Chapter 268

Chapter 268: Bring Her Home—and Confess Love on the Way

Zhong Li He slapped the back of Kong Que’s head again, furious and disappointed. “Are you a stupid bird?”

“I’m one hundred and fifty. I’ve held power in Da Xi Nation for nearly a hundred years. What storms haven’t I seen? What blessings haven’t I enjoyed? Do I need you to be my first officer and shield?”

“I’m telling you—I don’t need you to do anything for me. You’re young. I clear every obstacle in your path so your future is bright, not so you can throw it away on a whim!”

Kong Que wasn’t raised wrong. He’d always listened and worked hard. Now he wasn’t listening.

Was it because of Chong Ming, that old dragon?

Kong Que sat and looked up at him, eyes unblinking, pupils full of him. “I worked hard, studied hard, handled everything, to chase you and be seen by you.”

“You are my goal, my idol, my first of everything I worship. Wherever you are is where I will be.”

“If you aren’t in Da Xi Nation, I don’t want to be there either. I don’t want to stand where you stood, shining under everyone’s eyes.”

All his effort was only to be acknowledged by him, to be seen by him. Everyone else didn’t even count as optional.

If Zhong Li He didn’t look at him—if he left and made him stay in Da Xi Nation to govern alone—Kong Que would rather get shot. That would be easier.

Zhong Li He frowned. Everything Kong Que said sounded like a teenager.

A late rebellion phase?

He knew it. No child escaped puberty or rebellion. Sometimes it just came late.

All Chong Ming’s fault. That old dragon dragged the child’s rebellion out. Unforgivable.

Zhong Li He abruptly changed tone. “Fine. I heard you. I’ll think about it. Get out.”

Kong Que stared deeply.

He heard him? Really heard that wherever Zhong Li He went, Kong Que would follow?

Kong Que didn’t trust it. He asked nothing and said nothing. He withdrew slowly from the room and went to the ship’s command deck.

The moment the door shut, Zhong Li He’s first reaction was to open his lightbrain and search how to handle a delayed rebellion phase. He couldn’t let Kong Que grow crooked. He had to straighten him—make him stand high and shine, remembered for ages.

“Hahaha!”

After Zhong Li He and Kong Que left, Jiang Tea Tea had meant to ask Chong Ming why he called her over. If there was nothing, she’d leave. But Chong Ming had an emergency meeting and left her in his office.

With nothing to do, she logged onto Starnet and searched everything about Chong Ming and Zhong Li He.

She found CP entries, short stories, and fanfic.

The short stories and fanfic were so explosive: a three-hundred-meter dragon coiling around a phoenix little bird and bullying it into a chick.

A phoenix bird teasing a three-hundred-meter big golden dragon like it was a little earthworm, pecking him until scales fell everywhere.

Locked doors for eight days and nights, living on nutrition fluid. When they finally left, someone’s legs were weak and waist soft.

Jiang Tea Tea got more and more obsessed, laughing like a hardcore hater. Her laughter echoed through Chong Ming’s office.

She lay on the sofa, sat, sprawled—no posture at all. Her eyes held nothing but CP gossip and spicy fanfic.

When Chong Ming returned from the meeting, he saw Jiang Tea Tea on her back on the sofa, legs draped over the backrest, wrist holding the lightbrain up, one hand scrolling, a giggling smile on her face.

He deliberately stepped lightly, walked over, bent, and peeked. “What are you reading? You look so happy. Let me see too?”

Jiang Tea Tea was deep in it. She jumped, yanked her legs down, and sat up. “Chong, do you know people can be scared to death?”

Chong Ming traced her cheek with his fingertip. “I don’t know if people can be scared to death. I do know you were reading something interesting.” His eyes narrowed. “Your face is red.”

Jiang Tea Tea rubbed the spot he touched hard and glared. “Are you the traffic police? Why are you so nosy?”

Not just her face—her ears were red, her neck was red. She was practically red all over. Interesting and cute. He wanted to hug her. Kiss her.

Chong Ming’s golden eyes darkened. “You really won’t let me see? Let me blush too.”

Jiang Tea Tea rolled her eyes, pulled on her shoes, and said, “Your skin is eight miles thick. A blade couldn’t cut it. How would you blush?”

“Enough. I’ve waited here two hours. If you have something, say it. If not, I’m leaving. School starts tomorrow. I’ll be busy.”

Chong Ming sat beside her, turned sideways to face her. “There are two things I want to tell you.”

Jiang Tea Tea finished putting on her shoes and looked up. He handed her a wet wipe. She took it, wiped her hands, tossed it—and before she could ask what he was doing, he stuffed a red fruit into her hand.

She froze, then bit into it.

The sourness hit so hard her eyes nearly rolled back, but she chewed with a blank face. Then she held it out to him. “So sweet. Try a bite.”

That bastard. Giving her something sour? Fine. She’d sour him too.

Chong Ming didn’t suspect a thing. He bit into the spot she’d bitten, chewed slowly, swallowed, and commented seriously, “It is sweet.”

Jiang Tea Tea: “!!!!”

Her teeth were about to dissolve from sour. He said sweet?

They ate the same fruit. He tasted sweet?

Was he seeing through her and messing with her?

Jiang Tea Tea shoved the half-eaten fruit at him. “If you think it’s sweet, it’s yours. Eat.”

Chong Ming took it, stared at her, and ate it in front of her with no sour reaction, as if it truly was sweet.

Jiang Tea Tea started doubting reality.

When he tossed the core, she asked, “You said two things. What are they?”

Chong Ming looked at her seriously. “First is about the cub in your belly.”

Jiang Tea Tea immediately went on guard. She shifted to face him and covered her belly defensively. “The cub in my belly is fine. Thanks for your concern.”

Chong Ming looked hurt by her defense. He softened his voice. “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying the cub is unwell.”

“It’s eight months now. It might be born in two months, or in seven. So I’m discussing with you: you can keep going to school. I won’t limit your freedom.”

“But after school each night, I’ll pick you up. Military department is fine, the imperial palace is fine, my warship is fine. You need daily psychic force soothing, or my blood.”

“I’m not monitoring you,” he added. “But as the cub grows, it needs more nutrition. If it can’t get what it wants from the mother, it will harm the mother. I don’t want you to have any accidents because of it.”

Jiang Tea Tea pressed her lips tight and studied Chong Ming, searching for the shadow of a lie. She found none.

He really seemed to be thinking of the cub and her safety, not trying to steal anything.

She didn’t agree or refuse. “What’s the second thing?”

Chong Ming answered, “Your mountain—the wooden cabin you wanted built is done. You can move in.”

“After school at night, besides the imperial palace, the military department, and my warship, you can go to your mountain too. But wherever you go, you need to stay in the same room with me and receive my soothing. If necessary, you can drink my blood anytime.”

Recently, he kept recalling that moment when he touched her belly. His suspicion only grew: there might be two cubs.

But whether one cub or two, he had to ensure she was safe and wouldn’t be harmed by them.

Jiang Tea Tea tugged her mouth into a fake smile. “Thanks for your concern, Your Highness. I know my body. If I need you, I’ll find you. If I don’t, I’ll pretend you don’t exist.”

“After school at night, I’ll go wherever I want. You can’t control me. You have no right. That’s all. I’m going home. You do your work. Goodbye.”

She stood and walked to the window, opened the huge floor-to-ceiling glass, and released the flyer.

She opened the cockpit door, sat in, and shut it. Two heavy thuds.

She turned her head—and saw the passenger seat. “What are you doing?”

Chong Ming had already buckled in. “I got off early today. I’m going to your mountain with you to learn the way.”

Jiang Tea Tea spat two words. “Get out.”

Chong Ming didn’t. He set the navigation. “Go. From the military department to your mountain, full speed is forty-five minutes?”

Jiang Tea Tea cursed. “Your skin is really thick.”

Chong Ming smiled faintly. “I thought you already knew.”

Jiang Tea Tea took a deep breath, started the flyer, and didn’t ease into speed. She launched into full speed and shot out.

The Commander-in-Chief leaving early meant other military department staff could leave early too.

Everyone was thrilled. Leaving on time was something they didn’t even dare dream of. Today it came true.

Jiang Tea Tea didn’t say a word to Chong Ming the whole way. He tried to talk sometimes; she ignored him.

She ignored him, so he reviewed Sui Xuan Chu’s handled affairs. If something was off, he called immediately and scolded him.

Sui Xuan Chu got scolded like a puppy, then—still resentful—redid everything with gritted teeth.

Jiang Tea Tea didn’t know Sui Xuan Chu lived even worse than her. Besides visible work, training, and resume building, he also handled his uncle’s official affairs quietly.

His uncle grew worse. At first, he handled a few a month. Then dozens. Now it was daily—sometimes ten-plus, sometimes a few, sometimes one or two.

Chong Ming even formed an eleven-person think tank to help him. They handled drafts; Sui Xuan Chu reviewed.

After reviewing, he added his own opinions, ensuring every task was handled perfectly and proving he had governance ability.

Once he turned adult, crown prince status felt like mountains on his back. He had to work harder, learn more, always.

After forty-five minutes, near dusk, the flyer arrived at Jiang Tea Tea’s mountain. From above, she saw the cabin.

When the flyer landed and she stepped out, she realized: in the interstellar era, both speed and quality were insane.

A three-story wooden cabin stood on one mountain peak. Dusk fog curled around it. The tall, imposing structure smelled of wood, lights glowing, like a pavilion in an upper realm wrapped in immortal mist.

Inside was wide and quietly luxurious. A main spiral wooden staircase connected all three floors. Each floor had its own style, and every floor gave a full view of the mountain scenery.

The house had the latest fully automatic home system, keeping air circulating and fresh, temperature always comfortable.

Inside, robot moderators followed instructions to clean everything. Outside were hunter-type robot guards. Anyone not approved by Jiang Tea Tea, not brought by her, would be captured. Anyone resisting would be hunted and killed.

Bedrooms, a study, dressing rooms, and personal lounge spaces were on the third floor, fitting the master’s taste.

The third floor had the best view: flowing fog, clouds. The roof could open. Through glass, you could see the stars.

Jiang Tea Tea toured from first to third floor, then turned to Chong Ming behind her. “I asked for a small wooden cabin. You built me a palace.”

Chong Ming walked to stand beside her. “Do you like it?”

Jiang Tea Tea licked her lips, stubborn. “It’s okay. Barely acceptable.”

Chong Ming laughed softly. “I stayed up two nights to design it for you.”

Jiang Tea Tea narrowed her eyes. “Really?”

“Of course.” His gaze didn’t waver. “What do I gain by lying to you?”

Jiang Tea Tea thought for a moment. “You gain something. You want my cub.”

Chong Ming seized her wrist and pulled her into his arms. “Classmate Jiang Tea Tea, have confidence. I’m not coveting your cub.”

His hand tightened at her waist, psychic soothing spilling around her like he feared she’d run. His golden eyes burned. “I’m coveting the cub’s mom.”

“Give me one chance. Date me with the goal of registering marriage. Let me serve you. If I serve you and it’s uncomfortable, you can stop anytime and tell me to get lost.” His voice lowered. “How about it?”