Ch176 - But he didn’t look like a middle-aged uncle at all! (2/2)
In order to highlight the image of his perseverance, independence, and personal strength, Xue Ling chose a formal three-piece suit, but he left the jacket aside and simply wore a dress shirt with the waistcoat, outlining his consistently starved slender body. After getting changed, he looked at himself in the mirror and was very satisfied with his appearance.
Previously, in order to prevent his stepmother from paying too much attention to his rather excessively beautiful appearance and make a move against him, the original owner had always kept his bangs long and preferred to wear glasses to cover his face. After Xue Ling entered the hospital, he asked the nurses to give him a slight haircut so that his eyes were no longer hidden. Only, the nurses didn’t dare to mess around and the cut was very simple, but this actually made him appear very well behaved. Paired with his current outfit, he now had a slightly youthful, pure look.
The robotic servant knocked at the door and invited him to go downstairs for dinner. Xue Ling answered the call, adjusted his clothes, and then went downstairs.
Halfway down the stairs, he saw someone coming in from the main doors and stopping at the entrance.
The man also looked up at him as he took off his coat, his eyes sweeping over Xue Ling from top to bottom before turning his gaze away and gracefully handing his coat to Mu Xi who was standing beside him.
Mu Xi beckoned to Xue Ling, who was frozen on the stairs, and said, “Little Yun, quickly come over.”
Only then did Xue Ling suddenly regain his wits. His footsteps changed from their previous steadiness and became somewhat weak. For no other reason, but because Marshal Yin Jia’s gaze just now had been truly terrifying, as though he could see through him at a glance… What white lotus act, what firm and indomitable nurturer… He felt that he had been stripped bare under that gaze all at once… All camouflage was seen through, and it made his actions hesitant.
Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.
Yin Jia was an unusually tall man. Xue Ling stood on the stairs and looked at him, and was suddenly overwhelmed by his momentum and felt that he was shorter by him by a full head. Only after he approached did Xue Ling discover that he only reached up to his chest if he stood up on tiptoe.
Xue Ling: “…” For some reason, he felt so stifled!
Yin Jia’s military uniform looked basically the same as Mo Xi’s, but because he was the Marshal, there was more detailing and distinctive features in certain areas. His long silver hair was tied behind him, his face icy cold, none of his thoughts revealed on his face, making Xue Ling’s scalp inexplicably turn a little numb.
Mu Xi was not deterred by this at all. She caught Xue Ling’s hand and half pushed him along until he was standing in front of Yin Jia, saying, “This is the Marshal. Quickly say hello.”
Xue Ling had just been caught off guard and given a scare. He didn’t have a chance to recover before having to summon up the courage to give a smile that wasn’t quite a smile as he said, “Marshal.”
Yin Jia gave him a deep look, his gaze unfathomable. It made Xue Ling’s scalp turn even more numb, his smile freezing on his face.
After a while, he averted his gaze and said, “Call me father.”
Xue Ling was left in a daze.
The corner of Mu Xi’s mouth curved upwards slightly, and she urged Xue Ling, “That’s right. You’re family now. What are you calling him Marshal for? You should call him dad in the future!”
Xue Ling: “…” How come he felt a little embarrassed?!
Xue Ling stewed for a while, then, under the man’s gaze, finally choked out a mosquito-like word, ‘Father.’
Yin Jia did not push him further. He nodded and acknowledged him, then ordered Mu Xi to begin serving dinner.
Xue Ling followed behind Yin Jia as they made their way to the dining room. Yin Jia sat down at the head seat very naturally; Xue Ling thought about it, then headed for the seat two spots down. He pulled out the chair, and was just about sit down when Yin Jia spoke up, “Sit over here.” The seat he was referring to was the one right next to him. Xue Ling had decisively crossed out that option earlier, but now Yin Jia had forced him back.
Xue Ling: “…” He laughed a little reluctantly. “Okay…” His heart was dripping blood… dripping blood…
Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.
Mu Xi held back her laughter as she watched the two interact. Seeing that they were both seated, she ordered the dishes to be served.
Over the years, the Empire’s cuisine had not gone down the dissatisfying path of living on nutrients. There was nothing to nitpick about regarding the food at the Marshal’s Palace. Although most of the décor was done in a western style, the dishes that were served were mostly Chinese-style dishes that Xue Ling had eaten before.
Xue Ling found that many of the dishes were to his tastes, and after Yin Jia instructed him to start eating, he very naturally began to eat. Watching as he began to select food, it was obvious that these were all dishes he enjoyed.
It seemed that the Marshal honestly did not find it strange that he now had an extra family member. He did not act like the atmosphere between them was awkward at all. Xue Ling found it difficult to eat, and could only watch as he acted as though everything was normal. Therefore, he felt stifled as he ate, and because of an inexplicable sense of embarrassment, he didn’t manage to eat much and finally put down his chopsticks discreetly.
Yin Jia didn’t seem to pay him any attention, but when the mechanical servants came to tidy things up after he finished eating, he indifferently spoke a sentence, “Eat more, the Marshal’s Palace doesn’t lack for food.”
Xue Ling answered ‘okay’, and then watched as this Lord made his way upstairs.
After the Lord Marshal’s figure disappeared completely from Xue Ling’s sight, he finally moved over to Mu Xi’s side and asked curiously, “Sister Mu, is the Marshal always like this? …Why do I feel that he’s particularly scary…”
Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.
Mu Xi sighed helplessly, her face showing how much she hated that this piece of iron refused to turn into steel. “That’s right. It’s precisely this kind of attitude. He treats everyone like that, cold and icy like a block of ice. No matter how good looking he is, or how good his background is, what’s the point? What kind of nurturer would be able to put up with him!”
Xue Ling’s lips twitched as he made some sounds of agreement. Mu Xi reassured him several times, saying that the Marshal didn’t dislike him, only that damned face of his made it difficult to convince people otherwise.
Xue Ling nodded and went upstairs, preparing to rest…
It was said that the Marshal was at least twice his age, although he was a few years younger than Hao Yuanliang. He was indeed old enough to be his father, but he didn’t look like a middle-aged uncle at all!
That’s right… As long as beastmen were powerful enough, they could definitely maintain their youthful appearance. Yin Jia was the strongest person in the Empire, and his strength was enough to go against the heavens. How could that scum Hao Yuanliang be compared to him?
Although their meeting gave him a scare, Yin Jia did not seem to be a difficult person to get along with. Xue Ling thought about it, and felt that living this kind of life was very acceptable. At worst, he just needed to make sure that they did not run into each other too often and it would be fine…
Sometimes, Yin Jia’s gaze was really terrifying…