AEKMEM chapter 72

This… this was a kiss?

An Qiao’s eyelashes trembled, his breathing became erratic, and he almost opened his eyes.

Seeing Chu Heng kiss his forehead and then gently pinch his ear, An Qiao: “…”

He was certain that Chu Heng knew he was pretending to be asleep. Maybe he knew all along!

Unable to bear it any longer and enraged, An Qiao kicked Chu Heng’s foot lightly.

Don’t you know when to stop?

Reluctantly, Chu Heng withdrew his hand, feeling somewhat guilty and regretful.

Qiaoqiao, wearing a flower wreath, sat on the wicker swing chair with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep. He was so beautiful and well-behaved—truly irresistible!

Unfortunately, he had to leave.

Qiaoqiao said he didn’t want to see him for three days. His “chance encounter” in the garden was a clever move.

Recalling the kiss, Chu Heng almost floated back to his study.

He threw himself onto the sofa facing the sunlight streaming in through the window. Looking at the pot of “Elf’s Kiss” red roses beside him and remembering the scene in the garden earlier, he shook his head and smiled—a smile full of satisfaction and affection.

**
An Qiao received a notification on his personal terminal about the “Plant Affinity Contest,” which left him completely bewildered.

When did he register for this contest?

He quickly realized, however, that the original young master of the An family must have registered for it long ago.

An Qiao showed little interest.

Judging from the name of the contest, it must be related to plants. He was somewhat interested in plants.

But, since it was a contest, there would probably be a large audience. There would probably be all sorts of tedious procedures.

Troublesome.

Without thinking, he decided to withdraw from the contest.

However, after searching for how to withdraw, he discovered that it seemed impossible.

The official name is “Plant Affinity Contest,” but everyone privately calls it the “Plant Mischief Contest.” The real point of the competition is to watch the “excitement”—to see the contestants get thoroughly and miserably tormented by the plants.

Of course, not all contestants will suffer terribly. Those with high plant affinity may suffer less or not at all.

However, avoiding suffering is almost impossible. Compared to ordinary, harmless plants, the ones in this contest are almost always extremely ferocious, irritable, and highly aggressive.

Plant-based abilities can soothe the plants to some extent. However, if the ability level is not high enough, it’s not very useful. It also depends on the type of plant. Extremely ferocious plants, like the Bloodthirsty Vine, are particularly difficult to soothe.

Furthermore, elves’ gentle healing abilities can calm exotic plants. Currently, however, the effect is slightly weaker than that of plant-based abilities.

There is a rumor that elves with an extremely high bloodline concentration are favored by exotic plants, even without using their healing abilities. However, this is nearly impossible; only elves whose bloodline has reverted to pure elf blood can achieve this.

The “Plant Affinity Contest” was originally conceived by the Empire to identify individuals with a high affinity for exotic plants. The plan was to explore, practice, and exchange ideas to develop an effective method of taming these plants and making them usable by humans. This would allow even weak elves and ordinary people to control them.

However, it was later discovered that this was impossible. Even if plants could be temporarily tamed, there was a risk of backlash. Furthermore, if someone lacked the ability to control or appease the plants, they couldn’t control the temporarily tamed plants, which might turn on them.

Due to its lack of effectiveness, the contest gradually fell out of favor and declined after several contests. In fact, it became known as the “Plant Mischief Contest.”

However, those who win this “plant affinity contest” and perform exceptionally well either have a high level of plant-based superpowers or strong healing abilities. Besides the generous prize money, winners attract public attention.

Cancellation is allowed up to five days before the official competition for any reason. If an injury or serious illness occurs the day before the competition, proof can be submitted for withdrawal. However, once the organizers have prepared the exotic plants for the participants, withdrawal is not permitted within 24 hours of the start of the competition; otherwise, it will result in being blacklisted from official competitions and examinations in the country.

An Qiao frowned slightly after reading this.

The competition is tomorrow, and withdrawal is not allowed. Moreover, the list of participants has already been announced.

It seems he has no choice but to participate.

Fortunately, the venue is in Blue Star City on Water Blue Star, where he is now.

“Qiaoqiao!” Chu Heng rushed over upon hearing the news.

The three-day deadline had passed, and he was about to meet with An Qiao to plan a “date” when he learned that the list of participants for the “Plant Affinity Competition” had been announced.

The person in charge of this matter is from the Second Prince’s camp. They knew that An Qiao, the crown princess who hadn’t awakened his healing abilities, had also registered for the “Plant Affinity Contest.
Whether he forgot or for some other reason, he hadn’t canceled his participation after failing to awaken his abilities.

If the person in charge were ordinary, they might have simply reminded Chu Heng to cancel his participation.

However, this person was from the Second Prince’s faction. Naturally, they wanted Chu Heng’s wife, the Crown Princess An Qiao, to participate in the “Plant Affinity Contest,” hoping he would embarrass himself.

If the Crown Princess lost face, the Crown Prince would as well.

Therefore, the list of participants was announced exactly twenty-four hours before the competition, making An Qiao’s participation mandatory.

Chu Heng explained the intricacies of the situation to An Qiao.

He said, “How about I put some pressure on them to issue a statement saying the list was posted incorrectly? Or that the system malfunctioned?”

“Forget it,” An Qiao said, shaking his head. “It’s just a half-day match. Besides, the location is in Blue Star City.”

If Chu Heng interfered, it would be obvious to everyone that the Crown Prince was abusing his power.

In any case, this match isn’t that troublesome.

“Alright then.” Since An Qiao disagreed, Chu Heng had no choice but to give up.

But he still didn’t look happy.

Because of him, An Qiao was involved, and his mood was affected. Being in a bad mood would make the planned “date” difficult. Even worse, the thought of so many people staring at An Qiao during the match made him irritable.

An Qiao pondered tomorrow’s “Plant Affinity Contest” with his head slightly lowered when he heard Chu Heng say in a pitiful voice,

“Qiao Qiao, you haven’t missed me in three days.”

An Qiao: “… ”

Heh.

Three days?

Who was this person who had secretly “bumped into” him?

Despite that, he went out to dinner with Chu Heng.

**

Teacher Zhen, who has prophetic abilities, predicted the Zerg invasion. Although he felt it was unlikely the Zerg would invade again so soon, he had a bad premonition and felt uneasy.

When he went to visit his friend, the principal of the Empire’s First Military Academy, to discuss something, the principal was somewhat surprised. Where had the sun come from? His friend had actually taken the initiative to visit him all this time.

A while ago, because his friend had made a prophecy about Elves, he had been visiting (or rather, harassing) his friend almost every day to get more prophecies. His friend was so annoyed by his constant visits that he said he didn’t want to see his face for a while after the elf appeared.

The principal readily agreed, saying that he also didn’t want to see his friend’s face for a while.

But now, not long after, Zhen suddenly knocked on his door.

As soon as he entered, Teacher Zhen exclaimed anxiously and in a panic, “Hey, I have to tell you, I got a terrifying prophecy!”

“What prophecy?” the principal asked casually.

His friend’s prophecies were usually outrageous and inaccurate. He’d never won the lottery based on them.

This time was probably no different.

“I prophesied that the Zerg are invading our empire again!”

“Oh…wait, you said the Zerg are invading again?” The principal stared in disbelief. After the initial shock wore off, he asked suspiciously, “Could it be that your prediction failed again? Your previous predictions haven’t been very accurate.”

The Zerg had just been repelled by the Second Army, led by Crown Prince Chu Heng. Their queen had been injured by him. It was impossible for the Zerg’s overall strength or the queen’s to recover so quickly, or for them to amass the power to invade the empire’s territory again so soon.

According to past practice, it would take at least ten years, if not several decades, for a repelled Zerg to regain the strength for a large-scale invasion.

“I don’t know if it’s accurate or not. But I have a bad feeling, a persistent premonition,” said Teacher Zhen, unable to suppress his anxiety.

“I’ve come to discuss with you whether or not to report the prophecy. If it’s inaccurate, everyone will be happy, and it will be a false alarm. But better safe than sorry. The Zerg invasion is a serious matter. Even if there’s only a one in ten thousand chance of it happening, we must treat it with the utmost caution.”

“You already have your own thoughts on the matter, don’t you? As you said, we must be cautious.” The principal’s expression was serious.

“Perhaps,” he said, suddenly seeming to realize something. He murmured thoughtfully, “It’s not impossible.”

After Chu Heng repelled the Zerg, the Second Prince’s camp proposed a temporary reduction in troops to weaken Chu Heng’s strength, citing the belief that the Zerg wouldn’t attack again for a long time.

The other legions were guarding the capital star and the empire’s territories or defending the borders against rampaging alien beasts and reclaiming uninhabited wastelands occupied by the beasts. The Second Legion was the main force against the Zerg. The other major legions would also provide support when the Zerg invaded, of course.

The Second Prince’s camp had proposed reducing the army, specifically the Second Army, claiming it would alleviate the empire’s financial burden.

However, this proposal was rejected by Chu Heng.

At the joint military and political meeting, he had also mentioned that the insect queen’s injury might not be a sign of weakness and that perhaps the injury wasn’t as serious as it appeared. He reminded the imperial leaders present to remain vigilant against a potential Zerg attack.

However, few believed him at the time, thinking he was exaggerating to prevent the disbandment of his Second Army.

When he first heard this, the principal secretly shook his head, finding it unbelievable.

Hearing his friend’s prediction of another Zerg invasion, he initially thought it absurd and outrageous. However, recalling Chu Heng’s earlier words, his mood grew heavy.

“Did you come here so I could mention this prophecy to His Highness the Crown Prince?”

No one understands the Zerg race better than Chu Heng, Marshal of the Second Army Corps. He is the best person to verify whether the prophecy is accurate.

If the prophecy is brought to his attention, he will naturally assign people to pay close attention and investigate. If the Zerg are indeed going to invade again, there will definitely be signs. With close monitoring, these signs will be noticed, and it will be clear whether or not they will invade again.

It would be good if the prophecy were inaccurate.

But what if it comes true?

**

An Qiao and Chu Heng arranged to have dinner at the renowned Lanting Garden in Blue Star City, the same place where Shen You and Yin Que treated them last time.

They both had a very good impression of the environment and the food.

Coincidentally, An Qiao ran into Shen You outside the restaurant.

Chu Heng deliberately yet casually adjusted the scarf he was wearing.

Sure enough, this caught Shen You’s attention.

Seeing Shen You’s gaze on his scarf, Chu Heng nodded slightly and explained, “This was a gift from my Qiaoqiao.”

An Qiao: “?”

When did I give him that? How come I didn’t know? Was Chu Heng implying that he wanted a gift?

Since Chu Heng said it was a gift, An Qiao just smiled slightly and didn’t refute it.

Speaking of which, before we went out, Chu Heng—who was never afraid of the cold—insisted on wearing a scarf. He even pretended he didn’t know how to tie it and asked me to help him.

What a lame and crude excuse. It’s amazing that Chu Heng could come up with it.

Although he immediately recognized it as an excuse, he indulged Chu Heng’s desire.

—He had no idea about the deeper meaning of giving a scarf to a Beastman companion, especially one that he had knitted himself.

Shen You, on the other hand, looked surprised and glanced at An Qiao subtly.

An Qiao looked like the pampered, arrogant young master who couldn’t possibly knit a scarf, didn’t he? And this scarf was so beautifully knit!

However, it’s also possible that An Qiao truly adored his companion, Chu Heng, which is why he taught himself to knit. It must have taken him quite some time to learn how to knit it so well.

If he hadn’t been able to tell the difference between a hand-knitted scarf and a store-bought one upon close inspection, he might have thought it was machine-made.

Chu Heng’s pride in showing off the scarf revealed his genuine affection for An Qiao, like a child with a sweet treat.

He had never seen Chu Heng so emotionally expressive, even childishly proud. Chu Heng was always composed, even aloof.

These two were truly in love.

Who could have imagined this day when the brain system matched Chu Heng and An Qiao together?

Thinking of this, Shen You sincerely said, “You two are a match made in heaven. Your affection is so deep; it’s truly enviable.”

An Qiao: “… ”

It was just a scarf, how could he see so much in it?

As they walked from the entrance of Lanting Garden to the reserved courtyard, however, Chu Heng kept subtly adjusting his scarf. Passersby would always glance at his scarf with envy, then look at him with surprise and disbelief.

An Qiao finally realized that something was wrong.

Was there something special about this scarf? Was there some special meaning behind it?

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