TMWTGD CH81

Having shown off his cool side, the Lord Marshal was utterly satisfied.

Sweeping up a mountain of carnival prizes and actually transporting them back would require a dedicated hovercraft.

Ordinarily, these were trivial novelties; casually distributing them among the bystanders would have sufficed, especially since the finest pendant was already safely clasped in Xie Jianwei’s palm.

Yet the usually generous Military Advisor Xie opted directly for express delivery. Delivery robots huffed and puffed as they hauled away the small mountain of gifts, eliciting gasps from the onlookers:

“It’s National Air Express! What lavish spending!”

“The shipping fee probably costs more than the gifts themselves…”

“If so, why bother taking them home?”

“The world of the rich is truly beyond us.”

Lu Li teased him, “What do you want all these for?” Although the Marshal’s Manor was vast enough to accommodate them in any random spare room, countless treasures filled their halls; why would Xie Jianwei care about such trinkets?

Xie Jianwei smiled softly. “Every single one of these was a gift from you.”

That casual remark made Lu Li’s heart tighten.

They had known each other for over a decade. From the barren planet to the battlefield, and then to the Marshal’s Manor, they had never quarreled, never raised their voices. Their interactions were harmonious before marriage, and seamless after.

Yet thinking back carefully, Lu Li seemed to have rarely given Xie Jianwei gifts.

What could he give him?

Was there anything Xie Jianwei desired that he could not obtain?

Lu Li genuinely had no idea.

A person who lacked nothing and desired nothing was the most difficult to buy presents for.

Because even if given something, he wouldn’t necessarily feel pleased.

Yet in truth, he had been wrong. If Xie Jianwei did not love him, then anything he gave would indeed be futile. But Xie Jianwei loved him. Because he loved him, anything Lu Li offered—regardless of value, or even whether it matched his personal taste—would bring him joy, prompting him to cherish it simply because of the giver.

Remembering that he was the one cherished in return, the corners of Lu Li’s mouth instantly curved skyward.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Xie Jianwei asked, “What are you smiling at?”

Lu Li said, “You can be loved.”

Xie Jianwei’s eyes widened slightly in unmistakable surprise.

Lu Li elaborated, “Turns out I truly can love you.”

“Lovable” (ke’ai) did not just mean adorable; it meant that he was permitted to love him.

Xie Jianwei’s heart leaped. Averting his gaze, he muttered, “When was it ever not permitted?”

“It was always allowed,” Lu Li said, taking his hand. “It’s just that I used to be an utter fool and failed to realize it.”

Lowering his gaze to their clasped hands, Xie Jianwei smiled faintly. “It just feels a little strange.”

Lu Li looked at him. “Hm?”

The words hovered at the tip of Xie Jianwei’s tongue, but he swallowed them back down.

—He felt that everything seemed surreal, like a dream that would vanish into thin air before the millet had even finished cooking.

At noon, they visited a trendy couples’ restaurant beloved by the younger generation.

Taking in the dazzling, kaleidoscopic ambiance inside, Lu Li couldn’t help sighing, “We really should have come to places like this earlier.”

Xie Jianwei shot him a sideways glance. “At our age, you still want to copy the young folks?”

“Just a taste,” Lu Li led him inside. “I didn’t get to take you on dates when I was eighteen, so I’m making up for it now.”

Remembering the eighteen-year-old Lu Li, the corners of Xie Jianwei’s lips lifted.

Lu Li leaned close and whispered, “Was I better at eighteen, or now?”

Just as Xie Jianwei opened his mouth, Lu Li added on his own, “Must be now, right? Back then, the moment I pushed inside, I already felt like finishing.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

Having successfully flustered his spouse into blushing crimson, the Lord Marshal felt utterly refreshed.

Right after that, however, he remembered someone was still lodging inside his head…

Yan Ke: “…” Time to pretend I lost connection!

The lunch couldn’t be called exceptionally exquisite, but the atmosphere was charming. Xie Jianwei chose a private dining room named “Recollection.” Once they stepped inside, the authorized holographic simulation began displaying their first meeting, their shared understanding, and their years of mutual devotion.

Seeing all those memories converge across the years, Xie Jianwei watched in a daze.

Embracing him, Lu Li murmured, “It feels like we missed out on so much over these past few years.”

Their sweetest period had surprisingly been back on that barren planet.

There, a young Lu Li had treasured Xie Jianwei like a jewel, while Xie Jianwei had regarded Lu Li as his salvation.

Viewing it from another angle made them realize how profoundly essential they were to one another.

Tragically, for a very long time, both had only kept their eyes locked on the other while losing sight of their own worth.

Xie Jianwei remained silent, while Lu Li looked on with deep remorse.

In recent years, especially after Xie Jianwei retreated to the Marshal’s Manor, Lu Li had grown increasingly convinced that Xie Jianwei did not love him. He lived in constant dread of him leaving, terrified that returning home would find the manor empty.

Incapable of caging him, Lu Li had resorted to self-imposed exile.

It seemed that as long as he didn’t return, Xie Jianwei would remain anchored there; by minimizing their encounters, Xie Jianwei wouldn’t tire of him, wouldn’t find him suffocating, and wouldn’t seek to leave.

So-called profound love could sometimes wound the deepest.

Drifting apart had not been due to a lack of love, but because they no longer knew how to love each other.

Fortunately… it was not too late.

Right before they departed, Xie Jianwei remarked softly, “Coming out for fun once in a while is quite nice.”

Heart aching for him, Lu Li kissed his forehead: “I’m sorry.”

Raising an eyebrow, Xie Jianwei’s dark eyes fixed upon him. “What are you apologizing for?”

Lu Li said, “All these years…”

Knitting his brows slightly, Xie Jianwei murmured, “Don’t apologize.”

Lu Li paused.

Xie Jianwei said, “It wasn’t your fault.”

Unable to read his thoughts, Lu Li cautiously held his tongue.

Xie Jianwei soon smoothed his expression, spending the entire afternoon enjoying themselves.

As dusk fell, they returned to the Marshal’s Manor.

That night, Lu Li was overwhelmed by favor; Xie Jianwei was rarely this proactive, taking the initiative in a way that left Lu Li both ecstatic and uneasy.

Excessive abnormalities signaled hidden depths; he felt Xie Jianwei had something weighing on his mind.

In the later hours of the night, once Xie Jianwei fell asleep, Lu Li began scheming for the next day.

Today had been delightful, and for the following three days, he had no intention of letting those fake clones touch his A-Wei.

He still had to deploy puppet substitutes. As for how to pull off the deception without raising suspicion, that presented a bit of a challenge.

After pondering for a bit, Lu Li slipped out of bed to find Clone #4, who was squatting and waiting for dawn.

Seeing #3 approach, #4 was quite surprised: “Aren’t there still two hours left?”

Lu Li said, “Do you want to give A-Wei a surprise?”

Deeply suspicious, #4 asked, “Would you really be so kind-hearted?”

Lu Li said, “I thought a lot today. Over these past few years, we haven’t done nearly enough. Always out and rarely home, A-Wei has been very lonely.”

Those words struck the soft underbelly of every Lu Li. His voice wavered: “How would you know?”

Lu Li replied, “I took him out on a date today. He was very happy.”

Sour with jealousy, #4 asked, “Where did you go?”

Lu Li hid nothing, recounting the details honestly, making it sound incomparably sweet.

Clone #4 had been relatively composed, but hearing this, unease immediately gripped him.

In truth, Lu Li knew his own fears all too well.

He feared not being able to have him, and feared him being stolen away by someone else.

After the full split, the sole reason he had been hell-bent on killing his other selves was the dread that another version would steal Xie Jianwei away completely.

If one day Xie Jianwei stood beside another man and said, “This is the one I love,” Lu Li would perish from sheer terror.

Even if that “other man” was merely another self, it remained entirely unacceptable.

Yet the probability of such an outcome was terrifyingly high.

Turned into independent entities without shared memories, even originating from the same person, they would gradually diverge.

Xie Jianwei could currently tolerate being with all four because he couldn’t distinguish between them, assuming they were all Lu Li and instinctively believing everything would return to normal.

Yet as time wore on… like four branches sprouting from a single trunk, each growing along a vastly different trajectory, would Xie Jianwei still view them as the same person?

Once they were no longer one, a choice was inevitable.

Whom to love? Whom to discard?

Evidently, none wished to receive a death sentence.

That was why the rivals had to be eliminated in advance.

He feared that another self would win Xie Jianwei’s heart more. This wasn’t simple jealousy; it was genuine terror. On a racetrack where only one survivor could cross the finish line, their only recourse was relentless pursuit.

Lu Li had grasped #4’s mindset thoroughly, so he deliberately provoked him.

He had spent an entire day witnessing a side of Xie Jianwei that #4 didn’t even dare dream of; how could #4 not feel insecure?

Once unease took hold, things became simple.

Lu Li sighed softly, “I didn’t want to tell you this, but A-Wei seems to really want to visit Angel Star.”

Clone #4’s eyes lit up.

Lu Li continued, “I don’t have time to take him, so I can only leave it to you.”

#4 said, “That’s easy. A round trip to Angel Star takes barely three hours.”

Lu Li calibrated his expression flawlessly, presenting a masterclass in suppressed frustration, helplessness, and bitter sulking.

Clone #4 fell for it hook, line, and sinker: “Don’t be like that. We’re all doing this for A-Wei.”

Glancing at him, Lu Li muttered chillingly, “Of course it’s for him. Otherwise, why would I come see you?”

#4 chuckled, “Likewise.”

Lu Li pondered briefly, then snapped impatiently, “If you’re leaving, leave quickly. Once daylight breaks, it’ll draw too much attention.”

Surprised, #4 said, “Don’t you still have nearly two hours left…”

Lu Li said, “In the next cycle, I’ll leave at nine o’clock.”

#4 weighed the offer and found it favorable. What happened next time was a matter for later; seeing A-Wei early right now was better than anything.

And so, Marshal Lu, moonlighting as a master con artist, thoroughly duped his other self.

Returning to the manor, Lu Li feigned reluctance as he escorted the puppet Xie Jianwei out, lingering with every step as he saw #4 and “Xie Jianwei” off.

Basking in triumph, #4 had eyes only for his A-Wei, paying zero heed to the supposedly pitiful #3.

#3 shouted after him, “You owe me one hour, forty-five minutes, and fifty-six seconds!”

Refusing to entertain that wet blanket, #4 piloted the hovercraft away at blistering speed, breaching the atmosphere in the blink of an eye.

The “disconnected” Yan Ke was awestruck: You can even pull this off? Truly formidable, our Lord Marshal!

As the Chief Executive of Drama… pah, as the Lord Marshal, putting on this little performance was child’s play, especially with his “precognition” cheat activated.

He knew far more than the other three phantom Lu Lis, and understood the psyche of the Lu Lis intimately. Inside this rock-solid dream world Xie Jianwei had constructed, the maneuvers available to him were endless.

From here on out, he was Clone #4. Changing his attire, Lu Li dressed identically to #4.

Because Xie Jianwei couldn’t tell them apart, yet each secretly yearned for Xie Jianwei to distinguish him from the others, they had agreed to wear distinct clothing styles so Xie Jianwei could tell which number was which.

Timing it precisely, Lu Li entered the bedroom at exactly seven o’clock, kissing Xie Jianwei awake without a word.

Still drowsy, Xie Jianwei’s voice was alluringly husky: “A… A-Li… don’t… stop teasing…”

Currently playing the impatient #4, it would be a miracle if Lu Li didn’t tease him.

Opening his eyes, Xie Jianwei smiled upon seeing him: “First thing in the morning, can’t you rest a bit?”

Saying nothing, Lu Li put on a show of intense jealousy, kissing over every hickey mark on his skin one by one.

Xie Jianwei was utterly helpless. What could he say? Being jealous of oneself had been the standard ever since Lu Li’s personality split, and now it had only intensified.

After a round of half-yielding, half-protesting friction, Xie Jianwei panted, “N-No more, I can’t.”

Pulling him into his arms, Lu Li massaged him while murmuring, “Let’s not go anywhere today, alright?”

Xie Jianwei looked up at him. “Stay in the Marshal’s Manor?”

Lu Li said, “Stay inside this room.”

Xie Jianwei quickly protested, “That won’t do, I can’t take it!” This room was the bedroom; what else could they do here? Make love. Thinking of Lu Li’s stamina, Xie Jianwei felt he would literally die in bed.

Lu Li pressed a bit firmer. “What are you thinking about?”

Xie Jianwei groaned softly and glared at him. “Gentler.”

Lu Li remarked, “I wonder who was begging me to go harder just now…”

“Hey…” Being shameless was Xie Jianwei’s weakest skill, so he quickly cut in, “Those are completely different things.”

Lu Li asked again, “Is staying here so bad?”

Military Advisor Xie showed a rare lack of nerve, lacking any conviction: “We really, truly can’t do it for an entire day.”

Seeing him like this made Lu Li’s heart itch with desire, yet he maintained a solemn facade: “A-Wei is so lecherous. Who said staying in the room meant we had to make love?”

Xie Jianwei: “…” Never had he imagined the word “lecherous” would one day be attached to his name.

He would believe Lu Li in anything, except for this single point.

A single Lu Li was already a wild beast; switching to another was like feeding one beast only for a starving one to take its place.

Although Lu Li loved seeing him flustered, he couldn’t bear to genuinely frighten him. Smiling, he said, “Alright, I promise: if you don’t want to, I will never force you.”

Xie Jianwei said, “Then you’re not allowed to tease me.”

Holding back laughter, Lu Li said, “If you don’t permit it, I won’t touch you.”

Military Advisor Xie added shrewdly, “No kissing either.”

Lu Li adopted an innocent expression: “Then how miserable would I be?”

Military Advisor Xie immediately tensed.

Lu Li’s gaze brimmed with indulgence: “You’re allowed to kiss me, but I’m not allowed to kiss you? A-Wei is truly unreasonable.”

Xie Jianwei: “…”

Teasing him no further, Lu Li softened his tone: “Don’t worry, I just want you to keep me company.”

Xie Jianwei remained skeptical, yet warmth spread through his chest nonetheless.

—Spending an entire day in the room with Lu Li sounded wonderful.

Lu Li stood up and said, “I’ll go make breakfast.” The master suite was equipped with a compact kitchenette, folded away when not in use and deployable on demand.

Xie Jianwei said, “Together…” As he moved to rise, his legs gave out, and he shrank right back into bed.

Lu Li said, “Wait here.”

And so Xie Jianwei waited obediently.

Listening to the clatter of the spatula from the kitchenette, the joyful warmth in Xie Jianwei’s eyes gradually settled into cool stillness.

Something felt off.

Xie Jianwei tapped a spot on his right wrist.

A synthesized mechanical voice sounded in his ear, accurately relaying the coordinates and itineraries of the Lu Lis:

Clone #1 was at the State Council; Clone #2 was aboard the Marshal Flagship; Clone #3… had departed for Angel Star?

Who was accompanying #3?

Narrowing his eyes, Xie Jianwei silently issued a reconnaissance command.

The feedback returned with extreme speed. Video feeds streamed directly into Xie Jianwei’s consciousness, showing two figures locked in an embrace. Lu Li and a strange man…

A sharp sting pierced his heart, nearly compelling him to sever the connection.

Yet he forced himself to watch. Soon, he caught the anomaly, commanding, “Enable anti-camouflage filter.”

The transmitted visuals shifted; the strange man revealed Xie Jianwei’s exact likeness.

Xie Jianwei paused, quickly realizing this was not a living human, but merely a puppet encoded with a subset of his memories and behavioral habits.

Who created this construct?

And why would Clone #3 travel to Angel Star with a puppet?

No… Xie Jianwei’s keen intuition flared again. Was that truly Clone #3?

They had been together yesterday. The #3 of today would know full well that Xie Jianwei was supposed to be with #4; why would he travel to Angel Star with a counterfeit “Xie Jianwei”?

If #3 knew it wasn’t the real Xie Jianwei, he would be even less likely to accompany it.

Which meant…

Xie Jianwei understood the puzzle.

The one bound for Angel Star was #4; the one who remained was #3.

Clone #3 had the highest probability and the best opportunity to orchestrate this deception.

His motive was straightforward, but how had he pulled it off?

That puppet… how had it been manufactured?

A classified research project? It certainly possessed immense strategic value, but… were the other Lu Lis oblivious to it?

Did only #3 know?

Even Xie Jianwei hadn’t known; how could #3 possibly have discovered it?

Xie Jianwei considered countless possibilities, yet his thoughts remained fragmented, a crucial nexus severed so that nothing fully linked together.

Severing his link to the terminal, Xie Jianwei sank back onto the bed.

Holographic morning light hung on the ceiling, completely synchronized with the weather outside; the simulated projection was so vivid that reality and illusion blurred seamlessly.

Pressing between his brows, there was one question he could never reconcile. No matter how he reasoned, it made no sense.

How could he have ever allowed Lu Li to split into four?

How could he have failed to notice in the slightest, letting Lu Li carry out such an act?

It was far too dangerous. Yet regarding something so catastrophic, he had failed to intervene beforehand, allowing it to transpire.

Xie Jianwei couldn’t fathom it. He couldn’t imagine what he had been doing back then…

Currently, he monitored Lu Li with relentless vigilance, hesitating not to deploy all his authority to “surveil” his lover, all for one solitary purpose:

No matter what, Lu Li must never be endangered. Having absurdly missed the signs once, he could never allow another disaster to strike.

It all felt so strange… Raising his hand, Xie Jianwei gazed at his fingers silhouetted against the gentle morning light.

Why did it feel so unreal?

Like a sweet, preposterous dream.

The kitchen noise subsided. Retracting his hand, Xie Jianwei rolled over onto his stomach to look toward the door.

Emerging from the kitchen, Lu Li’s eyes met his, and he smiled. “Hungry?”

Xie Jianwei’s eyes curved. “Not too bad.”

Lu Li asked, “Do you need me to carry you out of bed?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Why make such an exaggeration?”

He climbed out of bed, his legs still trembling faintly, prompting him to cast an involuntary glare at Lu Li.

That glare left Lu Li parched with heat.

Walking to the dining table, Xie Jianwei admired the exquisite breakfast and gasped, “Your talents are truly wasted.”

Lu Li asked, “Wasted on what?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Such culinary mastery, yet nobody knows about it.”

Lu Li smiled softly. “I only cook for you.”

Caught off guard by the sweetness, Xie Jianwei’s heart bloomed with warmth: “I never monopolized you.”

Lu Li whispered, “I only wish you would monopolize me—forbidding me from looking at anyone, seeing anyone, keeping watch over you alone.”

Amused, Xie Jianwei said, “A dignified Marshal actually longs to be a kept captive?”

“To be your captive, I could ask for nothing better.”

Knowing it was spoken in jest, Xie Jianwei was nonetheless coaxed into radiant spirits, leaning forward to brush his lips against Lu Li’s.

Lu Li offered no rebuttal, intending to deepen the kiss, but Xie Jianwei stepped back: “I need to wash up first.”

Lu Li responded, “Mm.”

That day, Lu Li truly devoted himself entirely to keeping him company. After breakfast, Lu Li followed Xie Jianwei’s routine, browsing current political news.

As they read, they chatted casually.

Lu Li remarked, “Hipor’s talent for feigning compliance while covertly defying orders is growing sharper by the day.”

Xie Jianwei said, “He has always loved flattery; he probably assumes you enjoy it.”

Hipor oversaw the Ministry of Propaganda, holding the throat of the media with an iron grip and steering public opinion with precision.

Representing the rising new faction, unlike seasoned foxes such as Eisenk, he had only a superficial understanding of Xie Jianwei. Promoted to prominence by Lu Li following the Empire’s establishment, he was fiercely loyal to Lu Li, while harboring immense disdain for Xie Jianwei.

He refused to believe Xie Jianwei possessed genuine capability, viewing him merely as the “Marshal’s spouse”—a spouse who was exceedingly idle and never engaged in soft diplomacy, which deepened his contempt.

When whispers circulated privately alleging that Xie Jianwei was a kept paramour clinging to Lu Li’s coattails, Hipor was among the foremost purveyors.

In public broadcasts, however, he dared not act carelessly, scrupulously crafting a pristine image of Lu Li and Xie Jianwei as a model couple.

Yet the bias was undeniable; invisible to the masses, it was glaringly obvious to Lu Li and Xie Jianwei.

Article after article lavishly praised Lu Li’s monumental achievements while subtly underscoring Xie Jianwei’s utter dependence on him. To starry-eyed youths, it read like fairy-tale romance; to discerning eyes, it was venomous satire.

Satirizing Xie Jianwei as a dodder flower: gorgeous, yet doomed to wither without a host.

Lu Li had subtly cautioned Hipor several times regarding this, yet Hipor played dumb, continuing to publish hymns to the Marshal couple’s “glorious romance.”

Lu Li couldn’t bring it up too bluntly, feeling quite wronged back then as well.

The most effective way to dispel the rumors was for Xie Jianwei to take an official post; the moment he took action, all gossip would evaporate into thin air. Lu Li had always dreamed of Xie Jianwei standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

Yet Xie Jianwei refused. He remained entirely detached, refraining from public governance and rarely even discussing state affairs in private.

Lu Li refused to force him, and dared not press him.

What if the answer he received was something he couldn’t bear?

Once this meticulously preserved peace shattered, Lu Li had no idea what monstrous actions he might take.

Xie Jianwei seemed in fine spirits, chatting with him at length.

Hipor was undeniably capable; though conceited and prone to flattery, his flaws were fundamentally harmless. Xie Jianwei even spoke up on his behalf, with simple intent: Hipor was fiercely loyal to Lu Li, and Lu Li had no reason to alienate such devotion.

Trading casual remarks with him, Lu Li’s heart felt exceptionally anchored.

This kind of communication was far better than mere intimacy. Physical fusion was pleasurable, yet often left the heart feeling distant. Simply leaning together and talking brought them impossibly close, as though their hearts were braided together by words, inseparable.

After a thoroughly tranquil day, as night fell, Lu Li suggested, “Let’s go out tonight.”

Knowing he had ulterior motives, Xie Jianwei played along: “Where to?”

Lu Li said, “How about Ailan Star?”

Xie Jianwei asked, “Will there be enough time…?”

Lu Li said, “We’ll go ahead first, and tomorrow morning he… um, he’ll head over.” Tomorrow was supposed to be #1’s turn.

Xie Jianwei asked, “What are we going to Ailan Star for?”

Lu Li smiled with infinite tenderness: “To sleep.”

His smile set Xie Jianwei’s heart fluttering: “…Alright.”

Ailan Star, nicknamed the “Sleeper Planet,” was a therapeutic sanctuary where people literally traveled solely to sleep.

Nearly eighty percent of the planet was covered in a soft liquid substance. Remarkable in nature, it appeared azure and gorgeous like an ocean from afar, yet walking upon it, humans did not sink; one could interact with “them” at will. They were an affectionate, spirited species, a rare race across the Milky Way that possessed zero ambition or greed, living with pure, carefree serenity.

Lying atop the blue sea, one could drift, bounce, or playfully direct them into various shapes.

Naturally, all in harmless recreation.

Yan Ke’s younger brother loved lounging on that planet most of all.

As an adolescent drama king, Yan Duan’s favorite stunt was raising his left hand and shouting “Rise!”, prompting them to surge into towering waves; then pressing his right palm down with a roar of “Part!”, causing the entire “sea” to cleave in two, an awe-inspiring spectacle.

Feats worthy of deities could be enacted at whim upon this world, an incomparable thrill.

Naturally, ordinary visitors traveled to Ailan Star primarily to rest and sleep. They were the premier massage therapists of the galaxy, and their tranquil nature exerted a natural calming aura, unconsciously uplifting anyone’s mood.

They loved humans, and humans loved them.

Even hardened villains would find their hearts melted by such creatures.

Of course, the Empire maintained strict protective measures over Ailan Star, ensuring this paradise remained forever undisturbed.

Having spirited Xie Jianwei away from the capital star overnight, subsequent matters became far simpler.

When #4 returned with the puppet Xie Jianwei, #1 naturally contested him for it, while the genuine Xie Jianwei remained at Lu Li’s side, lounging peacefully on Ailan Star.

Lu Li’s scheming clicked into place like clockwork, but while he could fool everyone else, he could never fool Xie Jianwei.

Xie Jianwei knew the truth, yet chose not to expose it.

First, he feared triggering a volatile backlash; Clone #3 operated on a vastly higher level, and provoking him might invite endless catastrophe. With this Lu Li’s current prowess, he was genuinely capable of quietly eliminating the other three.

Xie Jianwei could never allow that, fearing that if one perished, all would die.

Second, he was intensely curious about Clone #3.

He felt something was amiss, yet this dissonance felt strangely right. An inexplicable intuition urged him to investigate further.

What on earth had happened? It felt as though the Lu Li before him had experienced something profound.

To avoid trouble, Xie Jianwei even smoothed out potential plot holes for him, making everything flow naturally.

After enjoying a day on Ailan Star, the next day they unexpectedly ran into Yan Ke and his brother.

The real Yan Ke: “…” I have a bad feeling my brother is going to be slandered horribly, given those melodramatic webnovels…

Yet evidently, the Military Advisor lacked the Marshal’s capricious flair. His read on people was so precise that the figures within the dream were recreated with meticulous fidelity, none breaking character.

Dream Yan Ke maintained an aloof, aristocratic composure throughout, while Yan Duan sat docile as a quail. The four shared a meal in surprising harmony.

Xie Jianwei introduced him to Lu Li: “You remember him, right? This is Yan Ke.”

Lu Li responded, “Long time no see, Doctor Yan.”

Yan Ke’s cool facade instantly crumbled as he offered a jittery salute.

Lu Li smirked with sudden mischief: “A friend of mine admires Doctor Yan greatly.”

Dream Yan Ke and the real Yan Ke synchronized in panic: What on earth?! A friend of the Lord Marshal? Does the Lord Marshal even have female friends?

Curious, Xie Jianwei asked, “Who? Solina?”

Solina was the Empire’s Chief Justice: gorgeous and curvaceous, but a renowned lifelong bachelorette with a dominating, formidable presence. Yan Ke would probably be terrified into crying for his father in her presence.

Lu Li said, “Solina already has a partner.”

Xie Jianwei pondered, “Which other female friends do you have?”

Glancing at Yan Ke, Lu Li remarked airily, “Who said it had to be a woman?”

Both Yan Kes synchronized again, nearly dropping to their knees, stammering in unison: “M-My Lord, I… I like women.”

One had to admit, Xie Jianwei’s understanding of Yan Ke was spot-on; the dream version matched reality completely.

Lu Li said, “Liking women is your affair; him liking you is his. Rest assured, he won’t disturb you.”

Be that as it may, panic reigned supreme! Yan Ke’s head throbbed with fright; none of the Lord Marshal’s friends were pushovers!

Especially the men—every single one was a battlefield monster capable of cleaving through a hundred foes without flinching… Yan Ke didn’t associate it with Loren in the slightest, considering that on the spectrum of straightness, the Admiral appeared even straighter than himself.

Lu Li didn’t intend to expose the truth, merely prodding Yan Ke for fun. Seeing that he hadn’t thought of Loren at all, he let it drop, mentally offering his brother a quiet prayer: Best of luck to you.

Reflecting on the pitiful, cowardly Loren, and comparing it to himself having finally attained his desires, Lu Li felt his bliss redoubled, looking at Xie Jianwei with surging delight.

His own approach was superior after all. Make his feelings known regardless, and perhaps the harvest would arrive one day.

Three days passed, bringing the four-day cycle to a close. Lu Li retrieved the puppet in time, returning legitimately to the capital star under the mantle of Clone #3 to parade their affection.

With Xie Jianwei kindly helping him smooth over discrepancies, the other three clones remained utterly oblivious to this day.

Following that, Lu Li continued his repertoire of schemes and swindles, his deception growing so proficient that over a month slipped by in a flash.

Xie Jianwei felt he was being somewhat biased. They were all Lu Li, yet he had spent an entire month clinging exclusively to #3.

Yet he couldn’t bring himself to leave. For some reason, an illusion had even taken root in his mind… that the one before him was the genuine Lu Li, and the others were all illusions.

Why would he think that? Xie Jianwei reminded himself that he had witnessed their split with his own eyes.

At that thought, he froze. Witnessed it with his own eyes?

Had he truly seen it himself?

That bizarre sense of dissonance surged forth once more…

Lu Li asked him, “What are you thinking about?”

Coming to his senses, Xie Jianwei said, “Nothing.”

Lu Li noticed, but refrained from probing, murmuring impassively, “I truly wish I could keep you company like this every single day.”

Xie Jianwei found it rather amusing: You’ve neglected official duties for an entire month, and you still want to slack off!

Naturally, he didn’t point it out; he loved having his company just as much.

Lu Li said, “A-Wei, can you adapt?”

Xie Jianwei asked, “Hm?”

Lu Li ventured tentatively, “Can you adapt to a life with four of me?”

Xie Jianwei thought inwardly: There’s clearly only one of you here, yet you’re asking if I can adapt.

Yet answering was tricky. Saying he could adapt might crush Lu Li’s heart; saying he couldn’t would likely crush it anyway.

Just as Xie Jianwei was weighing how to reply without bruising his feelings, an unforeseen incident shattered the moment.

Someone kicked the door open.

Xie Jianwei wasn’t alarmed; it couldn’t be anyone else, only another Lu Li.

Arching an eyebrow, Lu Li said coldly, “Today is mine. What are you doing here?”

The newcomer was Clone #2.

With a face dark as stagnant water, #2 strode straight over, murmuring in a low voice only once he drew close, “I’ve had enough.”

Xie Jianwei’s heart leaped, nearly prompting him to stand. Lu Li looked at him with icy eyes: “What do you want?”

Ignoring Lu Li, #2 turned his gaze to Xie Jianwei, pronouncing word by word, “I cannot endure this life any longer.”

Xie Jianwei’s voice wavered faintly: “A-Li…”

“Let’s get divorced.” Clone #2 threw out those words with chilling detachment.

A loud buzz rang through Xie Jianwei’s head, while Lu Li nearly slapped this troublemaking #2 to death on the spot.

Having dropped that bombshell, #2 turned and walked away without looking back.

Xie Jianwei’s face turned deathly pale. Lu Li’s heart ached fiercely, yet before the first wave settled, another struck. Clone #1 arrived.

True to being the same person, #1 delivered the exact same speech word for word.

Xie Jianwei parted his lips, unable to utter a single sound.

And then, Clone #4 arrived as well.

Only now did Lu Li identify the true crux of the situation.

In reality, #2 was not #2, but #1 disguised as #2; #1 was not #1, but #4 disguised as #1; and #4 was not #4, but #2 disguised as #4.

Every single one of them had disguised himself as another self to demand a divorce from Xie Jianwei!