A month was the maximum Gu WenCheng could accept.
It was also the limit of the free time he gave to Li ZouXing.
He didn’t want to push Li ZouXing too hard, but little did he know that this move had trapped Li ZouXing in a dilemma.
What’s promised must be kept, and since Li ZouXing had promised the original author to maintain the character’s integrity, even if he didn’t know the consequences of “breaking character,” he had to do it.
After all, abducting someone else’s male lead would require some twists and turns.
He could only sigh deeply and then hold on tightly.
Once they had the conversation, Gu WenCheng’s actions became more open and bold. He no longer used their deep brotherly relationship to engage in secretive actions with Li ZouXing. Instead, he maintained his distance and used only his fiery eyes to express his intentions.
His open pursuit was shameless, and his methods were endless. Each step built upon the last, making Li ZouXing uncomfortable. He often had to stick close to his teammates.
“I saw Miss Ren this morning,” Xi Nan suddenly remembered during a meal. He quickly swallowed a bite of food. “She looked quite haggard, arguing with the officer who’s taking us on the ship. It seems she wants to use the life pods on the ship because she hasn’t slept for a day and a night.”
“The military’s life pod usage rules are strict. Would they agree?”
Xi Nan smirked. “They refused, and Miss Ren got angry on the spot, demanding to turn the ship back.”
Gu WenCheng showed no reaction, as if this matter had nothing to do with him. He carefully poured a glass of water, filled it eight-tenths full, placed it on the right side of Li ZouXing, and accompanied it with a smile that whetted the appetite.
Li ZouXing’s toothache was quite considerate.
Other teammates exchanged several discreet glances. Was this guilt after Gu WenCheng forcefully kissed ZouXing?
It was simply embarrassing, giving off the feeling that Gu WenCheng was demonstrating a 360-degree charm offensive.
They didn’t dare to think too deeply, fearing they might misunderstand. So, they kept searching for topics to ease the atmosphere.
Facing their teammates’ looks of pity, Li ZouXing felt truly conflicted. He couldn’t help but glance in Gu WenCheng’s direction. Gu WenCheng was propping up his cheek with one hand, and when Li ZouXing looked over, he smirked and winked.
…
Being pursued by someone like this, Li ZouXing clenched his fist against his lips, pretending to be unfazed, but deep down, he was enjoying it.
Both pleasurable and tormenting.
He wished he could grab Gu WenCheng by the collar and pull him into his arms, but in reality, all he could do was watch as Gu WenCheng showed off his tactics.
A month – they really didn’t know who was playing whom.
But watching Gu WenCheng willingly walk into his trap added an interesting twist.
It wasn’t until they disembarked from the spacecraft that there was no sign of Ren Qingying coming to bother him. Instead, Ren Qingying kept insisting on returning to the main star, causing frustration among all the military personnel on the ship who were there to carry out their mission.
The Dream Team sympathized with them, but they felt grateful for the fact that Ren Qingying changed her torment target this time _(:з」∠)_
There was no other way. Yu Meng’s subordinate officer had to send Ren Qingying back to the main star using a small spacecraft. When Ren Qingying left, she didn’t even glance in Gu WenCheng’s direction. These past few days, Ren Yingying had felt that Gu WenCheng was somehow related to her strange behavior, but she didn’t dare to think too much about it. She even felt relieved that Ren Qingying wanted to return to the main star.
After resolving this matter, it was time for them to disembark.
Due to the presence of special elements, the entire planet Shexing was constantly shrouded in fog throughout the year. Inhaling this fog for an extended period could be toxic to the human body. So, when they disembarked, the ship’s officers specially provided them with gas masks.
The masks, which covered the lower half of their faces, were designed to be simple and lightweight, with a cool style that boys would love.
Yu Meng was waiting for them below, and he also wore a dark gas mask. His cold eyes were exposed in the fog, softening their sharpness.
But when he saw the Dream Team, his softened sharpness became sharp again. He even took a few quick steps forward until he broke through the hazy fog and saw the figures below.
It wasn’t Walter.
Gu WenCheng’s deep voice came from under the mask, and his young eyes looked back. “What’s the matter?”
“Don’t mind,” Yu Meng shifted his gaze away from him. “First, congratulations on your victory in the preliminary rounds.”
As they walked toward their destination and talked, Yu Meng glanced at Li ZouXing’s waist a few times. Li ZouXing sighed, “Is there something you want to say?”
Yu Meng asked directly, “Is that a temporary imprint?”
“I don’t know,” Li ZouXing felt another pair of eyes focusing on that tattoo, “but at least it hasn’t disappeared until now.”
In the depths of Gu WenCheng’s heart, he silently added, probably until he dies, that imprint will disappear.
It was a kind of romance unique to him.
“This belongs to me,” Yu Meng muttered a few words, “What does Walter really mean?”
“I’m really curious about what information you’ve gathered,” this topic was too private, so Li ZouXing smoothly changed the subject, “Have the native residents of Shexing actually seen Walter’s shadow?”
Gu WenCheng’s expression remained unchanged, and he continued to smile as he walked beside Li ZouXing.
“That’s right,” Yu Meng nodded, and Xi Nan and the others listened attentively, not missing any information. “More than one person has reported seeing Walter’s figure to the military. And when I just landed on Shexing, I did feel a strong spiritual power.”
“But that power has disappeared now,” Li ZouXing said, “right?”
Yu Meng frowned, “Yes.”
They walked all the way to the area where the military was temporarily resting. Yu Meng’s adjutant hurried over. “Long time no see.”
After exchanging greetings, he quickly said to Yu Meng, “Captain, there has been progress in the research project. Would you like to come and take a look?”
Yu Meng took ten seconds to make a decision and then said to Li ZouXing’s group, “You can come along.”
Then he strode forward.
The Dream Team exchanged a glance with each other and quickly followed.
As expected, the research project on Shexing was related to Nan, the extraction method for which had long been lost, with only records held by the Imperial government. The military and political leadership were highly concerned about Walter collecting Nan. They decided to collect the elements ahead of Walter and determine what other unknown value might be hidden within.
After all, in their eyes, Walter was never one to engage in pointless endeavors. Furthermore, Walter, once past his growth phase, had no need for Nan. Rather than others’ theory of using it for “future opponents,” they believed that Walter had discovered something they hadn’t.
When Li ZouXing and his team arrived in Shexing, the research team had been working for three days. The breakthrough they mentioned involved further purifying the extracted impurities and nearly isolating Nan.
The pale blue transparent liquid in the test tube looked especially captivating. Gu WenCheng’s gaze lingered on it for two seconds and then shifted away without any emotion.
After reviewing the progress of the experiment, Yu Meng and the Dream Team went to the office.
“I haven’t found Walter,” Yu Meng said, “that scumbag has hidden somewhere.”
Since learning that Gu WenCheng wasn’t Walter, Li ZouXing had felt a strange tension. “Are you sure he’s still on this planet?”
The adjutant added, “Walter never wastes his efforts. If he hasn’t obtained Nan, he won’t leave. Compared to his progress, our experiments are more than ten times faster.”
Is this something to be proud of?
Li ZouXing couldn’t help but feel that if this was really Walter’s goal, then the Nan extracted by the Empire was just a futile effort for Walter.
After the discussion, Yu Meng let them go since they really didn’t need to do anything. Bringing the Dream Team here was just an attempt to attract Walter’s attention, if possible.
Once they left, the adjutant couldn’t help but ask, “Do you really think Walter is genuinely interested in Li ZouXing?”
“What else could it be?” Yu Meng asked in return. “This belongs to me. What do you think that means?”
For someone of that caliber, the adjutant pondered for a moment. “Li ZouXing’s life can only be taken by Walter. He’s a poor young man.”
Yu Meng chuckled.
Meanwhile, Li ZouXing asked his teammates, “Why does Captain Yu Meng dislike Walter so much?”
The teammates began discussing it with enthusiasm. Gu WenCheng lowered his voice, smiling as he said, “Why are you discussing Walter? Isn’t discussing topics related to me better?”
“Such as wanting to know about me,” he gave detailed examples, “like my height, weight, family, experiences, dreams, and so on. ZouXing, aren’t you interested?”
The mask distorted his voice, but the tone of pleading came through clearly. Li ZouXing followed his lead, asking, “So, what’s your dream?”
“I want to hold you, I want you to kiss me,” Gu WenCheng said. “As long as you’re with me, I’ll pamper you. Don’t you want to give it a try?”
“What else is there to try besides kissing?” Li ZouXing said, “Scientific research between brothers, Gu WenCheng, you’re really something.”
“What else can you do besides kissing?” Gu WenCheng mused, “You can also spank.”
…This talent.
This self-taught talent made Li ZouXing glance at him with a hint of admiration.
Gu WenCheng would eventually figure out ways for boys to be physically close to each other on his own.
They walked slower and slower, and their teammates ahead had already disappeared into the fog.
After officially pursuing each other, they couldn’t be too unrestrained. This period of ambiguous flirting was particularly enjoyable for both of them.
However, Gu WenCheng regretted giving him a one-month buffer period. “Can I shorten it to ten days?”
Li ZouXing suppressed the corners of his mouth that were about to curl up, neither refusing nor agreeing. “Heh.”
“Xingxing,” the other person deliberately mimicked a girl, batting their eyelashes and tugging at Li ZouXing’s clothing, “can we make it ten days? You said you wanted my ‘liking’ to be genuine. Of course, it is genuine, Xingxing. Since you can’t refuse me, can we shorten it to ten days?”
“Sweetie, sweetie, sweetie~”
They had been praising Li ZouXing for being lively and cute.
Li ZouXing’s temples throbbed. This coquettish act was quite exaggerated.
Their teammates ahead intentionally stopped and waited for them. Upon seeing Gu WenCheng tugging at Li ZouXing’s clothes, their expressions changed. Whenever they saw Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng alone together, they would become nervous, imagining Li ZouXing as a pitiful victim of coercion.
Once might be forgivable, but they had to protect Li ZouXing and ensure that coercion wouldn’t happen again.
They quickly approached and discreetly created a barrier between the two, shifting the conversation and livening the atmosphere.
Li ZouXing glanced at Gu WenCheng out of the corner of his eye. The guy was smiling with narrowed eyes, looking adorable.
A hint of amusement flashed in Li ZouXing’s eyes. His teammates’ protective actions had become a sweet burden for Gu WenCheng to manipulate.
Xi Nan spoke in a hushed tone, “Don’t feel embarrassed, ZouXing. If WenCheng does that again next time, you should, you know…”
He wore a distressed expression as if there was no solution to this.
Poor Xi Nan; he didn’t realize it was just a form of amusement between a couple.
Oh, let’s rephrase that: preparation for amusement between a couple.
“Ah,” Li ZouXing sighed and patted Xi Nan’s shoulder, “I’m fine, no need to worry.”
Gu WenCheng, with his ears perking up, furrowed his brow. Why was ZouXing sighing? Did he really not have any feelings for him?
Ji Yu quietly caught Gu WenCheng and whispered, “WenCheng, should you find a girlfriend?”
Gu WenCheng replied with a diversion, “Which part of me do you find most charming?”
Ji Yu was taken aback, “You’re handsome everywhere.”
Tall and charismatic.
Ji Yu’s expression was sincere, and Gu WenCheng’s self-confidence returned.
Bold women fear persistent men, and while Li ZouXing wasn’t a bold woman, Gu WenCheng could combine persistence and intensity to win him over. He was determined to succeed.
Perhaps it was a deliberate order from Yu Meng, but no one had obstructed their path along the way. They explored various areas in the military camp, and Li ZouXing paid special attention. He didn’t find any significant mental presence.
Was it really Walter?
Rumors had always portrayed Walter as a lone wolf, but Li ZouXing suspected that he might have his own unique influence.
To give a simple example, what did Walter do with the pharmacist’s password he stole from Li ZouXing? After taking it, who did he pass it on to for the follow-up work?
Doing nothing wasn’t Walter’s style.
Li ZouXing should have finished reading “The Journey on Hand”, but he didn’t.
He lost interest when Gu WenCheng started collecting one beautiful woman after another and became immersed in romantic affairs.
After pondering for a while, Li ZouXing gathered his thoughts but suddenly felt a disturbance in the mental energy field.
This disturbance indicated to him that there was an inexplicable attraction towards him.
Li ZouXing’s heart sank as he focused on resisting this force, but he heard a cry.
“Not good,” Si Wo Lin clenched his fist and was the first to react, “Ji Yu and the others!”
The three individuals with the highest spiritual power remained in place, while the other three had disappeared.
“Did you feel it?” Li ZouXing pointed to his head.
Gu WenCheng nodded, gazing at the disappearing path in the mist, with what seemed like dewdrops forming on his long eyelashes.
There was no sound around them except for their presence, no rustling of leaves or grass.
“This sound is making me uneasy,” Si Wo Lin pursed his lips, “I’m worried they might have fallen into a trap.”
“Let’s go,” Gu WenCheng volunteered, “follow that force and find out what it is.”
Without any surprises, it seemed that Ling Nian and the others had been drawn away by that force.
Li ZouXing naturally took the lead, walking in front of them. As the leader, he would always be at the forefront for his people. He knew that Gu WenCheng was stronger, but for his own people, he could stand in the front at any time. This was something he considered natural, obligatory and a simple act that all men could do – a demonstration of responsibility and a sense of security.
This was truly a manly and handsome gesture.
Si Wo Lin, who was protected behind him, felt touched, while Gu WenCheng’s heart surged with emotions.
He gazed at Li ZouXing’s broad back.
It felt as if his heart, like a floating water plant without roots, had been firmly anchored by the other at this moment.
The other person made him stop drifting, no longer aimlessly wandering in the universe. This lifeline had pierced through every organ in Gu WenCheng’s body. Even if it meant self-harm, he was willing to endure it, refusing to let go.
Author’s Note:
This is probably what they call “security,” Cheng Cheng.
Our Big D is a good man, don’t miss your chance!
