{"id":8027,"date":"2026-06-19T08:33:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T06:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/?p=8027"},"modified":"2026-06-19T08:33:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T06:33:28","slug":"a-love-struck-brain-is-nothing-in-the-face-of-melodrama-chapter-65","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/2026\/06\/19\/a-love-struck-brain-is-nothing-in-the-face-of-melodrama-chapter-65\/","title":{"rendered":"A Love-Struck Brain Is Nothing In The Face Of Melodrama &#8211; Chapter 65"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ah!!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">When those professors saw there was someone behind them, they screamed out loud.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">While they had been fully absorbed in eavesdropping, suddenly someone popped up behind them and spoke to them in a sinister tone. The shock was no less than having a bloody, mangled ghost suddenly appear right in front of their face in a horror film.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Gentlemen, please stop your screaming. Making noise in public places was extremely impolite behavior.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The golden-eyed man standing behind them spoke with an elegant and somewhat lazy voice. He looked polite and gentlemanly, completely ignoring the fact that it was he who had frightened them into screaming.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And when he saw the door of the private room open, the golden-eyed man spoke again with a trace of mockery at the corner of his lips.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Oh, it seemed you even startled an uninvited guest inside the room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">So what exactly was the relationship between Count Unobert and that Ye Wangxing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Outside the private room, those professors who were industry leaders held their breath, not daring to breathe loudly as they listened to the sounds inside.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">When someone whispered about the three people in the room, the others immediately turned their heads to look at him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The professor, whose gossiping tendency was heavier, saw his colleagues\u2019 eyes saying \u201cAt a time like this, you still had the mind to gossip?\u201d and muttered quietly:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">I don\u2019t believe I\u2019m the only one who\u2019s curious.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The colleagues present said nothing. Their eyes carried a guilty look before turning back again, as if they had been caught sneaking refreshments during a conference break by the host.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Once again the professors pressed their ears against the door.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The matter of the richest man in the Empire and their vice-dean really was far too enticing!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">They simply didn\u2019t believe anyone could resist listening to such gossip!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">What was more, the three people inside the private room were all extremely famous in the Capital Star.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">That Ye Wangxing needed no further mention\u2014after just half a month in the Capital, rumors of affairs with two other men had already spread everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Their vice-dean was also a genius among geniuses, an outstanding young talent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As for Count Uno, he needed no introduction\u2014the richest man in the entire Empire, the Emperor\u2019s treasurer, a man whose wealth was impossible to estimate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Now all three gathered inside one private room, with their relationships looking extremely complicated. This stirred their curiosity even further.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Very soon, one professor answered the earlier question.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">They should be partners, after all, Count Unobert himself admitted it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The other professors and researchers all nodded in agreement, but the professor who had asked before frowned tightly and said: \u201cBut if that\u2019s the case, then why did Ye Wangxing previously have rumors with the other two?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This professor\u2019s soul-piercing question left the others dumbfounded.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Indeed, if Ye Wangxing really was Count Uno\u2019s partner, then didn\u2019t that mean he had cheated?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And one of the supposed affair partners was their vice-dean!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">However, they believed their vice-dean would never stoop to being a third party. It had to be that Ye Wangxing deceived their vice-dean.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The more they thought about it, the more convinced they became.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Their eyes even carried a trace of indignation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Their vice-dean had simply been rushed by project deadlines these days. After he attended a social ball half a month ago, he had locked himself up to focus on the project without even checking the infosphere.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Otherwise, the professors believed their vice-dean would never have run over looking like a victim to question Ye Wangxing, let alone try to reconcile with him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As for Count Unobert, the explanation was even simpler.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">He had been so busy recently that his feet hardly touched the ground. The Ministry of Finance also required a mid-year report. Although as the richest man he wasn\u2019t part of the ministry, he was considered an external member. His Majesty would certainly review his report too, so he probably had no time to care about gossip in the Capital.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Thinking of this, the professors\u2019 anger grew even stronger.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Count Unobert was the patron of these professors. Some of their costly, long-term projects were funded by this magnate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This was also why, after being frightened, they had held back until this elegant man entered the private room before whispering about it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But now someone actually dared to entangle both their vice-dean and their patron!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The professors fumed in indignation\u2014and pressed their ears even tighter against the door.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Meanwhile, the trio still standing in the water looked at the additional person in the private room with more serious expressions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Martha spoke with a commanding tone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Alina, Ye Bai, raise your holopads immediately and synchronize real-time lip-reading translation!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">We absolutely must not miss a single piece of key information!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Once the trio all raised their holopads, Count Unobert finally sat down elegantly in his seat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Just moments ago, he had slowly handed his coat and cane to the butler robot at his side, not forgetting to give Ye Wangxing a reassuring glance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But he never once looked at Semos.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Tsk, tsk, tsk, no wonder he was an old fox. From the start he directly ignored the other, putting psychological pressure on him. Lord Semos was probably about to lose his temper now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Alina and the others did not know about Lord Semos\u2019s bad temper, since this matter only circulated within the research institute.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But as for being unable to hold back, on that point they happened to share the same opinion as the professors at the institute who knew the truth.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Yet just as Lord Semos was about to open his mouth to ask, Count Unobert directly cut him off.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">So Lord Semos did not know exactly what urgent matter you wanted with Wangxing? So urgent that you ignored basic courtesy and barged into the private room I reserved?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Count Uno\u2019s expression remained perfectly calm, still carrying a smile. He looked unhurried, yet when translated, his words made Alina let out a \u201cWow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Count Uno\u2019s sense of pressure was really strong\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye Bai also began to sigh with emotion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Inside the private room, Count Unobert added another line.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And you even argued with Wangxing\u2014your aggressive manner just now made it hard for me to believe you came with goodwill to communicate with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As he spoke, Count Unobert held Ye Wangxing\u2019s hand, as if to comfort him. That simple gesture made the young man, who had wanted to speak, falter for half a beat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">I only came to discuss some personal matters with him. After all, you know the work at the institute was very busy, and it was hard to find spare time. Unlike you, who could change dates every day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But in that brief hesitation, the cat-eyed man across from him spoke out everything with an expressionless face.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">He even added a line, facing the still smiling and elegant Count Uno, whose hand gripping the armrest had veins bulging.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">For barging into your private room, I offer my deepest apologies. If you don\u2019t mind, I could invite Wangxing to our private room instead, so that we may clear things up?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Of course Count Unobert did not let the words pass. He replied with utmost elegance: \u201cI\u2019m sorry, this was a private date. I had to work very hard to secure Wangxing\u2019s free time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">He tapped the armrest with his other hand, one beat at a time, and said:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">After all, with the launch of recent poverty-relief projects, we businessmen had been unbearably busy. Although Wangxing also participated in one such project with us, since it was not the same one, we hardly saw each other. Finally, we both had free time. I\u2019m sorry, but I cannot give this time to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">You\u2014wouldn\u2019t be so rude, would you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Count Unobert looked at the cat-eyed man with a smile. In returning his words, he also put him on the moral high ground. Though the counterattack felt satisfying, it also resembled provocation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Semos\u2019s eyes looked as if they were about to spit fire.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And judging from Count Unobert\u2019s continued elegance and cheerful demeanor, this was deliberate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Lord Semos was also firing on all cylinders, but unfortunately Count Unobert still came out on top. After all, he dealt with old foxes from other planets every day. Lord Semos was still too green.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Alina shook her head as she watched the cat-eyed man\u2019s full-blown aggression.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Indeed, Lord Semos was completely suppressed by Count Uno.\u201d Even Ye Bai confirmed it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This surprised both Alina and Marsha\u2014so he actually knew this was called being suppressed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And while they whispered among themselves, inside the private room the cat-eyed man finally could not restrain his temper. He looked at the elegant man before him, who seemed to regard him as a child, and said: \u201cCount, what identity exactly were you using to say such things to me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The trio of Alina instantly lit up with excitement. It had come, it had come, finally the critical moment!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And Count Unobert\u2019s response did not disappoint them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">I would like to return the question, sir. What identity were you using to say such things to me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And in my reserved private room, questioning me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Count Unobert spoke with a smile, yet his golden eyes were as sharp as metal. The old-fashioned, stiff three-piece suit on his body radiated a unique charm, looking in this situation like a battle robe.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">It formed a stark contrast with the cat-eyed man across from him, who wore only a shirt and trousers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">All right, child, don\u2019t look at me with such an angry face. I still had some acquaintance with the Marshal. Perhaps when our date finished, if you still didn\u2019t need to return to the institute, the three of us could sample this restaurant\u2019s afternoon tea together?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Count Unobert\u2019s words came lazily, as though victory was already in his grasp.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And in the eyes of the onlookers, it really was so.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">It\u2019s over. He was completely suppressed. As expected, an old fox like Count Unobert was not someone Semos could handle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Alina sighed as she stood there. Beside her, Martha also nodded.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And others who shared the same feeling were the professors pressed against the private room door.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Listening to the sounds inside, they felt their vice-dean had truly been suppressed by their financial backer. This round had very little chance of success.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This time the vice-dean was truly countered completely. We researchers feared dealing with businessmen the most. Our tongues were nowhere near as slick as theirs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The professors sighed heavily.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Completely forgetting that earlier they had complained their vice-dean and financial backer were not worth it, now they wished their vice-dean would fight harder, suppressing the backer\u2019s aura instead.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And it seemed their vice-dean had heard his colleagues\u2019 words, because soon his voice came calmly from inside the room.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">If I said I was Wangxing\u2019s ex-boyfriend? With that identity, I think our matter no longer needed your eavesdropping, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The professors outside the door instantly raised victory signs when they heard this. Their whispers of cheers never stopped.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">One can\u2019t really say much more about the ex-boyfriend relationship, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">A researcher said optimistically.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Oh? Really?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Count Unobert spoke calmly, and then it seemed he addressed Ye Wangxing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">After you broke up with me, did you find someone else? But\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Count Unobert\u2019s tone turned slightly disdainful.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This substitute doesn\u2019t look that impressive. Why not come straight to the real one?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">These words plunged everyone, both inside and outside the private room, into complete silence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">A professor trembled and said: &#8220;\u2026Count Unobert was also this person\u2019s ex-boyfriend?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">What a legendary figure!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">However, Alina and the others weren\u2019t very shocked about the ex-boyfriend matter, as they had already heard this from Ye Bai.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">What shocked them more was the substitute remark. This was Lord Semos! Son of the Marshal! His status alone could make men and women across the empire\u2014and even the neighboring Alliance\u2014line up across more than ten star systems!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And now Count Unobert called him a substitute???<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This was absurd!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Then an even more absurd event happened.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Alina watched as Lord Semos, upon hearing this, froze for a moment. Then his gaze shifted to Ye Wangxing. He stared at him for a long time, his lips trembling, unable to speak.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">As the angle changed, Alina noticed tears welling in Semos\u2019 beautiful cat-like eyes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But he didn\u2019t let them fall. He stubbornly continued to stare at the young man in front of him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Alina felt her heart soften, and Martha sighed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">If Ye Wangxing weren\u2019t cold-hearted, facing Lord Semos like this, he would definitely waver.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And indeed, it happened.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Under Alina and Martha\u2019s watchful eyes, the young man, who had been held by Count Unobert and restricted from speaking, finally reclaimed his voice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">He spoke, and the neural interface began displaying his words.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Unobert, don\u2019t say that about Semos. Actually, none of you were substitutes. I truly cared for you both when I was with you. Moreover\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The young man\u2019s eyes carried some reproach as he looked at Count Unobert.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Actually, I only met you after I broke up with Semos.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Silence fell inside and outside the room once more.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The light words struck the golden-eyed Count, who had just risen, like a hammer\u2014he staggered.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The professors outside, upon realizing, were first shocked, then quietly cheered. They felt triumphant, having witnessed the vice director finally prevail.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Alina covered her face silently, unable to imagine how embarrassed Count Unobert must have felt.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Originally, she thought the other party was hostile, but in reality, she was the one caught off guard.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">At least this confirms that the palace drama wasn\u2019t based on reality. In the drama, they didn\u2019t say the Empress entered the palace later,\u201d Alina said, changing the topic.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Martha\u2019s hand trembled slightly as she opened the drama and handed it to Alina.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Last night\u2019s latest episode showed that the merchant Empress only entered the palace in the past two years.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The reason was clich\u00e9d: the treasury was empty, the Emperor didn\u2019t want the relatives of the court to gain power, so he married a merchant Empress.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This part resembled a palace drama\u2014after all, palace intrigues can only happen with an Emperor lacking real power.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But the Emperor\u2019s actor was so terrible, clearly a capitalist\u2019s ugly son, that Alina always skipped the Emperor\u2019s scenes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Unfortunately, last night, the merchant scene featured the Emperor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Alina: &#8220;\u2026&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Was this drama really not based on reality?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">After a long silence, she spoke tremblingly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Except for the scumbag Emperor, everything else matched reality!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Meanwhile, inside the private room, the atmosphere became calm rather than tense. But Martha could see that under this calm, hidden currents surged.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Count Unobert had not spoken long after Ye Wangxing struck him, and Ye Wangxing seemed displeased with Uno\u2019s \u201csubstitute\u201d remark.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But seeing Unobert\u2019s somewhat forlorn look, he sighed and retained Semos, trying to mediate between the two men.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Both Semos and Unobert agreed, but they remained alert, which made Alina feel anxious.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Luckily, Ye Wangxing controlled the atmosphere throughout, otherwise Alina suspected both men would need stomach medicine afterward.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">During the latter half of the meal, Count Unobert adjusted faster than Semos, consciously guiding the conversation. This allowed Alina to see the impressive persuasion skills of the richest man.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Such abilities in this setting left Alina shocked and speechless.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Fortunately, Unobert did not discuss classified matters, so Alina\u2019s neural interface worked normally.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This time, Unobert mentioned the poverty alleviation project managed by Ye Bai\u2019s mother.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Now Ms. Fei has set up local ports and infrastructure, but those logistics departments cannot yet cover the area. Because the planets are remote, transportation costs are increasing,\u201d Unobert explained, also mentioning local industries and tourism projects.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">When I traveled with Director Fei, I experienced the local tourism projects\u2014they were visually impressive, something the empire would enjoy. Unfortunately, local government couldn\u2019t afford subsidies, so it remained unknown.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The young man listened, expression serious, then relaxed slightly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">You want them to sell factory products through my platform?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Unobert smiled: &#8220;Your platform reaches the lower tiers. Unlike others, you have strong backing. Logistics groups in various systems dare not interfere, and your platform can help build official logistics.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Those logistics teams guard their own cake jealously.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Unobert didn\u2019t elaborate, but Alina understood some of it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Her mother and the Emperor had worried about logistics. With the empire\u2019s territory so vast, logistics and material transport were crucial\u2014not only for civilian needs but also military logistics.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Even though the military controlled transport channels, in a large war, civilian channels would be necessary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Without reliable official-civilian transport channels, authorities would lose sleep.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Unobert and Director Fei had worked on this for years. While the situation seemed good now, the path remained challenging.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u2014<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">They lacked a reliable partner to maximize logistics.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Power cannot have a vacuum, otherwise, someone will exploit it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Thus, for logistics rights, they needed a partner.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Ye Wangxing was the best choice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Though official personnel would later join, with Ye Wangxing\u2019s cooperation, there was no worry of collusion with local aristocrats.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Initially, they considered other platforms, but most were money-making machines of aristocratic families, unsuitable for official cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Alina then realized why those platforms all promoted luxury goods: aristocrats inflated prices for their gain, ignoring civilians.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">When Alina refocused on the private room, the conversation shifted to delivery robots.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Yet Alina noticed something odd\u2014Lord Semos remained silent, eating, unable to speak.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Is Count Unobert doing this on purpose?\u201d she asked Marsha, twitching her mouth.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Martha nodded helplessly, even Ye Bai nodded.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">What childish behavior!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">But perhaps expected from a romantic rival?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">They continued translating the conversation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The current problem is delivery robots. Cheap, slightly modified robots that last long are hard to find,\u201d the young man said, face squished against his hand, looking pitiful.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Then the golden-eyed man seized the opportunity to interject.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">I can help. The military logistics office has many discarded robots. \u2018Discarded\u2019 means unsuitable for battle, but they are idle due to bureaucratic laziness. It\u2019s better to deploy them to remote planets.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The man\u2019s expression returned to cold composure, the earlier spoiled emotions seemed illusory.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This impressed the young man.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Really? Semos, you\u2019re amazing to know even this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The man\u2019s ears flushed. He whispered: &#8220;I remembered this for you. After you left, I wanted to go to your planet to see you but couldn\u2019t find you\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The young man looked regretful: \u201cI happened to meet Unobert and had a project with him, so I changed my schedule\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Alina glanced at the golden-eyed man beside the young man, then at Semos, looking ready to explode.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p lang=\"en-US\">\u201c\u2026<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">What kind of Empress-steals-the-scene plot is this!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>Support translation:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/bePatron?u=25191841\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"217\" height=\"51\" class=\"wp-image-338 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ontimestory.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/become_a_patron_button.png?resize=217%2C51\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 217px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 217\/51;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ko-fi.com\/lajnaa\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ontimestory.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/kofi3-3.png?resize=185%2C47\" alt=\"This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is kofi3-3.png\" width=\"185\" height=\"47\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 185px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 185\/47;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n<p><!--EndFragment--><\/p>\r\n<p><!--EndFragment--><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cAh!!\u201d When those professors saw there was someone behind them, they screamed out loud. \u2014While they had been fully absorbed in eavesdropping, suddenly someone popped up behind them and spoke to them in a sinister tone. The shock was no less than having a bloody, mangled ghost suddenly appear right in front of their face [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[118],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-love-struck-brain-is-nothing","entry","has-media"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ontimestory.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20250409131120_300_420.jpeg?fit=300%2C420&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8027"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8028,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8027\/revisions\/8028"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontimestory.eu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}