Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Early the next morning, Liao Baixing took Lu Zhao and Zhao Minglang to report for duty at the military academy.

Lin Youhan found it strange that an extra person had suddenly appeared. When he asked Liao Baixing, she explained that Zhao Minglang, worried Lu Zhao’s small frame might make him a target for bullying at the military academy, had applied to go along.

Hearing this, Lin Youhan burst out laughing.

There was no need to guess—it was obvious Lu Zhao had whined and begged Zhao Minglang to accompany him.

But when the list of those reporting to the military academy was released, Lin Youhan was baffled. He waved Si Muyun, who was helping repair a mech nearby, over and pointed at the third name. "What’s your cousin thinking now?"

The third name on the list was Jiang Xun.

It was originally agreed that only Lu Zhao and Zhao Minglang would go, but now the list had an extra name—someone not even connected.

Lin Youhan had no idea what Jiang Xun was thinking.

Si Muyun was equally puzzled. He turned and called Jiang Xun on his comm. It took a long time for the other end to pick up, and even then, Jiang Xun stayed silent.

Si Muyun: "...Jiang Xun, what are you doing going to the military academy?"

Jiang Xun’s loud voice came through: "Who knows if they’re secretly studying behind my back?!"

Lin Youhan, who had walked closer and overheard: "..."

"Study buddy," hello.

Si Muyun: "..."

Lin Youhan was amused by Jiang Xun’s weird reasoning. Who in their right mind would go to a military academy to study?!

He pointed at his own head, as if to say "he’s crazy," then went back to assembling the Vermilion Bird’s framework.

Si Muyun didn’t know what to say to Jiang Xun either. He always felt Jiang Xun had to win at everything, but it often seemed he went too far, as if he had to outdo everyone.

Si Muyun said dryly, "Then study hard. I’ll come check on you in a month."

"Ah? Cousin, isn’t that too much trouble?" Jiang Xun said this, but inwardly he prayed his uncle wouldn’t actually show up.

Si Muyun’s performance at Menglan Military Academy was well-known to everyone. If he really came, Jiang Xun would likely get his ass kicked.

Jiang Xun: "..."

Dug his own grave.

"Cousin, really, it’s not necessary. I don’t want people to know I used family connections!"

"Oh, really?" Si Muyun’s tone remained deadpan. "I thought you had nothing better to do than flaunt your connections at the military academy."

Jiang Xun: "?"

Please, no stereotypes!

Jiang Xun said honestly, "Cousin, as if I’d dare! If I went to Menglan to show off, my mom would break both my legs. I have to go now—the drill sergeant is calling us for training."

Hearing this last line, Si Muyun laughed.

It was Sunday—there was no training. The kid was just making up an excuse to hang up.

Seeing Si Muyun end the call, Lin Youhan wore a look of entertainment. "Your cousin is quite a character."

Si Muyun put down his comm, expression unchanging, but his words were still cutting. "If by 'a character' you mean he enjoys stirring up drama for others, he should put all that energy into learning how to behave properly at the military academy."

"Are everyone at the military academy tall with long legs?" Lin Youhan asked curiously.

As soon as he said it, he felt an intense stare drift toward him.

Lin Youhan defended himself: "I was just curious."

"Don’t be curious."

Lin Youhan was a little annoyed: "Why?"

Si Muyun explained: "You’ll only have me in the future."

Lin Youhan: "...Man, your jealous streak is a bit strong."

"It’s always been strong." Si Muyun didn’t deny it.

Lin Youhan: "..."

Fine, you win.

Lin Youhan didn’t argue with Si Muyun any further about it.

-

He laid out all the tools from the table onto the floor and focused on building the Vermilion Bird.

In the month leading up to the academy evaluation, he and Si Muyun moved between the workshop, classroom, and warehouse on a set routine.

During this time, A Xiuming delivered the Dark Iron he had acquired to the warehouse. When he saw the Vermilion Bird, which was finally taking form, he looked astonished.

"Is this the Vermilion Bird that was never completed years ago?"

The Four Symbols Mech, which had appeared out of nowhere years ago, had always been a mystery to mech designers in the interstellar city. Its uniqueness left many designers stumped. The White Tiger, Azure Dragon, and Black Tortoise had been so stunning that later designs for new mechs tended to favor transformation features.

Lin Youhan, who was standing on a ladder welding parts for the Vermilion Bird’s head, replied, "These are just the basic components now. It won’t be complete until the outer shell is successfully built and the new code is implanted."

A Xiuming nodded. What Lin Youhan described was the usual process for building new mechs.

As a mech designer, it was frowned upon to reveal the core aspects of one’s design to others. Of course, A Xiuming was just a repair technician and had no intention of prying.

He poured the unprocessed Dark Iron onto the ground, smelted it down with high heat, and forged it into the shape needed for the mech’s outer shell.

The hundred-pound Dark Iron was difficult to handle, but the man working with Lin Youhan was unbelievably strong. With his help, what should have taken seven days was completed in just three.

Afterward, A Xiuming thanked him, and the man simply said coolly, "No problem."

A Xiuming had been paying attention to Lin Youhan’s mech-building process. The man beside him worked tirelessly, without a single complaint or showing fatigue, his expression never changing. It made A Xiuming curious about where Lin Youhan had found someone so loyal.

When Lin Youhan heard his curiosity, his expression didn’t change. He just smiled and said, "That’s my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?—Wait, who did you say he is?" A Xiuming thought he had heard him wrong.

Lin Youhan’s face remained calm, as if he had expected A Xiuming’s reaction. He patiently repeated, "My boyfriend."

"No wonder he does whatever you say." Hearing Lin Youhan’s answer again, A Xiuming had already wrapped his head around it, and his expression returned to normal.

Lin Youhan murmured, "He was the one who chased after me, shouldn't he listen to me?"

A Xiuming gave an awkward laugh, not quite agreeing. "Usually, the one being pursued is the active party, while the pursuer is more passive."

"You're right," Lin Youhan said pensively. "But I'm also quite passive."

A Xiuming was a bit curious. "Why do you think that?"

Lin Youhan sighed. "He's too intense."

A Xiuming: "…"

Somehow, he'd been unexpectedly fed a mouthful of couple's affection.

For some reason, when he thought of Si Muyun’s stone-cold face when he wasn’t smiling, it just didn’t align with the word "intense." Could it be that Lin Youhan’s perception of Si Muyun’s intensity was just rose-tinted glasses from dating for too long?

A Xiuming didn’t ask further because Si Muyun came over.

"I have some things to handle at my shop, so I’ll take off first."

After bidding farewell to the two, A Xiuming left the warehouse.

When he arrived at the shop, he heard the screen on the wall playing Tangde City’s live news broadcast: "Today, due to downpour and high winds, Anyang Street in the city is experiencing the worst flood in nearly a decade. Tangde City Police Station has already sent people for rescue operations. However, just a month ago, a major fire broke out on Anyang Street due to extreme heat, and no one survived in the 150 households. From what we’ve learned, in the winter of New Era 140, Anyang Street also suffered a flood…"

The shop assistant noticed his arrival and greeted him: "Boss, you’re back."

A Xiuming closed his umbrella, shook the water off, and complained, "This crappy weather—still raining."

The assistant replied, "It’s been raining for a week. Some areas are already under water."

After getting settled, changing into his work clothes, and picking up his tools to repair a newly delivered mech, A Xiuming asked offhandedly, "Any news from North Talisman Manor lately?"

"I heard Colonel Si left North Talisman Manor almost three years ago. Old General Yan Xun couldn’t keep it up any longer and asked General Si Weiyu to come over," the assistant whispered.

Hearing that timeline, A Xiuming was taken aback. "Almost three years already?"

Time flies.

-

Si Muyun finished his work and walked over, saw A Xiuming rushing off. He asked curiously, "What were you two talking about just now?"

Lin Youhan didn’t even lift his eyelids. "Talking about our dating history."

Si Muyun was stunned: "?"

Lin Youhan smiled and looked at him. "Colonel Si doesn’t believe it?"

"It’s not that I don’t believe it—it’s just surprising," Si Muyun said, his tone turning earnest. "I thought you were going to hide our relationship forever."

Lin Youhan was at a loss for words: "Do I really have that little credibility in your eyes?"

Realizing his mistake, Si Muyun immediately apologized. "Sorry, I said the wrong thing."

"Where did you go wrong?" Lin Youhan raised an eyebrow, seemingly confused.

Si Muyun: "…"

Seeing Si Muyun speechless, Lin Youhan was amused. He pulled him closer with his clean hand. "I don’t accept verbal apologies."

"Then what do you want…?" Si Muyun asked blankly.

The next moment, Lin Youhan stood on his tiptoes and gently pressed his lips to Si Muyun’s—light as a dragonfly’s touch, touching and pulling away in an instant, giving Si Muyun no time to react.

After the kiss, Lin Youhan licked his lips. "Si Muyun, even Migu acts more human than you."

Migu, who had been busy without rest: "…"

Master, are you calling me?

Neither of them paid attention to Migu. After Lin Youhan finished speaking, Si Muyun pulled him back.

Lin Youhan leaned against the edge of the table, with Si Muyun looming over him. The latter’s eyes were dark and smoldering, as if reproaching him for the stolen kiss.

Si Muyun’s hands braced on either side of him as he lowered his head and kissed him.

Both their breaths grew hurried, their hot breath mixing. It was a long time before they separated.

Si Muyun stroked his brow and said hoarsely, "It’s time for spiritual fusion tonight."

"I know, you don’t need to emphasize it," Lin Youhan said lazily.

Comfortable from the kiss, his expression relaxed, like a little fox squinting as he felt Si Muyun’s hand on his face.

When he felt good, even his eyes smiled when he looked at him.

Si Muyun clearly couldn’t handle Lin Youhan like this. He lowered his head and kissed him again before stopping.

Lin Youhan leaned against him and laughed, scolding, "Si Muyun, have you specifically practiced this?"

Si Muyun knew what he meant and didn’t take offense. "No, maybe it’s just that you’re more kissable."

Lin Youhan: "…Are you complimenting me or insulting me?"

"Complimenting you," Si Muyun said without a hint of embarrassment.

"Then I’ll reluctantly accept."

Si Muyun’s voice was smiling: "Okay."

-

Evening.

Lin Youhan lay on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, his eyes red as if he’d been crying.

The culprit lowered his head and bit Lin Youhan’s collarbone, his voice even hoarser than during the day: "Do you want more?"

Lin Youhan jolted back to awareness from the pain and glared at him. "You did that on purpose."

"If I weren’t intentional, how would I get to kiss you?"

Si Muyun’s deep, raspy laughter was especially noticeable in the quiet air.

Lin Youhan’s ears flushed bright red, and he raised a hand to rub them.

The next moment, a cold hand pressed against them. "Let me help you."

"No," Lin Youhan politely declined.

"Really not?" Si Muyun glanced up at him, his dark eyes holding scattered starlight—so bright it was startling, so hot it felt scorching.

Lin Youhan was instantly mesmerized and said, spellbound, "Yes."

When his earlobe was sucked, Lin Youhan’s body visibly trembled.

Si Muyun: "You're so sensitive," he said.

Lin Youhan angrily kicked Si Muyun, "Get your mouth off me before you speak."

Si Muyun mimicked his tone: "No."

Lin Youhan: "..."

Si Muyun laughed.

"Si Muyun, is bullying me fun?" he asked furiously.

Seeing Lin Youhan’s flushed face and glistening eyes, Si Muyun's heart stirred with desire.

"It’s my first time being someone’s boyfriend, I don't know my own strength…"

Lin Youhan cut him off, "Quit being annoying."

"If you want to do it, just do it. No one’s stopping you."

Si Muyun studied him intently.

……(omitted three hundred words)

He whispered, "Enough."

Si Muyun said okay verbally but didn’t stop his movements.

Lin Youhan could only bury his cried-reddened eyes into the pillow, with soft whimpers.

……

When they finished, Lin Youhan grabbed Si Muyun’s hair, lifted his head, and kissed him.

Between gasps, he cursed, "...You, I said enough."