Translator: Moonlit
Editor: Aiya-ge
Upon reaching the capital star, they promptly met with Colonel Raymond.
The ceremony was grand, and everyone was well-prepared. Originally, it shouldn’t have been led by Colonel Raymond personally, but he insisted that they follow him closely.
“Tomorrow morning at 8 a.m., you will enter the palace,” Colonel Raymond solemnly stated, “There will also be many media outlets on-site broadcasting, so don’t be nervous, but make sure not to make any mistakes.”
With such a significant honor to be awarded on-site, many people in the Star Network would be watching. This kind of event could already make some lower-ranking officials nervous, and the Dream Team, being so young, made Colonel Raymond and Vice worry that they might not handle the occasion.
However, their concerns were unfounded. The entire Dream Team was confident and, after all they’d been through, wouldn’t be so nervous as to be rude.
As expected, the visit to the palace the next day went smoothly. Emperor Kate watched the Dream Team salute him with eyes that seemed to disappear due to his wide smile. He was not only pleased with their military accomplishments but also impressed by their astonishing talents.
Such talent needed careful nurturing, and he had already discussed it with Prince Nico. The Dream Team needed to return to the Chengyang Military Academy for further education, combined with military training, to ensure that these young people would become a strong guarantee for the Empire.
Because of the unique nature of their mission, for an entire month, Imperial citizens had no knowledge of what the Dream Team had achieved. It was only now, during the award ceremony, that they learned the extent of what the Dream Team had done.
This moment brought forth complex emotions, a mixture of feelings, and an overwhelming sense of excitement.
Even though they knew this team was far from ordinary, they had never expected their journey to progress so swiftly and boldly.
In the various live broadcast feeds, the members of the Dream Team maintained stern and serious expressions.
Their attitude towards Emperor Kate was respectful and polite, standing tall with squared shoulders and impeccable poise.
It was at this moment that people realized they had truly grown into the demeanor of adults.
They were deserving of trust and admiration, a source of pride for the Empire.
…
Emperor Kate bestowed upon them the rank of captain.
Simultaneously, on the Star Network, some individuals released the results of their third mental power test.
It was like a drop of water falling into hot oil, setting off a chain reaction.
In just a short fifteen minutes, the Dream Team had already reached the same level as Yu Meng and Weiss. Both of them were present on the scene, but they didn’t seem surprised.
When it came to evaluating their military achievements, they knew that the Dream Team had much more to offer. With their capabilities, they were destined to become the Empire’s marshals, safeguarding the peace of the entire Empire.
Strength, luck, opportunity.
They had erupted at the right time, and it was only fitting that they received the appropriate recognition.
Yu Meng and Weiss even felt that this recognition wasn’t enough.
Emperor Kate shared the same sentiment, but he considered that the Dream Team was still very young. They would have many more opportunities to make great contributions in the future. He thought that giving them a slightly lower starting point would allow for more upward mobility.
He also had to think about his son’s position, as higher military ranks should be granted by his successor to bestow this honor.
After expressing their gratitude to the Emperor, the cameras around them continued clicking incessantly. The Dream Team’s expressions remained composed, looking like a group of cool guys, incredibly handsome.
“Oh, when will they stop taking pictures of us?”
The tone changed within the teammates’ communication channel.
“We’re about to proceed with the next stage. By the way, Ling Nian, the princess is watching you.”
Members of the royal family were present, with Emperor Kate sitting between the prince and the princess. The princess, in an elegant sky-blue dress, sat gracefully at the high position, smiling warmly.
However, her gaze was elusive, her ears slightly pink, and her attention remained fixed on Ling Nian.
Ling Nian’s face became even stiffer, making him seem rather unapproachable.
The princess didn’t appear to be as affectionate as Xi Nan, or as cute as Si Wo Lin.
But… his ears were slightly red.
As a princess, could she please stop staring at him?
The ceremony proceeded one after another, and Prince Nico maintained a sincere smile throughout.
Prince Yin Sa couldn’t help but chuckle and whispered, “Brother, you look like a cat who has stolen some fish.”
“If it allows me to find a few more talents like this, I don’t mind being described in a worse way by you,” Nico chuckled. “You should pay more attention to your sister, she’s been acting really strange.”
The odd behavior of the princess was noticed by the gossip-hungry media. The cameras constantly shifted between her and the Dream Team, and everyone was eager for more details.
Could there be a story brewing between the royal family and the future pillars of the Empire?
After the accolades were given, the Dream Team was escorted out of the palace by the guards. In front of the palace gates, many reporters and media personnel had gathered, eagerly waiting to interview them. Their interviews were being broadcast live on the internet, and the reporters swarmed around the Dream Team, hoping to get an exclusive scoop.
“We observed throughout the entire ceremony that the princess’s gaze remained fixed on the Dream Team. Could this be an expression of her admiration for one of the Dream Team members?” a reporter asked, hoping to get the inside scoop.
“Do you ever think about marrying into the royal family?”
“According to official reports, Mr. Li ZouXing has a mental power value of 10,000. Is this true?!”
“You were just promoted to captain shortly after joining the military. How do you feel about that?”
A barrage of questions came their way.
The Dream Team had never faced such a situation, but Weiss had advised them previously. In such cases, they were only required to maintain a smile, walk out of the crowd, and not answer any questions.
And that’s exactly what they did.
The newly promoted captains stood a head taller than the surrounding reporters, walking with confident and brisk strides. Others dared not block their way and could only follow behind, asking questions.
Those watching this scene couldn’t help but feel moved.
It seemed like just a little over a month ago, they had finished participating in the strongest team competition, appearing playful and smiling on the live broadcast. The same children who had been terrified by ghost stories, now, in such a short time, had transformed into completely different individuals.
The cameras could only follow their backs, and the audience could only see their silhouettes.
Dressed in their upright military uniforms, with each step, their footsteps were resolute.
At times, a feeling arose that they were watching individuals walking on a legendary path.
Suddenly, among the reporters chasing them from behind, one raised their voice, “Mr. Li ZouXing and Mr. Gu WenCheng! Do you know that there’s a website dedicated to your relationship?”
Gu WenCheng sneered inwardly. Wasn’t it that gender-swapped version of the website?
He suddenly halted his steps, and his expression turned to shock.
Li ZouXing also came to an abrupt stop and exchanged a glance with him. Immediately, they both concealed their expressions. Li ZouXing turned and asked, “What website?”
The reporter who had loudly called out to them panted as he approached, holding up a holographic device that projected into the air. “It’s this one! The people in here are all crazy. The things they write… they’re all about the love between you two, my goodness… They actually write about the love between the two of you.”
The reporters who had caught up one by one exploded with conversation. They craned their necks to look at the projection. Their expressions shifted from astonishment to disbelief, from doubting their own eyes to being frozen in place.
The viewers on the star network, however, were enjoying the spectacle.
Due to the angle, they couldn’t see the content of the projection, and they were currently ridiculing the reporter’s lack of literary skills.
[“What is love? What’s wrong with this reporter? Can’t even speak properly?”]
[“Friendship being mistakenly called love, hahaha, this has me in stitches!”]
What they didn’t know was that the website in question was filled with posts, all of which were about Gu WenCheng and Li ZouXing.
Gu WenCheng felt like his brain wasn’t getting enough blood. His breathing quickened, and he involuntarily tugged at Li ZouXing’s clothes.
Li ZouXing focused and cautiously clicked on one of the links.
On the screen, the names Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng were reflected in their eyes.
People around couldn’t help but lean in closer, eager to see what was written there.
There was no gender swap, no cross-dressing; it was about two men.
Li ZouXing closed that link and opened another forum-style post.
[“A Remarkable Love Story Emerges – Who Says There’s No Love Between Two Men?”]
The first post, the second… all the way to the tenth post, were filled with pictures that the original poster had gathered from who knows where. The main characters in the pictures were all Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng, and some of them were quite intimate.
Those peeking at the projection took a look at the pictures, then at the title, and their expressions gradually became peculiar.
Their physical reactions were faster than their thoughts; they had already raised their devices and aimed them at the projection.
The next moment, the viewers watching the livestream also saw what was on it.
Li ZouXing stayed focused and continued scrolling down, but the thread took a strange turn midway.
The comments section had turned into a battlefield, with two factions tearing at each other. Each side had a picture of Li ZouXing, one was for Walter and Li ZouXing as a couple, and the other was for Gu WenCheng and Li ZouXing as a couple. They had torn into each other for over a hundred comments, and it was a heated and chaotic scene.
Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng: “…”
Their teammates, who were nervous about revealing something: “…”
What’s going on here?
[Hehehe, where did Gu WenCheng come from? Stop spamming this day in and day out. Walter has already declared ownership of Li ZouXing. Are you trying to exploit this teammate too much?]
[The signs of same-sex love are clear, starting with Star Pirate Walter and Li ZouXing. I don’t recognize the rest. And, OP, please understand, that these two are just teammates, and any kissing is just for rescue operations. Just smiles.]
[Does Walter have fans? A man in his thirties or forties has the audacity to be associated with Li ZouXing? Please, beg you to take a look at the photos. The vibe between Gu WenCheng and Li ZouXing in those pictures and their eye contact in the live broadcast, they are a pair, okay? Look at Gu WenCheng’s age, then look at Walter. Walter is just a small-time crook.]
[Walter himself has said he sees Li ZouXing only as a rival. Where do you get the confidence to say Walter and Li ZouXing are a couple? What’s this talk about only Walter being loved by Li ZouXing?]
The two factions argued fiercely, and the people at the scene had complex expressions.
Words failed them.
What kind of extraordinary love triangle is this?
Oh my goodness!
Brotherly love turning into rivalry, Star Pirates in conflict, who’s the original partner and who’s the third wheel, and then Walter’s cradle-snatching love affair with a younger man…
The journalists suddenly perked up, quickly aiming their cameras directly at Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng, hoping to capture their genuine expressions.
Gu WenCheng awkwardly cleared his throat a couple of times. At this moment, his face was tinged with a blush, and he found his skin to be rather thin. People who knew the truth could feel his embarrassment.
However, when this expression was caught on camera, it became intriguing. It could be interpreted as the awkwardness of hearing rumors about him and his brother or as the shyness of having the truth exposed.
Media reporters, who were always sensitive to entertainment news, became energized, gazing intensely at the two young men. Their gossiping tendencies seemed to overshadow their astonishment at the existence of a romantic relationship between the two boys. “Please, both of you, answer whether this is true!”
“Mr. Li ZouXing, can you confirm the nature of your relationship with Walter?”
“Mr. Gu WenCheng, is your relationship with your teammate purely platonic? Do you dislike Walter?”
“Has Walter ever used threats to force you to stay away from Mr. Li ZouXing?”
“Damn!”
StarNet users began to curse, [“I’ve always believed that Walter and Li ZouXing are a couple. I’m the original ‘WalterxZouXing’ CP shipper! What is this journalist trying to do, smearing Walter?]
While the majority of netizens were still processing the situation, the two rival CP fandoms quickly entered the battlefield, displaying astonishing fighting spirit.
Their jaws were about to hit the ground! They stared in awe as these people engaged in a lightning-fast exchange of messages.
This created an illusion for the citizens of the entire starnet.
It felt like the whole world knew that Li ZouXing, Gu WenCheng, and Walter were in a love triangle, and they were the only ones in the dark.
It felt like everyone knew that men could love men, like it was a normal thing, and they were the only ones unaware.
People in the palace immediately heard about what was happening outside.
Colonel Yu Meng’s expression subtly changed.
Prince Nico noticed his change and asked with interest, “Lieutenant Yu Meng, do you know something?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Yu Meng replied casually. “Walter once left a message on Li ZouXing’s lower back, which said, ‘This belongs to me.’ He wanted to make Li ZouXing exclusively his.”
The other members of the royal family grew intrigued. “What did the message say?”
“This belongs to me,” Yu Meng said, blushing at the explicit and embarrassing words. He cleared his throat and added, “Walter wanted Li ZouXing to belong to him.”
The expressions of the royal family members shifted slightly. They didn’t expect Walter to be so shameless.
“This Walter,” the Emperor muttered, shaking his head. “He’s getting up there in years and still wants to go after younger men.”
And he’s going after the young men of our Empire.
Colonel Raymond had an unpleasant expression. “I absolutely won’t allow Walter to interfere with my people!”
But did he have any say in stopping Walter?
…
On the StarNet.
The comments from both sides of the shippers kept increasing, indicating the large number of participants. Those still in shock started to think that they were simply uninformed.
While others showed no surprise, they were the only ones left astonished. Wasn’t it embarrassing to be the only one displaying shock?
Their train of thought became increasingly off-track, skipping over the most crucial and controversial point. In the end, they started getting curious about who Li ZouXing was really paired with.
Li ZouXing didn’t want to reveal who he was paired with, he just knew that his head was pounding.
Looking at these comments, all passionately arguing, his head hurts because no one would ever believe that Gu WenCheng from the Dream Team and the notorious star thief Walter of over a decade were the same person.
In short, he was involuntarily thrust into a love triangle with just two participants.
On one side, he was experiencing a tale of capture and dominance with Walter, and on the other, he was acting out a deeply emotional and tortured love with Gu WenCheng.
He raised a hand to massage his forehead, feeling like he could win an award for best actor.
Gu WenCheng glanced at him several times.
At this moment, the persistent reporter couldn’t let go and asked, “If the website’s claims are true, Mr. Li ZouXing, between your teammate Gu WenCheng and star thief Walter, whom do you prefer?”
It’s a great question.
This question suddenly put Li ZouXing in a tricky spot.
Gu WenCheng’s eyes darkened as he squinted at Li ZouXing.
He also wanted to know whom his little sun would prefer.
The emotions that seemed to be surging beneath his surface made Li ZouXing feel that he could slip into a state of dark transformation at any moment.
Li ZouXing, “…”
Isn’t it all about you, damn it?
Author’s note:
Li ZouXing: Torture
