Above the Galaxy
Chapter 418 - 268: Weak Water 3000, I Only Scoop a Ladleful to Drink!

Chapter 418: Chapter 268: Weak Water 3000, I Only Scoop a Ladleful to Drink!

Standing before her was a man in a gray casual suit, with deep-set features and sharp angles. When he smiled, his eyes curved, appearing exceptionally gentle.

His gaze was focused and passionate as he looked towards Phoenix, as if the enticing Sheng Xinhua didn’t exist, and he said, "Southern Dynasty’s Xie Lingyun stated that good times, beautiful sceneries, delightful experiences, and joyful events are rarely found together."

"Now that we have the good times and beautiful scenery, if I could have the pleasure of drinking and chatting with the two misses, then all four joys would be complete, a rarity in this world."

To turn an invitation for a meal and drinks into fulfilling Xie Lingyun’s four joys of humanity, such a man was both appropriate and elegant, as well as knowledgeable.

If he also possessed a good family background and handsome appearance, then his allure would be simply irresistible.

This was a lucky fellow, indeed possessing all these traits.

Phoenix stood up and looked at the man standing before her, asking, "Mr. Gong Shu, what brings you here?"

Gongshu Wuyu, one of the Seven Stars of the Imperial Three-Month Seven Stars.

He was from the eminent Gongshu Family, one of the nine great families. Being listed among the Seven Stars proved his profound cultivation and extraordinary realm.

He also managed the commercial affairs of the Gongshu Family, overseeing the development and layout of several major industries.

A descendant of the Mechanical Ancestor Lu Ban, the Gongshu Family has been known for their superb mechanical skills for a millennium, and they have made a fortune from this craft.

Star Disc battleships, military weapons, mechanical beasts, defense armor, long voyage gear, flying shoes, and various artificial intelligence products...

Including the Gravity Chamber and various training rooms bought by Tang Fei, they were all developed by the Gongshu Family and then sold through their agents.

Every sale of a Star Disc, a flying car, a light saber, a pair of flying shoes, an intelligent wristband, or even various electronic toys, would result in a commission for the Gongshu Family.

Richer than Shen, wealthier than Gongshu.

The Shen Family produces generals, and they, along with their direct descendants, control many key positions within the upper echelons of the military forces.

Thus, there is another saying that circulates privately within the Empire: One empress every three generations, a hundred generals from one family.

The Yu Family has produced an empress every three generations, but the Shen Family has a hundred generals.

Upon hearing this, Shen Wuxiang was genuinely alarmed and immediately asked Zhong Daolong to relieve him of his position as Military Minister, fearing he couldn’t handle the job.

Zhong Daolong consoled him in every way possible and finally managed to retain him.

Then Chen Fenglei was ordered to investigate the origin of these words, resulting in several beheadings.

During that period, Phoenix City was filled with dread.

When it came to wealth, the Gongshu Family had the upper hand.

After all, there has never been a business more profitable than the arms trade in any era.

It was said that the Gongshu Family’s elders valued Gongshu Wuyu greatly, intending to groom him as one of the future successors to preside over the vast business empire of the Gongshu Family.

When that time came, Gongshu Wuyu would become one of the most influential people in the entire Empire.

With such a young talent, how many women within the Empire could resist him?

"I was discussing some matters with friends at Guanlan Restaurant, and after finishing, I saw the great beauty of Luoxia Lake and wanted to stroll around... Surprisingly, by chance, I encountered Princess and Miss Sheng here."

Sheng Xinhua pouted, not getting up and still lying down leisurely, sipping on red wine, saying, "I thought Mr. Gong Shu hadn’t noticed me."

The Princess needs to maintain the dignity of the Royal Family and the majesty that comes with her title.

She didn’t uphold anything, nor could she...

After all, her reputation was already ruined, she had "slept" with countless men, and she let others think whatever they wanted.

"How could I not notice? I am not blind; how could I ignore such a stunning beauty as Miss Sheng? Just in the blink of an eye while I stood here, I saw several young men sneak glances over this way..." Gongshu Wuyu had a knack for flattery, and his unashamed approach when complimenting women made it easy to gain their favor.

Sheng Xinhua waved her hand generously, saying, "Let them look, you get used to it."

"Miss Sheng is magnanimous," Gongshu Wuyu agreed aloud.

"Magnanimous my ass, just looking isn’t a crime, I can’t just gouge their eyes out."

"..."

Gongshu Wuyu knew Sheng Xinhua was not to be trifled with, his main target was still Phoenix, so he looked at Phoenix and said, "May I propose we not call each other ’Mister’ when we meet in the future? I am not worthy of that title. I am only a few years older than you; you should just call me Gongshu or Wuyu."

"How could you be unworthy?" Phoenix replied neutrally, "Able to devise strategies in an office and dominate in the business world, as well as identifying artifacts and breaking through levels with a sword that soars through the clouds, such dual proficiency in literature and martial arts is rare indeed."

Gongshu Wuyu’s smile broadened as he asked, "May I take that as a compliment from Princess?"

"Of course," Phoenix nodded.

"This is the world’s first-class delightful event..." Gongshu Wuyu looked at Phoenix, extending his invitation once more, "Dinner time is approaching, and I know a restaurant that serves incredibly delicious Silver Spear Snowfish. The taste of each spoonful of fish soup makes one feel indescribably blissful, as if lost in time. I wonder if Princess would honor me with her company?"

Phoenix shook her head and declined, "Sorry, I already have plans for this evening."

"Ah? Is it a meeting with friends? It’s no problem, we can all get together; I believe there will be plenty of common ground."

"It’s not very convenient," Phoenix replied.

Gongshu Wuyu knew that now was the best time to give up.

Unfortunately, such opportunities were too hard to come by.

"I just want to be friends with Your Highness, why must you reject me outright?"

"Indeed it’s inconvenient," Phoenix rejected again, her voice soft but without any room for discussion, "I believe there will be an opportunity to make friends in the future."

"Your Highness... then I shall look forward to our next opportunity," Gongshu Wuyu sighed helplessly.

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Your Highness," Gongshu Wuyu bowed gracefully, then turned to Sheng Xinhua and said, "Goodbye, Miss Sheng."

Sheng Xinhua raised her glass to him but did not engage in conversation.

After Gongshu Wuyu had walked away, Sheng Xinhua asked teasingly, "Another suitor... and you just rejected him so coldly?"

"What? You want him?"

"He likes Her Royal Highness, what does that have to do with me?" Sheng Xinhua shrugged and spoke out.

"I don’t like him either, so it’s none of my business," Phoenix said with a resolute expression.

"I’ve heard the Gongshu Family values Gongshu Wuyu highly, he’s meant to take over the Gongshu family’s business empire... You’re not interested in that position, wouldn’t doing business with Gongshu Wuyu be a good thing?"

"I treat people with courtesy because that’s my nature. Even if it were an acquaintance who’s just a commoner, I would still stand up and talk to them."

"Moreover, he’s Gong Shu’s son, a pillar of the country... we’ll inevitably have to interact in the future, and the country needs them to carry out many tasks..."

"But that doesn’t mean I want to be with him. In this world, there are countless excellent people, like carps crossing the river..."

"As the ancients say, ’For three thousand weak waters, one only takes a single ladle to drink.’"

Right then, a familiar voice sounded beside their ears, "I wonder, am I that single ladle of weak water?"

Phoenix turned around with surprise, locking eyes with the beaming Tang Fei.

"Ah?" The surprise in Phoenix’s heart was greater than her shyness; she quickly ran over and took his hand, asking, "You’ve returned?"

"Mhm," Tang Fei tightened his grip on her small hand and looked into her sparkling eyes as he replied.

A year in Ghost Prison, every day, every minute, every second was worse than death.

Between life and death lay great terror but also great enlightenment.

Yet, what sustained him was not only the Great Grandmaster’s sword guidance but also those tender feelings deep within his heart.

For Little Fatty, for the old man, for the Tang Family...

And for that girl whose eyes and heart were filled with him alone.

"When did you get back?"

"Just now," Tang Fei said, "I haven’t seen Little Fatty yet..."

He had returned home once, but Little Fatty was not there.

So, he rushed over to this place immediately.

Of course, talking was a technical skill.

He naturally wouldn’t tell Phoenix that he came looking for her because he didn’t see Little Fatty when he got back...

After all, upon his return, Phoenix was the first person he saw.

Seeing Sheng Xinhua’s nonchalant, unperturbed demeanor, Phoenix exclaimed, "You knew already, didn’t you?"

"Of course." Sheng Xinhua did not deny it and smiled, "If I didn’t give him the address, how could he have come to surprise you?"

"..."

Phoenix looked up at Tang Fei with a radiantly smiling face and affection-filled eyes, softly saying, "The Southern Dynasty’s Xie Lingyun said that it’s difficult for good times, beautiful scenes, delightful hearts, and joyful events to coincide."

"But now that you’ve returned... all of these are satisfied. There’s nothing happier than this."

Sheng Xinhua, listening, got goosebumps all over his body and said discontentedly, "Hey, you two mind the presence of others, there’s still a live person here..."

Then he said to Phoenix, "And consider Gongshu Wuyu’s feelings. You’re using the pick-up line that others used to hit on you to confess to another man... how’s he supposed to live with that?"

Tang Fei and Phoenix looked at each other and smiled, not caring about others’ thoughts.

On the lakeside highway, Gongshu Wuyu sat in the passenger seat of a black luxury car, his eyes deep and his face as dark as water as he watched the scene.

The young gentleman driving asked, "That’s Tang Fei, isn’t it?"

"Yes," Gongshu Wuyu responded in a muffled voice.

"I heard that kid is a refugee from the Old Land, who got the chance to move to New Star because he saved Phoenix and rode on the princess’s coattails..."

His gaze also rested on the smiling pair holding hands on the lawn as he spoke, "Didn’t Xuanyuan Mingjing take him out for training? How did he suddenly come back?"

"Who knows?" Gongshu Wuyu was full of thoughts and had no mind to gossip with his friend.

"Still, you should keep an eye on it. He’s closely related to your Gongshu Family. The mecha he used in the last mechanical competition was the latest research from your Gongshu Family, something even the Royal Family didn’t have, and it caused quite an uproar from above..."

"The offspring of a mayfly dares to seek a perch at the hall of elegance?"