Yun Xingze felt somewhat overwhelmed by Luo Wenchuan’s sincerity. He realized that despite Luo Wenchuan’s intimidating reputation, he deeply respected capable individuals.
Regaining his composure from the shock, Yun Xingze said to Luo Wenchuan, “Senior, your sincerity isn’t just sufficient, it far exceeds my expectations. I never imagined you’d offer such a high salary.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Wenchuan produced two printed contracts and handed them to Yun Xingze. “If you agree, please review this contract. You can sign anytime if everything looks acceptable.”
As he spoke, a flicker of anticipation flashed in Luo Wenchuan’s eyes, though he quickly concealed it.
After taking the contract, Yun Xingze began reading immediately. The document was lengthy and detailed clearly not something drafted on short notice.
Yun Xingze couldn’t help wondering: Had Luo Wenchuan been considering hiring him as a mecha engineer for several days?
But he quickly dismissed the thought. Given the generous salary offered, Luo Wenchuan could have chosen anyone there was no reason it had to be him.
The contract review took about twenty minutes.
Luo Wenchuan’s signature already graced the document—bold, sweeping strokes radiating strength. Yun Xingze signed his name beside it.
After collecting the signed contract, Luo Wenchuan noted the late hour well past dinner time.
Yun Xingze suddenly felt hungry, realizing his prolonged reading might have kept Luo Wenchuan waiting without food.
“What would you like to eat?” Luo Wenchuan asked calmly as he put away the contract, glancing at Yun Xingze. “I frequent this restaurant, the food’s decent. Order whatever you like.”
Since arriving in this world, Yun Xingze had been too poor to eat anywhere but the cafeteria, occasionally resorting to nutrient packs. While the cafeteria food wasn’t terrible, it was certainly bland this marked his first off-campus meal.
A floating luminescent dot hovered above the table. When Yun Xingze tapped it, holographic images of various dishes appeared all exquisitely presented and undoubtedly expensive.
After ordering, they sat facing each other at the modest-sized table, the atmosphere growing somewhat stiff.
Seeking conversation, Yun Xingze asked, “So, does this make you my boss now?”
Luo Wenchuan studied him briefly before replying, “Yes.”
“Boss Luo?” Yun Xingze tested the title. “Is it okay if I call you that?”
Luo Wenchuan showed no reaction as he drank from his water glass.
After a pause, he suddenly asked, “Are there other options?”
Yun Xingze assumed the title sounded too old-fashioned for someone as young as Luo Wenchuan.
“What would you prefer me to call you?” Yun Xingze asked after failing to think of alternatives.
Setting down his glass, Luo Wenchuan’s fingers hesitated momentarily before he met Yun Xingze’s gaze. “If you really want to call me boss, that’s fine.”
Yun Xingze found Luo Wenchuan difficult to interact with perhaps because he lacked strategies for conversing with aloof personalities. Unsure what form of address Luo Wenchuan actually preferred, he decided to stick with “senior” going forward.
At that moment, the waiter brought some desserts. The one served to Yun Xingze was a pink spherical pastry with cute decorations, while Luo Wenchuan’s plate held a plain brown square cake without any embellishments.
Moreover, Yun Xingze’s portion was smaller, while Luo Wenchuan’s was slightly larger.
This was because the restaurant typically served different desserts to Alphas and Omegas. The Omega desserts had higher sugar content, while the Alpha versions were barely sweetened. The difference was obvious at a glance. Omega desserts were cuter in appearance, while Alpha desserts were plainer.
Yun Xingze found this distinction a little odd but didn’t comment. He picked up his spoon and took a bite, finding the taste quite pleasant.
Luo Wenchuan glanced at Yun Xingze, who was eating with obvious enjoyment under his gaze.
He said to the waiter, “Change mine to the same as his.”
The waiter froze. Luo Wenchuan was a regular here and rarely had much of a sweet tooth even the Alpha-specific desserts were barely touched.
But the waiter didn’t question it and quickly went to exchange the dessert.
Yun Xingze was intrigued by Luo Wenchuan’s action. He suspected it was to prevent him from feeling singled out.
“Yours looks tastier,” Luo Wenchuan remarked casually.
Yun Xingze thought to himself. So, he’d overanalyzed it again.
“It is pretty good,” Yun Xingze said after a few more bites. “Like strawberry yogurt, really soft texture.”
Luo Wenchuan’s gaze lingered on Yun Xingze’s lips.
The boy looked less sharp than usual while eating dessert, livelier and more playful. His thin lips were smeared with white cream, making them appear rosy and inviting.
A second later, Luo Wenchuan averted his eyes and blurted out without thinking, “Soft?”
Yun Xingze, oblivious to that brief stare, replied offhandedly, “Yeah, not sure what it’s made of.”
Luo Wenchuan, who normally avoided overly sweet foods, ended up eating quite a bit of the dessert once it arrived and even commented, “Not bad.”
Yun Xingze didn’t find this unusual, but the waiter watching nearby was utterly stunned.
Midway through dinner, Luo Wenchuan’s communicator buzzed with a message. After reading it, he frowned slightly and said to Yun Xingze, “Something’s come up, I have to go.”
Yun Xingze asked curiously, “An emergency? Want me to come with?”
“No need,” Luo Wenchuan replied succinctly. “The bill’s settled. Keep eating.”
He stood, slipping on his coat—tall and imposing.
Yun Xingze hesitated before saying, “Then deduct the cost from my salary.”
Luo Wenchuan reached the door, his beige coat accentuating his refined demeanor. He turned back, his sharp jawline and slightly upturned eyes catching the light.
“Consider it a welcome gift from your boss,” he said.
A faint smile might have flickered at the corner of his lips, but before Yun Xingze could catch it, Luo Wenchuan had already left.
Yun Xingze couldn’t help but feel puzzled; didn’t he dislike being called “boss”?
Yun Xingze returned to the dormitory with the items Luo Wenchuan had given him, feeling their considerable weight in his hands.
After spending time in the medical pod, Lu Ranxu had almost fully recovered. He was lounging on the sofa watching the news when Yun Xingze entered, immediately waving him over. “Come quick, I’ve got big news!”
Yun Xingze stored Luo Wenchuan’s gifts and walked over, glancing at the holographic screen displaying the headline: “Mysterious Second Prince Possibly Returns to Imperial Capital Star.”
“The Second Prince?” Yun Xingze asked, puzzled. “Shouldn’t he already be on the Imperial Capital Star?”
Lu Ranxu looked at him in surprise. “Do you never watch the news? The Second Prince was sent away by the royal family as a child for training. No one knows which planet he went to or when he’d return.”
The worldline Yun Xingze possessed contained little information about this, likely due to his original cannon-fodder role that cared about nothing beyond romance.
“Though this is all just speculation,” Lu Ranxu continued. “I still don’t even know the Second Prince’s name. The royal family keeps his records completely sealed. Do you think they’re secretly grooming an exceptional heir?”
After a moment’s thought, Yun Xingze replied, “If they truly wanted him as heir, they’d let the public know him. Otherwise, his ascension would invite endless rumors.”
“You’ve got a point,” Lu Ranxu conceded. “I’ve heard another theory that the Second Prince was exiled because the Emperor disliked him. Who knows what’s true?”
“We’ll never solve royal mysteries,” Yun Xingze said, abruptly changing topics. “But I have news too.”
Curious, Lu Ranxu asked, “What?”
“I’ve become Luo Wenchuan’s mecha engineer.” Yun Xingze calmly dropped this bombshell.
“Seriously?! You’re working for Luo Wenchuan?!”
Lu Ranxu leaped up from the sofa in shock.
Yun Xingze nodded. “His offer was simply too generous.”
Even more astonished than Lu Ranxu was Ke Lei.
The next morning, Ke Lei sought out Yun Xingze and repeated the question “Did Big Chuan really sign a contract with you?” five times like a broken record player.
“That bastard said he didn’t want you, but his actions speak otherwise!” Ke Lei remarked about Luo Wenchuan’s behavior.
Then he asked eagerly, “So what’s your salary? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”
Yun Xingze revealed the figure but omitted the “uncapped bonuses” clause.
Ke Lei gasped, looking at Yun Xingze with envy. “300,000 starcoins monthly. The rich really can just throw money at the best engineers.”
So, he was actually jealous of Luo Wenchuan?
“If your mecha needs repairs, I can help,” Yun Xingze offered. “As a discount for being Luo’s roommate.”
Ke Lei’s eyes sparkled. “Really? You promise? No take-backs.”
After chatting awhile, Ke Lei informed Yun Xingze: “Big Chuan went home yesterday, some family matter came up. He asked me to show you his private warehouse.”
“Private warehouse?” Yun Xingze had never heard of such a thing since coming to the school.
Ke Lei led Yun Xingze toward the southwest of the campus, where a cluster of buildings stood usually off-limits to students.
Luo Wenchuan’s private warehouse was among them.
“This is a privilege the school grants to the champion of the mech competition,” Ke Lei said as he unlocked the door with a key. “Our school used to be one of the top four military academy mech teams, but we’ve declined in recent years. That’s why the school offers so many perks to students skilled in piloting mechs to boost the team’s performance though it hasn’t made much difference.”
