Chapter 17: The Admiral Perseveres

After Luo Ran’s worldview experienced a baptism and his courage and sense of shame received a blow, he finally finished reading it. A window popped up.

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Luo Ran: “…”

Too powerful.

As if he were possessed, he’d bookmarked it before he knew it.

H-He wasn’t really interested in the story.

It’s only to see how everyone saw him and Lucas.

Luo Ran put the terminal down and turned over to sleep, but was soon awakened by the heat and discomfort coming from his nape.

“Ngh…”

Luo Ran frowned and propped himself up.

He mustered his strength to pick up the inhibitor he earlier placed by his bedside. With shaking hands, he slowly twisted the cap off.

The moment the needle pierced his wrist, his whole body couldn’t help trembling.

He still carried Lucas’ temporary mark. An inhibitor couldn’t completely suppress the symptoms during heat, so he still had to rely on the alpha’s pheromones.

Luo Ran took a deep breath and reluctantly pulled the jacket over his head, trying to relieve the strange feelings in his body.

He only saw a pitch-black void, but the powerful pheromones surrounding him gave him a strong sense of safety. Luo Ran gripped the corner of the bed so tightly that his finger joints turned red.

This feeling… was too terrible.

Like doing something behind his boss’ back, not to mention Luo Ran just read an earth-shaking smut– no, love story… between him and Lucas, he felt that this was wrong.

Luo Ran could’ve exploded from shame.

The fabric around Luo Ran carried the strong scent of bitter tobacco, allowing Luo Ran’s spiritual power to slowly calm down.

At the same time, his body relaxed all over, hating that he couldn’t take in more of it.

Every cell in his body yearned to be embraced by this pheromone.

His omega instincts caused Luo Ran’s breathing to deepen, wanting to absorb more of the alpha’s scent.

…No, he couldn’t.

As soon as he regained his senses, Luo Ran forced himself to be rational. He levered himself off the bed then knelt and adjusted his breathing.

Xia Zhi was right. Luo Ran’s self-control was so strong that it was inhuman.

Even in this situation, Luo Ran could get a grip on his instincts.

Ten slender fingers clenched at the bedsheet. After injecting another dose of inhibitors, Luo Ran was finally able to leave the pheromones and distance himself from the instincts in his mind.

There was a fine layer of sweat on Luo Ran’s brow. He glanced at the dark green army jacket with a complicated expression.

An ordinary jacket, for him, turned into Pandora’s box.

Luo Ran pulled the jacket away and fell into bed.

In the end, it remained in his arms. As long as he retained his sanity and didn’t indulge too much or develop a dependence on it, he could still use it.

A typical heat lasted for three to five days. Luo Ran hoped that he could pass the next few days smoothly and that the temporary mark wouldn’t give any trouble.

Luo Ran’s bed was set against a wall, where a window allowed bright moonlight to spill through onto his sheets.

The person burrowed in the quilt slowly fell asleep.

* * *

The next day, Luo Ran sprayed an extra layer of scent-blocker and also took an inhibitor with him.

After all, too many documents had accumulated at the company that he needed to process, so he wouldn’t be going to Xia Zhi’s today.

“Good morning,” Rong Duo greeted with a smile. “Xiao Yun asked for leave, so I will be assisting you this week.”

“Okay.” Luo Ran nodded.

Rong Duo was very capable in her work, and maybe because she was a newcomer, she was also full of enthusiasm. Luo Ran thought that they could cultivate her a bit more. It would be good if they could keep her around for longer.

Once Luo Ran sat and opened the company’s inbox, he saw that it was full of invitation letters from the princess of Luobing.

Lillia knew that Lucas ate with Andika. At first, she was glad for Luobing’s sake, but then she felt they were looking down on her and grew jealous. How can that bastard son step on my head like this?

Her emotions built until Lillia didn’t care how fierce Lucas was, she insisted that he accompany her to dinner and even threw a tantrum at the embassy.

“Eesh, this ancestor of Luobing’s is really…” Rong Duo had no words. “She makes a lot of trouble.”

Luo Ran also shook his head. This princess’ actions didn’t leave a good impression of Luobing’s royal family.

But Lucas would have to have a meal with her either way, even if she didn’t mention it, because it was the empire’s responsibility for the two to meet at least once.

Besides, if Lucas didn’t go, that would be confirming the rumours about his intentions towards Andika.

“Um…” Rong Duo glanced hesitatingly at Luo Ran, who was reading through a pile of paperwork. “Secretary Luo…”

“Hm?”

Rong Duo carefully asked, “How is the relationship between the admiral and the imperial family?”

Luo Ran replied while writing on a document, “Pretty good. The old emperor trusts him a lot, more than his own sons even. He’s as close as brothers with the second and third princes. As for the eldest prince, they can be considered acquaintances.”

Rong Duo asked, “Then the admiral doesn’t hate the eldest prince, right?”

“Why would he?” Luo Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at her words. “The eldest prince and the admiral are friends too.”

“Oh…”

Then he’s just jealous, Rong Duo thought.

Ah, what a wonderful love.

This was much sweeter than the story she read last night! Reality was a hundred times sweeter than fiction!

Luo Ran got up to print the invitation letter, then entered the office to find Lucas.

But as soon as he stepped inside, Luo Ran almost turned right back around.

* * *

He couldn’t look straight at Lucas…!!

Luo Ran didn’t expect that he would be so affected by last night’s real-person fic.

Though he skipped over the smut, he nonetheless saw a few keywords.

So now when he saw Lucas, his mind was filled with nonsense like “Heh, that damn guy”, “Big enough for you?”, and “Little imp.”

And 38cm.

…He wanted brain bleach.

“What are you standing around for?” Lucas asked with a frown.

“Nothing…” Pulling his lips into a smile, Luo Ran walked over and handed the invitation letter to Lucas.

Hss.

Lucas’ features were even more handsome up close.

Luo Ran took a deep breath and pressed his thoughts into his heart. He couldn’t have strange thoughts about his boss just because of some strange writing.

It was terrible.

Luo Ran kicked those messy thoughts out of his head with a sigh.

“Not going.” Lucas took one look at the card and threw it aside.

“Admiral…” Luo Ran knew Lucas paid no attention to imperial etiquette, so he asked, “Did you fall in love with His Highness Andika?”

“…?” Lucas yelled, “Are you crazy?!”

Luo Ran grinned. “You went on a date with His Highness Andika, yet left the princess alone. Doesn’t this mean you’ve already decided in your heart?”

Lucas instantly turned gloomy. “Who said that to you.”

Luo Ran’s expression didn’t even twitch, only calmly saying, “The whole empire thinks so.”

He hadn’t lied. The forum was still howling about it all of last night.

“Isn’t it just eating with the princess?” Lucas asked. “Fine, I just happen to… have something to discuss.”

* * *

So Lucas appeared in the restaurant again that evening.

The restaurant was one that Luo Ran chose. It was a revolving restaurant with first-class food, and one could overlook the vast city through floor-to-ceiling windows.

As before, Lillia wore a luxurious dress accompanied by the best jewellery.

“Admiral!” Seeing the tall man walk over, Lillia was happy yet shy, but also a little scared. She bowed cautiously. “I’ve wanted to meet Admiral for a long time!”

Lucas brushed his coat aside and sat. He raised an eyebrow. “I’ve also been looking for a chance to meet.”

Lillia’s expression bloomed.

Then Lucas continued, “Our grievance from before hasn’t been settled yet, let’s get that done tonight before dinner.”

“What…?” Lillia looked dumbfounded.

Luo Ran, standing behind Lillia and taking the menu from the waiter, frowned suspiciously.

No… what grievances could there be between Lucas and Lillia?

Lucas leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “That time at the banquet, I heard you say many revolting things about my secretary, didn’t you?”

“I… I…” Lillia thought for a long time before remembering.

Yes, at the time she said Luo Ran was a mere watchdog who relied on his backer to bully others.

Lillia became flustered.

No way, right?

Lucas remembered it for so long, and even came to settle accounts?

“Admiral…” Luo Ran was also very surprised. His eternally clever mind suddenly got stuck, he opened his mouth but had no idea what to say. 

With no fluctuations in tone, Lucas directed to the princess, “You still haven’t apologized to my secretary.”

“I… I didn’t mean it!” Lillia wanted to cry but had no tears. She, she refused to apologize to a mere watchdog! She was a princess!

“Apologize.”