Chapter 2 Pitiable Love Born from Comparison

Chapter 2: The Tragedy of Love Born from Contrast

Xierlan's considerate actions were crystal clear, revealing an undeniable respect and innocence.

Sexia's expression grew quiet, his mouth filled with the scent of gardenia orchid. Even the usual smell of blood carried a lingering, almost greedy fragrance. This unique sensation overshadowed the rising tide of desire within him.

He was so different.

Completely unlike the Xierlan portrayed on the Star Network.

For millennia, the extreme gender imbalance had led to severe male supremacy and female subjugation. No insect was exempt. Even male insects, categorized by blood purity, from the highest to the lowest, enjoyed privileges unimaginable to ordinary B-rank females, even if they were merely F-rank males.

They could marry one primary consort and multiple concubines. Those with higher blood purity could even have their way with whomever they desired, regardless of the female's wishes, because the fanatics of the Male Protection Association would resort to horrifying measures to force females into submission.

Male insects could freely whip females, venting their jealousy and hatred upon them. This was because females possessed strong self-healing abilities, superior looks, greater strength, and longer lifespans compared to ordinary males. In stark contrast, males were delicate, vulnerable, even ugly, and short-lived.

This was their innate nature. The females' strength and formidable presence cursed them, forcing them to rely on male psychic soothing to live normally. For male pheromones, they would grovel, sacrificing everything—their bodies, assets, even their lives.

Meanwhile, males enjoyed all privileges yet remained insatiable, never knowing contentment. They displayed a repulsive, ugly demeanor, believing themselves saviors simply for offering a mere whiff of pheromones.

Sexia had assumed Xierlan was just another such male insect, especially given Xierlan's notoriously vile reputation on the Star Network.

Male insects didn't attend school, so Xierlan's amusement came from tormenting the fawning females around him. His oppression of females was commonplace. If not for the Underage Male Restriction Decree, which explicitly protected male development and prohibited males from engaging in relations before the age of 18, Xierlan would already have caused the deaths of many females.

It was ironic: females abused to death could fill several legions without anyone caring, yet males who played too hard and died themselves could prompt the alliance to issue an underage protection decree.

Sexia didn't know what to do. He naturally loathed male insects, yet he felt a clear, distinct emotion toward Xierlan, something that crackled within him, almost impossible to ignore.

"I..."

Sexia's lips were bitten raw. He refused to yield to the shackles of pheromones, yet he instinctively leaned toward the warm, safe presence.

He was trapped in a daze, his body stirred by the gardenia orchid pheromones into a clear, rising tide of arousal.

In his haze, Sexia felt as if he had melted into water, yearning to be accepted. Though he mechanically wanted to pull away out of disgust for male insects, his body and consciousness screamed with affection and dependence. Caught in this dilemma, fine sweat beaded on his forehead, and his fingertips trembled.

Xierlan, noticing his poor condition, reached out worriedly to touch his sweaty brow. "Are you sick? Do you have a fever? I’m not sure if there’s any medicine at home. Wait here, I’ll go look."

Under Xierlan’s trembling gaze, he slowly untied his robe, revealing a slender, jade-like physique beneath. Female insects seemed naturally this way. From Xierlan’s perspective, the visible dampness on his lower body was unmistakably clear.

Sexia’s voice was hoarse. "Not sick. I want my primary male."

Xierlan was an adult, so he knew exactly what that meant. His entire face flushed a beautiful shade of red from pure innocence.

He hadn't forgotten the need to provide psychic soothing to Sexia, but he knew nothing about insect gender norms and didn't want to proceed now. As a human, he wanted to give his partner the utmost respect, waiting until they were fully conscious before being intimate.

But the test of restraint for Xierlan, the high schooler, was too great.

Xierlan desired intimacy with Sexia because he liked him, but he was a normal person—he wouldn't act on impulse just because he wanted to. So, what else could he do to make Sexia feel secure while gently easing his distress?

Seeing Xierlan’s hesitation, Sexia slowly lowered his eyelids. As an S-rank female insect, Sexia’s confidence and glory were built on military honors. But witnessing the male insect’s refusal, Sexia slowly touched his abdomen, where a fatal wound had once destroyed his reproductive sac, leaving him unable to bear eggs for life.

Insect society highly valued reproduction. Having lost this ability, his noble status and illustrious military merits had spared him from becoming a low-tier male’s enslaved female.

Could he still not expect happiness? How could joy ever grace someone like him?

The next moment, Sexia’s downcast eyes suddenly widened. His demeanor was dignified and detached; years of strategizing had replaced his presence with aloofness and indifference, his beautiful eyes tinged with daunting ambition—utterly mesmerizing.

Xierlan lifted his chin and gently kissed him. The light, pleasant scent filled the air again, and Sexia went limp almost immediately, wanting to embrace the male insect before him but hesitating and pulling back abruptly.

Noticing his hesitation, Xierlan gently took the female insect’s hands and placed them on his own waist.

He hadn't forgotten to provide psychic soothing to his female insect. While awkwardly kissing him, Xierlan followed the materials uploaded by the system, slowly exploring the female’s mental landscape.

Throughout the process, Sexia seemed completely drenched, beginning to let out breathy, helpless whimpers from his mouth.

He had never received psychic soothing before and knew how painful the process could be. Male insects enjoyed seeing females grovel, so inevitably, when females begged for pheromones, they would be savagely beaten yet still plead desperately for the males’ amusement.

What about Xierlan?

Xierlan was awkwardly kissing him, his face also flushed with damp color. It seemed like his first time being so intimately close with anyone. Beyond the kiss, everything about him was proper and respectful, so it was clear that Sexia wasn't the only one succumbing to desire.

Xierlan liked this female insect very much. He was resilient—his outstanding record showed he was one who was no stranger to suffering and held himself to strict standards.

He was captivated by Sexia’s appearance and enamored by his excellence. But more than that, he felt a sense of helplessness, a foolish compassion.

Xierlan thought it would be too horrifying and unfair for such an excellent, beautiful, and powerful female insect to be tortured to death.

Lost in thought, he gently and slowly suppressed the female insect’s turbulent psyche.

"I’ll take you to bathe. Afterward, rest first. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to upgrade your status from concubine to primary consort."

Forming a bond with a concubine only required sex because when a female insect’s reproductive chamber was opened, a mark formed from pheromones would appear on their abdomen.

Xierlan thought since they were already married, there was no need to rush into it. After ensuring Sexia was completely fine, he carried the female insect to bathe.

Sexia had never experienced anything like this and panicked slightly. "No need, primary male! I can do it myself!"

Xierlan thought Sexia really resembled an elegant, pristine long-haired cat—a beauty carved from ice and snow, with narrow, cool eyebrows and pale, glacial blue eyes that seemed like the world’s most magnificent miracle—the very image of power and beauty.

Xierlan tested the water temperature. Instead of immediately saying, "This is what I should do," he changed his approach. Gazing at the still dazed female insect in the tub, he blinked. "I like doing this, so be good, okay? Tomorrow, there are many things I need to take you to do."

The insect world’s values were still too warped. Anything considered normal for an Earthling was seen as an extraordinary privilege for a male insect.

He would slowly let Sexia adapt to this respect and affection. He couldn’t let him see it as an honor—it was just normal treatment. Including in the future, he would take responsibility as Sexia’s partner.

Of course, it was also because Xierlan liked Sexia, so he would pamper his own spouse =v=.

Thinking this, Xierlan placed the showerhead in his hand. "Is the water temperature okay? Wash yourself. I’ll get you clothes."

Sexia took it blankly. "Okay."

Xierlan closed the door and left. He changed the torn bedsheet in the bedroom, spread a new one, and then, like a true male high schooler, very childishly flopped onto it.

"99, 99."

Xierlan rolled around hugging the blanket, then bounced up happily. "Are you there?"

He had no one to confide in and urgently wanted to find a like-minded companion to share his joy with.

"Host, I’m here."

99 flew out. Unsure what would happen tonight, 99 had blocked itself. Seeing only Xierlan left in the bedroom, it was shocked. "Huh, where’s the villain?"

"He’s bathing."

99 widened its eyes, curious for a moment. "So, how did it go, host?"

Xierlan felt a little awkward. "I didn't expect to fall in love with him at first sight. No matter what, I plan to do the right thing first. He's taking a shower inside, and I came out to change the bedsheet. I'll have a proper talk with him tomorrow."

99 felt as if the sun had suddenly come out.

It cleared its throat lightly. "Of course, Host. It's great that you like the villain. He might grow fond of you because you're different from other male bugs. In this world, female bugs have been warped. If you were a scumbag from Earth but came here and didn't resort to violence, you'd be considered a total catch."

The system couldn't go on after saying that.

Xierlan certainly knew. He thought it over carefully. "I still prefer love based on equality. That's why I didn't get too intimate with Sexia. I think love that stands out only because of contrast is tragic. I don't want that, and I don't want Sexia to become overly cautious. I hope he can learn to accept these things and learn to ask me for them."

"So noble," 99 said with teary eyes. "Pure love is truly the greatest. Host, I always wondered why I ended up with you—this is the reason!"

Xierlan couldn't help but smile. "Sexia is about to come out. I'll call you later."

99 scampered off happily.

The bedroom fell quiet again, leaving only the sound of running water from the bathroom.

Xierlan only had a rough idea of the plot and hadn't finished reading the files the system sent him. He planned to first settle the matter of making Sexia his primary consort and then discuss the matter of Sexia's dowry.

Because his account had just received a crazy huge amount of money.

Xierlan intended to return that money to him.

Author's Note:

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