Jiang Ling decided to experience a bit of normal life first, but escaping the palace and subsequently evading Burke Star was no walk in the park. Moreover, if Chu Wenyu got wind of his plans, the difficulty level would likely spike. After all, at least now Chu Wenyu is still very interested in him.
With this in mind, Jiang Ling wisely kept mum about everything he knew in front of Chu Wenyu.
Using conventional air travel to reach Charles from Burke Star was practically impossible. The moment he set foot in the airport, he’d probably be detained and dragged back to the palace.
Considering this, Jiang Ling devised an alternative plan.
After the annual gathering of interstellar therapists, a selected few members would be invited to a meet-and-greet event. He paid attention to the announcement for this year’s gathering, which happened to be in another galaxy not too close to Burke Star. He could leverage this reason to head to that galaxy first and find an opportunity to slip away from Chu Wenyu’s watchful eyes.
Of course, not everyone can become an officially invited therapist, so he must try his best to achieve good results. However, it shouldn’t be difficult.
Moreover, Jiang Ling suddenly remembered Princess Anna mentioning that she could help him. Perhaps he could try contacting her first.
“Why don’t you look at me when you wake up?” Chu Wenyu leaned over the bed, in a good mood as he scratched Jiang Ling’s palm, looking up and asking.
After confirming that Jiang Ling’s social media accounts were problem-free, he breathed a sigh of relief. In his mind, he was also considering the need to properly discipline the eldest princess to ensure she took care of her daughter. He didn’t want internal conflicts among the clan members.
Chu Wenyu didn’t think he had any issues. In essence, he had never experienced the warmth of family since childhood. The continued prosperity of the eldest princess’s family was merely because they were obedient.
Even if it was his own niece, he wouldn’t show mercy if she tried to compete for Jiang Ling.
Deep down, he still hoped that Anna would be sensible and follow her mother’s advice to marry a suitable husband and live a good life.
Jiang Ling gently pushed away his hand, sat up, and stretched lazily.
Chu Wenyu, sensitive to nuances, was momentarily taken aback by Jiang Ling’s actions. However, he knew he often overanalyzed situations, especially considering Alpha’s casual demeanor, so he brushed it off.
Unfazed, Chu Wenyu extended his usual invitation, “Do you want to practice mechas this afternoon?” After all, beyond this, Chu Wenyu’s imagination couldn’t conjure up any other ideas.
“For the moment, I don’t feel like sparring with His Majesty,” Jiang Ling replied without much enthusiasm.
Winning over the villain through sheer force for a temporary escape didn’t seem like a high-yield investment of his efforts. He wasn’t keen on expending his energy on such matters.
“How about I go easy on you?” Chu Wenyu quickly chimed in.
However, Jiang Ling remained unenthusiastic.
“Do you have morning grumpiness?” Chu Wenyu playfully punched the Alpha, observing his displeased expression.
Why was he perfectly fine in the morning, only to have a sudden change in the afternoon?
Jiang Ling didn’t respond either. He was in a very depressed mood and couldn’t hide it. He didn’t know what attitude he should take towards Chu Wenyu.
Normally, when he threw a tantrum, the Alpha would compromise. However, this time, Jiang Ling was unusually indifferent. The abrupt change left Chu Wenyu dumbfounded. Despite a fleeting surge of frustration, he restrained himself in the face of someone he cared deeply about.
Though unsure of the reason behind Jiang Ling’s behavior, Chu Wenyu chose not to press further. Instead, he quickly shifted the conversation to lighten the mood.
“If you don’t feel like training with mechas, the sunlight isn’t too harsh right now, how about a stroll in the garden?” Chu Wenyu cautiously suggested.
Jiang Ling often pushed him to bask in the sun, so he assumed this would meet with approval.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Ling felt extremely complicated. On one hand, he felt deeply sympathetic, but on the other, when he thought about the other side of Chu Wenyu that had just been revealed through the earphones, his heart hardened again. If he remained soft-hearted, the current situation wouldn’t change, and once Chu Wenyu’s initial interest waned, Jiang Ling’s status in the enemy state would be risky.
Perhaps he should do something like Zheng Ziang and make Chu Wenyu dislike him. Eliciting disgust might prompt a more genuine response from Chu Wenyu, sparing him from lingering softness.
“Don’t you get tired of strolling in the garden every day, Your Majesty?” Jiang Ling asked impatiently, not bothering to look at Chu Wenyu. He picked up his phone, engrossed in swiping through the latest news, although his mind was far from the headlines.
Chu Wenyu had never heard Jiang Ling speak to him in such a manner, and he was stunned.
Are you tired of walking? Or tired of being with him…
An uncomfortable feeling settled in Chu Wenyu’s heart.
Glancing at Jiang Ling’s phone screen, he noticed the news about a popular celebrity—a charming Omega with a captivating smile, a very lovable type.
Chu Wenyu wanted to divert Jiang Ling’s attention, feeling a twinge of insecurity around such Omegas.
After all, Alpha once liked an Omega. Although he technically still was, not only did he lack the charm of an Omega entirely, but he also had sequelae due to the forced change. He could never become a normal Omega again, and his identity and responsibilities wouldn’t allow it.
“But you know my legs aren’t in good shape; it’s difficult for me to do other activities with you.” Chu Wenyu pursed his lips, refraining from reacting strongly to Jiang Ling’s words. Instead, he lowered his gaze, attempting to play on his leg’s condition to soften Jiang Ling’s attitude.
Alpha had always been concerned about his leg issues, so perhaps this gentle approach would work.
Jiang Ling, with a sidelong glance, caught the expression on Chu Wenyu’s face. This didn’t resemble the demeanor of a villain, he thought.
“Well, Your Majesty, you don’t have to accompany me. Otherwise, it might become quite difficult for me to attend to Your Majesty’s needs all the time,” Jiang Ling said, surprising even himself with the words that escaped his lips. His own heart trembled at the utterance, and he couldn’t believe he had spoken such words.
Chu Wenyu lifted his eyes in disbelief, thinking he must have misheard. His hand, which had been hanging down, unconsciously clenched the fabric around his leg. An area that was usually not very sensitive now seemed to sting.
Clearly, for the past half-year, Alpha had never complained about the trouble or hardship. Or maybe, he had just refrained from saying it aloud until now.
If it were someone else, Chu Wenyu might have scoffed and dismissed them. But it was Jiang Ling who spoke these words, and the deep-seated insecurities in Chu Wenyu surfaced. Alpha couldn’t have meant it that way; he was being too sensitive.
Chu Wenyu convinced himself of this until he heard Jiang Ling add, “If Your Majesty really wants to go, I can find a palace maid to accompany you. It’s their job, after all. I can’t always be the one to do it.”
Chu Wenyu’s embarrassment and anger reached their peak, his face flushing a deep red. He shot Jiang Ling a fierce glance and, without a thought, slapped him across the face.
A crisp sound pierced the tranquil air. Chu Wenyu’s hand carried significant force, and Jiang Ling instinctively turned his head, feeling the fiery sting on his face.
Now, Chu Wenyu might think he was acting arrogantly, uttering such nonsense.
Jiang Ling sighed inwardly, preparing to accept whatever was to come.
Feeling the impact on his palm, Chu Wenyu hesitated. Regret flooded in. He had let anger get the best of him; Alpha was right. Normally, he was too domineering, not considering that Jiang Ling was not his servant and had no reason to endure everything for him. He had been wrong, causing Jiang Ling to finally reach a breaking point.
However, no matter how Chu Wenyu tried to justify his actions, the discomfort lingered in his heart. Seeing Jiang Ling’s continued aloofness, he couldn’t find more words and left the bedroom.
Expecting Chu Wenyu’s wrath, Jiang Ling, watching his departure, instead felt a pang of sorrow.
It’s just that long-term pain is worse than short-term pain. It’s better to make Chu Wenyu hate him than to let him exhaust himself constantly, worrying about him being beyond his control.
Knowing he had truly hurt Chu Wenyu this time, Jiang Ling didn’t actively take the initiative to coax him. Instead, he started engaging in one match after another, lost in his own thoughts.
The annual tournament had begun, and Jiang Ling was visibly not in top form. However, due to the weak opponents he was matched with, he effortlessly won match after match.
Because Jiang Ling didn’t make an effort to reconcile, Chu Wenyu became increasingly disheartened. Nevertheless, he wasn’t someone who gave in easily, he decided to let things pass, hoping for a chance to make amends later in the evening.
Carrying the intention of initiating a reconciliation, Chu Wenyu entered the bedroom when it was time to rest. However, as he looked around the room, he didn’t see anyone. Instinctively, his gaze landed on the door, realizing that Jiang Ling might have gone to the other room.
He clenched his fingers, regretting the slap he delivered during the day. It must have hurt a lot.
Chu Wenyu pushed the wheelchair to the door, mentally preparing his words. As he was about to open the door, he hesitated and withdrew his hand.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
