Chapter 25 (2): The Secretary Confesses!

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After they finished eating, Lucas first sent Luo Ran home before going to the company himself.

Even after he took a shower and laid in bed, Luo Ran still felt the day was a little surreal.

His body was sore from riding a horse for half a day, but it wasn’t a major problem.

Who knew that he would spend the third day of his holiday with Lucas like this.

Luo Ran suddenly thought of the forum.

“…”

He froze, then forcefully steadied his heart, bravely picked up his terminal, and opened the forum to see if there were any new posts.

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH]

[AAAAAAAAAHHHH]

[OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH]

Luo Ran: “…”

There weren’t any real posts, just screaming.

Only after flipping several pages, almost making his finger cramp, did Luo Ran find a post with actual content.

[{Master Post} {Screenshots} The Admiral and Secretary Had a Date!]

After he clicked in, he found that the poster was a high-level member of the group who organized all the main points of the day.

[1: Unlimited doting – the entire amusement park’s dolls are for you!
The admiral reveals his domineering side and fights for love! He asks the secretary which one he wants, because he can get them all!
The secretary shyly expresses that anything the admiral gives him is fine. The admiral shows off his prowess and says he can give anything he wishes for.
The secretary is so happy that he teases the admiral, saying that he doesn’t want dolls anymore, he wants to play something more exciting. (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
Below are photos taken by passersby.]

[2: Feelings are hard to suppress – I can’t help being intimate!
The haunted house is very private, so we don’t know exactly what they experienced. However, everyone can see from Miss Ghost’s post that the SSS-grade overbearing admiral is even jealous of a ghost! When they came out, Secretary Luo’s face was red and his legs were also soft (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
Then the two ran underneath a tree, close enough to kiss – it’s not clear – then the secretary shyly pushed the admiral away and they went into the bathroom.
According to eyewitnesses, the admiral and secretary embraced in a cubicle, and the cubicle door was knocked off its hinges (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
Below are photos.]

[3: The promise of love – a romantic dinner!
After sunset, the two went to a place famous for its beauty to take photos, below are screenshots from the lady boss’ account.
The lady boss says the two were particularly sweet together. The photos and meal were all decided by the secretary, looks like our Empire’s heroic lion can’t escape the fate of being henpecked (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
Then they watched fireworks together. Here I have to thank all the sisters who crowdfunded this, you’re too amazing!
The secretary watched fireworks and the admiral watched him, completely fascinated. He even sneakily took a photo. The secretary doesn’t know we know!! A sister got a picture!]

The comments below were going wild.

[Aaaah goddamn!!! I believe in love again! So sweet!]

[Wuwuwu it turns out the admiral can be so gentle.]

[Even jealous of a ghost… Admiral, as expected of you.]

Luo Ran: “…”

I-It really wasn’t like that…

Luo Ran wanted to cry.

And… the photos of that night only existed because after the lady boss posted them and people saw, this poster gathered donations to buy them and display them online.

It took a lot of work.

Luo Ran: “…”

Luo Ran, helpless, wondered if he should thank them.

But if he did, wouldn’t that be indirectly acknowledging it…

Never mind.

Stuffed among the many incoherently screaming posts, Miss Nina’s posts were as eye-catching as ever.

She started another work, but this time it was a series of short stories.

[The Devilishly Charming Secretary and the Domineering Admiral Who Can’t Stop Doting on Him!]

“Zimei Xueran.” Lucas K. Dior Gucci Prada affectionately held Zimei Xueran’s hand and said, “I love you. I’m willing to share my family name with you.”*

“From now on, your name is Xueran Dior Gucci Prada.”

* * *

Luo Ran: “…”

Luo Ran remembered what he told Lucas before: If I ever lie to you, I will take your surname.

Luo Ran: “…”

The forum was going crazy, and Luo Ran felt he might be going crazy too.

Now that everyone thought they were together, what would the real wife of the admiral do in the future?

The admiral’s problems were his problems.

Then the admiral’s wife’s problems were also his problems.

Anyways, it was always him who solved it in the end.

Luo Ran looked at the forum which looked like it was New Year’s Eve, or like the Empire won a great victory, with a tangled expression.

After thinking for a long time, Luo Ran finally decided to make an official account to explain.

[@Luo Ran the Secretary: A friend told me everyone here bought the fireworks, thank you, they were very beautiful {bow.jpg}. The admiral and I liked it very much. To celebrate our friendship, he brought me to relax today. I will continue to work hard in the future ^_^]

As soon as Luo Ran opened his account, a huge number of people followed and commented, showing his popularity.

It only took a few minutes for the news of Secretary Luo’s new account to spread.

His account received many messages.

[Cheers to the admiral and secretary’s great friendship! {doge.jpg}*]

[Friendship is a glass of wine, everyone who drinks will get drunk. I wish you many years of friendship!]

[Oh, what a beautiful friendship, I’ll toast to the admiral and secretary’s friendship!]

Seeing this, Luo Ran was very relieved and satisfied.

Sure enough, clarification was the right choice.

He stretched, set an alarm, then turned in for the night.

The next day, Luo Ran’s damnable heat finally ended, and so he returned to his usual ‘early to bed, early to rise’ lifestyle.

Luo Ran first went to the company to rescue the people in the secretary’s office and its director who were about to commit suicide from the stress, dealt with the urgent documents, brewed coffee for Lucas and arranged his clothing, then went to Xia Zhi in the afternoon to continue refining UNK.

In the past few days, neither Luo Ran nor the omega at the research institute made much progress, even though they poured all their energy into exploring this troublesome ore.

Luo Ran couldn’t rest even after night fell, he still had to check on the gift for the eldest prince’s birthday.

After all, the day of his birth was fast approaching. As the eldest son of the Empire’s most noble royal family, it was only natural that he organized a banquet and invite every big name in the Empire and its surrounding territories – including Lucas.

After he finally finished everything on his schedule, Luo Ran was about to head home when he was stopped at the company’s door by a person from Luobing.

A girl dressed as a maid stepped in front of Luo Ran. She smiled and said, “Our Royal Highness the Princess invites you to dinner.”

“Her Royal Highness, Lillia…?” Luo Ran felt a little strange. Last time, Lucas scolded her until she cried because of him. Logically, Lillia should hate him to death, right?

“Yes.”

“She’s inviting me, not inviting Admiral Lucas?”

“Yes! She hopes you can attend! It is taking place now, at the embassy.” The maid’s smile brightened. “It is inconvenient for the princess to leave the embassy. However, the top floor of the embassy has a good view and a beautiful greenhouse, so the chef was invited there.”

“…”

It wouldn’t be a trap, right?

“The princess sincerely hopes you can come!” The maid urged. “She also prepared a gift for you.”

Luo Ran let out a sigh, then followed the maid onto the hovercar.

If it was a trap then it was a trap, anyway, she couldn’t do much to him. At most, she wanted to retaliate by humiliating him. He could deal with that.

But such a sudden invitation was still too weird, so Luo Ran sent a message to the captain of Lucas’ guard-escort about his plans and asked him to contact him later just in case.

On the top floor of the embassy, Lillia, in a markedly different style than before, cheerfully watched Luo Ran approach.

Luo Ran walked up to her. “Did Your Highness ask for me?”

“Sit, let’s eat.” Lillia pointed to the seat opposite her and said in a haughty tone, “This princess requests you to accompany me for dinner.”

As Luo Ran sat, he wondered if she was trying to manipulate his emotions into saying good things about her to Lucas.

“I have received the secretary’s office’s chocolates, and I also accept your apology.” Lillia crossed her arms. “So this princess will not care about the past any longer.”

Luo Ran smiled and nodded.

Lillia was stunned by this smile.

She remembered that when they first met, Luo Ran also treated her this gently as he persuaded her not to provoke the admiral.

Looks like he’s also a pitiful person who is bullied by that unreasonable admiral.

The second time they met, he handed her a tissue and comforted her, and didn’t get angry even when she called him a watchdog.

Afterwards, he also sent chocolates as an apology.

Lillia clearly remembered what her mother told her.

Only if she married someone with a lower status would her spouse love, respect, and be in awe of her.

If they were a proud son of heaven like Lucas, they would only arrogantly refuse to take her seriously.

“This princess has decided, you’re not too bad.” Lillia stroked her chin. “What’s so good about marrying the admiral? He’s so fierce. Wouldn’t it be better to be with you?”

Luo Ran: “…” ??????

Luo Ran suspected his ears weren’t working properly.

Lillia tilted her face up proudly. “This princess permits you a trial period, and afterwards, we can slowly get to know each other.”

“…”

After a moment of silence, Luo Ran reacted. “Your Highness, I am not suitable. You are a princess.”

“It’s because I’m a princess that you have to listen to me! I like you now, I want you.” She eyed him. “You are a secretary of the Empire, and your status isn’t low. It’s acceptable for you to marry into Luobing.”

His features were refined, his manners elegant, and his speech gentle and courteous.

And he was so handsome, with silver hair resembling a galaxy.

He was much better than that Lucas guy.

Lillia became more satisfied the more she looked at him.

Luo Ran thought… it was a little funny.

Before he arrived, he worried about his own safety, but things now were completely different from what he speculated. Why were Luobing’s people all so strange?

At this inopportune time, Luo Ran suddenly thought of a certain post on the forum.

[These Luobing people, their brains have probably been frozen by ice for a long time! So their IQ aren’t very good.]

Luo Ran shook his head and solemnly stated, “Princess, it is precisely because I am a secretary of the Empire that I cannot marry you. I know too many secrets of the Empire.”

“Huh?” Lillia frowned, not understanding at all.

Luo Ran explained, “In the Empire, civil servants who work with high officials have always been ordinary people with simple backgrounds because only these people will not and do not have the power to use the Empire’s secrets to its detriment. We can only seek protection from our superiors in the Empire.”

Lillia still didn’t really understand.

“So I am not someone of high status, but I have a hand in all military affairs in the Empire. Your Highness, as a foreign princess, do you think it is possible to marry me?”

“This, this…” This was indeed a problem. Lillia frowned.

After thinking it over, she clapped her hands and smiled brightly. “We can elope! How romantic!”

Luo Ran: “…”

Grinning, Lillia began to plan. “I’ve watched it in dramas, eloping is romantic and fun! Plus, Luobing will protect us!”

“Luobing was previously defeated by Admiral Lucas,” Luo Ran reminded her.

“But, but he doesn’t like you, he won’t send troops to snatch you back!” Lillia said. “Don’t let him deceive you! He treats you terribly, yelling and scolding, and even made me apologize for the sake of his own pride!”

Luo Ran felt extremely helpless.

They couldn’t communicate at all.

“Your Highness, please dispel your ridiculous thoughts. Marriage is not a game.” He stood. “I will pretend this never happened. I also hope Your Highness will no longer raise this matter, otherwise, the relationship between our two countries may become troubled.”

As soon as Luo Ran finished speaking, he left.

Just then, the captain of the guard-escort called him.

“Secretary, are you alright?!”

“I’m fine…” Luo Ran hesitated, then ordered, “Don’t tell the admiral about today.”

“Yes!”

        ———  XXXX  ———

The next day, the birthday banquet of the eldest prince took place as scheduled.

This was a big event. It was also a good opportunity for the eldest prince’s faction and the second prince’s faction to compete for Lucas’ favour.

–Only when they had military power in hand could they have the country.

And Lucas controlled almost all the strongest military forces in the Empire. The officers under him would follow whoever Lucas aligned himself with.

But Lucas was unwilling to interfere in their struggle for power. He only obeyed the Empire and its king; between the eldest prince and second prince, he would listen to whoever ascended the throne in the end.

Lucas’ thoughts on this were very simple and he didn’t care how the two princes messed around, but it was impossible for the people under them to sit still.

So, as soon as Lucas stepped into the banquet hall, a group of people rushed over like hungry wolves to toast him.

When Lucas put on a cold expression, his whole body was as imposing as an ice sculpture.

Among them was an old comrade of the marshal who was probably only there to greet Lucas, so Luo Ran didn’t rashly go and block them.

But there also wasn’t much for Luo Ran to do, just standing behind Lucas, so he simply turned around to get some food for him and Lucas to eat.

Luo Ran once again met Luobing’s Prince Andika near the buffet table. It seems like this person really loves to eat.

“Your Highness.”

“Ah… It’s Secretary Luo!” Andika smiled at him. “Thank you for the food last time, I liked it a lot…! It was delicious.”

“It’s good as long as Your Highness is satisfied.” Luo Ran glanced at the attendant following Andika and, smiling, commented, “I think I’ve seen this young lady before. Was it at the last banquet?”

Andika thought nothing of it and straightforwardly refuted him. “No, it was a different maid last time.”

“Oh… Why did it change?”

Andika stiffened for a moment, then his smile turned dry. “She fell sick.”

“Is that so? Then has she seen a doctor?” Luo Ran asked. “The Empire’s medical department is led by Shen Xiluo, they have many skilful doctors there. Your Highness can go there and try.”

“O-Okay…”

“What are you two talking about!”

Lillia’s angry voice came from behind Luo Ran.

“What are you flirting for, you bastard!”* Lillia glared at Andika and huffed, “Scram!”

“I-I’m sorry…!” Andika stumbled away with his plate of food.

Luo Ran faintly frowned.

“What were you talking about?” Lillia leaned in with a smile. “Accompany me to drink?”

Luo Ran looked at the beautifully dressed young woman in front of him. This matter can’t be left to fester, he thought, it’ll be bad if this little princess causes more trouble and it involves Luobing and the Empire.

As Lucas’ secretary, he was someone who existed to solve his problems, not add to them.

“Your Highness, let’s chat.”

* * *

Lucas was being forced by his father’s comrade to reminisce together when he saw Zhou Mingkai bounding over like a monkey.

“Admiral, Admiral! Brother brother brother! It’s not good!”

When the old comrade saw that the young people had something to say, he obligingly left.

“Spit it out,” Lucas ordered in an annoyed tone.

“Sist– Secretary Luo is going to be taken away!”

Lucas: “?”

While pulling at Lucas, Zhou Mingkai lowered his voice and said, “When I went home yesterday, I accidentally overheard my eldest brother talking about that princess of Luobing’s, Lillia. I don’t know what’s wrong with her brain, she somehow fell in love with your Secretary Luo, and even wanted to officially ask the Empire for his hand in marriage! But my eldest brother secretly suppressed this news.”

Lucas’ eyes widened. “How dare she?!”

“That’s right, that’s right!” Zhou Mingkai nodded his head as if he was pounding garlic. “She’s too audacious, oh I’m so nervous! Just now I saw the princess drag Secretary Luo to the balcony!”

Lucas’ eyes became even fiercer. “Absurd!”

“That’s right, that’s right!” Zhou Mingkai continued nodding, pounding away at the garlic. “It’s too fucking audacious! So let’s hurry to the balcony!”

Daring to steal his sister-in-law, wasn’t it absurd?!

 * * *

The balcony:

“Why? Why can’t we be together?!” Lillia was flushed with anger.

Luo Ran paused, then said, “Because… my heart already belongs to someone else.”

Suitable means for suitable problems.

“Huh???” Lillia couldn’t believe it. “Who do you like?!”

Luo Ran was silent for a while, then said with a heavy expression, “I like… Admiral Lucas.”

“I’ve liked him for many years.”

At this time, Lucas’ usual reputation of ferocity was very useful.

 * * *

As soon as he arrived at the balcony, Lucas heard this sentence.

Lucas: ???

Zhou Mingkai: ???

---

Translator:
And thus begin the misunderstandings…

This was a monster of a chapter at 10k characters, more than double the earlier chapters. For reference, those were 3-4k characters. Expect future chapters to be a bit longer at 4-6k characters, except for chapter 27 which is also 10k (Ｔ▽Ｔ)

Footnotes:

1. Share my family name [以我之姓，冠汝之名]: the more typically used (female) version is 以吾之名 冠汝之姓, meaning ‘using my name, crown it with your surname’. This is because in ancient times, when a woman married into a man’s family she would add his surname to hers. So when before she might have been surnamed X, and called Miss X, afterwards people would call her YX-shi, meaning Madam X of Y, with Y being the husband’s surname. At no point in history did the wife give up her surname completely and change it into the husband’s surname as in the West. A concise explanation here.
2. Doge.jpg [狗头]: literally the doge meme. In Chinese netizen slang, it conveys sarcasm/irony and is a way of stating the reverse position
3. As in bastard son, not as in an asshole. Though I’m sure Lillia would be happy to mean it that way as well.

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