The Beautiful Top Being Pursued Relentlessly [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 59

Just a few minutes ago, Jiang Yi had steered his little in-game avatar toward the town’s central market.

It was a rare, beautiful day. On both sides of the cobblestone path, roofs of various shapes were painted in a riot of colours, and chimneys of different heights puffed out smoke like drifting white clouds.

“Jiang Cheng” (the avatar) trotted up the stone steps, intentionally splashing into every puddle he could find. Water sprayed up, soaking his trouser legs and leaving behind dark, damp patches.

“You ought to be more dignified,” Jiang Yi muttered to himself in front of his computer screen.

As he ventured further in, the market grew livelier. A bakery was open for business, its doors flung wide; a thick, rich aroma wafted through the air like tangible pale-yellow foam. At the entrance, an elf wearing a pointed hat was dancing.

Spinning on his tiptoes, the silver bell at the tip of the elf’s hat jingled softly in time with his song:

“Knead the moonlight into the dough at night, Stuff it with strawberries while it proves. Into the oven to bake into fluffy clouds.  Take a bite, and you’ll fly into the sky!”

The elf was lost in his own joy, hogging most of the narrow stone street. “Jiang Cheng” carefully edged to the side, hugging the wall as he moved forward.

“Oh, let me see, isn’t this the bravest knight in our town of Werner?”

Seeing “Jiang Cheng,” the elf hurried over. Being a “Whale” (a big spender) naturally came with exclusive perks; the Knight’s set increased his “Brave” attribute by 30%, attracting more NPCs for interactions and hidden rewards.

But the elf wasn’t Jiang Yi’s target today. He clicked off the chat box, refused the conversation, and led his character onward.

On the screen, the elf waved vigorously toward Jiang Cheng’s retreating back. “Brave knight, God bless you! May the wind and rain guide you to distant lands!”

“Jiang Cheng” marched ahead without looking back. “Thank you, kind elf.”

The scrolling comments in the livestream chat were rolling again:

Liu6Lu: 666 Amazing.

Red-Eyed Jealousy: “The things you beg for, others get with ease. What you can’t reach, others discard at will.”

Manor Tycoon: “What’s going on here?”

Supreme Manor Lord tipped 10 Gold Ingots and left a message: “Waiting once in a thousand years, I have no regrets”

Sweetie Pie: “Hello, I suggest those with ‘love brain’ avoid this game.”

Jiang “Love Brain” Yi habitually ignored the livestream chatter. Only when he saw the flashy tip effects did he casually refund the money and disable the donation feature.

“I don’t accept gifts,” Jiang Yi said earnestly. He only streamed to show off his affection.

Predictably, the top of the screen was flooded with “666” comments. Jiang Yi simply shut off the chat entirely.

His attention returned to the game. His keyboard-controlled character had finally found the pure white cathedral near the lake. There, Jiang Yi had spent a fortune bribing the Pope to successfully secure a hidden identity: the manor’s private tutor.

Half the battle was won. The other half required the approval of the manor’s master, Duke Felix Cheng.

****

The sunlight streaming into the study wasn’t harsh; it fell softly over Felix Cheng like a sacred, delicate veil, gently kissing his skin. The light meticulously traced the lines of his profile, softening his usually cold, sharp features. His long lashes cast small shadows in the halo of light, making him look exactly like the serene statue of a deity by the town’s fountain.

Jiang Yi suddenly felt out of his depth.

Before this, he had prepared countless compliments for the Duke some subtle, some bold, some even a bit scandalous. He had rehearsed them many times. Even though expressing these words in-game only required typing, he still felt nervous.

Outside the screen, Jiang Yi took a deep breath. His hand slipped; the mouse clicked something accidentally, and inside the game, “Jiang Cheng” doubled over, giving Felix Cheng a massive, theatrical bow.

Felix Cheng, who had been reciting his lines with zero emotion, felt his eyelid twitch. He continued mechanically:

“Gnas is a sensible and obedient child. I hope you two will get along well in the future.”

Having finished the script, Felix Cheng exhaled softly. Then, his lips moved uncontrollably again. “By the way, John, who introduced Master Jiang Cheng to the manor?”

At those words, a look of sheer terror appeared on John’s face for the first time. His upturned smile began to tremble.

Thump!

John dropped to both knees. “Your Grace, I beg for your forgiveness.” John pressed his right palm to his chest and lowered his head in self-reproach. His head was almost touching the floor, his splayed fingers turned white, and his exposed back shook.

Felix Cheng found it utterly baffling. What kind of guilty conscience makes someone this scared?

He stood up involuntarily and walked around the desk. As he looked down, his right hand pressed onto John’s shoulder. What is the ‘Bad Felix Cheng’ inside me going to do now?

Felix Cheng kept a cold face, his lips parting and closing: “What exactly do you want me to forgive?”

John’s voice shook. “My eyes were blinded by gold. I accepted the Pope’s request and brought this imposter into the manor. Your Grace, please forgive me.”

“An imposter?” Felix Cheng repeated with an ambiguous tone, lifting his eyes to look at the “Jiang Cheng” standing dumbly by the door.

This imposter looked like an idiot. Even after hearing John admit he was a fraud, he still wore a foolish smile, as if his mouth were coated in syrup that had hardened into place. Furthermore, Felix Cheng noticed his exaggerated attire. While a well-tailored Knight’s suit was indeed handsome.  that was the uniform of the Royal Knight Corps.

Someone from the Royal Family? Felix Cheng hadn’t expected to be dragged into a terrifying royal power struggle. He found this man annoying in every possible way. The next logical step should be to throw him out.

“Bloody hell!” 

A crude exclamation burst from “Jiang Cheng’s” mouth. Felix Cheng’s eyes widened slightly.

A moment later, “Jiang Cheng” realized what he had done. His smile vanished, and he frantically covered his mouth with both hands.

Outside the screen, Jiang Yi was annoyed at accidentally hitting the keyboard, but he didn’t stop swearing. “Crap, crap, crap! What the hell? This unreliable NPC!”

He had spent so much money bribing the Pope to get this connection, and John just sold him out like that? No, no, no! I haven’t even talked to the Duke yet. I can’t be kicked out of the manor in disgrace!

Jiang Yi took a deep breath and began typing furiously. There were preset lines in the game, but Jiang Yi ignored them.

Preset Line: “Dear Duke Felix Cheng, I am sorry for causing such a misunderstanding. I am not a fraud, but a scholar from a distant land.”

Jiang Cheng’s Actual Text: “Duke! Duke! I’m really not a fraud, I don’t mean any harm at all!”

Preset Line: “If Your Grace does not believe me, you may test me as you wish. I have full confidence in my own erudition.”

Jiang Cheng’s Actual Text: “Waaaah! Duke, you have to believe me! If you don’t, you can just.  Just test me however you want!”

Felix Cheng, having heard the whole thing: 

Felix Cheng looked down slightly at “Jiang Cheng’s” rapidly moving lips. His eyes widened even more. This. Has a Dark Wizard taken control of him?

Felix Cheng looked left and right. John was still kneeling on the floor reciting words of repentance, and the servants outside the door showed no reaction, standing in silence. Can they not hear him? How? How is that possible?

Whether it was panic or a strange delight, Felix Cheng placed his hand over his heart. Through his formal attire, he could feel it thumping wildly. He felt a bit breathless.

Then, one thought became exceptionally clear.

He wanted to lock this person up.

Felix Cheng had suspected that a Dark Wizard was behind all of this, and he wasn’t about to let any potential lead slip away. His body began to move uncontrollably again, but this time, Felix Cheng was very compliant.

His speech was a bit faster than before. “Master Jiang Cheng, I shall evaluate you personally. If you truly are a learned scholar, I shall forgive all your concealment and deception.”

Preset Line: “Many thanks, noble Duke.”

Jiang Cheng’s Actual Text: “Phew, thank god. It’s just an exam.”

“Jiang Cheng” patted his chest and exhaled, the corners of his eyes drooping. He looked a bit like a dejected puppy.

For the first time, Felix Cheng felt like laughing. In fact, he did exactly that. A muffled chuckle escaped him; he didn’t care if anyone could hear it as he laughed a few more times. He didn’t even raise his hand to hide it, letting the curve of his lips bloom. He could feel his stiff face slowly softening, so he held the expression a little longer.

Jiang Yi suspected the game was bugging out.

His entire focus was on Duke Felix Cheng, so he naturally noticed the unprovoked smile. But the thought appeared and vanished just as quickly. As the Duke’s number one “Dream Stan,” Jiang Yi quickly decided that the Duke had developed his own soul he was coming to life!

This was truly something to be happy about.

Jiang Yi rested his chin on his hand, his fingertips tapping his slightly flushed cheek. He unconsciously bit his lower lip, unable to hide the grin stealing across his face. He smiled along with his Duke.

When the livestream chat started floating with words like “Boss” and “Whale,” it was blocking his view, so Jiang Yi just shut the stream off entirely. He continued to stare infatuatedly at his Duke.

However, John soon led his character away to a bedroom prepared for him. From this camera angle, he could no longer see the Duke. Jiang Yi switched to “God View” without hesitation.

The screen showed Duke Felix Cheng taking an afternoon nap. The bedroom curtains were drawn tight; in the dim light, the Duke’s sleeping face was peaceful. He was lying on his side, one hand clutching the corner of the duvet.

The Duke must be tired, Jiang Yi thought. He reached out and touched the screen as if stroking Felix Cheng’s forehead.

“Good afternoon, Duke,” Jiang Yi whispered.

Dear Manor Owner, the daisies in Duke Felix Cheng’s flower room are ripe and need your help harvesting.

A system notification popped up. “The Duke’s favourite daisies are in bloom.”

Jiang Yi quickly slid the mouse to the flower room. His Duke loved spending time there, tending to the lovely plants. However, the seeds had been cursed and couldn’t bloom on their own, so every time Jiang Yi visited the flower room, he would spend money to buy special seeds to plant in the soil.

“I’ve planted daisies so many times. Let’s buy some Chinese Roses; the Duke will surely like them,” Jiang Yi talked to himself.

He skillfully planted the seeds, watered and fertilized them. Just as he was about to head back to the Duke’s bedroom, a replay automatically popped up.

In the replay, the Duke was pursing his lips, looking as if he were angry. So angry his face had turned red.

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