In the living room, Canary looked all around with meticulous care, as though inspecting every speck of dust in the room.
The red "Double Happiness" cutouts added an exceptionally festive atmosphere.
"Meow, meow, meow..."
Xie Xinsu shook her body violently, seemingly despising the red Double Happiness emblem stuck to her back.
She felt deeply aggrieved.
During the time Qi Yuan was away, she had been tormented half to death by the robot Zero-One.
She desperately wanted to report Zero-One for animal abuse.
Not only did it force her to film videos every day, but it even restricted her catnip.
Unfortunately, no matter how much she meowed, Qi Yuan couldn't understand a single word.
The more she cried out, the more desolate and chilly she felt inside.
If she could only restore her true form, how could she ever be reduced to such misery?
Would she need to bow and scrape before Qi Yuan?
More likely, her dog of an owner would be bowing and scraping before her, the Immortal Master!
"What an adorable cat!" Canary looked at Xie Xinsu, a smile lighting up her eyes.
With a light flick of her finger, Xie Xinsu's body floated into Canary's hands as if pulled by an invisible thread.
Xie Xinsu felt her head spin.
*An immortal art?*
*Why didn't I sense any spiritual qi fluctuations?*
*A technique like that has to be at least late-stage Qi Refinement, right?*
Her body froze stiff.
An immortal cultivator had actually appeared in this place?
Which world did she come from?
Xie Xinsu grew instantly alert and began scrutinizing Canary in earnest.
With just a single glance, she was stunned.
In terms of looks alone, this woman hardly seemed of the mortal realm.
And she even possessed immortal arts.
What virtue or capability did her dog of an owner have to marry such a celestial maiden?
Yet thinking of her owner's strikingly handsome face, she supposed it made sense.
*Alas, those newly embarked upon the immortal path are easily dazzled by worldly vanity, so unlike an otherworldly, transcendent Origin Core grand cultivator like me!*
Xie Xinsu couldn't help sighing to herself.
Still, the fact that the woman was a cultivator was good news.
Once she recovered a bit of her cultivation and could communicate, leaking just a tiny bit of guidance from her fingertips would surely make this couple worship her as an enlightened master.
When that day came, wouldn't Zero-One be completely at her mercy?
She would sniff catnip for as long as she pleased!
Film videos?
She would go straight on strike and become the overseer instead!
Xie Xinsu indulged in sweet fantasies.
After petting the cat for a while, Canary looked thoroughly delighted.
Before long, she followed Qi Yuan back into his bedroom.
Qi Yuan called softly, "Xiao Jia."
At his voice, a scarlet bridal gown abruptly manifested in the room.
A peculiar gleam flashed across Canary's eyes, quickly followed by a bright smile as she blinked playfully. "So this is Sister Xiao Jia?"
She had heard Qi Yuan mention Xiao Jia before and knew the story between them.
"She is very special," Canary murmured, a brilliant light flitting through her gaze.
"Everyone is special," Qi Yuan said as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"A special you, a special her, a special me... Why don't we go register our marriage tomorrow?" Qi Yuan looked between Canary and Xiao Jia.
From Xiao Jia's icy sleeve, a small wooden plaque slipped out, bearing a hand-drawn smiling face.
It seemed that no matter what Qi Yuan said, she was always happy.
Canary leaned against Qi Yuan and nodded.
"Still... is registering three people at once... somewhat illegal?"
A look of concern surfaced on Qi Yuan's face.
As for morality and whatnot, Qi Yuan didn't care in the slightest.
One's bottom line needed to remain flexible.
The real issue was breaking the law.
"How about this? I could wear Sister Xiao Jia, and then we register together?" Canary suggested, a whimsical idea popping into her head.
Qi Yuan paused, looking at Canary. "I didn't expect you to be so clever."
Yet he soon shook his head. "No, that won't do. For something like this, it's better to be open and aboveboard.
"We can't very well have Xiao Jia without even a seat at our own wedding banquet, can we?"
Although Qi Yuan had always considered himself a law-abiding citizen, indulging in a little willful leeway for the sake of his family was perfectly acceptable.
"Looks like I'll have to pull some strings and get Carnival to help."
Carnival was a noble.
In Qinyuan Kingdom, the nobility enjoyed immense social prestige and special privileges.
Carnival possessed vast connections; sorting out a marriage certificate would be child's play for him.
With that in mind, Qi Yuan dialed Carnival's number.
***
At that moment, Carnival was sitting absentmindedly in his hotel room, watching television.
Every now and then, he would gaze through the window at the sun high in the sky and chuckle foolishly.
A gentle young woman looked at her husband with an exasperated expression. "The experts said you shouldn't look at that extra sun too much, or you'll become forgetful!"
"What do you know? Who gives a damn about forgetfulness!" Carnival continued grinning like an idiot at the sun above, as though it were the most stunning beauty in existence.
Back when he was confined within the steel fortress, he had been thrilled and overwhelmed with excitement the moment that sun appeared.
Even under house arrest, everything he ate had tasted wonderful.
And sure enough, not long after his confinement, someone had personally come to escort him out.
The person who escorted him was a dignitary straight from the Imperial Capital, someone far above the rank of the base commander.
They had arrived in person, offering apologies and sweet pleasantries.
Carnival had never experienced such treatment before in his life.
Later, he heard about the referendum, and he learned about the thirteen Eyes of the Sky belonging to the Mu family crashing down.
He had laughed out loud, his reverence for Mr. Qi soaring to new heights.
The Seven Martial Stars? In Mr. Qi's eyes, were they not mere ants?
The Eyes of the Sky? Terrifying god-slaying superweapons? Nothing more than toys!
A figure like Mr. Qi was the true pinnacle of the world.
Everything in existence was simply... a game.
No wonder Mr. Qi so often spoke of games, NPCs, settings, and plots.
Indeed, to an existence of that stature, wasn't this entire world just a massive open-world game?
Carnival felt a mixture of elation and nervous insecurity.
To make an awkward comparison, it was like a young bride who suddenly discovered her husband was the supreme emperor; overjoyed as she was, she couldn't help fretting over how long it had been since he last favored her.
Right then, a ringtone reserved for his "Special VIP Contact" suddenly chimed.
Carnival's brow twitched sharply.
From a cushioned armchair nearby, the gentle woman noticed his reaction and pouted with a trace of envy. "Oh, come on, you haven't even set me as a Special VIP."
"How could that be the same? Quiet!" Carnival glared at his wife before gingerly answering the call.
Seeing his flustered state, the woman could only chuckle softly.
"Mr. Qi." Carnival held his phone with both hands as if cradling a thousand-year-old priceless artifact, his back bending into a bow reflexively.
It was as if Qi Yuan were standing right beside him.
"Why is there a tremor in your voice? You aren't working out, are you? Don't tell me... I interrupted something good?" Qi Yuan asked casually.
Carnival's expression tightened. "No, absolutely not!"
He panicked, terrified that Qi Yuan might misunderstand.
"Good, as long as I didn't interrupt. Otherwise, if I put you in a bad mood, I'd be too embarrassed to ask for your help," Qi Yuan remarked in an unhurried tone from the other end.
These words hardly sounded like they came from a peerless powerhouse.
Yet having dealt with Qi Yuan before, Carnival knew full well that this supreme figure lived with the whimsical mindset of playing through mortal life.
"Please, Mr. Qi, command me as you see fit!" His posture grew even humbler.
Serving Mr. Qi was a supreme honor, one worthy of bringing glory to his entire ancestry.
"Didn't I mention before that I was going to get married once a sun appeared in the sky?"
"Congratulations, Mr. Qi!" Carnival's eyes lit up.
So everything Mr. Qi had claimed was true.
His wife really had descended from the sun.
It was simply beyond imagination.
Just what kind of breathtaking grace and peerless splendor must his wife possess?
"We plan to go register our marriage tomorrow, but... there's a small problem." Qi Yuan hesitated slightly.
Carnival was taken aback.
A powerhouse of this level still bothered with marriage certificates?
Then again, one should never try to guess the mind of a supreme being.
If he wanted to register, then register it was.
"How may this humble one be of service?"
"Here's the thing. I want to marry two wives this time and register them together," Qi Yuan stated his purpose plainly.
Hearing that, Carnival was struck dumb, entirely flabbergasted.
*Two wives?*
Innumerable thoughts flashed through his mind.
Marrying two wives might sound bizarre, but then again... it wasn't unheard of.
Plenty of powerful elites openly took two or even more.
Some even bought multiple apartment blocks in a single neighborhood to house different wives.
Such occurrences were hardly rare.
The critical difference was that Mr. Qi was not an ordinary man.
Mr. Qi's wife was an overwhelming supreme powerhouse!
A woman descending straight from the sun sounded ridiculously formidable.
For someone of that caliber...
"Mr. Qi, does that lady know you intend to marry two?" Carnival inquired cautiously.
He was terrified that helping Qi Yuan might end with him being beaten to death by Mr. Qi's celestial wife.
"She knows," Qi Yuan answered, sounding puzzled. "Why, do you suspect me of tricking young maidens into fraudulent marriages?"
"No, no, not at all!" Carnival hurriedly explained. "I'll handle it for you right away, Mr. Qi."
"Oh, right, neither of my wives has an ID card or ID photos. You'll need to sort those out for me as well!"
"Understood!"
"Oh, wait, I forgot—taking ID photos requires showing up in person. Just let me know when it's arranged, and I'll bring my wives over.
"Wait... no, if we register tomorrow, will there be enough time? Ah... what a hassle. Getting IDs and then registering the marriage means two separate trips.
"Can't we just get them done together?" Qi Yuan sounded thoroughly conflicted.
Carnival was rendered somewhat speechless.
He was sorely tempted to say that they didn't even need to step outside; he could personally deliver the ID cards and marriage certificates to their doorstep, no photos required.
Yet this was Mr. Qi, whose brain functioned on an entirely different wavelength. Carnival dared not contradict him.
"Doing both together is entirely feasible.
"When the time comes, I'll prepare a red envelope for the staff.
"Mr. Qi, you and your wives will only need to step outside near your neighborhood!"
Carnival resolved to relocate the civil affairs bureau and the police registry right outside Qi Yuan's residential complex.
"Really? As expected of nobility, you truly have connections.
"By the way, how much of a red envelope are you planning to give? I can't let you pay for this. Name a number, and I'll cover it."
Hearing that, Carnival felt an ache in his teeth before finally replying, "999?"
He dared not quote an amount too high, nor too low.
"Sigh, my savings just dropped by another 999. I'm drifting even further from buying Arch Star," Qi Yuan said with genuine heartache.
Earning money in this day and age was truly difficult.
A job posting might list the salary as five to nine thousand, which without a doubt meant five thousand flat.
Yet browsing online, the average salary was miraculously claimed to be nine thousand.
Carnival chuckled dryly, not daring to chime in on Qi Yuan's lament.
***
The early morning sunlight felt pleasantly warm.
Wang Tong drove leisurely, a relaxed expression on her face. "Sigh, with that extra sun in the sky, it really feels like the temperature has gone up."
Zhao Longshou sat in the passenger seat, reading a newspaper intently.
"I heard spiritual qi has been reviving lately. Do you think that extra sun in the sky is some mythical supreme being?" Wang Tong glanced toward the heavens, a contemplative look in her eyes.
Zhao Longshou, who had been absorbed in his paper, paused. "You youngsters lack real-world experience; you're far too easily tricked by viral clickbait. How could there be any spiritual qi resurgence in this world? It's all fake.
"Monsters, ghosts, immortals—all of them are fictitious. We have to believe in science."
"Hmph, then how do you explain the extra sun in the sky?" Wang Tong asked, dissatisfied.
"This is where reading more books pays off.
"Look at what the paper says: that extra sun isn't a real sun at all. It's some void spot phenomenon, an atmospheric refraction." Zhao Longshou handed the newspaper toward Wang Tong.
Wang Tong curled her lip. "What a bunch of bogus experts. Speaking in ambiguous circles—it's obviously meant to fool people.
"Didn't an expert point at a cat and insist it was a rabbit just recently?"
"There's no reasoning with you youngsters." Zhao Longshou couldn't be bothered to argue further.
There was no point in bickering over such matters.
Seeing his dismissal, Wang Tong didn't want to strain relations with her colleague either.
She asked, "So, which noble family's kept mistress are we processing today that requires us to handle the paperwork on-site?"
"Those matters are beyond our purview. Just follow protocol," Zhao Longshou said, his expression turning solemn.
Before they left, the director had repeatedly stressed that they must keep the client happy no matter what.
Speak less, do more, and don't pry into things they shouldn't.
The director had even warned that if they offended that person, they might as well pick out their own coffins.
As civil servants, their jobs were practically iron rice bowls for life; unless they committed a major offense, being fired was nearly impossible.
Yet their superior had gone so far as to bring up coffins.
Zhao Longshou realized that this client was bound to be extraordinarily special, possessing truly monstrous influence.
"I heard we have to process two marriage certificates at once. Just another day envying the aristocracy.
"If only I could have two husbands someday," Wang Tong mused wildly.
Zhao Longshou smiled and offered no reply.
Around nine in the morning, Zhao Longshou and Wang Tong arrived at their temporary workstation.
This would serve as their office for the day.
Upon arrival, they discovered staff from other departments present as well.
After exchanging pleasantries and chatting with the others, Wang Tong scurried back into the room and whispered to Zhao Longshou, "The noble's wife doesn't even have an ID card. Could she be some fugitive, or perhaps an heiress who faked her death?"
Wang Tong had watched plenty of television dramas, instantly dreaming up all sorts of dramatic plots.
For instance, Noble A falls for Heiress B, but Heiress B is betrothed to Noble C.
So she fakes her death and runs away from the marriage.
"Your imagination is getting out of hand. You might as well claim she's an alien!" Zhao Longshou remarked offhandedly.
"An alien?" Wang Tong's eyes lit up. "You just gave me a brand-new angle! Could she... not even be human?
"Like some demon, a ghost, or even a celestial fairy?
"The revival of spiritual qi is upon us; anything could happen!"
Wang Tong chattered on absurdly.
Zhao Longshou clutched his forehead. "Drop the spiritual qi nonsense. When we're out in public, I'm almost embarrassed to admit you're my colleague."
"Hey, don't write it off! I really think it's possible!" Wang Tong insisted excitedly.
"Get to work and clean up. That person will be arriving this afternoon, and then you'll get to see the monster or ghost you've been dreaming of," Zhao Longshou said with a hearty laugh.
"Sigh, you old fossil, set in your ways. No wonder they say online that once people hit thirty-five, they lose the ability to accept new things."
"You don't understand. When you reach a certain age, you'll get it, and you'll realize just how naive your younger self was," Zhao Longshou said earnestly.
***
"Li Yan?"
"Ah, Qi Yuan, what's up?"
"Yeah, I'm holding my wedding ceremony tomorrow. Remember to come."
"Huh? You're getting married?" Li Yan was utterly bewildered on the other end of the line.
At the same time, a faint twinge of jealousy surfaced in her heart.
She envied Qi Yuan's good fortune.
Thanks to a single cat, he had become a massive streamer, likely earning millions a year, and now he was even getting married.
"Congratulations, congratulations..."
"The address is... Anyway, I have to notify the others."
"Wang Xu? I'm getting married... the ceremony is..."
"What? Tomorrow? I'll definitely take time off to be there!"
"Wu Qi, are you coming to my wedding ceremony..."
"Doctor Zhong Niao, my wedding ceremony is tomorrow..."
Inside a hospital, a woman in a physician's coat froze momentarily upon receiving the call from her former patient.
A handsome face instantly surfaced in her mind.
"You're... getting married?" Zhong Niao asked, bewildered.
"Yep!"
"Does she know you have some mental conditions? Qi Yuan, you can't... ruin some innocent girl, you understand?"
Zhong Niao's thoughts were in a muddle, biased by her clinical perspective.
"There's nothing wrong with my mental state," Qi Yuan replied from the other end, sounding slightly displeased.
A wedding ceremony naturally called for guests to make it lively.
Yet he had no relatives.
Aside from him, neither Canary nor Xiao Jia had any family either.
As a result, the banquet wouldn't even fill a single table, which seemed rather pitiful.
That was why he wanted to invite more acquaintances.
"All right." After asking a few more questions, Zhong Niao hung up with a profoundly complicated mood.
Sitting in her office, her expression was filled with melancholy. "How can a psychiatric patient get married?
"Isn't this just ruining an innocent girl?"
Zhong Niao felt a wave of indignation.
She had seen far too many such cases.
Encountering it personally left an uncomfortable knot in her chest.
Suddenly, a daring thought sprang into her mind.
*Rather than ruining someone else, he might as well ruin me!*
The moment the idea appeared, Zhong Niao frightened herself, her face flushing red.
Yet a moment later, she clutched her head in distress. "Should I change jobs? After spending so much time around mental patients, I'm starting to develop symptoms myself.
"On top of that dream... I haven't had a good night's sleep in ages."
***
Back in the bedroom.
Qi Yuan looked at Ning Tao in her crimson dress, a hint of awe flashing across his eyes.
Having grown accustomed to Ning Tao in black, seeing her in red for the first time offered an entirely different allure.
If Ning Tao in black was cool and seductive, and Canary was sweet and alluring, then in red, she carried a chilling, breathtaking elegance.
Distinct charms converged harmoniously upon a single person.
"Done with your calls?" Ning Tao asked, sitting quietly as she looked at Qi Yuan.
"Yeah, notified everyone. We should be able to fill at least one table, right?" A sense of ritual was still essential.
"Then let us go register our marriage alongside Little Sister Xiao Jia," Ning Tao murmured, her breath sweet as orchids.
"Uh... how did she become your little sister?"
Earlier, when she was Canary, hadn't she called her Sister Xiao Jia?
"This servant... prefers it this way." Ning Tao rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan, radiating boundless charm.
"I suspect you have split personalities, but I have no evidence," Qi Yuan said, waving his hand.
In truth, he knew that Canary and Ning Tao were one and the same.
Her behavior didn't stem from two distinct souls sharing a single body.
To describe it more accurately, it was like roleplay, or rather, two distinct states.
When Canary wished to be bolder, she would let Ning Tao take the forefront.
Meanwhile, the persona of Canary acted as the docile little follower.
"This servant does not suffer from a split personality," Ning Tao chuckled softly. "Husband... let me test you."
"Oh?"
"Today, my left leg and right leg are dressed differently.
"The left leg was dressed by Canary; the right leg was dressed by this servant.
"Husband, care to guess what each leg is wearing?"
As Ning Tao spoke, she sat upright with her legs pressed together, completely concealed beneath her long red skirt.
"The left leg... Canary's choice? Hmm... white silk stockings?" Qi Yuan guessed.
White silk stockings suited Canary's style better.
"Husband... you guessed wrong."
At that, Ning Tao lifted the hem of her skirt. Beneath the tightly draped fabric, a slender, exquisitely proportioned leg was revealed.
A black stocking hugged the leg snugly, its lace border pulled all the way to the base of her thigh. Perhaps because it was slightly tight, the delicate flesh at her upper thigh was pressed into a faint, enticing indent.
"Canary said Husband likes this."
As Ning Tao spoke, she rested her long, graceful leg directly upon Qi Yuan's lap.
Five pale, tender toes curled within the sheer black stocking, soft and adorable like polished white jade.
Ning Tao pressed her left foot gently against Qi Yuan's lower abdomen, a teasing smirk dancing on her lips.
"I definitely won't get the right leg wrong. It must be white silk!"
Since Canary had chosen black, Ning Tao would surely pick white.
"Husband guessed half right," Ning Tao said with a giggle.
"Could it be nude stockings?"
"Nay..." Ning Tao murmured, lifting the other side of her hem.
"...You really did get half right."
The other leg wore no stocking at all.
Ning Tao's bare skin was extraordinarily fair, possessing a delicate, porcelain beauty. Her toes were aligned neatly like young lotus roots.
Wearing no white stocking proved far more intoxicating than wearing one.
"Husband... do you like it?" Ning Tao was bold, after all.
Had it been Canary, she could never have brought herself to say such words.
As she spoke, her bare foot brushed toward the palm of Qi Yuan's hand.
Qi Yuan took hold of it instinctively.
Ning Tao's dainty, delicate foot was like a piece of fine art; Qi Yuan could enclose it fully in a single hand, gently stroking the smooth curve.
Ning Tao's cheeks flushed slightly, a misty layer of moisture gathering in her eyes.
"Husband... if everything has to wait until after we register, wouldn't that be... too long to wait?"
She leaned in close, settling herself entirely onto Qi Yuan's lap, her red dress draping over his thighs.
Her charming eyes traced Qi Yuan's features as she lightly pursed her vermilion lips. Though devoid of makeup, her pale face remained chillingly gorgeous.
"Ah?"
One of Ning Tao's thighs was smooth as pristine jade, soft like the finest silk on earth, while the other held the sleek texture of sheer black stockings.
Filled with a mixture of anticipation and shyness, she boldly declared, "What Canary dares not do, I shall!"
With those words, the maiden pressed her warm, tender lips against his.
"Mmh..." At that moment, Qi Yuan was exceptionally composed—or rather, entirely uncomposed.
His hand slipped past the hem of her skirt of its own accord, gently scooping Ning Tao into his arms.
A mischievous glimmer danced in Ning Tao's eyes. "How about... we go register our marriage a little later?"
"You make... a fair point." Qi Yuan didn't hesitate in the slightest, savoring and stripping away, making up with Canary for everything left undone in the past.
Mount Jiupan, the illusionary realm, the agonies of bygone days—all had turned to drifting smoke.
The present was what truly deserved to be cherished.
Garments slid away, the long dress fell aside, and passion filled the room.
"Husband, you seem a bit exhausted. Why not let this servant take the lead... or shall I switch to the black dress?"
"Blood Pearl... be gentler..."
***
"It's almost dark. When on earth is this person coming?"
Wang Tong sat in the makeshift office, bored out of her mind.
They were supposed to arrive in the afternoon, yet dusk was already falling.
"Stop complaining. I asked the director, and he said if the client doesn't show up today, we'll keep working here indefinitely until he comes to get his marriage certificate." Zhao Longshou lowered his newspaper, completely unhurried.
Working here was no different from working at the bureau.
In fact, it was far more relaxing here.
Either way, promotions were out of the question, weren't they?
"Then I hope he never comes! This place is great for slacking off," Wang Tong said excitedly.
Of course, it was just wishful thinking; such a thing wasn't possible.
Just then, a message arrived.
Wang Tong's expression shifted slightly. "He's here!"
Zhao Longshou hurriedly stood up, his demeanor turning solemn.
"Remember, stick to the expedited protocol. Take the photo, issue the certificates, and that's it!" Zhao Longshou reminded her once more.
"Don't worry, I know how to snap a picture!" Wang Tong waved cheerfully.
Who knew, maybe she would get to witness some juicy gossip about the nobility today.
Zhao Longshou nodded.
Wang Tong took the photos, while he was responsible for pasting them onto the marriage certificates.
It was as simple as that.
As for the official seals, they had already been stamped in advance.
All other procedures were waived.
"See you in a bit, Brother Zhao!" Wang Tong waved and walked out of the office.
Just outside, she spotted a middle-aged man.
The man was impeccably dressed and carried an unmistakable military bearing, clearly someone of extraordinary standing.
*Is it him?*
Wang Tong narrowed her eyes and was about to greet him when the man spoke first.
"Mr. Qi has already entered the photography room. Go in and take their photos. Remember... do not speak out of turn!" The speaker was, naturally, Carnival.
"Understood!" Wang Tong nodded, inwardly taken aback.
This man already looked remarkably distinguished, yet he addressed the person inside as "Mr. Qi." It seemed the client truly wielded terrifying influence.
Filled with anticipation and nervous tension, Wang Tong entered the photography room.
"Comrade, sorry for the trouble."
A youthful, pleasant voice drifted over.
Wang Tong caught sight of the newcomer and immediately lowered her head, not daring to stare, her heart fluttering nervously.
*He's way too handsome.*
*Isn't this the spitting image of a domineering CEO male lead from a drama?*
"Canary, Xiao Jia, and I are already prepared; we're just waiting on you."
"Right away." Wang Tong kept her head lowered, not daring to look directly up.
Even so, she vaguely caught sight of two slender, graceful figures flanking Mr. Qi.
One wore a black dress, while the other appeared to be draped in a red bridal gown.
This left Wang Tong thoroughly puzzled.
Why was there such a stark difference in what the two wives wore?
Puzzled though she was, she didn't dare ask.
Keeping her head down, she walked over to the camera mounted on its tripod.
Only then did she muster the courage to properly look at the three people before her.
The three of them sat side by side.
When her eyes landed on the maiden in the black dress, a flash of pure astonishment swept through Wang Tong's gaze.
*Another day spent envying the rich and powerful.*
*She's far too gorgeous.*
At that moment, Canary clung tightly to Qi Yuan's arm, a pool of tender springtime seemingly resting in her beautiful eyes.
A rosy blush crept up to the tips of her ears, betraying a hint of lingering shyness.
Of course, compared to earlier, this faint blush was nothing.
Wang Tong shifted her gaze, looking toward the face of the woman in the red bridal gown.
She blinked.
Then she took off her glasses, wiped the lenses, and put them back on.
She stood rooted to the spot, her mind completely blank.
Staring straight ahead, she asked almost involuntarily, "Mr. Qi, where is your other wife?"
"Both are right here. As for the others... well, they're up in the sky."
"???" Wang Tong was utterly lost, yet she still asked cautiously, "I meant the one wearing the red bridal gown just now."
"That's her." Qi Yuan held Xiao Jia's chilly sleeve.
"Huh?" Wang Tong was thoroughly flabbergasted.
A bridal gown... what in the world?
This man was marrying an empty wedding dress?
Right then, something occurred that completely shattered Wang Tong's composure.
The bridal gown seemed to lean slightly against Mr. Qi, and its empty sleeve even reached up to straighten its own collar.
*This... this bridal gown... is a monster?!*
Her heart pounded violently, threatening to leap right out of her throat.
*Holy crap... spiritual qi really is reviving!*
*Even a wedding dress has gained sentience and is getting married!*
*Folks, I'm completely losing my mind here.*
Her thoughts were tangled in a chaotic mess.
Even so, she forced herself to maintain outward composure and snapped the photograph.
At that moment, she desperately wanted to give Mr. Qi a giant thumbs-up.
The aristocracy truly lived on another level—they even married bridal gowns!
***
Meanwhile, in the office.
Zhao Longshou frowned, a strange expression in his eyes.
"What on earth is all this? One person... with two names? They even added an extra line to her ID card. The nobility truly does whatever they want.
"And this one is even more absurd. Filling in 'Bridal Clothes Imperial Clan' under ethnicity? Since when did our Qinyuan Kingdom have such an ethnicity?"
Zhao Longshou complained wildly in his head.
Yet he didn't dare voice the slightest objection.
Absurd as it seemed, all this information had successfully passed through the online system.
Ordinarily, their database strictly prohibited arbitrary entries.
Everything was selected via preset drop-down menus.
For instance, ethnicity had only specific approved options; you could only select from the list.
That was a mandate straight from the General Bureau.
Yet now, the fields could actually be customized.
How could he not be shocked?
This system was overseen by the General Bureau itself.
They were practically establishing a brand-new clan for Qinyuan Kingdom right on the spot!
For the client to possess such privileges meant... he definitely had direct ties to the General Bureau.
*Could it be... someone from the Seven Martial Stars families?*
*No, the Seven Martial Stars families certainly hold that kind of power, but they wouldn't bother with something like this—it's far too troublesome.*
*If they wanted two wives, they would just marry them without going through all this hassle.*
Zhao Longshou was thoroughly baffled.
By now, he had prepared everything, merely waiting for Wang Tong to bring over the digital and physical copies of the photographs.
One would be uploaded into the system, and the other pasted onto the marriage certificates and ID cards.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached.
Zhao Longshou looked up to see Wang Tong rushing in, panting heavily with an anxious, shell-shocked face.
Zhao Longshou frowned slightly. "What's wrong?"
"Brother Zhao, do you have any idea what Mr. Qi's wife actually is?"
"Huh?" Zhao Longshou blinked, confused.
"It's a bridal gown!" Wang Tong said in deadly earnest. Afterward, she began muttering to herself as if she had lost her mind.
"What?" Zhao Longshou paused, then laughed. "These aristocrats sure know how to have fun—marrying a piece of clothing and demanding a marriage certificate.
"Sigh, but it's not unheard of.
"A while back, an otaku came in clutching an inflatable doll, insisting on getting registered. We had a good laugh over that for days."
"Brother Zhao, it's not an ordinary bridal gown! It's a sentient bridal gown—it can walk!" Wang Tong cried out, frantic.
Saying that, she shoved the camera toward Zhao Longshou to show him the photo.
"Look, this is the bridal gown! Her name is Xiao Jia, and she's super gentle!"
"??? Are you pulling my leg?!" Zhao Longshou stared in total disbelief.
"If I'm lying, may I step outside and get hit by a car right now!
"Hahaha, spiritual qi has revived! It's truly revived!" Wang Tong beamed with manic excitement, chuckling foolishly for a moment before an expression of defeat washed over her.
What did the revival of spiritual qi have to do with a nobody like her?
Was it a blessing or a curse?
Suddenly, she thought of Qi Yuan, and a daring idea took root in her mind: *Could he guide me into the extraordinary realm?*
Yet a moment later, despair returned. She was just an ordinary nobody; why would someone like him ever bother helping her?
"I think you've gone mad. How could a bridal gown possibly gain sentience?" Zhao Longshou still refused to believe it.
Right at that moment, steady footsteps echoed outside.
A clear voice drifted into the room.
"Are our marriage certificates ready? We're planning to take a picture and post a video."
The moment he saw who walked through the door, Zhao Longshou froze entirely, his entire worldview shattering to dust in that instant.
A bridal gown... had truly become sentient?
*How is that even possible?!*
Chapter 333