Chapter 48 – Confession to His Highness

Three years later

City A was bustling with activity. It had developed quite rapidly over the past two years. At this moment, the experimental high school located in the heart of the city was on its lunch break. Many students in the classrooms had stacks of books on their desks. Students in school uniforms moved through the hallways, and the bell outside rang a few times. The teachers only left the classrooms after assigning homework.

Jian Mei was packing his things, getting ready to go to the school cafeteria. His classmate, Xiao Pang, asked, “Meimei, after lunch, do you want to play a game of basketball?”

Jian Mei replied, “But I haven’t finished my math homework yet.”

Xiao Pang said, “Oh, that’s not a big deal. You can finish it later. If you can’t, I can let you copy mine.”

Jian Mei shook his head and said, “No, I’d rather do it myself.”

Xiao Pang understood him well. Jian Mei was straightforward, and Xiao Pang admired him for his efforts. He was always diligent and gave people a sense of seriousness and reliability.

Xiao Pang encouraged him, “So, you really want to study medicine at a university?”

Jian Mei nodded and said, “Yes.”

Xiao Pang thought Jian Mei was quite admirable. Even though he didn’t have exceptional talent, he was hardworking, always grounded. Xiao Pang said, “Then come and play for a while; it won’t take much of your time. You know, it’s essential to have some fun.”

Jian Mei had a soft heart, and he eventually agreed, saying, “All right.”

Now that Jian Mei had agreed, the matter was settled. Xiao Pang was proactive, and during lunchtime, he gathered the basketball team for a game on the school’s playground. Many girls passing by were also watching. After the first game ended, there was a mid-game break, and sweat glistened on Jian Mei’s fair face.

A girl rushed over and handed him some water, saying, “Meimei, you’ve worked hard. Have some water.”

Jian Mei smiled at her and said, “Thanks, Zhenzhen.”

Cai Zhenzhen also entered the same high school as Jian Mei, and she was still the school’s beauty queen. She was now also serving as the manager of the basketball team, responsible for various matters concerning the team.

Cai Zhenzhen raised her beautiful face and teased, “This is part of my job.”

Xiao Pang, who was behind them, came over and said with a smile, “Then, manager, what about our water?”

Cai Zhenzhen pointed to the water nearby and said, “It’s right over there. You can get it yourself.”

Xiaopang clicked his tongue and said, “Manager, why are you treating us differently? Meimei’s water was brought to him, but we have to get it ourselves. Didn’t you say it’s part of your job?”

Other basketball team members gathered around, smiling meaningfully.

Cai Zhenzhen glared at them and said, “Are you looking for trouble?”

The little princess was about to get angry, and no one dared to joke with her anymore. They quickly walked away to avoid getting involved.

Jian Mei leaned against the wall, resting. Seeing others going to get water, he tried to catch his breath and said, “Zhenzhen, you don’t have to…”

Cai Zhenzhen’s face suddenly turned red, and she quickly said, “It’s not for your sake; it’s just because your health is poor, right?”

Jian Mei was taken aback.

He then chuckled and said, “I see. Well, thank you.”

In the sunshine, Jian Mei looked clean and fresh, with his eyebrows and eyes relaxed. Over the past two years, Jian Mei had changed from his middle school days, shedding his childishness and gaining a more handsome and mature look.

Xiao Pang came over with water and asked, “Meimei, how are you holding up?”

Jian Mei wiped the sweat from his forehead with a tissue and replied, “I’m okay.”

“It’s just that I won’t be able to play in the second half,” Jian Mei expressed some regret, “I don’t feel well.”

Xiao Pang was understanding. They had known about Jian Mei’s health issues for a while, and he had regular check-ups with the doctor. The results were usually okay. However, his body had been weak since he was young and needed special attention. So Xiao Pang said, “That’s okay. A few of us are here, and you can take a break on the sidelines.”

Jian Mei nodded and said, “Okay.”

Cai Zhenzhen added, “Tonight, our class monitor is celebrating her birthday, and we’re all invited. Remember to come.”

Jian Mei asked, “But isn’t there evening self-study tonight?”

Xiao Pang patted Jian Mei’s shoulder and said, “You forgot; this afternoon the school area will undergo maintenance, which means a power outage tonight. Our class monitor got the inside information from our homeroom teacher, so she sent us invitations yesterday.”

Jian Mei nodded and said, “I really forgot. Well, wait for me tonight. I’ll go to the mall to buy a birthday present for the class monitor.”

Xiao Pang chuckled, “I’ll go too; I haven’t bought anything either.”

Cai Zhenzhen gave them a disdainful look and said, “You guys, just don’t be late. You know what our class monitor is like. If you stand her up, you won’t hear the end of it.”

Jian Mei and Xiao Pang quickly agreed.

Knowing that they might be let out of school early in the afternoon, Jian Mei was eager to finish his math homework, so he could relax in the evening. Later, he left school and went to the mall. When he finally had some free time, he took out his phone to message Lu Xingwang.

“Are you there?” Jian Mei texted. “I left school early.”

At this time, Lu Xingwang should be busy, given his usual hectic schedule. However, he surprisingly replied quite promptly: “Are you at home?”

Jian Mei corrected him, saying, “No, I’m at the mall.”

On the other end, Lu Xingwang was at the military training ground observing the new recruits assembling mechas. He didn’t need to issue many commands or supervise closely; just his presence was imposing enough. Even the most hardened recruits wouldn’t slack off in front of him. They all knew His Highness was checking the information terminal, but they never guessed that the stern and impartial drill military instructor was responding to a message from a young man.

Lu Xingwang asked, “You are out shopping?”

Jian Mei told him about the class monitor’s birthday and kept walking. He noticed various small trinkets being sold at a nearby stall, and the stall owner was quite enthusiastic. “Special discounts on everything,” the vendor proclaimed. “Buy one, get one free.”

Among the cute little keychains, there was a beautiful gray crystal bear keychain that immediately caught Jian Mei’s attention. After replying to Lu Xingwang’s message, he put away his phone and approached the stall, asking, “How much is this one?”

The stall owner replied, “15 yuan each.”

Jian Mei nodded and handed the vendor some coins from his small wallet. “Give me one.”

Once the stall owner had it wrapped, they handed Jian Mei a light blue bear keychain as well. “We’re having a promotion today. Buy one, get one free, and this is the free one.”

Surprisingly, Jian Mei was this lucky.

He had bought a keychain , so he didn’t hesitate to send other one to DaZhuang ge. “I got you something.”

In the next moment, a toy bear appeared in Lu Xingwang’s hand. If he hadn’t acted quickly, the bear might have fallen to the ground, giving the crowd of new recruits a chance to enjoy the show.

“Why do you always buy these strange things?” Lu Xingwang looked at the object in his hand and replied, “Do you have enough allowance again?”

Jian Mei stuck out his tongue at him. “It’s not expensive.”

After messaging Lu Xingwang, Xiao Pang called him to let him know he had arrived. So, Jian Mei informed Lu Xingwang that he was going to pick up his classmate and put his phone away.

At the other end, someone approached Lu Xingwang.

Zuo Qingshan handed him a bottle of nutrient solution and said, “I heard that you’ve been practicing with this group of people since morning. Even if they can’t have a meal, Your Highness, why aren’t you eating?”

Lu Xingwang took the nutrient solution and had a sip, saying, “I’m not very hungry.”

Zuo Qingshan really wanted to scoff at him, “Even if Your Highness doesn’t eat for three days and nights, I doubt you’d feel very hungry.”

Over the past few years, as he became more familiar with Lu Xingwang, he came to understand how determined and capable this man was. Once he set his mind on something, he would dedicate all his energy without regard for his own well-being. No wonder he was the first person who had such fighting power and ability in thousands of years.

Lu Xingwang glanced at him and asked, “General, are you free today?”

“Why do you say so?”Zuo Qingshan handed a stack of documents to Lu Xingwang and replied, “Your Highness suspected some shady activities by the Crown Prince recently. I did some investigation and found he has frequent communication with several small planets.”

Due to Zuo Qingshan’s firm control over the country’s military affairs, even though General presented himself as neutral and didn’t take sides, it was clear to observers which side he would support in a fight between the princes for throne.

Some marveled at Lu Xingwang’s political awareness and connections, as he managed to establish a strong relationship with Zuo’s family during their difficult times three years ago. This led to a power struggle between the Crown Prince, who had the support of the Prime Minister, and the Third Prince, who had the backing of the military and government.

Lu Xingwang glanced at the documents and crumpled them, saying, “Father’s health has been deteriorating these past two years. He can’t sit still anymore.”

Zuo Qingshan chuckled, “Perhaps he’s getting anxious because Your Highness hasn’t died yet.”

Lu Xingwang always knew that Zuo Qingshan had a sharp tongue, but he didn’t bother to respond. However, Zuo Qingshan was unusually eager today. He leaned in and noticed the teddy bear keychain in Lu Xingwang’s hand, and asked with excitement, “Did your little friend buy you something again?”

Since he added friend Jian Mei as friend back then, Zuo Qingshan occasionally chatted with him.

“What kind of double standards is this?” Zuo Qingshan said enviously. “The only thing he’s ever given me in these years was a toy car he bought on sale, two for the price of one at the supermarket!”

The corner of Lu Xingwang’s lips lifted imperceptibly, and even though he didn’t say a word, it was clear he was in a good mood.

Zuo Qingshan clicked his tongue, “Truly, kids you’ve raised from childhood are different. If you ask me, when you have official business trips, you should go visit him.”

Lu Xingwang’s expression became more reserved, and he raised his gaze, asking, “Do you have nothing else to do?”

Zuo Qingshan: “Huh?”

“Then take the opportunity to bond with your new recruits.” Lu Xingwang tossed the training manual to him. “I appreciate Major General concern, but I’ll head back for a meal now.”

His Highness, who left without giving anyone a chance to react. When Zuo Qingshan came back to his senses, the training manual had already fallen into his hands.He pursed his lips, casting an irritated glance at Lu Xingwang’s departing figure. Well, he can’t even meet in person; he deserves to be single.

…

City A, Grand hotel

Today is the class monitor Meng Ting’s birthday, She was going to do something big which she had planned for a long time-—to confess her feelings to the person she likes on her birthday.

Her best friend, Xiao Mei, asked, “Meng Ting, are you really sure about this?”

Meng Ting replied, “I’m afraid that if I don’t say it now, I might not have another chance.”

To be honest, there was nothing wrong with that statement. They were already in their final year of high school, facing increasing academic pressure, and with only one year left, some opportunities would slip away if not seized. She had liked him for a long time, and today, she even had the hotel provide several bottles of red wine, thinking that if she got too nervous, the wine could give her courage.

Xiao Mei reassured her, “Your grades are good, and you’re quite attractive. I think you’ll definitely succeed.”

Meng Ting also quietly hoped for success and nodded gently, saying, “I hope so.”

As the class monitor, all their classmates were present, giving her face. Meng Ting’s family wasn’t particularly wealthy, but they were considered pretty well-off. Today, she wore a rare, high-end light blue dress that cost several thousand yuan, which was quite a departure from her usual school uniform. Under the hotel’s corridor lights, she looked incredibly fresh and beautiful.

A chubby classmate approached and said, “Hey, class monitor, you look really nice today!”

Meng Ting blushed and smiled shyly, “Do I really?”

Afterward, she looked a bit shyly towards her interest, and she saw the young man in a casual white shirt also looking at her. His eyes were so bright and clear, reflecting her image distinctly. In that moment, Meng Ting could almost hear her own heartbeat. Then, she heard her Jian Mei say, “Class monitor, you should keep warm. The hotel’s air conditioning is quite cold, and your knees are exposed. Be careful of catching a chill; this might lead to joint pain in the future.”

…

The crowd fell into silence.

To alleviate the awkwardness, Xiao Pang did his best and said, “Haha, Class monitor, we brought you a gift.”

Meng Ting regained her composure and tried to console herself, thinking it was just concern, and replied, “Why be so polite? What gift?”

Xiao Pang handed her a pink gaming console and said, “This is the latest model, and it has limited edition games. Don’t say I’m not good to you, Class Monitor. Don’t deduct points from me for being late in the future.”

Meng Ting accepted it and said, “Thank you.”

In fact, she was more excited about Jian Mei’s gift.

Sure enough, Jian Mei didn’t come empty-handed. He held a beautifully packaged box and gave it to Meng Ting. The exquisite packaging made it look quite valuable. Mengting received it with a big smile and said, “Why be so generous, buying something expensive…”

The box had large bold letters that read “Vision Health,” and it contained a variety of health supplements to improve eyesight. Jian Mei introduced it to her, saying, “Class Monitor, you have nearsightedness, right? This product is excellent, take it regularly, and it will be very effective in improving your vision. If your nearsightedness still not improve, I can even prescribe something for you.”

…..

Everyone fell into another moment of silence.

Class Monitor forced a slightly awkward but polite smile and said, “Thank you, Mei Mei.”

Jian Mei, politely and gracefully, responded, “You’re welcome.”

Xiao Mei behind them couldn’t stand it anymore. She wondered why Jian Mei was blessed with such looks and a great personality but wasn’t given a high emotional intelligence.

Regardless of the process, the birthday party continued as usual. When it was time to cut the cake, other classmates were cheering, allowing the birthday person to make a wish. Meng Ting stepped forward, blushing, and under the teasing questions of the crowd, she cast a subtle glance at Jian Mei and said, “I hope that at the age of 18, I can leave no regrets in my youth.”

The crowd understood the meaning, and there were sighs all around.

Xiao Pang asked, “Clasd Monitor, do you have someone you like?”

Meng Ting shyly turned her face away and said, “Why are you asking this?”

Others could tell something was up, so they suggested, “Since we’ve pretty much finished eating, how about we play a game like ‘Truth or Dare’? Let’s take this balloon, for example. I’ll throw it, and whoever it lands on has to choose.”

Everyone agreed.

Having a birthday party is all about having fun. These students were usually under a lot of pressure at school, so they wanted to relax when they had the chance. The only one who remained somewhat reserved and sober was Jian Mei. He couldn’t drink, and he didn’t overindulge in dinner. He just had a couple of bites of cake while others were enjoying themselves. The most common questions among the students during this lively game were about relationships.

Usually, someone would take this opportunity to confess their feelings or make a successful connection.

Some things are neither entirely good nor bad and can’t be avoided. Soon, the balloon landed on Jian Mei.

Xiao Pang approached and asked, “Jian Mei, will you choose ‘Truth’ or ‘Dare’?”

Jian Mei, typically opting for the easy way out in such games, said, “I choose ‘Truth.”

All the classmates in the room turned their curious eyes toward him. After all, Jian Mei was usually a very low-profile guy, and there were many things about him that piqued their interest.

Xiao Pang thought for a moment and was the first to ask, “Tell us the truth, is there a girl you like?”

The room fell into silence.

Under these watchful eyes, Jian Mei replied straightforwardly, “No.”

His crisp and clear answer unknowingly broke the hearts of many in the room, including Meng Ting and the nearby star Cai Zhenzhen. Both girls had very unpleasant expressions, but it was the girls who felt heartbroken, while some boys didn’t seem to mind.

The game moved on quickly, with several other students taking their turns. Jian Mei continued to eat his small cake, and unexpectedly, the balloon seemed to have a personal vendetta against him as it landed on him once again.

The other students burst into laughter.

Jian Mei was quite resigned, but he remained calm. He gently put down his cake spoon and asked, “It’s my turn again, isn’t it?”

Xiao Pang said, “You’ve already chosen ‘Truth’ earlier, so now you’ll have to pick ‘Dare.'”

But this child is really too good. He is friendly to his classmates, and he even provides free medical advice for minor illnesses. His classmates know that he’s not in the best of health, so they naturally don’t want to put him in a difficult situation in this game.

So, Xiao Pang thought for a moment and said, “How about calling your most recent contact and telling them ‘I love you’? Let’s see how they react.”

Other classmates also cheered for the idea.

Jian Mei thought for a moment and asked, “Can it be a family member?”

His most recent call was to Shen Meina, saying that he wouldn’t be coming home for dinner tonight.

Xiao Pang shook his head and said, “No, it can’t be a family member. It has to be one of your friends.”

Jian Mei took out his phone from his pocket, scrolled through his recent calls, and realized that his most recent communication was through WeChat, and the recipient was DaZhuang ge.

His classmates urged him.

“Come on, Mei Mei, do it.”

“It’s just one sentence, go for it.”

“Yeah, go for it.”

Jian Mei thought that it wasn’t a big deal after all. He nodded and said, “Alright.”

He tapped on the profile picture of Lu Xingwang, clicked to make a voice call. Usually, at this time, DaZhuang ge might still be at work and unable to answer, and Jian Mei wasn’t entirely sure. However, surprisingly, DaZhuang ge’s communication was smooth today. The voice call was answered shortly after it was placed, and in the hushed anticipation of his classmates, a deep male voice came from the other end, saying, “Hello.”

In an instant, many people’s eyes widened!

This voice was like something straight out of a CEO idol drama. Just by listening to it, one could imagine a drama with a hundred thousand words!

Jian Mei fiddled with the spoon, his fair hand, and asked, “Are you at work?”

Lu Xingwang replied, “No, I’m going to a class reunion.”

“Ah, I see,” Jian Mei took a deep breath to steady himself and, under the attentive gaze of his classmates, spoke up, “I have something I want to tell you.”

Lu Xingwang, who was unprepared at the moment, casually asked, “What is it?”

Translator’s Note-Guys don’t forget to support and comment your views(^-^)

And What a cliff hanger……….