Chapter 191
Chapter 191: You miss your mate and shove it in my face—believe it or not, I’ll hire someone to assassinate you?
Atuya was so decisive, so humble, so sincere, that Jiang Tea Tea lifted an eyebrow. “You love him?”
Atuya froze for a beat, then answered with ringing conviction. “Yes. He is my fiancé now and my future primary husband. I love him. I want to be with him for life. I want him to be happy.”
As a demon, Jiang Tea Tea liked that kind of straightforwardness. “You love him. Does he love you?”
“Does he know you came to beg me?”
Atuya’s gaze tightened, dimming just a little. “He loves me—just not as much as I love him. He doesn’t know I came to you. He wants me to capture you and bring you to the insect clan so he can use you.”
Jiang Tea Tea gave a soft laugh. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Agris what you just said and drive a wedge between you?”
Atuya said calmly, “You won’t, Miss Jiang Tea Tea.”
Jiang Tea Tea tilted her head. “Why?”
“Pure humans have an old saying,” Atuya replied. “Sincerity defeats everything. And I also know Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming wouldn’t let you come down with only your seven classmates around you.”
“In places I can’t see, countless eyes are watching you, and countless hands are protecting you.”
“If Agris and I try to harm you, countless people will jump out to stop us and hunt us down.”
“Knowing that outcome and still charging in headfirst isn’t my style.”
“So I’m asking you—help me.”
Jiang Tea Tea smiled. “You really are sincere.”
Atuya’s tone grew even more courteous. “Thank you. As long as you help my fiancé, Your Highness Agris, stabilize his abilities and soothe his mental sea, you can ask for anything.”
“As long as it’s within my abilities, I’ll do my best to satisfy you. I won’t let you down.”
Atuya’s speech jammer kept their words sealed tight. Even if anyone strained to listen, they wouldn’t hear a thing.
Chong Ming appeared silently beside Zhong Li He and reached out, taking a fried spicy bug from Zhong Li He’s hand.
Zhong Li He nearly jumped out of his skin. His hand jerked, and half the leaf-wrapped fried bug tumbled out. He twisted his head and snarled, “Are you trying to kill me? When did you get here?”
Chong Ming tossed the bug into his mouth, chewed, swallowed, then said with mild disgust, “Too numbing, not spicy enough. Next time buy from a different shop. Thanks.”
Zhong Li He folded the leaf tight again. “I bought it for myself. I like it. I’m happy. What’s it to you? If you want it, go buy your own.”
Chong Ming took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands. He flicked a glance at Zhong Li He. “I’m not bird beastfolk. I don’t eat bugs. I just saw you smacking your lips like you loved it, so I got curious and tried a bite.”
Zhong Li He grunted. “Why don’t you just admit you’re greedy?”
Chong Ming’s mouth curved faintly. “I have a mate. If I’m going to crave anything, it’s not the bug in your hand. I crave my mate.”
Zhong Li He looked like he’d been stabbed in the chest. His throat locked up. He glared like he wanted to carve Chong Ming into pieces.
Kong Que quietly took the leaf-wrapped bug from his chief executive and replaced it with cool mint water, trying to cool him down.
Jiang Tea Tea looked at Atuya. “You’re sincere and open. Compared to the other bugs I’ve met, you’re way more likable. But I can’t agree to your request.”
Atuya’s voice tightened. “Can I know why?”
“First,” Jiang Tea Tea said, “I haven’t awakened my abilities for long—not even a year. Second, I’m still in training. Third, if I treat anyone from any country, I need Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming’s approval.”
“In other words, if you can persuade Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming to give me the order, I’ll go treat your fiancé, Your Highness Agris.”
“And not just treat him. I can guarantee his ability level rises by one level. If you’re lucky, two. The premise is that the order comes from Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming.”
Atuya searched Jiang Tea Tea’s face for a lie, but that delicate, palm-sized face gave her nothing.
After a moment, Atuya stepped back. “Alright. Thank you. I’ll go communicate with Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming.”
Jiang Tea Tea nodded. “Do what you have to.”
“Sorry to bother you,” Atuya said. “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.” Jiang Tea Tea lifted a hand in farewell.
Atuya stared at her for a long moment, then turned and left.
Only after Atuya left did Huang Da Zhuang and the others finally notice their male idol standing beside the chief executive of Da Xi Nation. They exploded.
“Look, look! My male idol is here! Oh my god—am I dreaming?”
“You’re not dreaming! Our male idol is really here, and he’s wearing casual clothes!”
“No matter what he wears, standing next to the chief executive of Da Xi Nation, his aura is still stronger. He’s still the most handsome and coolest!”
“That’s my male idol! No matter who he’s with, his looks and presence crush the other person completely!”
“Before this, I thought Chief Executive Zhong was so handsome and cool. But compared like this, he’s not as handsome as our Commander-in-Chief at all.”
Zhong Li He couldn’t hear Jiang Tea Tea and Atuya earlier because of the speech jammer.
But Jiang Tea Tea’s seven classmates didn’t have one. Their insults drilled straight into Zhong Li He’s ears.
He got unhappy. He got annoyed. He couldn’t beat up kids, but he could take it out on Chong Ming. “Hey, Chong. Your little friends are talking trash about me. My body and soul are wounded. You have to compensate me. Have your 3S-grade mutant plant-type healer Jiang Tea Tea calm my backlash and smooth my mental power.”
“She’s right here. No need to pick a day—today is perfect. Have her smooth me out today.”
The first time he saw the pure human female with number 59311, he’d already thought she was special. Sure enough, she exceeded his expectations—the galaxy’s only 3S mutant plant-type healer.
Since Atuya brought her right to him, it was his lucky break. He had to squeeze Chong Ming hard.
Chong Ming took two steps back, creating distance. He looked Zhong Li He up and down and clicked his tongue. “Chief Executive Zhong, you’re ugly, and you dream big.”
Zhong Li He nearly choked. He gulped mint water to press down his rage. “I’m ugly? You’re not that good-looking either. But Chong, your Jiang Tea Tea matches my taste.”
“When I saw her the first time at the space weapons exhibition, even without knowing what she looked like, I wanted to poach her. This time—”
Before he could finish, Chong Ming stepped forward, ignored him completely, and waved Jiang Tea Tea and the others over.
Jiang Tea Tea turned and saw Chong Ming as soon as Atuya left. She blinked, surprised. Didn’t he say he wasn’t coming? Why did he suddenly show up—to deliver blood for her to drink and meat for her to gnaw?
Sui Xuan Chu and the others waited for Jiang Tea Tea, then approached together and snapped a salute. “Commander-in-Chief.”
“You’ve worked hard,” Chong Ming said. “Finished playing?”
All eight answered in unison, “Reporting to Commander-in-Chief, we’re done.”
Chong Ming hummed. “If you’re done, go back.”
“Yes, Commander-in-Chief!”
They stepped back two paces, turned, and left.
Zhong Li He’s eyes nearly popped out. “Hey—dear Commander-in-Chief official, am I some filthy thing you can’t show? I can’t even get to know your healer Jiang Tea Tea?”
Chong Ming glanced at him. “Not really. It’s just that they only get to come out once every ten days. Unlike you and me, who can sneak out whenever we feel like it.”
Zhong Li He pointed at himself. “Sneak out? Who said I’m sneaking out?”
Chong Ming coughed lightly. “I’m sneaking out. You’re not.”
Zhong Li He rolled his eyes. “That’s more like it. By the way, didn’t you say you weren’t coming? Why did you come?”
“Something came up,” Chong Ming said.
Zhong Li He made a sound. “Are you worried Atuya and Agris will snatch your 3S healer, or are you worried I’ll steal her?”
Chong Ming shook his head. “Neither.”
“Then what?”
Chong Ming said, “I’m afraid you’ll be unhappy if I say it.”
“You’ve done plenty to make me unhappy!”
Chong Ming considered that. “True.”
Zhong Li He burned with curiosity. “Stop circling. Why did you come?”
“I missed my mate,” Chong Ming said.
Zhong Li He cursed. “Damn it. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“I warned you,” Chong Ming said with a shrug. “You didn’t believe me. You insisted on making me say it.”
“As a chief executive, every major decision in Da Xi Nation needs your approval. If this mouth of yours goes viral on StarNet, your image as chief executive…” Zhong Li He shoved his mint water into Kong Que’s hands and rolled up his sleeves. “Come on. Let’s fight.”
Chong Ming stabbed him in the heart again, casually showing off. “No. Next time. I’m going to see my mate. Later.”
Zhong Li He had none of a chief executive’s dignity. He hopped behind Chong Ming like an enraged bird. “Chong, having a mate is such a big deal, huh? Look at you showing off. Your tail’s practically up in the sky!”
“I’m telling you, I’m going to dig at 59311’s wall. I’ll do whatever it takes to poach her to Da Xi Nation. Just you wait!”
Chong Ming didn’t look back. He lifted a hand and waved, like he was saying: I’ll wait.
Zhong Li He’s deep blue eyes shot fire. He snapped at Kong Que, “Kong Que, go. Tonight, go assassinate him.”
Kong Que took a slow sip through the mint straw Zhong Li He had used and spoke calmly. “Chief Executive, you can’t beat Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming. I can’t beat you. And you want me to assassinate him?”
“Fine. Anyone who knows will think you ordered it. Anyone who doesn’t will think you dislike me and want to use his hands to have me killed.”