Xing naturally wouldn’t let Yan Wangbei know his weakness.
Therefore, those Yan family assets, which might already have Yan Wangbei’s people embedded within them, weren’t even considered.
Desimo’s offer of a location was perfect.
Seated at one side of a light-colored wooden table, Yan Gui Xing recounted his love story with Mu Mu, carefully selecting the sweetest parts to share with the other four at the table.
After showering the two couples with sweetness, he finally stated his request.
“Naturally, I won’t ask for General Desimo’s help for nothing,” Yan Gui Xing said earnestly, clutching his square-mouthed wine glass. “I have accurate information about the next quarter’s weapon upgrades. At the weapons and equipment meeting, I can cede ten A+ mechs to your legion.”
Desimo, having just been force-fed a mouthful of dog food and still processing Yan Gui Xing’s sickeningly sweet love story, had his narrative unexpectedly shift to tragedy.
Before he could even consider helping Yan Gui Xing find someone, he was offered such a tempting bait. Honestly, Desimo was quite tempted by Yan Gui Xing’s offer.
Each quarter, the military allocated weapons to the five legions, holding a weapons and equipment meeting to distribute the next quarter’s allocations.
Besides the fixed quota of weapons and mechs, there were always leftover units.
These leftovers were up for grabs by the legion commanders—through personal charm, eloquent arguments, or outright grabbing—whatever worked.
Having experienced numerous weapons and equipment meetings, each time arguing until hoarse and furious with the other generals, Desimo didn’t understand the point of this outdated military tradition.
Why not just divide the weapons and mechs equally? Why make them waste so much time arguing?
However, if they did divide everything equally, Desimo, who usually secured first or second place, might miss the old system.
Now, Yan Gui Xing, his strongest competitor, was voluntarily relinquishing ten A+ mechs, saving him considerable effort.
Sitting with his back to the light, a dark glint flashed in Desimo’s eyes. He deliberately avoided answering, instead turning to a topic that interested his lover.
“I recall General Yan recently had an arranged marriage with the daughter of Minister Mi. Now you’re asking me to help you find a lover. General Yan, who did you abandon?”
The smile on Yan Gui Xing’s lips faltered. He hadn’t expected Desimo to mention Mi Ya at this moment, his mood darkening instantly.
His eyes, a deep and a light shade of green, met Desimo’s emerald gaze. The two pairs of green eyes locked in a silent stare, the atmosphere in the room growing heavy.
Yan Gui Xing mentally cursed Desimo’s ancestors. If he couldn’t see that Desimo was doing this on purpose, he might as well retire.
But since he needed Desimo’s help, he had to swallow his pride, even if the conditions were unreasonable.
It was just weapons; new or old, they were all the same.
“I can add twenty B-class mechs, fifty quantum cannons, and two hundred laser guns,” Yan Gui Xing added. “If there’s a shortage, I’ll use my legion’s equipment.”
The military didn’t prohibit legions from borrowing weapons from each other privately, even though the military didn’t lack weapons or mechs for the five legions.
However, due to production cycles, quantities, the Capital Star’s own weapon reserves, the distance between the military and the various planets’ weapon deployments, and other objective factors, the military might not be able to supply weapons when a legion urgently needed them.
At such times, the legions needed to help each other.
Whether it was a loan or a gift was up to the legions; the military generally didn’t interfere, only promptly replenishing weapons for legions with depleted stockpiles.
Desimo knew Yan Gui Xing’s offer was quite generous.
Finding someone was troublesome, but the other party had provided the exact planet; he only needed to provide personnel and open the necessary access.
This was a win-win situation for him; Yan Gui Xing was the one making a significant sacrifice.
Desimo and Adjutant Wen Si’erte exchanged a glance, a faint smile on Desimo’s lips as he nodded, asking, “General Yan, are you certain the person you’re looking for is on Planet D5?”
Yan Gui Xing knew Desimo had agreed, cursing inwardly at the cunning fox. He retrieved the passenger manifest from his datapad, handing it to Desimo. “Certain. His name is on the passenger list, and I saw him board the ship on surveillance.”
Desimo, Qi Chu, and Wen Si’erte huddled together to examine the passenger list, while Qi Nian, wearing thin-rimmed glasses, calmly sipped his coffee.
Noticing Yan Gui Xing’s gaze, Qi Nian looked up, his eyes calmly meeting those of the striking and imposing general.
After a moment, Qi Nian calmly asked the question on everyone else’s mind.
“General Yan, the date on this passenger manifest is over half a month ago. How can you be certain your lover didn’t leave from here for another planet?”
Yan Gui Xing fell silent, his anxiety stemming from this uncertainty over the past half-month. He hesitated, “Planet D5 is his hometown; he shouldn’t leave easily.”
Qi Nian sighed lightly, continuing, “General Yan, I think you’ve overlooked a crucial point.”
Yan Gui Xing’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you think I’ve overlooked, Mr. Qi?”
Qi Nian said, “You said he left because he saw your engagement to Mi Ya, and you said things that hurt him for the sake of the greater good.”
“In other words, he doesn’t know your relationship with Mi Ya is purely a business arrangement, devoid of any feelings.”
“That’s the key. Even if you find him now, you’re still engaged to Mi Ya, so he still won’t forgive you.”
Yan Gui Xing quickly said, “I’ve arranged with the Mi family to dissolve the engagement soon.”
Qi Nian followed up, “Publicly, or privately?”
Yan Gui Xing’s brow tightened, averting his gaze, murmuring, “Privately.”
Qi Chu chimed in, shaking his head with an air of worldly wisdom. “Not enough sincerity. Your engagement was a huge spectacle; if only a few people know about the annulment, how will that work?!”
“If it were me, I’d definitely think you still have feelings for Mi Ya, and I absolutely wouldn’t forgive you!”
Yan Gui Xing looked at Qi Chu’s face with a dazed expression; perhaps because of their similarly bright eyes, he felt like he was seeing Mu Mu’s face.
“Wouldn’t they really forgive me?” Yan Gui Xing’s voice was low, unsure if he was asking Qi Chu or Mu Mu.
Qi Chu took it as a question directed at himself, nodding emphatically, “Absolutely not! Unless everyone knows you’ve annulled the engagement and why!”
Desimo and Qi Nian winced at Qi Chu’s impulsive advice. Qi Chu was naive and didn’t understand the intricacies, but they did.
While they didn’t approve of using arranged marriages to win elections, it wasn’t their concern or something they could interfere with.
Qi Nian and Desimo covered their mouths, apologizing.
“Sorry, General Yan, don’t listen to his nonsense,” Desimo said with a forced smile, shielding his lover, fearing Yan Gui Xing’s unpredictable temper.
“Don’t worry, I’ll have Wen Si’erte assist you in finding him. As long as your lover is on Planet D5 or any planet within my star sector, I’ll find him.”
【Author’s Note】: Desimo, transformed from a haughty client to a humble contractor.
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