Chapter 43

Chapter 43

They didn't get to talk much before Xi Ze returned.

The female insect didn't comment on the scene in the ward. He simply drew the curtain back and placed the thermal box on the bedside cabinet.

However, Elaine felt a chill run down his neck for some reason. After hastily bidding Yale farewell, he practically fled, nearly bumping into the military female who was changing shifts at the door.

"Are you hungry?"

Xi Ze set up a small table on the bed, arranging several tiers of thermal boxes in an orderly manner.

The dishes were a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, mostly favorites of male insects, still steaming with warmth.

Yale took the chopsticks offered by the female, feeling a sense of déjà vu. He casually asked a question.

"When I had my leg surgery last time, Lord Male was just like this."

Xi Ze opened another thermal box containing soup, pouring a small bowl and placing it beside the male insect. Hearing this, he chuckled softly.

"Ahh, that's quite unfortunate, one after another ending up in the hospital."

"I... don't think it's that bad."

Xi Ze paused in his actions and lifted his eyes soundlessly.

His gaze fixated on Yale's profile, observing the subtle expressions during chewing, the creasing of his brows or the lifting of his lips, before swiftly lowering his lids before the male could catch him.

"What's wrong? This is delicious, you should try it."

A pair of chopsticks extended over, placing a piece of crispy meat into his bowl.

Xi Ze gazed at the glittering tip of the chopsticks, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

After a moment, he whispered softly, "…Thank you, Male Lord."

The night was shrouded in a hazy darkness.

Yale silently opened his eyes, catching a glimpse of the silhouette of the female on the nearby bed. He pulled the covers up slightly to cover the youngling's head.

Spiral threads of mental energy assembled discreetly, meandering through the air in a circle to ensure safety before they retreated, slipping back into the fluffy blanket's seams.

During the examination this afternoon, Yale had sensed something amiss.

An unfamiliar yet strangely recognizable scene emerged in his mind, imbued with his unique mental power – a scene he had probed numerous times while conducting mental guidance for the omega insects –

A mental landscape.

Yale floated in a hazy gloom, barely able to discern the outline of the entire scene: it was an entirely untamed wilderness.

He drifted in the dark river for a long while, on the verge of dozing off, until a sudden warm glow appeared in his field of vision.

What was that?

Yale stirred slightly, instinctively drawing closer.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be a tiny ball of light. As he reached out to grab it, it dissipated between his fingers like elusive blue tears in the sea, surreal and ethereal.

Yet, in the instant it vanished, a blurred image surfaced in his mind, and he suddenly comprehended its purpose.

Yale straightened, gazing at the faint starlight rising in the distance, inexplicably sensing a strong premonition—

Before long, this place would transform into a vast and magnificent new world.

*

Thanks to the military's prompt arrival, the terrifying attack was swiftly quelled.

The once war-torn border system regained its vitality swiftly, with the central district soon illuminated once more, complementing the orderly deployments carried out in secret.

As Yale hadn't sustained any significant injuries, he was discharged from the hospital quickly. He spent his days recuperating at home alongside Xi Ze. Soon, the end of the year approached, and New Year's Eve was just around the corner.

However, the male began to come home late, sometimes not returning at all for the entire night.

"Male Lord."

Xi Ze leaned against the kitchen entrance, watching as the male insector made a hasty return but then prepared to leave again after retrieving something. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke up, "Will you be back tonight?"

"I'm not sure."

Yale removed the key from the lock and slipped it into his pocket, casually remarking, "No need to cook dinner for me. I'll eat out."

"New Year's Eve is approaching soon..."

Xi Ze pressed his lips together and whispered, "Will the Ruler leave even then?"

Bang!

The male insect, however, seemed not to have heard him, as he shut the door behind him and left.

Xi Ze's expression faltered, and his heart sank gradually.

"Why, isn't the Ruler coming back for dinner today?"

Unit 015 emerged from the balcony, sliding curiously to the side of the female insect. "Then you can just prepare your own meal."

But before it could finish its sentence, the screen before its eyes flickered and went dark.

Xi Ze retracted his hand, patted the round head of the little robot butler, and skillfully moved it next to the sofa, plugging it into the charger.

Afterward, he turned on his light computer and began trying to contact Bai Lang.

The ingredients in the kitchen were taken out and promptly returned to their original state.

As the daylight faded, the aroma of dinner wafted from neighboring houses.

"…Yes, we've confirmed that the pirate attack is linked to that guy. We're secretly collaborating with the prosecution to gather evidence."

After reporting the latest progress, Bai Lang held back his anger, saying, "This is treason! Colluding with external enemies to attack civilians for personal gain—such a crime deserves that scum to lose his head a hundred times over!"

The light from the optical computer reflected in Xi Ze's eyes, making them appear exceptionally cold and sharp.

To be honest, this attack had caught him off guard.

He hadn't expected that Anton had already crossed the last line, betraying the Empire as a military omega. The offense was unforgivable.

Deploying troops was an enormous task, with countless details to attend to. Even though Xi Ze was accustomed to such high-pressure work, he didn't finish until late into the night.

Glancing at the time, he was about to conclude the handover when he hesitated and softly requested, "Investigate the alpha's recent activities for me."

"Huh?"

Bai Lang was slightly surprised but still put away his questions. "Yes! I'll compile it into a document and send it to you shortly."

The communication channel went silent.

Xi Ze pinched the space between his brows to alleviate fatigue. He then belatedly felt a hint of hunger, but he had no real appetite.

Click.

A sound seemed to come from outside the door. He immediately turned his head, but quickly realized that there were no insects outside. It was probably just an auditory hallucination or an accidental noise.

Xi Ze pressed his lips together, lowering his gaze to conceal the disappointment in his eyes.

Reactivating his optical brain, he noticed that it was almost two o'clock. The male insectoid likely wouldn't be coming back today.

Beep beep.

His optical brain signaled a new message. He opened the file Bai Lang had sent, which clearly listed Yale's activities from the past week—

"8 AM: Visited the battlefield hospital, met with a doctor named Elaine, spent the morning in their office."

"Noon: Have lunch at the battlefield hospital and take a nap in the lounge until 2 PM."

"2:30 PM: Leave with Elaine in a hovercar for the Central City's First Hospital to meet a doctor named Hughes. Spend the entire afternoon in a conference room."

The male's itinerary was clear-cut, shuttling between the battlefield hospital and the central hospital, occasionally returning home only to collect items.

Xi Ze continued scrolling down and paused.

"..."

"2 AM: Return to the battlefield hospital by hovercar, spending the night in the director's office."

"7 AM: Leave the battlefield hospital, return to the residence, and leave again ten minutes later, transferring to a battlefield hospital vehicle. Head to the C2 Fringe Trading Zone and stay there for four hours."

The Fringe Trading Zone.

A gray area found on every planet, where one could acquire illicit goods or items not available on the open market.

Why would the male go there? Was he seeking something specific?

Xi Ze scanned the information once more and confirmed one thing:

In almost every account, the name "Elaine" surfaced, indicating that Yale had been virtually inseparable from this male physician during that period.

The itinerary was followed by a dossier that thoroughly investigated Elaine, the male insectoid in question:

Not of noble birth, but his background is by no means straightforward. His sire operates a hospital on the primary planet, and upon graduating from the Imperial University, he was assigned here for training and experience.

This male is quite young and possesses an attractive appearance.

Xi Ze gazed at the photo for a moment before closing his optical computer with an expressionless face.

Indeed, he was good-looking, but paled in comparison to a dominant male.

Moreover, Yale had personally praised his appearance. Yet, despite seeing this omega so many times, he hadn't shown any unusual reaction...

Although this omega had some wealth, it wasn't impressive on the main planet. Once he regained his identity, he would have the ownership of dozens of planets under his name, clearly outclassing this omega.

But what if... Yale genuinely liked this omega and wanted to take him as an omega servant?

Xi Ze suddenly furrowed his brows.

This hypothesis was like a needle pricking his heart, threading through it meticulously, though not causing unbearable pain, it was incredibly discomforting.

But – what right did he have to meddle in the affairs of an alpha?

Falling in love and choosing an omega as their servant was an ordinary activity that every alpha in this society took for granted. It was an innate right and duty of an alpha, no other insect had the right to interfere.

"…The one who can make me decide to love them must be an exceptional insect, and there should only be that one, no others will intervene."

Amidst his turmoil, the words spoken by the alpha resurfaced in his mind.

Back then, he was still blind, but he could still picture the calm, fair profile of the young alpha and the fluttering of his long eyelashes.

The gentle and lively tone carried a inexplicable wistfulness, weaving a dream that was both scandalous and yet incredibly beautiful.

If an alpha were to fall in love with...

Xi Ze abruptly realized what he was thinking about. After a moment of stunned silence, he took a deep breath.

It was sheer madness.

But the sudden inhalation tugged at the collar around his neck, bringing a suffocating sensation that made the omega's eyelashes flutter.

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, freezing all his irritations and emotions into ice.

After a moment of silence, he placed his optical computer on the coffee table and pulled back the curtains of the balcony with a swish, allowing a soft moonlight to pour in.

Tiny snowflakes battered against the glass, emitting a chill in the air.

The usual light breathing from the master bedroom was absent tonight, making the world seem even more serene.

"When do you plan on leaving this place?"

Bai Lang had once asked him, his expression veiled with suppressed fury, "And this collar! When has the First Army ever endured such humiliation — we must find an opportunity to break it as soon as possible!"

What had he replied back then?

Xi Ze pressed his forehead against the cold glass.

Reflecting in the gleam, a pair of golden eyes shimmered, his sharp eyebrows and piercing gaze imbued with a chill and a hint of melancholy, bordering on sorrow for a fleeting moment.

His response was — "Establish a secret backchannel connection and arrange it promptly."

For years, he had wandered alone through the vast landscapes of war, his spirit forged into steel wings that barely held together his crumbling, yet resilient, first intentions.

Torment and abuse failed to make him yield to shackles, and tenderness and affection were not enough to bind him within a cage.

The longing for freedom should be the most primal and sincere desire of any sentient being capable of thought and emotion.

Male drones are exceptional dream weavers, but perhaps they can't tolerate the idea of their possessions desiring to erase their unique marks and break free from their bonds.

It was time for this beautiful dream to come to an end, Xi Ze thought calmly, yet a inexplicable desolation spread within him like a tidal wave of sorrow, gradually submerging his mind and stirring up a strange yet familiar ache in the depths of his chest.

The howling snowstorm in his mental landscape grew more fierce, and he vaguely felt that it shouldn't be so, but the icy stillness stretching for thousands of miles was indeed a common occurrence.

After a long, long silence, as dawn illuminated the distant horizon, he finally, dully recalled that place had once been graced with the tender mercy of spring.

...

The following days saw no change; the male insectoid grew even more elusive, rarely returning home.

Slam.

Yale shut the door with his backhand, looking somewhat weary as he removed his coat and gloves, tossing them carelessly onto the sofa.

He glanced at the kitchen but didn't spot the presence of the female. Furthermore, judging from the arrangement of spices in the kitchen, it seemed that no cooking had taken place today.

Isn't it already noon?

Yale pinched the bridge of his nose, looking at the bathroom from which the sound had come, somewhat sluggish. He sank into the sofa, lost in thought.

The recent hustle and bustle had left him drained, appearing worn out. His disheveled fringe was untidy, with one stubborn strand sticking up, making the male insectoid look somewhat dazed.

Click.

Xi Ze emerged from the bathroom, toweling his hair. He had been looking down with an expressionless face.

In the next instant, he sensed a familiar presence and lifted his gaze abruptly.

Yale saw those golden eyes light up as if they had spotted Tangyuan returning home. The creature sprang to its feet, its fluffy tail spinning wildly like a windmill.

"Male Sovereign..."

Xi Ze stood frozen, opening his mouth in a somewhat helpless attempt to speak.

Yale smiled and continued the conversation, "Yes, I'm back. Why isn't lunch ready? Don't tell me you don't eat when I'm not here?"

The female insect seemed to freeze for a moment before silently approaching, pulling off the towel on its head, and bending down---

Using its damp hair, it brushed against Yale's cheek, suppressing a husky yet restrained voice, "Welcome back, Male Sovereign."

"What are you being so coquettish for? You can't get away with that."

Yale's eyebrows lifted slightly, and he chuckled, but he didn't intend to let the creature off the hook. "Well, why didn't you cook lunch?"

His voice was languid, tinged with weariness, yet remained gentle and patient.

Having gained a deeper understanding and acceptance of the submissive drones' faint sense of self, he had learned to communicate calmly with them.

The drone's breath was uneven against his neck, its nose gently rubbing behind his ear.

He fell silent for a moment before responding in a low, husky voice, "…Why hasn't the Dominant returned home?"

So, that was what this was about.

The excuses he had prepared spun around in his mouth, but he didn't use them to deceive the drone.

Yale rubbed his nose and sighed. "It's just, there's something going on."

"It should be resolved soon. Then you'll know what it is. In the meantime, stay at home and wait for me, okay?"

Xi Ze opened his eyes soundlessly, catching a glimpse of the Dominant's clean jawline from the corner of his eye.

The words spoken into his ear were as patient and gentle as always, yet they stirred an uncontrollable ache in his heart.

He suddenly sat up straight, placing a hand on the Dominant's shoulder, and gazed into those dark, bottomless eyes.

"Master... would you make love to me, just once?"

"Aah?"

Yale, who had been somewhat drowsy, instantly snapped awake, his expression stunned.

He unconsciously released his hand from the omega's waist, feeling almost at a loss. "Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"

Predictably.

Xi Ze lowered his gaze. "Never mind, if it makes you uncomfortable."

They weren't in a relationship where they could engage in intimate acts. The alpha truly... didn't have that deep affection for him.

Yet, he wasn't treating him as an exclusive omega slave or servant either. So, what exactly were they now?

"What's wrong?"

Xi Ze closed his eyes, hiding the confusion in his depths.

But when Yale reached out to soothe him, the insectoid, as always, obediently lowered its head, feeling those fingers weaving through its hair.

*

With the preparations for the event almost complete, there was no need to rush back. Yale took a short nap and woke up in the evening.

Tiny snowflakes drifted outside the window, casting a serene and solemn blanket of white over the world.

The reversed day and night cycle made his body feel a bit off. Yale checked his forehead temperature with the back of his hand, relieved to find that he wasn't running a fever.

Opening the door, the scent of food that had been faint before now filled the air, warm and inviting, chasing away the slight chill brought by the fresh snow.

Yale fetched a glass of warm water and approached the kitchen silently, where the female insectoid was busy cooking.

In the frying pan, golden droplets of oil splattered, sizzling around a piece of some unknown star beast's leg meat. The crispy outer layer had turned caramelized brown.

As Yale drew near, Xi Ze remembered the soup on the side and lifted the lid, revealing a pair of smiling eyes in the milky white steam. His lips curved into a smile in response.

"Male Lord."

"What are you doing?"

Yale studied the leg meat intently, realizing it wasn't the usual kind he'd purchase from the convenience store. He was taken aback and asked, "Did you go out to buy this?"

"I haven't left the nest…" Xi Ze was also confused.

Following the male insect's gaze to the pot, he suddenly understood and chuckled. "This was part of the supplies we purchased earlier. Due to the encounter with the space pirates, the delivery was delayed for a few days and only arrived today."

Yale took a sip of water and fell silent, his gaze wandering.

Had he been too careless lately?

These were things he would never have mistaken before, but perhaps it was because his life had consisted solely of such monotonous affairs. The arrival of the Omega had clearly added more variety to his life, and that... was not unpleasant.

It was somewhat intriguing, otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered putting in so much effort for this matter.

Yale finished the water in one gulp, placing the glass aside.

Subsequently, he slightly bent his waist, pressing against the cold countertop like a cat that had found a comfortable spot. He lounged with his hands in his pockets, observing the busy caretaker with a casual demeanor.

"Please take a seat outside, my lord, dinner will be ready shortly."

"No problem, I'll just stand and watch for a while."

After a moment of silence, Yale recalled something and casually continued, "Lately..."

"Hmm?" Xi Ze turned his head slightly.

"I've been getting this feeling that I'm being watched, like there are insects lurking around me. It doesn't matter if I'm outside or on my way home, there's always some hidden gaze... It's rather troublesome since I can't shake it off."

He could discern the subtle differences.

Unlike the adoring gazes from his admirers, these concealed looks felt like an indomitable shadow. Though they didn't bear ill intentions, they still bothered him greatly.

After all, the plans he was currently working on required secrecy.

"Could those gazes be malicious? Perhaps they're patrol teams. There have been quite a few troops stationed here ever since the pirate attack."

"That's a possibility. Aside from the discomfort of being watched, I haven't sensed any other intention."

Xi Ze paused in his actions and let out a silent sigh.

Now, he was certain that it was the squad he had dispatched to protect the male insect personally.

But they were the best in stealth and sniping within the army. Why were they so easily detected?

In the next second, Xi Ze realized – it wasn't that the military females' abilities had declined. Instead, the male insect before him possessed extraordinary senses.

He should have known that Yale was not as simple as he appeared. Or rather, was he truly just a D-class male insect?

"Male Lord… Are you feeling unwell?"

The female insect beside him sounded somewhat tense, but Yale didn't mind. He was distracted, pondering how to shake off those trackers. "Yes."

"I dislike the sensation of being monitored and observed. Or rather, I don't think anyone enjoys such an experience."

Seems like he couldn't let them tail so closely from now on. As long as the male insect was safe, that would suffice.

Xi Ze lowered his gaze, scooping out the cooked meat from the pan and skillfully arranging the vibrant side dishes. Finally, he lifted his eyes to look at the male insect. "It's ready. Male Lord, please go sit outside."

With delicious food before him, Yale's stomach, which had been empty for too long, rumbled back to life.

Yale instantly changed the subject with a smoothness that belied his earlier agitation. "Sure thing."

In the midst of munching, Yale suddenly remembered something and looked up.

"I'll be out tonight, and I might not make it back in time. You should go to bed early and don't wait up for me."

Lately, the little robot butler had been forcefully logged off frequently, so Yale didn't have a strong reaction to the drone's "unusual" behavior. However, he missed those 'Observation Diaries of the Drone.'

Thus, he would take a moment out of his busy schedule to check what the drone was up to.

The surveillance footage showed nothing out of the ordinary, but the drone staying up until two or three in the morning waiting for him made Yale feel guilty, as if he had left a puppy all alone at home.

"Are you... not coming home tonight either?"

Tonight was New Year's Eve. After tonight, a new year would begin.

Xi Ze was taken aback for a moment but quickly composed himself, though the corners of his lips still curled slightly. "Alright, I understand."

He then whispered a reminder. "Be careful outside, try not to stay up late, and remember to eat on time..."

Yale was pondering the progress of the matter when he suddenly heard familiar yet unfamiliar words. He froze for a moment.

Then, he nodded seriously.

"Alright, I will. I'll probably stay up late tonight, so I'll make up for it later, mmm, I'll remember that..."

In the end, he couldn't help but chuckle softly, reassuring the female insect not to worry too much. "I'll just be out for a bit, it should be resolved quickly."

Xi Ze gazed deeply into his eyes.

"Okay, I'll wait for the Male Lord to return."

...

After Yale finished his unconventional dinner, he left without wearing his usual white down jacket but instead put on a black, thin coat.

This transformed his gentle demeanor into a somewhat stern one, like a sharp blade about to be drawn, shimmering with a cold luster.

But when he left, he still smiled warmly, bidding farewell to Xi Ze and the little robot butler, "I'm off."

"Is the Primary Worm not home tonight either?"

Unit 015, freshly recharged and awakened from its slumber, swiveled its head to look at Xi Ze after shaking it slightly.

Xi Ze was seated on the sofa, his elbows resting on his knees with a recently extinguished light computer by his side.

Seemingly deep in thought, he lowered his eyes and chuckled softly when interrupted, "Yes, it's just us two."

"Weren't we going to try making Tangyuan with the flour we bought? Why did something come up suddenly? I worked so hard to learn how to make them..."

015 slithered smoothly into the kitchen, muttering as it sorted through the items delivered earlier in the day. It pulled out a packet of glutinous rice flour and tucked it away in a cabinet.

"Tangyuan? What's that?" Xi Ze responded casually, picking up the light computer to tap away again.

"It's a type of food described by the Primary Worm. It's traditionally eaten on New Year's Eve, symbolizing unity and happiness, meant to be shared with family worms."

Hearing no response, 015 paid no heed and continued organizing the festive supplies.

Unity... and happiness?

Xi Ze gazed absently at the screen before him, his actions pausing for a moment before he lowered his gaze to resume his work, his facial expression significantly more distant.

Tick-tock.

The clock hanging on the wall emitted a rhythmic sound.

The hands were nearing twelve, yet the clock seemed out of place amidst the high-tech house design, yet it didn't appear awkward or outdated.

This was also true for the interior of the house; it didn't seem like a product of this society or race.

But due to the unique aura that belonged solely to "Yale," it was warmer and more beautiful than the former general's mansion.

Xi Ze sat on the sofa, attending to official duties, while 015 leisurely took care of household chores.

Ding-dong!

The doorbell suddenly rang, shattering the still silence.

"Who is it?"

015 rolled towards the door, hastily uttering something outside before leaving. It then placed a bag on the dining table.

"It's takeout!"

It examined the order note attentively. "The Primary Worm ordered it for you."

A small bowl emitted a sweet aroma. Through the semi-transparent plastic bowl, one could vaguely see round, plump contents.

Xi Ze paused, his heart beating slightly faster. Reaching out, he lifted the bowl's lid—

Inside the light yellow sweet water were a dozen white dumplings, each with a round head, cuddling together, looking incredibly adorable.

One of them had a tear due to the jostling, revealing its rich filling.

"What is it?"

Xi Ze had a vague idea but was still hesitant to confirm it. His Adam's apple bobbed as he asked with some difficulty.

015 stretched its neck for a closer look, recalling the rough sketch Yale had once scanned for it. It verified the true identity of these tiny delights.

"I see! This must be Tangyuan! The Queen Bug mentioned that eating this during the New Year brings good fortune. Care to taste and find out its flavor?"

Xi Ze took a deep breath and stirred the contents of the bowl with his spoon.

He cautiously took a bite. The soft, glutinous skin embraced a rich filling, melting delicately between his lips and teeth.

"How does it taste? Is it sweet?"

He slowly finished the bowl of Tangyuan, then lifted the bowl to drink the sweet broth within. Only then did he manage to rasp, "…It's sweet."

Like the taste of a male bug.

Satisfied with the answer, the robotic head resumed its chores, while the female bug sat at the table for a long while, seemingly frozen in place.

After a moment, he suddenly let out a soft chuckle, as if a realization had dawned upon him.

How could one obtain the moon without striving with all their might?

He truly couldn't bear to part with Yale, nor could he endure leaving him alone here...

Ultimately, only by possessing absolute power could one obtain and protect the precious things in life.

It was time to hasten his pace.

As for whether the male insect would become angry or struggle, refuse to stay by his side, or not have any affection for him at all – those were matters to consider later.

He would soothe Yale, with his body, influence, wealth, status... Whatever it took, he would win Yale over.

Author's Note:

When it comes to Tangyuan, the combination of peanut and sesame fillings is simply divine, and the coconut milk is the perfect finishing touch (Yay!).

The inner monologue of the general implies that he's somewhat desperate, but rest assured, there won't be any captive or darkened character arcs in the story, hahaha. We remain steadfast in delivering a sweet and pure love story without compromise!