Chapter 060 Return to Yaoxing 18

Chapter 060 Return to Yaoxing 18

No sooner had Zhou Younan and Wei Qing's spacecraft departed Yaoxing than the April, having left the capital planet Canberra's docking port, touched down on Yaoxing.

A large group of passengers disembarked from the spaceport, among them Noah Hall.

With his head of fluffy brown curls and curious purple eyes, he gazed out at the vast, blue-purple water chestnut fields.

Taking a deep breath, Noah commented, "The air here is much better than in Canberra."

He lowered his head, activating his personal terminal to check the stellar navigation.

The navigation indicated he needed to take Yaoxing's public shuttle to Zhou City, the planet's seat of power. Once there, he would then need to hail a hover taxi to reach the Zhou Family Tower.

It would likely take another five hours before he could see Zhou Mo.

Noah pressed his lips together, his eyes downcast. "I wonder if he’ll even agree to see me..."

At the public shuttle platform, Noah spotted a massive poster of Zhou Mo. As the newly appointed head of the Zhou Family and master of Yaoxing, it was only natural for his image to be displayed. Yet Noah, wracked with guilt, found it difficult to look directly at the face on the poster.

Zhou Mo had once confessed his feelings, telling Noah he loved him.

At the time, Noah had replied that he needed time to think.

But the very next day, not only did he reject Zhou Mo’s confession, he also agreed to an engagement with Ai Ze and cut off all contact with Zhou Mo.

Zhou Mo must have been furious with him.

After that, Noah heard from Ai Ze that Zhou Mo had taken leave and returned to his hometown, Yaoxing, for a vacation.

Noah couldn’t help but wonder—had Zhou Mo left because he was hurt by Noah's actions? The thought deepened his guilt.

Now, he was here to ask Zhou Mo for a favor. The realization only made his remorse grow heavier.

But Ai Ze’s situation was dire, and Noah couldn’t handle it alone. It was too scandalous to involve his parents, and he didn’t want Zhou Younan to find out either. With no one else to turn to, Noah had no choice but to seek out Zhou Mo.

He was willing to pay any price if Zhou Mo would agree to help.

By the time Noah boarded the hover taxi, it was already dawn, the horizon glowing with soft white light.

He instructed the AI, "To the Zhou Family Tower."

"Understood, dear. Estimated arrival time is 40 minutes. You may rest in the meantime."

Noah dozed off and was awakened by the AI upon arrival at the Zhou Family Tower.

Standing at the street corner, he adjusted his hair and clothes in a reflective surface. Exhaustion lined his face after the long journey.

Gathering his nerve, Noah nervously approached the military police guard post at the tower’s entrance. "Hello, my name is Noah Hall. I’d like to see Zhou Mo."

The military police officer’s gaze settled on him.

Afraid of being turned away before even meeting Zhou Mo, Noah quickly pulled up their photos together on his personal terminal. "I really am Zhou Mo’s friend. I’m not lying, I—"

The officer didn’t even glance at the photos. Instead, he bowed respectfully. "Young Master Hall, the family head has instructed that if you arrive, you are to be taken directly to him."

The officer’s respectful tone left Noah taken aback.

Soon, a silver-haired man in a tailored suit emerged from the tower. Introducing himself, he said, "I am York, the Zhou Family’s butler. Young Master Hall, the family head is still asleep. Please follow me to rest for now."

Noah followed York into the Zhou Family Tower, passing through long corridors before arriving at a guest room. Inside, various nutritional supplements were prepared. After a quick shower, Noah consumed some supplements and waited anxiously for Zhou Mo to wake.

It wasn’t until the sun had fully risen that York knocked on his door. "Young Master Hall, the family head requests your presence."

"Okay." Noah hurriedly swallowed the remaining supplements before following York.

He expected to be led to Zhou Mo’s study or a reception room, but York took him to the sixth floor. As soon as the elevator doors opened, a sign in a prominent position read: "Private Area, Unauthorized Entry Prohibited."

Noah hesitated. "A private area?"

York nodded. "Yes. The family head has just awakened and asked me to bring you directly to him."

"Oh." Noah felt awkward.

"Just awakened" meant Zhou Mo was still in his bedroom. Was it appropriate for him to go directly to Zhou Mo's bedroom? That didn't seem right.

York led Noah to the door before turning to leave.

Noah almost wanted to follow the polite York out, but he had come here specifically to see Zhou Mo. The fact that Zhou Mo was willing to meet him at all was already fortunate—complaining about the location would seem ungrateful.

Straightening his clothes, Noah steeled himself and knocked.

The door opened after just one knock.

Zhou Mo stood there holding a white teacup, wrapped in a bathrobe, his hair still dripping. Seeing Noah at the door, he smiled. "Long time no see."

Zhou Mo had always been handsome, but now, bathed in the morning sunlight and wearing a warm smile, Noah’s face instantly flushed.

"Long time no see... uh, good morning," Noah mumbled, somewhat tongue-tied.

He felt it would be impolite to avoid eye contact when asking for a favor, yet he couldn’t bring himself to meet Zhou Mo’s deep black eyes.

Strangely enough, though Zhou Mo and Zhou Younan were brothers, their eyes held entirely different expressions. Zhou Younan’s gaze carried sorrow but also a clear, resolute strength, while Zhou Mo’s overflowed with tenderness yet was so deep it felt hypnotic.

Noah focused instead on the small mole in the center of Zhou Mo’s left cheek—he had always found it charming.

"Come in," Zhou Mo said, turning back into the room.

Noah followed.

"Close the door."

Noah quickly turned and obediently closed the door.

"Come sit."

Zhou Mo had already settled into a single armchair, gesturing for Noah to take the other.

"Okay." Noah perched nervously, hands on his knees, back straight, eyes fixed ahead without looking around.

Seeing his posture, Zhou Mo chuckled softly. "Are you nervous?"

"No, no." Noah shook his head vigorously.

Zhou Mo sipped his tea, saying nothing, just smiling at Noah.

Noah suddenly stood up and bowed deeply. "I’m sorry."

"What exactly are you apologizing for?" Zhou Mo’s voice was unhurried.

Noah remained bowed, unable to see Zhou Mo's expression. Since Zhou Mo neither forgave him nor told him to rise, he simply continued bending forward to answer.

"I never replied to you and just went ahead and agreed to the engagement with Ai Ze, hurting your feelings. I'm truly sorry."

Noah apologized honestly.

"Even knowing I was hurting you, I still cut off all contact between us on my own. Again, I'm sorry."

Noah had rehearsed these lines beforehand and practiced several times, so they came out smoothly now.

"And after hurting you yet again, I had the nerve to show up at your door, asking for your help..."

Noah didn’t get to finish. His arm was seized, and he was yanked flush against Zhou Mo's chest.

Zhou Mo’s robe hung loose, exposing a large portion of his chest. With Noah's sudden impact, even more skin was revealed.

Noah didn’t dare look down. Instead, he raised his gaze to meet Zhou Mo's deep black eyes.

Zhou Mo was a Beta, but ridiculously good-looking.

Every time they met, Noah struggled to rein in his pheromones. Fortunately, Zhou Mo was just a Beta—he couldn't smell them and didn’t know Noah’s heart was already in chaos.

Noah had only agreed to Ai Ze’s engagement out of sheer confusion. His gut screamed at him to avoid Zhou Mo, but his pheromones insisted he liked him.

"Noah Hall." Zhou Mo’s voice dropped, low and magnetic.

"Hmm?" Noah twisted his arm, testing Zhou Mo’s grip, trying to pull away.

But Zhou Mo’s fingers only tightened, showing no intention of letting go. He even raised his other hand to pat Noah's fluffy curls.

"Your hair’s as lifeless as you are—full of fatigue."

"Oh, I haven’t washed my hair in three days," Noah admitted truthfully. "But I just showered in the guest room."

Zhou Mo subtly withdrew the hand that had patted Noah’s hair and looked at him. "Stop apologizing. I like you. I’m pursuing you. Right now, no matter what you do, I’ll forgive you."

Noah’s face burned instantly, his pheromones spiraling further out of control.

He feigned calm. "Thank you."

His arm was released, and legs shaky, Noah collapsed onto the sofa, swallowing hard.

Parched, he grabbed the white cup on the table without thinking and took a sip.

Zhou Mo also returned to his single armchair and asked, "What did you come to me for?"

Noah Hall was immensely grateful that Zhou Mo was a Beta. If he’d been an Alpha, they’d have been at each other’s throats by now, unable to sit down and talk calmly.

"Ai Ze... he’s addicted to 'crab'," Noah said.

Zhou Mo’s eyebrow arched.

"He’s already addicted. I want to help him quit. Can you help me?" As he brought this up, Noah’s purple eyes darkened with gloom.

Without hesitation, Zhou Mo agreed. "Alright, I’ll help you. But I should warn you—crab addicts, even if they quit, are usually ruined."

"I know." Noah clenched his jaw, lowering his head before whispering, "What’s it gonna cost me?"

Zhou Mo didn’t answer.

Noah looked up at him.

Zhou Mo’s gaze burned, blatant with desire. Noah thought he might say, *Marry me.*

But in the end, Zhou Mo just smiled and said, "Helping you is what I wish for. You once said you liked Ai Ze. I won’t force anything."

Noah Hall’s breath caught. Back home, he had always been the unwelcome one—his parents favored his older brother and younger brother, never truly valuing him. Even now, he remained an outsider in his own family.

But with Zhou Mo, he felt needed, completely cherished, and deeply valued.

*Why won’t he force it?* The ache in Noah’s chest sharpened.

"You missed him by a day. If you’d arrived yesterday at this time, you could’ve seen Nan Nan," Zhou Mo remarked, taking a sip from his white cup.

"Probably for the best. I don’t really want him to know about Ai Ze’s situation," Noah accidentally blurted out his true thoughts.

"Relax, your secret’s safe," Zhou Mo assured.

Noah awkwardly explained, "Younan’s happy with Marshal Wei Qing now. I’m happy for him. I don’t want my troubles to ruin his mood."

"Mhm." Zhou Mo nodded and took another sip of water.

Noah also nodded—then suddenly looked up, eyes wide, staring at the cup in Zhou Mo’s hand.

"What’s wrong?" Zhou Mo asked.

"N-Nothing." Heat flooded Noah’s face as he lowered his head.

"Since you’re here, stay for a few days."

"Can’t. I have to get back to Canberra, Ai Ze..."

Watching Zhou Mo’s face darken, Noah quickly shut his mouth.

As Noah fell silent, Zhou Mo’s expression brightened. "Do you want to meet Luo Luo? Did Nan Nan tell you? He found his family."

"Really?"

"Stay on Yaoxing for a few days. I’ll have someone bring Ai Ze over. We *did* used to work together, after all."

"...Alright."

***

On the spacecraft, Zhou Younan received Noah’s video call request.

"Younan, it’s me." Noah smiled. "Guess where I am?"

The screen showed endless fields of water chestnuts.

"Yaoxing?" Zhou Younan’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Yeah, I’m on Yaoxing now." Noah scrubbed a hand through his hair.

"Why’d you go there?"

"My brother’s here on business, and I tagged along for fun." Noah lied smoothly—he didn’t want Zhou Younan to know that Zhou Mo had confessed, that he’d rejected him, or that he’d gotten engaged to Ai Ze. The guilt toward both brothers ate at him.

"Talk about bad timing. If you’d come a day earlier, we could’ve played games together," Zhou Younan said with regret.

"Another time. Zhou Mo mentioned you’re honeymooning in the Apollo System with Marshal Wei Qing?"

"Mhm."

"You guys have fun, I'll let you be. By the way, can I go see Luo Luo?"

"Of course, he'll be thrilled to see you."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Noah sighed. There were actually many things he wanted to tell Zhou Younan, but he felt he couldn't burden him any further.

Once the call with Noah ended, Zhou Younan also sighed.

The capsule, the escape—these things were eating away at him, but he didn't want Noah to get involved and be brought down by him.