Chapter 215

Chapter 215: I Don’t Even Need to Lift a Finger—Your Own Bird Will Do It for Me

Zhong Li He’s laughter echoed through the warship. He laughed until he was breathless, shoulders shaking, slapping his thigh loud enough to sound almost obscene.

Chong Ming’s sharp gaze slid past him and landed on Kong Que.

Kong Que met Chong Ming’s golden eyes.

No words were exchanged, but something passed between them in that brief, silent clash.

Kong Que lowered his gaze first. He stepped forward half a pace and spoke with practiced respect, his voice honed like a blade.

“Chief Executive, leaving aside the fact that Miss Jiang Tea Tea is carrying Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming’s dragon hatchling—”

“Even if she weren’t,” Kong Que continued evenly, “someone of her caliber is top-tier talent. Now and in the future, she should belong to Zhen Lin Empire, not another nation.”

“You met her before,” Kong Que reminded him. “She treated you like a friend. She even said that once she was done with her own matters, she would help you and me suppress ability backlash and soothe our mind seas.”

Kong Que’s tone stayed polite, but his words were brutal. “If you suddenly claim you want to pursue her, take a friend as a mate, and then announce you’ll be her hatchling’s father…”

“That isn’t courtship,” he said. “That’s betrayal. That’s repaying kindness with a knife to the back.”

Zhong Li He finally caught his breath enough to scoff. “Over the top.”

“These days, when you see an outstanding, beautiful woman, you chase her. You fight for her. You win her—with methods.” He spread his hands, swaggering. “I’m pursuing her openly. Marrying her openly.”

“What if she just happens to like someone like me?” he said smugly. “A phoenix with gorgeous feathers.”

“She may be Zhen Lin Empire’s talent, but she’s free,” Zhong Li He pressed. “If Chong Ming can’t win her, that doesn’t mean I can’t.”

“And if you stop me from trying,” he added dramatically, “I’ll think about it every day and never sleep again.”

Kong Que paused. Then he said, without the slightest mercy, “Chief Executive, pure human females and bird-type females have different aesthetics.”

“In human aesthetics,” Kong Que went on, “a male who is too gorgeous and flashy often appears less masculine.”

He tilted his head a fraction. “So you may not be to Miss Jiang Tea Tea’s taste.”

“And if you aren’t to her taste,” he finished calmly, “your chances of success are close to zero.”

“A pursuit with no chance of success,” Kong Que added, “isn’t worth the cost. If you botch it, you might lose a 3S-rank mutant plant-type healer friend.”

“For you,” Kong Que said flatly, “that’s a bad deal.”

Zhong Li He’s smile snapped off like a switch.

He pointed at his own face, disbelief cracking his voice. “My face isn’t to her taste?”

“Kong Que,” he snapped, “do you hear yourself?”

He was famous across the M31 Star System for being beautiful. Countless males and females adored him, called him their dream mate, fantasized about laying eggs and hatching little birds with him.

On Starnet’s “Most Beautiful Unmarried Male Beastfolk” rankings, he was always first—so far ahead it was almost insulting.

Kong Que could doubt his power, his leadership, his battle ability—but doubt his face?

That was too much.

Chong Ming, seated across from Zhong Li He, nodded gravely as if delivering an official verdict. “Chief Executive Zhong, Lieutenant General Kong Que is correct. Your feathers are too flashy. They don’t suit a pure human female’s taste.”

Zhong Li He’s eyes widened. “My feathers are ‘flashy’ because you don’t know how to appreciate art. Your gold scales are ugly. They hurt my eyes.”

Chong Ming didn’t blink. “Oh? Good you reminded me.”

He said it casually, like tossing out gossip. “Miss Jiang Tea Tea asked me for scales.”

Then, with the faintest curve of his mouth, he added, “Do you know what it means when a female asks a dragon male for his scales?”

Zhong Li He immediately put on an exaggeratedly innocent expression. “It means she hates your scales. They’re so ugly she wants to peel them off, but she’s too polite to say it directly.”

Chong Ming hummed. “Chief Executive Zhong is truly learned. I’ve been enlightened.”

He rose to his feet. “In that case, before our formal meeting, you can leave my warship.”

Zhong Li He’s brow jumped. “What?”

Chong Ming’s gaze cooled. “So no one sees you here and starts rumors that you and I are colluding—dividing up the M31 Star System and planning to attack the Insect Clan together.”

Zhong Li He refused instantly. “I’m not leaving. I’m going with you to the Military Department. Tonight I’m staying at the Imperial Palace.”

“And besides,” he continued, striding forward with shameless confidence, “you and I colluding isn’t new. Let people talk. Let them stare. I don’t—”

“Chief Executive.”

Kong Que cut him off softly.

“You have three military meetings today,” Kong Que said, “and fifteen urgent documents requiring your signature.”

“And there are several matters you asked me to handle,” he added, “that I didn’t handle well. I need your guidance to finish them.”

Zhong Li He’s attention snapped away like a dog chasing a thrown stick. “Fine,” he said grudgingly. “I’ve played around on your warship for two and a half days. I’ll go back to mine.”

On his way out, he pointed at Chong Ming. “Two days from now, when we meet, bring Classmate Jiang Tea Tea with you. I prepared a gift.”

Chong Ming answered with two words. “We’ll see.”

Not about the meeting.

Not about the schedule.

About bringing Jiang Tea Tea.

Zhong Li He wanted to argue, but Kong Que leaned closer again, voice low and insistent. “Chief Executive. Our ship has already docked with Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming’s. Their people are ready to guide us to our quarters. We can go.”

Zhong Li He shot Chong Ming a glare, then stalked out like someone who hadn’t gotten the last word and was furious about it.

Kong Que bowed to Chong Ming, then followed—still half a step behind Zhong Li He, as always.

Chong Ming watched them go.

Only when they were gone did he notice something odd: Kong Que seemed slightly taller than Zhong Li He. He couldn’t tell whether it was the military boots or if Kong Que was simply built that way.

The hatch opened again, then sealed.

Adjutant Ai finally spoke. “Commander-in-Chief, the Ministry of Justice interrogated White Wolf Clan Chief Lang Yin Feng and learned he has a list.”

“A list,” Adjutant Ai added, “that even Madam Lang Luo Feng doesn’t know about.”

“He won’t talk,” Adjutant Ai continued. “The Ministry of Justice used every method. Even hypnosis abilities. Nothing worked.”

Adjutant Ai’s voice tightened. “Lang Yin Feng demanded to see Miss Jiang Tea Tea. He said if he can see her and speak with her, he’ll reveal the list.”

Chong Ming’s voice turned cold. “Jiang Tea Tea and her team are about to leave for the last mission of their summer break.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Lang Yin Feng knows how to pick a time.”

“Notify them,” Chong Ming ordered. “Delay their mission by two hours. Have Jiang Tea Tea go to the Ministry of Justice.”

Then he added, calm and merciless, “Tell her to beat Lang Yin Feng half to death.”