Just as Taylor was about to step out the door, someone called out to him. Although Beiat had barely spoken to him, he was always paying attention to Taylor’s every move. Seeing that Taylor was about to leave, Beiat immediately spoke up to stop him.
Beiat’s father, Marquis Mia, hadn’t told him about being unable to make a move against the Major General due to the presence of Princess Salome, so Beiat had always assumed his father would find an opportunity to strike tonight. However, seeing Taylor about to leave early, Beiat panicked slightly and called out to him.
“The banquet has only just begun, Major General Taylor. Aren’t you planning to stay a little longer?”
Wearing his usual polite and perfectly gentle smile, Beiat called out to Taylor and stepped forward.
“No need.”
Standing sideways at the door, Taylor didn’t even lift his eyes.
Beiat paused slightly but did not become angry at Taylor’s cold demeanor. Instead, his tone grew even more amiable.
“Well, at least say goodbye to my father, wouldn’t you?”
By suggesting that Taylor say goodbye to his father, Beiat hoped not only to inform his father of the Major General’s intention to leave but also to delay his departure.
“…”
Taylor’s deep blue eyes glanced at Beiat briefly. His gaze, cold and devoid of any discernible emotion, was so sharp it felt as though he could see right through Beiat’s every thought.
Beiat stiffened slightly, but the young Major General’s gaze had already shifted away from him. Without uttering a word in response, Taylor turned and brushed past him. He didn’t care about what others thought; the only reason he was willing to turn back and bid farewell to Marquis Mia was that he deemed it necessary.
Since that incident, he had not met with Marquis Mia. No lengthy conversation was needed—just a glance would suffice for them to understand each other’s resolve. This would be their final meeting before the complete break.
Even without Princess Salome’s guidance this time, the black-haired Major General calmly ascended the grand staircase that others dared not tread easily, making his way to the second floor.
There were few people in the second-floor VIP lounge; some were quietly drinking, others were calmly reading. The blonde princess was reclining on a soft lounge chair, seemingly resting with her eyes closed, unaware of his arrival.
Taylor glanced around but didn’t see the old Marquis—perhaps he had stepped away for some reason. He pondered for a moment… Should he wait for the Marquis? And if so, how long would he wait? As he considered these questions, his gaze unconsciously shifted.
And then, in that brief moment of movement, his eyes suddenly froze.
His deep blue pupils contracted sharply, and the irises around them seemed to flicker with an unusual gleam.
The expression on his face seemed to momentarily lose control, causing the corners of his almond-shaped eyes to tense up tightly—
***
The noblewoman, having rested for a while in her room, had her beautiful brown curls carefully styled by her maid. Once the handsome attendant gave a slight, courteous bow and opened the door, she gracefully stepped out with an elegant demeanor.
But her poised and noble stance shattered the moment she walked out the door. Standing at the end of the corridor was the strikingly handsome young Major General, his intense gaze fixed on her. Those sea-blue eyes, as beautiful as sapphires, paired with a sharp, predatory look full of aggression, made the lady’s heart flutter wildly. Her pulse raced like a giddy schoolgirl’s.
How does my hair look? Is it too plain? Not refined enough.
And my makeup—I didn’t touch it up properly.
I just took a nap, and my skin feels a bit dry.
Maybe I should show him my sweet smile… No, no, I must remain reserved.
Oh my gosh—he’s coming over! Up close, he’s even more handsome, that face, those lips—if only I could kiss them—no, no, I need to stay composed.
But at the very least, I should reach out my hand. Otherwise, this beautiful Major General might be too shy to take it… No, no, I should still play it cool.
The noblewoman was overwhelmed with emotions, her heart in turmoil, as she watched the impossibly handsome young Major General walk toward her with joy in her eyes. His hurried steps, the faint anxiety in his expression, and his unwavering gaze fixed intently on her—it was as if he was afraid she might run away, mixed with a hint of barely concealed panic.
That look alone made the noblewoman, who had been trying to maintain her composure, instantly melt into a puddle of affection. Blushing slightly, she stepped forward, just about to lift her right hand slowly to offer it…
But with a sudden whoosh, the young Major General brushed right past her. He moved so quickly that his tall figure created a breeze, sending the hair on her forehead fluttering.
The lady, who had moments ago been brimming with coquettish delight, was left stunned in place. She turned back in disbelief, and what she saw next made her clutch her chest, feeling utterly devastated!
The noblewoman was not the only one hit with a nearly heart-stopping shock; the same could be said for Miao Te, whose heart skipped a beat the moment he turned his head and was met with a stunningly handsome face. The young Major General, embracing him from behind, looked at him with pale skin and star-like eyes, his face almost glowing with a soft light.
His deep sapphire blue eyes were like the luminous expanse of the starry sea, captivating and dazzling, pulling anyone in at a single glance as if they could swallow one’s soul whole.
Miao Te’s mind went blank, overwhelmed by the intense sensation. He could only turn his head, stunned and bewildered. That familiar, dazed expression—like someone who had been utterly smitten—caused the corners of Taylor’s lips to lift slightly in a faint smile, which quickly vanished.
But the mindless daze lasted only a moment. Miao Te, shocked by the unexpected beauty before him, quickly snapped back to reality. He blinked at Taylor, his long lashes fluttering lightly. There was a hint of pain in his gaze, mixed with a touch of grievance, his dark eyes looking like those of a fawn that had just escaped a trap, with a faint glimmer of moisture in them. His vulnerable appearance tugged at one’s heartstrings.
Taylor pressed his lips together as he looked at the teenager’s slightly tearful eyes fixed on him, feeling the slender body in his arms start to tremble. An indescribable feeling surged within him, making him tighten his embrace even more. He watched as Miao Te’s lips moved slightly, parting to speak…
“Lo-lo-loosen your grip—!!!”
The teenager, feeling like his shoulder blade was about to be crushed by the Major General’s terrifying strength, suddenly cried out. Although he had been startled by the sudden embrace, the Major General’s overwhelming force on his shoulder jolted him painfully back to his senses.
But even as he winced in pain, Miao Te dared not voice his discomfort directly, instead trying desperately to endure it. No matter how hard he tried, the sharp pain in his shoulder made him shiver as if his bones were about to shatter. He glanced pitifully at the Major General, who was gripping him so tightly.
Yet, with that single shiver, the force on his shoulder and abdomen intensified, squeezing him so hard that he could almost hear his bones cracking. The searing pain finally broke his resolve, making him gasp sharply as he cried out in distress.
“My shoulder! Let go! It hurts—!”
Major General: “…”
Taylor released Miao Te’s shoulder, but the arm around the teenager’s waist only loosened slightly without letting go entirely. He watched as the youth in front of him rubbed his shoulder furiously, his face scrunched up in pain and frustration. Unable to hold back, Taylor raised his hand and gave the teenager a firm knock on the forehead.
Miao Te tilted his head up, eyes wide in surprise, wearing a bewildered expression as he looked at him, not understanding what had just happened. With Taylor holding him from behind, Miao Te could only crane his neck back to look up at him.
The fluffy black hair on top of Miao Te’s head was nearly brushing against Taylor’s shoulder. He looked down slightly, just enough to see the teenager’s upturned face. The dark blue of his eyes softened for a moment as the Major General raised his hand, his defined fingers gently rubbing the spot where he had just knocked him.
This unexpectedly gentle gesture left Miao Te even more dumbfounded. He stared blankly at the usually aloof and arrogant Major General, now lowering his head with a soft gaze as he rubbed his forehead.
I must be seeing a fake version of the Major General, Miao Te thought in utter confusion.
But just as Miao Te was still thinking that this softer look seemed out of place, the Major General’s eyes suddenly shifted from gentle ocean water to sharp ice shards. In the blink of an eye, he pushed and pulled Miao Te forcefully, slamming him into the corner of the hallway. The black-haired Major General then pressed heavily against Miao Te, nearly covering him entirely with his body.
A large, dark figure swept through the air, missing its target. A sleek black panther with glossy fur landed gracefully, its paws touching the ground almost soundlessly. It made no noise, standing across from them with its body slightly arched, limbs and muscles tense, ready to pounce. Its icy blue eyes stared directly at the blue-eyed human male, glinting with the fierce and vicious light of a wild predator.
The claws pressing against the floor extended from its jet-black fur, glinting sharply. It stared at the man who intended to harm its only companion. Though its slightly parted mouth made no growl, the sight of its exposed fangs was a clear warning to the oppressive enemy before it.
Major General Taylor stood in front of the corner where he had pushed Miao Te, his left arm shielding the teenager. He raised his right hand, gripping the black hilt of a short weapon. With a swift motion, a deep blue lightsaber shot out from the hilt. The blue glow of the lightsaber illuminated the Major General’s face, making his complexion appear even paler, almost like an ice sculpture, and accentuating the deep, sharp blue in his eyes.
“Wait a minute, Major General, this is—”
The teenager struggled to speak from his position in the corner, but he was forcefully pressed back.
“Don’t move,” he ordered coldly, pushing the disobedient teenager back with one hand.
Taylor’s defensive actions toward Miao Te only heightened the black panther’s agitation. Its limbs tensed as it prepared to leap again—
“Caesar.”
A clear, crisp female voice came from the side, halting Caesar’s movements. Caesar suppressed his urge to attack but remained in a poised position, his icy blue eyes fixed on the man in front of him who was exerting immense pressure. It wasn’t until Salome called out to him repeatedly that Caesar reluctantly got up, slowly padding over to her side. Salome leaned down and hugged his neck, soothing him gently.
Then, she lifted her eyes and glanced in Taylor’s direction. Miao Te, who was blocked behind the Major General, peeked out half of his head and noticed Salome’s gaze directed at him. It was clear that her eyes were not on the Major General but on him. The blonde lady’s emerald eyes curved into a mischievous arc, her expression carrying a hint of amusement.
As she stared at him, Salome raised her hand and lightly tapped her pale neck with her fingertip. A chill surged from the metal collar around Miao Te’s neck, seeping deep into his skin and making him shiver. The terrifying thought of his head being blown off at any moment pushed him into making an extraordinarily bold decision.
Without warning, Miao Te grabbed the Major General’s face, which was turned toward Salome and the panther, and forcibly redirected it toward him. Seeing the slightly raised eyebrow and questioning look from the Major General, the youth returned an innocent and deeply apologetic gaze.
“Major General, sorry… I’m going to offend you for a moment!”
Faced with the choice between getting shot in the head immediately or being beaten half to death by the Major General later, the teenager decisively chose the latter.
Miao Te tilted his head up, reached out, and wrapped his arms around Major General Taylor’s neck. With his left hand, he forcefully pressed the Major General’s head down. As the Major General’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, Miao Te covered his mouth with his right hand.
Then—
Smooch!
A loud, clear sound echoed through the quiet hallway, unmistakably audible to everyone present.
From Salome’s angle, it looked as though Miao Te had firmly kissed Major General Taylor right on the lips.
After all, he couldn’t let this young lady find out that he was the so-called “peerless beauty,” or else his head would be in grave danger…
With this thought, after having just ‘kissed’ the Major General like that, Miao Te stretched out his arms and hooked them around the Major General’s neck, pulling him into an embrace.
He clung tightly to Major General Taylor, refusing to let go, burying his face in the Major General’s neck. At the same time, he peeked over the Major General’s shoulder, desperately winking at Lady Salome, who was watching with an amused expression
Look, Princess Salome, I’m following your orders and trying hard to ‘seduce’ Major General Taylor!
***
Translated by NightOwll
***