It wasn’t strange at all that Chen Xing wanted to meet Ji Chenxi. If the other party hadn’t come looking for him, that would’ve been the weird part. After all, Ji Chenxi had first gone into a sensitive period triggered by an omega’s heat, and then he disappeared for several days. Both of them were on the Imperial Star, so Chen Xing should’ve met him long ago. Yet all their communication during this time had only been a few short exchanges online.
At first, it could be excused as him having just woken up and not being in a good state to meet, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble. But now, it was actually the perfect time to meet.
Chen Xing’s identity was that of a young professor who had just been hired by the Imperial Royal Academy with a high salary. The most suitable place for them to meet was naturally the Imperial Royal Academy. It just so happened that although there were three days of balls after Ji Zhiqing’s birthday, those events were all held at night, so they wouldn’t interfere with their meeting.
The Imperial Royal Academy—no matter how much it had been infiltrated—was still a place where the Empire trained its talents. It wasn’t like Ji Chenxi would be afraid to show up at a meeting there.
After learning that this “friend” was Chen Xing, Chi Zhuo didn’t ask Ji Chenxi anything more, but he already had a clear idea in his mind. When he saw the invitation now, he frowned first, then said, “I’ll go with you.”
“There’s no need to make it that troublesome. Inside the academy, Chen Xing can’t really do anything.”
“Your Highness, you still need to be cautious,” Chi Zhuo reminded.
Inside the academy, it wasn’t that nothing could be done.
“At this timing…” Ji Chenxi said, then suddenly laughed. “I just tested Chen Xing not long ago. He’s a very smart person. That little test was enough to let him know that I’ve already figured out something. With his personality, he’ll either clear my suspicion, or choose to lay everything out and talk about it openly.”
Back then, Ji Chenxi thought Chen Xing was trying to brush the matter aside, but looking at this invitation now, it felt more like he wanted to dispel that bit of suspicion. Still, Ji Chenxi had a strange feeling—it wasn’t just a simple test and back-and-forth.
The timing was too perfect. It was right before the day of action. Rather than a meeting to talk things out, it felt more like a direct and open showdown.
After finishing breakfast, Ji Chenxi didn’t rush to report to the academy. Instead, he took a leave and buried himself in his blanket.
“Not going to class?” Chi Zhuo teased.
“I can just flip through the books later and catch up. Instead of going to class, I’d rather get some proper rest.” Ji Chenxi half-closed his eyes, looking like he might fall asleep any second.
“You should’ve rested properly yesterday and dealt with things after waking up.”
Lying under the blanket, Ji Chenxi slightly raised his eyes. “Brother Chi Zhuo, time doesn’t wait for anyone. It might not look that different, but sometimes just a few hours’ delay can make a huge difference, right?”
Chi Zhuo nodded in agreement. Opportunities were fleeting; people really had to seize them themselves.
“Little snake, come hibernate with me.” Sleepy, Ji Chenxi patted the spot beside him.
“First of all, I’m a snake that doesn’t hibernate. Second, it’s still a bit early for hibernation.”
Ji Chenxi laughed. He forced himself to stay awake, wanting to joke around a bit more, but then a hand covered his eyes.
Darkness fell, and sleep rushed back over him.
“Your Highness, go to sleep. Do you want me to wake you up at noon for lunch?”
“Then I’ll only get a bit over an hour of sleep.”
“Should I let you wake up naturally?”
“I still need to go to the meeting,” Ji Chenxi continued to nitpick.
“Then I’ll pick a suitable time to wake you. Maybe you’ll wake up on your own right on time anyway.” Chi Zhuo’s voice grew softer and softer, gradually carrying a gentle tone. It was the kind of voice perfect for sleep—paired with a bedtime story, it would be even better.
Sure enough, Ji Chenxi, who had just been struggling to keep talking, slowly closed his eyes. Just as Chi Zhuo was about to pull away, his hand was suddenly grabbed.
“Hm? Your Highness, what is it? Don’t tell me you want a bedtime story?”
“I don’t need a bedtime story, but a snake that doesn’t hibernate can still nap with me.” As he spoke, Ji Chenxi had already pulled Chi Zhuo onto the bed.
Chi Zhuo practically fell right onto him. Shaking his head helplessly, he said, “Your Highness really isn’t worried about whether I have things to do.”
“Didn’t you stay up with me last night? Whatever needed to be handled should already be done. If it’s not, then it must not be that important. Compared to those things, I’m obviously more important. So, sleep with me.”
“Your Highness is really domineering.”
“You could also say I’m willful, spoiled, and unreasonable. But I’m not like this with just anyone. Doesn’t being treated specially make you a little happy?”
Chi Zhuo smiled.
He hadn’t even changed his clothes yet, so naturally he couldn’t just sleep like that beside Ji Chenxi. After successfully persuading him, Chi Zhuo went to take a shower first, dried his hair, and kept all his movements light. When he came back, Ji Chenxi had indeed already fallen asleep.
Not wanting to wake him, Chi Zhuo picked up that special book and sat beside him. He had only just opened it when a warm presence moved closer and wrapped around his waist.
“Did I wake you?” Chi Zhuo asked in a whisper.
Ji Chenxi wasn’t fully awake. He mumbled a couple of words and said, “Don’t read that book.”
“Hm? Is there something special about it? Not allowed to read?”
“It’s just a book full of nonsense. What’s there to look at?”
Chi Zhuo looked at him deeply and said in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible, “Not long ago, you told me you couldn’t understand what’s inside. Hmm? Lying little kid.”
The so-called “little kid,” full of lies, slept even more soundly as he breathed in that familiar scent.
Chi Zhuo had already put the book down. He stared at Ji Chenxi, lost in thought about something. Maybe because Ji Chenxi was sleeping so peacefully, it affected the person beside him too. As he watched, a sense of drowsiness slowly rose in him as well.
The two fell asleep holding each other. When Ji Chenxi woke up, he first paused at the warmth beside him, then gave the black-covered book that had somehow appeared by the bedside a strange look.
As soon as Ji Chenxi moved, Chi Zhuo woke up as well. Seeing that it was already past two in the afternoon, Ji Chenxi could get dressed, eat something quickly, and then head to the meeting.
Throughout the whole process, Chi Zhuo didn’t say anything more, as if he truly couldn’t understand the book and had just casually flipped through it. But Ji Chenxi trusted more in what he himself had done while half-asleep.
Since Chi Zhuo didn’t bring it up, Ji Chenxi instead took the initiative to open the book again. “This is a book that suddenly appeared. If, after this matter is over, we can still be like we are now, then I can tell you about it.”
Chi Zhuo nodded, bringing up the earlier topic again. “Your Highness, do you really not need me to go with you?”
“No need.”
Ji Chenxi and Chen Xing didn’t even need to set a specific meeting place. After entering the academy, Ji Chenxi headed straight toward a certain location, and Chen Xing just happened to be there.
When Ji Chenxi walked in, Chen Xing was playing with a set of cards in his hand. It was said those cards could predict one’s fortune—a game that had become quite popular recently.
Seeing Ji Chenxi, Chen Xing smiled, the curve of his lips as gentle as ever. “Your Highness, I thought you wouldn’t come.”
“I just felt like I should give you one last chance. Our many years of friendship is still worth one meeting.”
Chen Xing set the cards down and said in a somewhat nostalgic tone, “I remember I taught Your Highness a long time ago—there are no absolute friends in this world.”
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
