Chapter 77: What Fiancé? He’s Already Dead…

On stage, Idis handed out medals to all the contestants.

The host enthusiastically grabbed the microphone: “Great! Please have the professor stand to the side for a group photo with our contestants.”

He maneuvered his wheelchair around, his expression cold and indifferent. Without a word, he shifted to the outermost position in the contestants’ lineup.

Led by the host’s applause, the camera flashes went off, and Idis and the contestants faced the cameras squarely, their faces also reflected on the large screen.

The league ended, and the audience began to disperse.

Xie Jianxun remained seated in his chair, gazing reluctantly at the stage until the man in the wheelchair exited through the backstage.

He slowly exhaled, thinking dejectedly that Idis probably had nothing to do with One at all—it was just a random coincidence that generated an identical face model.

As he pondered this, his wrist was suddenly gripped. “Why the sigh?”

He looked up in surprise. It was Seles.

The young man didn’t look at him but stared straight ahead, saying firmly, “I’ll take you to see him.”

Xie Jianxun froze.

He stood up and was pulled along stumbling forward, past row after row of audience seats, through the quick passage they had used to enter. At the exit, they encountered a massive crowd jam.

The crowd was blocked outside by Security Mecha, preventing them from disrupting the contestants’ and guests’ departure. They had no choice but to line up horizontally, all craning their necks to peer inside.

“Will they come out the back door?”

“I don’t think so. Didn’t they say Gu Xuning might be Idis’s student? They might come out together.”

“Ahh! I want a group photo with them!”

“In your dreams. Gu Xuning might be possible, but don’t count on Idis. You’re lucky if he doesn’t ignore you.”

This time, Seles relied on the strong muscles from his disciplined workouts to forcefully push through the crowd, dragging Xie Jianxun to the front row.

Xie Jianxun was squeezed until he was dizzy. Finally coming to a stop, he asked, “This is…”

Seles shouted, “They’re out!”

Xie Jianxun paused and followed his gaze.

As if to confirm his words, before Xie Jianxun could react, an unparalleled cheer erupted from the crowd behind him.

Sure enough, the contestants emerged calmly from the passage, with the young man walking at the end of the group, smiling and waving to everyone.

A light sheen of sweat beaded on his forehead, likely from the excitement of the recent victory.

Xie Jianxun stood in the front row and was spotted by him immediately.

The young man paused, his smile widening as he waved toward them, then tapped his Light Brain, signaling they would connect via it later.

“Ooh ooh ooh! Gu Xuning! Over here!”

It seemed they had performed exceptionally well—indeed, the second half had been particularly thrilling.

Xie Jianxun was just about to return a smile when the crowd’s cheers suddenly faltered. He followed everyone’s gaze inward, where the faint sound of wheelchair wheels rolling emerged from the darkness.

Someone murmured, “No way…”

The young man also stopped and looked back, appearing somewhat surprised.

But soon, he walked back into the passage and pushed the person out—it was Idis.

The young, accomplished top mechanic leaned relaxed against the back of his chair, hands folded over his abdomen, cold and composed.

The young man bent slightly at the waist, turning his face to the side as if listening to him speak.

“I didn’t expect Idis really took a student.”

Xie Jianxun heard Seles sigh. “Tomorrow’s headlines will be all over it—something like ‘Gu Xuning’s Graduate Advisor Confirmed as Idis’ or ‘Idis Takes His First Student.'”

Xie Jianxun thought for a moment and said, “A powerhouse alliance. They might achieve even greater things.”

As if speaking of him, Gu Xuning looked up and pointed toward them. Idis then glanced over, suddenly locking eyes with Xie Jianxun.

The top mechanic gave Xie Jianxun a slight nod, as if thanking him.

But afterward, his gaze didn’t withdraw—instead, it sharpened—

Xie Jianxun suddenly felt a strong push from behind, followed by Seles’s panicked shout in his ear: “Damn, who has that much strength!”

A fanatic fan had torn through the Security Mecha’s defenses and rushed toward Idis!

“Professor Idis! Could you sign something for me?!”

Xie Jianxun only felt the scene spin before his eyes as he was shoved out of the protective line.

In the chaos, someone grabbed his arms from both sides, sparing him a painful face-plant onto the ground.

The crowd instantly descended into disorder, swallowing Seles behind them. The Security Mecha activated defense mode, swiftly surrounding and shielding them while isolating the flow of people outside.

The fanatic who had barreled through gripped Idis’s wheelchair, pleading, “Professor Idis… I’ve studied your designs for so long, dreaming day and night. I just want a trace of your true work…”

An irregular outline of a device peeked from under his clothes—anyone with eyes could tell he was using a Wearable Exoskeleton to break through the security robots’ defenses.

A low, masculine voice sounded above Xie Jianxun’s head: “Throw him out.”

“Idis!!!”

The Security Mecha immediately carried out the order, dragging the fanatic away.

Gu Xuning let out a breath of relief and helped Xie Jianxun steady himself, asking hurriedly, “You okay?”

Xie Jianxun shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Gu Xuning: “We should go. It’s dragging on too long… Professor?”

His hand had already let go, but Xie Jianxun’s other arm was still firmly gripped.

Hearing Gu Xuning’s call, Idis finally released his hold and said with downcast eyes, “Let’s go.”

Gu Xuning: “We’re heading to the victory banquet. Are you coming too? Thanks for that Modified Screwdriver. He Zhen was too careless—most of the parts needed that size, and he didn’t bring spares.”

Xie Jianxun instinctively glanced at Idis. The mechanic didn’t look at him, lost in thought about something.

He flexed his arm, feeling the skin bruised and sore… Not surprising for a top mechanic; his grip was incredibly strong.

Xie Jianxun pointed behind him and smiled. “Nah, you guys go ahead. I came with a friend, so we’ll head back together.”

Gu Xuning looked a bit disappointed, but at that moment, Idis lifted his head and glanced at him.

His teammates up ahead were already boarding the Air Sedan, waving at them. Gu Xuning gave up on persuading Xie Jianxun and said, “Alright, then let’s schedule a time later. I’ll return your stuff.”

Xie Jianxun waved back. “Sure. You guys hurry!”

Only then did Gu Xuning push Idis onto the Air Sedan. As the vehicle lifted off, the crowd surged forward, engulfing Xie Jianxun.

A hand grabbed him from behind. Xie Jianxun turned to see Seles, panting as he slung an arm over his shoulders.

Seles hung his head dejectedly, as if one could imagine his ears drooping sadly atop his head.

“Sorry, I lost hold of you…”

Xie Jianxun chuckled and patted his shoulder. Seeing him still downcast, he pressed down on his shoulders and said, “Don’t be like that. I’m perfectly fine now, aren’t I? And we successfully met Idis—mission accomplished!”

Seles mumbled a glum “Mm,” feeling he had been too rash and inconsiderate.

Rushing to the front in such a massive crowd wasn’t wise. Fortunately, nothing bad happened, or he would have blamed himself to death.

At that moment, his upper body swayed slightly—Xie Jianxun had taken the initiative to grab his arm and lead him toward the parking area.

Xie Jianxun: “It’s almost ten. I want some late-night snacks… Coming? My treat?” He turned back with a smile.

In those short few minutes, a clear plan had formed in his mind.

Gu Xuning was Idis’s student, and he happened to have Gu Xuning’s contact code saved.

He might be able to formally visit Professor Idis through him and inquire about the Mechanical Puppet.

All obstacles cleared in an instant, his mood brightened once more.

The man hailed as a genius by the Mechanics Association—he was sure to have a way to repair One, or at least provide some ideas.

Seles’s legs moved involuntarily.

He said, “Hell yeah, I’m in. Why you treating? I’ve got money—I’ll treat you.”

Xie Jianxun grinned. “You’re always the one treating. I’ve eaten so many meals on your dime already. This one’s on me.”

He walked ahead, his soft, fluffy ash-gray hair bobbing with each step. Watching it, Seles’s mood unknowingly lifted.

Unbidden, a thought crossed his mind: Whatever Idis… let him come, and I’d cut him down. No one’s stealing my guy.

With that, the young man hastily adjusted his loosened tie, quickened his pace to catch up to Xie Jianxun, and nudged him forward from behind. “Let’s go, let’s go! I know a spot with killer late-night eats—the only downside is the crowd!”

Xie Jianxun immediately hyped it up. “That good? I gotta try it!”

The Air Sedan traced a smooth arc through the sky, speeding along the aerial lanes.

Xie Jianxun leaned against the car window, his golden eyes reflecting the city’s myriad colors.

It was young, vibrant, full of life—even at ten o’clock, it was just the start of Silver Watchtower’s nightlife.

Flashing neon signs, holographic ad projections.

Pedestrians moved along the streets in orderly waves, following traffic signals like ants returning to the nest.

Xie Jianxun watched, enthralled, barely blinking.

They hit a red light, and Seles braked smoothly.

Glancing sideways, he saw Xie Jianxun utterly absorbed by the bustling sights outside, as if captivated by the big-city spectacle. He guessed Xie Jianxun came from some underdeveloped little planet and had never seen anything like it.

Seles mentally listed Silver Watchtower’s top attractions, deciding to sacrifice his own fun time to play tour guide for his handsome new friend and show him the ropes.

The car halted, and Xie Jianxun looked down. Below was a vast open field surrounded by sprawling buildings, dotted with scattered lights—not like a residential area.

He asked casually, “Is this a school?”

Seles leaned over to check and nodded. “Oh, this place? I graduated from here.”

Mentioning school, Seles asked, “It’s winter break now, right? Jianxun, are you starting university next year?”

Xie Jianxun replied, “No, I’ve never been to school.”

Seles blinked in surprise.

Only then did he notice the envious, longing look in Xie Jianxun’s eyes as he gazed at the school grounds below. “…How come?”

He suddenly felt awkward, like he’d said something wrong again.

Xie Jianxun pulled his gaze away and waved it off. “It’s fine. There were reasons before, so I always had private tutors and never went to school. But my family said they’ll send me to university, so no worries.”

Seles’s heart settled, and he breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.”

He didn’t want to linger. As soon as the light turned green, he floored the accelerator and shot forward!

“Don’t overthink it!” The window was wide open, wind whipping past their ears as the young man shouted, “We’ll deal with the future later—this is our late-night snack time now!”

Xie Jianxun looked at him, pondering for a moment.

“It’s my first time in an Air Sedan, so I don’t know much,” he said earnestly. Seles made a questioning hum. “Do you not need to wear a seatbelt in these?”

Seles: “…It has autopilot.”

So he hadn’t paid much attention to that—some bad habits caught red-handed.

Even as he said it, his hands moved on instinct, buckling his own seatbelt and promising he’d never forget again when driving.

Soon, the Air Sedan pulled up outside a late-night snack shop.

Seles parked in place, and Xie Jianxun unbuckled, stepping out.

Even from the doorway, they could see the steamy bustle inside.

Seles led the way, pushing open the door. The aroma of grilling ingredients mixed with rich spices hit Xie Jianxun like a wave.

It was enough to instantly awaken anyone’s appetite.

A table freed up just then, and Seles unceremoniously claimed it, sitting down first.

While waiting for the server to clear it, he grumbled, “They used to set tables outside. That’s when late-night skewers were the best—eating with the breeze… Too bad now. The roads got widened, and City Lord’s Mansion cracked down on city aesthetics—no more outdoor seating.”

The server, wiping the table, chimed in, “Yeah, sir. You’re so young, but you even know about that.”

Seles could chat with anyone: “My dad was a regular here too. The whole family’s had your skewers.”

“Oh wow, then we gotta tell the kitchen to bring their A-game today—no letting old customers think the taste has changed!”

The restaurant’s tables were enormous, and it was nearly full, with waiters hurrying back and forth.

There was no menu. Seles rattled off the names of ingredients with practiced ease, and the waiter beside them automatically recorded the order using the voice recognition on their Light Brain.

Seles said, “You should order something too.”

Xie Jianxun had never ordered from a menu-less place before and quickly refused. “You go ahead. I don’t know what to pick, and I’m not picky anyway.”

Seles praised him. “That’s impressive. There are tons of things I won’t eat.”

He recalled what Xie Jianxun had taken from the hotel buffet last time, made a guess about his tastes, and carefully added a few more ingredients.

As he spoke, he ordered a bottle of liquor and casually thought to get one for Xie Jianxun too.

“Give it a try. It’s a local brand—pure flavor. You definitely can’t get this stuff outside…”

Xie Jianxun pushed the bottle back toward him. Seles looked puzzled.

He said calmly, “I’m not of age yet.”

Seles: “…”

He struggled to keep his composure. First came an expression of disbelief, followed by a sharp intake of breath that turned into outright collapse.

He said dryly, “You’re… not of age?”

Xie Jianxun nodded. “Not yet, but soon.”

Seles: “………………”

Ah!!! Heavens, what had he done?!

He set down the bottle and pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling like he needed a moment to recover as he reflected on his earlier actions.

Right—blinded by beauty, his mind had been a whirlwind of hot-blooded determination to win the guy over.

Taking him out to play, even offering him booze.

He thought coldly, Serves me right to get shot down.

…Wait a minute. Not of age and already has a boyfriend? What was going on… puppy love?

His molars ached at the thought. Then he remembered the boyfriend was a Mechanical Puppet, and suddenly it all made sense. A Mechanical Puppet wasn’t a real person, after all, so it was normal not to overthink it.

It wouldn’t hurt to wait a little longer. He could do that.

Seles sat there in a daze, with no other reaction.

Xie Jianxun apologetically nudged the beer toward him and called the waiter over to order a bottle of fresh-squeezed juice.

“Since it’s already ordered, could you take care of this one for me?”

Seles nodded silently, picked up the bottle, bit off the cap casually, and took a swig.

Soon, both cooked and raw dishes arrived. The raw ones were skewered on short metal sticks, waiting for the diners to grill them themselves.

Brushed with spices and dripping with oil, they quickly turned into sizzling, aromatic skewers.

Xie Jianxun took one and carefully bit into it with his teeth.

The juices were rich, the flavors layered and complex. He ate several in a row, squinting his eyes in satisfaction.

The dining hall buzzed with noise and chatter, but it couldn’t drown out the faint sounds of scolding from the other side.

Driven by curiosity for the drama, Xie Jianxun bit off a piece of meat from his skewer and, like everyone else, glanced back. A waiter had accidentally splashed corn juice on a customer, who was drunk and yelling right in the waiter’s face.

The tirade had been going on for five minutes and showed no signs of stopping.

As the language grew uglier and the scene escalated, the dining hall manager rushed out. He pulled the waiter behind him while soothing the irate customer.

He spoke appeasing words while secretly nudging the waiter to head to the bathroom in the back and lay low.

The waiter kept his head down and hurried off. The furious customer finally ranted for a full ten minutes, got some compensation, and stormed away.

Xie Jianxun hadn’t planned to get involved, but then he spotted a familiar face.

“Xun Jia?” he said doubtfully.

Seles: “What?”

Xie Jianxun: “I think I just saw my friend!”

No way, Seles thought with a jolt, nearly flinching at the word “friend.”

Xie Jianxun had already stood up and was striding quickly toward the bathroom. “I’ll go check!”

Seles made a snap decision, set down his skewer, and followed. “I’ll come with you.”

The two entered the bathroom one after the other and indeed found the waiter from earlier hunched over the wide sink.

Amid splashing sounds, he washed his hands, as if scrubbing away snot and tears.

Xie Jianxun spoke up. “Xun Jia?”

The waiter turned in surprise. Seeing the familiar face, he cried out, “Jianxun!”

Xie Jianxun hadn’t expected to run into him here. He took in Xun Jia’s red eyes and waiter uniform, guessing he’d been wronged while working a job.

“Didn’t you say you were coming to stay with your fiancé?”

“Where is he?”

At the mention of his fiancé, Xun Jia’s face twisted in disgust. The sadness and grievance from moments ago vanished instantly.

“Him? He’s dead as dirt!”