Is That What You've Heard About Me?

At the Interstellar Academy's annual trial tournament, students from across the star systems gather to gossip.

“...I heard there's a little weakling in this year's competition. One punch and he'll cry all day.”

Jian Xinghe eagerly cracked the handful of melon seeds he'd been given and couldn't help asking, “If he's that weak, why enter the trial tournament?”

“You haven't heard? He's got powerful people backing him. His connections are rock solid.”

“What's the use of connections? They signed a life-or-death contract. What if someone beats him to death?”

“I heard he's incredibly good-looking and can bewitch people. Anyone who sees him can't bring themselves to lay a hand on him.”

Everyone drew in a sharp breath. “Could he be a fox spirit?”

Jian Xinghe also thought it sounded fishy. “What's his name? I'll go out of my way to avoid him if I run into him.”

Student: “The young master of the Jian family, Jian Xinghe.”

Jian Xinghe: “...” The melon seeds suddenly fell to the ground.

So that's what you've heard about me?!

The empire's general, Lin Chuyu, was forced into a political marriage with the illegitimate son the Jian family had just picked up from some godforsaken corner. His subordinates and friends all expressed their sympathy.

Subordinate A: “I heard he's had plastic surgery. He used to be hideously ugly, the kind of ugly that makes kids cry.”

Subordinate B: “A useless D-rank esper marrying a 3S-rank general. What a scheming little green tea.”

Friend: “Why don't you run away from the wedding? That guy looks like he has at least eight hundred tricks up his sleeve. You can't handle him, Chuyu.”

Everyone thought the scheming little green tea, Jian Xinghe, had set his sights on their brilliant and mighty imperial general.

Little did they know that the person with at least eight hundred tricks up his sleeve was General Lin himself.

Theme: Become someone's armor, not their weakness