AEKMEM chapter 68

“Ahem—” Chu Heng realized he had let his emotions get the better of him. He cleared his throat and said sternly, “Elves are of great significance to the Empire and cannot be desecrated. No citizen of the Empire will stand idly by if someone impersonates an elf messenger.”

“Is that so?”

An Qiao didn’t believe his nonsense.

After thinking about it for a moment, he realized that his earlier guess was probably correct.

When Chu Heng said a few days ago, “I’ve found a way to break the curse on you,” he should have realized that, since Chu Heng could recognize his “old wounds” as a curse from his inherited memories and knew how to break the Demon King’s curse, he could know other things as well.

At the time, however, his focus was on how Chu Heng had hurt himself trying to find a way to break the curse. He was angry and upset and ignored everything else, which is why he didn’t notice anything amiss.

In the past few days, his mind has been preoccupied with the “solution to the Demon King’s curse.”

It’s not that he wants to use it. On the contrary, he’s worried that Chu Heng will use it.

He once read an ancient book that described the Demon King’s forbidden curse. The book briefly mentioned that dragons of high bloodlines could break the curse if they were willing to pay a certain price.

He suspected that Chu Heng was referring to this method, which required “paying a certain price.”

The fact that, after being “reminded” not to harm himself again, Chu Heng didn’t mention this “solution” in detail only confirmed his suspicions.

His mind had been elsewhere these past few days, so he had only just noticed Chu Heng’s suspicious behavior.

The Demon King’s curse shouldn’t exist in this world.

Chu Heng had long known that he wasn’t the An family’s original young master. Now, he knew that he wasn’t from this world and that elves could transform into human form. The flaws were obvious. He naturally connected this to the fact that he was the elusive elf who had suddenly appeared.

No, perhaps he had known even earlier.

In the Burial Snowfield, his attitude was highly suspicious. The natives believed him to be an elf, but he was extremely displeased and irritably refuted that he was an “elf-person,” not an “elf.”

—In most cases, wouldn’t it be an honor for an elf-person to be recognized as an elf? In comparison, Chu Heng’s attitude was truly suspicious.

Why were the people of the Burial Snowfield so convinced that he was an elf? Chu Heng couldn’t have been completely without suspicion.

Later, when Emperor Chu Zhengming ordered him to find the “elf,” he didn’t put in any real effort.

Or perhaps even earlier?

After emerging from the Star Beast Forest, where the Imperial First Military Academy’s final assessment for freshmen was held, Chu Heng knew he wasn’t the original An family young master. It’s hard to believe that Chu Heng didn’t suspect or wonder about his true identity.

The “elf” suddenly appeared in the Star Beast Forest assessment area, and Chu Heng was there at the time. Moreover, he had even caught a glimpse of his elven form from afar.

When he asked about the “elven detector,” Chu Heng “kindly” reminded him that it wouldn’t work outside the capital star.

…

As An Qiao carefully recalled the details of their past interactions, he increasingly felt that Chu Heng might have known for a long time that he was the elf who had appeared in the Star Beast Forest.

Yet, Chu Heng could see right through his disguise and remained completely unfazed, simply watching him act. Occasionally, he even “kindly” helped him hide his true identity.

Knowing he was an elf, Chu Heng touched his ear!

Could Chu Heng know the deeper meaning behind touching an elf’s ear?

An Qiao’s face darkened at this thought.

Elf ears are extremely sensitive, and only a chosen partner can touch them. Casually touching an elf’s ears is blatant indecent assault!

And Chu Heng touched his ears so early! After the Star Beast Forest assessment, Chu Heng probably realized that An Qiao was an elf, so he used the excuse, “You have something on your ear,” to touch his right ear when he wasn’t looking.

Now, thinking back, Chu Heng definitely did it on purpose! He deliberately touched his ear.

That bastard Chu Heng!

Chu Heng noticed a chill emanating from An Qiao, whose ears were strangely flushed red. Assuming An Qiao was angry at the fake elf messenger, his eyes turned dangerously cold as he looked at the multicolored-haired playboy at the door.

“What are you looking at? Haven’t you ever seen a noble elf messenger before?” Noticing Chu Heng’s unfriendly gaze, the spoiled young man glared angrily at him and An Qiao.

Huang Duoyu was the son of a wealthy businessman in Blue Star City.

His parents had an arranged marriage and a good relationship, and he was their only son. After his mother’s death, his father never remarried. He doted on Huang Duoyu, spoiling him and turning him into a brat who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun.

However, after his maternal grandfather passed away this year, his father changed immediately. He ruthlessly seized the company and the generous inheritance that his grandfather left him. He also brought back his true love and their biological son.

This illegitimate son was half a year older than him and had been cultivated into an elite in every way, utterly crushing him.

Since then, Huang Duoyu’s life had been miserable. His former friends ignored him and even turned against him. The illegitimate son’s henchmen openly and secretly bullied and humiliated him.

Recently, after being beaten black and blue and nearly driven to desperation, he learned that the elf had appeared in the square in front of the government building in Blue Star City. Suddenly, he came up with a bold but brilliant idea: to impersonate the elf’s messenger.

Sure enough, after that, although those people were still suspicious of him because they couldn’t verify his identity, they stopped bullying him. Elves are extraordinary, so even an elf’s “messenger” inspires fear. Even a one-in-a-thousand chance must be treated with the utmost caution until proven otherwise.

This emboldened Huang Duoyu, who became increasingly smug.

Initially, he only claimed to be an elf’s messenger to his bullies, but his boldness gradually grew. Recently, he began openly proclaiming himself an elf’s messenger in public.

“You?”

“Elf’s messenger?”

An Qiao raised an eyebrow casually, his expression scrutinizing and critical. His tone was laced with condescending disdain and mockery.

He stopped Chu Heng, who had initially intended to stand up for him, with his gaze.

Just as he was seething with anger, someone walked right into his trap.

What’s more, this person had dared to impersonate his messenger so brazenly, tarnishing his reputation and insulting his taste and aesthetics.

How could he possibly have such an ugly messenger?

“Are you mocking me? Looking down on me?” Huang Duoyu roared. “Do you know who I am? I am the messenger of the noble elves!”

Ever since he had impersonated an elf messenger, people had treated him better and no longer dared to bully him. He had almost come to believe that he was truly a messenger of the elves. Now, after so long, being looked down upon again instantly enraged him.

An Qiao secretly rolled his eyes.

This was truly arrogant. He had no skill or strength, just a big mouth.

In an indifferent tone, he said, “That elf is obsessed with looks. How could he possibly let someone like you be his messenger?”

“You’re talking nonsense! How do you know that elf is obsessed with looks?” Huang Duoyu was initially a little guilty and flustered but quickly calmed down after thinking of something.

“Elves are of a bright and beautiful character. They are holy, pure, upright, and virtuous. How could they judge by appearances? How could they be obsessed with looks?”

An Qiao: “… ”

“You wait! You mocked me and slandered the elves. I’ll make them teach you a lesson!”

An Qiao: “…”

An Qiao almost laughed at his words.

Me, teach myself a lesson?

Could this be any more absurd?!

At that moment, he remembered something and secretly glanced at Chu Heng’s expression.

Although it wasn’t obvious, Chu Heng’s expression was a mixture of surprise and speechlessness. Compared to the questioning yet slightly worried looks on Chu Wen and Xiong Yi’s faces, it was clear that he knew.

Sure enough, Chu Heng already knew that he was actually an elf.

An Qiao couldn’t help but glare at Chu Heng.

That bastard Chu Heng! That scheming dragon!

When An Qiao learned that the red roses at the Blue Star City Flower Festival were called “Elf’s Kiss,” he didn’t originally want to give them to Chu Heng.

However, Chu Heng was a master of acting. He played the victim, saying thank you for the roses and for the trouble of preparing the surprise. This made his previously depressed mood much better.

Thinking back to when Chu Heng was “depressed” and “heartbroken” because of what his birth mother, He Yun, had done, he couldn’t bring himself to return the pot of red roses. It was so pitiful that it evoked sympathy.

Chu Heng didn’t know he was an elf, so giving him the “Elf’s Kiss” roses was appropriate. Besides, the “Elf’s Kiss” variety of red roses was just a made-up name.

However, the thought that Chu Heng knew he was an elf yet still “tricked” him into giving him the pot of “Elf’s Kiss” roses is chilling.

An Qiao’s chilling aura became even more frightening.

“Qiaoqiao,” Chu Heng said, noticing his emotions. He looked at An Qiao with concern, his eyes burning. “Did this imposter messenger make you angry?”

“Shall I go give him a good beating to vent your anger?”

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