Chapter 55: Family Ties

Chapter 55: Family Ties

An hour later, a slightly tired Bai Chen, also called Xiao Tiancheng, got out of the car.

Bai Chen took a deep breath, eyes locking onto the building ahead.

The areas open for filming were unclassified sections, previously disclosed to the public, and sometimes available for tours on special days.

In front of the building near the Imperial Military Department’s base, the guards checked their identities. The machine whirred for a moment before issuing a temporary visitor card.

Unlike the program crew’s basic temporary permit, Bai Chen’s card read “family member.”

He was here in his capacity as Xie Yilin’s family member.

The card was even a different color—a unique pink.

The camera conveniently zoomed in for a close-up of the card.

“Wow, this card is so exquisite, and it has such a hardcore vibe! I figured military stuff would be boring and ugly.”

“It has to be detailed; there’s a chip inside. Whether you can go or not, it’s all on this card. The Prince’s clearance is probably the highest level.”

“What about Bai Chen’s card?”

“The crew’s card is the lowest level, only allowing access to public areas for up to four hours.”

“Bai Chen’s card is a higher-level family visitation pass, granting entry to the dining area or the dormitory with an escort.”

“I just feel like laughing—it’s all about eating and sleeping?”

“Still better than a visitor pass, which doesn’t let you eat or sleep.”

The stream of jokes continued as they watched the two walk side by side into the building.

After swiping the card, they stepped into a vast front hall.

The moment he stepped inside, Bai Chen’s eyes widened in awe.

The interior was massive.

The vast hall, nearly 1,000 square meters and 30 meters high, could easily accommodate a light mech. The grand, solemn decor was aesthetically pleasing, and the busy personnel all wore serious, hurried expressions.

They were the ones responsible for the nation’s security.

Xie Yilin didn’t pause, heading straight for the training base behind the building.

It was a duty for every high-ranking general, and this year, it fell to Xie Yilin.

The training room was next door. After the speech, it would be the recruits’ “first lesson.”

Xie Yilin wasn’t a man of many words and didn’t need to prepare a draft beforehand. He simply stood next to the podium, not even turning on the microphone. The sharp gaze of the Alpha swept across the room. Everyone sitting below instinctively sat up straighter, adopting the most attentive posture to listen.

That was presence.

Most of the new recruits were interns, not long out of college, just graduated. But being handpicked to enter the First Base meant they were the elite of the elite, with their own pride and the sharpness of youth.

However, Xie Yilin’s presence still gave them a strong impact.

……There wasn’t a single person who didn’t know he was the strongest one.

In the military, the strongest is like a lead wolf.

Here, Xie Yilin seemed to cast off all external perceptions, revealing his true self, with all his sharpness on display.

This was a place he was familiar with, a domain where he was extremely confident, a place he loved and was willing to give his all for.

And Bai Chen was sitting at the very back, his bright eyes staring at him.

Nothing could be more encouraging and exhilarating than this moment.

He was his Omega.

For an Alpha, it was like a cherished treasure, securely kept within his own territory.

Some of the newcomers also recognized Bai Chen.

They whispered among themselves, exchanging glances. The girl sitting closest to Bai Chen quietly turned her head and winked at him, “Mr. Bai, can I get an autograph?”

It had been a while since Bai Chen gave an autograph, and it felt a bit novel.

The young Omega winked back, “Sure, I’ll make some time later.”

The girl was overjoyed, thinking that Bai Chen was as friendly as people said online, completely down-to-earth.

Ahhh, if she had such a sweet and adorable Omega partner, she’d keep him all to herself every day, hee hee.

After a brief buzz, the well-mannered newcomers quickly calmed down. As sweet as the Omega was, he was already taken. In comparison, they were more concerned about their own futures.

The auditorium fell silent again.

However, the live comments were still lively.

“Suddenly, I have this feeling of being a freshman, being lectured by the principal.”

“I feel the same... But thinking about it, isn’t the Prince incredibly outstanding? The youngest general, and those sitting below are only a few years younger than him. What a difference...”

“Yes, and he didn’t rely on his status or background at all. I heard from someone who served with the Prince that he never mentioned his background, graduated directly from military school, started as a lieutenant, never shied away from any dangerous missions, and got injured many times.”

“Exactly, I’ve really changed my perspective. As for those black rumors online before... as Bai Chen said, shouldn’t soldiers protect their country? Are they supposed to perform mech shows on the battlefield?”

“...I think it’s because of Bai Chen’s love for the Prince that I started to deeply think about this.”

“It’s from Bai Chen’s perspective, right? I also involuntarily put myself in his shoes, haha, it’s like I’ve been brainwashed by Chen Chen. Listening to him talk about how great the Prince is, slowly, it feels real, and then when you check it, hey, it’s actually true!”

People chatted among themselves, and the auditorium’s proceedings began.

After a brief speech and the usual instructions, the highlight came, Xie Yilin’s address.

The tall Alpha made his way onto the stage from the side.

He was dressed in a formal military uniform, with the general’s insignia on his shoulders gleaming, silently showcasing the honors he had earned. With just a casual glance, everyone in the auditorium felt like he was looking at them.

Bai Chen felt the same way.

Was this his first time seeing... ah, Xie Yilin in work mode?

The Omega’s eyes were glued to him, and without realizing it, the little stars in his eyes reappeared.

Far away, it seemed like he made eye contact with the person on stage for a moment, but he wasn't entirely sure.

"I am Xie Yilin."

On the stage, his gray eyes were expressionless and cold. He said coolly, "Rank: Imperial General."

Below the stage, no one dared to speak. For a moment, the auditorium was completely silent.

Under the gaze of everyone, Xie Yilin said in a deep voice, "You know what you need to know."

The first base picks fifty new recruits every year.

After a year of training, usually only a third of them meet the standard.

This cruel elimination is actually a good thing.

Because those who stay might not live longer than those who are eliminated.

"By this time next year, I will be overseeing your training assessment."

"Hiss... Will anyone pass?"

"Are you kidding? No one would give up the chance to get into the first base. Do you know that just sitting here already means a selection rate of one in a million?"

"...I had no idea."

"Wait, this selection rate is shocking, right?"

"By the way, the prince also scored the highest here, with perfect scores."

"As for the reason he got full marks, I don't need to explain, right? It's because the highest score on the test is a perfect score."

Bai Chen didn't know this detail either.

Just then, the female director next to him quietly said, with great admiration, "The prince is truly amazing!"

"Oh, by the way..." she quickly brought up the main topic, "Bai Chen, can you try something out later?"

"If it's not convenient for you, that's okay. I know their training exercises are quite tough."

It's for the filming, but there's no stress. It's entirely up to the guest.

The other two couples will also have this segment—a brief experience of their partner's work.

Without a second thought, Bai Chen replied, "Sure, I want to try the mecha."

"Eh?"

The female director seemed hesitant.

Bai Chen, with his thin arms and legs, being an Omega, could he really handle the mecha? But then again, with the Crown Prince around, things couldn't go too wrong.

The welcome meeting was already over.

The new recruits had become one-year trainees. They left the auditorium in groups of two or three, heading to the nearby training ground. The girl who had asked for an autograph earlier came over, and Bai Chen signed and took a photo with her. She thanked him with a smile and then left.

The camera is focused on Bai Chen for now.

"Deep in the Tiger's Den! A Day with the Pampered Omega!"

"??? Is this a title or what?"

"Reported! It's obviously about the royal wife, a sweet Omega's military camp tour!"

"To be honest, the latter isn't much different. But when it comes to someone else's wife, sure, my partner can be someone else's wife!"

"Emmmmmmmm... You traitor! What about our plan to protect Chen Chen's wife together?!"

The chat was filled with wild comments, with the veterans trying to show off how much they knew.

However, the training room wasn't quite what Bai Chen had expected.

Because it was near the military headquarters, where high-ranking officials could inspect at any time, the facilities at First Base were top-notch, and even the training equipment used the latest technology.

It wasn't just a primitive training ground or obstacle course, but instead...

"A virtual battlefield, wow, that's really advanced."

"I remember this being commercialized, right?"

"Last month I went to play with my friends, but I was so bad that I got headshot, boohoo..."

The trainees were standing next to the simulation pods when Xie Yilin walked over and looked at Bai Chen.

The Omega was surprised for a moment, then smiled and raised his hand, "I want to play too!"

"Alright."

Xie Yilin's eyes sparkled with amusement, "You're on my team."

He tweaked the system a little, assigning all the trainees to Team B. He and Bai Chen formed Team A.

"Wait, is the Prince teaming up with Bai Chen to go against everyone else?"

"That's awesome, I'm hyped! Can't wait to watch!"

"LOL, my dad just said this meeting was boring, and now he's totally focused, telling me to be quiet..."

"I bet they'll take out everyone within two hours. The battlefield map is huge, and searching for enemies takes time. There will definitely be people playing it safe, just trying to survive."

"Hard to say, but isn't the Prince teaming up with Bai Chen? These trainees may not be very skilled, but they're still elite soldiers selected from the military academy, one in a million. I think the match will be exciting, it could even last the whole day."

Then, in front of everyone's eyes, Xie Yilin set the time limit to one hour.

One hour.

If there was no winner within an hour, the battle would automatically end.

"Oh my god! Does it mean they have to win within an hour, or is it just that they have only one hour?"

Bai Chen thought it was the former.

He had complete confidence in Xie Yilin.

However, the other students believe it's the latter.

At this moment, the students were buzzing in discussion.

They were not only the top one in a million, but the military academies they attended were also among the best in the empire. Most of their teachers were active-duty military personnel, major generals, and others with extensive combat experience.

Moreover, their intra-school competitions simulated actual combat, fully replicating real warfare.

In other words, they were confident that—after graduation—they’d become officers with extremely high military skills. Even if they were to lose, would the setup be this bad?

They were all elites, each with their own pride.

They admitted that Xie Yilin was very strong, but he was carrying an Omega who was completely holding him back, and he was alone… one hour? What a joke!

"Maybe the prince only has one hour of time."

"It's just a teaching match, not an actual battle. It doesn't matter if we win or lose."

"The prince is busy with a million things; he must have other things to do."

Bai Chen walked over, winked at him, and whispered, "You can do it, husband!"

Xie Yilin said nothing, but warmth was clearly visible in his grey eyes.

Bai Chen slipped into the simulation pod on his left.

The transparent pod cover closed. Bai Chen closed his eyes. Immediately after, the camera cut to the live battle feed.

Beside Bai Chen, a virtual figure of Xie Yilin appeared.

Unlike the military uniform earlier, the Alpha and he were now dressed in close-combat suits. The design, fitting their body curves, accentuated their figures well. Xie Yilin was tall and straight, while Bai Chen was slender and light. Then, they activated the team link.

The audience could clearly hear their conversation.

Xie Yilin said calmly, "The terrain is random, the battle is random, and the map size is medium."

The scenery before their eyes shifted, and a few seconds later, they landed in a jungle.

For now, they couldn't see the other students; the match had just started, and they were on the opposite side of the map, at the farthest diagonal position.

This was a jungle environment spanning several kilometers, with trees all around and almost no visibility. Xie Yilin opened the system and used the initial points to select some equipment and weapons.

Smart detection glasses, camouflage transformation, a helmet, a wristwatch, a gun, and a dagger.

He chose a lightweight firearm for Bai Chen. It was similar to a handgun but lighter and more powerful.

The small, cleverly designed weapon appeared in Bai Chen's hand.

Bai Chen examined it thoroughly, his eyes sparkling with excitement. At this moment, he didn’t seem like the actor Bai Chen but an eager, green recruit ready to prove himself.

Bai Chen struck a pose, looking very handsome.

"Wow, wow, wow, his camouflage outfit is so stylish!"

"And he looks so compatible with the prince. Oh my god, they look so good together!"

These things were all available in online games, which Bai Chen had played before. So he quickly got the hang of it, looking quite competent after just a little practice.

The Alpha walked over, fastened Bai Chen's waist belt, and then leaned down to kiss him.

Bai Chen: ???

"You make it look so easy. You're kissing at a time like this too?"

The high-def camera captured every single detail of the scene.

"…Speechless. They're kissing at a time like this? I... I want to do that too!"

"Sigh, whenever they kiss, I feel like I need to go run 10K. What's wrong with me?"

"What's wrong? That's the joy of shipping a couple. It feels sweeter than being in love myself..."

The Omega's face was slightly flushed, though it was hard to tell whether from excitement or shyness. He pressed his lips together and asked seriously, "Husband, what if we lose?"

Although he asked this, his eyes were full of trust in Xie Yilin.

Xie Yilin felt a slight tug in his heart.

He asked softly, "What do you think we should do?"

"Uh..."

Bai Chen hesitated, suddenly unsure how to respond.

If they won, he could have some fun, but if they lost, there wasn't much to say.

"I can't think of a thing."

After a moment's thought, he said with a smile, "Then let's win."

"Let's win, then."

"Pfft, can the other side hear us? They're probably pissed."

"It's like winning or losing is just a matter of will."

"Aww, Chen Chen is too cute! Whether we win or lose, Chen Chen, you're awesome!"

Xie Yilin's gray eyes sparkled with amusement.

He hummed softly in approval of Bai Chen's words. Then he activated the camouflage, and in an instant, vanished from the camera's view.

This new camouflage effect allowed him to blend completely with his surroundings, just like a chameleon.

Bai Chen did the same and vanished from view as well.

To enhance the filming effect, the production team added a small screen showing everyone's current positions.

Bai Chen and Xie Yilin appeared as blue dots, while the other students were red.

On the large map, the red dots spread out, dividing into teams and gradually closing in.

The weight of silence.

"So many people! Just the encirclement alone will be tough."

"Yeah, I've played similar competitions. It's hard to break through, let alone counter-kill. The difficulty is too high."

In the team channel, Bai Chen heard Xie Yilin say calmly, "Chen Chen." "How do you want to do this?"

Bai Chen blinked. "I think... left?"

Without a map, he randomly chose based on instinct.

Afraid of being overheard, he instinctively lowered his voice, like a kitten showing its soft paws. Xie Yilin felt an urge to kiss him.

But now wasn’t the right time.

The Alpha suddenly felt a sense of urgency.

...Next, in front of thousands of spectators, a one-sided "massacre" took place.

It was truly a massacre, because some students didn’t even understand how they were eliminated after being out.

A few students stayed close together, hidden in the woods, advancing cautiously.

They formed a good defensive formation, with solid coordination, keeping an eye on all sides.

They had briefly discussed their strategy beforehand, deciding to stay safe in the early stage and rush in the later stage. Every thirty seconds, they would say something in the team channel to check in with each other.

The defense line steadily moved forward, and the leader confirmed his teammates were all still with him.

Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly realized something was off.

It was too quiet.

In the simulated rainforest environment, everything was completely realistic. But at that moment, the sounds of insects, birds, and rustling leaves suddenly vanished.

He instinctively gripped his weapon and clenched his teeth.

He couldn’t tell.

Except for the eerie silence, everything else seemed normal. The "enemy" was obviously very good at hiding, especially in such an obstacle-filled environment.

The young man suddenly spun around and coldly said, "I see you."

Still, there was no movement again.

His palm was sweating, and he was nearly unable to grip the gun. He swallowed, turned back to the original direction once again, and was about to move forward.

A second later, a system notification sounded in his ear.

"You have been eliminated from the game."

The viewers were also confused.

"How... how did he do that on earth?"

"I didn’t even see where he was at all? How did he suddenly..."

Similar dramatic scenes occurred many times.

On the map, the red dots representing teammates became fewer and fewer... The remaining few had some skill in hiding themselves.

However, in front of Xie Yilin, they were still no match, as if there were no obstacles at all.

One by one.

In the end, only three red dots remained on the map. One of them was close to Bai Chen's area.

Bai Chen didn’t notice.

He followed Xie Yilin, hiding behind a tree, flying under the radar, and took out several enemies.

Although the Omega wasn’t professional, his shooting skills were accurate, and his awareness was good. Plus, everyone instinctively believed that it must have been Xie Yilin making the big plays, with Bai Chen just there to make up the numbers. For a moment, they didn’t take Bai Chen seriously.

As a result, when their characters died, the viewers were laughing.

"Damn, having a pro carry really makes a difference, huh!"

"Impressive! Chen Chen is the best! Take out another one!"

"I really didn’t expect this, but Chen Chen actually got five?"

"Mainly because we let our guard down. We heard other teammates say in the team channel that they saw Omega before they were eliminated, so we thought Omega was far away from us."

"Sigh, we can’t underestimate our enemies! We have to stay alert!"

"It just goes to show that a sweet and cute Omega might also be very strong."

"Oh no, I’m starting to imagine Chen Chen playing a killer role... That would be awesome!"

Time ticked by slowly.

Only three enemies were left.

Xie Yilin landed silently on the ground, his long arms extending as the gunshot rang out. Another person fell.

Only two were left.

Bai Chen peeked out from behind the tree, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile he couldn’t contain. Xie Yilin strode over, a faint smile already forming between his brows. But after just two steps, his expression suddenly turned serious, his arm raising straight ahead in a natural movement—

"Bang."

Another was taken out.

Now, only one was left.

The viewers’ hearts leaped into their throats, screams about to burst out.

The last red dot appeared a few meters away.

…It was one of the best among the batch of trainees. Strong, and he had been constantly striving to match Xie Yilin’s level.

This time, he was determined to prove his skills.

The shadow darted between the trees, only five meters away, then three, then two…

His gun was already raised, the crosshairs aligned. It was aimed directly at Bai Chen, who was facing the tall man.

He reached a spot surrounded by several trees, offering no cover. It was the perfect moment to strike.

The shadow in the woods had his finger on the trigger.

The shifting shadows cast flickering light on Bai Chen’s face. The Omega’s eyes sparkled as he stood still, his hand reaching out as if to embrace. But suddenly, he paused, slowly blinking his right eye.

It was either a signal or just a playful move.

The tall Xie Yilin walked over steadily.

His long legs carried him with steady, yet rapid strides. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Bai Chen. The Alpha paused slightly and was about to respond to Bai Chen's embrace when he suddenly lifted his head, his gaze sharp like an eagle's as it shot towards the bush on the right.

From the bush, the young trainee’s hand holding the gun trembled involuntarily.

…He had been seen.

Gritting his teeth, he managed to steady the gun again, attempting to attack once more. The instant his finger touched the trigger, a sharp pain shot through his forehead, and everything went dark—

"You have been 'eliminated.'"

A flash appeared before Bai Chen's eyes, and two notifications popped up.

"Match over,"

"You are victorious!"

Fifty-four minutes and thirty-two seconds had passed.

Less than an hour had passed.

Author's Afterword:

Author: So, what happens if you lose?

Bai Chen: My man wouldn't lose!

Author: But what if he actually did?

Bai Chen: Hmm... that's a good question. Let me think.

Xie Yilin: No need to think about it. Whether I win or lose, I’m going to devour you.

Bai Chen: ????????

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Thank you to everyone who voted or poured nutrient solution for me between 2021-09-19 16:29:15~2021-09-20 17:31:37!

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