⌈Weekend update: 0/2⌋
After finally meeting, everyone embraced each other, amplifying the sense of long-awaited reunion that had accumulated over the days they hadn’t seen each other.
The staff considerately withdrew, providing them with a private setting.
Ling Nian projected an image of a person and said to Li ZouXing, “He’s the one who ambushed you.”
Li ZouXing confirmed not recognizing the person, “I guess he wasn’t originally planning to ambush me; he just wanted to take the energy crystal.”
Gu WenCheng glanced at him, “Right.”
This matter didn’t receive much attention from Li ZouXing. He immediately said, “Ling Nian, help me investigate any information about the commercial spacecraft ‘Tiran.'”
Ling Nian nodded, “Do you suspect something is wrong with this spacecraft?”
It seemed somewhat unethical to suspect the lifesaver of a teammate, but Li ZouXing nodded straightforwardly, “It’s not the spacecraft; I suspect the people on the spacecraft.”
Xi Nan and Ji Yu wolfed down the food, “Really? I thought Jin Di and the others were quite nice.”
Ji Yu pondered for a moment, “ZouXing, did you discover something?”
Although a bit conscience-stricken, Ji Yu had more faith in Li ZouXing’s judgment.
Li ZouXing shook his head, “Let’s wait for the results Ling Nian finds.”
Gu WenCheng contemplated on the side. If there was anything different about the delivery team “Tiran,” it was that occasionally, to avoid offending star bandits, they would engage in some star bandit activities themselves.
But such spacecraft were numerous, and the relatively small and unremarkable “Tiran” was just a drop in the ocean.
Ling Nian searched the entire web and only managed to find sporadic bits of information. After a long time, he finally discovered the desired information tucked away in a corner.
He showed them the information.
“Two days ago, the commercial spacecraft ‘Tiran’ was attacked while passing through Sand Star.”
The Eight Great Star Systems were indeed immense, and incidents that were as trivial as ants on Earth were like specks of dust in this vast expanse. Except for those intentionally paying attention, most citizens of the empire hadn’t even heard of this incident involving the commercial spacecraft, and they certainly wouldn’t care.
Even this piece of news was discovered in a corner as small as it could possibly be on Sand Star.
“So, what you’re saying is,” Li ZouXing’s lips curled into a smile, though it gave people goosebumps, “the person who spent two days with us is actually a shipload of impostors?”
The others silently nodded, looking at them sympathetically.
Xi Nan’s mouth hung open, looking at Li ZouXing in shock, “What the hell?”
A rush of post-horror emotions surged up, “The group led by Jin Di killed the original crew of Tiran, then posed as the crew of Tiran, and spent two days with us?”
Jin Di’s friendly and amiable smile seemed to be right before their eyes.
Unbelievable. That group who ate, drank, and joked with them turned out to be a bunch of murderers?!
He had even given some of them a beating on the ship, and before leaving, he had considered exchanging star network IDs with them.
Xi Nan covered his face, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions that piled up in his chest, a complexity beyond words.
“Wait a moment—” Gu WenCheng squinted, turned to lock eyes with Li ZouXing, his smile carrying a dangerous edge, “You still remember spending two days with them— you haven’t lost your memory?”
Li ZouXing, are you playing with me?
Li ZouXing furrowed his brows, rubbing his forehead, “Did I just say that?”
“You did,” Xi Nan, one hand over his face, served as a witness for Gu WenCheng.
“I forgot,” he sighed, “well, to be accurate, I’ve forgotten some parts, but I can still remember the important points.”
Gu WenCheng sneered, “Such as?”
“Such as Ji Yu being injured, the team called Tiran, and the handsome old man Jin Di on the ship,” Li ZouXing looked as innocent as possible, “What else should I remember?”
He had said he could remember only some important points, but he forgot about Gu WenCheng’s situation.
So, what happened last night wasn’t something he deemed important.
Look at how he treated those pretty ladies just now. If the person he had communicated with last night had been a girl, he wouldn’t have forgotten, no matter what.
Was he able to forget because he’s a guy?
His memories of those shameful words expressed towards a male body, those expressions of emotion, surprisingly weren’t important matters for Li ZouXing.
Gu WenCheng’s current mood was somewhat frustrated.
He had a feeling of being looked down upon.
Li ZouXing had to go and open his mouth at this moment, “That expression of yours… WenCheng, I didn’t forget something related to you, did I?”
He asked so naturally, as if he really didn’t know anything.
Gu WenCheng’s tone turned cold, “What do you think?”
“…”
The onlookers exchanged silent glances.
This atmosphere… something’s not right.
They finished their meal in this strange atmosphere. When it was time to leave, Li ZouXing’s dance partner, like a butterfly, leaped over from the dance floor, her delicate arm resting on his shoulder.
“Will you accompany me tonight? My boy.”
She gazed seductively, turning her eyes around a few people before fixing them on Gu WenCheng, coquettishly saying, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re just too beautiful,” Gu WenCheng curled his lips, “Beautiful to the point where I can’t take my eyes off you.”
The lady covered her mouth to hide a laugh, “Such sweet words. I wonder if your mouth is as sweet as your words?”
“Do you want to find out?”
Gu WenCheng purposefully glanced at Li ZouXing, in this challenging situation, “I’m looking forward to creating a wonderful memory with you.”
The woman hesitated.
She looked at Gu WenCheng, then at Li ZouXing.
These were two completely different types.
Gu WenCheng was elegantly handsome, with occasional hints of indifference and composure that exuded a mature charm very enticing to experienced individuals. On the other hand, Li ZouXing was tall and handsome, satisfying a woman’s sexual fantasies from every angle.
One is a charming and elegant gentleman, while the other is a sunny and handsome figure.
This is truly the sweetest dilemma.
The woman hesitated for a long time, “This really puts people in a difficult situation.”
“Then don’t be troubled,” Li ZouXing pushed her aside, pulled Gu WenCheng over, and smiled brightly, “You sleep your sleep, and we’ll sleep ours.”
Gu WenCheng’s heart tightened, and he instinctively pulled his hand away, “Who’s sleeping with you!”
“We’ve always been in the same room, right?” Li ZouXing looked confused, then turned to ask their teammates, “Or is it one person per room this time?”
“…” Gu WenCheng coughed, “Uh, what I meant was, it’s been a while since I’ve shared a room with you, so it might feel a bit unusual.”
These two sentences completely disregarded the beautiful woman.
The woman left angrily, “A bunch of clueless boys!”
Li ZouXing, who was scolded as a clueless boy, rubbed his nose and exchanged glances with Gu WenCheng. However, as soon as their eyes met, Gu WenCheng shifted his gaze, his expression a mixture of anger and embarrassment, extremely complicated.
Their spaceship to White Star Sea was scheduled for tomorrow. They could only find a place to stay for the night. Before they were assigned rooms, Ling Nian remembered what Gu WenCheng had just said about feeling uncomfortable. Therefore, he specifically gave Gu WenCheng a separate room.
At first, Gu WenCheng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but then his expression turned unpleasant as if he had thought of something.
“No need,” he exchanged room cards with Ling Nian, “Back at school, we shared a room, so now it’s a good chance for me to get used to the old feeling.”
Li ZouXing took the room card from his hand, and with a mischievous smile, he traced a ticklish arc in his palm, “Come on, WenCheng, you’ll eventually get used to sleeping with me.”
Gu WenCheng clenched his palm and followed along.
As soon as they entered the room, Li ZouXing took off his coat and tossed it onto the backrest, tugging at his collar. “Do you want to take a shower first?”
With a few swift movements, he removed his shirt, walking around the room bare-chested.
His well-built back exuded charm into the air.
Gu WenCheng stared at him for a whole minute before slowly responding, “Good suggestion.”
He raised his hand to unbutton his shirt and then removed it.
Li ZouXing couldn’t resist and stole a glance while pretending to be busy. In the past, at the school dorms, everyone was used to changing clothes in the bathroom. Good-looking people always looked good while undressing. Gu WenCheng’s hands were fair, slender, and long. Even when he was undoing buttons, it seemed to carry a hint of teasing and ambiguity. However, Li ZouXing was skilled at pretending. He always looked away a split second before Gu WenCheng raised his gaze, creating the illusion that he was engrossed in some other task.
In last night’s communication, the befuddled teenager had stared at his chest, saying, “Cheng Cheng, it’s so pitiful, can you give it a pinch?” And that shameless line he said, “Seeing Cheng Cheng, Little Xing Xing, I don’t know why it hurts even more.”
But now…
Gu WenCheng’s lips curved into a cold smile. Li ZouXing, the befuddled one, was indeed quite a skillful deceiver.
Perhaps he was only looking for an outlet for that ache, so anyone could serve as a vessel for his expression.
Gu WenCheng had just become an unwitting object of playfulness at that particular moment.
Whether it was before taking the mysterious potion or after, he had always been treated with deference, which made Gu WenCheng find this kind of playful treatment absolutely intolerable.
He decided to give Li ZouXing a taste of his own medicine.
Only by playfully teasing Li ZouXing in return could he bring his own awkward state back to equilibrium!
Li ZouXing had just finished his busy work and turned around, only to be startled, “Why are you standing there?”
Gu WenCheng had also taken off his shirt, a two-finger-wide belt cinched tightly around his narrow waist. His arms crossed, he stood behind Li ZouXing. With a faint smile, he said, “Just seeing what you’re up to.”
His arms were crossed just right, and two rosy peach tips were pressed beneath his arms, one hidden beneath his bicep and the other exposed to the cool breeze. In Li ZouXing’s line of sight, they began to quiver and stand erect.
It was simply dazzling and captivating, making it impossible for Li ZouXing to look away.
Unconsciously, he stole glances at those ripe peach tips, at first sneakily and cautiously, but as he noticed Gu WenCheng’s permissive attitude, he unabashedly stared at them without restraint.
His gaze burned with curiosity. “WenCheng, the color here is so nice.”
Gu WenCheng felt his arm go numb, and the sensation at that spot was particularly sensitive. The tiny hairs on his skin quivered, making him feel as though he should put his arm down, turn around, and put his shirt back on. But he resisted.
“Where?” He arched an eyebrow and changed his crossed-arm pose, brushing his arm against that spot. The small peach tip turned red, as if bleeding. “Aren’t yours also the same color?”
“Not as good as yours,” Li ZouXing said sincerely, “But we’re both guys, it’s kind of weird discussing this, haha.”
Guys?
Hmm.
Gu WenCheng’s expression cooled slightly. “I’m going to take a shower.”
He turned and walked into the bathroom. Li ZouXing’s gaze remained fixed on his retreating figure until the bathroom door closed, then he reluctantly shifted his gaze away.
So adorable.
How can someone be so adorable?
Thanks to the author of “Journey in My Hands1TL’s note: I forgot if it was this or was it another…?,” who created such an adorable Gu WenCheng.
He took a bottle of ice water from the fridge, guzzled down half of it, and pressed the remaining half against his forehead, freezing the impulse-filled cells in his brain.
But he didn’t expect that a few minutes later, Gu WenCheng’s voice would echo from the bathroom, “ZouXing, are you there?”
Li ZouXing put down the water and walked to the bathroom door. “Yeah, what’s up?”
“I forgot to take my clothes,” Gu WenCheng said, “Can you help me out?”
“Sure, what clothes?” Li ZouXing’s voice was particularly upright. “All of them?”
“Yeah,” Gu WenCheng lowered his gaze, a faint smile tugging at his lips, sounding annoyed. “All of them.”
Li ZouXing agreed and handed his clothes to him through the door slit. He peeked inside and whistled, “You’re getting in better shape, WenCheng.”
Very manly, very normal.
There was no fiery gaze like last night, nor any indication of “Seeing Cheng Cheng, Little Xing Xing, I don’t know why it hurts even more.”
Indeed, Li ZouXing in his befuddled state treated him just like any other person.
Even if it weren’t for him, there would still be “Nian Nian,” “Yu Yu,” “Nan Nan,” or any other person.
The bathroom door clicked shut as Li ZouXing closed it, and Gu WenCheng slowly raised a smile.
Very good, truly good, so damn good.
…
Since they had arrived at Ma Wei Star, there was no reason not to take a stroll. After they finished showering and changed into their newly bought clothes, they gathered below the hotel to admire the night view of Ma Wei Star.
This planet was strikingly similar to Earth in terms of the way people lived and the architectural culture—not in terms of technology.
There were no people zooming back and forth in flying vehicles or hovercar tracks on the streets. Instead, people strolled leisurely, wasting time as they walked.
Li ZouXing could say that out of all the planets they had visited, this was the one where he felt the most comfortable. The contentment on his face made the locals feel proud and honored. People greeted them warmly along the way, and they even learned a couple of phrases in the local language of Ma Wei Star.
In this world, certain planets referred to the docking areas for foreign spaceships as “ports.” And at that moment, they were walking near a port. Besides human-like races, there were also many peculiar and exotic alien races.
Some of them truly fit Earth’s imagination of “extraterrestrials.”
Gu WenCheng was dressed in a sleek black jumpsuit, military boots on his feet, and a belt tightly fastened around his waist. He looked incredibly handsome and exuded a youthful charm. At first, Li ZouXing was taking in the scenery and observing people. Gradually, however, whenever he took in the sights, his gaze would inevitably return to Gu WenCheng. He wasn’t being discreet about it, his gaze openly captured by Gu WenCheng at first glance.
In a pleasant mood, Gu WenCheng’s eyes and smile carried both elegance and youthful innocence. “What’s the matter? Am I so handsome that I’ve caught your attention?”
“I feel like there’s something missing from your outfit,” he replied.
Li ZouXing propped up his chin and walked a couple of steps around him. “You’re definitely handsome, but I’d give you a 90 out of 100.”
The single guys nearby chimed in with sly remarks, “Why do I feel like WenCheng is already handsome enough?”
“Isn’t he unbelievably handsome? I’d love to wear an outfit like that too. I’ve worn the military academy uniform to the point of being tired of it.”
“ZouXing, actually, I think… your taste isn’t as good as WenCheng’s.”
Li ZouXing’s temples began to throb rhythmically. He held back from snapping at these fools. No wonder most of them still haven’t found girlfriends. The good atmosphere was ruined.
They continued their spirited discussion, “Come on, ZouXing, considering your taste is at a three-year-old’s level, what else do you think WenCheng is missing?”
The flirtatious and romantic banter they had intended to engage in had completely gone down the drain.
Li ZouXing sighed inwardly and, as he followed Gu WenCheng’s footsteps, he abruptly halted and spun around. With a deft motion, he conjured a brilliantly vibrant flower out of thin air.
Resembling a rose, equally romantic and enchanting.
Amid the astonished gazes of everyone present, he placed the flower into the pocket on Gu WenCheng’s chest. The delicate bloom complemented the handsome man perfectly, a touch of red against his all-black attire, enhancing his overall allure.
Gu WenCheng lowered his head to observe the flower, his fingers gently caressing its petals. This flower, conjured seemingly out of nowhere, was genuinely real. As he touched it, the flower timidly unfurled its petals.
Xi Nan and the others were greatly amazed, clustering around Li ZouXing’s hand, examining and bombarding him with questions about the principle behind it and how he achieved it.
A group of technologically advanced interstellar beings lacking in exposure to such wonders, Li ZouXing briefly disdained them before finally explaining, “This is called magic.”
“Magic?!”
They repeated the word several times, clamoring for another demonstration.
Gu WenCheng also approached curiously, asking, “Does it require any hidden tools?”
“Absolutely not,” Li ZouXing couldn’t resist their enthusiasm and helplessly conceded, “One last time.”
The bystanders who had been startled by his previous feat couldn’t help but gather around. These onlookers drew the attention of others, and eventually, a circle formed. Many of those who joined the crowd even held up their light brains to record Li ZouXing.
Li ZouXing extended both hands, his knuckles prominent as he turned them back and forth, showing the empty sides. “Is there anything here?”
The onlookers responded in unison, “Nothing!”
“Watch closely.”
He smirked, extending one hand before Gu WenCheng and giving it a slow spin. As everyone’s attention focused entirely on his hand, he made a motion as if tossing something upward.
Subconsciously, everyone followed his gaze upward.
In the next instant, Li ZouXing’s other hand clenched around a flower and presented it before Gu WenCheng.
“Wow—”
The crowd buzzed with murmurs, waves of astonishment.
“A 10-star coin Maretail Flower,” Li ZouXing announced, “a gift for you.”
Gu WenCheng couldn’t help but break into a smile.
That rascal continued, “You can give it to your girlfriend, WenCheng.”
His smile froze.
The author has something to say:
Here it comes~
“I’m giving you a flower.”
A joyful smile.
“You can give it to your girlfriend.”
The smile comes to a halt.
ZouXing is so wicked! Yes, in fact, Da Diao has regained his memory a long time ago. There were many hints in the previous chapters, and later on, he was pretending to be Xing Xing. Now he’s pretending to have amnesia, but he definitely remembers everything!
WenCheng Cheng is angry now because he feels he’s been played. He thinks he’s still straightforward and didn’t even think about romantic matters, hahaha.
