Chapter 68: What you snatch away is what I don’t want.

Chapter 68: What you snatch away is what I don't want.

Qín Qīng instructed Rèn Zéhuái to remove his clothes and enter the repair chamber.

Deliberately, Rèn Zéhuái paraded shirtless in front of Qín Qīng, flexing his robust chest muscles, reminiscent of a beast in heat.

996, angered to the point of grinding its teeth, extended its sharp claws and threatened menacingly, "Keep flexing, and I’ll snip off your precious cherry blossom!"

Regrettably, Rèn Zéhuái didn't hear it and continued to exude an abundance of pheromones.

Qín Qīng looked down to mix the repair fluid, her fair cheeks already flushed crimson from holding back her emotions.

Seeing his "shy" demeanor, Rèn Zéhuái gave a satisfied smile before laying in the repair chamber.

Qín Qīng injected the repair chamber with both the repair and nutrient fluids.

The next moment, a harrowing scream came from Rèn Zéhuái. He pounded on the chamber door, resembling a wild wolf trapped and struggling in a cage. Pain radiated from every part of him - skin, bones, organs - as if being crushed inch by inch.

This unbearable pain was all due to the repair fluid Qín Qīng had personally prepared.

Qín Qīng stood outside the chamber, calmly watching Rèn Zéhuái's agonizing struggle, then gestured for him to calm down.

For a split second, Rèn Zéhuái believed Qín Qīng intended to kill him.

Qín Qīng, without the blush or a smile, truly looked like a ruthless assassin. However, the next moment, a cooling sensation spread from his fractured ribs, alleviating the intense pain.

The repair fluid Qín Qīng mixed indeed healed wounds, but its fierce efficiency led to such pain.

"Bear with it a bit longer, it's the best medicine," Rèn Zéhuái read Qín Qīng's lips through the thick chamber door.

Thus, he dispelled all doubts and reluctantly closed his eyes.

"Is this truly the best medicine?" 996 hopped onto Qin Qing's experimental table, asking in a hushed tone.

Qin Qing picked up a test tube, examining the chemical within, and replied nonchalantly, "What do you think?"

996 sized him up and sneered, "You're a wicked bloom, you're hardly that kind-hearted."

Qin Qing chuckled softly and responded languidly, "You already knew the answer, yet you asked."

Feeling reassured, 996 hopped off the table, dashing to the military canteen to snatch a can of food.

A young man with wavy hair and round cheeks entered the infirmary. Upon seeing Ren Zehuai, who was deep in slumber within the repair chamber, he couldn't help but curl his lip in distaste.

His name was Su Su, a colleague of Qin Qing and also an Omega. Due to his underdeveloped gland and faint pheromones, he was granted permission to work in a military dominated by alphas.

He approached the chamber and pressed a button, turning the transparent door opaque black, shielding them from Ren Zehuai's unsavory face.

"Qin Qing, at first, I truly supported your pursuit of Ren Zehuai."

Su Su walked over to Qin Qing's side, peeking up at him with wide, blinking eyes. "But now, I'm worried about you. I did some digging. Ren Zehuai is no good. He's wild outside, dating countless Omegas and betas simultaneously. He's also violent, even towards Omegas. Qin Qing, it's better if you stay away from him."

Gently tugging at Qin Qing's sleeve, Su Su said with deep concern, "You deserve someone better, someone who truly loves you. Can you please reconsider being with Ren Zehuai?"

Qin Qing looked down at the adorable boy, who was slightly shorter than him.

The boy's pheromones were faint, smelling of sweet caramel and condensed milk, perfectly matching his personality.

He was among the few in this world who genuinely cared for Qin Qing.

"Mhm, I know what I'm doing. Don't worry." Qin Qing set down the test tube and affectionately ruffled Su Su's curly hair.

Still concerned, Su Su pouted, continuing to badmouth Ren Zehuai.

At that moment, their superior, Yan Yufei, stepped into the infirmary.

Seeing Su Su's cute pouting face and murmuring, his eyes darkened momentarily. Approaching the boy, he subtly inhaled the scent of caramel and condensed milk, his lips forming a stoic line.

Although he wanted to smile, he forced a stern demeanor. Every time he saw Su Su, he felt this way, worried he might lose control someday.

Noticing Su Su clutching Qin Qing's sleeve, like a child seeking comfort, his gaze sharpened instantly.

Su Su stuck out his tongue playfully and quickly released Qin Qing's sleeve. Like a scolded schoolboy, he placed his hands alongside his trouser seams and moved to stand in the corner.

"Qin Qing, your new formula has been approved. The Science Institute will provide full support for your project. Send me the project proposal later," Yan Yufei remarked coldly. Then, gesturing to Su Su in the corner, he added, "Come here. Your paper has been rejected again. I'll tell you where it needs revisions."

Su Su paled, his expression downcast as he approached.

The two settled in the most secluded corner of the infirmary, discussing a paper. Su Su, petite and lively, occasionally blushed and gave Yan Yufei a shy smile. Yan Yufei, tall and astute, feigned indifference, but his eyes held a tenderness that was hard to conceal.

Observing the pair, Qin Qing mused, "Can there be no love without pheromones?"

After a brief pause, he answered himself, "Love without pheromones is the truest love."

A satisfied smile graced his clear, deep eyes.

At that moment, two individuals entered the room. The taller one remained silent, while the shorter one chattered incessantly, her voice artificially sweet.

"Commander, are you injured?" Qin Qing asked with concern, lifting his head.

He completely disregarded Qin Gantang, who had entered with the commander.

"I'm the one who's injured. Bozhou is concerned about me, which is why he accompanied me here," Qin Gantang said, reaching out to cling to Yin Bozhou's arm, trying to display intimacy.

Yin Bozhou stepped forward, evading his grasp. He cast a cold warning glance at Qin Gantang and then disinterestedly looked away.

Without a word or expression, he effortlessly diminished Qin Gantang's pretense.

Pretend intimacy, romantic tales of guardianship? No, they were less than strangers to each other.

Qin Qing averted his gaze, his lips curling into a brief chuckle.

Turning back, he playfully scratched his nose, saying insincerely, "Sorry, my nose was itchy. I wasn't laughing at you."

But the message was clear: Yes, I was laughing at you.

Qin Gantang was seething, trembling with suppressed rage yet unable to retort.

Yin Bozhou's gaze remained unwaveringly on Qin Qing.

Qin Qing made no effort to hide his playful intent, scratching his nose like an adorable creature. Was it a squirrel or a hamster? Yin Bozhou couldn't recall.

His deep black eyes slowly lightened, reflecting a tiny figure shimmering like a star.

Swallowing his resentment, Qin Gantang put on a wronged expression. Tear-filled eyes, on the brink of shedding, turned to Yin Bozhou. Yet, Yin Bozhou didn't even glance his way, let alone care about his feelings.

The suppressed resentment morphed into a thorn, piercing Qin Gantang's heart. He recalled his true motive for coming to the infirmary and started searching for Ren Zehuai.

The man was absent, with only a darkened repair chamber in the middle of the room. Presumably, Ren Zehuai was already inside. The calming component of the repair fluid would keep him in deep slumber, likely for several hours.

Realizing it wasn't an opportune moment to approach Ren Zehuai, Qin Gantang's enthusiasm waned. However, he soon noticed Yan Yufei in the corner. Before his delighted smile could fully form, his face darkened again.

Why was Su Su there? That little minx!

With a glint of malice in his eyes, Qin Gantang sent a message via his neural device.

Once delivered, he quickly moved to Yan Yufei, pouncing on the handsome man, cheek to cheek, rubbing affectionately.

Witnessing the seemingly inseparable pair, tears welled up in Su Su's big eyes. Holding back his sadness, he forced a courteous smile.

Yan Yufei let Qin Gantang embrace him, his expression gentle but his eyes cold.

Did he truly like Qin Gantang? No, he didn't.

Qin Qing shook his head, feeling sorrow for the man.

"Why pretend to care when you clearly don't?" he whispered to himself.

"For survival," murmured Yin Bozhou.

At some point, he had come to stand beside Qin Qing, looking at the array of test tubes on the bench. He then reached out, seemingly intent on picking one up.

Qin Qing quickly grasped his hand, cautioning, "Don't touch! They might explode!"

Yin Bozhou paused, offering no resistance. While maintaining the gesture of reaching out, he allowed Qin Qing's cool, slender hand to hold his warm, larger one.

He didn't really intend to touch the tubes but merely wished to pick up Ren Zehuai's medical report. As a military man, he surely knew the protocols. Yet, for some reason, he chose not to explain.

Had he done so, Qin Qing would've let go.

"This one, this, and this. None of them should be tampered with; they're dangerous," Qin Qing warned earnestly, one hand holding Yin Bozhou's while the other pointed to various tubes.

When he's nervous or scared, his eyelashes would tremble uncontrollably, reminiscent of locust tree blossoms fluttering in the wind.

They were pale pink, their petals feathery and velvety.

Until now, Yin Baizhou had never realized the extent to which he could observe someone so intricately. He was a weapon, designed to destroy. If war was inevitable, everything in this world was his target.

Yet, in this moment, he seemed to have forgotten his purpose. Instead of being the indomitable force he was known to be, he was gently observing two subtly trembling eyelashes.

"If you knew these chemicals were so dangerous, why did you handle them? Aren't there robots in the medical room?" Yin Baizhou asked in a deep voice, his slender eyebrows furrowed tightly.

He was a weapon, and yet absurdly, he had begun to fear danger.

"I'm a professional. I know how to handle them safely. Only the potions made by one's own hands possess a soul, which you wouldn’t understand." Qin Qing let go of Yin Baizhou's hand, gently pushing against his broad chest. "Stay back, you wouldn’t know."

Yin Baizhou was the empire's most formidable weapon, capable of withstanding the blast of a particle cannon with just his body. The word "retreat" never existed in his dictionary.

Yet now, with just a soft touch from Qin Qing's palm, like the gentle caress of the wind, he obediently stepped back.

He stood a few steps away, watching intently the person who could easily make him yield.

His blood began to heat up, as if sensing the scent of a 100% compatible pheromone. However, he was very much aware that there was nothing in the air but the smell of chemicals.

Qin Qing put on her protective goggles, reaching out for the most dangerous test tube.

Yin Baizhou clenched his fists, beads of sweat forming on the tip of his nose.

He was a weapon, but he was perspiring – a human-like reaction out of concern and fear. It was truly peculiar.

"Qin Qing—" he began, wanting to interrupt her, but suddenly, a group of uniformed officers burst into the medical room.

Qin Qing took off her goggles, turning to look.

The officers swiftly handcuffed Su Su without a word and escorted her out.

Su Su, clueless about what had transpired, kept asking for reasons. One officer mentioned a tip-off about Su Su using an anonymous social account to claim she wanted to marry Yan Yufei and purposely approached him in real life, possibly breaching the guardian pact between Yan Yufei and Qin Gantang. She needed to be investigated.

Su Su was stunned, her pale face turning beet red.

Yan Yufei looked at Su Su in astonishment, then frowned, clearly displeased.

But Qin Qing keenly noticed his lips curling up for a fleeting moment before quickly straightening, a suppressed look of elation.

"Qin Gantang, did you report me?" Su Su shouted in anger.

Qin Gantang sneered, "Dare you face the consequences of your actions? Breaching the pact is a crime! Not only will I report you, but I'll also slap you senseless!" He raised his arm, intending to slap Su Su.

Yan Yufei stepped in front of Qin Gantang, addressing the officers, "She only made some unfavorable comments. It can't be that serious, can it?"

Hearing Yan Yufei describe her confession as "unfavorable comments," Su Su blinked and tears began to form. The person she liked seemed to disregard her feelings completely.

"It's just a verbal warning at the station, nothing serious," said the officers, still showing a certain degree of respect to Yan Yufei.

Qin Gantang hid behind Yan Yufei, chuckling maliciously, but when he peeked out, he feigned an injured look.

From his angle, Qin Qing could only see Qin Gantang's back, not his expression. However, intuition told him that the police shouldn't take Su Su away at this moment.

"Wait a minute. If it's just a verbal warning, it can be handled within our military department. You can't just take her!" Qin Qing stepped forward in protest.

"Who are you?" The officers glanced at his rank with a hint of disdain.

Merely a military doctor, daring to intervene in police matters.

Yin Baizhou spoke sternly, "This is the Central Military Department. Did you get my approval to take one of my people?"

The officers hastily lowered their heads, stammering, "But we were ordered to bring her in. Here's the arrest warrant, General. Without her, we can't complete our task. It's just an hour of verbal warning, a very light punishment. We guarantee her safe return in an hour."

The officers presented the official document, their demeanor a laughable mix of arrogance followed by obsequiousness.

Yin Baizhou didn't accept the arrest warrant but glared coldly at them. The officers held out the warrant while remaining in a bowed position, not daring to move.

The scene was at an impasse.

Su Su, not wanting to complicate matters for the general and Qin Qing, said with a pale face, "It's okay, I'll go with them."

Yan Yufei added, "Su Su, just accompany them. Everything will be fine."

Willingly going with the police was one thing, but being ordered by Yan Yufei, who seemed indifferent to her well-being, was another. Su Su slowly turned, giving Yan Yufei a profound look with tear-soaked eyes.

Her gaze was filled with immeasurable sorrow and a rising sense of despair.

That look caused Yan Yufei's heart to race, almost suffocating him.

Just when Yan Yufei, struggling with his emotions, was about to intervene on behalf of Su Su in front of Qin Gantang, Su Su walked out without looking back.

Qin Qing rushed to stop her, but Su Su, crying, shook her head, signaling him to stay out of it. Perhaps this punishment was a timely wake-up call, telling her not to yearn for the unattainable.

Having accepted the punishment, he relinquished his hopes. Upon his return, he would be a new Su Su, one who no longer harbored love for Yan Yufei.

Suddenly, Qin Qing understood Su Su's feelings and remained motionless.

Yin Baizhou gave Qin Qing a serious look, ensuring he had given up on the idea of retaining Su Su, then took the arrest warrant to scrutinize it.

The warrant was indeed issued by the police department, bearing the signature of Kang Enstan, the crown prince of the empire. With his authorization, it was no wonder the police dared to interfere with the military. But the warrant clearly stated it was only a verbal warning, so it shouldn't be too serious.

Su Su departed and, upon boarding the police vehicle, stumbled and cut her forehead.

Qin Qing was too far away to assist, left watching in silent concern.

Su Su leaned out from the vehicle's window to bid Qin Qing farewell. Despite her face smeared with blood, she wore a relieved smile, continuously waving to Qin Qing, yet never sparing another glance at Yan Yufei.

The police vehicle rose into the sky, diminishing into a tiny dot on the horizon.

As Qin Qing gazed at that distant speck, unease filled his heart.

Qin Gantang emerged from the medical room, looking skyward and sneering, "Face the consequences of your mistakes. It's his fault for coveting my alpha."

As he spoke, he failed to notice the chilling stare Yan Yufei cast upon him.

A smirk crept upon Qin Qing's lips, leading to a short, disdainful snort.

Qin Gantang knew why Qin Qing could still laugh. Unlike Su Su, Qin Qing never coveted someone else's alpha. He believed his own alpha was the finest, rivaling even Yin Baizhou or Yan Yufei.

Every Omega envied Qin Gantang, except for Qin Qing.

Every Omega sought to steal Qin Gantang's alpha, except for Qin Qing.

From a young age, Qin Qing always effortlessly obtained anything he desired.

Qin Gantang turned to face Qin Qing, not concealing his twisted jealousy any longer.

Qin Qing looked back at Qin Gantang with an air of indifference and superiority.

With hands in his pockets, exuding a laid-back demeanor, he leaned forward and whispered, "You know, Qin Gantang, I've never been interested in your possessions."

He curled his lips, laughing with an air of utmost satisfaction and relaxation.

Indeed, he wasn't envious. For he had fallen for Ren Zehuai, making every other alpha in the world seem insignificant.

Qin Gantang's desperate attempts to claim Yan Yufei were nothing but a jest in his eyes.

"Really? You're that smitten with Ren Zehuai? I'll certainly take him from you!" Qin Gantang declared, flashing a malicious smile at Qin Qing.

In the ensuing silence, the rift between the brothers widened, marking the onset of their conflict.

Qin Qing returned to his lab to continue compounding medicines. Meanwhile, Qin Gantang left, dragging a distracted Yan Yufei with him.

Yin Baizhou was still in the lab, meticulously scanning the vials on the desk with his device.

"Dangerous substance detected! Caution advised..." The device constantly warned, causing his eyebrows to furrow deeply.

The man who once disarmed massive explosives without blinking was now breaking out in sweat.

"I'll allocate a larger budget for the medical room. Use the extra funds to purchase robotic assistants," he declared solemnly, shutting off the scanner.

Qin Qing bowed his head, hiding a sudden burst of joy. He well understood the sentiment behind Yin Baizhou's words.

Yin wanted robotic assistants to undertake the perilous tasks to prevent potential harm to Qin Qing. He deeply cared about Qin Qing's safety.

"Understood, General," Qin Qing responded, accepting the unspoken care concealed behind Yin's stoic demeanor.

The two stood in silence, struggling to find topics beyond their professional duties, given their previous unfamiliarity.

An awkward atmosphere prevailed. Yin's mind, once consumed by warfare, now unexpectedly conjured soft words like "bubbles," "cotton," "clouds," "gentle breeze," and "clear streams," terms that surfaced from the depths of his memory ever since meeting Qin Qing.

Associating Qin Qing with these tender words felt natural.

Scouring his mind and finding no topics of interest to Qin Qing, Yin reluctantly donned his military cap and headed for the exit.

Qin Qing hastened forward, blocking Yin's path with outstretched arms against the doorframe.

"General, please stay for a mental health assessment. I wish to evaluate your well-being," he said, looking up at Yin with eyes filled with genuine concern.

This concern was part of his duty, yet it seemed to encompass something more.

Yin Baizhou felt a familiar warmth coursing through his veins, only to shake his head coldly in response, "I'm perfectly fine, no need for checks."

"No, it's imperative that you undergo the assessment," Qin Qing insisted, still barricading the exit with his frame.

With just a slight tug, Yin Bozhou could easily make him stumble aside. It would be a simple matter.

Yet Yin Bozhou remained motionless.

He stood silently by the door, looking down at Qin Qing's face which was eerily beautiful.

Qin Qing's slender eyebrows furrowed slightly. Deep concern filled his dark eyes, and his thin lips were tightly pressed together. His slightly raised chin exuded defiance — a look that was surprisingly more captivating than his smile.

Thus, Yin Bozhou continued to gaze, never considering the idea of pushing Qin Qing aside and leaving forcefully.

"I won't submit to an examination," he asserted once more, but made no move.

If he wished, he could easily escape from this young military doctor's grasp.

But he didn’t wish to.

The light shone from behind him, casting his imposing figure over Qin Qing. Yin Bozhou was so formidable, while Qin Qing seemed so vulnerable.

"You won't leave without undergoing the checkup."

The delicate Qin Qing just had to stretch out his slender arm, making a symbolic gesture, to halt the formidable Yin Bozhou completely.

996 trotted back to the medical room with a savory pork knuckle in its mouth, looking rather bewildered upon seeing the two blocking the entrance.

"What game are you two playing?" It didn’t want to crawl between their legs to enter the room, so it sat down outside.

Qin Qing didn't respond, but tilted his face upward, staring resolutely at Yin Bozhou.

Yin Bozhou looked back with an indifferent expression, neither moving nor speaking. If left undisturbed, he could keep watching forever. This was more enthralling to him than any war.

After a stalemate of about two to three minutes, Qin Qing proposed, "Commander Yin, let's have a contest. The first to blink loses. The loser must fulfill a request from the winner. My request is that you must stay for a psychological examination."

Yin Bozhou didn’t believe he'd lose, so he nodded in agreement. Staring intently at Qin Qing, this wasn’t a competition; it was a reward.

The two began their staring contest.

996 munched on its pork knuckle, shaking its head with a chuckle, "Childish!"

Qin Qing tilted his head, gazing up at Yin Bozhou.

This exceedingly handsome face bore all the marks he had once known so well. Those deep and inscrutable eyes, though tinted with a hint of unfamiliarity, still retained their warmest glow. And those thin, graceful lips, even when they seldom broke into a smile and often seemed stoic, always voiced words that sounded cold but were genuinely tender.

Time changes, the world changes, but the one he loves seems to remain the same forever.

Tears shimmered in Qin Qing's eyes, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve upwards. Looking at that face, he felt both a poignant urge to cry and a joyous desire to laugh.

The most transparent secret in the world is love.

Qin Qing felt that he was about to betray his.

He tilted his moistened eyes, raised his slightly reddened lips, and revealed a deeply affectionate smile.

Yin Bozhou's pupils constricted momentarily. At this moment, the smile on Qin Qing's face was one he had never seen before.

Qin Qing appeared somewhat sorrowful, yet also incredibly joyous. He seemed to want to blossom yet also wished to conceal himself, reminiscent of a small orchid hidden deep within a thicket, with the surrounding grass whispering its existence.

Walking alone in the wilderness and stumbling upon such a flower would melt anyone's heart. One would wish to cradle it in their hands, gently taking in its fragrance.

Yin Bozhou previously thought Qin Qing's defiant expression was more captivating than his smile. But now, he believed this warm and soft smile surpassed everything else.

His blood grew hotter and hotter, as if influenced by the most intense, 100% compatible pheromone. This sensation was lethal!

But there were no pheromones in the medical room.

Just as Yin Bozhou felt a bead of sweat on his nose and feared he might lose control, Qin Qing chuckled softly, saying gently, "I apologize, Commander, but I must win."

With that, he tiptoed and blew a gentle breath on Yin Bozhou's sweat-dampened face.

This breath, laden with a rich and sweet scent, entered Yin Bozhou's nostrils, fluttered his eyelashes, causing an uncontrollable blink.

He lost.

His blood boiled like magma, his heart pounding like an erupting volcano, and a sudden wave of dizziness overcame him. He had to grasp the door frame to prevent both his physical and mental states from spiraling out of control.

It turned out that even without pheromones, an Alpha could still burn passionately for an Omega.

Was he the only one privy to this secret?