Ch 280: Daughter of the Republic VS Chinese Opera Singer (11.12)
“It must be fate.” The two spoke in riddles, and in an instant they felt closer to one another.

It was as though they hadn’t been apart for several years. They were able to talk like old friends, just like in the past.

Ziju BaiLin was ignored. Since this man came, his wife hadn’t looked at him. He was unhappy.

“Wife, if you haven’t said what you needed to say, quickly do so. That little white face is still waiting for us to go see him.” He deliberately lowered his voice and whispered in XunMi’s ear, showing that their relationship wasn’t ordinary.

This kind of expression of ownership let Luo Ran show his innocence.

“I say, Marshal Ziju, you don’t need to guard against me so much. If I could get together with XunMi, we would’ve married several years ago.” He spoke, then leisurely took a sip of tea. Nevertheless, he’d directly caught onto Ziju BaiLin’s sore spot.

“Speaking of, XunMi said before she liked gentle and intellectual men. I never expected in the end she’d choose someone who was as different as heaven and earth from that. Tsk tsk…”

XunMi could only smile helplessly. “People always change with time, to say nothing of love. Before you meet someone, how can you be certain of your type? Regardless of how one chooses, the person who drinks it knows best whether the water is hot or cold.”[1]

She gently patted her husband’s head to let him know to behave.

“Luo Ran, I think you also know the purpose of my appointment with you. Take these things back and take a look, and then tell me your answer after considering it. I can only say that working with me will definitely not disadvantage you.”

She took out the design plans from her small handbag. They were not complete; the most crucial points she kept in her head.

Therefore, she wasn’t worried about Luo Ran not cooperating with her and researching these things himself. After all, he didn’t have the core technology, and even with a talented person, it would still difficult.

Luo Ran did not open the plans directly, but rather put them away inside his suit jacket.

“I have always believed in your foresight, just like when you decided without hesitation to go study abroad. I’ll be leaving first. I’ll come find you once I’ve made a decision.” After finishing his cup of tea, Luo Ran got up and left.

To tell the truth, XunMi admired Luo Ran, and felt very good about his style of doing business.

“Don’t be jealous. No one can compare to you in my heart.” XunMi tilted her body and gave Ziju BaiLin a big kiss, making him immediately swallow the words in his mouth.

She giggled. Her husband’s style this time was really peculiar and elegant.

The two were not ready to leave either. Although there was still some time until evening, they were too lazy to move.

They ordered some pastries, and then XunMi took out her pen and paper, rested her upper body on the table, and began drawing.

Jun YuQing arranged two plainclothes soldiers to guard the door and not let people in.

When the last rays of twilight were disappearing, someone knocked on the door. XunMi looked at the drawing in her hands. En, close enough.

Putting away the designs and stretching her muscles, Ziju BaiLin promptly started to massage her.

Jun YuQing went to the door conscientiously. When he saw the main guest for tonight, he politely said, “Major General Shi, please come in, the Marshal and the Madam have been waiting.”

Shi HuaYi nodded, and a light flashed in his eyes.

This Ziju BaiLin really couldn’t do without his darling woman. He took her with him everywhere.

He stepped inside, and his eyes were met with the incomparable, quiet and exquisite face that had profoundly impressed him before.

It was her! The woman he saw outside the tea house this morning.

He never expected that she was actually the one snatched by Ziju BaiLin. Such charm, which man could look at her and not feel his heart race?

[The Capture Target has appeared. The Capture Target has appeared. The Capture Target has appeared.][2]

Just then, the system made a beeping sound, and XunMi looked up and locked eyes with the man staring at her.

How should she put it, it felt very… the Male Lead’s emotions ranged from “what a pity” to “how pitiful” and then again to a resoluteness.[3]

Why did she feel as though she had already inadvertently swept up a good favorability rating from the Male Lead? Was it an illusion?

Ziju BaiLin hugged XunMi, leaning to one side to block the line of sight between the two.

With them looking at each other with “deep affection” right in front of his face, he wanted to take his flippin’ gun out.

As expected, He Yuan was right. This one from the Western Region was a little white face. One look could tell you he was a lecherous little white face, just like his father.

XunMi was not annoyed by her husband’s actions. On the contrary, XunMi found a comfortable place to nestle.

She’d sat for a long time this afternoon and was very tired. Now someone was giving her a cushion, and she was happy to comply.

“Hello Marshal Ziju, I am Shi HuaYi. I am honored to meet you.” Shi HuaYi moved his eyes, stretched out his hand to Ziju BaiLin, and smiled.

Ziju BaiLin swept over him with an indifferent gaze and exposed an artificial smile: “Why isn’t it Old Marshal Shi?”

Knowing that you’re not joined by your old man, I refuse to roll over and die for you and let you nakedly stare at my family’s wife.

Shi HuaYi’s face froze, and there was a quick flash of anger in his eyes, but it vanished quickly.

He withdrew his hand and placed it behind his back, seeming not to mind.

“My father was busy, so he sent me here to convey our Western Region’s sincerity and friendliness.”

If it wasn’t for the fact that Li Hua Province and the Western Region shared a common border, and the worry that this bandit would rise up one day and expand into their territory, his old man probably would not have sent him over to sound him out.

Of course, it was also to see if they could directly get rid of this mad dog.

“Busy accompanying those concubines? He’s really too busy. You as a son still have to take extra care of things.”

The Marshal of the Western Region was a lecher to the core. Just about everyone in the area was aware. One just needed a glance to know that sooner or later he would meet his death on top of a woman.

Shi Huayi’s hands clenched into fists behind his back, loosening then tightening, tightening then loosening.

“Naturally I’m not as excellent as Marshal Ziju. You’re a person with no concerns, what you want to do, what you want to snatch, you “snatch.”

He gave the word emphasis, as he did not believe that woman was happy to be snatched without any complaints.

XunMi raised her eyes lazily and then lowered them again. Was he trying to incite disharmony in her relationship with her husband? The Male Lead wasn’t eating vinegar, was he?

The facts soon proved the Male Lead had taken the wrong medicine. He walked over and sat across from the two, and asked a question he already knew the answer to: “This person is…?”

The first time didn’t work, so you’ve prepared to try again a second time, Mr. Male Lead?!

XunMi was speechless. She sat up from her husband’s arms and smiled reluctantly at this self-righteous Shi HuaYi, then nodded unenthusiastically.

“Hello Major General Shi, I am Nian XunMi.”

“My wife,” Ziju BaiLin promptly added, once again declaring his ownership.

Shi HuaYi originally thought that even if XunMi didn’t dispute it, she would still be put in a bad mood. Who would have imagined she would straightforwardly nod in acknowledgement?

“Yes, this is my husband.” Or large pet dog, she added silently to herself.

“Hehe… is that so. I really must congratulate you two.” Shi HuaYi once again smiled stiffly.

How could a beautiful rose match with a heap of cow dung?

He truly wasn’t reconciled. If he had met her first, she definitely would’ve fallen in love with him.

Or was she just putting on an act because she was apprehensive of Ziju BaiLin’s identity?

Translator’s Notes
[1] This last bit is an 8 character Zen proverb, meaning one knows best through personal experience.

[2] Capture/Seduction strategy/Pursual whatever. It’s a weird word to translate. The literal meaning is “strategy” or “assault,” but it’s used colloquially to refer to the correct choices/dialogue options in an otome game to get the good ending. At any rate, he’s the ML, and she needs his favorability for the mission.

[3] If that was confusing, I think first he felt sorry for himself that she’s taken, then sorry for her that Ziju BaiLin snatched/forced her to be with him, and then probably resolution to free her from him. Good luck, buddy!

So it seems we have two completely delusional leads this time!