My Core is the Boss

In the room, seeing Canary in a red dress stirred something in Qi Yuan’s chest.

He was accustomed to Canary in black. Seeing her in red for the first time was a different experience entirely. Her black dress felt cold but alluring, which didn’t match Canary’s sweet personality. The red dress brought out both of those things at once.

Canary sat quietly while looking at him. "Are you finished with your calls?"

"Yes. There should be enough people to fill at least one table."

Canary said softly, "Then let's go register with Little Bride mei [1]together."

"When did she become mei?"

Earlier, Canary had been calling Little Bride older sister.

She cast him a sideways glance. "I like it that way."

Qi Yuan waved it off. "I suspect you have a split personality, but I lack evidence."

He knew that Canary and Ning Tao were the same person. They were not two souls inhabiting one body. A better way to describe it was two modes. When Canary wanted to be bolder, Ning Tao came out. In those moments, Canary took a step back and played the follower.

Canary smiled faintly. "I don't have a split personality. Husband... let me quiz you."

"Oh?"

She sat perfectly straight and pressed her legs together. "Today, my left and right legs are decorated differently. The left was done by Canary, the right was done by me. Husband, guess what each leg is wearing."

He couldn’t see anything since the red skirt hid everything, so he guessed, "Left is Canary's? Hmm... White stocking?"

White suited Canary's style.

She lifted the left side of her hem. "Wrong."

Beneath the voluminous skirt, her long, slender left leg came into view. Black silk stocking traced the contours of her leg, the lace bands pulled up to the upper thigh. It was pulled slightly taut, leaving a faint impression in her soft flesh.

"Canary said that’s the way you like it, Husband."

One black, silk-clad leg slid over and settled across Qi Yuan's lap. Five small toes curled inside the fabric. Canary pressed her left foot lightly against Qi Yuan's abdomen and stared at him in amusement.

Qi Yuan said, "The right side, I won't guess wrong. It has to be white."

If Canary had chosen black, Ning Tao would certainly have chosen white.

She smiled. "Husband is half right."

"Don't tell me, you’re wearing nothing?"

She lifted the right side of the hem as well. "Not quite..."

"I really was half right."

Canary's skin was pale to an almost excessive degree, making her right leg appear like white jade. She didn't wear anything on her right leg, yet her skin alone was reminiscent of pure white silk.

"Are you enjoying the view, Husband?"

Ning Tao’s boldness was her own. Canary could never have said that.

Her bare foot reached toward Qi Yuan's palm. He closed his hand around it without thinking. Canary was small and delicate, hence her foot was petite as well. He held it gently, his thumb moving in slow circles.

Canary's cheeks went faintly pink and her eyes started to blur. "Husband, what if we wait until after the registration to do everything else? Aren’t we in a hurry?"

She shifted closer before sitting in his lap entirely. Her red skirt spilled across his legs. She let her gaze roam across his face without hurry, pursing her lips.

Although she had no makeup on, her expression was cold and beautiful. "What do you think?"

Her right thigh was so smooth that not even the finest silk could compare. The other had the feel of black silk stockings.

She looked up at him expectantly, pushing through the embarrassment. "I will do what Canary wouldn't dare to."

With that, she leaned in, and the warm softness of her lips found his.

"Mm..."

Qi Yuan, for once, was not thinking clearly. His hands moved without his conscious direction, slipping past the skirt hem, before lifting her gently.

Canary's eyes gleamed with a knowing mischief. "Perhaps we can register a little later?"

Qi Yuan didn't hesitate for a moment. "You make a strong case."

He took his time making right what had once been left incomplete. Everything that Nine Plate Mountain's illusory world had denied them was settled now.

Garments came loose. The flowing red dress gave way. For a time, the room held nothing but warmth and indescribable brightness.

"Husband, you're a little lacking, shall I switch to a black dress? Blood Drop... gently..." [2]

***

Wang Tong sat in the temporary office, thoroughly bored. "It's almost dark. When are they coming?"

They'd been told that the ceremony would start in the afternoon.

Zhao Longshou set down his newspaper without a trace of urgency. "Stop complaining. I checked with our supervisor. Apparently, this will be our office until he comes to collect the certificate."

Since there was no chance of promotion anywhere, there was no need to rush. This place was less stressful than their usual office anyway.

Wang Tong said delightedly, "Then they should just never come. This place is perfect for doing nothing."

Of course, she knew it was just wishful thinking. Sure enough, a notification came through.

Her expression changed. "They're here!"

Zhao Longshou stood immediately, his demeanor shifting into seriousness. He reminded her one final time, "Remember, it must be a simplified procedure. Take the photos, get the documents printed. That's all."

Wang Tong waved cheerfully. "I know how to take photos!"

She couldn’t wait to dig up some juicy gossip about a rich guy.

Zhao Longshou nodded. Wang Tong would handle the photography, while he would paste the photos onto the certificates. It was the very definition of simple. Even the official seals had been stamped in advance. The rest of the standard process had been waived.

Wang Tong headed for the door. "See you later, Senior Zhao!"

She'd barely stepped outside when she spotted a middle-aged man. He was dressed with refinement and carried an unmistakable military aura. Clearly, he was someone with a strong background.

Wait, Marquis Kuang Huan?

Wang Tong narrowed her eyes, about to greet Kuang Huan when he said, "Mr. Qi has already gone into the photography room. Go in and take the photos. And remember, keep it brief."

Wang Tong nodded, impressed. "Understood!"

If even the marquis referred to the person inside as Mr. Qi, then whoever was waiting in there had to be on an entirely different level.

With a mixture of anticipation and nerves, she entered the photography room.

Qi Yuan’s youthful, pleasant voice reached her. "Sorry to trouble you."

Wang Tong looked up, then immediately lowered her gaze. Her heart beat wildly and she dared not look too long. He was absurdly good-looking! His face was the kind she’d expect on the male lead of a drama—more specifically, the overbearing CEO type!

"Canary and I are both ready. We're just waiting on you."

Wang Tong kept her head down but even then, she caught a peripheral glimpse of two women standing on either side of Qi Yuan. "Got it!"

They both had striking figures. One was dressed in a black dress, while the other was in a red bridal gown.

Why on earth are the two wives dressed so differently?

Of course, Wang Tong kept the question to herself. She crossed to the camera that had been set up, and finally allowed herself a proper look at the three seated in a row.

When her eyes fell on the girl in the black dress, Wang Tong felt both shock and helpless envy at her beauty.

Canary had her arm wrapped tightly around Qi Yuan's. She had beautiful eyes that sparkled warmly like sunlight. The flush at the tips of her ears revealed her bashfulness. Compared to earlier, it was actually quite mild, but the traces were there.

Wang Tong shifted her gaze to the woman in the red wedding garment. She blinked, took her glasses off, cleaned them, then put them back on. Wang Tong stood there, thoroughly frozen.

She stared until she heard herself ask on pure instinct, "Mr. Qi, where's the other wife?"

"Both of them are here. The others are up in the sky."

Wang Tong was bewildered, but asked carefully, "I mean, the one who should be wearing the red bridal gown."

Qi Yuan took hold of Little Bride's cool sleeve. "This is her."

Wang Tong's mind went completely blank. "Huh?"

The bridal gown? He is marrying a bridal gown?

Then, something happened that broke Wang Tong entirely. The bridal gown shifted, leaning gently against Qi Yuan. One sleeve floated up and carefully straightened the collar of his shirt.

Her heart was hammering in her throat. The bridal gown is possessed! Oh my god. Spiritual energy really is awakening. A bridal gown has sentience, and it wants to get married. Somebody hold me together. I cannot cope.

Her thoughts were a jumble of mess, but she forced herself back to taking the photos. Internally, she was giving Qi Yuan the biggest thumbs-up she had. The powerful really were something else.

***

Meanwhile, in the office, Zhao Longshou sat with a strange look on his face, slightly frowning. "What is this? It is one person but two names. The ID card needs an extra line. The powerful really do play by different rules."

He looked at the next entry. "And this... The ethnicity is listed as the Wedding Garment Imperial Clan. When did that become an ethnic group in the Qin Yuan Kingdom?"

Though he was quietly going insane, he dared not show any dissatisfaction.

Furthermore, it had gone into the system without issue. Their database had strict rules about what information could be entered, and ethnicity was a fixed dropdown list. The central government mandated that one could only select from pre-approved options. And yet, somehow, this entry had allowed a custom input.

Did he just add an entire ethnic group to Qin Yuan’s national registry? This is the central government’s system we’re talking about! He’s definitely connected to the top.

Zhao Longshou couldn't make heads or tails of it. "Could he be one of the Seven Martial Stars families? But no. Technically, they have the power to do this, but they would never bother with something so elaborate. When it comes to marrying a second wife, they'd just do it without the paperwork."

In any case, everything else was done. He was just waiting on Wang Tong to bring the electronic and printed photos over. One would go into the system, the other would be pasted into the certificates and ID cards.

Right on cue, rapid footsteps approached. He looked up to see Wang Tong arrive, breathless, her face a picture of barely contained crisis.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Senior Zhao. Do you know what Mr. Qi's wife actually is?"

"Pardon?"

Wang Tong said with complete seriousness, "A bridal gown."

Then, she began to murmur, as if trying to convince herself she wasn’t mad.

Zhao Longshou blinked, then laughed. "Ah, the powerful have their quirks. Marrying a piece of clothing and filing for a certificate... Actually, not long ago, a man came in trying to file a marriage certificate for himself and an inflatable doll. We were in stitches."

Wang Tong said urgently, "Senior Zhao, it’s not a regular bridal gown, but a sentient one! She can even walk."

She pulled out the photos she'd taken and held them out. "Look, this is the gown, Little Bride. She's incredibly demure!"

Zhao Longshou appeared deeply uncertain. "Are you pulling my leg?"

Wang Tong burst into a delighted laugh. "If I'm lying, I'll walk out that door and get hit by a car. Ha! The spiritual energy really is awakening! It's really happening!"

Right after, her expression dimmed. Even if it is awakening, what did it have to do with someone like me? Is it a blessing or a curse?

Her mind drifted to Qi Yuan, and a bold thought took shape. Could he enlighten her? She soon dismissed the thought. Why would anyone bother with a nobody like her?

Zhao Longshou said, "I think you are hallucinating. Come on, how can there be a sentient bridal gown?"

Just then, footsteps sounded in the corridor.

Qi Yuan asked, "Is our marriage certificate ready? We were thinking of taking a photo and posting a video."

When Zhao Longshou looked up at who had entered, his entire worldview collapsed in slow motion. A sentient bridal gown?! How?! How is that possible?!

1. Chinese has a different term for older and younger sister. 妹 mei is used for the younger sister. And 姐 is used for older sister. ☜

2. ***E/N: Oh so he’s helping her dress up for the photoshoot. ☜