Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Click!

An invisible barrier materialized in the air, instantly forming a sturdy spherical enclosure that held the test subject inside without any harm.

"The speed at which it detects spatial fluctuations around the target and deploys is... The intensity of the containment is..."

"The test subject has zero damage. There's zero pressure difference between the inside and outside. Sufficient oxygen within... Excellent. Secure it and activate the laser cannon."

Blazing lasers shot out from the device, their energy distorting the surrounding space but failing to penetrate the spherical shield.

"Alright, stop."

The young female insect removed her protective goggles, scanning through the parameters recorded during the process. After confirming there were no issues, she turned to the military female beside her. "Are you satisfied?"

Xi Ze wore a somber expression as he gazed at the undamaged sphere for a while before reluctantly nodding. "It's acceptable. Thank you."

"Thank me for what? Just don't come knocking at four o'clock again."

The young male insect was Xi Ze's childhood friend who had flooded his screen with "If you're alive, ping me." He was the Empire's youngest mecha designer and an exceptionally talented weapon developer. At the mention of this, he rolled his eyes.

"Says who? What have you been up to lately? Weren't things progressing smoothly with your plans... Could it be that you had a disagreement with your Lord?"

Kou Yi Jun tsked. Noticing a subtle change in the military female's expression as she reached the end of her question, he taunted with sudden realization, "I knew it, you look like a troubled widower."

"There's no conflict, just some... differences."

Xi Ze lowered her gaze, taking the final version chip that was offered to her, and softly refuted.

"I know you all too well, a half-silent, half-mute gourd. Sometimes your words are sweet as honey, and other times you'd rather die than utter a single syllable. You're the type who'd settle everything before letting others know to mourn for you when you're on your deathbed."

Kou Yi Jun taunted with his face inches away, simultaneously fueling gossip, "Spill it, what conflict did you have with the male? Wasn't he quite respectful and fond of you?"

Xi Ze moved back to avoid his scrutiny, having no intention of discussing emotional matters with his offbeat friend. He nodded coolly, "We'll talk about it another time. See you later."

"Hey!"

Seeing the military female pause, Kou Yi Jun asked directly, "Are you really planning to lock the male in there?"

In response was the sound of the laboratory door closing.

*

"Leaving so early?"

Upon hearing the door open, Yale instinctively turned his head and caught sight of the female insect at the entrance. He asked in surprise.

Xi Ze simply hummed in acknowledgment and walked straight to the sofa beside the male, sitting down and looking up at him with anticipation.

"What's up?"

Yale leisurely swiped through his light screen, holding back his laughter as he pretended ignorance. "If you have no work, go exercise or rest. Why are you watching me?"

Xi Ze opened his mouth, seemingly hesitant about how to pronounce the words. After a moment, he cautiously enunciated two peculiar syllables, almost syllable by syllable.

— "Yale."

The two unfamiliar yet familiar Chinese characters were pronounced a bit awkwardly, but their meaning was still discernible.

That deep voice reverberated in Yale's eardrums, stirring an indescribable flutter in his heart. A tingling sensation spread across half of his ear, causing his finger movements to pause.

He coughed softly, acknowledging the allure of the pronunciation but quickly regained his serious composure to correct himself, "It's Yale Ping'er Qiao, not Yale Ping'er Ping."

Xi Ze repeated the name once more, though still with a subtle mispronunciation, his earnest expression tinged with embarrassment.

"I'm still not quite getting it. Could you teach me more?"

Unable to stifle his laughter, Yale ceased teasing him and, from the storage compartment of the coffee table, retrieved the workbook he had personally prepared. He opened it to the third page and placed it before the male insect.

"Learning Chinese in terms of reading, writing, and pronunciation is quite challenging. There's no rush; we'll take it step by step."

Over the past few days, he had been teaching the male insect Chinese, but as he was not a professional language instructor, he started from the basics of pinyin and some simple characters, drawing on his own educational experience.

The male insect was already learning at a swift pace, but he was still very much an alien in every aspect – his accent and stroke execution were particularly problematic... Nevertheless, they had already embarked on a bumpy journey together.

"Do you remember all the pinyin? I'll do a dictation for you."

Yale pulled out a whiteboard and moved it in front of the male insect, then picked up the workbook again. He spent ten minutes reviewing the pinyin.

The dictation of pinyin was flawlessly recited.

The characters taught a few days ago were all correct.

Using those words to form simple sentences had some minor grammatical errors, but they weren't severe.

Yale nodded in great satisfaction. He tore off a piece of white paper and began to teach new characters on the spot.

After a moment's deliberation, he had originally intended to write the characters for "tree," "root," "top," and "bottom" to distinguish them. However, his pen unconsciously veered, and he wrote out "joy" and "delight."

Hmm... Teaching this isn't inappropriate either.

"What do these two characters mean?"

Xi Ze leaned over with curiosity, staring at the somewhat intricate square characters. After a moment's contemplation, he ventured a guess, "One is structured top-bottom, the other left-right. Are they a pair of words?"

Yale was just about to chide himself for perhaps subconsciously wanting to use teaching as an excuse for something else when he heard the male insect's earnest inquiry. His thoughts came to a halt.

"These mean 'like' or 'enjoy.' Let me teach you how to pronounce them—"

Xi Ze repeated after him a few times. Recalling the previous lessons on 'you,' 'I,' and 'he,' his expression gradually showed comprehension.

"I like Yale."

He earnestly formed the phrase, unable to suppress the curve of his lips as he spoke, his eyes gleaming slightly as he gazed at the male insect, repeating it again and again.

"I like you."

"I like Yale."

Xi Ze repeated it over and over, from initial stiffness to fluency, his pronunciation becoming smoother with each attempt, nearing perfection by the end.

Could it be said that passion was the best teacher?

Though in this case, the passion might not be for the language itself, but rather for the teacher guiding him.

"You... be serious!"

Yale felt an odd taboo sensation akin to a student-teacher romance, deliberately putting on a stern face to scold, though his slightly flushed ears betrayed his true feelings.

"Alright, carry on, Male Lord."

The omega instantly became obedient, sitting straight with both hands on his knees as if he hadn't just playfully teased his teacher moments ago.

The peculiar yet earnest lesson lasted for an hour, leaving Yale still craving more. His mood was visibly joyful and relaxed, his gaze softening.

He had intended to continue the lesson, but his optical brain flashed red, reminding him of an upcoming small meeting. Reluctantly, he announced the end of class.

"Alright, little Xi Ze, your teacher has to log off temporarily. Study on your own for now. Remember to take a good rest at noon; you have work in the afternoon."

Xi Ze's expression froze, his eyelashes still lowered. He didn't respond until he heard the study door close, his voice trailing slightly, "…Okay."

Moments ago, the alpha had corrected his stroke order by placing his hand over Xi Ze's, guiding him meticulously. The warmth and tenderness of that palm seemed to linger, refusing to depart.

But the emptiness beside him denied any self-deception.

Xi Ze fell silent for a moment before discarding the pen without emotion. Lowering his eyes, he studied the basic textbook filled with Yale's meticulous handwriting.

The characters were simple, yet the script was elegant and graceful, undoubtedly the kind that would earn praise from teachers since childhood, just like Yale himself, excellent in every way.

His fingertips caressed the paper, tracing the grooves left by the strong pen strokes. Through this single medium, he felt as if he could glimpse and understand the world beyond.

"Yale."

Yale was neither of the insectoid race nor native to this world.

He disliked cruelty, didn't indulge in taming female insects, and wasn't accustomed to the polygamous societal structure... all due to his past experiences and societal norms.

Perhaps there was affection, but it didn't entail an overwhelming, irreplaceable passion.

The randomness of the rescue led to everything that followed. It happened during a low point in Yale's emotional cycle, when he just happened to be in that alley, allowing him to slip into Yale's life.

Perhaps anyone else could have filled that role.

Yale had once doubted his feelings too. How did he put it back then?

"Gratitude is not the same as love. I can distinguish between them."

Now, he was questioning the foundation of this emotion. Despite the overwhelming shame and remorse that followed his awakening, he couldn't suppress the growing dark desire—

Because "anyone else could have done it," the affection lacked uniqueness, thus reducing the likelihood of being favored or chosen.

Yet he yearned for exclusivity, to bind Yale to his side, unwilling to be the discarded weight on the scales, never to be separated from the other across two worlds.

He desired to be... Yale's sole companion.

Xi Ze bent his back under the emotional burden, covering his face for a long while before a hoarse, low chuckle escaped him, barely audible in the empty living room.

"Truly... insane."

*

Yale sensed that the male had been acting strangely lately.

Not only was he more attentive to Yale's whereabouts than before, but he also seemed... clingier?

It was as if he was afraid that Yale would vanish if he wasn't vigilant, but this time, it wasn't out of the same protective instinct. Instead, it was a more oppressive and anxious emotion.

He pondered the source of this odd feeling—was it the conversation in the study?

No, it likely started even earlier.

Yale rubbed the cup in his hand, his gaze lost in the brilliant scene outside the garden.

Was it that night?

He seemed to have had a strange dream, perhaps sobbing or muttering something in his sleep, which frightened the female.

But before Yale could figure out what exactly went wrong, he was genuinely startled the next second—

"Clang!"

Yale didn't have time to react as his wrist was firmly grasped.

Then, a strong force pulled him aside, causing the glass water cup in his hand to slip and shatter on the ground.

"What's going on? What's happening?!"

The crisp noise startled 015, who was arranging flowers nearby. It jerked its head up, only to topple the vase in front of it.

Bang!

Another loud crash.

Yale was splashed with water from the movement, only realizing he was now in Xi Ze's embrace when he regained his senses.

The grip on his wrist was painful, instantly rousing Yale. He frowned and attempted to break free, but sensed something unusual about the male insectoid.

"Xi Ze?"

He composed himself, lifting his head from the panting male's embrace without immediately pulling away.

"What's wrong? Suddenly pulling me... Was there just a sniper trying to assassinate me?"

The bewildered 015 shrieked, "What! Sniper?!?"

"Where? Where? Quick, activate the alert mode, wuwuwu..."

Xi Ze forcefully shut his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing for a moment before he released Yale's wrist.

In the next second, he abruptly pressed the male firmly against his chest, leaning down to nuzzle Yale's hair as if confirming the warmth within his arms.

"I..."

His voice was raspy, unsure of what to say.

Moments ago, Yale leaned against the balcony window, sipping water under the dazzling sunlight that cast a warm glow on his fluffy sweater, making it feel dry and soft like a cozy nest.

Despite being an incredibly heartwarming scene, Xi Ze somehow sensed Yale's figure blur slightly, as if he might vanish into thin air like a bubble at any moment without a sound.

Before he could comprehend his feelings, his body had already surged forward, his strength uncontrollable, leaving Yale's wrist slightly bruised.

"Xi Ze?"

It wasn't until the piercing ringing in his ears subsided that Xi Ze heard Yale's puzzled question. He abruptly relaxed, realizing then that he was trembling slightly.

The lingering shock hadn't dissipated, leaving him unable to respond to Yale's inquiry. Instead, he embraced the male drone, burying his distraught expression, and gruffly acknowledged, "There was a drone attempting to attack you. The military should have taken care of it by now."

"Is that so? But I didn't sense any other drones around...?"

Yale hugged the female drone back, doubtfully, yet unable to shake off the strange sensation welling up inside him.

Xi Ze deflected his question for the first time, half-dragging and half-supporting Yale away from the window as he spoke in a low voice.

"You might have overlooked something. Let's go in first. There's no need to stand here."

...

This was merely a small incident, and the female insect's actions were entirely reasonable—

He had been frightened by the near ambush, agitated by his protective instincts, and felt deeply uneasy. Yet, he had gone to work as usual without clingily staying by Yale's side.

Still, Yale couldn't shake off this sense of oddity, tossing and turning in bed until one in the morning, unable to fall asleep due to his restlessness.

"..."

He took a deep breath, pulled the blanket over his head, and decided to clear his mind, pushing aside any further contemplation.

An hour later.

Yale suddenly shot up, wide-eyed.

The grand villa doors slid open as the male insect returned, his body covered in dew from the cold.

He halted the AI's command to turn on the lights with a gesture, silently shaking off the fine snow from his military uniform.

After waiting for a long while, the footsteps faded entirely in the living room, as if the person had simply sat down on the sofa and decided not to move.

Unlike before, when he would quietly wash up in the guest bedroom before slipping into bed.

Hadn't he finished his official duties yet?

He gazed at the dim ceiling above him, slowly realizing that something was amiss.

...

Swish, swish, swish—

The sound of a pen scratching against paper was soft but urgent, filled with tension. The pen moved continuously, and the originally uneven handwriting gradually became neat and elegant.

Like... likes.

Next comes... waiting.

Xi Ze pressed his forehead, lowering his gaze to study the unfamiliar yet familiar characters before him, silently mouthing their sounds and meanings.

The exhaustion from working nonstop all day permeated his body but was promptly disregarded. The male insect seemed like an unyielding machine, devoid of pain and fatigue, constantly learning and working.

A fierce sense of urgency and tension never relented, like a sharp blade hanging overhead, its icy edge almost tangible.

... Home, going home.

Upon writing this word, Xi Ze's hand froze abruptly, his fingers gripping the pen so tightly that they distorted the metal casing, causing it to tremble slightly.

His hand slid down his forehead, pressing firmly against one eye, attempting to suppress the rising fear and anxiety with a dull ache.

... It was futile.

The male insect's breathing quickened. He forcefully shut his eyes, his Adam's apple rolling for a moment as the taste of blood spread across his tongue.

"What are you doing?"

Yale leaned against the entrance of the living room corridor, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at the corner illuminated by the soft yellow light.

The engrossed drone was startled, instinctively about to close the notebook, but Yale, striding over quickly, snatched it away.

"…?"

Seeing what was in his hand, Yale raised an eyebrow in surprise, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement.

"You're staying up this late to read this?"

It was the textbook he had written, with several more pages turned than what he had taught during the day, clearly indicating that the drone had been secretly studying ahead.

But the thought that Xi Ze had only returned from his official duties in the middle of the night, and instead of resting, had been studying this, made Yale find it hard to believe.

"Go to bed now, or I'll be angry."

Yale emphasized his words, rolling the notebook into a tube and tapping it gently in his palm.

As if roused from a nightmare, Xi Ze seemed dazed for a moment but didn't move or speak. His glassy eyes were empty, reflecting only the image of the male before him.

He fell silent for a long while before whispering, "Master, can you give me your attention?"

The male's face was concealed in the dim light, making it difficult to discern his expression, but it was clearly not one of happiness or any other emotion.

It was as if he had been dusted with a thin layer of snow, appearing somewhat solitary amidst the chilly night.

"What's wrong?"

Yale paused, placing a hand on Xi Ze's shoulder, intending to make the male lift his head and assess the situation, but found himself unable to budge him.

Xi Ze remained silent, his stiff right fingers twitching slightly, causing the pen to drop onto the coffee table with a clatter.

He wiped his face forcefully, his voice muffled, "…Nothing."

Silence descended upon the living room.

Xi Ze didn't dare to look up at the alpha, remaining quiet for a moment before sensing the hand on his shoulder withdraw.

With the departure of that warmth, an emptiness settled in his heart, followed by a wave of immense fear and shame. An apology instantly escaped his lips, and he instinctively looked up, hastily following Yale's words.

Their eyes met unexpectedly, and all the defenses he had painstakingly erected crumbled in an instant, leaving only a fragile facade teetering on the edge.

"What's wrong?"

Yale tilted his head slightly, softening his tone.

—How could he possibly let go?

Xi Ze gazed at him unblinkingly, instinctively clenching his hand, feeling a cold, hard object digging into his palm, painfully jolting him back to reality.

He couldn't face Yale, nor could he think of a way to make the male drone stay. All he could do was engage in futile struggles, choosing this roundabout way to avoid the situation awkwardly, but even so...

At least find some sort of excuse.

"It's been a long time since we last made love."

The words were spoken swiftly and softly, catching Yale off guard. "What?"

He gradually regained his composure, feeling both amused and exasperated, yet uncertain. He gazed intently at the male's face with a mix of doubt and curiosity.

"So you're upset because of this?"

Xi Ze lowered his head, avoiding the alpha's gaze. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his voice somewhat rigid as he replied, "…It's nothing. I won't write anymore. Let's just go to sleep now."

Seeing the omega about to rush away, Yale quickly reached out to grasp Xi Ze's forearm, not allowing him to evade the issue so easily.

"Why are you being so evasive? I'm asking you, are you upset because of this?"

The omega faced away from him, even his breathing becoming softer. His Adam's apple moved, but he still remained silent.

Yale's tone softened, "If there's something you want or need, you should tell me. How would I know what you're thinking if you don't speak up?"

A sudden pang of sadness stung Xi Ze's nose. He blinked rapidly, suppressing the impending tears.

"Turn around and look at me."

The alpha's command was gentle yet firm. Xi Ze took a deep breath, composed his expression, and then turned back.

There, Yale stood in a dim golden glow, his pajamas loosely hanging on him. His dark eyes were gentle and focused, exuding an intensely vivid and intimate warmth.

Xi Ze stared at him, a inexplicable sense of grievance surging in his heart. It was as if he had struggled through a snowy wilderness, overcoming countless obstacles, only to finally see the warm light of home.

Yet, he realized that this warmth could not last forever. No matter how much he longed to hold onto it, he could foresee the signs of its inevitable extinguishment.

...But it was light, after all.

His lips quivered for a moment before he couldn't help but take step after step towards Yale.

It was like freeing himself from the mud and stepping back into the light, then embracing that familiar warmth.

"What's going on?"

Yale pressed close to the male's ear, a hint of gravity flashing in his eyes as he softly asked again, "What happened to you tonight? Did something go wrong with the plan?"

The male fell silent for a while, his voice hesitant, "Nothing went wrong... There's nothing."

He refused to speak further.

Yale let out a soft sigh.

...

Tonight, Xi Ze seemed a little odd and assertive. He took Yale's wrist and tumbled together with him onto the soft sofa.

The clutching insectoid male pursed his lips, his expression gentle yet veiled with a hint of sorrow. However, he quickly composed himself and kissed Yale on the forehead.

"....Alpha... Alpha..."

He murmured repeatedly, his voice weary, unconsciously exuding intimacy and attachment.

It was as if a sick snow leopard had rolled over to expose its belly, exhausted yet unable to resist snuggling against its caretaker.

Yale reached out to stroke the back of the insectoid male's neck, releasing soothing pheromones that gradually eased the tension in his unnatural stiffness.

Xi Ze's eyes were half-lidded as he buried his face in the alpha's side neck, basking in the embrace of a sweet yet slightly bitter scent.

It was like a warm current flowing through every nerve ending and blood vessel, bringing a comfort incomparable to any energy booster.

"Headache?"

Yale's fingers paused in stroking his hair. The omega didn't say anything, but the feedback from their mental connection revealed that he was enduring discomfort, which explained his weary appearance.

"What's wrong...?"

Perceiving something amiss, Yale gathered strength in his waist and struggled to lift Xi Ze, wanting to examine the omega's expression under the warm yellow light.

In his haste, he overdid it, causing Xi Ze's body to tilt sideways. His head knocked against the armrest with a dull thud.

Quickly, Yale soothingly patted Xi Ze's head, making sure he hadn't hit anything sharp. "Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt, really."

Xi Ze instinctively curled up slightly and pinched his temples to regain focus, muttering softly to himself.

After a moment, he regained his composure and pulled Yale into his embrace, rolling back into the sofa with the alpha. Reaching for the blanket at the end of the couch, he draped it over both of them.

Despite Xi Ze being the one who wanted to hold onto Yale to keep him still, a few minutes later, the omega couldn't resist nuzzling against Yale's cheeks and ears, behaving affectionately.

It reminded Yale of how in that world, people were often seen tirelessly cuddling cats, wishing they could bury themselves in their soft bellies all day long, leaving the cats utterly indifferent to such affection.

Now, the tables had turned. The big cat was incessantly clinging to him, sniffing at his hair and nuzzling his neck, even ruffling his pajama collar in the process.

"In what are you engaged?" Yale asked, unable to resist the urge, curious about what the drone might say.

Xi Ze pondered for a moment before whispering into his ear, "Recharging."

Like 015, he was using the most primitive yet most direct and effective method to regain energy. He would also leak energy due to various circumstances, requiring constant replenishment. If conditions didn't permit, he'd endure until he could find an opportunity for a more intense recharge.

Yale's ears flushed slightly, and he coughed softly.

A bit childish... but undeniably intimate and adorable.

Despite the drone's pleasant words, the vibrations coming from the end of his spirit were still low, only marginally calmer. Yale reached out to stroke the drone's head. "Is this enough?"

"....Not enough."

Xi Ze fell silent for a moment, his expression indiscernible in the darkness. After a long silence, he croaked, "Not enough."

...

For a long while, Yale threw back the sweltering covers slightly and reached out to touch the back of the Zerg's head, checking for any bumps, "It seems a bit swollen. Does it still hurt?"

Xi Ze closed his eyes and shook his head vigorously before softly adding, "It doesn't hurt. It'll be fine soon. But you can press on it a bit harder, Alpha. It feels quite..."

He didn't tell the Alpha that he actually enjoyed the pain. Amidst the torture that could shatter his consciousness, it allowed him to maintain his rationality and clarity, enabling him to grit his teeth and continue enduring life.

He loathed the tortures that had once brought him shame and scars, yet he was almost addicted to every sensation Yale gave him, whether it was pain or otherwise – he relished them all.

Anything that came from Yale... The Alpha could do anything to him.

He chuckled intermittently, speaking these words to Yale between breaths, "You can do... anything to me. Bullying me or playing mean jokes, it's all okay."

Time passed, and the night outside the balcony deepened. Moonlight cascaded in like a stream, dispelling some of the heavy darkness that lingered in the living room.

Xi Ze's hand, which had been gripping the edge of the sofa, instinctively wrapped around Yale's shoulder as he lost himself in a daze, eager to draw in the familiar scent.

The chip slipped silently from the Zerg's palm and landed on the ground, unnoticed by any insect.

Xi Ze reached out and hugged Yale tightly, burying his face in the crook of Yale's neck, suppressing the tremors in his voice as he suddenly whispered, "Alpha, I'll lay an egg for you... Would you like that...?"

Yale's pupils constricted, and an indescribable thrill ran through his nerves, making his entire body shiver.

The moonlight outside the window quivered for a moment before turning into a hazy, lazy glow. The prolonged embrace and rubbing had made the blanket beneath them sticky with warmth.

But Yale didn't feel any discomfort at all. All his attention was focused on what the omega had just said.

Something was definitely off about the omega tonight. Even though he had been trying to hide it, the anxiety and exhaustion were still evident. And now, at this moment, the walls he had built up so high finally crumbled, revealing his vulnerable true feelings.

Despite his concern, the tips of Yale's ears couldn't help but flush slightly. He wasn't sure if the omega's words were just a momentary lapse or his genuine desire.

"Xi Ze?"

The omega's arms still encircled Yale's waist, holding him even tighter after sensing the struggle.

With his ear pressed against the omega's chest, Yale could resonate with the strong heartbeat and breath, sensing the turmoil and unease within. He wrapped his arms around the omega in return, soothingly stroking his tense spine, hoping to ease some of his tension.

After an unknown amount of time, Xi Ze released Yale. Gently pushing aside the disheveled strands of hair from the alpha's forehead, he mustered the courage to meet those warm, dark eyes.

His voice was raspy and soft, almost inaudible, "Shall I lay an egg for our alpha male leader?"

"Alright."

Yale froze for a moment before he couldn't help but laugh, nodding without hesitation.

Author's Note:

I suddenly thought of the Poké Ball joke. Yeye once said that he could only be caught with a Poké Ball. Now, the general is indeed forced to create such a thing to keep him by his side (tears rolling).

There will be egg-laying in this story, but it will happen in the extras. The villain will be defeated first, followed by joyous egg-laying ouo.