Seles remembered his friend’s earnest advice from the night before: learn to give compliments.
His friend’s exact words had been, “Don’t expect anyone to like a dog’s mouth that spits no ivory. Since you’ll have plenty of time together, why not use it to boost their favorability?”
No one dislikes praise from others, right?
Seles thought it made perfect sense, so he stayed up half the night on Star Net, trying to improve his emotional intelligence.
But in Xie Jianxun’s ears, it sounded like a reminder:
You’re too eye-catching.
It wasn’t usually a problem, but now they were about to execute their plan to infiltrate Emory’s social circle, with Xun Jia as the main star.
…If he stole the spotlight from the protagonist, wouldn’t that draw all of Emory’s attention to him?!
No, no way. Xie Jianxun made up his mind immediately.
He chewed on a piece of tenderloin for a moment before deciding: “I get it. I’ll go dye my hair.”
Seles blinked in stunned surprise. “What’s wrong?”
Why dye his hair all of a sudden? Had something unexpected happened, or had he said the wrong thing?!
Damn, this mouth of his!
Seles nervously gripped his knife and fork, staring unblinkingly at Xie Jianxun, afraid he might make some decision that would ruin their budding rapport.
Xie Jianxun glanced at Seles’s dark brown hair, then thought of Xun Jia’s black hair. He looked around at the other diners in the restaurant and realized Seles was spot on.
Someone with naturally light hair like him stood out in a crowd like a lightbulb.
The glowing kind!
He made his decision on the spot and calmly explained to Seles: “You’re right, it’s a bit too noticeable. Right now, I can only play the role of background behind the prince—how about dyeing it black?”
Seles eyed his silky, lustrous locks and felt utterly helpless for the first time in his life.
He tried to salvage the situation: “Can’t you just use temporary dye for now?”
Xie Jianxun rejected it outright: “Temporary dye only lasts a few hours—not enough. Better to get a proper dye job. It’s easy these days; you can wash it out whenever you want to change back.”
Seles was about to argue that dyeing harmed the hair, but the next second, he imagined Xie Jianxun with black hair…
Glossy black strands that would make his skin look even fairer.
The young man held his breath, coughed to look away, and under Xie Jianxun’s puzzled gaze, felt a dizzying illusion wash over him.
“Do whatever you decide.”
He averted his eyes to the floor. “Mm… trying a new style sounds good.”
Regaining his composure quickly, he added: “Need me to recommend a salon? There’s a famous one—I’m their VIP client.”
Xie Jianxun lit up: “That would be perfect. Saves me wandering the streets. Looks like I’m riding on your coattails, Seles.”
Sea Blue Hair Salon was a high-end private studio that only took pre-booked clients.
A few days earlier, someone had booked a dye job—nothing out of the ordinary, they thought.
But when the client arrived, the stylist took one look at his natural smoky gray hair and felt deep regret.
“You really want to dye it black?”
He tried to dissuade him gently: “It might not look better than now.”
Xie Jianxun didn’t mind. Hair color meant nothing to him; changing it could even lower his chances of being recognized… first by Julius, second by Huo Jing.
He said firmly: “Yes, dye it black.”
The brightly lit studio gleamed with reflections from lights and mirrors, leaving no shadows and illuminating every strand of hair crystal clear.
The stylist hadn’t been optimistic about the result, but once it was done, he was surprised: “Sir, you actually suit black hair quite well.”
Xie Jianxun looked at himself in the mirror without much reaction.
After all, back when he’d just run away from home, he’d secretly used temporary dye and knew what he looked like with black hair.
As he waited for the color to set, voices came from the studio entrance. Another stylist was ushering in a new client.
The man spotted the back of Xie Jianxun’s head the moment he walked in and immediately complained: “Didn’t I say I booked the whole place this morning? Why are you taking new clients? Think I’m cheap?”
The stylist sighed inwardly and placated him with a smile: “This gentleman paid extra to rush it, and he’s almost done. Don’t worry, you’ll have the upstairs private room—no disturbances.”
You just made a casual reservation without paying, he thought.
“I clearly said the entire studio…”
The man grumbled as he strode upstairs, but at the corner, he instinctively glanced back—just in time to see the young client in the downstairs swivel chair turn his head and meet his eyes in the mirror.
The upstairs stylist called: “Mr. Emory?”
Xie Jianxun heard the somewhat familiar name and instinctively looked over, locking eyes with the man right away.
He repeated it to himself twice in his mind before suddenly realizing.
…Wait, wasn’t this the jerk who’d gotten Xun Jia kicked out?
They’d run into each other so quickly and coincidentally!
It wasn’t part of the plan. Xie Jianxun took a deep breath. Looked like he’d have to improvise.
The stylist chatted with him, sneakily promoting: “You’re not local? You’re lucky to find us—our skills are top-tier in Silver Watchtower.”
Should he strike up a conversation to draw Emory’s attention, or try something else…
Xie Jianxun kept glancing at the man on the stairs, his mind racing tensely.
He said casually: “A friend recommended you.”
Footsteps paused on the stairs, then thudded back down. In a flash, the man was right there.
Stylist: “Customer, how about a style? Curl the ends a bit…”
Before he finished, he was waved off.
The newcomer boldly rested a hand on the back of Xie Jianxun’s chair and met his gaze in the mirror.
He had shoulder-length light brown hair, gray-blue eyes, and a handsome, upright face—not bad, fitting for someone who could seamlessly chain relationships and even land Miss Nevi.
“I’ve never seen a boy as good-looking as you.”
He jumped right in familiarly, ignoring the awkwardly dismissed stylist. “You’re pretty enough without any embellishments—just perfect as is.”
Xie Jianxun was caught off guard, completely unprepared for Emory to charge in like this.
Before he could plan his next move, Emory’s cloying gaze made his skin crawl… As expected of a seasoned player; even his pick-up lines were flawlessly smooth.
Keeping calm on the surface, he responded coolly with feigned curiosity: “First off, I’m an adult—no longer a boy. Sir, who might you be?”
The man grinned smugly: “Just call me Emory. I’m somewhat known around Silver Watchtower. Heard of Mande Technology Company?”
Xie Jianxun thought, Not at all.
He couldn’t say that outright, so he rephrased tactfully: “Sir, I’m a tourist from out of town. I just arrived in Silver Watchtower with my cousin, and I don’t know much yet.”
“Not too late to learn now. You can look it up on Star Net.”
Emory showed no awkwardness of a first meeting. Staring at Xie Jianxun, he felt a itch.
“You can check my profile too—my bio and resume are there, with some pretty handsome photos.”
Only then did he notice Xie Jianxun’s cheap clothes and frowned, pulling his hand back from the chair.
He hadn’t noticed earlier—turns out he was a broke kid.
A broke kid booking Sea Blue? Standards dropping lower and lower.
Probably scrimped for ages to afford this high-end spot; it didn’t match that expensive-looking face at all.
Normally, he might indulge in a bit of charity.
But unfortunately, he’d already chosen Miss Nevi—no room for side affairs, unlike before when he could squeeze in another romance… Emory lost interest instantly.
Xie Jianxun: “Indeed, you look quite accomplished.”
Bulls**t.
Emory waved it off dismissively: “I should head up for my hair. Have fun in Silver Watchtower.”
He turned to leave regretfully, but saw Xie Jianxun stand and ask the stylist for the bill.
With a hook of his pinky, he pulled a chain from around his neck, dangling a Light Brain.
Emory’s sharp eyes recognized it instantly: a rare, expensive… unreleased large-capacity Space Optical Brain!
Without connections and background, how could anyone get one?!
Xie Jianxun turned his back casually, as if unguarded, and opened the Light Brain’s screen to pull up the payment interface.
Everything slowed to a crawl. The string of zeros in the balance flashed for a fraction of a second—but Emory caught them all.
His breath hitched; he couldn’t believe his eyes.
Xie Jianxun turned, seeing Emory transformed, enthusiastically leaning in for a handshake.
His smile was warm and genuine, as if the earlier dismissive attitude had never happened.
“I think we should get to know each other better. I’m a mechanical engineering grad student at Silver University, double-majoring in finance. Next year after graduation, I’ll take a position in the family company… I’ve got a project that needs a tester. Interested?”
Xie Jianxun was caught off guard as his hand was grabbed, nearly making his hair stand on end.
The Little Adventurer yanked back hard: “You… I… we don’t even know each other yet?!”
He’d meant to test the waters, but the effect was too good!
Emory laughed: “We will soon. Guessing you need a guide? I’m a Silver Watchtower local—I know everything. Ask me anything.”
Xie Jianxun didn’t lack a guide; he lacked a target delivering itself.
He sized the man up, thoughts flashing through his mind.
Staring into Emory’s eyes, countless follow-up scenarios raced by.
Finally, as if relenting, he eased his grip: “Really? My cousin’s always busy with work, leaving me alone these past couple days. No idea where to go. A knowledgeable guide would be perfect.”
The upstairs stylist called repeatedly: “Mr. Emory! Mr. Emory?!”
Emory asked softly: “Plans this afternoon?”
Xie Jianxun answered honestly: “Nothing set yet.”
Emory eyed his pretty face. With his eye for these things, one glance told him this was a sheltered young master.
Dressed so cheaply? Definitely a low-key disguise.
His mind whirred, coming up with several date ideas. Pretending to think, he suggested: “How about shopping on the commercial street? Silver Watchtower’s stores are different from other planets—lots of local specialty mecha worth seeing.”
Xie Jianxun hesitated, as if conflicted: “I’d need to tell my cousin.”
Emory: “Invite him too? I’ve got time—I’ll show you both around.”
Xie Jianxun looked down, seizing the chance to fire off a message to Xun Jia on his Light Brain: “You won’t believe who I ran into!”
Xun Jia: “?? Don’t tell me it’s that guy.”
Xie Jianxun: “How’d you guess? Spot on!”
Xun Jia: “…”
Besides that guy, who else did they both know?!
Such a coincidence—they’d bumped into him already. Xun Jia tensed up instantly.
He said seriously: “Do I need to step in?”
He wasn’t fully prepared, but if he had to go now, he wouldn’t back down.
Xun Jia glanced at his outfit and frantically rummaged through the pile of high-end “fakes.”
Xie Jianxun looked up at Emory, who now resembled a perfect gentleman—no trace of the shouting, ranting entrance earlier.
Xie Jianxun looked down: “No, stay back for now. Big shots always make their entrance last, with their own fanfare.”
