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After nightfall, the entire city fell into silence.
Han Yan sat behind the desk, but there was no trace of drowsiness in him. In front of him lay a thick stack of historical documents, the warm yellow desk lamp illuminating the pages, and without exception, all the content was related to the “Forbidden Solitiam Forest”.
It was said that the forest was full of dangers, a forbidden land even for gods. Yet, Seventh Prince Yusto happened to find that black-haired, black-eyed male zerg at the edge of the forest.
Being passengers on the same bus, and considering the other party is still alive, it made no sense that Ah Sui, who was agile and skillful, couldn’t be accounted for.
Han Yan had initially thought he was the only one who arrived in this parallel world, but now it seemed not entirely true. Perhaps the entire bus had traversed into the Zerg realm, and the drop-off point was near the Forbidden Solitiam Forest. If he wanted to find Ah Sui, he would probably have to start from that place.
Contemplating this, Han Yan rose from behind the desk and walked to the window. The night outside was vast, and the Forbidden Solitiam Forest was situated at the border of the two tribes.
Today at the banquet, Han Yan overheard a conversation between the Zerg Emperor and military commanders. The empire seemed inclined to dispatch troops deep into the Forbidden Solitiam Forest to eliminate the source of contamination stones. If successful, the next step would involve eradicating the exotic beasts, restoring normalcy to the vast expanse of the forest.
At that time, perhaps he could assess the development potential of the forest. Additionally, he could leverage the military’s strength to search for his missing grandson—
Assuming the other party could survive until then.
Han Yan spent the entire night sleepless, and before he knew it, the outside of the window was already brightly lit. Not long after, his terminal brain alarm clock rang punctually at seven.
“Ding, ding, ding! Ding, ding, ding!”
As the attendant just pushed open the door to enter the room of the Eighth Prince, Gaien, he saw the latter sitting alone by the window. Gaien was engrossed in playing with the sandalwood beads on his fingertips, maintaining that posture without any movement. He was still dressed in yesterday’s formal wear, clearly having spent the night without sleep.
The alarm clock on the bedside table continued to ring, but Gaien made no move to get up and turn it off.
The attendant, evidently accustomed to his reclusiveness, approached and gently turned off the alarm clock. He then bowed to Gaien, saying, “Your Highness, it’s time for breakfast. His Majesty announced your engagement with His Excellency Ashya this morning. We have many preparations to make in advance.”
His words finally stirred something.
Gaien paused slightly at the mention, then rethreaded the string of sandalwood beads onto his wrist. The beads, with their ancient color, contrasted beautifully with his fair skin, producing a delicate sound upon collision. His slender wrist, adorned with the beads, looked exceptionally attractive.
The attendant couldn’t help but glance at the beads, curious about their significance. His Highness had been staring at them since he returned last night.
Gaien shifted his numb legs and, without displaying any particular emotion, asked, “They didn’t request an annulment from His Majesty?”
The attendant shook his head. “No.”
Gaien questioned, “No?”
The attendant affirmed, “Indeed, Your Highness. It is said that they have already begun preparations for the wedding. His Excellency Ashya has even personally gone to the market to purchase wedding rings.”
The last piece of information was gleaned from Lord Yechi. The royal family had been discreetly monitoring every move of Han Yan. They were well-informed about every detail, including the fact that the other party had ordered a custom-made wedding ring this morning.
The attendant’s words carried a hint of envy, “His Excellency Ashya truly values you.”
Gaien, who had sat in contemplation throughout the night, seemed to have been waiting for this news. The difference was that what he awaited was not “annulment” but “marriage”.
Upon hearing this, Gaien shifted his footsteps and finally rose slowly from the sofa. Due to sitting for too long, his steps staggered noticeably for a moment. The attendant instinctively reached out to assist, but Gaien waved him away coldly.
The attendant then remembered that the Eighth Prince didn’t like assistance and quickly withdrew his hand, asking, “Your Highness, is there anything else you need?”
Gaien limped into the bathroom without looking back and uttered three words without hesitation, “Leave me alone.”
His tone was so faint that it made it difficult for the attendant to discern his true feelings. Despite taking care of Gaien for many years, the attendant was unsure about whether His Highness was pleased or displeased. The only certainty was that Gaien didn’t seem averse to the situation.
As noon approached, the bustling crowd in the market surged. At that moment, Han Yan was in the largest jewelry store on the main star, choosing wedding rings. However, upon a glance, the styles seemed somewhat similar, inheriting the flamboyant style typical of the Zerg Race.
Diamonds were indeed real, and the ostentation was undeniably genuine.
The salesperson, seeing Han Yan pass over dozens of options without finding a satisfactory wedding ring, couldn’t help but break out in a nervous sweat. Dealing with the male zergs was quite challenging, and if Han Yan were to lose his temper, they wouldn’t have much ground to stand on.
“Your Excellency, these are some of the latest quarterly releases from our store, and they have been selling very well. Even celebrities frequently patronize us. Please take a look and see if there’s a style you like.”
The salesperson almost brought out their most prized possessions, casting a pleading gaze at Han Yan, hoping he would find a style he liked. However, Han Yan remained indifferent. He casually picked up a gemstone ring, only to find that the gem on the ring was as large as a pigeon’s egg, ostentatious and eye-catching, clearly not his style.
Han Yan subtly furrowed his brow, as if he had finally given up on something. He pulled out a design sketch from his jacket pocket and handed it over, asking, “Do you accept custom orders here?”
The salesperson breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that it was a custom order. He opened Han Yan’s sketch and found a pair of wedding rings drawn on it. Although the style was simple, the design was elegantly unique. Intrigued, the salesperson looked at it for a moment and asked in surprise, “Your Excellency, is this the design for the custom wedding rings you want?”
Han Yan responded nonchalantly, “I need them within fifteen days.”
Originally, Han Yan hadn’t intended to place a custom order. The royal family’s wedding deadline was approaching, and custom orders would take too much time, filled with uncertainties. Han Yan preferred things with a high degree of certainty and disliked engaging in battles without assurance.
The salesperson respectfully said, “As a male zerg, your order takes priority. It should be no problem within fifteen days. Please wait a moment; I’ll confirm with our master silversmith.”
Han Yan nodded and sat on the sofa, quietly waiting. He absentmindedly grabbed a magazine from nearby, flipping through it while also understanding the internal situation of the commercial building. He discovered that these industries were all under the name of the Gohedra family, managed by a royal relative. In terms of seniority, he could be considered a distant cousin to Gaien. He should be able to meet the person during the wedding.
Han Yan smiled, realizing that this marriage was bringing him a network of resources far richer than he had imagined.
Little did he know that the other female zerg staff members were blushing at the sight. They discreetly observed the refined and handsome male zerg from a distance, speculating why he came alone to purchase wedding rings. Wasn’t this something usually done by female zergs?
Han Yan had a small coffee table beside him, and there was a continuous stream of staff members approaching to serve him tea, replenish his water, and offer various exquisite snacks. All of these gestures, whether direct or indirect, were attempts to obtain his contact information.
Han Yan paid no attention to these advances. Brief encounters might bring momentary pleasure, but the troubles they left behind were endless. When the cost of enjoyment exceeded the value these female zergs could bring, it became a losing deal. With the wedding date approaching, he certainly wouldn’t engage in such foolish affairs.
Moreover, as attractive as these female zergs might be, they couldn’t compare to the one in the palace who had caught his eye…
With these thoughts in mind, Han Yan closed the magazine, placed it back in its original position, adjusted his glasses, and rose directly from the sofa. He walked to the counter and asked, “Is the timeframe confirmed?”
Given the esteemed status of male zergs, a staff member promptly went inside to inquire. Shortly afterward, the female zerg who had taken the sketch earlier came out from the back and handed Han Yan a drafted contract, saying, “Your Excellency, apologies for the delay. We’ve just confirmed with the master silversmith. The customization is possible, and the details of materials and costs are outlined in the contract. The delivery will be within fifteen days.”
Han Yan, upon hearing this, glanced over the contract details and found numerous loopholes. It lacked design protection and breach-of-contract compensation clauses, providing only the delivery deadline and cost breakdown—remarkably basic.
Seeing Han Yan remain silent, the staff member cautiously asked, “If you have no issues, you can sign and pay the deposit. We will expedite the production for you.”
This shop was a well-known establishment with an excellent reputation. Despite the numerous contract loopholes, it wasn’t necessary to get too strict at this juncture.
Han Yan said nothing and directly signed his name at the designated spot, stating, “No problem. Please proceed with the production as soon as possible.”
With those words, he pulled out a star card and handed it to the staff member, delivering a substantial deposit. After that, he turned and left the commercial building.
In the following days, the royal family continued the tense preparations for the wedding. Even the external media covered the event, mainly with positive news due to pressure from the Zerg Emperor. Only a few gossip magazines still dug into Han Yan’s past, using headlines like “Lame” and “Fool” as clickbait.
Han Yan spent these days in seclusion at home, not leaving the house. He was busy settling his assets. He sold the last batch of unused items through bundled gifts, using the money as capital. In small but multiple transactions, he invested in several promising stocks, relying on the keen sense of merchants. The returns at the end of the month were quite substantial.
However, this was far from enough, and it didn’t satisfy Han Yan’s ambitions.
He wasn’t in a hurry, though. Many plans needed to be gradually implemented after the wedding. A successful businessman needs to learn the art of timing; now wasn’t the right time.
After counting his current liquid assets, Han Yan transferred a portion directly to his creditors. Adhering to Admon’s repayment plan of ten thousand stars per year seemed somewhat unethical. If the other party were to get impatient and demand the remaining tens of millions, Han Yan wouldn’t be able to gather that sum even if he sold the two male zergs.
[Ding! Transfer Successful!]
Han Yan spent the entire day in front of the holocomputer, dealing with various matters. When he finished, he realized that it was already dark. He closed his eyes, pinched his nose bridge, and, recalling something, opened the terminal to find the contact information of the jewelry store staff. He sent a message inquiring about the progress of the custom-made wedding rings and received news that they would be ready for pickup in three days.
Three days later… just in time for the day before the wedding. It was cutting it close, but it would work.
Even if time ran out, Han Yan had contingency plans.
Seeing that it was getting late, he finally closed the holocomputer and prepared to go downstairs for dinner. Admon’s culinary skills had improved significantly recently, and he could now prepare a decent meal. Little did he know that the wedding ring, which the staff had mentioned would be ready “three days later” was already in the possession of another zerg.
Even in the late hours, the palace was still brightly lit. Gaien was alone in his room, his gaze lowered as he examined the black velvet ring box in his hand. Inside, a silver ring was quietly placed. Its design was elegant, with two dazzling diamonds embedded in the center, radiating brilliance under the light, truly exquisite.
He lowered his gaze, examining the ring inside the box, and asked emotionlessly, “Why is there only one?”
The silversmith stood outside the corridor, about to step forward and explain, but was stopped by a nearby attendant. “It’s fine to explain from out here; His Highness doesn’t like unfamiliar zergs in his room.”
The silversmith had no choice but to stay outside, wearing a polite smile as he explained, “Your Highness, there are actually two rings inside. When they are put together, they form one.”
Gaien listened and took out the silver ring from inside. Applying a gentle force, as expected, it split into two. The ring’s body featured undulating mountain and sea patterns, with a transparent diamond embedded in the center. Despite the imperfections on each half, when they were meticulously joined together, they formed a complete ring. It made Gaien marvel at the exquisite design.
He slid one of the rings onto his ring finger, and to his surprise, the size was just right, as if it had been meticulously measured.
He inexplicably recalled that night in the courtyard, when the indifferent male zerg had explored him against the cool stone pillar of the pavilion. From the back to the waist, from the thighs to the ankles, until finally, he slowly intertwined their fingers, fitting them seamlessly together, much like these two rings in his hand.
Gaien lifted his hand, showcasing the delicate silver ring on his ring finger, and scrutinized it under the light with focused and serious eyes. “Did he provide the design for these?” he asked.
The silversmith paused for a moment before realizing that by “he” Gaien referred to someone specific. “Yes, it was provided by His Excellency Ashya.”
Gaien didn’t say anything more. He continued to gaze at the ring for a moment, then slowly took it off, placing it back into the ring box. He stood up from the sofa and, instead of immediately returning the ring, hobbled into the inner room. From a display cabinet, he retrieved a red velvet box. Opening it revealed two dazzling pair-cut diamonds, even more beautiful in their fiery brilliance, and of a rarer variety.
Gaien had already forgotten what he looked like without a limp in the past. Surprisingly, he had the leisure to collect such items, as if they were rare treasures acquired during battles on some distant planet.
He remained silent, caressing the sandalwood beads on his wrist. He thought of it as a gift in return to that particular male zerg, not considering it a waste.
After a brief glance at the contents, Gaien closed the box again. He then hobbled back to the main room, gesturing for the attendant to come in. Handing over the items, he calmly instructed, “Have the silversmith replace the diamonds on these with new ones.”
As for how the silversmith could complete the work and deliver the items to Han Yan within three days, that was not within his consideration.
The attendant acknowledged with a word and quietly withdrew, holding the two velvet boxes. At the same time, a question that had been on his mind for a long time finally found an answer—
His Highness must truly appreciate this marriage, or else he wouldn’t have changed his indifferent demeanor, involving himself in every detail, even bringing out his long-held collection.
The door closed again, restoring the quiet atmosphere.
The white terminal lay on the corner of the desk, flickering with a red light. At some point, a trade notification popped up. Gaien opened it to find that there was a transfer of five million to his stellar account, and the sender happened to be Ashya.
The debt, which was originally in the hands of a noble in the imperial capital, amounted to nearly fifty million. However, with the intention of the royal family to form a marital alliance with the Admon family, they wouldn’t let such leverage slip away. After the marriage was confirmed, the debt went through several hands before finally landing in Gaien’s possession.
Gaien pondered over the situation. The debt handed over by the Emperor, out of concern for Gaien’s well-being after the marriage, turned out to be more of an unexpected trust exercise. Despite initial doubts, Han Yan proved to be trustworthy by consistently repaying the debt periodically. Now, the outstanding amount was reduced to less than thirty million.
Marriage to such a capable male zerg was a complex situation—whether it was fortunate or unfortunate remained uncertain. Gaien was undeniably outstanding, and it was evident that attempting to manipulate him was a futile endeavor.
Sitting on the sofa, Gaien continued to play with the sandalwood bead bracelet on his wrist. In about ten minutes, the female zerg tutor responsible for instructing him in marital matters would arrive.
Every female zerg must learn how to serve their future male lord, in various parts of the body, be it the mouth or other areas. They must strive to learn as long as the male zerg likes it because that’s the guarantee of post-marriage favor.
However, it’s apparent that Gaien has no talent in this aspect. He doesn’t resist, and one could say he’s accepting, but his lifeless demeanor clearly doesn’t apply to intimate matters.
“Your Highness, male zergs certainly won’t appreciate a dead fish in bed.”
The responsible female zerg for teaching appeared serious. Although the Eighth Prince is more obedient and easier to instruct than the Seventh Prince, it still furrows the teacher’s brow.
“You need to be passionate in front of them, breathe heavily, not remain motionless like a corpse.”
“Male zergs will never like a dull female. With your current attitude, you’ll end up alone in an empty room after marriage.”
Author’s note:
Han Yan (adjusting his glasses): That’s not for you to decide.
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