Chapter 323: Compensation

Chapter 323 Compensation

Once Jiang Qi was settled in the Nutrition Chamber, Ye Wang closed the hatch.

Although the experimental report confirmed that his onetime rival no longer suffered from claustrophobia, the commander still cracked open a fist-sized glass window, giving Jiang Qi a view outside. Using the opportunity, Ye Wang quietly went to fetch the nutrient solution.

Thus, Jiang Qi could no longer see Ye Wang through the glass window.

He propped himself up and knocked on the hatch in dissatisfaction.

At the sound, Ye Wang immediately turned back. As he poured the strawberry-milk flavored nutrient solution into the chamber, he asked Jiang Qi, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Qi glanced up at him, then quickly lowered his gaze, muttering, "I get scared without you here."

Ye Wang almost retorted, "Thought you said you were over this?" Compared to being trapped in that fire, this was nothing. But seeing Jiang Qi sitting dejectedly in the Nutrition Chamber, looking downright pathetic, the commander couldn't bring himself to question him. Instead, he tapped the glass lightly and asked, "Need me to stick around?"

"Mm."

As the nutrient solution gradually filled the chamber, Jiang Qi pulled on the oxygen mask, his dark, glass-like eyes locked onto the commander. The two stared at each other for a long time until Ye Wang grew embarrassed.

He rubbed his nose. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Jiang Qi answered quickly, "If I don't look at you, I'll get scared too."

The commander surrendered.

When the treatment was complete, the Treatment Pod pinged. Ye Wang hurriedly opened the hatch, revealing his onetime rival sitting inside, soaked through and reeking of strawberry milk.

Thus, Jiang Qi was taken back to bed by the commander.

Night was just settling in, the sky filled with stars. Ye Wang pulled Jiang Qi into his arms, nuzzling his nose against Jiang Qi's shoulder, while Jiang Qi wrapped his arms around Ye Wang's neck.

They began kissing tenderly, determined to make up for all they had missed in their previous marriage. Right as things got steamy, the commander managed to scramble his foggy thoughts together and wondered, *Is this too fast? Is it too abrupt? My father hasn't even met Jiang Qi yet. We haven't had a honeymoon or traveled together. Shouldn't there be some sense of ceremony?*

Lost in thought, Ye Wang didn't notice Jiang Qi had stopped. Kneeling over him with his arms around Ye Wang, Jiang Qi tilted his head slightly and mumbled, confused, "Sir, aren't we continuing?"

Ye Wang thought, *To hell with abruptness and ceremony.*

Jiang Qi's pants had somehow vanished. Ye Wang began unbuttoning his rival's shirt, which carried the faint scent of the nutrient solution, like peeling candy wrapping.

Then, he stripped away the "wrapper" completely and started savoring the taste of the candy.

Jiang Qi was stubborn and exceptionally good at enduring pain—the type who'd stay quiet even with a bleeding head. Ye Wang had to carefully watch his expressions, adjusting for half an hour before finding the right approach to make his rival lose control, raking nails down Ye Wang's back.

As he was scratched, the commander felt a strange sense of accomplishment.

...

When the storm finally passed, both were exhausted.

Ye Wang still had enough strength left to carry Jiang Qi to the bathroom. By the time he finished drying off his rival-turned-boyfriend with an oversized, plush towel, Jiang Qi was half-asleep already.

Summoning the last of his awareness, Jiang Qi propped himself up and planted a clumsy kiss on Ye Wang's lips before sinking into deep slumber.

Ye Wang carried him to the guest room.

—As for why they didn't sleep in the master bedroom? Well, it was beyond use at this point.

*

The next day, the official military report arrived.

Jiang Qi's qualification review was approved, with excellent mental evaluation, and he was cleared for enlistment.

Ye Wang flipped through his psychological assessment results, studying the red "Excellent" stamp before turning to Jiang Qi. "Hmm, 'Excellent'—that's really good. Should we frame it?"

"..."

Jiang Qi was speechless, but given his usual habit of playing the obedient role in front of the commander, he suppressed his exasperated expression. The corner of his eye twitched slightly. "It's hardly an honor. Let's not frame it."

As a genetically engineered war asset of the Empire, having PTSD from fire and confined spaces was already embarrassing enough. Overcoming it wasn’t anything extraordinary.

So, he reached to take the report back, intending to stash it somewhere casually.

Ye Wang disagreed. "Anyone would get PTSD in the situation you faced. Others might’ve fared even worse. Overcoming it is definitely impressive."

Locked in the Nutrition Chamber until the oxygen ran out, waiting for rescue in a burning, crashing aircraft—Ye Wang admitted to himself that even he would’ve been terrified afterward.

Jiang Qi fell silent.

Watching the commander tuck the report into the bedside drawer, he suddenly spoke up. "Sir."

His voice was slightly muffled, his nose stuffy.

Ye Wang closed the drawer and turned. "Hmm?"

The response he got was another sticky, lingering kiss.

Nestled in Ye Wang’s arms, Jiang Qi called out "Sir" over and over until neither of them could hold back. And so, in the middle of the day, they collapsed onto the master bed.

After the tussle, the commander eyed the heap of bedsheets in the washing machine, debating the need to restock.

*

A few days later, Jiang Qi received Federation transfer orders, officially sending him to the frontlines.

Due to their special relationship, Federation rules barred them from serving in the same unit—this was to prevent one from making irrational decisions if the other were in danger.

Neither Ye Wang nor Jiang Qi objected.

Thus, they were assigned to different units within the same military district, living for their daily marathon calls.

Wen Muyuan and Pang Su were forced to suffer through their lovey-dovey antics, both wearing expressions of awkward disbelief.

Pang Su remarked in astonishment, "So this is how the commander acts when he's in love."

Wen Muyuan commented, "Absolutely terrifying."

Ye Wang had no mind to pay them any attention. Outside of work, most of his focus was on Jiang Qi.

The Empire was in turmoil, and the Federation’s advance was swift. Within months, several military districts had pushed close to the borders of the capital planet. Under such circumstances, earning combat commendations was far easier than in peacetime.

The Federation’s military promotion system was transparent and dynamic, publicly tallying the number of enemy warships destroyed each day. Whenever Ye Wang checked, he found Jiang Qi leaving everyone in the dust.

From corporal to sergeant, then to lieutenant and captain, Jiang Qi’s promotion speed was terrifying. He still stuck to his old Empire habits of trading injury for injury and life for life, radiating a take-no-prisoners edge.

Ye Wang was frustrated as hell with this.

But every time he voiced concern, Jiang Qi would tease, "I’m really not hurt. Do you want to check, Sir?"

Ye Wang thought, *How?* They were on two different starships, systems apart. Yet Jiang Qi actually angled the comm screen on the desk, lifting his shirt for the camera.

He bit the hem of his shirt, showing off his torso to Ye Wang, grinning with his eyes as if saying, "See? Told you I was fine."

Ye Wang's hand trembled, causing the communicator to clatter loudly and roll straight under the bed.

He shot a guilty glance at the door—the commander's private bedroom was tightly shut, with no one daring to peek inside. Only then did Ye Wang fish the communicator out from under the bed.

He thought to himself that watching such things on the solemn and dignified battleship was indeed too much.

Then, Jiang Qi rolled up his pant legs and sleeves, showing the commander his arms and calves. His body was clean, with no visible injuries, yet Ye Wang still felt something was off.

Finally, he pulled up the usage report of treatment fluid.

—Jiang Qi's consumption was indeed at the top. Just by looking at the alarmingly high amount, Ye Wang could tell how many injuries he suffered daily.

Every day when he returned, Jiang Qi would head straight to the Treatment Pod to heal his external wounds before calling Ye Wang.

The commander was genuinely furious.

Unfortunately, Jiang Qi was stubborn as hell—this was one matter he wouldn’t compromise on. So, the commander had no choice but to compromise.

During one of their calls, after Jiang Qi had showed off his unmarked waist and back, Ye Wang blurted out, "Jiang Qi, when you lie in the Treatment Pod without me by your side, aren’t you scared?"

"..."

A loud clatter erupted from the other end of the communicator, and the video went spinning.

This time, it was Jiang Qi’s communicator that had fallen under the bed.

Jiang Qi struggled to retrieve it, momentarily dazed before effortlessly switching to his obedient routine. "Sir..."

He pressed his lips together, then again, looking completely crestfallen. "I am scared, sir."

"..."

Ye Wang couldn't keep up the stern act any longer.

The commander heaved a long sigh and finally conceded. "Tomorrow, when we video call, you can place the communicator by the Treatment Pod. I’ll talk to you while you’re inside."

Jiang Qi’s eyes crinkled with delight.

However, the next day, when Jiang Qi actually positioned the video feed by the small glass window of the Treatment Pod, something went wrong.

Ye Wang was making small talk with him when both their communicators suddenly erupted with an aggressive ringtone.

Ye Wang froze, still processing what was happening, while Jiang Qi’s face fell. He instinctively reached to turn off the communicator but forgot the transparent tempered glass was above him—his hand slammed into it with a loud clang, completely missing the device.

Jiang Qi’s face contorted in frustration.

Meanwhile, Ye Wang tapped open the alert in confusion. "What’s this? Why are you so worked up?"

Inside the Treatment Pod, Jiang Qi clapped a hand over his eyes in agony behind the oxygen mask.

Ye Wang lowered his gaze to read the message.

"..."

It was a duel reminder.

Jingji Military Academy encouraged sparring among students, but such matches couldn’t be held just anywhere—the duel chambers required advance booking and were equipped with professional medics and instructors.

Months ago, Jiang Qi had been itching to fight Ye Wang and had submitted a reservation. But too much had changed since then—the annoying, hateful Ye Wang had suddenly become his boyfriend, and Jiang Qi had completely forgotten about it.

As a result, the affectionate pair was blindsided when the notification suddenly popped up.

Ye Wang said thoughtfully, "Oh right, Jiang, I almost forgot—you wanted to beat me up a few months ago."

Jiang Qi, who had already been feeling guilty about deceiving Ye Wang with the nutrient solution, now had even less confidence. He averted his gaze and murmured weakly, "Not really, sir..."

Ye Wang raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?"

"Really..."

His voice grew softer, his breath weaker, until he slowly sank lower, submerging his head into the nutrient solution, leaving only a few strands of floating hair for the commander.

Ye Wang then jabbed at the communicator screen fiercely, as if poking Jiang Qi’s face through the nutrient solution.

"Jiang, you were ice-cold back then. You wouldn’t even respond when I spoke to you, and you fired shots in my direction—scared me into developing a psychological trauma. A massive one, too. So, where’s my compensation? Any compensation for that?"

Jiang Qi, who had been hiding in the nutrient solution for a long time, slowly resurfaced and struggled to reply, "Of course, sir. What do you want?"

Ye Wang chuckled. "We’ll discuss it when we meet."

He turned his gaze slowly toward the window, toward the Empire’s capital planet, now clearly visible.

"I think that day won’t be too far away."