Tong Airui’s gaze shifted from the docunt in his hand to her face, then fell on the heroic dal pinned to her chest.
"Wife, is this the gift King Muta gave you?"
Yi Luowa strutted in proudly, puffing out her chest. "Jealous much?"
"Jealous, envious, and full of hate!" Tong Airui raised a hand and pointed to the door behind her.
Yi Luowa got the hint and turned around to close the door.
"What kind of trouble did you help solve?"
"King Muta said you don’t have to track down that person anymore..." Yi Luowa animatedly recounted the dramatic scene she played out with King Muta in the palace.
Tong Airui stood up and pinched her nose. "Go ask Joyina if she’s looking for any actors. If she is, you should audition—you might even win a Best Newcor award or sothing."
"Then I’ll really go!" Yi Luowa pretended to leave.
Tong Airui laughed and pulled her back. "Wife, when we get ho, I’m going to reward you properly."
"No need to reward , I just want to know—who are you looking for? King Muta said it’s a family mber of his, but if it’s his family, why haven’t you said anything about it?"
"The less you know about this, the better. Think about it—like today, if you knew the truth, you wouldn’t have been able to act so naturally. As for King Muta, he’s not soone you can fool. Whether what you say is true or not, he can tell with just a word."
Yi Luowa pouted in defiance. "But I was acting during the latter part too, and he didn’t see through that!"
Tong Airui chuckled. "Acting and lying are two different things. What you said was true—you just exaggerated so parts—it doesn’t change the overall truth of the matter."
"Fair point." Yi Luowa nodded. "Anyway, I know you’ve been reluctant to find that person, and now it’s finally resolved."
"Report!" Colin’s voice ca from outside the door.
Yi Luowa quickly walked to the door and opened it for him.
Colin entered, his face filled with remorse. "Airui, I’m sorry! I misunderstood you."
Tong Airui raised an eyebrow slightly.
Colin apologized sincerely. "King Muta just called. He said that sending out those fifty n wasn’t for your personal matters but for his."
Tong Airui smiled. "Let’s leave it in the past. No need to bring it up again."
The lines of age and weariness on Colin’s face softened into a smile. "King Muta said if I didn’t co and apologize to you, he’d personally co and do it for . He also said that if you can’t forgive , he’d keep talking to you until you did."
"There’s nothing to forgive between us in the first place. How could I possibly forgive you for sothing that doesn’t exist?"
"That’s exactly what I told King Muta."
The two exchanged a knowing smile.
"Airui, if there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work. Oh, by the way, those fifty n returned—give at least half of them; I’m swamped over here."
"Once they’re back, they’re all yours!"
"Thanks!" Colin grinned and walked out of the room.
"That grumpy old man—apart from his temper, he’s quite decent!" Yi Luowa took Tong Airui’s teacup and took a sip of water. "I’m heading back too."
"Do you have much to do back there?"
"Not really, but I can’t just keep freeloading here, can I?"
"I wouldn’t mind if you stayed with , but you insisted on working in the shared office."
Yi Luowa scrunched up her nose. "Co on, it’s just over there! I thought working with everyone would be more fun, but you went and gave my own office."
"So I can visit you more conveniently." Tong Airui smirked. "Chief Yi, since you’ve drained my tea, would you kindly refill it before you leave?"
Yi Luowa had intended to refill the tea, but with that remark, she slamd the cup on the table and slipped out the door.
"I’ll dock your salary for the month!" Tong Airui called after her.
Hands behind her back, Yi Luowa strolled back to her office, muttering, "Hmph, dock it if you want! I haven’t even seen a single paycheck anyway..."
"Oh, being exploited, are we?" Bert and Sheng Duheng approached her with grins.
Yi Luowa pursed her lips. "Two mighty benefactors, could you stop forwarding my salary to Tong Airui when issuing paychecks?"
Bert laughed. "Haha... Next ti, we’ll send Airui’s paycheck to you!"
"That works! I’ll take his money and treat you both to dinner." Yi Luowa winked at Bert.
"I thought you’d treat us tonight!" Sheng Duheng laughed and pointed at the heroic dal pinned to her chest. "That’s the most prestigious award—hardly anyone in Xiawu has earned this honor."
"Really?" Yi Luowa’s eyes sparkled. Seeing Sheng Duheng nod, she quickly handed him her phone. "Uncle, take a picture for so I can send it to my parents and make them happy!"
"Sure thing. Stand still." Sheng Duheng chuckled as he picked up her phone.
Bert took out his phone as well and said seriously, "Let take one too. I’ll enlarge it and hang it in Airui’s office so he won’t miss you when you’re out of sight."
The three of them snapped photos in the corridor, and Tong Airui erged from his office. "With the end of the workday in sight, can you focus on sothing more productive?"
Yi Luowa rolled her eyes, grabbed her phone back from Sheng Duheng, and darted off to her own office.
Sheng Duheng grinned. "Luowa wanted to send her parents a picture to cheer them up—it’s a legitimate task."
"That’s legit for her. What about you?" Tong Airui nodded slightly toward Bert.
Bert laughed. "Mine’s even more legitimate! I’m planning to blow up these pictures and put them in your office, so you can always admire your wife."
"You’ve got too much free ti!" Tong Airui chuckled. "But since you said it, you’d better follow through!"
Bert gave him a disdainful look. "Can’t you just say no?"
"If soone’s offering free service, why would I turn it down?" Tong Airui shot him a glance and then turned to Sheng Duheng. "Uncle, how’s my third brother’s promotional video coming along? When you get a chance, give him a call. Can we still use it this year?"
Sheng Duheng’s mouth twitched. "You live under the sa roof, and you want to call him?"
Tong Airui sighed. "That pair is avoiding . I haven’t seen them for a while now."
"Who says we’re avoiding you?"
Tong Airui turned at the sound of the voice.
Joyina appeared with a strikingly handso young man in tow, smiling cheerfully.
"Where’s my third brother?" Tong Airui’s unspoken aning was, how could the third brother trust his wife to be around soone like this? Wasn’t he worried about a green hat showing up on his head?
"Your third brother had other things to do. He asked to bring over the promotional video—have a look later, and if it’s no good, we’ll reshoot it." Joyina handed a file folder to Tong Airui before hesitantly adding, "Fourth brother, I was thinking of coming here tomorrow to get so hands-on experience... Is that okay? I promise there won’t be another incident like last ti."
Tong Airui glanced at her. "If this were before, I wouldn’t have wanted you to co—too much hassle. But after what happened, seeing how afraid you and my third brother are of , I have to let you co just so you both stop avoiding !"
"Fourth brother, I knew you were loyal! One of the boys!" Joyina laughed and introduced the man beside her. "Let introduce you—this is the lead actor we selected, Ke Jingran. I’ve checked him out for eight generations—no questionable family history."
Tong Airui’s mouth twitched slightly.
Ke Jingran extended a hand politely. "Duke Airui, nice to et you!"
"Nice to et you." Tong Airui shook his hand lightly out of courtesy.
Joyina gestured toward Bert and asked with a laugh, "Ke Jingran, do you recognize this gentleman?"
"Prince Bert, a pleasure to et you." Ke Jingran extended his hand again with polite composure.
Bert smiled. "Welco to the camp."
"Thank you!"
"Ke Jingran, this is my uncle, Deputy Captain Sheng." Joyina enthusiastically introduced the next person.
"Deputy Captain Sheng, a pleasure to et you."
"Hello!"
"Is that Joyina over there?" Yi Luowa poked her head through the door to check.
"It’s ! I’m coming tomorrow to experience military life. Are you welcoming ?"
"Warmly welcoming!" Yi Luowa laughed as she walked over.
Joyina looked at Ke Jingran. "Ke Jingran, this is Madam Luowa, Duke Airui’s wife."
Tong Airui’s lips curled slightly. Joyina was finally using her brain—announcing his wife’s identity upfront to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Ke Jingran placed a hand on his chest and gave a slight bow. "Madam Luowa, nice to et you."
Yi Luowa smiled. "Nice to et you too. Since you’ll be staying here for a while, feel free to call Chief Yi—it’s more convenient."
Ke Jingran gave her a polite look and nodded with a smile.
His gentlemanly deanor greatly satisfied Lord Airui. Even more so, his unblemished gaze when looking at Luowa—filled only with respect, free of any impure thoughts—won Airui’s approval.
"Young people tend to have things in common. How about letting Ke tag along with Bert?" Sheng Duheng smiled toward Tong Airui.
Tong Airui nodded. "Bert, I’ll trouble you with this."
Bert laughed. "It’s no trouble. I always welco beauty in any form. Ke Jingran, co with to get familiar with the surroundings so you can integrate into our big family quickly tomorrow."
"Thanks, Prince Bert." Ke Jingran smiled warmly and followed him to his office.
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