Facing the increasingly cautious Chu Wenyu, Jiang Ling also started to waver. Besides maintaining a cold attitude, he refrained from uttering any more offensive words. Each time he caught sight of the mask that the other hesitated to remove, along with the self-reliant actions that matched the words, Jiang Ling couldn’t help but feel he had been excessively harsh on him.
He had always been easily swayed by this person.
But he didn’t have to endure the dilemma for long; an opportunity came soon.
“In a couple of days, Princess Anna is hosting a birthday banquet. Can I attend?” Alpha seemed indifferent to his feelings, making the request word by word.
Chu Wenyu’s expression turned extremely unpleasant, veins nearly bulging on his forehead. He hadn’t expected that his unreserved obedience during this period would lead to such an outcome. Yet, he still suppressed the anger within.
“But you’re well aware of Anna’s interest in you. You said you won’t make me feel uneasy…” In the end, Chu Wenyu licked his pale, dry lips and spoke with an incredibly vulnerable posture.
To avoid softening, Jiang Ling deliberately turned his head away, refusing to look at him. In a dry, scripted tone, he said, “I’m just attending a friend’s birthday party. Does Your Majesty need to be concerned?”
Even though he felt his words sounded shabby, he had to seize this golden opportunity.
“Jiang Ling, if you’re unhappy, just tell me. I can change.” Unable to withstand Alpha’s indifferent attitude over the past days, Chu Wenyu finally looked up at Jiang Ling, who stood taller than him. His eyes were watery, and the tears finally spilled, hidden beneath the mask.
“Your Majesty, please don’t overthink. Is there anything you need to change?” Jiang Ling tugged at the corner of his mouth.
He almost couldn’t tell if Chu Wenyu’s tears were genuine or not.
He had thought about it carefully. He was wrong from the beginning; everyone is an independent individual. He shouldn’t have held expectations for Chu Wenyu to change. It wasn’t fair to him. So now, he needed to correct this mistake. He was selfish too; he truly feared a life of being controlled.
“I agree to let you go.” Chu Wenyu felt a wave of helplessness towards Jiang Ling’s unresponsive demeanor. He inexplicably sensed that the other was drifting farther away, and he couldn’t seem to grasp hold of it. Apart from unification, he couldn’t think of any method to slightly please Alpha.
It was only at this moment that a faint joy appeared in Jiang Ling’s eyes.
Princess Anna’s birthday banquet was his chance to escape.
Initially, Jiang Ling understood Princess Anna’s feelings for him and didn’t intend to further provoke her. However, when she actively offered to help him leave Burke Star, Jiang Ling’s heart wavered.
[In a couple of days, my mother will host a birthday banquet at home. Find a way to attend, and the rest is all arranged.] This was the last message Anna sent to Jiang Ling.
It took great effort for her to send this message because she understood that there could be no other possibilities between them.
However, since it was someone she had liked so much, not to mention knowing the emperor’s inappropriate intentions towards him, Anna determined that if she couldn’t be with Jiang Ling, she would help him one last time.
Helping Jiang Ling escape under the emperor’s nose was no easy task. Anna couldn’t come up with a flawless plan on her own, but she had someone by her side to advise her—Wilson.
After receiving the message, Jiang Ling immediately deleted any inappropriate chat records that could reveal their plans to the villain. At the same time, he made the request to Chu Wenyu.
Princess Anna had always carried a faint sorrow about Jiang Ling leaving Burke Star, but she didn’t anticipate that she couldn’t leave unscathed herself.
Chu Wenyu could never change his vengeful nature. Though he had recently shown vulnerability in front of Alpha, once he realized he couldn’t alter the situation, he redirected his anger towards the root cause.
When he coldly contacted the eldest princess, issuing orders with the pressure of a superior, it was hard to imagine that she was his own blood sister. Since he couldn’t refuse Jiang Ling, he had to restrict as many possibilities as possible from other aspects.
Princess Anna’s birthday banquet was quickly approaching, and naturally, Chu Wenyu accompanied Jiang Ling to the event. Knowing the meticulous nature of Chu Wenyu’s thoughts, Jiang Ling was well-prepared for what lay ahead.
What was originally a small private birthday celebration for Princess Anna became inflated due to the king’s attendance. When the eldest princess displayed a grand and elaborate setup, even Anna was taken aback. Although she was not thrilled about having many unfamiliar faces at her birthday party, the thought of helping Jiang Ling made her less concerned. After all, birthdays are meant to be celebrated, regardless of the circumstances.
On the day of the event, Chu Wenyu and Jiang Ling set off from the palace after getting ready.
Jiang Ling wore a well-fitted suit, this time not refusing Chu Wenyu’s assistance in adjusting his tie. Watching the other’s tightly pursed lips and meticulous movements, Chu Wenyu’s slender hands looked quite skillful.
However, a sudden sadness overwhelmed Jiang Ling. If everything went as planned, he would be able to leave today, and perhaps he might not return. Besides reaching the climax of the original book’s plot, where he had to hide in the shadows and monitor Chu Wenyu’s spiritual state, there might be no reason to come back.
Yet, when the moment arrived, it wasn’t as joyous as he had imagined. Instead, he felt a melancholy longing, wishing for time to slow down a bit more.
Bitterness filled Jiang Ling’s heart, and he found himself wondering if he had genuinely developed Stockholm syndrome.
“You look very handsome,” Chu Wenyu complimented sincerely, observing the blond Alpha with neatly arranged hair behind his ears and a tall, well-proportioned figure.
However, Jiang Ling didn’t seem as happy as expected.
“What’s wrong? Did you forget something?” Chu Wenyu asked in confusion, a vague sense of foreboding creeping over him.
At first, Jiang Ling shook his head. He wouldn’t dare bring anything that might arouse suspicion from Chu Wenyu. Aside from accumulating some star coins in his account, his hands were empty. But then he paused and said, “Well, there are a few things I didn’t bring.”
He retrieved a necklace from the cabinet that Chu Wenyu had picked for him on their first truly meaningful date, tucking it into his pocket. Since he wasn’t accustomed to wearing jewelry, it often remained untouched.
In the end, he couldn’t bear to have no trace left by Chu Wenyu.
After checking, he confirmed that the necklace was untampered with, alleviating any concerns about potential tracking devices. Perhaps, in moments when he couldn’t resist the pangs of longing, he could take it out and reminisce.
“Got it,” Jiang Ling signaled that he was ready to go.
Chu Wenyu keenly noticed what Jiang Ling was holding, a hint of delight flickering in his heart. He instinctively touched the necklace around his own neck, feeling warmth in his palm.
Jiang Ling, did this mean he was forgiven?
The author has something to say:
Things are about to get exciting, so please bear with all the plot twists. I won’t be changing anything anyway, hiahiahia~~~
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)
