Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen
Hearing Guan Xingchen mention “in the future”, Si Nuo’s heart stirred slightly but he didn’t respond. Instead, he carried his tray and found an empty table with the man. The cafeteria was lively and bustling at the time.
Si Nuo thought that given Guan Xingchen’s status, he probably rarely came to a place like the cafeteria to eat, yet there was no sign of discomfort on Guan Xingchen’s face.
“I have something to give you. After we finish eating, do you want to go to my dorm for a bit?”
Faced with Si Nuo’s invitation, Guan Xingchen naturally wouldn’t refuse. “May I?”
Si Nuo nodded.
A smile appeared in Guan Xingchen’s eyes. “Then I’ll be intruding.”
After lunch, as Si Nuo and Guan Xingchen were about to leave the cafeteria, they bumped into Ren Ju coming toward them carrying a bowl of soup.
In the instant they passed, Guan Xingchen suddenly reached out and grabbed Si Nuo’s shoulder, forcefully pulling him close. With a bang, the bowl of soup spilled down all over Ren Ju’s face.
“Ah!” The sudden scream echoed throughout the cafeteria, quickly silencing the previously noisy lunchroom.
Ren Ju stood stiff, drenched head to toe in soup and food, completely shocked at what had just happened.
The chubby guy walked up behind, startled by the scene. “Ren Ju, what’s going on here?”
He faltered mid-sentence as he noticed Si Nuo standing not far away and instantly realized something. “Si Nuo, how could you let this happen?”
When Guan Xingchen dumped the soup on Ren Ju, Si Nuo was just as shocked. Before he could react, Guan Xingchen’s cold yet undeniably commanding voice cut in: “If you want to know why, ask him!”
The chubby guy, who had only just noticed Si Nuo before, instinctively looked over at Guan Xingchen. When his eyes met Guan Xingchen’s fierce black gaze, his heart skipped a beat.
Ren Ju seemed to finally come to his senses, looking embarrassed and stammering, “How—how could you two…”
His words abruptly stopped. Suddenly, a chilly sensation spread through him, and the next moment his body stopped moving, as if something was binding him in place. A terrifying murderous aura filled the surrounding space.
Ren Ju’s face turned pale as paper.
Guan Xingchen gave no chance for either of them to argue. He released his hold on Si Nuo’s shoulder and instead took hold of Si Nuo’s wrist. “Let’s go.”
Only after Guan Xingchen led Si Nuo out of the cafeteria did the invisible oppressive killing aura around Ren Ju seem to dissipate.
Ren Ju’s body went completely limp and he fainted on the spot.
Si Nuo, holding Guan Xingchen’s wrist as they walked out of the cafeteria, said softly, “Thank you.”
Guan Xingchen released his grip, lowering his eyes to look at him. “There’s nothing worth thanking me for in something like this.”
Earlier, when they passed by each other, Guan Xingchen had clearly seen Ren Ju’s attempt to splash the soup onto Si Nuo.
Si Nuo smiled at him but didn’t want to talk more about Ren Ju. “Well, let’s go to my dorm. I have something for you.”
Seeing that Si Nuo didn’t want to say more, Guan Xingchen was considerate enough not to ask further.
When Si Nuo brought him back to the dorm, Zhang Yu hadn’t returned yet. “Our rooms are two-person dorms. My roommate is Zhang Yu—the guy you met before. He usually takes good care of me. Would you like some water?”
Guan Xingchen didn’t move around much after entering; he stood quietly, looking around the small but cozy dorm room.
However, when his eyes fell on belongings belonging to someone else, he felt a bit awkward.
After Si Nuo handed him a bottle of water, he gave Guan Xingchen the previously wrapped drawing board. “It’s a painting. You can look at it when you get back.”
Guan Xingchen reached out, but the painting board was still wrapped, so he couldn’t see what was on it. “Is this a gift for me?”
Si Nuo smiled and said, “It’s a return gift. Thank you for the cake.”
Understanding the meaning, Guan Xingchen accepted without refusal. “Then I won’t be polite.”
He didn’t stay long at Si Nuo’s dorm. Si Nuo saw him off at the school gate, where Guan Xingchen stopped and said, “I’m glad to have met you today. No need to see me off—I can go back on my own.”
Si Nuo nodded. “I’m glad too. I hope you’ll like the painting after you see it.”
He gestured to the painting board in Guan Xingchen’s hands.
Guan Xingchen replied, looking at Si Nuo, “Can I come again tomorrow to watch you paint?”
Si Nuo hadn’t expected the question but smiled, “If you don’t find it boring, you’re always welcome.”
Guan Xingchen said, “Alright, see you tomorrow.”
Watching Guan Xingchen leave, Si Nuo felt new emotions stirring inside him.
During the many hours spent with Guan Xingchen that day, the man seemed to deliberately suppress his strong presence, as if he was very aware of, and afraid of, something.
Though he was very strong-willed, he was also gentle.
Suddenly, Si Nuo felt that this person was not quite what he had imagined.
He couldn’t help but curl the corners of his lips slightly, feeling a bit happy.
When he returned to the dorm, Zhang Yu had already come back. Seeing Si Nuo walk in, he jumped up from his chair and exclaimed, “Si Nuo, did you hear? I heard Ren Ju got a whole bowl of soup poured on his face in the cafeteria and actually fainted! I don’t know who did such a great thing, but it’s a shame I wasn’t there—I’d have definitely applauded!”
Seeing how excited Zhang Yu was, Si Nuo didn’t keep it from him and told him what had just happened.
After hearing it, Zhang Yu looked admiring. “Not surprising coming from His Highness, the move was truly extraordinary. That’s exactly what should be done—serve that despicable Ren Ju right!”
“You said he fainted? Was he taken to the infirmary?” Si Nuo wondered since Ren Ju was so prideful, being publicly doused like that and fainting was understandable.
Zhang Yu laughed. “Don’t mention it. The chubby guy carried him to the infirmary, but when the school doctor saw how covered in soup and food Ren Ju was, he made the chubby guy put him on the floor instead of the bed. Too bad Ren Ju didn’t wake up then—if he did, it would have been even more dramatic!”
Watching Zhang Yu’s schadenfreude, Si Nuo could only smile and shake his head.
“By the way, have you sent out that painting yet? I don’t see it here.”
“Yeah, just sent it.”
Zhang Yu chuckled, “He definitely didn’t expect you to paint him a portrait!”
Guan Xingchen really hadn’t expected Si Nuo to give him a portrait. Looking at the painting, surprise flashed in his eyes.
The aide standing beside him was also surprised. “Your Highness, is this a painting gifted to you by Si Nuo?”
Guan Xingchen stared intently at the painting and didn’t respond.
The aide looked at the Guan Xingchen in the picture and couldn’t help but say, “Besides the likeness, the spirit and aura have been captured very well. This is how he sees you, Your Highness—quite handsome in Si Nuo’s eyes!”
Guan Xingchen glanced at the aide. “Handsome? I feel like he painted me looking fierce.”
The aide was speechless.
Uh, looking carefully, it does seem quite fierce—the eyes are almost murderous!
“Just hang it in the bedroom. Yeah, above the bed.”
The aide immediately smiled, “Understood, I’ll hang it right away!”
Though he spoke of fierceness, deep down he was actually very pleased—Their Highness was truly one of those who said one thing but meant another.
Unfortunately, his body was honest.
The aide hung the painting while Guan Xingchen stood nearby supervising. “A bit to the left, a little more to the right… okay, that’s good.”
Only when the painting was hung squarely in the middle above the bed did Guan Xingchen nod in satisfaction and let the aide step down.
After finishing, the aide smiled and said, “Your Highness, since Si Nuo has already gifted you a painting, does this mean things between you two are settled? Should I start preparing the wedding arrangements?”
Guan Xingchen looked at the painting. “You can start preparing. What’s the status of the investigation?”
At this question, the aide immediately grew serious, putting away his smile. “I personally went to check and also asked the student who held the painting. So far, healing paintings only work effectively for psychics between A and S levels. That’s why the people we sent showed no reaction. I also obtained the painter’s contact information from them. Should I bring him here for questioning?”
“First, investigate the background of this painter.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
While Guan Xingchen was about to investigate Si Nuo, Si Nuo himself received a message from Lu Cen.
Knowing that his painting might have attracted the attention of a high-ranking military officer, Si Nuo was not surprised.
After all, since his painting had such a miraculous effect, it was only a matter of time before it was noticed.
The only question was when they would come looking for him.
Zhang Yu was somewhat worried, “Could this cause trouble?”
Si Nuo shook his head, “It’s too late to worry now. When soldiers come, the general defends; when water comes, the earth covers.”
Seeing Si Nuo’s carefree attitude, Zhang Yu could only laugh wryly. “You’re too casual. Aren’t you worried they might capture you for research or cause you problems?”
“That’s beyond my control. I sell paintings to survive; if I don’t sell, I die. Either way, I’m dead. What’s the point of overthinking?”
Since his body was fragile, Si Nuo felt a bit reckless now.
He didn’t believe those people could really control him anyway. For now, it seemed his paintings had remarkable effects on psychic disorders.
Zhang Yu misunderstood another point. “Actually, you don’t really have to be afraid—you have His Highness as your strongest support. Honestly, His Highness is very good-looking, but just too fierce. I felt weak in the knees after just one look today. Aren’t you scared?”
Speaking of fierceness, Si Nuo couldn’t help but smile. “Actually, it’s not that bad.”
Now he clearly understood that Guan Xingchen’s fierceness was always reserved for outsiders.
Seeing him smile, Zhang Yu immediately held his chest in mock anguish. “Ahhh, my goodness! Is this the sour, rotten smell of love?”
Si Nuo blushed. “Don’t talk nonsense! We have nothing going on!”
Zhang Yu clicked his tongue. “Nothing going on yet he knows how to protect you? What if there really is something—how would that be!”
Si Nuo couldn’t argue with that, so he reached out and punched him on the shoulder. “Why are you so chatty today!”
Maybe because they had such a pleasant time with Guan Xingchen today, Si Nuo was too excited to sleep.
He lay on the bed for a while before sitting up again to hold his drawing board and start painting.
While Si Nuo was busy painting, Guan Xingchen received a message from his aide: “Your Highness, after repeated confirmation, the healing painter’s identity is indeed Si Nuo.”
Author’s note:
Guan Xingchen: It’s my wife!
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