Chapter 229

229 Keeping family secrets from the Marshal

The prime minister’s state only got worse and worse with his gaze constantly glancing over in Zi Han’s direction.

Even as they sang the federation’s anthem of survival prime minister Ikeda kept staring in that direction with a dark cloud looming over him.

His actions were so obvious that Zi Xingxi a.k.a. auntie Sheila saw everything. Her outward appearance was that of a beautiful chubby auntie with a soothing appearance but the blazing fire in her gaze as she glared at him was so terrifying that it would paralyze one in fear.

With her legs crossed at the knee her back as straight as a rod, she exuded the aura of an arrogant and domineering matriarch.

Prime minister Ikeda felt that deadly gaze searing through his skin but he seemed the least bit fazed. It seemed his jealousy was over clouding his judgment and he was no longer afraid of wolves.

He was so brazen that even as Zi Han stepped onto that stage to receive his commendation as a recruit into the military he kept staring at him with those dark eyes.

Zi Han who was well aware that something big was happening didn’t bag down. In fact, he stood his ground with an air of stubbornness that was eerie similar to the deceased prince.

The face was not similar to the prince but his attitude was carved from the exact same stone. Zi Han saluted the dean of Scylla but his gaze was fixed on the prime minister. When he walked toward him he showed an abstruse smile that gave prime minister Ikeda goosebumps.

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He absentmindedly handed him the certificate and patted his arm congratulating him. Zi Han glanced at the hand patting his arm before staring back at the prime minister. His gaze seemed respectful but if one looked close enough one could sense the contempt buried deep within.

.....

Yi Chen was standing a few feet behind the prime minister hence he noticed this little exchange. All this time he had been following Zi Han’s tall handsome figure through the brim of his military cap.

With each step, Zi Han took his stomach churned in excitement. He knew they were in public and he couldn’t openly show his affection but he at least thought Zi Han would glance in his direction and admire his handsomeness.

It was because of this that he was rubbing the tips of his thumb and index finger together in excitement but who would have thought Zi Han’s gaze would be focused on someone else entirely?

Doused with a bucket of cold water he bit the inner lining of his mouth while following that special person’s figure like it was only the two of them left in the world. He felt an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach like a green-eyed monster was scratching at him with its finger. He was undoubtedly jealous and irritable but he would never show it on his face.

Zi Han received his commendation and he walked toward the other end of the stage with his hand resting on the side of his body. He pressed his index finger and thumb together creating an unequivocal heart shape while his burning gaze stared at Yi Chen.

Yi Chen who had been staring at Zi Han glanced over at his hand and the annoyance and irritation from earlier dissipated. A warm spring sprung from his heart the heat spreading to his face.

He lowered his head and licked his lower lip before swallowing down his emotions threatening to spill over on his face. His love for this person was only growing stronger by the minute. He would never let him go no matter what.

After all the graduates received their commendations it was the team captains’ turn. Thus they stepped forward as the commodore announced the results of the last examination on Dark Star.

Zi Han was honestly a little nervous hearing the team names get called out one by one with the number of devices they managed to retrieve.

They were ten teams in total and over eighty devices on Dark Star. Overall the teams managed to retrieve ninety-six percent of them.

In the top three were Hela, Evan, and Yi Chen’s teams. Evan’s team managed to retrieve twenty-three devices, Hela’s team managed to retrieve twenty-four and Yi Chen’s team was ahead of them by seven more devices hence taking the lead.

Li Ran heaved a great sigh hearing this. He had suffered the emotional turmoil of almost losing his friend to an unknown entity thus he really wanted Yi Chen to win this.

As the audience gave him a round of applause, Marshal Yi walked over followed by one of his admirals with an open scarlet box.

Inside was the highest honorary badge, Minerva’s crown, sparkling under the sunlight. Like a proud father, Marshal Yi took it and pinned it on the left side of his chest. Once done he gently grasped both his arms and whispered, “I am so proud of you.”

Yi Chen saluted his father in a standard two-finger salute. At this moment his emotions were in turmoil. That’s because he was worried his father won’t be as proud of him when he finds out about his secret love.

Ever since he was young he would follow behind his father’s footsteps and do everything he was told to do but from the moment he met Zi Han, there had been some friction between him and his father. This was before his father knew what kind of relationship he had with Zi Han then what about after he does?

For the sake of harmony, his mother had given everyone strict instructions not to tell him for now. That’s because she was afraid he would mess things up for the pair.

Even little Ming Ming kept her mouth shut because she didn’t want the beautiful Jiejie to go away. Yi Chen felt bad keeping this from him but he had no other choice. With complete and total trust in his mother, he did as told.

What Yi Chen didn’t know was that his mother was implementing the strategy of boiling the frog slowly. She was so determined to make the impossible work that she went above and beyond.

Her attitude was clearly demonstrated right after the ceremony. Before Zi Xingxi could grab her son and leave Lin Ruoxi caught up and stood in front of the pair of father and daughter.

“How about we have a celebratory dinner together? I have a booking at Skylark hotel,” she said with a radiant smile that made it difficult to refuse.

Zi Xingxi knew what she was up to thus she outrightly refused with her gaze glancing at her son who was standing with his classmates. She spotted prime minister Ikeda’s bodyguard heading towards their group but Lin Ruoxi suddenly took a step forward blocking Zi Xingxi’s path.

“You really don’t have to worry about him. My son will take good care of him,” said Lin Ruoxi but that only made Zi Xingxi even more concerned.

“That’s what I am worried about,” said Zi Xingxi stepping aside only to find out that Zi Han was indeed gone and Yi Chen was nowhere to be seen.