Chapter 273: Chapter 270: [The Empress’s Decision]
Chapter 270 [The Empress’s Decision]
A pebble dropped into the lake, sending ripples spreading in concentric circles.
A moment later, as the ripples subsided, another pebble was tossed in.
The evening sun cast its glow upon the lake...
"It kind of looks like a poached egg."
Chen Xiaoguo’s giggly comment made Sun Keke beside him frown and give him a sideways glance.
During their horseback ride, her guard had been down for a moment, allowing him to take advantage. Now, thinking back on it, Sun Keke still felt a mixture of shame and anger she couldn’t bear.
She had been determined to never pay attention to this little scumbag again.
For days, she had forcefully suppressed all sorts of tender feelings and grievances in her heart, yet she hadn’t anticipated that today it would all come crashing down.
At that moment on horseback, why hadn’t she hardened her heart to bite this little scumbag to death?
Recalling how she had nestled in Chen Nuo’s arms on horseback, her body as soft as if she had no bones, Sun Keke couldn’t help but feel her cheeks burn.
Chen Nuo chuckled, came closer, and hugged Sun Keke from behind.
Sun Keke struggled hard for a moment, but Chen Nuo held her tightly. Unable to break free, she eventually stopped moving, though her body remained somewhat stiff.
Chen Nuo’s heart stirred—he was gradually discerning the girl’s thoughts at this moment.
She was certain to resist... for the sake of face, out of self-respect, she had to put up a fight.
But, if he was firm enough, giving her an excuse to deceive herself, then Sun Keke just needed a reason to stop resisting, didn’t she?
The girl in his arms stilled, but Chen Nuo could feel Sun Keke’s heartbeat accelerate and her breathing quicken.
"Actually, these past few days, I’ve really wanted to see you—perhaps I should have gone to see you sooner," Chen Nuo sighed, whispering in her ear, "Keke, I’m sorry."
Sun Keke’s body trembled slightly. Then she took a deep breath, wriggled twice in Chen Nuo’s embrace, turned around, and met his eyes, her face mere inches from his.
"So... Chen Nuo, are you just trying to fob me off and sweet-talk me into coming back?"
"Hmm?"
"We’re not just arguing, not just having a tiff, it’s not some trivial matter," Sun Keke bit her lip and said in a low voice. "Today you’re pacifying me like this, but what about tomorrow... Are you going to placate the other few as well?"
Chen Nuo stared into Sun Keke’s eyes and said earnestly, "I swear, my relationship with Li Yingwan and the others is not what you think it is."
"What about Lu Xixi?" Sun Keke asked with downcast eyes.
Chen Nuo fell silent.
Sun Keke sighed and this time struggled forcefully, trying to break free from Chen Nuo’s embrace.
Chen Nuo did not let go.
Sun Keke shook her head. "Chen Nuo, let me go."
"...I won’t," Chen Nuo shook his head. "I said it today: even if I have to be despicable and shameless, even if it means losing all face, I won’t let you leave me."
Sun Keke scoffed. "So what? Your so-called despicable and shameless behavior, your utter lack of shame, means you want both me *and* Lu Xixi?!"
The girl’s eyes questioned him sharply.
Without hesitation, Chen Nuo actually nodded. "That’s right!"
He, he actually shamelessly admitted it?? Sun Keke stared, stunned for a moment, her eyes wide as she looked at Chen Nuo.
"You... you... you really are shameless!"
Chen Nuo simply nodded. "Yes. Didn’t I already tell you?"
Sun Keke stammered, "...You..."
Before she could finish, his mouth covered hers.
Sun Keke’s eyes widened instantly.
Chen Nuo pulled back slightly, smacked his lips, and said with a grin, his eyes narrowed, "Are you wearing lip gloss?"
"You... jerk!" Sun Keke’s face flushed red as she raised her hand to slap him.
Unfortunately, the slap was weak and feeble, and Chen Nuo easily caught her wrist.
Then, as Sun Keke stared dumbfounded, Chen Xiaoguo’s face moved close again.
"Mmph..."
Her lips were covered once more.
Sun Keke struggled in Chen Nuo’s embrace, but he forcefully held the back of her head, and with his other hand, he pulled hers around his neck.
She pulled it free, and he caught it again, placing it back.
After several attempts, the girl’s breathing grew heavier, and her body went limp.
Finally, at some point, Chen Nuo had loosened his hold, but Sun Keke’s hands were subconsciously, actively, clinging around his neck...
"Shh, don’t shout."
Luo Qing patted the class leader on the shoulder.
Actually, a few other classmates from Senior Year, Class Six were peeking at the scene from behind.
The class leader turned back to look at Luo Qing. "The bus is here, at the park gate. It’s time to go back."
"Alright, let’s not meddle in their affairs. They’ll find their own way back," Luo Qing said with a smile, dragging the class leader away while waving to the classmates behind them.
A group of teenage boys and girls, faces alight with the grins of eager gossips, quickly ran across to the other side of the road, heading towards the park entrance.
Among them, Wang Xu, walking beside his sister, cast a despairing glance at the two figures embracing and kissing by the lake. He sighed heavily and quickened his pace to leave.
Who knew how long that kiss lasted.
Sun Keke felt as if she were about to suffocate from lack of oxygen before the heartless little scumbag finally let her go.
As their lips parted, Sun Keke immediately slumped weakly into Chen Nuo’s arms, her head habitually resting against his chest as she panted softly.
"You... you hurt me just now..." the girl complained, dissatisfied.
"Let’s be reasonable, we were just kissing, nothing else. Saying that could give people the wrong idea," Chen Nuo replied with a wry smile.
Sun Keke blushed, then punched Chen Nuo lightly. Frowning, she said, "I’ve had a canker sore inside my lip for the past two days. It really hurts."
"Huh?"
"It’s from getting worked up. You made me so angry," Sun Keke said, her eyes red.
Looking at his face, a wave of sorrow suddenly washed over the girl.
With a loud wail, she burst into tears.
Chen Nuo was taken aback and quickly wrapped his arms around Sun Keke. But she only cried harder, her tears flowing like a breached dam, seemingly unstoppable.
"Chen Nuo... what on earth do you want from me! What am I supposed to do!" Sun Keke cried hoarsely, all the hurt and grievances she had bottled up for days finally bursting forth.
She cried until she had no strength left to stand, collapsing against Chen Nuo, her hands tightly clutching his shirt.
Chen Nuo sighed, "Keke..."
"What am I supposed to do..." Sun Keke sobbed. "My heart can’t bear to leave you... but I hate you so much. You... how could you do this to me, Chen Nuo?"
On the way back to Jinling, which took nearly two hours, Sun Keke did not speak another word to Chen Nuo.
Brother Lei was driving, expertly navigating the car to the entrance of the staff dormitory area of No. 8 Middle School.
All the way, Sun Keke kept silent, just staring blankly out of the window.
Seeing the girl’s haggard face and red eyes from crying, Chen Nuo’s heart ached. He also knew he couldn’t push her to concede anything more today.
He had pushed things to their limit for the day.
Sun Keke was an ordinary girl, with a normal person’s views on love and marriage. His relentless pressure today had already shaken her defenses to their breaking point.
It was impossible to make Sun Keke accept everything in a single day.
Pushing her any further might provoke a backlash.
When they got out of the car, Chen Nuo walked with Sun Keke into the dormitory area, escorting her to her building’s entrance, just like he used to.
After being silent for two hours, Sun Keke finally spoke.
"I’m going up now."
With that, the girl turned and walked into the building entrance.
"Wait a moment."
Chen Nuo took two quick steps, caught up to Sun Keke, and gently took her chin in his hand. He looked at her closely, then pulled a pack of tissues from his pocket, took one out, and carefully wiped the tear stains from the corners of her eyes.
Then, he leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.
After her emotional outburst, Sun Keke was much more rational and instinctively tried to dodge such an intimate gesture, but Chen Nuo kissed her forcefully anyway.
Sun Keke lowered her head again and turned around, but after a step, she turned back, biting her lip as she looked at Chen Nuo.
"Chen Nuo."
"Hmm?"
"I will never accept it."
"Hmm..."
"What you want... that... that shameless thing." Sun Keke’s face was a little pale, but her tone was firm. "Two women? How is that possible! I can absolutely never accept something like that... No normal person could! So... if you really want to be with me... You understand! I can forgive what you did before. But... it’s either me! Or her!"
With that, Sun Keke turned and hurried upstairs without looking back.
Chen Nuo stood there, sighing softly.
This was asking him to choose between the two.
Difficult... simply not possible.
But... perhaps it was progress.
From previously refusing to accept him.
To now, offering a chance, willing to forgive his scoundrel actions, as long as he chose one of them to return to...
She had loosened up after all.
Take it step by step.
Such a naïve girl...
She doesn’t actually understand that when it comes to yielding, there are only two possibilities: never, or countless times...
Chen Nuo smiled bitterly to himself.
Damn, I really do have the makings of a scumbag...
A black sedan pulled up at the gate of the estate.
The first to step out of the car was a man with a hooked nose, dressed in a neatly pressed suit, his shoes shining brightly.
From the other side of the car emerged the tall and burly Vanel, a veritable bear of a man, and a middle-aged man in a gray suit.
Standing before the iron-barred gate, one of them pressed the call button on the wall.
Soon, a clear child’s voice came from inside.
"Who is it? Private estate, no visitors allowed!"
The middle-aged man in the gray suit smiled, stepped back, and looked up at the surveillance camera mounted on the wall.
"We are here to pay a visit to Her Majesty the Empress."
As he spoke, he took a golden badge from his pocket and flashed it.
After a moment of silence, the voice from the intercom, now Lu Xixi’s, said,
"Members of the Security Advisory Group? Come in."
The barred gate slowly swung open automatically.
The man in gray walked at the front.
The hooked-nosed man walked second, nodding and smiling at the surveillance camera as he passed the gate.
Vanel, expressionless, followed at the back.
In the reception room on the left side of the first floor of the estate’s main building.
There were British-style printed sofas, large floor-to-ceiling windows, and thick curtains.
Since it was autumn, no fire had been lit in the fireplace.
On the coffee table before them were black tea and some exquisite refreshments.
After the estate’s servants had arranged these, they quietly withdrew.
A moment later, a little girl with long white hair walked in.
Yu Naitang, also known as Little Candy, was wearing a velvet house robe and slippers, yawning as she entered.
Her gaze swept over the three men, quickly and accurately landing on the man in the gray suit.
"Members of the Senior Security Advisory Group?" Little Candy put on a serious expression and extended her hand. "Your badge. Let me see it."
The man in gray smiled and placed the badge on the table.
Little Candy went over, took a glance at it, then tossed it back to the man.
"Alright, the badge is real. Octopus Monster’s Senior Security Advisory Group." Little Candy looked at the man in gray. "So, are you the one in charge?"
"Yes, I am the person in charge of external liaison for the Senior Security Advisory Group," the man in gray replied, showing no hint of condescension despite Little Candy’s youth. He smiled politely. "May I ask when we can see Her Majesty the Star Queen?"
"You can tell me first," Little Candy shook her head. "Teacher isn’t free to see you right now."
"The matter is not complicated," the man in gray said slowly. "According to the senior security advisory agreement Her Majesty the Empress signed with our company, she is required to prioritize one mission commission for our company each year. So..."
"Apologies, Teacher has been a bit busy lately, so she won’t be going out for the time being," Little Candy immediately refused.
The man in gray frowned slightly. He glanced at his two companions before saying slowly, "The Empress’s senior advisory agreement with our company does have its clauses..."
"I didn’t say she wouldn’t do it," Little Candy replied nonchalantly. "But Teacher isn’t in the mood to go out recently. So, this year’s mission will be postponed until next year. They can accumulate, and she’ll do two missions for you next year."
The man in gray looked troubled. "This..."
"If you’re not satisfied, you can terminate the contract," Little Candy shrugged. "It’s only an advisory fee of ten or twenty million a year. Do you think my teacher is short of money?"
"The great Star Sky Empress certainly wouldn’t lack money," the hooked-nosed man suddenly interjected with a smile, looking into Little Candy’s eyes. "So this isn’t about money. It’s about the trust and friendship built up over many years of cooperation between Her Majesty the Star Queen and our company."
"Since it’s friendship... friends shouldn’t impose on others or make things difficult," Little Candy was not swayed and retorted immediately. "My teacher has personal matters to attend to recently and isn’t available to go out on a commission. Since you’re friends, you should be considerate."
The hooked-nosed man raised his hand, stopping the man in gray from speaking, and said with a smile, "Naturally, we wouldn’t dare to impose on Her Majesty the Star Queen... However, we’ve come a long way. Could we possibly meet Her Majesty the Star Queen in person to explain this commission? Then, whether she accepts or refuses, Her Majesty the Star Queen should at least give old friends a direct answer. That would be appropriate, wouldn’t it?"
Little Candy tilted her head, thinking. "Hmm, that does make sense. Alright then, wait here. I’ll go ask Teacher. Whether she sees you or not isn’t up to me."
After leaving the reception room, the indifferent expression on Little Candy’s face vanished instantly. Her eyes gleaming, she dashed off, skipping and hopping up the stairs along the corridor.
"Teacher! The people from Octopus Monster seem really anxious! I think this could be a fat commission! If we negotiate well, we might be able to fleece them for a hefty sum!"
The hooked-nosed man rose and stood at the entrance of the reception room, as if listening intently for something.
"Don’t waste your effort," the man in gray said, calmly shaking his head. "How could anyone eavesdrop on the Star Sky Empress’s residence so easily?"
The entire estate is protected by a spiritual power barrier.
Here, all attempts to use Special Abilities for reconnaissance are blocked. Even powerful Ability Users wouldn’t be able to spy or hear any activity, even if separated by just a wall or a door.
"Of course... if your strength reaches the Controller level, you might be able to bypass this barrier."
The hooked-nosed man nodded, not disappointed.
If the residence of the great Star Sky Empress didn’t have such a shield, that would be abnormal.
He returned to his seat on the sofa, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said with a smile, "Then we shall await Her Majesty the Empress’s appearance."
"Are you confident that you can convince her once you meet her?"
"Of course not, but... there’s no harm in trying."
A short while later, the door to the reception room was pushed open, and this time Lu Xixi entered.
Lu Xixi wore a loose-fitting house robe, her hair casually coiled at the back of her head and secured with a single hairpin.
Even without deliberate adornment, when Lu Xixi walked into the reception room, both the man in the gray suit and the hooked-nosed man couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath, awed by Lu Xixi’s stunning beauty.
Vanel’s breathing also seemed to hitch slightly.
Lu Xixi, her expression calm, walked lightly to sit on a single armchair opposite the three men. She regarded them coolly without speaking.
The man in the gray suit immediately rose to his feet, his tone very respectful. "Great Controller, legendary light of the Underground World, Her Majesty the Star Queen! I offer you my greetings!"
Lu Xixi nodded. "I recognize you. You’re... Hawk Victor, correct? We met three years ago during an operation in Egypt."
"Yes, three years have passed. Her Majesty the Empress is as beautiful as ever... No, I should say your radiance increases daily." The man in the gray suit complimented with a smile, then gestured to his two companions. "These two are my colleagues from the company..."
Only then did the hooked-nosed man stand up, smiling and bowing slightly to Lu Xixi. "Your Majesty the Empress, I am Carter, head of the external operations team for Amazing World Company. It is a true honor to meet the great Star Sky Empress. Please call me Carter."
"Carter? That sounds very much like an alias," Lu Xixi pursed her lips.
The hooked-nosed man wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest. He smiled faintly and said, "As you surely know, these names are merely... company procedure. Besides, a name is just a label used for address."
Lu Xixi made a noncommittal sound and turned her gaze to Vanel. "And this gentleman?"
"He is my deputy. You can call him Vanel."
Vanel? Isn’t his full name supposed to be Vanel... Scapegoat Davarishi?
Lu Xixi, however, maintained a neutral expression as Vanel stood up, nodded a greeting to her, and pretended they were meeting for the first time.
"My student informed me of your purpose. I have indeed been declining commissions recently due to personal matters. However, since you insisted on speaking with me directly, and out of respect for the longstanding friendship forged through years of cooperation with Octopus Monster, I am willing to hear the details of your request. Then, I will reconsider."
The man in the gray suit nodded, then glanced at the hooked-nosed man. "Very well. Regarding the details of the commission, you may present them to Her Majesty the Empress."
The man with the hooked nose smiled and took a stack of documents out of the bag he carried, placing it slowly on the table.
"Your Majesty, this operation is the highest-level mission our company has undertaken in nearly twenty years! If it weren’t so critical, we wouldn’t have come to visit you in person..."
"You could have called me, or sent me a message on the website," Lu Xixi shook her head.
Your phone was unreachable, and you don’t reply to private messages... the man in the gray suit grumbled inwardly.
The hooked-nosed man, however, just smiled, pointedly ignoring Lu Xixi’s remark, and began to lay out the details.
"For this operation, we plan to assemble at least three top-tier experts—that is, three Controllers!—and no fewer than ten Destroyer Level Ability Users.
Plus, we’ll be providing an excellent logistical support team!
This mission has been designated the highest priority within our company; all our global resources will be mobilized to support it!
Naturally, for a mission of the highest priority, the remuneration offered by our company will certainly be a price that satisfies you."
"Oh?" Lu Xixi chuckled softly.
"You alone will receive a cash payment of 150 million US Dollars." The hooked-nosed man stated calmly, a faint smile on his lips. "Even for Controllers, who are not short of money, this is not an insignificant sum. Of course, we are well aware that beyond a certain point, pure monetary value becomes just meaningless numbers. Therefore, in addition to the cash reward, we also..."
"Let’s discuss the mission content first," Lu Xixi interrupted, shaking her head. "I’m starting to get curious. What kind of mission would make Octopus Monster Company offer such a high reward? I alone would get 150 million. You mentioned three Controllers. If each gets 150 million, that’s 450 million US Dollars just for the three of them. And that’s not even counting the ten Destroyers you mentioned. As long as I’ve known Octopus Monster Company, you’ve never organized an operation of this level and scale before."
The hooked-nosed man nodded. After a slight hesitation, he said slowly, "You must understand that the specific details of the commissioned task can only be disclosed once you formally agree to accept it. Before that, I can only briefly outline some of the general content."
"Mm, then tell me what you can."
"This is a search operation," the hooked-nosed man said with a smile. "The mission is scheduled for approximately one month from now. And the mission location... is... Antarctica!"
Hearing this, Lu Xixi nodded. "Antarctica? A month from now would be November. That’s when spring and summer begin there, the relatively warmest time of year. It’s indeed the most suitable time to go to Antarctica." (The seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are opposite.)
As Lu Xixi spoke, she suddenly noticed Vanel, who was sitting behind the hooked-nosed man. Though Vanel’s expression remained unchanged, he gave her a subtle, almost imperceptible nod.
Is he... signaling me to accept this commission? A thought flashed through Lu Xixi’s mind.
"The main task of the commission is a search operation... but what exactly we are searching for, as well as the details, I must beg your pardon for not being able to disclose at the moment. Unless... you can confirm to accept the commission."
Lu Xixi nodded. "Understood."
After speaking, the Empress narrowed her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
The hooked-nosed man and the man in the gray suit both watched the Empress, awaiting her decision...
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