The Beautiful Top Being Pursued Relentlessly [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 58

The plotline of Manor Town was widely regarded as warm and healing, following the story of a brave youth named Auden on his grand adventure.

Born in a remote village in the Kingdom of Norsem, Auden would shoulder his pack every time the morning light pierced the mist, setting off to explore a world filled with wonders. Once a player completed the initial encounter with Auden, they would unlock a mysterious identity and join the protagonist on his journey.

Jiang Yi, however, hadn’t done that. His eyes were fixed solely on his beautiful and powerful Duke, Felixcheng.

Consequently, on the computer screen, the golden-haired Auden remained shut out.

In the game interface, the blond youth stood on his tiptoes outside a dilapidated wooden hut, fruitlessly pounding on a door that stayed firmly closed. His curls were windswept and messy, and the hem of his clothes was still damp with dew from his morning trek through the forest.

Is anyone home?

Every time the character Jiang Yi controlled walked past, Auden would let out that clear, bright call.

Player Jiang Cheng has refused to speak with Auden.

Y: Give it up, everyone. The streamer is hard-stuck here. He can’t move the plot forward.

Crazy Potato: Bro, maybe just talk to Auden? Low-bitter-smile.jpg

Manor King: Are you going to do something or what? Is there really no other way?

Jiang Yi ignored the rapidly scrolling comments and paid no mind to Auden, who was glitching out as he hammered on the door. He moved his character into the room, stopping before a wardrobe and a full-length mirror.

The character’s appearance was a 1:1 replica of himself, though the game had sharpened his features slightly. With short black hair and bright, rounded eyes, he possessed a distinct boyish charm. Complemented by his crisp, clean jawline, he looked exceptionally handsome.

Jiang Yi nodded to himself in the mirror and pulled out a set of premium clothes he’d paid for. It was a silver-and-white knight’s uniform. The tailored cut perfectly accentuated his tall, sturdy frame. On his lapel, he pinned a golden brooch, one that bore a striking resemblance to the one on Duke Felixcheng’s crimson formal wear.

Matching outfits, Jiang Yi thought gleefully.

The cynical comments weren’t entirely wrong; without obtaining another identity, he couldn’t even get past the manor’s front gates, let alone anything else. But he had a plan now. First, he had to make himself look sharp and presentable so that his Duke would notice him at a single glance.

After finishing breakfast, Felixcheng headed to the conservatory.

The period following breakfast was his rare hour of freedom. During this time, he could move as he pleased without worrying about suddenly appearing in a random location or being forced to say strange things. He visited the conservatory often; it was the first place he had witnessed miracles and hope. He was always waiting for something.

The morning conservatory was filled with a warm, gentle atmosphere. Shimmering dewdrops clung to the edges of flower petals, trembling as if ready to fall. Felixcheng wandered alone through the vast glass structure, his gaze carefully sweeping over every corner.

He kept his footsteps light, fearing he might disturb the silence. A lingering mist flowed slowly through the plants, making his long, silver hair seem to melt into the hazy glow, looking exceptionally soft.

“Duke, oh Duke, who is the clearest mirror in the world?” a strange voice suddenly chirped.

Felixcheng paused. 

He looked down to find the source. The voice sounded exactly like a duck on a pond, “Quack, quack, quack.”

“Duke, oh Duke, who is the most beautiful mirror in the world?” The duck-like voice grew more enthusiastic.

Unable to bear the noise, Felixcheng covered his ears and walked forward, pushing through thick green leaves to find the speaker. He didn’t expect to step on something hard and smooth; he nearly lost his footing.

Looking down, he met the gaze of a square, golden mirror emitting a rainbow-colored glow. It was crafted from pure gold and encrusted with countless gemstones.

Almost immediately, he lost control of his own speech. “My dear Magic Mirror, the clearest and most beautiful mirror in the world is in a distant cavern, guarded by a giant python.”

“What”

The Magic Mirror’s face twisted. A dark, smoking skull appeared on the surface, bearing two rows of teeth.

Felixcheng had a bad feeling; he didn’t want his conservatory to be damaged. “Don’t move.”

As the Magic Mirror began to swell like rising bread, lurching toward the glass walls, Felixcheng stepped forward. He grabbed the gemstones embedded in its frame and used his strength to slam the mirror onto the ground.

A few corners of the brilliant gems shattered upon impact.

“Oh, my dear Duke, what are you doing?” The Magic Mirror cried out, mourning its beautiful stones.

Felixcheng blinked, his heart skipping a beat. He quickly asked, “Can you hear me speaking?”

“Duke, have you forgotten? I am a relic left behind by your first wife, Mary. I am incredibly precious.”

The Magic Mirror began playing the emotional card.

Again.

The urgency in Felixcheng’s heart died down. He rubbed his palm, which had been chafed by the gems, his expression turning cold as he sat down on a rattan chair.

The mirror continued its incessant chattering. The name “Mary” a name completely foreign to him, was mentioned over and over. This reaction suggested that the “Duke Felixcheng” of the game was often violent and would frequently damage the mirror; the mirror was clearly used to this treatment.

But. “Duke Felixcheng” wasn’t him.

Felixcheng closed his eyes and let out a breath. Soon, something cold pressed against his hand. It was the mirror again, now much larger, propping itself up against his palm and swaying.

“Lord Duke, are you unhappy today as well?” the mirror asked, tilting its surface upward.

Felixcheng turned away wearily. Fortunately, he wasn’t forced to respond this time.

“Perhaps I should tell you a joke,” the mirror talked to itself before asking, “Duke, do you know why Mr. Woodpecker on the west side of the forest is always so gloomy?”

Felixcheng remained silent.

“Because” The mirror burst into laughter. “Because its best friend, the Oak Tree, said it’s incredibly rude to go around pecking and tapping on everyone all day!”

Felixcheng: 

The mirror laughed uncontrollably for a while before asking, “Duke, aren’t you going to laugh?”

Felixcheng turned his head back, his lips twitching into a stiff, forced smile. But his eyes remained flat, showing neither joy nor sorrow.

The mirror began jumping around frantically, shouting, “The clearest and most beautiful mirror in the world has successfully cheered up the Duke once again!”

Click.

The glass door opened and shut. Felixcheng had driven the Magic Mirror out of the conservatory. From this moment on, he didn’t want anything that could talk around him, especially mirrors.

Returning to the rattan chair, he found he could no longer rest. Instead, he picked up a watering can and walked over to the flower rack, aiming the spout at the soil.

Around this time yesterday, he had buried some seeds in a pot—white daisies. He had once read in a book that it took about two hundred days for a daisy to go from seed to flower. If everything went well.

There was a rustling sound.

The moment Felixcheng looked down, the soil in the pot began to quiver. A new sprout broke through, and in the blink of an eye, a bud swelled on the stem.

Pop.

A faint sound reached his ears. The flower bloomed right before him, its bright yellow petals unfurling layer by layer. The whole process took only a few seconds.

Felixcheng stared intensely at the blooming flower. He didn’t have amnesia, nor was he ill; he was certain the seeds he planted yesterday were white daisies.

Which annoying person had swapped his seeds?

Rude, shameless, and utterly lacking in basic etiquette. Shouldn’t one ask before touching someone else’s things?

Nuisance. Total nuisance.

After cursing the person in his head for a few minutes, Felixcheng calmed down, though he felt a heavy weight in his chest. It was a dull sense of sadness.

He actually wanted to meet this person.

Felixcheng pursed his lips, still looking displeased. He reached out, intending to pluck the daisy and see if it had a fresh scent. However, the moment his fingertips brushed it, the flower vanished.

Just like before. Exactly. Like. Before.

This time was even worse; not only did the person take the flower, root and stem, but even the pot was gone.

This was too much.

Duke Felixcheng quickly decided this person was taunting him, hiding in some dark corner without a shred of shame. He even felt a voyeuristic gaze lingering on him, greasy and unsettling, like a rat in a sewer.

The Duke was incensed by his own thoughts. His brows knitted together and his lips thinned, yet a trace of anticipation mingled with his faint anger. His breathing grew heavy, and a light flush crept onto his cheeks.

“Just who are you?”

He suddenly covered half his face with his hand, though the tips of his ears remained visible, tinged with red.

His breathing wouldn’t steady. Felixcheng felt he might need a cane like those hypocritical nobles who used them to flaunt their status. He didn’t need to flaunt anything, but he needed something to lean on right now.

“Lord Duke, the tutor we found for Master Gnas has arrived. Would you like to see him?”

John’s voice echoed from outside the conservatory.

Felixcheng took a long, shaky breath, pressing his palm against the rattan chair for support. “What tutor?”

In reality, he was once again forced to say something else: “Bring him to the study. I’ll be there shortly.”

Outside, John wore a perfect smile, his hands folded in front of him as he bowed slightly toward Felixcheng. “Very well, My Lord. I shall see to our guest.”

Felixcheng said nothing.

In the blink of an eye, he was in the study. It wasn’t even lunchtime yet, and he had already lost his fleeting moment of freedom. He hated this sudden tutor.

John introduced the man at the desk with a smile. “Lord Duke, the new tutor’s name is Jiang Cheng. He is a learned and exceptionally gifted scholar, capable of interpreting the stars and studying the natural world. Even the professors at the Royal Academy pale in comparison.”

Felixcheng looked up impatiently.

Through the half-open wooden door, he met a pair of round, bright eyes as clear as a lake in the heart of the forest.

The young teacher stood there, the tips of his ears flushed a deep red.

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