AEKMEM chapter 45

An elf…an elf’s…kiss?

Chu Heng looked at An Qiao in a daze.

The silver-haired youth’s face was cold and tense, but the slight blush on his cheeks revealed his unease. This made him look more beautiful than usual and softened his originally aloof and untouchable temperament.

His pale lips were tightly pursed in a perfect, beautiful shape, making one want…

At that moment, Chu Heng’s mind was filled with fantasies; he felt as if the door to a new world had opened.

“Thank you, Qiaoqiao, for the red roses. It was so much trouble to prepare this surprise for me.” He looked at An Qiao and said, “I really like them.”

“Coming out with Qiaoqiao has definitely lifted my spirits.”

He deliberately omitted the words “Elf’s Kiss,” afraid that An Qiao might get angry and take the flowers back.

Afterwards, he played the victim, saying that he had been “depressed and unhappy” these past few days because of what He Yun did and her cruel words back then. He looked pitiful and sympathetic.

An Qiao: “… ”

He had originally considered telling Chu Heng to take the pot of red roses back and not give them to him.

Heaven knows this pot of red roses is actually called “Elf’s Kiss”! Giving them to Chu Heng would be too embarrassing!

However, after hearing Chu Heng’s heartfelt thanks, he felt too awkward to back out suddenly.

Oh well. Considering how miserable Chu Heng had been these past few days… Besides, no one knew he was an elf.

“If you like it, that’s good.”

**

Ever since receiving the “Elf’s Kiss” red rose from An Qiao at the Flower Festival’s “Flower Shooting” event, Chu Heng had been unusually excited.

He looked at his “Elf’s Kiss” rose a thousand times a day — he was practically a “flower fanatic.”

In fact, he really was a “flower fanatic.”

When Yin Que video-called him, he was carefully watering his precious potted plant.

Yin Que asked curiously, “Why did you suddenly start growing flowers? Shouldn’t you have the least patience for this kind of trouble?”

“You don’t understand,” said Chu Heng, glancing at him meaningfully. His face was full of pride and boastfulness. “This is an ‘Elf Kiss’ red rose that Qiaoqiao gave me.”

Not only does it symbolize confession, but the variety is also called “Elf Kiss”!

Yin Que: “…”

He understood. Chu Heng was mocking his single life for being clueless.

Of course, he was mostly showing off.

Ha! It’s just a pot of red roses, right? If he wanted some, he could buy hundreds or thousands in a minute!

He would never admit that he felt even a trace of envy or jealousy.

However, the mention of red roses reminded Yin Que of the real reason he had contacted Chu Heng.

“I heard that at this year’s Blue Star City Flower Festival, the ‘Beauty of the Flower Festival’ in the flower-shooting event was a huge upset—it was a tall, imposing Beastman.”

Chu Heng chuckled, “I didn’t expect you to be so gossipy.”

Since he was in a good mood, he didn’t mind that Yin Que had recognized him and come to see him embarrass himself.

“Gossip is human nature,” Yin Que retorted.

Knowing that Chu Heng had already discerned his intentions, Yin Que stopped beating around the bush. “Your Highness, how does it feel to have won the title of ‘Beauty of the Flower Festival’?”

He was also curious about An Qiao’s archery skills. They completely overturned his perception of An Qiao as “frail and delicate.” Although archery doesn’t require supernatural talent, An Qiao was simply amazing!

A pale, sickly-looking elf had outshone everyone else in the “flower shooting” event, leaving them far behind.

However, he didn’t ask. The beastman, so possessive of his partner, was incredibly narrow-minded.

“Of course it feels wonderful,” said Chu Heng, raising an eyebrow with pride. “After all, this is Qiaoqiao’s deep, sincere, and passionate love for me!”

At first, when he heard others discussing the “Beauty of the Flower Festival,” he felt a mix of emotions. But this was something An Qiao had won for him with his perfect shooting record—a token of An Qiao’s affection. He was naturally happy.

After learning that the red rose variety was called “Elf’s Kiss,” he was filled with ecstatic joy and delight.

So what if it’s a flower festival for beautiful women? It didn’t matter. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have received An Qiao’s “Elf’s Kiss.”

After showing off, he glanced at Yin Que with disdain and said, “A dog like you, who never gets a red rose, would never understand.”

Yin Que had come to laugh at him—how could he not snipe back?

Yin Que: “…”

Yin Que’s lips twitched.

“You’re showing off your love. Fine. But why did you have to kick him while he was down?

He immediately retaliated without hesitation: “If you’re so capable, show off here! If you’re so capable, go confess to your Crown Princess!”

He hadn’t forgotten Chu Heng saying, “My Qiaoqiao still doesn’t know how I feel.”

It’s unbelievable that, after showing off so dazzlingly, these two still haven’t confessed their feelings to each other!

Chu Heng: “… ”

**

After giving Chu Heng the “Elf’s Kiss” red rose at the Flower Festival’s “Flower Shooting” event, An Qiao avoided him for the next few days.

Out of sight, out of mind!

Otherwise, every time he saw him, he would think of that pot of “Elf’s Kiss” red roses.

It was just a name humans had randomly given to the flowers, combining an elf name with the word “kiss.” He could simply ignore it.

But he really couldn’t ignore it!

If he had just seen a flower with that name, a few days would have passed. However, he had to give Chu Heng this pot of red roses called “Elf’s Kiss.”

The Elf King, who had never seen a colored book before, was experiencing a huge shock for the first time.

Upon hearing from the butler that Chu Wen and Xiong Yi had come to see him, An Qiao, who was fishing by the lake instead of admiring the flowers, was speechless.

Who were these two?

One of them was named Chu. Could they be related to Chu Heng? But shouldn’t they be looking for Chu Heng?

Then he remembered: These were the first- and second-place winners of the Star Beast Forest assessment at the Empire’s First Military Academy.

And he happened to be third.

An Qiao’s eyelids twitched. He suddenly had a premonition of trouble.

His premonition was correct. Chu Wen and Xiong Yi had come to see him because they had been assigned a task by the school for the top three students in the freshman finals.

Initially, one or two members of the school leadership didn’t intend for An Qiao to participate, believing his abilities were too weak.

However, someone mentioned that the mission relied purely on luck, not strength. The person who made this prophecy also said that only outstanding freshmen could complete it.

An Qiao, the third-place finisher, had exceptionally good luck. He luckily obtained an S-grade star core in the Star Beast Forest assessment, securing third place, and he unexpectedly stumbled upon a huge pile of energy crystals of immeasurable value—exceeding the reserves of some families in the Imperial Capital! His luck was simply enviable!

Perhaps the key to completing the mission ultimately lies with An Qiao!

Adding to the mix are Chu Wen and Xiong Yi, who expressed their hope of taking on the mission with An Qiao.

Chu Wen and Xiong Yi were die-hard fans of Chu Heng—of course, he was idolized by many in the younger generation.

Secretly, they hoped that by accepting the mission with An Qiao, they would see the Crown Prince more often and perhaps even exchange a few words with him, since An Qiao was Chu Heng’s Crown Princess.

Moreover, completing this mission would earn a significant number of academic credits, which would benefit An Qiao as well.

Admission to the Imperial Military Academy wasn’t too difficult for those with powerful backgrounds. However, successfully graduating from the Imperial Military Academy was extremely difficult. Without enough credits, one cannot graduate and be considered a graduate of the Empire’s First Military Academy.

For someone like An Qiao, who lacks the martial prowess to take on combat-related missions and the healing abilities unique to elves to take on healing missions, obtaining enough credits to graduate is impossible.

Now, however, a perfect opportunity to earn a large number of credits without any danger has presented itself. Isn’t this ideal for An Qiao?

Both Chu Wen and Xiong Yi thought it was great!

It’s good for An Qiao. For them, it’s a chance to meet their idols and strike up a conversation—a win-win situation!

Chu Wen and Xiong Yi hurriedly arrived in Blue Star City on Water Blue Star—the place prophesied where they could complete the mission. Coincidentally, An Qiao was in Blue Star City at that time.

An Qiao’s luck was truly remarkable. Perhaps the final crucial moment would depend on him to complete the mission.

The two couldn’t help but think to themselves.

After reporting and receiving permission, the butler led Chu Wen and Xiong Yi to the lakeside. They stopped in their tracks when they saw a white figure beneath the wisteria blossoms.

The wisteria grew freely around the wooden trellis, forming a vibrant expanse of deep and light purple that bloomed intensely and strikingly.

But all of this paled in comparison to the person beneath the flowers.

Under the wisteria, a silver-haired youth propped his cheek with one hand while fishing with the other. Streams of sunlight filtered through the wisteria blossoms and fell upon him. They danced on his face and his raven-feather-like eyelashes, enhancing his already unparalleled beauty with a radiant, dreamlike quality.

Beyond his beauty, he had a detached, aloof air, like the moon in the sky or snow on a mountain peak.

—No wonder His Highness the Crown Prince was so captivated by him.

At that moment, they both realized it.

An Qiao was fishing, yet not fishing. When schools of golden carp swarmed around, ready to bite, he mischievously released a wisp of his spiritual energy, shooing away the carp that were about to enjoy their feast.

Carp: ???

“What business do you have with me?” An Qiao asked directly when he saw them approaching.

Chu Wen and Xiong Yi exchanged glances.

Xiong Yi scratched his head and looked at Chu Wen. “You’re the one who dragged him into this mess, so you’re in charge. Besides, you’re practically relatives!”

Chu Wen: “As if you didn’t want to drag him into this mess.”

Furthermore, although the crown prince, Chu Heng, was his uncle and the crown princess, An Qiao, was his aunt, he had only exchanged a few words with his uncle and was even less familiar with his aunt.

Seeing that Xiong Yi refused to speak, Chu Wen had no choice but to begin. “The reason we came to find you, An Qiao, is because the academy gave us, the top three freshmen in the end-of-term assessment, a mission.”

“Mission?” An Qiao looked at his fishing line with mild disinterest. “What mission?”

“To search for that elf.”

An Qiao: “???”

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