While You Watch the Scenery, I Watch You

Chapter 46

A long leg stepped out of the car, paused for a second, then withdrew.

Zhu Shixin turned sideways toward the rearview mirror and adjusted his hair. With a serious expression, he stared at the dumbfounded alpha in the driver's seat. "How do I look?"

Though the alpha had no idea what was going on, he immediately put his sycophantic instincts to work, giving Zhu Shixin a thumbs-up and showering him with praise.

Handsome and dashing, suave and charming, loved by everyone and adored by flowers.

Zhu Shixin clicked his tongue impatiently. "All right, all right. Get lost!"

After getting out of the car, Zhu Shixin tugged at the collar of his black leather coat, his face still wearing a sour expression. If his family had not confiscated his vehicle, he would have ridden over on his globally limited-edition flying motorcycle today.

Now that would have been stylish.

Classes had not begun yet, and students hurried along the roads. Whenever someone caught sight of the tall, handsome alpha standing by the roadside with his hands in his pockets, they could not help turning back for another look.

Standing there like a male model, Zhu Shixin calmly accepted the attention of passersby, his sharp eyes scanning the students and teachers who walked past him.

If Ye Nanxun suddenly saw him at school, would he panic like a frightened rabbit, his eyes turning red?

Zhu Shixin ground his molars together and stood firm in the cold wind of late winter. He waited for his prey until the school bell rang, nearly freezing into an ice sculpture, yet he never saw that tall, slender, aloof figure.

A faint glimmer flashed from the light green earring. A layer of light covered the omega's face, forming an unfamiliar visage.

Without obstruction, Ye Nanxun carried the dog on his back and the egg in his pocket as he strode into the Royal Library within the Imperial Palace.

The vast library was like a maze without end. Fortunately, the Royal Library had its own intelligent search system, and visitors could also seek help directly from the robot librarians. Finding the books one wanted was not difficult.

This was Ye Nanxun's third consecutive day at the library. Only one day remained until his arranged exchange of the Mushroom Egg with Yan Beiyou.

Whenever he sat quietly reading in the library, Ye Nanxun often felt as though he had returned to the days when he practiced the piano in the Imperial Palace.

He would arrive in the morning and bury himself in books, eat the lunch his mother had made in the rest area at noon, then tuck the Mushroom Egg away and lead Little Dragon outside to the garden for a walk.

In the afternoon, he would return to the library and continue reading and taking notes.

After unscrewing his thermos and taking a sip of hot water, Ye Nanxun closed his eyes and slowly turned his stiff, aching neck from side to side.

At 3:47 in the afternoon, spring had yet to arrive, and the sky outside was gray-white.

He never forced himself when he could no longer concentrate. Ye Nanxun closed his book, went to the front desk to register, and put the unfinished books into his backpack, intending to take them home and continue reading that night.

It was still early to head home, so he simply led the dog around the garden.

When he grew tired, he sat in a nearby pavilion and tied the leash to one side. Before the bench had even warmed beneath him, a chilly wind brought fine rain pattering loudly onto the ground.

"Little Dragon, we can't go back for now."

It did not matter if they could not go back. Ye Nanxun held the puppy and sat peacefully in the pavilion, listening to the rain drizzle against winter's dry, withered branches and leaves.

It was quiet and comfortable.

Taking out his phone, Ye Nanxun snapped a photo of Little Dragon sleeping on his lap and, as usual, sent it to Yan Beiyou.

"Two major planets in an outer star system neighboring Tero Star have gone to war, and the fighting has spread to Tero Star. After negotiations, the two planets will sign a ceasefire agreement in Tero Star's capital."

In Conference Room One of the Imperial Palace, Yan Beiyou gave a quiet "Mm" after hearing his subordinate's report. His weighty gaze fell on General He, seated at the far end of the long table.

General He, who had already been sitting stiffly upright, immediately sharpened his focus and took the assignment upon himself.

When the meeting ended, everyone rose together. Only after the alpha seated at the head of the table stood and left did the others begin filing out.

"Ah, it's raining again." Zhu Yucheng strolled leisurely behind Yan Beiyou, a trace of confusion in his gaze as he looked at the emperor's back.

Some time ago, Yan Beiyou had suddenly sent him to General He's Estate. Then today, he had arranged for General He to travel thousands of miles to a frontier planet near the outer star system. People who made it into the upper ranks of the star system had more schemes than dragon fruit seeds. Anyone could see that Yan Beiyou was practically telling General He outright to behave himself.

General He was an old-fashioned conservative. Although Zhu Yucheng also disliked some of General He's methods, General He would not dare step out of line under Yan Beiyou's watch even if he had ten times the courage.

Yet Yan Beiyou had chosen to give the He Household a little knock on the head.

Rain pelted the windows, leaving streaks of water behind. The alpha walking at the front seemed to be moving a little faster than usual.

Zhu Yucheng squeezed up beside Song Ren and slung an arm around his shoulders like they were brothers. "Song Ren, don't you think His Majesty has been acting strange lately?"

Song Ren kept his gaze straight ahead. "Has he?"

"Hey, hey, hey, Zhu Yucheng. You're a married man. Watch your image, will you?"

Zhu Yucheng wanted to ask more, but before he could speak, Ji Yunqi pushed in from behind, grabbed the arm draped over Song Ren's shoulder, and shoved him aside without ceremony.

Zhu Yucheng clicked his tongue. "I'm talking to Song Ren. What are you causing trouble for, kid?"

"Even when talking, you should keep your distance." Ji Yunqi draped his own arm over Song Ren's shoulder.

"Whatever His Majesty does, he must have his reasons." Song Ren pushed Ji Yunqi's arm away.

That might be true, but since when did a mere He Household warrant their emperor personally giving it a warning?

Neither Ji Yunqi nor Zhu Yucheng could make sense of it.

Song Ren probably knew something, but he would not tell anyone else.

The alpha at the front dismissed his attendants, turned into his office, removed his uniform, and unhurriedly changed into a long lead-gray coat. On his way out, he casually picked up an umbrella.

Seeing this, the guards stationed at the palace moved to step forward and hold the umbrella for the emperor, but the alpha raised a hand. "You don't need to follow me."

The black umbrella opened to form a world of its own. A ruby was set into the bottom of its handle, while the upper section was wrapped in leather.

Yan Beiyou held the leather-wrapped handle in one hand while taking his phone from his pocket with the other and glancing at the screen.

For the past few days, every photo the omega had sent him had contained only the puppy.

Today's photo also had the puppy, lying on Ye Nanxun's lap.

A smooth, gleaming marble table, rain-soaked ground, an adorable little yellow dog, and a pair of beautiful long legs wrapped in light blue jeans.

After he crossed the garden's stone path, the scene from the photo slowly came into the alpha's view.

It was nothing more than an ordinary rainy-day view, yet the omega sitting in the pavilion seemed to be admiring some precious scenery. His pale green eyes gleamed with pure, crystalline light, absorbed and intent.