Landlord in the Arctic

You people...!

Feng Mountain looked on helplessly at the two gossipmongers before him, a headache brewing as he furrowed his brow.

"Stop talking nonsense. Nothing happened between Natasha and me. It was just a misunderstanding."

Frank, however, remained unconvinced. A pleased smile remained on his face as he said slowly, "That’s right. The morning after a date, you always tell the other person it was a ’sweet misunderstanding.’"

"So, are you going to marry Natasha? I’m willing to be your mistress. I promise I won’t interfere with your life with the Queen. Just text me whenever you need me."

Erica chimed in, her tone completely serious. She seemed to be in full support of Feng Mountain marrying Natasha, even willing to take a back seat herself.

"You guys are ridiculous!"

Seeing that nothing he said could convince the two of them, Feng Mountain felt a surge of irritation and couldn’t be bothered to explain any further.

He shook his head helplessly and turned back toward the camp.

’Anyway, Natasha is leaving Crown Territory after Christmas. The rumors will die down on their own then.’

Feng Mountain sighed to himself.

’I just hope the next few days are a little more peaceful. No more of this drama.’

Inside the log cabin, Natasha slowly walked into the living room, leaning on Andrei for support.

As she tried to sit down on the sofa, she shuddered involuntarily from the pain.

The subtle reaction was immediately noticed by Andrei, who had been watching her carefully.

As Natasha finally sat down on the sofa with Andrei’s support, her body instinctively trembled with pain.

Andrei’s eyes instantly turned sharp and filled with rage. He clenched his fists and said angrily,

"Your Highness, should I summon our men to Crown Territory? We will prove our hatred with their blood."

Leaning against the side of the sofa, Natasha frowned slightly, rendered speechless by Andrei’s intense reaction.

She shook her head lightly, her tone calm but laced with a hint of impatience.

"What hatred? Nothing happened."

Hearing his highness say this, Andrei’s eyes widened in shock. He asked in disbelief, "Your Highness, have you really fallen in love with Feng and decided to marry him?"

Natasha was so infuriated by his words that she shot upright, grabbed a nearby book, and hurled it at him. Her eyes were icy as she spat out a single word.

"Scram!"

Seeing this, Andrei froze for a moment. He wisely retreated, leaving Natasha sitting alone on the sofa, unable to calm herself for a long time.

...

Time flowed like a gentle river, slipping away unnoticed.

Although the camp was shrouded in the darkness of the polar night, as if the entire world had been swallowed by endless ink, it still followed the invisible rhythm of time, and life went on as usual.

As night fell, the day’s clamor in the camp gradually subsided. The once-bustling Crown Territory became quiet and desolate. Only the sound of music, drifting occasionally from the tavern, broke the silence of the night and echoed in the frigid air.

That afternoon, the roar of several airplanes had shattered the sky’s tranquility as they slowly landed on the runway.

When Feng Mountain learned the planes were from Lengwan, sent specifically to deliver supplies for Natasha, he had simply curled his lip in disdain and promptly put the matter out of his mind.

Meanwhile, inside the tavern, warm yellow light cast a soft glow in every corner, creating a cozy and comfortable atmosphere.

Mountain, Frank, Hu Zi, and Black Hide were gathered around a table in the corner.

Several bottles of beer sat on the table, their sides covered in fine beads of condensation that glistened faintly in the light.

The four of them drank their beer, watching the crewmen and female staff dancing joyfully in the center of the tavern.

The crewmen were like young roosters in springtime, each one circling the female staff and showing off their clumsy dance moves.

Yet, Mountain and his three friends all sighed in unison.

"Hey, I’m the one who’s lost my home, not you guys. What the hell are you all sighing for!" Feng Mountain frowned, clutching the bruised spot on his side where Natasha had hit him. He shot a helpless, exasperated look at the three men beside him, feeling that their expressions were hiding secret laughter at his expense.

Hu Zi picked up his beer, his gaze tinged with envy as he watched the young couples dancing happily on the floor. "Brother Shan," he lamented, "what’s the point of getting married? Ever since I tied the knot, I’ve lost my freedom. Look how much fun they’re all having."

"You don’t know how good you have it. At least you’re a father!" Black Hide shot Hu Zi a contemptuous look, his eyes full of dissatisfaction. "I don’t even have a girlfriend. Look at that lucky bastard Jefftan. He just met Trish yesterday and they’re already hooking up. If I could speak English, he wouldn’t have stood a chance. Damn it."

Their answers left Feng Mountain utterly speechless. He just shook his head.

’One of them doesn’t appreciate what he has, and the other is just plain jealous.’

He turned to look at Frank, who was hanging his head with an extremely dejected and melancholy expression.

"What’s with the long face? Did someone steal your target?" Feng Mountain couldn’t help but ask.

Frank shook his head silently, a miserable look on his face. "No, it’s not about a target," he said in a low voice. "Natalia’s here. I can’t show my face, or I’m dead meat!"

A flicker of fear crossed his eyes as he spoke. It seemed Natalia was someone he deeply feared; the mere thought of her arrival sent a shiver down his spine.

Who was Natalia?

The eyes of Hu Zi, Black Hide, and Feng Mountain instantly lit up. Gossipy looks appeared on their faces as they turned in unison to stare at Frank, as if listening to his tale of woe would instantly brighten their own moods.