Chapter 38

Chapter 38

After grooming himself, the male insect followed routine and bid goodnight before yawning his way back to his room. He plugged in at the corner where 015 was located, entering standby mode.

The living room lights were switched off, leaving only a vague, dim glow.

If there were any creatures still awake, they would have noticed that the omega was sitting on the sofa, not having gone to bed as instructed.

An invisible mental barrier was activated, isolating all sound.

Xi Ze activated his light computer screen, going through a series of intricate operations. A horizontal bar appeared on the floating screen.

After inputting a string of encryption keys, the small light computer screen instantly connected with another.

Xi Ze's golden eyes narrowed slightly. His cold expression turned solemn as he chuckled lowly.

"Good evening, Deputy Bai."

In that instant, vestiges of the past and its glory returned to this scarred body, filling it with blood and bone, weaving unique pathways, and igniting the sharp edge of the empire's radiance from those years.

Lightyears away, on an utterly desolate and backward junk planet.

On the slopes of a long-abandoned wilderness, there stood a humble wooden cabin. Within, a military omega stood tall and straight-backed.

The holographic computer was respectfully placed on the table. In front of it, the omega exuded a sense of worn resilience, his demeanor unyielding and stoic despite his rugged appearance.

Upon hearing a familiar voice, the omega's ashen face lit up with immense excitement. He promptly replied in a loud and clear voice,

"Good evening, Admiral!"

This is Bai Lang, the adjutant of the Supreme Commander of the First Legion.

The First Legion, once the premier among the Empire's four great legions.

Rumors had it that the Supreme Commander of the First Army treated his soldiers like beasts of burden, subjecting them to an unimaginably rigorous training regime that no other legion could fathom.

This rigor resulted in the First Army consistently having the lowest casualty rates after every battle, sometimes even achieving zero casualties.

The military omegas of the First Legion don't typically come from prestigious backgrounds; they are handpicked by the generals, often including those from humble civilian origins who have been suppressed by social ranks.

The debt of gratitude owed for discovering one's talents was already heavier than Mount Tai itself.

After decades of serving under the General, every soldier's loyalty reached an unparalleled level; they were so devoted that at a single command, they would be ready to rebel alongside him.

Back then, the First Legion was solid as a rock, the most trusted military force by the people, the sharpest sword of the Empire, and a dependable ally that instilled fear in enemy ranks.

Among them, however, there was no Anto Edka.

Anto had originally been a soldier in the Fourth Legion. After a fierce power struggle between the Third and Fourth Legions, for some reason, he led a group of soldiers to form a "Fifth Legion," attempting to break away from the established hierarchy and establish himself as the fifth General.

But to the seasoned politicians, this maneuver was nothing more than a comical act of foolishness. After sorting out their interests, the Third and Fourth Legions quickly reconciled and returned to being comrades-in-arms.

At this point, the "Fifth Legion" found itself in an awkward position, a glaring embarrassment.

Despite being ridiculed and even facing a military tribunal, a retired Admiral of the Empire, who also happened to be the General's mentor, stepped in to request the General's assistance for Anto.

Not long after, the "Fifth Legion" became an auxiliary unit within the First Legion.

As for what followed, it was a story that made anyone who knew about it want to spit in disgust, cursing that one bad apple had spoiled the whole bunch.

At the thought of those disgusting creatures, Bai Lang barely managed to suppress the rage surging in his chest.

If they hadn't accepted that bunch of scoundrels back then, the Admiral might have already become a Marshal, and the First Legion would still be intact.

In the five years following the Admiral's sacrifice, the First Legion had nearly fallen apart. Some had died, others were injured, and many were transferred elsewhere. A small portion that remained had relentlessly called for an investigation into the truth during those years.

When Bai Lang received the Admiral's communication not long ago, he could hardly believe his eyes.

Shaking with disbelief, he connected the call, and the voice that instantly filled his ears was one he knew all too well. His rationality crumbled, replaced by overwhelming joy and sobs. He was so ecstatic that he verged on madness, only daring to accept that it wasn't a dream after digging his nails into his thigh until it turned purple.

Their Admiral had returned, alive.

Recently, the Admiral had dispatched a team to infiltrate the Exchange and seize control of several working drones, obtaining videos from their data pads.

It was then that they learned about the life the Admiral had endured over the past five years – a life of biting back insults and clawing his way out of hell's abyss with sheer determination.

And the destination of those video files? It was none other than the despicable beast, Antonio's, personal email address!

Five years – it had been a torment that lasted five excruciating years...!

Bai Lang's expression was fiercely contorted, barely able to suppress his surging killing intent. He could only take deep breaths to maintain his sanity.

Fortunately, the Admiral had already escaped and was now preparing for a counterattack. When the truth was revealed, that beast would be awaiting their wrath and the fury of the people, to be skinned, picked apart, and reduced to dust!

However, Xi Ze didn't give him much time to seethe. He cut straight to the chase, "Report on the events of the past week."

With the information gathered over this period, Xi Ze now had a clear grasp of the current state of the Empire. On the surface, everything seemed harmonious, but in his eyes, it was still riddled with flaws, even more decadent and dilapidated than five years ago.

But to conquer effortlessly and achieve an overwhelming victory, careful planning was needed.

"We have secretly made contact with the General of the Second Legion... The scattered troops have mostly regrouped... A portion of the royal family's pawns planted in the outer planets have been removed..."

Bai Lang stood tall, adopting a standard military stance, as if he were still in the unification meeting room five years ago, reporting the latest battlefield developments to the Admiral, despite being in nothing but a dilapidated wooden cabin.

Having finished his report, he paused, then remembered something else.

"The driver you asked us to investigate did indeed have issues. He's been taken care of."

After hearing the progress update, Xi Ze frowned, pondering for a moment before giving concise instructions.

"That's about it. Summarize your progress and report to me every three days."

"Yes, Sir!"

Despite not seeing the Admiral in person, Bai Lang gave a crisp military salute and replied loudly.

As the familiar response echoed in his ears, Xi Ze's expression softened for a moment. "You've worked hard."

Bai Lang's eyes teared up, almost to the point of tears.

All his perseverance over the past five years had finally paid off. That was enough.

He gritted his teeth, his voice already hoarse. "It's not hard at all! It's my duty and honor to relieve the Admiral of his worries!"

Soon, the communication ended.

After restoring his optical computer to its original state, Xi Ze removed the mental barrier. The tranquil night once again filled the room.

Lost in thought, he sat on the sofa for a while before suddenly reaching up to touch the collar around his neck.

Fingertips caught the edge of the collar, slipping into its narrow slit, only to quickly draw blood from the sharp edges against his neck.

Xi Ze withdrew his hand, massaging his slightly weary temples before pulling back the covers and lying down.

*

"Slurp..."

Cold water trickled through his fingers as Yale cupped some and splashed it onto his face, the chill rousing him from any remaining drowsiness.

Suddenly, he frowned, pushing aside his bangs to reveal his forehead as he leaned closer to the mirror for a closer inspection.

Lately, he had felt an itch at the corner of his forehead, as if something was wriggling beneath the skin, emitting a cold and intense foreign sensation. It was both chilling and nauseating.

Was he really going to turn into some kind of insect?

Yale stood frozen for a moment.

Images suddenly flashed in his mind of those military females he had seen in the hospital corridor, whose injuries had triggered the growth of appendages.

And Xi Ze... He would occasionally forget that they were not the same species, given their identical appearances.

Yet every time the male insectoid removed his shirt, revealing the resplendent patterns coiling around his lower abdomen and spine, as well as the soft wing cases that concealed his wings, a profound sense of alienation would resurface.

A tiny thread of fear lurked in the depths of his nerve endings, like the venomous stinger of a scorpion, pricking him from time to time as if to remind him to remain ever vigilant —

to not show any weakness, to not arouse suspicion, to not let "them" discover his true face beneath the mask.

He gazed transfixed at his reflection in the mirror, his figure seemingly frozen in time. After a moment, he unexpectedly reached out, his damp fingertips tracing a long line across his own neck in the glass.

Snap.

...

Yale never imagined he would witness such a scene.

Exiting the bedroom, he found 015 arranging flowers on the dining table, while faint sounds emanated from the kitchen. Sensing something, he turned his head—

The male insectoid stood tall with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, skillfully flipping a sizzling piece of meat with a spatula. His imposing presence made the already small kitchen seem even more cramped.

Yet what caught his attention was the two thin, pink ribbons tightly wrapped around the omega's waist, ending in delicate bows. They stood out vividly against the black vest he wore.

What... were those?

A tantalizing aroma of sizzling meat filled the air, hinting at its delectable flavor.

Xi Ze deftly scooped the dish onto a plate before adding the already-prepared side dishes. Only then did he turn around.

His voice held a hint of a low, amused chuckle. "Alpha Lord, good morning."

Yale's eyes widened gradually.

Xi Ze was wearing a pink apron.

The apron was old-fashioned, slightly wrinkled, and made from cheap, pink fabric adorned with a cartoon piggy pocket and childish lace trim around the edges. It might have been a promotional gift from a supermarket event that ended up forgotten in a corner after being brought home. Model 015 had never worn it, so Yale must have dug it out from somewhere.

But that wasn't the point.

The apron was unusually small, and the full, supple pectorals of the omega bulged against the fabric, stretching it to its limits. The thin strap around his neck was pulled taut, seemingly on the verge of snapping at any moment.

It was unclear why he insisted on wearing it so snugly. The cinched waist emphasized the roundness and firmness of his hips even more.

One might almost imagine some...erotic scenarios where the apron and kitchen were used for other purposes under the pretense of cooking.

"Yale," confusion deepened in his expression as he stammered, "There's no need, um... like this..."

He hesitated and stopped talking.

A hint of bewilderment appeared on Xi Ze's face. After studying Yale's expression for a while, he ventured a tentative, soft question, "Alpha, what's wrong?"

"The apron," Yale pinched the bridge of his nose, finally finding his voice, "Why are you suddenly wearing an apron?"

Xi Ze seemed to realize something, but he still looked puzzled as he glanced down at the apron, "What's wrong with the apron?"

"Well... It just seems very ill-fitting."

"That's not a problem."

Xi Ze spoke nonchalantly, then a hint of a smile appeared on his face. "I've learned a new dish. Would you like to try it?"

Yale slowly shifted his attention away from the apron, catching Xi Ze's words. His expression froze for a moment.

It was... an odd feeling.

Despite living together due to unforeseen circumstances, eating together, watching TV, chatting, and even engaging in intimate acts, Yale had never seen Xi Ze as his equal.

But that apron was too familiar, so much so that... it triggered a distant and vague illusion in Yale.

There were a few times, also in winter mornings, when he sat on a small stool with his hands in his pockets, drowsily waiting for his grandmother to finish cooking breakfast before sending him to the central primary school two kilometers away.

The tiny figure bustling about in the dilapidated kitchen was illuminated by a faint warm light. He could see the pink apron with a faded cartoon pig printed on it.

Young Yale grew sleepier and sleepier until he was startled awake by the rice spoon tapping his head, his eyes instantly widening. "!!"

"Hurry up and eat! Finish your meal and get ready for school."

A blurry figure, backlit, placed a bowl of white porridge in front of him. Perhaps due to excessive exhaustion, little Yale strained his eyes, but he still couldn't make out his grandmother's appearance clearly.

It was one of the few cherished memories he held onto dearly.

Yale's gaze wandered from the pink apron to the female insect. Unlike the dim and hazy memory, the scene before him was clearer and brighter, yet just as warm.

It was like a fluffy cotton candy had been stuffed into his chest, melting sweetly against his heart.

That deep divide seemed to vanish, as if this were just an ordinary morning - waking up, having breakfast, and chatting casually with a close friend.

The feeling was too good, like a dream.

A beautiful dream that he didn't want to wake up from.

Watching the male insect's expression soften bit by bit, Xi Ze eventually smiled, "I'm looking forward to it."

However, after he finished cooking the second serving of breakfast, Yale, who had been staring at him for a while, suddenly stood up. The corners of his gentle eyes narrowed slightly, taking on a hint of aggression.

"But isn't your apron too tight? Does it pinch you uncomfortably?"

"Is it... better?"

Xi Ze met the alpha's gaze, biting his lip and pretending to adjust the strap around his collarbone. However, the tightness of the ribbon caused his ample curves to quiver with the movement.

The bow tie had tilted.

Yale's gaze darkened slightly as he watched the pink bow tie shift to the side of Xi Ze's waist. His Adam's apple bobbed in his throat.

He had intended to voice a reminder, but before he knew it, he was already standing in front of the omega, reaching out for the apron.

"Alpha...?"

Xi Ze's voice was husky, his expression slightly uneasy, yet he didn't push away the hand that touched his waist.

With the omega's silent allowance, the finger gently hooked onto the slender ribbon, slowly drawing the bow tie back to its original position behind his waist. The pinky brushed against the sensitive hollow of his waist, causing a subtle shiver.

The bow tie was now straightened, but the hand suddenly moved upward, undoing the small knot on the side of the apron. It was like lifting the lid of a box filled with cotton, revealing its fluffy and soft contents that stirred a burning desire.

Yale breathed softly, his voice even softer, "It's too tight, isn't it?"

"..."

Xi Ze gazed into the handsome insectoid's eyes and suddenly felt his mouth go dry. The fabric on his chest, dampened with a fine sheen of sweat, grew even more saturated.

He didn't respond, but the rise and fall of his chest became more pronounced.

Yale suddenly lowered his head, leaning in to inhale the scent of the male. "You smell so good."

That unique bitter aroma was still there.

It emanated from the male, like dense mist rising from the sea, gathering into cumulus clouds, awaiting the moment of saturation and descent.

In theory, intentionally releasing pheromones before a male was a silent invitation for mating, a mutual understanding between both parties.

However, pheromones were uncontrollable, and this male had only gently taken in the scent, doing nothing else but untie the ribbon. He was incredibly polite and restrained.

Backed against the hard, cold countertop, Xi Ze's throat bobbed as he struggled to find his voice. "Alpha, breakfast will get cold..."

Yale's fingers still held onto the ribbon, leaving a deep indentation on the full pectoral muscles before him.

Yet loosening one end only made the other tighter; the thin rope left a red mark on the drone's collarbone.

He gazed at that mark for a moment before finally releasing his grip.

"Beep, detecting abnormal pheromone leakage. Would you like to administer a suppressant?"

015's voice suddenly sounded, piercing through the sultry atmosphere.

After all that commotion, the apron was now hanging messily on the drone, no longer presentable. Xi Ze's ears and neck were still flushed as he turned his face away, panting in silence.

Yale barely regained his composure, pressing down on 015's protruding head and turning its face away.

Not suitable for children.

When Xi Ze quietly finished adjusting his clothes, Yale cleared his throat. "Next time, I'll get you a bigger one."

The drone softly hummed in response, leaving the apron on as he turned to check on the breakfast in the pot. "Alpha, please step out first. It'll be ready soon."

Yale leaned against the door frame, watching him skillfully toss the food in the pan. The aroma quickly filled the morning air, spreading throughout the room.

"Are you still unable to control your pheromones?"

He asked abruptly. "And what about your rut?"

"The pheromones occasionally go unchecked, perhaps due to residual effects from the past. It'll take more time to recover."

Xi Ze flipped the tender omelet without turning around. "Once your pheromones return to normal, your ruts will follow suit."

Yet, Yale frowned.

"Hugh mentioned that your self-healing ability was damaged. Aren't a female worm's self-healing abilities innate, linked to their genes? I've heard that the higher the rank, the stronger the healing power."

"..."

Xi Ze gazed at the slightly charred fried egg in the pan, lost in thought for a moment before he spoke slowly.

"Yes, during that time when I was captured and subjected to the worm body surgery, that specific function was deliberately impaired."

But it couldn't be completely destroyed. A female worm without a self-healing ability would likely die quickly, spoiling the fun of tormenting them.

Thus, they had given him some leeway, and his self-healing ability had only started to gradually recover recently.

Noticing the silence behind him, Xi Ze belatedly realized it and was about to turn around when he heard Yale softly say,

"When you return to the main planet, remember to get a thorough check-up at a top hospital. The medical technology here is outdated, so it's normal that they can't detect anything. Don't think that these are minor issues; they can accumulate and become too much for your body to handle."

Xi Ze turned back, looked at him for a few moments, then turned away before the eggs burned. He scooped them up and placed them on a plate.

"Okay."

"Let's not talk about that." Yale lowered his gaze, changing the subject. "Can we eat now? I'm starving."

...

Finally, Xi Ze took off the apron and hung it aside before serving all the breakfast dishes.

When Yale saw two matching red marks on his collarbone from the tight grip of the apron, he reached out to touch them, feeling a slight warmth but thankfully no broken skin.

He couldn't help but say, "Why did you insist on wearing it? Didn't you know it would hurt?"

Xi Ze lowered his head obediently, allowing him to touch him while casually rolling up the sleeves of the male's robe to avoid any inconvenience during the meal. "You'll get your clothes dirty if you don't wear it."

Yale's eyebrows lifted slightly, but before he could say anything, the gaze of that female insectoid shifted subtly for an instant, as if feeling a bit embarrassed. His tone was hesitant.

"And I think... you'll like how I look in this apron."

Fixing his wandering gaze, Xi Ze lowered his eyes, peering into the depths of the male's eyes. With a slight tremor in his voice, he asked hesitantly, "Does Dominant like it?"

Yale's heart skipped a beat.

His eyelashes fluttered slightly, barely regaining his composure when the female coughed discreetly, trying to change the subject.

"It's very cute. I like it a lot."

Yale smiled silently, propping his chin on one hand and gazing intently at the female.

"You're cute even without the apron. I hope... you can stay this adorable all the time."

His lips moved, his voice so low that even he couldn't hear it clearly, "That's why I brought you back with me."

"What?"

Xi Ze didn't catch the latter part of Yale's words and asked again, confused.

Yale smiled, pressing his lips together before shaking his head without responding. "Nothing. Let's have breakfast."

It was the dazzling golden eyes of the male insect that initially captivated him.

They held pain, humiliation, anger, yet remained sharp and clear, with an indomitable vitality akin to stubborn weeds growing within.

Both of them were living in this damned world like dogs.

He was a stray dog without a home, while Xi Ze was a sick wolf beaten down. He was withering away in despair, but Xi Ze managed to grow stronger through blood and sweat.

People were always drawn to what they lacked, and he was no exception.

The more time they spent together, the more surprises Xi Ze gave him, revealing that life could manifest not just in resilience and tenacity, but also in a lovable softness that adapted better to society and life.

Like how the tall military male insect looked perfectly fine wearing that delicate pink apron. It didn't seem out of place or bizarre to him; rather, it was...

"Adorable."

Yale murmured for the third time. With his knife and fork, he carved the scrambled eggs on his plate into a cartoonish bowtie shape, albeit lopsided. Nevertheless, he found it inexplicably appealing.

Pushing aside the remaining scraps, he picked up the bowtie-shaped egg and placed it on Xi Ze's plate. "Have this."

Chapter 015 peered at the peculiar geometric egg, scanning it for a moment without recognizing its shape, utterly perplexed.

"What is this? It looks like that..."

Xi Ze promptly covered its mouth.

Author's Note:

Indeed, the author has a fondness for the combination of apron-only attire with carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, cherry tomatoes, and so on in kitchen scenes, as it matches perfectly with the 'male mother' vibe. Unfortunately... (sigh) (leaves with hands behind back)