The Silly Prince Successfully Cancels the Engagement, But the Fiancée is His Childhood Sweetheart - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Owed a Favor

The organizer had indeed randomized the participants’ information thoroughly. For these eight consecutive days, the opponents Bai Qing encountered came from various different planets and had absolutely no connection to him, his friends, or his family.

Bai Qing won eight matches in a row without any pressure, successfully earning his entry ticket to the real Mecha Battle Competition.

Ye Sheng also earned an entry ticket.

Bai Qing raised an eyebrow: “I thought I wouldn’t see you here.”

The first eight days had screened out a large number of participants. Some lost normally, some dropped out halfway, and some were disqualified for cheating. In total, 139 people remained. The organizer had to re-register the identity information and access qualifications for these 139 individuals.

Ye Sheng had a look of numbness after eight days of competing: “Maybe you won’t see me tomorrow.”

Bai Qing returned a one-pixel-point smile: “I was hoping that the one who fights the final match with me would be you.”

Ye Sheng lazily lifted his eyelids and nudged Bai Qing’s constantly blinking communication terminal with his chin: “I wish, but I suggest you ask if Xiang Zhuo agrees.”

Bai Qing answered the communication. The other party’s warm and relaxed voice immediately reached Bai Qing’s ears: “How was the competition these eight days?”

Bai Qing replied faintly: “Not bad.”

The other party’s enthusiasm did not diminish: “‘Not bad’ means pretty good? Then you must have made it into tomorrow’s formal competition, right?”

Bai Qing: “Mhm.”

Xiang Zhuo was as warm and joyful as a large dog: “What a coincidence, I made it into tomorrow’s competition too! But I’m so nervous, afraid I won’t perform well tomorrow—oh right, have you had dinner yet?”

Bai Qing glanced at Ye Sheng: “Not yet.”

Xiang Zhuo became even more excited: “Oh dear, I’m so nervous, I haven’t slept well for two consecutive days, and I have no appetite for food. Can you accompany me for dinner and give me a few pointers?”

The last half-sentence was already careful, bordering on a plea.

Ye Sheng muttered softly on the side: “He doesn’t look nervous and unable to eat or sleep at all.”

Bai Qing glanced at the time and agreed conveniently: “Alright.”

After hanging up the communication, Ye Sheng widened his eyes: “Why did you agree? Do you really want to eat with that arrogant Prince?”

Bai Qing rubbed his wrist: “He’s delivering himself to my doorstep. It’s perfect. The training I scheduled for myself today is mecha combat.”

Ye Sheng: “…”

…

Bai Qing only let out a sigh of relief after confirming again that he had injected the suppressant and that it was effectively blocking pheromone release. He then got into a large hover vehicle and headed to the underground arena for the appointment.

Bai Qing always had a bad premonition.

Because according to the previous pattern, his heat period should have already arrived.

But perhaps because he had used suppressants too often, the heat was delayed. This meant that every time Bai Qing went out, he had to double-check his suppressant injection and always carry a spare one.

Ye Sheng looked at him with some worry: “Are you sure you don’t need me to accompany you?”

Bai Qing: “No need. Right now, you and I are competitors. The fewer people who see my moves, the better.”

Ye Sheng: “…Fine.” He worried for nothing.

Bai Qing put on his human-skin mask and waited at the entrance of the underground arena.

At the arena, he went by the alias Bai Yu.

Xiang Zhuo arrived very punctually. The moment he saw Bai Yu, he eagerly rushed over.

Bai Yu stood up straight and greeted Xiang Zhuo.

Xiang Zhuo ran the last few steps to Bai Yu: “Sorry, I’m late.”

Bai Yu gently shook his head: “It’s fine. I just arrived, and it’s not even our agreed time yet.”

Xiang Zhuo deliberately tried to get closer to Bai Yu while maintaining the lower limit of a safe distance: “What do you want to eat tonight? It’s on me, to celebrate both of us making it into the real Mecha Battle Competition.”

Bai Yu didn’t mind: “I’m easy.”

There wasn’t much variety in food near the underground arena. Xiang Zhuo was unsatisfied no matter what he picked. This was his and Bai Yu’s first real date, so it couldn’t be too hasty.

But precisely because he valued it so much, he couldn’t pick any restaurant.

In the end, Bai Yu pointed randomly at a noodle shop and made the decision. He really didn’t want to waste any more time; every second of pre-match training was precious.

Xiang Zhuo had no objections. He unconditionally agreed to all of Bai Yu’s decisions.

Xiang Zhuo buried his head in his noodles, secretly glancing up at Bai Yu.

His heart felt incredibly full and content.

Sensing Xiang Zhuo’s gaze, Bai Yu paused and said something that could barely be considered concern: “You haven’t slept well these two days?”

Xiang Zhuo looked earnest: “Yes, couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and my heart was racing.”

Bai Yu was silent for a moment: “Then your physical condition is quite good.”

Xiang Zhuo chuckled and said no more.

The two didn’t take long to eat. The time they spent alone was too short, and Xiang Zhuo felt a little regretful about this. But when Bai Yu’s eyes looked over, he smiled: “I didn’t expect there to be such a delicious noodle shop near the underground arena. We can come here more often in the future.”

Bai Yu turned his head and looked at him.

That bowl of noodles was not delicious.

Xiang Zhuo suddenly blushed.

He had indeed said that against his better judgment. He actually didn’t want to come to the underground arena with Bai Yu anymore.

He wanted a real date with Bai Yu, not every meeting to be at the underground arena.

Xiang Zhuo followed Bai Yu into the rented venue, feeling wronged all the way. Without time to think or say anything more, he directly activated his mecha, and the two immediately began to battle.

But only a few rounds into the engagement,

Xiang Zhuo felt Bai Yu’s immense improvement.

He remembered that when he last fought Bai Yu, Bai Yu’s main combat idea was one of suddenness, catching him completely off guard.

But this time, it was tricky.

Extremely tricky.

All his details were handled perfectly. Even if his opponent could anticipate his next move or his next landing point, and set up an ambush beforehand, even if they set up an ambush,

—it was useless.

They couldn’t gain any advantage whatsoever.

Coupled with Bai Yu’s moves and attacks that were like a sudden storm, his opponent had no time to think at all.

It was still the quick offense fighting style, but it was a quick offense after Bai Yu’s overall combat capability had comprehensively risen to the next level.

It was powerful to the point of being terrifying.

During the battle, Xiang Zhuo’s expression gradually became serious.

If he had held back some strength when fighting Bai Yu before,

Then today, he wasn’t hiding a single bit of his ability.

But his carelessness at the start of the battle had already created an irremediable gap in their advantages and disadvantages.

On the other end.

Bai Qing’s lips slowly curled into a smile.

He finally forced out Xiang Zhuo’s full power.

In the formal Mecha Battle Competition, aside from the three people he was wary of, the only opponent he truly acknowledged was Xiang Zhuo.

He must take this first place.

After forcing Xiang Zhuo to use his full power, Bai Qing gradually began to struggle.

Even though he had intensified his physical training, he was still far from an Alpha’s physique.

Moreover, this Alpha was experienced in actual combat, had sharp eyesight, and nearly blocked all of his move routes.

But even the most solid wall has weak points.

When Xiang Zhuo aimed at his power source, he noticed that Xiang Zhuo’s final shot trajectory would always hit one point to the left of his mecha’s power source.

Bai Qing understood perfectly.

This was a habit formed only after extremely rigorous dynamic shooting training and actual combat in the military.

A person, when avoiding danger, will always subconsciously move to the right to avoid the position of the heart.

And a true soldier, a warrior who has survived life-or-death struggles on the cruel battlefield, their shooting habits are dynamic. The battlefield changes in an instant, and the situation is far more complex than a match between two mechas.

And whenever Bai Qing was forced to be infinitely close to stillness, Xiang Zhuo would subconsciously incorporate his prediction.

This led to the bullet’s trajectory being offset by a tiny angle to the left.

Bai Qing softly curved his lips.

Losing today wasn’t unjustified. Xiang Zhuo was indeed very strong.

When Bai Yu walked down from the mecha, breathing heavily, his eyes met a pair of eyes filled with apology and heartache.

“I’m sorry, are you okay?”

Bai Yu was a little unsteady. He managed to lean back onto the bench, his eyes unusually bright: “I lost today.”

Xiang Zhuo didn’t know what to say for a moment. He was annoyed that he had used his full power in the match. He should have held back a little strength to humor Bai Yu.

Bai Yu: “I’m fine.”

Xiang Zhuo fussed over him, bringing him a towel and water. Only when Bai Yu’s complexion finally improved did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Bai Yu looked up, meeting Xiang Zhuo’s eyes directly: “I lost.”

Xiang Zhuo: “I’m sorry…”

“But, in the real Mecha Battle Competition, I won’t lose.”

Xiang Zhuo paused instantly.

That tone and manner of speaking…

But soon, Xiang Zhuo was pulled back to the present.

Bai Yu: “Also, Mecha combat isn’t a life-or-death struggle where one missed shot is irreparable. Let go of the obsession to win in one hit, and maybe you can shoot more accurately.”

Telling him this was Bai Qing’s way of paying him back for the pointers and the favor of sparring.

Xiang Zhuo was instantly frozen in place.

Bai Yu—what was he saying?

A flaw that he had never noticed had been seen through by Bai Yu at a glance!

His lips parted and closed slightly several times. The blood in his body began to surge rapidly, impacting his blood vessels and brain like a turbulent river crashing against its bed.

So that’s it, that’s it!

He endured for a long time, his forehead veins throbbing, before managing to squeeze out a sentence: “After the Mecha Battle Competition ends, can you promise me one thing?”

Bai Qing raised an eyebrow: “What is it?”

“Accompany… accompany me for a meal.”

A real date. Not the kind near the underground arena.

He had originally wanted Bai Yu to agree to date him, but he was afraid of rushing it.

And thinking that he hadn’t yet broken off his engagement with Bai Qing, he worried about treating Bai Yu unfairly.

So he made up his mind.

If he won first place, he would immediately wish for the cancellation of his engagement with Bai Qing publicly.

If Bai Yu won first place, he would go back and beg the old man to agree to cancel the engagement, and then pursue Bai Yu openly and honestly.

If the old man refused, he would beg constantly until the old man was annoyed enough to agree.

Even if it meant putting his Crown Prince status on the line, he didn’t care.

A person as good as Bai Yu deserved it.

…

Bai Qing returned to the hotel, continuously reviewing his match with Xiang Zhuo in his mind.

Xiang Zhuo’s strength when using his full power was terrifying. Bai Qing knew that he would inevitably have to fight Xiang Zhuo on his path to the championship.

Bai Qing was very aware that after seven continuous days of high-intensity actual combat, Xiang Zhuo’s strength would improve by one or several levels.

He wondered how much his chances of winning would decrease if they truly met in the final championship match on the eighth day.

Just before going to sleep, the Mecha Battle Competition Organizing Committee released the schedule for the first day of the actual combat matches.

Bai Qing quickly found his name.

He held his breath, then quietly let out a small sigh of relief.

One piece of bad news and one piece of good news.

The bad news was that his opponent was one of the three people he was wary of.

The good news was that it was the one he was least concerned about: He Jie.

Bai Qing momentarily looked for Ye Sheng’s name.

Ye Sheng’s opponent was a veteran participant who had competed for six consecutive years but had never achieved a good ranking. Either he was eliminated in the very first match, or he barely won one combat match and couldn’t sustain it in the second.

However, this person must have some ability, or else he wouldn’t be able to pass the preliminary rounds and enter the actual combat matches every year.

Ye Sheng’s name was next to Xiang Zhuo’s.

Bai Qing casually glanced at Xiang Zhuo’s opponent.

After reading it, Bai Qing closed the interface in a rather good mood, placed his Little Emperor Penguin back on the table, and settled down to sleep peacefully.

Xiang Zhuo’s opponent was Fu Cheng.

Regardless of who won between those two, he would be pleased with the outcome.