Chapter 80: The Little Adventurer Felt an Arrow Pierce His Head…

At exactly twelve o’clock, it was time for lunch.

Even the sizzle of oil-splattering stir-fry from the neighbor’s place seeped through the thin walls and door cracks into this rental apartment, making the air feel greasy.

But none of the three people present felt like eating.

Aside from Xie Jianxun, the other two stared at him in a daze.

Xun Jia was the first to snap out of it, shaking his head vigorously. “No way, no way!”

He said dryly, “Damn, you actually came up with this. Pretending to be someone else is one thing, but going straight for a prince—do you want me dead?!”

Xie Jianxun hurriedly held him down and cleared his throat. “It’s just a prince, not the crown prince. Don’t get worked up! …Ahem, I have my reasons.”

Facing their gazes, he said seriously, “First of all, have you two ever seen this person?”

Seles and Xun Jia both shook their heads.

That was normal, Xie Jianxun thought. He had rarely left the manor, and there were hardly any photos of him.

Unless Julius had suddenly decided to document his childhood for memories… Now that he thought about it, he’d never seen any photo albums in the manor. They probably didn’t exist.

He continued bluffing, “See, no one knows what he looks like, but I’ve seen him.”

Xun Jia stammered, “Y-you’ve actually met him!”

Seles didn’t speak. He looked at Xie Jianxun with shock and curiosity in his eyes, practically perking up his ears to listen.

Xie Jianxun said, “My older sister was a child sponsored by the East Border Lord. She once took me to thank that lord in person. That’s when we met.”

As he made up the story on the spot, he borrowed from Holianna’s experiences.

Xie Jianxun thought to himself, I hope Miss Holianna doesn’t mind suddenly having an extra little brother.

So there was this connection. Xun Jia came to a sudden realization. “I see. Brother, faking this isn’t easy for you! So you think…”

Xie Jianxun gestured at Xun Jia’s height and said solemnly, “You’re about the same height as him. Mm, and you look about the same age.”

Xun Jia looked down at himself, a bit dazed, as eight hundred questions popped into his mind.

“W-will I really not get arrested by the embassy? Is impersonating an important foreign guest illegal?”

Xie Jianxun spread his hands. “You’re not scamming money or sex, so probably not.”

Seles suddenly said, “You don’t need to let others know.”

Xun Jia blinked and looked at Seles. “Don’t need to?”

Xie Jianxun immediately understood what Seles meant.

He nodded vigorously in agreement. “Exactly. Seles is right. You just need Mr. Emory to buy into this identity. And I bet Mr. Emory won’t go blabbing everything he knows.”

Both of them waited for him to continue, but Xie Jianxun suddenly rubbed his stomach, changed the subject, and said a bit sheepishly, “Have you two had lunch?”

Xun Jia blinked and subconsciously rubbed his own stomach.

There was a light knock at the door. Seles had opened it and grinned smugly at them. “I said it was about time, so I just booked a restaurant. Please, Jianxun and Mr. Xun, enjoy a good meal.”

Xie Jianxun smiled brightly. “Thanks, Seles.”

They entered a private room on the second floor of a high-end restaurant in the commercial street, right next to floor-to-ceiling windows with a great view.

Xun Jia stood by the glass, peering out curiously at the well-dressed pedestrians coming and going on the street below.

It was past mealtime now, so the restaurant wasn’t crowded. The kitchen soon delivered the ordered dishes.

Xun Jia was starving. He’d been busy with work yesterday and had only eaten that greasy late-night barbecue from the night before, including this morning.

Now with proper food in front of him, he nearly shoveled the plates into his stomach.

Xie Jianxun was hungry too. He’d walked around campus that morning, and checking his Star Net step count showed several thousand steps!

After devouring everything, they both let out satisfied burps.

Xie Jianxun happily noticed that his appetite seemed a tiny bit bigger.

If this kept up, he could finally shed this embarrassing height and frail build!

Xun Jia, however, froze in place, staring at his empty plate.

A moment later, he asked, “Should I have eaten more elegantly?”

Xie Jianxun turned to look at him. “Huh?”

Xun Jia said, “I mean, someone like His Highness, who’s received a proper education, probably wouldn’t eat as crazily as I did.”

It was like an arrow pierced his head. Xie Jianxun silently looked down at his own plate.

After a moment of silence, he sighed. “You’re right. But don’t be too harsh on yourself. His Highness is human too. We all have two eyes and one mouth—eat however feels natural.”

Xun Jia awkwardly picked up his knife and fork, mimicking the movements from Star Net dramas, slowly cutting into a steak.

It felt weird. He gave up after three minutes.

At most, he slowed down to look a bit more refined.

Xie Jianxun watched him for a few minutes and decided, “If there’s a dining occasion, just follow my lead. I’ll cover for you.”

After the meal, Xun Jia seemed to think of something and hurriedly called out, “Wait, no! I just remembered something important!”

He looked down and gestured at his clothes. “Look at me—all street stall junk, not even a brand label! My god, anyone can tell I’m not someone important!”

Xie Jianxun realized this was a big problem too.

Even if the disguised “Your Highness” was casual, he wouldn’t wear cheap clothes like this.

He selectively ignored his own outfit and pondered what to do.

Xun Jia took a deep breath, as if making a major decision. “Otherwise, I’ll work four shifts a day and rent a high-end suit before the banquet.”

Xie Jianxun glanced at the bustling commercial street outside and murmured, “No, no need.”

Xun Jia looked at him puzzled. After they finished eating, Xie Jianxun told him to head back to the rental first and that he’d come find him later, then hurried off.

As Xun Jia was mopping the rental floor, he heard a knock at the door.

He opened it, and Xie Jianxun slipped inside.

“Quick, quick, come try these! I just bought them!” The Little Adventurer burst in with boundless enthusiasm, lighting up the dim rental.

His Light Brain seemed tucked into his chest, so he bent down to tap the light screen on his chest and retrieve the things he’d stuffed inside earlier.

Whoosh!

He pulled out a shopping bag from his Light Brain’s storage space, stuffed full, which left Xun Jia dumbfounded.

Xun Jia stammered, “Y-you! Th-this… these?!”

He could barely speak.

Xie Jianxun finally caught his breath and said excitedly, “I figured we’re about the same size, so I bought them in my size… Try them on?”

Xun Jia was stunned. “You bought all these? How much did that cost!”

Xie Jianxun pulled out his prepared excuse. “Did you forget? I’m good at fakes… They’re all counterfeits! Straight from a knockoff shop!”

Xun Jia shakily began trying on these “counterfeits.”

He felt the soft, smooth fabric—heavy and substantial, perfect for Silver Watchtower’s current weather.

They had labels but no price tags, roughly balled up together like they’d been grabbed in a rush.

Sturdy, high-quality material—not like fakes.

The thought flashed through his mind, but then he remembered Xie Jianxun’s Light Brain that could even fake storage space… With that tech, a few clothes were nothing.

He immediately accepted the knockoff brand clothes and even thought they felt great.

Soft and warm to the touch, luxurious—not like fakes at all.

He praised sincerely, “Counterfeiting tech is so advanced these days. I heard some clothing companies weave anti-counterfeit coatings into the fabric— these don’t have that too, do they?”

Xie Jianxun said, “…Hard to say. Maybe they do.”

Xun Jia asked, “Jianxun, where’d you get these? Recommend some to me?”

Xie Jianxun stayed calm and looked innocent. “From an acquaintance I know. I called him, and he was right here in Silver Watchtower.”

The two youths clumsily sorted and packed the clothes.

The high-end shopping bags were overstuffed, their openings stretched wide, now crumpled and wilted on the floor.

Xun Jia carefully picked them up and dusted them off.

“Pretty good quality. I’ll keep them for storage.”

He looked around. The drab rental was filled with bright clothes, making it seem brighter. “This place has nothing else—no closet even. Nowhere to put stuff.”

Xie Jianxun was sizing him up too.

After the ordeal, Xun Jia was dressed in a snow-white hoodie and name-brand sneakers. With a bit of styling, he looked ten times more noble.

Xie Jianxun said satisfied, “Not bad. First step complete.”

Xun Jia looked down at himself, stumbling around like a cat stuffed into a cotton jacket, barely able to walk.

He was still worried. “Will he see through the fakes?”

He meant Mr. Emory.

Xie Jianxun said, “I doubt he has that sharp an eye. Besides, you saw—they’re made very convincingly.”

Xun Jia believed him and cherished the feel of the clothes on his body.

Xie Jianxun offered one last suggestion. “We have some time. You should go hang out in those high-end places, see how others carry themselves.”

Xun Jia said timidly, “What if I can’t get in?”

Xie Jianxun patted his shoulder encouragingly. “Be confident. With that outfit, you will—they won’t stop you. Just looking doesn’t cost money!”

A moment later, Xun Jia nodded.

His gaze gradually turned resolute. “I will.”

What did it mean to make himself stronger?

Determination, courage, action.

While Xun Jia was out “upgrading” himself, Xie Jianxun wasn’t idle.

Sitting with Seles in the hotel restaurant, he noticed Seles staring at him.

The young man’s gaze held strong admiration, making Xie Jianxun a bit embarrassed.

He touched his hair and smiled. “What’s with me?”

Seles praised, “The first time I saw you, I was drawn to your unique hair color. You might not realize it yourself, but placing such a striking beauty in a crowd is incredibly eye-catching.”

Xie Jianxun missed the implication and latched onto something else.

He said warily, “I’m that conspicuous?”

Seles replied, “Yes.”

He paused, then said fervently, “Like a shining gold brick. Oh, and your eyes—they outshine the gold used to adorn crowns.”