Chapter 58

Chapter 58

058

Coexistence

Jing BaiyuanYuanting swiftly carried Chu Li to the cafeteria. It wasn't mealtime, yet a few people were scattered around the entrance, pretending to pass by.

Despite their efforts to appear casual, Chu Li knew that these people were there to see him.

Their gazes were too deliberate.

Feeling embarrassed, Chu Li swung his legs and held onto Jing Baiyuan's shirt in front of him, whispering, "Put me down quickly."

Jing Baiyuan glanced at the restless legs concealed by the bedsheet and reasonably stated, "You're not wearing shoes."

Chu Li: "…"

Who was to blame for not wearing shoes? Wasn't it Jing Baiyuan's intention?

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting carried him into the cafeteria, where tables and chairs were neatly arranged, yet devoid of people. Only a plump chef in a white uniform stood at the food-serving window, smiling at Chu Li and Jing Baiyuan Yuanting.

His smile comprised six parts amiability, one part surprise, one part curiosity, and two parts teasing.

This made Chu Li feel so embarrassed that he turned his head away, unwilling to meet his gaze. However, being held by Jing Baiyuan Yuanting, turning away simply meant burying his face into the latter's embrace.

This action only seemed to amplify the awkwardness.

Chu Li could only remain stiffly still, awaiting Jing Baiyuan Yuanting to place him on a chair. After seating Chu Li, Jing Baiyuan Yuanting bent down to neatly fold the blanket covering him, using it as a small quilt to drape over him.

One end of the blanket touched the ground, causing Chu Li to fidget uncomfortably. He whispered, "It's dirty."

"It doesn't matter," Jing Baiyuan Yuanting reassured softly. "They can wash it when we get back."

Chu Li's cheeks flushed red. He turned his head towards the entrance of the cafeteria, where Ya Lan and Cao Yun were leading a group of students. They had just arrived in time to hear Jing Baiyuan Yuanting's words. Ya Lan shot Chu Li a teasing smile.

Chu Li: "..."

Unable to resist, he shot Jing Baiyuan a glare and whispered, "Hurry up and find me my shoes."

They were practically turning into a spectacle on this spaceship!

Unknown to them, the attraction had nothing to do with footwear; everyone was here to witness the admiral's love life. After all, Jing Baiyuan, in his thirties, had refused an arranged match with an Omega back on Blue Vein Star, claiming they had low compatibility. Not only that, but he'd also frightened the Omega to tears, earning him a notorious reputation that persisted until today, keeping everyone at arm's length.

Everyone had assumed the admiral would remain single forever, resulting in other high-ranking officers in the Expeditionary Force adopting similar lifestyles, either staying single or hiding their relationships to avoid offending the admiral.

Yet, who could have predicted that after Jing Baiyuan went missing for half a year, he would return with a wife? And not only that, how could this man, known for his stern demeanor, speak so gently to his wife and carry her from the room to the cafeteria?

At this thought, everyone's gazes shifted to Ya Lan. The admiral was found by her—could it be... that the real admiral was already deceased, and Ya Lan had found someone identical to impersonate him?

Ya Lan, watching Jing Baiyuan engage in romance from the doorway with a contented expression, was about to lead these unwanted spectators away when she felt a chill down her spine. She turned around to see a group of people staring at her with resentment in their eyes.

Ya Lan: "?" What's going on?

After seating Chu Li on a stool, Jing Baiyuan bent down to ask what he wanted to eat. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chu Li couldn't think of anything fancy and simply said he didn't mind.

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting went to fetch a few dishes from the serving counter, all of which Chu Li had just ordered.

Chu Li picked up his chopsticks and suddenly remembered, "Have Teacher Cao and the others eaten yet?"

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting lifted his head and waved towards the entrance. Ya Lan, who hadn't left yet, immediately understood and said to Cao Yun beside her, "Teacher, do you want to eat? The kitchen has prepared a lot. Let's go in together."

Cao Yun was still immersed in the shock of narrowly escaping death and the revelation that Chu Li's Alpha was Jing Baiyuan. She couldn't recover from her daze. Hearing Ya Lan's question, she nodded coldly and told the students beside her, "Go in and have your meal."

The students rushed in, instantly transforming the previously deserted cafeteria into a bustling scene.

Seeing this, Ya Lan decided to advance the lunchtime for today, inviting the rest of the spaceship's occupants to join them.

As a result, even more people came to dine (strike out) watch Chu Li and Jing Baiyuan interact.

Chu Li eventually grew numb to being stared at and simply ignored them, focusing on his meal. After finishing, he threw caution to the wind and held out both hands to Jing Baiyuan, "Carry me."

A hint of amusement flickered in Jing Baiyuan's eyes as he leaned down to scoop him up.

He wasn't someone who smiled easily, but when he was with Chu Li, he couldn't help but wear a gentle smile.

Afraid of alarming others, he held back his emotions.

Being carried in Jing Baiyuan's arms once more, feeling the warmth and solidity of the embrace, Chu Li gradually realized that he had truly been rescued. He let out a long sigh of relief, leaning against Jing Baiyuan's chest, and laziness crept over him again.

So safe, I want to sleep.

Jing Baiyuan had initially planned to have a conversation with Chu Li after they returned. However, by the time they reached the room, the person in his arms was already asleep, breathing softly and evenly against his chest, with relaxed features.

His heart softened, and he moved even more gently, carefully placing Chu Li on the bed. After tucking the covers around him, he intended to leave, but the person on the bed let out a soft whimper, extending a tiny finger to hook onto his sleeve. "Stay with me..."

Jing Baiyuan sighed, leaning down to whisper in Chu Li's ear, "I'll ask Ya Lan to prepare another room."

The military cot was too narrow for two people.

Chu Li still seemed reluctant, but at least he released his grip. Jing Baiyuan felt a sense of relief and strode out of the room.

After finishing her meal, Cao Yun was taken by Ya Lan to meet Jing Baiyuan.

These students were here for an internship with the Expeditionary Force when they encountered the unexpected. Jing Baiyuan wanted to ask their opinions – whether they wished to stay here or return to Blue Vein Star.

Cao Yun hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do.

But Ya Lan, standing nearby, said, "If you want to return, we can immediately arrange a spacecraft to send you back."

Startled, Cao Yun realized from Ya Lan's tone that they didn't seem particularly keen on them staying.

Quick to react, she asked, "What's the situation outside now?"

The room fell silent. Jing Baiyuan Yuanting remained quiet, and Ya Lan wore an awkward expression. Cao Yun blinked, sensing that something was amiss.

She had assumed that with the internship ship missing for so long, the Empire would have been alarmed, and perhaps the Emperor had even dispatched an expeditionary force to search for them... But from the looks of it, that wasn't the case?

Ya Lan looked at Jing Baiyuan Yuanting, who nodded slightly. Only then did Ya Lan speak, "You were held captive for several days, and the news was indeed reported to Blue Vein Star. However, since the pirates' hideout is within the Alliance territory, Blue Vein Star didn't send out a search party. As for the expeditionary force... The General is currently operating independently and has even clashed with the Alliance. Once they find you, they plan to retreat, and soon after, they'll likely have to return to Blue Vein Star for trial. If you don't wish to be embroiled in this, it's best to go back as soon as possible. This incident has nothing to do with you in the first place."

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting hadn't ventured into Alliance territory for them; it was all for Chu Li alone.

But these words struck Cao Yun like a bolt of lightning: "The Empire didn't send anyone to look for us?"

"We did," Ya Lan replied. "But once we discovered that the pirates' base was within the Alliance, we didn't continue the search."

"So we've been abandoned by the Empire? Out of the twenty-two of us on this ship, were we just supposed to wait for death in the pirates' den if Admiral Jing hadn't come for us? Is that it?" Cao Yun's emotions escalated, and her eyes began to redden.

But after her outburst, she realized clearly that the person before her had defied the Blue Stripe Star's orders to rescue them, not the Emperor who had considered abandoning the ship due to concerns over the alliance with the Federation... Cao Yun closed her eyes in pain and said, "I'm sorry, I got too worked up."

Jing Baiyuan remained silent, while Ya Lan spoke, "It's alright, Teacher Cao. We understand how you feel. But now, things have become somewhat complicated. For the sake of protecting these unsuspecting students, it would be best if you leave here as soon as possible."

"I understand. We'll follow the Expeditionary Force's arrangements," Cao Yun agreed, then hesitated, "But... Chu Li..."

Ya Lan replied, "He will return to the Blue Stripe Star with the Admiral."

It was almost certain that Jing Baiyuan would be returning to the Blue Stripe Star for trial.

Cao Yun was just a teacher and powerless in such matters. Ya Lan advised her to leave as soon as possible, so she agreed. After discussion, they decided to let the students rest here for a day before setting off for the Blue Stripe Star the following day.

Exiting the room, Cao Yun couldn't resist turning back for one last look. The Imperial Admiral sat steadfast behind his desk, while Ya Lan leaned in to speak with him. His brows were firm, seemingly unconcerned about the impending trial.

Cao Yun couldn't help but wonder, What wrong did Jing Baiyuan commit after saving the Empire's students?

After Cao Yun left, Ya Lan couldn't help asking, "Admiral, are we just going to wait here for news from the Blue Stripe Star?"

Jing Baiyuanting paused for a moment in contemplation before he said, "Let's return to Lu Gang."

It would take two to three days to return to Deerport from here, coinciding with the time when students would be returning to Azurite Star. Presumably, there would be another two or three days of commotion within Azurite Star. By the time he received the notification and rushed over, it might already be half a month later.

He has some matters that need to be attended to within these two weeks.

"Very well, I'll arrange it immediately."

Jing Baiyuan said, "Split the troops into two groups. The main force should proceed first. You and I will stay behind and leave only after seeing off the students from Blue Stripe Star."

Ya Lan replied, "I understand."

---

This time, Chu Li didn't sleep for too long. He was awakened in the afternoon.

Jing Baiyuan mentioned that the new room was ready and invited him to take a look.

Calling it a new room was a bit of an exaggeration; it was simply a slightly larger space with a double bed added, while the rest of the furnishings remained as minimalistic as before.

Standing at the door, Chu Li held Jing Baiyuan's collar with a bit of nervousness, softly asking, "Are you going to sleep with me tonight?"

This question left Jing Baiyuan momentarily stunned. "You don't want me to?"

He had never considered this possibility and didn't expect Chu Li to refuse.

He frowned, about to say that if Chu Li didn't want to, then it was fine.

But then he saw Chu Li shake his head. "No."

He just felt... if they openly slept in the same room on this spaceship, wouldn't they become an even more eye-catching sight for others?

Recalling the surprised gazes from others when they ate in the cafeteria earlier, Chu Li said, "How do you usually interact with your subordinates? They were all so astonished when you accompanied me for a meal."

Jing Baiyuan pondered, "Really?"

Chu Li: "Isn't it obvious?"

The man fell silent, not saying a word. Seeing how stubbornly he refused to acknowledge it, Chu Li couldn't help but laugh. Leaning against him, he took Jing Baiyuan's hand and whispered, "We've finally met, Admiral."

Back in the virtual space, Baiyuan had eagerly awaited the chance to meet this person in real life. Unfortunately, many incidents intervened, and it wasn't until now that Chu Li realized he was truly standing before this individual.

Jing Baiyuan also held his hand tightly, softly acknowledging him before asking, "Would you like to take a walk?"

Chu Li replied, "Sure."

He was somewhat worried about the situation outside, but Jing Baiyuan never spoke of the expedition army matters with him, so Chu Li tactfully refrained from asking. The two left their room and began wandering through the spaceship.

This vessel was much larger than the one that had abducted Chu Li and his companions. With no secret compartments, it featured not only individual rooms and a cafeteria but also a training room.

Upon reaching the training room, Chu Li suddenly recalled the murdered Gou Fei. Standing behind Jing Baiyuan, he tensed up and whispered, "I should thank you. If not for your special training sessions, I might not have made it out alive this time."

Jing Baiyuan had witnessed the underground base's destruction firsthand and knew that Chu Li must have taken action. However, he had refrained from asking out of concern for Chu Li's emotional well-being.

Hearing Chu Li mention it himself now, Jing Baiyuan's heart tightened as well. Turning around to grasp Chu Li's hand, he found himself momentarily speechless.

Only now did Chu Li realize how frightened he had been. Fortunately, Jing Baiyuan had arrived just in time, and he hadn't lost.

Noticing the tension in front of him, Chu Li gently shook his head at Jing Baiyuan and took the initiative to step into the training room, saying, "Let's give it another try."

"Little Li..." Jing Baiyuan Yuanting was somewhat worried about him.

Although Chu Li had developed a shadow from martial arts training, he gritted his teeth to overcome the discomfort and said, "Let's go."

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting could only accompany him inside.

As a person, Jing Baiyuan Yuanting might worry about Chu Li, but once he started training, he wouldn't hold back.

He didn't use excessive force, yet he struck when necessary. Within ten minutes, Chu Li was indeed defeated.

Exhausted, Chu Li plopped down on the soft ground of the training room, panting as he gazed at Jing Baiyuan Yuanting. Jing Baiyuan Yuanting crouched down in silence, using the sleeve of his training outfit to wipe away Chu Li's sweat.

Suddenly, Chu Li smiled and held Jing Baiyuan Yuanting's wrist, clasping it in his hand. "I felt a bit scared when I first came in, but it's fine now. Yuanting, am I a bit cowardly?"

Despite being rescued, he still couldn't shake off the memory of holding a blade to the other person's throat. Despite narrowly escaping death, he didn't feel happy, nor did the joy of reunion dilute the lingering fear in his heart.

What was going on? He wasn't acting cool at all.

However, Jing Baiyuan Yuanting wore a solemn expression, looking even more down than Chu Li. He sat cross-legged opposite Chu Li and shook his head earnestly. "No, you're very brave."

"Why?" Chu Li felt disoriented. He looked at the man before him and unexpectedly yearned for the other to praise him.

His desire was fulfilled as Jing Baiyuanting genuinely began to commend him.

"You've done everything you could. You delayed your adversaries to give your companion time, managed to carry the damaged personal terminal with you to send us an accurate location signal, and even fought back when they intended to harm you – successfully, I might add.

"All those years of hard work have not been in vain; they proved useful during this critical moment."

Jing Baiyuanting was always sincere and straightforward, generous with his compliments. Chu Li knew that he had a biased perception of him, but hearing these words still brought him joy.

Unable to resist, he chuckled and asked, "But when I recall what happened, I still feel scared. Shouldn't I be happy about it since I did well?"

Jing Baiyuanting frowned and shook his head. "Anyone would be afraid after taking a life. Fear is a sign of respect and awe for life, not a reflection of cowardice."

Chu Li deliberately said those words hoping to seek comfort from the other. He understood these principles, but hearing Jing Baiyuanting say them so earnestly made him emotional. No, it wasn't appropriate to laugh now. It would be disrespectful to the General.

He buried his head into Jing Baiyuanting's embrace, stifling his laughter.

Jing Baiyuanting, unsure of what was happening, held the trembling Chu Li in his arms, lost for words.

Chu Li laughed and laughed until his nose tingled. Before he could cry, he rubbed vigorously against Jing Baiyuanting's chest to soothe his overflowing emotions.

Only then did he release him and whisper, "Let's go to the next place."

Jing Baiyuanting gave him a serious look, reassured that he was alright, and replied, "Alright."

Perhaps Chu Li still needed time to recover or was still troubled by the matter. However, since he didn't want to talk about it, Jing Baiyuanting believed it was best to give him some space to sort through his feelings at his own pace.

Jing Baiyuanting had always been straightforward in his interactions with others, especially with Chu Li.

There was also a glass viewport on this spaceship, allowing them to see the view outside when standing in front of it.

However, the spaceship seemed stationary, which surprised Chu Li. "Where are we now?"

Jing Baiyuanting answered, "On the dividing line between the Alliance and the Empire's territory in space."

Chu Li's personal terminal was damaged, so he was unaware of what was happening outside. He knew that Jing Baiyuanting had come to the Alliance to rescue him... which made him worry. "Doesn't your faction have... anything to do with the Alliance?"

After finding Chu Li, Jing Baiyuanting had withdrawn his troops. With Huai Wei harboring guilt, he didn't dare pursue them either. The matter with the Alliance was left unresolved for the time being. If there were any resolutions to be made, they would happen later in the interstellar court.

For now, they were unrelated.

He replied, "It's fine."

Chu Li watched Jing Baiyuan silently, sensing that there was more to his words.

But she didn't press the issue and continued strolling with him inside the spaceship.

After walking for a while, they encountered Cao Yun. Overjoyed to see Chu Li finally out of bed, Cao Yun grabbed her hand and started chatting.

From Cao Yun, Chu Li learned that they would be returning to Blue Stripe Star the next day. Cao Yun asked if Chu Li wanted to join them, leaving Chu Li in a dilemma. She glanced at Jing Baiyuan twice before shaking her head.

Ever since discovering that Chu Li's Alpha was Jing Baiyuan, Cao Yun had been worried. The disparity between their statuses was immense, and Jing Baiyuan seemed so aloof. With all his current responsibilities, could he truly take good care of Chu Li? She couldn't help but ask Chu Li if she wanted to leave with them.

However, Chu Li declined the offer herself.

She understood clearly that she had no place to intervene in their affairs.

Sighing, she said, "Alright then, you'll be staying here alone. Take good care of yourself."

Saying that, he turned to Jing Baiyuan Ting and, after a moment of restraint, continued, "When Chu Li is alone at school, many people spread malicious rumors. Admiral Jing, if you care about him... you should publicly announce your relationship sooner rather than later. He shouldn't have to bear those gossip and slander alone."

Jing Baiyuan Ting remained silent, but Chu Li frowned first. "Teacher, not making it public was something Yuan Ting and I discussed. I don't feel that those rumors have caused me any real trouble."

Cao Yun didn't expect Chu Li to be the one to refute her, and she was momentarily taken aback.

Chu Li added, "I'm sorry, Teacher. I know you're worried about me, but you really can't blame this on him. I apologize, Teacher."

He apologized twice, clearly not intending to fault anyone. After a moment of stunned silence, Cao Yun said helplessly, "Alright, as long as you two understand each other. I won't force myself into the role of the villain here."

She gave Chu Li another glance, still feeling uneasy. "Take good care of yourself while you're out."

With those words, Cao Yun parted ways with Chu Li and the others. The next day, before Chu Li even woke up, they boarded another spaceship to rush back to Blue Stripe Star.

Chu Li, on the other hand, accompanied Jing Baiyuan and Yuanting to Deerport Fortress.

Deerport was where the Expeditionary Force was currently stationed, and it was also the place where Jing Baiyuan had spent the most time.

If not for encountering Chu Li, that place would have been his home.

After two days of traveling through space, they finally arrived at Deerport.

News of Jing Baiyuan's return had already spread within the port a day prior. Hong Feng, who had been left behind in Deerport, couldn't contain his excitement and had arrived at the harbor early in the morning to wait.

However, despite waiting until almost eleven in the morning, the promised spacecraft still hadn't landed.

The high-ranking officials of the Expeditionary Force who had accompanied him were growing impatient. They quietly approached him and whispered, "Why hasn't it landed yet? Did something go wrong?"

"Could it be that Blue Stripe Star is causing trouble for the Admiral right now?"

Hong Feng was also anxious. He didn't dare to look for Jing Baiyuan, so he could only call Ya Lan and ask her what was going on. However, Ya Lan hesitated and stammered, "Well... someone here isn't feeling well."

"What? The Admiral is ill?" This was Hong Feng's first thought. After all, how could an illness hinder Jing Baiyuan's descent?

Ya Lan: "..."

"What illness is it? Is it severe? Or did you get injured during the war?" The more Ya Lan remained silent, the more anxious Hong Feng became.

Ya Lan had no choice but to be truthful: "It's Chu Li who's unwell. He seems to have caught a cold, and it's affecting his tolerance for the flight. The military doctor suggested he rest before landing."

After all, motion sickness tends to be more severe during atmospheric entry.

Upon learning that it wasn't Jing Baiyuan's health in question, Hong Feng heaved a sigh of relief. Once reassured, his curiosity piqued. He covered his personal device and whispered, "Chu Li? Is he the Omega that Admiral adopted previously? Did he come along too?"

"Oh, right, right, right. The Admiral deployed troops this time to save him... Why would he fall ill? Dizziness and vomiting? Could it be that... he's expecting?"

"Holy crap, an Omega is pregnant?!"

A series of gasps echoed behind him, startling Hong Feng. He hastily looked up to find that the people he had brought with him had somehow gathered around him, all sporting equally gossip-filled expressions.

Hong Feng: "..."

Oh no. Ya Lan had just told him that Chu Li was rather bashful, urging him not to make a big deal out of it.

And here he was, turning around and divulging the admiral's little secret.