Chapter 5: The Xiongchong Protection Association
“Yes.”
A ripple appeared in the depths of Fei’s eyes. In the single day they had spent together, he didn’t know how many times the Xiongchong had told him to stand up.
Jiang Xu didn’t care what the other was thinking; he just needed to make himself comfortable. He toyed with the nutrient solution for a while. It was something contained in transparent glass—an earthy grey, semi-liquid substance.
“You usually eat this?” Jiang Xu put it back on the table. It didn’t look like anything tasty at all. In fact…
Ugh, he shouldn’t let his imagination run wild. He looked at the food in front of him and lost his appetite entirely. He casually pushed the plate toward Fei. “Eat it.”
“I cannot, Xiongzhu. This is food specially for Xiongchong.” Fei’s legs remained slightly bent as he remembered something. He didn’t kneel, instead remaining standing by the table as he spoke.
Hearing this, Jiang Xu looked at the alarmingly green vegetable platter on the table. Were all Xiongchong herbivores? Were these bugs a bit too pitiful?
“If I tell you to eat, eat. Don’t talk nonsense.” Jiang Xu stood up, picked up the newspaper, and tossed it toward the other side of the table. “Read this to me after you finish eating.”
He turned and went to sit on the sofa, aimlessly studying the “children’s phone” on his wrist. He was truly experiencing what it was like to be “open-eyed blind.”
Fortunately, he could still guess meanings from pictures. The icons displayed when he answered the phone yesterday weren’t much different from those used in human society. He tapped the screen, and a holographic projection appeared out of thin air above the watch face. It looked quite like something from a sci-fi movie.
Jiang Xu spotted an icon that looked like a monitor and tapped it tentatively. The holographic screen changed, and a page resembling a web search popped up. So it really was. His interest was piqued, and he spent some time playing with it by clicking around and guessing.
He didn’t close the communicator until Fei had finished the food and come to stand by his side.
“Xiongzhu, which section would you like to hear?”
Jiang Xu propped his chin on his hand and looked up slightly at him. “Sit over there.” He tilted his chin toward the opposite sofa. Only after the other sat down did he say, “Just the content on the first page will do.”
“Yes.” Fei unfolded the newspaper and began to read.
The newspapers he subscribed to were almost all related to military affairs. While reading, he quietly stole several glances at the other party. He thought the man would find it boring and interrupt him. Instead, the man seemed to be listening with great interest.
Ding-dong~
“Honorable Excellency Jiang Xu, we are from the Xiongchong Protection Association. May I ask if you are at home?”
An unfamiliar male voice came from outside the door. Jiang Xu frowned at the front door but didn’t respond. Inside, Fei stopped reading and stood up the moment he heard the visitors’ identity.
He looked at Jiang Xu. “Xiongzhu…”
Ding-dong~
Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the doorbell again. Then, the bug outside repeated the same greeting. Seeing that Jiang Xu had no intention of responding, Fei reminded him, “Xiongzhu, it’s the bugs from the Xiongchong Protection Association.”
Jiang Xu turned to look at him and signaled for him to continue.
“They are likely here today to ask you about…” Fei paused for two seconds before continuing, “…the situation during your first half-month of marriage.”
“What situation?” Jiang Xu looked at him, his eyes full of confusion.
Fei was stunned. This was something every bug went through, including the high-and-mighty Marshals with great military merits. Therefore, it was practically common knowledge among the Zerg.
He had thought the man was teasing him, but the confusion in his eyes was genuine, not faked. The knocking at the door sounded again. Fei turned to look at the front door, then quickly turned back to address the confusion in Jiang Xu’s eyes.
He explained, “It is about your evaluation of me over these past few days, and whether I have done anything that goes against the interests of the Xiongchong.”
Jiang Xu thought these bugs were quite meddlesome, but since it was their marriage procedure, he should follow it.
Outside, Michelle’s expression soured as he turned to ask his subordinate, “Are you sure Excellency Jiang Xu is at home?”
“Yes, Major General Michelle. Our bugs reported seeing Excellency Jiang Xu enter this house yesterday.” The subordinate behind him hurriedly stepped forward to answer, fearing he might accidentally offend his superior.
Michelle hissed, “He better be.”
He turned back to continue knocking, but his hand hit empty air. The door was opened from the inside, and Fei Walker’s face appeared before the two bugs.
“Major General Fei, since you are at home, opening the door so late is a sign of negligence and laziness. This is a dereliction of your duty as a Cishi.”
Michelle wanted to say more, but Jiang Xu’s voice rang out from inside.
“Oh? Whose dereliction of duty are we talking about?” Jiang Xu looked calmly at the bugs standing at the door, sizing them up.
“Oh my, honorable Excellency Jiang Xu, so you are at home.” Michelle looked inside toward the source of the voice and saw the Xiongchong sitting lazily on the sofa.
He was elegant and captivating, yet he radiated a faint sense of coldness that kept bugs at a distance. Although Jiang Xu wasn’t a traditionally handsome Xiongchong, his type was still one many Cichong were infatuated with. This type of Xiongchong was particularly popular among Junci.
Jiang Xu raised his eyes and looked at him emotionlessly, offering no reply.
Michelle didn’t mind being given the cold shoulder. He glanced at the newspaper on the coffee table and said with a flattering smile:
“Were you just reading the news, Excellency? Are you also interested in military and political affairs? We have many such materials. If you like, I can have a subordinate send some over.”
As the only Level-A Xiongchong of the Jiang family, he was worth every bug’s flattery. He stole a glance at Fei, who was standing nearby, wondering what kind of luck this Junci had to marry such a Xiongchong.
Jiang Xu didn’t pick up his topic. “If there’s something, say it.”
“Ah, you see,” Michelle said with cautious flattery, “hasn’t it been half a month since your marriage to Major General Fei? We are here today for a follow-up visit.”
He stopped after speaking, but when no answer came from Jiang Xu, the smile on his face stiffened slightly. However, he quickly regained his composure and turned to look at the subordinate behind him.
“Give me the materials.”
Taking the investigation receipt handed over by his subordinate, he picked up a pen and offered the materials to Jiang Xu. “Would Excellency please sign this document?”
“…” The illiterate Jiang Xu didn’t show it on his face, but he was feeling extremely awkward inside.
Seeing Jiang Xu didn’t move, Fei stepped forward and took the document to break the stalemate in the room. Jiang Xu noted Fei’s action and thought this bug knew how to handle things. He turned to Michelle and said, “Come and collect it in a few days.”
Michelle was stunned and said with some hesitation, “Excellency Jiang Xu, we need to take this document back today.”
“Hmm?” The natural coldness in Jiang Xu’s aura began to spread.
Michelle clearly noticed the other’s displeasure. To avoid offending the Xiongchong before him, he had no choice but to compromise. “Then, we will come to collect these materials in a few days. However, Excellency, in addition to that, there is an investigation report that needs your cooperation to answer.”
He took another investigation report from the bag his subordinate was holding and said with a flattering smile: “I must trouble you to cooperate. It’s only a few questions. I’ll just record the answers here.”
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