The night was deep, the cabin bathed in soft light. Recently, the little Tian Dao had taken a particular liking to watching Ace “get disciplined” at the training grounds, returning in the evenings bubbling over with stories for Gu Qing and Milton.
This night was no exception. The little one zipped around the ceiling, silver light flashing in every direction, giggling as he recounted his “major observations” of the day:
【Heeheehee~ did you know? Ace has started learning to pilot the mecha! Before, he couldn’t even walk steadily and managed to knock over an entire row of military drones! Now? He operates it smoothly!】
【Although today he almost clobbered the instructor—so thrilling!—and got three times the training punishment! Haha, he’s practically becoming part of the mecha. The whole unit shook when he powered it on!】
Milton chuckled, while Gu Qing shook his head lightly, eyes calm as he stared out at the starry expanse beyond the window.
【But…】 the little one’s voice lowered, 【he’s been acting strange lately. After training, he always isolates himself, like something is bothering him…】
The words barely left his mouth when the doorbell rang.
“Come in,” Gu Qing said evenly.
As the door opened, all three immediately turned toward it—
Ace stood there.
The boy was still in his training uniform, hair damp at the forehead, but the usual vitality and flamboyance were gone. He stood at the doorway, expression calm to the point of detachment. Only his clenched fists betrayed the tension and unease beneath the surface.
The little Tian Dao froze for a moment, then floated back onto Gu Qing’s shoulder, whispering, “His expression… something’s off today.”
Milton furrowed his brow slightly, remaining silent.
Ace stood straight, drew in a deep breath, and finally spoke: “Gu Qing, I have something to discuss with you.”
His voice was soft, yet surprisingly steady, as if he had rehearsed these words countless times in his mind.
“Qingyuan… has been under pressure from the Mel family lately.” He lowered his eyes, voice low, eyelashes trembling slightly. “They allied with the Xiongbao Council, claiming the sub-females trick the males into working, saying it challenges tradition… that males should only be supported, and management should remain the responsibility of the family’s females.”
He paused, voice dropping further. “Several sub-females in Qingyuan were even imprisoned… but I know—they were only trying to force me to hand over Qingyuan.”
Lifting his gaze to Gu Qing, his eyes reddened slightly, a mix of suppressed anger and helplessness. “Although Qingyuan is well-known, the other nobles… are just observing. No one dares to step forward.”
Ace’s eyes met Gu Qing’s, voice finally quivering: “…but I refuse to accept it.”
His fists tightened until his knuckles whitened, his body taut like a drawn bow, a combination of stubbornness and fragility that only a youth could carry.
The room fell silent.
Gu Qing stood by the window, gazing at the distant stars, as if he had foreseen this very moment.
He turned slowly, calm but resolute: “Contribute part of Qingyuan’s earnings to the Mel family.”
Ace stiffened, disbelief written across his face.
“…You mean… I should bow to them?” His voice trembled with restrained anger. “You think I should step back, admit defeat, beg that group—”
Gu Qing’s gaze hardened, words edged with undeniable authority: “Not bowing.”
He stepped closer, black eyes deep and unreadable. “Feeding them.”
“Let them gain. Let them get used to receiving from you.”
“Once they gain, they’ll hesitate—wondering if they should truly destroy this stable income.”
Ace gritted his teeth, face flushed. “Isn’t that… compromise? Paying for peace? I refuse to become that kind of insect!”
Gu Qing paused slightly, voice growing deeper, as if seeing through the world itself: “Money can be a source of calamity, or a tool to control others.”
“If you wish to protect Qingyuan, you must give your enemies reason not to touch it.”
“Compromise is not weakness—it’s because you aren’t strong enough yet to cut through all obstacles with a single stroke.”
Ace’s breathing came in rapid bursts, knuckles still white. He didn’t want to accept it, yet found no words to argue.
For the first time, he realized just how distant this world was from the fairness and justice he had imagined.
Gu Qing stepped closer, voice gentle: “Choice isn’t always about winning or losing. Sometimes, it’s about gritting your teeth, surviving the present, and then reshaping the entire board.”
Ace listened, face paling, throat tight. Not a word could leave his lips. The next moment, he bolted from the room, fast as the wind—as if staying another second would drive him insane.
Milton started to follow instinctively but paused, catching Gu Qing standing unmoving, gaze fixed on the starry expanse.
The little Tian Dao peeked from Gu Qing’s shoulder, spinning once and whispering: 【Eh… you just let him go? Looks like the kid… really can’t accept it…】
Gu Qing said nothing, silently watching the stars. He didn’t pursue—because some paths, only Ace could walk and understand.
Back in his room, Ace slammed the door, diving onto the bed.
He clutched the blanket, burying his face in the soft pillow, yet his body couldn’t stop trembling—anger, frustration, and unwillingness coiled tightly into a suffocating pain.
He didn’t cry aloud, not even shedding tears, letting only the slight shivering hint at the edge of collapse.
He was furious—how could Gu Qing remain so calm, so merciless, and still demand part of Qingyuan’s earnings? How dare he! That was his creation, painstakingly built. He had barely kept the family’s forces at bay, and now… he was being asked to hand it over himself?
The thought choked him, filling his chest with unbearable weight, a pain with no outlet.
At that moment, the holoscreen lit up.
He paused, looking up—it was Loes calling.
Ace’s fingers froze, emotions stirring in a complicated swirl. He remembered the sub-females in Qingyuan—most introduced by Loes. He felt unworthy to face him—
He had silently promised to give them a place to live like “insects.”
But now, he couldn’t even guarantee their safety.
Hesitating, fingers hovering over the accept button for several seconds, he finally pressed it.
The screen flickered, revealing a familiar face.
Loes, as gentle as ever, brows soft, voice calm and courteous: “Thank you for the cookies last time… they were really good.”
Ace froze, a pang in his nose, nearly losing control.
He said nothing, just a hoarse “Mm,” voice rough.
Loes didn’t press, only said gently: “I know Qingyuan had troubles. I called… not to blame you.”
“I just wanted to tell you—they don’t regret trusting you.”
Ace’s fingers trembled lightly, vision blurring. Tears fell onto his hand.
He bit his lips, holding back sobs, whispering: “I… I’m not strong enough…”
Loes smiled faintly, tone serious yet firm: “Then become stronger, Ace. Because we’re still waiting for you.”
The next morning, Ace knocked on Gu Qing’s door again.
His gaze was still resolute, stubborn, but no longer restless.
This time, he came with decisions carefully considered, ready to have a true “discussion” with Gu Qing.
A few days later, the Mel family’s oppression of Qingyuan ceased, and the sub-females were released.
Outsiders only saw Qingyuan’s “partial contribution” as compromise, unaware of the quiet transformation of a certain youth, beginning to take shape.