Chapter 16: Wang Hongbin, a Livestock-Like Man (Patreon)

Gusttave stood at the gate in a bright red wedding robe, greeting guests. The handprint on his face had long since faded, and he looked more energetic than ever.

Tie Shan, as Superintendent-General, personally led a team to keep order. Captain Zhang Zheng had come too, stationed at the gate to log the wedding gifts — ever since the "arresting his own superior" incident, he'd been promoted, and was now deputy chief of the Third Bureau of the Public Security Department.

[Silver Wolf: Peak career move: arrest your boss = get promoted. Recommended reading for all you corporate wage slaves.]

[Kaeya: Only works if your boss has that kind of magnanimity. Anyone else would've made your life hell after.]

The bridal palanquins arrived.

Five palanquins arrived at once, from two directions. The Tushan sisters' palanquins came from the east, the Dongfang sisters' from the west, converging at the gate.

Feixiao was the first to fling back the curtain and hop down. She wore a wedding gown of blue and red today, an exquisite fox-ear hairpiece perched on her head. Her deep blue eyes swept over the crowd of guests lining the street, chin tilted up slightly, radiating an air of "this general is doing you a favor by marrying you."

But Gusttave noticed the tip of her tail swaying gently.

That little habit only showed up when Feixiao was happy.

[Kiana Kaslana: Her tail sold her out, hahahaha!]

[March 7th: Three months of cussing him out, and on the wedding day her tail's wagging like a puppy's!]

Tingyun was the second to step out of her palanquin. Her wedding gown today was pale gold, setting off her seductive almond eyes all the more. The folding fan never left her hand, hiding half her face and leaving only a pair of eyes curved into crescent moons.

"My, you actually look presentable today, sir," she said with a smile.

"And you, my lady, are beautiful beyond words today," Gusttave replied.

Behind her fan, the corners of Tingyun's lips curved deeper.

Huohuo was the last to step out. She wore a dark green wedding gown, its hem embroidered with silver fox patterns. A phoenix crown sat on her head, tassels hanging over her forehead, lending her cool, composed features a touch of softness.

She stood before the palanquin door, head lowered, fingertips clenched tight in her sleeves.

Gusttave stepped forward and held out his hand.

Huohuo raised her head and met his gaze. In those eyes that had lain still and silent for a century, unnamable emotion now welled up — nervousness, shyness, and a joy hidden deep, deep down.

She placed her hand in his palm.

So light, so cool — like a snowflake landing in his palm.

Gusttave closed his hand around it.

[Elysia: Waaah, Lady Huohuo, my heart! A hundred years of solitude, and finally someone came to take her hand!]

[Honkai 3rd · Seele: This grip — she waited far, far too long for it.]

On the other side, the remaining palanquins arrived.

Belle was the first to bounce out, her pink wedding gown making her look like a peach blossom in full bloom.

The moment she landed, she looked around, eyes going round at the sight of the crowded street and the red ribbons everywhere. "Wow, quite the spread!"

Wise stepped out after her, her red-and-pink wedding gown embroidered with pale gold flame patterns. Her gentle features took on an extra glow beneath the red makeup.

Once she'd settled, her gaze drifted over the crowd and met Gusttave's. Her lips curved, then she ducked her head shyly.

[March 7th: Lady Wise is gorgeous! Who wouldn't love a sweet, gentle bride like that!]

[Kiana Kaslana: Five brides, each prettier than the last — this guy's way too lucky!]

Gusttave, still holding Huohuo's hand, walked toward Wise and Belle, then reached his other hand out to Feixiao and Tingyun.

The five women exchanged glances.

Feixiao huffed and turned her face away, but her hand reached out anyway. Belle pouted, flicked her pink ponytail, and offered her hand too. Tingyun placed hers on top with a smile, Wise followed suit with a blush, and Huohuo's hand remained in his the whole time, never once let go.

How the wedding night went, the storybooks didn't say, the storyteller didn't dare invent, and no livestream aired it.

All anyone knew was that the next day, Gusttave emerged from the bridal chamber alone, looking thoroughly refreshed — with no sign of the five ladies.

[March 7th: He's out, he's out! He came out!]

[Silver Wolf: That expression... say no more.]

[Hu Tao: This Director does the math and concludes last night's battle was quite intense!]

[Kiana Kaslana: So what actually happened?! Why wasn't it streamed?! I want details!]

[Raiden Mei: ...Kiana, that's enough.]

The answer revealed itself half an hour later.

Feixiao was the first to struggle up.

When she braced herself against the wall and stumbled out the door, all nine of her tails were on full display, no longer hidden away as they used to be.

Her usually perky fox ears drooped against her head, and she radiated a "don't talk to me" kind of aura.

"Morning, General Feixiao," Gusttave said, sitting in the courtyard sipping tea, grinning from ear to ear.

Feixiao glared at him with everything she had left — but she was so exhausted the glare had zero bite, and instead looked like a sleepy little fox pouting for attention.

"You... just you wait..." she ground out through clenched teeth, then dropped onto the stone bench and slumped face-first onto the table.

[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle: Hahahaha, General Feixiao's been wrung dry!]

[Silver Wolf: Three of her tails have gone limp. What exactly happened last night.]

Belle was the second to emerge.

The girl who usually bounced around like a rubber ball was now floating along unsteadily, her pink ponytail hanging limp, her whole body as boneless as overcooked noodles.

She saw Gusttave and opened her mouth to curse him out, only to find her voice had gone hoarse and wouldn't come out.

In the end she could only glare her anger — but since she couldn't even lift her eyelids properly, it came out looking like she was batting her eyes at him.

[March 7th: Hahahaha Belle's voice is gone!!!]

[Hu Tao: This Director has reason to suspect something unspeakable happened last night!]

[Kiana Kaslana: Mei, look! She doesn't even have the strength to curse anymore!]

Tingyun was the third to come out. She fanned herself, her steps reasonably steady, though for the first time the shrewd calculation in her almond eyes had given way to exhaustion.

She sat down across from Gusttave, picked up a teacup, took a sip, and fell silent for three seconds.

Then she said, in a faraway voice, "Sir, last night... you really are an animal."

Gusttave refilled her cup. "You flatter me, my lady."

[Silver Wolf: animal.jpg]

[Kaeya: That's a fair assessment.]

Wise and Huohuo were the last to emerge. Wise, blushing, walked with a slightly stiff gait; the moment she saw Gusttave she lowered her head, the tips of her ears burning red.

Huohuo, on the other hand, looked perfectly composed — if you ignored the fact that she walked with the same arm and leg moving together for three whole steps.

The five women sat down around the stone table, glancing at one another, the air thick with a subtle awkwardness.

In the end, it was Belle who broke the silence. In a hoarse whisper, she forced the words out with great effort: "I... want... food..."

Gusttave stood up with a smile. "Breakfast's already ready. I'll go get it."

The moment he turned around, five pillows slammed into his back at once.

[March 7th: Hahahaha, precision-guided!]

[Hu Tao: This Director hereby declares this the most synchronized move of the year!]

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