Chapter 61

Chapter 61

What is it like to be the Queen?

Bai Chen: Thanks for asking, I don’t know much else, but my back is about to give out.

...After all, for the past week, an entire week, he hasn’t gotten out of bed!

Is this what a mating heat is like? Terrifying, absolutely terrifying.

Will it happen again? Fine, whoever wants to go through this can, but he’s done with it, damn it!

Seven days, 24 hours a day, that’s the infamous... 007!

Ugh, is an Omega’s body made of steel? Because his sure isn’t!

He lay sprawled on the bed, his stomach rumbling. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Knock knock knock."

"Mr. Bai Chen, are you awake?"

Bai Chen struggled to raise his voice: "Who is it?"

The door was immediately opened.

Bai Chen was surprised: "Huh?"

How did they just come in?

A group of women dressed as palace attendants filed in, led by a young girl with a round face, looking very pleasant. Seeing that Bai Chen was indeed awake, she curtsied slightly and said with a smile, "Mr. Bai Chen, His Highness ordered that we bring you breakfast as soon as you wake up to avoid upsetting your stomach."

A faint blush quickly spread across Bai Chen’s face, and he pretended nothing was wrong: "Ah, that’s good, thank you."

"Don’t mention it," the round-faced girl said. "From now on, I’ll be your personal maid. If you need anything, just let me know."

"My name is Zhao, Zhao Hongying. Hong as in the rainbow, Ying as in the shadow. You can call me Xiao Zhao or Hongying."

Bai Chen: ...Well, the service has definitely upgraded.

However, he’s not quite accustomed to being waited on.

Bai Chen hesitated for a moment, then tentatively said, "Just leave it there, I’ll get up and eat in a moment."

"Alright, Mr. Bai Chen."

Miss Zhao nodded, bowed, and instructed the others to leave first. The maids left as quietly as they had entered, but the court lady didn’t move, just smiled at Bai Chen, "Mr. Bai Chen, would you like some help?"

Bai Chen’s face turned red, and he stammered, "N-no need..."

"It’s alright," Miss Zhao said as she approached, helped him up, deftly placed a large pillow behind him, set up the small table on the bed, and arranged the breakfast items, adding, "It’s normal for an Omega to feel weak after a mating heat... Don’t worry."

Bai Chen: I’m not worried about that!

He’s just a bit embarrassed.

Being pushed to the point of not being able to get up... Hmph!

When Xie Yilin shows up later, he’s definitely going to lodge a big complaint!

...Bai Chen didn’t notice that he looked like someone who’d been wronged, eagerly waiting to find his Alpha for some much-needed pampering.

The effects of the deep marking were just starting to show.

At this moment, the Omega couldn’t bear to be apart from the Alpha. They just wanted to stick together like glue, enjoying the quiet moments of being together.

And when they couldn’t see each other, the Omegas naturally felt upset.

But Bai Chen’s mind wasn’t empty now. He suddenly remembered something and asked, "Is your last name Zhao?"

"Yes."

Zhao Hongying guessed his question and explained, "Aunt Zhao is my aunt—we’re family."

So, she was one of Xie Yilin’s trusted confidants.

"Got it."

Bai Chen nodded, "Did you eat already?"

"Yeah, I did."

After this chat, Zhao Hongying warmed up to him even more, smiling as she said, "There’s a common dining hall in the palace."

"Huh..." Bai Chen paused and couldn’t help but ask, "What about the prince?"

Zhao Hongying said, "He’s up front, handling some business."

She smiled and added, "After the coronation, we’ll have to call him Your Majesty."

This reminded Bai Chen again that he was going to be the Empress.

The online comments replayed vividly in his mind.

Bai Chen shook his head, trying to clear those messy thoughts. He wolfed down his breakfast and struggled to get up, "I want to go out for a walk."

"Um..." He hesitated for a moment, "Not leaving the palace—is there a garden or something?"

If he stayed in bed any longer, he was afraid he’d never get up.

"Yes, there is."

After changing, Miss Zhao led him to the small palace’s backyard. It was a well-kept little garden with beautiful plants.

It was autumn, and there were no flowers in the garden, only green grass and tree shade. Bai Chen sat in the lounge chair under the tree and swayed slightly.

With nothing else to do, he couldn’t resist and opened the internet again.

The hashtag "Emperor Abdicates" had climbed to the top of the trending list, with its popularity remaining high. Following that, all related content almost dominated the list.

Even Bai Chen himself, being involved, had secured a spot on the trending list.

#Bai Chen Empress

The Omega's face turned red again.

The notifications @ him were increasing, so Bai Chen quickly changed the settings to make his side less laggy. Then, he clicked to take a look.

At the same time, he replied to some other messages.

First up is his agent, Song Lei.

It begins with him assuring everyone of his safety, letting everyone know he’s okay now, and thanking Xiao Ling for saving him. Then comes the shock—he’s clearly just heard the news. And then, it’s just a flood of exclamation marks.

What?! Chen Chen, you’re actually going to be the queen?!?! *1000

What?! Chen Chen, you’re really going to be the queen?!?! *1000

Basically, the screen is just a sea of exclamation marks.

Bai Chen quickly replied: "Yeah, yeah, I didn’t see it coming either. [dog emoji]"

Song Lei instantly replied with: "..."

Next, there’s a message from Bai Chen’s mom.

"I honestly didn’t see this coming. Chen Chen, am I going to have to pack up and leave again soon, to attend your wedding, and the coronation ceremony and all?"

Bai Chen responded with an emoji: "~(>_<)~"

He spent a frantic half-hour replying to everyone he knew. Then, he noticed a message from the director of the *No Ta* show.

Oh right, the variety show isn’t wrapped up yet.

It’s just unclear if they’ll even dare to continue filming, or if they’re allowed to.

The director’s tone was a thousand times more polite—almost groveling. First, congratulations, then a cautious inquiry: the variety show has one last episode, what should they do.

Bai Chen wasn’t sure what to do either—he needed to check with Xie Yilin.

But before he could respond, the director suddenly sent another message.

"Mr. Bai Chen, the issue’s been resolved, hahaha, so we’ll just wait then~!"

Bai Chen was puzzled: ???

Wait for what? He had no clue.

He waited patiently, but there was no follow-up—the director went silent.

At that moment, soft footsteps approached.

Bai Chen didn’t look up, assuming it was Zhao Hongying, but then a tall figure loomed over, the man naturally leaned down and kissed his forehead.

The Omega instantly glanced up: "...Husband?"

Xie Yilin paused.

Bai Chen calling him ‘husband’ felt especially nice.

Since the emperor announced his abdication in the morning, he had seen too many people with drastically changed attitudes.

The previous distance, because of his coldness; the current flattery, because of his status.

Xie Yilin didn’t care about these.

At this moment, seeing Bai Chen, he felt that this was the place where his heart belonged.

It was a place where he could truly feel at ease and relaxed.

Moreover, because of Bai Chen, the public opinion had dissolved on its own.

Thinking of the public sentiment analysis and approval rating survey that Xiao Ling had just delivered, Xie Yilin's eyes darkened slightly.

So, how should he properly reward his Omega?

Bai Chen was completely unaware of the Alpha's current thoughts.

On the morning after the permanent bond, without the Alpha by his side, the Omega felt a bit of grievance.

Coupled with the sudden news of the emperor's abdication and the shift in their status, he had one thought on his mind.

...He was going to be angry.

But why did he reflexively call out "husband" first?

He pursed his lips, sulking quietly.

The Omega's head drooped down, lost in thought, without his usual joy upon seeing him. Xie Yilin's fingers twitched, and he leaned down, hovering over him.

The man asked softly and gently, "What's wrong?"

Did he not like it here? Or was someone making him uncomfortable?

If it was the latter...

Xie Yilin's gaze darkened; there would not be a second time.

His voice was soft and tender, filled with affection and patience, a state he would never show to anyone else. Bai Chen's heart fluttered, and he blinked, muttering, "I didn't see you this morning."

Last night, they were so close it felt like they were one, but when he woke up in the morning, the man was gone.

It was like... a heartless jerk, hmph.

Xie Yilin was surprised.

So, Bai Chen had an even more adorable side.

The Alpha's heart melted, and he leaned in again, kissing his cheek.

Bai Chen wanted to pull away, but his body seemed out of control, remaining still, accepting the kiss.

Just a touch on the cheek, yet his whole body warmed up again, as if stepping on scorching sand.

The sea breeze made him forget himself, and he instinctively raised his arms, embracing the Alpha's body, sharing a deep, passionate kiss.

Bai Chen shut his eyes.

The lingering warmth in his body hadn't faded, but a new wave was already building. Despite seven days of intimacy, the moment they touched again, it felt as intense as the first time.

Not enough.

Not enough.

It was never enough.

Never enough kisses, never enough hugs, never enough closeness.

Still craving...

To stay like this, forever.

No world, no others, no me, no you—just the merging of us.

As if before time existed, they were one, inseparable.

As the afterglow faded and they regained awareness, Omega was once again pulled into Alpha's arms. Xie Yilin held Bai Chen, their noses touching, eyes locked, a soft smile on his lips.

"Chen Chen."

He whispered, "You're so sweet."

The response was the muffled whimper of the little sweet orange, already wrapped in warm bedding and being unwrapped again.

"Mm..."

***

Over two weeks later, the empire's hidden turmoil finally began to calm.

The power transfer went smoothly, and the abdicated emperor vanished from public view. No one raised any objections. Meanwhile, Bai Chen, in casual attire, and Xie Yilin saw the old emperor off at the harbor.

He wanted to visit the former empress's hometown before his death.

...With no future left, they turned to the past for solace.

Surprisingly, the empress and the second prince were also there.

It was Bai Chen's first time meeting Xie Yilin's younger brother.

He was just fifteen, still a teenager.

Perhaps because of recent events, the younger brother wore a stern, displeased expression.

As he followed his mother, Bai Chen was stunned, wondering who this could be.

He didn’t resemble the empress, the emperor, or Xie Yilin.

Noticing Bai Chen's puzzled look, Xie Yilin whispered, "He's adopted."

Bai Chen: Wait, what???

Can the royal family even adopt?

"The empress and my father were never marked—few people know this."

"But he knows."

Bai Chen's astonishment was endearing, and Xie Yilin's eyes lit up with amusement—he was always happy around him.

He reached out and ruffled Bai Chen's hair.

Bai Chen stayed still, instinctively glancing at the boy, who glared at him angrily.

...Wait, why is he glaring at me?

The emperor and empress walked over, and at this moment, they seemed to share a common understanding.

The Empress was less guarded; she even smiled at Bai Chen and then looked affectionately at the second prince.

"Make sure to listen to your brother from now on."

Bai Chen knew her reason for leaving differed from the Emperor's.

She wanted to reinvent herself and start a new life. It would be announced that the Empress chose to accompany the Emperor to a remote planet for recovery.

Then, she turned and boarded the spacecraft.

The royal private spacecraft lifted off.

The massive craft gradually vanished from view, carrying away a chapter of the past. On the ground, the young boy watched his parents depart, his eyes welling up.

Bai Chen felt a pang of sympathy and approached him, softly saying, "You can take some time off to visit her."

"...It's none of your business."

The boy spun around and glared at him, defiant as a stubborn animal, chin held high, "You don’t understand anything. It’s because of you Mom insisted on leaving..."

To such a far-off place, even if he took time off, he might not get the chance to see her.

At this thought, the boy finally broke down and sobbed, "Wuwuwu..."

Bai Chen, torn between amusement and helplessness, could only pat his shoulder.

On the way back, it seemed someone was snapping photos on the sly. That night, sure enough, the photos surfaced online.

"A family of three, huh???"

"Lol, now that you say it, it really does. Though the kid’s a bit older, probably close to six feet tall."

"That’s the second prince, right? My classmate’s sister’s cousin’s noble relative’s nephew is his classmate, and he confirmed it’s him."

"So they were seeing off the Emperor—wait, no, the coronation’s done, so it’s the former Emperor."

"Ah, the passing of the torch—somehow, it’s touching. This is the Empire’s legacy, generation after generation."

"So exciting! What’s next, the wedding?"

The wedding...

Bai Chen read the words and felt his cheeks flush again.

But Xie Yilin had been swamped lately, and Bai Chen wasn’t sure when the wedding would happen, or how long it might be delayed.

The newly crowned Emperor had a mountain of tasks to tackle.

Reorganizing staff, solidifying power, adjusting to his new role... In short, he was swamped, barely touching the ground.

Even Bai Chen only saw him briefly in the mornings and evenings, and sometimes they missed meals together.

"...So, was he already turning into a neglected palace spouse?"

No, no, definitely not.

So Bai Chen pulled out his contacts and reached out to Song Lei, asking if there were any updates lately.

"...Just kidding, who would dare send you an announcement now?"

Song Lei's voice rose an octave, "Go ask around! See who dares to offer you a gig? Can they even afford your fee? Huh?"

"I don't need that much money. Just like before is fine. Just normal filming."

Bai Chen felt a bit down, "What about that variety show we started? Didn’t we leave it hanging?"

He even checked online, but there was no update, and the audience didn't seem to be urging it either.

If it weren’t for seeing himself trending every day, he would really think he had been forgotten by everyone.

"That variety show seems to have been rescheduled."

"Oh, by the way," Song Lei suddenly said, "Did you hear Qiu Pinglu quit the industry?"

Bai Chen: "No."

"...I bet he was scared off by you. Not only did he quit the industry, but he also went to turn himself in." Song Lei couldn't stop laughing, "Actually, we didn't do anything. He got spooked and turned himself in, saying he had harassed many people... then announced his withdrawal from the entertainment industry, never to return."

"Well, he had the guts to think it but not to act on it. Just a slap on the wrist—a fine, an apology, and a few days in lockup, then he was out."

Bai Chen hadn’t thought about him in ages.

Looking back, it felt like forever ago.

Since meeting Xie Yilin, his life felt like it was speeding up and slowing down all at once. Some moments were crystal clear, while others felt distant.

But either way, Bai Chen knew things were looking up.

He would get better and better.

Dinner was almost ready, and Xie Yilin stepped into the open part of the living room.

After a quick chat with Song Lei, he hung up. Bai Chen turned to Xie Yilin, closed his eyes, and let the Alpha kiss him, then smiled and said, "I want to get back to work."

"Okay."

Xie Yilin had no intention of stopping him, just pondered for a moment, then added, "I’ll have Xiao Ling set up some security for you."

Either way, there was no arguing with that.

Bai Chen knew this, his dimples popped as he smiled, "I’ve got it figured out—just one movie a year from now on."

He wouldn't give up his career, but obviously, the focus of his life would adjust.

Xie Yilin didn't speak, just kissed him again.

...He couldn’t stop kissing him.

Bai Chen was used to it and liked it very much. The next second, the Omega habitually snuggled into the man's arms, hugged him, and looked up, "I also want to go see the movie I guest-starred in."

"I used to go see the movies I acted in."

Movies were watched in the cinema, TV dramas and variety shows were watched at home—yes, in the interstellar era, cinemas were still important entertainment venues.

However, they had developed to a more immersive level, making it easier for the audience to fully engage in watching.

Xie Yilin hummed in agreement, not opposing it either.

Bai Chen’s eyes lit up, and he added, "What about the variety show we didn't finish..."

He left the sentence hanging.

The man suddenly smiled.

It was a genuine, carefree smile of pure joy.

With a subtle hint of intent, the Alpha embraced the person in his arms, gently kissing the Omega's petal-like lips, parting his lightly guarded lips, and indulging in his sweetness.

The sweet scent of the little orange filled the air again, mixing with the faint patchouli, inseparable.

After a moment, Xie Yilin murmured—

"Chen Chen."

"Remember, we can ask the production team for a favor?"

Author's note: Jotting down ideas—extra chapters on pregnancy, childbirth, taking kids to variety shows, and bragging about my husband. Oh, and the daily life of a noble lady/huadiao (a term for a refined husband).

Xie Yilin: What if we add the monthly mating heat? 'Risky suggestion.'

Bai Chen: My back is going to give out!!!

————————

Thanks to the kind souls who voted for me or sent nutrient solutions from 2021-09-25 15:50:51 to 2021-09-26 15:17:52.

Special thanks to Helena L for the landmine.

Thank you to the kind souls who sent nutrient solutions: Little Red 10 bottles; Mango 9 bottles; First Summer Clear and Harmonious 5 bottles; Qingtian Xingqin 3 bottles; Always Reluctant to Move 2 bottles; Ye Lingxue 1 bottle.

Thank you all so much for your support—I’ll keep giving it my best!