VFMESR Chapter 54

“Come up.” In the midst of silence, Chu Wenyu commanded from above the warship, breaking the wordless exchange between the two. The familiar voice entered Jiang Ling’s ears, yet this time, it wasn’t a soft whisper by his ear but a tense confrontation.

 

Jiang Ling turned his head without looking at him, leaving the nearby officers momentarily relieved as they followed him onto the warship. Passing the area where Chu Wenyu stood, Jiang Ling walked straight into the cabin.

 

The main ship’s facilities were the most luxurious, decorated according to Chu Wenyu’s taste. Stepping into the cabin, Jiang Ling felt as if he had entered the palace of Burke, every corner marked by Chu Wenyu’s presence.

 

The officer hesitated, unsure whether to follow Jiang Ling inside. With an anxious glance seeking approval from the monarch who was left outside, he felt a shiver for Jiang Ling. How dare this hostage prince show such an attitude toward their majesty!

 

Only after seeing Chu Wenyu nod with closed eyes did the officer promptly follow inside.

 

“Can I sit? Or has he arranged a place to detain me?” Jiang Ling gestured to a chair, questioning the officer. He knew well this was Chu Wenyu’s territory, and he was now the lamb awaiting slaughter, not retaining any air of a guest.

 

He understood very well that what awaited him wouldn’t be preferential treatment.

 

“You’re exaggerating.”

 

Indeed, Chu Wenyu had prepared a room for Jiang Ling early on, but it turned out quite different from what he had imagined. As Jiang Ling followed the officer to his accommodation for the next few days, the room’s decor was eerily similar to their previous shared bedroom.

 

“Is this confirmed?” Jiang Ling furrowed his brows, puzzled. He didn’t necessarily think Chu Wenyu didn’t mind his abrupt departure; rather, he was contemplating what kind of tricks the man might be up to.

 

“Absolutely.” The officer replied.

 

He sensed an odd atmosphere between this person and the monarch. Initially thinking it was this individual who angered the monarch, it now seemed like the monarch was strangely more accommodating.

 

“Alright, I got it. You can go now,” Jiang Ling said nonchalantly.

 

Whatever Chu Wenyu had in mind, he was ready to accept it. After the officer left, Jiang Ling closed the door, intending to lie down and rest, with no intention of initiating a conversation with Chu Wenyu. In his ideal scenario, the two wouldn’t meet these days. If the other party found him uninteresting and released him, all the better, though the likelihood of that was quite slim. 

 

After the officer left the cabin, the monarch remained motionless before him.

 

“Your Majesty, since Prince Jiang Ling has been found, I’ll immediately prepare for departure. However, those who were detained, should they all be released as promised?” he inquired.

 

Chu Wenyu seemed lost in thought, not responding immediately. Jiang Ling’s disregard earlier didn’t embarrass him in front of his subordinate, but he couldn’t help but reflect on the prince’s attitude. Now, a mysterious smile played on Chu Wenyu’s lips, not quite reaching his eyes.

 

After issuing some instructions, the officer, uncertain of Chu Wenyu’s intentions, followed through with the orders.

 

If the mountain won’t come to me, then I’ll go to the mountain.

 

Chu Wenyu, feeling a sense of urgency, turned and entered the cabin.

 

The soldiers geared up, preparing for departure.

 

The leader of the group on the starship, upon confirmation that the monarch of Burke would release them, breathed a sigh of relief. Even though someone discreetly mentioned that the headcount seemed off, with a few missing, he sternly warned them not to disclose it.

 

The exact count of people on the starship remained known only to them. Since someone failed to safely come out from the Burkes’ warship, it must have been due to the monarch’s actions. As long as the matter didn’t leak, it had no impact on him.

 

Fearing unforeseen troubles if they stayed longer, the group swiftly piloted the starship away.

 

On the main ship, aside from essential guards, there were virtually no others. The vast interior was eerily empty.

 

Chu Wenyu walked directly to the door of the room where Jiang Ling stayed. Without knocking, he opened the door – it was his room, too.

 

Alpha glanced at him, then closed his eyes, seemingly intent on ignoring him completely.

 

After entering and closing the door behind him, Chu Wenyu approached the edge of the bed. He meticulously traced Alpha’s profile with his gaze, as if he had been longing for this moment.

 

Even with his eyes closed, Jiang Ling could sense the intense gaze. In the past, he might have started teasing or jesting with the other, but his current trapped situation left him with no mood for such banter.

 

The next moment, he felt the delicate touch of fingers gliding across his cheek, then slowly spreading to his currently unruly hair, coming to a halt.

 

“Quite an effort to escape from me,” Chu Wenyu remarked casually, though his tone held a distinct questioning edge.

 

Jiang Ling abruptly opened his eyes, forcefully pulling the other’s fingers away without uttering a word.

 

Somewhat self-mocking, he thought that his efforts couldn’t match the capabilities of the person before him.

 

Jiang Ling’s unappealing attitude didn’t easily provoke Chu Wenyu. Pulling back his hand, Chu Wenyu continued his pointed questioning, “I haven’t rested for days in my pursuit of you, only to be met with this icy silence. Don’t you have a single word for me?”

 

He wanted to evoke guilt in Jiang Ling, but the latter, taking a deep breath, didn’t fall for it.

 

“Your Majesty, there’s no need to feign pity. You can rest well. Moreover, no matter how you decide to deal with me, I can’t resist. Why bother?” Jiang Ling showed no signs of softening. The thought of Chu Wenyu threatening him made him feel unworthy of any sympathy.

 

“Jiang Ling!” Chu Wenyu’s face stiffened, frustration rendering him speechless. His tone lost its previous softness.

 

“Fine, if you know you can’t resist, then stop thinking about escaping,” Chu Wenyu’s tone turned colder.

 

Chu Wenyu was aware of the revelations made by Wilson, the things that lingered between them. It wasn’t a misunderstanding; he had indeed done those things. Initially, he considered denying it outright, exaggerating the facts to regain Alpha’s trust. The lack of seriousness at the beginning was genuine, and so was the subsequent sincerity.

 

However, Jiang Ling’s attitude fueled his anger, causing him to forget what he initially intended to say. He succumbed to his primal instincts, seeking to dominate through force. In any case, Jiang Ling wouldn’t escape his grasp. The truth was, Jiang Ling couldn’t resist him, and being gentle clearly wasn’t effective now.

 

“Your Majesty, I’d like to rest,” Jiang Ling issued his dismissal.

 

Chu Wenyu, however, had no intention of respecting his wishes. “What, do I need to accommodate you?”

 

Especially when it came to accommodating Jiang Ling’s desire not to see him.

 

He propped himself up on the bed, weakened by days without rest and almost forgetting to eat. His movements were clumsy. Yet, seeing Alpha remain indifferent as he turned aside, Chu Wenyu felt a dull pain in his heart. The authoritative words he had just uttered crumbled instantly in his mind, revealing a vulnerability.

 

After Chu Wenyu got on the bed, about to lift the covers, he sensed Jiang Ling shifting away as if reluctant to make contact.

 

His eyelashes trembled, staring straight ahead, feeling a chill in the air around him.

 

Finally, he laid down slowly.

 

Though they were sleeping on the same bed, it felt as if a vast expanse separated them.

 

Chu Wenyu’s spiritual state was not well; his spiritual domain was in disarray. Because he had been frantically searching for Alpha’s trace like a madman these past few days, he couldn’t sense it at all. Now, even with Jiang Ling right beside him, the symptoms showed no signs of improvement. Unable to rest, he kept his eyes open, his head feeling as if it would explode.

 

Even more discomforting was Jiang Ling’s attitude. If it were in the past… If it were in the past, the other party would have noticed his spiritual issues, let alone show indifference like it was none of his concern.

 

But now, in Jiang Ling’s eyes, his affairs indeed had nothing to do with him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have considered leaving.

 

With his back to Alpha, Chu Wenyu’s face showed no trace of his usual dominance. Instead, a silent sense of loneliness lingered.

 

Since feigning vulnerability was already met with disgust, Chu Wenyu kept his eyes closed, silent, even if they were sharing the same air.

 

Neither of them could rest properly. Jiang Ling, too, kept his eyes closed, pretending to rest.

 

Jiang Ling felt uneasy; he seemed to sense Chu Wenyu’s distress, but he couldn’t determine whether it was genuine or if he was overthinking things. Perhaps it wasn’t sadness but merely frustration, like that of a disobedient pet running away.

 

He couldn’t decipher what was real and what was fake about Chu Wenyu.

 

Therefore, his first instinct was self-preservation. Even if he believed Chu Wenyu was just pretending to be vulnerable, he couldn’t control the pain in his heart.

 

It felt a bit foolish.

 

Only by repeatedly reminding himself of Chu Wenyu’s reprehensible actions could he stay clear-headed.

 

After lying for a while, sensing the even breathing of the person beside him, Jiang Ling got up and left the room. He didn’t want to immediately engage in a confrontation, seeking a moment of peace. That’s why he didn’t leave the room right away.

 

After Jiang Ling left, Chu Wenyu opened his eyes, clearly not asleep, and didn’t follow him.

 

Even if he understood Jiang Ling’s stance, he couldn’t bring himself to give up.

 

Having provoked him, he naturally had to see it through. How could he abandon it halfway, even if he had to feign emotions unwillingly?

 

He pursed his lips, reaching out to the spot where Jiang Ling had lain just moments ago. The residual warmth and the familiar scent of mint lingered, surrounding him. It seemed to have some effect in alleviating the discomfort in his consciousness.

 

Chu Wenyu massaged his temples, feeling considerably more comfortable. In a way, this could be considered the other person indirectly showing concern for him.

 

He thought bitterly.

 

The days ahead were long, and he wasn’t in a hurry for that day to come.

 

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