353 Ninety nine roses

“What do you mean? Is it really that easy?” asked Yi Chen as the mission completion announcement echoed in the background.

He breathed deeply as he deactivated his mech. The simulation ended and Yi Chen sat down in the break room. He pulled out his towel and wiped the sweat on his forehead while Li Ran yammered on about some distant cousin of his running off with his pregnant girlfriend and getting married.

It was only when Li Ran mentioned the small chapel somewhere on a small rural planet called Star Dust did Yi Chen begin to pay attention.

In the federation, marriage between partners under the age of twenty five required parents’ or guardians’ consent.

That’s because family property was involved and certain legal contracts had to be signed first hence parents needed to give the couple the green light.

Over the age of twenty five one was considered mature enough not to get conned into marriage and lose half their property when things went south. But despite this rule, there were a few places where one could go and elope without a problem.

Yi Chen was never interested in these things before but Li Ran had his fingers everywhere. He knew about this and decided to share the information with his good brother as it involved his future happiness.

“... you know big weddings are for the family, not the couple. Most couples are fine with just buying a cheap wedding cake, an affordable ring, and renting outfits before taking that step forward and committing to each other. You and Han Han love each other so why not seal the deal? Screw the Marshal and anyone else who thinks you shouldn’t be together,” said Li Ran before a female voice interrupted him in the background.

“Screw who? You disrespectful little brat. How can you say that about your superior? Come here,” yelled Li Ran’s mum before kicking her slipper off her foot and almost whacking him with it.

historical

.....

“Chen-ge, I have to go. Think about what I said,” said Li Ran before cutting the call.

Yi Chen leaned his head back and suddenly showed a slight smile. After the conversation they had yesterday he was sure he could convince Zi Han. He could already see them standing in that run down chapel both of them dressed to kill with his mother and siblings witnessing them make their vows via StarNet.

He wasn’t certain if Zi Xingxi and Zi Feiji would participate. They could also have caramel swirl gateau as a small wedding cake and a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

After that, they would have their first night in a hotel and he would officially make love to his lover as husbands for the first time. The smile on his face grew wider as this beautiful scenario played out in his head.

When he opened his eyes a touch of determination flashed in his pupils. He got up and began the next round. He was very exhausted but he had to push himself to finish early so he can go see his lover.

After literally working himself to death Yi Chen took a shower before leaving the training room. When he left the military headquarters, Yi Chen thought that security personnel assigned to him by his father would follow him. But who would have thought they would ignore him today and let him leave by himself?

It was puzzling but he didn’t think much. That’s because when he last spoke to his mother she said she would talk some sense into her husband. He honestly thought that their talk had been successful and that his father had let this go.

So he passed by the dessert shop and bought Zi Han some tiramisu. Usually, Zi Han had no preference when it came to cakes as long as they were sweet and delicious, he would eat them.

Yi Chen bought ninety nine roses and as he sat on the hover bus he wrote on the card;

I will love you till I die....

After he finished writing this, he raised his head and noticed that a few people were looking at him. Because he had a disguise on people didn’t necessarily look at him as if they had recognized him but because he was holding a bunch of roses which was a very luxurious thing to buy in the federation.

The number of roses he was holding were enough to feed a family in the slums for five years back to back.

Yet he used that money to buy something that will last for two weeks even with the federation’s advanced technology. An older lady who couldn’t mind her own business said, “Young man why waste so much money on something that won’t last?”

Yi Chen who hadn’t expected anyone to speak to him remained indifferent and in a distant but polite way he said, “The person I bought them for is worth it.”

She wanted to say something else but Yi Chen’s stop was announced and he had to take another hover bus to reach his place. Everyone who was listening in on their conversation watched him walk out with a straight back and couldn’t help but feel envious while others felt pity.

As soon as the doors shut a girl in a college uniform said, “Aww... that was so beautiful.”

“Hmph! Beautiful... he is probably getting scammed out of all his money. Nowadays you can’t trust anyone pretty. One glance and they will rob you of everything.”

A few people agreed as they watched the young man standing at the bus station waiting for the second bus.

Meanwhile, Yi Chen who had no idea that he had an entire bus having a heated discussion on spending money while courting, got on the second hover bus and three minutes later he was in front of the main door his heart beating fast.

He imagined Zi Han’s face the moment he walks in through that door. Yi Chen rehearsed his lines three times before he was finally satisfied. With a deep exhale he pushed the door open and the lights that were automatically off lit up.

“Babe!” called out Yi Chen but soon the smile on his face sank. He had a very very bad premonition. Without waiting for his shoes to finish getting sanitised he dashed inside the house and left the flowers on the counter. His heart dropped even more, the longer he couldn’t see Zi Han’s face.