Translator: Moonlit
Editor: Aiya-ge
The journalist’s question seemed intentionally provocative, and it stirred up emotions in Gu WenCheng. Li ZouXing couldn’t understand. Whether it was Walter or Gu WenCheng, weren’t they both him?
They were both charismatic, both flirtatious, and both liked to show off. Why bother distinguishing them? For Gu WenCheng, both identities belonged to him.
Li ZouXing didn’t believe that Gu WenCheng could be so idle. In the end, he could only come to one conclusion: this guy was doing it on purpose.
In short, Drama King Cheng Cheng was online.
A brave journalist asked the question on behalf of the public, and all the others fell silent, eagerly awaiting Li ZouXing’s response.
This was highly exciting. Regardless of whether Li ZouXing chose Walter or Gu WenCheng, whatever he said would undoubtedly set the entire Empire ablaze.
After several seconds, the protagonist finally spoke. Li ZouXing turned to face them. He was in his military uniform, wearing the newly added insignia of a captain. Despite being a young man more than ten years younger than the journalists, he exuded an aura that commanded their obedience.
Li ZouXing was usually seen with a friendly smile in public, giving the impression of warmth and justice. However, at this moment, the audience watching him through the lenses and the journalists facing him remembered that he wasn’t just a good-natured young man.
He was also the Empire’s strongest in terms of mental power, the primary force that had defeated the Chongye Star Pirates, and their newly promoted captain.
“I refuse to answer this question,” Li ZouXing glanced at the camera. “Any questions about my personal feelings, you can refrain from asking.”
Gu WenCheng couldn’t seem to divert his gaze from Li ZouXing. His heart was pounding, and all those frivolous thoughts were immediately suppressed by the captivating presence of Li ZouXing. He couldn’t help but think, how could Li ZouXing be so handsome?
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he flirted shamelessly, knowing Li ZouXing couldn’t react physically.
Li ZouXing felt the intense gaze, making his posture even more upright, his countenance more imposing. “Turn off the cameras,” he ordered.
The journalists obediently complied.
Only then did the Dream Team escape the encirclement. Li ZouXing’s teammates gave him a thumbs-up, praising him for his skillful performance. It had all flowed seamlessly, and he had been incredibly charming.
Li ZouXing walked confidently, while Gu WenCheng couldn’t take his eyes off him. Not paying attention to his own steps, he almost stumbled, but his boyfriend quickly caught him, encircling his waist to keep him steady.
Gu WenCheng subconsciously sucked in his breath, relieved that he hadn’t embarrassed himself in front of the public.
“Feeling jealous of yourself,” Li ZouXing quipped, and then added, “You’re quite trendy, Gu WenCheng.”
In retrospect, it was rather embarrassing. Gu WenCheng rubbed his forehead and offered a reason, “They were arguing so convincingly that for a moment, I felt that Walter and Gu WenCheng were two different people.”
Li ZouXing smiled, “Did you say that to cover up your guilt?”
Gu WenCheng humbly replied, “Well, it’s still accurate.”
“From the moment it started, the entire empire knows about the love triangle between us,” Li ZouXing said, “Honestly, do you feel good about it?”
Gu WenCheng remained silent for a minute this time before finally smiling. “Yeah, it feels good.”
With his handsome features, he looked even more radiant, making his teammates almost squint their eyes from the brightness. They chose to stay out of Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng’s relationship since it was too intense for them, and they typically avoided getting involved.
“If it feels good, then don’t get all jealous,” Li ZouXing remarked, pinching Gu WenCheng and frowning. “Why do you seem thinner?”
People who were together every day often didn’t notice each other’s changes. Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng were constantly in each other’s company, and it was only when he hugged Gu WenCheng that he realized he had become slimmer.
However, Gu WenCheng looked lean in his clothes, yet he had the perfect muscles one would expect when he took his shirt off. There didn’t seem to be any noticeable weight loss.
“I haven’t lost weight,” Gu WenCheng, content, replied. “The whole world knows you’re mine, or at least, you’re Walter’s. Even if they don’t know that Walter is me… there’s no reason to be jealous.”
The more he talked, the more he felt like being jealous. But as a grown man, Gu WenCheng felt that he needed to be more rational.
No one wanted their partner to feel overly constrained.
It was quite astonishing. Gu WenCheng used to be the kind of person who couldn’t stand anyone acting jealous all the time. But it seemed like ever since he met Li ZouXing, he had become more immature, both in behavior and mindset. It was as if even the heavens wanted to help him make up for his lost youth.
Li ZouXing saw through his facade, and he couldn’t help but smile, finding this guy adorable. Even his pretense of not being jealous was cute.
“Whether it’s Walter or Gu WenCheng,” he whispered in Gu WenCheng’s ear, enunciating each word clearly, “I like you the most.”
Said and unsaid, it felt the same.
Gu WenCheng glanced at him, but he felt like he was walking on air.
Finally, they returned to their hotel. The online discussions continued to simmer. Li ZouXing was eager for something, but Gu WenCheng was engrossed in the Star Net website.
Li ZouXing leaned over to see what he was reading. Gu WenCheng was engrossed in a highly-rated fanfiction about the two of them. It began on the battlefield, and the undertones in the writing hinted at a tragic ending.
Li ZouXing didn’t want Gu WenCheng to read a tragic story about them, so he tried to divert his attention.
“Darling,” Li ZouXing sat beside him and playfully nuzzled his neck, “I want to go to sleep.”
Gu WenCheng got goosebumps all over, and Li ZouXing’s advances ignited a fire in him. He didn’t even close the lightbrain, completely forgetting about the website. He turned around and rolled onto the bed with Li ZouXing.
Every time Li ZouXing acted coy, it seemed like it took away half of Gu WenCheng’s lifespan. But despite his towering presence, his level of playfulness and cuteness when he pouted could rival Xi Nan in the eyes of others.
Yet, Gu WenCheng loved it, to the point where he loved every single strand of Li ZouXing’s hair.
He loved every bit of Li ZouXing’s liveliness and cuteness, even when he playfully poked him.
This event continued until dinner, and Li ZouXing felt that the Energy Crystal must have changed more than just his mental abilities. Because now, he felt it was just okay, not enough.
He kissed Gu WenCheng, then tenderly licked a pomegranate seed and asked in a husky voice, “Will Nan improve my physical fitness?”
“It will accelerate the growth of a developing body,” Gu WenCheng’s chest trembled, his voice still steady, “while enhancing physical strength. Taking NK-03 will counteract the side effects.”
Li ZouXing teased him, pretending not to understand, and asked, “What are the side effects?”
“… Nothing,” Gu WenCheng’s expression remained composed. “Eat quickly, be a good boy.”
There was no way he was going to tell Li ZouXing about the side effects of NK-03.
Absolutely not. He had to keep the secret of how it brought him back to his youth, even if Li ZouXing asked. He’d pretend not to know until he took this secret to the grave.
“And if your physical strength is further enhanced, can you handle it?” Li ZouXing frowned. “To be honest…”
His voice grew quieter and he confessed, “I still don’t feel it’s enough.”
Gu WenCheng’s hand trembled, unable to contain the strength surging within him. He collapsed completely on top of Li ZouXing, staring in disbelief. He had never taken Nan, but his physical fitness was undoubtedly excellent.
With such strength, Li ZouXing was still saying it wasn’t enough.
Did that mean he had never felt satisfied before?
So long, and it’s still not enough. If it were enough, how many times would it take?
His heart ached.
But he didn’t know whether he should be feeling sorry for himself or for his lover.
Gu WenCheng embraced him again and began to kiss him.
Their passion was fervent, and Li ZouXing and Gu WenCheng engaged in affectionate intimacy for nearly half an hour. Both of them were covered in sweat.
Li ZouXing was truly a good man. After every encounter, regardless of the hour or how tired he might be, he would bathe Gu WenCheng, ensuring he was clean and comfortable in bed.
Gu WenCheng had grown accustomed to being pampered by him. Despite the potent restorative effects of NK-03, he still felt physically drained immediately after, and though he initially resisted, he now readily sought to be held.
After their shower, Li ZouXing went out to get food. They ate their meal, and then suddenly, Gu WenCheng said, “Let’s use the medication tonight.”
Li ZouXing was taken aback, discarded the leftovers into the trash, and poured a glass of water for Gu WenCheng. “Why this all of a sudden?”
Gu WenCheng held his hand tightly. “I’m returning to Chengyang Military Academy tomorrow. Carrying the medication on me could lead to it being detected.”
The reason was definitely not this, but Li ZouXing, in his good-natured way, agreed. “Alright, do you need me to prepare anything?”
“You don’t have to do anything,” Gu WenCheng suddenly fell silent. After a while, he released Li ZouXing’s hand and covered his face in anguish. “ZouXing, I don’t want you to use NK-03.”
It was too dangerous, and Gu WenCheng had become selfish.
He was scared.
Li ZouXing calmly responded, “Alright, then I won’t use it.”
In the past few days, Gu WenCheng had been acting strangely, and Li ZouXing had already suspected it had something to do with the medication. Therefore, when Gu WenCheng mentioned it, he agreed without hesitation.
But Gu WenCheng didn’t expect Li ZouXing to be so resolute and was utterly astonished. “Do you really not care whether you use NK-03 or not?”
Li ZouXing was not ignorant of this medication. On the contrary, he was fully involved. There were very few people in the world who understood the effects of NK-03 better than him.
The source of the conflict between the Star Thieves and the Empire, the power that could turn someone into the strongest in the world. Gu WenCheng couldn’t believe that Li ZouXing had decided to forego it just because he mentioned it.
“No need,” Li ZouXing smiled and sat beside him. “It’s unnecessary.”
Gu WenCheng murmured, “It would make you stronger.”
Strong to the point where no one and nothing could restrain him.
People who experienced this kind of power would never stop pursuing greater strength. Gu WenCheng was no exception. Yet, at this critical moment, he had considered asking Li ZouXing to stop using NK-03, driven by his own selfishness and the fear of losing him.
He genuinely wanted Li ZouXing to become stronger, and impervious1something that is not affected or influenced by something else to harm, but he was even more afraid that Li ZouXing couldn’t endure the effects of NK-03.
Even if reason told him that the chances of success were very high, when it came down to it, Gu WenCheng was filled with fear.
He couldn’t bear the thought of a life without Li ZouXing.
He couldn’t even imagine it.
Li ZouXing’s reassuring tone calmed him, “Even without it, I’m already strong, aren’t I?”
He retrieved NK-03 from the box next to Gu WenCheng. The transparent liquid didn’t look impressive. Li ZouXing stood up and walked to the trash can, pouring the contents into it.
The process was so swift that it didn’t give Gu WenCheng time to reconsider. The last bottle of NK-03 had vanished from the world.
“Nan, I could use it,” Li ZouXing said as he threw the test tube away. He returned to embrace the dazed Gu WenCheng, smiling. “Hey, handsome, come back to your senses.”
For Li ZouXing, having or not having NK-03 was the same.
He never demanded of himself the kind of strength that Walter had. His current power was already astonishing, so why take the unnecessary risk of increasing it when it meant risking his life?
Gu WenCheng was the protagonist; others were not. They didn’t have the same fate. If NK-03 had caused so much chaos, then let it, as well as the others who wanted it, disappear from this world entirely.
After a long silence, Gu WenCheng softly asked, “Will you regret it?”
His emotions were complicated.
“No, never,” Li ZouXing replied firmly. “Never.”
A resolute man is very handsome, and this handsome man kissed Gu WenCheng’s cheek. “Don’t be afraid; we won’t take risks.”
He was treating him so well, pampering him too much.
Gu WenCheng’s nose tingled, and he murmured, “I’m sorry.”
It was his selfishness that had led Li ZouXing not to use NK-03.
Li ZouXing smiled again. “Why are you overthinking it?”
Gu WenCheng remained silent, holding Li ZouXing’s hand tightly.
“I’m selfish too,” Li ZouXing said as if he knew what was on Gu WenCheng’s mind. He moved in front of him, locked eyes with him, and said seriously, “I don’t want to face danger. I don’t want to be separated from my husband.”
Most importantly, he didn’t want Gu WenCheng to worry.
In a feigned death state, even if he would eventually wake up from it, just the thought of Gu WenCheng being by his side when he was in that state made Li ZouXing think it over and decide it wasn’t worth it.
There was no need.
They shared an affectionate and blissful kiss.
Gu WenCheng genuinely felt this way.
The whole world was waiting for them to fall in love.
So they fell in love.
This kind of love is destined to be happy, right?
No, he has to say it more firmly.
This kind of love is absolutely happy.
No matter what others think, whether they can accept it or not, for Gu WenCheng, as long as he has Li ZouXing, that’s enough.
A knock on the door suddenly rang out.
“Hey, WenCheng, ZouXing, let’s go out and have fun. We haven’t explored the capital star yet!”
“I heard that there are many delicious foods on the capital star. What do you want to eat?”
“You two lazybones, if you don’t come out soon, I’ll barge in.”
“When we see something interesting out there, hehe, don’t blame us, okay!”
The lively and cheerful voices of their teammates echoed outside the door, truly experts at ruining the atmosphere.
Gu WenCheng smiled slowly.
Except for ZouXing.
Having teammates is enough.
Repeatedly interrupted in their intimacy, Li ZouXing’s veins throbbed on his forehead. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to give their teammates a lesson. “These guys.”
Soon, exaggerated cries and pleas for mercy sounded from outside the door.
Today, the Dream Team had another harmonious and wonderful day.
– End of Text
Author’s note:
With this, the main text is finished. The upcoming extras will be updated once per day, and then it’s time for some more serious stuff~
The remaining extras will be sweet with their teammates and virtual world adventures.
Thanks to all of you for your continuous support. I love you all, and I appreciate every comment, every critique, every bottle of nutrients. Thank you for your love for XingXing and ChengCheng, and your understanding and encouragement toward me. I love you all, truly grateful. Wishing everyone peace and safety!
