Chapter 157

Zhu Lun, who usually showed no interest in anything and always had an indifferent attitude, was unusually pleased today.

"That's what I think too. Everyone has witnessed Bai Jun's abilities. Even putting this matter aside, you can hear all sorts of rumors and stories about Bai Jun in any nook and cranny of Luofu. It can only be said that he has the support of the people. It was only a matter of time before he became the Luofu General. Excuse me, what I mean is—I agree."

Stroking his pale beard, yet looking no different from a young man Huifu smiled kindly and nodded to indicate that he had no objection.

Yukong had already filled out her ballot. The black paper simply bore the bold words "Agree!" After handing the paper to Jing Yuan, she proudly raised her fair chin with a faint smile, her blue fox tail swaying gently, as if she were incredibly proud of her Bai Jun.

After the department heads finished expressing their opinions, almost everyone's gaze, except for Jing Yuan who still had a smile on his face, turned to Fu Xuan, the only one who hadn't spoken.

Master Diviner Fu's intentions have long been common knowledge.

Almost everyone present knew that she had coveted the position of Luofu General for many years, yet now she was suddenly handing over this honor to a mere young man...

She would surely be furious, loudly rebuking Jing Yuan for rashly entrusting such an important position to a young man who had never even served as a commander before, and she would completely break off relations, pointing her finger at Bai Jun and listing a whole host of reasons why he was unsuitable to be a general.

Everyone sighed silently in their hearts, and made up their minds to speak up for Bai Jun even if it meant making enemies of her, and to do their best to ensure that he would become the next Luofu General.

However, things seemed to turn out differently than anyone expected...

She, who should have been the most vocal in her opinions, was unusually quiet today. She neither flew into a rage at Jing Yuan's words and jumped up to confront him, nor did she engage in any sharp exchanges with Bai Jun. She simply sat with her head down in her seat, occasionally stealing a glance at Bai Jun, and then, as if feeling guilty, lowering her blushing face even further.

"Um... Master Diviner Fu, General Jing Yuan is asking for your opinion on Bai Jun succeeding Luofu General."

Unable to bear watching any longer, Lingsha gently nudged Fu Xuan's arm, which made her, as if waking from a dream, utter, "Ah? I... I have no objection!"

"Lady Fu, are you sure? As the saying goes, a gentleman's word is as good as his bond. Now that you've said it, you can't go back on your word."

Seemingly distrustful of Fu Xuan and worried that she might go back on her word, Jing Yuan repeatedly confirmed with her.

"Hmph, when have I ever lied, Jing Yuan? You seem to have a considerable misunderstanding of me."

Fu Xuan turned his face away with a rather arrogant air, appearing completely unconcerned on the surface, but in his heart he was filled with thoughts like, "If I can't be a general, being a general's wife is fine too."

"Very well, since everyone agrees, then this matter is settled. As for the secret ballot, let's skip it; it's too much trouble."

Jing Yuan first glanced at Bai Jun, who seemed to be questioning the meaning of life, and then a cheerful smile appeared on his face.

"I hereby announce that, following my resignation as General Jing Yuan of Shence, the position of Luofu General will be succeeded by Bai Jun!"

"Wait, I have a problem with that!"

No objections!

"Jing Yuan, you bastard, you tricked me!!!"

After a majority vote, Jing Yuan's proposal was passed unanimously, a major upset, and Bai Jun's desperate cries were of no use.

Chapter 193 Sunday: It feels like the cabbages at home have already been eaten.

There are no secrets that stay hidden forever.

Despite Bai Jun's resistance, the news that he was about to succeed as Luofu General spread like wildfire from the Shence Mansion and quickly reached every corner of Luofu.

The Xianzhou, already at the center of public opinion, is now under close scrutiny from all sides. Every little thing it does attracts the attention of newspapers, and almost every reporter and paparazzi wants to interview Bai Jun, who is hailed as a contemporary hero, as a way to generate buzz for their stories. However, without exception, their efforts are all rejected by the Shence Mansion.

This left these newspapers willing but unable to do anything, racking their brains but having no idea what to do.

However, the situation has now taken a turn for the better—rumors have surfaced that Luofu General is about to be replaced, and the successor happens to be Bai Jun, who is at the center of public attention. This has undoubtedly turned newspapers and reporters into wolves smelling blood, leading to a frenzied and extensive reporting.

Among all the newspapers, the one with the widest reach and greatest influence is the radio newspaper under the Interstellar Peace Company. With its vigorous promotion, the news made it to a key section of the Interstellar Peace Company's radio report in less than two hours.

The title is "From an unknown ordinary office worker to a renowned hero of the Immortal Xianzhou, who exactly is he who is about to become the next Luofu General?"

Shortly after this title was published—

A scream, utterly jarringly out of place in the Strategic Investment Department office of the Interstellar Peace Company headquarters in Pier Point, echoed through the otherwise tranquil surroundings.

"Bai, Bai, Bai, Bai Jun--!? Is there some mistake in the new article released by the Business Consolidation Department?!"

The cadre codenamed "Topaz of Debt Retrieval," Topaz, trembled as his silver hair swayed. His slender hands gripped the news delivered by the next department, and his lake-blue eyes were fixed on the name on the newspaper, his beautiful face filled with disbelief.

Topaz still cherished the memories of Elena and Bai Jun. She believed she had a certain understanding of that gentle, witty, and handsome young man, and also knew that he was just an ordinary employee working at the Earth-Balance Commission. Therefore, seeing this newspaper about the next general of Luofu was simply unbelievable to her.

"No, no, no, perhaps I just misread it..."

She closed her eyes to comfort herself, covering the newspaper with her palm and praying that she was just hallucinating from taking the wrong medication.

However, as the eyes opened and the hand moved away, the words printed on the newspaper remained unchanged.

"What's going on? I was planning to visit him during the holidays, but if he really becomes a general in Luofu, I'll probably have to book an appointment months in advance just to see him, let alone visit him! Waaah, our relationship definitely won't be able to progress any further then, and he might even say something like, 'Don't call me Bai Jun in public anymore, address me by my official title'..."

The budding, unfulfilled love in the young girl's heart seemed to wither away at that moment.

Elena slumped on the table, pale and lifeless, her empty eyes so dry that no tears could flow.

Seeing Elena, who was heartbroken and lost in the abyss of heartbreak, as if transformed into a snow woman, Zhang Zhang gently nudged her leg with her mouth as if to comfort her.

"Little Elena, is something difficult going on?"

"I... I'm fine! Cough cough... What can I do for you, Ms. Jade?"

Upon hearing the voice that broke the tense atmosphere, Elena trembled in fright, instantly switching to Topaz's identity and forcing a smile as she looked at the beautiful woman who pushed open the office door and walked in.

She has a slender figure and delicate, supple skin. She wears a light blue dress, with black high heels on her fair and smooth insteps, and her features are quite refined even from a distance. Her long purple hair, hidden under a wide hat, has a radiance that rivals her azure eyes.

"If you don't mind, feel free to talk to me about anything, it's fine, okay?"

As she approached Elena, a charming yet gentle smile graced her face. Leaning slightly against the desk, her calm azure eyes met those of a rippling lake-blue gaze.

"Actually, it's nothing, just some personal matters, nothing important! But this Ms. Jade must have something to ask me, right?"

This seemingly strong and assertive woman is actually a very gentle and considerate senior. Elena is well aware of this, and she treats this senior with great affection, so she does not distance herself from her, while subtly changing the subject.

"Really? It's good that Elena is alright. Speaking of which—don't move yet..."

Jade knew that everyone had secrets they couldn't tell, so she didn't press the other person, but slowly extended her hand.

Without a moment's hesitation, her right hand rested naturally beside Topaz's cheek.

The girl's shoulders trembled, and Jade skillfully lifted her beautiful, flowing silver hair, tidying up the messy strands.

"I know Elena is a very responsible and dedicated employee, but girls should still pay a little attention to their makeup, okay? After all, appearance is an important part of negotiations. You're still young, but you'll understand this sooner or later."

"Thank you, Ms. Jade..."

She gently pushed Jade's hand away, then smiled somewhat embarrassedly, and said, "So, what task does Ms. Jade need me to undertake?"

"Regarding Elena's work this quarter, here is the project list. Take a look at it, and remember to complete two-thirds of it before the end of the quarter."

Jade handed the document she had been tucking under her arm to Elena.

Elena took the documents with both hands, glanced at them briefly, and found that there were about forty or fifty debts that needed to be recovered. Among them were many commercial debts that had accumulated to exorbitant interest rates. The most eye-catching one was the project called "Belobog," whose interest far exceeded the sum of the others.

Strangely, this important project was crossed out with a black line.

"Ms. Jade, what's the deal with this 'Belobog'?"

Topaz pointed to the crossed-out "Belobog" and asked, but Jade, without even looking, explained to her as if she had expected it:

"No need to worry about it. The civilization of Jarilo-VI seems to have perished in the Eternal Freeze. It's just that the investigators don't have any concrete evidence yet, so that project is currently in a state of suspension. It shouldn't have been on your work list in the first place. There was probably a mistake when the list was printed, so I crossed it out for you in advance."

"I see. So, does that mean 'Belobog' is currently in an unknown state within the company?"

Elena murmured those words to herself, silently making a mental note of it, and then put away the quarterly worksheet.

At the same time, a sound that almost shattered all the glass came from General Yaoqing's residence.

Feixiao, his face grim, lowered his head, his fist beneath the massive, dented, and shattered desk that was emitting white smoke and groaning in pain.

Startled and pale-faced Jiaoqiu quickly threw the newspaper into the trash can and instinctively hid behind Moze. She now regretted informing Feixiao, who had been working for three consecutive days, about this. Moze wasn't much better off, as the general in front of her was rather frightening.

A wordless silence passed, an eternity frozen in time, before Feixiao spoke, each word deliberate and clenched between his teeth:

"You, Jing Yuan, you've really got some nerve, managing to kidnap my Bai Jun to Luofu."

Feixiao had originally envisioned that once Bai Jun had completely won over Yukong and that little fox Tingyun, he would have no more attachments to Luofu, and then take the two foxes to Yaoqing, where they would live a shameless and happy life... However, now all her beautiful dreams have been shattered!

The culprit is Jing Yuan!

"I don't care about the other women anymore, I'm going to Luofu right now to kill that bastard Jing Yuan! And then I'll snatch my Bai Jun back!"

"Wait, wait a minute! Feixiao!! Calm down!"

"If you go to Luofu now and cause a scene with General Jing Yuan, it will only result in a diplomatic incident!!!"

"Shush! I don't care about any of that!! That guy stole my man away, what a blunder! I should have tied Bai Jun up and taken him back to Yaoqing no matter what... Anyway, I will never let that Jing Yuan get away with this—!!"

Seeing Feixiao's murderous aura and fierce red eyes, Jiaoqiu and Moze swallowed hard, wondering if she had truly broken free from Moon Rage's control. But now was not the time to be afraid, because Feixiao was the kind of idiot who meant what she said. So Jiaoqiu and Moze desperately tried to stop her, and the three of them ended up making a scene in the office.

In a corner of the Milky Way, a similar scenario is unfolding.

The title "Planet of Festivities" is truly fitting, as it is the complete opposite of the Xianzhou Luofu, so luxurious and magnificent that anyone who sees it will be amazed.

The magnificent streetscape, cobblestone streets, shops, hotels, clock towers, squares, and skyscrapers, filled with all sorts of man-made structures, possess a picturesque scene that could never exist in the grandeur of nature and the natural landscape cascading down from the clouds.

"You've worked hard, take a rest. The weather isn't suitable for ice cream right now, so I brought your favorite pudding tarts."

The location was backstage at Penacony's most famous opera house. A woman with beautiful long silver hair and clear Jade eyes, with an aura symbolizing the Halovians hanging above her head, sat on a long trunk and looked up from the lyrics and sheet music she held in one hand.

During this idle afternoon, the Guinaifen, sitting alone in the studio, immediately recognized whose voice it was.

"Brother, what brings you here?"

"There weren't many the Family matters today, so I canceled some less important meetings and came specifically to see you."

With a halo symbolizing the Halovians above his head, a handsome young man with a somewhat similar appearance to the Guinaifen, and a gentle and refined demeanor, the white-haired youth carried a bag of desserts and naturally sat down next to the Guinaifen, handing her a pudding tart.

"Why is it pudding tarts again? These are just desserts that my brother likes. I've never said that my favorite food is pudding tarts, have I?"

"The weather lately isn't suitable for eating cold food. For your health, please choose something milder."

"Actually, it's just that my brother wanted to eat it, right?"

The long-awaited reunion of the siblings, though they bickered as soon as they met, both wore gentle smiles, just like when they were children, when Guinaifen could only secretly eat ice cream on Sundays to protect their voices.

Over the years, the relationship between the siblings has not changed. On Sundays, when he sees her, he still brings some food that his agent and nutritionist have strictly forbidden. The two of them quietly hide in a corner where no one can see them, enjoying the delicious food and chatting happily.

"By the way, when did you change that hair accessory you were wearing?"

While happily enjoying her pudding and egg tarts, the Guinaifen, whose eyes were curved into crescent shapes, looked up when she heard this and found that Sunday's gaze had been fixed on the crescent-shaped pale blue hair ornament pinned to her long blue hair.

The jewelry uses natural seashells to represent the luster of the sun and moon, and the naturally formed texture presents a beautiful gradient of aurora colors.

The reason why Sunday asked this question was simple—the hair accessory looked really cheap. Although her younger sister was naturally beautiful and looked good in anything, the hair accessory didn't match her temperament at all, or rather, the clothes she was wearing.

Normally, Guinaifen's clothes and makeup are handled by a professional team, so on Sunday I thought, surely the stylist and stylist wouldn't make such a serious mistake, right?

"Brother, you mean this? It's super cool, isn't it? I love it!"

The Guinaifen gently touched the hair ornament, revealing a radiant smile.

Her hair ornaments, reflecting a pale blue light under the sunlight, were dazzling, and her incredibly happy, shy smile was equally captivating.

However, the way she carefully removed the hair ornament gave Sunday a vague sense of unease. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt a tightness in his chest, a pain of something precious being taken away.

Feeling slightly annoyed, I ate another pudding tart. On Sunday, I changed the subject to distract myself.

"I know the Charmony Festival is coming soon, but don't overwork yourself lately. Remember to get some rest. You just finished your world tour, so your top priority is to recover. If you feel unwell, I'll discuss the Charmony Festival with the Dream Master, so you don't need to worry."

"Okay, I understand, brother."

Seeing that her younger sister was still as sensible as ever, Sunday smiled.

Before I knew it, compared to Guinaifen who only had two or three pudding tart boxes on hand, Sunday had accumulated a whole stack of pudding tart boxes.

"By the way, I heard something quite interesting this afternoon."

Suddenly, on Sunday, he remembered something he had just heard from his the Family and casually mentioned it as a topic of conversation.

What is it?

"You should remember, it's Luofu, the venue for your world tour concert last time."

"Luofu!? Has something happened over there?"

The Guinaifen let out a startled cry, immediately bracing itself nervously as it looked at Sunday, its emerald eyes filled with a hint of anxious fear.

Although he was very curious about why his younger sister had reacted so strongly on Sunday, he ultimately chose his sister over his curiosity when faced with her expectant expression, and recounted the whole story in detail.

"That's great... it's so good that he's alright..."

The Guinaifen finally calmed down, clutching its chest and sighing with emotion.

However, on Sunday, the pudding tart in his hand suddenly fell to the ground.

"He"?