The Males Were Reborn After The Female Ruler Was Scumbed [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 13
Lu Qing… Lu Qing was genuinely shocked.
Lan Xi had always been a distant person, always maintaining an appropriate distance from others.
Not too far, not too near, just right.
Of course, after they got together in the previous life, they had done everything intimate, so picking up a dish was nothing.
But now… he and Lan Xi were clearly not familiar enough to that extent.
This was truly way out of line.
Lu Qing looked at the sub-male’s slightly red ear tips, and a strange feeling surged in his heart.
Why did Lan Xi seem… a little different from the previous life?
“What’s wrong… Your Excellency?” Lan Xi saw the male Zerg staring at him oddly and felt a little helpless. Was his action too abrupt, causing offense to the male Zerg?
Lu Qing tried hard to ignore that strange feeling, picking up a dish with composure, “Nothing…”
Forget it, he could send the sub-male away soon anyway.
The meal, originally made specifically for Lan Xi, ended up being eaten by both of them.
Lan Xi was always slow and deliberate when eating. If Lu Qing maintained his previous speed of sweeping up food like a whirlwind, the sub-male likely wouldn’t be able to get much to eat. Lu Qing had no choice but to adjust to his pace.
The meal lasted so long that Lu Qing almost fell asleep.
Half an hour later, Lan Xi finally finished eating, opened his light screen, and looked ready to continue handling official business.
Lu Qing’s spirit lifted. He quickly packed up the things, then moved his small stool over, his eyes shining as he looked at him: “Lan Xi… Your Excellency.”
Lan Xi paused at the address, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, “You know my identity, don’t you.”
Lu Qing nodded, “I saw the news related to you at the shop earlier.”
“Oh?” Lan Xi became interested, “What did it say.”
“It said you were harmed by your younger brother, that you were critically wounded and missing…” Lu Qing gave him a look full of implied meaning, “It also said…”
Lan Xi raised an eyebrow, “Said what else?”
Lu Qing: “It also said that the Zerg who can provide a clue to your location will receive a five million reward, and the Zerg who sends you back to the Aldridge family will receive a commitment from the Aldridge family.”
Lan Xi: “…”
This male Zerg was unexpectedly honest.
Lan Xi felt an inexplicable urge to laugh, “So, are you going to provide a clue? Or are you going to send me back immediately?”
Lu Qing blinked, staring at him expectantly, “Can I only choose one of the two?”
Lu Qing’s calculations were beautiful: first, have the Aldridge family come forward to negotiate with the Male Zerg Aid Association to save his life, and then use the five million reward to achieve freedom and a life of leisure.
Even if Lan Xi hadn’t heard his little internal monologue, he could guess it.
Lan Xi couldn’t help but poke his forehead with a finger, “Your Excellency, have you heard the saying, ‘Greed knows no bounds’?”
Lu Qing pouted, innocently saying, “I’ve only heard that ‘a gamble might turn a bicycle into a motorcycle’.”
Lan Xi: “…………”
Lu Qing showed a look of agony, compromising, “Then, then just the first five million, will that work?”
At worst, he would work hard later to apply for the Good Citizen Award to make up for the remaining five million.
Lan Xi: “…………”
Lan Xi didn’t know what expression to make.
Lu Qing’s heart instantly shattered in half. Sob, the five million was gone too.
Lu Qing was very sad, moving his small stool away to sulk in private.
Lu Qing had previously considered just packing him up and sending him away, but on second thought, he still needed Lan Xi’s consent. After all, if everything went as expected, the family’s power would fall into Lan Xi’s hands after he returned.
If he secretly reported the news behind Lan Xi’s back and accidentally messed up his plans, he might be punished. Lu Qing didn’t want that risk.
But now that Lan Xi disagreed, what was he going to do about his five million?
The male Zerg’s disappointment was palpable. Seeing this, Lan Xi paused, unconsciously rubbing his fingertips.
Actually, it wasn’t impossible. Given the current situation outside, Lan Xi couldn’t afford to be “missing” for too long if he didn’t want things to spiral out of his control.
How to be cleverly and reasonably found by Crete and explain what happened during his disappearance was also something Lan Xi was contemplating.
He had considered glossing over some details and telling the truth about the past two days. Things that happened were naturally reasonable, and the male Zerg could also benefit greatly from it.
But Lan Xi also had concerns. Saith had many supporters, and his own energy was limited, so there were bound to be things he couldn’t attend to.
What if some lingering threats took out their anger on the male Zerg… it would be dangerous.
Lan Xi hadn’t planned to explain this to the male Zerg, but looking at the male Zerg’s disappointed expression, he felt somewhat uneasy for some reason.
Lan Xi sighed, “Your Excellency, please don’t be sad.”
“You saved me, took me in, provided me with immense help, and are my precious friend.” Lan Xi walked over and knelt in front of Lu Qing, “I should naturally repay you, so…”
Lu Qing blinked, “So?”
Lan Xi smiled slowly, “What you just mentioned… I agree to it.”
Lu Qing: “!!”
“Tonight, my subordinates will ‘incidentally find’ this place and take me back.” Lan Xi said, “They indeed need an opportunity, so you can inform Ennis of my location.”
Lu Qing’s eyes lit up. What is that saying? ‘A turn for the better after a bleak outlook’ $text{O V O}$.
Lan Xi nodded, “As for the other matter, I regret that for the sake of your safety, I cannot agree to it.”
“Alright.” From getting nothing to getting half, Lu Qing, though regretful, had a strangely accepting attitude.
“However, I can give you a promise.” Lan Xi took off his glasses, his eyes gentle, “I will become the head of the Aldridge family… so my promise represents the family’s commitment.”
“I promise you in the name of Lan Xi Aldridge…” Lan Xi took the male Zerg’s hand and pressed it against his cheek. In the Zerg race, this signifies the highest respect and courtesy, “Whatever your wish, I will fulfill it for you.”
Lu Qing was so stunned by Lan Xi’s words that he even ignored the sub-male’s slightly intimate gesture, staring blankly, “Anything?”
The beautiful sub-male smiled and nodded, “Yes.”
Whether it was wealth, power… or the Zerg he desired, anything was possible.
Lu Qing subconsciously summoned the System, “System, you said before that my request to Ennis and the Aldridge family was deemed reasonable. Does that still apply now that it’s Lan Xi?”
The System was silent for a long time before slowly appearing, looking a bit reluctant, “It is applicable, yes…”
The former was an equivalent exchange, one party providing a clue and the other giving a reward, which was perfectly reasonable. The latter was because Lan Xi, including the family behind him, was worth any price, let alone Lu Qing’s life, which for them was merely a word. Therefore, it didn’t constitute excessive profiteering.
Most importantly, Lu Qing didn’t have such an intention when he chose to save Lan Xi.
So everything was reasonable, and the System had no right to intervene.
Lu Qing’s eyes immediately brightened.
System: “…”
The System was now extremely worried. It was very concerned that its host would revert to his old ways after being relieved of life and financial worries.
Even with the System present, the host couldn’t commit malicious acts, but he was fundamentally a jerk. If the factors that prompted him to change disappeared… this would be a disaster for the reform plan.
The System was worried that speaking so directly would lead to the host yelling at it until its “mother wouldn’t recognize it,” so it said very tactfully, “Host, you can certainly do that, but have you thought it through? Asking Lan Xi for a favor will inevitably entangle you with him.”
The System could tell that its host had an avoidance complex regarding Lan Xi, so it provoked him: “Reborn, without the premise of concealment and deceit, do you want to be with him?”
Lu Qing looked at it inexplicably, “How is this entangling? And being together? Are you overthinking it?”
“If I got close to him, wouldn’t you electrocute me? Don’t worry, once he helps me deal with the Male Zerg Aid Association, I’ll definitely keep my distance from him, as far away as possible.”
Given Lan Xi’s status and position, if he didn’t actively approach him, could they still have a story??
The System’s gaze was somewhat ambiguous, retorting, “Do you really think so, Host? Just because you don’t take the initiative, does that mean you won’t have a story?”
Lu Qing followed its gaze to their clasped hands, quickly pulling his hand back as if burned, his whole being paling in shock: “…”
Mother, when, when did he grab onto me?!
Lan Xi paused slightly, calmly withdrawing his hand, “Have you made up your mind, Your Excellency?”
Lu Qing touched his hand with lingering fear, “You, you let me think.”
“Okay.” Lan Xi calmly stood up, sat back on his bed, put his gold-rimmed glasses back on, and looked at the light screen, as if nothing had happened.
His composed and self-possessed manner made Lu Qing feel like he was making a big fuss over nothing.
Lu Qing: “…”
He could have answered the System with absolute certainty before, but now he was a little unsure.
He had only spent two days with Lan Xi since his rebirth, but the sub-male had made many uncharacteristic moves, which made Lu Qing feel uncertain.
As for getting back together with him, Lu Qing had never considered it.
Lan Xi was so miserably harmed by him in the previous life. If they were still together, what kind of situation would that be?
Lan Xi in front of him was like a criminal’s prison number branded on a Zerg’s wing, constantly under his nose, constantly reminding him of the mistakes he had made.
Although Lu Qing was a jerk, and his slight remnants of conscience and morality couldn’t overcome his selfish instinct, it didn’t mean he had none.
This was also why he had been avoiding Lan Xi. He carried a certain sense of guilt towards this sub-male.
Reborn, if he didn’t have the System, Lu Qing might have followed the old path of deception from his previous life, but he would definitely not choose Lan Xi again.
Even now, Lu Qing didn’t want to repeat the cycle unless he was utterly desperate.
For Lan Xi… this beautiful sub-male whom he had wronged, Lu Qing hoped he would have a different outcome.
“Lan Xi… Your Excellency.” Lu Qing pursed his lips and made a decision, “What time are you leaving tonight?”
Lan Xi adjusted his glasses and looked up at him, “Around eleven o’clock. If you plan to provide the clue to Ennis, I suggest between nine-thirty and ten o’clock.”
Lu Qing nodded, indicating he understood, “I have thought about your promise.”
Lan Xi paused at the words, “Oh?”
Lu Qing pulled out a file bag from the cabinet and handed him a document.
Lan Xi took it, looked at it, and was stunned: “Application Form for the Good Citizen Award…”
Lu Qing had printed this out when he first decided to use this reward to save his life, and he hadn’t expected to pull it out at this moment.
“As you can see, I am very poor and desperately need this award, so I need a guarantor Zerg.” Lu Qing said, “I hope you can agree to help me.”
The Good Citizen Award involves a huge sum of money, and fearing that Zerg might fraudulently claim the award, the review process is extremely strict. In addition to tedious procedures, a guarantor Zerg is required.
Generally, the higher the status of the guarantor Zerg, the correspondingly higher the credibility, which increases the success rate of the preliminary review.
Originally, Lu Qing had planned to ask Steward Gelie to be his guarantor.
With Lan Xi here, using him was obviously better.
“You only want this?” The male Zerg surprised him again. He only wanted this.
He could clearly ask for better and more things.
“I can directly give you countless riches…”
“No.” The male Zerg’s expression was firm, “I will only take what I should take.”
Lu Qing handed the pen to the sub-male, “This is enough, Lan Xi Your Excellency.”
Lan Xi paused, lost in thought for a moment, and Lu Qing did not rush him.
After a while, the sub-male picked up the pen and signed his name.
Lu Qing took the document and saw that the guarantor Zerg field was clearly written: “Lan Xi Aldridge.”
The handwriting was strong and beautiful, truly exquisite.
In that instant, Lu Qing felt a wave of relief, as if a huge rock that had been pressing on him had suddenly disappeared, making him feel completely unburdened.
“Please forgive me, I won’t be able to come back tonight to see you off.” Lu Qing said.
Lu Qing had work tonight, and by the time dinner was done, it would be time for him to deliver meals.
And by the time Lu Qing finished his delivery and got off work, it would be the time the sub-male was leaving. He figured he wouldn’t make it in time to see him off.
“Lan Xi, Your Excellency.”
“May the Zerg God bless you, and may your journey be smooth.”
Lu Qing smiled, his eyes curved, without a trace of gloom. I hope your life is smooth and your luck is off the charts.
And that you never meet a jerk like me again.