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Double update because I want the plot to progress faster into the more exciting bits.
Character ListQiao Zhiya: Half-elf, half-dwarf MC.
Chu Rong: Marshal ML.
Four Great Families in this setting: Chu, Ning, Xiang, Xu
Ancestor Chu was very angry. He was afraid this Bald Chicken would be harmed in that kind of muddy environment.
“Don’t go to that college.”
After two months, Ancestor Chu’s domineering problem resurfaced again. Qiao Zhiya was puzzled and aggrieved. The smile on his face disappeared, and he asked in a low whisper, “Why? I promise I won’t cause trouble when attending that college.”
Chu Rong suppressed his temper. He sat down on the sofa, trying to rein in his irritated state. Uttering as much patience as possible, he began to explain his stance – after two months of getting along with each other, he finally stopped being so negative whenever any disagreement occurred. At the very least, he would explain everything he knew, trying to reach an understanding with the youth.
The environment of the affiliated intermediate college Federal Military Academy was complicated, and the relationships inside were intricate. The students there were from military families, rich families, or politically-aligned ones. Even if Qiao Zhiya didn’t find trouble, it would find its way to him instead.
As the young master of the Chu family, Chu Yan had the capital to walk sideways1do whatever he wants without any repercussions. inside. Not many people dared to challenge him, and the few who dared came from the Four Great Families or from the President’s faction.
But Qiao Zhiya was different. He had no background and no strength. Even if the Chu family announced in a high-profile way to cover him and bring him under their protection, those powerful people might not just not care. On the contrary, because Qiao Zhiya was brought into the protective circle by the Chu family, they instead would do something secretly to bring the youth down.
The protective umbrella of the Chu family could indeed help Qiao Zhiya avoid some small troubles. But it could also attract those powerful people to pry deeper. Not only that, once the relationship with the Chu family was established, apart from the secret hostility, there would be no good intentions. They might even try to smear the Chu family by attacking Qiao Zhiya. And that Bald Chicken could do nothing but accept being hurt in the crossfire.
“The school environment is closed. The elders will not intervene in the quarrel among the juniors, unless the quarrel is particularly large and there are casualties. But these juniors are not human beings, even if you are being bullied, you won’t even know who actually did it.”
The more Chu Rong analyzed, the more worried he felt for Qiao Zhiya’s prospects for studying here. His face darkened even further. He stretched out his hand and rubbed the youth’s bangs, which had grown a lot. He continued his explanation with a frown, “In other colleges, as long as you keep your true identity secret, no one will know that you are under the Chu family’s protection, and it will not cause any trouble. Your safety can be guaranteed. But once you enter the closed management of the military academy, you have to rely on yourself for everything.”
With the complete explanation, Qiao Zhiya understood Chu Rong’s worry, and the grievance on his face disappeared. He lowered his head and thought about it seriously, and suddenly asked, “Zhuang Yu-jie and the others, did they also go to this college before they followed you?”
Chu Rong instantly understood what Qiao Zhiya implied with that question. He continued to frown, “Qiao Zhiya, don’t use other people’s excellence standards on yourself. Their situation is fundamentally different from yours. Your path to study shouldn’t take theirs as a reference.”
“But I want to follow you in the future,” Qiao Zhiya did not flinch, still looked at him with fiery determination and hard-headedness. He even took the White-Haired Monster’s hand, looked into his eyes and said, “For me, their road is the best reference.”
The hand that clasped over Chu Rong’s was small, with slender fingers, white and tender skin, and smooth palm that was good to touch. He moved his fingers, and suddenly felt that Qiao Zhiya’s eyes were too bright at this time. It blinded him, and he dared not look directly at it.
But if Chu Rong wanted to successfully persuade Qiao Zhiya to give up his choice, he had to look at those brilliant emerald-like eyes.
“Qiao Zhiya, you’re already following me right now.” Chur Rong held the smaller hand back tightly. His brows furrowed – he actually didn’t understand why his heart suddenly raced, so he just insisted on refusing, “You’re not suitable to go there.”
Qiao Zhiya, who was usually very obedient2honestly, I think QZY is very much NOT obedient, he only looked the part. He does a lot of things secretly behind everyone’s back, and is stubborn as hell., insisted so fiercely this time. With a soft but stubborn voice, he said, “Chu Rong, you know what I mean. What I want is to rely on my strength to follow you, not getting unilateral support. I want to be your equal. I want to walk beside you.”
An unequal relationship wouldn’t be beneficial at the critical moment – when danger inevitably comes, the weaker, dependent party would become the stronger one’s Achilles’ Heel. Afterall, the strength of a chain is measured by its weakest link. Chu Rong, who faced the outside world coldly, had a lot of hidden enemies who wanted to kill him off to bring benefit for themselves. He shouldn’t have such an obvious weakness like Qiao Zhiya.
Chu Rong said he wanted to raise Qiao Zhiya. The young half-elf believed in Chu Rong’s character. If that man said he would raise the youth until he became fully independent and strong, Chu Rong would follow it until the end.
But prized flowers kept inside a controlled greenhouse wouldn’t survive during the storm. If Qiao Zhiya didn’t experience pain and suffering, could he ever become truly independent?
Through these two months of understanding, he had a rough understanding of the political power within the Federation, specifically the distribution of power between the big families. It was precisely because of this that he needed to know in advance what kind of people and trouble he would encounter in the future, when he’s out in the open by Chu Rong’s side.
He understood Chu Rong’s desire to coddle and protect him. But he also hoped that the other party could understand his desire in return.
The Federal Military Academy was an intermediate college with the best teachers, and it was also the most suitable place for those who want to serve the Four Great Families in the future. They could make connections, get the education they need, and flaunt off their strengths to attract attention.
Qiao Zhiya wanted to learn everything in advance. He didn’t want his ignorance to be his downfall, especially because he could implicate Chu Rong in the process.
Qiao Zhiya seldom called Chu Rong by name directly. If he needed something, he usually waited for Chu Rong to pick up his silent cues, or he could simply become clingy and tell Chu Rong what he needed.
That’s why, when Chu Rong heard his name spoken by Qiao Zhiya, it was like getting splashed by ice-cold water.
The Marshal really did underestimate the courage and ambition of this small Bald Chicken. He called Zhuang Yu as “Zhuang Yu-jie”, Tan Shengwei as “Tan-ge”, Lin Zhen as “Lin-laoshi”, Master Ren as “Grandpa Ren”. He even recalled this Bald Chicken calling Fan Xiangnan as “Fan-ge” once.
Qiao Zhiya never called him anything besides “Chu Rong” or that nickname he accidentally blurted out.
Never calling him “ge”. Or his military title.
Using someone’s direct name without any suffix denoted the equal status of both parties. If Qiao Zhiya called him “Chu-ge” or “Rong-ge”, that would mean Qiao Zhiya depended on him as a younger brother figure.
It should be clear, and yet, Chu Rong had only realized this detail.
The White-Haired Monster and the Bald Chicken stared at each other in stubborn silence, refusing to give in. One considers the other’s safety, while the other wants to learn the way of the world so he wouldn’t hold the other party.
In the end, it was Qiao Zhiya who spoke first. He moved his hand, which was getting tighter and tighter, and said, “As long as I stay by your side, I will encounter that tight situation sooner or later. That’s why I should learn how to handle it as soon as possible. Federal Military Academy is the perfect environment to learn it, because it’s still a small microcosm compared to the real world. Besides, my perceived strength is too weak to attract attention, so I won’t be specially targeted. If I don’t learn it now, how can I get used to it in the future?”
Chu Rong’s eyes moved, and he slowly let go of his hand.
But Qiao Zhiya held him back again, and continued to argue and persuade, “In school, even if someone came to trouble me, it would not cause any trouble in the grand scheme of things. It wouldn’t be a big loss to me. And when I become stronger in the future, I will have enough experience and can properly support you by your side. I know that your battles aren’t just petty fights among the students, but it can reach planetary-scale. You also said that the elders will not interfere with the affairs of the younger generation. Isn’t that good news for me? It means that I’m actually quite safe, as the real threat will not touch me there. That’s very different from the real world, isn’t it? So, my point is th—”
“Stop talking nonsense.” Ancestor Chu said coldly, interrupting him.
Qiao Zhiya shut up, his rare long speech was interrupted. The build-up of courage in his chest dissipated in an instant. Seeing Chu Rong’s pissed-off expression, he became a bit scared. But he still left his final closing statement, “Anyway… my point is… I need to learn, so you will agree with my decision, right?”
Chu Rong looked at him in complete silence for a moment. By time, he became uncomfortable seeing this overly earnest Bald Chicken. One last time, he reconfirmed with the youth, “Do you really want to go?”
Judging by Chu Rong’s tone, it seemed that he knew he lost this argument.
Qiao Zhiya nodded with a relaxed heart, “I’m going! I really want to go!”
Chu Rong compromised, “If that’s what you want, I will not stop you. However, I will not ask Xiangnan to arrange the admission for you. If you fail to get into the Federal Military Academy by your own strength, I will also not help you. In fact, if you failed your admission test, you must listen to my arrangement for your future education, at least for intermediate college choice. ”
After speaking, Chu Rong pinched the twitchy, long ear once again. He then got up and left.
Unstoppable Force (QZY) vs. Immovable Object (CR)
The force wins!
1do whatever he wants without any repercussions.2honestly, I think QZY is very much NOT obedient, he only looked the part. He does a lot of things secretly behind everyone’s back, and is stubborn as hell.