Chapter 27: “—Until I Deem It Satisfactory.”
This sentence froze Ming Fei in place…
“—Until I deem it satisfactory.”
This sentence froze Ming Fei in place, as if two weights had been placed on her shoulders.
She couldn’t help but wonder, what level did Zhu Yiqiao consider satisfactory? As proficient and effortless as herself? But by Ming Fei’s standards, that was already close to a perfect score.
Cooperating with Zhu Yiqiao’s reasonable requests was an important part of the marriage agreement.
Although she wasn’t a particularly outstanding subordinate, she knew to follow instructions. Therefore, after some thought, she knelt in front of the armchair and looked up at the aloof woman.
“For practice, can we start with the Taiya hand-kissing etiquette?”
At the moment they actually began, Zhu Yiqiao’s requirements became vague.
She said, “As you wish.”
Ming Fei nodded: “Okay.”
Taiya was the most open country in the international community. People often greeted each other with hand-kissing, cheek-kissing, hugs, and other forms of physical affection.
Ming Fei had been to Taiya once before, on a business trip with Li Xing. After completing their work at the Ivy League school, she strolled alone along the famous Street 109, past the ancient Malfaya Church and the statue of Sifila, and arrived at Bulanhai, known as the “Garden of the New Century.”
Although the walk was only one kilometer, she received thirteen confessions, and several of them were quite bold and passionate. One woman even proposed to her with a rose from a street vendor.
Since then, Taiya’s passionate openness had left a deep impression on Ming Fei.
Heavy snow was falling outside, but the temperature inside was gradually rising. Looking at the aloof Zhu Yiqiao, Ming Fei thought to herself, it was a good thing the Chief Judge hadn’t taken off her white gloves, thus avoiding more direct intimate contact.
Not wanting to waste time, she tentatively took Zhu Yiqiao’s right hand. After confirming that Zhu Yiqiao hadn’t reached for her gun with her other hand, she proceeded to the next step, feeling encouraged.
Also an alpha, she was five centimeters taller than Zhu Yiqiao, and her hands were slightly larger.
She held Zhu Yiqiao’s hand as carefully as if it were a precious gem, her eyelashes fluttering as she lowered her head and kissed the back of the gloved hand.
Her kiss was light, like a butterfly flapping its wings.
A fleeting touch, always maintaining politeness, never crossing the line.
After the kiss, she didn’t immediately release Zhu Yiqiao’s hand, but continued to hold it, looking up at her and asking,
“…Jiejie, is this okay?”
Zhu Yiqiao said, “Next step.”
After saying that, she released Ming Fei’s hand, still sitting in the armchair, watching her expressionlessly.
For some reason, the tension in Ming Fei’s heart lessened a little.
Her nervousness stemmed from pretending to be Zhu Yiqiao’s intimate partner. Although she knew it was her duty, gratitude hadn’t completely dispelled her reverence and awe for Zhu Yiqiao, so she always felt like prey caught by the scruff of its neck.
Perhaps at some point when she let her guard down, her neck would be bitten, and she would become a meal.
She pursed her lips, suppressed these complicated thoughts, and was about to proceed with the next step, a cheek kiss, when her silent phone suddenly rang. She moved to the side to avoid interrupting, planning to continue practicing after Zhu Yiqiao finished the video call.
Lan Lubai’s voice came from the other end of the video.
“Why didn’t you tell me when you arrived?” she asked with a smile in her voice. “What is Chief Judge Zhu busy with?”
Zhu Yiqiao glanced at the person beside her and, seemingly without any guard, directly connected Lan Lubai’s video call to the living room robot’s display screen, so that Lan Lubai’s voice immediately filled the entire area by the French windows.
She took the initiative to greet Ming Fei, who had minimized her presence, her bright smile as radiant as the stars.
“Good evening, Teacher Xiao Fei, thank you for accompanying our boss on this trip.”
Ming Fei smiled: “It’s no trouble at all.”
“Oh, I was truly amazed by your shadow play performance at the school celebration last time! I wonder which master Teacher Xiao Fei learned from?”
Which master?
Ming Fei’s memory instantly went back to her childhood.
Behind the orphanage was a mountain, and not far to the right was a stage. Back then, she was still very young. Whenever the orphanage organized trips to watch plays at the stage, compared to other children who were playing around, she always sat in the first row, watching with rapt attention.
Over time, the performers on stage remembered her name.
Once, during a performance of shadow puppetry, which few people watched anymore, there were only a handful of people in the audience. Because it was raining, in the end, only Ming Fei remained.
When the show ended, a female performer called her over and asked if she was interested in learning.
That was the first time young Ming Fei had been asked if she wanted to do something. Before that, she could only passively accept answers, never being asked about her own wishes.
She shyly replied that she wanted to learn, and from then on, the female performer would teach her every week. Later, the stage moved away, and she would practice late at night under the light, secretly envying the various small animals projected by the shadows, because they could run freely in the wilderness.
The two chatted about this topic, but were soon interrupted by Zhu Yiqiao.
She rested her chin on one hand, the pheromone bracelet on her wrist flickering: “Lubai, get to the point.”
“Alright.” Lan Lubai smiled. “The venue for the banquet has been changed to St. Gesali. Because it’s quite far, you need to leave the hotel soon.”
After saying that, Lan Lubai glanced at Ming Fei and said meaningfully, “I received news that Minister Bai from Silla will also be attending this meeting. After learning about your marriage, she seems…”
Combined with Colonel Xu, whom they had met at the flight station this morning, Ming Fei also had some impression of this Minister Bai from Silla. Unlike the rumors about Colonel Xu’s pursuit, which were unconfirmed, this Minister Bai, from a prominent family, had publicly pursued Zhu Yiqiao.
Although the citizens of the Independent State of Yi Meng weren’t optimistic about it, in the few international meetings they had, Minister Bai expressed her admiration for Zhu Yiqiao without reservation, which had become a hot topic of discussion among the citizens of the Independent State of Yi Meng.
Zhu Yiqiao seemed to have completely forgotten this person: “I understand.”
Lan Lubai hung up the video call: “See you in an hour.”
Due to the news from the video call, the practice between them couldn’t continue. Ming Fei didn’t waste any time and quickly asked,
“Jiejie, do I need to change clothes to attend the banquet with you?”
Her attire was similar to Zhu Yiqiao’s. Except for the outer coat, they were both wearing shirts and trousers. However, Zhu Yiqiao was dressed in the Trial Court attire, which appeared more formal.
Zhu Yiqiao replied coldly, “No need.”
“Okay.”
St. Gesali was located in the main urban area of Taiya, a banquet hall exclusively for public officials.
Unlike the temperature in the Independent State of Yi Meng, Taiya was already covered in snow. There were snowmen built by citizens along the roads, and the robots responsible for clearing the snow would avoid the small snowmen so that people could appreciate them.
Ming Fei, facing the window in the hovercar, saw a cat made of snow.
So, she took a picture of the cat, which might soon melt, with her phone and uploaded it to 008’s internal network back in the Independent State of Yi Meng, reminding it to show Ming Zaozao.
008 immediately replied.
[Teacher Xiao Fei, please rest assured, I will let Baby feel the love from her mother as soon as she wakes up ^^]
[Please don’t worry, Baby is very well-behaved. Executive Min’s family likes her very much. She ate a lot of animal crackers made by Executive Min’s mother today and her belly is round like a little ball. Finally, I wish Teacher Xiao Fei all the best with work ^^]
Ming Fei smiled. Thinking that she could go home and see her daughter after this business trip, the curve of her lips deepened.
The hovercar crossed most of the main urban area and finally arrived at St. Gesali before seven o’clock.
Ming Fei composed herself and got out of the car first. The biting cold wind poured into her collar, and she pursed her lips, the redness on her cheeks gradually fading.
When Zhu Yiqiao got out of the car, Ming Fei was about to reach for her hand when she saw a creamy white cashmere scarf in Zhu Yiqiao’s hand. Taiya’s freezing temperatures slowed Ming Fei’s thinking a little. She thought it was for Zhu Yiqiao herself and was about to help her put it on.
But—
Zhu Yiqiao said, “Come closer.”
Ming Fei obediently moved closer, close enough to see her own reflection in Zhu Yiqiao’s blue eyes. Then, the soft and warm cashmere scarf was wrapped around her neck.
As she did so, Zhu Yiqiao’s fingertips inevitably brushed against Ming Fei’s jaw, neck, and earlobe. Understanding, and to reciprocate Zhu Yiqiao’s sudden intimacy, Ming Fei gave her a light smile.
Her voice was incredibly gentle: “Thank you, Jiejie.”
Zhu Yiqiao took her hand: “Let’s go in.”
The surrounding staff members kept glancing at them. Ming Fei guessed that the buildings on both sides of St. Gesali might be hiding reporters and photographers who wanted to be the first to publish the news.
They walked in, from the magnificent hall on the first floor to the banquet venue on the sixteenth floor. Ming Fei kept a faint smile on her face, playing the role of a dutiful partner.
Compared to the first floor, the main hall on the sixteenth floor was even more opulent. Guests filled the hall, and the scene was unprecedentedly grand. Everyone present was a prominent figure from various countries. When Zhu Yiqiao and Ming Fei entered, several ministers from Taiya offered their wedding congratulations.
“You and your partner are truly a perfect match. On behalf of the Ministry of National Security, I wish you a happy wedding.”
“…I wish you a pleasant week in Taiya.”
Ming Fei had seen many of these blessings in the official comment section of the Independent State of Yi Meng Trial Court since the announcement of their marriage. From their departure from Yi Meng to their arrival in Taiya, they had received countless blessings.
But this time, Ming Fei keenly noticed that, compared to others, these blessings were tinged with the shrewdness of politicians.
Zhu Yiqiao responded indifferently, remaining cold and aloof in this social setting, not showing any difference even though all those present were high-ranking officials. Ming Fei even felt that she was gentler to the citizens of various countries than to these politicians.
When the host of this banquet, the Chief Military Governor of Taiya, arrived, the lights in the hall seemed to dim.
Lan Lubai, who had been busy socializing with politicians from various countries, came around from the right and sat next to them. She seemed a little tired, her emerald green eyes like the aurora that only appeared in the southern region of Taiya in late winter. After taking off her Trial Court cap, she picked up a round chestnut and played with it.
Ming Fei looked at the fruit platter on the table and couldn’t help but think of the winner of Taiya’s Golden Apple Growing Championship this year.
Taiya’s basic agriculture was very developed, and here you could see all kinds of special fruits. This year’s Golden Apple Growing Champion had grown apples that were plump and juicy, larger than some competition-grade watermelons, one apple being enough to eat for half a month.
Ming Fei had been intimidated by the sheer size of the golden apple at the time.
Now, seeing the special fruits of Taiya again, she tasted a piece of sliced light yellow strawberry. The sweet fruit made her smile.
The indoor temperature was pleasant. After tasting most of the other special fruits, Ming Fei wanted to take off her scarf.
“Jiejie.”
“Mm?”
“It’s a little hot, can I take off my scarf?”
Zhu Yiqiao didn’t answer, directly taking off the scarf for Ming Fei.
The two councilors opposite them cast curious and benevolent glances at the newlywed couple.
Knowing it was just an act, Ming Fei cooperated with a smile, and Zhu Yiqiao, after taking off her scarf, even poured her some juice.
The juice in the glass was orange. Ming Fei looked down at the drink, about to do something for Zhu Yiqiao, when a sudden sound erupted from the left.
In an instant—
A bullet, accompanied by a sharp wind, flew towards her with precision.
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