“Huh? You want to leave the palace?” Chu Wenyu heard Jiang Ling’s request and suddenly looked up to scrutinize him, as if trying to discern any hidden intent from his expression.
It was the first time Jiang Ling had actively suggested leaving the royal palace, which left Chu Wenyu feeling a bit anxious. He feared that Jiang Ling might find him boring, or worse, grow tired of the monotonous life confined within the palace with him.
Chu Wenyu rarely left the palace unless it was necessary. He despised noisy places and found the diverse crowds on the streets irritating. Sometimes, he even felt like he didn’t belong to this world.
So, was Jiang Ling also becoming tired of this life with him and seeking the excitement of the outside world? Was he searching for something more?
“Your Majesty? Did you hear what I said?” Jiang Ling interrupted Chu Wenyu’s trance, noticing his resistance and unease.
Jiang Ling patiently explained once again, “Your Majesty, I really want to attend that therapist’s lecture; it’s the only way to help you. Or if you’re worried, you can have someone watch over me.”
Chu Wenyu’s face stiffened, and he responded coldly, “When is the lecture? I will have someone bring the therapist into the palace.” He avoided discussing Jiang Ling leaving the palace.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling sensed a hidden message in the word ‘bring.’ He was well aware of the tyrant’s ways, and he believed that this action wouldn’t likely have the therapist’s consent. Such behavior would also be unfair to other therapists who wished to attend the lecture.
“Your Majesty, I hope you can trust me,” Jiang Ling said with a serious tone, showing a gentle but strong determination.
To be honest, he didn’t enjoy being controlled in every aspect of his life. However, given the nature of the villain, he had never felt uncomfortable. But maybe it was time for that to change gradually.
Chu Wenyu remained silent, occasionally frowning as he observed Jiang Ling’s expression. Despite his urge to suppress and dominate, Chu Wenyu couldn’t help but admit that he was scared – scared that being forceful would only make Jiang Ling resent him.
Chu Wenyu subtly nodded, indicating his compromise.
“I’ll go with you,” he said with a hoarse voice. His face clearly displayed frustration, even though he knew his health would make it inconvenient to travel. But when it came to Jiang Ling, he couldn’t bear to be apart for even a moment.
Considering the other party’s identity, Jiang Ling initially wanted to refuse the offer. However, he thought that this could be their first real date, something they had never experienced like other couples.
Traveling with the king was a significant matter, usually requiring guards in plain clothing to follow. Yet, since Chu Wenyu seldom left the palace, and the reason for this outing wasn’t grand, it was simply to accompany his boyfriend to a lecture. Therefore, they discreetly left without anyone else.
Finally, they reached their destination, and the joyful voices of people outside the window sounded surreal to Chu Wenyu. Since his earliest memories, he had always been trapped within the royal palace, isolated from the world. His siblings occasionally went outside the palace to play, but they never thought of him.
After usurping the throne, he had never left the palace for recreational purposes. Most of the time, he was accompanied by highly skilled guards during meetings with leaders from various galaxies.
Chu Wenyu tightly clung to the car window, feeling his heart racing and dizziness setting in, making it difficult to step out of the vehicle.
He turned to Jiang Ling, asking with concern, “Will people recognize me? It could cause unnecessary attention.”
Jiang Ling rubbed his frozen face, easing the pressure, and assured him, “No one in the common people has seen Your Majesty’s true face. You don’t need to worry.”
Chu Wenyu felt uneasy again, “Would they be scared by my face?” his expression filled with hesitation.
This was the first time Jiang Ling had seen Chu Wenyu like this, perhaps only because he showed his nerves in front of him.
“No, they won’t, not at all. With me by Your Majesty’s side, today, we’re no different from any ordinary couple.”
In fact, to avoid drawing attention, both of them wore plain white T-shirts and caps. Standing amidst the crowd, they blended in with everyone. They were not widely known celebrities; the average person wouldn’t recognize them, perhaps not even believing that members of the royal family would be quietly mingling among them.
Jiang Ling went to the trunk to get the wheelchair and then carried Chu Wenyu into it.
At the moment of getting out of the car, Chu Wenyu’s sickly pale arms were exposed to the sunlight, the voices of passersby around them were clearly audible. Many young couples were discussing where to have fun, and some affectionate omegas were playfully complaining to their partners.
Chu Wenyu looked at the Alpha gently pushing the wheelchair, his heart, usually as calm as a still pond, now stirred with a thousand waves, as he had lived through thirty years of life in the same way.
They were secretly in love under the sunlight.
Glancing at his watch, Jiang Ling noticed there was still time before the lecture. With a smile, he suggested, “Your Majesty, shall we go to the mall?”
Proudly, Chu Wenyu nodded. Even though he lacked nothing, this action suddenly became meaningful between them.
Perhaps due to the lecture, the mall was particularly crowded today, with a considerable number of couples from nearby colleges.
The two aimlessly strolled inside, and Chu Wenyu keenly observed that the young couples often had something in common, either wearing matching outfits or sharing similar accessories like watches…
He thought about it and pointed to a nearby jewelry store, proposing, “Let’s go there.”
Entering the jewelry store, they found displayed necklaces, rings, and similar accessories.
Chu Wenyu critically examined them. He never thought he’d one day invest his mind in such matters. Soon, he found a silver necklace, a simple yet exquisite piece with a silver key hanging on a thin black string.
“Lower your head,” Chu Wenyu ordered.
Jiang Ling had to squat in front of his Majesty, allowing delicate fingers to comb through his hair, reaching the back of his neck.
Chu Wenyu carefully assessed and nodded in satisfaction, without a word, he purchased two of them.
He really liked the symbolism of this necklace; the Alpha in front of him was like his key.
After leaving the jewelry store and passing through other sections, Jiang Ling already had multiple bags in his hands, and the monarch, experiencing a mall visit for the first time, seemed fascinated by everything.
“Oh, this doesn’t taste good,” Chu Wenyu frowned, looking disdainfully at the recently purchased food. Then, he urged Jiang Ling to open his mouth and fed him bite by bite.
“Your Majesty, I’m really full,” Jiang Ling said helplessly, feeling like he brought this upon himself but still took a bite, looking at the smiling eyes under the cap.
“No, hurry and digest, I want to feed you more,” Chu Wenyu disregarded his royal status, though he was being quite unreasonable.
Jiang Ling hurriedly guided him out of the food area towards a large electronics store.
Jiang Ling spotted something familiar inside and casually nudged Chu Wenyu as they strolled over. The stores here were all about household appliances, and Jiang Ling’s destination was where they sold home robots. From a distance, he sensed it was the same brand as the one he had in his room before, with the cute animal heads, including a cat’s.
Chu Wenyu wasn’t really into home robots, so Jiang Ling hadn’t seen one since moving into his main residence. Seeing one now, he felt a touch of nostalgia. After all, it was the first thing to lift his spirits since he transmigrated into this book.
“Your Majesty, how about we buy another home robot?” Jiang Ling playfully tapped the cute cat head, suggesting.
However, this one was a bit different from the one he had before. The robots here didn’t seem to have the same blue light in their eyes.
Chu Wenyu thought of something, and he pulled Jiang Ling away with a furrowed brow, saying, “No, I don’t like it.” Even though he felt it was unlikely for Jiang Ling to find out, he couldn’t shake the unease in his heart.
Jiang Ling, puzzled by Chu Wenyu’s impatience, suddenly recalled seeing a robot with blue eyes in Chu Wenyu’s storage room. The steward had been called away by Chu Wenyu just as he was about to say something.
For some reason, it didn’t sit right with him. Why would Chu Wenyu place the home robot from his room into the storage room where valuable items were kept?
“The lecture is about to start,” Chu Wenyu urged impatiently.
Jiang Ling checked the time, realizing they didn’t have much time left, and hurriedly pushed the wheelchair toward the venue. Yet, a faint suspicion still lingered in his mind.
Due to his rush, Jiang Ling accidentally collided with someone, causing his cap to flip off.
“Sorry,” the person quickly apologized, but upon seeing Jiang Ling’s face, she was momentarily stunned.
People around also noticed and focused their curious gazes on him, whispering to one another.
“Wow, this guy looks amazing.”
“Is he some new 18th-tier star in the industry? If I become his fan now, will he notice me?”
“…”
Jiang Ling softly said it was okay, quickly picked up his cap, and covered his face, then swiftly disappeared from the crowd with Chu Wenyu.
He was careful in controlling the wheelchair, ensuring that Chu Wenyu wasn’t affected by the collision. Chu Wenyu had also noticed the onlookers’ reactions and sulked in irritation, saying, “Next time, you must wear a mask and you must abide by the husband’s rules when you’re around me.” He was clearly annoyed by the attention, not wanting too much focus on his Alpha.
Jiang Ling found this amusing but didn’t let it show. “Sure, I’ll do that.”
The two made their way to the venue, which was already packed. The renowned therapist, a man in his fifties, was delivering his opening speech, and when he noticed Jiang Ling and Chu Wenyu entering, he playfully asked, “Is this student late because of helping the friend? That’s quite loyal.”
Jiang Ling glanced at Chu Wenyu, who still seemed a bit annoyed, and then confidently replied, “How is helping my boyfriend considered helping? It’s just what I should do.”
The audience burst into teasing sounds, and the therapist even asked his assistant to vacate a seat for Jiang Ling and his companion.
Chu Wenyu’s face turned from red to the roots of his ears in an instant. He adjusted his cap, not knowing where to hide his embarrassed face.
As they settled into their seats, Jiang Ling teased Chu Wenyu in a low voice, “So, am I following your husband’s rules this time?”
Chu Wenyu pinched him hard, trying to keep a straight face, yet feeling a tinge of joy inside.
Ugh, what a shame…
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
