Chapter 225: Back To That Key Moment ⑤

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Chapter 225: Back To That Key Moment ⑤

Ravel returned to the palace and handed his jacket to an attendant. “Where’s Cage?”

The butler respectfully replied, “Young Master Cage is in the gym.”

Ravel nodded and strode toward the gymnasium.

Passing through an artificial forest, Ravel entered the gymnasium. Shang Ke was undergoing rehabilitation training under the instructor’s guidance. Ravel did not disturb them; he simply stood by the door and watched in silence.

Shang Ke had clearly been training for some time. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his platinum hair rose and fell with his movements, scattering bright droplets now and then. Exercise had brought a faint flush to his cheeks, and his eyes shone with energy.

Ravel watched in a daze and only showed his displeasure when he noticed the instructor’s hand on Shang Ke’s waist. He called out, “Cage.”

Shang Ke stopped moving and turned toward him.

The instructor quickly bowed and greeted Ravel.

Ravel ignored him and motioned to Shang Ke. “Come here.”

Shang Ke wiped the sweat from his face with a towel, said goodbye to the instructor, and walked over to Ravel.

“That’s enough for today’s rehabilitation. Go back and wash up; I have something to discuss with you.” Ravel casually placed an arm around Shang Ke’s waist, then glanced at the instructor without expression.

The innocent instructor, caught in the crossfire: “…”

“I’m covered in sweat.” Shang Ke pushed him away, not wanting to dirty his clothes.

Ravel looked at Shang Ke as he distanced himself and assumed that Shang Ke was keeping his distance because of what had happened the previous night. Ravel’s heart sank, and his eyes darkened.

Had he been too impatient for Shang Ke to accept him?

Shang Ke returned to his room, took a shower, changed into comfortable casual clothes, and was then led by an attendant to Ravel’s study.

“Ravel, why did you ask me to come?”

“Come here.” Ravel patted the sofa beside him and waited for Shang Ke to sit down before opening an electronic map. “Choose one.”

Shang Ke looked at the electronic map and asked, “Choose what?”

“House Bick’s former residence was destroyed. Choose another location and rebuild the estate there,” Ravel said. “I’ll grant you three thousand square meters of land. You can design it however you like.”

Three thousand square meters! Was he planning to build a mansion or a golf course?

Shang Ke silently calculated that, from design to construction, it would cost at least billions of dollars. Even with Ravel’s wealth behind him, he did not want to sit back and enjoy the spoils.

After thinking for a moment, Shang Ke pointed to a coordinate. “This one, then.”

Ravel looked at it and nodded. “I’ll arrange it for you tomorrow.”

Shang Ke did not turn down Ravel’s gift. After all, it was the honor that Cage’s elders had traded their lives and faith for, and his duty was simply to guard it and pass it on.

“Ravel, I want to work.”

“What kind of work?” Ravel asked casually.

“Aren’t you recently preparing to upgrade your intelligent systems and military machinery?” Shang Ke said. “I’m not qualified to participate in the intelligent-system upgrade because it involves classified information, but I do have some ideas about the military machinery.”

“Oh? Tell me.” Ravel’s interest was piqued.

“House Kruse devoted most of its resources to the military while neglecting civilian technology, creating a severe imbalance,” Shang Ke explained. “In fact, many military technologies can be adapted for civilian use. Introducing them appropriately into everyday life would promote technological progress. If you permit it, I’d like to repurpose some obsolete military equipment to improve people’s living standards.”

Ravel’s eyes lit up. “Do you have any specific projects in mind?”

“Yes. The Model 211 aircraft, which was widely used five years ago, is now technologically outdated and has little advantage in aerial combat. However, its magnetic-levitation and shock-absorption technology could be used to improve civilian cars and create new vehicles with flight capabilities. Combat robots could likewise be transformed into household robots by modifying their operating systems and installing additional features according to users’ needs.” Shang Ke spoke calmly.

Ravel gazed at him intently. His love deepened, and so did his admiration.

“Ravel,” Shang Ke said, “would you be willing to give me the rights to develop these technologies? Once the products reach the market, we can split the proceeds fifty-fifty.”

Ravel said solemnly, “Write me a proposal. I’ll provide the necessary technology, establish a laboratory, and assemble a professional team.”

“Thank you.” Shang Ke smiled brightly.

Ravel was caught off guard by the smile and instinctively reached out to pat Shang Ke’s head.

But before his fingers even touched Shang Ke’s hair, Shang Ke stood up and said enthusiastically, “I’ll go prepare the proposal now.”

Only then did Shang Ke notice Ravel’s hand frozen in midair and the faintly wounded look on his face. Shang Ke fell silent. Is it too late to sit back down now…?

Thinking this, Shang Ke sat back down. He pulled Ravel’s hand onto his head, his bright eyes wide open as he looked like an obedient boy begging to be petted.

Ravel’s heart was in an uproar: How could anyone be this cute?

He lifted Shang Ke into his arms, lowered his head, and eagerly kissed him. Just as things were about to get out of hand, there was a knock on the door.

Ravel could only let go of Shang Ke regretfully and whisper, “Go ahead. I’ll deal with some paperwork first. Let’s have dinner together.”

Shang Ke nodded and got up to leave. When he returned to his room, he immediately turned on his computer and began gathering information for the proposal.

With Ravel’s financial and technical support, the company and laboratory were soon established. Shang Ke named the company “Creatus,” and it focused primarily on developing and selling civilian technology.

Shang Ke’s expertise in computer technology, repair, and assembly, combined with his knowledge of the era, allowed him to develop a variety of novel technological products.

What initially impressed Ravel was Shang Ke’s flexible way of thinking. Ravel had assumed that the laboratory staff would handle the actual research and development; he never expected Shang Ke himself to possess such formidable technical ability. It was not until three years later, when Creatus had grown into a technology giant, that Ravel fully understood the extent of Shang Ke’s talent.

That, however, was a story for later. For now, Shang Ke was still busy with Creatus’s first development project. Ravel had already been neglected for more than a month and was reaching the breaking point of prolonged frustration. He kept feeling as though he had overlooked something important.

“Your Majesty, once Young Master Cage’s residence is finished, will he be moving out of the palace?” the butler asked with studied casualness.

Ravel paused with his teacup halfway to his lips. “How is the construction progressing?”

“It should be completed in two months,” the butler replied.

Two months? Ravel’s expression sank. “Who did you hire? They finished the job so quickly—did they cut corners?”

The butler was silent. From the chief engineer and chief designer to the construction crew, Your Majesty had personally selected every one of them. They were working diligently with the highest-standard equipment, yet he suspected them of cutting corners…

“Send someone over tomorrow to check the quality of the work,” Ravel said sternly.

The butler silently prayed for the innocent construction crew who had been blamed.

“Your Majesty, there is one more thing I would like to report,” the butler said.

“What is it?”

“For the past half month, Young Master Cage has been receiving letters from all over the country.”

“So what?”

“Two hundred and thirty-five of them were from unmarried women.” Every letter that arrived was screened by a professional, so the butler could state the number with certainty.

The phrase “unmarried women” successfully caught Ravel’s attention.

The butler continued, “There were also 160 letters from unmarried men of ‘unknown sexual orientation.’”

The unmarried men alone were not enough to explain the problem. The emphasis was on “unknown sexual orientation.”

Ravel stared at his butler with bright eyes. “What are you trying to say?”

“What I mean is, if Your Majesty doesn’t act soon, I’m afraid Young Master Cage may leave you behind and go off to “happily” start a family of his own.”

Having finally realized what he had overlooked, Ravel sprang to his feet. “I will not give him the chance to leave me behind.”

That night, Ravel went to Shang Ke’s room in a nightshirt.

Shang Ke was lying on the bed, running a simulation for a new type of machinery on his laptop.

“Cage.” Ravel stood beside the bed and looked at him calmly.

“Yes?” Shang Ke answered casually without even looking up.

“Let’s get married.”

“Okay.” Shang Ke answered while continuing to work on the computer.

“You agree?”

“Yes, I agree.”

“Good.” Ravel moved the computer aside, took Shang Ke’s left hand, and placed a gemstone ring on his middle finger.

Shang Ke looked at Ravel and then at the ring on his finger, as if he had not yet realized what had happened.

“The wedding will be in three months,” Ravel decided happily.

“The wedding?” So he really had been proposing just then? In pajamas and slippers, and in that casual tone?

Even without flowers, balloons, wine, or a luxury car, shouldn’t he at least have worn formal clothes and chosen an auspicious date?!

No date—absolutely not! Shang Ke was adamantly opposed.

Ravel ignored his bitter, resentful expression, lay down on the bed, and pulled Shang Ke into his arms, ready for a harmonious and beautiful premarital workout.

“Wait… mmph…”

Ravel did not give him a chance to go back on his word and did his best to please him, intending to conquer him with his charm. Ravel had always liked to plan carefully and proceed step by step. With Shang Ke alone, however, he chose to strike first. Before Shang Ke became fully independent, Ravel would take him under his wing and allow no one to covet him.

“I love you.” The moment he entered, Ravel said the eternally unchanging words to him.

The restlessness in Shang Ke’s heart suddenly vanished.

Those three words were worth a thousand others.

【Soul Fusion: 97%.】

【Physical Health: 93%.】

【Hormone Index: 70%, 80%, 95%, 100%… Limit exceeded…】

……

…

Three months later, the House Bick estate was officially completed. Ravel held a grand banquet for Shang Ke and publicly announced their marriage. Before the eyes of the entire nation, he bound their lives together with an unwavering vow…

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