"Bang!"
The signal flare burned out approximately one kilometre ahead of the lead navigation ship, emitting a muffled sound.
It indicated that the fleet had entered the atmosphere of the main star.
Meanwhile, in the Marshal's office on the main ship behind the lead navigation vessel, there was silence.
Xiao Bai's movement was too sudden.
Although Fu Linyuan's brain reacted quickly, for some unknown reason, in the moment when he raised his hand to block, he hesitated for a brief moment.
It was this brief hesitation that allowed Xiao Bai to successfully press him to the ground.
In fact, at the moment when the other party made a move, Fu Linyuan thought that his long-standing speculation had finally become a reality: the docility and innocence displayed by this little sea creature were entirely a disguise, waiting only for the wound to heal, or for him to let down his guard, to reveal sharp fangs.
... He does have considerable strength.
The light in front was almost completely obscured by the slender figure of the other person, Fu Linyuan thought.
However, the subsequent actions of the other person proved that his momentary hesitation might have been correct.
In a completely protective posture, he pressed Fu Linyuan down: enclosing him in the small space between himself and the sofa, with two cold hands covering his ears; the similarly ocean-blue ear fins stood alert, while the eyes remained tightly closed, as if unwilling to see anything.
Closing his eyes so tightly, almost the entire small face wrinkled together.
Xiao Bai was trembling.
As if frightened.
In fact, Xiao Bai's trembling was not very intense, but because the two were too close, Fu Linyuan could clearly feel every subtle movement.
Even every light exhale.
At this moment, Xiao Bai's brain had actually crashed.
The reason for making such a move was simple—he mistook the signal flare for a highly destructive photon cannon, thinking the starship was about to explode the next second, instinctively pushing down the person next to him.
"Bang!"
He also heard that muffled sound.
... But why isn't there the sound of the starship disintegrating afterward?
Or am I... already dead? So I can't hear it?
But the person pressed under him still had warmth, like a stove.
Through the fabric, he could even feel the warmth of the other's breath on his collarbone.
While he was lost in thought, a hand gently patted his back.
"... What's wrong?" he heard Fu Linyuan ask.
Because the other spoke, the warmth on his collarbone became more pronounced.
I should... still be alive, right?
After freezing for a few more seconds, Xiao Bai belatedly realized.
I can feel the movement of Fu Linyuan's chest when he speaks...
... So it didn't explode?
Slowly opening his eyes, Xiao Bai was somewhat confused.
He clearly saw the photon cannon flying towards them. Why didn't it explode?
Thinking about it, Xiao Bai cautiously lifted his head to take a look.
All the decorations in the office were intact, and the window didn't shatter.
It was as if everything he had just seen was an illusion.
Due to the fully raised ear fins, the second disguise device on Xiao Bai's ear also fell off and rolled to some corner.
The silver hair, falling smoothly with the movement of the little sea creature, had a few strands gently landing on Fu Linyuan's face, creating a barely noticeable itch.
Looking around, Xiao Bai didn't find where the damage was.
With a somewhat bewildered gaze, he finally returned to Fu Linyuan's face.
Fu Linyuan was still wearing his disguise device all along.
The distance between the two was almost nose to nose, but in those eyes that resembled the sea, Xiao Bai could only discern near-pure confusion; no other emotions were visible.
As if he had known his original appearance long ago.
The two remained in this awkward situation for a few more seconds, and in the end, Fu Linyuan was the first to sit up directly.
He moved, and Xiao Bai, who had already lost strength, almost lost balance.
So, unconsciously, the little merperson's hand slid down a bit and grabbed the man's shoulder; at the same time, the center of gravity moved back with the other's movement until...
He sat stably on the man's lap.
The two went from lying and crawling to sitting face to face.
The little sea creature seemed unaware of how suggestive this posture could be.
He still hadn't figured out why such a big photon cannon disappeared.
... What exactly happened?
From Fu Linyuan's perspective, Xiao Bai's upright posture after sitting looked remarkably like a child unable to resist daydreaming during class.
At this moment, another slightly muffled "bang" came from outside.
Xiao Bai turned his head, and this time, he happened to catch the signal flare transformed into an arrow.
... What kind of novel weapon is this?
Xiao Bai was a bit confused.
He looked at the transformed signal flare, then turned to Fu Linyuan, and finally looked back in the direction where the signal flare disappeared.
The vivid and changeable emotions made the usually serious marshal unable to help but quickly raise the corners of his mouth, and a shallow smile appeared in his eyes.
Gently patting the stunned little sea creature, Fu Linyuan asked, "Scared?"
Xiao Bai regained his senses, raised his hand, and began to gesture.
First, both hands clenched into fists, then the left fist remained still while the right fist approached from the upper left.
Then, the two collided, the clenched fists opened, and simultaneously retreated rapidly.
To express his meaning, the little mermaid even added sound effects.
"Puff—"
A cute and lovable sound.
Fu Linyuan understood Xiao Bai's meaning.
... So, he mistook the signal flare for a bomb?
However, just as Fu Linyuan was about to explain, the door was suddenly knocked again.
"Report—!" The subordinate who went to fetch the tea had returned, and for the second time, he saluted at the door in a stiff manner, "Marshal, your tea..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the subordinate, who saw the situation inside the office, petrified.
—From his perspective, it looked like their boss was possessively circling the other person's waist with one hand; the two were very close, as if they were about to engage in something inappropriate for public viewing the next second.
Even though the little sea creature reacted quickly and buried his face in Fu Linyuan's arms the moment the person at the door raised his hand to knock on the open door, the conspicuous silver long hair had nowhere to hide, and the person at the door got an eyeful.
Subordinate: ...!
Before he could react, the ice-cold gaze of the marshal swept over.
There was no emotion in the pitch-black eyes, indifferent yet sharp.
Subordinate: ...!!
The reason Xiao Bai lowered his head was actually quite simple. He guessed that Fu Linyuan gave him the disguise device because the sea's facial features were too distinctive, so he needed to conceal his own features to hide his identity.
However, the simple-minded little merperson didn't know how colourful human thoughts could become in a short moment.
The slender figure nestled almost dependently in the man's arms, and the pink fingertips, as if seeking a sense of security, hooked onto the fabric on the man's shoulder. It was like a somewhat timid little animal that didn't want to lift its head in front of strangers.
The Imperial Marshal didn't think in this direction at all. He only turned around upon hearing a commotion and said, "Just put it on the table."
The subordinate, who saw the situation, felt a chill from head to toe under the marshal's gaze: ...!!!
So, the reason for two servings of refreshments is here...
[tn: refreshments as in high tea, but well basically it means just two small servings of cakes, biscuits and the such]
Ugh, he didn't mean to barge in and interrupt something good. Who knew the marshal was... doing...
Without paying attention to the subtle changes in the subordinate's emotions at the door, Fu Linyuan patted the thin back again, lowered his eyes, looked at the hair on top of the little sea creature's head, and said, "It's okay."
Xiao Bai's forehead was originally against Fu Linyuan's chest, and the hot temperature came through the fabric clearly.
Although he didn't do anything, the little merperson felt like his face was getting a little hot.
Hearing Fu Linyuan say it was okay, he hesitated for a moment before lifting his head.
The soldier who came to deliver the refreshments didn't dare to continue looking towards the sofa.
He saw him carrying a small tray, not glancing sideways but walking stiffly to the desk, putting things down, then turning around and leaving with stiff movements.
The entire process was self-deceptively pretending not to look to the other side.
As if pretending that nothing happened just like this could make it true.
The sweet aroma of refreshments quickly wafted over.
The fragrant scent tempted Xiao Bai's instincts, and he couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
But thinking about the blunder he just caused, he felt a bit embarrassed again.
Would Fu Linyuan think he wanted to fight him?
... I can't beat him right now.
Thinking about this, the little merperson's gaze moved downward with a guilty conscience, finally stopping on the nearby carpet.
He stared at the plain-coloured carpet as if, by looking attentively enough, it could bloom into a flower.
Although Xiao Hai seemed to be staring at the ground and daydreaming, Fu Linyuan keenly noticed a suspicious blush on the back of his ears.
Coughing lightly, he explained, "The signal flare is not dangerous."
So, the thing that won't explode is called a signal flare.
Xiao Bai silently repeated the pronunciation of these three words several times in his mind.
Seeing that he seemed to understand, Fu Linyuan paused for a few seconds and then asked, "... Why did you want to save me?"
—Why did you want to save me?
For a moment, Xiao Bai felt a bit dazed.
In his previous life, he also asked Fu Linyuan the same question.
To this day, the little merperson still didn't quite understand what the answer that he was given in the past meant.
Seeing him silent for a while, seemingly lost in thought, Fu Linyuan guessed that he probably didn't fully understand the meaning behind the question.
The difference in reactions between understanding and not understanding was quite significant in Xiao Bai's responses.
"Are you hungry?" Fu Linyuan pinched his brow and changed the question, "If you're hungry, go eat something."
The voice in his ear brought Xiao Bai back to his senses.
Hungry and eat—these two words, he understood.
The small cake on the table smelled really good. Once Xiao Bai confirmed that Fu Linyuan seemed to really not have misunderstood him wanting to fight, he got up, dashed to the table, and picked up a piece of cake.
The little merperson's steps toward the cake were decisive and clean, and his attention seemed to have completely shifted away from the man who had been sitting on the ground for half a day.
Fu Linyuan: ...
Standing up, brushing off his clothes, Fu Linyuan also walked back to the table, ready to deal with the last few documents.
As soon as he sat down, another piece of cake was handed to his mouth.
"I don't know—"
At the same time, a sound suddenly rang out in the previously quiet office. It was ethereal and pleasant, like the gentle petals of spring or the cool breeze of summer. It made people feel refreshed involuntarily.
Xiao Bai, holding the cake, repeated the words he had rehearsed in his mind for half a day in a clear and earnest voice, "Just wanted to save you."
.......................................................................................
tn: IM SO SORRY MY SCHEDULED CHAPTERS DIDNT POST THEMSELVES WAAAAA SORRY IM LATE
Thanks for the update!! 🤩🤩🤩
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