The Li family was an old, great aristocratic house on par with the Wang family. The difference was that, unlike the Wang family head, who stayed in the Imperial Capital Star Ring year-round, the Li family head, Li Zhichang, often led the Third Legion and was frequently stationed on other planets, rarely showing his face.
Being able to see him here today surprised Yan Qiongyu somewhat.
In the past, Yan Qiongyu, who spent the vast majority of his time confined within the Omega Academy, had only ever seen Li Zhichang in various recorded images. This was the first time he had seen the real person.
The real person’s aura was sharper, as if he still carried the gunpowder smoke of the battlefield on him, making it obvious at a glance that this was a formidable Alpha.
The Li family head was not quite the same kind of person as the Wang family head. The only similarity was probably that both were rather unfortunate when it came to children.
The Wang family head could not produce children with good aptitude, while the Li family head simply could not produce children at all.
Those young masters and young ladies who mingled in aristocratic circles under the Li family’s name were all adopted sons and daughters with no blood relation to the Li family head. Most had been brought back from the battlefield by him, or were children he raised on behalf of fallen subordinates.
These adopted sons and daughters also fought openly and secretly among themselves, stirring things into a complete mess. In aristocratic circles, there were no fewer people watching the Li family’s drama than those watching the Wang family’s.
For example, that smoked-sausage-scented Alpha, Li Kewen, whom Wang Luan had encountered at Seventh Imperial Princess Qingzhao’s banquet last time, was one of the Li family head’s adopted sons.
If not for this, Yan Qiongyu would have already thought of a way to stir up a blood-drawing “accident” on the spot, taking the opportunity to obtain Li Kewen’s blood or hair or skin tissue, and compare their genes to see whether they were related by blood.
It was only because Li Zhichang had no biological children that he could only try to find a way through this person.
But a figure like Li Zhichang was not easy to deal with. Even if he met him now, trying to obtain his genetic sample without alerting him was basically impossible.
Just like now—Li Zhichang’s gaze toward him looked ordinary on the surface, and his tone was fairly gentle, but Yan Qiongyu could keenly sense Li Zhichang’s mental state: scrutiny and rejection directed at him.
This was absolutely not a friendly display. Under the coverage of his mental power, Yan Qiongyu could not reveal even the slightest abnormal expression, maintaining his usual harmless exterior.
Of course, Li Zhichang’s attitude could also indirectly confirm certain information. For him to show such an attitude toward a stranger Omega he had never met and, by rights, should not know, meant that he knew his identity.
Before he had done anything at all, any negative emotions Li Zhichang had toward him should all originate from his biological mother, Yan Mu.
This Li family head most likely disliked Yan Mu, but that could not rule out the possibility that he was his biological father.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Li Zhichang suddenly said, “I just stopped by to say a few words to you. It’s about time I headed back.”
The Wang family head had no intention of keeping him for the family banquet, and their relationship was not at that level anyway, so he politely replied, “You’re busy with affairs, I won’t detain you any longer. I already know about the matter—thank you for coming to inform me. We can chat again another time when there’s an opportunity.”
As he spoke, he very considerately moved to see him off.
Wang Luan kept an eye on Yan Qiongyu beside her, waiting for him to speak, but Li Zhichang had already taken big strides to the doorway and was about to disappear, and she still hadn’t heard Yan Qiongyu make a sound.
He actually didn’t stir up any trouble—could it be that he had just come over to listen to them exchange a few lines of nonsense?
At this moment, she saw Yan Qiongyu, who had looked obedient just now, tilt his head and follow Li Zhichang’s retreating back with a glance. That look in his eyes… Wang Luan couldn’t quite put it into words, but she couldn’t help feeling a chill creep up her spine.
Yan Qiongyu quickly withdrew his gaze as if nothing had happened, his tone carrying a hint of amazement. “Ah, so that’s the famous commander of the Third Legion. He looks really impressive.”
In that brief moment earlier, many methods had flashed through his mind—taking wine from a servant’s hands to toast Li Zhichang, or pretending to admire him and saying a few more words to find a chance to get close—but in the end, he rejected them all.
No, doing anything now would be far too hasty and would be seen as suspicious. Once he attracted the attention of someone like Li Zhichang too early, those little secrets of his would not be able to stay hidden, and that would not do. He had not yet completed his objective; he could not be discovered so early.
Better to wait for next time. There would always be opportunities. Yan Qiongyu thought with regret, and with a hint of pleasure.
After all, this was only just the beginning.
Wang Luan looked suspiciously at the smile on his face, thinking to herself that this person couldn’t possibly have come here to chase a star, right?
ততততততততততত
After most of the guests had left, the family banquet began. Several of the Wang family head’s illegitimate children whom they had seen earlier at the banquet were present, but their seats were almost all at the very end, separated from Wang Luan by a long distance.
There were quite a lot of people from the Wang family’s collateral branches. The Wang family head and his plastic relatives went back and forth drinking and chatting, performing family harmony, as if none of them had ever tripped each other up or struck ruthless blows behind the scenes.
Yan Qiongyu was like an information collector—any kind of information could be captured by him. Just from a single family banquet, he could already see the undercurrents surging within the Wang family.
Wang Luan was the complete opposite. She was like an information jammer; unless it was necessary, she would consciously block out all external information. She didn’t take in a single word of those relatives’ scheming talk, only thinking about finishing the meal early so everyone could disperse early.
The banquet ended in a fairly calm manner.
Wang Luan returned to her room, exhausted and wanting to relax properly. When she saw Yan Qiongyu follow her into the room, and then saw the many unfamiliar daily necessities that had appeared in her room, she had a not-so-good premonition.
“We’ve just gotten engaged. Omega Academy students get three days of engagement leave. In order to properly cultivate our feelings, I’ll have to live with you for these three days,” Yan Qiongyu said to Wang Luan with a smile.
It went without saying that this was the Wang family head’s arrangement. He was so anxious that he wished the two of them could produce a child on the spot.
As a tool person under others’ control and manipulation, Wang Luan knew very well that she could not resist. But upon being notified that she had to continue operating nonstop, she still couldn’t help letting out a final cry: “Can you go sleep next door?”
“Of course I’m willing to. After all, I also hope Miss Wang Luan can be happier. Unfortunately,” Yan Qiongyu said with sincere regret in his tone, “this isn’t something I can decide.”
Watching him pace around the room, looking relaxed and at ease, Wang Luan couldn’t see where his regret was at all. She only felt that this person’s mentality was absurdly steady.
“But being forced to live with me like this, don’t you feel… uncomfortable?” Wang Luan asked.
“Haha.” Yan Qiongyu gave a fake laugh. “I trust Miss Wang Luan very much.”
By habit, after confirming that there were no surveillance devices in Wang Luan’s room, Yan Qiongyu was satisfied.
To him, it made no difference where he lived. He entered the walk-in closet and saw that clothes clearly suitable for him were already hung to one side, and some of his daily necessities had also been set out.
“If Miss Wang Luan doesn’t mind, may I take a shower first?” Yan Qiongyu asked as he took out some clothes. Knowing he was on someone else’s territory, he was quite polite.
What else could Wang Luan do—stop him and not let him shower?
Yan Qiongyu went into the bathroom. Wang Luan paced around the room for a moment, and in the end decided that it was better to go out.
She opened the door. The male servant standing outside asked, “Miss Luan, do you need anything?”
“No.” Wang Luan passed by him and went straight into her own studio.
There was also a studio in this small building that the original owner had used to make mecha models. She had already reorganized it, adding many newly purchased materials of all kinds.
Wang Luan curled up in a spot surrounded by various materials, picked up the work she had previously completed halfway, and continued.
Men were troublesome. Doing handicrafts was much more enjoyable.
Immersed in her work, time passed without her noticing. Wang Luan heard two knocks on the door. She looked up to see Yan Qiongyu standing at the doorway, then glanced at the time—it was almost midnight.
Yan Qiongyu had already been there for a while, standing by the door watching Wang Luan work. She was dismantling something, and after watching for a long time, he finally recognized it as the core of a hovercar.
Wasn’t she wholeheartedly set on making mecha, and fond of making mecha models as well? Why had she suddenly gotten hands-on with a hovercar?
The difference between the two was rather large. Manufacturing related to mecha could at least be called high-end; something like a hovercar was comparatively not so high-end.
At the very least, those Alphas who prided themselves on their status and were capable of making mecha were unwilling to touch any other machinery besides mecha.
Looking around Wang Luan’s studio, he didn’t see much in the way of mecha materials. Instead, there was a large pile of all kinds of miscellaneous mechanical parts—everything imaginable.
Yan Qiongyu examined Wang Luan, who was seriously knocking and tapping away, for quite some time before knocking on the door to draw her attention and asking, “Why isn’t Miss Wang Luan going to sleep?”
Ah, wasn’t that nonsense? If they really slept together, could she even fall asleep? The two of them were a bit more familiar than before, but not to the point where they could share a bed.
Wang Luan’s work clothes and gloves were all stained with grime. She hooked a large piece of hovercar outer shell with one foot and blocked it in front of her, preventing Yan Qiongyu from getting too close, and said in a muffled voice, “You go sleep by yourself. I’ll just rest here.”
Separated from her by that rather ridiculous car shell, Yan Qiongyu reached out and traced the cold, hard metal casing with his fingertip, his voice so low it was almost inaudible. “Tonight you should still sleep in the same room with me. Otherwise, tomorrow the butler might arrange some stimulating drugs for us.”
As he said this, a smile appeared on his face, though it did not reach his eyes.
Tonight, Wang Luan could avoid doing anything with him, but her obvious attitude of resistance would undoubtedly provoke the Wang family head’s displeasure. The other party would only use harsher methods to warn her not to challenge authority.
The Wang family head was not in a very good mood tonight. If Wang Luan crashed into him like this, she would not only suffer herself, but also implicate him.
In the end, the two of them returned to the room one after the other. Wang Luan took some clothes and sat down on a chair, staring blankly at the bathroom.
Yan Qiongyu asked in confusion, “Why isn’t Miss Wang Luan going in?”
Wang Luan: “…I’m doing psychological preparation before taking a shower.”
Since coming to this world, the psychological preparation she had done for herself was already enough to build an entire city.
Yan Qiongyu was puzzled. “May I ask, what kind of psychological preparation is needed for taking a shower?”
