AEKMEM chapter 71

When An Qiao woke up, he was still drunk. His eyes were wet and somewhat dazed. Seeing and feeling Chu Heng touch his ear confused him further.

Wasn’t he supposed to go back to his room, rest because he was drunk, and then fall asleep?

Why…is Chu Heng here?

Is he still asleep?

That bastard Chu Heng hasn’t even settled the score for hiding it yet. His anger hasn’t subsided, and now he’s bothering An Qiao in his sleep!

With lightning speed, he grabbed Chu Heng’s hand touching his ear. “Caught red-handed!” Let’s see how he tries to deny it now!

But An Qiao quickly realized something was wrong.

This hand seemed… warm…

“Qiaoqiao, you’re awake?” Chu Heng’s guilty voice said.

An Qiao: “…”

“You…” He wanted to ask how he got there.

Suddenly, he realized that he had reverted to his elf form.

He reverts to his elf form when he’s drunk, just like last time.

No wonder Chu Heng seemed so guilty the day after he got drunk last time.

He sat up in bed, leaned against the headboard, and glared at Chu Heng.

Just as he was about to “settle the score,” he noticed Chu Heng’s deathly pale face and frowned. He asked, “Why is your face so pale?”

Did he get hurt again when he wasn’t paying attention?

Chu Heng thought: Oh no!

Could he have been discovered?

After a moment, however, he realized that An Qiao definitely hadn’t noticed him using his own blood to break the Demon King’s curse; otherwise, An Qiao wouldn’t just be frowning—he would be furious.

He was also touched that An Qiao had noticed his expression and cared about him.

“Knowing that you found out about what I was hiding, I was afraid you’d be angry and ignore me, so I got scared,” said Chu Heng, half-joking. His long eyelashes drooped, making him look somewhat pitiful. He looked like a large beast retracting its claws, dropping its head, and crouching in front of An Qiao. There was a contrasting docility.

An Qiao almost lost his composure under Chu Heng’s gaze, letting out a soft snort. “You were afraid I’d be angry, yet you still hid it from me?”

“When did you find out I’m an elf?”

“Quite a while ago.” Chu Heng cautiously glanced at An Qiao’s expression.

“Shortly after you left the Star Beast Forest, when I learned that you weren’t the original young master of the An family. Your question about the ‘elf detector’ reminded me. Then, recalling the ‘elf’s’ silhouette in the Star Beast Forest that resembled yours almost perfectly, I guessed you were an elf.”

An Qiao: “… ”

Chu Heng knew all along and guessed so early that he was an elf!

And it turned out he had exposed it himself…so obviously?

An Qiao felt slightly embarrassed, but kept a straight face.

Seeing that An Qiao remained silent, Chu Heng felt uneasy and panicked. “Qiao Qiao, I’m such a jerk for hiding this from you for so long! Why don’t you beat me up?”

“Beat you up?” An Qiao scoffed. “You’re too tough. I’m afraid it’ll hurt my hand.”

“Then how about I beat myself up?”

Before he could finish, Chu Heng shut his mouth silently under An Qiao’s cold, deathly gaze.

Qiao Qiao still cared about him. He couldn’t bear to see him beat himself up.

“Why did you hide this from me for so long? Was it fun watching me painstakingly conceal my identity?” An Qiao asked expressionlessly.

If anyone else had lied to him, he wouldn’t have had such a strong emotional reaction. They would have been taught a lesson, and that would be it.

But Chu Heng—Chu Heng was not allowed to lie to him.

“I’m sorry.” Chu Heng’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“But I didn’t mean to watch your show.”

“I just…”

“I was just afraid you’d leave.” Chu Heng looked up at him.

“I was afraid Qiaoqiao would leave once he knew I found out you were an elf.”

“If I had told you from the beginning that I knew, I don’t know if you would’ve left because you didn’t want anyone to see through your disguise. You’re so powerful and mysterious. If you left without a word, I wouldn’t know where to find you.”

“Even if the chances of you leaving were small, I wouldn’t dare take the risk.”

An Qiao paused for a few seconds, then looked directly into Chu Heng’s eyes and said,

“Now that you’re being honest, aren’t you afraid… I left?”

“Still afraid.”

Chu Heng stared at him intently, unmoving. “But I already know where you come from, Qiaoqiao. No matter where you go—even if you return to your original world—I will find you at the ends of the earth.”

An Qiao’s heart suddenly raced.

“Do you mean you’re willing to leave everything here and leave with me?”

He had been struggling with what to do if Chu Heng wasn’t willing to leave and return to the Elf World with him. He could compromise and stay in this world with Chu Heng for decades before returning to the Elf World together.

But leaving one’s homeland is hard. He didn’t know if Chu Heng would truly be able to let go and leave this world for an unfamiliar one.

“Yes, yes!” Chu Heng answered eagerly.

Then, his eyes suddenly burned with excitement. “Qiaoqiao, are you willing to take me away? Does that mean you forgive me? You’re not angry with me anymore?”

An Qiao: “… ”

“However, Qiaoqiao, you might have to wait for me for a while until I’ve finished dealing with some things. Then, we’ll go together—”

“Is that all right?” Chu Heng softened his voice and asked somewhat cautiously.

After a long pause, An Qiao whispered, “Are you really sure? You won’t regret it?”

His gaze at Chu Heng seemed calm yet complex. His icy blue eyes eclipsed even the stars; they were captivatingly brilliant.

“Remember what you said today.”

**

An Qiao realized afterwards that he had promised to “settle the score” with Chu Heng for keeping secrets from him, yet he seemed to have easily let it go.

After thinking about it, An Qiao felt that he couldn’t let Chu Heng off the hook without teaching him a lesson.

So, he told Chu Heng that he didn’t want to see him for three days.

Chu Heng was thunderstruck, but still obediently dared not refute.

**

An Qiao was somewhat disheartened by how used to having Chu Heng around he had become.

He was surprised to receive a message from Song Leran.

Song Leran contacted him firstly to remind him that school was about to start.

Secondly, he was curious after learning that An Qiao had actually completed a 2S-level mission at the Imperial First Military Academy.

An Qiao was only the second person in the academy’s history, besides Chu Heng, to complete a 2S-level mission.

News spread about An Qiao’s completion of the mission, how he did it, and how he cured Yun Jianchen’s insect poison. As usual, the process was recorded to prevent cheating.

The entire faculty and student body of the Imperial First Military Academy were shocked.

No one expected An Qiao to complete this mission, relying once again on luck to accomplish the school’s difficult task.

The treatment missions issued by the school almost always relied on the healing abilities of the elves.

The strange insect poison afflicting Yun Jianchen’s body was incurable by anyone in the empire, not even the 2S-rank healing elven expert.

Therefore, the school designated this treatment task as 2S-rank.

When An Qiao accepted the task, everyone assumed it was impossible. But no one expected An Qiao, an unawakened “decorative” elf, to actually complete it!

Incredibly, he was cured using a specially made antidote pill given to him by an elf.

Before-and-after tests showed that the pill indeed cured the insect poison.

The school had never undertaken a treatment task that could be completed without healing abilities before. Logically, since the target’s venom was neutralized, the treatment mission should be considered complete. However, the process was astonishing.

Some of the school’s relevant leaders felt that, since the target wasn’t cured using their own abilities, the mission couldn’t be considered accomplished. Others countered, “How can it not be considered accomplished? Why don’t you ask that elf for an ‘antidote’ to try it on yourself?”

Ultimately, the principal deemed An Qiao to have completed the 2S-level treatment mission.

When this news spread, almost the entire faculty and student body couldn’t believe it.

Many marveled at An Qiao’s incredible luck, calling him a once-in-a-millennium “lucky one.” This unawakened “decorative” elf-human possessed two powerful and stable backers.

The Empire’s strongest prince, Chu Heng, was his partner and unconditionally protected and indulged him. The prince took even the slightest frown from An Qiao very seriously and had sparred with countless others over it.

And the elf, who was revered and admired by the empire’s people, also appreciated An Qiao, publicly stating that he was “very good” and offering to lend a hand.

No one else in this world possessed such good fortune as An Qiao.

Some harbored resentment, envy, jealousy, and hatred. They thought, An Qiao is an unawakened good-for-nothing. He’s a weak and incompetent ‘parasitic vine’ who relies on others. Why does he receive such preferential treatment? Why was he so lucky? They maliciously awaited the day he would be abandoned.

**
Meanwhile, Professor Zhen, a prophetic genius at the Empire’s top military academy, predicted that the Zerg had invaded their empire again.

Even though he knew his predictions were most likely inaccurate, he was terrified when he heard the prophecy.

The Zerg had only recently been repelled by Chu Heng’s Second Army Corps. Surely they wouldn’t recover so quickly. Following past practice, wouldn’t it take decades to accumulate enough strength to commit another offense?

But after much thought, he still felt uneasy. Without hesitation, he decided to consult his friend, the principal of the academy, to discuss the matter and decide whether to report it to the authorities.

**

Chu Heng had been quite troubled these past two days.

An Qiao said he didn’t want to see him for three days and would ignore him.

After much deliberation, he decided to consult Shen You, the only one among his friends with a partner, to learn from his experience.

As soon as the video call connected, Chu Heng explained his reason for calling. Shen You seemed thoughtful. “Last time…”

“Ahem…” Chu Heng interrupted Shen You with a light cough and said, putting on a brave face, “Your suggestion last time was very useful.”

When asked how to appease an angry partner last time, Shen You had suggested, “Make up before bed.” Heaven knows he hadn’t even properly held An Qiao’s hand back then!

However, he couldn’t show weakness in front of outsiders; he couldn’t let himself be outdone!

“My relationship with Qiao Qiao is usually very good, but I made him angry this time. He doesn’t want to see or talk to me. Your suggestion last time wasn’t quite right.”

“Understood.” Shen You nodded meaningfully.

Since he was sent to sleep in the study, the “make up before bed” tactic wouldn’t work.

Chu Heng: “… ”

He always felt that Shen You didn’t understand him.

His gaze fell on the scarf Shen You was wearing. He couldn’t help but ask, “Did your partner make your scarf by hand?”

Giving a hand-knitted scarf to a beastman partner is a long-standing tradition in the Empire.

It originally stemmed from the fact that some furry beastmen shed their fur, and their partners collected it to make scarves. Over time, the tradition evolved so that all beastmen, regardless of whether they were furry, would hand-knit scarves as gifts for their beloved partners.

Today, the tradition of giving hand-knitted scarves to one’s partner continues, though it’s uncommon.

First, most beastmen are in couples, and two large beastmen are rough around the edges. Asking them to knit a scarf by hand would be torture. Second, even relatively refined and skilled elves rarely want to knit scarves themselves.

Therefore, receiving a hand-knitted scarf from one’s partner is a great honor.

“…I guess so,” Shen You answered vaguely.

In reality, he had no idea where his partner was. The so-called “partner” was a fabrication to fend off those with ulterior motives and deal with his family’s constant pressure to get married.

After a pause, to maintain his “loving partner” persona, Shen You added, “He insisted on giving it to me and practiced for a long time beforehand.”

Chu Heng: “…”

Chu Heng felt like he’d been shown off!

He felt a pang of envy and sourness, especially compared to An Qiao’s current state of refusing to see him.

…There was no way he could let Shen You outdo him!

He and Qiao Qiao were the most loving couple.

It was just a hand-knitted scarf, after all.

But with An Qiao’s level — who could barely tie a bow properly — he should give up that idea. Besides, he couldn’t bear it. What if An Qiao accidentally poked his hand? His heart would ache to death!

So, he had to do it himself.

Once he finished knitting it, he would say it was a gift from An Qiao.

He and An Qiao were the perfect match!

**

Chu Heng pondered this for a while, and then a brilliant idea struck him. Even though An Qiao said he wouldn’t see him, Chu Heng could secretly “bump into” him.

Knowing that An Qiao was in the garden, Chu Heng pretended to casually stroll there.

Under the wisteria trellis, An Qiao sat on a wicker swing and swayed back and forth until he fell asleep.

He was indeed asleep. When Chu Heng approached, An Qiao woke up but didn’t open his eyes, still pretending to be asleep.

An Qiao wondered what Chu Heng was going to do.

But after a short while, Chu Heng, who had been so close that he was practically in front of An Qiao, suddenly stopped. Then, he gradually walked away.

An Qiao: ????

Was Chu Heng really that obedient? Or did he realize that An Qiao was actually awake and back down?

Although it seemed like Chu Heng had walked away, he hadn’t gone far and was still nearby.

An Qiao heard a rustling sound around him. It was very soft, almost imperceptible unless you listened carefully. It sounded like the gentle rustling of grass and leaves.

What was Chu Heng doing? Picking flowers?

Soon afterward, the rustling stopped.

Chu Heng approached quietly, his footsteps barely touching the ground.

An Qiao’s breath caught for a moment, then he controlled his breathing, pretending to be asleep.

Something was gently placed on his head, accompanied by the rich fragrance of flowers.

A flower crown? Had Chu Heng just been weaving a flower crown?

An Qiao’s eyelashes fluttered.

The next second, a cool, soft touch landed on the center of his brow.

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