[Wow, the gift recipient is right here.]
[Hehe, I sense something interesting brewing.]
[Oh my god, what a dramatic situation.]
[Being together so late at night definitely means their relationship isn’t ordinary. I’m curious how he’ll explain this!]
[If the explanation isn’t good, he’ll be kneeling on a keyboard!]
[Kneel on the keyboard!]
Xia Ze hadn’t actually planned to ask.
But he was holding the miniature landscape prototype, and the regular customers had just brought it up.
Plus, unable to sleep because of tomorrow’s wedding, he ended up mentioning it naturally.
Truthfully, he regretted it as soon as he said it.
Why bring up something from two or three years ago?
Xia Ze quickly added, “Never mind, you probably forgot about it long ago.”
“I didn’t forget,” Qi Jing said helplessly. “I never received it.”
Never received it?
How was that possible?
Xia Ze blinked. “I sent it to this address, I even used a special courier service.”
[Ahhh, this tension! Oh my god, I’m dying of laughter.]
[But this is so weird, one says he sent it, the other says he never got it!]
[Maybe the little boss lived in such a remote place back then that the delivery couldn’t reach him?]
[He already explained, he used a special courier.]
Qi Jing felt an indescribable emotion and asked, “Can you send me the delivery details? I’ll look into it.”
Xia Ze thought about it. “Forget it, it’s been years. It’d be hard to track down now.”
But Qi Jing insisted. “I have to check.”
“That was a gift from you.”
“And the first one, too.”
Qi Jing rarely acted this stubborn. Only he knew how he felt when he heard the kid mention during the livestream that he had given away the first miniature landscape he ever made.
He knew very well that what he felt wasn’t just jealousy, it was something deeper.
That was why he had knocked on the door.
Thankfully, he did. Otherwise, he’d still be thinking about it even during tomorrow’s wedding.
Xia Ze was also curious about what had happened to that gift. But checking the delivery records would require ending the livestream first.
“I’ll log off now,” Xia Ze said. “There’s something important tomorrow. Goodnight, everyone!”
The chat was once again flooded with question marks, but the livestream mercilessly ended.
Three years ago, he and his grandfather had been rescued by General Qi, who even arranged for a doctor and secured rare medicine for him.
Back then, Xia Ze was only fifteen, but he had desperately wanted to repay General Qi.
However, the garbage planet was too far from the main star. Not only were there no suitable courier services, but even if there had been, any plants he sent would have withered long before arrival.
That was when he remembered the miniature landscape plants his mother used to make.
By creating a simulated natural ecosystem inside a glass container, the plants could survive much longer.
If done well, it could even become a permanent display.
But given the harsh environment, he had struggled to make one no bigger than the palm of his hand.
Every stone, every speck of soil, every patch of moss, every succulent, all were carefully selected.
Wanting to surprise General Qi for his birthday, Xia Ze had spent a fortune to send it via a private courier to the address the general had left him.
It was Qi Jing’s eighteenth birthday, and Xia Ze had made sure to send it early, hoping it would arrive in time.
Thinking back on it now, Xia Ze still felt a pang of disappointment. Muttering, he said, “I’m tired.”
He had sent it with such hope, but even after it was marked as delivered, he never received any acknowledgment.
Maybe General Qi had forgotten about him long ago.
After all, he had visited so many garbage planets and saved so many people.
If all of them sent him gifts, they’d probably pile up into a mountain.
Qi Jing’s lips moved slightly as he hugged the child in his arms. “There must be some misunderstanding.”
He said firmly, “There’s definitely something we don’t know about this situation.”
“If I’d known it was a gift from you, I would have treasured it.”
Xia Ze tugged at General Qi’s collar and whispered, “Forget it, I forgive you.”
Truth be told, he felt much better after being comforted.
Qi Jing made another promise: “I’ll do everything I can to find the gift you gave me.”
“If I can’t find it, you can punish me however you want.”
“However I want?” Xia Ze’s eyes lit up as he thought for a moment. “Then… do you cry during your rut?”
He was genuinely curious!
He didn’t want punishment, he just wanted to know this!
This question again?
Qi Jing ruffled the boy’s hair vigorously. “That’s classified.”
Xia Ze yawned; he really was getting sleepy.
Only after watching Xia Ze settle into bed did Qi Jing close the door and leave. But instead of sleeping, he carefully examined the private courier order.
With a serious expression, Qi Jing went downstairs and ordered, “Find out who opened this private courier account and locate the delivery person from that time.”
Three years had passed.
Who knew how many companies might have gone bankrupt in that time?
These private courier companies had particularly short lifespans.
Not to mention their staff they’d probably changed over several times by now.
Trying to find them now was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Qi Jing decided to mobilize his private connections. He was determined to find both the courier and the missing item.
He also asked Uncle Qi, who replied, “Three years ago, when the young master was eighteen, so many things happened. We were away from home for a long time.”
Eighteen?
At this thought, Qi Jing’s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively checked the order date.
Sent on August 20th three years ago.
His birthday was September 20th. At that speed, it should have arrived within a month.
And around that birthday, many significant events had occurred.
His father’s death in battle. His mother forcing him to undergo pheromone testing. His mother’s remarriage.
During that period, both he and Uncle Qi had indeed been absent, and the household had been unusually chaotic.
Qi Jing took a deep breath. “We must find it.”
Five hours later, before dawn, a knock came at the door of an ordinary home on Planet C12.
The bleary-eyed homeowner asked warily, “Who is it?”
The person outside replied, “Did you work as a courier on the main planet three years ago? We’d like to ask you about something.”
Three years ago?
Are you serious?
Who remembers things from three years ago?
Just as the man was about to refuse, the voice continued, “Our investigation shows that private courier company owed you back wages when it closed. We’ll help you recover that, plus offer additional compensation.”
Good heavens, what luck!
As the man moved to open the door, his wife hesitated in concern. But their worries were quickly eased when they recognized the local peace officer standing outside someone from the neighborhood patrol team.
The officer himself felt somewhat helpless.
This wasn’t official business but a personal favor for General Qi.
Who would have guessed it would involve tracking down a courier from three years ago to find some lost item?
But considering General Qi’s status.
Could it be some important classified documents?
No wonder he was still working right before his wedding.
If he’d been this busy before his own marriage, his wife would have called it off!
After confirming the delivery details with the inspection team, the male homeowner slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “Other packages I might forget, but this one I remember clearly!”
“It was definitely delivered to their house.”
“Some said it was General Qi’s residence.”
Soon, the homeowner also described the Qi family villa, which matched perfectly.
But his next words took a different turn: “It seemed to be a servant who signed for it. While signing, she kept muttering about how they were in the middle of moving and didn’t have time for personal deliveries, so they just tossed everything into the warehouse.”
No wonder he remembered so vividly, the villa had been in complete chaos at the time, with the owners apparently preparing to move and paying him no mind.
He even caught a glimpse of the Omega woman, who barely glanced at him before directing others to pack their belongings.
“It should still be in the warehouse!”
“That’s what I heard, anyway.”
The inspection team member perked up finally, he could report back to General Qi!
God knew how difficult it had been to track this down in the early hours.
Once the matter was settled, the inspection team member, as agreed, paid the homeowner his back wages and added a bonus.
The homeowner felt like he was still dreaming.
How had such good fortune suddenly fallen from the sky?
Back then, the private delivery company had gone bankrupt, and the owner had scraped together just enough to pay them partial wages though the amount owed wasn’t much.
After that ordeal, he had left the main planet and returned to his hometown on a C-grade planet, where life had been far better.
But with this unexpected windfall, he and his wife could live even more comfortably!
Meanwhile, on the main planet.
Qi Jing finally received the long-sought message.
After such a convoluted search, the package was in his own warehouse?
Qi Bo was equally stunned. After a moment’s thought, he said, “It’s entirely possible. Every year, countless gifts are sent to the Qi family. We return what we can, but those we can’t are left untouched in storage.”
So the gift from his child had been hidden in the warehouse all along, unnoticed by him.
The basement storage room was opened neither dirty nor disorganized, thanks to the daily cleaning robots.
But the sight of hundreds of shelves was still overwhelming.
Though many gifts had been returned over the years, with the family rarely home, some items had simply been left there.
Qi Jing stepped inside. Qi Bo checked his watch and said, “Young Master, the wedding is in just a few hours. Perhaps you should rest, and I’ll have the staff search for it.”
Qi Jing shook his head. He wanted to find it himself.
He hoped to locate the gift his child had sent him before the wedding.
It was his fault.
He had been too careless.
Besides, sleep wasn’t a priority for him. The mental endurance of a top-tier Alpha was extraordinary this was nothing.
Thinking of the disappointment in his child’s eyes, Qi Jing knew this gift must have been deeply important.
He was determined to find it.
At 5 a.m., the Qi family basement was turned upside down, starting with the oldest gifts.
Among them, a small package the size of a palm, sent from a distant planet.
Even the deputies who had rushed over joined the search.
Ding Ruijie clicked her tongue. “If you’d received Xia Ze’s gift three years ago, maybe you’d have gotten birthday presents every year since.”
Qi Jing shot her a dark look, clearly willing her to shut up.
Ding Ruimu, ever blunt, added, “Things were too chaotic back then. It’s no surprise it was overlooked.”
As soon as he spoke, Xu Chuan and Lei Chen both glared at him.
Way to state the obvious.
General Qi’s aversion to others extracting his pheromones and his opposition to such research stemmed from that incident.
The Duchess of Dill completely moved out because of it as well.
However, Old Qi sighed, “If only we had received it back then.”
The young master’s suffering wouldn’t have been so unbearable.
At least there would have been some comfort in his heart.
Being schemed against by his own mother, who wanted him—barely eighteen—to leave behind an heir—no one could come to terms with that.
Perhaps Xia Ze could have, back then.
But it’s alright. What matters is that he’s been found now.
Thinking this, Old Qi worked even faster.
Before dawn, Xia Ze was roused by Ansem’s team: “One of the grooms needs to get up and get ready!”
Rubbing his eyes, Xia Ze was still half-asleep after staying up late the night before.
But he instinctively pulled open the curtains and was instantly wide awake. “Is this really necessary?! It’s not even light out yet!”
“Whose wedding doesn’t start like this?”
“Did you forget? You still have a photoshoot you promised Omega Fashion Magazine. There’s also a brief interview with you and General Qi.”
Xia Ze took a deep breath.
Right. That was indeed part of the plan.
At the time, countless magazines had approached him for photos, even scheduling wedding-day shoots of the couple to feature in their issues.
Old Qi had insisted such interviews were necessary, telling him to pick one.
So Xia Ze had casually pointed to the most familiar name the Omega magazine he used to read daily back on the junk planet.
Ansem’s team froze. “You just… randomly chose it?! Do you know how many top magazines fought tooth and nail for this? They’ve been hyping it up on the StarNet, claiming they’d be the ones to land the exclusive on General Qi’s wedding!”
“The one you picked has been gloating for ages.”
Xia Ze was stunned. “Maybe Old Qi handled all the arrangements, and I just had to make the final choice?”
He hadn’t realized it would cause such a stir.
Just as Ansem said, the Omega magazine team arrived early. Old Qi had arranged for them to wait in a designated lounge, where they’d get twenty minutes for photos and ten for the interview after the formal attire was on.
Even if it meant waiting for hours beforehand, they were more than willing!
If the empire’s top celebrities saw the usually haughty magazine team being this obsequious, they’d probably seethe with envy.
But there was no helping it this was the wedding of an imperial general. The magazines’ eagerness was only natural.
Yawning, Xia Ze let Ansem and the team work their magic.
Truth be told, Ansem’s team was just as excited. Their first collaboration with Xia Ze had gone smoothly, which was why they were even involved in the wedding.
Thanks to this, their team’s reputation and earnings had skyrocketed.
For that alone, they’d give it their all.
The same went for the wardrobe team on standby, ready to adjust the attire if needed.
Everything was a flurry of activity.
Ansem whispered, “What about the general? He’s not up yet, is he? We don’t dare wake him.”
Not just General Qi even Old Qi, who had been overseeing the wedding preparations, had only briefly crossed paths with them.
Shouldn’t an Alpha be by his Omega’s side at a time like this?
Recalling last night, Xia Ze frowned. “We both stayed up late. Maybe he’s still asleep. Should I go wake him?”
“Please do. The ceremony’s at noon, but it’s only 5 AM now—there’s still so much to do.”
Ansem immediately egged him on.
Xia Ze rubbed his eyes and knocked on the middle door, but there was no response. Eventually, he simply pushed it open.
He had slept in this room a few nights before, and the furnishings were still familiar. However, the bed was neatly made, showing no signs of having been slept in naturally, there was no one there either.
“Strange, where is General Qi?”
Xia Ze casually asked a passing servant, “Have you seen the General?”
The servant replied, “No.”
This was a daytime servant who had no idea what had happened during the night.
“What about Uncle Qi?”
“I’ll help the young master look for him.”
But the entire villa was bustling with wedding preparations, making it impossible to find anyone. The only quiet place was the heavily guarded garden everywhere else was crowded.
Their villa was vast, with living quarters, social areas, and entertainment zones completely separated. It was normal not to find someone right away.
Xia Ze couldn’t get through on his calls either, so he sent messages to both Uncle Qi and Qi Jing.
How odd.
By the time Xia Ze sat down again, he was much more awake and waved it off, saying, “He’s probably busy. Don’t worry about it.”
Ansem also relaxed.
General Qi had always been reliable, and his relationship with Xia Ze was solid. There really was no need to worry about something like this.
The idea of the groom Alpha running away from the wedding? That would never happen between them.
Ansem had a vague feeling that if anyone were to flee, Xia Ze was more likely to be the one.
He wasn’t sure where this thought came from, but it felt true to him.
Their wedding was set to take place in the social area, a space surrounded by gardens on three sides, with a grand hall spacious enough to accommodate at least 300 guests. The second floor had various lounges, and the wedding venue had long been prepared.
Everything was proceeding smoothly, just as planned.
Some media outlets had even arrived early.
They had secured interview rights, but even just snapping photos of the venue in advance would generate massive online traffic.
Because it wasn’t just them who were excited the public on the StarNet was equally thrilled.
Qi Jing’s wedding!
How many times had this been hyped up?
Though it wasn’t Qi Jing’s intention, everyone loved a grand wedding spectacle.
Who didn’t enjoy a good show?
[So excited! More than I was at my own wedding!]
[Same! Have you seen the photos of the villa entrance? My god, even the trees out front look extra lush.]
[And the stones by the entrance they look different from ordinary ones. So impressive.]
[No photos of the wedding hall yet, but there’s a layout map. The names on that list would get censored if posted!]
[I heard the Emperor and Empress won’t attend in person, but they’re sending gifts. The Crown Prince will be there.]
[Ahhhh, I want to see a live stream!!!]
[Give up, no one’s streaming. But there are plenty of leaks to check out!]
[An Alpha and Omega wedding of the century. So amazing.]
At seven in the morning, under the watchful eyes of Ansem and others, Xia Ze ate only a single slice of bread, as if taking another bite would be a crime.
Xia Ze couldn’t help but say, “It’s only seven. I’ll be hungry by noon.”
“You’re the groom. You can endure a little hunger now, you’ll feast tonight.”
“Heh, who knows what’s on the menu tonight?”
Xia Ze glanced around, noticing many people snickering in a way that didn’t seem entirely wholesome.
The editor-in-chief of an Omega fashion magazine approached. They had scheduled a photoshoot and interview for 7:30, with only half an hour to go but General Qi was still nowhere to be seen.
Despite appearing to simply wait, they had already gathered all the necessary information, determined to accomplish everything within the limited time!
“Master Xia Ze, where has General Qi gone? Has he not changed into his formal attire yet?” the editor-in-chief asked as tactfully as possible.
His gaze toward Xia Ze was filled with admiration, while the photographer beside him had already gone into a frenzy, snapping away at the behind-the-scenes footage.
Absolutely stunning.
Such a beautiful Omega would undoubtedly inspire countless ideas.
Xia Ze checked his communicator still no reply.
Fortunately, Uncle Qi arrived just in time to help him out.
With sweat still on his brow, Uncle Qi first whispered to Xia Ze, “Young Master, the General is dealing with something urgent. He asked me to inform you that he’ll be here as soon as possible. Please don’t worry.”
Something urgent?
This statement left many in the room stunned.
Something urgent at this moment?
Could it be military affairs?
For General Qi to temporarily set aside the wedding and his Omega, the matter must be extremely pressing.
Had the space pirates launched an attack?
But there hadn’t been any news of that.
Truth be told, Uncle Qi had tried to persuade him perhaps the search could wait, as the wedding was more important.
But Qi Jing believed that if he didn’t find this item, the wedding would remain nothing but a sham.
The current ceremony wouldn’t truly bring Xia Ze happiness.
That unacknowledged gift was what truly mattered.
When Qi Jing finally came to his senses, dawn had already broken. Most of the gifts in the basement had been searched through just a little more time, and he was certain he’d find it.
His four assistants felt this was more exhausting than actual combat.
Finding something the size of a palm amidst all these items was proving incredibly difficult.
Qi Jing had Uncle Qi inform the young master first.
No sooner had Uncle Qi left than Qi Jing instinctively checked his communicator and immediately made the call.
Xia Ze answered promptly, his eyes filled with confusion: “Where are you? We have the magazine shoot in half an hour, followed by a ten-minute interview.”
Seeing the boy’s professional demeanor, Qi Jing almost smiled but instead said, “I’m handling something very important. Can you wait for me a little longer?”
He was certain he could make it.
Whether the magazine team would agree was another matter.
The Omega magazine’s editor-in-chief naturally overheard this and eagerly nodded: “Of course, of course! We can wait as long as needed.”
Heaven knew how much their magazine’s revenue had skyrocketed after securing exclusive coverage of the General’s wedding.
Waiting a little while?
Absolutely no problem.
The editor-in-chief shrewdly added, “Could we film some behind-the-scenes footage in the meantime? Like your makeup process?”
Their Omega-focused audience would undoubtedly adore content featuring someone like Xia Ze.
Xia Ze didn’t mind: “Sure, sorry for the trouble.”
It was the least he could do to compensate.
He then looked back at the communicator: “Hurry up, I’ll be waiting.”
Qi Jing’s finger gently traced the small face on the screen.
The groom was absent, yet the boy showed no anger.
Qi Jing refused to dwell on why there was no anger, but his search for the gift noticeably intensified.
Uncle Qi was also concerned.
The magazine shoot could be managed.
They’d woken at five for makeup.
Seven o’clock for outfit changes.
Seven-thirty for the photoshoot.
Eight o’clock to review the schedule again.
All this was manageable.
But by ten o’clock, guests would start arriving.
Both grooms would need to greet them.
It seemed the search would have to conclude by ten.
If unsuccessful by then, Uncle Qi resolved to drag the young master upstairs by force if necessary.
He couldn’t understand with their relationship so strong, how could a mere gift delay such important matters?
Hearing this, Qi Jing could only smile wryly.
He still remembered the tone in the child’s voice last night.
It was a kind of despondency he had never seen in the child before.
In fact, it was the first time he had ever detected genuine hurt in the child’s emotions.
But to avoid disappointing the child, he would wait until he found what he was looking for before saying anything.
Although Uncle Qi and Qi Jing had both given explanations, with Qi Jing even calling personally, rumors were still spreading unchecked.
To grab attention, some even posted on StarNet:
【Rumor has it that General Qi claimed he had urgent matters and still hasn’t shown up.】
【Getting married today?? But he’s not here??】
【I heard the same… Apparently, staff went over at 5 or 6 AM and didn’t see General Qi.】
【Please don’t tell me it’s what I’m thinking.】
【So dramatic.】
【Probably not. If General Qi didn’t want to marry this Omega, he had plenty of chances before.】
【Yeah, something must’ve held him up.】
Many saw these posts on StarNet.
But most troublemakers had already been dealt with even those with connections like the Dier family or the Empress’s nephew. Who would dare make a move now?
Most were just venting online.
【Bet one galactic credit, General Qi ran away from the wedding!】
【Oh? And if he didn’t, will you give each of us one?】
【There are billions in the galaxy. Do you have billions of credits?】
【No matter what, this is way too unusual.】
【AHHHHHH Fashion Magazine M just dropped behind-the-scenes footage!! Who would run away from a wedding with a spouse like this?!】
【AHHHHHH Look at me! I’ll stage a public wedding heist right now!!!】
Fashion Magazine M had always been the premier publication in the Star Empire—so much so that it had even appeared in Xia Ze’s “textbooks.”
Even so, the magazine felt incredibly lucky to have scored this opportunity for photos and an interview!
Though the interview would have to wait, these behind-the-scenes glimpses were more than worth it.
The photographers from M and those hired by Uncle Qi were practically competing to capture the best shots.
Chances to photograph such beauty were rare.
With permission, M’s editor-in-chief released today’s behind-the-scenes footage.
【Pre-makeup footage! The stunning Omega groom!】
No words were needed just the photos alone were enough.
In the images, Xia Ze had just removed a face mask, with someone gently wiping his face. His delicate, smooth complexion looked so tempting one could almost take a bite.
His fair skin glowed with vitality, and his naturally rosy lips even without makeup perfectly embodied the phrase “born beautiful.”
His black bangs were swept back, making him even more breathtaking.
【AHHHHHH Anyone up for a wedding heist?! Anyone?!】
【Dreaming?! Are we dreaming?!】
【Oh my stars, what a gorgeous Omega spouse.】
【Seriously, with a partner like this here, what could possibly keep General Qi away?】
【Unless the empire is about to collapse! (Just kidding)】
【Saved!!! Please post more!!!】
The next few photos left viewers in even greater awe.
By 9:30 AM, Uncle Qi was frantic.
Guests would arrive in forty minutes, why was the young master still in the basement?!
Yet Xia Ze calmly reassured him, “Uncle Qi, don’t worry. We should trust General Qi.”
Contrary to expectations, Xia Ze, one of the grooms at the center of it all was the most composed.
Logically, shouldn’t he be anxious or angry that his partner wasn’t present?
On his wedding day, with his Alpha absent, most Omegas would have already broken down in tears.
Was Xia Ze just putting on a brave face?
Ansem, who knew him better, said, “Don’t be upset. General Qi must have a good reason.”
“Yeah, if you’re sad, it’s okay to cry.”
“You don’t have to hold it in.”
Xia Ze looked puzzled he truly wasn’t angry.
General Qi was busy, he knew that.
As he spoke, Xia Ze’s communicator beeped several times. Since he had enabled stranger-blocking earlier, the messages had to be from someone he knew.
Xia Ze had assumed it was General Qi, but it turned out to be Gao Zhou, whom he hadn’t spoken to in a while.
Back on the garbage planet, Gao Zhou, the patrol team captain, had taken good care of him.
When Xia Ze first arrived on the main planet, Gao Zhou had even stood up for him, thinking he was being bullied.
This time, the message wished him a happy marriage and tactfully inquired about General Qi.
Not just him others like Qiao Qinqin and Feng Xi, whom he hadn’t contacted in ages, also sent their blessings.
They must have timed their messages right before he was about to meet the guests.
Xia Ze chuckled. “Why is everyone so worried about me? I’m really fine.”
“General Qi has important matters to attend to, I understand.”
Qi Jing, who had just emerged from the basement, paused mid-step.
He knew.
The kid would never get upset over something like this. Even though he had expected it, the thought still weighed on him.
Xia Ze spotted General Qi immediately and was about to speak when he noticed the familiar box in his hands.
That box?!
Of course he recognized it!
He had made it himself.
With his own hands, at fifteen!
Xia Ze’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Th-this? You found it?”
The packaging was still intact, it must have been discovered just now.
Qi Jing strode forward, seeing the look on the kid’s face, and knew he had gotten it right.
Xia Ze felt an indescribable emotion.
He had thought General Qi had tossed it away like trash, how had it been recovered?
Qi Jing explained, “Back then, the house was crowded and chaotic, and many servants had changed. They probably didn’t recognize the sender and just stored it away in the warehouse.”
“But I found it.”
From the moment Xia Ze mentioned it last night at eleven-something until now, at nine-thirty in the morning, he had finally tracked it down.
In between, he had contacted defunct private couriers, tracked down delivery personnel from a C-grade planet, and yet, Qi Jing showed no trace of exhaustion—only growing excitement.
This gift, three years overdue, arrived on the same day as their wedding.
Xia Ze stood up, now fully realizing that General Qi hadn’t disregarded his gift—he simply hadn’t seen it.
Only now did Xia Ze feel a flicker of nervousness. Softly, he asked, “You didn’t spend all night looking for this, did you? From last night until now?”
The onlookers finally understood why General Qi had been absent earlier.
He had been searching for the gift his Omega had given him.
Clearly, there had been some misunderstanding—he hadn’t even known the gift existed until now, and upon learning, he had searched relentlessly.
Damn, that was kind of sweet.
Qi Jing ruffled the kid’s hair gently. “I’m sorry.”
“Can I open it now?”
Xia Ze nodded vigorously.
Of course!
He hadn’t needed to rush, he could have looked for it later.
But General Qi’s attitude made it clear: this gift mattered. It had all been a misunderstanding.
The box was sealed tightly with tape, likely to protect it during shipping, yet wrapped beautifully clearly prepared with care.
With every layer Qi Jing peeled away, his heart softened further.
This was Xia Ze’s gift to him for his eighteenth birthday.
That miserable birthday now felt a little brighter.
As the wrapping came off, a surge of vitality, unique to greenery, radiated from within.
Three years of pent-up life force erupted in an instant.
Everyone present could sense the extraordinary energy.
Upon entering the Qi family villa, everyone immediately noticed the exceptionally rich presence of greenery.
Yet even that paled in comparison to the vitality concealed within this small bottle for three long years.
Many Alphas present couldn’t resist the urge to hold the verdant bottle in their hands and examine it closely.
If only they possessed something like this their mental energy would never falter.
The palm-sized glass bottle brimmed with lush greenery.
Unconsciously, all eyes were drawn to this glass orb-like object.
At first glance, it appeared to be just a glass sphere, but it rested on a wooden base, and the true marvel lay inside.
Upon closer inspection, the lower portion of the bottle contained dark, fertile soil, from which sprouted soft, fuzzy green plants.
Many didn’t recognize it as moss, which typically thrives only in areas with pristine air quality.
The soil and moss alone infused the bottle with vibrant life.
Slightly to the left of the center stood a tiny tree, no taller than two fingers, its branches stretching upward until they nearly pressed against the glass lid.
Were the seal not so tight, it might have broken free long ago.
Though barely two fingers high, this miniature tree was more luxuriant than any full-sized tree they had ever seen.
To them, it was small, but within the confines of the bottle, it was a towering giant.
Around this “colossal” tree bloomed small flowers in red, yellow, and white, accompanied by a decorative rabbit figurine. Nearby, a pebbled path meandered alongside a glistening, damp stream.
Within this palm-sized bottle lay an entire world of greenery.
It looked as though a tiny rabbit was enjoying a leisurely outing in a realm brimming with nature and life.
Qi Jing stared intently at the bottle.
Was this what the child had called a “miniature landscape”?
A self-sustaining ecosystem, flourishing within such a tiny vessel.
Even after three years, it remained lush and vibrant, teeming with vitality.
Qi Jing’s heart swelled at the sight.
During his darkest days at eighteen, his child had sent him such a miraculous gift.
Regret gnawed at him.
If only he had seen it sooner.
Xia Ze examined it carefully and murmured, “It seems to be in good condition everything inside is still alive.”
The crowd around him was baffled!
“Good condition”?
This was nothing short of extraordinary!
Had they heard correctly? A gift from three years ago, only just opened today, yet the plants inside were still thriving?
What kind of greenery could survive for so long?
The surge of life energy they had sensed before unwrapping the gift was unlike anything they had ever experienced.
Though accumulated over three years, imagine the benefits of having such vitality constantly radiating beside you all that time.
No wonder General Qi had gone to such lengths to find it.
Of course, it wasn’t just about the beauty of the bottle, it was the sentiment behind it, a gift from his Omega.
Was General Qi truly valuing the bottle, or was it Xia Ze he cherished?
The awe in many eyes shifted to envy.
General Qi, what were you thinking?
Only discovering this treasure now?
Three whole years wasted!
Even disregarding its practical value, its sheer beauty alone was enough to captivate anyone.
And yet, those present still didn’t fully grasp its worth.
If Colin, the dean of the Natural Sciences Academy, had been here, he would have bombarded Xia Ze with questions no, he might have even knelt on the spot and begged to become his apprentice.
Xia Ze didn’t pay much attention to the miniature landscape greenery. If he could make one, he could make another though the materials might be harder to find, but the capital planet had everything.
He was watching General Qi’s expression.
Seeing that General Qi genuinely liked it, he finally relaxed and couldn’t help but smile.
It was wonderful the gift had been given and well-received.
Even if it was this late, he didn’t mind at all.
Xia Ze, initially nervous and now overjoyed, was captured by the photographers.
Yet the accompanying caption read:
[The groom Omega, nervous and happy for the wedding.]
[A match made in heaven, together for life!]
The second photo showed General Qi holding the glass bottle in one hand and Xia Ze’s wrist in the other, their gazes locked in a moment of undeniable sweetness.
While the crowd was still marveling at this so-called “miniature landscape greenery,” Butler Qi had to step in: “Young Master, Little Master! The wedding preparations! Photos, interviews, greeting guests, the ceremony! No slacking!”
Oh, right.
Today was their wedding day.
Xia Ze felt a little embarrassed and instinctively moved closer to Qi Jing. “Hurry and change into your outfit, get ready, we’re getting married!”
Qi Jing chuckled in agreement, glancing at the glass bottle. “Can we take photos with it?”
“It’s the first gift you ever gave me.”
Xia Ze hadn’t expected General Qi to treasure the gift so much, and his heart warmed.
“Alright, we’ll take photos with it.”
Seeing the genuine happiness in the younger man’s eyes, Qi Jing couldn’t resist pulling him into a hug. “Today’s our wedding. I’m happy.”
The onlookers nearly screamed in excitement.
Who said their relationship was bad?
Who said that?!
Step forward!
They wanted to howl with joy.
They wanted a love this sweet too!
Xia Ze, however, felt a pang of guilt—it was all fake.
At least, he knew it was.
Makeup, formal wear, photos, interviews, greeting guests.
July 7, 1451, Star Calendar. Noon.
Qi Jing and Xia Ze’s names dominated headlines across all major platforms.
They were officially married.
In the released photos, the two stood close, diamond rose wedding bands glinting as they smiled at the camera.
The joy in their eyes was unmistakable, General Qi even held that exquisite greenery bottle, leaving everyone in awe.
Many still didn’t realize this was a greenery bottle that could change the fate of the interstellar world.
Because all anyone could talk about was, how could an Alpha and Omega be this perfectly matched?
