Fortunately, the pharmaceutical work was also in the spare parts. Xia Yu devoted all his time to Zhu Mei, striving to improve her skill levels.
First, he used the reward of +LV3 to upgrade Ruse to LV3, Speech to LV2, and Exploitation to LV1. Then, he spent 740 experience cards accumulated during this time to upgrade Ruse to LV5 and Speech to LV4.
He spent a week doing this while gathering intelligence on District 14.
The royalists occupied sunset industries such as agriculture, while the anti-royalists controlled internet and technology industries.
The struggle between royalists and anti-royalists was mainly commercial. Both sides were interdependent but wanted to suppress each other to gain more profit.
As long as the business issues were resolved, other problems would no longer be issues. Although Xia Yu had business skills, they were only at LV3. He first visited various economists, engaged in extensive discussions, and drafted a general plan.
The plan could guarantee the interests of both sides and the overall benefit, but neither side was incapable of producing such a plan—they simply wanted more.
At this point, the effects of Ruse at LV5 and Speech at LV4 became apparent.
Using Ruse to divide and Speech to persuade, Xia Yu spent two months finally resolving Zhu Mei’s issue.
Returning to his own body, he drank some Sprite and sighed in relief.
The tense and exciting work was finally over; he could now play games.
Going to the living room, he connected the large monitor to the game console.
Xu Youxiang, leaning on crutches, sat beside Xia Yu. Her leg had improved significantly and she could now move her foot. Previously, she had wanted to show this to Xia Yu.
She picked up the game controller, ready to play games with Xia Yu, but Xia Yu had lost the desire to play.
Xia Yu disconnected the game console, pulled up a movie, and then lifted Xu Youxiang’s feet onto the sofa.
“What are you doing!” Xu Youxiang understood Xia Yu’s intentions and blushed.
“Treatment,” Xia Yu replied seriously. “You can just watch your TV.”
Handing the remote control to Xu Youxiang, Xia Yu began massaging her feet.
Probably because of regaining sensation, Xu Youxiang’s feet were very sensitive. Through different pressures and techniques, Xia Yu could observe various expressions on her face.
Xu Youxiang kept changing TV channels to distract herself, but this strategy soon failed. She tried to pull her feet away from Xia Yu, but he was enjoying himself and refused to let go. They playfully wrestled.
An Siyao, who had come out to pour tea, also approached the back of the sofa. Curiously, she pinched Xu Youxiang’s foot.
“Why are you joining in too!” Xu Youxiang, under attack from both sides, gave up resisting.
She picked up the remote and continued flipping channels.
“Huh,” Xu Youxiang exclaimed in surprise while watching the TV.
It was a news channel, broadcasting live from District 14.
Xia Yu and An Siyao couldn’t help but be drawn to the screen.
The scene displayed the palace press hall of District 14. Among a crowd of politicians, Zhu Mei, adorned with a crown, ascended the stage.
This was Zhu Mei’s formal announcement of her succession.
An Siyao immediately looked at Xia Yu, who gently patted her head.
After Zhu Mei’s speech, other important representatives spoke. An hour and a half later, these boring speeches finally ended, and it was time for the press Q&A.
The first few reporters still asked political and economic questions, but later reporters became completely unreliable.
Some asked about how to deal with the previous king’s mistress, others asked about foreign leaders’ romantic histories—complete chaos.
Zhu Mei brushed off all these questions until one reporter asked about her personal life.
Zhu Mei hesitated for five seconds, giving the reporters time to adjust their cameras.
She said, “The candidate for king has been decided; he is an ordinary man from District 1.”
Reporters continued to press for details, but Zhu Mei revealed nothing further.
Instantly, the news viewers and online forums erupted with excitement and discussions about Zhu Mei.
Unlike the public’s enthusiasm, Xia Yu felt the temperature in the house drop slightly, and he pulled his coat tighter.
“Who is this ordinary man from District 1?” Xu Youxiang looked at Xia Yu.
“Don’t look at me; I really don’t know.” Xia Yu genuinely didn’t know. Zhu Mei had never mentioned this to him. Besides, he felt Zhu Mei only saw him as a friend—how had she suddenly decided to get married?
Xia Yu avoided Xu Youxiang’s gaze, only to meet An Siyao’s eyes.
Tears sparkled in An Siyao’s eyes.
Xia Yu quickly comforted her, “The economic crisis in District 14 is very severe. Don’t think of Zhu Mei as a queen—she’s actually nowhere near as rich as you.”
“Really?” An Siyao brightened.
“Actually, I think money isn’t the main factor,” Xia Yu tried again to shift An Siyao’s romantic perspective, but once again, he failed.
Xu Youxiang interrupted, “What are you going to do now? She directly announced it at the press conference—so are you planning to abandon your wife and child?”
“Where’s the child?” Xia Yu instinctively retorted.
“You think I don’t know what you two do every night?” Xu Youxiang glanced at An Siyao’s stomach.
Both An Siyao and Xia Yu guiltily turned their heads away.
Xu Youxiang huffed coldly, “Come to my room tonight. Now let’s continue discussing Zhu Mei.”
“It might not be me,” Xia Yu defended.
As soon as he finished speaking, his phone rang.
It was an out-of-district call, labeled as Zhu Mei.
Under Xu Youxiang and An Siyao’s watchful eyes, Xia Yu pressed the answer button.
“Did you see the news?” Zhu Mei’s voice came through.
“No,” Xia Yu denied.
“You don’t need to see it either—just become my king,” Zhu Mei said.
“I refuse,” Xia Yu immediately rejected her.
Zhu Mei wasn’t surprised by Xia Yu’s refusal at all. She continued persuasively, “A king can have several wives.”
What did several wives have to do with him? Xia Yu was about to reply when his mind suddenly clicked.
He had been troubled about how to make others accept his relationship with An Siyao and Xu Youxiang. If they were an ordinary couple, no matter how wealthy they were, having one husband and two wives would invite ridicule. But what if they changed their identities—becoming one king and two queens?
With the status of king and queen, and being even more open about it, wouldn’t the ridicule turn into envy?
Xu Youxiang also realized this. She stopped glaring at Xia Yu and began thinking deeply.
“Is that why you want to be queen?” Xia Yu asked Zhu Mei.
“Yes,” the girl answered honestly.
“Why? You know what kind of relationship this would create between us, right?” Xia Yu couldn’t understand.
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