Chapter 23: A One-of-a-Kind Sentiment

Missing out on the giveaway was bad enough, but things somehow managed to get even worse!

If only he had been caught by any other superior, why did it have to be the Marshal...

Everyone froze like a rubber chicken suddenly throttled by the neck; their hushed whispers vanished instantly. They didn't dare meet Feli’s eyes, stumbling over their apologies for slacking off on the job and watching a little female’s livestream in such a solemn place as the Military Department.

Unexpectedly, Feli didn't seem angry. He simply said, "Let this be the last time," effectively brushing the matter aside with a light touch.

Only after that imposing back had completely disappeared from view did everyone finally exhale. Shoulders slumped, they exchanged incredulous glances, unable to believe they had escaped unscathed.

"We don't even have to write a report? Is that for real? Was that actually the Marshal? Could it have been someone impersonating him?"

Back in his office, Feli stared down at the words displayed on his optical computer: [We are sorry, you did not win.]

In the quiet office, a long time passed before a faint sigh escaped him.

He thought he must have lost his mind.

Not only was he acting like those undisciplined, immature youngsters—watching Nian Tu’s livestream while working—but he was also feeling... disappointed because he hadn't won the giveaway?

Feli rarely experienced such clear-cut emotions. As he savored the feeling, he found it increasingly absurd. Why would such a trivial matter trigger such an emotional fluctuation in him?

Feli shook his head and picked up the documents at hand.

That was the end of it. He would not pay any more attention to that little female named Nian Tu.

He had barely read two lines when his optical computer suddenly chimed with a system notification: [Nian Tu has requested to add you as a friend]. Feli reflexively sat up straight.

A second later, the request was accepted.

Feli stared at the chat interface. After a long while with no message coming from the other side, he decided to send one first: [Good morning, Lord Nian Tu.]

It was a matter of etiquette, he told himself. Males should always initiate greetings toward females.

On her end, Nian Tu was still agonizing over how to message an elder, editing her draft several times. When she saw the message Feli had sent first, she was startled.

Nian Tu: [You can just call me by my name, or Niannian is fine.]

Calling her "Lord" was too terrifying. She didn't deserve that.

Feli replied quickly: [Very well, Niannian.]

Although he felt that since they were barely acquainted, using a nickname for a little female might be a bit impolite, since Nian Tu had offered it, he decided to go along with it.

Nian Tu: [I hope I’m not intruding, but I’d like to send you some breakfast we made. Are you at home?]

In the interstellar era, one didn't need an address to send items; as long as the recipient was confirmed, the logistics system would automatically locate them and deliver the package directly.

Feli: [I am currently working at the Military Department building. You can send it here. Thank you, Niannian.]

Nian Tu: "..."

Send steamed buns to the Military Department building? Was that really okay? Back when she was a student, she wasn't even allowed to bring breakfast into the classroom.

Perhaps people in the interstellar era were more unconventional and didn't have such restrictions, she thought, and replied: [Okay! The buns were made by Xion and me. I hope you like them.], followed by a GIF of a little rabbit bowing.

At nine o'clock, the atmosphere in the Military Department building was strict, with everyone settling into their work.

Just after the morning meeting, someone who had rushed in too early and hadn't managed to eat breakfast pulled out a nutrient paste and downed it, grumbling, "This brand of nutrient paste is getting worse and worse."

"Why not order some takeout?" a colleague at the next desk suggested in a low voice.

Working at the Imperial Military Department didn't actually have many rules; there wasn't even an explicit ban on eating while working.

"Forget it. It wouldn't be great if the Marshal saw us."

Although the department didn't forbid it, the Marshal, their highest superior, never ate during working hours, so they, as subordinates, certainly had to exercise some restraint. Besides, there wasn't really any good takeout to be had. "I really want a steamed bun, but unfortunately, I didn't win the giveaway."

"You watch Nian Tu’s livestreams too?"

"Of course. I’ve been following her since her time at the Emerald Pavilion. I like her so much."

Their conversation about Nian Tu immediately drew the attention of others.

"Don't even mention it. We were caught watching the stream this morning by the Marshal! Thank goodness he didn't pursue it."

Just as they were about to vent their frustrations, a colleague’s warning cough made them all fall silent instantly.

The Marshal’s figure suddenly appeared, passing by them toward the main entrance of the building.

Everyone stood as quiet as quail, stealing glances at the Marshal. They noticed that someone seemed to have sent him something; after signing for it, the Marshal held the item in his arms and returned to his office with it.

Curiosity emboldened them.

Someone actually managed to catch a glimpse of what the Marshal had received—

"Buns?!"

Everyone present was a viewer of Nian Tu’s livestream, and there was no way they could mistake it.

What was held in that transparent thermal container was the very same plump, white steamed bun that Nian Tu had given away that morning! A quick glance suggested there were about ten of them!

A brief silence followed as everyone looked on, stunned and disbelieving.

"The Marshal watches the stream too??"

"And the Marshal actually won the prize?"

Carrying the thermal container all the way back to his office, Feli meticulously washed his hands, picked up a bun, and studied it for a long moment before taking a bite.

He intentionally slowed his chewing, eating with intense focus and concentration.

If Nian Tu were to see this, she would surely be at a loss for whether to laugh or cry.

Such an ordinary, homemade bun, one day finding its way onto the Marshal’s table and being eaten as if it were a rare delicacy.

As Feli was picking up his second bun, there was a soft knock at his office door.

The visitor was one of the subordinates he had caught watching the livestream earlier.

The young male set down the documents he was delivering, but before leaving, he couldn't help but ask, "Is that a bun you won in Nian Tu’s giveaway?"

The aroma in the air was familiar and intoxicating; he fought hard to hold back his saliva, feeling like he was about to cry.

Why wasn't he the one who won?

Even if it had been one of his colleagues, he could have at least begged for a bite, but who would dare snatch food from the Marshal’s mouth?!

Feli remained calm, correcting him: "It wasn't a giveaway. She sent it to me personally."

There was no need to compete with billions of people for one of a hundred spots; this was a gesture meant for him alone.

The subordinate: "..."

The subordinate politely excused himself, but once he returned to his desk, he couldn't hold it in anymore and complained to his colleagues: "The Marshal is playing favorites!"

"He said the buns were sent to him personally by Nian Tu."

The others were speechless.

"It must be because the Marshal is Major General Xion’s uncle."

"I suspect as much."

It couldn't possibly be that there was some private relationship between the Marshal and Nian Tu... The Marshal was famously uninterested in females.

Imperial Marshal Feli Lane was known throughout the Empire for his cold, detached nature; everyone believed he would never spark anything with any female.

Xion thought so too.

Yet, even though he believed Feli had no interest in females, and had even heard Feli say personally that he would not share a mate with him, a faint sense of crisis still lingered in his heart.

When Nian Tu proposed sending buns to Feli, Xion immediately became alert, his sense of crisis intensifying.

This feeling made him unable to resist sending a message to Feli to assert his territory.

Xion: [Did you receive the buns? Niannian only sent them because you are my uncle. Don't read too much into it.]

He waited a long time before receiving Feli’s reply.