In the gentle tone Shang Jianli loved most, Ji Shileng praised Qin Si.
“You think too highly of me, Mr. Qin. I’m merely a spoiled rich kid”
“You’re the one who’s truly young and accomplished”
Young and accomplished.
The words stabbed viciously into Shang Jianli’s heart again.
He heard a reporter ask, “Hello, Mr. Ji. What does being young and accomplished mean to you?”
The question had nothing to do with military technology, but Ji Shileng took no offense.
He answered almost jokingly, “It’s simple. When something goes wrong, you face it yourself. That’s accomplishment enough”
In case certain people failed to understand, he explained, “Unlike some people, who always drag someone else out to divert public attention whenever trouble arises”
Chu Wan instinctively checked her general’s expression.
Excellent. He looked even colder.
Shang Jianli had not expected Ji Shileng to tear open the truth before everyone, almost leaving it raw and bleeding for the world to see.
The reporters permitted to attend the conference at least knew how to read the room.
Qin Si’s smile gradually faded, his eyes dark.
The lead reporter wisely announced that he had no further questions.
Once one outlet had spoken, the others, unwilling to draw unwanted attention, quickly followed suit.
Qin Si smiled again and kept an arm around Ji Shileng, preventing him from leaving the stage.
“Our next segment is, I believe, the moment everyone has been waiting for”
Ji Shileng felt everything go dark again.
He had never read the conference program.
He had not even planned to attend in the first place.
Could they please let him go back to his seat and resume doing absolutely nothing?
His wish went unanswered.
“I’d therefore like to invite our new partner, Mr. Ji Shileng, to conduct the draw”
Ji Shileng maintained his practiced smile. To outsiders, he appeared perfectly at ease. Ji Shifeng, who knew his brother better, had to raise a hand and rescue him.
“Mr. Qin, some guests may not know what this next segment involves. Could you briefly explain?”
Ji Shileng breathed an inward sigh of relief.
He knew he could count on his brother.
“Next is the official draw to select the host nation for the interstellar military competition”
As Qin Si spoke, an assistant brought up the draw box.
Compared with the closed competition format of previous years, this year’s livestreaming model promised substantial returns.
Hosting would grant a nation exclusive livestreaming rights, bringing considerable revenue.
A successfully organized competition would also enhance its interstellar standing.
The host for each competition was selected by drawing lots among several major powers with strong overall capabilities.
Ji Shileng looked at Qin Si.
You want me to draw?
Qin Si returned an affirmative look.
Ji Shileng was speechless.
It was one thing for him to occasionally place irrational faith in his own luck. Everyone else really ought to know better.
He was the unluckiest person in the universe. No ritual could cure his terrible draws, and no amount of spending could change his fate.
“Please, Mr. Ji”
Qin Si seemed to recognize his concern.
“It doesn’t matter who you draw. There’s no pressure”
“Every country in the box is a major power, after all”
The hall suddenly fell quiet.
The pen in Shang Jianli’s hand finally gave way and snapped in two.
Startled out of her tension, Chu Wan looked from the big screens to Shang Jianli.
She was about to lose her mind.
Could someone stop paying quite so much attention to his romantic rival?
He had already lost his spouse. Surely he could at least hold on to his career.
With a click, Ji Shileng opened the ball and removed the rolled slip inside.
Undoing its tie, he looked straight ahead and held the paper open with both hands.
“Then let us congratulate…”
Qin Si’s professionalism kept his emotions under control.
“Congratulations to the Empire, this year’s host nation!”
Ji Shileng froze and looked down blankly.
The words “The Empire” stood out unmistakably in sweeping gold lettering.
Camera flashes erupted. He quickly composed himself and smiled, his eyes curving.
Shang Jianli’s mood inexplicably improved.
Some absurd competitive streak within him felt victorious.
Qin Si gritted his teeth.
“Next, please welcome the Empire’s representative, General Shang, to the stage”
Below, Ji Shifeng felt utterly helpless.
The Federation did not particularly care whether it hosted.
One less responsibility was preferable to one more, especially when they were busy researching new weapons.
Yet Ji Shileng’s luck had proved so dreadful. Of all the nations he could have drawn, it had to be the Empire.
An ill-fated bond. That was what it was.
Leather shoes approached in firm, measured steps. Ji Shileng felt the man come to a stop beside him.
Too close.
He could almost smell the peach shampoo in Shang Jianli’s hair.
Unexpectedly, the first thing Shang Jianli did was thank him.
“This year’s changes to the competition rules were made possible by the 3D engine rendering technology developed by Mr. Ji’s studio”
He put an arm around Ji Shileng’s shoulders.
“And now the Empire owes its hosting opportunity to Mr. Ji as well”
Sandwiched between the two men, Ji Shileng’s face went numb.
Without exaggeration, if awkwardness could kill, he would already have reincarnated eighteen times.
There was no need to thank him.
The Empire was the one nation he had hoped would not win.
Chu Wan pressed a hand to her forehead. She could not bear to look at the stage, much less the screens.
Could her general make his staring a little less obvious?
He looked as though he were afraid someone might fail to notice that he and Ji Shileng had a history.
Qin Si answered for Ji Shileng with a thin smile.
“When luck comes your way, there’s simply no stopping it”
Everyone understood the implication.
A little later, Ji Shileng finally escaped the stage.
Returning to his seat, he downed half a bottle of water.
He had nothing to say about his luck.
It was bad. Impossibly, spectacularly bad.
Next came the formation of the competition’s organizing committee, drawn largely from those attending the conference.
Ji Shileng had no interest and lowered his head to check his messages.
He had only just cleared his ninety-nine-plus unread messages in the car that morning. A few dozen minutes onstage, and his communicator was covered in red notifications again.
After choosing a few to answer, he belatedly remembered that the conference was being livestreamed across interstellar society.
Even his eldest sister, Ji Shiyun, who disliked chatting by text, had privately sent him a thumbs-up sticker.
No matter how he looked at it, that thumbs-up seemed mocking.
He did not need to wait until he got home. The family group chat, which accumulated ninety-nine-plus messages within minutes, told him he would certainly be teased.
He should never have let his brother talk him into coming.
By the time the conference finally ended, Ji Shileng wanted nothing more than to board a starship and fly straight back to the Federation.
Goodbye, Sitejiala. He was ready to sail away.
Ji Shifeng had to stay behind to submit the Federation’s nominations for the competition’s organizing committee.
As a prospective partner who had not yet signed a contract, Ji Shileng did not need to remain for the discussions.
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