Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Click."

It was the sound of a door opening.

Soft and cautious, as if mindful of something, the visitor didn't turn on the lights when entering the living room.

Unit 015, detecting the movement, activated automatically and rolled over to the sofa, whispering a query about whether a cup of hot milk was desired.

Xi Ze had barely slept all night and had heard every sound. However, he didn't get an answer from the male insectoid. After waiting for a while, he heard the kitchen door slide open not far away.

The male insectoid didn't stay long. It seemed like just an instant before the sound of footsteps reached the sofa.

Then, a soft rustling noise sounded, followed by the quick opening and closing of the door. The living room fell silent once again.

After a long moment, Xi Ze finally regained his composure, realizing that his entire body was tense, his fingertips gripping the edge of the sofa so hard they had turned white.

He realized belatedly that he was nervous—

All due to those few seconds the male drone spent lingering by the sofa.

Truly... preposterous.

He opened his eyes, greeted by an impenetrable darkness. Feeling the excruciating pain all over his body, he let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

**

Beep, beep, beep, beep—

The light computer beside him kept buzzing persistently, forcing Yale to pause his work and pick it up.

As soon as he opened the chat interface, a barrage of messages flooded in, filling the conversation box to the brim.

"..."

"I had toasted bread and milk for breakfast this morning. The bread was slightly burnt [crying emoji]."

"The omega finished everything, but he doesn't seem satisfied at all. Should I give him more?"

"The midday sun is delightful, and the clothes have dried nicely. Should I expose the male companion to sunlight too?"

"I've heard that lack of sunshine can cause calcium deficiency, but that knowledge seems as outdated as I am [expression of confusion]."

"My power ran out halfway, and I shut down. Yet, when I woke up, I found myself charging. How peculiar."

"The male's wounds appear to have reopened, causing him to break into a cold sweat from the pain. Did something happen while I was away?"

"The sunset this evening is breathtaking. What would you like for dinner?"

"The ingredients for the male's nutrient meals have run out. If it's convenient, perhaps I could pick some up on my way back, along with some sweets. I've heard that sugar can improve one's mood during recovery..."

Chapter 015 is equipped with an emotional module and often behaves like a child, rambling about trivial matters and sharing them with Yale.

Yale swiped through the endless messages on the screen, letting out a soft sigh and a helpless smile.

...But this can't go on indefinitely.

The drone had been in this silent resistance for a full day and night.

When given a direct order, the drone would comply docilely, but that was the extent of it. Any attempt to draw out more of his emotions or thoughts was met with silence.

Could he really follow the drone's suggestion and bind him to the headboard for... certain activities??

Though he was no longer human, Yale still possessed a compassionate heart, and he could not bring himself to engage in such inhumane treatment.

This dilemma plagued him throughout his workday, yet remained unresolved.

But as he unlocked the door to his home, Yale's contemplation came to an abrupt halt —

A subtle bitter tang, tinged with the scent of blood, rushed at him like an engulfing tide.

"What... is going on?"

Yale's pupils constricted, his mind momentarily short-circuiting. Almost instantly, an abnormal flush of heat spread through his body.

He instinctively closed the door, preventing the scent from escaping further.

The female insect on the sofa had awoken, but the situation seemed dire.

...

"Xi Ze? Xi Ze! ... Hurry... inhibitor..."

A somewhat familiar voice pierced through the gap between reality and dreams.

He slowly shook his head, struggling to open his eyes, but only darkness persisted, blending with his rapid breathing and irregular heartbeat, causing dizziness to overwhelm him.

"... How are you feeling? Are you still coherent?"

The scent of pheromones was pervasive, infiltrating even when his nose and mouth were covered. It was like countless tiny hands pushing Yale forward, urging him step by step.

"Hey..."

His Adam's apple moved, his voice slightly hoarse as he reached out to rouse the motionless female insect, who now resembled a frozen statue.

But upon contact, the body jolted violently, slipping urgently from his grasp in a reactive burst of energy.

The omega seemed to have been pierced by a sharp blade, thrashing violently on the bed, causing a crisp snap from the restraints on his wrists.

He puffed up, arching his back like a furious feline, his eyes bloodshot as he snarled at Yale fiercely, "Get away! Don't touch me! Get... away!"

Yale hurriedly took a step back, instinctively releasing his mental energy for defense, but the result was counterproductive, making the omega's struggle even more intense.

"Hiss... Get away...!"

No, this was wrong.

A flicker of panic flashed in Yale's eyes. He focused, sensing the slightly warm gland at the nape of his neck. A surge of the alpha's rich pheromones burst forth.

The omega's towering figure collapsed like a mountain, as if his spine had been instantly removed, leaving him limp all over.

His body, which had endured countless forced rut-induced depletion, greedily absorbed nourishment.

The excruciating pain within his abdomen strangely subsided, and the chaotic, sharp emotions in his mind were washed away into emptiness.

"...

Xi Ze gasped unevenly, his golden eyes half-lidded with a scattered sheen of moisture, as if it would spill down the next moment.

A slightly cold hand covered his forehead, accompanied by a voice filled with concern, "How do you feel now? The suppressant should be arriving soon, just bear with it..."

Xi Ze suddenly shuddered and turned his head to avoid that hand. His arm trembled as he propped himself up halfway.

Yet, the source of this pheromone was oblivious, swaying before his eyes, approaching to examine his wounds, even touching and probing them.

"Stay still, it seems like the wound has reopened. Let me have a look..."

Sure enough, the wound ripped open, and a hint of blood tinged the air. Yale's expression grew anxious, and his movements became more forceful.

"…Don't, don't touch…"

He curled up in embarrassment, but his resistance was futile. The hand flipped him over, exposing his vulnerable abdomen like a fish on a chopping block.

"015?!"

Yale's brows knitted together as he urged again, but only a panicked denial responded, prompting him to let out a soft tut.

Chapter 15 had yet to find the suppressant, while Xi Ze's condition seemed to have worsened beyond redemption.

The search results on the Star Network were filled with nothing but lustful phrases like "scent soothing," "thick cream olive roasting," and inquiries into his educational background. None of them offered a reasonable solution for the current situation.

Perhaps due to his prolonged silence, the omega on the bed must've been thinking something, as the flush on their face gradually paled.

Their intertwined pheromones faithfully conveyed the omega's emotions, the sharp pain and despair within making Yale press his lips together.

He sighed inwardly, removing his wrist-computer and placing it by the bedside. Then, he reached out to tear away the sodden fabric—

"I'll help you."

...

After almost burning through its processing power, Chapter 15 finally obtained the suppressant and rushed to the living room, "I got the suppressant!"

However, Yale, who had his back turned, suddenly pulled the blanket over both of them, followed by a low, hoarse voice, "…Go back to my room first."

Why would they need to return to the room? Was the suppressant no longer necessary?

The freshly cooled CPU malfunctioned once again, triggering a short circuit.