Chapter 302 - 301: Marriage Registration

Pei Yin was a man of his word. He contacted Si Xu first thing in the morning to go get registered.

As for Sheng Yue and Ji Shiyin, they were too far away to make it in time for the registration.

When Si Xu arrived, Pei Yin was picking out chain accessories.

He looked at the excited Pei Yin across from him, then glanced down dispassionately at the time on his Star Brain. "Five-thirty."

Pei Yin’s smile faltered for a moment before becoming even wider. "I’ll pick out our clothes first. We’ll go once they’re awake."

He scoffed, "You should be grateful I notified you at all, and you’re complaining it’s too early? If it’s too early, go back home. I find you an eyesore anyway."

Pei Yin sized him up. "Looks to me like you put plenty of thought into your own outfit."

’He’s actually pretty handsome.’

Si Xu’s brows knitted together. "This is just my daily attire. Don’t you slander me."

Pei Yin snorted and patted his own face forcefully. "I’m naturally gorgeous. I give you a couple of compliments, and it goes straight to your head."

Si Xu: "..."

’Did you even compliment me?’

「Elsewhere.」

Jian Yu was still drowsy with sleep.

She nuzzled her head against Ling Yanzhi’s chin, not wanting to get up. "I remember we can register online."

Ling Yanzhi felt a knot in his stomach. A very tight knot.

He ruffled Jian Yu’s hair, his tone unreadable. "One person can. Several can’t."

Jian Yu’s mind cleared for a moment.

Hearing the cold, deep tone in his voice, she pressed her lips together and unconsciously clutched at Ling Yanzhi’s clothes.

Ling Yanzhi cursed himself inwardly.

He softened his voice, adopting his usual lazy, casual tone. "It won’t take long to go in person. Pei Yin and Xi Yu are already picking out clothes. He didn’t sleep all night; we can’t let him get excited for nothing."

Jian Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She knew Xi Yu hadn’t come back to bed last night, and she knew Pei Yin was rummaging around nearby.

Compared to Pei Yin and Xi Yu, who wore their hearts on their sleeves, Ling Yanzhi’s attitude seemed a bit ambiguous.

Jian Yu looked up.

She looked directly into Ling Yanzhi’s eyes. "I’m very traditional. We have to get this certificate. You have to take responsibility for me."

’If you don’t want to be responsible, then pay up.’

’Worst case, I’ll just consider it a failed romance.’ Jian Yu consoled herself.

Ling Yanzhi chuckled. "What crazy things are you thinking? Shouldn’t I be the one saying that?"

The tension in Jian Yu’s nerves eased.

Her fingers loosened their grip slightly, and she obediently smoothed out the wrinkles on Ling Yanzhi’s shirt.

"If you suddenly have regrets, I’ll be so embarrassed. If you have anything to say or any complaints, you can tell me directly."

A hundred excuses popped into Ling Yanzhi’s mind, but hearing the shy, delicate voice by his ear and seeing her soft face, he suddenly lost the desire to lie.

He clicked his tongue softly. "I don’t have regrets, I’m just a little reluctant. I’m afraid that once there are more people, you’ll have an even harder time noticing me."

Jian Yu stared at him with her big, wide eyes.

Ling Yanzhi’s eyelids drooped, the corners of his eyes tinged with red. His long lashes cast shadows, and he didn’t show much expression, save for the corners of his mouth, which curled up with a hint of roguish charm.

Jian Yu couldn’t read much emotion on Ling Yanzhi’s face.

’A petty, possessive, and slightly devious person who pretends to be gentle for long enough might just stay gentle forever.’

’But no matter how considerate he becomes, his true nature is bound to slip out sometimes.’

But even so, Jian Yu felt he was already good enough.

She said earnestly, "You’re the reason I want to get registered. Yan Ying’s appearance gave me a sense of crisis. You’re so wonderful, there are just as many people lining up to chase you as there are for me."

Ling Yanzhi sat up, pulling her into his lap.

The amusement in his eyes grew as Jian Yu’s body slid down, landing squarely on his abdomen.

"You also know you have a lot of suitors. It’s worrying me to death."

Jian Yu leaned back into his arms, hugging his waist tightly. "I’m so smart and beautiful, what’s wrong with people liking me?"

Ling Yanzhi snorted, throwing her own words back at her. "The number of people chasing me is no less than yours."

Jian Yu smiled and kissed the corner of his lips. "There will always be people with unrequited feelings. We’ll just ignore them."

Ling Yanzhi hugged her tighter and sighed. "I wasn’t just saying that out of anger before. Registering online is fine for two people. But a multi-person registration signifies that one of the spouses is an Awakener, and that can’t be processed online."

Jian Yu buried her face against his chest, took a breath, and asked muffledly, "Can we go next week? In your current condition, I’m worried you’ll run into danger."

There was no news on the Imperial Capital Star about them being injured, but Admiral Yan probably knew.

’What if the enemy is lying in wait, ready to ambush and kidnap them?’

’And that Zhao Jiangyou might be one of Yan Tianba’s men.’

"Not necessarily." Ling Yanzhi seemed to have read Jian Yu’s mind.

He chuckled. "Not only does Yan Tianba not know if we’re injured, he might even mistakenly believe he underestimated our strength. He won’t make a move anytime soon. He’ll spend more time preparing and keeping a few tricks up his sleeve, ensuring we’re worn down with no ability to fight back before he acts."

Ling Yanzhi lowered his gaze. "We’ll go today, through official channels. The sooner we get it done, the sooner we can come back."

He stared at Jian Yu’s cheeks, flushed from sleep, and was momentarily lost in thought.

The two of them got up to wash and get ready.

Hearing the noise, Xi Yu burst in like a whirlwind.

The tentacles on his back were draped with all sorts of clothes, jewelry, and shoes. "Baby, which set do you want to wear?"

Jian Yu chose a red outfit.

She took the clothes and stroked the tip of Yang Zhang’s tentacle. It looked pink and plump, quite adorable.

Si Xu walked in slowly, looking like the world’s most handsome best man. He sat to the side, eye-catching and flamboyant.

Pei Yin couldn’t sit still and paced back and forth.

When he saw Xi Yu take a manicure set out of his Space Ring, he immediately snatched it away.

Xi Yu didn’t get angry. His gaze was distant as he stared into space for a moment, then he took out a pink nail polish.

Pei Yin eagerly took the tools and started trimming Jian Yu’s nails.

He meticulously trimmed her nails into a neat, rounded shape and carefully cleaned up the hangnails.

Pei Yin didn’t even glance at Si Xu.

He watched Ling Yanzhi braid Jian Yu’s hair while also observing Xi Yu hold her hand to paint her nails.

With his ears perked up and eyes darting everywhere, he tried to pick up some romantic skills.

With a few deft movements of his fingers weaving through her long, slightly curly hair, Ling Yanzhi had fashioned it into a beautiful bun.

The last shred of hope in Pei Yin’s heart died.

’This isn’t something I can learn.’

Jian Yu’s hobbies were making money and buying dresses. She stood up and gave a proud twirl.

The red dress made her skin look translucent and fair, her face so tender it seemed you could squeeze water from it.

Xi Yu chimed in with the most twisted, possessive, and chilling voice imaginable, "Baby is so beautiful."

His gaze was fervent, cloying, and obsessive, as if in the next second he would pull out a knife to dismember her and lovingly preserve the pieces.

Si Xu’s gaze was lukewarm, but the fingers resting on his lap curled slightly.

Ling Yanzhi raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth lifting as pleasure overflowed from his lips, his eyes, and the arch of his brows.

Pei Yin’s heart was still filled with a sour, bitter feeling.

He suddenly realized he wasn’t as generous as he thought.

Jian Yu thought for a moment. She had slept with Si Xu, had just finished placating Ling Yanzhi, and had even taken a nap with Xi Yu yesterday.

She walked over to Pei Yin and held out her hand.

"?" Pei Yin froze. ’Is this the kind of treatment a third wheel like me should be getting?’

’Hesitation would only invite complications.’

He summoned Ting Ying, and instead of taking her hand, he scooped Jian Yu up with one arm and gloated, "We’re heading out first, ’kay?"