Idealized Beloved Shatters the Steel
Yi Shi Hua Chang
In the year 250 of the Star Era, the Xie and Song families of the Imperial Capital Star arranged a marriage alliance. The Xie family presented their Alpha, Xie Chenyu, while the Song family brought back their Omega, Song Yan, who had been raised in the countryside. Rumors claimed their compatibility was 99%—a perfect love at first sight. Before the wedding, the two met under similar circumstances. Song Yan timidly gazed at his fiancé and mustered his courage: "I... I actually have someone I like!" Xie Chenyu thought, *Perfect!* and proposed drafting a marriage agreement. Term after term was added until they reached a crucial point. Song Yan covered the back of his neck: "I-I won’t let you bite me. Only Brother Gangzi can." Xie Chenyu: "Relax, you’re not my type." Seeing the little rabbit’s wary expression, inspiration struck him: "I also have someone I like." Sure enough, the little rabbit lowered his guard: "Really?" Xie Chenyu’s gaze softened: "Her name is Elizabeth Linda, the most beautiful Omega." Song Yan looked deeply moved: "I understand. My Brother Gangzi is also the strongest and most handsome Alpha." Both were satisfied after boasting about their fictional "white moonlight." Xie Chenyu thought: *Hopeless romantic.* Song Yan thought: *Artsy type.* The artsy type and the hopeless romantic stepped into the hall of marriage together. In their first year, they lived in perfect harmony—no arguments, no resentment. By the second year, they became the model couple of their social circle, the envy of all. In the third year, Xie Chenyu encountered his delicate little wife in a den of space pirates on a remote planet. Trembling in fear, Song Yan cried: "Hubby, they... they bullied me..." Xie Chenyu glanced at the pirates sprawled unconscious on the floor and coolly thought: *Yeah, right.* Sniffling, Song Yan asked: "H-Hubby, why... are you here?" Xie Chenyu instantly softened, eyes full of worry: "I passed by and felt a sudden unease, as if something was wrong, so I came to check." He asked: "Didn’t you go traveling with Brother Gangzi? Where is he? I’d like to see what he looks like." Song Yan swayed unsteadily, his expression despairing: "Brother Gangzi... sacrificed himself to lure the pirates away... and got sucked into... a wormhole." Xie Chenyu thought: *Damn, you’re good.* Alternative titles for this story: *99% Compatibility*, *Mutual Acting Between Frenemies*, *My Arranged Spouse Is Sketchy*, *Acting in Matrimony*, *The Unflappable Model Couple*, *Both Have a Idealized Beloved*, *Idealized Beloved vs. Hardened Steel*, *Brother Gangzi Tours a Black Hole*, *Idealized Beloved: Brother Gangzi*, *The Non-Existent Elizabeth Gangzi*, *So You Also Have a Idealized Beloved*, *My Idealized Beloved Must Not Lose*, *Gangzi Meets You*, etc.