Chixia slumped lifelessly into her chair, her eyes vacant.
Yangyang patted her back comfortingly, sighing inwardly. It seemed Chixia was no match for Rover in this matter.
Rover gloated, "Too bad. This marriage ended before it even began."
Chixia stared blankly at the white ceiling. To think I've fallen behind… Lucian, I've failed you!
But she quickly rallied herself. "No! No matter what, Lucian should be the one to make his own choice!"
Lucian, looking somewhat innocent, asked, "Is there a possibility… I could have both?"
Jinhsi covered her mouth with a light laugh. "According to Jinzhou's laws, we've always upheld monogamy."
Lucian nodded understandingly. "I get it, I get it. One 'official wife' and one 'unofficial wife,' right?"
Jinhsi: "?"
Rover: "?"
Chixia: "?"
Yinlin scoffed. "So that's how you interpret monogamy?"
Lucian spread his hands. "Even so, I'm not from Jinzhou."
Chixia protested, "I am, though!"
Changli chuckled. "Lucian isn't a Jinzhou native. Marrying multiple women… is theoretically feasible."
Rover nodded slightly. "Feasible, but unacceptable."
Jiao-Jiao picked up her chopsticks and shook her head. "Lucian, what makes you worthy of that?"
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Jiao-Jiao, do you not want to—"
Jiao-Jiao took a bite of meat. "...Forget I said anything."
Abby crossed his arms. "Hey! Are you really letting Lucian bribe you like this? Rover's your Lady Arbiter!"
Jiao-Jiao sighed. "When under someone's roof, you must bow your head. Abby, you'll understand when you're my age."
Abby: "?"
Yinlin interjected coolly, "In my opinion, given Lucian's flighty personality, it's unlikely he'll stay in one place for long."
"Even if Lucian and Chixia do marry, there's no guarantee he won't… stray."
Lucian smacked the table indignantly. "I'm a Pure Love Warrior! Who do you take me for?"
Everyone shook their heads in unison. "Doesn't look like it."
Lucian: "..."
Rover, expressionless, delivered the final verdict: "In any case, Lucian still has to accompany me to recover his lost memories. No matter what, he can't stay in Jinzhou right now."
Changli smiled gently. "Let's discuss this another time. If Chixia truly loves Lucian so much, she'll need to keep working hard…"
After a moment of contemplation, Chixia declared resolutely, "Then I'll go with Lucian too!"
Yangyang, alarmed, tugged at Chixia's sleeve. "Chixia!"
Chixia scratched her head, remembering her ideals. "Uh… never mind."
Lucian nodded approvingly, set down his chopsticks, and took Chixia's delicate hand in his. "This is the Chixia I know. Never abandon your ideals or your sense of justice!"
"Chixia, stay in Jinzhou. Even if I leave, I'll visit often."
"Besides, so many people important to me are here. There's no way I'd cut ties completely."
Tears welled up in Chixia's eyes. "Lucian… you have to come back."
"I'll wait for you in Jinzhou. When I become a great hero, we'll get married. Okay?"
Lucian nodded solemnly. "In my heart, you're already a great hero."
Rover, watching them seal this pact, shook her head slightly. "Before that, I have to marry him first."
Chixia: "?"
Everyone else: "..."
Abby stretched and patted his round belly. "Delicious. So delicious."
Jiao-Jiao smacked him. "All you think about is eating!"
Unexpectedly, Abby—completely unprepared—was sent flying toward Lucian's face.
Lucian, knocked backward, instinctively grabbed the nearest foothold: a jade-white foot.
Yinlin gasped as she toppled toward Lucian, upending the entire table. Fortunately, Abby had already devoured most of the food, so nothing splattered on anyone.
Amid the chaos, everyone saw Lucian clutching that fair foot.
Jinhsi: "…?"
Changli: "..."
Rover: "???"
A vein throbbed on Rover's forehead. "So this is how it is, Lucian? I knew you had something going on with her!"
She summoned the Emerald of Genesis and pressed it to Lucian's neck. "Any last words?"
Knowing escape was impossible, Lucian resigned himself. "Yinlin, let me lick your thighs one more time!"
Rover: "?"
Yinlin: "..."
Rover roared, "Lucian, DIE!"
Lucian activated 'Running in Style' and bolted from the room, Rover hot on his heels with her sword.
Yinlin stood, slipped on her heels, and smirked mischievously. "Pick a nice burial spot for him. Give him a proper send-off."
Sanhua adjusted her sunglasses. "I'll arrange it."
Everyone else: "..."
….
Deep within the City Hall...
Changli gently applied medicine to Lucian's bruised face.
Though Lucian could've used Healing Art to treat himself, what man would refuse a beautiful woman's tender care?
Rover sat beside Jinhsi, staring blankly at a card in her hand.
"New Product Launch Commemorative Prize—Xiaolongbao Voucher."
"Redeem this voucher at Panhua Restaurant for five free xiaolongbao. Limited quantity, first come first served..."
Abby cheered. "What are we waiting for? Let's go eat!"
Rover sighed. "After all that food, you're still hungry?"
Jinhsi, blushing slightly, cleared her throat and took the voucher.
She handed Rover another document. "Ignore this. Read these instead..."
Rover picked it up and read aloud:
"Urgent Demand: Huaxu Academy's Experimental Division Must Enforce 8-Hour Workdays. No More Overtime!"
"On the 16th, a residential fire broke out. Fortunately, Patroller Chixia was passing by and extinguished the flames, rescuing two kittens..."
"I'm from Rinascita. Jinzhou Must Ban 'Golden Bell Tea'—It's Bitterer Than My Life!"
"Frontline Victory: The 'Crimson Vanguard' left by Lucian, alongside General Jiyan, eliminated numerous Tacet Discords in Norfall Barrens. Their scarlet scarves have become a symbol of Jinzhou's army. Citizens flock to take photos with them—please discourage this dangerous behavior..."
Behind them, Lucian grinned. "That's my Echoes for you!"
Rover sighed. "Do you really have to handle everything, big or small?"
Jinhsi smiled. "Actually, only major decisions require my direct input. The rest are handled by others, but I review them to prevent mistakes."