MRG Chapter 21.1: His Pearl (1)

Translator: Kii

Editor: Agneya

On the highest class military aircraft.

The man in military uniform looked at the city’s skyline gradually emerging outside the window, but his eyes couldn’t help but look back at the black gift box tied with a bow on the bracket.

Inside was the latest limited edition virtual game pod released by Blue Planet. It was even the upgraded portable version, which could be shrunk to the size of a palm when not in use, making it convenient to carry around.

—It was a present Light prepared for Mu Chen.

Of course it wasn’t a formal birthday gift, just an ordinary gift. Ever since he discussed what young people were interested in with Lieutenant General Li, he had been thinking that he could buy something Mu Chen would like.

But…

Light squinted his eyes slightly. Does this blue case look nice? Would Mu Chen rather prefer a black one?

“Your Highness.” Levi saw through Light’s thoughts. After all, he had accompanied him to choose this gift, so he knew how difficult it was to decide.

When the two of them first entered the largest VR gaming console shopping platform in the Oz Empire, Levi was completely confused by the various models of gaming console. Light was even more clueless. After listening to the sales assistant’s enthusiastic explanation, Light looked at the different models in front of him with a thoughtful expression. Just when Levi thought he hand finally made up his mind, Light calmly said—

“Then I’ll buy all of them.”

Thus, Levi ordered people to buy a version of all game consoles of different models and colors.

Later, he searched for information online and asked his children at home which model was better and which color was more popular. Finally, he discussed with Light for a long time before deciding on the model. The process was even more difficult than making military decisions.

Now, seeing Light hesitate again, Levi hastily advised, “Don’t worry, this is definitely the most fashionable style. Your little brother will definitely like it.”

“Mhm.” Hearing the other person say this, Light responded lightly and slowly withdrew his gaze from the box.

He leaned his elbow against the window, and the scene of the little merman clinging to him and pleading “Gege, please come back soon,” emerged in his mind when he left two days ago.

It would be great if Mu Chen liked it.

……

The mecha stopped at the palace back garden. Light didn’t tell anyone that he would arrive a day earlier.

So when he appeared in the corridor wearing a black windbreaker, Kuina, who was ordering a maid to clean the bedroom, was stunned. Her eyes fell on Light’s face in a daze. It took her a long time to come back to her senses and she bowed. “Your Highness, weren’t you supposed to arrive Monday night, why are you here today…”

Halfway through speaking, she followed Light’s gaze and suddenly realized that he probably wanted to give Mu Chen a surprise.

Light nodded toward her, asking, “Where’s Mu Chen?”

Kuina knew she had guessed right and smiled. “His Highness Mu Chen is in his own room, or he might be in the indoor lake next door. Did you tell him you were coming back early?”

Light, “I haven’t.”

“Oh…” Kuina curled the corners of her mouth and said quietly, “He’s staying in his room, you should hurry to him. He’ll definitely be super happy to see you back.”

“Alright.” Light took off his windbreaker and hung it on the rack, then walked toward Mu Chen’s room.

As she watched him leave, Kuina couldn’t help but reveal a relieved smile…

Their relationship was still good after so many years.

In front of Mu Chen’s bedroom, Light had the attendant knock on the door, but there was no immediate response from inside.

After a moment, a sharp “woof woof” barking sound came from inside the room.

Light hesitated, but he still went forward and pushed open the door. The snow-white wolfhound immediately jumped out, bared its mouth full of sharp fangs, and looked at everyone outside the house with extreme vigilance.

However, after seeing Light’s face clearly, it was as if Cutie was performing face-changing¹; he immediately pricked up his ears, stuck out his tongue, and circled around Light like a clingy and obedient dog.

Woooo—it really wanted to eat beef.

Pleasing the owner’s gege would be pleasing the owner—he would definitely have beef to eat tonight!

Light rubbed its head and looked at the drool dripping from the corner of Cutie’s mouth, he helplessly took off his leather gloves and asked, “Where’s your owner?”

Cutie understood him, immediately sticking up its tail and ran to the glass door leading to the indoor lake next door, barking at the door twice, “Woof, woof.”

He then turned his head toward Light.

Behind this door!

Light rubbed Cutie’s head. The moment he pushed open the door, the fresh scent of sea water and the gentle breeze blew across his temples.

After staying for a long time at the border where the air was pungent and dusty, he missed this fresh and clean feeling.

Then in the next second—

Those blue pupils stared straight into Light’s line of sight.

Mu Chen had just come out of the waters, standing barefoot on the marble tiles on the edge of the lake. A bath towel was wrapped around his waist, but it couldn’t cover the merman’s sharp V-line that dipped below his waist and the clearly well-defined abs. The young man’s grown bones were like butterfly wings ready to take flight. Water droplets were still trickling down his jawline. The indoor incandescent light hit his porcelain-white skin, further accentuating his broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted figure, which resembled a sculptor’s finest masterpiece.

The little merman, who could only reach Light’s waist and always liked to hug him and act coquettishly, was now nearly his height.

The atmosphere suddenly turned silent.

Mu Chen’s long eyelashes trembled, his gaze slowly scanned along the handsome uniform of the man in front of him, seeming to be unable to react immediately.

“Ge, why are you back already?”

“…”

……

A quarter of an hour later.

Mu Chen had put on clothes and returned to his room, where Light was already sitting inside waiting for him. The latter had changed out of his uniform and was now wearing a white shirt with a suit vest over it, which outlined his narrow waistline.

He sat on the armchair in a serious manner, staring at the digital clock lost in thought.

Mu Chen looked at his meticulous profile and the strand of hair that was very out of place with his temperament, the corner of his own lips slightly raised. However, when the other party turned around, he put away his smile.

“Gege, why didn’t you tell me that you’ll come back early?”

Light raised his head and looked at the handsome youth standing three steps away from him and silently contemplated. This distance wasn’t exactly far, but it was also not close—of course, it couldn’t be compared to before when he would throw himself into his arms as soon as they met.

His subconscious mind was still at the stage where the other party would act coquettishly and call him “Gege, Gege,” once he came back; this issue had never crossed his mind.

Light naturally couldn’t say words like “I wanted to give you a surprise.” He looked at those light blue eyes and moved his thin lips. “The task was completed much faster than expected, so I came back early.”

Mu Chen smiled. “Is that so?”

He looked at the man’s feigned serious expression and thought to himself…

You really don’t like expressing your true feelings. You obviously came back early just for me, yet you insist on making excuses.

“Mhm.” Light got up from the chair and took out the present he had prepared in advance. “This is for you…”

Halfway through his words, he caught a glimpse of a horrific bruise on the back of Mu Chen’s hand as he extended his hand to give the gift to him. Light knitted his brows, stretching out his other hand to touch Mu Chen’s wrist.

“What happened to your hand?”

The moment his finger touched the other person’s skin, Mu Chen immediately retracted his hand.

Light empty fingers curled up slightly and his complexion darkened.

There was a moment of abject silence.

Mu Chen raised his hand. “Oh, this…”

He originally thought that it would be fine by the time Light returned tomorrow; he didn’t expect the other party to come back ahead of schedule.

Without batting an eye, he calmly made up a reason, “I accidentally jammed my hand while closing the door yesterday. I was too careless…”

As he spoke, the slightly curved corners of his lips and the sigh in his tone perfectly expressed his disappointment for his “stupid behavior,” as if he was really an idiot who would get his hand caught in the door while walking.

Light, “Have you seen a doctor yet?”

Mu Chen smiled. “It’s not that serious, just a little scratch. Gege also knows that I heal quickly.”

Light looked down at the black and purple bruise, his eyebrows not easing at all. Just how hard did you have to jam it for it to get like this?

“Have you applied ointment to it?”

Mu Chen, “I have.”

“It’ll definitely be fine by tomorrow.”

Light, “Be careful next time.”

“Okay…” Mu Chen was afraid that he would continue to investigate the source of the wound, so he glanced at the thing in Light’s hand and tried to change the subject, “Oh right, what did Gege want to give me just now?”

“A virtual gaming pod.” Light handed him the present wrapped with a bow. While his expression remained neutral, he still took note of the other party’s reaction from the corner of his eye.

“Thank you, Gege.” Mu Chen’s gaze lightly swept over the black gift box, then he directed a sweet smile at Light.

“I’ll put it away.”

Looking at the other party’s back as he walked toward the other room, a faint hint of loss flickered in Light’s tranquil eyes.

It seemed like Mu Chen didn’t like it very much; his reaction was much calmer than he had expected…

What kind of reaction was he expecting, though?

Perhaps for him to say a few more words…

But what flashed through Light’s mind was the scene where the little merman would hug his waist and say in a coquettish tone, “Thank you, Gege. I really like it.”

He furrowed his brows and rubbed the space between his brows with his fingertip to dispel the strange thought.